Terms of use

These terms apply when you use Sawu Chinese: the app at app.sawuchinese.app and this site. By using the app or creating an account, you agree to them, so please read them. They are written to be read.

Last updated 6 October 2026

Who we are

Sawu Chinese is run by Tobias Taulien in Taiwan. Email: hello@sawuchinese.app. The privacy policy explains what happens to your data.

What the app is

A study companion for learners of Taiwan Mandarin. It writes short texts from the vocabulary of the lessons you have studied, brings words back for review, and lets you practise writing characters. It is independent and not affiliated with any textbook publisher. A textbook is named only to say which vocabulary the app follows.

The early test

The app is in an early test and is free during it. Features may change, pause or end, and things may sometimes go wrong. Before anything costs money, we will update these terms and tell you.

Your account

• You can use the app without an account. Your progress then stays on your device.
• An account keeps your devices in step. You sign in with a link or a code sent to your email, so anyone who can read your email can sign in: keep it safe.
• An account is for one person. If you think someone else has used yours, tell us.
• You can delete your account at any time under Me, then Delete my account.

Age

You must be at least 16 to use the app. If you are under 18, or not yet an adult where you live, you need a parent's or guardian's agreement.

Texts written by AI

Texts are written by an AI model, Claude by Anthropic. Before you see a text, our software checks it word by word against your vocabulary and the new words chosen for it. The check makes sure of the words, not that every sentence sounds natural or that every translation is right. Readings come from our word lists. In your own stories, words beyond the textbook's vocabulary take their reading and meaning from an open dictionary and are marked as not checked by hand.

So please use your judgement, and tell us when something looks wrong. The texts written for you are for your own learning; you may also share them with your teacher or class.

What you add

Topics you type, word lists you import and decks you build stay yours. You allow us to store them and use them to run the app for you, for example to send a topic to the AI model that writes your story. Only add what you have the right to use.

Fair use

Please do not:

• use a topic to ask for hateful, sexual, violent or otherwise harmful texts, or to make the model do anything other than write your story;
• get around the daily limits, the checks or someone else's account;
• copy the app's texts, data or code in bulk, scrape the service, or use it to build a competing one;
• disrupt or attack the service or the providers it runs on;
• use the app for anything unlawful.

If an account does, we may limit or close it. Where we can, we will tell you why first.

Our work and others'

The app, its text library, its design and this site are our work, and you may use them as these terms describe. Some parts come from open sources under their own licences, such as the word meanings from CC-CEDICT and the stroke order data. The app's About page and our contact page list them, and their licences apply to those parts.

Payments

Nothing costs money yet. Before paid plans start, we will add their prices, trial, cancellation and refunds to these terms and tell you. Payments will be handled by a payment provider; your card details will never reach us.

Changes to the app, and ending

We work to keep the app running, but cannot promise it will always be available. We may change or remove features. If we ever close the service, we will tell you well ahead where we can, so you can export your words.

You can stop using the app at any time and delete your account. We may suspend or close an account that breaks these terms.

Liability

The app is a study aid. We build it with care, but we cannot promise that every text, reading, translation or review is free of mistakes, or that the app suits a particular course or exam. As far as the law allows, we are not liable for indirect losses or for losses from relying on the app's content. Nothing in these terms limits liability that the law does not allow to be limited, such as for harm caused on purpose or by gross negligence.

The law that applies

These terms are governed by the law of Taiwan, and disputes go to its courts, unless the law lets you choose another court. If you use the app as a consumer, you keep the protection of the laws of the country where you live that cannot be set aside by agreement.

Changes to these terms

We will post any change on this page with a new date. Before a change that matters to you takes effect, we will tell you in the app or by email. If you do not agree, you can stop using the app and delete your account.

Contact

Tobias Taulien, hello@sawuchinese.app.