[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":963},["ShallowReactive",2],{"article-\u002Farticles\u002Fmandarin-reading-list-by-cefr":3},{"_path":4,"_dir":5,"_draft":6,"_partial":6,"_locale":7,"title":8,"description":9,"date":10,"author":11,"category":12,"tags":13,"body":18,"_type":957,"_id":958,"_source":959,"_file":960,"_stem":961,"_extension":962},"\u002Farticles\u002Fmandarin-reading-list-by-cefr","articles",false,"","Mandarin Reading List for Adult Learners by HSK Level","Mandarin reading materials for adult learners ranked by HSK and CEFR level. From HSK 1 graded readers to HSK 6 modern fiction and journalism, with the structural reason each entry belongs where it sits.","2026-06-05T00:00:00+00:00","Michael McGettrick","Resources",[14,15,16,17],"mandarin reading","chinese books","graded readers","language learning",{"type":19,"children":20,"toc":924},"root",[21,30,44,49,54,61,73,80,125,131,170,176,216,222,227,233,263,269,308,314,335,341,353,359,389,395,434,440,479,485,497,503,533,539,568,574,603,609,620,626,656,662,692,698,728,734,764,770,775,780,786,791,825,831],{"type":22,"tag":23,"props":24,"children":26},"element","h1",{"id":25},"mandarin-reading-list-for-adult-learners",[27],{"type":28,"value":29},"text","Mandarin Reading List for Adult Learners",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":32,"children":33},"p",{},[34,36,42],{"type":28,"value":35},"Reading in Mandarin has a structural challenge that Spanish and French reading does not: ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":38,"children":39},"strong",{},[40],{"type":28,"value":41},"character recognition is a major upfront cost",{"type":28,"value":43},". A learner needs to recognise around 1,500 characters comfortably before they can read graded materials with reasonable speed, around 3,000 for modern fiction, and 4,000-5,000 for academic and classical reading. Until those character counts are in place, reading is slow and dictionary-dependent.",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":45,"children":46},{},[47],{"type":28,"value":48},"This list ranks Mandarin reading materials by HSK level (with the approximate CEFR mapping noted). The recommendations cluster heavily around graded readers at the lower levels because that is genuinely the right answer; only at HSK 4+ do mainstream native materials become accessible.",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":50,"children":51},{},[52],{"type":28,"value":53},"The list mixes mainland (simplified character) and Taiwan (traditional character) materials. Most adult learners study in simplified by default; Taiwan-published materials in traditional are noted where relevant.",{"type":22,"tag":55,"props":56,"children":58},"h2",{"id":57},"hsk-1-2-a1-a2-beginner",[59],{"type":28,"value":60},"HSK 1-2 (A1-A2, beginner)",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":62,"children":63},{},[64,66,71],{"type":28,"value":65},"At HSK 1-2 you need ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":67,"children":68},{},[69],{"type":28,"value":70},"graded readers with pinyin support and controlled vocabulary",{"type":28,"value":72},". Native materials are unreadable; even basic newspapers are 1,500+ characters of unknowns per page.",{"type":22,"tag":74,"props":75,"children":77},"h3",{"id":76},"mandarin-companion-graded-readers",[78],{"type":28,"value":79},"Mandarin Companion graded readers",{"type":22,"tag":81,"props":82,"children":83},"ul",{},[84,95,105,115],{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":86,"children":87},"li",{},[88,93],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":89,"children":90},{},[91],{"type":28,"value":92},"Format",{"type":28,"value":94},": graded readers published by Mandarin Companion, in both simplified and traditional character editions. Stories adapted from world literature classics (Sherlock Holmes, Jane Eyre, Sara Crewe) controlled to a specific HSK vocabulary range.",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":96,"children":97},{},[98,103],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":99,"children":100},{},[101],{"type":28,"value":102},"HSK fit",{"type":28,"value":104},": HSK 1, HSK 2, and a \"Breakthrough\" tier between HSK 2 and 3.",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":106,"children":107},{},[108,113],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":109,"children":110},{},[111],{"type":28,"value":112},"Why it works",{"type":28,"value":114},": the controlled vocabulary lets you read continuously without dictionary-stopping. The adapted-from-classic-literature framing gives narrative quality higher than purely-learner-original graded readers. Both simplified and traditional editions are available.",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":116,"children":117},{},[118,123],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":119,"children":120},{},[121],{"type":28,"value":122},"Cost",{"type":28,"value":124},": around $7-12 per book.",{"type":22,"tag":74,"props":126,"children":128},{"id":127},"hsk-standard-course-textbooks-the-reading-sections",[129],{"type":28,"value":130},"HSK Standard Course textbooks (the reading sections)",{"type":22,"tag":81,"props":132,"children":133},{},[134,143,152,161],{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":135,"children":136},{},[137,141],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":138,"children":139},{},[140],{"type":28,"value":92},{"type":28,"value":142},": official Hanban \u002F CLEC textbook series for HSK