Chinese · English · A1–A2

Easy Chinese short stories for beginners, with English translation (A1–A2)

Short stories written in simple Chinese for learners, with the English beside every paragraph. Short enough to finish in one sitting, simple enough for your first months of Chinese.

170 beginner stories in Chinese, 133 of them free

Each one opens in your browser with no account, the Chinese and the English side by side, paragraph by paragraph, shortest first. Every free story is also a free Chinese–English ebook for Kindle, Kobo or any e-reader: downloading needs a free account, no payment (which file to pick).

The stories at this level come from 零基础入门, original Chinese stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from 入门小故事, original Chinese stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from 24路公交, original Chinese stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from 真实生活, original Chinese stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from 简易名著 A2, original Chinese stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from 日常对话, original Chinese stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from 亚洲民间故事, original Chinese stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from 柠檬屋之夏, original Chinese stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from 圣诞剧, original Chinese stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from 简单故事, original Chinese stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from 夜间面包房, original Chinese stories written for the library.

Open the beginner Chinese–English stories in the library, where you can search them and switch to another level or pair.

To listen as you read, see the Chinese stories with audio.

What beginner Chinese stories are like

These stories are written for the level, not translated down to it: everyday settings, short sentences, the words a beginner meets first, and a plot worth finishing.

The classics start at B1. Even a short fable becomes full, old-fashioned prose once translated, so the fables and fairy tales sit one level up, as the first step after these.

How to read Chinese at A1–A2

Read the English first if you need to

At A1 there is no shame in reading a paragraph in English, then the Chinese. You are matching words to meaning, and the paragraph beside it makes that quick.

Finish, then reread

Read the whole story once, glancing across whenever you are lost. The second time, cover the English and look only when you are stuck. Most readers are surprised how much stayed.

Collect a few words, not every word

Pick three or four words per story that keep coming back and learn those. The rest will return in the next story.

More on the method in how to read a parallel text.