Look at the pictures
Before reading, talk about the pictures together. Guessing what happens makes kids want to read on — and they pick up words faster.
Chinese Stories for Kids
Chinese Stories for Kids
These 106 Chinese stories are picked for young learners: short, gentle, and full of pictures. Every story has audio so kids can listen along, simple A0–A2 language, and tap-to-translate words for help — perfect for reading together at home or in class.
106stories106narrated with audio~4min average read
How to read Chinese stories with kids
Reading together is the best part. Keep it playful and let the pictures do a lot of the work.
Listen and point
Play the audio and point to each word as it is spoken. Hearing and seeing words together builds reading and pronunciation at once.
Tap tricky words
Tap any word a child does not know for the meaning. No need to look up everything — understanding the story is what matters.
Read it again
Kids love repetition. Re-reading a favorite story builds confidence and locks in vocabulary without it feeling like study.
Short Chinese stories kids will love
Simple, colorful, and fun
Music & Arts
爷爷的口哨只吹一半
A short story about a grandfather who remembers a special song with the help of his grandson.
A02 min217 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
Culture & Travel
傣族泼水节第一瓢该泼给谁
A story about a girl participating in the traditional Dai Water Splashing Festival.
A02 min229 wordsAudio6 key wordsQuiz
Relationships & Drama
共用一把伞的两个人
A short story about a woman who meets a new friend while waiting in the rain.
A02 min232 wordsAudio7 key wordsQuiz
Daily Life
迟到五分钟引发的误会
A short story about a small misunderstanding at a coffee shop between two friends.
A02 min232 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
Mystery
菜市场那杆总缺一克的秤
A little girl helps a vegetable seller discover a secret hidden under her scale.
A02 min237 wordsAudio6 key wordsQuiz
History
詹天佑图纸上那道人字弯
An engineer named Zhan Tianyou finds a clever way to build a railway through a tall mountain.
A02 min245 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
Food & Cuisine
奶奶灶台上那罐陈醋
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
Myths & Legends
月亮上兔子捣药的规矩
A hardworking rabbit makes medicine on the moon to keep it shining bright.
A03 min255 wordsAudio5 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
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
Mystery
钟表店橱窗里倒着走的表
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
Culture & Travel
早茶店里排队的暗号
A grandmother teaches her granddaughter a secret code to get a table faster at a crowded morning tea restaurant.
A13 min269 wordsAudio4 key wordsQuiz
Food & Cuisine
兰州拉面师傅手腕那道弯
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
竹林深处迷路的那只羊
A young girl named Xiaoyu searches for her missing sheep in a misty bamboo forest and encounters a friendly giant panda along the way.
A13 min277 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
Daily Life
自动售货机吞硬币后弹出的字条
A heartwarming story about a daily interaction between a girl and a vending machine repairman through handwritten notes.
A13 min279 wordsAudio4 key wordsQuiz
History
替故宫屋顶捉虫的鸟
This story explains how Beijing swifts help protect the old roofs of the Forbidden City by catching insects.
A13 min287 wordsAudio8 key wordsQuiz
Music & Arts
越剧后台没扣好的那颗盘扣
A young Yue opera actress finds comfort in a special jade pendant hidden inside her costume before her performance.
A13 min293 wordsAudio7 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
Myths & Legends
两位门神子时换岗的规矩
A young boy learns the importance of following tradition when he hears his family's protective door gods changing shifts.
A13 min302 wordsAudio4 key wordsQuiz
Relationships & Drama
没有寄出的道歉信
A story about a girl who finally delivers an apology letter to her long-lost friend after three years.
A13 min314 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
Music & Arts
皮影戏艺人手里那盏马灯
An elderly shadow puppet artist finds a way to keep his traditional performance alive with the help of a friend.
A03 min302 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
Culture & Travel
夜市摊主记住的老顾客
A friendly noodle stall owner recognizes his regular customer and remembers her specific taste preferences.
