Mandarin with Stories

HSK2 Dialogue: Halloween! (Ep. 07)

Welcome to Mandarin with Stories. As the spooky season is in full swing, we'll have 2 stories about Halloween for you. Let's get started.
Story 1:你好！今天是万圣节，我们一起去参加活动吧？Nǐ hǎo! Jīntiān shì wànshèngjié, wǒmen yīqǐ qù cānjiā huódòng ba?Hello! Today is Halloween, shall we go join the activities together?
好啊！我很喜欢万圣节的活动，我经常参加！hǎo ā ！ wǒ hěn xǐhuān wànshèngjié de huódòng ，wǒ jīngcháng cānjiā ！Sure! I really like Halloween activities, I often go participate!
我们出门后去南边的广场吧，那里的活动很有意思。Wǒmen chūmén hòu qù nánbian de guǎngchǎng ba, nàli de huódòng hěn yǒuyìsi.After we head out, let's go to the square in the south, the activities there are interesting.
好，听说那里有怪物舞会，还有好吃的南瓜派。Hǎo, tīngshuō nàlǐ yǒu guàiwù wǔhuì, háiyǒu hào chī de nánguā pài.Great, I heard there's a monster ball and delicious pumpkin pie.
真的吗？我好想吃南瓜派，听说味道真不错！Zhēn de ma? Wǒ hǎo xiǎng chī nánguā pài, tīngshuō wèidào zhēn bùcuò!Really? I really want to try pumpkin pie, I heard it tastes really good!
对的，我上次去过，觉得真好吃。Duì de, wǒ shàng cì qùguò, juédé zhēn hǎochī.Yes, I went last time and thought it was really tasty.
我们可以先去广场，再去那边的电影院看电影。Wǒmen kěyǐ xiān qù guǎngchǎng, zài qù nàbiān de diànyǐngyuàn kàn diànyǐng.We can go to the square first, then head to the cinema over there to watch a movie.
好主意！不知道有没有万圣节的电影上映。Hǎo zhǔyì! Bù zhīdào yǒu méiyǒu wànshèngjié de diànyǐng shàngyìng.Good idea! I wonder if there are any Halloween movies showing.
应该有，我们到了再看电影的时间表。Yīnggāi yǒu, wǒmen dàole zài kàn diànyǐng de shíjiān biǎo.There should be, we'll check the showtime when we get there.
听起来计划很不错，我觉得那边的公园也很好玩。Tīng qǐlái jìhuà hěn bùcuò, wǒ juédé nàbiān de gōngyuán yě hěn hǎo wán.Sounds like a great plan, I think the park over there is very fun too.
对，我们可以在那里走走，看看别人变装。Duì, wǒmen kěyǐ zài nàlǐ zǒu zǒu, kàn kàn biérén biànzhuāng.Right, we can walk around there and watch others in costumes.
好想看到一些有趣的装扮，我一定要拍照留念。Hǎo xiǎng kàn dào yīxiē yǒuqù de zhuāngbàn, wǒ yīdìng yào pāizhào liúniàn.I really hope to see some interesting costumes, I must take photos to remember.
