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Chinese dramas to learn Chinese if you're a beginner

Why slice-of-life dramas

“Slice of life” is the name for stories about school, college, family or first jobs. If you're learning Chinese, they have three advantages:

• The vocabulary is what you'll actually use: eating, studying, working, inviting someone, apologizing.
• The sentences are short and repeat from one episode to the next.
• You can follow from context: even if you miss some words, you know what's going on.

The 6 best dramas to start with

How we estimate the level: it's the level from which you can follow the show with Chinese subtitles and learn from it; understanding it without subtitles takes a lot more. We look at three things: whether the vocabulary is everyday (school, home) or more adult (work, family conflict), how fast the dialogue is, and whether it's set today or in another era. We use the HSK 2.0 levels, 1 to 6, as a reference.

Where to watch: Netflix, WeTV, Viki and iQIYI per JustWatch for the US; YouTube, the producers' official channels (October 2026). Availability changes by country and over time. Always look on official platforms: besides being legal, the subtitles are much better.

A big help: Chinese subtitles

Almost all dramas and movies from mainland China come with Chinese subtitles, often burned into the picture. They're a great help for linking what you hear to the characters, but also a temptation: if you're always reading, you're not training your ear. We explain it step by step in how to learn Chinese with TV shows.

The next step

When these feel easy, try modern dramas with a faster pace and office or family vocabulary, like 欢乐颂 (Ode to Joy), 小欢喜 (A Little Reunion) or 三十而已 (Nothing But Thirty). You'll find them, with difficulty warnings, in the best C-dramas for intermediate and advanced learners.

The ones to save for later

Palace, martial arts and fantasy dramas are hugely popular, but their language is formal, full of court titles and classical-style phrases. If you love them, watch them with English subtitles to enjoy them, not to study. We explain why in Chinese historical dramas.

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Frequently asked questions

Which Chinese drama is best for learning Chinese?

To start, pick everyday dramas set in the present, like 致我们暖暖的小时光 (Put Your Head on My Shoulder) or 致我们单纯的小美好 (A Love So Beautiful): short dialogues, standard Mandarin and situations that are easy to follow.

What level of Chinese do I need to watch these dramas?

With an upper-beginner or lower-intermediate level (HSK 2 to HSK 4, depending on the show) you can already get a lot out of them with Chinese subtitles; the table shows the estimated level of each one. Understanding them without subtitles takes a lot more.

Can I learn Chinese just by watching dramas?

Dramas train your ear and give you real phrases, but on their own they're not enough: you need to learn vocabulary and characters in an organized way and practice speaking.

Should I use English or Chinese subtitles?

At first, English subtitles, so you can follow the story. Then, the same scenes with Chinese subtitles. Dramas from mainland China usually have Chinese subtitles burned into the picture.

Where can I watch Chinese dramas with English subtitles?

Several are on Viki, Netflix, WeTV or iQIYI, depending on the country, and free on the producers' official YouTube channels, such as Huace Croton TV English or iQIYI's channels, with English subtitles. The catalog varies by country.

Why not start with historical dramas?

Because they use formal language, court titles and classical-style phrases that are almost useless for talking today. It's best to save them for when your level is good.

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