The Best Chinese Shows on Netflix | Mandarin Movies & TV Shows

The best way to learn a language is by doing something you love. For many, that’s binging on Netflix. Discover the most binge-worthy Chinese shows on Netflix to help you learn Mandarin the fun way.

Learning any kind of language can be trying for many. It’s always important to incorporate leisure into learning as it helps to keep you engaged and proactive in your learning journey. An excellent way to hone your Mandarin language skills is to watch Chinese shows on Netflix.

These days, Netflix has an excellent and diverse range of Chinese dramas, scaling different genres and difficulties. TV shows and movies are an excellent tool for learning the Mandarin language because it allows learners to understand basic conversational Mandarin in different contexts.

To get the most out of your language learning journey, we would recommend always having a notebook available while watching, so that you can note down any Mandarin vocabulary that might be useful to you in the future. Another fast and efficient way to expand your Mandarin vocabulary would be to try to associate the Mandarin you’re hearing with the English subtitles on the screen. Using the subtitles will activate the speaking and listening parts of the brain, which in turn will help to make the words “stick”. A good tip here for more advanced Mandarin learners would be to first watch the Netflix Chinese drama of your choice without subtitles, then again with subtitles to compare how well you understood the drama the first time around, and then again without subtitles (after all, there’s nothing better for language learning than repetition). Another added benefit of watching Chinese shows in Netflix is the exposure watchers get to Chinese culture and traditions, which is especially fitting for those wishing to visit China in the near future.

Continue reading to discover some of the absolute best Chinese shows in Netflix that will have you mastering Mandarin in no time.

The Best Chinese Shows on Netflix

Take My Brother Away

If you enjoy TV shows that explore the slice of life genre then this show is for you. Take my Brother away is a drama based on a bickering pair of siblings and their journey through highschool exploring their friendships, hardships and school life. This drama is suitable for beginners in the Mandarin language, since the vocabulary being used isn’t too difficult and very easy to follow. Given that the story follows two teenagers, this Netflix Chinese drama would be a good watch for teenagers or young adults as they will be best able to relate to the funny gags and touching scenes.

Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆

Recommended for: Teenagers, Beginners in the Mandarin language

Genre: Teen TV show, Drama, Comedy

Chosen 

A Chinese remake of the 2013 Western series of the same name, Chosen is an excellent Netflix Chinese drama for learners who want to expand their Chinese vocabulary with a plot that they are already familiar with. The drama is based in Australia and is about a doctor who is forced to participate in a twisted killing game or risk letting everyone that they love die. The vocabulary can get a little difficult at times but due to the drama being set in Australia there are some English phrases and words that have been incorporated. There is a lot of vocabulary being used that relates to the topic of crime, so we would definitely recommend this drama for those who are interested in the true crime and thriller genre.

Difficulty: ★★★☆☆

Recommended for: People with some confidence with the Mandarin language

Genre: Crime, Thriller, Action, Adventure

Meteor Garden

Following the life of college student Shancai, this Netflix Chinese drama explores her love life and all of the turmoil that comes with it. Meteor Garden is a remake of the South Korean TV series Boys Over Flowers with an extremely similar plot. Thanks to its extensive storyline and 49 episodes, a wide range of Mandarin vocabulary is explored, from dating and family to school and day-to-day life. As a result, the series may be a bit hard for real beginners to follow. We would recommend this drama to those who already consider themselves as intermediate in the Mandarin language or for ambitious beginners who really want to challenge themselves. So if you like Rom-Coms and coming-of-age plots, then Meteor Garden is surely a must-watch Chinese show on Netflix for you.

Difficulty: ★★★☆☆

Recommended for: Intermediate, Beginners wanting a challenge

Genre: Romance, Teen TV show, Drama

The King’s Avatar

Based on the industry of Esports The King’s avatar is an excellent drama about friendship and love for the game which would be perfect for viewers interested in gaming. This series is based on an elite gamer who is forced out of his team, which leads him to start his very own team and as he works to gain back his reputation as being the King of the game. This drama would be a great option for those with an interest within the IT industry as a lot of the vocabulary is based around computers and technology (did we mention that the gaming scenes are pretty spectacular?). With that said, this could make it difficult for beginners to follow along easily. One aspect that makes this drama stand out is its lack of romance which is not very common for Chinese dramas, and a refreshing change of pace, if we do say so ourself!

Difficulty: ★★★★☆

Recommended for: Intermediate and Advanced within the Mandarin language

Genre: Drama, Action, Adventure

Well Intended Love

Want a plot that will draw you in? Well intended Love is a series filled with drama and controversy, and a great one to train your Mandarin ear to! The plot follows a D-list actress who makes a deal with a young attractive CEO stating that he will donate his bone marrow to cure her leukaemia if she signs a marriage agreement with him. This drama is an absolute whirlwind of emotions and easily captivates its viewers. Numerous topics are referenced and used during this drama, from conversational romance to business and even medical terms, making it super useful for viewers looking to learn a vast range of Mandarin vocabulary. We would recommend this drama for all levels of Mandarin learners, irrespective of the sometimes more challenging vocabulary.

Difficulty: Suitable for all levels

Recommended for: Intermediate and Advanced learner 

Genre: Romance, Drama, Comedy

The Victims’ Game

True crime and the law are two of the major themes explored in this Chinese Netflix drama. After discovering his estranged daughter is linked to unsolved mysterious murders, a detective with Asperger’s must risk everything to solve the case. This popular TV series is filled with mysteries and plot-wise it is pretty easy to follow, though the vocabulary may be tough for some. With the majority of the lexicon falling under the categories of crime, mental disorders and law, The Victims’ Game is certainly a lot more demanding than some of the other entries in this list – especially when you take into consideration the fact that the show is filmed in Taiwan, resulting in many of the actors having a Taiwanese accent. We would recommend this drama to learners with quite an advanced grasp on the Mandarin language, or alternatively people looking to pursue careers within the law sector. 

Difficulty: ★★★★★

Recommended for: Advance foreign speakers/native speakers, People within the law sector

Genre: Thriller, Drama, Crime, Mysteries

And so concludes our curated list of the best Chinese dramas on Netflix to learn Mandarin from. Don’t forget to sign up to our newsletter to stay up-to-date with all the latest Mandarin-related content here at Mandarin Matrix.

Feature photo courtesy of Shutterstock, Photo 1 courtesy of Netflix, Photo 2 courtesy of  The Savvy Screener via Pinterest, Photo 3 courtesy of Read Watch and Think, Photo 4 courtesy of Kdramadiary, Photo 5 courtesy of decider, Photo 6 courtesy of South China Morning Post