Best Workbooks for Learning Chinese (2026): 5 Picks Compared

A beginner who has just started Mandarin needs a workbook that fits their pace, whether they are a child in a classroom or an adult planning a trip, so this list of the best workbooks for learning Chinese compares what each listing states. We compared edition, page count, publication date, format and any listed reading age or level, then scored each pick for the reader it suits. Every pick says who it fits and who should skip it.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Easy Peasy Chinese by Greenwood	9.6/10	Buy
2	Integrated Chinese Workbook by Liu	9.5/10	Buy
3	Learn Mandarin Workbook by Chang	9.5/10	Buy
4	HSK 1 Characters Workbook by Ping	9.4/10	Buy
5	Chinese for Kids Set 1 by Choe	9.3/10	Buy

1

Easy Peasy Chinese by Greenwood

Elinor Greenwood·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Suits children aged 7 and up and adults learning for travel; skip it if you want a full course on its own.

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Pros

• The listing states a reading age of 7 to 11 years and a print length of 128 pages.
• Covers more than 200 useful characters, from strokes and everyday words to telling time and buying a train ticket.
• The description says the layout is clear and modern, with visuals and explanations for each section.

Cons

• The listing does not state an answer key.
• Published August 3, 2015, with no edition number given, so check the date before buying.
• The description calls it a companion to DK's Easy Peasy Chinese, a separate title.

2

Integrated Chinese Workbook by Liu

Yuehua Liu·9.5/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Suits students using the 4th edition Volume 1 course; skip it if you are not working through that course.

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Pros

• The listing states the 4th edition, published November 1, 2017, with 198 pages.
• Streaming audio covers the listening exercises, and cumulative review units come after every five lessons.
• Lesson opener checklists help students monitor progress and self-assess, the description says.

Cons

• No reading age or grade level is stated, so check the level against the course.
• The listing does not state an answer key.
• Digital exercises and auto-grading depend on the ChengTsui Web App.

3

Learn Mandarin Workbook by Chang

Leo W. Chang·9.5/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Suits a self-study beginner who wants 280 pages in one volume; skip it if a named publisher matters to you.

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Pros

• The listing states a revised and corrected edition, published January 31, 2021.
• Covers everyday topics the description names, including weather, telling time, counting and ordering a meal.
• The description says it includes Chinese idioms for reading practice.

Cons

• Independently published, so the listing names no established publisher.
• No reading age, grade level or answer key is stated.
• The description is long and promotional, so read a sample page on the listing before buying.

4

HSK 1 Characters Workbook by Ping

Shu Ping·9.4/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Suits an HSK 1 learner who needs character practice for lessons 1 to 7; skip it if you want a full course.

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Pros

• Published March 31, 2023, as Book 1 of 11 in the Master Chinese Characters series.
• Stroke order guides and tracing sheets come with the characters, the description says.
• End-of-lesson quizzes come with answers, the listing states.

Cons

• Covers lessons 1 to 7 only, so it is one volume of an 11-book series.
• Independently published, and no reading age or grade level is stated.
• The listing says an e-book is coming soon.

5

Chinese for Kids Set 1 by Choe

Germaine Choe·9.3/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Suits young children starting Mandarin with picture-led readers; skip it if you want exercises or writing practice.

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Pros

• Ten readers of 16 pages each make up a set of 180 pages.
• Online audio from a native speaker is reached through a web address printed in the books.
• Each page has pinyin and simplified characters, with an English translation at the back.

Cons

• The listing describes readers and audio, not exercises or writing practice.
• The listing gives a reading age of 3 to 8 years and no grade level.
• Aimed at young children, so adult learners may find it less useful.

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More picks to compare

• Busy Adult Beginners by ZhouFor adults with a busy schedule who want 15-minute lessons from zero.Check on Amazon
• Characters Made Easy by Lingo MasteryFor HSK level 1 learners who want stroke-by-stroke character writing practice.Check on Amazon
• Chinese For Kids Workbook by LawFor children ages 5 to 6 starting Chinese at home or in kindergarten.Check on Amazon
• Elementary Mandarin Workbook by KublerFor beginners who want graded lessons with audio, pinyin and character writing.Check on Amazon
• Chinese Characters for Kids by YuFor kids learning to write 60 common characters, with a picture for each.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 16 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level where one is given. Only the Easy Peasy and Chinese for Kids listings state a reading age, and no listing states a grade level, so the reading age counts for those two alone. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best workbooks for learning Chinese

Start with the level the listing states

Match the book to the learner’s stage, not only their age. The HSK 1 workbook covers lessons 1 to 7 only, so it suits a learner at that stage, while the Easy Peasy listing states a reading age of 7 to 11 years. For Chinese options by level, see Best Workbooks for Chinese.

Choose a course book or a single volume

The Integrated Chinese listing describes itself as the workbook of a course series, so it fits a learner working through that course. The Learn Mandarin listing is one 280 page volume that presents itself as two books in one, which suits a learner who wants a single book.

Check the edition and the publication date

Study books change between editions, so check the date before you buy. The Integrated Chinese listing states the 4th edition from November 1, 2017, while the Easy Peasy listing is dated August 3, 2015. For more study titles, browse workbooks and homeschool.

Before you buy

• Check the publication date and edition on the listing, since these picks range from 2015 to 2023.
• For the HSK 1 workbook, confirm the listing is Book 1 of 11 and covers the lessons you need.
• Check for an answer key: the Easy Peasy, Integrated Chinese and Learn Mandarin listings do not state one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should a complete beginner start?

The Easy Peasy Chinese Workbook is the top pick, with everyday words and a stated reading age of 7 to 11 years. For HSK 1 study, the Shu Ping workbook covers lessons 1 to 7.

Does any of these include an answer key?

The HSK 1 listing says its end-of-lesson quizzes come with answers. The other listings do not state an answer key.

Which edition should I buy for a course?

Buy the edition your course uses. The Integrated Chinese listing states the 4th edition, published November 1, 2017, so check the edition number before ordering.

Still deciding? Our top pickEasy Peasy Chinese by Greenwood

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Related lists

See every homeschool curriculum list and all workbooks and homeschool lists.

More lists: browse Japanese workbooks, Korean workbooks and French workbooks.