About Tao Te Ching
What it's about
Eighty-one short chapters on the Way: a hidden pattern behind all things that cannot be put into words. Laozi praises water, emptiness and softness, and advises starting great things while they are small.
Who it's for
Readers who grew up with sayings like 'a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step', and anyone looking for a calmer, less forceful way of living and leading.
- Level
- CEFR B2
- Length
- 3 parts · about 647 words
- Reading time
- about 6 minutes (~2 min per part)
- Author
- Laozi
If you liked this, read
- The Analects · B2
- Meditations · B2
- Walden · B2
Looking for something easier or harder? See Easy English books by level (A1–B2).
Reading Tao Te Ching in English: quick answers
- What English level is Tao Te Ching on SeoJae Story?
- Tao Te Ching by Laozi is retold in simplified English at CEFR B2 (upper-intermediate). It is split into 3 short parts, and every sentence has a Korean translation you can show or hide, so a learner at that level can follow the story without a dictionary.
- Is Tao Te Ching hard to read in English?
- The original is written for native readers, with long sentences and older vocabulary, so most learners find it hard. This retelling keeps the story but uses simpler English at CEFR B2 (upper-intermediate), so if you read English at that level you can follow it, and the Korean translation is there for any line that stops you. If it feels too hard, start with an easier book one level down.
- How long does it take to read Tao Te Ching in simple English?
- About 6 minutes of reading in total — roughly 2 minutes per part across 3 parts. Listening to the audio narration, reviewing the vocabulary and taking each part's comprehension check adds a little more.
- Is this the full, unabridged text of Tao Te Ching?
- No. It is an abridged graded retelling written for English learners that follows the story of the original in 3 parts. Every part also lets you read the matching unabridged chapters from the original, split into short readings.
- Is Tao Te Ching free to read here?
- Yes. All 3 parts are free to read online, with the Korean translation, audio narration, vocabulary flashcards and comprehension questions included.
- Is Tao Te Ching in the public domain?
- Yes. Laozi's Tao Te Ching is in the public domain, and the original text is freely available from Project Gutenberg (eBook #216). SeoJae Story's simplified retelling and Korean translation are original text written for learners.