A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels
美国冰球队想创造历史
Team USA's Zach Chases Olympic Hockey Gold in Italy
About this story
A simple story about Zach and the US ice hockey team going to Italy for the Olympics, hoping to make history. HSK 1 Chinese listening practice.
This is an HSK 1 Chinese listening episode that runs about 8 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 17 key vocabulary words such as 比赛、运动、高兴 and walks through 6 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 matches everyone likes watching recently, we want to talk about ice hockey.
Ice hockey is a type of sport.
This kind of sport is done on ice.
When the weather is very cold, water turns into ice.
Ice is white.
Ice is very cold.
People run on the ice.
No, not run.
People slide on the ice.
They wear special shoes.
They have something in their hands.
They use this thing to hit the ball.
This ball is very small.
This ball is black.
This ball moves very fast.
We want to talk about a person.
His name is Zach.
Zach is an American.
He is very happy.
Why is he happy?
Because his job is very good.
His job is playing ice hockey.
He plays very well.
Many people like to watch him play.
He earns a lot of money.
That is a lot of money.
He also has a beautiful wife.
His wife's name is Odette.
They will soon have a child.
Is this a son or a daughter?
Whether it is a son or a daughter, they are very happy.
Zach is very busy now.
He has no time to rest.
Where is he?
He is in Italy.
Italy is a faraway place.
He took a plane to go there.
Is he going for tourism?
No, he is going to work.
He is going to play a match.
This is a very big competition.
This competition is called the Olympic Games.
People all over the world watch this competition.
Zach wants to win.
He wants to win very much.
But, winning is hard.
There are many formidable people.
Zach watched a movie.
He watched the movie on the plane.
Or he watched the movie at home.
This movie told a story.
This is a true story.
The story happened a long time ago.
That was 1980.
That was forty-six years ago.
At that time, Zach was not yet born.
His mom and dad were probably very young.
In 1980, the US team went to play.
At that time, other countries were very formidable.
Everyone said the US team could not win.
Everyone said the US team would lose.
But, the US team won.
That was a miracle.
A miracle is when an impossible thing happens.
Everyone was very happy.
Zach watched this movie.
He thought it was very good.
He thought: "I also want to be like them."
He thought: "I also want to win."
From 1980 to now, it has been a long time.
This is a very long period of time.
In these forty-six years, the US team has not won that biggest prize.
That prize is gold.
That is the prize for first place.
Zach wants to get first place.
Now is 2026.
The US team has come again.
This time they are in Italy.
They played very well.
A few days ago, they played a match.
They played against the Slovakian team.
Slovakia is a country.
The US team got six points.
The Slovakian team got two points.
Six to two.
Six is big.
Two is small.
So, the US team won.
Everyone shouted happily.
Everyone jumped happily.
Now, they are going to play the final match.
This is the most important match.
This match is on Sunday.
On Sunday afternoon.
Who is their opponent?
Their opponent is Canada.
Canada is America's neighbor.
Canada is to the north of America.
It is also cold there.
The people there are very good at playing ice hockey.
Canadians love ice hockey very much.
The Canadian team is very formidable.
Before, the Canadian team has beaten the US team.
That was 2010.
At that time, the Canadian team won.
The US team was not happy.
Now, they meet again.
This is a new opportunity.
Zach looks at his friends.
His friends look at him too.
They say: "We want to win."
They say: "We want to write new history."
This is not just a game.
This is for the country.
This is for the gold medal.
The Canadian team also wants to win very much.
They just won a match too.
They beat the Finnish team.
Although winning wasn't easy, they won.
Now, the two best teams are together.
One is the US team.
One is the Canadian team.
Who will win?
Nobody knows.
Everyone is waiting.
Waiting until Sunday.
Waiting until two-ten.
At that time, the match will be on TV.
Many people will sit on chairs.
Many people will sit on sofas.
There is food on the table.
There are drinks on the table.
Everyone watches TV.
Everyone watches Zach.
Everyone watches ice hockey.
If the US team wins, everyone will be happy.
It will be like 1980.
It will be a new miracle.
Zach says: "I have a feeling."
Zach says: "We must work hard."
His friend Dylan also says: "I am excited."
Dylan is also a player.
He says: "I think everyone is excited."
What does this story tell us?
This story is about the 2026 Winter Olympics.
This is about the men's ice hockey match.
The US team defeated the Slovakian team.
Now the US team has entered the finals.
They are going to play the Canadian team in the finals.
This is to compete for the gold medal.
This is a very important match.
Zach Werenski is a player for the US team.
He wants to repeat the victory of 1980.
On Sunday, we will know the result.
Listen again
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
What vocabulary does this episode teach?
词汇A noun meaning a sports match or competition. It can also be a verb 'to compete'.
A general term for sports or physical exercise.
A common adjective for feeling happy or glad.
Can be a noun (job) or a verb (to work).
A verb meaning to take a break or rest.
Used for traveling for pleasure/tourism.
HSK 1. we; us.
HSK 1. they; them.
HSK 1. what.
Literally 'ice ball'. The specific sport discussed in the script.
The action of sliding on a smooth surface like ice.
Verb indicating victory in a game or conflict.
Verb indicating defeat.
An adjective often used to describe someone who is very skilled or a situation that is intense.
A noun referring to an extraordinary and unexpected event.
Someone who lives nearby; here used metaphorically for a neighboring country.
Refers to past events or the record of them.
* beyond level超纲词
What grammar patterns appear in this episode?
语法...的时候 (de shíhou)
Indicates 'when...'. It is placed after the condition or time phrase.
天气很冷的时候，水会变成冰。
Verb + 得 + Adjective/Complement
The particle 得 (de) connects a verb to a complement that describes how the action is performed (degree or manner).
他打得非常好。
这个球跑得很快。
他们打得很好。
因为... (yīnwèi...)
Used to introduce a cause or reason ('Because...').
因为他的工作很好。
A 还是 B (háishì)
Used to present alternatives in a question ('Is it A or B?').
这是一个儿子还是女儿？
从...到... (cóng... dào...)
Indicates a range in time or space ('From... to...').
从1980年到现在，时间很长了。
虽然...但是... (suīrán... dànshì...)
A conjunction pair meaning 'Although..., but...'.
虽然赢得不容易，但是他们赢了。
Proper Nouns
专有名词Sources
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