A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels
巴西二比一赢了日本
Brazil Beat Japan Two to One
About this story
A beginner Chinese listening lesson on the World Cup knockouts: Brazil 2-1 Japan. Simple HSK 1 sentences about Japan leading early and Martinelli's late winner.
This is an HSK 1 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 7 key vocabulary words such as 强、累、骄傲 and walks through 3 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 let's talk about a soccer match.
There are two teams.
One team is Brazil.
One team is Japan.
Both teams wanted to win.
Brazil wanted to win.
Japan wanted to win too.
They all wanted to score.
Score one goal, and you get one point.
The team with more points wins.
Many people came to watch today.
So very many people.
Everyone wanted to watch the two teams play.
Both teams really wanted to win.
Both teams really wanted points.
Brazil wanted to score.
Japan wanted to score too.
Both teams really wanted to score.
Everyone sat there watching the game.
They watched the two teams.
They watched the ball.
Both teams came out.
They all wanted to play well.
None of them wanted to lose.
Many people came to watch Brazil.
Because Brazil is very famous.
Brazil is a very strong team.
Everyone thought Brazil would win.
This is the knockout stage.
In the knockouts, lose and you go home.
So both teams were very careful.
The match began.
First, Japan scored a goal.
It was one to zero.
Japan was ahead.
Everyone was surprised.
Japan is weaker than Brazil, yet scored first.
Brazil fell behind.
Brazil got a bit anxious.
They had to score, or they'd go home.
Brazil kept pushing forward.
Then, Brazil scored a goal.
The scorer is named Casemiro.
Now it was one to one.
The two teams were even.
After that, both teams wanted another goal.
Whoever scored would win.
Time was running out.
Still one to one.
People wondered: will there be extra time?
Japan wanted to hold on to one to one.
Holding on to the end would mean extra time.
But Brazil was too strong.
Right at the very end, Brazil scored again!
The scorer is named Martinelli.
This goal came so late.
It went in just as it was almost over.
No one expected it.
Now it was two to one.
Brazil was ahead!
Brazil's people went wild.
They jumped up with joy.
The match was over.
The score was two to one.
Brazil won.
Japan lost.
Brazil was so happy.
Today's game was actually hard.
Brazil almost lost, almost had to go home.
Luckily they scored at the end and won.
Brazil is a strong team, but they played tired too.
Winning in the end, they were especially happy.
Brazil advanced to the next round.
Japan played very well too.
Japan scored first.
They weren't afraid of Brazil.
They fought right to the end.
They almost beat Brazil.
They just conceded at the end and lost.
Japan is an Asian team.
To play Brazil like this is not easy.
Losing to Brazil is no disgrace at all.
Japan's fans were proud of them too.
This was a World Cup match.
This is the knockout stage.
Lose and you go home.
Today, Brazil beat Japan two to one.
That was today's match.
Listen again
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
What vocabulary does this episode teach?
词汇考纲词。很会踢、实力高。巴西是很强的队。
考纲词。踢了很久，很没力气。巴西也踢得很累。
考纲词。为某事感到光荣。日本球迷也为他们骄傲。
HSK 1. they; them.
把球踢进门。日本先进了一个球。
输了就回家、不能再踢的比赛。这是淘汰赛。
分比对面少。巴西落后了。
* beyond level超纲词
What grammar patterns appear in this episode?
语法一定要…，不然就…
'Must…, otherwise…' — a requirement and its consequence.
他们一定要进球，不然就要回家。
差一点就…
'Almost / very nearly…' — something nearly happened.
巴西差一点就输了。
他们差一点就赢了巴西。
就在最后的时候
'Right at the very end' — marks a dramatic last moment.
就在最后的时候，巴西又进了一个球！
Proper Nouns
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