A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels
哈利波特的粉丝在多比的坟前放了很多袜子，一条四亿多英镑的海底电缆因此改变了路线。
Dobby's Grave Socks Divert £430M Undersea Cable
About this story
Dobby's Grave Socks Divert £430M Undersea Cable. HSK 1 Chinese listening practice.
This is an HSK 1 Chinese listening episode that runs about 2 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 13 key vocabulary words such as 电影、东西、打电话 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
In Wales there is a beach.
This beach has a lot of stones.
Among the stones there is a small spot.
This small spot belongs to Dobby.
A lot of people come to this beach.
They come to look at this small spot.
They come to bring things.
They bring socks.
One sock, two socks, a great many socks.
Who is Dobby?
Dobby is from the Harry Potter films.
He is not a real person.
A great many people love these films.
They come to this beach and bring socks.
Right — now about this spot.
A very big company wanted to build something at this beach.
The thing is very, very long, and it sits under the water.
The company wanted to come through Dobby's spot.
A lot of people rang up and said: no.
Do not come through there.
That is Dobby's spot.
The company listened, and said: all right.
We will not come through there.
We will go through a different beach.
Someone who is not a real person made a very big company stop coming through there.
Think about it: is there a small place you love too?
Listen again
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
What vocabulary does this episode teach?
词汇Harry Potter 电影里的 = from the Harry Potter films.
他们来，送东西 = they come to bring things.
很多人打电话，说：不要 = a lot of people rang up and said no.
很多很多人，喜欢这个电影 = a great many people love these films.
Dobby 是谁？ = Who is Dobby?
在水下面 = under the water.
公司想，从 Dobby 的小地方过 = the company wanted to come through Dobby’s spot.
Where the whole story happens. 海 = sea, 边 = edge.
这个海边，有很多石头 = this beach has a lot of stones.
这个小地方，是 Dobby 的 = this small spot belongs to Dobby.
What people leave for Dobby — one sock set him free in the film.
他们送袜子 = they bring socks (as a gift).
一个很大的公司 = a very big company.
* beyond level超纲词
What grammar patterns appear in this episode?
语法X 是谁？
Ask your own question, then answer it. A storyteller’s way of introducing someone new.
Dobby 是谁？
从 + place + 过
"go through / pass by a place". The whole story turns on where the company would pass.
我们不从那里过。
我们从别的海边过。
让 + somebody + do
"made X do Y". Marks who caused the change.
一个不是真的人，让一个很大的公司，不从那里过了。
Proper Nouns
专有名词Sources
来源Free account
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