17 Best Chinese TV Shows For Learning Chinese

If you love binge-watching and want your screen time to actually do something for you, Chinese TV shows are one of the smartest ways to start learning Mandarin. You hear how people really talk. The pauses. The filler words. The casual “aiya” when someone is annoyed. The way tones shift in real conversations. That kind of natural speech is almost impossible to pick up from a textbook.

The trick is choosing the right Chinese dramas for your level. Some Mandarin TV series use clear, modern dialogue that mirrors everyday life. Others move too fast or lean heavily into historical language that overwhelms beginners.

To help you out, this list focuses on Chinese TV shows that help absolute beginners and intermediate learners build confidence, understand common phrases, and train their ears while staying genuinely entertained.

Where To Watch Chinese Dramas

If you’re outside China, you still have solid options for streaming Chinese TV shows legally. Several international platforms license popular Chinese dramas and make them accessible with subtitles.

In the context of learning though, reliable, high-quality subtitles are very important. You’ll rely on them to build vocabulary and train your ear, so low-quality or machine-translated subs can teach you the wrong phrasing and slow your progress.

Here are some of the best platforms to watch Chinese TV shows for learning Mandarin:

If you already have subscriptions to major global streaming platforms, you’ll find a few Chinese TV shows there too. Occasionally, they secure exclusive rights to big titles that break into the US market. The downside is that the catalog tends to focus on mainstream hits. Niche Chinese dramas or lesser-known Mandarin TV series often never make it there.

Best Chinese TV Series

Accidentally in Love

This light college romcom follows a wealthy heiress who goes undercover at a university and clashes with a famous pop idol classmate. For absolute beginners, this is one of the easiest Chinese TV shows on Netflix to start with because the setting is modern, the dialogue is clear, and conversations revolve around school life, friendships, and everyday situations. You’ll hear practical Mandarin used in casual contexts instead of historical or poetic language.

If you want a low-stress Mandarin drama with simple sentence structures and lots of repeated vocabulary, this Chinese series is an approachable entry point.

Wave Makers

Want to hone your debate and persuasion skills in Chinese? This sharp political drama set during an election campaign feels closer to a workplace series than a typical idol romance. It’s best for intermediate learners because the dialogue is fast, modern, and packed with professional vocabulary related to media, strategy, and public opinion. The Mandarin here is natural and contemporary, especially if you want exposure to Taiwanese accents and real-world conversational flow.

A Thousand Goodnights

If you prefer something calmer and more reflective, this road trip drama slows things down in the best way. The Chinese drama follows a woman traveling across Taiwan to understand her father’s past, which means lots of heartfelt, everyday conversations rather than chaotic plot twists. That slower pace works in your favor.

For learners, the dialogue feels natural and emotionally grounded. You hear family vocabulary, travel phrases, and polite exchanges repeated across different towns and situations. It’s ideal for beginners stepping into intermediate level who want listening practice that feels steady instead of overwhelming.

Eternal Love

Also known as Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms, this is one of the most iconic fantasy romantic Chinese TV shows of the last decade. Gods, immortals, multiple lifetimes, dramatic declarations. It’s big, emotional, and visually unforgettable. The romance spans centuries, so expect poetic confessions and intense confrontations.

From a learning perspective, this is not beginner territory.

• Mythology and fantasy vocabulary
• Formal, elevated phrasing
• Long emotional monologues
• Less everyday conversational Mandarin

This fits intermediate learners who want exposure to dramatic, expressive Mandarin rather than daily life speech. If you’re comfortable with subtitles and want to stretch your listening skills, this Mandarin drama gives you high emotion and high language density in every episode.

Meteor Garden

If you want drama with capital D, this is it. Meteor Garden is the glossy campus romance that launched a new generation of Chinese TV fans, built around the iconic rich-boy-meets-strong-girl storyline. The emotions run high, the confrontations are direct, and the dialogue is modern and easy to catch compared to historical dramas.

For beginners, this works because the setting is contemporary and the vocabulary revolves around school, relationships, jealousy, and friendship. You’ll hear lots of repeated phrases during arguments and emotional scenes, which actually helps reinforce sentence patterns.

It’s dramatic, yes, but linguistically accessible. If you want a Chinese TV show that feels big and addictive without being linguistically overwhelming, this one delivers.

Nirvana in Fire (琅琊榜)

This is the heavyweight champion of Chinese historical dramas. Nirvana in Fire is all about political revenge, strategy, and mind games inside the royal court. Every conversation feels calculated. People speak carefully because one wrong word can cost them everything.

