Fluentide · Chinese Listening — Intermediate (HSK 4)

Your “Undeveloped Prefrontal Cortex” is the New Scapegoat

Your 'Undeveloped Prefrontal Cortex' Has Become the New Scapegoat

HSK 3-4 level · 6:53

• 前额叶皮层 (qián é yè pí céng) — prefrontal cortex
• 发育 (fā yù) — to develop; to grow (biologically)
• 替罪羊 (tì zuì yáng) — scapegoat
• 借口 (jiè kǒu) — excuse
• 控制 (kòng zhì) — to control
• 承担责任 (chéng dān zé rèn) — to bear responsibility; to take responsibility
• 脾气 (pí qi) — temper; temperament
• 犯错 (fàn cuò) — to make a mistake; to commit an error

• 不但...而且... (bùdàn...érqiě...) — This structure means 'not only...but also...' and is used to connect two related clauses where the second adds to or intensifies the first. It's a progressive compound sentence pattern.
• 如果...就... (rúguǒ...jiù...) — This conditional pattern means 'if...then...' and is used to express hypothetical situations and their results. It appears frequently throughout the episode to present scenarios.
• 虽然...但是... (suīrán...dànshì...) — This concessive pattern means 'although...but...' and is used to acknowledge one fact while presenting a contrasting point. Unlike English, Chinese uses both 'although' and 'but' in the same sentence.

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Gold Steadies as Traders Weigh Inflation Risks, Oil-Supply Shock

Stable Gold Prices and the Middle East Oil Crisis

HSK 3-4 level · 6:57

• 市场 (shìchǎng) — market
• 稳定 (wěndìng) — stable
• 保护 (bǎohù) — to protect
• 复杂 (fùzá) — complex
• 担心 (dānxīn) — to worry
• 金融 (jīnróng) — finance/financial
• 通货膨胀 (tōnghuò péngzhàng) — inflation
• 海峡 (hǎixiá) — strait

• 不但...而且... — Used to express 'not only... but also...', adding further information to a point.
• 不管...都... — Meaning 'no matter' or 'regardless of'. It indicates that the result remains the same under any condition.
• 如果...就... — A standard conditional structure meaning 'if... then...'.

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Oil stays above $100 a barrel amid Iran’s stranglehold on Strait of Hormuz

Oil Prices Break 100 and the Strait of Hormuz Crisis

HSK 3-4 level · 9:47

• 价格 (jiàgé) — price
• 控制 (kòngzhì) — to control
• 经过 (jīngguò) — to pass through / to go through
• 经济 (jīngjì) — economy
• 影响 (yǐngxiǎng) — influence / to affect
• 发展 (fāzhǎn) — to develop / development
• 解决 (jiějué) — to solve / to resolve
• 依靠 (yīkào) — to rely on / to depend on

• 不但...而且... (búdàn... érqiě...) — A conjunction pattern meaning 'Not only... but also...'. It connects two clauses that reinforce each other.
• 越...越... (yuè... yuè...) — A structure meaning 'The more... the more...'. It indicates that a change in the first action/state causes a proportional change in the second.
• 只要...就... (zhǐyào... jiù...) — A conditional structure meaning 'As long as... then...'. It introduces a sufficient condition for the result to happen.

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Epstein used modelling agent to recruit girls, Brazilian women tell BBC

The Dangerous Experience of Brazilian Girls: Epstein and the Model Agent's Trap

HSK 3-4 level · 7:24

• 调查 (diàochá) — to investigate / investigation
• 危险 (wēixiǎn) — danger / dangerous
• 经历 (jīnglì) — experience / to go through
• 拒绝 (jùjué) — to refuse / to reject
• 签证 (qiānzhèng) — visa
• 怀疑 (huáiyí) — to doubt / to suspect
• 复杂 (fùzá) — complicated / complex
• 甚至 (shènzhì) — even / so much so that

• 不但... 而且/还... (búdàn... érqiě/hái...) — A conjunction pattern meaning 'not only... but also...'. It is used to connect two clauses and show a progression or addition in meaning.
• 把字句 (bǎ zì jù) — The '把' construction is used to emphasize how an object is handled, disposed of, or changed by an action. The structure is: Subject + 把 + Object + Verb + Result/Direction.
• 是...的 (shì... de) — This structure is used to emphasize the time, place, manner, or purpose of an action that has already happened in the past.

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Why is China Suddenly Uninstalling Openclaw, the Free, Open-Source AI Agent?

Why are Chinese companies suddenly uninstalling the free, open-source AI OpenCloud?

HSK 3-4 level · 8:06

• 讨论 (tǎo lùn) — to discuss
• 免费 (miǎn fèi) — free of charge
• 速度 (sù dù) — speed
• 放弃 (fàng qì) — to give up / to abandon
• 危险 (wēi xiǎn) — dangerous
• 规定 (guī dìng) — rule / regulation
• 效率 (xiào lǜ) — efficiency
• 卸载 (xiè zài) — to uninstall

• 不但...而且/还... — Used to connect two clauses, indicating that the situation in the second clause goes a step further than what is stated in the first clause. Translates to 'not only... but also...'.
• 既然...就/为什么... — Used to draw a conclusion or ask a rhetorical question based on an established fact or premise. Translates to 'since... then...' or 'since... why...'.
• 如果...就/会... — A foundational conditional structure used to express 'if [condition], then [result]'.

