Mandarin Companion is a good fit if you want to sit down with a complete Chinese book instead of reading short lessons on a screen. Its stories use a controlled set of characters, run long enough for vocabulary to repeat naturally, and come in both simplified and traditional editions.
It is less useful if you want material tied to a particular HSK vocabulary list or you rely on interactive help while reading. There is no built-in word tap, pinyin toggle, saved vocabulary, or synchronized text and audio. The formats suit different kinds of reading.
This review checks the current level system, catalog, pinyin support, and audio options. It also explains where Mandarin Companion fits alongside HSK-focused digital readers.
The short verdict
Choose Mandarin Companion if you:
- prefer paperback or Kindle books;
- want a sustained story rather than a series of short lessons;
- read simplified or traditional Chinese;
- can understand most of the text at one of its three character levels.
Choose an interactive reader if you:
- want reading material graded to a specific HSK vocabulary list;
- need optional pinyin or instant definitions;
- prefer audio that follows the text and highlights each word;
- want saved vocabulary and reading progress in the same app.
Using both is reasonable. A printed reader works well for longer sessions with few interruptions. An interactive reader is more convenient when you are pushing into unfamiliar vocabulary or reading on your phone.
How many Mandarin Companion books are there?
The official Mandarin Companion catalog listed 18 books when we checked it in July 2026. The total can change as the publisher adds titles, so the live catalog is the better source for the latest count.
The current books are spread across three levels:
| Level | Core characters | Books listed in July 2026 | General fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breakthrough | 150 | 5 | Early beginner |
| Level 1 | 300 | 8 | Beginner to elementary |
| Level 2 | 450 | 5 | Elementary to low intermediate |
The catalog includes two kinds of stories. Many are Chinese adaptations of familiar works such as The Secret Garden, Emma, and Journey to the Center of the Earth. The Breakthrough catalog also includes original stories, including In Search of Hua Ma, My Teacher Is a Martian, and Xiao Ming, Boy Sherlock. The publisher describes why it wrote original books for the 150-character level in its Breakthrough launch announcement.
Mandarin Companion levels explained
Mandarin Companion controls the Chinese characters used in each book. That is different from controlling vocabulary words: one character can appear in several words, and a word can contain more than one character.
Breakthrough: 150 characters
Breakthrough is the entry level. Books use a core of 150 common characters and introduce a limited number of story-specific key words with footnotes. The books are roughly 5,000 Chinese characters long.
This level suits learners who know basic characters and sentence patterns but have not yet read a full Chinese story. It is not meant for someone who needs pinyin above every line.
Level 1: 300 characters
Level 1 doubles the core to 300 characters. The books have more room for dialogue, description, and plot development, with roughly 400 unique words in a typical title.
The publisher describes this as an upper-elementary level. A learner should be able to read most of a sample without stopping at every sentence before committing to a complete book.
Level 2: 450 characters
Level 2 adds another 150 core characters. The books use about 650 unique words and are intended for low-intermediate learners who can already read Level 1 smoothly.
Level 2 is the highest Mandarin Companion level in the current catalog.
Is there a Mandarin Companion Level 3?
No. Mandarin Companion currently stops at Level 2. Searches for "Mandarin Companion Level 3" are common, but the publisher's three levels are Breakthrough, Level 1, and Level 2.
If Level 2 feels easy, the next step is a broader graded-reader series, an interactive reader at a higher level, or carefully chosen native material. There is no official Mandarin Companion Level 3 to move into.
How the levels compare with HSK
There is no exact conversion between Mandarin Companion and HSK.
Mandarin Companion counts core characters. HSK levels define vocabulary words and language tasks. Two texts can use the same number of unique characters while differing considerably in vocabulary and grammar.
Rough HSK mappings can help you choose a sample, but they should not be treated as a guarantee. A learner preparing for an HSK exam still needs practice built against the relevant HSK vocabulary and task requirements. Mandarin Companion is better viewed as extensive reading that supports general fluency.
The safest placement method is simple: open an official sample at the level you are considering. If you can follow the story comfortably and only need the provided key-word notes occasionally, the level is suitable. If you need to decode most sentences, move down.
Pinyin and vocabulary support
Mandarin Companion books do not place pinyin continuously above the Chinese prose. The publisher wants learners to read characters directly instead of following the romanization.
That does not mean the books contain no pinyin. When an unfamiliar key word first appears, it receives a numbered footnote with pinyin and an English definition. The book also includes a key-word list or glossary. You can see the format in the publisher's official Secret Garden sample.
This approach works when you already know nearly all of the core text. The footnotes catch the small number of words added for the story without covering each page in pronunciation guides.
