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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我在家看天。
I'm at home looking at the sky.
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我坐在门口，看雨。
I sit at the doorway, watching the rain.
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听——我听见雨说话。
Listen — I can hear the rain talking.
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我们，我和雨，说话。
We — the rain and I — are talking.
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雨说：你好，你好。
The rain says, 'Hello, hello.'
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我说：你好，你好。
I say, 'Hello, hello.'
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雨，是我的朋友。
The rain is my friend.
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我是雨的朋友。
I am the rain's friend.
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我喜欢雨。
I like the rain.
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雨喜欢我。
The rain likes me.
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我对雨说：谢谢！
I say to the rain, 'Thank you!'
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谢谢你来看我。
Thank you for coming to see me.
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明天我还来看你。
I'll come see you again tomorrow.
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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问一下儿，你在等人吗？
Quick question: are you waiting for someone?
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我在等朋友看电影。
I'm waiting for a friend to see a movie.
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她去洗手间了。
She went to the restroom.
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Ａ：可以问你几个问题吗？
A: Can I ask you a few questions?
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Ａ：你喜欢踢足球和打篮球吗？
A: Do you like playing soccer and basketball?
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Ｂ：因为我不喜欢运动，所以这两个我都不喜欢。
B: Since I'm not into sports, I don't like either of them.
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我有时会去游泳。
Sometimes I go swimming.
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最近我每周都游两三次，但看电影是我最大的爱好！
Lately I swim two or three times a week, but watching movies is my biggest hobby!
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😄Ａ：你喜欢看老电影还是新电影？
A: Do you prefer watching old movies or new movies?
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我最喜欢看黑白老电影。
My favorite thing is watching old black-and-white movies.
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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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我朋友到了。
My friend is here.
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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我听钱老师说，“where”是“哪儿”。
I heard Teacher Qian say that 'where' is 'nǎr'.
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你在哪儿学汉语？
Where do you study Chinese?
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老包：我在上海学汉语。
Lao Bao: I study Chinese in Shanghai.
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小米：你呢？
Xiaomi: What about you?
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大山，你在哪里学汉语？
Dashan, where do you study Chinese?
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大山：我在北京学汉语。
Dashan: I study Chinese in Beijing.
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小米：你们知道吗？
Xiaomi: Do you all know?
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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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他们也说“这儿”、“那儿”。
They also say 'zhèr' and 'nàr'.
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大山：小米，你的汉语真好。
Dashan: Xiaomi, your Chinese is really good.
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大山说我的汉语很好。
Dashan said my Chinese is very good.
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我要说“哪里！
I want to say, 'Nǎlǐ!'
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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这个小朋友是我哥。
This little boy is my older brother.
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那个小孩子，他是谁？
And that little kid—who is he?
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那个小孩子是我弟。
That little kid is my younger brother.
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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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这个女孩子是我姐。
This little girl is my older sister.
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那个女孩儿，她是谁？
And that little girl—who is she?
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那个女孩儿是我妹。
That little girl is my younger sister.
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哥哥和弟弟，姐姐和妹妹也是我家人，也是好朋友。
My older brother and younger brother, my older sister and younger sister—they are also my family, and good friends too.
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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老先生看看大中，对大中说：“五年前，我儿子也在这家饭店工作。
The old gentleman looks at Dazhong and says, 'Five years ago, my son also worked at this restaurant.'
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他天天晚上九点下班，我坐在七号桌子前看他。
He used to get off work at nine every night, and I would sit at Table 7 and watch him.
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现在，他去北京工作了。
Now he has gone to Beijing to work.
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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.
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他对老先生说：“老先生，您来了！
He says to the old gentleman, 'Sir, you're here!'
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七号桌天天是您的。
Table 7 is yours every day.
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今天，热茶做好了，请您喝。”
Today, the hot tea is ready. Please drink it.'
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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你好！
Hello!
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您好！
Hello, sir/madam!
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大家好！
Hello, everyone!
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看见老师说您好！
When you see a teacher, say 'Hello, sir/madam!'
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先生、女士也说“您”。
Gentlemen and ladies also say '您' (the polite form of 'you').
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你好！
Hello!
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您好！
Hello, sir/madam!
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家人、朋友关系好，“谢谢”、“您”、“请”太客气，在家说话不客气，可以不说“您和请”。
With family and close friends, 'thank you,' '您,' and 'please' are too formal. At home, people speak informally, so you don't have to say '您' or 'please'.
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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高先明对老先生说：“谢谢您！
Gao Xianming said to the old gentleman, 'Thank you!'
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我明天给您钱。”
'I'll give you the money tomorrow.'
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有人没有钱坐车，你给他这五块钱吧。”
If someone doesn't have money for the bus, give them this five yuan.
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我明天给你钱。”
'I'll give you the money tomorrow.'
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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看电视，他是谁？
Who is he on TV?
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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大中吃好面条，都对老先生说：“谢谢您，面条很好吃。”
After finishing the noodles, Dazhong says to the elderly man, 'Thank you. The noodles are delicious.'
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老先生对大中说：“你来了！
The elderly man says to Dazhong, 'You're here!'
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老先生对大中说：“我知道你天天晚上都来。
The elderly man says to Dazhong, 'I know you come every evening.'
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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我的大白猫叫‘大白'。
My big white cat is named Dabai.
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听见有人和我说话，我觉得非常高兴。”
When I hear someone talking with me, I feel very happy.
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白天明对老先生说：“老先生，我天天都来这里和您说话。
Bai Tianming said to the old man, 'Sir, I'll come here every day to talk with you.'
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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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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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.
Meet Xiao Shang, who is heading back to Shanghai. She compares two ways to travel and tells us why she prefers the slower one. This story helps you practice comparing transportation in simple Chinese.
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她是中国人。
She is Chinese.
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她的老家是上海。
Her hometown is Shanghai.
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她是上海人。
She is from Shanghai.
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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下雨了，大家都没有回去。
It started to rain, but no one went home.
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明天苹果十九出来了，大家都想做第一个买到苹果十九的人。
The iPhone 19 comes out tomorrow, and everyone wants to be the first to buy one.
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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她们说小苹果非常好吃。
They said the small apples were really delicious.
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她说她不知道。
She said she didn't know.
Welcome! This short poem helps you practice the months, weekdays, and mealtimes in Chinese. Read it aloud and notice the rhythm. You already know many of these words!
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一年十二月，爱你也想你。
A year has twelve months; I love you and miss you too.
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星期一到六，天天喜欢你。
From Monday to Saturday, I like you every day.
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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她说她不知道。
She said she didn't know.
This short story follows a simple shopping trip in Beijing. You will learn words for buying a phone in Chinese.
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在北京的一个商店，我买了一个手机。
I bought a phone at a store in Beijing.
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.
Before you start learning Chinese, master the most important phrases: greetings. This short dialogue shows you how to say hello and goodbye, and how to respond politely.
Enjoy this simple story about a patient and a mysterious apple. It shows how a small act of kindness can make someone feel at home, and you'll learn key words for feelings and daily life.
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桌子上有老先生写的字：“我的朋友，你天天都好！”
On the table was a note written by the old man: "My friend, may you be well every day!"
