Chinese · 中文

Learn Chinese by reading the news

meum lingua is an iPhone app that rewrites real news articles as 2-minute reads in Chinese, at your level from A1 to C2. Tap any word to see what it means, and the words you look up come back for practice until they stick.

Demo

One story, three levels

The same story in Chinese at A2, B1 and B2, written by the AI pipeline the app uses for real articles. Tap a highlighted word to see what it means. Word explanations here are in English; in the app they're in your own language.

Demo · AI-generated fictional article — not real news

A2 · Elementary

小小的日常习惯让新语言记得住

每天一点点练习,比每周一次大量学习更有用。

很多人分段学语言 nounlanguageThe system of words people use to speak and write; the central topic of the article.。晚上上一节课,火车上用一个应用,周六再上一门课。课结束后,语言就消失了,直到下一节课。

老师常说:把语言从课堂带到生活 nounlife, everyday lifeThe way people live day to day; the article says to bring the language into daily life.里。你可以写购物清单,把手机换成这门语言,付钱前大声说咖啡 nouncoffeeA hot drink; the article suggests using a morning coffee moment for practice.的价格 nounpriceThe amount of money something costs; you say the coffee price out loud in the language.。

这样做有三个好处 nounbenefit, advantageA good result or advantage; the article lists three benefits of daily practice.。你会反复 adverbrepeatedly, again and againHappening many times; you meet common words again and again.遇到常用的词,词就更容易记住。词和真实的场景联系在一起,所以你更容易想起来。你也会更有信心 nounconfidenceBelief that you can do something well; using the language daily gives you more of it.。

玛丽亚是一位护士 nounnurseA person who works in a hospital or clinic caring for patients; this describes Maria's job.,去年到国外工作。她每天早上用当地语言跟邻居和公交车司机打招呼。一个月后,她能问别人周末过得怎么样。

一个好的开始是选一个你已经有的时刻,比如早上的咖啡或者通勤。每天十分钟就够了。慢慢地,这门语言会跟着你度过一整天。

All key words in this version (8)
语言
language — The system of words people use to speak and write; the central topic of the article.
生活
life, everyday life — The way people live day to day; the article says to bring the language into daily life.
咖啡
coffee — A hot drink; the article suggests using a morning coffee moment for practice.
价格
price — The amount of money something costs; you say the coffee price out loud in the language.
好处
benefit, advantage — A good result or advantage; the article lists three benefits of daily practice.
反复
repeatedly, again and again — Happening many times; you meet common words again and again.
信心
confidence — Belief that you can do something well; using the language daily gives you more of it.
护士
nurse — A person who works in a hospital or clinic caring for patients; this describes Maria's job.

Check your understanding

  1. 作者说分段学语言有什么问题?

    1. 语言会很快消失
    2. 手机应用不好用
    3. 学习的费用很贵
    4. 老师的课太少
    Show answer

    A · 语言会很快消失

    The text says that after a class ends, the language disappears until the next class.

  2. 玛丽亚每天早上做什么?

    1. 她看电视
    2. 她写作业
    3. 她去跑步
    4. 她用当地语言跟邻居打招呼
    Show answer

    D · 她用当地语言跟邻居打招呼

    The text says she greets neighbors and bus drivers in the local language every morning.

  3. 文章建议从哪里开始?

    1. 从一个你已经有的时刻开始
    2. 从去一个新国家开始
    3. 从一个很长的课程开始
    4. 从买一本很厚的书开始
    Show answer

    A · 从一个你已经有的时刻开始

    The article suggests choosing a moment you already have, such as morning coffee or commuting.

B1 · Intermediate

小习惯让新语言记得住

每天一点点练习,比每周一次大量学习更有效。

很多人把语言学习安排 verbto arrange, to organizeHere it means organizing language learning into separate blocks of time.成一块一块的:晚上上一节课,火车上用一个应用,周六学一门课。课一结束,语言就好像消失了,直到下一次上课。

语言老师常常给出同样简单的建议:把语言从课堂 nounclassroom, lessonIt refers to the classroom where language is first learned.带到你的日常 adjectivedaily, everydayIt describes the normal routine of daily life.生活中。比如,用这门语言写购物清单,把手机语言换一个星期,付钱前大声说出咖啡的价格。这些事不需要额外的时间。

日常使用有三个好处 nounbenefit, advantageIt refers to the advantages of using the language in everyday life.。第一,你会反复 adverbrepeatedly, again and againIt describes meeting the same useful words many times.遇到同样有用的词,多次见到一个词,它才会进入长期记忆。第二,词语和真实情境 nounsituation, contextIt means the real-life setting in which words are used.联系在一起,所以你需要时更容易想起来。第三,它能增强 verbto strengthen, to boostIt means that daily use makes your confidence grow stronger.信心 nounconfidenceIt refers to feeling sure of yourself when you speak the language.,让语言不再只是学校的科目。

