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HSK 4 Chinese Reading Practice

Stories and articles where at least 9 in 10 words are HSK 4 or below.

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Every reading sits at the level where most of its words are taught

HSK 136 readings HSK 260 readings HSK 342 readings HSK 437 readings HSK 541 readings HSK 629 readings

Series at HSK 4

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Story series · 12 chapters · 1 min audio each猫去哪儿了？The case of the missing catA fat white cat on a strict diet goes missing. A retired policeman and his ten-year-old granddaughter knock on every door. Every neighbour is hiding something.Chapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 6Chapter 7Chapter 8Chapter 9Chapter 10Chapter 11Chapter 12Starts with chapter 1

Story series · 10 chapters · 2 min audio each夜班The night shiftA student who can’t sleep takes the night shift at a corner shop called Always Here. Every night at three, while he unloads the van, someone leaves a note at the till and gives him marks. Nobody is ever there.Chapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 6Chapter 7Chapter 8Chapter 9Chapter 10Starts with chapter 1

All readings at HSK 4

Page 1 of 4 · 1–12 of 37

Story · 1 min audio怎么点奶茶How to order bubble tea in ChineseTen days without milk tea. One shop. An order that keeps getting smaller.HSK 4

Story · 1 min audio十二生肖的故事The Great Race: the Chinese zodiac storyTwelve places. One wide river. And a cat who asked a friend to wake it up.HSK 4

Story · 1 min audio怎么砍价How to bargain in ChineseThree phrases for bargaining. One panda mug. And a walk-away that never fails.HSK 4

Article · 1 min audio为什么中国人过年要给红包？Why do Chinese people give red envelopes?Money in a little red envelope. A monster scared off by red paper. And Mum, who will just “look after it” for you.HSK 4

Story · 1 min audio发错群了，怎么道歉？How to say sorry in ChineseOne message about the boss. The wrong group chat. Three ways to say sorry, and no way to unsend it.HSK 4

Story · 1 min audio画蛇添足Drawing legs on a snakeOne cup of wine. A race to draw a snake. The fastest man has time to spare.HSK 4

Article · 2 min audio双十一是怎么来的？Where did Singles Day come from?Four 1s in a row. A joke among single students in Nanjing that grew into China’s biggest shopping festival.HSK 4

Story · 1 min audio谁爱吃茄子Who Likes EggplantA new couple keeps buying eggplant for each other. Neither can understand why dinner is becoming such hard work.HSK 4

Article · 1 min audio没听懂也能接着聊When You Miss Most of the SentenceWhat can you say when you understood only one word? Four small conversational moves let the other person help you.HSK 4

Story · 1 min audio最安静的地方The Quietest PlaceWith an online job interview about to begin and drills on every side, Chen Yi finds one quiet place. Unfortunately, it keeps moving.HSK 4

Story · 2 min audio我的房间My RoomHer mother sends a photograph of her childhood bedroom. The bed is gone. Going home suddenly means finding out where she fits now.HSK 4

Story · 1 min audio十二排F座Taking the high-speed train in China: seat 12FHis first high-speed train on his own. He finds his seat, and an old lady sitting in it, with the very same ticket.HSK 4