chinese

hsk2-15

Written by

Per Johansson

in

English summary: After graduating, the narrator does not start work immediately but decides to travel first. Although the parents worry, they still support the plan after hearing the reasons. The narrator prepares a simple route and budget and travels for one month. The trip helps the narrator relax and think about the future.

LEVEL/WORDCOUNT: HSK 2 / ~330 characters

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毕业以后去旅行

我大学毕业以后，没有马上去找工作，而是决定先去旅行一个月。

爸爸妈妈有点儿担心，觉得我应该早点儿工作。虽然他们这样说，但是他们还是听了我的想法。

我告诉他们：我想看看不同的城市，也想放松一下，然后再认真计划未来。

后来我做了一个简单的旅行计划：先去上海，再去南京，还准备了每天的花钱。回来的时候，我觉得自己更成熟了。

Traveling After Graduation

After I graduated from university, I didn’t immediately look for a job. Instead, I decided to travel for one month first.

My parents were a bit worried and thought I should start working earlier. Although they said that, they still listened to my idea.

I told them: I want to see different cities, relax a bit, and then seriously plan my future.

Later I made a simple travel plan: first Shanghai, then Nanjing, and I also prepared a daily budget. When I came back, I felt I had become more mature.

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

  • 毕业 (bìyè) – to graduate
  • 马上 (mǎshàng) – immediately
  • 而是 (érshì) – but rather; instead
  • 决定 (juédìng) – to decide
  • 旅行 (lǚxíng) – travel
  • 担心 (dānxīn) – to worry
  • 应该 (yīnggāi) – should
  • 想法 (xiǎngfǎ) – idea; thought
  • 计划 (jìhuà) – plan
  • 成熟 (chéngshú) – mature

Grammar

Grammar rule #1: “没有…而是…” (not… but rather…)
Use 没有…而是… to correct an expectation: “not A, but B.”
Structure: 没有 + 动作A，而是 + 动作B。
This is useful for explaining decisions and contrasts clearly.
Here it shows the narrator’s choice after graduation.

Examples:
没有马上去找工作，而是决定先去旅行。
没有…而是…

Grammar rule #2: “虽然…但是…还是…” (although… still…)
Use 虽然…但是… to show a contrast between two facts.
Adding 还是 emphasizes that the second action happens despite the first situation.
This is common in HSK 2 for family discussions and opinions.
Here it shows the parents worry, but still listen.

Examples:
虽然他们这样说，但是他们还是听了我的想法。
虽然…但是…还是…

Idiomatic Expressions

  • 毕业以后 – meaning
    Example: 我大学毕业以后…
  • 找工作 – meaning
    Example: 没有马上去找工作。
  • 听…的想法 – meaning
    Example: 还是听了我的想法。
  • 放松一下 – meaning
    Example: 也想放松一下。
  • 更成熟了 – meaning
    Example: 回来的时候，我觉得自己更成熟了。

Cultural Insights

  • Post-graduation choices
    Some graduates choose to travel before starting full-time work, especially to relax after years of study.
    This topic naturally includes planning vocabulary like 计划 and 决定.
    It also makes a good setting for family opinion sentences.
  • Family discussions
    Stories often show parents worrying and giving advice, because it reflects common family communication.
    This supports useful grammar for contrast like 虽然…但是… and choices like 没有…而是…
    It also teaches polite ways to explain personal decisions.
  • Simple travel planning
    Planning a route (先…再…) and preparing money are practical travel skills.
    These are easy to describe with beginner-level words and numbers.
    It helps learners talk about trips in a structured way.

10 Questions

  1. What happens after the narrator graduates? (answer)
  2. Does the narrator immediately look for a job? (answer)
  3. How long does the narrator plan to travel? (answer)
  4. How do the parents feel at first? (answer)
  5. What do the parents think the narrator should do? (answer)
  6. Do they still listen to the narrator’s idea? (answer)
  7. Why does the narrator want to travel? (answer)
  8. Which city does the narrator plan to visit first? (answer)
  9. What else does the narrator prepare? (answer)
  10. How does the narrator feel after coming back? (answer)

Multiple Choice

  1. 我毕业以后没有马上： (answer)
    a) 找工作
    b) 看病
    c) 开会
  2. 我而是决定先去： (answer)
    a) 上课
    b) 睡觉
    c) 旅行
  3. 爸爸妈妈有点儿： (answer)
    a) 生气
    b) 担心
    c) 奇怪
  1. 虽然他们这样说，但是他们还是： (answer)
    a) 听了我的想法
    b) 去医院
    c) 不说话
  2. 我先去哪里？ (answer)
    a) 北京
    b) 广州
    c) 上海
  3. 回来以后我觉得自己更： (answer)
    a) 紧张
    b) 成熟
    c) 困

True or False

  1. 我毕业以后决定先去旅行一个月。 (answer)
  2. 我马上去找工作了。 (answer)
  3. 爸爸妈妈一点儿也不担心。 (answer)
  4. 虽然他们担心，但是他们还是听了我的想法。 (answer)
  5. 我做了一个简单的旅行计划。 (answer)
  6. 回来以后我觉得自己更成熟了。 (answer)

Retell the Story

Rewrite the story in your own words.

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