A Chinese podcast · Same story, 3 levels
约翰·传奇在北京很受欢迎
John Legend Explores Beijing Hutongs
About this story
American singer John Legend wins Chinese hearts in Beijing — Forbidden City visits, hutongs, dumplings, and chopsticks. HSK 2 Chinese listening practice.
This is an HSK 2 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 15 key vocabulary words such as 歌手、宾馆、普通 and walks through 5 grammar patterns, each explained in English with examples. The same news story is retold at 3 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
Speaking of recently, a very famous American singer came to Beijing, China.
This person's name is John Legend.
He is very famous all over the world.
He sings very well.
He can also play the piano.
Many people have heard his songs.
This time he came to Beijing not just to sing.
He also did some other things.
These things made Beijingers like him very much.
We all know that many big stars are very busy.
When they go to a city, they usually only stay in hotels.
Hotels are big and comfortable.
They can eat inside and rest inside.
They rarely come out.
Because they are worried that there are too many people outside.
Or they think it is too noisy outside.
However, John Legend is different.
He didn't want to just stay in the hotel.
He wanted to see what the real Beijing looks like.
He wanted to know how Beijingers live.
So, he walked out of the hotel.
He went onto the streets of Beijing.
He went to many places where ordinary people go.
For example, he went to Beijing's old hutongs.
Hutongs are very old streets in Beijing.
The roads there are relatively narrow.
There are very old houses on both sides.
Many Beijingers live there.
It has a very lively atmosphere there.
John walked back and forth in the hutong.
He looked at the houses here.
He looked at the people here.
He thought it was very interesting.
He also took many photos there.
He smiled very happily in the photos.
Besides looking at the scenery, he also went to eat Beijing food.
This is also what everyone likes most about him.
He didn't go to those especially expensive restaurants.
He went to small shops on the roadside.
This kind of small shop is very cheap.
But the food is very delicious.
Many people living nearby eat there.
John went in too.
He sat on a chair.
He ate together with everyone.
He might have eaten dumplings.
Dumplings are a very famous food in China.
There is meat and vegetables inside.
He might have also eaten noodles.
Beijing's noodles are very delicious.
Seeing a big American star eating noodles on the roadside, everyone felt it was strange but also very happy.
Everyone felt he was very approachable.
He didn't feel he was superior to others.
He was just like everyone's friend.
He also tried using chopsticks.
For foreigners, eating with chopsticks is difficult.
But he tried very hard to use them.
He ate with gusto.
This made the cook very happy too.
Because this shows he really likes the food here.
He also went to famous places in Beijing, such as the Forbidden City.
The Forbidden City is very big and also very beautiful.
That is the place where emperors used to live.
Red walls, yellow tiles.
He also took photos there.
He also brought his family along.
His wife and children came too.
They had fun in Beijing together.
They looked very happy.
When Beijingers saw these photos, they felt very warm.
Because in Chinese culture, family is very important.
If you love your family, everyone will think you are a good person.
John loves his wife and also loves his children.
He also brought them to understand Chinese culture.
This made everyone like him even more.
During these days in Beijing, he was just like an ordinary tourist.
He was not a star high above others.
He was very easygoing.
If someone recognized him, he would smile.
He might say "Hello".
This kind of attitude is very important.
In Beijing, if you respect the people here, everyone will respect you too.
If you like the life here, everyone will treat you as a friend.
This is why we say he is very "popular" in Beijing.
It means everyone welcomes him.
Now, his reputation in Beijing is even better.
Before, everyone just liked listening to his songs.
Everyone knew he sang well and played the piano well.
But everyone didn't understand him as a person.
Now, everyone has seen his life.
Everyone saw the way he ate dumplings.
Everyone saw the way he smiled in the hutongs.
Everyone feels he is very authentic.
He is not just a name.
He is a flesh-and-blood person.
He respects Chinese culture.
He is willing to try new things.
He is not afraid of crowds, nor afraid of long distances.
He was really enjoying this trip.
This made him have more fans in China.
Many young people look at his photos on their phones.
Everyone is discussing where he went.
Everyone is saying: "Look, John also likes our food!"
This feeling makes the fans very happy.
So, this trip to Beijing was very successful for him.
He not only sang songs but also made friends.
He made more people fall in love with him.
This is more important than how much money is earned.
Because human feelings are the most precious.
When he leaves Beijing, everyone will miss him.
Everyone will hope he comes again next time.
If not to sing, even just to travel is fine.
Because he is already an old friend of Beijingers.
This is the story of a foreign singer in Beijing.
He won everyone's affection with his sincerity.
This also tells us that no matter who you are, as long as you respect others, others will like you.
No matter where you come from, as long as you are willing to understand new cultures, you will have many friends.
What we just talked about is actually news about John Legend's "street cred" becoming higher in Beijing.
The term "street cred" is a bit difficult.
It means that in the hearts of ordinary people, you are awesome and everyone respects you.
Because John Legend played on the streets and ate ordinary food just like an ordinary person.
So ordinary people in Beijing think he is great.
This is why it is said that his "reputation" has reached a new level.
He is not only a star on the stage but also a person everyone likes on the street.
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Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
What vocabulary does this episode teach?
词汇A person who sings, often professionally.
A place providing accommodation, meals, and other services for travelers.
Average or usual; not special.
A public road in a city or town.
A famous traditional Chinese food consisting of dough wrapped around a filling of meat and vegetables.
A pair of thin tapered sticks used as eating utensils.
To have high regard for someone or something.
A person who is traveling or visiting a place for pleasure.
A type of narrow street or alley commonly associated with northern Chinese cities, especially Beijing.
Refers to the distinct feeling or vibe of a place (e.g., 'life atmosphere').
Describes someone who is kind, cordial, and easy to get along with.
Describes a person who is agreeable and not demanding.
A colloquial expression meaning someone is well-liked and gets things done easily in a social environment.
The level of respect and admiration a person receives from the public.
An idiom meaning someone is real, vivid, and full of human emotion (literally 'has blood has flesh').
* beyond level超纲词
What grammar patterns appear in this episode?
语法Used to describe how an action is performed or the state resulting from the action.
他唱歌唱得非常好听。
他在照片里笑得很开心。
他吃得很香。
A conjunction pattern meaning 'not only... but also...'. It connects two related actions or qualities.
这次他来北京，不仅仅是为了唱歌。
他不仅唱了歌，还交了朋友。
Indicates the purpose or reason for an action, meaning 'in order to' or 'for'.
这次他来北京，不仅仅是为了唱歌。
A conditional pattern meaning 'No matter (who/where)... as long as...'.
不管你是谁，只要你尊重别人，别人就会喜欢你。
不管你从哪里来，只要你愿意了解新的文化，你就会有很多朋友。
Proper nouns
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