A Chinese birthday celebration full of food, laughter, and family love. Longevity noodles, gifts, and gratitude show birthdays as days of happiness and appreciation.
LEVEL/WORDCOUNT: HSK 2 / 498 words
生日快乐的一天
A story about a friend’s birthday party in China. Friends gather to eat longevity noodles, play games, receive gifts, and express gratitude to parents for giving life.
LEVEL/WORDCOUNT: HSK 2 / ~500 words
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我的朋友生日是三月八号。每年这一天，他都很开心。他喜欢请朋友来他家庆祝。在中国，人们常常在生日的时候一起吃生日蛋糕，唱歌，喝茶，聊天。
去年他的生日，我也去了。他家在学校附近，很方便。那天我们一共十个人。我送给他一件礼物，是一条漂亮的围巾。他说很喜欢，还马上戴上。
他先准备了很多食物，有面条、饺子、鱼、肉，还有一些水果。在中国，人过生日吃面条，叫“长寿面”，意思是希望他能长命百岁。
我们一边吃饭，一边聊天。大家都在说：“祝你生日快乐！”他高兴地笑了。吃完饭后，我们一起唱歌，还玩游戏。
晚上，他妈妈打电话来，对他说：“身体健康，天天开心！”他听了很感动。家庭的温暖让他觉得特别幸福。
第二天，我问他：“你觉得生日重要吗？”他说：“当然重要。生日不仅是记得自己的年龄，也要感谢父母。”我听了很同意。
在中国，有的人过生日很简单，只和家人吃饭；有的人会去饭店，或者旅游。孩子的生日最热闹，父母会给他们买蛋糕和蜡烛，一起许愿。
我也会在生日的时候给朋友打电话，或者发信息。朋友生日快乐，我也觉得很快乐。因为在我们心里，生日是一个特别的日子，是一个让人感恩的时刻。
A Happy Birthday Day
My friend’s birthday is on March 8th. Every year on that day, he is very happy. He likes to invite friends to his home to celebrate. In China, people often eat birthday cake, sing songs, drink tea, and chat together on birthdays.
Last year I went to his birthday too. His home is near the school, so it was convenient. There were ten of us. I gave him a gift — a beautiful scarf. He said he liked it and wore it right away.
He prepared a lot of food: noodles, dumplings, fish, meat, and fruit. In China, people eat noodles on birthdays called “longevity noodles,” meaning they wish the person a long life.
We chatted while eating. Everyone said, “Happy Birthday!” He smiled happily. After dinner, we sang songs and played games together.
In the evening, his mother called and said, “Be healthy and happy every day!” He was touched. The warmth of family made him feel very happy.
The next day, I asked him, “Do you think birthdays are important?” He said, “Of course. A birthday is not only to remember your age but also to thank your parents.” I agreed.
In China, some people celebrate simply with family; others go to restaurants or travel. Children’s birthdays are the liveliest — parents buy cakes and candles, and everyone makes a wish together.
I also call or send messages to friends on their birthdays. When friends are happy, I feel happy too. In our hearts, a birthday is a special day — a time to feel gratitude.
Audio help
How to Use the Audio
The audio is designed to help you improve your Chinese listening skills and pronunciation. You can use it in two ways:
- Before reading the text: Listen first to practice understanding spoken Chinese. This helps you focus on pronunciation, rhythm, and listening comprehension without relying on written characters.
- After reading the text: Listen again to compare your own pronunciation with the native speaker. This helps you improve speaking skills, pronunciation, and fluency.
Listening regularly with and without the text will strengthen both your comprehension and speaking abilities in Chinese.
