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.
53histórias53narrado com áudio~3min de leitura média
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 palavrasÁudio5 palavras-chaveQuestionário
Culture & Travel
A quem deve ser lançada a primeira concha de água no Festival do Borrifo de Água dos Dai?
Uma história sobre uma menina participando do tradicional Festival do Borrifo de Água dos Dai.
A02 min229 palavrasÁudio6 palavras-chaveQuestionário
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 palavrasÁudio7 palavras-chaveQuestionário
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 palavrasÁudio5 palavras-chaveQuestionário
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 palavrasÁudio6 palavras-chaveQuestionário
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 palavrasÁudio5 palavras-chaveQuestionário
Food & Cuisine
奶奶灶台上那罐陈醋
A jar of grandma's favorite vinegar is missing from the kitchen, and her granddaughter helps her find it.
A02 min248 palavrasÁudio6 palavras-chaveQuestionário
History
Os Quatro Caracteres Tatuados nas Costas de Yue Fei
A story about a brave man named Yue Fei and the meaning of the words his mother tattooed on his back.
A02 min249 palavrasÁudio7 palavras-chaveQuestionário
Mystery
O relógio na vitrine da relojoaria que anda para trás
A curious girl discovers a watch in a shop window that runs backward and learns the touching reason behind it.
A13 min252 palavrasÁudio5 palavras-chaveQuestionário
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 palavrasÁudio5 palavras-chaveQuestionário
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 palavrasÁudio6 palavras-chaveQuestionário
Culture & Travel
早茶店里排队的暗号
Uma avó ensina à neta dela um código secreto para conseguir uma mesa mais rápido num restaurante movimentado de chá da manhã.
A13 min269 palavrasÁudio4 palavras-chaveQuestionário
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 min270 palavrasÁudio8 palavras-chaveQuestionário
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 palavrasÁudio5 palavras-chaveQuestionário
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 palavrasÁudio6 palavras-chaveQuestionário
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 palavrasÁudio4 palavras-chaveQuestionário
Nature & Adventure
A Ovelha Perdida nas Profundezas do Bambuzal
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 palavrasÁudio5 palavras-chaveQuestionário
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 palavrasÁudio4 palavras-chaveQuestionário
Nature & Adventure
Ponte Estreita na Névoa
A brave girl helps a scared puppy cross a dangerous bridge in the mountains.
A03 min280 palavrasÁudio6 palavras-chaveQuestionário
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 palavrasÁudio6 palavras-chaveQuestionário
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 palavrasÁudio7 palavras-chaveQuestionário
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 palavrasÁudio5 palavras-chaveQuestionário
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 palavrasÁudio11 palavras-chaveQuestionário
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 palavrasÁudio5 palavras-chaveQuestionário
Easy stories by level
Chinese StoriesA0 — easiest Chinese stories
Ver todos →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.
A quem deve ser lançada a primeira concha de água no Festival do Borrifo de Água dos Dai?
Uma história sobre uma menina participando do tradicional Festival do Borrifo de Água dos Dai.
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
A jar of grandma's favorite vinegar is missing from the kitchen, and her granddaughter helps her find it.
Os Quatro Caracteres Tatuados nas Costas de Yue Fei
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
Ver todos →O relógio na vitrine da relojoaria que anda para trás
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
Uma avó ensina à neta dela um código secreto para conseguir uma mesa mais rápido num restaurante movimentado de chá da manhã.
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.
A Ovelha Perdida nas Profundezas do Bambuzal
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.