Chat about where friends study Chinese while exploring 哪儿 and 哪里 across Beijing and Shanghai. Practice asking “where”, talking about “here” and “there”, and using the modest reply 哪里哪里 to accept a compliment.
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大山：怎么说“where”？
Dashan: How do you say 'where'?
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小米：哪里！
Xiaomi: 'Nǎlǐ!'
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说“哪里”就可以。
You can just say 'nǎlǐ'.
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我听钱老师说，“where”是“哪儿”。
I heard Teacher Qian say that 'where' is 'nǎr'.
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“哪儿”也可以。
'Nǎr' works too.
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“哪儿”也是“where”。
'Nǎr' is also 'where'.
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你在哪儿学汉语？
Where do you study Chinese?
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大山，你在哪里学汉语？
Dashan, where do you study Chinese?
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北京人喜欢说“哪儿”，上海人喜欢说“哪里”。
Beijing people like to say 'nǎr'; Shanghai people like to say 'nǎlǐ'.
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北京人说“哪儿”。
Beijing people say 'nǎr'.
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那，北京人怎么说“here”和“there”？
Then, how do Beijing people say 'here' and 'there'?
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我觉得老上海人喜欢说“这里”、“那里”和“哪里”，不喜欢说“……
I think older Shanghai people like to say 'zhèlǐ', 'nàlǐ', and 'nǎlǐ', but don't like to say '...
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儿”、“哪儿”、“这儿”和“那儿”。
…r,' 'nǎr,' 'zhèr,' and 'nàr.'
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上海的大学生，“哪里”、“哪儿”都说。
Shanghai college students say both 'nǎlǐ' and 'nǎr'.
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哪里哪里！
'Nǎlǐ, nǎlǐ!' (You flatter me!)
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哪里哪里？
Lao Bao: 'Nǎlǐ, nǎlǐ'?
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我要说“哪里！
I want to say, 'Nǎlǐ!'
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哪里！”
'Nǎlǐ!'
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，也可以说“哪儿！
…and I can also say, 'Nǎr!'
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哪儿！”
'Nǎr!'
Before you read, think about the questions you ask every day. This simple poem shows you how to ask age, price, time, and more in friendly Chinese.
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问日期，几月几？
To ask about the date: What's the date?
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问星期，星期几？
To ask about the day of the week: What day is it?
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问同学，你多大？
To ask a classmate: How old are you?
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问小孩儿，你几岁？
To ask a little kid: How old are you?
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买东西，多少钱？
When shopping: How much is it?
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去吃饭，在哪儿？
Where are we going to eat?
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要看病，去哪里？
Need to see a doctor—where should I go?
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看电视，他是谁？
Who is he on TV?
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新朋友，叫什么？
A new friend—what's their name?
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住哪里？
Where do you live?
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做什么？
What do you do?
Before you read, meet the grandparents! This rhyming chant helps you practice the different names for maternal and paternal grandparents in Chinese. Listen to the beat and repeat.
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宝宝，宝宝，我问你，爸爸的爸爸叫什么？
Baby, baby, let me ask you: what do you call Daddy's daddy?
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爸爸的妈妈叫什么？
What do you call Daddy's mommy?
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宝宝，宝宝，我再问你妈妈的爸爸叫什么？
Baby, baby, let me ask you again: what do you call Mommy's daddy?
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妈妈的妈妈叫什么？
What do you call Mommy's mommy?
This playful rhyme helps you learn family words in Chinese. Practice saying who's who with simple questions and answers!
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小朋友，我问问你，这个小朋友，他是谁？
Little one, let me ask you: who is this little boy?
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那个小孩子，他是谁？
And that little kid—who is he?
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小朋友，我再问你，这个女孩子，她是谁？
Little one, let me ask you again: who is this little girl?
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那个女孩儿，她是谁？
And that little girl—who is she?
This is a short dialogue about a shopping trip. A woman buys many things, including food, drinks, furniture, and pet food, while her boyfriend reminds her not to overspend.
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你正在做什么？”
What are you doing right now?'
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哪个桌椅？”
Which table and chairs?'
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那些桌子、椅子什么的，这个星期都便宜了，都不贵。”
Those tables, chairs, and so on are all cheaper this week—none of them are expensive.'