你说得对，今天一定要玩得开心，记住这一切！Nǐ shuō dé duì, jīntiān yīdìng yào wán dé kāixīn, jìzhù zhè yīqiè!You're right, let's have fun today and remember everything!
好，那我们出发吧！Hǎo, nà wǒmen chūfā ba!Great, let's set off!
走吧，万圣节快乐！Zǒu ba, wànshèngjié kuàilè!Let's go, happy Halloween!
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Story 2:今天晚上你准备穿什么衣服？Jīntiān wǎnshàng nǐ zhǔnbèi chuān shénme yīfú?What are you planning to wear tonight?
我打算穿一个特别的衣服，你猜猜是什么？Wǒ dǎsuàn chuān yīgè tèbié de yīfú, nǐ cāicāi shì shénme?I'm planning to wear something special, can you guess what it is?
嗯，让我想一想。你是不是要穿动物的衣服？Ng, ràng wǒ xiǎng yī xiǎng. Nǐ shìbùshì yào chuān dòngwù de yīfú?Hmm, let me think. Are you going to wear an animal costume?
不对，不是动物。Bùduì, bù shì dòngwù.No, it's not an animal.
那是一个超级英雄吗？Nà shì yīgè chāojí yīngxióng ma?Is it a superhero?
也不是。虽然我喜欢超级英雄，但是这次我选择了别的。Yě bùshì. Suīrán wǒ xǐhuān chāojí yīngxióng, dànshì zhè cì wǒ xuǎnzéle bié de.Nope. Although I like superheroes, I chose something else this time.
是不是一个历史人物？比如说，电影里面的角色？Shìbùshì yīgè lìshǐ rénwù? Bǐrú shuō, diànyǐng lǐmiàn de juésè?Is it a historical figure? Like a character from a movie?
很接近了，但是不是历史人物。我可以给你一个提示。Hěn jiējìnle, dànshì bùshì lìshǐ rénwù. Wǒ kěyǐ gěi nǐ yīgè tíshì.Very close, but it's not a historical figure. I can give you a hint.
好的，给我一个提示吧。Hǎo de, gěi wǒ yīgè tíshì ba.Okay, give me a hint.
这个角色常常在晚上出没，而且非常有名。Zhège juésè chángcháng zài wǎnshàng chūmò, érqiě fēicháng yǒumíng.This character often appears at night and is very famous.
哦，我知道了！是不是吸血鬼？Ó, wǒ zhīdàole! Shìbùshì xīxuèguǐ?Oh, I got it! Is it a vampire?
对，没错！看样子你很了解我呢。Duì, méi cuò! Kàn yàngzi nǐ hěn liǎojiě wǒ ne.Yes, that's right! You really know me well.
当然了，我知道你喜欢这些神秘的东西。Dāngránle, wǒ zhīdào nǐ xǐhuān zhèxiē shénmì de dōngxī.Of course, I know you like these mysterious things.
是啊，今晚应该会很有趣！Shì a, jīn wǎn yīnggāi huì hěn yǒuqù!Yeah, it should be fun tonight!
没错，一起去看大家的装扮吧！Méi cuò, yīqǐ qù kàn dàjiā de zhuāngbàn ba!Definitely, let's see everyone's costumes together!
 

