Watching Chinese series is a great way to improve your Mandarin and gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture. While these shows are often more difficult for language learners, they can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Chosen is a gripping thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It’s a great show to practice vocabulary related to crime and mental illness.
1. Empresses In The Palace
The first time I saw this drama I was completely enthralled. I still love it to this day. It also launched the careers of several actresses. She’s an obnoxious concubine who picks on poor Lingrong and offends Zhen Huan when they lose favour in the palace. She is poisoned to death under Nian Shilan’s orders. She is a highly unfavoured concubine but she sides with Zhen Huan multiple times in the series. She later adopts his eldest daughter when she becomes a nun.
2. Take My Brother Away
Inspired by a manhua, Take My Brother Away follows the hilarious daily lives of two siblings. Joseph Zeng and Sun Qian are both wonderful actors that bring their characters to life. Fen may tease his sister and make her explode 100 times a day, but when troubles come, he will become a caring and loving brother. The show also features a great supporting cast, including Zhen Kaixin (Wang Xudong), Ma Boquan, and Wan Sui. The show is filled with tons of laughs and a good message.
3. Nirvana In Fire
A gripping Chinese drama that takes crime and morality to a whole new level. This 2020 series reached over 59 billion views on iQIYI and features some of the most famous actors in China. The plot is more serious than many other palace period dramas and doesn’t feature a lot of comedy. However, it does have its moments and a good storyline to keep learners engaged. The show is also available in English subtitles.
4. Ode To Joy
The uplifting music of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy is instantly recognizable. This movement of his Ninth Symphony combines the poem An die Freude by Friedrich Schiller with Beethoven’s own music to create a song for humanity. The piece evokes the idea that all people should come together in brotherhood and work toward a world without violence or division. It has been used as a protest anthem and a call for peace.
5. The Victims’ Game
For anyone who likes dark and compelling crime dramas, you should check out The Victims’ Game. This Taiwanese Netflix original stars Joseph Chang as a forensic detective with Asperger’s who investigates a ดูซีรี่ย์จีน of gruesome serial murders that may involve his estranged daughter. He teams up with ambitious reporter Hsu Hai-Yin, who is drawn to the case for different reasons. This unique duo’s relationship makes this thriller even more gripping.
6. Chosen
The Chosen is a crowdfunded series that’s proving to be quite the hit. Created by Dallas Jenkins, the show centers on Jesus and the people who followed him, including religious leader Nicodemus (Erick Avari), tax collector Matthew (Paras Patel), hotheaded Simon Peter (Shahar Isaac), and Mary Magdalene (Elizabeth Tabish). But is it a worthy retelling of Christ’s life? The answer depends on what Christians are willing to accept.
7. Ashes Of Love
A 63 episode drama with plenty of characters to keep you entertained. Run Yu is a good villain but his obsession with Jin Mi dragged the show down at times and overshadowed their chemistry. A frost flower fairy unable to feel emotion is drawn into two warring immortal brothers’ battle for her love. Their romance spans lifetimes and many impossible obstacles. Beautifully written and performed. The visual design of the different realms is excellent as well.
8. Put Your Head On My Shoulder
Put Your Head on My Shoulder is a light and airy campus drama from the same writer as A Love So Beautiful. It centers on accounting graduate Tu Mo and her physics student roommate Gu Wei Yi. Their awkward tentative relationship is adorable and fun to watch. Their bond is so strong that they can take turns liking boys and putting their friendship first. Their secret late night meetings at the beach and him finding her food are just so cute!
9. When A Snail Falls In Love
Detective Ji Bai and rookie criminal profiler Xu Xu may look like an awkward teacher-student pair at first glance but they are the best partners in solving crimes one after another. Ji Bai starts to fall in love with Xu Xu but she’s as slow as a snail when it comes to romance. The show is funny and well-paced with plenty of character development even for the secondary characters. Wang Kai does a great job as Ji Bai embodying his leadership, fearlessness and intelligence.
Conclusion
Watching Chinese series is an effective way to improve your listening skills. But it should be paired with studying. Here are 21 of the best shows to help you learn Mandarin. iPartment takes Chinese TV dramas to the next level. Its cheesiness and puns might go over the heads of beginners, but it’s still an enjoyable watch for intermediate students.
