Listen first
Play the narration once without reading, just to hear the sounds and rhythm of Chinese.
Easy Chinese Stories
Easy Chinese Stories
These are the easiest Chinese stories on Inklingo — short, simple, present-tense texts written for beginners and ESL learners. Every story has audio narration so you can read and listen together, pictures that make meaning clear, and key vocabulary you can tap. Start here and finish your first Chinese story today.
53stories53narrated with audio~3min average read
How to read your first Chinese story
You do not need every word. Follow these steps and you will get to the end.
Read and listen together
Read along while the audio plays — connecting sound to spelling is the fastest way to learn.
Tap what you don’t know
Tap any word for its meaning and skim the key vocabulary. Keep moving; a rough understanding is plenty on the first read.
Re-read for confidence
Read it a second time. The words you looked up will already feel familiar — that quick win keeps you going.
Start with these easy stories
Shortest and simplest first
Music & Arts
Grandpa's Whistle Only Blew Halfway
A short story about a grandfather who remembers a special song with the help of his grandson.
A02 min217 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
Culture & Travel
Who Should the First Ladle of Water Be Splashed On During the Dai Water Splashing Festival?
A story about a girl participating in the traditional Dai Water Splashing Festival.
A02 min229 wordsAudio6 key wordsQuiz
Daily Life
Misunderstanding Caused by Being Five Minutes Late
A short story about a small misunderstanding at a coffee shop between two friends.
A02 min232 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
Relationships & Drama
Two People Sharing an Umbrella
A short story about a woman who meets a new friend while waiting in the rain.
A02 min232 wordsAudio7 key wordsQuiz
Mystery
The Scale That Was Always Short One Gram in the Food Market
A little girl helps a vegetable seller discover a secret hidden under her scale.
A02 min237 wordsAudio6 key wordsQuiz
History
The 'Ren Zi' Curve on Zhan Tianyou's Blueprint
An engineer named Zhan Tianyou finds a clever way to build a railway through a tall mountain.
A02 min245 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
Food & Cuisine
That jar of aged vinegar on Grandma's stove
Grandma's favorite jar of vinegar is missing from the kitchen, and her granddaughter helps her find it.
A02 min248 wordsAudio6 key wordsQuiz
History
岳飞背上刺的那四个字
A story about a brave man named Yue Fei and the meaning of the words his mother tattooed on his back.
A02 min249 wordsAudio7 key wordsQuiz
Mystery
The Watch Running Backward in the Shop Window
A curious girl discovers a watch in a shop window that runs backward and learns the touching reason behind it.
A13 min252 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
Myths & Legends
The Rules of the Rabbit Pounding Medicine on the Moon
A hardworking rabbit makes medicine on the moon to keep it shining bright.
A03 min255 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
Relationships & Drama
转学生课桌里那架纸飞机
A new student named Xiao Mei finds a special paper plane on her desk that leads to a new friendship.
A03 min255 wordsAudio6 key wordsQuiz
Culture & Travel
The Secret Code for Waiting in Line at the Morning Tea Shop
A grandmother teaches her granddaughter a secret code to get a table faster at a crowded morning tea restaurant.
A13 min269 wordsAudio4 key wordsQuiz
Myths & Legends
The Day the Stone Lion's Eyes Turned Red
A little girl discovers a warning from a stone lion that saves her village from a flood.
A03 min270 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
History
唐朝公主种下的那棵石榴树
A princess in the Tang Dynasty plants a pomegranate tree and cares for it as it grows over time.
A03 min270 wordsAudio8 key wordsQuiz
Nature & Adventure
漓江竹筏上掉进水里的草帽
A young girl and her father enjoy a ride on a bamboo raft until an unexpected gust of wind creates a small problem.
A03 min272 wordsAudio6 key wordsQuiz
Food & Cuisine
The Bend in the Lanzhou Noodle Master's Wrist
An old noodle master teaches his apprentice the secret to making perfect noodles through a physical lesson about his own wrist.
A13 min272 wordsAudio4 key wordsQuiz
Nature & Adventure
The Sheep Lost Deep in the Bamboo Forest
A young girl searches for her lost sheep in a bamboo forest and meets a panda.
A13 min277 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
Daily Life
A note that popped out after the vending machine swallowed the coin
A heartwarming story about a daily interaction between a girl and a vending machine repairman through handwritten notes.