The publisher also provides free samples, word lists, worksheets, and other title-specific material on its resources page. These tools are useful for teachers and independent learners, though they are not an in-book flashcard system.
Audio and available formats
Mandarin Companion sells paperback and digital editions. Many titles are available in both simplified and traditional Chinese, but you should check the product page before buying a specific version.
Some titles also have audiobook editions. Audio is a separate product rather than a track built into the print or Kindle book. You need to keep your place in the book and audiobook yourself if you want to listen while reading.
Availability is not identical across the catalog. Check the title's official product page and your local audiobook storefront instead of assuming every book and script combination has audio.
What Mandarin Companion does well
It gives beginners a complete book
The main appeal is length. A full story gives important words and grammar patterns room to recur across different scenes. That is hard to achieve in isolated example sentences or a short article.
The level system is easy to understand
The 150, 300, and 450-character steps make the progression clear. Official samples let you test the difficulty before buying, which is more useful than relying on an approximate HSK label.
Print editions are a real advantage
Many Chinese reading tools are screen-only. Mandarin Companion gives learners a physical-book option and publishes many titles in both simplified and traditional Chinese.
The stories receive careful editorial work
The books are shaped around a fixed character budget without reading like disconnected exercises. Adapted stories provide familiar plots, while the original Breakthrough titles make the lowest level possible without forcing a complex classic into 150 characters.
Where it is limited
The series ends at 450 core characters
Level 2 gives elementary and low-intermediate learners useful practice, but the catalog does not continue into upper-intermediate or advanced reading. Learners eventually need another source.
It does not target HSK vocabulary
Mandarin Companion's character system was built for extensive reading, not for a particular HSK syllabus. It can reinforce general Chinese, but it cannot promise that a book will review the vocabulary assigned to your current HSK level.
Reading tools are separate
Mandarin Companion does not bundle its own interactive learning layer. Dictionary lookup and progress features depend on the device or reading app you use. The publisher provides downloadable word lists, but you need a separate tool if you want adaptive pinyin or a review queue that spans books.
Audio is not integrated with the text
Audiobooks help with listening and pronunciation, but they are separate editions. There is no automatic sentence synchronization or word highlighting inside the book.
Mandarin Companion compared with HSKStory
The two products solve different reading problems.
| Feature | Mandarin Companion | HSKStory |
|---|---|---|
| Main format | Paperback, ebook, separate audiobook | Browser reader built for phones and computers |
| Grading system | 150, 300, or 450 core characters | HSK 3.0 vocabulary levels 1 through 9 |
| Story length | Book-length readers | Multi-chapter stories |
| Pinyin | Key-word footnotes and glossary | Optional pinyin plus word-tap help |
| Audio | Separate audiobook where available | Chapter audio synchronized with word highlighting |
| Vocabulary study | Downloadable word lists and manual lookup | Saved words with spaced-repetition review |
| Scripts | Simplified and traditional editions for many titles | Simplified or traditional display |
| Best fit | Uninterrupted extensive reading in a book | Interactive HSK-focused reading and listening |
HSKStory publishes editor-developed fiction rather than adapted classics. Editors develop, closely edit, and approve every story. The reader covers HSK levels 1 through 9, with word-tap pinyin and definitions, saved-word study, and chapter audio. Mandarin audio is reviewed for pronunciation, pacing, and synchronization.
Use Mandarin Companion when you want a complete book and minimal screen time. Use HSKStory when you want HSK-specific vocabulary control or reading support that stays out of the way until you need it. You can start reading at HSK 1 or choose another level from the story library.
Other alternatives
Chinese Breeze
Chinese Breeze is another print graded-reader series with a wider sequence of vocabulary levels. It is worth comparing if you want physical books but need a step beyond Mandarin Companion's 450-character ceiling. Read our Chinese Breeze review.
DuChinese
DuChinese is an app with short stories, dialogues, cultural lessons, and articles. It suits learners who want a larger variety of topics and an interactive mobile reader. Read our DuChinese comparison.
The Chairman's Bao
The Chairman's Bao grades Chinese news rather than fiction. It is a better match if current events and business or cultural topics keep you reading. Read our Chairman's Bao review.
Who should buy Mandarin Companion?
Mandarin Companion is a sensible choice if you can already recognize most of the characters in one of its samples and want a real book that stays within a controlled range. It is especially useful for learners who prefer traditional characters, want to study away from a screen, or enjoy longer plots.
Start with one title at the easiest level that feels comfortable. Extensive reading works best when you can follow the story without turning every line into a translation exercise.
If you need pinyin over much of the page, frequent dictionary checks, or material above the 450-character level, use an easier or more interactive reader first. The right book is the one you can keep reading without losing the story.