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Chinese EVs Beat Tesla on Manufacturing Cost — episode cover art
6:56

中国的电动车,为什么比特斯拉便宜?

Chinese EVs Beat Tesla on Manufacturing Cost

About this story

A simple story about Xiao Ming asking why Chinese cars are cheap — comparing China's car shops with Tesla in America. 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 商店、告诉、觉得 and walks through 4 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.

说到买车的事情,我们看看小明。
小明是一个学生。
他也是一个人。
他想买一个东西。
他想买什么?
他想买一个车。
因为他想开车。
开车去学校。
开车去工作。
所以,小明去商店。
这个商店很大。
商店里有很多东西。
商店里有很多车。
小明很高兴。
他在商店里看。
他看见了很多车。
前面有一个车。
后面也有一个车。
左边有一个车。
右边也有一个车。
小明看见了一个红色的车。
这个车很漂亮。
这个车很新。
他也看见了一个白色的车。
那个车也很漂亮。
那个车也很新。
小明都很喜欢。
他想买红色的车。
他也想买白色的车。
但是他只能买一个。
他问商店的人。
他说:“你好。
“这个车多少钱?
商店的人说:“你好。
“红色的车,钱很少。
“白色的车,钱很多。
小明听了,很想知道。
为什么不一样?
两个车都很好。
两个车都很新。
为什么一个钱少?
为什么一个钱多?
小明问:“为什么?
商店的人坐下来。
他对小明说:“我告诉你。
“这里有三个原因。
“第一个原因是做车。
“做红色的车,我们做很多。
“你看这里。
“这里有很多红色的车。
“我们天天做。
“上午做,下午做。
“我们做了一百个。
“我们做了一千个。
“做得多,就很快。
“做得多,钱就少。
“这是一个大道理。
“你想一想。
“你去买苹果。
“你买一个苹果。
“苹果很贵。
“你买很多苹果。
“苹果就不贵。
“做车也是一样。
“白色的车,做得少。
“所以白色的车很贵。
小明听了,点了点头。
他说:“我明白了。
“还有吗?
商店的人说:“还有。
“第二个原因是东西。
“你看这个车。
“车里有什么?
“车里有椅子。
“车里有电脑。
“车里有玻璃。
“做红色的车,不一样。
“这些东西,都是自己做的。
“做车的人,也做椅子。
“做车的人,也做电脑。
“他们不出去买。
“他们自己做。
“自己做,钱很少。
“你看白色的车。
“他们的椅子是买的。
“他们的电脑是买的。
“去别的商店买。
“买东西,要很多钱。
“所以白色的车很贵。
“因为他们不自己做。
小明说:“这是真的吗?
商店的人说:“是真的。
“自己做饭,钱很少。
“去饭馆吃饭,钱很多。
“就是这个道理。
小明说:“我懂了。
“还有吗?
商店的人说:“还有一个。
“第三个原因是人。
“做车需要人。
“需要很多人。
“做红色的车,人很好。
“这里的人很多。
“他们很喜欢学习。
“他们会做车。
“他们工作很快。
“但是,他们要的钱不多。
“在中国,人很多。
“大家都可以工作。
“做白色的车,不一样。
“那里的人很少。
“那里的人要很多钱。
“人要很多钱。
“车就要很多钱。
“这也是一个原因。
小明想了想。
他说:“原来是这样。
“不是因为车不好。
“是因为做得多。
“是因为自己做东西。
“是因为人不一样。
商店的人说:“对。
“还有一点。
“有人说,是因为别人给钱。
“是因为政府给钱。
“其实不对。
“给的钱很少。
“这不是大的原因。
“大的原因是自己做。
“大的原因是做得多。
小明很高兴。
他觉得红色的车很好。
他觉得这个车不贵。
他有很多钱吗?
他没有很多钱。
所以他喜欢钱少的车。
他对商店的人说:“谢谢。
“我喜欢红色的车。
“我买这个车。
“这个车很漂亮。
“这个车很好开。
“这个车不贵。
小明开车回家了。
他很高兴。
他告诉他的爸爸。
他告诉他的妈妈。
他说:“我买了一个车。
“这个车钱很少。
“因为做得多。
“因为我们自己做。
“因为人很好。
这个故事说的是什么?
说的是“电动汽车”。
就是不用油的车。
中国的车很便宜。
外国的车很贵。
比如特斯拉。
为什么中国的车便宜?
因为做得多。
因为东西是自己做的。
这不是因为政府给钱。
是因为工厂很厉害。
English transcript reference

Speaking of buying cars, let's look at Xiao Ming.

Xiao Ming is a student.

He is also a person.

He wants to buy something.

What does he want to buy?

He wants to buy a car.

Because he wants to drive.

Drive to school.

Drive to work.

So, Xiao Ming goes to the store.

This store is very big.

There are many things in the store.

There are many cars in the store.

Xiao Ming is very happy.

He looks around inside the store.

He sees many cars.

There is a car in front.

There is also a car behind.

There is a car on the left.

There is also a car on the right.

Xiao Ming sees a red car.

This car is very beautiful.

This car is very new.

He also sees a white car.

That car is also very beautiful.

That car is also very new.

Xiao Ming likes both of them.

He wants to buy the red car.

He also wants to buy the white car.

But he can only buy one.

He asks the person at the store.

He says: "Hello."

"How much is this car?"

The store person says: "Hello."

"The red car costs very little."

"The white car costs a lot."

Xiao Ming hears this and really wants to know.

Why are they different?

Both cars are very good.

Both cars are very new.