Dialogue: Talking about nature & parks (Ep. 006)

Welcome to Mandarin with Stories. Today, we'll listen to 2 conversations about going to parks and enjoying nature.  Let's get started.
Story 1:你喜欢自然环境吗？nǐ xǐhuān zìrán huánjìng ma?Do you like the natural environment?
我非常喜欢，尤其是植物和动物。wǒ fēicháng xǐhuān, yóuqí shì zhíwù hé dòngwù.I really like it, especially plants and animals.
我也是。你知道北京的动物园吗？wǒ yě shì. nǐ zhīdao Běijīng de dòngwùyuán ma?Me too. Do you know about the Beijing Zoo?
知道，我常常去那里看动物。不过，北京的天气有时候不太好。zhīdao, wǒ chángcháng qù nàlǐ kàn dòngwù. bùguò, Běijīng de tiānqì yǒushíhòu bù tài hǎo.Yes, I often go there to see the animals. But sometimes the weather in Beijing is not so good.
对，夏天的时候，天气常常太热了。duì, xiàtiān de shíhòu, tiānqì chángcháng tài rè le.Right, in summer, the weather is often too hot.
对，不过秋天的北京，天气非常好。duì, bùguò qiūtiān de Běijīng, tiānqì fēicháng hǎo.Yes, but the weather in Beijing in autumn is very good.
是的，秋天可以去公园走走，看看树上的叶子变成红色的，很好看。shì de, qiūtiān kěyǐ qù gōngyuán zǒuzou, kànkan shù shàng de yèzi biànchéng hóngsè de, hěn hǎokàn.Yes, in autumn you can walk in the park and see the leaves on the trees turn red; it's beautiful.
没错，这就是自然的美。但是冬天有点冷，不是吗？méi cuò, zhè jiùshì zìrán de měi. dànshì dōngtiān yǒudiǎn lěng, bú shì ma?Exactly, that’s the beauty of nature. But it gets a bit cold in winter, doesn’t it?
对，冬天的时候，我喜欢待在家里喝茶，看雪。不过，有时候还是要出去走走，看看冬天的植物。duì, dōngtiān de shíhòu, wǒ xǐhuān dāi zài jiālǐ hē chá, kàn xuě. bùguò, yǒu shíhòu háishì yào chūqù zǒuzou, kànkan dōngtiān de zhíwù.Yes, in winter, I like to stay at home and drink tea while watching the snow. However, sometimes it's nice to go out and see the winter plants.
嗯，是啊，自然环境真的很有趣。有时候我会拍一些照片，留作纪念。ǔm, shì a, zìrán huánjìng zhēn de hěn yǒuqù. yǒu shíhòu wǒ huì pāi yīxiē zhàopiàn, liúzuò jìniàn.Yeah, the natural environment is really interesting. Sometimes I take photos to keep as memories.
那很好！拍照不但是一种记录，也可以帮助我们更好地观察自然。nà hěn hǎo! pāizhào bùdàn shì yī zhǒng jìlù, yě kěyǐ bāngzhù wǒmen gènghǎo de guānchá zìrán.That's great! Taking photos not only records memories but also helps us observe nature better.
对，我觉得大自然里的一切都值得我们去探索和珍惜。duì, wǒ juéde dàzìrán lǐ de yīqiè dōu zhídé wǒmen qù tànsuǒ hé zhēnxī.Yes, I think everything in nature is worth exploring and cherishing.
Story 2:今天白天的天气真好，阳光明媚。Jīntiān báitiān de tiānqì zhēn hǎo, yángguāng míngmèi.Today's weather is really nice, sunny and bright.
