Baozi the catBaozi Chinese

Chinese through stories

Learn Chinese the way children do: by understanding stories

388 short picture-story lessons from zero. Each one adds about 5 new words to the ones you already know.

First 10 lessons free · no sign-up to start · works on your phone, also offline

Also an app:App StoreGoogle Play

David (very tall, curly brown hair, green hoodie) with a big suitcase, waving at the viewer in front of an apartment door in Chengdu.
大卫
你nǐ好hǎo!你nǐ好hǎo!
Hello! Hello!
大卫
我wǒ是shì大卫Dàwèi。
I'm David.

How it works

The method is comprehensible input: you acquire a language by understanding messages just a little above your level — linguist Stephen Krashen’s “i+1”. Stories with questions about them make it work, as in TPRS (storytelling-based teaching).

Stories you almost fully understand

Each lesson adds about 5 new words — you already know the rest. Meaning comes from the story, not from a word list.

Every new word 10+ times

In the story, the questions, the dialog — and again in later lessons. It sticks without cramming.

Listen first, then speak

Repeat after the voices and get a pronunciation score, play a role, talk about yourself — once it already feels easy.

Inside the course

388picture-story lessons
2,200+words, about 5 per lesson
694real dialogs unlock as you go
15 mina lesson, with speaking practice

One long story

David moves to Chengdu, meets Xiaoyu — and her enormous cat Baozi, who steals every scene.

