Chinese Reading Speed Test
Measure your own Chinese reading speed in characters per minute. Use the original practice passage below or paste your own. Punctuation, spaces, pinyin and numbers are excluded from the character count.
105 Han characters. Elapsed: 0.0 seconds.
What is an average Chinese reading speed?
This self-timed test does not provide a universal average or measure comprehension. Rates depend on the passage, familiarity, reading aloud versus silently and pauses. Compare your own attempts on similar passages; use the Reader to learn unfamiliar words before a separate timed attempt. The sample was written for this tool and is not an official HSK exam passage.
Frequently asked questions
How do I measure my Chinese reading speed?
Start the timer, read the passage at your normal pace and stop it. The tool divides the Han characters in the passage by the time and reports characters per minute. Use the original practice passage or paste your own.
What counts as a character?
Only Han characters. Punctuation, spaces, pinyin and numbers are excluded from the count.
What is a normal Chinese reading speed?
This test does not claim a universal average. Speed depends on the passage, how familiar the words are, whether you read aloud or silently, and pauses, so compare your own attempts on similar passages.
Does it measure how much I understood?
No. It measures time per character only. Use the reader to learn unfamiliar words before a separate timed attempt.
How is the chapter time worked out?
It divides the chapter length in characters you enter by your characters per minute from the last timed read.