是啊，真是好天气，让人很高兴。Shì a, zhēnshì hǎo tiānqì, ràng rén hěn gāoxìng.Yes, such good weather makes people really happy.
你喜欢在这个天气里做什么？Nǐ xǐhuān zài zhège tiānqì lǐ zuò shénme?What do you like to do in this weather?
我喜欢出门散步，去公园玩儿。Wǒ xǐhuān chūmén sànbù, qù gōngyuán wánr.I like to go for a walk and play in the park.
公园里有很多树和花，空气很新鲜。Gōngyuán lǐ yǒu hěnduō shù hé huā, kōngqì hěn xīnxiān.The park has many trees and flowers, the air is fresh.
是的，我常常带着草地上的午饭去那里。Shì de, wǒ chángcháng dàizhe cǎodì shàng de wǔfàn qù nàlǐ.Yes, I often bring my lunch to the grass there.
对了，你知道哪里有好看的地方吗？Duì le, nǐ zhīdào nǎlǐ yǒu hǎokàn de dìfāng ma?By the way, do you know any scenic places?
北边有一个很大的公园，风景不错。Běibian yǒu yīgè hěn dà de gōngyuán, fēngjǐng bùcuò.There's a big park to the north, the views are great.
听起来不错，我们可以去那里散步。Tīng qǐlái bùcuò, wǒmen kěyǐ qù nàlǐ sànbù.Sounds nice, we can take a walk there.
好的，等一下我去拿我的东西。Hǎo de, děng yīxià wǒ qù ná wǒ de dōngxī.Okay, I'll go get my stuff.
快点儿，不然太阳下山了。Kuài diǎnr, bùrán tàiyáng xiàshān le.Hurry up, or the sun will set.
嗯，那我们出发吧车站去吧。Ń, nà wǒmen chūfā dào chēzhàn qù ba.Yeah, let's head to the station.
对，我们坐公共汽车去。Duì, wǒmen zuò gōnggòng qìchē qù.Yes, let's take the bus.
车票我以前买好了。Chēpiào wǒ yǐqián mǎihǎo le.I bought the bus tickets earlier.
谢谢你，真的很周到。Xièxiè nǐ, zhēn de hěn zhōudào.Thank you, that's very considerate.
不客气，为朋友做点事情嘛。Bùkèqì, wèi péngyǒu zuò diǎn shìqíng ma.You're welcome, it's nice to do something for friends.
车来了，我们快上车吧。Chē lái le, wǒmen kuài shàng chē ba.Here comes the bus, let's get on.
好，这趟车真的很快。Hǎo, zhè tàng chē zhēnde hěn kuài.Okay, this bus is really fast.
是的，很快就到公园了。Shì de, hěn kuài jiù dào gōngyuán le.Yes, we'll be at the park soon.
到了，我们下车吧。Dào le, wǒmen xià chē ba.We're here, let's get off.
看，草地真的很绿。Kàn, cǎodì zhēnde hěn lǜ.Look, the grass is really green.
对啊，这里的环境很干净。Duì a, zhèlǐ de huánjìng hěn gānjìng.Yeah, the environment here is clean.
那我们在这里休息一会儿。Nà wǒmen zài zhèlǐ xiūxí yīhuìr.Let's rest here for a bit.
好主意，真舒服。Hǎo zhǔyì, zhēn shūfú.Good idea, it's really comfortable.
我觉得这个地方越来越让人喜欢。Wǒ juédé zhège dìfāng yuèláiyuè ràng rén xǐhuān.I feel like this place is growing on me.
我也是，真想天天来。Wǒ yěshì, zhēn xiǎng tiāntiān lái.Me too, I wish I could come every day.
对了，明天的天气预报是什么？Duì le, míngtiān de tiānqì yùbào shì shénme?By the way, what's the weather forecast for tomorrow?
天气预报说明天也会是晴天。Tiānqì yùbào shuō míngtiān yě huì shì qíngtiān.The forecast says it will be sunny tomorrow as well.
 

