English summary: The narrator has studied Chinese for more than a year. At first, tones and characters felt difficult, and speaking was slow. After practicing a little every day, the narrator can now read simple news and talk with friends more naturally. Chinese is getting easier and more interesting over time.
LEVEL/WORDCOUNT: HSK 2 / ~320 characters
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我学汉语已经一年多了。刚开始的时候，我觉得声调很难，汉字也记不住，说话总是慢慢的。
后来我每天练习一点儿：跟老师读课文，回家写字，还用手机听中文新闻。
现在我可以看懂一些简单的文章，也能跟中国朋友聊天，越来越自然。
我发现，只要坚持，汉语会越来越容易，也越来越有意思。
Studying Chinese for Over a Year
I have studied Chinese for more than a year. At the beginning, I felt tones were very hard, and I couldn’t remember characters. I always spoke slowly.
Later I practiced a little every day: I read texts with the teacher, wrote characters at home, and also listened to Chinese news on my phone.
Now I can understand some simple articles, and I can chat with Chinese friends in a more natural way.
I found that as long as you keep going, Chinese will become easier and more interesting.
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
- 已经 (yǐjīng) – already
- 一年多 (yī nián duō) – more than a year
- 刚开始 (gāng kāishǐ) – at the beginning
- 声调 (shēngdiào) – tones
- 汉字 (hànzì) – Chinese characters
- 练习 (liànxí) – to practice
- 课文 (kèwén) – text (lesson text)
- 新闻 (xīnwén) – news
- 自然 (zìrán) – natural
- 坚持 (jiānchí) – to persist
Grammar
Grammar rule #1: “越来越…” (more and more)
Use 越来越 to show a gradual change over time (becoming more and more…).
Structure: 主语 + 越来越 + 形容词/动词 + 了 (often).
It is common in HSK 2 to describe improving skills or changing feelings.
In this story it shows progress in speaking and learning.
Examples:
越来越自然。
汉语会越来越容易，也越来越有意思。
Grammar rule #2: “Verb + 了 + duration” (how long)
Use this pattern to say how long an action has lasted.
Structure: 动词 + 了 + 时间 (duration).
It’s often used with studying, living, or working to show a period of time.
This helps learners talk about experience clearly.
Examples:
我学汉语已经一年多了。
我学汉语一年多了。
Idiomatic Expressions
-
刚开始的时候 – meaning
Example: 刚开始的时候，我觉得声调很难。 -
记不住 – meaning
Example: 汉字也记不住。 -
每天…一点儿 – meaning
Example: 后来我每天练习一点儿。 -
看懂 – meaning
Example: 现在我可以看懂一些简单的文章。 -
只要…就… – meaning
Example: 只要坚持，汉语会越来越容易。
Cultural Insights
- Common beginner difficulties
Many learners find tones and characters challenging at the start, so this topic feels relatable.
Stories like this help learners describe learning experiences with simple words.
It also encourages a “practice a little every day” mindset. - Learning with phones
Using a phone to listen to Chinese content is a common study habit today.
“听新闻” is an easy example because news has short sections and repeated vocabulary.
This connects language learning to daily routines. - Progress language
HSK 2 often introduces ways to talk about improvement and change, like 越来越 and 坚持.
These structures help learners express motivation and learning goals.
This makes the story both practical and encouraging.
10 Questions
- How long has the narrator studied Chinese? (answer)
- What felt difficult at the beginning? (answer)
- How did the narrator speak at first? (answer)
- How often does the narrator practice later? (answer)
- Who does the narrator read texts with? (answer)
- What does the narrator do at home? (answer)
- What does the narrator listen to on the phone? (answer)
- What can the narrator read now? (answer)
- How is chatting now? (answer)
- What does the narrator believe is important? (answer)
Multiple Choice
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True or False
- 我学汉语已经一年多了。 (answer)
- 刚开始我觉得声调很简单。 (answer)
- 我每天练习一点儿。 (answer)
- 我不用手机学习中文。 (answer)
- 现在我能跟中国朋友聊天。 (answer)
- 我觉得坚持没有用。 (answer)
Retell the Story
Rewrite the story in your own words.
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