🇨🇳 Mandarin Chinese · free
Short stories in Chinese for beginners — with pinyin and translation
Chinese is unusual: the grammar is fairly simple, but you cannot sound out a character you have not learned. That makes reading feel out of reach for months. Graded stories change that by keeping to a small set of high-frequency characters and repeating them until they stick — and Chinese has better graded material than most languages, from Mandarin Companion to Du Chinese.
ReadNative's Chinese shelf has six graded books, all with read-along audio. The place to start is Journey to the West: 50 short chapters that begin at HSK 1 with the birth of the Stone Monkey and grow to HSK 3. Tap any word for pinyin and an English meaning. The opening chapters of Journey to the West — in fact the whole book — are free to read in your browser at readnative.org, with tap-to-translate on every word, plus audio narration.
55 stories, easiest first
HSK 1 · The Twelve Zodiac Animals
第一章：玉帝的比赛
Chapter 1: The Jade Emperor's Race
很久很久以前，天上有一个玉帝。 他很大，也很老。
A long, long time ago, up in the sky there was a Jade Emperor. He was very great, and very old.
HSK 1 · Journey to the West
第一章：石猴
Chapter 1: The Stone Monkey
这是一座山。 山很高，很绿。
This is a mountain. The mountain is very tall and very green.
HSK 1 · Journey to the West
第二章：瀑布
Chapter 2: The Waterfall
夏天到花果山。 山很热，树很热。
Summer comes to Flower-Fruit Mountain. The mountain is very hot, the trees are very hot.
HSK 1 · Journey to the West
第三章：水帘洞
Chapter 3: The Water-Curtain Cave
石猴看大瀑布。 瀑布的水很大。
The stone monkey looks at the great waterfall. The waterfall's water is very strong.
HSK 1 · Journey to the West
第四章：美猴王
Chapter 4: The Handsome Monkey King
猴子们在水帘洞里。 他们都很快乐。
The monkeys are in Water-Curtain Cave. They are all very happy.
HSK 1 · Journey to the West
第五章：快乐的日子
Chapter 5: The Happy Days
美猴王住在水帘洞里。 猴子们也都住在洞里。
The Monkey King lives in the Water-Curtain Cave. The monkeys all live in the cave too.
HSK 1 · Journey to the West
第六章：老猴子
Chapter 6: The Old Monkey
秋天，有一天早上，太阳出来。 猴子们都起来。
One autumn morning, the sun comes out. The monkeys all get up.
HSK 1 · Journey to the West
第七章：我不想死
Chapter 7: I Do Not Want to Die
老猴子死。 美猴王不高兴。
The old monkey is dead. The Monkey King is not happy.
HSK 1 · Journey to the West
第八章：大海
Chapter 8: The Great Sea
美猴王在大海上。 他的船很小。
The Monkey King is out on the great sea. His raft is very small.
HSK 1 · Journey to the West
第九章：找师父
Chapter 9: Finding a Master
美猴王要找一个师父。 有一天，他看见大海。
The Monkey King wants to find a master. One day, he sees the great sea.
HSK 1 · Journey to the West
第十章：孙悟空
Chapter 10: Sun Wukong
美猴王在石头门前面。 他想：“我要敲门。”
The Monkey King is in front of the stone door. He thinks: "I will knock on the door."
HSK 1 · Journey to the West
第十一章：学习
Chapter 11: Learning
孙悟空是菩提的学生。 他每天都很忙。
Sun Wukong is Puti's student. Every day he is very busy.
HSK 1 · Journey to the West
第十二章：半夜的课
Chapter 12: The Midnight Lesson
那天，师父教课。 学生们都坐在洞里听课。
That day, the Master teaches a lesson. The students all sit in the cave, listening to the lesson.
HSK 1 · Journey to the West
第十三章：七十二变
Chapter 13: The Seventy-Two Transformations
每天半夜，师父教孙悟空。 师父教他咒语。
Every midnight, the Master teaches Sun Wukong. The Master teaches him a spell.
