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 81 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.
81stories81narrated 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
The Rule of the Two Door Gods Changing Shifts at Midnight
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
History
The Golden Brick That The Forbidden City Craftsman Secretly Hid
A story about a skilled craftsman in the Forbidden City who makes a difficult choice to save a unique, slightly imperfect piece of work.
A13 min312 wordsAudio4 key wordsQuiz
Relationships & Drama
The Apology Letter That Wasn't Sent
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
The Lantern in the Shadow Puppet Artist's Hand
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
The Night Market Stall Owner Remembers His Regular Customer
A friendly noodle stall owner recognizes his regular customer and remembers her specific taste preferences.
A03 min311 wordsAudio7 key wordsQuiz
Daily Life
The Lost and Found Notice Posted in the Elevator
A kind neighbor finds a missing cat after seeing a notice in the elevator.
A03 min338 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
Kids stories by level
Chinese StoriesA0 — Chinese for kids
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 — Chinese for kids
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.
A2 — Chinese for kids
View all →
The Extra Figure in the Old Photo Studio Negatives
A story about a grandfather and his grandson discovering a mysterious figure in old photo negatives that leads to a touching family reunion.
Opponent Faking Injury at Provincial Team Selection Match
A story about a girl who learns that honesty is more important than winning a competition after her friend fakes an injury.
昆曲牡丹亭改了三次的唱词
A story about a Kunqu teacher who teaches his student the deep emotional meaning behind changing lyrics over time.
A Note Received Before a Badminton Match
A girl finds a mysterious note before a badminton match and learns to trust her partner.
古琴谱里缺的那个音
Story description
The Candy the Kitchen God Ate Before Ascending to Heaven
A story about a young boy who learns the value of honesty after accidentally breaking his grandmother's bowl before the Kitchen God ascends to heaven.
The Unfinished Chess Game on the Eve of the Xi'an Incident
A story about a young soldier and his sergeant on the night of the historic Xi'an Incident.
The Unclaimed Pothos on the Balcony
A story about a woman who finds an unclaimed plant on her balcony and builds a friendship with the person who left it behind.
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?
Yes. You can read and listen to every story for free, with no sign-up. The Inklingo app adds saved words, progress, and personalized review for older kids.
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.