A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels
德国先生去北京说话
Germany's Friedrich Merz Flies to Beijing for His First China Trip
About this story
A simple story about Germany's Mr. Merz flying to Beijing, talking with Chinese leaders, and shopping for things. 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 13 key vocabulary words such as 商店、东西、高兴 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
Speaking of today's matters, let's talk about buying things.
Everyone knows how to buy things.
Do you go to the store?
I go to the store.
There are many things in the store.
There are things to eat and things to drink.
There are apples and rice.
There are also clothes and computers.
We see things.
We like things.
We want to buy things.
When buying things, we have to give money.
I give the store money.
The store gives me things.
This is a very good thing.
Everyone is very happy.
Now, let's look at two friends.
One is "Germany".
Germany is a country.
Germany is in a faraway place.
There is another one called "China".
China is also there.
Germany and China are friends.
They both make things.
They both buy things.
Mr. Germany has a lot of money.
Mr. Germany likes to buy things.
He looks at Mr. China's things.
What does Mr. China have?
Mr. China has computers.
Mr. China has clothes.
Mr. China has many good things.
These things are very beautiful.
These things are not expensive.
Mr. Germany is very happy.
He says: "I want to buy."
He bought many computers.
He bought many clothes.
He gave Mr. China a lot of money.
Mr. China is very happy.
Mr. China has a lot of money now.
But, there is a problem.
Mr. Germany also makes things.
What does Mr. Germany make?
Mr. Germany makes cars.
His cars are very good.
His cars are very fast.
Mr. Germany wants to sell cars.
He wants Mr. China to buy cars.
However, Mr. China doesn't buy.
Mr. China says: "I have cars."
Mr. China says: "I won't buy your car."
Mr. China says: "If I have it, I won't buy it."
This is not a good thing anymore.
Mr. Germany is not happy.
Mr. Germany thinks: "I buy your things."
Mr. Germany thinks: "You don't buy my things."
Mr. Germany thinks: "My money has decreased."
Mr. Germany thinks: "This is not right."
Mr. Germany wants to talk.
He wants to talk to Mr. China.
Where is he going?
He is going to China.
He is going to Beijing.
Beijing is in China.
Beijing is very far.
How to go to Beijing?
Take a taxi?
No, a taxi is too slow.
Walk there?
No, walking is too tiring.
He goes by plane.
He is on the plane.
The plane flies very fast.
He sleeps on the plane.
He eats on the plane.
Arrived, he arrived in Beijing.
He saw Mr. China in Beijing.
Mr. China is very happy.
Mr. Germany is also very happy.
They shake hands.
They sit down.
They drink tea.
They talk.
Mr. Germany says: "Hello, friend."
Mr. Germany says: "I bought many things."
Mr. Germany says: "I gave a lot of money."
Mr. Germany says: "Please also buy my things."
Mr. Germany says: "Please buy my cars."
Mr. Germany says: "We need to be equal."
Mr. Germany says: "Only this way are we good friends."
Mr. China listened.
Mr. China is thinking.
This is a very difficult matter.
But they are friends.
They are thinking of a solution.
What is this story about?
It is about today's news.
There is a person in the news.
His name is Merz.
He is a big gentleman from Germany.
He went to Beijing.
He saw the big gentleman from China.
They are talking.
What they are talking about is trade.
Germany bought many Chinese things.
China bought very little.
Germany doesn't want it this way.
Germany wants trade to be equal.
This is today's matter.
They are talking in Beijing.
We watch how they do it.
This is very important news.
Listen again
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
What vocabulary does this episode teach?
词汇A place to buy goods. Measure word is 家 (jiā).
General term for objects. Note the neutral tone on 'xi'.
Adjective used to describe feelings.
Used for objects or people.
Opposite of 便宜 (piányi - cheap).
Transportation method. Verb used is 坐 (zuò - to sit/take).
Physical or mental exhaustion.
Literally 'rent-out car'.
Information about current events. Measure word is 条 (tiáo).
A gesture of greeting or agreement.
Compound word: 买 (buy) + 卖 (sell).
A way to solve a problem.
Adjective describing something of great significance.
* beyond level超纲词
What grammar patterns appear in this episode?
语法Place + 有 + Object
Expresses existence in a specific location (There is/are...).
商店里有很多东西。
中国先生有电脑。
Subject + 太 + Adjective + 了
Expresses excessiveness (Too...).
出租车太慢了。
走路太累了。
Subject + 在 + Place (+ Verb)
Indicates location of a subject or an action happening at a location.
德国在很远的地方。
他在飞机上睡觉。
Verb + 得 + Adjective
Complement of degree, describing how an action is performed.
飞机飞得很快。
Subject + 要 + Verb
Expresses desire or intention (want to / going to).
我要买。
他要去北京。
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