Why does one cost little?

Why does one cost a lot?

Xiao Ming asks: "Why?"

The store person sits down.

He says to Xiao Ming: "I will tell you."

"There are three reasons here."

"The first reason is making the car."

"Making red cars, we make a lot."

"Look here."

"There are many red cars here."

"We make them every day."

"We make them in the morning, we make them in the afternoon."

"We made one hundred."

"We made one thousand."

"Making a lot makes it fast."

"Making a lot means the cost is low."

"This is a big principle."

"Think about it."

"You go buy apples."

"You buy one apple."

"The apple is expensive."

"You buy many apples."

"The apples are not expensive."

"Making cars is the same."

"White cars, we make few."

"So white cars are very expensive."

Xiao Ming listened and nodded.

He said: "I understand."

"Is there more?"

The store person said: "There is more."

"The second reason is the parts."

"Look at this car."

"What is inside the car?"

"There are seats in the car."

"There are computers in the car."

"There is glass in the car."

"Making red cars is different."

"These things are all made by ourselves."

"The people who make the car also make the seats."

"The people who make the car also make the computers."

"They don't go out to buy them."

"They make them themselves."

"Making them yourself costs very little."

"Look at the white car."

"Their seats are bought."

"Their computers are bought."

"Bought from other stores."

"Buying things costs a lot of money."

"So the white car is very expensive."

"Because they don't make it themselves."

Xiao Ming said: "Is this true?"

The store person said: "It is true."

"Cooking yourself costs very little."

"Eating at a restaurant costs a lot."

"That is the principle."

Xiao Ming said: "I understand."

"Is there more?"

The store person said: "There is one more."

"The third reason is people."

"Making cars needs people."

"Needs many people."

"For making red cars, the people are very good."

"There are many people here."

"They like to learn very much."

"They know how to make cars."

"They work very fast."

"But, they don't ask for much money."

"In China, there are many people."

"Everyone can work."

"Making white cars is different."

"The people there are few."

"The people there want a lot of money."

"If people want a lot of money."

"The car will cost a lot of money."

"This is also a reason."

Xiao Ming thought for a while.

He said: "So it is like this."

"It's not because the car isn't good."

"It is because they make a lot."

"It is because they make things themselves."

"It is because the people are different."

The store person says: "Correct."

"There is one more point."

"Some people say it's because others give money."

"It is because the government gives money."

"Actually, that's not right."

"The money given is very little."

"This is not the big reason."

"The big reason is making it oneself."

"The big reason is making a lot."

Xiao Ming is very happy.

He thinks the red car is very good.

He thinks this car is not expensive.

Does he have a lot of money?

He does not have a lot of money.

So he likes the car that costs little.

He says to the store person: "Thank you."

"I like the red car."

"I will buy this car."

"This car is very beautiful."

"This car is very good to drive."

"This car is not expensive."

Xiao Ming drove home.

He is very happy.

He tells his dad.

He tells his mom.

He says: "I bought a car."

"This car cost very little."

"Because we make a lot."

"Because we make it ourselves."

"Because the people are very good."

What is this story about?

It speaks of "electric cars".

That is, cars that don't use gas.

Chinese cars are very cheap.

Foreign cars are very expensive.

For example, Tesla.

Why are Chinese cars cheap?

Because they make a lot.

Because the parts are made by themselves.

This is not because the government gives money.

It is because the factories are very impressive.

Listen again

Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.

What vocabulary does this episode teach?

词汇
shāngdiànstore / shop

A common place where goods are sold.

gàosuto tell

Used to introduce information given to someone.

juédeto feel / to think

Used to express an opinion or physical sensation.

guìexpensive

Adjective describing something with a high price.

piányicheap

Adjective describing something with a low price.

yīnwèibecause

Conjunction used to introduce a reason.

dǒngto understand

Verb meaning to comprehend something.

yuányīnreason / cause

Noun referring to the explanation for why something happens.

dàoliprinciple / sense / reason

Refers to the logic or truth behind something.

bōliglass

Material used for windows; here refers to car windows.

zhèngfǔgovernment

The governing body of a nation or state.

gōngchǎngfactory

A place where goods are manufactured.

lìhaiawesome / impressive / severe

Adjective often used to praise someone's ability or describe something intense.

diàndòng qìchēelectric car

A specific term for vehicles powered by electricity rather than gasoline.

* beyond level超纲词

What grammar patterns appear in this episode?

语法
Place + 有 + Object↗

This pattern expresses existence, meaning 'There is/are [Object] in/at [Place]'.

商店里有很多车 (There are many cars in the store)

前面有一个车 (There is a car in front)

因为 ... 所以 ...↗

A conjunction pair meaning 'Because ... therefore ...'. It connects a cause with its result.

因为他想开车 ... 所以,小明去商店 (Because he wants to drive... so Xiao Ming goes to the store)

因为做得多 ... 苹果就不贵 (Because you buy a lot... the apples aren't expensive)

Verb + 得 + Adjective↗

The 'Complement of State' structure. It describes how an action is performed or the state resulting from the action.

做得多 (Make a lot / Made in large quantities)

工作很快 (Work very fast)

是 ... 的↗

This construction emphasizes a specific detail (like the agent, time, or manner) of an action or state that is already known to exist.

东西是自己做的 (The things were made by ourselves)

是因为做得多 (It is because we make a lot)

Proper nouns

专有名词
小明Xiǎo MíngXiao Ming (a common Chinese name)中国ZhōngguóChina特斯拉TèsīlāTesla

Sources

来源

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