A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels
“前额叶没长好”：一个流行的借口
'Underdeveloped Prefrontal Cortex': A Trendy Excuse
About this story
A simple story about Xiaoming and Xiaohong blaming their young brains for bad choices — the prefrontal cortex trend. 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 10 key vocabulary words such as 大脑、想、考试 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.
English transcript reference
We are talking about the brain.
The brain is inside the head.
The brain is big.
The brain is good.
We think about things.
We use the brain to think.
The brain has many parts.
The brain has one area.
This area is in the front.
This area is very small.
This area is very important.
What does it do?
It thinks things over.
It says whether something is good or not.
It says whether something is right or wrong.
An adult's brain is good.
An adult's this area is big.
A child's brain is small.
A young person's this area is small.
Small is not good.
Why?
Let's talk about a person.
His name is Xiao Ming.
How old is Xiao Ming?
Xiao Ming is eighteen years old.
Xiao Ming is a student.
Xiao Ming is at school.
Xiao Ming has friends.
Xiao Ming has many friends.
Xiao Ming is very happy.
Is Xiao Ming's brain good or not?
Xiao Ming's brain is still small.
It hasn't grown big yet.
This is not good.
Why is it not good?
Let's take a look.
Today is Monday.
Xiao Ming is at school.
Xiao Ming has a test.
Xiao Ming wants to study.
Xiao Ming's friend came.
The friend said let's go play.
Xiao Ming wanted to go play.
Xiao Ming stopped studying.
Xiao Ming went to play.
They were very happy.
Xiao Ming didn't study.
Tuesday, the test came.
Xiao Ming couldn't do it.
Xiao Ming was very unhappy.
The teacher was also unhappy.
Xiao Ming's test was bad.
Why?
Xiao Ming didn't think it over.
Xiao Ming's brain is too small.
The brain didn't say it's not good.
The brain didn't say don't go.
It's Wednesday.
Xiao Ming has money.
Xiao Ming has three hundred yuan.
This money is for one month.
Xiao Ming went to the store.
Xiao Ming saw something.
Xiao Ming wanted to buy it.
Xiao Ming wanted to buy clothes.
The clothes were nice.
Xiao Ming bought the clothes.
The clothes cost two hundred yuan.
Xiao Ming was very happy.
Xiao Ming saw something else.
Xiao Ming wanted to buy shoes.
The shoes were also nice.
Xiao Ming bought them too.
The shoes cost one hundred and fifty yuan.
Xiao Ming's money was gone.
He spent three hundred and fifty in one day.
There are still over twenty days left.
Xiao Ming has no money now.
Xiao Ming can't buy food.
Xiao Ming is very unhappy.
Why?
Xiao Ming didn't think it over.
Xiao Ming's brain is too small.
The brain didn't say it's too much.
The brain didn't say don't buy.
It's Thursday.
Xiao Ming's mom called.
Mom asked did you eat.
Xiao Ming said yes.
Xiao Ming didn't eat.
Xiao Ming had no money to eat.
Xiao Ming didn't want to say.
Mom asked is your studying going well.
Xiao Ming said yes.
Xiao Ming's studying is not going well.
Xiao Ming said things that weren't true.
Why?
Xiao Ming didn't want mom to be unhappy.
Xiao Ming's brain is too small.
The brain didn't think very much.
It's Friday.
Xiao Ming's friend Xiao Hong came.
Xiao Hong said let's go eat.
Xiao Ming said okay.
Xiao Ming had no money.
Xiao Ming didn't want to say he had no money.
They went to a restaurant.
Xiao Ming ate a lot.
Xiao Hong asked do you have money.
Xiao Ming said yes.
Xiao Ming didn't.
Xiao Hong was very unhappy.
Xiao Ming was also unhappy.
Why?
Xiao Ming didn't think.
The brain is too small.
It's Saturday.
Xiao Ming is at home.
Xiao Ming wanted to sleep.
Xiao Ming slept until twelve o'clock.
Xiao Ming's homework wasn't done.
Xiao Ming didn't want to do homework.
Xiao Ming wanted to look at his phone.
Xiao Ming looked at his phone for five hours.
Five hours!
That's too much.
Xiao Ming's eyes were not doing well.
Xiao Ming's head was not doing well.
The homework still wasn't done.
Why?
Xiao Ming's brain is too small.
The brain didn't say stop looking.
The brain didn't say do your homework.
It's Sunday.
Xiao Ming thinks it over.
This week was not good.
The test was bad.
The money is gone.
He said things that weren't true.
His friend is unhappy.
The homework is not done.
Xiao Ming is very unhappy.
