This playful rhyme helps you learn family words in Chinese. Practice saying who's who with simple questions and answers!
-
小朋友，我问问你，这个小朋友，他是谁？
Little one, let me ask you: who is this little boy?
-
这个小朋友是我哥。
This little boy is my older brother.
-
那个小孩子，他是谁？
And that little kid—who is he?
-
那个小孩子是我弟。
That little kid is my younger brother.
-
小朋友，我再问你，这个女孩子，她是谁？
Little one, let me ask you again: who is this little girl?
-
这个女孩子是我姐。
This little girl is my older sister.
-
那个女孩儿，她是谁？
And that little girl—who is she?
-
那个女孩儿是我妹。
That little girl is my younger sister.
Follow Dazhong, a busy worker in China, as he finds warmth and kindness at a small noodle shop. Practice everyday words for food, weather, and expressing gratitude.
-
大中一个人在中国工作。
Dazhong works in China by himself.
-
晚上，大中去公司前边的一个小饭店吃饭。
In the evening, Dazhong goes to a small restaurant in front of his company for dinner.
-
饭店里有一个老先生。
There is an elderly man in the restaurant.
-
面条里有一个鸡蛋。
There is an egg in the noodles.
-
大中到饭店前，看见老先生一个人坐在桌子前，在看外边。
When Dazhong arrived at the restaurant, he saw the elderly man sitting alone at a table, looking outside.
-
今天，面条里有两个大鸡蛋。
Today, there are two big eggs in the noodles.
Shopping for fruit is a common daily task in China. Practice saying prices, counting items, and using simple shopping phrases while buying five apples for three yuan.
-
今天我在一个商店买东西。
Today I'm shopping at a store.
-
这个商店有很多水果。
This store has a lot of fruit.
-
我有三块钱。
I have three yuan.
-
今天我买了五个苹果。
Today I bought five apples.
-
这五个苹果都是中国苹果。
All five of these apples are Chinese apples.
This heartwarming story shows how a small act of kindness can be passed on. Follow Gao Xianming as he learns an important lesson about generosity in his new city.
-
老先生来到高先明前边，给高先明五块钱。
The old gentleman came over to Gao Xianming and gave him five yuan.
-
一个月后，高先明来这里坐车。
A month later, Gao Xianming came here to take the bus.
-
高先明说：“老先生，谢谢您那天的五块钱。”
Gao Xianming said, 'Sir, thank you for the five yuan the other day.'
-
高先明看见一个中国同学安小语，也是手里少五块钱，不能上车。
Gao Xianming saw a Chinese classmate, An Xiaoyu, who was also five yuan short and couldn't get on the bus.
-
高先明去前边，给安小语五块钱。
Gao Xianming went up to the front and gave An Xiaoyu five yuan.
This is a short dialogue about a shopping trip. A woman buys many things, including food, drinks, furniture, and pet food, while her boyfriend reminds her not to overspend.
-
今天我正在一个商店买东西。
Today I'm shopping at a store.
-
这个商店有很多东西，有吃的东西也有喝的东西。
This store has a lot of things—there are things to eat and things to drink.
-
哪个桌椅？”
Which table and chairs?'
-
我：“上个星期天，你说你喜欢他们的那个桌子和那个电脑椅。
Me: 'Last Sunday, you said you liked their table and that computer chair.'
This heartwarming story reveals the quiet devotion of a father. As you read, notice the repeated actions and how a simple cup of tea becomes meaningful.
-
常大中在一个饭店里工作。
Chang Dazhong works at a restaurant.
-
天天晚上八点，都有一个老先生来。
Every evening at eight, an elderly gentleman comes in.
-
天天都是这个时候。
It is always this time every day.
-
老先生看看大中，对大中说：“五年前，我儿子也在这家饭店工作。
The old gentleman looks at Dazhong and says, 'Five years ago, my son also worked at this restaurant.'
This playful poem helps you count and practice vocabulary about clothes, students, and pets. Enjoy the rhythm while learning new words.
-
一两件新衣服，两三本汉语书。
One or two new pieces of clothing, two or three Chinese books.
-
三四个小学生，四五个中学生，五六个大学生。
Three or four primary school students, four or five middle school students, five or six university students.
