5 Must-Visit Chinese Bookstores in Singapore PLUS Book Vocabulary
The Very Best Book Shops in Singapore & Book Genres in Chinese 📖
Whether you are beginner-level or you have been a long-time student, reading books in Chinese can be an enjoyable way to build your language skills and immerse yourself in Chinese culture.
Sadly, the larger bookstores in Singapore have gradually made the move solely to online stores.
Luckily there are still some true gems scattered across Singapore that offer pleasant ways to expand your Chinese vocabulary.
In this article we’ll share 5 of the best bookstores in Singapore, key vocabulary and famous Chinese classics everybody has to read at least once!
So, let’s see what Singapore has to offer…
OUR TOP 5
Chinese Bookstores in Singapore – 草根書室 Grassroots Book Room
Chinese Bookstores in Singapore – 卓爾书店 The Zall Bookstore
Chinese Bookstores in Singapore – 友谊书斋 Maha Yu Yi
Chinese Bookstores in Singapore – 城市书房City Book Room
Chinese Bookstores in Singapore – Kinokuniya Singapore
BONUS CONTENT
Chinese Bookstores in Singapore – Famous Chinese Classics
Chinese Bookstores in Singapore – Book Genres in Chinese
Chinese Bookstores in Singapore – FAQs
Chinese Bookstores in Singapore || 草根書室 Grassroots Book Room
Grassroots Book Room is a haven for true bookstore lovers.
This bookstore offers a very aesthetically-pleasing browse of Chinese language books, stationary and novelty mugs.
There is a lovely cafe in the back of the store with framed illustrations along the walls where you can order a refreshing iced milk tea.
Known for hosting local events like book-sharing sessions, film discussions, and exhibitions, this small store has a pleasant ambiance and book topics for a variety of audiences.
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Chinese Bookstores in Singapore || 卓爾书店 The Zall Bookstore
Among the pretty shops in Wheelock Place lies Zall Bookstore, with its minimalist layout and large glass windows that fit right in with the designer stores on Orchard Road.
Dubbed “the first Chinese-themed bookstore in Singapore” this bookstore isn’t all looks – there is an array of literary options, including classical Chinese literature, trendy non-fiction, and an art gallery.
Zall’s café Nico Café is ideal for sitting with your new purchase while enjoying a cold brew and pastry.
Chinese Bookstores in Singapore || 友谊书斋 Maha Yu Yi
We can’t mention bookstores in Singapore without mentioning the Bras Basah Complex, five stories of stores centering Chinese books and art, most of which are second-hand.
There is a Popular Bookstore on #02-47 to 67, but as we are prioritizing Chinese language books, head to Maha Yu Yi.
This traditional Chinese bookstore offers a huge selection of books from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, in addition to Singaporean titles.
Though overwhelming at first glance, students of Chinese culture can find language learning workbooks, HSK texts, classical Chinese novels and old-school Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) textbooks.
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Chinese Bookstores in Singapore || 城市书房City Book Room
Hunt for the iconic wood paneling sign of City Book Room, hidden away on Joo Chiat Road.
It’s a bit of a journey from central Singapore, but those in the know frequent the frog congee, claypot, and bak kut te restaurants in the area.
Here, you’ll find books on Chinese and Singaporean culture, such as Chinese opera and Singaporean art.
The small space is not ideal for browsing leisurely, but tell the staff your Chinese proficiency level, and they will provide helpful recommendations.
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Chinese Bookstores in Singapore || Kinokuniya Singapore
Indulging in some Chinese manga, or 漫画 (màn huà), also counts as language learning!
This giant Japanese chain bookstore is said to be the biggest bookstore in Southeast Asia.
Kinokuniya has two locations in Singapore, both of which offer Chinese language learning workbooks in addition to comic books, magazines, and the latest bestselling novels.
Both stores are large enough to take your time finding your perfect reading material, and provide reliable café fare.
Chinese Bookstores in Singapore || Chinese Bookstore Vocabulary:
To help you navigate the bookstore shelves and find your favourite genres, we have some important vocabulary to know:
| english | chinese | pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Types of Books | 书籍类型 | shūjí lèi xíng |
| Non-Fiction books | 非小说类书籍 | fēi xiăo shuō lèi shū jí |
| Autobiographies | 自传 | zì zhuàn |
| Biographies | 传记 | zhuàn jì |
| Cookbooks | 烹饪书 | pēng rèn shū |
| History books | 历史书 | lì shǐ shū |
| Textbooks | 教科书 | jiào kē shū |
| Fiction books | 小说类书籍 | xiăo shuō lèi shūjí |
| Classics | 名著 | míng zhù |
| Comic books | 漫画 | màn huà |
| Literary | 文学 | wén xué |
| Romance | 言情 | yán qíng |
| Science Fiction | 科幻 | kē huàn |
| Thriller | 惊悚 | jīng sǒng |
Chinese Bookstores in Singapore || Famous Chinese Classics To Look Out For:
It is no secret that Chinese arts and literature have been renowned for over 4,000 years. The most famous books are called the Four Great Classical Novels (四大名著) (sì shū wǔ jīng) and consist of:
Journey to the West 西遊記 (xī yóu jì)
In the Tang Dynasty, a Buddhist monk pilgrimages to Central Asia and India (“the West”) with his three protectors: the Monkey King, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing.
Manga and anime fans might recognise aspects of this epic fantasy adventure such as the Chinese mythology of the Monkey King.
Dream of the Red Chamber 紅樓夢 (hóng lóu mèng)
This book is Romeo and Juliet meets Crazy Rich Asians. Jia Baoyu is the heir to a noble family. He loves Lin Daiyu, but his family wants him to marry the perfect Xue Baochai.
The classic love triangle and noble family dynamics echo Chinese TV drama series and fans of historical romance.
Romance of Three Kingdoms 三國演義 (sān guó yǎn yì)
Romance of Three Kingdoms is the ultimate Chinese historical novel set in the the end of the Han Dynasty when three would-be emperors fight for power.
Fans of Chinese historical drama series will appreciate the scheming politics and political chess-playing that takes place.
Outlaws of the Marsh 水滸傳 (shuǐ hǔ zhuàn)
Outlaws of the Marsh is an anti-hero’s journey set in the Song Dynasty.
The adventures of Geo Qiu and his 108 outlaws served to be Chinese’s society’s warnings of the consequences of a life in crime.
⚠️ It is worth noting that the book has arguably not aged well due to its misogynistic depictions of women.
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Chinese Bookstores in Singapore || FAQ
What are the most famous Chinese-language books?
Journey to the West 西遊記 (xī yóu jì), Dream of the Red Chamber 紅樓夢 (hóng lóu mèng), Romance of Three Kingdoms 三國演義 (sān guó yǎn yì), and Outlaws of the Marsh 水滸傳 (shuǐ hǔ zhuàn).
What is the biggest bookstore in Singapore?
Kinokuniya Main Store in Takashimaya Shopping Centre has over 500,000 books in Japanese, Chinese, English, and other languages.
Where can I read Chinese books in Singapore?
Where can I practice talking about books in Chinese?
Head over to our online Flexi Classes to start practicing Chinese with native speaker teachers today!
Or, if you’re already in Singapore, check out our Mandarin Classes in Singapore here.
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