This heartwarming story shows how a small act of kindness can be passed on. Follow Gao Xianming as he learns an important lesson about generosity in his new city.
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前边有一个卖水果的老先生。
Up ahead was an old gentleman selling fruit.
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老先生来到高先明前边，给高先明五块钱。
The old gentleman came over to Gao Xianming and gave him five yuan.
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高先明去前边，给安小语五块钱。
Gao Xianming went up to the front and gave An Xiaoyu five yuan.
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有人没有钱坐车，你给他们吧。”
If someone doesn't have money for the bus, give it to them.
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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他一个人坐在那儿，看外边。
He sits there alone, looking outside.
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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?'
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我天天坐在这儿看外边，觉得我儿子还会回来。”
I sit here every day looking outside, feeling that my son will still come back.
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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今天白天的时候，我去我家这边的超市买东西。
Today, during the daytime, I went to the supermarket near my home to buy some groceries.
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她们说小苹果非常好吃。
They said the small apples were really delicious.
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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今天我们就要看一个外国黑白老电影。
Today we're going to watch a foreign black-and-white old movie.
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对不起，我们要走了。
Sorry, we have to go.
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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白天明听了，坐在老先生前边。
After hearing this, Bai Tianming sat down in front of the old man.
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我们不找猫了。”
We won't look for the cat anymore.
Read this short story about people waiting in the rain for a new phone. You will practice numbers, time, and everyday vocabulary.
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晚上，我坐出租车去大学那边的苹果商店买手机。
In the evening, I took a taxi to the Apple Store near the university to buy a phone.
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苹果商店外边人很多，一半儿是北京大学的大学生。
There were a lot of people outside the Apple Store; half of them were students from Peking University.
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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小米：你们知道吗？
Xiaomi: Do you all know?
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他们也说“这儿”、“那儿”。
They also say 'zhèr' and 'nàr'.
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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我：“上个星期天，你说你喜欢他们的那个桌子和那个电脑椅。
Me: 'Last Sunday, you said you liked their table and that computer chair.'
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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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.
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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爷爷和奶奶，姥爷和姥姥，他们都爱我，我也爱他们。
Grandpa and Grandma on Dad's side, and Grandpa and Grandma on Mom's side—they all love me, and I love them too.
Before you read, close your eyes and imagine a rainy afternoon. This story uses simple HSK 1 words to show how rain can become a talking friend.
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我们，我和雨，说话。
We — the rain and I — are talking.
Everyday greetings are a gateway to natural Chinese. Practice time-based hellos like “早上好” and “晚安,” learn to address teachers with the respectful “您,” and see how families skip formalities to speak warmly at home.
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这边请，请进请坐请喝茶；
This way, please. Please come in, please sit down, and please have some tea.
