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Pindou: Why Are These Little Beads So Popular? — episode cover art
7:00

拼豆：漂亮的小珠子，为什么这么火？

Pindou: Why Are These Little Beads So Popular?

About this story

A simple story about pindou pixel beads — the pretty little beads young people in China love to make together. 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 朋友、做、看 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.

Read at your level

原文

Read the complete story in Chinese. Reveal pinyin and English only when you need them.

今天，小明去看朋友。
朋友是小红。
小红是女生。
她在家里。
小明走进家。
小红坐在桌子前面。
桌子上有什么？
桌子上有很多珠子。
珠子很小。
也很漂亮。
有红色，黄色，蓝色，绿色。
有粉色，白色，黑色。
颜色非常多。
小明说：哇！
这是什么？
小红说：这是珠子。
小明说：很多。
小红说：是的。
我在做一个东西。
小明说：什么东西？
小红说：你看。
小红拿起一个板。
板上有很多小洞。
小红把一个珠子放进一个洞。
她把红色珠子放进一个洞。
然后把黄色珠子放进另一个洞。
然后蓝色珠子。
然后绿色。
她一个一个放。
慢慢地放。
珠子越来越多。
板上越来越漂亮。
小明说：这是图画？
小红说：对。
是用珠子做的图画。
你看。
做完以后，
是一个小猫。
也可以是一只兔子。
也可以是一朵花。
什么都可以。
小明说：太好了。
那做完了，怎么办？
小红说：做完以后，
要用一个东西。
小红说：叫熨斗。
熨斗是热的。
你把熨斗放在珠子上面。
珠子会变软。
然后，珠子会粘在一起。
就成了一块。
就不会散。
小明说：哦。
小红说：然后，
你可以拿着它走。
你可以放在书包上。
你可以放在桌子上。
你可以送给朋友。
小明说：这个真好。
你做了多久？
小红说：一个小时了。
还要再做一个小时。
小明说：要那么久？
小红说：是的。
但是没关系。
我喜欢做。
做的时候，
我什么都不想。
就放珠子。
一个，又一个。
心里很安静。
小明说：哦。
我懂了。
是不是有点像睡前看星星？
小红说：是。
就是这种感觉。
做完，心里很舒服。
小明说：可不可以教我？
小红说：可以。
你来。
小明坐下来。
小红给他一个板。
小红说：你想做什么？
小明说：我想做一只小狗。
小红说：好。
你先放黑色。
做眼睛。
小明放了。
小红说：再放白色。
做脸。
小明也放了。
两个人慢慢做。
他们一起放珠子。
他们没说话。
但是都很高兴。
时间过得很快。
小明说：哇，已经一个小时了？
小红说：是的。
现在我们一起熨。
两个人一起做完了。
他们做了一只小狗。
还有一只小猫。
都很可爱。
小明说：太好了。
我想再做一个。
小红笑了。
她说：你也喜欢上了。
现在说说真的事。
这个珠子叫拼豆。
拼豆，就是把珠子拼起来。
最近一年，
拼豆在中国非常火。
很多年轻人在玩。
不只是小孩子。
还有大学生。
还有上班的人。
他们去店里。
店里有很多珠子。
有桌子，有板，有熨斗。
他们坐着，慢慢做。
有的人做一个小时。
有的人做一天。
都可以。
一次大概八九十块钱。
不太贵。
为什么这么多人喜欢？
有几个原因。
第一，珠子很漂亮。
颜色很多。
看着就开心。
第二，做的时候，心里安静。
你不用想工作。
也不用想别的事。
就放珠子，一个，再一个。
很慢，很舒服。
第三，做完以后有东西。
有一个真的东西。
你可以拍照。
也可以送给朋友。
也可以放在家里。
所以年轻人都喜欢。
最近一年，
他们在小红书上发了很多照片。
一共有三百多亿次看。
非常多。
有一些店，
一年卖了两万多份。
也非常多。
所以小明今天学了一个新东西。
他学了拼豆。
他现在也喜欢上了。
他想下个星期再来。
他想再做一个。
小红说：好。
我们一起做。
两个人都很高兴。
这就是今天的事。
拼豆是小东西。
但是，可以让人很开心。
也可以让人安静。
也可以让朋友一起做。
这就够了。
English transcript reference

Today, Xiao Ming goes to see a friend.

