It’s always easier to learn something when you enjoy the process. That’s why learning Chinese can be a bit tedious at times; memorizing new vocabulary, characters, tones etc., the stuff that some might find a bit boring. But what if there was a way that you could improve your Chinese while sitting on the sofa watching TV? Too good to be true?

 

Watching Chinese TV can become a great part of your Mandarin learning process because it helps combine listening material with visuals, provides insight into Chinese pop culture and ultimately it gives you a taste of what spoken Chinese looks like in real-life situations.

 

Below are 6 of some great Chinese dramas to watch on Netflix. They’ll be sure to entertain you and help improve your Chinese at the same time (win-win)!

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis: The ups and downs of school, family and growing up test the affection between a budding artist and her handsome but indifferent classmate and neighbor.

 

Starring: Hu Yitian, Shen Yue, Gao Zhi Ting

Year: 2017

 

 

 

 

Synopsis: When a computer-science major gets dumped by her “husband” in an online role-playing game, she attracts a new proposal from the game’s top player.

 

Starring: Shuang Zheng, Yang Yang, Rachel Momo

Year: 2016

 

 

 

 

Synopsis: Dong Shancai is determined to excel at her dream university, where she encounters an elite clique of dashing, popular high-achievers -- and finds love.

 

Starring: Shen Yue, Dylan Wang, Darren Chen, Connor Leong, Caesar Wu

Year: 2018

 

 

 

 

Synopsis: A tennis whiz beats the odds to excel on the court while juggling school and inspiring teammates. Based on the hit manga series by Takeshi Konomi.

 

Starring: Peng Yuchang, Dong Li, Zhang Yijie

Year: 2019

 

 

 

 

Synopsis: On the cusp of graduation, an accounting major searching for her career winds up living with a genius physics student who shakes up her daily routine.

 

Starring: Fair Xing, Lin Yi, Daddi Tang

Year: 2019

 

 

 

 

Synopsis: When a secret from the past rears its head, a respected court scholar must choose between avenging her family and staying true to the prince she loves.

 

Starring: Chen Kun, Ni Ni, Zhao Lixin

Year: 2018

 

 

It’s best not to use English subtitles, because they might start becoming a crutch instead of a learning aid. On the other hand, Chinese subtitles can help you improve your character recognition and vocabulary retention, so feel free to go wild!