A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels
5:10
中国演员李现成为世界杯正赛开球第一位内地艺人
Li Xian Becomes the First Chinese Mainland Star to Kick Off a World Cup Match
用简单中文听一个温暖的世界杯故事：作为运动品牌代言人，中国演员李现在西班牙对沙特的比赛前完成开球仪式，成为首位在世界杯正赛开球的中国内地艺人。含生词、语法和全文翻译，适合初级学习者。
This is an HSK 2 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 代言人、邀请、仪式 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.
Read the complete story in Chinese. Reveal pinyin and English only when you need them.
Today we're going to talk about an interesting World Cup story.
This story isn't about a match, but about a Chinese person.
This Chinese person is named Li Xian.
Li Xian is a very famous Chinese actor.
He's acted in many TV shows and movies, and almost everyone in China recognizes him.
Many young people especially love him.
So how could an actor have anything to do with the World Cup?
It turns out, Li Xian is the ambassador for a famous sports brand.
A "brand ambassador" is a person who helps promote a brand.
This World Cup happened to be sponsored by that very brand.
So the brand invited Li Xian to do something special at the World Cup.
That something was to do the "kickoff" for a match.
Before a match begins, a special guest is often invited to perform a kickoff ceremony.
This time's guest was Li Xian.
The match Li Xian kicked off was Spain versus Saudi Arabia.
This match was played in Atlanta, in the U.S.
However, Li Xian's kickoff was not quite what many people imagined.
Many people assume the kickoff means kicking the ball out from the center of the field.
But actually, what Li Xian did was a different kind of ceremony.
He carried the official match ball with both hands and slowly walked onto the pitch.
At that moment, tens of thousands of spectators were all watching him.
Then, he gently placed the ball on a special stand.
After completing this gesture, he also waved to the crowd in greeting.
He was dressed neatly and looked both nervous and happy.
Standing on such a big stage, anyone would be excited.
Although it was just a few simple gestures, the meaning was very great.
Because there are very few people in the whole world who get to kick off a World Cup match.
Being chosen is itself a high form of recognition.
And Li Xian is the first Chinese mainland artist to perform the kickoff at a men's World Cup match.
Before, no Chinese actor had ever stood on a World Cup pitch to do this.
So this time, you could say Li Xian created a "first."
This made many Chinese fans especially excited.
You should know that China's team did not qualify for this World Cup.
So getting to see a Chinese person on a World Cup pitch felt especially rare.
Some said that seeing a Chinese face at the World Cup is truly something to be proud of.
Others said it shows that the distance between China and world soccer is getting closer and closer.
In fact, at this World Cup, several Chinese people have already appeared on the pitch.
For example, a Chinese referee officiated a World Cup match.
And Li Xian is the first Chinese artist to appear as a kickoff guest.
Li Xian himself was very excited too.
Before setting off for the U.S., he said this was a very honorable thing.
Being able to represent China and stand on the World Cup stage, he felt very proud.
Of course, some also debated: does the kickoff count as really "kicking the ball"?
Actually, whether it's called a "kickoff" isn't important.
What matters is that more and more Chinese people are entering the World Cup in different ways.
Some are referees, some are artists, and in the future maybe there will even be a Chinese team.
After the match, photos and videos of Li Xian's kickoff spread everywhere online.
Many fans sent these photos to friends, sharing the joy for him.
Many people said they hope to see more Chinese figures at the World Cup in the future.
In fact, this is the interesting part of the World Cup.
It belongs not only to those who play, but to everyone in the world who loves soccer.
An actor can also connect with the World Cup in his own way.
Perhaps that's exactly why the World Cup feels so lively and so loved.
Alright, that's the story of Li Xian and the World Cup.
Chinese actor Li Xian became the first mainland artist to kick off a World Cup match.
With a simple kickoff ceremony, he left behind a special moment.
This little thing made many Chinese people feel warm and proud.
Thank you for listening; see you next time.
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
考纲词. 这个牌子邀请李现去世界杯。
考纲词. 很多中国人都为他感到自豪。
考纲词. 他说，这是一件很光荣的事。
考纲词. 能看到中国人上场，特别难得。
帮一个牌子做宣传的人，就是代言人。
正式、有意义的一个过程，就是仪式。
被请来参加活动的特别客人，就是嘉宾。
* beyond level超纲词
不是…，而是…
'Not …, but rather …' corrects to the real point.
这个故事，不是关于一场比赛，而是关于一个中国人。
以为…，其实…
'(Wrongly) assume …, but actually …' overturns a misconception.
很多人以为开球就是踢球，其实李现做的是另一种仪式。
正好
'As it happens / exactly' marks a convenient coincidence.
这次世界杯，正好就是这个牌子在赞助。
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