A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels
2:40
世界上最重要的人，都来了中国：他们在大连说什么？
Summer Davos: The World's Elite Gather in Dalian, China
HSK 1 Chinese listening practice. A simple explainer of Summer Davos: every year the world's richest and most famous people meet to talk about the economy and the future; this year they gathered in Dalian, China, and the big topic is AI and robots.
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 14 key vocabulary words such as 会、钱、我们 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 the complete story in Chinese. Reveal pinyin and English only when you need them.
Today we'll talk about a big event.
Think about it: every year there are a few days.
On these days, some people gather for a meeting.
Who are these people?
They are all very rich, and very famous, people.
We rarely get to see them.
Sitting together, what do they talk about?
They talk about money — a great deal of money.
They also talk about all of our future days.
So this year, where did they go?
They came to China, to a beautiful seaside city.
This city is called Dalian.
Why do so many rich and famous people gather for a meeting?
This meeting has a name: Davos.
Let me explain briefly.
Many years ago, in a faraway country, this meeting began.
Every winter, the world's most important people go.
Everyone calls it Davos.
Later, China also began holding such a meeting.
Because it's held in summer, we call it Summer Davos.
This year's Summer Davos is in Dalian.
A great many came to Dalian this year — more than a thousand.
They come from many different countries.
So this year, what does everyone most love to talk about?
Two letters: AI — that is, artificial intelligence.
And also robots.
Robots today are more and more capable.
Some robots can already work in factories.
Some even say that one day, one person plus AI could run a company.
Sitting together, what they discuss is exactly how AI will change our work and our lives.
You see, a meeting like this sounds far from us.
It's all big figures talking about big things.
But the things they discuss will, in the end, slowly reach every one of us.
Finally, I want to ask you: if you could go to such a meeting, what would you most want to hear them discuss?
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
开一个会 = to hold a meeting. 开会 = to have a meeting.
HSK 1 考纲词. 他们聊的，是钱 = what they talk about is money.
HSK 1. we; us.
HSK 1. they; them.
HSK 1. what.
HSK 1. today.
HSK 1. now.
我们，说一件大事 = we'll talk about a big thing. 大 (HSK1) + 事.
很有名的人 = very famous people. 名 = name/fame.
我们大家，以后的，日子 = all of our future days.
一个很漂亮的海边城市 = a beautiful seaside city — Dalian.
这个城市，叫大连 = this city is called Dalian. Where the forum is held.
这个会，有一个名字，叫达沃斯 = this meeting has a name: Davos.
世界上，最重要的人 = the world's most important people.
* beyond level超纲词
每一年，都 ... (every year, ...)
每 + Measure + 都 = every / each.
每一年，都有那么，几天。
每年冬天，最重要的人，都会去。
聊什么呢？(what do they talk about?)
Verb + 什么 + 呢 = a softened content question.
他们，坐在一起，聊什么呢？
叫 + Name (to be called...)
Names a thing or place.
这个城市，叫大连。
这个会，有一个名字，叫达沃斯。
因为 ... ，所以/就 ... (because..., so...)
Cause then result.
因为，是在夏天，我们就叫它，夏季达沃斯。
越来越 + Adj (more and more)
Marks gradual increase.
机器人，越来越厉害。
X 加上 Y (X plus Y)
Adds two things together.
一个人，加上AI，也可以，开一家公司。
听上去，好像 ... (it sounds as if...)
Describes an impression.
这样的会，听上去，好像，离我们，很远。
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