A graded reader is a book or story written with a limited set of words, so you can read real Chinese before you know thousands of characters. This guide lists the main Chinese graded reader series and apps, what level each one is for, and how to choose.
Last updated: October 2026.
Chinese graded readers at a glance
| Series | Format | Levels and size | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mandarin Companion | Books | Breakthrough (150 characters), Level 1 (300), Level 2 (450). Breakthrough books are about 5,000 characters long, Level 1 and 2 about 10,000. | Classic novels retold for beginners |
| Chinese Breeze | Books | 8 levels, from 300 to 4,500 base words. 60+ titles. | A long path from beginner to advanced |
| Imagin8 Press | Books | Simplified Chinese with pinyin and English. Vocabulary per book ranges from roughly 200 to over 1,000 words. | Chinese history and culture |
| maayot | App | A new short story every day, HSK 1 to 6+. | A daily reading habit with quiz and writing practice |
| Du Chinese | App | 3,000+ readings, beginner to advanced. | Browsing a large library |
| The Chairman’s Bao | App | News articles rewritten at HSK 1 to 6+. | Current events |
Sizes are from each publisher’s own description. Check the latest details before you buy.
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What is a graded reader?
A graded reader is written for a set vocabulary. At the lowest levels the author may use only a few hundred characters, so you can finish a whole story and understand most of it. As you learn more, you move up a level. Reading at the right level means you know almost every word and pick up the rest from context, which is how you learn new characters without flashcards.
Graded reader books
Mandarin Companion
Mandarin Companion retells classic novels, such as Great Expectations, in simple Chinese. It has three levels: Breakthrough (150 unique characters), Level 1 (300) and Level 2 (450). Level 2 books are about 30% longer than Level 1 and use more vocabulary and grammar. A good first book for learners who know a few hundred characters.
Chinese Breeze
Chinese Breeze has eight levels, from 300 to 4,500 base words, and over 60 titles. It was written with classrooms in mind and gives you a long path to move up through. Texts range from about 8,000 to 30,000 characters.
Imagin8 Press
Imagin8 Press publishes books in Simplified Chinese with pinyin and English, many about Chinese history, such as the Yuan and Qing dynasties. Each book lists its vocabulary size, from a few hundred to over a thousand words, so you can match it to your level.
Graded reading apps
maayot
maayot gives you one new short story a day, written for your level from HSK 1 to 6+. Each story has native audio, a quiz, new characters and a writing prompt, and you can tap any word for its pinyin and meaning. The free plan gives you a new story every Sunday, and paid plans start with a 5-day free trial.
Du Chinese
Du Chinese has over 3,000 readings sorted by level, with word lookup and grammar tips. See our maayot vs Du Chinese comparison.
The Chairman’s Bao
The Chairman’s Bao rewrites real news at HSK 1 to 6+ levels, which suits learners who want current events.
How to choose
- You know under 300 characters: start with Mandarin Companion Breakthrough, or a beginner story in maayot or Du Chinese.
- You know 300 to 500 characters: Mandarin Companion Level 1 or 2, Chinese Breeze levels 1 to 3, or daily stories in maayot.
- You know 500 or more: Chinese Breeze from level 3 up, Imagin8 Press history books, The Chairman’s Bao, or advanced maayot stories.
- You want a daily habit: an app. You want a long book: a book series. Many learners do both.
FAQ
What are the best Chinese graded readers?
For books, Mandarin Companion (easy classic novels) and Chinese Breeze (eight levels). For apps, maayot (a daily story at your level) and Du Chinese (a large library).
When can I start reading graded readers?
Once you know around 150 characters, which is the Mandarin Companion Breakthrough level. Many learners start around HSK 1 to 2.
Are graded readers good for learning Chinese?
Yes. Because you know almost every word, you learn the rest from context and see the same words again and again.
Is there a free graded reader app?
maayot’s free plan gives you a new story every Sunday, and Du Chinese has a selection of free lessons.
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Related: Best apps to learn to read Chinese · maayot vs Du Chinese
