Learn Chinese with Songs: 18 Easy Chinese Songs for Beginners

How to learn with these songs

A chorus repeats the same few words again and again, and the melody does the memorising for you. Every song here is slow to mid tempo, sung mostly in Chinese, with short, clear lines built on everyday words: famous ballads, film songs and pop, plus a few classics every Chinese speaker grew up with.

How to use this list: tap Sing this (or search the title in a room) and pick a lyrics video that shows Chinese characters with pinyin. Read the "Words you'll learn" first, sing just the chorus two or three times, then the whole song. Say each word with its tone; songs flatten some tones, so check the pinyin once.

This is the Beginner level. Intermediate and Advanced lists, with faster songs and longer lines, are coming soon.

The list

Tap Sing this to open a free room and search for that song on your phone, ready to add to the queue.

月亮代表我的心 (Yuèliang Dàibiǎo Wǒ de Xīn · The Moon Represents My Heart)Teresa Teng
The best-known Mandarin love song: slow, with every word sung clearly.
Words you’ll learn
- 月亮yuèliangmoon
- 心xīnheart
- 爱àilove
- 真zhēntrue, real
Sing this
甜蜜蜜 (Tiánmìmì · Sweet as Honey)Teresa Teng
Gentle, light and full of repeated sounds.
Words you’ll learn
- 甜蜜蜜tiánmìmìsweet as honey
- 笑xiàosmile
- 春风chūnfēngspring breeze
- 梦里mèng lǐin a dream
Sing this
朋友 (Péngyou · Friends)Emil Chau
The song everyone sings at the end of KTV night. Very clear lines.
Words you’ll learn
- 朋友péngyoufriend
- 一生yīshēnga lifetime
- 一起走yīqǐ zǒuwalk together
- 一杯酒yì bēi jiǔa glass of wine
Sing this
童话 (Tónghuà · Fairy Tale)Michael Wong
Slow ballad; the chorus is built on simple, hopeful words.
Words you’ll learn
- 童话tónghuàfairy tale
- 天使tiānshǐangel
- 相信xiāngxìnbelieve
- 幸福xìngfúhappiness
Sing this
后来 (Hòulái · Afterwards)Rene Liu
A karaoke classic with a slow, steady chorus.
Words you’ll learn
- 后来hòuláiafterwards, later
- 学会xuéhuìlearned (how to)
- 眼泪yǎnlèitears
- 错过cuòguòmiss (a chance)
Sing this
小幸运 (Xiǎo Xìngyùn · A Little Happiness)Hebe Tien
Our Times film song: soft, clear and very popular with learners.
Words you’ll learn
- 幸运xìngyùnluck, lucky
- 原来yuánláiso it turns out
- 遇见yùjiànmeet (by chance)
- 真心zhēnxīnsincere heart
Sing this
告白气球 (Gàobái Qìqiú · Love Confession)Jay Chou
Easy-going Jay Chou: short, sweet chorus with no rap.
Words you’ll learn
- 亲爱的qīn'ài dedarling
- 爱上你ài shàng nǐfall in love with you
- 甜蜜tiánmìsweet
- 眼睛yǎnjingeyes
Sing this
宁夏 (Níngxià · Quiet Summer)Fish Leong
Calm, slow and full of nature words.
Words you’ll learn
- 夏天xiàtiānsummer
- 天空tiānkōngsky
- 思念sīniànmiss, long for
- 脸liǎnface
Sing this
遇见 (Yùjiàn · Encounter)Stefanie Sun
Turn Left, Turn Right theme: steady tempo and clear diction.
Words you’ll learn
- 遇见yùjiànmeet
- 未来wèiláifuture
- 等děngwait
- 向左向右xiàng zuǒ xiàng yòuto the left, to the right
Sing this
小苹果 (Xiǎo Píngguǒ · Little Apple)Chopstick Brothers
A party favourite; the chorus repeats a handful of words.
Words you’ll learn
- 苹果píngguǒapple
- 爱你ài nǐlove you
- 红红的hónghóng derosy red
- 火huǒfire
Sing this
老鼠爱大米 (Lǎoshǔ Ài Dàmǐ · Mouse Loves Rice)Yang Chengang
Simple, catchy and almost all everyday words.
Words you’ll learn
- 老鼠lǎoshǔmouse
- 大米dàmǐrice
- 爱àilove
- 不管bùguǎnno matter
Sing this
我只在乎你 (Wǒ Zhǐ Zàihu Nǐ · I Only Care About You)Teresa Teng
Another slow Teresa Teng classic with clear Mandarin.
Words you’ll learn
- 在乎zàihucare about
- 时光shíguāngtime
- 人生rénshēnglife
- 你nǐyou
Sing this
隐形的翅膀 (Yǐnxíng de Chìbǎng · Invisible Wings)Angela Chang
Uplifting, slow and easy to follow.
Words you’ll learn
- 翅膀chìbǎngwings
- 飞fēifly
- 梦想mèngxiǎngdream
- 希望xīwànghope
Sing this
稻香 (Dàoxiāng · Rice Fragrance)Jay Chou
Warm and relaxed; sing the chorus, skip the quick verse.
Words you’ll learn
- 稻香dàoxiāngscent of rice fields
- 回家huíjiāgo home
- 萤火虫yínghuǒchóngfirefly
- 梦mèngdream
Sing this
夜空中最亮的星 (Yèkōng Zhōng Zuì Liàng de Xīng · Brightest Star in the Night Sky)Escape Plan
A slow-building rock ballad with a big, simple chorus.
Words you’ll learn
- 星xīngstar
- 夜空yèkōngnight sky
- 黑夜hēiyèdark night
- 孤独gūdúloneliness
Sing this
两只老虎 (Liǎng Zhī Lǎohǔ · Two Tigers)Chinese children's song
"Frère Jacques" tune in Mandarin; great for tones.
Words you’ll learn
- 老虎lǎohǔtiger
- 跑得快pǎo de kuàirun fast
- 耳朵ěrduoears
- 尾巴wěibatail
Sing this
茉莉花 (Mòlìhuā · Jasmine Flower)Chinese folk song
China's best-known folk song: slow, long vowels.
Words you’ll learn
- 茉莉花mòlìhuājasmine
- 好一朵hǎo yì duǒwhat a lovely (flower)
- 芬芳fēnfāngfragrant
- 美丽měilìbeautiful
Sing this
生日快乐 (Shēngrì Kuàilè · Happy Birthday)Traditional
You will sing it at every birthday. Four words, all useful.
Words you’ll learn
- 生日shēngrìbirthday
- 快乐kuàilèhappy
- 祝你zhù nǐwish you
Sing this

Frequently asked questions

Can you really learn Chinese by singing songs?

Songs won't replace grammar study, but they are excellent for vocabulary, pronunciation and listening. Choruses repeat the same words many times, so beginners pick up common Chinese words quickly and remember them for longer.

Do songs help with Chinese tones?

Partly. Melody overrides tones while singing, so songs are best for vocabulary and listening. Read the pinyin with tone marks, say each word out loud in its normal tone, then sing it.

How should I practise with a karaoke song?

Listen once while reading the lyrics, learn the chorus words, sing only the chorus a few times, then sing the whole song. Say each new word out loud in the gaps and come back to the same song a few days later.

Will there be intermediate and advanced Chinese lists?

Yes. This is the Beginner level. Intermediate and Advanced lists with faster songs and longer lines are coming soon.

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Learn Chinese with songs: beginner list

How to learn with these songs

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