A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels
一艘南极游船，很多人生病了
An Antarctic Cruise Ship Where Many Fell Ill
About this story
A simple story about the MV Hondius — a sick cruise ship coming back from Antarctica that can't find a port. HSK 1 Chinese listening practice.
This is an HSK 1 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 18 key vocabulary words such as 船、新闻、爸爸 and walks through 7 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 Xiao Ming is watching the news.
The news shows a ship.
This ship is very big.
There are many people on the ship.
Some are men, some are women.
Some are adults, some are old.
Over a hundred people in total.
Where are they going?
They want to go home.
But they can't go back.
Why?
Because someone on the ship is sick.
The sick people can't get off.
Everyone has to wait.
Xiao Ming finds it strange.
Xiao Ming asks his dad.
Dad, what is this?
Dad says: you're watching the news.
Xiao Ming says: yes.
But I can't quite understand.
Dad says: let me tell you.
That's a big ship.
We call it a "cruise ship."
A cruise ship is a very, very big ship.
People play on it.
They eat on it.
They sleep on it.
It's like a small city.
But this ship is at sea.
Xiao Ming says: oh.
That's big.
Dad says: yes.
On April 1,
this ship set off.
There were 147 people on board.
Some went to travel.
Some were working there.
They were going to see Antarctica.
Antarctica is the coldest place on Earth.
There's ice, snow, and big birds.
Very far away.
They wanted to go see it.
Xiao Ming says: cool.
Dad says: but a problem came up.
Some people started coughing.
Some started having fever.
Some felt very bad.
There's a doctor on the ship.
The doctor took a look.
But couldn't tell what illness.
Later,
one person died.
Then another person died.
Now three people have died.
Xiao Ming says: wow.
That's a lot.
He says: how could this happen?
Dad says: because there's a virus.
Xiao Ming says: what is a virus?
Dad says: a virus is a tiny thing you can't see.
Very, very small.
Eyes can't see it.
But it makes people sick.
Some viruses spread from person to person.
Some viruses spread from animals to people.
Xiao Ming says: where did this virus come from?
Dad says: don't know.
Doctors are still investigating.
But one person
was already sick before boarding.
He himself didn't know.
He got on the ship.
Later he died.
Later his wife also died.
Then another person.
Xiao Ming says: that's scary.
Dad says: yes.
But this disease doesn't spread easily.
Not everyone will catch it.
Xiao Ming says: so what now?
Dad says: the ship is sailing on the sea.
Recently,
the ship arrived at a place.
That place is called Cape Verde.
Cape Verde is a country.
In the Atlantic Ocean.
But the ship didn't dock.
They had the ship wait.
Later three patients
were taken away by plane.
Sent to a hospital.
The others are still on the ship.
They can't come down.
Xiao Ming says: how do they eat?
Dad says: there's food on the ship.
There's also water.
There are also beds.
But everyone is wearing masks.
A "mask" is the thing on top of your mouth and nose.
Why wear it?
Because when you wear it,
the disease doesn't spread as easily.
They watch movies in their rooms.
They walk outside alone.
But they don't play together anymore.
Xiao Ming says: oh.
They must be very scared.
Dad says: yes.
But they're also being good.
They listen to the doctors.
Xiao Ming says: where is the ship going now?
Dad says: the ship is going to another place.
That place is called the Canary Islands.
Also in the Atlantic Ocean.
It's a bit closer to Spain.
The hospitals there are better.
But at first,
the people there also didn't want the ship to come.
They were afraid of the virus.
Later,
the Spanish government said: we have to let them come.
People can't just wait at sea like this.
We need to help them.
Xiao Ming says: that's good.
Dad says: yes.
So now,
the ship is slowly sailing.
The doctors are waiting.
The families are also waiting.
The whole world is watching this.
Xiao Ming asks: why is the whole world watching?
Dad says: because there are people from many countries on the ship.
There are Dutch people,
there are German people,
there are British people,
and people from other countries.
23 countries in total.
So 23 countries are helping.
And worrying.
Xiao Ming says: oh, I get it.
Dad says: remember one thing.
That is:
viruses are small, but powerful.
So we should always:
wash our hands.
Don't touch animal droppings.
If your body feels off,
tell mom and dad.
Xiao Ming says: okay.
I will.
Dad smiles.
He pats Xiao Ming's head.
He says: you're a good boy.
Dad says: I hope the people on that ship
can all go home.
Xiao Ming also says: I hope so too.
The news keeps playing.
The two of them watch together.
That ship
is still on the sea.
Sailing slowly.
Many people are waiting for it.
Many people are helping it too.
That's what Xiao Ming heard today.
Listen again
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
What vocabulary does this episode teach?
词汇HSK 3 but very common. 一艘船 = one ship (measure word 艘 specific to boats). The episode's anchor word.
HSK 4. 看新闻 = watch the news. Where the kid first hears about the story.
HSK 1. The dad explains the story to 小明. Pair with 妈妈.
HSK 1. 看新闻 = watch the news. 看不太懂 = can't really understand from looking.
HSK 2. 小明问爸爸 = Xiao Ming asks dad. The episode is built on questions.
HSK 2. 病了 = got sick. 生病 = fall ill. The keyword of the whole episode.
HSK 2. 二十三个国家 = 23 countries. The story crosses many countries.
HSK 1. 一百多人 = over 100 people. A core word.
HSK 1. 回不了家 = cannot return home. The emotional anchor — passengers can't 回家.
HSK 1. 医生看了 = the doctor checked. The hero of this story.
Beyond HSK 2 but glossed inline. 病 (disease) + 毒 (poison). The episode explains: 看不见的小东西.
Beyond. 邮 (postal) + 轮 (wheel/ship). Glossed inline as 很大很大的船。就像一个小城市.
Beyond. Glossed inline as 地球最冷的地方. 南 (south) + 极 (extreme).
HSK 4. 人传人 = human-to-human transmission. Same character as 'transmit', different from 船 (boat).
HSK 5. 口 (mouth) + 罩 (cover). Glossed inline. Everyone on the ship wears one now.
HSK 3. 动 (move) + 物 (thing). The dad warns 不要碰小动物的便便.
Beyond. 靠 (lean on) + 岸 (shore). The whole drama is whether the ship can 靠岸.
HSK 3. 希望那艘船的人都可以回家 = hope all the people on the ship can go home.
* beyond level超纲词
What grammar patterns appear in this episode?
语法X 就是 Y (definition)
The teacher's pattern. Used to define a new word inline.
邮轮就是很大很大的船。
南极就是地球最冷的地方。
病毒就是看不见的小东西。
因为 + reason
'Because + reason.' Often used alone at HSK 1.
因为船上有人病了。
因为戴了，病不容易传。
因为有一个病毒。
想 + Verb (want to V)
Modal of desire: 想 + verb.
他们要回家。
他们想去看看。
西班牙的政府说：要让他们来。
Verb + 不 + Verb (potential complement)
Negative potential complement. Verb + 不了 = cannot V.
他们回不去。
看不见，但是它会让人生病。
全世界都在看这件事。
X 也 + Verb
也 = also. Comes BEFORE the verb.
后来他的妻子也死了。
也在上面吃饭。
我也希望。
把 + Object + Verb (BA construction)
把 fronts the object. 'Took A and did Y to it.'
三个病人，被飞机送走了。
我们要帮他们。
X 一边 ... 一边 ... / X 在 ... 也 ...
Parallel actions or states.
也在上面吃饭，也在上面睡觉。
医生在等。家人也在等。
Proper Nouns
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