Dialogue: Talking about health; Coffee chat at work (Ep. 005)

Welcome to Mandarin with Stories. Todays first dialogue will be a conversation about staying healthy. The second conversation will be a casual chat between two colleagues in an office. The vocabulary is based on SUBTLEX-500 (500 most common words in movie subtitles).
 
 
Story 1 in Chinese / Pinyin: ​你最近身体怎么样？听说你去医院了。Nǐ zuìjìn shēntǐ zěnme yàng? Tīng shuō nǐ qù yīyuàn le.
是啊，我生病了。不得不去看医生。Shì a, wǒ shēngbìng le. Bùdé bù qù kàn yīshēng.
医生怎么说？有没有问题？Yīshēng zěnme shuō? Yǒu méiyǒu wèntí?
医生说没太大问题，只是需要休息一下。Yīshēng shuō méi tài dà wèntí, zhǐshì xūyào xiūxí yīxià.
那就好。医院的医生都很专业吧？Nà jiù hǎo. Yīyuàn de yīshēng dōu hěn zhuānyè ba?
是的，他们非常耐心，对病人也很关心。Shì de, tāmen fēicháng nàixīn, duì bìngrén yě hěn guānxīn.
你要记得多休息，注意健康。Nǐ yào jìde duō xiūxí, zhùyì jiànkāng.
谢谢，我会的。你呢，最近怎么样？Xièxie, wǒ huì de. Nǐ ne, zuìjìn zěnme yàng?
我很好，也尽量保持健康，常常去锻炼。Wǒ hěn hǎo, yě jǐnlì liú bǎochí jiànkāng, chángcháng qù duànliàn.
真好，我们都要加油保持身体健康！Zhēnhǎo, wǒmen dōu yào jiāyóu bǎochí shēntǐ jiànkāng!
​
Story 1 in English: ​How have you been lately? I heard you went to the hospital.Yes, I got sick and had to see a doctor.What did the doctor say? Is everything okay?The doctor said it's nothing major, just need to rest.That's good to hear. Are the doctors at the hospital professional?Yes, they are very patient and caring towards the patients.Remember to rest more and pay attention to your health.Thank you, I will. How about you, how have you been?I'm good. I'm also trying to stay healthy by exercising often.That's great, let's keep up our health efforts!​
Story 2 in Chinese/Pinyin: ​你在公司工作多久了？Nǐ zài gōngsī gōngzuò duōjiǔ le?
我在这家公司工作三年了。你呢？Wǒ zài zhèjiā gōngsī gōngzuò sān nián le. Nǐ ne?
我今年刚开始在公司上班。你觉得这里的工作环境怎么样？Wǒ jīnnián gāng kāishǐ zài gōngsī shàngbān. Nǐ juéde zhèlǐ de gōngzuò huánjìng zěnme yàng?
我觉得这里的工作环境挺好的，大家都很友好，工作也很有挑战性。Wǒ juéde zhèlǐ de gōngzuò huánjìng tǐng hǎo de, dàjiā dōu hěn yǒuhǎo, gōngzuò yě hěn yǒu tiǎozhàn xìng.
是的，我也觉得同事们都很乐于帮忙。你通常几点下班？Shì de, wǒ yě juéde tóngshìmen dōu hěn lèyú bāngmáng. Nǐ tōngcháng jǐ diǎn xiàbān?
我一般六点下班，不过有时候需要加班。Wǒ yībān liù diǎn xiàbān, búguò yǒu shíhòu xūyào jiābān.
跟我一样。你在公司负责什么工作？Gēn wǒ yīyàng. Nǐ zài gōngsī fùzé shénme gōngzuò?
我负责项目管理。这个工作让我学到了很多，虽然有时候很忙。Wǒ fùzé xiàngmù guǎnlǐ. Zhège gōngzuò ràng wǒ xué dào le hěn duō, suīrán yǒu shíhòu hěn máng.
听起来很不错。我还是新人，现在在学习各种工作流程。Tīng qǐlái hěn búcuò. Wǒ hái shì xīnrén, xiànzài zài xuéxí gèzhǒng gōngzuò liúchéng.
没关系，慢慢来。有什么需要帮忙的可以找我。Méi guānxi, mànmàn lái. Yǒu shénme xūyào bāngmáng de kěyǐ zhǎo wǒ.
谢谢你！对了，你中午一般在哪里吃饭？Xièxiè nǐ! Duìle, nǐ zhōngwǔ yībān zài nǎlǐ chīfàn?
我常常去公司附近的饭馆，也有时候自己带饭。你呢？Wǒ chángcháng qù gōngsī fùjìn de fànguǎn, yě yǒu shíhòu zìjǐ dài fàn. Nǐ ne?
我一般带午餐，但偶尔也去外面吃。Wǒ yībān dài wǔcān, dàn ǒu'ěr yě qù wàimiàn chī.
大家一起用午饭的时候也可以聊聊天，放松一下。Dàjiā yīqǐ yòng wǔfàn de shíhòu yě kěyǐ liáotiān tiān, fàngsōng yīxià.
对，我真的很喜欢在这里工作。Duì, wǒ zhēnde hěn xǐhuān zài zhèlǐ gōngzuò.
好啊，那我们下次一起吃午饭吧。Hǎo a, nà wǒmen xià cì yīqǐ chī wǔfàn ba.
好主意！下次见！Hǎo zhǔyì! Xià cì jiàn!
下次见！Xià cì jiàn!
​
Story 2 in English: ​How long have you been working at the company?I've been working at this company for three years. How about you?I just started working here this year. How do you find the work environment here?I think the work environment here is quite good, everyone is friendly, and the work is challenging.Yes, I also find everyone willing to help. What time do you usually get off work?I usually get off work at six, but sometimes I need to work overtime.Same here. What do you handle at the company?I'm in charge of project management. This job has taught me a lot, although it's busy at times.Sounds great. I'm still a newbie, learning the various workflows.No worries, take your time. If you need any help, just ask me.Thank you! By the way, where do you usually have lunch?I often go to a restaurant nearby, and sometimes I bring my own lunch. How about you?I generally bring lunch, but occasionally I eat out.Having lunch together is also a good time to chat and relax a bit.Yes, I really like working here.Great, let's have lunch together next time.Great idea! See you next time!See you next time!

