Guides
Learning guides
Practical guides for learning Chinese with graded stories: reading practice for every level, the HSK 3.0 syllabus, and honest app comparisons. 42 guides.
Start here
By HSK level
Reading practice and the official syllabus for each level.
- 1ReadingSyllabus
- 2ReadingSyllabus
- 3ReadingSyllabus
- 4ReadingSyllabus
- 5ReadingSyllabus
- 6ReadingSyllabus
- 7ReadingSyllabus
- 8ReadingSyllabus
- 9ReadingSyllabus
Ready for a timed reading check? Free HSK mock tests cover HSK 1–6 and the combined HSK 7–9 band.
Getting Started
What to expect when learning Chinese — difficulty, timeline, and how to begin.
HSK 3.0
Understanding the 2025 HSK exam system, vocabulary changes, and preparation strategies.
HSK 1 Syllabus: Topics, Tasks, and GrammarHSK 1 covers 30 official topics, 15 task areas, 300 words, and beginner grammar for basic personal information, daily life, school, work, and food culture.Updated · 1 minHSK 2 Syllabus: Topics, Tasks, and GrammarHSK 2 covers 34 official topics, 17 task areas, 496 words, and elementary grammar for personal life, routines, transport, study, work, and simple opinions.Updated · 1 minHSK 3 Syllabus: Topics, Tasks, and GrammarThe HSK 3 syllabus covers 54 leaf topics, 22 task areas, 97 grammar rows, and 1,000 official cumulative entries for practical daily and social Chinese.Updated · 1 minHSK 4 Syllabus: Topics, Tasks, and GrammarThe new HSK 4 syllabus: 77 leaf topics, 30 task areas, 88 grammar rows, and 2,000 official cumulative entries; paragraph-level tasks cover contemporary life.Updated · 1 minHSK 5 Syllabus: Topics, Tasks, and GrammarHSK 5 syllabus: 72 leaf topics/28 task areas/68 grammar rows/3,600 official cumulative entries, advancing to short compositions on institutions/public issues.Updated · 1 minHSK 6 Syllabus: Topics, Tasks, and GrammarThe HSK 6 syllabus covers 68 official topics, 24 task areas, 50 grammar patterns, and 5,400 cumulative entries for formal and public Chinese.Updated · 1 minHSK 7-9 Syllabus: Topics, Tasks, and GrammarThe HSK 7-9 syllabus covers 92 official topics, 30 task areas, 100 grammar patterns, and 11,000 cumulative entries across one advanced syllabus band.Updated · 1 minHSK 3.0 Syllabus: Topics, Tasks, and Grammar by LevelExplore the official HSK 3.0 syllabus by level: topics, task areas, grammar, and vocabulary, with detailed guides for HSK 1 through HSK 7-9.Updated · 1 minBest HSK 3.0 Study Materials in 2026Compare official HSK 3.0 sources, books, vocabulary lists, flashcards, reading practice, and sample questions for your 2026 study goal.Updated · 7 minHSK Chengyu List: 414 Idioms by Level, with ExamplesAll 414 chengyu in the HSK 3.0 word lists, by level, with pinyin, meaning and an example sentence. Search, browse, or study them in Anki.Updated How Long Does It Take to Pass Each HSK Level? (2026 Data)Planning estimates for every HSK level: 80-150 active hours for HSK 1, 500-1,000 for HSK 4, and 3,000-5,000+ for HSK 7-9.Updated · 7 minHSK 3.0 Vocabulary Analysis: What 11,000 Words Tell UsA data-driven breakdown of the 2025 HSK 3.0 vocabulary standard, including official and cleaned counts, character reuse, word length, and four-character expressions.Updated · 6 minComplete HSK 3.0 Vocabulary List: All 9 Levels (2026)The complete HSK 3.0 vocabulary list: 11,000 official entries and 10,896 searchable words by level, with pinyin, English and free PDFs.Updated · 8 minHSK 2.0 vs 3.0: What Actually Changed, Level by LevelHSK 2.0 vs 3.0: 6 levels become 9 and official vocabulary grows from 5,000 to 11,000 words. Side-by-side level and CEFR mapping.Updated · 9 minHSK 7-8-9 Guide: Words, Levels, PracticeUnderstand the combined HSK 7-9 exam, its 11,000-entry advanced syllabus, result levels, CEFR estimates, and reading practice for HSK 7, 8, and 9.Updated · 5 minHow to Prepare for HSK 3.0: Current Exam StatusHSK 3.0 exams open worldwide on 13 December 2026. Check registration deadlines, choose matching materials, and plan vocabulary, reading, and exam practice.Updated · 11 minHSK 3.0 Explained: 9 Levels, Exams From 13 Dec 2026HSK 3.0 exams officially open worldwide on 13 December 2026. Launch date, registration deadlines, nine levels, vocabulary counts, and CEFR limits.Updated · 5 min
Reading Strategy
Research-backed methods and practical tips for reading Chinese effectively.
