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Unitree Robots and ByteDance AI Take Over China's 2026 Spring Festival Gala — episode cover art
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Unitree Robots and ByteDance AI Take Over China's 2026 Spring Festival Gala

About this story

Unitree Robotics' humanoids and ByteDance's AI tools dominate CCTV's 2026 Spring Festival Gala stage with dance and tech. HSK 3 Chinese listening practice.

This is an HSK 3-4 Chinese listening episode that runs about 7 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 16 key vocabulary words such as 动作、吃惊、精彩 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.

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原文

Read the complete story in Chinese. Reveal pinyin and English only when you need them.

今年春节联欢晚会特别表演肯定就是那些机器
以前我们电视看到机器动作往往比较简单
但是今年一样舞台出现很多一样机器
它们不但数量而且动作非常复杂感到非常吃惊
这次共有四家中国机器公司参加表演
可以看到十几个机器舞台人类演员一起跳舞
它们手里动作非常非常
机器甚至表演中国传统看起来喝醉一样
但是它们身体控制非常完全不会摔倒
除了功夫这些机器很多难度动作
比如它们可以舞台跟头或者
这些动作即使是对于普通来说也是非常困难
但是这些机器起来显得非常轻松自然
一家科技公司它们表演特别精彩
它们机器可以跑步时候改变队形
意味工程可以同时控制很多机器
技术一个很大进步也是世界上第一次这样表演
还有一家公司展示机器照顾老人方面能力
一个关于养老小品机器扮演家庭助手
它们不但老人东西老人聊天甚至老人跳舞
很多观众开始想象未来生活什么样子
也许以后我们家里真的这样机器照顾我们
除了舞台表演还有一个展示机器厨房工作
它们可以折叠衣服整理东西甚至做饭
这些说明机器技术正在变得越来越成熟
也是为什么今年晚会这么机器节目原因
对于这些机器公司来说一个非常好的广告机会
据说为了这个舞台这些公司花了很多时间
因为中国最多电视节目
1983开始成了中国人过年一个习惯
根据最新数据今年除夕夜接近亿
而且今年年轻去年百分之十
说明正在努力吸引年轻观众
为了吸引年轻里加很多年轻喜欢内容
比如一个笑话节目讲的公司老板故事
这种故事现在视频非常流行年轻很喜欢
除了机器今年很多其他高科技
如果仔细你会发现很多关于人工智能内容
也就是大家说的AI技术
比如跳动公司机器非常聪明
不但可以节目中间主持人聊天小品机器配音
另外舞台背景很多漂亮画面也是AI出来
一首歌背景很多水墨风格
这些看起来就像真的一样出来
其实是一个Seedance 2.0视频模型制作
这个模型第一次这么舞台展示它的能力
当然对于这么AI技术观众看法也不一样
觉得很新鲜科技画面漂亮
但是也有网上开玩笑AI太多
一个玩笑AI含量我的毕业论文
虽然大家不同看法但是AI技术确实改变制作方式
中央电视自己第一次自己AI模型视频
不仅提高制作节目效率带来很多新的创意
除了科技今年也像以前一样很多国际明星
比如美国歌手约翰·传奇还有爱尔兰西城男孩
他们唱了一些非常有名很多观众想起过去
这种安排为了不同国家都能享受这个节日
舞台外国艺术中国传统艺术结合一起
比如西班牙舞蹈中国少数民族舞蹈一起表演
还有中国奥地利杂技演员一起合作表演非常精彩
虽然是在不同地方但是音乐大家联系一起
总的来说今年一个科技艺术结合晚会
我们看到中国科技发展最新情况
特别机器人工智能技术已经变得非常厉害
虽然现在这些机器主要还是舞台表演
但是我们可以看出它们我们日常生活越来越
也许不久将来这些机器真的走进我们家里
它们可能我们家务照顾老人或者孩子
就是科技进步带给我们希望想象
如果这些机器感兴趣可以网上视频
你会发现现在技术真的我们想象先进很多
而且这种技术发展速度非常
可能明年我们看到厉害机器表演
就是关于今年机器AI技术介绍
下来我们话题关于春节传统美食
毕竟对于中国人来说过年重要还是好吃
English transcript reference

Speaking of the most special performance at this year's Spring Festival Gala, that would definitely be those robots.

