10 Disney Movies in Chinese That Should Be Part of Your World

If there was a particular kind of movie you should be learning language from, it’s Disney movies—they’re timeless, nostalgic and easy to follow because of the animation (and the fact you’ve probably seen them already).

They also let you easily learn correct pronunciations, as characters are less likely to slur words or speak as fast as actors in non-animated features.

Take a look at these Disney movies in Chinese, along with learning tips and useful vocabulary for easier viewing.

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Tips for Learning Through Disney Movies

• Watch entire movies on Disney+. The streaming service has both Chinese dubbing (Taiwanese Mandarin, Standard Mandarin and Cantonese) and subtitle (Simplified, Traditional and Cantonese) options.  
• Or divide Disney movies into multiple small study sessions. For example, FluentU lets you watch clips of Disney movies and many other types of videos. On this program, you can click on words you don’t know to add them to flashcards, rather than watch a two-hour movie in one sitting.

  FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.

  You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app or Android app.

  P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

  

  Try FluentU for FREE!

• Watch the movies several times. Repetition is the key to having words stick.
• Note down any relevant vocabulary. Disney movies contain common vocabulary ranging from animals to emotions to places around the world.

1. “ 玩具总动员 ” (Wán Jù Zǒng Dòng Yuán) — Toy Story

The “Toy Story” trilogy is a worldwide box office success and is one of Pixar’s best-selling movie franchises to date, so, naturally, there are Chinese dubs for all three “Toy Story” movies.

Andy lives in a world where toys can come to life and go on adventures. Most of their escapades are led by Woody, a pull-string cowboy toy and Andy’s favorite.

But life soon changes for Woody after Andy receives a new toy for his birthday: action figure space cadet Buzz Lightyear. Buzz quickly becomes Andy’s new favorite, leaving Woody feeling left out and jealous.

In a sporadic turn of events, Woody and Buzz Lightyear find themselves in a challenging situation that forces them to get along to return home to Andy before moving day.

Here’s the famously heartwarming intro song for the movie (in Mandarin Chinese)—”You’ve Got a Friend in Me”:

Key Vocabulary:

玩具 (wán jù) — toy  
故事 (gù shì) — story
牛仔 (niú zǎi) — cowboy
生日  (shēng rì) — birthday
(聚)会  ([jù] huì) — party
生日会  (shēng rì huì) — birthday Party
玩偶  (wán ‘ǒu) — action figure
太空 (tài kōng) — (outer) space
入伍生 (rù wǔ shēng) / 见习生 (jiàn xí shēng) — cadet
(最)喜爱 ([zuì] xǐ ài) — favorite
朋友 (péng you) — friend
房(间)  (fáng [jiān]) — room
比萨 (bǐ sà) — pizza
星球  (xīng qiú) — planet
动天 (Dòng Tiān) — Moving Day

2. “ 小美人鱼 ” (Xiǎo Měi Rén Yú) — The Little Mermaid

“The Little Mermaid” is based on a Danish fairy tale about Ariel, a sixteen-year-old mermaid princess who’s tired of life under the sea and wishes to be on land with humans, despite it being forbidden.

After rescuing a young human named Prince Eric from drowning, Ariel falls in love with him and makes a deal with Ursula the Sea Witch to become human for three days and hopefully reunite with Eric.

Unfortunately, receiving the benefits of this “spell” also means she has to forfeit her voice to the sea witch.

The only way to break the spell? Receiving true love’s first kiss before her days as a human are up.

Try watching this awesome musical number from the movie in Mandarin Chinese—”Part of Your World”:

Key Vocabulary:

人  (rén) — human, person, people
海 (hǎi) — sea
海巫婆 (hăi wū pó) — sea witch
咒 (zhòu) — spell
真生的爱情  (zhēn zhèng de ài qíng) — true love
吻  (wěn) — kiss
土地  (tǔ dì) — land
世界  (shì jiè) — world
王子  (wáng zǐ) — prince
婚 (hūn) — marriage, wedding

3. “ 木兰 ” (Mù Lán) — Mulan

This Disney movie is based on the ancient Chinese legend Hua Mulan ( 花木兰 — huā mù lán).