A13 min279 wordsAudio4 key wordsQuiz
Nature & Adventure
云雾中的独木桥
A brave girl helps a scared puppy cross a dangerous bridge in the mountains.
A03 min280 wordsAudio6 key wordsQuiz
Sports
跳绳比赛数错的那一下
A story about a skipping rope competition where the teacher makes a mistake while counting.
A03 min289 wordsAudio6 key wordsQuiz
Music & Arts
The Loose Chinese Knot Button in the Wings of Yue Opera
A young Yue opera actress finds comfort in a special jade pendant hidden inside her costume before her performance.
A13 min293 wordsAudio7 key wordsQuiz
Food & Cuisine
Grandma's Hidden Chili Oil Recipe
A story about a girl who learns the true secret behind her grandmother's famous chili oil recipe.
A13 min296 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
History
The Dish the Emperor Left Over
An emperor shares his leftover food with a hungry boy, leading to a happy day for everyone.
A03 min297 wordsAudio11 key wordsQuiz
Sports
武术比赛前折断的那杆枪
A young martial arts student learns a valuable lesson when his spear breaks right before a big competition.
A13 min299 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
Easy stories by level
Chinese StoriesA0 — easiest Chinese stories
View all →Grandpa's Whistle Only Blew Halfway
A short story about a grandfather who remembers a special song with the help of his grandson.
Who Should the First Ladle of Water Be Splashed On During the Dai Water Splashing Festival?
A story about a girl participating in the traditional Dai Water Splashing Festival.
Misunderstanding Caused by Being Five Minutes Late
A short story about a small misunderstanding at a coffee shop between two friends.
Two People Sharing an Umbrella
A short story about a woman who meets a new friend while waiting in the rain.
The Scale That Was Always Short One Gram in the Food Market
A little girl helps a vegetable seller discover a secret hidden under her scale.
The 'Ren Zi' Curve on Zhan Tianyou's Blueprint
An engineer named Zhan Tianyou finds a clever way to build a railway through a tall mountain.
That jar of aged vinegar on Grandma's stove
Grandma's favorite jar of vinegar is missing from the kitchen, and her granddaughter helps her find it.
岳飞背上刺的那四个字
A story about a brave man named Yue Fei and the meaning of the words his mother tattooed on his back.
A1 — easiest Chinese stories
View all →The Watch Running Backward in the Shop Window
A curious girl discovers a watch in a shop window that runs backward and learns the touching reason behind it.
The Secret Code for Waiting in Line at the Morning Tea Shop
A grandmother teaches her granddaughter a secret code to get a table faster at a crowded morning tea restaurant.
The Bend in the Lanzhou Noodle Master's Wrist
An old noodle master teaches his apprentice the secret to making perfect noodles through a physical lesson about his own wrist.
The Sheep Lost Deep in the Bamboo Forest
A young girl searches for her lost sheep in a bamboo forest and meets a panda.
A note that popped out after the vending machine swallowed the coin
A heartwarming story about a daily interaction between a girl and a vending machine repairman through handwritten notes.
The Loose Chinese Knot Button in the Wings of Yue Opera
A young Yue opera actress finds comfort in a special jade pendant hidden inside her costume before her performance.
Grandma's Hidden Chili Oil Recipe
A story about a girl who learns the true secret behind her grandmother's famous chili oil recipe.
武术比赛前折断的那杆枪
A young martial arts student learns a valuable lesson when his spear breaks right before a big competition.
Keep reading easy Chinese on the app
Inklingo turns easy stories into a personalized path: save the words you tap, review them with spaced repetition, and unlock the next story when you are ready.
Easy Chinese stories FAQ
What are the easiest Chinese stories for beginners?
The easiest are A0 and A1 texts: short, present-tense, built from the most common Chinese words, and paired with audio and pictures. Every story here is chosen for exactly that.
Are these good for ESL learners?
Yes. They are graded for beginners learning Chinese as a second language, with audio narration, images, and key vocabulary so you build reading and listening together.
Are the stories free?
Yes. You can read and listen to every story for free, with no sign-up. The Inklingo app adds saved vocabulary, progress tracking, and personalized review.
What should I read next?
When A0 and A1 stories feel comfortable, move on to A2 and then the intermediate (B1–B2) collection. Each step adds a little more vocabulary and slightly longer sentences.