This playful HSK 1 poem twists words you already know and asks how an hour can be small. Read it aloud and laugh; a fun way to practice Chinese.
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小猫小的猫，小狗小的狗，小学不很小，小时怎么小？
A kitten is a little cat, a puppy is a little dog; primary school isn't very small—so why is 'hour' small?
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分钟钟在哪儿？
Where is the 钟 in 分钟 (minute)?
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多大不“多老”。
For age, you say 多大, not 多老.
This short, simple story follows a shopper's trip to the supermarket to buy apples. You'll learn useful vocabulary for shopping, prices, and comparing things.
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我问超市的人小苹果怎么样？
I asked the staff at the supermarket what the small apples were like.
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我问超市的人那两个苹果是哪里的？
I asked the staff at the supermarket where those two apples were from.
Meet Gao Youpeng, a friendly Beijing coworker who welcomes the narrator with local dishes and a simple language-exchange plan. This warm HSK 2 story is perfect for first readings about work and friendship.
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他说周六可以教我做几个北京菜。
He said he can teach me to make a few Beijing dishes on Saturday.
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我教他英文，他教我中文，每天学几个词，很快，我们的英语和汉语都能好很多。
I teach him English, and he teaches me Chinese. We learn a few words every day, so before long, both our English and Chinese will improve a lot.
Ever wondered where old Beijing's tea-drinking culture has gone? Follow a visitor discovering why locals now avoid famous tea houses—and practice expressing surprise and comparisons in Chinese along the way.
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我问一个老北京哪个茶馆儿最好。
I asked a Beijing native which teahouse was the best.
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因为在那儿可以一边喝茶，一边看表演，看唱歌、跳舞什么的。
Because there you can drink tea while watching performances—singing, dancing, and so on.
A young man helps an old man look for his cat. But the real surprise is why the old man wanted to find the cat. Read on to learn about kindness and friendship.
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谁看见我的大白猫大白，请打电话给三号房间。”
If anyone sees my big white cat, Dabai, please call Room 3.
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白天明问：“老先生，您家里有大白猫，您怎么还要找大白猫呢？”
Bai Tianming asked, 'Sir, you already have a big white cat at home—why are you still looking for one?'
Step through a full day—from morning routines to bedtime—and pick up practical phrases for telling time and talking about your own schedule with a typical Chinese rhyme.
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怎么说时间？
How do you say the time?
In this easy story, you will follow a simple trip to the supermarket to buy apples. Practice numbers, question words, and nationalities in a real-life shopping context.
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我问超市的人那三个苹果是哪里的？
I asked the supermarket staff where those three apples were from.
Before you read, try clapping the rhythm. This poem introduces the days of the week and a fun secret: Chinese has two names for Sunday, but no 'Week Seven'!
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你想知道星期几，可以问他星期几。
If you want to know what day of the week it is, you can ask him.
In this dialogue, two people chat while waiting outside a cinema. You'll hear common phrases for talking about hobbies, sports, and movie preferences.
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Ａ：可以问你几个问题吗？
A: Can I ask you a few questions?
This heartwarming story reveals the quiet devotion of a father. As you read, notice the repeated actions and how a simple cup of tea becomes meaningful.
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大中问：“老先生，您天天坐在这儿看外边，您在看什么呢？”
Dazhong asks, 'Sir, you sit here and look outside every day. What are you looking at?'
Follow a traveler's unexpected hospital stay in China, where counting days and costs becomes practical learning. Practice numbers, dates, food prices, and simple descriptions of a doctor and room.
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什么都要钱，还都不好吃。
They charge you for everything, and none of it even tastes good.
Follow Dazhong, a busy worker in China, as he finds warmth and kindness at a small noodle shop. Practice everyday words for food, weather, and expressing gratitude.
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大中问老先生：“老先生，十点多了，您怎么还没回家？”
Dazhong asks the elderly man, 'Sir, it's past ten. Why haven't you gone home yet?'
Ever noticed how similar Chinese words can be? This rhyme plays with place names and homophones, from schools to hotels, even throwing in Samsung's origin. A lighthearted way to boost your word power.
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星期哪七星？
Which seven stars are in a week?
