HSK 3 but very common. 一艘船 = one ship (measure word 艘 specific to boats). The episode's anchor word.
xīnwénnews
HSK 4. 看新闻 = watch the news. Where the kid first hears about the story.
bàbadad
HSK 1. The dad explains the story to 小明. Pair with 妈妈.
kànto look; to watch
HSK 1. 看新闻 = watch the news. 看不太懂 = can't really understand from looking.
wènto ask
HSK 2. 小明问爸爸 = Xiao Ming asks dad. The episode is built on questions.
bìngsick; illness
HSK 2. 病了 = got sick. 生病 = fall ill. The keyword of the whole episode.
guójiā
Grammar Points
语法
X 就是 Y (definition)
The teacher's pattern. Used to define a new word inline.
邮轮就是很大很大的船。
南极就是地球最冷的地方。
病毒就是看不见的小东西。
因为 + reason
'Because + reason.' Often used alone at HSK 1.
因为船上有人病了。
因为戴了，病不容易传。
因为有一个病毒。
想 + Verb (want to V)
Modal of desire: 想 + verb.
他们要回家。
他们想去看看。
西班牙的政府说：要让他们来。
Verb + 不 + Verb (potential complement)
Negative potential complement. Verb + 不了 = cannot V.
他们回不去。
看不见，但是它会让人生病。
全世界都在看这件事。
X 也 + Verb
也 = also. Comes BEFORE the verb.
后来他的妻子也死了。
也在上面吃饭。
Proper Nouns
专有名词
小明Xiǎo MíngXiao Ming (a stock Chinese boy's name)南极NánjíAntarctica; the South Pole佛得角FódéjiǎoCape Verde (West African island country)加那利群岛Jiānàlì Qúndǎothe Canary Islands (Spanish Atlantic islands)西班牙XībānyáSpain荷兰Hélánthe Netherlands德国DéguóGermany英国Yīngguóthe United Kingdom