Chinese Short Dialogue | 听中文会话 | 中国語リスニング

Foreign friends come to China for the New Year, wear hanfu, put up Spring Festival couplets, and experience the warmth of reunion.

老外也来过春节 - Foreigners Celebrate Spring Festival Too [HSK 4]Download the app here:

• Chinese Short Dialogue | App Store
• Chinese Short Dialogue | Google Play

Available in 8 languages on the app:

Chinese Listening | 중국어 리스닝 | 中国語リスニング | Аудирование по китайскому языку | Nghe tiếng Trung | Mendengarkan bahasa Mandarin | Escucha en chino | การฟังภาษาจีน | Chinesisches Hören | Écoute du chinois | Ascolto cinese | Audição em chinês | चीनी सुनना | الاستماع إلى اللغة الصينية

《English Translation》

小宝: Big brother, why are the foreigners on TV celebrating Spring Festival too?
小刚: Because Spring Festival is lively, and people can reunite with their families. Everyone likes that kind of warmth.
小宝: What do they do? Do they make dumplings too?
小刚: Yes! They wear hanfu, put up Spring Festival couplets, make dumplings, and even say, “Happy New Year.”
小宝: But they’re not Chinese. Is that okay too?
小刚: Of course it is. Culture can be shared. When you come to China, it’s like being a guest, and following local customs is very interesting.
小宝: Then I want to take them to see lanterns and set off fireworks too!
小刚: Sure! We can also learn their politeness and give blessings together: peace, health, and happiness.

小宝 is wearing new clothes. 小美 thinks they look nice, and they talk about clothes together.

小宝的新衣服 - 小宝's New Clothes [HSK 2]Download the app here:

• Chinese Short Dialogue | App Store
• Chinese Short Dialogue | Google Play

Available in 8 languages on the app:

Chinese Listening | 중국어 리스닝 | 中国語リスニング | Аудирование по китайскому языку | Nghe tiếng Trung | Mendengarkan bahasa Mandarin | Escucha en chino | การฟังภาษาจีน | Chinesisches Hören | Écoute du chinois | Ascolto cinese | Audição em chinês | चीनी सुनना | الاستماع إلى اللغة الصينية

《English Translation》

小美: 小宝, your clothes look really nice!
小宝: Thank you! These are new clothes my mom bought for me.
小美: They’re red. I really like red.
小宝: I like red too. What clothes are you wearing today?
小美: I’m wearing white clothes. Do you think they look good?
小宝: They look great! White looks very clean.
小美: Both of our clothes are very nice.
小宝: Yes! What do you want to wear tomorrow?
小美: I want to wear yellow clothes, like the sun.
小宝: That sounds great! I also want to wear yellow.
小美: Then let’s both wear yellow clothes tomorrow!
小宝: Okay, we’ll look great!

A new employee vomited blood after being pressured to drink, reminding everyone to drink in moderation at group dinners and take responsibility.

年会劝酒差点出大事 - A Toasting Incident at the Company Annual Party Nearly Caused a Disaster [HSK 6]Download the app here:

• Chinese Short Dialogue | App Store
• Chinese Short Dialogue | Google Play

Available in 8 languages on the app:

Chinese Listening | 중국어 리스닝 | 中国語リスニング | Аудирование по китайскому языку | Nghe tiếng Trung | Mendengarkan bahasa Mandarin | Escucha en chino | การฟังภาษาจีน | Chinesisches Hören | Écoute du chinois | Ascolto cinese | Audição em chinês | चीनी सुनना | الاستماع إلى اللغة الصينية