preparation. Each book has reading passages calibrated to the HSK vocabulary list.",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":144,"children":145},{},[146,150],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":147,"children":148},{},[149],{"type":28,"value":102},{"type":28,"value":151},": HSK 1 through HSK 6 across the series.",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":153,"children":154},{},[155,159],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":156,"children":157},{},[158],{"type":28,"value":112},{"type":28,"value":160},": the reading passages are explicitly calibrated to the HSK vocabulary at each level. For learners targeting HSK certification, this is the structurally correct input.",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":162,"children":163},{},[164,168],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":165,"children":166},{},[167],{"type":28,"value":122},{"type":28,"value":169},": around $20-30 per book.",{"type":22,"tag":74,"props":171,"children":173},{"id":172},"du-chinese-graded-reading-app",[174],{"type":28,"value":175},"Du Chinese (graded reading app)",{"type":22,"tag":81,"props":177,"children":178},{},[179,188,197,206],{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":180,"children":181},{},[182,186],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":183,"children":184},{},[185],{"type":28,"value":92},{"type":28,"value":187},": app with daily graded reading content from HSK 1 through HSK 6, with pinyin tap-to-reveal, definitions, and native audio.",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":189,"children":190},{},[191,195],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":192,"children":193},{},[194],{"type":28,"value":102},{"type":28,"value":196},": HSK 1 through HSK 6.",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":198,"children":199},{},[200,204],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":201,"children":202},{},[203],{"type":28,"value":112},{"type":28,"value":205},": the tap-to-reveal pinyin and definitions remove the dictionary-friction that paper books impose at this level. The daily-content rhythm makes it a habit-friendly reading tool. The pace at HSK 1-2 is slow enough to be patient and fast enough to feel like real reading.",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":207,"children":208},{},[209,214],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":210,"children":211},{},[212],{"type":28,"value":213},"Subscription",{"type":28,"value":215},": paid (around $15\u002Fmonth).",{"type":22,"tag":55,"props":217,"children":219},{"id":218},"hsk-3-b1-lower-intermediate",[220],{"type":28,"value":221},"HSK 3 (B1, lower intermediate)",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":223,"children":224},{},[225],{"type":28,"value":226},"At HSK 3 the graded reader market opens substantially.",{"type":22,"tag":74,"props":228,"children":230},{"id":229},"mandarin-companion-hsk-3-breakthrough-tier",[231],{"type":28,"value":232},"Mandarin Companion (HSK 3 \u002F Breakthrough tier)",{"type":22,"tag":81,"props":234,"children":235},{},[236,245,254],{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":237,"children":238},{},[239,243],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":240,"children":241},{},[242],{"type":28,"value":92},{"type":28,"value":244},": same series as above, at the slightly higher difficulty tier.",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":246,"children":247},{},[248,252],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":249,"children":250},{},[251],{"type":28,"value":102},{"type":28,"value":253},": HSK 3.",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":255,"children":256},{},[257,261],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":258,"children":259},{},[260],{"type":28,"value":112},{"type":28,"value":262},": same controlled-vocabulary quality at a level that supports more interesting plot complexity.",{"type":22,"tag":74,"props":264,"children":266},{"id":265},"sinolingua-graded-readers-hsk-3-to-hsk-5",[267],{"type":28,"value":268},"Sinolingua graded readers (HSK 3 to HSK 5)",{"type":22,"tag":81,"props":270,"children":271},{},[272,281,290,299],{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":273,"children":274},{},[275,279],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":276,"children":277},{},[278],{"type":28,"value":92},{"type":28,"value":280},": long-running mainland-published graded reader series. Multiple titles per level. Both simplified and traditional editions.",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":282,"children":283},{},[284,288],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":285,"children":286},{},[287],{"type":28,"value":102},{"type":28,"value":289},": HSK 3 to HSK 5.",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":291,"children":292},{},[293,297],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":294,"children":295},{},[296],{"type":28,"value":112},{"type":28,"value":298},": each book is short (50-100 pages) and built around a single story. The vocabulary is mainland-current and the registers cover everyday conversation, narrative, and light cultural content.",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":300,"children":301},{},[302,306],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":303,"children":304},{},[305],{"type":28,"value":122},{"type":28,"value":307},": around $10-15 per book.",{"type":22,"tag":74,"props":309,"children":311},{"id":310},"du-chinese-hsk-3-content",[312],{"type":28,"value":313},"Du