Watching Chinese series can help you learn the language. This is particularly true if you use it in conjunction with other learning methods. Based on the Japanese manga series Boys Over Flowers, this Chinese drama follows a humble girl who is accepted into a top school but finds herself at odds with a popular clique of boys.
1. When A Snail Falls In Love
Detective Ji Bai and new criminal profiler Xu Xu may appear to be an awkward teacher-student pair but they make the best team. They work well together, solving one crime after another. Xu Xu draws out this scene of a puzzled snail and confused lion in her sketchbook. Yao Meng admires it and compliments Xu Xu’s drawing skills, not showing any envy (that was my thought as well). The male leads have a deep sense of brotherhood that isn’t covered up with macho jostling. It’s a refreshing and healthy portrayal of brotherly affection.
2. The Victims’ Game
This gripping Taiwanese crime drama starring Joseph Chang as forensic investigator Fang Yi-jen and Tiffany Hsu as ambitious journalist Xu Hai-yin is an intriguing watch. With a plot full of twists and turns, this 8-episode series can be watched on Netflix. The Victims’ Game does improve on previous Taiwanese Netflix originals such as brainless triad drama Nowhere Man and visually appealing but emotionally unaspirational Ghost Bride. However, it still plays it safe by trafficking in familiar crime genre tropes and avoiding depictions of social consciousness.
3. Chosen
The Chosen is the first multi-season TV ดูซีรี่ย์จีน about Jesus. It is a drama with imaginative backstories and interpersonal conflicts. It is also the largest crowdfunded media project in history. The show is created by Dallas Jenkins (son of Left Behind co-author Jerry Jenkins) and distributed by Mormon-owned Angel Studios. It stars Jonathan Roumie as Jesus and features an ensemble cast that includes a Jewish religious leader named Nicodemus; tax collector Matthew; hotheaded Simon a/k/a Peter; brooding fisherman Andrew; and Mary Magdalene, who is dealing with her sex life.
4. Home With Kids
Home With Kids is a family-friendly drama with episodes centering around the family members’ encounters with various issues that arise in their daily lives. Xia Donghai (Xia Dong Hai) returns from America with his two children, namely Xia Yu and Xia Xue, to start a new life with his divorced wife Liu Mei’s son, Liu Xing. He demonstrates more “traditional” ways of parenting with a focus on discipline. The animation in this series is bright and colourful, making it appealing to younger audiences. However, there are some scenes of humans being sucked into tubes and separated from their families which may scare them.
5. Ashes Of Love
The story is well-written, the actors act in tandem with each other and you laugh, cry and grow with them. Its only downside is Runyu’s ruthless pursuit of revenge, but she has every right to be angry. The show depicts a love that crosses dominions. It has the elements of a classic fairy-tale, the battle between good and evil, an incumbent tragic fate and an attempt to avert it (which only helps fulfill it), and the need for purification through pain and suffering.
6. Nirvana In Fire
This series is a great choice for Chinese learners at any level because it deals with family and friendships. It also features a contemporary language that can be easily understood by students. This historical drama has a captivating plot and a cast that rivals some of China’s best actors. This show is worth the time, especially if you’re an advanced learner. It will help you prepare for the second season of Nirvana in Fire, as it will prime you emotionally for the change in the Chang Lin Army’s name.
7. Ode To Joy
Many Chinese dramas are eminently binge-able due to their length and the way they’re released. Often, producers will lengthen shows by leaving in excess or repetitive dialogues, filming scenes in slow motion and by creating elaborate but unnecessary storylines for supporting characters. Beethoven was a passionately political composer and his adaptation of Friedrich Schiller’s Ode to Joy as the final movement of his Ninth Symphony was a radical act. But what did he actually hear when the orchestra played it?
8. Eternal Love
Chinese dramas are perfect for learning about different cultures and their points of view. You can find these shows on iQIYI, WeTv, Viki, Mango TV, Youku and more. Often compared to Sex and the City, this drama follows the lives of modern women in their twenties who live on the same floor of a Shanghai apartment block. The dialogue is very colloquial, making it easy for beginners to follow. This is a slice-of-life series that focuses on family issues and social injustices. Although it might be a little challenging for beginner learners to watch, the realism will make it worth persisting with.
Conclusion
Watching TV series is a fun way to boost your Chinese skills while entertaining yourself. iQIYI and Viki are two popular platforms that offer a variety of shows to choose from. Meteor Garden is an ideal show for advanced learners. The main character Si Tu Mo is an accounting student who underestimates herself until she meets Gu Wei Yi, a physics student.
