Frequently asked questions

AI is used in two parts of Flashbao. A text-to-speech system creates Mandarin pronunciation clips. Most are generated in advance and stored. When a requested clip is missing, Flashbao may ask the system to create it at playback time and then store it. If on-demand generation is unavailable, the audio remains unavailable.

AI also assists with development. It helps with implementation ideas, code, tests, documentation and research. An experienced software engineer reviews the work and makes the final decisions about requirements, security, privacy, licensing, testing and the code.

The cards are not written by a language model. Definitions, example sentences, character notes and deck membership come from the sources listed on the data sources and credits page. Review scheduling and content selection follow fixed, repeatable rules. The text-to-speech system receives public dictionary or corpus text, or Read text only when you ask to play the passage. It does not receive your account ID, email, IP address or review history.

Flashbao uses dictionaries, language datasets, example sentences, grammar material and official vocabulary lists. Fixed rules choose meanings, examples, grammar material and deck membership from those sources. We can trace the material to its source and rebuild the catalogue. Flashbao does not generate this material. The sources and credits page explains what each source contributes, how it is used and which licence or notice applies.

You do not need an account to explore public dictionary entries, search, character references and deck word lists. An account is required for personalized study, review scheduling and synchronization. Some features, including pronunciation audio, also require a verified account with access to them.

Choose your study script during onboarding. Flashbao cannot change it later because your cards and review history are tied to that script. You can change the display script later; that changes how content is displayed, not your study history.

During onboarding, you choose a study script and estimate your known vocabulary with HSK 3.0, HSK 2.0 or TOCFL levels. These published levels are rough guides, not a test or certification. Flashbao starts by leaving those words out of your new cards. It checks a few words around your level each day and uses your answers to schedule reviews.

HSK 2.0, HSK 3.0, TOCFL, YCT and BCT are separate standards. They use different vocabulary lists and level structures, so a level in one is not equivalent to the same-numbered level in another. Flashbao keeps their decks separate, and the same word can appear at different levels.

Your rating determines when a card appears again. Flashbao uses FSRS-7, its spaced-repetition algorithm, to set that interval. If you forget a card, it returns sooner; if you remember it easily, it returns later. New cards first go through short learning steps. The daily limit controls how many new cards you see, not when learned cards are due.

A count marked with ~ is the published vocabulary size for that course level, not an exact count of Flashbao's cards. Flashbao matches the course list to dictionary readings in your chosen script. Counting rules, variants, duplicates, missing matches and source updates can change the result. The progress bar uses the actual number of Flashbao cards; the number marked with ~ is an estimate.

Flashbao shows a limited group of new and learned cards at a time. New cards have a daily limit. Learned cards appear when their schedule says they are due; Flashbao does not make them due early just to extend a session. That spacing is deliberate. When a batch ends, another loads if more cards are due. Otherwise, the next cards wait until their scheduled time. The optional Learn 5 more today offer, when your daily pace is five, adds another group of new cards for the day. It does not change the schedule for learned cards or your usual daily setting.

Yes. You can create a private deck, paste words or import TXT, CSV or TSV files, and add entries from the dictionary. Flashbao reports duplicates and words it cannot match. You can turn on an unlisted sharing link and turn it off later.

Flashbao stores your account information, study settings, card schedules and review history. Your device keeps cached cards and reviews waiting to sync so you can study offline. Flashbao does not use analytics, ads or cross-site trackers. In Settings, you can download your profile, study and sync history, and billing records as JSON, or delete your account. Some billing records can remain when needed for reconciliation, fraud prevention, disputes or legal obligations. The privacy policy has the full details about storage, sharing, retention and your rights.

Yes. You can start and continue study sessions offline. Flashbao stores upcoming cards and reviews on your device, then synchronizes pending reviews when you reconnect. If you clear your browser data, cached cards and reviews waiting to sync are removed; reviews that have already synchronized stay in your account. Some public browsing and account actions still require a connection.