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Bruno Mars’ ‘Risk It All’ Blasts In at No. 1 on Billboard Global 200 Chart

Bruno Mars' New Song Wins First Place on the Global Music Charts

HSK 3-4 level · 8:18

• 合作 (hé zuò) — to collaborate / cooperate
• 证明 (zhèng míng) — to prove / proof
• 吸引 (xī yǐn) — to attract
• 感情 (gǎn qíng) — emotion / feeling
• 复杂 (fù zá) — complex / complicated
• 激动 (jī dòng) — excited / thrilling
• 优秀 (yōu xiù) — outstanding / excellent
• 影响 (yǐng xiǎng) — influence / impact

• 不仅...而且... / 不但...而且... — Used to express 'not only... but also...'. It connects two clauses where the second presents a further point or deeper level of meaning.
• 无论 / 不管...都... — Expresses 'no matter...' or 'regardless of...'. It introduces a condition or situation that does not affect the final outcome.
• 只要...就... — Expresses 'as long as... then...'. It indicates a sufficient condition for a specific result to occur.

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Is Trump coming for Cuba?

Trump's Next Target: Cuba

HSK 3-4 level · 8:55

• 改变 (gǎi biàn) — to change / change
• 严重 (yán zhòng) — serious / severe
• 吃惊 (chī jīng) — to be surprised / amazed
• 危险 (wēi xiǎn) — dangerous / danger
• 复杂 (fù zá) — complicated / complex
• 限制 (xiàn zhì) — restriction / to restrict
• 影响 (yǐng xiǎng) — influence / impact
• 竞争 (jìng zhēng) — competition / to compete

• 说到... — Used at the beginning of a sentence to introduce a topic, meaning 'Speaking of...' or 'When it comes to...'.
• 虽然...但是... — A common conjunction pattern meaning 'Although... but/however...'. Used to express a turning point or contrast.
• 把字句 (bǎ sentence) — Used to indicate how an action affects or handles a specific object. The structure is Subject + 把 + Object + Verb + Result/Direction.

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It’s Official: China Says We Have to Play Hard After Work

You Must Play Seriously After Work

HSK 3-4 level · 6:55

• 压力 (yālì) — pressure / stress
• 任务 (rènwu) — task / assignment
• 放松 (fàngsōng) — to relax
• 目的 (mùdì) — purpose / aim
• 减肥 (jiǎnféi) — to lose weight
• 关键 (guānjiàn) — key / crucial point
• 烦恼 (fánnǎo) — worry / trouble
• 浪费 (làngfèi) — to waste

• 一边... 一边... (yìbiān... yìbiān...) — Used to describe two actions happening simultaneously. 'Doing A while doing B'.
• 不但... 而且... (búdàn... érqiě...) — Conjunction structure meaning 'not only... but also...'. It connects two clauses that reinforce each other.
• 把... 当成... (bǎ... dāngchéng...) — Uses the '把' construction to express treating or regarding [A] as [B].

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Messi, Miami honored by Trump at White House

Messi and Inter Miami Visit the White House

HSK 3-4 level · 10:50

• 精彩 (jīngcǎi) — wonderful / brilliant / splendid
• 无论 (wúlùn) — no matter / regardless of
• 坚持 (jiānchí) — to persist / to persevere
• 传统 (chuántǒng) — tradition
• 冠军 (guànjūn) — champion
• 荣誉 (róngyù) — honor / glory
• 气氛 (qìfēn) — atmosphere
• 奋斗 (fèndòu) — to strive / to struggle

• 连……都…… — An emphatic structure meaning 'even...'. It emphasizes an extreme case to make a point.
• 只要……，(就)…… — A conditional pattern meaning 'as long as..., then...'. It introduces a sufficient condition.
• 不仅……，还/也…… — Meaning 'not only..., but also...'. Used to add information or qualities.

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Oscar Voting Closes: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Anonymous Ballots in a Best Picture Race Between ‘One Battle After Another’ and ‘Sinners’

Oscar Anonymous Ballots Reveal Fierce Competition

HSK 3-4 level · 10:05

• 紧张 (jǐnzhāng) — nervous / tense
• 结束 (jiéshù) — to end / to finish
• 规定 (guīdìng) — rule / regulation
• 改变 (gǎibiàn) — to change / change
• 讨厌 (tǎoyàn) — to hate / disgusting
• 诚实 (chéngshí) — honest
• 支持 (zhīchí) — to support / support
• 印象 (yìnxiàng) — impression

• 把 + Object + Verb — The 'Ba' construction is used to emphasize the manipulation of an object. It indicates that an action is performed on a specific object, often resulting in a change of state.
• 通过... (tōngguò...) — Preposition meaning 'through' or 'by means of'. It introduces the method or channel used to achieve a result.
• ...以至于... (yǐzhìyú) — A conjunction meaning 'so... that...' or 'to the extent that...'. It introduces a result or consequence of the previous clause.

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