HSK 1 · Journey to the West
第十四章：筋斗云
Chapter 14: The Cloud Somersault
半夜，师父教孙悟空筋斗云。 师父说：“这不容易。”
At midnight, the Master teaches Sun Wukong the Cloud Somersault. The Master says: "This is not easy."
HSK 1 · Journey to the West
第十五章：回花果山
Chapter 15: Return to Flower-Fruit Mountain
孙悟空很想家。 他想：“我要回花果山。”
Sun Wukong misses home very much. He thinks: "I will go back to Flower-Fruit Mountain."
HSK 1 · Journey to the West
第十六章：龙宫
Chapter 16: The Dragon Palace
悟空在海里游。 海里的鱼看见他，很怕。
Wukong swims in the sea. The fish in the sea see him, and are afraid.
HSK 1 · Journey to the West
第十七章：金箍棒
Chapter 17: The Golden-Hooped Rod
一条老龙说：“海里有一个铁柱子。” 龙王想：“铁柱子太重，悟空不能举。”
An old dragon says: "There is an iron pillar in the sea." The Dragon King thinks: "The iron pillar is too heavy — Wukong won'
HSK 2 · Stories of Afanti
第一章：阿凡提和他的毛驴
Chapter 1: Effendi and His Donkey
很久以前，有一个人叫阿凡提。 他住在一个小地方。
A long time ago, there was a man called Effendi. He lived in a small place.
HSK 2 · The Legend of the White Snake
第一章：山里的白蛇
Chapter 1: The White Snake in the Mountains
很久很久以前，有一座大山。 山很高，山上有很多云。
A long, long time ago, there was a great mountain. The mountain was tall, and clouds lived on its peak.
HSK 2 · Journey to the West
第十八章：地府
Chapter 18: The Land of the Dead
悟空回家，很高兴，睡觉了。 晚上，两个鬼来了。
Wukong goes home, very happy, and falls asleep. At night, two ghosts come.
HSK 2 · Journey to the West
第十九章：弼马温
Chapter 19: Groom of the Horses
龙王和地府的王都很生气。 他们去天上，找玉帝。
The Dragon King and the kings of the underworld are all very angry. They go to heaven to find the Jade Emperor.
HSK 2 · Journey to the West
第二十章：齐天大圣
Chapter 20: Great Sage Equal to Heaven
孙悟空每天在马房工作。 他给马吃的，给马喝的，很认真。
Sun Wukong works in the stable every day. He gives the horses food and water, very diligently.
HSK 2 · Journey to the West
第二十一章：天兵
Chapter 21: Heavenly Soldiers
玉帝看见旗子，很生气。 他说：“这只猴子太坏了！”
The Jade Emperor sees the flag, and is very angry. He says: "This monkey is too much!"
HSK 2 · Journey to the West
第二十二章：蟠桃园
Chapter 22: The Peach Garden
齐天大圣在天上没有工作。 他每天很无聊。
The Great Sage Equal to Heaven has no job in heaven. Every day he is very bored.
HSK 2 · Journey to the West
第二十三章：偷桃
Chapter 23: Stealing Peaches
悟空住在蟠桃园里。 蟠桃三千年才熟。
Wukong lives in the peach garden. The peaches ripen only once every three thousand years.
HSK 2 · Journey to the West
第二十四章：大闹蟠桃会
Chapter 24: Havoc at the Peach Banquet
悟空用筋斗云，去了蟠桃会。 客人们还没有来，大厅里没有人。
Wukong uses the cloud somersault, and goes to the peach banquet. The guests haven't arrived yet; there is no one in the hall.
HSK 2 · Journey to the West
第二十五章：逃
Chapter 25: Fleeing
悟空跑到花果山，酒也醒了。 他坐在石头上，很不安。
Wukong runs to Flower-Fruit Mountain, and the wine wears off too. He sits on a stone, feeling very uneasy.
HSK 2 · Journey to the West
第二十六章：二郎神
Chapter 26: Erlang
二郎神来到花果山。 他看见悟空，很生气。
Erlang arrives at Flower-Fruit Mountain. He sees Wukong, and is very angry.
