These are 12 beginner Chinese reading passages, each followed by multiple-choice comprehension questions you can check right on the page. Read with pinyin off, answer, then check: each answer shows the line of the passage it comes from. An answer key and a printable PDF worksheet (Simplified or Traditional) are at the bottom.
Beginner passages are 28–69 characters long: short dialogues between John and Xiaoting, the kitten and the puppy, and Lil Jon at breakfast. The questions are mostly in simple Chinese, with English questions for the very first stories, so you can check that you understood even before you can read a question in characters.
小婷：“约翰？是你吗？”Xiaoting: "John? Is that you?"约翰：“是的，是我！”John: "Yes, it's me!"
小婷：“我叫什么？”Xiaoting: "Okay. What's my name?"约翰：“你是……小婷！”John: "You're, um, Xiaoting!"小婷：“好！”Good!
Questions
小婷：“约翰？是你吗？”约翰：“……”
From the passage: 约翰：“是的，是我！” John: "Yes, it's me!"
小婷：“我叫什么？”约翰：“……”
From the passage: 约翰：“你是……小婷！” John: "You're, um, Xiaoting!"
小婷叫什么？
From the passage: 约翰：“你是……小婷！” John: "You're, um, Xiaoting!"
Read “I Am John” on its own page · More stories like this in the app
小婷：“你好！你叫什么？”Xiaoting: Hello! What's your name?约翰：“我叫约翰。你叫什么？”John: My name is John. What's your name?小婷：“我叫小婷。”Xiaoting: My name is Xiaoting.约翰：“你好，小婷！”John: Hello, Xiaoting!
Questions
约翰：你好，……！
From the passage: 约翰：“你好，小婷！” John: Hello, Xiaoting!
约翰叫什么？
From the passage: 约翰：“我叫约翰。你叫什么？” John: My name is John. What's your name?
小婷叫什么？
From the passage: 小婷：“你好！你叫什么？” Xiaoting: Hello! What's your name?
Read “What's Your Name?” on its own page · More stories like this in the app
小婷：“你好，约翰！你是老师吗？”Xiaoting: Hello, John! Are you a teacher?约翰：“不是，我不是老师。”John: No, I'm not a teacher.小婷：“你是学生吗？”Xiaoting: Are you a student?约翰：“是的，我是学生！”John: Yes, I'm a student!
Questions
小婷：你好，约翰！……？
From the passage: 小婷：“你好，约翰！你是老师吗？” Xiaoting: Hello, John! Are you a teacher?
约翰是什么？
From the passage: 约翰：“是的，我是学生！” John: Yes, I'm a student!
约翰是学生吗？
From the passage: 约翰：“是的，我是学生！” John: Yes, I'm a student!
Read “Are You a Teacher?” on its own page · More stories like this in the app
约翰：“小婷！你有书吗？”John: "Xiaoting! Do you have a book?"小婷：“有。你有书吗？”Xiaoting: "I do. Don't you?"
约翰：“没有……我是学生。”John: "No... I'm a student."小婷：“我的书是你的。”Xiaoting: "Here. Take mine."约翰：“很好！”John: "Oh, thank goodness!"
Questions
约翰：“小婷！……？”
From the passage: 约翰：“小婷！你有书吗？” John: "Xiaoting! Do you have a book?"
约翰是什么？
From the passage: 约翰：“没有……我是学生。” John: "No... I'm a student."
小婷：“我的书是……的。”
From the passage: 小婷：“我的书是你的。” Xiaoting: "Here. Take mine."
Read “Do You Have a Book?” on its own page · More stories like this in the app
小婷：约翰，你多大？Xiaoting: John, how old are you?
约翰：我二十岁。你呢？John: I'm twenty. And you?
小婷：我比你大。Xiaoting: I'm older than you.
约翰：你是老师吗？John: Are you a teacher?
小婷：是，我是老师。Xiaoting: Yes, I'm a teacher.
Questions
约翰多大？
From the passage: 约翰：我二十岁。你呢？ John: I'm twenty. And you?
约翰和小婷，谁大？
From the passage: 小婷：我比你大。 Xiaoting: I'm older than you.
小婷是老师吗？
From the passage: 小婷：是，我是老师。 Xiaoting: Yes, I'm a teacher.