-
六七个男学生，七八个女同学，八九个好朋友。
Six or seven male students, seven or eight female classmates, eight or nine good friends.
In this easy story, you will follow a simple trip to the supermarket to buy apples. Practice numbers, question words, and nationalities in a real-life shopping context.
-
我有十五块钱。
I have fifteen yuan.
-
三个苹果是中国的，三个苹果不是中国的。
Three of the apples are from China, and three are not.
This short story follows a simple shopping trip in Beijing. You will learn words for buying a phone in Chinese.
-
这是一个苹果手机。
This is an Apple phone.
-
这个手机六千多块钱。
This phone costs over six thousand yuan.
Meet Gao Youpeng, a friendly Beijing coworker who welcomes the narrator with local dishes and a simple language-exchange plan. This warm HSK 2 story is perfect for first readings about work and friendship.
-
他叫高友朋，是一个北京人。
His name is Gao Youpeng, and he's a Beijinger.
-
他说周六可以教我做几个北京菜。
He said he can teach me to make a few Beijing dishes on Saturday.
Follow a traveler's unexpected hospital stay in China, where counting days and costs becomes practical learning. Practice numbers, dates, food prices, and simple descriptions of a doctor and room.
-
饺子七块五，包子五块三。
Dumplings are 7.50 yuan, and steamed buns are 5.30 yuan.
-
面包一块二，牛奶四块三。
Bread is 1.20 yuan, and milk is 4.30 yuan.
A young man helps an old man look for his cat. But the real surprise is why the old man wanted to find the cat. Read on to learn about kindness and friendship.
-
白天明住在中国的一个大学里。
Bai Tianming lives on a university campus in China.
-
白天明看见老先生的家里，有一只很大很白的大猫。
Bai Tianming saw that in the old man's home there was a very big, very white cat.
Enjoy this simple story about a patient and a mysterious apple. It shows how a small act of kindness can make someone feel at home, and you'll learn key words for feelings and daily life.
-
天天下午，桌子上都会多出一个很大的苹果。
Every afternoon, a very big apple would appear on the table.
-
老先生说，你一个人在中国。
The old man said, "You are alone in China."
This short, simple story follows a shopper's trip to the supermarket to buy apples. You'll learn useful vocabulary for shopping, prices, and comparing things.
-
我有四十五块钱。
I had forty-five yuan.
Before you read, try clapping the rhythm. This poem introduces the days of the week and a fun secret: Chinese has two names for Sunday, but no 'Week Seven'!
-
星期天，星期日，两个名字都可以。
Sunday—both 星期天 and 星期日 are acceptable names.
In this dialogue, two people chat while waiting outside a cinema. You'll hear common phrases for talking about hobbies, sports, and movie preferences.
-
Ａ：可以问你几个问题吗？
A: Can I ask you a few questions?
Before you read: this is a short rhyming poem. You will meet a doctor who asks about seeing and hearing. Try to spot words you already know!
-
一个小问题。
One small question.
Ever wondered where old Beijing's tea-drinking culture has gone? Follow a visitor discovering why locals now avoid famous tea houses—and practice expressing surprise and comparisons in Chinese along the way.
-
北京有一个有名的老茶馆儿，叫“老舍茶馆”。
There is a famous old teahouse in Beijing called Lao She Teahouse.
Before you read, close your eyes and imagine a rainy afternoon. This story uses simple HSK 1 words to show how rain can become a talking friend.
-
这个下午，天气很好。
This afternoon, the weather is lovely.
Follow a day from waking at six-thirty to coming home at eight, then leap across days, months, and years. This simple story helps you practice speaking about routines and life changes with clear time words.
-
后天有个好电影。
There's a good movie the day after tomorrow.
Read this short story about people waiting in the rain for a new phone. You will practice numbers, time, and everyday vocabulary.
-
苹果十九很贵，八千七百多块钱。
The iPhone 19 is very expensive—more than 8,700 yuan.
Join a shopper on a quick trip to the store. You'll learn simple words for shopping and feelings in this easy-to-follow story.
-
这个商店有很多东西。
This store has a lot of things.
