Fluentide · Chinese Listening — HSK 1

x-babel-tower-2026

Now You Can Read What Foreigners Are Saying

HSK 1 level · 3:10

• 今天 (jīntiān) — today
• 想 (xiǎng) — to think / to want
• 看 (kàn) — to look / to read
• 听 (tīng) — to listen / to hear
• 高兴 (gāoxìng) — happy / glad
• 知道 (zhīdào) — to know
• 语言 (yǔyán) — language
• 翻译 (fānyì) — to translate / translation

• 不一样的 X，V 不一样的 Y — A simple parallel pattern that sets up contrast across groups — the episode uses it to introduce the basic fact that different countries speak different languages.
• 比如 + example — 比如 introduces a concrete example after a general statement. The episode uses it to make the abstract idea (translation) tangible.
• 是不是 + adj? — 是不是 + adj turns a statement into a tag question — invites the listener to agree.

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xiaohongshu-worldcup-2026

Watch the World Cup on Xiaohongshu — for Free

HSK 1 level · 3:15

• 今天 (jīntiān) — today
• 听 (tīng) — to listen / to hear
• 想 (xiǎng) — to think / to want
• 知道 (zhīdào) — to know
• 高兴 (gāoxìng) — happy / glad
• 看 (kàn) — to watch / look / read
• 看球 (kàn qiú) — to watch a (football) match
• 比赛 (bǐsài) — competition / match

• X，就是 Y — A simple way to teach a new word: name it, then 就是, then a plain definition. The episode uses it twice — for 看球 and for 免费.
• 以前…，现在… — Sets up a clear contrast between how things used to be and how they are now — the episode's main story shape.
• 不是每 + 量词 + 都… — Negates a universal claim. The episode uses it to say not every match used to be free — only some were.

Get more from this episode at fluentide.com:

• Read the full interactive transcript — tap any word for instant pinyin + definition
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enhanced-games-2026

An Olympics Where Doping Is Allowed

HSK 1 level · 3:30

• 今天 (jīntiān) — today
• 想 (xiǎng) — to think / to want
• 知道 (zhīdào) — to know
• 看 (kàn) — to look / to watch
• 多 (duō) — many / a lot
• 说 (shuō) — to say
• 比赛 (bǐsài) — competition / match
• 药 (yào) — medicine / drug

• X 不可以 Y — 不可以 forbids an action. The episode uses it for the most important Olympic rule about doping.
• 如果 A，就 B — 如果 introduces a condition; 就 marks the consequence. The episode uses it both for the rule and for the closing question.
• X 还是 Y? (choice in a question) — 还是 offers two alternatives inside a question. The narrator's central question to the listener uses it.

Get more from this episode at fluentide.com:

• Read the full interactive transcript — tap any word for instant pinyin + definition
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• Save vocabulary to your personal word bank

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yangmei-soaked-2026

Trouble With the Bayberries: A Farmer in Tears

HSK 1 level · 3:14

• 今天 (jīntiān) — today
• 吃 (chī) — to eat
• 喜欢 (xǐhuan) — to like / to love
• 工作 (gōngzuò) — to work
• 买 (mǎi) — to buy
• 水果 (shuǐguǒ) — fruit
• 杨梅 (yángméi) — yangmei / bayberry
• 农民 (nóngmín) — farmer

• 不是 A，是 B — 不是…是… replaces a wrong reason with the right one. The episode uses it to clarify why no one is buying.
• 可是 / 但是 — 可是 and 但是 mark a contrast — usually that things should go one way but go the other. The episode uses it again and again to show the unfairness.
• X 一出来，Y — 一 + verb introduces a quick result: once one thing happens, another immediately follows. The episode uses it for how fast the news changed everything.

Get more from this episode at fluentide.com:

• Read the full interactive transcript — tap any word for instant pinyin + definition
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• Save vocabulary to your personal word bank

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china-broker-crackdown-2026

The Stock-Trading Apps Got in Trouble

HSK 1 level · 3:27

• 今天 (jīntiān) — today
• 钱 (qián) — money
• 买 (mǎi) — to buy
• 想 (xiǎng) — to want / to think
• 做 (zuò) — to do
• 知道 (zhīdào) — to know
• 公司 (gōngsī) — company
• 手机 (shǒujī) — mobile phone

• X，就是 Y — A simple way to explain a new word: say the word, then 就是, then a plain definition. The episode uses it to teach hard words like 股票 and 处罚.
• 用 + tool + 就可以… — 用 introduces the means, and 就可以 says it makes something easy or possible. The episode uses it for the convenience of phone apps.
• A，B 才 C — 才 marks C as conditional — it happens only once A is satisfied. The episode uses it for the rule that you need permission first.

Get more from this episode at fluentide.com:

• Read the full interactive transcript — tap any word for instant pinyin + definition
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• Save vocabulary to your personal word bank

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neymar-world-cup-2026

Neymar Is Going to the World Cup

HSK 1 level · 3:45

• 今天 (jīntiān) — today
• 喜欢 (xǐhuan) — to like
• 高兴 (gāoxìng) — happy / glad
• 名字 (míngzi) — name
• 看 (kàn) — to look / watch / read
• 想 (xiǎng) — to think / to want
• 足球 (zúqiú) — football / soccer
• 受伤 (shòushāng) — to get injured

• X，就是 Y — A simple way to explain a new word: say the word, then 就是, then a plain definition. The episode uses it again and again to teach hard words to beginners.
• 太 + adjective + 了 — 太…了 expresses a strong degree — 'so' or 'too.' The episode uses it for both feelings and facts.
• verb + 得 + adjective — 得 links an action to how it is done. 踢得很好 = 'plays very well'; 伤得很重 = 'is badly hurt.' A core beginner pattern for describing actions.