《English Translation》

赵强: Lao Huang, I just saw a news story: a new employee at a company annual party was heavily pressured to drink, downed a whole bottle of red wine in one go, and ended up vomiting until he vomited blood.
黄刚: I saw it too. The doctor said it was massive bleeding caused by a tear at the stomach entrance. The cardia is the entrance to the stomach, and violent vomiting can tear the mucous membrane there.
赵强: That’s scary. A lot of people think it’s normal for vomited red wine to look red, but it turned out to be real blood. If treatment is delayed, it can be dangerous.
黄刚: Exactly. If there are bright red streaks of blood or coffee-ground-colored vomit, you need to go to the hospital immediately. There may also be pain in the chest or upper abdomen. Alcohol irritates the mucous membrane and makes it easier to tear.
赵强: But at company annual parties, when a boss says, “Come on, have one,” new employees often find it hard to refuse. How can this kind of workplace pressure be solved?
黄刚: The simplest way is to set rules first: the company should clearly state “no pressuring people to drink, and drinks can be replaced with non-alcoholic beverages,” so the choice goes back to the individual. Saving face should not come before health.
赵强: And I remember that if something happens after pressuring someone to drink, the person doing the pressuring may also be held responsible—for example, forcing someone to drink, urging them even when you know they shouldn’t, or not making sure they get home safely when they’re drunk.
黄刚: That’s right. Group dinners can be lively, but the bottom line is safety. If you really want to lead a team well, don’t use alcohol as a loyalty test.

The saying “don’t get a haircut in the first lunar month” originally came from the Han people’s political expression of “missing the old dynasty” during the Qing Dynasty, and was later misheard as the folk taboo “your uncle will die.”

正月为什么不能剃头？ - Why Can’t You Get a Haircut in the First Lunar Month? [HSK 5]Download the app here:

• Chinese Short Dialogue | App Store
• Chinese Short Dialogue | Google Play

Available in 8 languages on the app:

Chinese Listening | 중국어 리스닝 | 中国語リスニング | Аудирование по китайскому языку | Nghe tiếng Trung | Mendengarkan bahasa Mandarin | Escucha en chino | การฟังภาษาจีน | Chinesisches Hören | Écoute du chinois | Ascolto cinese | Audição em chinês | चीनी सुनना | الاستماع إلى اللغة الصينية

《English Translation》

刘娜: Xiaopan, did you know? In China, many people don’t get a haircut during the first lunar month.
小潘: Really? Why? Is it because barber shops are closed?
刘娜: No. People say, “If you get a haircut in the first lunar month, your uncle will die,” so they don’t dare go.
小潘: That sounds very strange. What does an uncle have to do with getting a haircut?
刘娜: Actually, it was not originally “your uncle will die,” but “missing the old dynasty” — meaning longing for the previous dynasty. During the Qing Dynasty, Han people were required to shave their hair, so not getting a haircut in the first lunar month was a way to express their remembrance of the Ming Dynasty.
小潘: Oh! So it was a political reason, not superstition! How did it later become “your uncle will die”?
刘娜: Because the pronunciation in some dialects sounds very similar, “missing the old” was gradually misheard as “uncle dies,” and the meaning changed completely.
小潘: That’s very interesting! It’s like words in historical documents — as they get passed along, their meanings change. Do young people still follow this custom now?
刘娜: Many young people know this is a misunderstanding, but they still wait until the second day of the second lunar month, “Dragon Raises Its Head,” to get a haircut, treating it as an interesting traditional ritual.
小潘: I understand now. Even if a cultural custom comes from a misunderstanding, it can still become a shared memory for everyone. That’s really amazing!

A father allows his son to sleep until noon during winter vacation, sparking thoughts about rest and rules.

寒假可以睡懒觉吗 - Can You Sleep In During Winter Vacation? [HSK 3]Download the app here:

• Chinese Short Dialogue | App Store
• Chinese Short Dialogue | Google Play

Available in 8 languages on the app:

Chinese Listening | 중국어 리스닝 | 中国語リスニング | Аудирование по китайскому языку | Nghe tiếng Trung | Mendengarkan bahasa Mandarin | Escucha en chino | การฟังภาษาจีน | Chinesisches Hören | Écoute du chinois | Ascolto cinese | Audição em chinês | चीनी सुनना | الاستماع إلى اللغة الصينية

