Start Here: Best Mandarin Chinese Songs for Kids and Toddlers

Getting started with Chinese children’s songs

Take it day by day. Learn one Chinese children’s song at a time. As your confidence grows, expand your playlist and explore more Chinese songs and albums in this list.

If your child has a strong preference for English, try listening to Chinese translations of popular English songs, such as 小星星 (Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star) and 生日快乐 (Happy Birthday).

Familiar tunes can bridge the daunting transition of learning Mandarin Chinese.

Over time, our family grew to love popular Chinese songs for kids.

我有一雙小小手 (Wǒ yǒu yī shuāng xiǎo xiǎo shǒu / I Have a Pair of Hands) and 一分钱 (Yī fēn qián / One Penny) was often on replay when they were toddlers.

Benefits of learning Chinese language with music

After initial resistance, my children now enjoy Chinese songs. Some of the amazing benefits include:

• Being playful and creative: They grab markers as imaginary microphones and start belting out Chinese tunes together! And their silly dance moves crack are so hilarious!
• Bonding as a family: I sing the same Mandarin Chinese songs at bedtime every night. This has been a special part of our daily routine.
• Boosting other language skills: Music has motivated my daughter to learn how to write by copying song lyrics.

I hope your family can discover new favorite Chinese songs and learn lyrics together!

A Little Mandarin

iTunes| Spotify | Amazon | Printable Lyrics

A Little Mandarin was produced by a Chinese-American mom of trilingual children! Years ago, this was the very first Chinese music album that I purchased for my family. The vocals are clear and pleasant! This continues to one of my top recommendations for families learning Chinese.

1. Make A Phone Call – 打电话
2. Two Tigers – 两只老虎
3. Little Duckling – 小鸭子
4. Sitting In A Row – 排排坐
5. [Twinkle Twinkle] Little Star – 小星星
6. Scale Song – 音阶歌
7. Going To School Song – 上学歌
8. Find A Friend – 找朋友
9. I Have A Pair Of Little Hands – 我有一双小小手
10. Rowing The Boat – 划船
11. Pulling The Radish – 拔萝卜
12. Doll And Little Bear Dancing – 洋娃娃和小熊跳舞
13. One Penny – 一分钱
14. Rock-A-Bye – 摇啊摇
15. Happy Birthday – 生日快乐
16. Happy New Year – 新年好

Shanghai Restoration Project – Little Dragon Tales: Chinese Children’s Songs

iTunes| Spotify | Amazon | Printable Lyrics

Little Dragon Tales is a collection of 12 classic Chinese Children’s songs with a modern twist featuring the voices of the Yip’s Canada Children’s Choir.

1. Making Friends (Zhao Peng You)
2. Where Is Spring? (Chun Tian Zai Na Li?)
3. Clay Doll (Ni Wa Wa)
4. Two Tigers (Liang Zhi Lao Hu)
5. Congratulations (Gong Xi Gong Xi)
6. Sticky Dumplings for Sale (Mai Tang Yuan)
7. Selling Newspapers (Mai Bao Ge)
8. Finding Flowers in the Snow (Ta Xue Xun Mei)
9. The Schoolboy (Du Shu Lang)
10. Feng Yang Flower Drum (Feng Yang Hua Gu)
11. Little Swallow (Xiao Yan Zi)
12. Little White Boat (Xiao Bai Chuan)
13. Dreaming of Home and Mother

Kids Learn Mandarin – I Can Sing in Mandarin!

Spotify | Amazon | Printable Lyrics

I Can Sing in Mandarin! is a collection of Chinese songs about regular, everyday life. Since each song focuses on one topic with lots of repetition, this is a fantastic album for broadening basic Chinese vocabulary.

1. I Can Count In Mandarin
2. Colors Outside My Window
3. Little Animals
4. One Red Apple
5. My Family
6. Head, Shoulders, Tummy, Hands
7. Let’s Get Dressed for School
8. Boats, Cars, & Planes
9. Let’s Play!
10. I have a Little House
11. My Favorite Food
12. Smile to the Sun

Chinese Christmas songs

China Sprout

If you’re looking for classic Christmas carols in Chinese, the Black Duck album is filled with popular holiday songs. These are great Chinese Christmas songs for kids.

1. Silent Night (Chinese)
2. Silent Night (English)
3. Ode to Joy (Chinese)
4. Oh, Susana (Chinese)
5. Christmas Day (Chinese)
6. Jingle Bells (Chinese)
7. Jingle Bells (English)
8. Edelweiss (Chinese)
9. Edelweiss (English)
10. Do Re Mi (Chinese)
11. Serenade  (Chinese)
12. Merry Christmas (Chinese)
13. Flowers in Bud (Chinese)
14. Song of Boat (Chinese)
15. Auld Lang Syne (Chinese)
16. Song of Cradle (Chinese)
17. Hand in Hand (Chinese)

Hoop Kids

iTunes

Hoops Kids has lots of Chinese pop songs for children.

Here are some of their most popular albums.

• All is Love 爱你爱我 / 愛你愛我
• Children Playground 儿童乐园 / 兒童樂園
• My Honey Baby 亲亲我的宝贝 / 親親我的寶貝
• The Sky Tree 天空树 / 天空樹
• The Sweet Home 宝贝 我的家 / 寶貝 我的家
• The Love River 孩子的暖暖河
• Welcome Happiness! 快乐，快乐一直来 / 快樂，快樂一直來

Baby’s First Chinese Nursery Rhymes and Songs

These Chinese baby board books have adorable pictures and sweet sayings! Each book comes with a music CD with 9 short Chinese songs followed by instrumental tracks of each song.

Read our review of these Chinese baby songbooks, or get your books here!