Use pinyin as a pronunciation bridge while still building character recognition and listening habits.
Pinyin is useful when you meet a new word, but it should not become the only thing you read. Treat it as a pronunciation hint, then move your attention back to the Chinese characters.
Use pinyin as a temporary scaffold
A good routine is simple: read the sentence once with pinyin, hide the pinyin, then read the same sentence again using only the characters.
Review by sentence, not isolated syllables
Single syllables are easy to forget because they lack context. Put new words into short example sentences and practice the rhythm of the full sentence.
When you convert text in NiuTools, copy only the parts you need for review instead of storing long pinyin-only notes.
Know when to remove it
If you can recognize a word quickly, remove pinyin from your next review. Keeping pinyin forever makes reading feel easier in the short term but slows down character recall.
For difficult words, keep pinyin nearby, but pair it with meaning, example usage, and audio practice when possible.