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

Exploring how traditional idioms continue to play a role and convey wisdom in modern life.

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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》

小潘: When reading Chinese history books, I often come across four-character phrases like '事半功倍' and '画蛇添足'. They look very special.
刘娜: You’ve discovered a treasure of Chinese — chengyu (idioms)! They are crystallized wisdom passed down from ancient times. For example, '事半功倍' is still used today to praise people who work with high efficiency.
小潘: So idioms are still used! What about '画蛇添足'? I find that story interesting, since snakes don’t have feet.
刘娜: '画蛇添足' is now used to criticize people who do unnecessary things. For example, if your essay is already good and you add content that isn’t needed, I’d say you’re '画蛇添足'.
小潘: Haha, I get it! What about '朝三暮四'? I looked up the story — it’s about monkeys and acorns.
刘娜: Great! But the meaning of '朝三暮四' has changed now. It mainly describes someone who keeps changing their mind, especially someone fickle in relationships. For example, liking one person today and another tomorrow.
小潘: Amazing! Ancient stories can express modern issues. Will learning idioms really make my Chinese more authentic?
刘娜: Of course! Idioms are the essence of Chinese culture. Using them well shows a deep understanding of Chinese. Just make sure to use them in the right context to truly demonstrate your level.

At the start of the term, the school asks students to carry their own books to build work skills and independence.

• Chinese Short Dialogue | Website
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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

小宝: Big brother, why are those kids on TV carrying so many books themselves? Books are heavy!
小刚: Because the school wants them to learn to do things on their own. Before, parents always helped, but now kids should learn to be independent.
小宝: But the books are so heavy—their hands turned red! Doesn’t it hurt?
小刚: It’s a bit tiring, but they’re really happy! See how big their smiles are. Doing things by yourself gives you a strong sense of accomplishment.
小宝: What is a sense of accomplishment?
小刚: It’s the feeling of thinking, “That was great, I’m proud,” after finishing something by yourself—like when you learned to dress yourself.
小宝: Oh! I want to try carrying books too. Can I carry smaller ones?
小刚: Of course! Start with little things, and gradually you’ll be able to do more. Let’s organize the study together!

In Shandong, first-graders with names like 扶苏 and 邕熙 have sparked discussions about a cultural return.

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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

陈花: Lao Huang, did you see the report on new first-graders in Shandong? Many kids have ancient-style names, like 扶苏 and 邕熙.
黄刚: I did. People online say it feels like reading a classical-style novel. It seems the era of names like 子涵 and 梓萱 is really over.
陈花: Yes. In the past, trendy or Western-sounding names were popular; now parents prefer drawing inspiration from the Classic of Poetry and historical figures.
黄刚: This actually reflects a shift in cultural psychology. Names may be a small matter, but they reveal a turn in society’s aesthetics.
陈花: I think it’s great. If a child’s name is poetic, parents can tell stories so the child understands traditional culture better.
黄刚: Right—like telling them which poem the name comes from and what it means. That itself is cultural education.
陈花: But naming still requires real understanding. If it’s just following a trend, the original cultural flavor might be lost again.
黄刚: Exactly. A name carries parents’ hopes, but in the end it takes education and the family environment to realize the beautiful meaning in it.

小美 notices that the weather keeps changing between hot and cold. 李芳 takes the chance to teach her different adjectives to describe the weather and express feelings.

• Chinese Short Dialogue | Website
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• Chinese Short Dialogue | Google Play

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

李芳: Teacher Li, today’s weather is really strange!
小美: Yes, it was cool in the morning, but became hot at noon.
李芳: I kept putting on my jacket and then taking it off.
小美: This kind of weather can be described as 'changing between cold and hot.'
李芳: Then if the sun is strong, can I say 'sunny'?
小美: Yes, you can also say 'bright and sunny.'
李芳: When it rains, I know—I can say 'drizzling' or 'heavy rain.'
小美: Very good, you already know many words for weather.
李芳: So what exactly is today’s weather?
小美: Haha, you can say it’s 'uncertain weather,' a very playful one.

An Indian scholar calls for strengthening China studies and avoiding superficial perspectives.

• Chinese Short Dialogue | Website
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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

小潘: Teacher Liu, I saw the news saying that Indian scholars feel they know too little about China.
刘娜: Yes, they worry that without enough Chinese language skills, it’s hard to truly study China.
小潘: The article said China is like a mirror, allowing India to learn development experiences.
刘娜: That’s right. For example, poverty reduction, industrial development, and technological innovation can all provide useful lessons.
小潘: If they only look at military or trade data, they’ll miss many important aspects.
刘娜: Exactly. That’s why they need more people who know Chinese, who can read original works and understand history and society.
小潘: I think this is similar to my goal of learning Chinese—I hope to become a bridge for cultural exchange in the future.
刘娜: Very good. Your efforts show that language and understanding are key to connecting the two countries.

