When can I start reading Chinese stories?

As soon as you know a few dozen words. HSK 1 stories are written mainly with the 300 words of HSK 3.0 level 1 and repeat them on purpose, so reading helps you learn them.

Do I need to know characters first?

No. Read with pinyin on at first; the characters become familiar because the same words come back in every story. Turn pinyin off one level at a time.

Are these stories free?

Yes. Every story, its audio and the word dictionary are free to read online.

Chinese reading for beginners

These stories use only the words of HSK 1 and HSK 2 — the first few hundred words most learners meet — so you can read a whole story from the first week instead of decoding one sentence at a time.

Every story is short, about everyday life, and comes with pinyin, an English line under each sentence when you want it, and audio at natural speed.

How to read your first stories

Turn pinyin on for the first reading, then read the story again with pinyin off.
Tap any word you do not know: you get its pinyin, meaning and sound, and you can save it for review.
Listen once with the text, then once without it. A story you can follow by ear is a story you know.

Stories to start with

Questions

When can I start reading Chinese stories?: As soon as you know a few dozen words. HSK 1 stories are written mainly with the 300 words of HSK 3.0 level 1 and repeat them on purpose, so reading helps you learn them.
Do I need to know characters first?: No. Read with pinyin on at first; the characters become familiar because the same words come back in every story. Turn pinyin off one level at a time.
Are these stories free?: Yes. Every story, its audio and the word dictionary are free to read online.