Choose a levelRead at your level
Every reading sits at the level where most of its words are taught
31 readings
Article · 1 min audio倒茶的时候，为什么敲桌子？Chinese tea etiquette: why tap two fingers to say thanks?Every time I poured Grandpa's tea, he tapped the table and said nothing. I thought he wanted me to hurry up. He was saying thank you, and there's an emperor in the story.HSK 3
Story · 1 min audio第一碗拉面How hand-pulled noodles are made: the apprentice's first bowlFor three months the boss only let me wash bowls. Today the shop is packed, a customer wants thin noodles, and I have to pull my first bowl.HSK 3
Article · 2 min audio饺子为什么像元宝？Why do Chinese dumplings look like gold ingots?Every New Year’s Eve, one dumpling hides a coin. And every year, somehow, Dad finds it.HSK 4
Story · 2 min audio中秋夜班A Mid-Autumn night at the office: mooncakes for the security guardMid-Autumn night, last one in the office, and the only mooncakes left are the flavour nobody wants. The security guard downstairs disagrees.HSK 4
Article · 2 min audio腊八节是什么节？What is the Laba Festival?Before dawn on a freezing winter morning, Beijing queues outside a temple. For a bowl of porridge.HSK 4
Story · 1 min audio对面的新邻居The new neighbour: a bowl that keeps coming backA bowl of steamed buns for the new neighbour across the hall. The next day the bowl comes back, and it is not empty. A week later, whose bowl is it?HSK 1
Story · 1 min audio爸爸买的水Drinks in Chinese: Dad goes to buy drinksCoffee for Mum, milk for my sister, juice for me, tea for Grandma. Dad says he will remember. He comes back with five bottles of water, and one more thing.HSK 1
