A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels
西班牙二比一赢了比利时
Spain Beats Belgium 2–1 to Reach Semi-Finals
About this story
A beginner Chinese listening lesson on the World Cup quarter-finals: Spain 2-1 Belgium with a very late winner from Merino. Simple HSK 1 sentences about two strong teams and a dramatic finish.
This is an HSK 1 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 7 key vocabulary words such as 进球、前面、强 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.
Read at your level
原文Read the complete story in Chinese. Reveal pinyin and English only when you need them.
English transcript reference
Today let's talk about a soccer game.
This game was very fun to watch.
There are two teams.
One team is called Spain.
One team is called Belgium.
Both teams want to win.
Spain wants to win.
Belgium wants to win too.
Score a goal, and you get a point.
The team with more points wins.
Many people came to watch today.
So very many people.
Everyone wants to watch these two teams.
Both teams really want to win.
Both teams want to score.
Everyone sits there watching.
Watching these two teams.
Watching that ball.
Spain is a very strong team.
Belgium is a very strong team too.
Both teams are very impressive.
Alright, the game began.
In the first half, Spain scored first.
The scorer is named Ruiz.
Now it was one to zero.
Spain was ahead.
But not long after, Belgium scored too.
The scorer is named De Ketelaere.
Now it was one to one.
The two teams were level.
After that, both teams wanted to score one more.
Near the end, Spain scored again.
The scorer is named Merino.
Now it was two to one.
Spain was ahead.
This goal came very, very late.
Later, the game ended.
Spain beat Belgium two to one.
Belgium played very well too.
They scored a goal as well.
But in the end they lost.
Belgium was very sad.
Spain scored at the very end.
So Spain won.
Spain are so impressive.
Spain can go on to the next match.
Belgium had to go home.
This was a very important game.
Lose, and you go home.
Today, Spain beat Belgium two to one.
That was today's game.
Listen again
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
What vocabulary does this episode teach?
词汇考纲词。分数更多、领先。西班牙在前面。
考纲词。很会踢、实力高。两个队都很强。
考纲词。心里不好受。比利时很难过。
考纲词。很关键、很要紧。这是很重要的比赛。
把球踢进门。梅里诺进了一个球。
很强、很会踢。西班牙太厉害了。
过了一小会儿。没过多久，比利时也进了一个球。
* beyond level超纲词
What grammar patterns appear in this episode?
语法…也是…
'… is also …' — both share a quality.
比利时也是一个很强的队。
可是没过多久，…也…
'But not long after, … also …' — a quick response.
可是没过多久，比利时也进了一个球。
在最后…，所以…
'At the very end …, so …' — a late, decisive action.
西班牙在最后进了一个球，所以西班牙赢了。
Proper nouns
专有名词Free account
Keep learning from this story
Create a free account to keep saved words and your preferred level together.
- Keep words with their story context
- Remember your preferred level
- Build your vocabulary over time