In the past, the movements of the robots we saw on TV were often quite simple.

But this year is different; many human-like robots appeared on stage.

Not only were there many of them, but their movements were also very complex, making people feel very surprised.

A total of four Chinese robot companies participated in the performance at this Spring Festival Gala.

You could see more than ten robots dancing together with human actors on stage.

Some of them were holding nunchucks in their hands, moving very fast and looking very cool.

Some robots even performed the traditional Chinese "Drunken Fist," looking as if they were drunk.

However, their body control was excellent, and they wouldn't fall down at all.

Besides doing kung fu, these robots can also perform many high-difficulty movements.

For example, they can do somersaults or cartwheels on stage.

These movements are very difficult even for ordinary people.

But when these robots do them, they appear very relaxed and natural.

There is a company called Unitree Robotics whose performance was particularly wonderful.

Their robots can change formation while running.

This means that engineers can control many robots simultaneously.

This is a huge progress technically, and also the first performance of its kind in the world.

Another company demonstrated the robots' ability in caring for the elderly.

In a skit about elderly care, four robots played the role of home assistants.

They could not only help the elderly get things but also chat with them and even dance for them.

This made many viewers start imagining what future life will look like.

Perhaps in the future, we really will have such robots in our homes to take care of us.

Besides the performances on stage, there was also a short video showing robots working in the kitchen.

They could use two hands to fold clothes, organize things, and even cook.

All these show that robot technology is becoming increasingly mature.

This is also the reason why there were so many robot programs in this year's Spring Festival Gala.

For these robot companies, the Spring Festival Gala is a very good advertising opportunity.

It is said that in order to get on this stage, these companies spent a lot of money and time.

Because the Spring Festival Gala is the most-watched TV program in China.

Since 1983, watching the Spring Festival Gala has become a habit for Chinese people during the New Year.

According to the latest data, close to 700 million people were watching the Spring Festival Gala on New Year's Eve this year.

Moreover, there were 10% more young people watching the Spring Festival Gala this year compared to last year.

This shows that the Spring Festival Gala is working hard to attract young viewers.

To attract young people, the Spring Festival Gala added a lot of content that young people like.

For example, there was a comedy sketch telling the story of a boss of a big company and a cleaner.

This kind of story is very popular in current short videos, and young people like watching it very much.

Besides robots, this year's Spring Festival Gala also used a lot of other high technology.

If you look carefully, you will discover a lot of content regarding "Artificial Intelligence."

Which is what everyone commonly calls AI technology.

For instance, the "Doubao" robot from ByteDance is very smart.

Not only can it chat with the host between programs, but it can also dub the voices for robots in skits.

Additionally, many beautiful images in the stage background were also created by AI.

In the background of one song, there were many ink-wash painting style horses.

These horses looked just like real ones, running out of the painting.

This was actually produced by a video model called Seedance 2.0.

This is the first time this model has demonstrated its capabilities on such a big stage.

Of course, regarding so much AI technology, viewers' opinions also vary.

Some people feel it is very fresh, has a strong sense of technology, and the visuals are beautiful.

But there are also people joking online that there is too much AI in the Spring Festival Gala.

A very popular joke is: "The AI content in the Spring Festival Gala is even higher than in my graduation thesis."

Although everyone has different opinions, AI technology has indeed changed the way the Spring Festival Gala is produced.

Even CCTV itself used its own AI model to make videos for the first time.

This not only improved the efficiency of program production but also brought many new creative ideas.

Besides technology, this year's Spring Festival Gala also had many international stars, just like before.

For example, American singer John Legend and Ireland's Westlife.

They sang some very famous old songs, reminding many viewers of the past.

This arrangement was made so that people from different countries could all enjoy this festival.

On the stage, foreign art and Chinese traditional art were combined together.

For instance, Spanish dance was performed together with dance from Chinese ethnic minorities.

There were also acrobats from China and Austria collaborating, and the performance was wonderful.

Although they are in different places, music connected everyone together.