Chinese Reading Passages: Short Texts for HSK 1–9 with AudioNine short Chinese reading passages, one per HSK level 1–9. Real story paragraphs with audio, pinyin on or off, English, and tap-a-word definitions.Published · 1 minChinese Character Etymology: 25 Attested Origins and MnemonicsA source-checked guide to 25 memorable Chinese characters, separating attested formation, disputed interpretations, and useful mnemonics.Updated · 10 minAP Chinese Reading Practice: Free Graded StoriesPractice AP Chinese reading with graded stories, reviewed Mandarin audio, adjustable pinyin, and a routine built around the current exam format.Updated · 4 minChinese Audio Stories — Listen and Read by HSK LevelListen to Chinese stories with reviewed Mandarin audio for HSK 1-9. Follow synchronized text, adjustable pinyin, definitions, and sentence translation.Updated · 3 minChinese Reading Practice with Pinyin — Free StoriesRead a short Chinese passage with pinyin, then practice free HSK 1-9 stories using Full, Subtle, Smart, or Off pinyin modes.Updated · 3 minChinese Short Stories for Beginners — Free with AudioRead beginner Chinese stories at HSK 1-3 with audio and pinyin. Vocabulary-controlled, free, and graded by level. Start your first story today.Updated · 3 minChinese Graded Readers for HSK 3.0: All 9 LevelsChoose Chinese graded readers for HSK 3.0. Compare levels, free access, audio and pinyin, with HSKStory fiction from HSK 1 to HSK 9.Updated · 14 minHSK 1 Reading Practice — Free Chinese Graded StoriesPractice HSK 1 Chinese reading with editor-developed graded stories, four pinyin modes, reviewed Mandarin audio, and word-tap support.Updated · 4 minHSK 2 Reading Practice: Free Chinese Graded StoriesPractice HSK 2 reading with graded Chinese stories, reviewed Mandarin audio, adjustable Pinyin, word definitions, and sentence translation.Updated · 5 minHSK 3 Reading Practice: Free Chinese Graded StoriesPractise HSK 3 reading with graded Chinese stories, reviewed Mandarin audio, adjustable Pinyin, word definitions, and sentence translation.Updated · 4 minHSK 4 Reading Practice — Free Chinese Graded StoriesPractice HSK 4 reading with graded Chinese stories, reviewed Mandarin audio, adjustable pinyin, word definitions, and sentence translation.Updated · 3 minHSK 5 Reading Practice — Free Chinese Graded StoriesPractice HSK 5 reading with graded Stories, reviewed Mandarin audio, adjustable Pinyin, word definitions, and sentence translation.Updated · 3 minHSK 6 Reading Practice — Free Chinese Graded StoriesPractice HSK 6 reading with graded Stories, reviewed Mandarin audio, adjustable Pinyin, word definitions, and sentence translation.Updated · 4 minHSK 8 Reading Practice: Free Chinese Graded StoriesPractise HSK 8 reading with graded Chinese stories, reviewed Mandarin audio, adjustable Pinyin, word definitions, and sentence translation.Updated · 3 minHSK 9 Reading Practice: Free Chinese Graded StoriesPractise HSK 9 reading with graded Chinese stories, reviewed Mandarin audio, adjustable Pinyin, word definitions, and sentence translation.Updated · 3 minExtensive Reading in Chinese: A Research-Informed MethodHow to use extensive reading for Chinese: choose manageable texts, read for meaning, handle unknown words, and judge progress without a fixed coverage rule.Updated · 8 min
App Comparison
Honest comparisons of Chinese reading apps and graded reader series.
6 Best Du Chinese Alternatives in 2026 (Free and Paid)Compare six free and paid Du Chinese alternatives. HSKStory for HSK 1–9 fiction, plus news, web novels, print books, daily stories and dictionaries.Updated · 6 minIs Du Chinese Free? Free vs Paid Chinese Reading Apps (2026 Prices)Is Du Chinese free? Compare free lessons, full subscription prices and reading access at HSKStory, maayot and other Chinese readers in 2026.Updated · 6 minBest Apps for HSK 3.0 Prep in 2026: Vocabulary, Reading, ListeningChoose apps for HSK 3.0 vocabulary, reading and listening. Compare HSKStory, Anki, Pleco and beginner courses, plus options for mock-test practice.Updated · 7 minBest Chinese Reading Apps in 2026 (Compared)Compare six Chinese reading apps, from HSKStory fiction to news and web novels. See free access, levels and audio checked in October 2026.Updated · 7 minChinese Breeze Review: All 4 Levels, Books and AudioChinese Breeze review: four published levels, books by level, pinyin and two-speed audio. Compare print reading with HSKStory for HSK 1–9.Updated · 6 minMandarin Companion Review 2026: Levels, Books and AudioA fact-checked Mandarin Companion review covering its three levels, books, pinyin support, audiobooks, HSK comparison, and online alternatives.Updated · 9 minThe Chairman's Bao Review 2026: Price, Levels, Worth It?The Chairman's Bao review: current prices, news lessons, levels and audio. Compare it with HSKStory for longer fiction and HSK 1–9 reading.Updated · 4 minDu Chinese vs HSKStory: Which reader fits you?Du Chinese vs HSKStory: compare free access, HSK levels, audio and reading tools. Choose HSKStory for multi-chapter fiction through HSK 7–9.Updated · 5 min
Read real Chinese, at your level
Every one has word-level pinyin, narrated audio and tap-to-define.
- HSK 1
The Wrong Phone
Two classmates take identical phones by mistake and can’t unlock them or answer calls.
3 chapters · audio + pinyin
- HSK 2
The Book We Both Wanted
Two customers claim one childhood book; a shopkeeper gives them until six to explain why.
4 chapters · audio + pinyin
- HSK 3
No Seat in the Library
She resents a classmate who keeps saving an empty seat. Then she hears about his sick roommate.
6 chapters · audio + pinyin
- HSK 4
Sunrise on Huangshan
Four friends go to see the Huangshan sunrise and get train delays, a storm, and a bad booking.
6 chapters · audio + pinyin
- HSK 5
Dumplings or Tangyuan
Her first winter solstice as a wife, and her mother-in-law has hidden the tangyuan flour.
6 chapters · audio + pinyin
- HSK 6
The Kitchen Behind the App
Illness complaints lead an inspector to twelve delivery restaurants sharing four kitchens.
6 chapters · audio + pinyin