Terms of Use

1. Acceptance of Terms

By downloading, installing, or using SayNiHao ("App"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the App. These Terms are between you and Kai Yuan Su ("Developer"), an individual developer based in Taiwan.

2. Description of Service

SayNiHao is a Chinese (Mandarin) language learning application that provides:

• Structured HSK-aligned lessons and exercises spanning HSK 1 preparation through HSK 9C (631 lessons total).
• HSK Mock Exam mode with 7 difficulty levels (HSK 1-6 and HSK 7-9 combined), including listening, reading, writing, and translation sections.
• AI-powered conversation practice and sentence grading.
• AI-powered essay grading for writing sections in HSK mock exams, processed server-side via secure Cloud Functions.
• Pronunciation analysis and speaking practice.
• Flashcard system with spaced repetition.
• Progress tracking, achievements (39 across 9 categories), chapter milestones, and weekly reports.

3. User Accounts

• You must sign in with a valid Google or Apple account to use the App.
• You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account.
• You must be at least 13 years old to use the App.
• You agree to provide accurate and complete information when setting up your account.

4. Subscriptions and In-App Purchases

Free Tier: SayNiHao offers a free tier that includes access to HSK 1–9 course content, HSK 1-4 mock exams, limited AI conversation sessions, and other features as described in the App.

Premium Subscription: A premium subscription unlocks unlimited AI conversations, all mock exam levels (including HSK 5-9), ad-free experience, and additional features.

Refunds: All purchases are processed through Apple App Store or Google Play. Refund requests must be submitted to the respective platform in accordance with their refund policies:

• Apple: Request via reportaproblem.apple.com or App Store → Subscription history.
• Google Play: Request via Google Play → Order history within 48 hours of purchase.

The Developer does not directly issue refunds.

Restore Purchases: You can restore previous purchases using the "Restore Purchases" option in the App's Paywall screen.

5. Acceptable Use

You agree not to:

• Use the App for any unlawful purpose or in violation of any applicable laws.
• Attempt to reverse engineer, decompile, or extract the source code of the App.
• Use the App to generate, distribute, or store harmful, offensive, or illegal content.
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any systems or networks connected to the App.
• Use automated tools or scripts to access the App in any unauthorized manner.

6. Intellectual Property

The App, including its content, features, lesson materials, exam questions, and functionality, is owned by Kai Yuan Su and is protected by intellectual property laws.

You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the App for your personal, non-commercial language learning purposes.

User-Generated Content: Content you create within the App (custom flashcards, essay responses in HSK mock exams, translation responses, pronunciation recordings) remains your property. By submitting such content, you grant the Developer a limited, worldwide, royalty-free license to process and store it solely for the purpose of providing the App's services to you (such as AI grading, scoring, and storing your exam history).

The Developer does not claim ownership of your essay responses or other user-generated content. Your essay responses and AI-generated feedback are stored privately in your account and are not shared with other users or used to train AI models.

7. Third-Party Services

The App integrates third-party services including:

• Google Firebase (Authentication, Firestore, Cloud Functions, Storage)
• Google AdMob (advertising for free users)
• RevenueCat (subscription management)
• Anthropic Claude API (AI conversation and essay grading)
• Google Gemini API (pronunciation analysis)
• OpenAI API (speech transcription and text-to-speech)
• Google Speech-to-Text (voice recognition)
• Resend (transactional email delivery, e.g. verification and password-reset emails)

Your use of these services is subject to their respective terms and privacy policies. The Developer is not responsible for the practices of these third parties.

8. Disclaimer of Warranties

The Developer does not guarantee that learning outcomes will meet your expectations. Language learning results vary by individual.

9. AI Grading and Mock Exam Disclaimer

HSK Mock Exam Scores: The mock exams provided in SayNiHao are simulated practice tests created for educational purposes. They are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or certified by Hanban (汉办), the Center for Language Education and Cooperation, or any official HSK examination authority. Mock exam scores do not constitute official HSK certification.

AI Essay Grading: Essay responses submitted in HSK mock exams are graded by an AI language model (Anthropic Claude). While the AI provides detailed feedback based on standard HSK rubrics, AI grading:

• May produce inconsistent or inaccurate scores compared to human examiners.
• Is not authoritative and should not be relied upon as definitive assessment.
• Is intended for self-study reference and learning improvement only.

For official HSK certification, please register for and take the actual HSK exam through accredited testing centers.

10. Limitation of Liability

The Developer's total liability to you shall not exceed the amount you paid for the App in the twelve (12) months preceding the claim.

11. Account Termination and Deletion

You may delete your account at any time through the Profile screen, or by following the instructions on our Account Deletion page. Account deletion permanently removes all your data from our systems.

The Developer reserves the right to suspend or terminate your account if you violate these Terms.

12. Changes to Terms

The Developer reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be effective upon posting the updated Terms in the App or on the associated website. Continued use of the App after changes constitutes your acceptance.

13. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of Taiwan (Republic of China), without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in Taiwan.