Read “How Old Are You?” on its own page · More stories like this in the app
小婷：约翰，这是我妈妈。Xiaoting: John, this is my mom.
约翰：您好！John: Hello!
妈妈：你好，约翰！Mom: Hello, John!
小婷：我妈妈是老师。Xiaoting: My mom is a teacher.
约翰：我妈妈也是老师！John: My mom is a teacher too!
小婷：真的吗？太好了！Xiaoting: Really? How nice!
Questions
Who does Xiaoting introduce to John?
From the passage: 小婷：约翰，这是我妈妈。 Xiaoting: John, this is my mom.
What is Xiaoting's mom's job?
From the passage: 小婷：我妈妈是老师。 Xiaoting: My mom is a teacher.
What does John say about his own mom?
From the passage: 约翰：我妈妈也是老师！ John: My mom is a teacher too!
Read “This Is My Mom” on its own page · More stories like this in the app
约翰：“小婷！是我，约翰！”John: "Xiaoting! It's me, John!"小婷：“你好，约翰！再见！”Xiaoting: "Hi, John! Bye!"
约翰：“你好吗？”John: "How are you?"小婷：“很好！再见！”Xiaoting: "Great! Bye!"
约翰：“我很好。再见。”John: "I'm fine. Bye."
Questions
约翰：“你好吗？”小婷：“……”
From the passage: 小婷：“很好！再见！” Xiaoting: "Great! Bye!"
约翰：“小婷！是我，约翰！”小婷：“……”
From the passage: 小婷：“你好，约翰！再见！” Xiaoting: "Hi, John! Bye!"
约翰好吗？
From the passage: 约翰：“我很好。再见。” John: "I'm fine. Bye."
Read “Are You Okay?” on its own page · More stories like this in the app
约翰：你好，小婷！你喜欢狗吗？John: Hello, Xiaoting! Do you like dogs?
小婷：你好，约翰！我爱狗。Xiaoting: Hello, John! I love dogs.
约翰：我爱狗！John: I love dogs!
小婷：很好！Xiaoting: Great!
Questions
约翰问小婷什么？
From the passage: 约翰：你好，小婷！你喜欢狗吗？ John: Hello, Xiaoting! Do you like dogs?
小婷爱狗吗？
From the passage: 小婷：你好，约翰！我爱狗。 Xiaoting: Hello, John! I love dogs.
谁爱狗？
From the passage: 小婷：你好，约翰！我爱狗。 Xiaoting: Hello, John! I love dogs.
Read “I Love Dogs” on its own page · More stories like this in the app
这是小猫。This is the kitten.这是小狗。This is the puppy.
小猫很小，很漂亮。The kitten is very small and very pretty.小狗也不大，很可爱。The puppy is small too, and very cute.
小猫喜欢睡觉。The kitten likes to sleep.小狗喜欢玩。The puppy likes to play.
小猫看小狗，小狗也看小猫。The kitten looks at the puppy, and the puppy also looks at the kitten.它们想：“我们是朋友吗？”They think: "Are we friends?"
Questions
What does the kitten (小猫) like to do?
From the passage: 小猫喜欢睡觉。 The kitten likes to sleep.
What is the puppy (小狗) like?
From the passage: 小狗也不大，很可爱。 The puppy is small too, and very cute.
What do the kitten and the puppy wonder at the end?
From the passage: 它们想：“我们是朋友吗？” They think: "Are we friends?"
Read “The Kitten and the Puppy” on its own page · More stories like this in the app
今天，小猫吃鱼。Today, the kitten eats fish.小猫很高兴。The kitten is very happy.
小狗说：“鱼不好吃！我喜欢吃肉。”The puppy says: "Fish is not tasty! I like to eat meat."
小猫说：“不！肉不好吃，我喜欢鱼。”No! Meat isn't tasty. I like fish.
小狗笑了，小猫也笑了。The puppy laughs, and the kitten laughs too.它们知道：朋友可以不一样。They understand: friends can be different.
Questions
What does the kitten (小猫) eat today?
From the passage: 今天，小猫吃鱼。 Today, the kitten eats fish.
What does the puppy (小狗) say about fish?
