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.
53이야기53오디오 내레이션~3분 평균 읽기
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
할아버지의 휘파람은 반만 불었네
A short story about a grandfather who remembers a special song with the help of his grandson.
A02 분217 단어오디오5 핵심 단어퀴즈
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 분229 단어오디오6 핵심 단어퀴즈
Relationships & Drama
비를 맞으며 함께 우산을 쓴 두 사람
A short story about a woman who meets a new friend while waiting in the rain.
A02 분232 단어오디오7 핵심 단어퀴즈
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 분232 단어오디오5 핵심 단어퀴즈
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 분237 단어오디오6 핵심 단어퀴즈
History
詹天佑图纸上那道人字弯
엔지니어 잔톈유가 높은 산에 철도를 놓기 위한 기발한 방법을 찾아냅니다.
A02 분245 단어오디오5 핵심 단어퀴즈
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 분248 단어오디오6 핵심 단어퀴즈
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 분249 단어오디오7 핵심 단어퀴즈
Mystery
시계 가게 진열창에서 거꾸로 가는 시계
A curious girl discovers a watch in a shop window that runs backward and learns the touching reason behind it.
A13 분252 단어오디오5 핵심 단어퀴즈
Relationships & Drama
전학생 책상 속 종이비행기
A new student named Xiao Mei finds a special paper plane on her desk that leads to a new friendship.
A03 분255 단어오디오6 핵심 단어퀴즈
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 분255 단어오디오5 핵심 단어퀴즈
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 분269 단어오디오4 핵심 단어퀴즈
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 분270 단어오디오8 핵심 단어퀴즈
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 분270 단어오디오5 핵심 단어퀴즈
Nature & Adventure
漓江 대나무 뗏목에서 물에 빠진 밀짚모자
A young girl and her father enjoy a ride on a bamboo raft until an unexpected gust of wind creates a small problem.
A03 분272 단어오디오6 핵심 단어퀴즈
Food & Cuisine
兰州拉面师傅手腕那道弯
한 늙은 국수 장인이 자신의 손목에 대한 신체적 수업을 통해 제자에게 완벽한 국수를 만드는 비결을 가르칩니다.
A13 분272 단어오디오4 핵심 단어퀴즈
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 분277 단어오디오5 핵심 단어퀴즈
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 분279 단어오디오4 핵심 단어퀴즈
Nature & Adventure
云雾中的独木桥
A brave girl helps a scared puppy cross a dangerous bridge in the mountains.
A03 분280 단어오디오6 핵심 단어퀴즈
Sports
줄넘기 시합에서 숫자를 잘못 센 순간
A story about a skipping rope competition where the teacher makes a mistake while counting.
A03 분289 단어오디오6 핵심 단어퀴즈
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 분293 단어오디오7 핵심 단어퀴즈
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 분296 단어오디오5 핵심 단어퀴즈
History
皇帝吃剩的那道菜
황제는 배고픈 소년에게 남은 음식을 나눠주고, 모두가 행복한 하루를 보내게 됩니다.
A03 분297 단어오디오11 핵심 단어퀴즈
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 분299 단어오디오5 핵심 단어퀴즈
Easy stories by level
Chinese StoriesA0 — easiest Chinese stories
View all →할아버지의 휘파람은 반만 불었네
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.
비를 맞으며 함께 우산을 쓴 두 사람
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
엔지니어 잔톈유가 높은 산에 철도를 놓기 위한 기발한 방법을 찾아냅니다.
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 — easiest Chinese stories
View all →시계 가게 진열창에서 거꾸로 가는 시계
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
한 늙은 국수 장인이 자신의 손목에 대한 신체적 수업을 통해 제자에게 완벽한 국수를 만드는 비결을 가르칩니다.
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.