A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels
西班牙一比零赢了乌拉圭
Spain Beats Uruguay 1–0 to Top Group
About this story
A beginner Chinese listening lesson on the World Cup: Spain 1-0 Uruguay. Simple HSK 1 sentences about Baena's winner, Spain topping the group, and Uruguay going home.
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 7 key vocabulary words such as 进球、重要、追平 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.
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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 match.
There are two teams.
One team is Uruguay.
One team is Spain.
Both teams wanted to win.
Uruguay wanted to win.
Spain wanted to win too.
They all wanted to score.
Score one goal, and you get one point.
The team with more points wins.
Many people came to watch today.
So very many people.
Everyone wanted to watch the two teams play.
Both teams really wanted to win.
Both teams really wanted points.
Uruguay wanted to score.
Spain wanted to score too.
Both teams really wanted to score.
Everyone sat there watching the game.
They watched the two teams.
They watched the ball.
Both teams came out.
They all wanted to play well.
None of them wanted to lose.
Both teams really wanted that point.
Everyone wanted to watch them play.
So very many people watching.
Today's match, many people wanted to watch.
Today's game was very important.
Why?
Because this is the last game of the group.
Whoever wins gets to advance to the next round.
Whoever loses may have to go home.
So both teams really wanted to win.
The match began.
Both teams were playing.
Early on, no one scored.
It was still zero to zero.
Both teams were very careful.
Neither wanted to concede first.
Near the end of the first half, Spain scored.
The scorer is named Baena.
It was one to zero.
Spain was ahead.
Spain's people were very happy.
In the second half, Uruguay grew anxious.
They wanted to score.
They wanted to equalize.
Uruguay kept pushing forward.
They shot many times.
But the ball just wouldn't go in.
Spain defended very well.
Their players all stood at the back.
They wouldn't let Uruguay score.
The more anxious Uruguay got, the worse they played.
Time passed minute by minute.
Uruguay still didn't score.
The fans were all anxious for Uruguay.
But there was no way — the ball just wouldn't go in.
At last, the match was over.
The score was one to zero.
Spain won.
Uruguay lost.
Spain won this game and finished first in the group.
They played well in all three games.
They advanced to the next round.
Spain played steady and well.
Everyone thinks Spain is strong this year.
Maybe Spain can go far.
Uruguay lost — what a pity.
After losing this game, Uruguay has to go home.
They can't play anymore.
Uruguay's people were all very sad.
Actually, Uruguay is a very famous team.
In the past, they played very well.
Many years ago, they even won the World Cup.
But at this World Cup, they didn't play well.
In three games, they won too little.
So this time, they went home very early.
For such a famous team, this is truly a shame.
Soccer is just like this.
Famous teams can lose too.
If you don't try hard, others will beat you.
So every game must be played well.
This was a World Cup match.
The World Cup happens only once every four years.
Many countries come to play.
Today, Spain beat Uruguay one to zero.
That was today's match.
Listen again
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
What vocabulary does this episode teach?
词汇考纲词。很有意义、很要紧。今天这场球很重要。
考纲词。把自己的门看好，不让对手进球。西班牙守得很好。
考纲词。心里很慌、很想快点。乌拉圭很急。
考纲词。事情没成，心里觉得不甘心。乌拉圭输了，很可惜。
考纲词。很多人都知道。乌拉圭是很有名的队。
把球踢进门。巴埃纳进了一个球。
落后的队再进球，把比分变成一样。乌拉圭想追平。
* beyond level超纲词
What grammar patterns appear in this episode?
语法谁…，谁就…
'Whoever…, that one will…' — links an action to its consequence for anyone.
谁赢了，谁就能进下一轮。
越…越…
'The more… the more…' — two things change together.
乌拉圭越急，越踢不好。
也会
'Can also (happen)' — even this is possible.
有名的队，也会输。
Proper Nouns
专有名词Free account
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