Fluentide · Chinese Listening — Intermediate (HSK 4)

Ancient DNA analysis of leaf-wrapped grain packages in two Chu tombs pushes zongzi back 2,300 years

Archaeologists Pulled 2,300-Year-Old Zongzi Out of Two Chu Tombs. One Batch Vegetarian, One With Meat.

HSK 3-4 level · 4:14

• 研究 (yánjiū) — research; to study
• 一样 (yíyàng) — the same
• 第一 (dì-yī) — first
• 整齐 (zhěngqí) — neat, in orderly rows
• 直接 (zhíjiē) — directly
• 完全 (wánquán) — completely, entirely
• 说明 (shuōmíng) — to show, to indicate
• 考古 (kǎogǔ) — archaeology

• 第一步是……，第二步是…… — Walks through a process in numbered stages — useful for any explanation.
• 不是……，是…… — Not X, but Y — corrects the expected reading.
• 把 A 和 B 放在一起 — Put A and B side by side — used for comparison.

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The Odyssey is the first feature shot entirely on IMAX film, using the new Keighley camera

Nolan Shot All of The Odyssey on IMAX Film. The New Camera Is Named After a Couple Who Gave IMAX 53 Years.

HSK 3-4 level · 2:12

• 电影 (diànyǐng) — film, movie
• 名字 (míngzi) — name
• 丈夫 (zhàngfu) — husband
• 颜色 (yánsè) — colour
• 把关 (bǎguān) — to be the gatekeeper, to vet
• 毛病 (máobìng) — a fault, a defect
• 形容 (xíngróng) — to describe, to liken
• 判断 (pànduàn) — to judge, to determine

• 不是……，是…… — Not X, but Y — corrects the expected answer.
• 一……就…… — As soon as X, then Y. Two actions in immediate sequence.
• 直到…… — Until — marks the point at which a long-running state ends.

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Jason Kelce's Garage Beer / Liquid Death ad campaign about AI data centre water consumption

Jason Kelce Is Asking Fans to Send Their Pee to AI Data Centers. What He Actually Wants to Talk About Is Water.

HSK 3-4 level · 4:20

• 水 (shuǐ) — water
• 热 (rè) — heat
• 楼 (lóu) — a building
• 便宜 (piányi) — cheap
• 躲不开 (duǒ bu kāi) — cannot be dodged
• 温度 (wēndù) — temperature
• 关键 (guānjiàn) — the key point, crucial
• 干净 (gānjìng) — clean

• 这就是为什么…… — This is why … — points back at the reason just given.
• 第一，……第二，…… — Enumerates reasons or problems in order.
• 其实只……了一件事 — In fact did only one thing — used to strip something down to its real effect.

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A Fort Stewart engineer battalion offered a four-day GTA 6 pass as a re-enlistment incentive

The US Army Offered Four Days Off to Play GTA 6 — If Soldiers Re-Enlist for Two More Years

HSK 3-4 level · 2:11

• 随便 (suíbiàn) — any old, as one pleases
• 打算 (dǎsuàn) — to plan, to intend
• 安排 (ānpái) — to arrange, to schedule
• 够 (gòu) — enough, to qualify
• 服役 (fúyì) — to serve in the military
• 续签 (xùqiān) — to renew a contract, to re-enlist

• 也就是说 — Which is to say — restates the previous point in plainer terms.
• 当然，……；更可能的是，…… — Concedes an obvious reading, then supplies the likelier one.
• 归 — To belong to. 不归你 = does not belong to you, is not yours to decide.

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A Connecticut plaintiff hid white 3-point prompt-injection text in court filings and was sanctioned

He Hid a Line of Invisible White Text in His Court Filing. It Was an Instruction for the AI.

HSK 3-4 level · 4:42

• 律师 (lǜshī) — lawyer
• 问题 (wèntí) — a question, a problem
• 认真 (rènzhēn) — careful, in earnest
• 结果 (jiéguǒ) — result, outcome
• 同时 (tóngshí) — at the same time
• 正常 (zhèngcháng) — normal
• 规矩 (guīju) — a rule, the done thing
• 代价 (dàijià) — price, cost paid

• 不是……，是…… — Corrects a wrong assumption: not X, but rather Y.
• 只要……，就…… — As long as X, then Y. States a sufficient condition.
• 也就是说 — A connector meaning "which is to say" — restates what was just said in plainer terms.