HSK 2 Dialogue (Episode 004)

For this episode, listen to an HSK 2 level dialogue that is happening at a train station. Open the transcript to follow the story live, or find the story in Chinese and English below:
 
Story in Chinese:
今天我是第一次坐中国的高铁，有点兴奋。你呢？你坐过高铁吗？当然，我常常坐高铁。它很快，也很方便。我刚到车站，还不太懂怎么找到我的车厢和座位。没关系，我可以帮你。你有车票吗？让我看看。有的，这就是我的车票。哦，你要去北京。你的车厢在八号，上车后往右边走。谢谢你。车上有没有什么我需要注意的地方？车上有茶和小吃，也有很舒服的座位。你可以看看。如果需要，还可以请服务员帮忙。太好了，我等不及要体验一下了。你也上车吗？对，我也是去北京。我们可以一起走。好啊，那就麻烦你带路了。不客气，走吧。
 
Story in English:
Today is my first time taking a bullet train in China. I'm a bit excited. How about you? Have you taken a bullet train before?Of course, I often take the bullet train. It's very fast and convenient.I just arrived at the station and I'm not sure how to find my carriage and seat.No worries, I can help you. Do you have your ticket? Let me see.Yes, here is my ticket.Oh, you're going to Beijing. Your carriage is number eight. Once you board, head to the right.Thank you. Is there anything I should pay attention to on the train?There's tea and snacks available on the train, and the seats are very comfortable. You can take a look. If you need anything, you can ask the attendants for help.Great, I can't wait to experience it. Are you also getting on the train?Yes, I'm also going to Beijing. We can walk together.Okay, then please lead the way.You're welcome, let's go.
 
Story in Pinyin:
Jīntiān wǒ shì dì yī cì zuò zhōngguó de gāotiě, yǒu diǎn xīngfèn. Nǐ ne? Nǐ zuò guò gāotiě ma?Dāngrán, wǒ chángcháng zuò gāotiě. Tā hěn kuài, yě hěn fāngbiàn.Wǒ gāng dào chēzhàn, hái bù tài dǒng zěnme zhǎodào wǒ de chēxiāng hé zuòwèi.Méiguānxì, wǒ kěyǐ bāng nǐ. Nǐ yǒu chēpiào ma? Ràng wǒ kàn kàn.Yǒu de, zhè jiùshì wǒ de chēpiào.Ó, nǐ yào qù běijīng. Nǐ de chēxiāng zài bā hào, shàng chē hòu wǎng yòubiān zǒu.Xièxiè nǐ. Chē shàng yǒu méiyǒu shénme wǒ xūyào zhùyì de dìfāng?Chē shàng yǒu chá hé xiǎochī, yěyǒu hěn shūfú de zuòwèi. Nǐ kěyǐ kàn kàn. Rúguǒ xū yào, hái kěyǐ qǐng fúwùyuán bāngmáng.Tài hǎo le, wǒ děng bùjí yào tǐyàn yīxià le. Nǐ yě shàng chē ma?Duì, wǒ yě shì qù běijīng. Wǒmen kěyǐ yīqǐ zǒu.Hǎo a, nà jiù máfan nǐ dàilù le.Bù kèqì, zǒu ba.

