Audiobooks in Chinese

If you’re looking to learn Chinese, you might as well try using audiobooks, as they can provide numerous benefits for studying foreign languages.

Nowadays, learning a new language is made easier with the use of audiobooks. These versions of all kinds of titles come with professionally narrated voice-overs that are read to you aloud. The audiobook market is massive, and you can find these books in pretty much any language you desire besides English, including Chinese.

Some of the most popular sites and online libraries that offer audiobooks include Audible, Scribd, and Audiobooks.com. These are subscription-based services that require you to pay for both using them and for certain books you wish to enjoy. Nevertheless, there are other services, like LibriVox and Project Gutenberg, that offer Chinese audiobooks.

Audiobooks in Chinese to guide language learning

There are several reasons why anyone learning a new language should give audiobooks a chance. The first and most obvious one is that listening instead of reading advanced text comprehension. On the other hand, it further develops your listening and reading skills. And to top it off, listening to an audiobook increases your Chinese vocabulary with new words.

All you have to do is find a title that seems appropriate for your learning level and purchase or download it. Still, if you’re not certain which audiobooks in the Chinese language are the best for novice learners, allow us to introduce you to some of them. These offer both interesting and fun content and are useful for developing you as a Chinese native speaker.

Best-selling Chinese audiobooks

Chinese Short Stories for Beginners

The first audiobook on this list is My Daily Chinese’s Chinese Short Stories for Beginners, read by Crystal Mao and Emma Lanners. Although it’s a little less than six hours long, it includes great tales that are perfectly suitable for novice learners.

Chinese Short Stories: 11 Simple Stories for Beginners Who Want to Learn Mandarin Chinese in Less Time While Also Having Fun

The second book on our list might have a long title, but it’s actually shorter than the previous one, lasting only four hours. Nevertheless, it’s a great audiobook for learning Chinese, as it provides you with a complete English translation at the end of each chapter.

Ten Deadly Sins (Shi Zong Sui)

For those craving more excitement, Ten Deadly Sins by Zhi Zhu is one of the best-selling Chinese books of all time. This thriller’s audiobook version is a perfect way to enrich your vocabulary with straightforward sentences and words you can use in everyday communication.

The True Story of Ah Q

Lu Xun’s The True Story of Ah Q is a fantastic piece of writing that will both entertain and educate you on Chinese culture. This is a story of being both a bully and a victim that’s fully accessible for beginner learners of all ages.

TTS technology

With a text to speech tool like Speechify, you can listen to anything in Chinese including emails and articles. So after you've listened to every Chinese audiobook, you can continue immersing yourself in the language. 

FAQ

What is the best audiobook app?

Amazon’s Audible is one of the most popular apps due to its vast library that’s full of great audiobooks, including ones in Mandarin Chinese.

What is an audiobook called in Chinese?

In pinyin—on official romanization of Traditional Chinese—an audiobook is called Yǒushēng dúwù. In Chinese characters, it's 有聲讀物.

Does Audible have books in Chinese?

Yes. Audible has more than a hundred Chinese audiobooks, including titles by Chinese authors and those translated into their language, like the Harry Potter book series.

Are audiobooks popular in China?

A few years ago, China had more than half a billion audiobook users, making it the world’s biggest audiobook market in the world.

Where can I find audiobooks in other languages?

Besides Audible, you can search services and sites like Scribd, LibriVox, and Audiobooks.com for titles in foreign languages.

What is the difference between audiobooks and podcasts?

Audiobooks are books with voice-over narration, while podcasts are radio shows where hosts and their guests cover all sorts of topics.

What is the best way to learn Chinese?

Aside from taking Pimsleur lessons online, you can learn Chinese by listening to audiobooks instead of just using a dictionary.

What are the benefits of listening to audiobooks?

Audiobooks improve material comprehension and vocabulary, advance listening and reading skills, as well as offer a chance to multitask while listening to them.

What is the name of a Chinese audiobook?

Chinese speakers say yǒushēng dúwù (有聲讀物) for audiobooks.

What kind of books are on Audible?

Audible offers both non-fiction and fiction titles, including novels, short stories, children’s books, biographies, and history books, making it great for both novice and advanced learners.