《English Translation》

小宝: Brother, can I sleep until noon during winter vacation? I want to sleep until twelve!
小刚: There’s a father in Hebei who lets his son sleep until noon and even tells the family not to disturb him.
小宝: Really? Doesn’t he get angry?
小刚: No. He says children are very tired from school, so they should rest well during the holiday. Home should be a place to relax.
小宝: But what if he’s just playing on his phone and not really sleeping?
小刚: That’s why some people support it, and some don’t. Some say children should keep a routine and shouldn’t stay up too late.
小宝: Brother, what do you think?
小刚: I think sleeping a little more is fine, but you should also exercise and study. Rest is important, but you can’t be too lazy.

As baijiu consumption cools down, young people are placing greater emphasis on health and more relaxed ways of drinking.

年轻人为什么不喝白酒 - Why Young People Don't Drink Baijiu [HSK 5]Download the app here:

• Chinese Short Dialogue | App Store
• Chinese Short Dialogue | Google Play

Available in 8 languages on the app:

Chinese Listening | 중국어 리스닝 | 中国語リスニング | Аудирование по китайскому языку | Nghe tiếng Trung | Mendengarkan bahasa Mandarin | Escucha en chino | การฟังภาษาจีน | Chinesisches Hören | Écoute du chinois | Ascolto cinese | Audição em chinês | चीनी सुनना | الاستماع إلى اللغة الصينية

《English Translation》

赵强: Lao Huang, have you noticed that when we eat with younger colleagues these days, you barely see baijiu on the table?
黄刚: That's true. The news says many young people aren't against drinking itself, they just don't accept the culture of being pressured to drink.
赵强: It's the same at our company. For project celebrations, craft beer and fruit wine are more popular. Everyone feels more relaxed, and efficiency is actually higher.
黄刚: Baijiu used to be too tightly tied to social obligations and networking. For young people who value equality and health, that's too much pressure.
赵强: So I understand why liquor companies are pushing low-alcohol products or co-branding with milk tea, but gimmicks alone won't keep people.
黄刚: Right. The key is the scenario. Drinking should be a lifestyle choice, not a task.
赵强: From a market perspective, whoever truly understands young people's daily lives will have a future.
黄刚: This is also a microcosm of social change: when consumption patterns change, culture has to change with them.

小美 notices that 小宝's hands are very dirty and takes him to the restroom to wash them.

小美教小宝洗手 - 小美 Teaches 小宝 to Wash Hands [HSK 2]Download the app here:

• Chinese Short Dialogue | App Store
• Chinese Short Dialogue | Google Play

Available in 8 languages on the app:

Chinese Listening | 중국어 리스닝 | 中国語リスニング | Аудирование по китайскому языку | Nghe tiếng Trung | Mendengarkan bahasa Mandarin | Escucha en chino | การฟังภาษาจีน | Chinesisches Hören | Écoute du chinois | Ascolto cinese | Audição em chinês | चीनी सुनना | الاستماع إلى اللغة الصينية

《English Translation》

小美: 小宝, your hands are very dirty.
小宝: Really? Let me see. Oh no, they really are dirty!
小美: You need to go to the restroom to wash your hands.
小宝: Where is the restroom?
小美: Over there. I’ll go with you.
小宝: Okay. What should I use to wash?
小美: Use water and soap. First wash your left hand, then your right hand.
小宝: Is this the right way to wash?
小美: Yes, you’re washing them very well. They’re clean now!
小宝: Thank you for teaching me. My hands are really clean!
小美: Remember to wash your hands often from now on!
小宝: Okay, I’ll remember!

俊熙 learns to reply to common comments on social media in simple and natural Chinese, including polite expressions and light humor.

