A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels

SBTI:新的性格测试,在中国很火
SBTI: A New Personality Test Going Viral in China
About this story
In China, young people like a new test called SBTI. It is on Bilibili. The test is funny, not serious like MBTI. HSK 1 Chinese listening practice.
This is an HSK 1 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 12 key vocabulary words such as 测试、安静、他们 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.
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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 tests, there's something really fun happening in China recently.
Have you ever taken a personality test?
What is a personality test?
It's when you answer some questions.
Then it tells you what kind of person you are.
For example, you're a quiet person.
Or a lively person.
You like being alone.
Or you like being with many people.
Many people have taken this kind of test.
The most famous one is called MBTI.
You may have heard of MBTI.
It gives you four letters.
For example INTJ.
For example ENFP.
Everyone's letters are different.
In China, MBTI is very popular.
Many people have taken it.
When you meet a new friend.
The first thing you say isn't "hello."
It's "what's your MB?"
When looking for a job you also need MBTI.
The boss wants to know what kind of person you are.
MBTI is very serious.
Very formal.
Many people think it's very accurate.
But recently.
A new test came out.
This test is called SBTI.
SBTI is not MBTI.
SBTI is a funny test.
Funny means making people laugh.
It's not serious.
It's not formal.
It's just for fun.
Who made SBTI?
Someone on Bilibili.
What is Bilibili?
Bilibili is a website for watching videos.
Young people in China all use it.
This person made a video.
In the video he said.
"I made a bootleg personality test."
"Come try it."
Bootleg means fake.
Not real.
He himself also said this isn't real.
Just for fun.
This test has thirty-one questions.
The questions are very funny.
For example.
"You've been on the toilet for over thirty minutes."
"What do you do?"
For example.
"This question has no topic."
"Please choose randomly."
See, the questions are all very strange.
Not serious like MBTI.
After finishing the test.
You get a result.
The results are also very funny.
Some people get "Dead Person."
What does Dead Person mean?
It's the kind of person with 99 messages on their phone.
But doesn't reply.
Playing dead.
Pretending they're not there.
But when the deadline is close.
They reply with one word: "Received."
Some people get "Mahou."
What is Mahou?
Mahou means monkey.
But on the internet.
Mahou means "working person."
A person who works hard every day.
Busy like a monkey running around.
Some people get "Hottie."
Hottie means a very good-looking person.
Very attractive.
See, every result is an internet word.
All very funny.
After everyone finishes the test.
They post their result on WeChat Moments.
"I'm a Dead Person!"
"I'm a Mahou!"
"Hahaha you're also a Mahou!"
And that's how it spread.
Within one day.
This test was searched 40 million times on WeChat.
40 million!
So popular.
The website even crashed.
Crashed means it wouldn't open.
Because too many people were doing it at the same time.
The server couldn't handle it.
Later people made many new websites.
So everyone could keep testing.
Why is this test so popular?
Because MBTI is too serious.
Young people feel tired.
They don't want to be a "correct person."
They want to laugh a little.
Make fun of themselves a bit.
Making fun of yourself means laughing at yourself.
"I'm just a Mahou."
"I'm just a person who plays dead."
Everyone laughs together.
Together they feel "so you're like this too."
This is the meaning of SBTI.
Not to help you understand yourself.
But to make you laugh.
When you're tired, laugh a little.
That's enough.
Listen again
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
What vocabulary does this episode teach?
词汇An exam or quiz to measure something.
Not making noise; calm and still.
HSK 1. they; them.
HSK 1. what.
HSK 1. time / moment.
HSK 1. friend.
The qualities that make a person who they are.
Full of energy and enthusiasm.
Something that makes people laugh.
A fake copy of something. Here used jokingly.
Pretending to not exist to avoid responding.
Internet slang for hardworking young people who feel hopeless but keep going.
* beyond level超纲词
What grammar patterns appear in this episode?
语法Proper Nouns
专有名词Sources
来源Free account
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