A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels
字节跳动的新 AI 视频
ByteDance's New Seedance AI Makes Movie-Like Video — A Simple Look at China's AI Race
About this story
A simple story about ByteDance's new Seedance AI video model and how it competes with Kuaishou in China. HSK 1 Chinese listening practice.
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 12 key vocabulary words such as 我们、他们、什么 and walks through 5 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.
Read at your level
原文Read the complete story in Chinese. Reveal pinyin and English only when you need them.
English transcript reference
Xiao Ming likes to watch movies.
He also wants to make movies.
But making movies is hard.
It needs many people.
It needs a lot of money.
It also needs big cameras.
Xiao Ming has no money.
Xiao Ming also has no people.
He is very sad.
But today is different.
Today there is good news.
There is a big company.
This company is called ByteDance.
ByteDance is very famous.
They have a new thing.
This thing is called Seedance.
What is Seedance?
Seedance is an AI.
It is a very smart AI.
What can it do?
It can make videos.
It can make movies.
Xiao Ming is very happy.
He goes to try it.
He is at home.
He turns on the computer.
He does not use a camera.
He only uses a computer.
He writes words.
He writes Chinese characters.
He writes: A big dog.
He writes: The big dog runs.
He writes: Runs on the mountain.
Then he waits a little.
Only a few minutes.
The computer finishes.
Xiao Ming looks at the computer.
Wow.
He sees the video.
In the video there is a dog.
It is a big dog.
The big dog runs on the mountain.
This video is very good to watch.
This dog looks like it is real.
It really looks like it.
The fur is also real.
The eyes are also real.
But this is not a real dog.
This is a dog made by AI.
This is Seedance.
Xiao Ming's friend comes.
The friend is called Xiao Hong.
Xiao Hong looks at the video.
Xiao Hong asks Xiao Ming.
Whose dog is this?
This dog is very pretty.
Xiao Ming laughs.
Xiao Ming says: This is not real.
This was made by a computer.
Xiao Hong does not believe it.
Xiao Hong says: Impossible.
This looks too much like real.
Xiao Ming says: It is true.
This is new technology.
This technology is called AI video.
Before, making videos was hard.
Now, making videos is easy.
You can write words.
You can use photos.
The AI knows all.
The AI can do all.
Many people like this.
Many people are talking.
This is very important.
People who make games like it.
People who make movies like it.
Because this is very fast.
Because this is very cheap.
It does not need many people.
One person can do it.
ByteDance is very happy.
Because everyone likes it.
Everyone thinks this is good.
Everyone gives them money.
Their company became big.
This is called stock rising.
The meaning is having more money.
But there are other companies.
Other companies also want to do it.
There is another company called Kuaishou.
Kuaishou also has AI.
Kuaishou's AI is called Kling.
They also make videos.
They also want to be first.
Now there are many AIs.
Everyone is competing.
To see whose AI is good.
To see whose video is real.
Xiao Ming does not care about this.
Xiao Ming just likes to play.
He wants to make a long video.
Talking about human history.
From the past to now.
He wrote many words.
The AI helps him do it.
The video is very smooth.
Like a big movie.
Xiao Ming feels he is a director.
A director is a person who makes movies.
Although he is an ordinary person.
But he can do big things.
This is the benefit of technology.
Do you also want to try?
You can go look.
Maybe you can also do it.
Make a movie of yours.
But you must be careful.
Because it looks too much like real.
Sometimes we don't know real or fake.
We need to know.
What is real.
What is from AI.
This is very important.
How will the future be?
We do not know.
But now it is very interesting.
Every day there are new things.
Every day there are new videos.
Listen again
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
What vocabulary does this episode teach?
词汇Proper noun. A major Chinese technology company, owner of TikTok and Douyin.
Noun. Refers to video clips or content. Measure word: 个 (gè) or 段 (duàn).
Noun. Common word for films. Measure word: 部 (bù) or 场 (chǎng).
Verb. Used to compare two things, often in the structure A 像 B (A looks like B).
Adjective. Opposite of fake (假的 jiǎ de). Often used to express surprise or confirm truth.
Verb. To trust what someone says or to believe something is true.
HSK 1. we; us.
HSK 1. they; them.
HSK 1. what.
HSK 1. today.
HSK 1. time / moment.
HSK 1. now.
What grammar patterns appear in this episode?
语法Subject + 在 + Place + Verb
Standard structure to indicate where an action takes place.
大狗在山上跑
他在家里
A + 像 + B (+ 一样)
Comparison structure meaning 'A looks like B' or 'A is similar to B'.
这只狗像真的一样
像大电影一样
这太像真的了
是...的
Used to emphasize a detail (like who did it, how it was done) about a past event.
这是 AI 做的
这是电脑做的
Subject + 想 + Verb
Expressing a desire or intent to do something.
他也想做电影
别的公司也想做
你也想试一试吗
Subject + 觉得 + Opinion
Expressing an opinion or feeling.
大家觉得这个好
小明觉得自己是导演
Proper Nouns
专有名词Sources
来源Free account
Keep learning from this story
Create a free account to keep saved words and your preferred level together.
- Keep words with their story context
- Remember your preferred level
- Build your vocabulary over time