Graded readers / Chinese Breeze

Chinese Breeze 汉语风

A long-running print novella series (mysteries, romances, everyday-life stories) graded by a base-word budget across four levels, with an audio recording of each book. Published by Peking University Press.

Publisher: Peking University Press Formats: Print, Audio Vocabulary: 300 to 1,100 words

The levels

Each level below lists the vocabulary size it is built around and the approximate HSK fit on both schemes. Vocabulary sizes are the publisher's figures; the HSK bands are a computed line-up against the HSK word and character lists, given as ranges and approximate. The two schemes count different lists, so the same book can sit a level or two apart on each: HSK 2.0 is the closer fit for this word-graded series.

• Level 1: About 300 base words.
• Level 2: About 500 base words.
• Level 3: About 750 base words.
• Level 4: About 1,100 base words.

Check it against your own level

The label on a series is a starting guess, not a promise. The reliable way to place any book is to grab a sample chapter, paste it into the coverage analyzer, and see whether you clear roughly 95 percent word coverage. If you do, the reading will feel smooth; if you are well below, drop a level. Teachers can use the difficulty grader the same way to place a class text.

Other series to compare

• Imagin8 Press An imprint of retold Chinese stories (Journey to the West, dynasty histories, folk heroes) written with a controlled word count, most titles built on the HSK 3 vocabulary. Sold per title in paperback and ebook, with free audiobooks.
• Du Chinese App and web graded reader with a large library of original stories and adapted classics across six levels, each defined by a stated character vocabulary, with built-in audio, pinyin toggle and tap-to-look-up. Free lessons plus a premium subscription for the full library.
• Sinolingua Graded Chinese Reader (word-count series) A print anthology series of short stories and abridged fiction whose volumes are banded by an explicit base-word budget (named in each title, from around a thousand words upward). Published by Sinolingua and sold per volume.

Back to all graded-reader series

Source and neutrality: figures are Chinese Breeze's own published grading, last checked 2026-07-24 against Chinese Breeze series (Cheng and Tsui, official distributor); the HSK bands are HanziCoverage's own approximate line-up, not a publisher claim. HanziCoverage has no affiliate relationship with Chinese Breeze and earns nothing if you buy it. The only app we publish and disclose is on the recommended page.