From the passage: 小狗说：“鱼不好吃！我喜欢吃肉。” The puppy says: "Fish is not tasty! I like to eat meat."
How does the story end?
From the passage: 它们知道：朋友可以不一样。 They understand: friends can be different.
Read “The Kitten Likes Fish, the Puppy Likes Meat” on its own page · More stories like this in the app
天气很好。The weather is nice.小狗在外面玩球。The puppy was playing ball outside.
小猫看见了，说：“我也想玩！”The kitten saw it and said, "I want to play too!"
小狗说：“来吧！”The puppy said, "Come on!"
小猫跑得快，小狗跑得更快。The kitten runs fast; the puppy runs even faster.它们玩了很久，很快乐。They played for a long time and were very happy.
Questions
What is the puppy (小狗) doing outside?
From the passage: 小狗在外面玩球。 The puppy was playing ball outside.
What does the kitten (小猫) say when it sees the dog?
From the passage: 小猫看见了，说：“我也想玩！” The kitten saw it and said, "I want to play too!"
Who runs faster?
From the passage: 小猫跑得快，小狗跑得更快。 The kitten runs fast; the puppy runs even faster.
Read “Playing Ball Together” on its own page · More stories like this in the app
妈妈做了煎饼。Mom made pancakes.她问小约翰：“你想吃煎饼吗？”She asked Lil Jon, "Would you like some pancakes?"
小约翰：“什么？！”Lil Jon: "What?!"
妈妈耐心地说：“小约翰，你想吃煎饼吗？”Mom patiently repeated, "Lil Jon, would you like some pancakes?"
小约翰笑着说：“好啊！”Lil Jon smiled and said, "Yeah!"
妈妈倒了糖浆。Mom poured syrup.她问：“糖浆够了吗？”She asked, "Is that enough syrup?"
小约翰高兴地点头，说：“好的！”Lil Jon nodded enthusiastically and said, "Okay!"
Questions
妈妈做了什么早饭？
From the passage: 妈妈做了煎饼。 Mom made pancakes.
妈妈第一次问小约翰的时候，他说了什么？
From the passage: 小约翰：“什么？！” Lil Jon: "What?!"
妈妈问“糖浆够了吗？”的时候，小约翰做了什么？
From the passage: 小约翰高兴地点头，说：“好的！” Lil Jon nodded enthusiastically and said, "Okay!"
Read “Lil Jon Eats Breakfast” on its own page · More stories like this in the app
The correct letter for every question, in passage order. On the page, Check answers also shows the line of the passage each answer comes from.
The same 12 passages and 36 questions as a free, letter-size PDF, ready for class or homework. Each passage is printed without pinyin, followed by a short word list (the hardest words, with pinyin and English) and the questions. The answer key, with the supporting line for every answer, is on the last pages.
The Traditional worksheet uses Taiwan word choices and 「」 quotation marks, the way the app shows these stories in Taiwan Mandarin, and adds zhuyin to the word lists.
Here beginner means complete beginners in their first few weeks of characters. The passages are the gentlest stories on the site, mostly HSK 1 vocabulary in passages of 28–69 characters.
Off first. Comprehension practice only works if you try the characters on their own. Turn pinyin on for a word you are stuck on, or for a second pass once you have answered the questions.
Yes. Each level has a free printable PDF in Simplified and Traditional characters, with a word list under every passage and the answer key on the last pages. You are welcome to print and copy them for personal and classroom use.
The beginner reading path page lists every free story at this level with pinyin and translations. When these feel easy, move on to HSK 1 reading comprehension.
These passages come from Literate Chinese, a free reading app for iOS and Android with 1,000+ graded stories. Every story in the app has the same kind of quiz, plus native audio in Mainland or Taiwan Mandarin.
Tap any word to see its meaning and save it as a flashcard; spaced repetition brings it back before you forget it. Simplified or Traditional, pinyin or zhuyin.
Also useful: All free beginner reading path · Not sure of your level? Take the 2-minute character test · All reading comprehension levels · For teachers
The fastest way to make characters stick is to meet them in a story you can actually finish. Literate Chinese has 1,000+ graded stories matched to the words you know — in Mainland or Taiwan Mandarin, Simplified or Traditional. Free on iOS and Android.
Prefer the browser? Read a free story on the web →
