Teacher Zone · free printable
Chinese Crossword Puzzle Maker
Clues give the meaning (and optionally the hanzi); students fill in the pinyin. A real crossing grid with numbered Across/Down clues, auto-built from your words.
- Pick a word source: an HSK level and word count, or paste your own list.
- Keep 'Show hanzi in clues' on to make it a reading exercise (clue: computer 电脑 → answer DIANNAO), or off for a harder recall drill.
- Regenerate to try different grids — the maker reports any word it couldn't interlock, so you can swap words or regenerate.
- Print the puzzle, and tick 'Answer key' for a filled-in grid on a second page.
Why are the crossword answers in pinyin instead of characters?
Crosswords work by sharing letters between words, and hanzi rarely share characters at useful crossing points. Writing the answers as pinyin (without tone marks, ü written as U — the same conventions crossword setters use worldwide for Chinese) keeps genuine letter crossings while still drilling vocabulary: the clue shows the meaning and hanzi, and the student must recall the pronunciation.
What do the clues look like?
Each clue is the English meaning, optionally followed by the hanzi — for example '7. computer 电脑', answered DIANNAO. With hanzi shown, students practice reading characters and recalling pronunciation; with hanzi hidden, they must recall the whole word from meaning alone.
What if a word doesn't fit into the puzzle?
The generator interlocks as many words as it can; anything it cannot cross is listed above the sheet so you know exactly what was left out. Click Regenerate for a different arrangement or add a few more words — more words give the grid more crossing opportunities.
Can I make a crossword from this week's lesson vocabulary?
Yes — choose 'My own list' and paste the lesson words, one per line. HSK words auto-fill pinyin and meaning; other words can be entered as 电脑, diànnǎo, computer so the maker knows both the letters to cross and the clue to print.