Xiao Ming wonders why.
Why can't I do things well?
Why do I think wrong?
Xiao Ming went to ask the teacher.
The teacher talked about his brain.
The teacher said the brain has one area.
This area is in the front.
You are eighteen years old.
This area is still small.
It hasn't grown big yet.
It will be big at twenty-five.
When this area is big, things will be better.
Xiao Ming asked then what should I do?
The teacher said you need to think things over.
Don't be too quick.
When you want to buy something.
Think it over.
Should I buy it or not?
Do I have money or not?
When a friend says let's go play.
Think it over.
Is there a test?
Is there homework?
When you want to look at your phone.
Think it over.
How long have I been looking?
Should I do something else?
Xiao Ming said okay.
Xiao Ming said I will think things over.
A new Monday.
Xiao Ming is at school.
A friend said let's go play.
Xiao Ming thought it over.
Xiao Ming said no.
Xiao Ming said I need to study.
Xiao Ming studied.
Tuesday, the test came.
Xiao Ming did well on the test!
Xiao Ming was very happy.
Thinking it over is useful!
It's Wednesday.
Xiao Ming went to the store.
Xiao Ming saw nice things.
Xiao Ming wanted to buy them.
Xiao Ming thought it over.
How much money do I have?
I need it to last a month.
Xiao Ming didn't buy it.
Xiao Ming went home.
Xiao Ming still has money.
Xiao Ming can buy food.
Xiao Ming is very happy.
It's Thursday.
Mom called.
Mom asked is your studying going well.
Xiao Ming said it's okay.
Xiao Ming said some things are good and some are not.
Mom said good.
Xiao Ming said the right things.
Xiao Ming is very happy.
It's Friday.
Xiao Hong said let's go eat.
Xiao Ming thought it over.
Xiao Ming said okay.
Xiao Ming has money.
They went to eat.
Xiao Ming paid for his own.
Xiao Hong was happy too.
Xiao Ming was happy too.
It's Saturday.
Xiao Ming wanted to look at his phone.
Xiao Ming thought it over.
Xiao Ming said I'll look for one hour.
One hour was up.
Xiao Ming stopped looking.
Xiao Ming did his homework.
The homework was done.
Xiao Ming is very happy.
It's Sunday.
Xiao Ming thinks over this week.
The test went well.
There's still money left.
Mom is happy.
Friends are happy.
The homework is done.
Xiao Ming is very happy.
Xiao Ming's brain is still small.
But Xiao Ming knows how to think things over now.
Thinking things over is very useful.
Having a small brain is okay.
We can all think things over.
Think it over before you act.
That way, things will be fine.
Listen again
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
What vocabulary does this episode teach?
词汇A very common verb. Can mean 'to think about' or 'to want to do something'.
Used as both a noun (the test) and a verb (to take a test).
A basic adjective for being pleased or joyful.
A place where you buy things.
A general term for any type of clothing.
A common verb-object phrase for calling someone on the phone.
Literally 'big brain'. The main organ for thinking inside your head.
School assignments that students must complete, usually at home.
Describes someone who is young in age, especially teenagers or young adults.
Literally 'has use'. Describes something that is practical or beneficial.
* beyond level超纲词
What grammar patterns appear in this episode?
语法还没有 + Verb
This pattern means 'still haven't (done something)'. 还 (hái) means 'still' and 没有 means 'haven't'. It emphasizes that an expected action has not yet happened.
还没有大。(It still hasn't grown big.)
作业还没有做。(The homework still hasn't been done.)
小明还没有吃饭。(Xiao Ming still hasn't eaten.)
太 + Adjective + 了
This pattern means 'too [adjective]'. 太 (tài) means 'too much' and 了 at the end emphasizes the degree. It often implies a negative result.
小明的大脑太小了。(Xiao Ming's brain is too small.)
太多了。(That's too much.)
衣服太好看了。(The clothes are too good-looking.)
Verb + 一 + Verb (想一想, 看一看)
Verb reduplication with 一 in the middle means 'do [verb] a little' or 'give it a try'. 想一想 means 'think about it for a moment'. This softens the action and makes it casual.
小明想一想。(Xiao Ming thinks it over.)
我们看一看。(Let's take a look.)
你要想一想再做。(You should think it over before doing it.)
要不要 / 有没有
Affirmative-negative questions. Instead of using 吗 at the end, you put the positive and negative forms together. This is a very common question pattern in Chinese.
要不要买？(Should you buy it or not?)
有没有钱？(Do you have money or not?)
有没有考试？(Is there an exam or not?)
Proper Nouns
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