A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels

苹果说了两年的新 Siri,今天才真的有
Apple's Long-Promised New Siri Finally Arrives — But Not Yet in China
About this story
The full story of Apple's new Siri at WWDC 2026: how it was promised two years ago, why it was delayed, what it can now do (memory, on-screen awareness, cross-app actions), and why China and Europe still have to wait. HSK 2 Chinese listening practice.
This is an HSK 2 Chinese listening episode that runs about 4 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 公司、手机、等 and walks through 7 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
Today we'll talk about something.
This thing is related to a company.
This company — you might know it.
This company is in America.
It is called 'Apple'.
Apple is a very, very big company.
Many people love the things Apple makes.
For example, Apple makes phones.
You may have used an Apple phone yourself.
Apple has made phones for many, many years.
And makes them very well.
Inside an Apple phone, there is a thing.
This thing can listen to you speak.
You speak to it.
It speaks to you.
You ask it questions.
It answers you.
This thing is called 'Siri'.
Siri is an old friend.
It has been inside Apple phones for many years already.
But, Siri has always had one problem.
It is not very smart.
You ask it a question.
Sometimes, it answers not very well.
You say a slightly longer sentence to it.
It can't quite understand either.
You say to it: 'Tomorrow I'm going to see a friend.
Help me make a note.'
Sometimes, it can't do it.
So, many people feel:
'The current Siri can be better.'
Two years ago, Apple said something.
Apple said:
'We are going to make a new Siri.
The new Siri will be smarter.
The new Siri will know what you're talking about.
The new Siri can help you do things.
We will make it very soon.'
Everyone was very happy.
Everyone was waiting.
But, the new Siri didn't come that fast.
Waited one month.
Two months.
Six months.
Still nothing.
Apple said: 'Please wait a bit more.'
Just like that, waited one year.
Waited another year.
Still nothing.
Some people started to feel:
'Is Apple unable to make it?'
'Is the new Siri not going to exist?'
Apple also knew inside:
'If we don't make it this year, people won't believe us anymore.'
Today is a special day.
Apple held a big conference.
This kind of conference is held once a year.
It is for the people who make phone software.
At the conference, Apple said something.
Apple said:
'The new Siri we promised everyone is ready.
You all waited two years.
We are sorry.
But it has truly arrived.'
So how is the new Siri different from before?
Let's name a few ways.
First, you talk to it, and it knows what you mean.
It won't make you say it many times.
Second, you say 'look at my phone'.
It helps you look.
Looks at what's on your phone.
Third, you say 'help me do a thing'.
It helps you do it.
For example, it can help you make a phone call.
It can also help you write things down.
Sounds pretty good.
But, there is one thing.
The new Siri is not in China yet.
If your Apple phone was bought in China.
You can't use the new Siri yet.
Why?
Because China still has some things to look at regarding what's inside the phone.
Apple said: 'We are still waiting.
We also want to do this.
When it's possible, we will give it to our friends in China.'
So, our friends in China may have to wait a little more.
Finally, I want to ask you something.
Have you ever said a sentence:
'I'll start next month.'
'I'll start next week.'
And then never actually started?
Apple is just like that.
What it said two years ago.
Only finished this year.
Sometimes, doing one thing takes a long wait.
Sometimes, it's not that you don't want to do it.
It's just really a bit hard.
But once it's done, it's good.
What about you?
That thing you want to do — can you start today?
Listen again
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
What vocabulary does this episode teach?
词汇HSK 2 noun. 苹果是一个很大的公司 = Apple is a very big company.
HSK 2 noun. The main Apple product the episode focuses on.
HSK 2 verb. Heavily used: 等一个月、等一年、又等了一年.
HSK 3 verb. 大家就不相信我们了 = people won't believe us anymore.
HSK 2 mental verb. 很多人都觉得 = many people feel; 有的人开始觉得 = some people started to feel.
HSK 2 result connector.
HSK 2 connector for introducing examples.
HSK 3 verb. 帮我做一件事 = help me do something. 帮你打电话 = help you make a call.
HSK 2 noun. Used in two senses: 问问题 = ask a question; 有一个问题 = has a problem.
HSK 2 verb. 我下个月开始做 = I'll start next month.
HSK 3. 你可能就用过苹果的手机 = you may have used an Apple phone yourself.
HSK 3 adjective. The promised upgrade to Siri. 不太聪明 = not very smart.
HSK 4. 我们答应大家的新 Siri,做好了 = the new Siri we promised everyone is ready. Central concept.
HSK 3 adverb. 一直有一个问题 = has always had a problem; 一直没有做 = never actually done.
* beyond level超纲词
What grammar patterns appear in this episode?
语法Subject + 觉得 + Clause
'X feels / thinks Y'. Introduces subjective opinion or state.
很多人都觉得:'现在的 Siri,可以变得更好。'
有的人开始觉得:'苹果是不是做不出来?'
是不是 + Clause? (yes-no question)
Yes-no question form. Used here for rhetorical doubt.
你的手机,是不是苹果做的?
苹果是不是做不出来?
已经 + Verb + 了
'has already V-ed'. 已经 marks completion / a state achieved.
它在苹果手机里,已经很多年了。
比 + Object + Adj (comparison)
'more Adj than Object'. Basic HSK 2 comparison.
新的 Siri 会比以前好。
所以 + Clause / 因为 + Clause
'so X' / 'because X'. Cause and result connectors.
所以,很多人都觉得...
所以,中国的朋友,可能还要再等一下。
...才 + Verb (only then; not until)
Marks delayed action — later than expected.
今年才做出来。
两年以前说的话,今年才做出来。
一直 + Verb / Adj
'always; continuously'. Marks ongoing state up to now.
Siri 一直有一个问题。
然后,一直没有做?
Proper Nouns
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