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.
53histoires53narré avec audio~3min de lecture moyenne
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
Le sifflement de grand-père ne souffle que la moitié
A short story about a grandfather who remembers a special song with the help of his grandson.
A02 min217 motsAudio5 mots-clésQuiz
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 motsAudio6 mots-clésQuiz
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 motsAudio7 mots-clésQuiz
Daily Life
迟到五分钟引发的误会
Une courte histoire sur un petit malentendu dans un café entre deux amis.
A02 min232 motsAudio5 mots-clésQuiz
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 motsAudio6 mots-clésQuiz
History
詹天佑图纸上那道人字弯
Un ingénieur nommé Zhan Tianyou trouve une manière astucieuse de construire un chemin de fer à travers une haute montagne.
A02 min245 motsAudio5 mots-clésQuiz
Food & Cuisine
Le pot de vinaigre préféré de grand-mère
Ceci est une histoire sur le pot de vinaigre préféré de grand-mère.
A02 min248 motsAudio6 mots-clésQuiz
History
Les quatre mots que Yue Fei s'est fait tatouer sur le dos
A story about a brave man named Yue Fei and the meaning of the words his mother tattooed on his back.
A02 min249 motsAudio7 mots-clésQuiz
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 motsAudio5 mots-clésQuiz
Relationships & Drama
L'avion en papier dans le bureau de la nouvelle élève
A new student named Xiao Mei finds a special paper plane on her desk that leads to a new friendship.
A03 min255 motsAudio6 mots-clésQuiz
Myths & Legends
Les règles du lapin pilonnant des médicaments sur la lune
A hardworking rabbit makes medicine on the moon to keep it shining bright.
A03 min255 motsAudio5 mots-clésQuiz
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 motsAudio4 mots-clésQuiz
History
Le grenadier planté par la princesse de la dynastie Tang
A princess in the Tang Dynasty plants a pomegranate tree and cares for it as it grows over time.
A03 min270 motsAudio8 mots-clésQuiz
Myths & Legends
石狮子眼睛红了的那天
A little girl discovers a warning from a stone lion that saves her village from a flood.
A03 min270 motsAudio5 mots-clésQuiz
Nature & Adventure
Le chapeau de paille tombé à l'eau sur un radeau de bambou sur le fleuve Li
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 motsAudio6 mots-clésQuiz
Food & Cuisine
La courbe du poignet du maître de Lanzhou Lamian
An old noodle master teaches his apprentice the secret to making perfect noodles through a physical lesson about his own wrist.
A13 min272 motsAudio4 mots-clésQuiz
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 motsAudio5 mots-clésQuiz
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 motsAudio4 mots-clésQuiz
Nature & Adventure
云雾中的独木桥
description traduite
A03 min280 motsAudio6 mots-clésQuiz
Sports
跳绳比赛数错的那一下
Une histoire sur une compétition de corde à sauter où l'enseignant commet une erreur en comptant.
A03 min289 motsAudio6 mots-clésQuiz
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 motsAudio7 mots-clésQuiz
Food & Cuisine
外婆藏起来的辣椒油配方
A story about a girl who learns the true secret behind her grandmother's famous chili oil recipe.
A13 min296 motsAudio5 mots-clésQuiz
History
Le plat laissé par l'empereur
Un empereur partage sa nourriture restante avec un garçon affamé, ce qui conduit à une journée heureuse pour tous.
A03 min297 motsAudio11 mots-clésQuiz
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 motsAudio5 mots-clésQuiz
Easy stories by level
Chinese StoriesA0 — easiest Chinese stories
Tout voir →Le sifflement de grand-père ne souffle que la moitié
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
Une courte histoire sur un petit malentendu dans un café entre deux amis.
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
Un ingénieur nommé Zhan Tianyou trouve une manière astucieuse de construire un chemin de fer à travers une haute montagne.
Le pot de vinaigre préféré de grand-mère
Ceci est une histoire sur le pot de vinaigre préféré de grand-mère.
Les quatre mots que Yue Fei s'est fait tatouer sur le dos
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
Tout voir →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.
La courbe du poignet du maître de Lanzhou Lamian
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.
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.
外婆藏起来的辣椒油配方
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.