A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels
世界杯：两人各进两球进攻开花，荷兰五比一大胜瑞典迎首胜
Netherlands Beats Sweden 5–1
About this story
用简单中文回顾一场真实的世界杯比赛：荷兰进攻全面开花，加克波与布罗贝各梅开二度，五比一大胜瑞典迎来首胜。含生词、语法和全文翻译，适合初级中文学习者。. HSK 2 Chinese listening practice.
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 信心、反省、状态 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 going to talk about a lively World Cup match.
This match is the Netherlands versus Sweden.
Let's give the result first: the Netherlands won big, five to one.
Five to one is a very big score, showing the Netherlands played especially well.
Let's first talk about the two teams.
The Netherlands comes from Europe and is a very famous, very capable team.
They play beautiful soccer with a strong attack and have always been a team people love.
Sweden also comes from Europe and is a good team as well.
However, before this match, the Netherlands hadn't won a game yet.
Their previous match was a draw, and they couldn't get three points.
So they especially wanted to take this one and prove themselves.
For the Netherlands, this was a must-win match.
As the match began, the Netherlands played with confidence.
They kept attacking forward, wanting to score early.
Before long, the Netherlands scored first.
One to zero — the Netherlands led early.
After scoring this goal, the Netherlands played even more smoothly.
Soon, they scored a second goal.
Two to zero — the Netherlands stretched the lead.
The Netherlands' attack was like water, wave after wave.
Their passing was fast and accurate, and the players combined well.
Sweden couldn't quite hold them off, and their defense grew more and more chaotic.
Each time the Netherlands charged forward, Sweden's goal was in danger.
And so the Netherlands scored one after another.
The first half wasn't even over and the score was already big.
In the second half, the Netherlands kept on scoring.
Over the whole match, the Netherlands scored five goals in all.
Sweden scored one too, saving a little face.
But five to one — the gap was simply too big.
Today, the Netherlands had two especially impressive players.
Each of them scored two goals.
A player scoring two goals in one match is already remarkable.
Today the Netherlands suddenly had two men do it — truly rare.
One of them poached chances up front, the other ran all over to find openings.
The two of them — you score one, I score one — grew more and more fired up.
It was precisely because of them that the Netherlands scored so many goals.
Besides them, another player scored one too.
You could say the Netherlands' attack flowered all over the field today.
"Flowering all over" means many people scored, dangerous everywhere.
Watching the Netherlands play, the fans had a real thrill.
So why did Sweden lose so badly today?
For one, the Netherlands was in such great form today.
For another, Sweden's defense had quite a few problems too.
They couldn't hold off the Netherlands' attacks again and again.
Still, Sweden didn't completely give up.
They worked hard to score one goal, at least not getting shut out.
"Shut out" means not scoring a single goal, held by the opponent.
In the end, the match finished five to one, a big win for the Netherlands.
For the Netherlands, this victory meant a lot.
It was their first win at this World Cup.
Winning so beautifully, the whole team's confidence shot up at once.
In the matches ahead, they'll have more assurance too.
And for Sweden, this was a defeat that calls for some serious reflection.
Being scored on five times all at once doesn't feel good for any team.
Losing by so many goals, they'll surely review it carefully and aim to play better next time.
Luckily the World Cup isn't over, and they still have a chance to get back up.
After the match, everyone praised the Netherlands' attack.
Some said the Netherlands played to their true level today.
Others said the two players who each scored a brace were the biggest heroes of the day.
Actually, this is the great part of soccer.
Sometimes a match has goals pouring down like rain, getting your blood pumping.
Sometimes, a team suddenly erupts in a single match.
The Netherlands today played exactly that way — the best version of themselves.
A thrilling match like this had the fans crying out in delight.
Alright, that's the Netherlands versus Sweden match.
The Netherlands beat Sweden five to one, taking their first win of this World Cup.
Two players each scored two goals, and the Netherlands' attack flowered all over.
Thank you for listening; see you next time.
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Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
What vocabulary does this episode teach?
词汇考纲词. 赢得这么漂亮，全队的信心一下子就上来了。
考纲词. 这是一场需要好好反省的失利。
考纲词. 荷兰今天状态太好了。
HSK 1-2. why.
往前踢，想进球，就是进攻。
比对方多，就是领先。
球队后面负责防守的一排人，就是防线。
* beyond level超纲词
What grammar patterns appear in this episode?
语法就像…一样
'Just like …' draws a vivid comparison.
荷兰的进攻就像水一样，一波接着一波。
一方面…，另一方面…
'On one hand …, on the other …' lays out two sides.
一方面是荷兰状态太好，另一方面是瑞典防守出了问题。
梅开二度
A set phrase meaning a player scored two goals in one match.
加克波和布罗贝各自梅开二度。
Proper Nouns
专有名词Free account
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