English summary: This is the narrator’s first time celebrating Spring Festival in China. They learn to make dumplings, visit relatives, and receive red envelopes from elders. The streets are busy, and there are many red decorations. The narrator feels the festival is warm and meaningful because families reunite.
LEVEL/WORDCOUNT: HSK 2 / ~330 characters
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今年是我第一次在中国过春节，所以我特别期待。春节前，我们一起去买年货，街上到处都是红色的装饰。
除夕的时候，我跟朋友的家人一起包饺子、吃年夜饭。饭后大家看电视，聊天，等十二点。
大年初一我们去拜年，见到亲戚的时候要说“新年快乐”。长辈给我红包，我觉得很不好意思，也很开心。
我发现春节不只是放假，最重要的是家人团聚，大家一起过一个热闹的晚上。
First Spring Festival Experience
This year is my first time celebrating Spring Festival in China, so I was especially excited. Before the festival, we went to buy New Year goods together, and the streets were full of red decorations.
On New Year’s Eve, I made dumplings and ate the reunion dinner with my friend’s family. After dinner, everyone watched TV, chatted, and waited until midnight.
On the first day of the New Year, we visited relatives and said “Happy New Year.” The elders gave me red envelopes. I felt a little embarrassed but also very happy.
I realized Spring Festival is not just a holiday. The most important thing is family reunion and spending a lively night together.
Help
How to Use the Audio
The audio is designed to help you improve your Mandarin Chinese listening skills and pronunciation. You can use it in two ways:
- Before reading: Listen to understand rhythm, tones, and natural speech.
- After reading: Listen again to compare pronunciation and improve fluency.
Vocabulary
- 春节 (Chūnjié) – Spring Festival
- 第一次 (dìyīcì) – first time
- 期待 (qīdài) – to look forward to
- 年货 (niánhuò) – New Year goods
- 装饰 (zhuāngshì) – decoration
- 除夕 (chúxī) – New Year’s Eve
- 饺子 (jiǎozi) – dumplings
- 拜年 (bàinián) – to pay a New Year visit
- 红包 (hóngbāo) – red envelope
- 团聚 (tuánjù) – reunion (of family)
Grammar
Grammar rule #1: “第一次 + verb” (first time doing)
Use 第一次 before a verb to say it’s your first time doing something.
Structure: 主语 + 第一次 + 动词 + …
This is common in HSK 2 when talking about new experiences (travel, food, festivals).
It helps make stories personal and clear.
Examples:
今年是我第一次在中国过春节。
第一次…过春节。
Grammar rule #2: “…的时候” (when / during)
Use …的时候 to indicate “when…” or “during…”.
Structure: 时间/动作 + 的时候，…
It is very useful for describing holiday routines and sequences.
Here it marks the New Year’s Eve moment clearly.
Examples:
除夕的时候，我跟朋友的家人一起包饺子。
见到亲戚的时候要说…
Idiomatic Expressions
-
特别期待 – meaning
Example: 所以我特别期待。 -
到处都是… – meaning
Example: 街上到处都是红色的装饰。 -
年夜饭 – meaning
Example: 吃年夜饭。 -
新年快乐 – meaning
Example: 要说“新年快乐”。 -
不好意思 – meaning
Example: 我觉得很不好意思。
Cultural Insights
- Spring Festival importance
Spring Festival (春节) is widely considered the most important traditional holiday in China, and family reunion is a key theme.
Beginner stories often focus on red decorations, dumplings, and greetings because they are easy to describe.
This helps learners talk about real holiday experiences. - Red envelopes
红包 are commonly given by elders to younger people during the New Year as a symbol of good luck.
Learners often practice giving and receiving language through this custom (给我红包 / 谢谢).
It also introduces polite feelings like 不好意思. - New Year’s Eve routine
Many families eat 年夜饭, watch TV, and stay up until midnight on 除夕.
This routine fits well with time expressions like …的时候 and sequencing words.
It makes a great topic for short, clear HSK 2 narratives.
10 Questions
- What is special about this Spring Festival for the narrator? (answer)
- What do they buy before the festival? (answer)
- What color decorations are everywhere? (answer)
- When do they make dumplings? (answer)
- What meal do they eat on New Year’s Eve? (answer)
- What do they do after dinner? (answer)
- What do they do on the first day of the New Year? (answer)
- What do they say to relatives? (answer)
- What do elders give the narrator? (answer)
- What does the narrator think is most important? (answer)
Multiple Choice
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True or False
- 今年是我第一次在中国过春节。 (answer)
- 春节前街上没有装饰。 (answer)
- 除夕的时候我跟朋友的家人一起包饺子。 (answer)
- 饭后大家马上睡觉。 (answer)
- 大年初一我们去拜年。 (answer)
- 我发现春节最重要的是家人团聚。 (answer)
Retell the Story
Rewrite the story in your own words.
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