What makes this powerful for learners:

• Formal, strategic Mandarin instead of casual slang
• Longer sentence structures that train advanced listening
• Repeated political and loyalty-related vocabulary
• Clear diction despite the historical setting

Just note that this is not beginner friendly. It’s best for strong intermediate learners who want to challenge their comprehension and move beyond everyday dialogue. If you can follow this Chinese TV series without subtitles, you’re officially leveling up.

Copycat Killer

Ready to level up your listening? Copycat Killer is darker, faster, and far more intense than campus romances. This crime thriller follows a prosecutor hunting a serial killer who manipulates the media, so expect sharp exchanges, interrogation scenes, and press conference dialogue that moves quickly.

This one is better suited for intermediate learners. The vocabulary leans into legal terms, investigative language, and psychological tension, which means you’ll hear more formal structures and complex sentences. It’s challenging, but that’s the point.

If you want a Chinese TV series from Netflix that pushes your comprehension and exposes you to serious, real-world Mandarin beyond daily small talk, this is serious training disguised as a binge watch.

Scissor Seven

Scissor Seven is an animated action comedy about a clueless hairdresser who moonlights as an assassin, and it moves fast in short, punchy episodes. The humor is absurd, the fights are over the top, and the dialogue swings between deadpan sarcasm and chaotic banter.

For learners, it’s a mixed challenge in a good way. Episodes are short, which makes it less intimidating, but the speech can be quick and packed with jokes. It works best for high beginners and intermediate learners who want exposure to casual, everyday Mandarin with personality.

Handsome Siblings

If you’re curious about classic wuxia without diving into something too dense, Handsome Siblings is a manageable entry point. The series follows twin brothers raised in completely different martial arts worlds who eventually collide in a web of rivalries and secrets. It has sword fights, dramatic standoffs, and plenty of loyalty-driven speeches, but it’s more accessible than older, heavier period dramas.

Language-wise, this leans intermediate. The setting is historical, so you’ll hear formal phrasing and honorifics, but the delivery is clearer and less archaic than traditional costume epics. It’s a good training ground if you want exposure to non-modern Mandarin while still being able to follow the story.

The Story of Ming Lan (知否知否应是绿肥红瘦)

If you prefer slow burn strategy over loud palace chaos, The Story of Minglan delivers quiet intensity. The drama follows a young woman navigating family politics and marriage in the Song dynasty, where survival depends on restraint, intelligence, and timing. The pacing is deliberate, and conversations often unfold in layered, respectful exchanges rather than explosive arguments.

For learners, this sits in the intermediate range. Expect formal phrasing, family hierarchy terms, and structured dialogue that repeats key relationship vocabulary across different situations. It’s less verbally aggressive than other historical Chinese TV shows, which makes it slightly easier to process.

Love O2O

If you want something modern, light, and easy to follow, Love O2O is a safe bet. The story moves between university life and the online gaming world, so you get everyday campus conversations mixed with simple tech and gaming vocabulary. The tone stays calm and low drama, which actually helps when you’re trying to catch words instead of decoding emotional chaos.

Why this works for beginners:

• Clear, standard Mandarin with minimal slang
• Lots of daily life dialogue around school, dating, and friendship
• Repeated tech and gaming phrases that stick quickly
• Straightforward sentence patterns

This is one of the more accessible Chinese TV shows on Netflix for absolute beginners. If you’re just starting out and want a Mandarin drama that feels relaxed rather than overwhelming, this is an easy win.

Go Go Squid! (亲爱的，热爱的)

If you want something energetic without getting lost in palace politics, Go Go Squid! is an easy crowd pleaser. The story blends romance with the world of competitive cybersecurity and esports, so you get modern slang, tech talk, and lots of playful back and forth between characters.

For learners, this lands between beginner and intermediate. Most conversations revolve around daily life, dating, teamwork, and ambition, which makes the vocabulary practical. The tech terms show up often, but they’re repeated enough that they start sticking. Among modern Chinese TV shows, this one feels current without being linguistically overwhelming.

The Untamed (陈情令)

If you’ve spent any time in the world of Chinese TV shows, you’ve heard of The Untamed. This fantasy wuxia drama built a global fandom for a reason. It blends mystery, brotherhood, and slow-burn emotional tension with a sprawling cast and layered backstory.

Language-wise, this sits firmly at intermediate. You’ll hear formal address terms, sect names, and cultivation-related vocabulary alongside moments of casual banter between leads. The dialogue isn’t as politically dense as some historical epics, but it still requires focus.

Best for learners who:

• Want exposure to historical style Mandarin
• Can handle names, titles, and fantasy terminology
• Are ready to rely on subtitles strategically

It’s not your starter Chinese TV show, but if you stick with it, your listening stamina improves fast.