The friend is Xiao Hong.

Xiao Hong is a girl.

She's at home.

Xiao Ming walks into the house.

Xiao Hong is sitting at a table.

What's on the table?

There are lots of beads on the table.

The beads are small.

And very pretty.

There's red, yellow, blue, green.

There's pink, white, black.

So many colors.

Xiao Ming says: wow!

What is this?

Xiao Hong says: these are beads.

Xiao Ming says: a lot.

Xiao Hong says: yes.

I'm making something.

Xiao Ming says: what?

Xiao Hong says: look.

Xiao Hong picks up a board.

The board has lots of small holes.

Xiao Hong puts one bead into one hole.

She puts a red bead into one hole.

Then a yellow bead into another hole.

Then a blue bead.

Then a green one.

She places them one by one.

Slowly placing them.

There are more and more beads.

The board gets prettier and prettier.

Xiao Ming says: is this a picture?

Xiao Hong says: yes.

It's a picture made with beads.

Look.

After it's done,

it'll be a little cat.

It could also be a rabbit.

It could also be a flower.

Anything is fine.

Xiao Ming says: that's great.

So once it's done, what next?

Xiao Hong says: after it's done,

you use a tool.

Xiao Hong says: it's called an iron.

The iron is hot.

You put the iron on top of the beads.

The beads will become soft.

Then, the beads will stick together.

Becoming one solid piece.

It won't fall apart.

Xiao Ming says: oh.

Xiao Hong says: then,

you can take it with you.

You can put it on your backpack.

You can put it on your desk.

You can give it to a friend.

Xiao Ming says: that's really nice.

How long have you been making it?

Xiao Hong says: one hour now.

And about another hour to go.

Xiao Ming says: that long?

Xiao Hong says: yes.

But that's okay.

I love making it.

While I'm making it,

I'm not thinking about anything.

Just placing beads.

One, then another.

My heart is very quiet.

Xiao Ming says: oh.

I get it.

Is it kind of like watching stars before sleep?

Xiao Hong says: yes.

That's exactly the feeling.

After finishing, the heart is very comfortable.

Xiao Ming says: can you teach me?

Xiao Hong says: sure.

Come here.

Xiao Ming sits down.

Xiao Hong gives him a board.

Xiao Hong says: what do you want to make?

Xiao Ming says: I want to make a little dog.

Xiao Hong says: okay.

First put black.

Make the eyes.

Xiao Ming places them.

Xiao Hong says: now put white.

Make the face.

Xiao Ming places those too.

The two of them work slowly.

They place beads together.

They don't talk.

But both are happy.

Time goes by quickly.

Xiao Ming says: wow, has it been an hour already?

Xiao Hong says: yes.

Now we'll iron together.

The two of them finish together.

They've made a little dog.

And a little cat.

Both are cute.

Xiao Ming says: great.

I want to make another.

Xiao Hong laughs.

She says: you're hooked too.

Now let's talk about the real story.

These beads are called pindou.

Pindou — putting beads together.

In the past year,

pindou has become extremely popular in China.

Many young people are doing it.

Not only children.

But also college students.

And office workers.

They go to stores.

The stores have many beads.

They have tables, boards, and irons.

They sit there and slowly make things.

Some people make for an hour.

Some make all day.

Either is fine.

One session is about eighty or ninety yuan.

Not too expensive.

Why do so many people love it?

There are a few reasons.

First, the beads are pretty.

Many colors.

Just looking at them makes you happy.

Second, while you're making, your heart is quiet.

You don't have to think about work.

Or about anything else.

Just placing beads, one, then another.

Very slow, very comfortable.

Third, after finishing you have something.

A real thing.

You can take photos.

You can also give it to a friend.

Or put it at home.

So young people all love it.

In the past year,

they've posted many photos on Xiaohongshu.

