A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels
AI让你变得没意思
AI Chatbots Quietly Shape Everyday Choices
About this story
A simple story about Xiao Ming, Xiao Hong, and a Beijing restaurant called Big Apple, and how AI makes us dull. HSK 1 Chinese listening practice.
This is an HSK 1 Chinese listening episode that runs about 8 minutes. The full Mandarin script is shown with tap-for-pinyin and a line-by-line English translation, so you can listen and read at once — comprehensible input in the sense of Stephen Krashen's i+1 theory. It teaches 14 key vocabulary words such as 饭馆、手机、觉得 and walks through 4 grammar patterns, each explained in English with examples. The same news story is retold at 4 difficulty levels — use the level selector above to find the version that is challenging but still understandable for you.
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原文Read the complete story in Chinese. Reveal pinyin and English only when you need them.
English transcript reference
Speaking of how we use mobile phones, everyone think about it.
Today is Friday.
The weather is very good.
Xiao Ming is very happy.
He has finished class.
He went home.
It is now evening.
Xiao Ming is very hungry.
He wants to eat dinner.
He wants to go to a restaurant.
But he doesn't know where to go.
There are many restaurants in Beijing.
There is one in front.
There is one behind.
Which one is good?
Xiao Ming doesn't know.
Xiao Ming took out his mobile phone.
There is a friend inside his phone.
This friend is called "AI".
AI is a computer.
AI knows many things.
Xiao Ming asks the phone.
"What is good to eat today?"
The phone heard it.
The phone is very fast.
The phone says: "Go to that restaurant."
The phone says: "That restaurant is called 'Big Apple'."
The phone says: "It is very good there."
The phone says: "Many people go there."
The phone says: "The food there is very delicious."
Xiao Ming was very happy after hearing this.
Xiao Ming said: "Good."
Xiao Ming said: "Thank you."
Xiao Ming went to the "Big Apple" restaurant.
What did he see?
He saw many people.
There were men there.
There were women there.
There were elderly people there.
There were students there.
Everyone was sitting on chairs.
There was food on the tables.
Everyone was eating.
Everyone was eating the same food.
Everyone was drinking the same water.
Xiao Ming also sat down.
Xiao Ming also ate that food.
The food was okay.
Xiao Ming was full.
Xiao Ming went home.
The next day was Saturday.
Xiao Ming has a classmate.
Her name is Xiao Hong.
Xiao Hong was also very hungry.
Xiao Hong wanted to go to a restaurant.
Xiao Hong didn't know where to go.
Xiao Hong also has a mobile phone.
Xiao Hong asked the phone.
"What is good to eat today?"
The phone heard it.
The phone thought for a moment.
The phone said: "Go to that restaurant."
The phone said: "That restaurant is called 'Big Apple'."
The phone said: "It is very good there."
The phone said: "Many people go there."
Xiao Hong was very happy.
Xiao Hong went.
What did Xiao Hong see?
She saw many people.
She also saw Xiao Ming.
Everyone went to this one restaurant.
Why?
Because the phone said it is good here.
The phone tells everyone.
The phone says: "Here is the best."
So everyone came.
Everyone eats the same food.
Everyone does the same things.
You think about it.
Is this a good thing?
I think it's not good.
I think this is boring.
Why is it boring?
Because everyone has become the same.
People are different.
I am me.
You are you.
I like to eat apples.
You like to eat bananas.
He likes to drink tea.
She likes to drink water.
This is what makes us human.
If things are different.
Then how interesting that is.
But now the phone has spoken.
The phone is a computer.
Computers like "many".
Where are there many people?
The computer then says that place is good.
The computer tells us.
We go to that place too.
Slowly, we changed.
We all became the same.
We all listen to what the phone says.
We don't think for ourselves anymore.
This is incorrect.
We have brains.
We can think.
We can choose for ourselves.
The computer doesn't know what you like.
The computer doesn't know your heart.
The computer only knows "everyone".
But you are not "everyone".
You are an individual.
You have your name.
You have your home.
There are things in your heart.
Those things are different.
If everyone is the same.
This world would be too small.
Look at clothes.
If everyone wears red clothes.
Is that beautiful?
It is not beautiful.
There needs to be red ones.
There needs to be white ones.
There needs to be blue ones.
This is what makes it beautiful.
Our lives are also like this.
We need to be different.
But AI makes us the same.
AI makes us become boring.
AI says: "This is the best."
We just believed it.
We don't look at other things.
We don't look at new things.
We only look at things everyone looks at.
We don't meet new friends.
We only know everyone's friends.
This way, we become not smart.
We become lazy.
We stop thinking.
We only listen to the phone.
Then what should we do?
We can use phones.
Phones are good things.
But don't listen to the phone completely.
The phone says: "Go to 'Big Apple' restaurant."
You can say: "No."
You can say: "I want to go to that small one."
That restaurant is very small.
There aren't many people.
But you like it.
You want to go see it.
Then just go.
The phone says: "Buy this book."
You can say: "No."
You can say: "I don't like this book."
You can buy other books.
You look for yourself.
You choose for yourself.
This is called "self".
Don't be afraid.
Don't be afraid of being different from others.
Being different is good.
Being different is beautiful.
What are you doing tomorrow?
You think about it yourself.
Don't ask the phone.
Don't ask the computer.
Ask your heart.
Where do you want to go?
What do you want to eat?
What do you want to watch?
You decide for yourself.
You will be very happy.
You will feel it is very interesting.
Your life will be very beautiful.
What is this story about?
This story is about "AI".
AI is those smart computers.
They help us choose things.
But what they choose is all the same.
They make us all the same.
They make us not special.
This is "AI makes us boring".
We need to choose for ourselves.
We need to think for ourselves.
Don't let the computer replace you.
You need to be yourself.
Listen again
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
What vocabulary does this episode teach?
词汇A place to buy and eat meals.
Common electronic device used for communication.
Used to express an opinion or sensation.
To be aware of something or have knowledge of it.
To inform someone of something.
Used to describe appearance of people or things.
HSK 1. we; us.
Indicates two things are identical or similar. Often used in the structure A + 和 + B + 一样.
Describes someone with high intelligence.
Different from the ordinary; unique.
To make a choice or resolution.
To transform into a different state.
Unwilling to work or use energy.
To take the place of someone or something.
* beyond level超纲词
What grammar patterns appear in this episode?
语法因为……所以……
This pattern connects a cause (因为 - because) and a result (所以 - so/therefore).
因为手机说这里好……所以大家都来了。
因为大家都一样了。
A + 让 + B + Adjective/Verb
The verb 让 (ràng) means 'to let' or 'to make' someone do something or feel a certain way.
AI让我们变得没意思。
AI让我们一样。
Subject + (不) + 一样
Used to express that things are the same or different. '一样' functions as an adjective here.
大家都吃一样的菜。
人是不一样的。
我们都一样了。
如果不……那……
A conditional structure meaning 'If not... then...'.
如果不一样的。那多有意思啊。
如果大家都穿红色的衣服。那漂亮吗？
Proper nouns
专有名词Sources
来源Free account
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