HSK 2 · Journey to the West
第二十七章：被抓
Chapter 27: Captured
孙悟空和二郎神还在打。 老君也在天上看。
Sun Wukong and Erlang are still fighting. Laozi is also watching from the sky.
HSK 2 · Journey to the West
第二十八章：火眼金睛
Chapter 28: Fiery Eyes, Golden Pupils
四十九天到了。 炉子忽然破了。
The forty-ninth day arrives. The furnace suddenly bursts open.
HSK 2 · Journey to the West
第二十九章：如来的手
Chapter 29: The Buddha's Hand
如来对孙悟空说：“我们打赌。” “如果你跳出我的手心，天就是你的。”
The Buddha says to Sun Wukong: "Let's make a bet." "If you jump out of my palm, heaven will be yours."
HSK 2 · Journey to the West
第三十章：五行山
Chapter 30: Five Elements Mountain
大山压住孙悟空。 他被压着，不能动。
The great mountain presses down and holds Sun Wukong. He is pinned down, unable to move.
HSK 2 · Journey to the West
第三十一章：唐僧
Chapter 31: Tang Sanzang
长安是一座大城。 城里有很多人。
Chang'an is a great city. In the city there are many people.
HSK 2 · Journey to the West
第三十二章：放我出来！
Chapter 32: Let Me Out!
玄奘离开长安，往西走。 他走了很多天，看见一座很高的山。
Xuanzang leaves Chang'an, and heads west. He walks for many days, and sees a very tall mountain.
HSK 2 · Journey to the West
第三十三章：紧箍咒
Chapter 33: The Tightening Spell
悟空杀了强盗，玄奘很不高兴。 他心里想：“我们是去取经的，不是去杀人的。”
Wukong killed the bandits, and Xuanzang is very unhappy. In his heart he thinks: "We are going to fetch scriptures, not to kill people.
HSK 2 · Journey to the West
第三十四章：白龙马
Chapter 34: The White Dragon Horse
他们走了很多天，来到一条河边。 河很宽，水很深。
They walk for many days, and arrive at a riverside. The river is very wide, and the water very deep.
HSK 3 · Romance of the Three Kingdoms (selections)
第一章：乱世
Chapter 1: An Age of Chaos
一千八百年以前，这里有一个大国，叫汉。 可是现在，汉像一个生病的老人。
Eighteen hundred years ago, there was a great empire here, called Han. But by now, Han was like a sick old man.
HSK 3 · Journey to the West
第三十五章：猪八戒
Chapter 35: Pigsy
师父骑着白龙马，往西走。 悟空在旁边走。
The master rides the White Dragon Horse, heading west. Wukong walks alongside.
HSK 3 · Journey to the West
第三十六章：沙和尚
Chapter 36: Sandy
师父三人继续往西走。 前面有一条河，很宽，也很深。
The master and the three of them continue west. Ahead there is a river, very wide and very deep.
HSK 3 · Journey to the West
第三十七章：白骨精（一）
Chapter 37: The White Bone Demon (Part One)
他们走到一座大山前。 山路很难走，他们都很饿。
They walk to the foot of a great mountain. The mountain path is hard to walk, and they are all hungry.
HSK 3 · Journey to the West
第三十八章：白骨精（二）
Chapter 38: The White Bone Demon (Part Two)
师父看着骨头，还是很生气。 他说：“你已经打死了三个人，太可怕了！”
The master looks at the bones, still furious. He says: "You have already killed three people — how terrible!"
HSK 3 · Journey to the West
第三十九章：师父有难
Chapter 39: The Master Is in Trouble
悟空一个人回花果山，心里很难过。 他想师父，也想八戒和沙和尚。
Wukong returns to Flower-Fruit Mountain alone, sad at heart. He misses the master, and misses Pigsy and Sandy too.
HSK 3 · Journey to the West
第四十章：火焰山
Chapter 40: Fire-Cloud Mountain
他们五个人还在走，天气很热，很热。 太阳很大，风也是热的。
The five of them are still walking; the weather is very, very hot. The sun is fierce, and even the wind is hot.
