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

A discussion on the controversy over Abbot Shi Yongxin's commercialization of the Shaolin Temple.

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《English Translation》

黄刚: Hua’er, did you watch the news today? Abbot Shi Yongxin of the Shaolin Temple is under investigation for allegedly misappropriating temple assets and violating monastic precepts… What do you think?
陈花: Yes, I saw it too. He’s the first abbot to earn an MBA degree, leading Shaolin Temple into business—selling medicine, running online shops, even doing livestream sales. That alone has been quite controversial.
黄刚: Exactly, business and Buddhism should be two parallel lines. At first, he might have done it to promote Shaolin culture, but later it seems he went astray, especially with issues about his private life. It’s really shocking.
陈花: That reminds me of the saying, ‘A gentleman loves wealth but acquires it by proper means.’ As an abbot, he should set an example. How could he become a slave to greed?
黄刚: Right, Shaolin Temple is an ancient Buddhist sanctuary, yet now it’s tied up with commercial interests, and the essence of its culture is being overlooked. It really makes one think about how to balance tradition and modern business.
陈花: I hope that after this incident, Shaolin Temple can truly return to its original intentions and find a balance between cultural heritage and development.

刘娜 and 小潘 talk about their favorite films and TV shows, sharing their thoughts on the Chinese historical drama 'The Advisors Alliance'.

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《English Translation》

刘娜: 小潘, what movies or TV shows do you usually like to watch?
小潘: I really like watching Chinese historical dramas, such as 'The Advisors Alliance'!
刘娜: Oh, I've seen that show too. The story is very exciting, right?
小潘: Yes! I think the character portrayals are very detailed, and the historical details are rich.
刘娜: Which character do you like the most?
小潘: I like Sima Yi the most. He's very smart and patient.
刘娜: Me too. Does watching this kind of TV series help you learn Chinese?
小潘: Yes, it helps. I can learn a lot of historical vocabulary and practice listening.
刘娜: Very good. In the future, we can discuss the historical content in the drama together when we have time.
小潘: That's great, teacher. Thank you!

The sports authority emphasizes that health and fairness are more important than just pursuing gold medals.

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《English Translation》

小宝: Brother, why does everyone on TV say we must win gold medals? Are gold medals that important?
小刚: Gold medals are impressive, but recently the National Sports Administration said we shouldn’t only focus on gold medals — everyone’s health and happiness matter too.
小宝: So it’s okay not to win gold medals? Then what’s the point of competitions?
小刚: Competitions can help us exercise and make friends. The most important thing in sports is participation and improvement, not necessarily being number one.
小宝: I like running, but I’m slow. Is that okay?
小刚: Of course it’s okay! If you work hard, you’re the best. As long as you enjoy exercising, everyone is a champion.
小宝: Then I’ll do more exercise with my friends from now on and not worry about winning medals.

The reasons for the unusually high number of cicadas this year and an explanation of the cicada 'dripping water' phenomenon.

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《English Translation》

小宝: Brother, there are so many cicadas outside, they’re so noisy that I can’t sleep at night.
小刚: Yes, there are especially many cicadas this year. I saw on the news that this year is a ‘big year’ for cicadas.
小宝: What’s a ‘big year’?
小刚: A ‘big year’ is when many cicadas emerge at the same time. In other years, there are fewer.
小宝: There’s water dripping under the trees — what’s that?
小刚: That’s cicada urine. They drink tree sap, and their urine drips down. It’s actually harmless to us.
小宝: Oh, I see. So when will there be fewer cicadas?
小刚: When summer is over and the weather gets cooler, the cicadas will disappear. Then it will be much quieter.

Starbucks opens study areas in multiple locations, allowing customers to use seats and facilities without making a purchase.

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《English Translation》

优子: Teacher Liu, have you heard? Some Starbucks stores in Guangdong, Guangxi, and other places have opened study areas where you can sit and study without even buying coffee, and still use free Wi-Fi and power outlets.
刘娜: I just saw the news about that — I think it’s pretty interesting. Starbucks has always emphasized the ‘third place’, but completely opening seats for free is a first. Do you think this might affect normal business?
优子: I’m a bit curious — if we don’t order drinks, would the store still welcome us to stay for a long time? But the staff said they don’t require purchases, which sounds quite relaxed.
刘娜: Actually, this could be seen as a cultural phenomenon. Coffee shops in China are becoming more like ‘shared study rooms’, offering quiet corners for people. Now that it’s summer vacation, many students might need to review for exams.
优子: Right. In Japan, if you sit in a coffee shop for a long time without ordering, the staff might remind you. China’s open approach feels like a kind of ‘hospitality’. But do you think some people might just come for the air conditioning and Wi-Fi?
刘娜: Hard to say. Some might worry that this would leave no seats for paying customers. But Starbucks has always wanted people to gather, study, and talk here, showing inclusiveness. Would you like to give it a try?
优子: I’m kind of tempted! But I’m also wondering — will this model spread to more cities in the future? And if no one orders, can coffee shops still make money?
刘娜: That’s exactly the question to think about. Maybe Starbucks is exploring a new model for social and study spaces. In any case, such spaces certainly make things more convenient for learners.