Over thirty billion views in total.

That's a lot.

Some shops

sold over twenty thousand sets in one year.

Also a lot.

So today Xiao Ming learned something new.

He learned about pindou.

He's hooked too now.

He wants to come back next week.

He wants to make another.

Xiao Hong says: okay.

We'll do it together.

Both are happy.

That's the story for today.

Pindou is a small thing.

But it can make a person happy.

And quiet.

And let friends do something together.

And that's enough.

Listen again

Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.

What vocabulary does this episode teach?

词汇
péngyoufriend

HSK 1. 我的朋友 = my friend. The story is two friends, 小明 and 小红.

zuòto do; to make

HSK 1. 做拼豆 = make pindou. The episode's action verb.

kànto look

HSK 1. 你看 = look! Used many times.

xiǎngto want; to think

HSK 1. 我想做一只小狗 = I want to make a little dog. 想 + verb.

hěnvery

HSK 1. 很漂亮 = very pretty. The most basic intensifier.

piàoliangpretty; beautiful

HSK 1-2. 颜色很漂亮 = the colors are pretty. Common compliment.

yánsècolor

HSK 2. The episode lists many 颜色: 红, 黄, 蓝, 绿, 粉, 白, 黑.

yìqǐtogether

HSK 1. 一起做 = do it together. Repeated word in the friendship scenario.

gāoxìnghappy

HSK 1. 都很高兴 = both very happy. The emotional anchor of the story.

zhūzibead

Beyond. 珠 (bead/pearl) + 子 (suffix). The thing the whole episode is about.

bǎnboard

HSK 4. 一个板 = one board. The pegboard you put beads on.

dònghole

HSK 5 but glossed inline. 一个小洞 = one small hole. Each pegboard hole holds one bead.

yùndǒuiron (the appliance)

Beyond. 熨 (to iron) + 斗 (a tool). 熨斗是热的 = the iron is hot. Used to fuse beads.

zhānto stick (together)

HSK 5. 珠子会粘在一起 = the beads will stick together.

túhuàpicture; image

HSK 4. 用珠子做的图画 = a picture made with beads. The result of pindou.

kě'àicute

HSK 3. 都很可爱 = all are cute. Common reaction to pindou pieces.

ānjìngquiet; peaceful

HSK 4. 心里很安静 = the heart is quiet. The core feeling of doing pindou.

jiāoto teach

HSK 3. 可不可以教我？= can you teach me? 小红 教 小明 in this episode.

* beyond level超纲词

What grammar patterns appear in this episode?

语法

X 把 + Object + Verb (BA construction)

把 fronts the object so the verb can carry a result. 'Took A and did Y to it.'

小红把一个珠子放进一个洞。

你把熨斗放在珠子上面。

想 + Verb (want to V)

Modal of desire. 想 + verb = 'want to V.' Subject + 想 + verb.

我想做一只小狗。

我想再做一个。

他想下个星期再来。

X 也是 ... 也是 ...

'X is also A and also B.' Used to layer descriptions.

也可以拍照。

也可以送给朋友。

也可以放在家里。

X 就是 Y (definition)

The teaching pattern. Used to define a new word inline.

拼豆，就是把珠子拼起来。

板上有很多小洞。

熨斗是热的。

因为 + reason

Because + reason. Often used alone at HSK 1.

因为珠子很漂亮。

因为做完以后有东西。

Verb + 完 (resultative complement)

Verb + 完 = finish doing V. Indicates completion.

做完以后，要用一个东西。

做完以后，心里很舒服。

两个人一起做完了。

一个 ... 又一个 ...

'One after another.' Describes a repeating, calming sequence.

一个，又一个。

她一个一个放。

Proper Nouns

专有名词
小明Xiǎo MíngXiao Ming (a stock Chinese boy's name)小红Xiǎo HóngXiao Hong (a stock Chinese girl's name)拼豆pīndòupindou (perler beads / hama beads — fusible plastic pixel beads)中国ZhōngguóChina小红书XiǎohóngshūXiaohongshu (RED, the Chinese lifestyle social app)

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