A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels
英格兰和加纳零比零
Ghana Holds England to 0–0 Draw
About this story
用最简单的中文，听一场真实的世界杯比赛：很强的英格兰一直进攻，却没能进球，加纳守得很好，最后零比零。含生词、语法和全文翻译，特别适合零基础和初级中文学习者。. HSK 1 Chinese listening practice.
This is an HSK 1 Chinese listening episode that runs about 5 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 比赛、队、厉害 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
Many people love watching football.
I love watching football too.
Today, I want to talk about a football match.
This match was very interesting.
In this match, there were two teams.
One team was big, and very famous.
The other team was not so famous.
The big team plays football very well.
Everyone thought the big team would win.
But football can be surprising sometimes.
Today was exactly that kind of match.
Both teams wanted to play well.
Both teams also wanted to win.
Everyone wanted to see: who would win?
Many, many people came to watch.
The people watching were all very happy.
Some wanted this team to win.
Others wanted that team to win.
Everyone sat down to watch the match.
Before it started, everyone was waiting.
Everyone wondered: who would win today?
The people watching were all very happy.
Everyone really wanted to see this match.
Watching this match felt great.
Okay, now let's look at this match.
Of these two teams, one is England.
The other one is Ghana.
England is the very famous team.
Everyone says England is formidable.
England has many very good players.
Ghana is not as famous as England.
But Ghana's players also work very hard.
So everyone thought England would win.
Okay, the match began.
Both teams wanted to score.
"To score" means to kick the ball in.
From the start, England kept pushing forward.
They wanted to score quickly.
Most of the time, the ball was near Ghana's goal.
England attacked once, then again.
They shot at goal many times.
But the ball just wouldn't go in.
Why?
Because Ghana defended too well.
Ghana's players all stood in front of their goal.
Together, they guarded their goal.
When England went left, they defended left.
When England went right, they defended right.
No matter how England played, it just wouldn't go in.
A few times the ball almost went in, but didn't.
England played a long time, still no goal.
The people watching were all anxious.
In the end, the match finished, nil-nil.
Neither team scored a goal.
For England, this was a little bit of a pity.
They attacked so much, yet didn't win.
But for Ghana, this was a good thing.
Because they held on, and didn't lose.
Against such a strong team, not losing is hard.
They kept working hard, everyone fought.
So they protected their own goal.
They got one point.
For Ghana, this one point is important.
Ghana's players were all very happy.
They defended so well, everyone admired them.
For a less famous team, this really isn't easy.
Their fans were all especially happy.
Actually, this is the fun part of football.
Attacking a lot doesn't always mean you win.
Being able to defend is impressive too.
Sometimes, a small team can hold off a big team.
Okay, that's all for today's football match.
England and Ghana, nil-nil.
Ghana defended well, and got one point.
A small team holding off a big team is admirable.
Thanks for listening, see you next time.
Listen again
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
What vocabulary does this episode teach?
词汇考纲词. 今天，我想说一个足球比赛。
考纲词. 这个比赛里，有两个队。
考纲词. 大家都说，英格兰很厉害。
HSK 1. we; us.
进球，就是把球踢进去。
加纳守得太好了，球进不去。
球进不去，看球的人都很着急。
* beyond level超纲词
What grammar patterns appear in this episode?
语法不管…怎么…，就是…
'No matter how … , just (won't) …' — a fixed result despite all effort.
不管英格兰怎么踢，就是进不去。
…得+太+形容词+了
Degree complement: '… so very (well) …'.
加纳守得太好了。
差一点就…
'Almost …' — nearly happened but didn't.
有几次，球差一点就进了，可是没有进。
Proper Nouns
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