Hanyu Tales (Chinese graded reading)
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Hanyu Tales (Chinese graded reading)
Hanyu Tales

Read famous Chinese literature at your HSK level, with a tap dictionary and flashcards.

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Essays

12 texts

Level:
Mr. Almost cover
Essay

差不多先生傳

Mr. Almost

By 胡適 (Hu Shi) • 1924 • 845 chars

A satirical tale about 'Mr. Almost', a man whose indifference to precision leads to absurd—and fatal—consequences.

Satire
Philosophy
Available in:
Three Chengyu cover
New
Essay

三个成语

Three Chengyu

By Gary Bischoff & Wang Wei • 2026 • 731 chars

The stories behind three well-known chengyu: the frog at the bottom of a well, the man who drew feet on a snake, and the old horses that found the way home.

Culture
Available in:
Moonlight Over the Lotus Pond cover
Essay

荷塘月色

Moonlight Over the Lotus Pond

By 朱自清 (Zhu Zi Qing) • 1927 • 1179 chars

A poetic and introspective essay by Zhu Ziqing, capturing the tranquility of a moonlit night as he strolls along a lotus pond.

Philosophy
Available in:
Hurry Hurry cover
Essay

匆匆

Hurry Hurry

By 朱自清 (Zhu Zi Qing) • 1925 • 542 chars

A poignant reflection on the fleeting nature of time.

Psychology
Available in:
Retreating Figure cover
Essay

背影

Retreating Figure

By 朱自清 (Zhu Zi Qing) • 1925 • 1139 chars

A deeply personal and touching essay that reflects on the author's complex emotions toward his father.

Psychology
Drama
Available in:
My Mother cover
Essay

我的母親

My Mother

By 胡適 (Hu Shi) • 1918 • 2687 chars

A touching tribute by Hu Shi to his mother.

Psychology
Philosophy
Drama
Available in:
Spring cover
New
Essay

春

Spring

By 朱自清 (Zhu Zi Qing) • 1933 • 633 chars

Zhu Ziqing's joyful sketch of spring arriving: hills waking, trees in blossom, soft rain, and everyone heading outdoors to start the year.

Culture
Available in:
On Drinking Alcohol cover
Essay

谈酒

On Drinking Alcohol

By 周作人 (Zhou Zuoren) • 1926 • 1742 chars

A reflection on the cultural, personal, and sensory experience of drinking alcohol.

Philosophy
Available in:
Drinking Tea cover
Essay

喝茶

Drinking Tea

By 周作人 (Zhou Zuoren) • 1921 • 1312 chars

A meditative journey through the art of drinking tea.

Philosophy
Available in:
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