Recommended Movies for Chinese Learners
Choosing a movie that matches your current level is a crucial step to learn Chinese with movies effectively. Here are some options for you, some of which won prestigious awards such as the Golden Rooster Awards or internationally honored at the Berlin and Cannes Film Festivals.
Beginner-friendly movies
If you’re just starting out with movies to learn Chinese, animation and comedies with simple stories and clear dialogue are an ideal starting point.
- Monkey King: Hero Is Back (西游记之大圣归来) – 2015
Genre: Animation, Fantasy
A young boy accidentally frees the legendary Monkey King, who has lost his powers. Together, they start their journey to defeat an evil force. The movie is relatively easy to follow, especially for those familiar with Journey to the West.
- Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf (喜羊羊与灰太狼) – 2009
Genre: Animation, Comedy
A fun, lighthearted animated film where a clever group of goats outsmarts a clumsy wolf who’s always trying to catch them. The speech is slow and clear, making it great for beginners.
- Flavors of Youth (肆式青春) – 2018
Genre: Animation, Drama
An anthology of three short stories set in China, reflecting on love, family, and nostalgia. The simple, everyday conversations make it a great choice for learners.
- Big Fish & Begonia (大鱼海棠) – 2016
Genre: Animation, Fantasy
A beautifully animated film about a girl from a mystical underwater world who saves a human boy’s soul. The dialogue is poetic but slow, making it a great introduction to Chinese storytelling.
- White Snake (白蛇: 缘起) – 2019
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
A visually stunning film based on the famous legend of the White Snake. The dialogue is poetic but slow and clear, making it great for beginners familiar with basic vocabulary.
Intermediate-level movies
When you have got the basics down, it’s time to move on to movies with slightly more complex plots and quicker conversations.
- Ne Zha: Birth of the Demon Child (哪吒之魔童降世) – 2019
Genre: Animation, Fantasy
Based on a classic Chinese myth, this blockbuster follows Ne Zha, a misunderstood boy with incredible powers. While some lines are fast-paced, the animated storytelling makes it easier to grasp.
- Dying to Survive (我不是药神) – 2018
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Based on a true story, this movie follows a man smuggling medicine to help leukemia patients. It includes realistic street language and medical terms, offering a good challenge for intermediate learners.
- The Left Ear (左耳) – 2015
Genre: Romance, Drama
A famous coming-of-age film about friendship and love. The youthful dialogue is casual but not too difficult, making it great for picking up everyday Mandarin.
- Better Days (少年的你) – 2019
Genre: Drama, Romance
A high school student, bullied by her classmates, forms an unlikely bond with a street-smart young man. The film uses conversational Mandarin and emotional dialogue, making it a great listening challenge.
- Us and Them (后来的我们) – 2018
Genre: Romance, Drama
Two young people fall in love but struggle with life’s realities. The dialogue is modern, emotional, and natural, perfect for picking up everyday phrases and casual speech.
Advanced-level movies
For advanced learners, you can watch sophisticated dramas and historical movies to learn Chinese in terms of vocabulary and comprehension.
- Let the Bullets Fly (让子弹飞) – 2010
Genre: Action, Comedy, Drama
A witty and fast-paced film set in 1920s China, following a bandit who impersonates a governor. The movie is packed with wordplay, idioms, and historical references, making it a serious challenge for language learners.
- Ash Is Purest White (江湖儿女) – 2018
Genre: Drama, Crime
A woman’s journey through China’s underworld as she follows her gangster boyfriend. The film features regional dialects and natural, fast-paced speech, which is really ideal for foreign audiences.
- A Touch of Sin (天注定) – 2013
Genre: Drama, Crime
A gripping social drama following four characters across different parts of China. This movie exposes you to various accents, dialects, and regional slang, perfect for testing comprehension.
- Only the River Flows (河流只向东流) – 2024
Genre: Crime Thriller
Set in 1990s rural China, this noir thriller follows detective Ma Zhe as he investigates a woman’s murder. The film’s use of regional dialects and nuanced dialogue offers an authentic linguistic challenge.
- Home Coming (万里归途) – 2022
Genre: Action, Drama
This film, based on a true story, is about Chinese diplomats rescuing people from a war zone. It’s a great watch for anyone learning Mandarin, especially if you’re interested in diplomatic or military language.
Effective Strategies To Learn Chinese with Movies
To learn Chinese with movies is a great start, but it takes more than just viewing to truly learn. You will need to use specific strategies to maximize your learning.
Watch with subtitles in both languages
Though you’re seeking movies to learn Chinese, you should begin by watching movies with both Chinese and English subtitles in some popular platforms supporting dual subtitle such as YouTube, Netflix, … You can watch the movie with only one subtitle, then re-watch without any subtitles to improve your listening comprehension and spoken language.
Pause and repeat dialogue
When you hear something interesting or trickly, you shouldn’t hesitate to pause and listen to that phrase or sentence again. It’s better if you also try repeating the dialogue aloud so you can improve your pronunciation and speaking skills – that is how you learn Chinese with movies.
Take notes on new vocabulary
Another point when watching movies to learn English is writing things down during a movie as it can be a very handy way to learn any words or phrases that you encounter. However, you should remember to look up the definitions and write examples to help you know and remember how to use them.
Watch movies multiple times
Learning Chinese with movies can be a very effective and intriguing way. The more you watch movies to learn Chinese, the more you absorb the language and cultural nuances.
Conclusion
Learning Chinese with movies is a dynamic and effective approach to mastering the language. With the help of GuruLango, everything you’ve gathered from Chinese movie would be categorized into logical topics for the best learning progress. Follow GuruLango’s blog more tips to learn Chinese and start to learn Chinese vocabularies right now!