去年为了工作搬到国外的护士玛丽亚,每天早上用当地语言跟邻居和公交车司机打招呼。她说:“一开始我只会说两个词。一个月后,我能问他们周末过得怎么样。三个月后,他们开始跟我讲他们的家人。”

练习 nounpractice, exerciseIt refers to practicing the language, where mistakes are normal.不需要完美。真实对话 nounconversation, dialogueIt refers to real conversations where mistakes help you learn.中的错误往往比完美的练习更有用,因为别人会有反应、会帮忙,还会重复正确的词。重要的是每天做一点点,而不是每周猛学一次。

开始的好办法是选一个你已经有的时刻,比如早上的咖啡、上下班路上或晚间新闻,把它留给新语言。十分钟就够了。慢慢地,这门语言会跟着你进入一天的其他时间。

All key words in this version (10)
安排
to arrange, to organize — Here it means organizing language learning into separate blocks of time.
课堂
classroom, lesson — It refers to the classroom where language is first learned.
日常
daily, everyday — It describes the normal routine of daily life.
好处
benefit, advantage — It refers to the advantages of using the language in everyday life.
反复
repeatedly, again and again — It describes meeting the same useful words many times.
情境
situation, context — It means the real-life setting in which words are used.
增强
to strengthen, to boost — It means that daily use makes your confidence grow stronger.
信心
confidence — It refers to feeling sure of yourself when you speak the language.
练习
practice, exercise — It refers to practicing the language, where mistakes are normal.
对话
conversation, dialogue — It refers to real conversations where mistakes help you learn.

Check your understanding

  1. 文章认为学习语言的一个好办法是什么?

    1. 每周猛学一次
    2. 只在周六学习
    3. 只看语法书
    4. 把语言用在日常生活中
    Show answer

    D · 把语言用在日常生活中

    The article suggests bringing the language into everyday life, such as writing shopping lists in it.

  2. 护士玛丽亚三个月后发生了什么变化?

    1. 邻居开始跟她讲他们的家人
    2. 她不再跟邻居说话
    3. 她只会说两个词
    4. 她回到了自己的国家
    Show answer

    A · 邻居开始跟她讲他们的家人

    After three months, her neighbors began telling her about their families.

  3. 文章认为真实对话中的错误怎么样?

    1. 只会在课堂上出现
    2. 必须马上避免
    3. 没有任何用处
    4. 比完美的练习更有用
    Show answer

    D · 比完美的练习更有用

    Mistakes in real conversations are often more useful, because people react, help and repeat correct words.

B2 · Upper intermediate

小小的日常习惯让新语言记得住

每天用一点点新语言,比每周集中学习一次更有效。

很多人学语言 nounlanguageHere it means the language a person is learning, used as a general idea.的方式是一块一块地来:晚上上一节课,火车上用一个应用,周六上一门课程。课程结束后,语言就又消失了,直到下一次学习。语言老师常常给出同样简单的建议:把语言从课堂 nounclassroom, lesson settingThe place where formal lessons happen, contrasted with real life.带进你的日常 adjectivedaily, everydayDescribes things that happen as part of normal daily life.生活里。

这个想法是在小而普通的时刻使用新语言。用它写购物清单,把手机的语言设置换一个星期。付钱之前,大声说出咖啡的价格。早餐的时候读一条简短的新闻。这些事情不需要额外的时间,因为你本来就要做这些事。

日常使用有三个好处。首先,你会一次又一次地遇到那些有用的词,而多次接触一个词,正是它进入长期记忆 nounlong-term memoryThe part of memory where information is stored for a long time.的方式。其次,这些词和真实的情境联系在一起,所以你需要的时候更容易想起来。第三,它能增加信心 nounconfidenceBelief in your own ability to do something.。语言不再像一门学校的科目,而开始像一件你能够真正使用的东西。

玛丽亚是一位护士 nounnurseA person whose job is caring for patients in hospitals.,去年因为工作搬 verbto move (house)Here it means moving to live in another place.到了国外。她开始每天早上用当地语言和邻居 nounneighbourA person who lives next to you, one of the people Maria greets in the morning.以及公交车司机打招呼。她说:“刚开始我只会说两个词。一个月以后,我能问他们周末过得怎么样。三个月以后,他们开始跟我讲他们家人的事情。”

这些习惯 nounhabitA regular daily action; the article suggests small everyday habits for learning.不需要做到完美 adjectiveperfectWithout any faults; the article says habits do not need to be perfect.。在真实的对话中犯错 verbto make a mistakeMaking errors, which the article says is useful in real conversations.,往往比完美的练习更有用,因为别人会有反应、会帮助你,还会重复正确的词。重要的是每天做一点点,而不是每周集中做很多。

