A Chinese podcast · Same story, 3 levels
特朗普和伊朗：谁先认输？
Trump and Iran: Who Backs Down First?
About this story
A simple story about Xiao Ming and Xiao Qiang running in a third-grade class election — students, teachers, and friends. HSK 1 Chinese listening practice.
This is an HSK 1 Chinese listening episode that runs about 6 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 15 key vocabulary words such as 学生、老师、学校 and walks through 8 grammar patterns, each explained in English with examples. The same news story is retold at 3 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
Xiao Ming is a third-grade student.
He goes to school today.
There are teachers and students in the school.
Xiao Ming is a student.
He has a friend named Xiao Qiang.
Xiao Qiang is also a student.
They are in the same class.
There are many classmates in the class.
There is something happening in the class today.
What is it?
The class is going to elect a new class monitor.
What does a class monitor do?
The class monitor helps the teacher with tasks.
The class monitor helps classmates with tasks.
Xiao Ming wants to run for class monitor.
Xiao Qiang also wants to run for class monitor.
Both of them want to run.
Xiao Ming says: I want to be the class monitor.
Xiao Qiang says: I also want to be the class monitor.
Both of them want it.
But there is only one class monitor.
What should we do?
They start talking.
Xiao Ming says: I am a good student.
Xiao Qiang says: I am also a good student.
Xiao Ming says: I will help the teacher.
Xiao Qiang says: I will also help the teacher.
Both of them are very good.
They are both about the same.
At this time, the teacher came.
The teacher is female.
The teacher looks at Xiao Ming.
The teacher looks at Xiao Qiang.
The teacher says: Both of you want to be class monitor.
The teacher says: Tell me why.
Xiao Ming speaks first.
Xiao Ming says: I will manage discipline.
Xiao Ming says: If classmates don't listen, I will speak to them.
Xiao Ming says: I am not afraid of difficulties.
Xiao Qiang speaks later.
Xiao Qiang says: I will help classmates.
Xiao Qiang says: If classmates have difficulties, I will help.
Xiao Qiang says: I will listen to the teacher's words.
The teacher nods.
The teacher says: You are both very good.
The teacher says: But there is only one class monitor.
The teacher says: What will you do?
Xiao Ming looks at Xiao Qiang.
Xiao Qiang looks at Xiao Ming.
They don't speak.
After a while, Xiao Ming says: I have an idea.
What idea?
Xiao Ming says: Both of us can do it.
Xiao Qiang says: How to do it?
Xiao Ming says: I'll do it for one week.
Xiao Ming says: The other week you do it.
Xiao Qiang thinks about it.
Xiao Qiang says: Okay.
Xiao Qiang says: Is this okay?
The teacher smiled.
The teacher says: Okay.
The teacher says: This idea is very good.
The teacher says: Both of you will be class monitor.
All the classmates clap.
All the classmates are happy.
Xiao Ming is happy.
Xiao Qiang is also happy.
Both of them laughed.
This is the story of the class electing a class monitor.
There are two students in the story.
They both want to be class monitor.
They have different ideas.
They didn't argue.
They think of a solution together.
Finally they find a way.
This method is to take turns being class monitor.
What does 'take turns' mean?
It means you do it for a while, then I do it.
After you finish, I do.
After I finish, you do it again.
This way both people can do it.
This way both people are happy.
What does this story tell us?
It tells us two countries can also do it this way.
Two countries have different ideas.
Two countries can discuss.
They can take turns doing things.
They can do things together.
No need to fight.
No need for war.
War is not good.
War causes deaths.
War costs money.
War makes many people sad.
So two countries should discuss.
They should find a way.
This way makes both people happy.
This story is about choices.
Choosing a leader is very important.
Choose a good leader.
A leader should work for the people.
A leader should work for the country.
Not working for oneself.
Not working for other countries.
Should be good for one's own country.
Should be good for one's own people.
A good leader is not afraid of difficulties.
A good leader listens to others.
A good leader discusses with others.
A bad leader brings war to the country.
A bad leader makes people suffer.
So choosing a leader requires caution.
Choose someone who truly works for the people.
Choose someone who truly works for the country.
This is today's broadcast.
Thank you everyone.
Listen again
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
What vocabulary does this episode teach?
词汇A person who studies at a school. Measure word: 个.
A person who teaches at a school. Measure word: 位 or 个.
A place where students learn. No measure word needed.
A person you know well and like. Measure word: 个.
A group of students who study together.
HSK 1. we; us.
HSK 1. you (plural).
HSK 1. they; them.
A student leader who helps the teacher and classmates.
Doing something one after another in sequence.
To talk with others to make a decision together.
Armed conflict between countries or groups.
The citizens of a country. Often used with 国家.
A political entity. Measure word: 个.
To pick one option from several.
* beyond level超纲词
What grammar patterns appear in this episode?
语法是 + noun + 的
The '是...的' construction is used to emphasize or describe a characteristic. Here '三年级的学生' means 'a third-grade student'.
小明是三年级的学生。
老师是女的。
有 + noun (existence)
Used to indicate the existence of something or someone in a place.
学校里有老师和学生。
班级里有很多同学。
今天班级里有一件事。
Subject + 想 + verb
Expresses wanting to do something. '想' means 'to want' or 'would like to'.
小明想去选班长。
小强也想去选班长。
Subject + 会 + verb
Expresses ability or future action. '会' can mean 'can' or 'will'.
小明说：我会帮老师。
小强说：我会帮同学。
小明说：同学不听话，我会说。
先...后...
Means 'first...then...' to describe the order of actions.
小明先说。
小强后说。
就是 (definition)
Used to define or explain what something means. '就是' here means 'that is' or 'means'.
轮流是什么意思？
就是你做一下，我做一下。
要...不要...
Expresses what one should and should not do. '要' = should, '不要' = should not.
要为自己的国家好。
不是为自己做事。
不是为别的国家做事。
如果...会...
Conditional structure meaning 'if...then...'.
同学不听话，我会说。
同学有困难，我会帮。
Proper Nouns
专有名词Sources
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