A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels
5:13
世界杯：罗莫抓住失误破门，墨西哥一比零胜韩国
World Cup: Romo Pounces on a Keeper's Error as Mexico Beat South Korea 1-0
用简单的中文听一场真实的世界杯比赛：东道主墨西哥在瓜达拉哈拉对阵韩国，韩国守门员失误，罗莫抓住机会破门，墨西哥一比零获胜并第一个出线。含拼音生词、语法和全文英文翻译。
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 10 key vocabulary words such as 结果、东道主、荣誉 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 let's talk about a World Cup match.
This match was Mexico against South Korea.
Let's start with the result: Mexico won, one to nil.
This match held especially great meaning for Mexico.
Because Mexico is one of the hosts of this World Cup.
This match was played in Guadalajara, Mexico.
That is to say, Mexico was playing at home.
The whole ground was full of Mexico fans.
They all came to cheer for their country.
For Mexico, being able to play a World Cup in their own country is a great honor.
So they especially wanted to win this match in front of their fans.
South Korea comes from Asia and is also a team with real quality.
They're fast, combine well, and are never easy to deal with.
In recent years, South Korea has consistently played tenaciously at the World Cup.
The two teams are actually similar in quality.
So before the match, no one could say for sure who would win.
At the start of the match, both teams were very careful.
They both got their defending right first and didn't dare take risks easily.
In the first half, the two teams went back and forth, but neither scored.
At the end of the first half, the score was still nil-nil.
The people watching wondered: who would break the deadlock first?
Not long after the second half began, the crucial moment came.
This time, the problem lay with South Korea's goalkeeper.
At that moment, a ball flew high toward South Korea's goal.
South Korea's goalkeeper came out to grab the ball and held it in his hands.
But he didn't hold it firmly, and the ball suddenly slipped out of his grasp.
For a goalkeeper, this was a big mistake.
Mexico's player Romo happened to be right there.
He reacted quickly and slotted the ball into the open goal.
One to nil — Mexico took the lead off this chance.
For Mexico's fans, this goal was so exciting.
The whole stadium erupted in an instant.
After this goal, Mexico played more steadily.
They put more players at the back and defended carefully.
South Korea, of course, didn't want to lose the match like this.
They began to push forward, wanting to pull the score back.
They attacked again and again, making trouble for Mexico.
Every one of South Korea's players ran hard.
But Mexico defended extremely stubbornly.
No matter how South Korea played, Mexico's goal held firm.
The minutes ticked away, and South Korea still couldn't score.
In the end, the match finished one to nil.
On the strength of one goal, Mexico won this crucial match.
For Mexico, there was an even bigger piece of good news today.
By winning this match, they advanced to the next round early.
And what's more, they were the first of all the teams to do so.
That is to say, Mexico had already secured a place to keep playing on.
For a host nation, this was a dreamlike result.
They won in front of their own fans and qualified early too.
A day like this will be remembered for a long time by Mexico's players and fans alike.
Of course, although South Korea lost, they didn't play badly.
They lost by only one goal, and that conceded goal was a bit of a shame.
If not for the goalkeeper's mistake, the result might have been different.
After the match, many people were talking about it.
Some said Mexico, as hosts, performed very steadily.
Others said South Korea actually played quite well, and losing was a bit of a shame.
Actually, this is the interesting thing about football.
Sometimes, one small mistake can decide a whole match.
So everyone on the pitch has to stay focused the whole time.
For Mexico, this was a very good start.
Qualifying this early will let them play more comfortably going forward.
For South Korea, the group stage isn't over, and they still have a chance.
Alright, that was the Mexico versus South Korea match.
Mexico won one to nil and was also the first to reach the next round.
For the hosts, this was a very happy and very important day.
And that goalkeeper's mistake will be remembered by many people too.
Thank you for listening — see you next time.
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
先说结果：墨西哥赢了，一比零。
因为墨西哥是这届世界杯的东道主之一。
能在自己的国家踢世界杯，是一份很大的荣誉。
韩国也是一支很有实力的队。
下半场开始没多久，关键的一刻来了。
考纲词。这一次，问题出在韩国的守门员身上。
考纲词。对一个守门员来说，这是一个很大的失误。
考纲词。他一脚把球打进了空门。
考纲词。他们在自己的球迷面前赢球，还提前出线。
考纲词。可是，墨西哥守得非常顽强。
* beyond level超纲词
问题出在…身上
'the problem lay with …'.
这一次，问题出在韩国的守门员身上。
要不是…，…
'if it weren't for …, …' — a counterfactual.
要不是守门员的那个失误，结果也许会不一样。
有的时候，…就能…
'sometimes, … can …'.
有的时候，一个小小的失误，就能决定整场比赛。
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