A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels

2026年NBA全明星周末
2026 NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles — VJ Edgecombe, Lillard and Johnson on TV
About this story
A simple story about the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend in LA — watching VJ Edgecombe, Lillard and Johnson on TV. HSK 1 Chinese listening practice.
This is an HSK 1 Chinese listening episode that runs about 2 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 大家、高兴、医生 and walks through 4 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 at your level
原文Read the complete story in Chinese. Reveal pinyin and English only when you need them.
English transcript reference
Speaking of the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend, that is a very big gathering.
Many people went to Los Angeles.
There is a new big building there.
Everyone went there to watch the games.
There were many big stars.
There were games on Friday.
That was a game for young people.
A young man named VJ.
He played very well.
He was very happy.
Then it became Saturday.
Saturday was to see whose skills were good.
There was a person named Lillard.
His foot hurt a little.
The doctor said he could not run.
But he wanted to play ball.
He stood there shooting the ball.
The balls all went in.
He won the competition.
Everyone clapped for him.
There was another competition called the slam dunk.
It is jumping very high.
A person named Johnson.
He is a person from the Heat team.
He jumped very high.
He also won.
Then it became Sunday.
Sunday was the big game.
This year was different.
Before, there were only two teams.
This year there were three teams.
This is a new way of playing.
Everyone liked it very much.
One team was the World Team.
One team was the USA Team.
And there was another team called the All-Star Team.
Everyone ran very fast.
Everyone wanted to win.
The game was very good to watch.
Previous games were not good to watch.
Because everyone did not defend.
The current game was very good.
Everyone worked very hard.
In the end, which team won?
The young All-Star team won.
The team of old players lost.
The old players were very tired.
The young people were not tired.
There was a person named Edwards.
He was the best player.
He scored many points.
He was very happy.
The NBA people were also very happy.
Because everyone watched TV.
Everyone liked this game.
What is this story about?
It is about an American basketball competition.
This is the 2026 All-Star Game.
Many famous players played together.
The young people defeated the old people.
Edwards was in first place.
Listen again
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
What vocabulary does this episode teach?
词汇A common pronoun used to refer to all people present or involved.
An adjective describing a positive emotional state.
A noun for a medical professional.
An adjective describing physical or mental fatigue.
Common household appliance; often used with the verb 看 (kàn - to watch).
Time word indicating the past.
HSK 1. what.
HSK 1. now.
A noun referring to a meeting or get-together of people.
Literally 'bright star', refers to famous people like athletes or actors.
Refers to the specific abilities required to do something (like basketball skills).
Verb-object compound: 投 (to throw) + 球 (ball).
Basketball specific term. 扣 (to buckle/smash) + 篮 (basket).
Sports term referring to guarding against the opponent.
Verb meaning to be victorious in a competition.
* beyond level超纲词
What grammar patterns appear in this episode?
语法Verb + 得 + Adjective
The particle 得 (de) connects a verb with a complement that describes how the action is performed (degree or manner).
他打得很好 (He played very well)
就是跳得很高 (It is jumping very high)
大家都跑得很快 (Everyone ran very fast)
Place + 有 + Object
Used to express existence, stating that something exists in a specific location (There is/are...).
那里有一个新的大房子 (There is a new big building there)
星期五有比赛 (There were games on Friday)
因为 ... (所以)
Used to state a reason or cause. The second part (所以 - therefore) is often omitted in casual speech.
因为大家不防守 (Because everyone did not defend)
因为大家都看电视 (Because everyone watched TV)
Subject + 想 + Verb
The auxiliary verb 想 (xiǎng) indicates a desire or intention to do something (would like to / want to).
但是他想打球 (But he wanted to play ball)
大家都想赢 (Everyone wanted to win)
Proper Nouns
专有名词Sources
来源Free account
Keep learning from this story
Create a free account to keep saved words and your preferred level together.
- Keep words with their story context
- Remember your preferred level
- Build your vocabulary over time