A very simple dining experience. Ordering rice and water, and finding the food very good.
Key Vocabulary:
- 饭馆 (fàn guǎn): Restaurant
- 米饭 (mǐ fàn): Rice
- 喝 (hē): Drink
- 水 (shuǐ): Water
Reader Level: HSK 1
My Friend | 我的朋友
Introducing Mary, a good friend from America. She is a student, she is beautiful, and she speaks excellent Chinese.
Key Vocabulary
- 朋友 (péng you): Friend
- 学生 (xué sheng): Student
- 漂亮 (piào liang): Beautiful
- 汉语 (hàn yǔ): Chinese language
Buying Clothes | 买衣服
Finding a pretty piece of clothing that is just too big. Asking the shopkeeper for a smaller size and finding out the price.
Key Vocabulary:
- 衣服 (yī fu): Clothes
- 漂亮 (piào liang): Pretty
- 多少钱 (duō shao qián): How much money? (Implied in context)
- 大 (dà) / 小 (xiǎo): Big / Small
Making a Phone Call | 打电话
Looking for Mr. Wang. A brief phone conversation finding out that he isn’t home, but will return later in the afternoon.
Key Vocabulary:
- 打电话 (dǎ diànhuà): Make a phone call
- 先生 (xiān sheng): Mr.
- 喂 (wéi): Hello (on phone)
- 什么时候 (shénme shíhou): When
My Table | 我的桌子
A description of a study area. Locating items in relation to the table: computer on top, chair in front, books behind.
Key Vocabulary:
- 桌子 (zhuō zi): Table
- 电脑 (diàn nǎo): Computer
- 前面 (qián miàn): In front
- 后面 (hòu miàn): Behind
Going to the Train Station | 去火车站
A very short conversation inside a taxi. Stating the destination (train station), asking the time, and saying goodbye.
Key Vocabulary:
- 出租车 (chū zū chē): Taxi
- 火车站 (huǒ chē zhàn): Train station
- 几点 (jǐ diǎn): What time?
- 再见 (zài jiàn): Goodbye
It Rained | 下雨了
The weather is cold and rainy, so it’s a perfect day to stay inside. A very simple story about skipping school to drink tea at home.
Key Vocabulary:
- 下雨 (xià yǔ): To rain
- 天气 (tiān qì): Weather
- 冷 (lěng): Cold
- 喝茶 (hē chá): Drink tea
My Day | 我的一天
A simple timeline of a morning routine. Eating at 7, going to school at 8, and reading books.
Key Vocabulary:
- 上午 (shàng wǔ): Morning
- 点 (diǎn): O’clock
- 吃饭 (chī fàn): To eat
- 学校 (xué xiào): School
I Like Fruit | 我喜欢水果
A quick trip to the store to look at fruit. The apples are big and red. I like apples, but I don’t like tea.
Key Vocabulary:
- 苹果 (píng guǒ): Apple
- 商店 (shāng diàn): Store
- 红色 (hóng sè): Red
- 水果 (shuǐ guǒ): Fruit
My Family | 我的家
Meet a simple family of three: a doctor dad, a teacher mom, and me. Oh, and don’t forget the small cat!
Key Vocabulary:
- 医生 (yī shēng): Doctor
- 老师 (lǎo shī): Teacher
- 猫 (māo): Cat
- 岁 (suì): Years old