HSK 1 Vocabulary Story (Episode 003)

Discover the third episode of Mandarin with Stories. Open the transcript to follow the story live, or find the story in Chinese and English below:
 
Story in Chinese:
在一个晴朗的白天天，八个小朋友在公园里一起玩儿。他们的名字是小明、小红、小刚、丽丽、杰克、玛丽、阿里和蒂姆。小明说：“我们来踢球吧！”其他小朋友都同意。小明拿出一个红色的足球，放在地上。他们开始踢球，玩得非常高兴。 
踢了一会儿，小朋友们累了。他们坐在一起休息，喝水，吃面包。小红说：“踢球真好玩儿！我最喜欢足球。”小刚点头说：“我也喜欢。” 
休息好了，他们又站起来准备去爬山。小明说：“听说山上风景很好，我们去那里看看吧。”小朋友们都说好。 
他们一路走，一边说笑。小刚看到一个爷爷在前边走路，他过去说：“爷爷，你好，请问这里去山顶怎么走？”爷爷笑着告诉他们：“你们往左边走，一直走就到了。” 
小朋友们谢谢爷爷，然后继续走。不久，他们到了山顶，看到风景真的很美。有山有水，还有树，大家都高兴极了。小红兴奋地说：“快看，那边有一只小鸟！”大家一起看过去，看到一只美丽的小鸟在树上唱歌。丽丽说：“这真是一个好地方，下次我还想来！” 
太阳开始西落，小朋友们决定回家。大家一起走下山，路上谈着今天的愉快经历。最后，他们在公园门口分别，约好明天再见面。
 
Story in English:
On a sunny day, eight children were playing together in the park. Their names were Xiaoming, Xiaohong, Xiaogang, Lili, Jack, Mary, Ali, and Tim. Xiaoming said, “Let's play soccer!” The others agreed. Xiaoming took out a red soccer ball and placed it on the ground. They started playing and were very happy.
After a while, the children got tired. They sat together to rest, drink water, and eat bread. Xiaohong said, “Playing soccer is really fun! I like soccer the most.” Xiaogang nodded, “I like it too.”
Once they were rested, they got up to prepare to climb the hill. Xiaoming said, “I heard there's great scenery on the hill, let's go see it.” The children all agreed.
They walked and chatted along the way. Xiaogang saw an old man walking ahead and went up to him, “Hello, grandpa, could you please tell us how to get to the hilltop?” The old man smiled and told them, “Go left, then straight ahead and you'll be there.”
The children thanked the old man and continued walking. Soon, they reached the hilltop and indeed found the scenery to be beautiful. There were mountains, water, and trees; everyone was thrilled. Xiaohong excitedly said, “Look, there's a little bird over there!” They all looked and saw a beautiful little bird singing on a tree. Lili said, “This is such a nice place, I want to come again next time!”
The sun began to set in the west, and the children decided to go home. They walked down the hill together, talking about their delightful experiences of the day. At last, they parted at the park gate, promising to meet again the next day.

HSK 1 Vocabulary Story (Episode 002)

Discover the second episode of Mandarin with Stories. Open the transcript to follow the story live, or find the story in Chinese and English below:
 
Story in Chinese:
在一个阳光明媚的早上，爸爸、妈妈和他们的两个孩子，小明和小红，决定去北京旅行。他们先坐火车来到北京。小明很喜欢火车，他一直问：“妈妈，我们什么时候到北京？”妈妈笑着说：“快了，再等等。”
到了北京，他们坐出租车去酒店。爸爸问司机：“请问，这里去天安门要多久？”司机回答：“不用很久，大约十分钟。”
在酒店休息了一下，他们决定去天安门边上。小红看到很多人在广场上走路，她对爸爸说：“爸爸，我想在这里拍照。”爸爸说：“好，我们一起拍。”
中午，他们去一家有名的饭店吃饭。小明看到菜单上有很多菜，他说：“我都想吃，好多有名的菜！”小红喜欢吃包子，她点了很多包子。妈妈也很开心，因为这些菜都很好吃。
晚上，大家回到酒店房间。小明已经累了，妈妈说：“早点睡觉，明天我们去动物园。”小明高兴地说：“好！我爱动物园。”
第二天，早饭后，他们出发去动物园。一路上，大家都很高兴。爸爸看到一只小猴子，觉得很有趣，他惊讶地说：“真可爱，大家快看！”小红也很喜欢，还给小猴子拍了很多照片。
旅游结束后，他们回家。小红说：“这次旅行我很高兴，北京真是一个好地方。”全家都觉得这次旅行非常开心。
 
