Reading in Chinese is one of the best ways to build fluency

Learn Vocabulary Faster
Acquire vocabulary twice as fast compared to flash cards

Learn Grammar Naturally
Seeing grammar patterns over and over again trains your brain to naturally understand

Automatically Process Chinese
As your reading speed increases, you’ll start to understand it in Chinese instead of translating in your head

Enjoyable
Interesting and fun stories you can AND want to read
We offer three levels of graded readers to help you learn Chinese confidently.
Breakthrough Level

For those who are just getting started with Chinese
Level I

For those with some built up vocabulary
Level II

For those taking it to the next level of learning

You Are In Charge of Your Learning
Welcome to Mandarin Companion!
We’ve worked hard to create enjoyable stories at the right level for you — that can help you build confidence and competence to improve your Chinese.
Our Graded Readers use language that is controlled and simplified that makes them easy for learners to read. Reading long strings of text in context shows you how the language is used to build proficiency in and naturally understand Chinese.
Research shows that learners need to ‘encounter’ a word 10-30 times before truly learning it. Graded Readers provide that repetition that you need to develop fluency NOW at your level.
In the next section, you can take an assessment and discover if this is the right level for you. We also explain how it won’t just improve your Chinese skills but will have a wide range of benefits, from better test scores to more confidence.
We hope you enjoy our books and all the best with your studies!







Start Learning Chinese Today!
Post List #1
You Can Learn Chinese Podcast

Learn HOW to learn Chinese with hosts Jared Turner and John Pasden. You will learn tips, strategies, and insights so you can supercharge your language learning. You will also be inspired by guest interviews with people from all over the world who have learned Chinese.
Both Jared and John both learned Chinese, lived in China for many years, and have worked with learners all over the world and understand the unique challenges that Chinese learners face. They stay at the forefront of language learning research and methods and bring that to listeners everywhere.
What happens when your reason for learning Chinese changes?
In this interview, Jared talks with Anastasia Tulupova about her journey from a goal-driven teenager in Ukraine, determined to master the “hardest language in the world” and become a translator, to a Chinese teacher who now helps others learn more effectively. Along the way, she realized that the path she started on wasn’t the one she actually wanted.
After years of structured study and passing HSK exams, everything changed when she arrived in China and discovered she couldn’t actually communicate. That moment pushed her to rethink not just how she was learning, but why.
We discuss the trap of perfectionism, the gap between knowing and using the language, and how consistent, real-world practice, often messy and repetitive, became the key to her breakthrough. Her story is a strong reminder that progress doesn’t come from getting everything right, but from showing up, speaking up, and sticking with it.
If your Chinese learning journey has ever felt frustrating, unclear, or like your goals are shifting, this episode will help you refocus on what actually works, and what really matters.
Links from the episode:
Xiya Chinese Teacher | Anastasia on Instagram