你好成都Hello, Chengdu
日子Daily life
吃Food
城市The city
家Family
身体Body & feelings
玩Fun & tech
去北京Trip to Beijing
过年Spring Festival
包子减肥Baozi's diet
比赛The race
找工作The job
包子是明星Baozi the star
约会Dates
去上海Shanghai
搬家Moving
大考试The big exam
爸爸妈妈来了Mom and Dad
一辈子A lifetime
婚礼The wedding
新婚生活Newlyweds
去青岛Summer by the sea
开学了Back to school
实习生The intern
一周年One year on
宝宝来了The baby arrives
包子又火了Baozi goes viral
大卫当组长David the team leader
安娜的包子店Anna's bun shop
知识比赛The quiz show
去西安Summer in Xi'an
健康第一Health first
我们的小区Our neighbourhood
一岁了One year old
否则……The old contract
包子大战The bun war
过年去美国New Year in America
包子有限公司Baozi Ltd.
包子的牙The tooth
一只猫的一生The movie
小区新规定The new rules
又一年One more year
All 388 lessons
1. 我是大卫 · I'm David2. 包子很大 · Baozi is big3. 这是什么? · What's this?4. 包子要吃包子 · Baozi wants to eat baozi5. 有没有? · Got any?6. 包子在哪儿? · Where's Baozi?7. 你是哪国人? · Where are you from?8. 我们是朋友吧? · We're friends, right?9. 几个包子? · How many buns?10. 去商店 · Going to the shop11. 大卫会说汉语吗? · Can David speak Chinese?12. 王老师来了 · Teacher Wang is here13. 乐乐八岁 · Lele is eight14. 现在几点? · What time is it?15. 今天星期几? · What day is it today?16. 起床! · Get up!17. 快!快! · Hurry! Hurry!18. 床上床下 · On the Bed, Under the Bed19. 你叫什么名字? · What's your name?20. 写汉字 · Writing Chinese characters21. 对不对? · Right or wrong?22. 乐乐的学校 · Lele's school23. 下雨了 · It's raining24. 我饿了 · I'm hungry25. 好吃! · Delicious!26. 去饭店 · Going to a restaurant27. 一起吃饭 · Eating together28. 小雨做饭 · Xiaoyu cooks29. 火锅 · Hotpot30. 早饭午饭晚饭 · Breakfast, lunch, dinner31. 包子生气了 · Baozi is angry32. 东西呢? · Where did our stuff go?33. 找到了! · Found it!34. 谢谢! · Thank you!35. 远不远? · Is it far?36. 左边右边 · Left and right37. 开门! · Open the door!38. 打车 · Taking a taxi39. 熊猫! · Pandas!40. 买衣服 · Buying clothes41. 便宜一点儿 · A little cheaper42. 坐地铁 · Taking the subway43. 包子病了 · Baozi is sick44. 图书馆 · The library45. 大卫迷路了 · David is lost46. 大卫的家人 · David's Family47. 弟弟妹妹 · Little Brothers and Sisters48. 喂? · Hello?49. 妈妈很忙 · Mom Is Busy50. 爷爷奶奶 · Grandpa and Grandma51. 一样不一样? · Same or different?52. 上班下班 · Off to work, back from work53. 生日快乐 · Happy birthday54. 唱歌 · Singing55. 你住在哪儿? · Where do you live?56. 欢迎! · Welcome!57. 头疼 · Headache58. 眼睛 · Eyes59. 跑! · Run!60. 打球 · Playing ball61. 狗来了! · The dog is here!62. 洗澡 · Bath time63. 记得吗? · Do you remember?64. 我觉得…… · I think...65. 春夏秋冬 · Spring, summer, autumn, winter66. 帮帮我! · Help me!67. 慢慢来 · Take it slow68. 周末 · The weekend69. 看电影 · At the movies70. 上网 · Online71. 包子有名了 · Baozi is famous72. 游泳 · Swimming73. 画画儿 · Drawing74. 考试 · The test75. 中文课 · Chinese class76. 开玩笑 · Just Kidding77. 爱好 · Hobbies78. 包子的一天 · A Day in the Life of Baozi79. 放假了 · Holiday!80. 几月几号? · What's the Date?81. 带什么? · What to Bring?82. 飞! · Fly!83. 北京到了 · We're in Beijing!84. 长城 · The Great Wall85. 北京烤鸭 · Peking Duck86. 坐火车 · Taking the Train87. 这些那些 · These and Those88. 想家 · Homesick89. 回成都 · Back to Chengdu90. 新年快乐 · Happy New Year91. 包饺子 · Making Dumplings92. 回老家 · Back to the Hometown93. 放鞭炮 · Setting Off Firecrackers94. 拜年 · New Year Greetings95. 包子不见了 · Baozi Is Missing96. 你去过吗? · Have You Been There?97. 听懂了! · I Understood!98. 大卫的汉语 · David's Chinese99. 决定 · The decision100. 我们的家 · Our home101. 包子太胖了 · Baozi's Too Fat102. 包子的问题 · Baozi's Problem103. 一小碗饭 · One Small Bowl104. 行不行? · Will That Do?105. 听说你们结婚了? · I Hear You Got Married?106. 乐乐想养宠物 · Lele Wants a Pet107. 好久不见! · Long Time No See!108. 谁是小偷? · Who's the Thief?109. 怎么办? · What Now?110. 我们一起减肥 · Let's Diet Together111. 我要参加比赛 · I'm Entering the Race112. 坚持! · Keep Going!113. 世界第一 · Number One in the World114. 加油! · Come On!115. 兔子和包子 · The Rabbit and Baozi116. 大卫受伤了 · David Gets Hurt117. 公园里的太极拳 · Tai Chi in the Park118. 越跑越快 · Faster and Faster119. 