“Mulan” tells the story of the eponymous heroine who wants to make her father proud by secretly taking his place in a war against the Huns, disguised as a man.

But Mulan soon discovers that being a man is much harder than she thought.

For starters, check out this Mandarin Chinese rendition of “I’ll Make a Man Out of You.” Then try this Bonus Live Action Video—it has Jackie Chan singing!

Key Vocabulary:

中国 (Zhōng Guó) — China
龙  (lóng) — dragon
卫士  (wèi shì) — guardian
战士  (zhàn shì) — warrior
练 (liàn) — to train
祖先  (zǔ xiān) — ancestor
荣誉  (róng yù) — honor
心(脏)  (xīn [zàng]) — heart
(幸)运 ([xìng] yùn) —luck

Because “Mulan” focuses on Chinese people, most, if not all, of the characters’ names are in Chinese. Here are their names as well as their meanings:

Mulan — Magnolia
Mu — wood
Lan — orchid
Hua — flower
Ping — pot
Hua Ping — flower pot
Mushu — a Chinese dish of stir-fried vegetables, egg, and usually meat or fish all wrapped together in a thin pancake
Li Shang — to soar
Li — plum (surname), beautiful (first name)
Yao — high, eminent, or lofty
Ling — peace, serenity, tranquility
Chien-Po — gold, metal, wealth, treasure, respectable, honorable
Chi Fu — to bully
Xiao Di — Little Brother

4. “ 入迷 ” (Rù Mí) — Enchanted

Disney’s “Enchanted” both honors and parodies old Disney animated classics with clever references to its previous works.

In a fictional world called Andalasia, Princess Giselle is banished by an evil queen to Manhattan. Luckily, she’s taken in by a divorce lawyer named Robert who realizes that she has no clue how to survive in the real world.

After getting to know each other, Giselle and Robert fall in love, much to the delight of Robert’s young daughter.

But conflict arises after Prince Edward from Andalasia comes to rescue her from the queen, who now wants her dead.

Sample the magic of this movie by watching the “Happy Working Song” in Mandarin Chinese. It’s bound to win your heart!

Key Vocabulary:

心醉  (xīn zuì) / 入迷 (rù mí) — enchanted
神话  (shén huà) / 童话故事 (tóng huà gù shì) — fairy tale
栗鼠 (lì shǔ) / 花栗鼠 (huā lì shǔ) — chipmunk
公主 (gōng zhǔ) — princess
门户  (mén hù) / 正门  (zhèng mén) — portal
纽约市  (Niǔ Yuē Shì) — New York City
时代广场  (shí dài guǎng chǎng) — Times Square
家臣 (jiā chén) / 跟重者 (gēn zōng zhě) — henchman
工作  (gōng zuò) — work
歌(曲)  (gē [qǔ]) — song
未婚夫  (wèi hūn fū) — fiancé
未婚妻  (wèi hūn qī) — fiancée
离婚 (lí hūn) — divorce
律师  (lǜ shī) — lawyer

5. “ 美女和野兽 ” (Měi Nǚ hé Yě Shòu) — Beauty and the Beast

“Beauty and the Beast” is a charming love story about a beautiful woman named Belle and a mysterious, cold-hearted Beast, who lives alone in his castle with only his servants to keep him company.

However, he wasn’t always a beast. After refusing to let an enchantress take shelter in his castle one night, she cursed him into this form and then turned all of his servants into kitchen utensils and appliances.

Belle is a young woman who’s a book-lover and proud nonconformist. She seeks adventure but is shunned by all in her village except for her father, inventor Maurice.

When Maurice is held prisoner by The Beast for unknowingly trespassing in his castle, Belle goes to rescue him and offers herself in her father’s place. The two slowly start to fall in love as Belle begins to bring him out of his shell.

Take a quick break to warm your heart by watching the Mandarin Chinese version of “Tale As Old As Time.”