Chinese (HSK 3 content)",{"type":22,"tag":81,"props":315,"children":316},{},[317,326],{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":318,"children":319},{},[320,324],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":321,"children":322},{},[323],{"type":28,"value":102},{"type":28,"value":325},": HSK 3 to HSK 4.",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":327,"children":328},{},[329,333],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":330,"children":331},{},[332],{"type":28,"value":112},{"type":28,"value":334},": at this level the app's daily content includes adapted news stories, cultural pieces, and short fiction that approaches native-pace reading with pinyin support.",{"type":22,"tag":55,"props":336,"children":338},{"id":337},"hsk-4-b1-b2-intermediate",[339],{"type":28,"value":340},"HSK 4 (B1-B2, intermediate)",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":342,"children":343},{},[344,346,351],{"type":28,"value":345},"At HSK 4 you start reading ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":347,"children":348},{},[349],{"type":28,"value":350},"simplified native materials",{"type":28,"value":352}," alongside continued graded reading.",{"type":22,"tag":74,"props":354,"children":356},{"id":355},"maomi-mandarin-reader",[357],{"type":28,"value":358},"Maomi Mandarin Reader",{"type":22,"tag":81,"props":360,"children":361},{},[362,371,380],{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":363,"children":364},{},[365,369],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":366,"children":367},{},[368],{"type":28,"value":92},{"type":28,"value":370},": graded reader series targeting HSK 4 specifically. Stories on contemporary Chinese life and culture.",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":372,"children":373},{},[374,378],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":375,"children":376},{},[377],{"type":28,"value":102},{"type":28,"value":379},": HSK 4.",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":381,"children":382},{},[383,387],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":384,"children":385},{},[386],{"type":28,"value":112},{"type":28,"value":388},": built for the awkward HSK 4 gap where graded readers feel too easy and native materials too hard. Contemporary cultural framing makes the vocabulary stick.",{"type":22,"tag":74,"props":390,"children":392},{"id":391},"chairmans-bao-news-in-mandarin-for-learners",[393],{"type":28,"value":394},"Chairman's Bao (news in Mandarin for learners)",{"type":22,"tag":81,"props":396,"children":397},{},[398,407,416,425],{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":399,"children":400},{},[401,405],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":402,"children":403},{},[404],{"type":28,"value":92},{"type":28,"value":406},": web platform offering Chinese news articles adapted to HSK 1-6 levels, with built-in pinyin and dictionary support.",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":408,"children":409},{},[410,414],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":411,"children":412},{},[413],{"type":28,"value":102},{"type":28,"value":415},": HSK 4 and above (lower levels available but the value scales up).",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":417,"children":418},{},[419,423],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":420,"children":421},{},[422],{"type":28,"value":112},{"type":28,"value":424},": real Chinese news topics at controlled difficulty. Updated daily; subscription model.",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":426,"children":427},{},[428,432],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":429,"children":430},{},[431],{"type":28,"value":213},{"type":28,"value":433},": around $20\u002Fmonth.",{"type":22,"tag":74,"props":435,"children":437},{"id":436},"lu-xun-selected-short-stories-in-graded-edition",[438],{"type":28,"value":439},"Lu Xun selected short stories (in graded edition)",{"type":22,"tag":81,"props":441,"children":442},{},[443,452,461,470],{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":444,"children":445},{},[446,450],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":447,"children":448},{},[449],{"type":28,"value":92},{"type":28,"value":451},": short stories by the early-20th-century Chinese author Lu Xun, often available in language-learner editions with footnotes.",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":453,"children":454},{},[455,459],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":456,"children":457},{},[458],{"type":28,"value":102},{"type":28,"value":460},": HSK 4 to HSK 5 (with the graded edition).",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":462,"children":463},{},[464,468],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":465,"children":466},{},[467],{"type":28,"value":112},{"type":28,"value":469},": foundational modern Chinese literature. Lu Xun's prose is famously direct compared with later 20th-century Chinese writers; the graded editions add footnotes and vocabulary support that bridge the gap.",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":471,"children":472},{},[473,477],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":474,"children":475},{},[476],{"type":28,"value":122},{"type":28,"value":478},": around $15-20 in graded editions.",{"type":22,"tag":55,"props":480,"children":482},{"id":481},"hsk-5-b2-upper-intermediate",[483],{"type":28,"value":484},"HSK 5 (B2, upper