比赛那天 · Race Day120. 谁是冠军? · Who's the Champion?121. 大卫没钱了 · David's Broke122. 找工作 · Job Hunting123. 面试 · The Interview124. 没想到! · Who Saw That Coming?125. 我请客! · My Treat!126. 第一天上班 · First Day at Work127. 新同事 · New Colleagues128. 开会 · The Meeting129. 又加班了 · Overtime Again130. 客户来了 · The Client Comes131. 包子的广告 · Baozi's Commercial132. 包子上新闻了 · Baozi Makes the News133. 一万个粉丝 · Ten Thousand Fans134. 手机没电了 · Phone's Dead135. 赞助商 · The Sponsor136. 包子不理人 · Baozi Ignores Everyone137. 大大也有名了 · Dada's Famous Too138. 最帅的猫 · The Most Handsome Cat139. 明星的生活 · A Star's Life140. 做一只普通的猫 · Just an Ordinary Cat141. 马克的秘密 · Mark's Secret142. 约会 · The Date143. 喝醉了 · Drunk144. 误会 · The Misunderstanding145. 吵架 · The Quarrel146. 心情不好 · A Bad Mood147. 什么样的人? · What Kind of Guy?148. 主动一点儿 · Make the First Move149. 谈恋爱 · Dating150. 好消息 · Good News151. 出差 · Business Trip152. 去上海的路上 · On the Way to Shanghai153. 上海到了 · Shanghai at Last154. 堵车 · Stuck in Traffic155. 见客户 · Meeting the Client156. 排队 · The Queue157. 打折了! · On Sale!158. 上海的口味 · Shanghai Flavors159. 又迷路了 · Lost Again160. 回成都 · Back to Chengdu161. 房东来了 · The Landlady162. 看房子 · House Hunting163. 新小区 · The New Neighborhood164. 搬家 · Moving Day165. 到处都是猫毛 · Cat Hair Everywhere166. 我不想离开 · I Don't Want to Leave167. 新家 · The New Home168. 师傅来了 · The Repairman169. 楼下的大白 · Dabai Downstairs170. 欢迎来我家 · Welcome to Our Place171. 我的汉语水平 · My Chinese Level172. 乐乐的作业 · Lele's Homework173. 背课文 · Learning by Heart174. 书法 · Calligraphy175. 讲笑话 · Telling Jokes176. 考试前一天 · The Day Before the Exam177. 考试 · The Exam178. 等结果 · Waiting for the Results179. 王老师的生日 · Teacher Wang's Birthday180. 通过了! · Passed!181. 爸爸妈妈要来了 · Mom and Dad Are Coming182. 太客气了 · Far Too Polite183. 用筷子 · Using Chopsticks184. 中药 · Chinese Medicine185. 变脸 · Face-Changing186. 两个爸爸 · Two Dads187. 大卫小时候 · Little David188. 当翻译 · The Interpreter189. 圣诞节 · Christmas190. 爸爸的话 · Dad's Talk191. 马克求婚 · Mark Proposes192. 婚礼的预算 · The Wedding Budget193. 买西装 · Buying a Suit194. 大卫的计划 · David's Plan195. 婚礼 · The Wedding196. 戒指呢? · Where's the Ring?197. 是谁? · Whodunit198. 回老家 · Back to the Village199. 你愿意吗? · Will You?200. 一辈子 · A Lifetime201. 大家的意见 · Everyone Has an Opinion202. 重新拍! · One More Take!203. 请多少位? · How Many Guests?204. 再喊一遍! · Shout It Again!205. 我们的爱情 · Our Love Story206. 十道菜 · Ten Courses207. 请假 · Asking for Leave208. 湖边 · By the Lake209. 谁是主人? · Who's the Master?210. 会说话的鸟 · The Talking Bird211. 谁干活儿? · Who Does the Chores?212. 奶奶的做法 · Grandma's Recipe213. 叫外卖 · Ordering Takeout214. 包子多少斤? · How Heavy Is Baozi?215. 调查开始 · The Investigation216. 友好的包子 · Friendly Baozi217. 南方人,北方人 · Southerners and Northerners218. 海边真凉快 · Cool by the Sea219. 卡住了! · Stuck!220. 标准的普通话 · Standard Mandarin221. 去夜市 · Night Market222. 地球和月亮 · The Earth and the Moon223. 飞机起不来! · The Plane Won't Take Off!224. 家里的变化 · Changes at Home225. 开学了 · Back to School226. 谁当班长? · Who'll Be Class Monitor?227. 外国老师 · The Foreign Teacher228. 一篇作文 · An Essay229. 运动会 · Sports Day230. 马克的小说 · Mark's Novel231. 学习方法 · Study Methods232. 学校的晚会 · The School Show233. 新来的实习生 · The New Intern234. 新产品的功能 · The Gadget235. 没有信号 · No Signal236. 顾客的看法 · What Customers Think237. 外地来的商人 · The Businessman238. 小周没有信心 · Xiaozhou's Nerves239. 包子又火了 · Baozi Goes Viral Again240. 张经理的话 · Manager Zhang's Speech241. 高级手表 · The Fancy Watch242. 大衣里的包子 · Baozi in the Coat243. 看中医 · Seeing a Chinese Doctor244. 办签证 · Visa Trouble245. 回家过年 · Home for New Year246. 去动物园 · To the Zoo247. 一周年 · One Year248. 空房间 · The Empty Room249. 楼下的马爷爷 · Grandpa Ma Downstairs250. 男孩还是女孩? · Boy or Girl?251. 宝宝的房间 · The Baby's Room252. 提前了! · Two Weeks Early!253. 最美好的时刻 · The Best Moment254. 她叫汤圆 · Her Name Is Tangyuan255. 