Graded readers / Mandarin Companion

Mandarin Companion

Adapted classic novels (Sherlock Holmes, Jane Austen, Journey to the West and original stories) published across three levels, so the reading stays roughly within a learner's current stage. Sold per title in paperback, ebook and audiobook, in both Simplified and Traditional editions.

Publisher: Mandarin Companion Formats: Print, E-book, Audio Vocabulary: Graded without a fixed list

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 explicitly approximate for this series.

• Breakthrough: The entry level, aimed at readers a few months into learning Chinese.
• Level 1: The second level, aimed at readers with early elementary vocabulary.
• Level 2: The third level, aimed at readers past early elementary vocabulary.

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.
• Chinese Breeze 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.

Back to all graded-reader series

Source and neutrality: figures are Mandarin Companion's own published grading, last checked 2026-07-28 against Mandarin Companion (level pages and product pages); the HSK bands are HanziCoverage's own approximate line-up, not a publisher claim. HanziCoverage has no affiliate relationship with Mandarin Companion and earns nothing if you buy it. The only app we publish and disclose is on the recommended page.