A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels
奥斯卡电影的秘密投票
The Secret Oscar Vote — Sinners vs One Battle After Another for Best Picture
About this story
A simple story about the secret Oscar vote — Sinners and One Battle After Another competing for the Best Picture prize. HSK 1 Chinese listening practice.
This is an HSK 1 Chinese listening episode that runs about 8 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 13 key vocabulary words such as 电影、觉得、知道 and walks through 5 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
Speaking of recent movies, everyone wants to know which one is the best to watch.
Today is Saturday.
The weather is very good.
There is sun in the sky.
Xiao Ming is at his home.
He is in the living room.
There are tables and chairs in the living room.
Xiao Ming is sitting on a chair.
He is drinking tea.
The tea is very hot.
He is thinking about something.
What is he thinking about?
He is thinking about movies.
Xiao Ming likes watching movies very much.
His friends also like watching movies very much.
Now there are two very famous movies.
Many people say these two movies are good.
However, which one can be said to be number one?
Everyone doesn't know.
This is a very difficult question.
The first movie is called "The Sinner".
This is a story about bad people.
The second movie is called "The Battle".
This is a story about fighting a war.
Xiao Ming doesn't know which one to watch.
He wants to ask his friends.
Xiao Ming has a telephone.
He saw his telephone on the table.
He picked up the telephone.
He calls Xiao Hong.
Xiao Hong is Xiao Ming's good friend.
Xiao Hong is a doctor.
She works in a hospital.
It is noon now.
Xiao Hong is eating lunch.
She is eating rice and dishes.
The phone rang.
Xiao Hong answered the phone.
Xiao Ming asked: "Xiao Hong, how are you?"
Xiao Hong said: "I am very good, thank you."
How about you?
Xiao Ming said: "I am also very good."
Xiao Ming asked: "Do you want to watch a movie?"
Xiao Hong said: "I want to watch."
Xiao Ming asked: "Do you like 'The Sinner' or 'The Battle'?"
Xiao Hong thought for a while.
She said: "I like 'The Sinner'."
That movie is very beautiful.
Xiao Ming said: "Thank you."
Then, Xiao Ming called David again.
David is a teacher.
He works at a school.
David is reading a book.
Xiao Ming asked: "David, which movie do you like?"
David said: "I like 'The Battle'."
That movie is very big.
Now, one person likes "The Sinner".
One person likes "The Battle".
It is one to one.
Xiao Ming still doesn't know how to choose.
At this time, an old friend of Xiao Ming came.
He is called Old Wang.
Old Wang is sixty years old.
He has watched movies for many years.
Old Wang sat next to Xiao Ming.
Xiao Ming gave him a cup of water.
Old Wang drank the water.
Xiao Ming asked: "Old Wang, which one do you like?"
Old Wang did not speak.
He looked at Xiao Ming.
He smiled.
He said: "This is a secret."
Xiao Ming asked: "Why is it a secret?"
Old Wang said: "Because I am also thinking."
Old Wang took out a piece of paper.
He wrote characters on the paper.
What did he write?
Xiao Ming cannot see.
Old Wang said: "Many people say with their mouths that they like 'The Battle'."
"But, they write 'The Sinner' on paper."
Xiao Ming could not understand.
Why is what is said different?
Old Wang said: "People are just like this."
"Sometimes, we say I also like this."
"Because everyone likes this."
"But, in our hearts we like that."
"Only when there is no one around do we speak the truth."
This is secret voting.
Look, the movie competition here is very interesting.
Everyone is guessing.
Who is first?
Who is second?
The situation now is very chaotic.
Some people like this actor.
Some people like that actress.
For example, there is an actor called Michael.
He is in "The Sinner".
Many people like him.
Everyone feels he will win.
But there are also people who like Leonardo.
He is in "The Battle".
These two people are also competing.
Xiao Ming listened to Old Wang's words.
He felt it was very interesting.
Choosing a movie is like fighting a war.
Everyone has their own ideas.
Some ideas are spoken out.
Some ideas are not spoken out.
The ideas not spoken out are the true ones.
Now, many people are writing names.
They write the names on paper.
Then put them in a box.
No one knows who wrote it.
This is "anonymity".
"Anonymity" means having no name.
Because there is no name, everyone can speak the truth.
Some friends say: "I don't like that movie."
It's too long.
Some friends say: "I don't like that movie."
It's not good to watch.
But outside, they all say: "Very good, very good."
This is what is happening now.
Xiao Ming understood.
Watching a movie is a simple thing.
But choosing the best movie is not simple.
This is not just watching movies.
This is watching human hearts.
What people think in their hearts is the most important.
Finally, Xiao Ming decided.
He is going to the movie theater.
He wants to watch both movies.
Watch "The Sinner" in the morning.
Watch "The Battle" in the afternoon.
This way he will know which one is good.
He is very happy.
He put on clothes.
He took a taxi to the movie theater.
In the taxi, he saw many people.
Everyone is going to the movie theater.
Everyone is talking.
Everyone is discussing.
What is this story talking about?
This story talks about America's "Oscars".
The Oscars is a very big movie competition.
Now is the final time of the competition.
There are two big movies competing.
One is called "The Sinner".
One is called "Battle After Battle".
This is what we call "The Battle".
Many people are voting.
Voting is secret.
The news says this is very much like fighting a war.
Everyone doesn't know who will win.
This is a very tense competition.
Listen again
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
What vocabulary does this episode teach?
词汇A very common noun. Measure word is usually 部 (bù) or 个 (gè).
Used to express an opinion or physical sensation.
Used to express knowledge of a fact or situation.
Can mean a question to answer or a problem to solve.
Measure word is 个 (gè).
Commonly found in '有意思' (interesting).
HSK 1. taxi.
Refers to sports matches or contests like the Oscars here.
Something hidden or not known by others.
A verb-object compound meaning to engage in warfare.
Literally 'cast a ticket/ballot'.
Literally 'hide name'. An advanced term explained within the script.
To talk over a topic with others.
* beyond level超纲词
What grammar patterns appear in this episode?
语法Subject + 在 + Verb + Object
The present continuous tense, indicating an action that is currently happening.
他在喝茶 (He is drinking tea).
小红在吃午饭 (Xiao Hong is eating lunch).
Place + 有 + Object
Expresses existence; states that something is located in a specific place.
客厅里有桌子和椅子 (There are tables and chairs in the living room).
现在有两个非常有名的电影 (Now there are two very famous movies).
Subject + 在 + Place (+ Location Word)
Indicates the location of a subject.
小明在他的家里 (Xiao Ming is at his home).
他在客厅里 (He is in the living room).
A + 还是 + B
Used to offer a choice between two options in a question (Or).
你喜欢《罪人》还是《战斗》？ (Do you like 'The Sinner' or 'The Battle'?)
把 Structure (Subject + 把 + Object + Verb + Result/Direction)
Used when the subject acts upon an object to change its state or position.
他们把名字写在纸上 (They write the names on paper).
他要把两个电影都看了 (He wants to watch both movies).
Proper Nouns
专有名词Sources
来源Free account
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