DLPT
Chinese reading practice for the DLPT
55 Mandarin articles on the subjects the DLPT tests: government, world affairs, defense and security, the economy, science, society and the environment. Sorted by ILR level; point at any word for its pinyin and meaning.
Pick your level
ILR 0+
- 十八个数字Government and law · What is a Chinese ID card? · HSK 1 · 135 characters
- 中国人只能有一个孩子吗？Government and law · Does China still have a one-child policy? · HSK 1 · 190 characters
- 熊猫去外国World affairs · Why does China send pandas to other countries? · HSK 1 · 154 characters
- “八一”是什么日子？Defense and security · What is August 1 in China? Army Day explained · HSK 1 · 102 characters
- 十元还是十块？Economy and money · Chinese money: what are yuan, kuai and mao? · HSK 1 · 171 characters
- 人民币是什么意思？Economy and money · What does renminbi mean? · HSK 1 · 214 characters
- 谁去接孩子？Society · Who picks up kids from school in China? · HSK 1 · 234 characters
- 月亮的后面Science and technology · China on the far side of the moon · HSK 1 · 181 characters
- 北京的蓝天Environment · Is the air in Beijing better now? · HSK 1 · 144 characters
- 先挂号Health · How to see a doctor in China · HSK 1 · 158 characters
- 中国有多大？Geography · How big is China? · HSK 1 · 151 characters
- 110、119、120Safety · Emergency numbers in China · HSK 1 · 139 characters
ILR 1
- 户口是什么？Government and law · What is hukou in China? · HSK 3 · 253 characters
- 小球转动大球World affairs · What was ping-pong diplomacy? · HSK 3 · 253 characters
- 在中国，一定要当兵吗？Defense and security · Is military service compulsory in China? · HSK 3 · 245 characters
- 一碗面的三十分钟Economy and money · How does food delivery work in China? · HSK 3 · 333 characters
- “996”是什么意思？Economy and money · What does 996 mean in China? · HSK 3 · 250 characters
- 只带了现金怎么办？Economy and money · How to pay with your phone in China · HSK 3 · 362 characters
- “618”是什么节？Economy and money · What is the 618 shopping festival? · HSK 3 · 228 characters
- 天上的“宫”Science and technology · What is China’s space station Tiangong? · HSK 3 · 238 characters
- 你是什么垃圾？Environment · How does garbage sorting work in China? · HSK 3 · 239 characters
- 黄河为什么是黄色的？Environment · Why is the Yellow River yellow? · HSK 3 · 214 characters
- 身上的红圆圈Health · What is cupping in Chinese medicine? · HSK 3 · 253 characters
- “我是警察，请把钱转给我”Safety · Phone scams in China: how to spot them · HSK 3 · 237 characters
ILR 1+
- 晚三年退休Government and law · What is the retirement age in China? · HSK 4 · 338 characters
- “两会”是什么？Government and law · What are the Two Sessions in China? · HSK 4 · 319 characters
- 双十一是怎么来的？Economy and money · Where did Singles Day come from? · HSK 4 · 578 characters
- 从袜子到汽车Economy and money · Why is China called the world’s factory? · HSK 4 · 333 characters
- “内卷”是什么意思？Society · What does 内卷 (involution) mean? · HSK 4 · 580 characters
- 一半的孩子戴眼镜Society · Why do so many Chinese children wear glasses? · HSK 4 · 378 characters
- “特种兵旅游”是什么？Society · What is special forces tourism in China? · HSK 4 · 410 characters
- 中国的高铁有多长？Science and technology · How big is China's high-speed rail? · HSK 4 · 510 characters
- 共享单车怎么骑？Environment · How to use shared bikes in China · HSK 4 · 329 characters
- 为什么有的车牌是绿色的？Environment · Why do Chinese cars have green license plates? · HSK 4 · 384 characters
- 长江十年不打鱼Environment · Why did China ban fishing on the Yangtze? · HSK 4 · 342 characters
ILR 2
- 中国在联合国安理会Government and law · Does China have a veto at the UN Security Council? · HSK 5 · 408 characters
- 中国的“蓝盔”World affairs · How many UN peacekeepers does China send? · HSK 5 · 294 characters
- 高考是什么？Society · What is the gaokao? · HSK 5 · 606 characters
- 一条线，两种冬天Society · Why is there no heating in southern China? · HSK 5 · 348 characters
- “躺平”是什么意思？Society · What does 躺平 (lying flat) mean? · HSK 5 · 507 characters
- 广场舞为什么这么火？Society · Why do Chinese aunties dance in public squares? · HSK 5 · 592 characters
- 年轻人为什么去寺庙？Society · Why are young Chinese people going to temples? · HSK 5 · 383 characters
- 天上的北斗Science and technology · What is BeiDou, China’s GPS? · HSK 5 · 325 characters
- 五月十二日的演练Geography · What to do in an earthquake in China · HSK 5 · 338 characters
- 为什么中国只有一个时区？Geography · Why does China have only one time zone? · HSK 5 · 858 characters
ILR 2+
- 电动车为什么不能进电梯？Government and law · Why are e-bikes banned from lifts in China? · HSK 6 · 863 characters
- 五险一金是什么？Government and law · What is 五险一金 (wuxian yijin) in China? · HSK 6 · 886 characters
- 什么是春运？Society · What is Chunyun, China’s Spring Festival travel rush? · HSK 6 · 810 characters
- 家族群里都有什么？Society · Chinese family WeChat groups: red packets, good-morning pictures and health rumours · HSK 6 · 569 characters
- 什么是“坐月子”？Society · What is zuo yuezi? Chinese postpartum confinement explained · HSK 6 · 695 characters
- 在太空能看见长城吗？Science and technology · Can you see the Great Wall of China from space? · HSK 6 · 880 characters
- 汉字没有字母，中国人怎么打字？Science and technology · How do Chinese people type without an alphabet? · HSK 6 · 962 characters
- “绿色长城”是什么？Environment · What is China's Great Green Wall? · HSK 6 · 707 characters
ILR 3
Questions
What is the DLPT?
The Defense Language Proficiency Test measures how well a person reads and understands a foreign language, scored on the ILR scale from 0+ to 3 and above. Its Mandarin reading passages cover politics, the economy, security, science, society and the environment.
How are these levels worked out?
Each reading is checked against the 2025 HSK word list, and its HSK level is turned into the nearest ILR level: HSK 1 about 0+, HSK 2 and 3 about 1, HSK 4 about 1+, HSK 5 about 2, HSK 6 about 2+, and harder texts about 3. The two scales measure different things, so treat it as a guide.
Are these real DLPT passages?
No. Every reading is written by us, on the same kinds of subjects, and its facts are checked against its sources. Point at any word to see its pinyin and meaning in that sentence.