开始的一个好办法是选一个你已经有的时刻,比如早上的咖啡、通勤 verbcommuteTravelling regularly between home and work.或晚间新闻,把它交给新语言。十分钟就足够了。慢慢地,语言会跟着你走进一天里的其他时间。

All key words in this version (12)
语言
language — Here it means the language a person is learning, used as a general idea.
课堂
classroom, lesson setting — The place where formal lessons happen, contrasted with real life.
日常
daily, everyday — Describes things that happen as part of normal daily life.
长期记忆
long-term memory — The part of memory where information is stored for a long time.
信心
confidence — Belief in your own ability to do something.
护士
nurse — A person whose job is caring for patients in hospitals.
搬
to move (house) — Here it means moving to live in another place.
邻居
neighbour — A person who lives next to you, one of the people Maria greets in the morning.
习惯
habit — A regular daily action; the article suggests small everyday habits for learning.
完美
perfect — Without any faults; the article says habits do not need to be perfect.
犯错
to make a mistake — Making errors, which the article says is useful in real conversations.
通勤
commute — Travelling regularly between home and work.

Check your understanding

  1. 文章建议把新语言带进哪里?

    1. 只在国外的时候
    2. 只在考试中
    3. 日常生活里
    4. 只在课堂上
    Show answer

    C · 日常生活里

    The text says to bring the language from the classroom into your everyday life.

  2. 玛丽亚为什么搬到了国外?

    1. 因为家人
    2. 为了学习
    3. 因为工作
    4. 为了旅游
    Show answer

    C · 因为工作

    The text says she moved abroad last year because of her job.

  3. 文章说在真实对话中犯错有什么好处?

    1. 你可以完全不用再学习
    2. 你会很快忘记所有的词
    3. 别人会有反应、会帮助你,还会重复正确的词
    4. 这样你就不需要说话了
    Show answer

    C · 别人会有反应、会帮助你,还会重复正确的词

    The text explains that others react, help you and repeat the correct words, which makes mistakes useful.

In the app, these are real articles from newspapers you choose. This demo is an AI-written fictional article, so we can show it here without republishing anyone's journalism.

Newspapers you can read in Chinese

4 of the app's 139 newspapers and broadcasters publish in Chinese. Free sources work straight away; for paywalled ones you connect a subscription you already have, and the articles are fetched on your iPhone with your own login.

  • BBC News 中文 free
  • 纽约时报中文网 partly paywalled
  • RFI 华语 free
  • DW 中文 free

You can also read the other 135, from English, French, Japanese and more, rewritten in Chinese.

How meum lingua helps

  • Real news at your level. Stories from 130+ newspapers and broadcasters, rewritten in Chinese from A1 to C2 as reads of about two minutes. The rewriting is done by AI and can contain mistakes, so the original article is always one tap away.
  • Every word explained. Tap or long-press any word for an explanation in your own language.
  • Words that stick. The words you look up come back in spaced-repetition practice: meaning, listening, fill the gap, word order, typing and single-word pronunciation.
  • A habit, not a chore. A 2-minute writing journal with AI corrections, a daily goal and streaks, and friends to keep you going.
  • Your subscriptions work too. Connect papers you already pay for; their articles are fetched on your iPhone with your own login.

Not sure about your level? The app has a 2-minute level check.

Questions about learning Chinese

Can I read Chinese news as a beginner?

Yes. Every story is rewritten at your CEFR level, from A1 (beginner) to C2. At A1 and A2 the sentences are short and the words are common ones; the A2 version of the demo above shows what that looks like. Not sure about your level? The app has a 2-minute level check.

Which newspapers can I read in Chinese?

In Chinese: BBC News 中文, 纽约时报中文网, RFI 华语, DW 中文. Stories from all 139 newspapers and broadcasters in the app can also be rewritten in Chinese. Free sources work straight away; for paywalled ones you connect a subscription you already have, and the articles are fetched on your iPhone with your own login.

Is it Mandarin? Simplified or traditional characters?

Mandarin Chinese, written in simplified characters.

What does meum lingua cost?

You can start free with 3 articles a day (with ads from the second day). Pro is CHF 12.90 a month or CHF 89.90 a year, with a 7-day free trial in the App Store, and the Family plan is CHF 130 a year for up to 5 people. New accounts get 3 days of Pro free. meum lingua runs on iPhone (iOS 17 or later) and is in beta on TestFlight right now.

Read the news in Chinese

meum lingua is in beta on TestFlight for iPhone (iOS 17 or later). Tell us which language you're learning and we'll send you an invite.

Join the beta