chinese

hsk2-19

Written by

Per Johansson

in

English summary: The narrator gets lost while going to a friend’s home for the first time. The phone map is confusing, so they walk around and can’t find the right direction. They ask a passerby politely for directions, and the person explains clearly. In the end, the narrator arrives a little late but feels grateful and learns to ask for help in Chinese.

LEVEL/WORDCOUNT: HSK 2 / ~330 characters

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第一次去朋友家

今天我第一次去朋友家，可是走到路口的时候，我发现自己有点儿迷路了。

我打开手机地图，一边看一边走，可是越走越觉得不对。路看起来都差不多，我怎么也找不到方向。

我只好停下来问路。我对一位阿姨说：“不好意思，请问去这个小区怎么走？”

阿姨很热心，告诉我先一直走，再往左拐。结果我还是晚到了十分钟，但是终于找到朋友家了。

Going to a Friend’s Home for the First Time

Today was my first time going to a friend’s home, but when I arrived at an intersection, I realized I was a bit lost.

I opened my phone map and walked while looking at it, but the more I walked, the more I felt something was wrong. The roads all looked similar, and I just couldn’t find the right direction.

I had no choice but to stop and ask for directions. I said to an auntie, “Excuse me, may I ask how to get to this residential community?”

The auntie was very kind and told me to go straight first, and then turn left. As a result, I still arrived 10 minutes late, but finally I found my friend’s place.

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

  • 第一次 (dìyīcì) – first time
  • 路口 (lùkǒu) – intersection
  • 迷路 (mílù) – get lost
  • 地图 (dìtú) – map
  • 一边…一边… (yìbiān… yìbiān…) – while…
  • 越…越… (yuè… yuè…) – more and more…
  • 方向 (fāngxiàng) – direction
  • 问路 (wènlù) – ask for directions
  • 热心 (rèxīn) – warm-hearted
  • 拐 (guǎi) – turn

Grammar

Grammar rule #1: “一边…一边…” (do two things at the same time)
Use 一边…一边… to show two actions happen at the same time.
Structure: 一边 + 动作A，一边 + 动作B。
This is very common in HSK 2 daily-life situations.
Here it describes walking while checking the map.

Examples:
一边看一边走。
一边…一边…

Grammar rule #2: “越…越…” (the more… the more…)
Use 越…越… to describe a change that increases over time.
Structure: 越 + 动词/形容词，越 + 动词/形容词。
It’s useful for showing feelings getting stronger (more confused, more tired, etc.).
Here it shows the narrator feels more and more wrong.

Examples:
越走越觉得不对。
越…越…

Idiomatic Expressions

  • 怎么也…不… – meaning
    Example: 我怎么也找不到方向。
  • 看起来都差不多 – meaning
    Example: 路看起来都差不多。
  • 只好… – meaning
    Example: 只好停下来问路。
  • 请问…怎么走？ – meaning
    Example: 请问去这个小区怎么走？
  • 终于…了 – meaning
    Example: 终于找到朋友家了。

Cultural Insights

  • Asking strangers for directions
    In many cities, it is normal to ask strangers for directions with polite words like 请问 and 不好意思.
    This makes “问路” a very practical topic for learners.
    It also gives a natural chance to practice direction words like 往左拐.
  • Community (小区) living
    小区 is a common word for residential communities, especially in cities.
    Visitors often need to ask “去这个小区怎么走” because the entrances can be hard to find.
    This is realistic daily-life vocabulary for living in China.
  • Being late politely
    Arriving late by a few minutes is a common small problem in city life.
    Stories like this show problem-solving and gratitude without complex language.
    It helps learners talk about delays and outcomes (结果…).

10 Questions

  1. Where is the narrator going? (answer)
  2. Is it the narrator’s first time? (answer)
  3. Where does the narrator feel lost? (answer)
  4. What does the narrator use to find the way? (answer)
  5. Does it help? (answer)
  6. What does the narrator do in the end? (answer)
  7. Who does the narrator ask? (answer)
  8. What does the auntie tell the narrator to do first? (answer)
  9. Then which way should the narrator turn? (answer)
  10. How late does the narrator arrive? (answer)

Multiple Choice

  1. 今天我第一次去： (answer)
    a) 医院
    b) 朋友家
    c) 公司
  2. 走到路口的时候，我发现自己： (answer)
    a) 迷路了
    b) 很饿
    c) 很开心
  3. 我打开什么？ (answer)
    a) 电视
    b) 门
    c) 手机地图
  1. 我只好停下来： (answer)
    a) 看书
    b) 问路
    c) 游泳
  2. 阿姨告诉我先： (answer)
    a) 一直走
    b) 站着
    c) 回家
  3. 然后往哪儿拐？ (answer)
    a) 前
    b) 右
    c) 左

True or False

  1. 今天我第一次去朋友家。 (answer)
  2. 手机地图非常清楚，我一点儿也不迷路。 (answer)
  3. 我一边看地图一边走。 (answer)
  4. 我问了一位阿姨怎么走。 (answer)
  5. 阿姨告诉我先往左拐，再一直走。 (answer)
  6. 最后我终于找到朋友家了。 (answer)

Retell the Story

Rewrite the story in your own words.

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