Stories & dialogs — the right text at the right moment
You learn to read Chinese fastest from text where you already know about nine characters in ten: enough to follow the story, few enough new ones to actually learn them. Too easy teaches you nothing; too hard and you are decoding, not reading.
So every story and dialog here is measured against the characters you know. In Character Mastery, each one opens on your shelf the moment you know 90% of it — your first dialogs after about 50 characters, new ones every week — with pinyin, the translation in your language, and audio at normal and slow speed. Why it works →
1Learn characters
A few a day, in look-alike sets, with spaced review.
2Texts unlock
Each one opens at 90% known — measured on your own progress.
3Read & listen
Normal and slow audio, every character lighting up as it is spoken.
Tap Try it free below for the ones that open without an account. The 674 we have checked by hand are included in Character Mastery; the rest are on their way.
Social Interaction
134 included294
Try it freeBeginnerLong time no see
很久不见
Try it freeBeginnerWaiting
等
Try it freeBeginnerLooking for Daming · 找大明
Try it freeBeginnerTomorrow · 明天做什么？
Try it freeBeginnerHe'll come · 他会来的
Try it freeBeginnerHappy birthday! · 生日快乐！
Try it freeBeginnerAre you free? · 你哪天有空？
Try it freeBeginnerDo you know him? · 你认识他吗？
Try it freeBeginnerWho is she? · 她是谁？
Try it freeBeginnerShall we go? · 我们去吧？
+279 more in Social Interaction
Daily Life
73 included139
Try it freeBeginnerA good idea
好主意
Try it freeBeginnerA Busy Day
忙的一天
Try it freeBeginnerRemember!
记住！
Try it freeBeginnerXiaoming doesn't want to get up
小明不想起来
Try it freeBeginnerCancelling at the last minute
取消
Try it freeIntermediateShopping at the Market
去市场买菜
Try it freeIntermediateThe Old Bicycle
那辆旧自行车
Try it freeAdvancedThe Morning Market
清晨的菜市场
Try it freeBeginnerAre you up? · 你起来了没有？
Try it freeBeginnerCan you do it?
Try it freeBeginnerWhat are your plans? · 你打算做什么？
Try it freeBeginnerConfirming a meeting time
Try it freeIntermediateTwo friends decide whether to cook at home or order takeout
Try it freeIntermediateTwo roommates negotiate how to split household chores
Try it freeAdvancedTwo friends argue about whether to wake up early or stay up late to be productive
+124 more in Daily Life
Travel & Transportation
50 included131
+116 more in Travel & Transportation
People & Identity
50 included116
+101 more in People & Identity
Food & Drink
48 included132
+117 more in Food & Drink
Work & Business
36 included145
Try it freeBeginnerThe first day
第一天
Try it freeBeginnerThe new manager
新经理
Try it freeBeginnerThe new one · 你叫什么？
+130 more in Work & Business
Entertainment & Culture
33 included160
+145 more in Entertainment & Culture
Home & Living
33 included116
+101 more in Home & Living
Health & Body
29 included108+93 more in Health & Body
Weather & Climate
25 included109
+94 more in Weather & Climate
Shopping & Money
25 included108
+93 more in Shopping & Money
Animals & Living Things
24 included113+98 more in Animals & Living Things
Emotions & Personality
21 included105
Try it freeBeginnerIs he angry?
他生气了？
Try it freeBeginnerShe thinks it's wrong
她觉得不对
Try it freeBeginnerDon't be afraid · 别怕
Try it freeBeginnerWhat's wrong? · 你怎么了？
+90 more in Emotions & Personality
Education & Learning
19 included147+132 more in Education & Learning
Nature & Environment
19 included105+90 more in Nature & Environment
Time & Numbers
19 included102+87 more in Time & Numbers
Abstract & Function Words
18 included116+101 more in Abstract & Function Words
Technology & Internet
18 included104
+89 more in Technology & Internet