Chinese historical dramas (also known as costume/period dramas) can be particularly challenging for second-language learners. They are rich in historical and cultural references, and along with formal dialogue and archaic language, the comprehension difficulty is much higher than that of modern dramas.
With the rising popularity and sheer volume of available drama on international platforms, it’s overwhelming for newcomers to the genre and Chinese language learners to figure out where to begin.
To make your immersion journey easier, I have put together a selection of historical-theme Chinese dramas that not only provide an excellent introduction to the genre but are also well-suited for language learners to start picking up common vocabulary.
Note: All shows listed here are historical-themed, and none are related to an actual historical time period or event. Knowledge of Chinese history is not required.
《双世萌妻》 – Love for Two Lives
Tag: Time-travel, Comedy, Romance
A rare gem in the short-form Chinese drama space, 《双世萌妻》 – Love for Two Lives follows the story where a modern girl’s apartment is fused with the bedroom chambers of a historical emperor. She appears at a crucial time and saves the emperor from being betrothed to the Empress Dowager’s niece. Soon, the two find themselves entangled in each other’s problems and eventually fall in love.
With the mix of modern and historical settings and the light-hearted romance focus plot line, 《双世萌妻》 – Love for Two Lives is the easiest show to start with.
This is my favourite short drama of all time. I’ve watched it multiple times!
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《念念无明》 – The Killer Is Also Romantic
Tag: Romance, Comedy
Fans of the famous movie, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, will love this Chinese historical take on that beloved story. 《念念无明》 – The Killer Is Also Romantic follows the story of a husband and wife trying to navigate a normal life while hiding their secrets from each other.
《念念无明》 – The Killer Is Also Romantic is a short-form Chinese historical drama that’s brilliant for newcomers to the genre. It’s light-hearted, funny, and has a simple-to-follow plotline. The historical prose in the language and dialogue is very light, perfect as an entry-level learning material.
Low-quality movie version available on YouTube (FREE)
High-quality version available on MangoTV (PAID)
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《兰闺喜事》 – Hilarious Family
Tag: Family, Romance, Comedy
Romance-focused plotlines are among the easiest media for Chinese second language learners, but it’s not a genre that everyone enjoys. So luckily, we have 《兰闺喜事》 – Hilarious Family, which also focuses more on family in addition to the romantic development of the characters.
《兰闺喜事》 – Hilarious Family tells the story of a mother and her four daughters. The mother raised them alone, and now that they’re of marriageable age, she’s out seeking a good family for each of her daughters.
A slice-of-life and family-focused show is rare in Chinese historical drama. The language used is simple, and the plot is straightforward, so 《兰闺喜事》 – Hilarious Family is a brilliant show for Chinese second language learners.
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《拜托了，别宠我》 – Please Don’t Spoil Me
Tag: Transmigration, Romance, Comedy, Palace
Transmigration is an extremely popular theme in Chinese entertainment. Plenty of novels, webnovels, animations and TV shows use this theme. 《拜托了，别宠我》 – Please Don’t Spoil Me has all the typical plots that are found in many stories involving a modern person transmigration into a historical world.
The main character, Yan Yi Yi, is a webnovel author who accidentally transmigrates into one of her story’s villainous characters. In her novel, this character is banished to the cold palace early in the story. Now, Yan Yi Yi must try to avoid this tragic fate while maintaining the original story’s main plot.
《拜托了，别宠我》 – Please Don’t Spoil Me is an excellent introduction to the transmigration trope. It’s perfect for learning common historical vocabulary while gaining experience with the common elements of transmigration stories.
Season 1 – YouTube (FREE)
Season 2 – YouTube (FREE)
Season 3 – YouTube (FREE)
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《侯府夫人不好当》 – Hard Noble Lady
Tag: Transmigration, Romance, Family drama
Transmigration is a bit of a twist, which is exactly what 《侯府夫人不好当》 – Hard Noble Lady offers. The main character is a sexist businessman who often belittles women. An unexpected accident occurs, causing him to transmigrate into the wife of a nobleman in historical times. Through many hardships and struggles, he eventually learns to respect them.
The drama has some common transmigration themes, such as the main character using modern ideas to solve problems and make money.
《侯府夫人不好当》 – Hard Noble Lady is a fun and fast-paced show with a light historical language prose. It’s perfect for Chinese second language learners to gain more experience in this area.
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《小财迷》 – Debit Queen
Tag: Family, Romance, Business
Business is a common theme in historical dramas, so the short light-hearted drama《小财迷》 – Debit Queen is excellent for picking up relevant vocabulary. This drama follows the main character, Ling Se, as a wealthy businessman coaxes her to become his wife, and together they navigate the merchant world and fight for a place in the royal trade.
The language used in 《小财迷》 – Debit Queen has a light historical prose. The most challenging part will be the business and trade vocabulary, which will be useful on your journey in historical media. Trades, particularly trades between countries, are an extremely common subplot in most high-production historical shows.
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《虚颜》 – A Familiar Stranger
Tag: Romance, Identity Swap, Drama
The main character, Shi Qi, is forced into a face swap with the antagonist in the drama 《虚颜》 – A Familiar Stranger. Shi Qi must take on the role of the Prime Minister’s daughter, whom the antagonist blackmails into marrying a powerful general. Shi Qi and the general soon develop feelings for each other, and they work together to take down the mastermind behind it all.
《虚颜》 – A Familiar Stranger is the most drama-packed show on this list. This is a brilliant show for entertainment and language learning, with a very fast-paced plot and short episodes.
This was my first experience with short drama, which sparked my love for this medium.
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《传闻中的陈芊芊》 – The Romance of Tiger and Rose
Tag: Transmigration, Romance, Comedy
A TV series script writer accidentally travels into her script, as the arrogant third princess who is destined to be poisoned in the third episode. In《传闻中的陈芊芊》 – The Romance of Tiger and Rose, the main character is equipped with the knowledge of her script, and she is determined to stay alive and find her way back home.
The fabricated world of 《传闻中的陈芊芊》 – The Romance of Tiger and Rose stands out for its unique setting, where women hold a superior position in society.
The Chinese language has many different honorifics depending on the setting and time period. Although the world in 《传闻中的陈芊芊》 – The Romance of Tiger and Rose is fabricated and does not match an actual historical period, the honorifics used in this show are common in many historical-themed shows. It’s worth paying attention to these!