Vocabulary
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 生日 | shēngrì | birthday |
| 开心 | kāixīn | happy |
| 请 | qǐng | invite |
| 庆祝 | qìngzhù | celebrate |
| 生日蛋糕 | shēngrì dàngāo | birthday cake |
| 礼物 | lǐwù | gift |
| 围巾 | wéijīn | scarf |
| 戴上 | dài shàng | wear/put on |
| 准备 | zhǔnbèi | prepare |
| 食物 | shíwù | food |
| 水果 | shuǐguǒ | fruit |
| 聊天 | liáotiān | chat |
| 唱歌 | chànggē | sing songs |
| 游戏 | yóuxì | game |
| 电话 | diànhuà | phone call |
| 感动 | gǎndòng | moved/touched |
| 年龄 | niánlíng | age |
| 感谢 | gǎnxiè | thank |
| 饭店 | fàndiàn | restaurant |
| 旅游 | lǚyóu | travel |
| 蜡烛 | làzhú | candle |
| 许愿 | xǔyuàn | make a wish |
Grammar
1. Time expressions: 三月八号
Pattern: Month + number + 号
Example: 我的生日是五月二十号。我的生日是五月二十号。
2. 的時候 (when/at the time of)
Pattern: Time + 的 + 时候
Example: 在生日的时候，我们吃蛋糕。在生日的时候，我们吃蛋糕。
3. 還有 (and also)
Pattern: List items + 還有 + more items
Example: 有面条、饺子，还有水果。有面条、饺子，还有水果。
4. 一邊…一邊… (while doing two things)
Pattern: 一边 + action 1 + 一边 + action 2
Example: 我们一边吃饭，一边聊天。我们一边吃饭，一边聊天。
5. 不仅…也要… (not only…but also)
Pattern: 不仅 + A + 也要 + B
Example: 生日不仅记得年龄，也要感谢父母。生日不仅记得年龄，也要感谢父母。
Idiomatic Expressions
| Mandarin | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 长寿面 | chángshòu miàn | longevity noodles (symbolizing long life) |
| 长命百岁 | chángmìng bǎisuì | live a long and healthy life |
| 身体健康 | shēntǐ jiànkāng | be healthy / good health |
Cultural Insights
- 长寿面: Long noodles symbolize long life. Never cut them short!
- Family gratitude: Parents thanked on kids’ birthdays for “giving life.”
- Odd ages: Traditional celebrations focus on odd-numbered ages (1, 3, 13, 33).
- Western influence: Birthday cakes are recent; noodles/eggs were traditional.
- 祝你生日快乐: Borrowed from English “Happy Birthday” — now universal.
10 Questions
- 新年前一天，张雷的家人做什么？（答案）
- 下午张雷跟谁去商场？（答案）
- 商场里有什么新年的装饰？（答案）
- 张雷给妹妹买了什么？（答案）
- 为什么他给妈妈买蓝色的衣服？（答案）
- 朋友家的桌子上有什么吃的？（答案）
- 妹妹在新年晚会的时候做什么？（答案）
- 快到十二点的时候，大家做什么？（答案）
- 新年到了以后，张雷对家人说了什么？（答案）
- 张雷在新年卡片上写了哪三件事？（答案）
Multiple Choice
|
1. 新年前一天，妹妹为什么收拾衣服？
（答案）
a) 因为要去学校 b) 因为明天要去朋友家过新年 c) 因为要去旅游 |
2. 张雷在哪儿给家人买礼物？
（答案）
a) 在学校 b) 在商场 c) 在朋友家 |
|
3. 晚上大家为什么出去？
（答案）
a) 去买东西 b) 去看电影 c) 去看烟花 |
4. 新年倒数结束以后，天上有什么？
（答案）
a) 下雨 b) 彩色的烟花 c) 很多鸟 |
|
5. 回家的路上，城市怎么样？
（答案）
a) 比刚才更热闹 b) 和刚才一样 c) 比刚才安静多了 |
6. 张雷在新年卡片上没有写哪一件事？
（答案）
a) 努力学习 b) 多看电视 c) 多陪家人 |
True or False
- 新年前一天，张雷的家人都在外面吃饭。（答案）
- 商场里有写着“新年快乐”的牌子。（答案）
- 张雷给妹妹买了一件蓝色的连衣裙。（答案）
- 朋友家的桌子上上有饺子和水果。（答案）
- 新年到了的时候，大家一起倒数和看烟花。（答案）
- 张雷希望新的一年里，他可以多陪家人。（答案）
Retell the Story
用你自己的话写这个故事。
你可以先写新年前一天家人在家里做什么，然后写下午在商场看到的东西和买的礼物。接着说晚上去朋友家吃饭、看晚会，最后写倒数、新年愿望和回家的感受。
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