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莫德纳和默沙东的个人癌症疫苗

A Personalized Melanoma Vaccine Makes Cancer Less Likely to Return

HSK 3-4 level · 2:28

• 参加 (cānjiā) — to take part in
• 结果 (jiéguǒ) — result
• 机会 (jīhuì) — chance
• 新闻 (xīnwén) — news
• 重要 (zhòngyào) — important
• 因为 (yīnwèi) — because
• 帮助 (bāngzhù) — to help
• 研究 (yánjiū) — research

• 把 + Object + Verb — Moves the object in front of the verb. The trial splits patients; mRNA delivers a short instruction into cells.
• 是因为 — Gives the reason after the claim. The news matters because the vaccine is built from each patient’s tumor.
• 可是 — But. Surgery removes the tumor you can see; a few cancer cells may still be in the body.

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《牛来》：一部做得不好的中国动画电影为什么突然走红

Niu Lai: Online Mockery Turned a Badly Made Film Into a 20-Million-Yuan Hit

HSK 3-4 level · 2:30

• 电影 (diànyǐng) — movie
• 观众 (guānzhòng) — audience; viewers
• 几乎 (jīhū) — almost
• 增加 (zēngjiā) — to increase; to add
• 讨论 (tǎolùn) — to discuss; discussion
• 原因 (yuányīn) — reason
• 批评 (pīpíng) — to criticize; criticism
• 获得 (huòdé) — to obtain; to gain

• 没有……，反而…… — The expected result fails, and the opposite happens. Negative reviews did not kill the topic; they fed it.
• 随着…… — As X happens, Y follows. Discussion growth is what made cinemas add screenings.
• 把 + Object + Verb — The 把 construction moves the object before the verb. Online mockery is what delivered people into seats.

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Senator Chuck Grassley, 92, posted a farewell to Beth, the family vacuum cleaner of 49 years

The Oldest US Senator Wrote a Farewell to His 49-Year-Old Vacuum Cleaner. Its Name Was Beth.

HSK 3-4 level · 2:04

• 年长 (niánzhǎng) — senior in age
• 内容 (nèiróng) — content
• 概念 (gàiniàn) — concept, sense of scale
• 一路 (yílù) — all the way
• 认出 (rènchū) — to recognise
• 参议员 (cānyìyuán) — senator
• 吸尘器 (xīchénqì) — vacuum cleaner
• 岳母 (yuèmǔ) — mother-in-law

• ……是什么概念？ — "what does X actually amount to?" Sets up a comparison that makes a number felt.
• 直到…… — "right up until X". Holds a long stable state, then breaks it.
• 之所以……，是因为…… — "the reason X is Y". Formal way to open an explanation.

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A NIPSCO crew restoring power after a record Indiana storm was shot at in Gary; restoration paused until escorted

300,000 Homes Lost Power. The Crew Sent Out at Midnight Was Shot At — One Bullet Lodged in a Headrest.

HSK 3-4 level · 3:21

• 立刻 (lìkè) — immediately
• 情况 (qíngkuàng) — situation
• 合理 (hélǐ) — reasonable
• 代价 (dàijià) — cost, price paid
• 抢修 (qiǎngxiū) — emergency repair
• 停电 (tíngdiàn) — power outage
• 子弹 (zǐdàn) — bullet
• 头枕 (tóuzhěn) — headrest

• 换句话说 — "in other words". Turns a technical detail into its human meaning.
• 一……就…… — "the moment A, then B" — used here to link a decision to its cost.
• 请注意 — "note this". Flags the detail the listener would otherwise skip past.

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The Sagrada Família's central tower was completed in 2026, the centenary of Antoni Gaudí's death

Gaudí Knew He Would Never See the Sagrada Família Finished. It Was Topped Out This Year, 100 Years After He Died.

HSK 3-4 level · 2:06

• 设计 (shèjì) — to design
• 接手 (jiēshǒu) — to take over
• 整整 (zhěngzhěng) — a full, exactly
• 推掉 (tuīdiào) — to turn down
• 规矩 (guīju) — rule
• 建筑师 (jiànzhùshī) — architect
• 有轨电车 (yǒuguǐ diànchē) — tram
• 乞丐 (qǐgài) — beggar

• 当成 — "to take X for Y". A judgement made on appearance alone.
• 由此 — "and thereby". Links a small act to its large consequence.
• 不该…… — "ought not to". States a principle rather than a fact.

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