赵强 assigns David his first market research task, emphasizing the KPI targets and deadline, and instructs him to record any issues for timely feedback.

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《English Translation》

赵强: David, you're responsible for this market research task.
大卫: Okay, Manager Zhao. Where should I start?
赵强: The focus is on collecting user feedback on our products. The KPI is 30 valid questionnaires.
大卫: Understood. Is there a deadline?
赵强: Complete it within three days and submit the report by 5 p.m. on Friday.
大卫: If I encounter problems, can I ask you at any time?
赵强: Record any issues you encounter, organize them clearly, and then report them together.
大卫: Got it. I'll follow the requirements and complete the task on time.

The health risks and mindset conflicts when elderly people refuse to use air conditioning in hot weather.

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《English Translation》

优子: Teacher Liu, the news recently said that many elderly people don’t turn on the air conditioner in the summer even when it’s very hot, saying they can ‘tough it out.’ What do you think?
刘娜: Yes, this is actually a common mindset among the older generation in China — they believe saving electricity is a virtue. But not using AC in extreme heat is really dangerous. Not long ago, an elderly person in Nanjing died of heatstroke, even though there was an air conditioner at home, but they didn’t want to use it.
优子: I saw in reports that many elderly people are afraid of wasting money, and some don’t want to bother their children to help turn it on. But doctors say that older people are more prone to heatstroke, and the danger is greater than we imagine.
刘娜: Right, the elderly have reduced body temperature regulation and slower perception of heat. They might not feel hot, but their body temperature is already high. Did you know? Last year, more than 10,000 people nationwide died from heat, and 70% were elderly.
优子: Actually, Japan has the same problem. Many Japanese elderly also avoid using AC for reasons of frugality or belief, and every year there are reports of hospitalization or death due to heatstroke.
刘娜: Exactly. Traditional Chinese medicine also says ‘live in harmony with the seasons.’ Families should care more for the elderly — it’s not enough just to buy an air conditioner, they must remind and help them use it. Health is more important than saving money.
优子: Hearing you say this makes me want to check on my mom more. We really can’t let ‘being frugal’ turn into ‘too late.’

Xiaobao's book is missing. Xiaomei and Xiaobao search for it together in the room.

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《English Translation》

小宝: Xiaomei, have you seen my book?
小美: No, I haven’t. Where is your book?
小宝: I don’t know. Isn’t it on the table?
小美: It’s not on the table. Let me check under the chair.
小宝: It’s not under the chair either. Could the book be in the bag?
小美: Let me help you check. Where is your bag?
小宝: The bag is on the bed.
小美: Let me open it and see. Ah, the book is here!
小宝: Really? Thank you, Xiaomei!
小美: You’re welcome. Remember to put it away next time!

赵强 and 黄刚 discuss the issue of workplace dignity behind the recent corporal punishment incident at a Tianjin company.

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《English Translation》

赵强: Huang Gang, did you see that company in Tianjin making employees do the 'dog crawl'? That's really a new low.
黄刚: I saw it too. It's outrageous. This clearly violates employees' basic dignity and legal rights. It should be dealt with seriously according to the law.
赵强: The key is, the company also controls employees by threatening to fire them or withholding wages. Even if they don't know the law, this is way over the line.
黄刚: Exactly. Some company cultures are becoming more and more off track, especially for young people in their first job—they can easily be misled or too afraid to resist. We really need to promote more knowledge about labor laws.
赵强: Yes, employees are the greatest resource and asset of a company. Respecting employees’ dignity and rights should be a basic requirement of management.
黄刚: Actually, the government has been advocating for harmonious labor relations, but the key is for employees to know that when they encounter illegal behavior, they should report it to the police and stand up for their rights.
赵强: That's right. If companies don't follow the rules, in the end both employees and the company suffer. It's just not worth it.
黄刚: It seems more needs to be done in company supervision and legal education to prevent such things from happening again.

Xiaomei acts as the teacher and Xiaobao as the student to learn and practice Chinese characters.

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Available in 8 languages on the app:

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《English Translation》

小美: Xiaobao, today we are learning Chinese characters.
小宝: Teacher, which characters will I learn?
小美: We’ll learn '人' (person) and '大' (big). Can you read them?
小宝: '人', '大', I can read them!
小美: Very good! Can you write '人'?
小宝: I can write a little. Teacher, can you check if it’s right?
小美: Very good, this one is correct. This one has a small mistake.
小宝: Thank you, teacher. I’ll write it again.
小美: You write very well!
小宝: Teacher, will we learn more characters tomorrow?
小美: Yes, we will learn more characters tomorrow.