Key Vocabulary:

没人  (měi rén) / 资 (zī) — beauty
野兽  (yě shòu) — beast
藏书家  (cáng shū jiā) — bibliophile
咒 (zhòu) — curse
城堡 (chéng bǎo) — castle
仆(人)  (pú [rén]) — servant
烛台  (zhú tái) — candlestick
时钟 (shí zhōng) — clock
茶壶 (chá hú) — teapot
茶碗  (chá wǎn) — teacup
炉 (lú) — stove

6. “ 101斑点狗 ” (101 Bān Diǎn Gǒu) — 101 Dalmations

Set in London, England, “101 Dalmatians” begins with a glimpse inside the lives of a songwriter named Roger Ratcliffe and his Dalmatian companion, Pongo, both tired of being bachelors.

One day, Pongo decides to play matchmaker by introducing Roger to a woman named Anita and her female Dalmatian, Perdita.

Soon enough, both pairs fall in love. Roger and Anita marry, while Pongo and Perdita become mates and have a litter of fifteen puppies.

Life is swell for the family until Anita’s former schoolmate, famous fashion designer Cruella de Vil, decides that she wants to purchase the puppies to use their fur as material for her fur coats.

You can hear all about her wickedness in the Mandarin Chinese version of the song “Cruella De Vil.”

Key Vocabulary:

一百零一  (yī bǎi líng yī) — 101
伦敦 (Lún Dūn) — London
英国  (Yīng Guó) — England
动物 (dòng wù) — animal
狗 (gǒu) — dog
伴侣  (bàn lǚ) / 配偶 (pèi ‘ǒu) — mate
斑点狗 (bān diǎn gǒu) — dalmatian
胎 (tāi) / 窝 (wō) — litter
十五 (shí wǔ) — 15
小狗  (xiǎo gǒu) — puppy
狗吠 (gǒu fèi) — bark
裘 (qiú) — fur, fur coat

7. “ 白雪公主和七个小矮人 “(Bái Xuě Gōng Zhǔ hé Qī Gè Xiǎo Ǎi Rén) — Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” was the first ever feature-length film belonging to Walt Disney Animated Classics. It also features the first official Disney Princess: Snow White.

The movie is about an evil queen who is jealous of her beautiful stepdaughter, Snow White. Inspired by this jealousy, the queen schemes to secretly have Snow White murdered.

Little does the wicked woman know that Snow White is still alive and well, living in a cottage with seven silly little men known as the seven dwarfs.

When the Queen discovers this, she attempts to kill her once again by poisoning Snow White with a poison apple.

Get a taste of the charm with the Mandarin Chinese version of the infamous “Heigh Ho” song:

Key Vocabulary:

雪  (xuě) — snow
白 (bái)— white
七 (qī) — seven
矮人 (ǎi rén) / 矮子  (ǎi zǐ) — dwarfs
小屋 (xiǎo wū) / 茅屋 (máo wū) — cottage
邪恶  (xié è) — evil
女王  (nǚ wáng) — queen
魔术  (mó shù) — magic
镜(子) (jìng [zi]) — mirror
毒  (dú) — poison
苹果  (píng guǒ) — apple

Here are the names of the Seven Dwarfs.

Doc — Wàn Shì Tōng
Grumpy — Ài Shēng Qì
Sleepy — Kē Shuì Chóng
Bashful — Hài Xiū Guǐ
Happy — Kāi Xīn Guǒ
Sneezy — Pēn Tì Jīng
Dopey — Hú Tú Dàn

8. “ 海底总动员 ” (Hǎi Dǐ Zǒng Dòng Yuán) — Finding Nemo

After a young clownfish named Nemo is kidnapped while on a school trip, his father, Marlin, goes on a long journey to find and rescue him.

To reach his son, he’ll have to escape from sharks and anglerfish, navigate his way through gigantic jellyfish herds, ride the ocean currents with sea turtles, learn to speak whale, and even hitch a ride inside of a pelican’s mouth.

