A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels
布鲁诺的新歌是第一名
Bruno Mars' Risk It All Tops Billboard Global Chart
About this story
A simple story about Bruno Mars and his new song Risk It All reaching number one on the Billboard Global 200 chart. 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 电脑、医院、觉得 and walks through 6 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 the number one song.
Let's see what Xiaoming is doing.
The weather is very good today.
It is neither cold nor hot today.
Xiaoming is at home.
He is in his room.
There is a desk in the room.
There are books on the desk.
There is also a computer.
Xiaoming is sitting on the chair.
In front of him is the computer.
He is looking at the computer.
It is now ten in the morning.
Xiaoming did not go to school.
Today is Saturday.
Xiaoming does not need to study.
He is very happy.
He is drinking water.
There is water in the cup.
And also a little tea.
Xiaoming likes drinking tea.
He took a sip of tea.
He is listening to something.
There is sound coming from the computer.
That is the sound of singing.
Xiaoming is listening to a song.
He likes listening to songs.
He listens every day.
He listened yesterday.
He is listening today too.
He will also listen tomorrow.
Whose song is he listening to?
He is listening to a person's song.
This person is a man.
His name is Bruno.
Bruno is American.
He is not in China.
He is in America.
Bruno likes singing.
He sings very well.
Xiaoming likes him very much.
Xiaoming's friends also like him.
Xiaoming knows a lot of people.
They all like Bruno.
Bruno has a new song.
What is the new song?
A new song is just a song that is new.
A song that did not exist before.
Now it exists.
Everyone is very happy.
Xiaoming listened to the new song.
The name of the new song is very long.
Xiaoming does not know the name.
The name is in English.
Xiaoming cannot read it.
He can only listen.
He thinks it sounds very good.
How is this song?
This song is very good.
Is this song fast?
This song is not fast.
This song is very slow.
Xiaoming listens slowly.
He hears Bruno speaking.
Bruno is speaking in the song.
The sound is very loud.
Xiaoming likes it very much.
How many people are listening?
Many people are listening.
Chinese people listen.
American people listen.
Everyone listens.
This song is number one.
What is number one?
Number one means the best.
Number one means the most.
The most people listen to it.
The most people buy it.
Buying things requires money.
Buying songs also requires money.
How much does a song cost?
Maybe it costs two yuan.
Maybe it costs three yuan.
Many people give money.
They give Bruno money.
Bruno has a lot of money.
He has many friends.
Everyone loves him.
Bruno is very happy.
He was also number one before.
He has many number ones.
Xiaoming wants to meet Bruno.
Xiaoming wants to go to America.
How to go to America?
Going to America requires taking an airplane.
Taking an airplane requires a lot of money.
Xiaoming does not have a lot of money.
Xiaoming cannot go.
Xiaoming cannot meet him.
It's okay.
Xiaoming can listen at home.
He listens to the computer at home.
He listens to the phone at home.
There are also songs on the phone.
Xiaoming calls his classmate.
The classmate is named Xiaohong.
Xiaohong is also a student.
Xiaohong is in the hospital.
Is Xiaohong a doctor?
Xiaohong is not a doctor.
She is also a student.
Xiaohong's mother is a doctor.
Her mother works in the hospital.
Xiaohong goes to see her mother.
Xiaohong is in the hospital.
Xiaoming asks Xiaohong.
Did you listen to the new song?
Xiaohong says she listened to it.
Xiaohong says it sounds very good.
Xiaohong also likes Bruno.
Xiaoming asks Xiaohong.
Did you know it is number one?
Xiaohong says she knows.
Everyone knows.
This song is too good.
Xiaoming and Xiaohong are very happy.
They said goodbye.
Xiaoming put down the phone.
He is a little hungry.
He wants to eat something.
He goes to eat rice.
And a little dish.
He ate a lot.
Then he eats fruit.
He ate an apple.
The apple is red.
The apple is very big.
Xiaoming likes eating apples.
There are also books on the desk.
Xiaoming read a book.
There are many characters in the book.
Xiaoming knows these characters.
Xiaoming is a good student.
He studies well at school.
The teacher likes him very much.
Does the teacher listen to songs too?
The teacher also listens to Bruno.
Bruno's songs are very good.
Adults like to listen.
Children also like to listen.
Men like to listen.
Women also like to listen.
After finishing eating.
Xiaoming went to listen to songs again.
He returned to the chair.
He turned on the computer.
He listened to Bruno again.
Bruno's song is very long.
Xiaoming listened many times.
He listened ten times.
He still wants to listen.
He says he will listen again tomorrow.
Tomorrow is Sunday.
There is no school on Sunday either.
Xiaoming can stay at home.
He can listen all day.
Bruno is number one.
Xiaoming is happy for him.
Xiaoming wants to learn to sing.
He also wants to sing in the future.
He also wants to go to America.
He also wants to be number one.
Xiaoming is going to sleep now.
It is night now.
It has gotten dark.
Xiaoming turned off the computer.
He went to sleep.
He also listens to songs in his dreams.
There is also Bruno in his dreams.
What is this story about?
It is about Bruno.
Bruno is a person.
He is a person who sings.
He has a new song.
This song is number one.
It is number one in the world.
The most people listen to this song.
The most people buy this song.
Everyone knows him.
This is a true story.
Listen again
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
What vocabulary does this episode teach?
词汇Noun. Refers to a computer. Commonly paired with the verb 打开 (to turn on).
Noun. A place for medical treatment. The measure word is 家 (jiā).
Verb. Used to express an opinion or a feeling about something.
Verb. Used when knowing a person, recognizing characters, or being familiar with something.
Verb. Often used as a separable verb (verb-object structure).
Verb. A separable verb meaning to speak words.
Noun. Used with the verb 坐 (zuò) to mean 'to take an airplane'.
Noun. A generic word referring to objects, things, or even food (as in 吃东西).
Number. Used for ranking or taking the first place in a competition or list.
Noun. Refers to any audible sound or human voice.
Noun. Refers to the written or spoken English language.
Noun. Refers to the earth or the global community.
Noun. A narrative or tale. The measure word is 个 (gè).
Noun. A series of thoughts or images during sleep.
* beyond level超纲词
What grammar patterns appear in this episode?
语法Indicates an action happening at a specific location or an action currently in progress.
小明在家里。
他在他的房间里。
他在听东西。
Used to express existence, meaning 'there is/are [Object] in/at [Place]'.
房间里有一个桌子。
桌子上面有书。
电脑里有声音。
The auxiliary verb 想 (xiǎng) is used before a verb to express a desire or intention to do something.
小明想见布鲁诺。
他想吃东西。
小明想学唱歌。
Used to express an extreme degree, meaning 'too' or 'so'. It often conveys strong emotion or exclamation.
这首歌太好了。
The particle 了 (le) placed after a verb indicates that the action has been completed.
昨天他听了。
小明听了新歌。
他吃了一个苹果。
The auxiliary verb 会 (huì) indicates the ability to do something, usually a learned skill.
小明不会读。
他只会听。
Proper nouns
专有名词Sources
来源Free account
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