Get more from this episode at fluentide.com:

• Read the full interactive transcript — tap any word for instant pinyin + definition
• Toggle pinyin on/off above the Chinese text
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• Save vocabulary to your personal word bank

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china-russia-summit-2026

A Big Country's President Came to China

HSK 1 level · 3:45

• 今天 (jīntiān) — today
• 朋友 (péngyou) — friend
• 高兴 (gāoxìng) — happy / glad
• 飞机 (fēijī) — airplane
• 茶 (chá) — tea
• 看 (kàn) — to watch / to look / to read
• 新闻 (xīnwén) — news
• 国家 (guójiā) — country

• 已经 + duration + 了 — 已经 (already) plus 了 marks a state that has continued up to now. The episode uses it for time spans: he's been doing the job for many years; the friendship is already 30 years old.
• 第 + number + 次 — 第 turns a number into an ordinal; 次 counts occurrences. 第 25 次 = 'the 25th time.' A simple, high-frequency way to count repeated events.
• 有的…有的… — 有的 means 'some (of them).' Repeating it splits a group into parts. The episode uses it to show that countries are not all the same.

Get more from this episode at fluentide.com:

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mother-from-prison-2026

A Famous Man Made a Mistake

HSK 1 level · 3:11

• 电影 (diànyǐng) — movie
• 看 (kàn) — to watch / to look at
• 想 (xiǎng) — to think
• 做 (zuò) — to do / to make
• 钱 (qián) — money
• 中国 (Zhōngguó) — China
• 新闻 (xīnwén) — news
• 有名 (yǒumíng) — famous

• S + 把 + O + Verb — The 把 construction moves the object before the verb to emphasize what is done to it. 电影把她的事做成了一个电影 — the director took her story and made it into a movie. Very common once you describe doing something TO an object.
• 也就是说 + clause — Used to restate something in clearer terms. The episode uses it to spell out the gap: '也就是说：电影里的妈妈，跟真的妈妈，不一样。'
• 可是 + clause (but) — 可是 marks a contrast — the conversational 'but.' The episode's key pivot: the movie says one thing, 可是 the court papers say another.

Get more from this episode at fluentide.com:

• Read the full interactive transcript — tap any word for instant pinyin + definition
• Toggle pinyin on/off above the Chinese text
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• Save vocabulary to your personal word bank

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married-without-knowing-2026

A Strange News Story: Married for 13 Years Without Knowing

HSK 1 level · 3:48

• 听 (tīng) — to listen / to hear
• 看 (kàn) — to look / to watch
• 知道 (zhīdao) — to know
• 想 (xiǎng) — to think / want
• 电话 (diànhuà) — telephone / phone call
• 中国 (Zhōngguó) — China
• 新闻 (xīnwén) — news
• 警察 (jǐngchá) — police

• S + 给 + Y + Verb (do something for/to Y) — 给 marks a recipient. 给小张打电话 — call Xiao Zhang; 给你说一个新闻 — tell you a news story. Very common HSK 1-2 construction.
• 被 + Verb (passive) — 被 marks a passive — something happens to the subject without their will. The whole episode's keyword is 被结婚 — 'married against your will.' Built from 被 (passive marker) + 结婚 (to marry).
• S + 是不是 + X? — 是不是 = literally 'is-is-not.' Used to make a yes-or-no question. 'You're not a scammer, are you?' = 你是不是骗子？

Get more from this episode at fluentide.com:

• Read the full interactive transcript — tap any word for instant pinyin + definition
• Toggle pinyin on/off above the Chinese text
• See the complete English translation side-by-side
• Save vocabulary to your personal word bank

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arsenal-pl-title-2026

22 Years of Waiting: Arsenal Won

HSK 1 level · 3:26

• 朋友 (péngyou) — friend
• 喜欢 (xǐhuan) — to like
• 看 (kàn) — to watch / look
• 高兴 (gāoxìng) — happy
• 想 (xiǎng) — to think / to want
• 听 (tīng) — to listen / to hear of
• 足球 (zúqiú) — football (soccer)
• 第一 (dì-yī) — first / number one

• S + 没有 + Verb (negative past) — 没有 + verb = the negative of a past or completed action. 阿森纳已经很多年没有赢了 — Arsenal hasn't won in many years. Contrasts with 不 (general negation).
• V₁ 啊 V₁ / V₂ 啊 V₂ — Verb + 啊 + same verb = ongoing/repeating action with a sigh. 我等啊等 — I waited and waited. The 啊 adds emotional weight — boredom, patience, exhaustion.
• 对 X 来说 — Frames a fact from a specific person's point of view. The episode pivots on it: 对很多人来说，足球就是他们的家 — for many people, football is their home.

Get more from this episode at fluentide.com:

• Read the full interactive transcript — tap any word for instant pinyin + definition
• Toggle pinyin on/off above the Chinese text
• See the complete English translation side-by-side
• Save vocabulary to your personal word bank

Open this episode on Fluentide →