A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels
特朗普与古巴的故事
The Story of Trump and Cuba — Why the US President Is Watching Havana
About this story
A simple story about Trump and Cuba — why the US president is putting new pressure on the small island nation. 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 14 key vocabulary words such as 电脑、饭馆、出租车 and walks through 5 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 the latest situation between the United States and Cuba, let's listen to a story.
Here is a person.
His name is Mr. Wang.
Mr. Wang is very big.
Mr. Wang is very tall.
He has a lot of money.
He has a big home.
His home is very big.
His home is very beautiful.
There is a computer in the home.
There is a TV in the home.
It has everything.
Mr. Wang is very happy.
He feels he is very good.
Everyone knows Mr. Wang.
Everyone knows him.
Mr. Wang likes big things.
He likes many things.
He works every day.
He has many friends.
The friends are also very good.
Mr. Wang goes to restaurants.
He eats a lot of dishes.
He eats a lot of rice.
He drinks tea every day.
He drinks water every day.
He likes to eat apples.
He likes to eat fruit.
He has a lot of clothes.
His clothes are very new.
His clothes are very beautiful.
He takes an airplane to go shopping.
Everyone listens to him.
No one says no.
Mr. Wang feels very good.
Mr. Wang's home is in the back.
There is another home in the front.
This home is very small.
There is a person in the home.
His name is Mr. Li.
Mr. Li lives here.
Mr. Li's home is very small.
He does not have a lot of money.
He does not have a big home.
But he likes it here.
This is his home.
He has been here for many years.
He eats here every day.
He drinks here every day.
He sleeps here every day.
Mr. Li is very happy.
Mr. Li feels very good.
Mr. Li does not have a store.
He buys few things.
He doesn't eat much.
He does not take airplanes.
He does not take taxis.
He walks every day.
He does not buy new clothes.
He doesn't have many clothes.
He drinks a small amount of water.
He does not eat a lot of fruit.
He eats rice.
But he has friends.
The friends like him.
He is very happy every day.
He loves his home.
Mr. Wang knows him.
Mr. Li also knows him.
They have known each other for many years.
But Mr. Wang is unhappy.
He does not like Mr. Li.
He does not want to see him.
Why doesn't he like him?
Because he does not listen to what Mr. Wang says.
Mr. Wang says one.
Mr. Li does not do it.
Mr. Wang calls him.
Mr. Li does not come.
Mr. Wang tells him to leave.
Mr. Li says he won't leave.
Mr. Wang wants him to leave.
Mr. Li says this is home.
Mr. Wang is very unhappy.
He is unhappy today.
He will also be unhappy tomorrow.
Unhappy in the morning.
Also unhappy at noon.
Also unhappy in the afternoon.
At night, he does not sleep.
He is thinking about what to do.
He wants to make Mr. Li leave.
He wants to call someone over.
Call his friend over.
His friend listens to him.
The friend will say okay.
Mr. Wang did this last year.
Last year he looked at Mr. Zhang.
Mr. Zhang lived here.
Mr. Zhang lived in the back.
Mr. Wang did not like him.
Mr. Wang told him to leave.
Mr. Wang has a lot of money.
Mr. Wang is also very big.
Mr. Zhang had no money.
Mr. Zhang was very small.
Mr. Zhang could not stay.
Then Mr. Zhang left.
Mr. Zhang went to the front.
Where did Mr. Zhang go?
Nobody knows.
Mr. Zhang has no home anymore.
Mr. Zhang has no money anymore.
Now Mr. Zhang is not here.
A new person came.
This person is a friend.
Mr. Wang is very happy.
There is also Mr. Zhao.
Mr. Wang knows him.
Mr. Zhao lives very far away.
Mr. Zhao also does not listen to him.
Mr. Wang is very unhappy.
Mr. Wang hits Mr. Zhao.
Mr. Zhao is not doing well now.
Mr. Zhao has no money.
Mr. Zhao has nothing to eat.
Has no water to drink.
Mr. Zhao goes to the hospital.
Mr. Zhao has no doctors.
Mr. Zhao is very cold.
Mr. Wang is very happy.
Mr. Wang feels he is big.
Now Mr. Wang looks at Mr. Li.
Mr. Wang looks to the front.
He looks at Mr. Li's home.
Mr. Wang says to his friend.
He says look at Mr. Li.
He says he will leave soon.
The friend asks when.
Mr. Wang says very soon.
The friend asks how to do it.
Mr. Wang says he does not know.
But Mr. Wang wants to do it.
Mr. Wang wants to make him leave.
He thinks about it every day.
He thinks about it at home.
Thinks about it at school.
Thinks about it at the restaurant.
Thinks about it at the store.
Mr. Wang wants to be the biggest.
He wants to be the biggest person.
Everyone listens to him.
He is very happy.
Let's think about it.
What will Mr. Wang do?
Will he go to his home?
Will he hit him?
Will he give him money?
Nobody knows.
Mr. Li does not know.
The friend also does not know.
What will happen tomorrow?
What about the day after tomorrow?
Will Mr. Li leave?
Will Mr. Li listen to him?
Will Mr. Li make a phone call?
Will he call a friend?
Will the friend come?
Will the friend go to Mr. Li's home?
Everyone is watching.
Watching the home in the front.
Watching the home in the back.
Everyone is watching.
Everyone is listening.
What is this story talking about?
It is talking about the United States and Cuba.
Mr. Wang is Trump.
Mr. Li is Cuba.
Mr. Zhang is Venezuela.
Mr. Zhao is Iran.
Trump wants to call a new person over.
He wants Cuba to change personnel.
He wants Cuba to listen to him.
Listen again
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
What vocabulary does this episode teach?
词汇A common noun for computer. Measure word is 台 (tái).
A basic noun for a dining establishment. Measure word is 家 (jiā).
Used with the verb 坐 (zuò) to mean 'to take a taxi'. Measure word is 辆 (liàng).
A common verb used to express an opinion or a feeling.
Used when referring to knowing a person, as opposed to knowing a fact (知道).
Used when referring to knowing information, facts, or situations.
A common question word asking for a reason or cause.
A verb-object compound meaning to walk on foot.
A basic location noun. Measure word is 家 (jiā).
A basic noun for clothing. Measure word is 件 (jiàn).
An adjective phrase formed by 最 (most) and 新 (new), often used to describe news or situations.
A noun referring to the state of affairs or conditions.
A formal noun/adjective describing a small quantity of something.
A verb-object phrase meaning to replace a person with someone else.
* beyond level超纲词
What grammar patterns appear in this episode?
语法Used to express existence, meaning 'there is/are [Object] at [Place]'.
家里有电脑。
前面还有一个家。
An all-inclusive pattern using a question word (什么) plus '都' to mean 'everything' or 'all'.
什么都有。
Causative verbs used to indicate making, asking, or wanting someone to do an action.
王先生让他走。
他想叫一个人来。
Proper Nouns
专有名词Sources
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