A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels
徒手爬上帝国大厦：一对俄罗斯情侣，在最高处求婚又被捕
Free-Climbing the Empire State Building: A Russian Couple Proposes at the Top — Then Gets Arrested
About this story
A Russian rooftopper couple free-climbed the Empire State Building, got engaged at the top, and were arrested — the thrill, the fame, the danger, and the ethics of imitating deadly stunts. HSK 2 Chinese listening practice.
This is an HSK 2 Chinese listening episode that runs about 3 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 14 key vocabulary words such as 新闻、担心、特别 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 we'll talk about a piece of news many people have been watching lately.
It's both thrilling and a little worrying.
In New York, USA, there's a very famous building called the Empire State Building.
It's very tall, one of New York's most famous landmarks.
Just a few days ago, two people climbed to the very top of it.
They didn't go up by elevator.
They used their hands and feet, climbing up the outside bit by bit.
The most frightening part: they had no rope at all.
One slip of the hand, and the consequences are unthinkable.
But they still climbed to the very top.
At the top, they did something very special.
The two are a couple — a man and a woman.
Up that high, the man proposed to the woman.
She said yes, and they put on rings.
They said they were getting married.
You might ask: who exactly are they?
Actually, they're very famous online.
They're a young Russian couple who specialize in climbing tall buildings around the world.
Their story was even made into a film that many people have seen.
What's more interesting: among the towers they've climbed before, one is in Tianjin, China.
So climbing the Empire State Building was another new challenge for them.
So, what happened after the climb?
When they came down, the police were already waiting below.
Both were arrested.
The police said such climbing is very dangerous, and illegal.
They were charged with many counts.
The building also said that, fortunately, the guests inside were safe the whole time.
At this point, I'd like to say a few words to you.
Honestly, this has two sides.
One side: so cool, so romantic — proposing at the top of the world.
The other side: so dangerous — one slip, and two lives are gone.
Online, watching videos like this feels exhilarating.
But it's precisely for that reason that more people want to learn and imitate it.
Finally, I want to ask you two questions.
First, do you think such behavior is brave, or just reckless with one's life?
Second, is it worth risking your life just to make others think you're impressive?
These two questions have no standard answer, but they're worth thinking about.
Listen again
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
What vocabulary does this episode teach?
词汇HSK 2 band. 最近很多人都在看的新闻 = news many people are watching lately.
HSK 2 band. 又让人有点担心 = also a little worrying.
HSK 2 band. 做了一件很特别的事 = did something very special.
HSK 2. 我想问你两个问题 = I want to ask you two questions.
HSK 2. 更有意思的是 = what’s more interesting is…
HSK 2 band. 为了让别人觉得自己很厉害 = to make others think you’re impressive.
HSK 2. 他们不是第一次爬 = it wasn’t their first climb.
这件事，又刺激，又让人有点担心 = it's both thrilling and a bit worrying.
一座非常有名的大楼，叫帝国大厦 = a very famous building, the Empire State Building.
从外面一点一点爬上去 = climbing up the outside bit by bit.
身上没有任何绳子 = with no rope at all.
这两个人，是一对情侣 = the two are a couple.
男的向女的求婚了 = the man proposed to the woman.
两个人还戴上了戒指 = they put on rings.
* beyond level超纲词
What grammar patterns appear in this episode?
语法又 A 又 B (both A and B)
Stacks two qualities.
这件事，又刺激，又让人有点担心。
一旦 ... ，后果不敢想 (once..., the consequences are unthinkable)
A conditional stressing danger.
一旦手一滑，后果不敢想。
专门 + Verb (specialize in / do exclusively)
Marks a dedicated activity.
专门爬世界各地的高楼。
被 + Verb (passive)
Marks the subject as acted upon.
两个人都被抓了起来。
还被拍成了一部电影。
正是因为 ... ，才 ... (precisely because..., only then...)
A strong causal link.
但也正是因为这样，才会有更多人，想去模仿。
X，还是 Y？(is it X, or Y?)
An either-or question.
这样的行为，是勇敢，还是太不要命了？
值得 ... 吗？(is it worth...?)
A value question for the close.
值得拿命去冒险吗？
Proper Nouns
专有名词Free account
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