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Mythic Mandarin

HSK 1 to 9 learning, built for HSK 3.0

Prepare for every HSK level through stories you will actually remember.

Short Chinese stories with pinyin and an English translation. Tap any word to see what it means.

Find your level Read a story

Built on the HSK 3.0 syllabus.

Mythic Mandarin lesson showing Chinese characters, pinyin, translation and audio practice.
Every sentence: characters, pinyin and meaning, with Mandarin audio at normal or slow speed where a story has audio.

Chinese conversation

Mythic Mandarin on YouTube

Listen to everyday Chinese conversations on our YouTube channel. Come back to the episode notes for useful phrases, vocabulary and speaking practice.

Explore the channel
  • 01Listen for the meaning
  • 02Say it out loud
  • 03Read the episode notes

Find your level on the way to the Dragon Gate

The carp that leaps the Dragon Gate becomes a dragon. Your path is the same: one level at a time, one story at a time. Every level is free to read while the stories are in preview.

  1. HSK 1, 300 words, , 10 stories available
  2. HSK 2, 500 words, , 10 stories available
  3. HSK 3, 1,000 words, , 10 stories available
  4. HSK 4, 2,000 words, , 10 stories available
  5. HSK 5, 3,600 words, , 10 stories available
  6. HSK 6, 5,400 words, , 10 stories available
  7. HSK 7–9, One advanced band, 11,000 words, , Story tracks: Level 7, Level 8, Level 9

Word counts are cumulative, from the official HSK 3.0 syllabus. In HSK 3.0, levels 7, 8 and 9 form one advanced band. Level 7, Level 8 and Level 9 are Mythic Mandarin story tracks that split this band into steps; they are not separate official exams.

Compare all HSK levels

Levels follow HSK 3.0, the new version of the exam. What changed in HSK 3.0

Browse the Chinese stories by level

How Chinese works

Mythic Mandarin does not only give you vocabulary. It explains how the language works, so every new word fits into a system you understand.

All guides on the blog

Start with HSK 1 and HSK 2 stories

Short stories with pinyin, translation, word taps and questions with explanations.

  1. 新朋友Xīn péngyouA new friend3 min
  2. 一张照片Yì zhāng zhàopiànA photo3 min
  3. 在饭店Zài fàndiànAt the restaurant3 min
  4. 买苹果Mǎi píngguǒBuying apples3 min
  5. 小月的一天Xiǎoyuè de yì tiānXiaoyue's day3 min
  6. 第一天上学Dì-yī tiān shàngxuéThe first day at school4 min

How a lesson works

About ten minutes. Small, steady progress beats a plan you cannot keep.

  1. Read the story

    Characters, pinyin and translation for every sentence. Hide the pinyin or the translation when you are ready.

  2. Tap the words

    See the meaning of any word and hear it at normal or slow speed.

  3. Answer and see why

    Questions in the style of the exam, with an explanation after you answer.

  4. Speak or write

    Try a short task yourself, then compare with a model answer. Finish with a seal on the lesson.

Inside a story

Chinese first, always. Pinyin and meaning sit right underneath, so you never lose the thread, and you can switch them off as your reading gets stronger.

  • Tap a word: characters, pinyin and meaning in a small card
  • Normal and slow playback of the Mandarin audio
  • Pinyin and translation you can show or hide
  • Vocabulary list with the official HSK level where it is verified
  • Works on your phone, no app and no account for free stories

Free tools, word lists and tests

No account needed. Use them on their own or next to any story.

Look up any Chinese word

Search the dictionary in English, pinyin or Chinese characters. Every word has its own page with pinyin, meanings and animated stroke order.

Myths and idioms that make words stick

Some stories retell Chinese myths and the tales behind chengyu, the four-character idioms. A word you met inside a story about a carp and a waterfall is a word you remember. The rest follow everyday exam topics: study, work, travel.