A03 min311 wordsAudio7 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
Kids stories by level
Chinese StoriesA0 — Chinese for kids
View all →爷爷的口哨只吹一半
A short story about a grandfather who remembers a special song with the help of his grandson.
傣族泼水节第一瓢该泼给谁
A story about a girl participating in the traditional Dai Water Splashing Festival.
共用一把伞的两个人
A short story about a woman who meets a new friend while waiting in the rain.
迟到五分钟引发的误会
A short story about a small misunderstanding at a coffee shop between two friends.
菜市场那杆总缺一克的秤
A little girl helps a vegetable seller discover a secret hidden under her scale.
詹天佑图纸上那道人字弯
An engineer named Zhan Tianyou finds a clever way to build a railway through a tall mountain.
奶奶灶台上那罐陈醋
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 — Chinese for kids
View all →钟表店橱窗里倒着走的表
A curious girl discovers a watch in a shop window that runs backward and learns the touching reason behind it.
早茶店里排队的暗号
A grandmother teaches her granddaughter a secret code to get a table faster at a crowded morning tea restaurant.
兰州拉面师傅手腕那道弯
An old noodle master teaches his apprentice the secret to making perfect noodles through a physical lesson about his own wrist.
竹林深处迷路的那只羊
A young girl named Xiaoyu searches for her missing sheep in a misty bamboo forest and encounters a friendly giant panda along the way.
自动售货机吞硬币后弹出的字条
A heartwarming story about a daily interaction between a girl and a vending machine repairman through handwritten notes.
乌镇早班船为何少停一座桥
A short story about Xiaolin learning why an early boat skips one bridge to keep passengers safe.
北京胡同公用电话旁的三枚硬币
On a night in a Beijing hutong, Lin Yu uses a coin by a public phone to call her father and helps a little boy stay in touch with his sister.
替故宫屋顶捉虫的鸟
This story explains how Beijing swifts help protect the old roofs of the Forbidden City by catching insects.
A2 — Chinese for kids
View all →
林则徐箱底那封没有送出的信
This story follows Lin Zexu as he faces fear and separation while staying true to what he believes is right.
敦煌藏经洞封门前的最后一卷
This story imagines the last scroll placed in the Dunhuang Library Cave before its entrance was sealed.
全运会接力棒上的一道裂纹
This story follows a relay team that chooses safety, honesty, and trust over winning first place.
旧照相馆底片里多出的人影
A story about a grandfather and his grandson discovering a mysterious figure in old photo negatives that leads to a touching family reunion.
评弹先生留给空椅子的开场白
An elderly Suzhou pingtan performer keeps an empty chair on stage to honor his former partner.
唢呐班主把压轴曲让给了徒弟
A suona troupe leader gives his most important performance to his nervous apprentice.
泉州簪花围少插的一朵花
A girl visits Quanzhou to take a photo for her grandmother and discovers the touching story behind one missing flower.
省队选拔赛上假装受伤的对手
A story about a girl who learns that honesty is more important than winning a competition after her friend fakes an injury.
Make Chinese a daily habit on the app
The Inklingo app turns stories into a fun, personalized path — save words, earn progress, and unlock new stories — great for kids who want to keep going.
Chinese stories for kids FAQ
Are these Chinese stories good for children?
Yes. They are short A0–A2 stories with simple language, friendly pictures, and audio narration — chosen to be easy and enjoyable for young learners and beginners of any age.
Are the kids stories free?
Start reading without an account. Guest translations are limited to 12 taps per day. A free account saves your progress and includes 3 completed web stories; then continue in the app. Free accounts have a limited story allowance, and further access requires Pro.
Can my child learn Chinese from stories?
Absolutely. Hearing and reading simple stories is how children learn any language — they absorb vocabulary and grammar in context. Pictures and audio make it stick for young learners.
What age are these stories for?
The simple language and pictures suit early readers and anyone learning their first Chinese. Read together with younger kids; older kids can read and listen on their own.