Learn Chinese Through Games: The Ultimate Guide
Games are the new language classroom
If you’ve played any Chinese game recently, you’ve already seen Chinese characters without realizing it.
Black Myth: Wukong introduced millions of players to Chinese mythology — and Chinese characters.
Genshin Impact players worldwide encounter Chinese words every day.
Honkai: Star Rail and Zenless Zone Zero are also filled with Chinese characters in their UI and lore.
The reality: Games are one of the most effective ways to learn Chinese characters because they provide context, repetition, and motivation.
Chinese characters you already know from games
| Character | Meaning | Game You’ve Seen It In |
|---|---|---|
| 龙 | Dragon | Black Myth: Wukong, Genshin Impact |
| 山 | Mountain | Genshin Impact, Black Myth |
| 神 | God / Spirit | Genshin Impact (Zhongli’s lore) |
| 剑 | Sword | Any martial arts game |
| 魂 | Soul | Black Myth: Wukong, Sekiro |
| 风 | Wind | Genshin Impact (Venti’s lore) |
| 火 | Fire | Genshin Impact, Black Myth |
| 水 | Water | Genshin Impact, Black Myth |
| 雷 | Thunder | Genshin Impact |
| 冰 | Ice | Genshin Impact |
Why gaming works for language learning
1. Context is everything When you see 山 (mountain) in a game, you see the mountain on screen. Your brain connects the character to the visual instantly.
2. Repetition without boredom Games repeat key words naturally. After seeing 龙 (dragon) thirty times, you won’t forget it.
3. Emotional connection When you struggle to defeat a boss named 黑风山 (Black Wind Mountain), you remember that name forever.
4. Motivation You want to understand the story. You want to know what the characters are saying. Games create urgency.
Case study: Black Myth: Wukong
The game is based on the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West. Every character name, place name, and skill name is meaningful in Chinese.
- 孙悟空 (Sūn Wù Kōng) — the Monkey King. 悟空 means “awakening to emptiness”
- 金箍棒 (Jīn Gū Bàng) — the golden staff. 金 = gold
- 七十二变 (Qī Shí Èr Biàn) — seventy-two transformations
When you know these characters, the game becomes deeper. You’re not just fighting — you’re understanding the culture behind the game.
How to start
- Switch subtitles to Chinese (keep English audio if needed)
- Write down characters you see repeatedly
- Look them up on Yi Han Zi to learn their story
- Go back and play again — you’ll recognize them instantly
Recommended games for Chinese learners
| Game | Why It’s Good |
|---|---|
| Black Myth: Wukong | Rich Chinese mythology, repeated key terms, cultural depth |
| Genshin Impact | Lots of text, Chinese voice acting available, familiar gameplay |
| Chinese games on Steam | Many have both English and Chinese options, often with subtitles |
Start exploring characters from your favorite games at Yi Han Zi Topics.