回复粉丝评论 - Replying to Followers’ Comments [HSK 4]Download the app here:

• Chinese Short Dialogue | App Store
• Chinese Short Dialogue | Google Play

Available in 8 languages on the app:

Chinese Listening | 중국어 리스닝 | 中国語リスニング | Аудирование по китайскому языку | Nghe tiếng Trung | Mendengarkan bahasa Mandarin | Escucha en chino | การฟังภาษาจีน | Chinesisches Hören | Écoute du chinois | Ascolto cinese | Audição em chinês | चीनी सुनना | الاستماع إلى اللغة الصينية

《English Translation》

俊熙: Teacher Liu, followers often leave comments, and I don’t know how to reply.
刘娜: That’s okay. Let’s start with something simple. For example, if someone says, “The photos look great.”
俊熙: What can I reply?
刘娜: You can reply, “Thanks for liking them!” or “Thank you for your support!”
俊熙: What if a follower says, “You took the photos so well”?
刘娜: You can be a bit humorous and say, “Haha, thanks, I’m still learning.”
俊熙: What if someone asks for the address?
刘娜: You can politely say, “It’s in the city center. The address is in the comments.”
俊熙: Got it. Replying like this feels very natural.
刘娜: Yes, using “thank you” more often makes your tone sound nice.

China’s national civil service exam has relaxed the age limit, prompting more working professionals to reconsider taking the exam.

35岁后还能考公吗 - Can You Still Take the Civil Service Exam After 35? [HSK 4]Download the app here:

• Chinese Short Dialogue | App Store
• Chinese Short Dialogue | Google Play

Available in 8 languages on the app:

Chinese Listening | 중국어 리스닝 | 中国語リスニング | Аудирование по китайскому языку | Nghe tiếng Trung | Mendengarkan bahasa Mandarin | Escucha en chino | การฟังภาษาจีน | Chinesisches Hören | Écoute du chinois | Ascolto cinese | Audição em chinês | चीनी सुनना | الاستماع إلى اللغة الصينية

《English Translation》

黄刚: Did you see the news? This year the national civil service exam raised the upper age limit to 38. A lot of people say it’s like a new door has opened.
陈花: I saw it, and it really moved me. People used to say “35 is a hurdle,” but with this policy change, it doesn’t feel so absolute anymore.
黄刚: Yeah. I’ve heard colleagues discussing it too. Some people who’ve worked in companies for over ten years have rich experience and are actually quite suited for grassroots work.
陈花: But it must not be easy for them, right? They have to work, take care of family, and still squeeze in time to study—the pressure must be huge.
黄刚: What’s hard isn’t just doing questions, but making choices. Whether to take the exam or not is really about rethinking your life direction.
陈花: I think relaxing the age limit at least shows one thing: society is starting to value ability more, not just age.
黄刚: Right. As long as the rules are fairer, effort has meaning. Even if you don’t necessarily make it, the process itself is worth it.
陈花: Well said. Life isn’t only one road—having one more option is progress in itself.

小美 asks why people wear red during the New Year, and 李芳 explains the auspicious meaning of the color red.

过年为什么穿红色？ - Why Do People Wear Red During Chinese New Year? [HSK 3]Download the app here:

• Chinese Short Dialogue | App Store
• Chinese Short Dialogue | Google Play

Available in 8 languages on the app:

Chinese Listening | 중국어 리스닝 | 中国語リスニング | Аудирование по китайскому языку | Nghe tiếng Trung | Mendengarkan bahasa Mandarin | Escucha en chino | การฟังภาษาจีน | Chinesisches Hören | Écoute du chinois | Ascolto cinese | Audição em chinês | चीनी सुनना | الاستماع إلى اللغة الصينية

《English Translation》

小美: Teacher Li, why does everyone wear red during the New Year?
李芳: Because in China, red often represents happiness and good luck.
小美: Does red really bring good luck?
李芳: Many people believe so. Wearing red during the New Year makes people feel happier and more hopeful.
小美: So red envelopes are also red, right?
李芳: Yes, red envelopes are red to wish children safety and good health.
小美: What other things are also red?
李芳: Spring couplets, lanterns, and paper cuttings are often red. They make everything look lively.
小美: I want to wear a red dress too! Then I’ll be like ‘Lucky 小美’.
李芳: That sounds great! Wearing red feels festive, like wearing blessings on your body.