Guides

Chinese web novels (known as 网文) are the best reading material for a second-language learner. They are cheap (sometimes even free), easily accessible, have shorter chapters, and are compatible with pop-up dictionary reader tools such as Readibu and Yomitan.

Web novels are hugely popular in China, with dozens of platforms to choose from, but not all are easily accessible to you as a language learner outside China.

In this post, I will show you the best and most accessible platforms for reading Chinese web novels to help you further improve your Chinese.

You’ve been learning Mandarin Chinese for a while, may have had many lessons or may have completed a course, but you still feel you’re far away.

When you open a danmei webnovel, you don’t recognise most of the words and are not able to comprehend the sentence.

So, how do you go from being a learner to actually reading danmei webnovels? And how do you know it’s going to work?

E-reader devices, also known as e-ink readers (阅读器), are devices made with an e-ink screen which gives a paper-like experience. They are designed for extended reading sessions, are easy on the eyes, and perform better in bright light than LCD tablets like iPads.

They make great companions for avid readers and those who want a distraction-free study tool.

There are many devices on the market, but Chinese learners have different requirements compared to other users who are only looking to read in their native language.

Being able to read historical novels with ease is one of the greatest and most inspiring goals for Chinese language learners, but it’s, without a doubt, extremely challenging.

In this post, I’m going to share 4 essential tips to help you tackle this difficult journey into Chinese historical novels right away!

But, before we jump into the tips, let’s first clarify the terms “historical novels”.

Reading danmei in Chinese is the more cost-effective than reading the official translated versions, but the benefits go beyond the cost. It enables you to access content you otherwise couldn’t have and opens doors to new communities and fandoms.

You may think learning Chinese, especially to a high proficiency level to read danmei webnovels, will require taking an expensive course or studying for a few years in a Chinese-speaking country. This may have been true many years ago, but not in 2024.