intermediate)",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":486,"children":487},{},[488,490,495],{"type":28,"value":489},"At HSK 5 you should be able to read ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":491,"children":492},{},[493],{"type":28,"value":494},"mainstream contemporary Chinese fiction and journalism",{"type":28,"value":496},".",{"type":22,"tag":74,"props":498,"children":500},{"id":499},"brothers-yu-hua",[501],{"type":28,"value":502},"Brothers (Yu Hua)",{"type":22,"tag":81,"props":504,"children":505},{},[506,515,524],{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":507,"children":508},{},[509,513],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":510,"children":511},{},[512],{"type":28,"value":92},{"type":28,"value":514},": novel by the leading contemporary mainland Chinese author Yu Hua.",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":516,"children":517},{},[518,522],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":519,"children":520},{},[521],{"type":28,"value":102},{"type":28,"value":523},": HSK 5 to HSK 6.",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":525,"children":526},{},[527,531],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":528,"children":529},{},[530],{"type":28,"value":112},{"type":28,"value":532},": contemporary mainland subject matter, Yu Hua's prose is famously clear. One of the most-recommended novels for adult Mandarin learners crossing into native-fiction reading.",{"type":22,"tag":74,"props":534,"children":536},{"id":535},"the-three-body-problem-liu-cixin",[537],{"type":28,"value":538},"The Three-Body Problem (Liu Cixin)",{"type":22,"tag":81,"props":540,"children":541},{},[542,551,559],{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":543,"children":544},{},[545,549],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":546,"children":547},{},[548],{"type":28,"value":92},{"type":28,"value":550},": the science fiction novel that made Liu Cixin internationally famous. Mainland-published, simplified characters.",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":552,"children":553},{},[554,558],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":555,"children":556},{},[557],{"type":28,"value":102},{"type":28,"value":523},{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":560,"children":561},{},[562,566],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":563,"children":564},{},[565],{"type":28,"value":112},{"type":28,"value":567},": contemporary genre fiction at native pace. Science fiction vocabulary is specialised but learnable; the narrative momentum carries you through. The translated English edition is widely read, so cultural validation of plot and themes is straightforward.",{"type":22,"tag":74,"props":569,"children":571},{"id":570},"caixin-and-sixth-tone-chinese-journalism",[572],{"type":28,"value":573},"Caixin and Sixth Tone (Chinese journalism)",{"type":22,"tag":81,"props":575,"children":576},{},[577,586,594],{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":578,"children":579},{},[580,584],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":581,"children":582},{},[583],{"type":28,"value":92},{"type":28,"value":585},": Caixin is a leading mainland business and policy publication (caixin.com, simplified Chinese); Sixth Tone is its English sister site but the Chinese-language equivalent is The Paper (thepaper.cn).",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":587,"children":588},{},[589,593],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":590,"children":591},{},[592],{"type":28,"value":102},{"type":28,"value":523},{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":595,"children":596},{},[597,601],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":598,"children":599},{},[600],{"type":28,"value":112},{"type":28,"value":602},": contemporary news-register mainland Mandarin at native pace. Reading a few articles a day is the structural way to bridge into HSK 6 \u002F C1 news comprehension.",{"type":22,"tag":55,"props":604,"children":606},{"id":605},"hsk-6-c1-c2-advanced",[607],{"type":28,"value":608},"HSK 6+ (C1-C2, advanced)",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":610,"children":611},{},[612,614,619],{"type":28,"value":613},"At HSK 6+ the recommendations are the ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":615,"children":616},{},[617],{"type":28,"value":618},"books educated Chinese adults actually read for pleasure or intellectual engagement",{"type":28,"value":496},{"type":22,"tag":74,"props":621,"children":623},{"id":622},"wolf-totem-jiang-rong",[624],{"type":28,"value":625},"Wolf Totem (Jiang Rong)",{"type":22,"tag":81,"props":627,"children":628},{},[629,638,647],{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":630,"children":631},{},[632,636],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":633,"children":634},{},[635],{"type":28,"value":92},{"type":28,"value":637},": mainland Chinese novel set during the Cultural Revolution, on the Mongolian steppe.",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":639,"children":640},{},[641,645],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":642,"children":643},{},[644],{"type":28,"value":102},{"type":28,"value":646},": HSK 6.",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":648,"children":649},{},[650,654],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":651,"children":652},{},[653],{"type":28,"value":112},{"type":28,"value":655},": sustained adult prose, rich vocabulary on nature, history and political content. Reading