Luckily, he bumps into a forgetful but gregarious new friend who helps him through these challenges.

Meanwhile, Nemo ends up in a dentist office’s fish tank where he befriends the other fish tank inhabitants who are planning their escape to the ocean.

Here’s a short clip from Finding Nemo in Mandarin Chinese:

Key Vocabulary:

鱼  (yú) — fish
海龟  (hăi guī) — sea turtle
珊瑚礁  (shān hú jiāo) — coral reef
学校  (xué xiào) — school
鲨(鱼) (shā [yú]) — shark
鲸(鱼)  (jīng [yú]) — whale
水母  (shuǐ mǔ) /  蛰  (zhé) — jellyfish
虾 (xiā) — shrimp
海星  (hǎi xīng) — starfish/seastar
悉尼 (xī ní) — Sydney
澳大利亚  (ào dà lì yà) — Australia
船  (chuán) — boat
牙科医生  (yá kē yī shēng) — dentist
(养)鱼缸  ([yǎng] yú gāng) — fish tank

9. “ 狮子王 ” (Shī Zi Wáng) — The Lion King

“The Lion King” tells the tale of a lion cub named Simba who is chased out of his homeland after his father’s death.

Fortunately, he’s saved by a meerkat named Timon and a warthog named Pumbaa, who quickly become his guardians and best friends.

Time passes and Simba, now an adult, continues to enjoy his peaceful life with his pals until his old friend Nala tells him that his home is in ruins thanks to his Uncle Scar.

She tells him he must return because he’s the rightful king. Now it’s up to Simba to face his past, remember who he is and confront his ruthless uncle to take back the throne.

You already know it and love it—watch the song “Hakuna Matata” in Mandarin Chinese to start learning!

Key Vocabulary:

狮子  (shī zi) — lion
(国)王  ([guó] wáng) — king
生活圈子  (shēng huó quān zi) — Circle of Life
圈(子)  (quān [zi])— circle
生活 (shēng huó) — life
自豪感 (zì háo gǎn) — pride
(岩)石 ([yán] shí) — rock
小狮子 (xiǎo shī zi) — lion cub
疤痕  (bā hén) — scar
挤踏  (jǐ tà) — stampede
狐獴 (hú měng) — meerkat
疣猪 (yóu zhū) — warthog
鬣狗 (liè gǒu) — hyena

10. “ 狐狸与猎狗 ” (Hú Lí yǔ Liè Gǒu) — The Fox and the Hound

When an orphaned fox named Tod is taken in by a widow, he encounters a hound named Copper and they quickly become best friends, despite foxes and hunting hounds being natural enemies.

Their sacred bond is tested when they both become full grown, as Tod is released into the wild and is blamed for the injury of Chief, an old hunting dog and a comrade of Copper’s.

It’s a very touching story with a satisfying ending relatable to children and adults alike.

To feel the friendship, watch this short clip from the movie in Mandarin:

Key Vocabulary:

狐(狸) (hú [li]) — fox
寡妇  (guǎ fù) — widow
认养  (rèn yǎng) — to adopt (child or animal)
猎犬  (liè quǎn) — hound
啄木鸟  (zhuó mù niǎo) — woodpecker
玩  (wán) — to play
最真诚的朋友 (zuì zhēn chéng de péng you) — best friend
狩猎  (shòu liè) — hunt
猫头鹰  (māo tóu yīng) — owl
维尔德 (wèi ěr dé) — wild
森林  (sēn lín) — forest
树林  (shù lín) — woods
树  (shù) — tree
兽穴  (shòu xué) — animal den
枪  (qiāng) — gun
瀑布  (pù bù) — waterfall

 

There you have it. The ultimate Chinese Disney movies list, jam-packed with vocabulary words!

Of course, plenty of other Disney movies are not mentioned on this list, so if your favorite isn’t here, be sure to check online to see if there’s a Chinese Dub for it.

Besides watching Disney movies, you can also teach yourself Mandarin creatively, like watching certain movies on Netflix. There are so many options.

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)