Discussing how a Chinese TV drama has become a shared memory for audiences over the past decade.

• Chinese Short Dialogue | Website
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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

优子: Teacher Liu, I heard that there’s a Chinese TV drama called 'Nirvana in Fire', and this year marks its 10th anniversary. Why are people still talking about it?
刘娜: Because this drama is more than just entertainment. Many viewers watched it with their families ten years ago, and when they watch it again now, it reminds them of their past life and emotions. It’s like a mirror that makes people recall the past.
优子: I see. It’s like when I watched cartoons with my dad as a child—now when I hear the theme song, I think of him.
刘娜: Exactly. The stories and characters in the drama make people reflect on family, friendship, and even power and choices. That’s why it stays in their memory.
优子: So does that mean this drama has become a cultural phenomenon, not just a TV show?
刘娜: That’s right. Some say it’s like a 'time capsule' where viewers find their past selves and also the strength to face reality.
优子: That sounds really special. I’d like to try watching it. Maybe I can better understand how Chinese people feel about TV dramas.
刘娜: Great, you can start from the first episode. Don’t worry about the language difficulty. Take your time and you’ll understand why it has accompanied a whole generation.

David made an error in operation that caused problems at work. He apologized to 赵强, who accepted the apology and guided him on how to improve and avoid similar mistakes.

• Chinese Short Dialogue | Website
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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

大卫: Manager Zhao, I’m sorry, I sent the wrong email to the client yesterday.
赵强: I already saw the issue. Do you know where the mistake was?
大卫: I didn’t carefully check the recipient list. Next time I’ll be more careful.
赵强: It’s good you know the problem. Remember to double-check beforehand.
大卫: I’m really sorry this time, it affected the client’s experience.
赵强: An apology is necessary, but what’s more important is the solution. How do you plan to fix it?
大卫: I’ve already written an apology email and resent the correct content.
赵强: Good. Learn from it and don’t make the same mistake again.

A Russian official praised traditional Chinese cuisine, showcasing the friendship between China and Russia.

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Learn Chinese | 중국어 배우기 | 中国語を学ぶ | Изучать китайский язык | Học tiếng Trung | Belajar bahasa Mandarin | Aprender chino | تعلم اللغة الصينية

小刚: Xiaobao, did you know? An important Russian official said Chinese food is very delicious!
小宝: Really? They like our food too? I love dumplings the most!
小刚: Yes! When they had a meeting in Tianjin, they ate lots of traditional Chinese dishes and said the taste was excellent.
小宝: What delicious food does Tianjin have? I want to try it!
小刚: Tianjin has Goubuli buns, mahua, and lots of seafood. The fact that foreign friends like our food shows that Chinese cuisine is truly special.
小宝: So if our food is so tasty, does that mean people all over the world want to come to China to eat?
小刚: Maybe! Chinese food isn’t just delicious, it can also bring people from different countries together as friends.

小宝 and 小美 find a backpack in the classroom and guess together whose it is.

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Learn Chinese | 중국어 배우기 | 中国語を学ぶ | Изучать китайский язык | Học tiếng Trung | Belajar bahasa Mandarin | Aprender chino | تعلم اللغة الصينية

小美: 小宝, look, there's a backpack here.
小宝: Hmm, whose backpack is this?
小美: I don't know. Is it the teacher's?
小宝: No, the teacher's backpack is black. This one is red.
小美: Is it 小明's? He likes red.
小宝: No, it's not. 小明's backpack has a panda. This one doesn't.
小美: Then whose classmate's is it?
小宝: Let's go ask the teacher.
小美: Okay, let's go find the teacher together!

小美 is curious about the origin and meaning of her name. 李芳 patiently explains and guides her to discover the beautiful wishes behind it.

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• Chinese Short Dialogue | Google Play

Learn Chinese | 중국어 배우기 | 中国語を学ぶ | Изучать китайский язык | Học tiếng Trung | Belajar bahasa Mandarin | Aprender chino | تعلم اللغة الصينية

小美: Teacher Li, do you know what my name means?
李芳: Of course. In '小美', the character '美' means beautiful or pretty.
小美: Then what about '小'? Is it because I’m small?
李芳: That too, but more often it’s a loving nickname from your family.
小美: Oh, so my name means 'a little bit of beauty'?
李芳: You could understand it that way. It also shows your family’s wish for you to always be lovely and good.
小美: So names can carry blessings too!
李芳: Yes, every name has a story and a heartfelt meaning.
小美: Then Teacher Li, what does your name mean?
李芳: ‘芳’ means fragrance of flowers, and it carries the hope that I can be gentle and fragrant like a flower.