this comfortably is a HSK 6+ marker.",{"type":22,"tag":74,"props":657,"children":659},{"id":658},"soul-mountain-gao-xingjian",[660],{"type":28,"value":661},"Soul Mountain (Gao Xingjian)",{"type":22,"tag":81,"props":663,"children":664},{},[665,674,683],{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":666,"children":667},{},[668,672],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":669,"children":670},{},[671],{"type":28,"value":92},{"type":28,"value":673},": novel by the 2000 Nobel laureate Gao Xingjian. Available in mainland simplified and Taiwan traditional editions.",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":675,"children":676},{},[677,681],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":678,"children":679},{},[680],{"type":28,"value":102},{"type":28,"value":682},": HSK 6 to advanced.",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":684,"children":685},{},[686,690],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":687,"children":688},{},[689],{"type":28,"value":112},{"type":28,"value":691},": experimental literary prose, multiple narrative voices, sustained literary register. One of the canonical Chinese-language literary novels of the late 20th century.",{"type":22,"tag":74,"props":693,"children":695},{"id":694},"peoples-daily-editorials-plus-peoples-liberation-army-daily",[696],{"type":28,"value":697},"People's Daily editorials, plus People's Liberation Army Daily",{"type":22,"tag":81,"props":699,"children":700},{},[701,710,719],{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":702,"children":703},{},[704,708],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":705,"children":706},{},[707],{"type":28,"value":92},{"type":28,"value":709},": party-state newspaper editorials at the highest formal register of mainland Mandarin.",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":711,"children":712},{},[713,717],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":714,"children":715},{},[716],{"type":28,"value":102},{"type":28,"value":718},": HSK 6 and above.",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":720,"children":721},{},[722,726],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":723,"children":724},{},[725],{"type":28,"value":112},{"type":28,"value":727},": maximum-formality register including classical Chinese remnants, single-character formal vocabulary, parallel structures, and chengyu density. The political register that academic and formal mainland writing assumes you can read.",{"type":22,"tag":74,"props":729,"children":731},{"id":730},"classical-chinese-wenyanwen-文言文",[732],{"type":28,"value":733},"Classical Chinese (wenyanwen, 文言文)",{"type":22,"tag":81,"props":735,"children":736},{},[737,746,755],{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":738,"children":739},{},[740,744],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":741,"children":742},{},[743],{"type":28,"value":92},{"type":28,"value":745},": pre-modern Chinese in its original form. Tang and Song dynasty poetry, Confucian and Daoist classics, Ming and Qing prose.",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":747,"children":748},{},[749,753],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":750,"children":751},{},[752],{"type":28,"value":102},{"type":28,"value":754},": beyond HSK 9; specialist territory.",{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":756,"children":757},{},[758,762],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":759,"children":760},{},[761],{"type":28,"value":112},{"type":28,"value":763},": reading classical Chinese is its own discipline beyond modern Mandarin and lies outside the HSK system. For learners with classical Chinese as a goal, the standard entry is the Tang shi poetry collections; for prose, the Confucian Analects (Lunyu) with annotations.",{"type":22,"tag":55,"props":765,"children":767},{"id":766},"special-note-simplified-vs-traditional-characters",[768],{"type":28,"value":769},"Special note: simplified vs traditional characters",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":771,"children":772},{},[773],{"type":28,"value":774},"If you have learned Mandarin in simplified characters and want to read Taiwan-published or Hong Kong-published materials in traditional characters, expect a 2-4 week adjustment period for the visual recognition. The vocabulary and grammar are the same; only the character forms differ. Pleco and most learner apps support both character sets.",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":776,"children":777},{},[778],{"type":28,"value":779},"The reverse case (learning in traditional and switching to simplified) is faster because simplified characters are a subset reduction of traditional.",{"type":22,"tag":55,"props":781,"children":783},{"id":782},"how-to-actually-read-mandarin",[784],{"type":28,"value":785},"How to actually read Mandarin",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":787,"children":788},{},[789],{"type":28,"value":790},"Three structural points:",{"type":22,"tag":792,"props":793,"children":794},"ol",{},[795,805,815],{"type":22,"tag":85,"props":796,"children":797},{},[798,803],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":799,"children":800},{},[801],{"type":28,"value":802},"Use a digital reader with tap-to-reveal pinyin and definitions",{"type":28,"value":804}," for HSK 1-3 reading. Paper books at this level lose more time to dictionary-stopping than they gain in vocabulary acquisition. 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