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.
53verhalen53verteld met audio~3min gemiddelde leestijd
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
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 woordenAudio5 sleutelwoordenQuiz
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 woordenAudio6 sleutelwoordenQuiz
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 woordenAudio7 sleutelwoordenQuiz
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 woordenAudio5 sleutelwoordenQuiz
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 woordenAudio6 sleutelwoordenQuiz
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 woordenAudio5 sleutelwoordenQuiz
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 woordenAudio6 sleutelwoordenQuiz
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 woordenAudio7 sleutelwoordenQuiz
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 woordenAudio5 sleutelwoordenQuiz
Myths & Legends
De regels van het konijn dat medicijnen stampt op de maan
A hardworking rabbit makes medicine on the moon to keep it shining bright.
A03 min255 woordenAudio5 sleutelwoordenQuiz
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 woordenAudio6 sleutelwoordenQuiz
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 woordenAudio4 sleutelwoordenQuiz
History
De granaatappelboom die de prinses van de Tang-dynastie plantte
A princess in the Tang Dynasty plants a pomegranate tree and cares for it as it grows over time.
A03 min270 woordenAudio8 sleutelwoordenQuiz
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 woordenAudio5 sleutelwoordenQuiz
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 woordenAudio6 sleutelwoordenQuiz
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 woordenAudio4 sleutelwoordenQuiz
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 woordenAudio5 sleutelwoordenQuiz
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 woordenAudio4 sleutelwoordenQuiz
Nature & Adventure
De brug van één plank in de mist
A brave girl helps a scared puppy cross a dangerous bridge in the mountains.
A03 min280 woordenAudio6 sleutelwoordenQuiz
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 woordenAudio6 sleutelwoordenQuiz
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 woordenAudio7 sleutelwoordenQuiz
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 woordenAudio5 sleutelwoordenQuiz
History
皇帝吃剩的那道菜
An emperor shares his leftover food with a hungry boy, leading to a happy day for everyone.
A03 min297 woordenAudio11 sleutelwoordenQuiz
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 woordenAudio5 sleutelwoordenQuiz
Easy stories by level
Chinese StoriesA0 — easiest Chinese stories
Alles bekijken →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 — easiest Chinese stories
Alles bekijken →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.
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.