Princess Agents

This one throws you straight into chaos. Princess Agents follows a slave girl navigating war, betrayal, and political manipulation in a ruthless dynasty. The stakes are high from the first episode, and the dialogue reflects that intensity.

For learners, this sits comfortably at intermediate. You’ll hear military terms, formal titles, and power-driven exchanges delivered with clarity but speed. It’s less poetic than high court dramas yet more structured than modern campus romances.

If you want a Chinese TV show that trains your ear on serious, high-pressure Mandarin without drowning you in philosophical speeches, this hits that middle ground.

The Long Ballad

"The Long Ballad" (长歌行) is a Chinese historical drama based on a novel by Xia Da. Set during the Northern Wei period, the series follows the journey of Li Changge, a young woman who disguises herself as a man and embarks on a quest for revenge and justice.

Want to improve your intermediate Mandarin? This is the best Chinese show because it features formal but generally clear language. It also has recurring vocabulary around loyalty, leadership, and power. It’s more structured than modern campus Chinese TV shows, yet not as linguistically layered as heavy political epics.

Love Me If You Dare

If crime thrillers are more your speed, Love Me If You Dare blends psychological profiling with dialogue-driven romance. The story follows a criminal psychologist and his assistant as they solve violent cases, so conversations often center on motives, analysis, and deduction rather than everyday small talk. It feels modern, sharp, and dialogue driven.

For learners, this works best at the intermediate level because it delivers contemporary, clearly explained Mandarin, but you’ll hear technical vocabulary related to psychology and criminal investigation. That makes it more challenging than light campus Chinese TV shows, yet still grounded in modern speech.

Nothing But Thirty (三十而已)

Nothing But Thirty follows three women in Shanghai navigating career changes, marriage challenges, and shifting friendships as they enter their thirties. The story feels realistic and grounded, focusing on everyday pressures rather than exaggerated twists. Much of the dialogue takes place in offices, apartments, and social gatherings, which makes the language feel familiar and current.

Honestly, this is a very strong choice if you’re moving into the intermediate level. The Mandarin is modern and clearly spoken, with vocabulary tied to work life, relationships, and social expectations. The vocab and prhases used here are also practical so you can use these in actual convos right away.

How to Learn Chinese With Lingopie

What makes Lingopie effective is the depth of immersion it creates. You’re hearing Mandarin used in full conversations, emotional exchanges, arguments, humor, and everyday situations exactly as native speakers deliver them. The repetition across scenes helps your brain internalize tone patterns and phrasing naturally.

Over time, you begin recognizing chunks of language instead of translating word by word. That steady immersion in authentic Chinese TV shows builds real listening confidence and faster comprehension.

To start learning Chinese with Lingopie:

• Choose a level-appropriate Chinese TV show: Begin with modern, dialogue-driven series so you can focus on clear, everyday Mandarin.
• Turn on dual subtitles: Follow the Mandarin while using English only as support, not as your main reference.
• Click, pause, and replay short scenes: Focus on 30 to 60-second exchanges to absorb tones, rhythm, and sentence flow.
• Review and repeat aloud: Revisit saved words and mimic key lines to strengthen pronunciation and listening recall.

Used consistently, this turns binge-watching into structured immersion instead of passive entertainment.

Summing Up: The Best TV Shows to Learn Chinese

With this list, we've shown you a range of diverse content that showcases the richness of the Mandarin Chinese language.

From historical dramas to modern romances, each series offers a unique perspective on Chinese culture and society. We strongly recommend delving into this varied selection to gain insights from different angles.

Sign up to the Lingopie platform to access an extensive library of Chinese movies and TV shows, and start your path to fluency in Mandarin Chinese today.

FAQs: The Best TV Shows to Learn Chinese

Welcome to our FAQ section regarding the "10 Best TV Shows to Learn Chinese." Here, we address common queries and provide valuable insights to enhance your language-learning experience.

Can you learn Chinese from watching TV?

Yes, you can learn Chinese from watching TV. Subtitles are also a great way to learn Chinese characters. Watching Chinese TV shows helps to improve listening skills, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Always combine this with other language-learning methods for a comprehensive approach.

What should I watch to learn Mandarin?

To learn Mandarin, watch a variety of Chinese shows, including dramas, sitcoms, and documentaries. Choose content that aligns with your interests and proficiency level. Check out Lingopie to find an extensive library of Chinese TV shows.

Does watching Chinese shows improve Chinese?

Watching Chinese shows can significantly improve your Chinese language skills, particularly in listening and comprehension. It exposes you to natural conversations, accents, and real-life contexts.

What is the most effective way to learn Chinese?

The most effective way to learn Chinese is through a combination of methods, including classes, immersion, language apps, and watching Chinese content. Consistency and practice are key to success.