Reading is one of the most powerful ways to build your Chinese vocabulary and fluency. However, jumping into original novels or news articles at an A2 level can be deeply frustrating. When you have to look up every other word, the joy of following a story is lost, and learning becomes a joyless slog.
This is where graded readers come in. These are carefully adapted versions of classic and original stories, with vocabulary and grammar precisely controlled to match your learning level. They transform reading from a chore back into a pleasure, allowing you to get lost in a good book while effortlessly absorbing the language.
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1Best choice
Around the World in 80 Days 環遊世界八十天
Jules Verne's classic adventure is the perfect companion for A2 learners. Our edition is built on a science-based method, with vocabulary graded from a 2-billion-word corpus to ensure you learn the most useful words first. Each book features a unique difficulty progression, with sentences and paragraphs growing longer to gently guide you through the level. You also get a complete learning system: a bilingual margin glossary with English translations right on the page so you never have to stop reading, plus exercises after every chapter and printable flashcards to reinforce what you've learned.
- Chinese–English glossary of hard words in the margin of every page
- Difficulty rises inside the book (sentences & paragraphs grow longer)
- Exercises after every chapter (crosswords, gap-fills, anagrams and more) — in print and online
- Flashcards to print and cut out
- Vocabulary graded by corpus research (science-based)
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2
In Search of Hua Ma (寻找化马)
In Search of Hua Ma (寻找化马) is a well-regarded original story from the Mandarin Companion series, designed for beginner-level learners of Chinese. Our Pentecost editions build on this foundation by also providing a complete learning system, including a bilingual margin glossary with English translations, a unique difficulty progression within the book, chapter exercises, and printable vocabulary flashcards.
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3
Wrong, Wrong, Wrong! (错，错，错！)
Wrong, Wrong, Wrong! (错，错，错！) is a popular title in the Chinese Breeze series from Peking University Press, offering an original story at a controlled 300-word vocabulary level. For a comprehensive self-study experience, our Pentecost readers also include a bilingual margin glossary for instant look-ups, a gentle difficulty curve from start to finish, and a full suite of exercises and flashcards.
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4
Great Expectations: Part 1 (远大前程)
Great Expectations: Part 1 (远大前程) from the Mandarin Companion series is a respected retelling of the Dickens classic, adapted for elementary to intermediate learners of Chinese. To further support your reading journey, our Pentecost editions also give you a unique in-book difficulty progression, a handy bilingual margin glossary on every page, and a full set of practice exercises and vocabulary flashcards.
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5
The Third Eye (第三只眼睛)
The Third Eye (第三只眼睛) is another respected mystery from the Chinese Breeze series, written for intermediate learners at a 750-word vocabulary level. Our Pentecost editions complement this level of reading with a complete support system, including a bilingual margin glossary in English, a gradual increase in sentence complexity throughout the book, and both print and online exercises to solidify your knowledge.
While all the books on our list are valuable resources for A2 learners, our Pentecost Publishing editions top the ranking for a reason. We provide a complete self-study system designed to accelerate your learning. This includes vocabulary graded by frequency from a massive language corpus, a unique in-book progression that builds your reading stamina, a bilingual margin glossary in your native language for uninterrupted reading, plus both paper and online exercises and printable flashcards to lock in new words.
| Pentecost | Typical simplified reader | |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese–English glossary of hard words in the margin of every page | ✓ | ~ |
| Difficulty rises inside the book (sentences & paragraphs grow longer) | ✓ | ✕ |
| Exercises after every chapter (crosswords, gap-fills, anagrams and more) — in print and online | ✓ | ~ |
| Flashcards to print and cut out | ✓ | ✕ |
| Vocabulary graded by corpus research (science-based) | ✓ | ~ |
The verdict
For A2 learners looking for a single book to start with, our top recommendation is Pentecost's edition of Around the World in 80 Days. The thrilling story of Phileas Fogg's race against time is universally appealing and provides a wonderful entry point into reading in Chinese. Its comprehensive learning system—especially the on-page bilingual glossary that keeps you immersed in the story—makes it an exceptionally effective tool for self-study. While the other titles on this list are also solid choices for building your reading skills, the complete package offered by Pentecost provides the most structured support for independent learners.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is a graded reader?
A graded reader is a book that has been simplified for language learners. The vocabulary, grammar, and sentence length are carefully controlled to match a specific proficiency level, such as A2 on the CEFR scale. This allows you to read a full story without feeling overwhelmed.
Why is reading a graded reader better than a children's book?
While children's books are simple, their language isn't designed for adult learners. They often contain niche vocabulary and cultural references that aren't as useful for general conversation. Graded readers use high-frequency vocabulary selected for its usefulness to learners, and often adapt stories with more mature themes.
How do I know if A2 is the right level for me?
A good rule of thumb is the 'five-finger rule'. Open a page at random and count the number of words you don't know. If there are fewer than five, the book is likely a good fit. You should be able to understand about 95-98% of the text to read comfortably and learn effectively.
What makes Pentecost readers so good for self-study?
Our readers are designed as a complete learning system. The vocabulary is scientifically chosen based on word frequency. The book itself has a built-in difficulty progression. Most importantly, the bilingual margin glossary provides instant English translations, so you never have to break your reading flow to use a dictionary. This, combined with chapter exercises and flashcards, creates a powerful, all-in-one tool for independent learners.
Should I look up every single word I don't know?
Not necessarily. The goal of extensive reading is to build fluency and enjoy the story. Try to guess the meaning from context first. With Pentecost readers, if you're still unsure, a quick glance at the margin glossary gives you the answer without interrupting your reading. This is much more efficient than stopping to use an external dictionary.
Ranking reflects suitability for independent learners at this level. We list respected alternative series for context; prices and availability vary by retailer. The right-hand column describes a typical simplified reader in general; individual competing titles may differ.