A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels
世界杯淘汰赛:贝林厄姆双响,十人英格兰三比二险胜墨西哥
World Cup Last 16: Bellingham's Brace, 10-Man England Edge Hosts Mexico 3-2
About this story
An easy Chinese listening lesson on the World Cup last 16: Bellingham's first-half brace, a red card, Kane's penalty and a nervy finish as 10-man England beat hosts Mexico 3-2. HSK 2 vocabulary on a red card, penalties, and defending a lead a man down.
This is an HSK 2 Chinese listening episode that runs about 3 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 东道主、主场、球星 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.
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原文Read the complete story in Chinese. Reveal pinyin and English only when you need them.
English transcript reference
Today we're talking about a thrilling World Cup knockout game: England beat hosts Mexico three to two.
England won this one both beautifully and nervously.
First, a word on the background.
This game was played in Mexico — it was Mexico's home game.
Tens of thousands of Mexican fans came to the ground to cheer for their team.
But England weren't intimidated at all.
Alright, let's look at the game.
In the first half, England played superbly.
Their star Bellingham scored two goals all by himself.
Zero to two, England took an early two-goal lead.
The home Mexican fans fell quiet.
But Mexico didn't give up.
They soon scored one too, through Quiñones — one to two.
In the second half, the game changed.
An England player committed a serious foul and was sent off with a red card.
Just like that, England were a man down, with only ten players left.
But England, far from panicking, actually scored again.
Kane converted a penalty — one to three.
A trailing Mexico attacked with all their might.
They too converted a penalty, pulling it back to two to three.
After that, Mexico threw everyone forward, trying to level the score.
But ten-man England defended with great tenacity.
With their bodies on the line, they blocked Mexico's attacks time and again.
In the end, England held on to a nervy win, three to two.
So, how should we view this game?
For England, this is a win that was both powerful and resilient.
First Bellingham's outstanding display, then holding on a man down — very hard to do.
For Mexico, losing at their own home is truly heartbreaking.
They fought to the end, but sadly fell just short.
Tens of thousands of home fans could only leave with their regret.
That's England three to two Mexico, a hard-fought battle that belonged to England.
See you next match.
Listen again
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
What vocabulary does this episode teach?
词汇考纲词。可惜、心里难受。球迷只能带着遗憾离开。
举办比赛的国家。英格兰赢了东道主墨西哥。
在自己国家、自己的球场踢球。这是墨西哥的主场。
很有名、水平很高的球员。贝林厄姆是他们的球星。
分数更多、走在前面。英格兰早早领先了两个球。
因犯规被裁判罚出场。一名球员被罚下,红牌离场。
很顽强、不放弃。英格兰守得非常顽强。
* beyond level超纲词
What grammar patterns appear in this episode?
语法一点也没有被…
'Not … at all by …' — resisting an influence.
英格兰一点也没有被吓到。
不但没有…,反而…
'Not only did not…, but on the contrary…' — a reversal.
英格兰不但没有慌,反而又进了一个球。
拼到了最后,可惜…
'Fought to the end, but sadly…' — brave effort, painful outcome.
他们拼到了最后,可惜还是差了一点。
Proper Nouns
专有名词Free account
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