Best Apps for Intermediate Chinese Learning in 2025

If you’ve made it past beginner Chinese apps and now find yourself stuck somewhere between basic phrases and real fluency, you’re not alone. Intermediate Chinese learners often face a unique challenge: most apps are either too easy, too boring, or don't bridge the gap between conversation and literacy.

The good news? 2025 is shaping up to be a golden year for apps tailored specifically to intermediate Chinese learners. Here’s a roundup of the best Chinese learning apps for intermediate and advanced students — including one that’s rapidly gaining buzz: Read Bean.

1. Read Bean — Personalized Reading Practice for Intermediate Learners

⭐ Best for: Improving real-world reading comprehension, expanding vocabulary, mastering sentence structures

Why Read Bean Stands Out:
Unlike traditional apps that recycle textbook dialogs, Read Bean focuses on real content — articles, stories, news, and cultural topics — carefully adapted to your exact vocabulary and grammar level.

• Daily 5-minute readings that adjust to you

• Dynamic questions that test vocabulary, sentence patterns, and critical thinking

• Built for adult learners who want engaging, modern topics (think: Chinese pop culture, social trends, entrepreneurship)

• Heritage learner friendly — perfect for those who can speak but want to strengthen their reading

If you're tired of clunky apps and want something that feels genuinely fun and effective, Read Bean is a must-try in 2025.

👉 Check out Read Bean here

2. Du Chinese — Bite-sized Stories for Reading Practice

⭐ Best for: Casual daily reading at an intermediate level

Du Chinese offers a large library of short stories and articles with pinyin, audio, and English translations. It's user-friendly and great for supplementing your daily practice, though it’s more passive than interactive.

• Adjustable pinyin and translations

• Read at your own pace

• Mostly casual topics like travel, culture, and daily life

3. HelloChinese — Structured Lessons Beyond the Basics

⭐ Best for: Gamified, structured grammar and speaking drills

While HelloChinese is known for beginners, their more advanced courses (Premium+ plan) include HSK 4–6 level content, grammar explanations, and speaking challenges using voice recognition.

• Gamified exercises to keep motivation up

• Good grammar focus

• Helpful for oral fluency, but limited reading depth

4. SuperChinese — AI-Personalized Grammar and Listening

⭐ Best for: Strengthening listening and grammar comprehension

SuperChinese uses AI to adapt lesson plans based on your mistakes and strengths. It’s particularly useful for learners who need more listening and grammar-heavy practice at intermediate levels.

• AI identifies weak points automatically

• Strong listening practice across accents

• Less focused on deep reading or writing

5. The Chairman’s Bao — News-Based Learning Platform

⭐ Best for: Serious learners preparing for exams or professional use

If you want structured reading practice based on real-world news, The Chairman’s Bao is a classic. It offers graded news articles written for learners from HSK 1–6+.

• Great for HSK exam preparation

• Business and academic news topics

• Heavy text focus, but less interactive

How to Choose the Right App for Your Chinese Journey

As an intermediate Chinese learner, your biggest growth will come from:

• Daily exposure to real Chinese (not just slow, scripted conversations)

• Personalized practice that challenges your vocabulary and grammar

• Staying motivated with content that feels interesting, not childish

If you’re serious about finally reading Chinese naturally — not just ordering dumplings at a restaurant — then an app like Read Bean gives you the best chance to move from "intermediate plateau" to fluent reader.

Final Thoughts

2025 is offering more tools than ever for intermediate and advanced Chinese learners. Whether you’re polishing your conversational skills, prepping for business Chinese, or finally ready to tackle reading novels and news articles, there’s an app that fits your journey.

Ready to level up your Chinese reading skills? Try Read Bean today and see how much you can grow in just 5 minutes a day. 🫘

👉 Start your free trial with Read Bean