HSK 3 · Journey to the West
第四十一章：铁扇公主
Chapter 41: Princess Iron Fan
悟空到了芭蕉洞前，大声叫门。 小妖看见是悟空，很怕，跑进去告诉铁扇公主。
Wukong arrives in front of the Banana Cave and shouts loudly at the door. A little demon sees it is Wukong, grows frightened, and runs in to
HSK 3 · Journey to the West
第四十二章：借扇
Chapter 42: Borrowing the Fan
悟空飞到芭蕉洞，敲门。 铁扇公主一看是他，非常生气，又要打他。
Wukong flies to the Banana Cave and knocks on the door. The moment Princess Iron Fan sees it's him, she grows furious and moves to fight him
HSK 3 · Journey to the West
第四十三章：女儿国
Chapter 43: The Kingdom of Women
唐僧他们四个人往西走，走了很多天。 前面有一条大河。
Tang Seng and his three disciples travel west, walking for many days. Ahead there is a great river.
HSK 3 · Journey to the West
第四十四章：真假悟空
Chapter 44: The True and False Wukong
唐僧心里对悟空还有怀疑。 他还记得白骨精的事。
In his heart, Tang Seng still has doubts about Wukong. He still remembers the affair of the White Bone Demon.
HSK 3 · Journey to the West
第四十五章：小雷音
Chapter 45: The Little Thunderclap
唐僧他们四个人往西走，走了很多天。 前面，他们看见一座很大的庙。
Tang Seng and his three disciples travel west, walking for many days. Ahead, they see a very big temple.
HSK 3 · Journey to the West
第四十六章：通天河
Chapter 46: The Great River to Heaven
唐僧他们四个人，又往西走。 前面，有一条很大的河。
Tang Seng and his three disciples travel west once more. Ahead, there is a very great river.
HSK 3 · Journey to the West
第四十七章：灵山在望
Chapter 47: Vulture Peak in Sight
他们四个人，走了很多年。 他们走过很多高山，很多大河。
For years, the four of them had walked. They had crossed many high mountains, many great rivers.
HSK 3 · Journey to the West
第四十八章：取经
Chapter 48: Fetching the Scriptures
山门里面，就是雷音寺。 如来坐着，笑着看他们四个人。
Just inside the mountain gate is Thunderclap Monastery. The Buddha sits, watching the four of them with a smile.
HSK 3 · Journey to the West
第四十九章：回长安
Chapter 49: Return to Chang'an
他们把经书晒在石头上。 太阳很大，经书很快就干了。
They spread the scriptures out to dry on the stones. The sun is strong, and the scriptures dry quickly.
HSK 3 · Journey to the West
第五十章：斗战胜佛
Chapter 50: The Buddha Victorious in Battle
天神带着他们四个人，飞回灵山。 如来坐在雷音寺里，笑着看他们。
The heavenly spirits, bringing the four of them along, fly back to Vulture Peak. The Buddha sits in Thunderclap Monastery, watching them wit
HSK 4 · Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio
第一章：柳树下的茶摊
Chapter 1: The Tea Stand Under the Willow
三百年以前，山东有一个读书人，叫蒲松龄。 他考了很多次试，却一直没有考上。
Three hundred years ago, in Shandong, there lived a scholar named Pu Songling. He sat the examinations many times, yet never passed.
How to read these stories
- Learn pinyin and the tones before reading, then use tap-for-pinyin only when you genuinely cannot recall a character.
- Chinese has no spaces. Tapping shows how characters group into words — 石猴 is one word, not two.
- Listen to a chapter's audio after reading it. Hearing the tones on words you just read reinforces both.
- Expect the same characters to return constantly; that repetition is the whole point of a graded reader.
- Move up when a chapter needs only a handful of taps, not when you have "finished" a level.
Questions
Is pinyin shown above every character?
Pinyin appears when you tap a word, together with its English meaning. Keeping it off by default encourages you to read the characters.
What HSK level do I need to start?
None beyond the basics. Journey to the West starts at HSK 1, and The Twelve Zodiac Animals (HSK 1–2) is another early option in ReadNative Pro.
Do the Chinese stories have audio?
Yes. All of ReadNative's Chinese books have read-along narration.