In general, this year's Spring Festival Gala was an evening party combining technology and art.

It allowed us to see the latest situation of China's technological development.

Especially robot and artificial intelligence technology, which has become very impressive.

Although these robots are currently mainly performing on stage.

But we can see that they are getting closer and closer to our daily lives.

Perhaps in the near future, these robots will really walk into our homes.

They might help us do housework, take care of the elderly, or play with children.

This is the hope and imagination that technological progress brings us.

If you are interested in these robots, you can go online to find videos to watch.

You will find that current technology is really much more advanced than we imagine.

Moreover, the speed of development of this technology is very fast.

Maybe at next year's Spring Festival Gala, we will see even more impressive robot performances.

This concludes the introduction to the robots and AI technology in this year's Spring Festival Gala.

The topic we are going to discuss next is about traditional Spring Festival food.

After all, for Chinese people, the most important thing during the New Year is still eating delicious food.

Listen again

Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.

What vocabulary does this episode teach?

词汇
dòngzuòmovement / action

Refers to physical movements or motions. Common noun.

chījīngto be surprised

A verb/adjective used when something unexpected happens. Often used as '让人感到吃惊' (makes people feel surprised).

jīngcǎiwonderful / brilliant

Often used to describe performances, games, or speeches.

shènzhìeven / so much so that

Used to emphasize an extreme case or example.

xīyǐnto attract

To draw interest or attention.

liúxíngpopular / fashionable

Describes something widely accepted or liked by people.

guǎnggàoadvertisement

Commercial promotion.

jíshǐeven if / even though

Conjunction introducing a concessive clause.

jīqìrénrobot

Literally 'machine person'. Specific noun for the topic.

shuāngjiégùnnunchucks

A traditional martial arts weapon consisting of two sticks connected by a chain.

fān gēntouto do a somersault

A specific physical action often seen in acrobatics or gymnastics.

duìxíngformation

The arrangement of a group of people or things (like robots or soldiers).

yǎnglǎoto provide for the elderly / elderly care

Refers to taking care of old people.

réngōng zhìnéngArtificial Intelligence (AI)

Technical term.

shuǐmòhuàink wash painting

A traditional Chinese style of painting using black ink and water.

bǎojiéyuáncleaner / janitor

A person employed to clean a building.

* beyond level超纲词

What grammar patterns appear in this episode?

语法
不但……而且……

Not only... but also... . This pattern is used to connect two clauses, where the second clause adds to or reinforces the first.

它们不但数量多,而且动作非常复杂。

它不但可以在节目中间和主持人聊天,还能给小品里的机器人配音。

像……一样

To look like... / To be the same as... . Used to make comparisons.

舞台上出现了很多像人一样的机器人。

看起来像喝醉了一样。

这些马看起来就像真的一样。

即使……也……

Even if... still... . Indicates that the result or conclusion remains the same despite a hypothetical or extreme condition.

这些动作即使是对于普通人来说,也是非常困难的。

除了……还/也……

Besides... also... . Used to indicate an addition to what has been mentioned.

除了打功夫,这些机器人还会做很多高难度的动作。

除了机器人,今年春晚还用了很多其他的高科技。

把 structure

Subject + 把 + Object + Verb + Result. Used when the subject takes an action that changes the state or position of a specific object.

但是音乐把大家联系在了一起。

Proper Nouns

专有名词
春节联欢晚会Chūnjié Liánhuān WǎnhuìSpring Festival Gala (often shortened to 春晚)春晚ChūnwǎnSpring Festival Gala中国ZhōngguóChina宇树科技Yǔshù KējìUnitree Robotics字节跳动Zìjié TiàodòngByteDance豆包DòubāoDoubao (Name of an AI bot)Seedance 2.0Seedance 2.0Seedance 2.0 (Name of a video model)中央电视台Zhōngyāng DiànshìtáiChina Central Television (CCTV)美国MěiguóUSA约翰·传奇Yuēhàn ChuánqíJohn Legend爱尔兰Ài'ěrlánIreland西城男孩Xīchéng NánháiWestlife西班牙XībānyáSpain奥地利ÀodìlìAustria

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