Story in English:
On a sunny morning, Dad, Mom, and their two children, Xiaoming and Xiaohong, decided to travel to Beijing. They first took a train to Beijing. Xiaoming likes trains a lot and kept asking, "Mom, when will we arrive in Beijing?" Mom smiled and said, "Soon, just wait a bit longer."
When they arrived in Beijing, they took a taxi to the hotel. Dad asked the driver, "Excuse me, how long does it take to get to Tiananmen?" The driver replied, "Not long, about ten minutes."
After resting a bit at the hotel, they decided to visit around Tiananmen. Xiaohong saw many people walking on the square and said to Dad, "Dad, I want to take a photo here." Dad said, "Okay, let's take one together."
At noon, they went to a famous restaurant to eat. Xiaoming saw many dishes on the menu and said, "I want to eat them all, so many famous dishes!" Xiaohong liked to eat steamed buns, so she ordered a lot of them. Mom was also happy because the food was really delicious. 
In the evening, everyone returned to the hotel room. Xiaoming was already tired, and Mom said, "Go to bed early, tomorrow we will go to the zoo." Xiaoming happily said, "Okay! I love the zoo." 
The next day, after breakfast, they set out for the zoo. Everyone was happy along the way. Dad saw a little monkey and found it very interesting. He exclaimed, "So cute, everyone look!" Xiaohong liked it too and took many photos of the little monkey. 
After the trip, they went home. Xiaohong said, "I am very happy with this trip, Beijing is truly a great place." The whole family felt very happy with the trip.

HSK 1 Vocabulary Story (Episode 001)

Discover the first episode of Mandarin with Stories. Open the transcript to follow the story live, or find the story in Chinese and English below:
 
Story in Chinese:
小明是小学生。他住在北京。小明每天早上六点起床。他有弟弟，叫小文。
小明喜欢吃早饭。他喜欢包子和鸡蛋。吃完早饭，小明和弟弟去学校。他们的学校很大，有很多学生和老师。老师喜欢小明，因为小明很认真。
下午，小明和弟弟回家。走路十分钟到家。妈妈准备好了午饭。午饭有米饭、肉和菜。
吃完午饭，小明做作业。他的弟弟看电视。小明喜欢看书。爸爸六点回家。爸爸很忙，但他会和小明聊天。
晚上，全家一起吃饭。他们在客厅看电视。小明喜欢听故事。爸爸讲故事给小明听。九点，小明和弟弟上床睡觉。
 
Story in English:
Xiao Ming is an elementary school student. He lives in Beijing. Xiao Ming gets up at six every morning. He has a brother named Xiao Wen.
Xiao Ming likes breakfast. He likes steamed buns and eggs. After breakfast, Xiao Ming and his brother go to school. Their school is very big, with many students and teachers. The teacher likes Xiao Ming because he is very diligent.
In the afternoon, Xiao Ming and his brother go home. It takes ten minutes to walk home. Mom has prepared lunch. Lunch includes rice, meat, and vegetables.
After lunch, Xiao Ming does his homework. His brother watches TV. Xiao Ming likes to read books. Dad comes home at six. He is very busy but chats with Xiao Ming.
In the evening, the whole family eats together. They watch TV in the living room. Xiao Ming likes listening to stories. Dad tells stories to Xiao Ming. At nine, Xiao Ming and his brother go to bed.