包子的地位 · Baozi's Place256. 困死了! · Dead Tired257. 两个奶奶 · Two Grandmas258. 满月 · One Month Old259. 一个视频 · One Little Video260. 上新闻了 · In the News261. 现场直播 · Live on Air262. 真的假的? · Real or Fake?263. 包子的才能 · Baozi's Talent264. 包子迷 · Baozi Fans265. 马克的文章 · Mark's Article266. 神秘的礼物 · The Mystery Gift267. 包子上春晚 · Baozi at the Spring Gala268. 新部门 · A New Department269. 关于包子的会议 · A Meeting About Baozi270. 机器人 · The Robot271. 去工厂 · At the Factory272. 找人才 · Looking for Talent273. 分配任务 · Who Does What274. 正式的场合 · A Formal Occasion275. 进展怎么样? · Any Progress?276. 张经理的评价 · The Boss's Verdict277. 安娜要创业 · Anna's Big Idea278. 开业了! · Grand Opening!279. 第一口 · Her First Bite280. 买买买 · Shop Till You Drop281. 值不值? · Is It Worth It?282. 卖保险的 · The Insurance Salesman283. 排长队 · The Long Queue284. 有资格吗? · Can He Join?285. 教练大卫 · Coach David286. 我们的对手 · Our Rivals287. 谁领先? · Who's Ahead?288. 你的理由呢? · What's Your Reason?289. 坚强一点儿 · Be Strong290. 胜利! · Victory!291. 出发去西安 · Off to Xi'an292. 古代的首都 · The Ancient Capital293. 土里的秘密 · Secrets in the Soil294. 旅游团 · The Tour Group295. 西安美食 · Xi'an Food296. 热死了! · Too Hot!297. 去农村 · A Day in the Country298. 体检 · The Check-up299. 烟和汤圆 · Smoke and the Baby300. 少喝可乐! · Less Cola!301. 半夜去医院 · Midnight at the Hospital302. 包子的心理 · What's on Baozi's Mind303. 小心,汤圆! · Careful, Tangyuan!304. 晚饭后散步 · The Evening Walk305. 六年级了 · Year Six306. 老楼加电梯 · An Elevator for the Old Building307. 垃圾分类 · Sorting the Trash308. 志愿者 · Volunteers309. 新公园 · The New Park310. 聪明的大门 · The Smart Gate311. 两代人 · Two Generations312. 那个年代 · Back in the Day313. 马爷爷的京剧 · Grandpa Ma's Opera314. 找对象 · Finding a Partner315. 什么是人生? · What Is Life?316. 马克的新书 · Mark's New Book317. 第一步 · First Steps318. 抓周 · The First-Birthday Grab319. 否则…… · Otherwise...320. 钱律师 · Lawyer Qian321. 读合同 · Reading the Contract322. 那只猫 · That Cat323. 金总 · Ms Jin324. 关键在哪儿? · Where's the Key Point?325. 猫是财产 · A Cat Is Property326. 上法院以前 · Before Court327. 法官 · The Judge328. 我没有猫 · I Don't Have a Cat329. 对面的新店 · The Shop Across the Street330. 微笑培训 · Smile Training331. 便宜些! · A Bit Cheaper!332. 分析一下 · Let's Analyse333. 金多多 · Duoduo334. 纯手工 · All Handmade335. 来单了! · Orders Coming In!336. 联合起来 · Joining Forces337. 数据不会吃包子 · Data Can't Eat Buns338. 第一个包子 · Her First Bun339. 奶奶的签证 · Grandma's Visa340. 行李丢了 · Lost Luggage341. 爱荷华州 · Iowa342. 脱不脱鞋? · Shoes On or Off?343. 大哥和姐姐 · Big Brother and Sister344. 雪地里的年夜饭 · New Year's Eve in the Snow345. 爷爷开车 · Grandpa Drives346. 大卫的回忆 · David's Memories347. 奶奶的结论 · Grandma's Verdict348. 包子有限公司 · Baozi Ltd.349. 盖章 · Stamped350. 我要人工! · Give Me a Human!351. 小雨是会计 · Xiaoyu the Accountant352. 小黄当秘书 · Xiaohuang the Secretary353. 别转移话题! · Don't Change the Subject!354. 奶奶要离婚 · Grandma Wants a Divorce355. 张经理来谈判 · The Boss Comes to Negotiate356. 第一笔钱 · The First Profit357. 牙疼 · Toothache358. 谁来刷牙? · Who's Brushing?359. 要手术吗? · Surgery?360. 大卫晕了 · David Faints361. 包子的梦 · Baozi's Dream362. 碗底 · The Bottom of the Bowl363. 大卫的腰 · David's Back364. 金牙 · The Gold Tooth365. 一只猫的一生 · A Cat's Life366. 深奥的文学 · Deep Literature367. 这是什么电影? · What Kind of Film Is This?368. 包子的造型 · Baozi's New Look369. 大卫是背景 · David in the Background370. 一首诗 · A Poem371. 接受采访 · The Interview372. 第二季 · Season Two373. 首映 · The Premiere374. 马克哭了 · Mark Cries375. 最好的猫 · Best Cat376. 新规定 · New Rules377. 权利和义务 · Rights and Duties378. 金总搬来了 · Ms Jin Moves In379. 谁当主席? · Who'll Be Chair?380. 辩论 · The Debate381. 包子赢了 · Baozi Wins382. 电梯停了 · The Lift Stops383. 乐乐的帽子 · Lele's Cap384. 说人话! · Talk Like a Person!385. 年会 · The Annual Meeting386. 老楼 · The Old Building387. 大卫读合同 · David Reads a Contract388. 爸爸! · Daddy!

Your first lesson takes 15 minutes

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