World classic, retold in simple Mandarin
Heidi
海蒂
Heidi (海蒂, Hǎidì) is a classic by Johanna Spyri, retold in simple Mandarin as a 5-chapter story with audio for learners at about HSK 1 (Beginner).
Retold from Johanna Spyri's Swiss classic: a cheerful orphan girl wins over her grumpy grandfather in the Alps, is taken to a city, and brings a lonely friend back to the mountain.
Meet the voices
- Narrator · 旁白 — The warm grandfatherly storyteller.
- Heidi · 海蒂 — A cheerful, fearless eight-year-old who loves the mountain.
- Grandfather · 爷爷 — A gruff old man of the mountain with a soft heart.
- Peter · 彼得 — A shy goatherd boy who fears losing his friend.
- Aunt Dete · 迪特 — Heidi's brisk aunt who is always in a hurry.
- Clara · 克拉拉 — A kind girl in a wheelchair who longs for a friend.
- Miss Rottenmeier · 罗特小姐 — The stern housekeeper in Frankfurt.
- The Doctor · 医生 — A calm, kind family doctor.
5 chapters, one journey
Chapter 1: Grandfather's Hut
爷爷的家
Eight-year-old Heidi is left with her grumpy grandfather high in the Alps, and wins him over with goat milk and a bed of hay. Then a goatherd boy dares her to see the mountain.
Free to read
Chapter 2: The Red Mountain
山是红的
On her first day on the mountain Heidi meets an eagle, a sunset like fire and her first friend. But Aunt Dete returns with news that may take her away.
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Chapter 3: The Open Door
夜里的门
In grand, gray Frankfurt, Heidi makes friends with Clara but misses her mountain. Now a ghost is walking the house at night, and the front door keeps opening.
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Chapter 4: Home Again
回家
The mystery ghost is caught, and Heidi runs home to her grandfather. But a promise of a summer visit worries a certain goatherd.
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Chapter 5: Clara Walks
克拉拉走路
Clara comes to the mountain, and Peter's jealousy sends her wheelchair rolling down the slope. Now Clara has to stand on her own two feet.
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Key words in Heidi
Behind the story
Heidi was written by the Swiss author Johanna Spyri and published in two parts in 1880 and 1881. It is set in the mountains of eastern Switzerland, and it has become one of the best-loved children's books in the world.
Chinese readers know her as 海蒂 (Hǎidì). The book is a familiar children's classic in Chinese translation, and its mix of mountain air, goat milk and simple friendship makes it a good story for learners to meet in Mandarin.
Did you know?
- The area around the Swiss town of Maienfeld is now nicknamed Heidiland, because of the book.
- Johanna Spyri was in her fifties when Heidi came out.
- The red glow on snowy peaks at sunset that Heidi sees is a real Alpine sight, called alpenglow.