chinese

hsk2-17

Written by

Per Johansson

in

English summary: The narrator goes to the supermarket because there is a big discount today. Many people come early, so the line at the checkout is very long. The narrator buys fruit, milk, and some snacks, and tries not to buy too much. In the end, they save money, but they also realize shopping during discounts takes patience.

LEVEL/WORDCOUNT: HSK 2 / ~330 characters

body { font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0; padding: 0; background-color: #fdfdfd; } .container { max-width: 900px; margin: 20px auto; padding: 0 15px; } .tab-group { margin: 25px 0; } .tab-buttons { display: flex; justify-content: space-around; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 8px; margin-bottom: 10px; } .tab-buttons button { padding: 10px 18px; cursor: pointer; background-color: #ffe082; border: none; border-radius: 6px; font-weight: bold; } .tab-buttons button.active { background-color: #ffca28; } .tab-content { display: none; background-color: #fff8e1; padding: 20px; border-radius: 10px; box-shadow: 0 2px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); } .tab-content.active { display: block; } h2 { color: #2e7d32; margin-top: 0; } textarea { width: 100%; padding: 10px; border-radius: 6px; border: 1px solid #ccc; } .vocab-tooltip { border-bottom: 1px dotted #333; cursor: help; font-weight: bold; color: #2e7d32; } .vocab-tooltip:hover::after { content: attr(data-tooltip); position: absolute; background: #333; color: white; padding: 5px 10px; border-radius: 4px; font-size: 12px; white-space: nowrap; transform: translate(-50%, -120%); } .answer-tooltip { border-bottom: 1px dotted #666; cursor: help; font-weight: bold; color: #1976d2; } .answer-tooltip:hover::after { content: attr(data-answer); position: absolute; background: #1976d2; color: white; padding: 8px 12px; border-radius: 4px; font-size: 13px; white-space: nowrap; transform: translate(-50%, -120%); }

超市打折

今天超市打折，我一听到这个消息就马上去了。没想到人特别多，大家都推着车在里面走来走去。

我先买了水果和牛奶，又买了一点儿零食。本来我只想买两样东西，结果越看越想买。

到了收银台，排队的人很长。我等了差不多二十分钟才轮到我。

最后我一共花得不多，还省了一些钱，但是我也觉得打折的时候买东西真的需要耐心。

Supermarket Discount

Today the supermarket had discounts. As soon as I heard the news, I went right away. I didn’t expect so many people—everyone was pushing carts and walking around inside.

I first bought fruit and milk, and then bought a few snacks. Originally I only wanted to buy two things, but as a result, the more I looked, the more I wanted to buy.

At the checkout counter, the line was very long. I waited about 20 minutes before it was my turn.

In the end, I didn’t spend much and I saved some money, but I also felt that shopping during discounts really requires patience.

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

  • 超市 (chāoshì) – supermarket
  • 打折 (dǎzhé) – discount
  • 消息 (xiāoxi) – news
  • 没想到 (méi xiǎngdào) – didn’t expect
  • 推 (tuī) – to push
  • 零食 (língshí) – snacks
  • 结果 (jiéguǒ) – as a result
  • 收银台 (shōuyíntái) – checkout counter
  • 排队 (páiduì) – line up
  • 耐心 (nàixīn) – patience

Grammar

Grammar rule #1: “一…就…” (as soon as)
Use 一…就… to show that action B happens right after action A.
Structure: 一 + 动作A，就 + 动作B。
This is common in HSK 2 for quick reactions and routines.
Here it shows the narrator went immediately after hearing the news.

Examples:
我一听到这个消息就马上去了。
一…就…

Grammar rule #2: “结果 + sentence” (as a result)
结果 can be used to introduce a result, often after a reason or situation.
Structure: 原因/情况，结果 + 结果句。
It often introduces an unexpected or not-so-ideal result.
Here it shows the narrator ended up buying more than planned.

Examples:
本来我只想买两样东西，结果越看越想买。
结果…

Idiomatic Expressions

  • 一听到…就… – meaning
    Example: 一听到这个消息就马上去了。
  • 没想到… – meaning
    Example: 没想到人特别多。
  • 走来走去 – meaning
    Example: 在里面走来走去。
  • 差不多…分钟 – meaning
    Example: 差不多二十分钟。
  • 花得不多 – meaning
    Example: 花得不多。

Cultural Insights

  • Discount shopping crowds
    When big supermarkets have 打折, it’s common to see many people go early and queue.
    This makes vocabulary like 排队 and 收银台 very practical.
    It also creates a natural “unexpected result” for using 结果.
  • Buying more than planned
    Many people experience “I only wanted a few things, but bought more.”
    That’s why 本来…结果… is a very natural story pattern for learners.
    It helps connect cause and effect in simple Chinese.
  • Patience in daily life
    Waiting in line is a common daily-life experience, especially during sales.
    Using 耐心 makes the story feel realistic and gives a useful personal opinion sentence.
    Learners can easily reuse this in real conversations.

10 Questions

  1. Why does the narrator go to the supermarket? (answer)
  2. When does the narrator go? (answer)
  3. Does the narrator expect many people? (answer)
  4. What are people pushing? (answer)
  5. What does the narrator buy first? (answer)
  6. What else does the narrator buy? (answer)
  7. Originally how many things did the narrator want to buy? (answer)
  8. How long does the narrator wait in line? (answer)
  9. Does the narrator spend a lot of money? (answer)
  10. What does the narrator feel the experience needs? (answer)

Multiple Choice

  1. 今天超市： (answer)
    a) 打折
    b) 下雨
    c) 放假
  2. 我一听到消息就： (answer)
    a) 睡觉
    b) 生气
    c) 马上去了
  3. 我先买了： (answer)
    a) 饺子和汤
    b) 水果和牛奶
    c) 书和笔
  1. 到了收银台，排队的人： (answer)
    a) 很长
    b) 很少
    c) 没有
  2. 我等了差不多： (answer)
    a) 两分钟
    b) 五分钟
    c) 二十分钟
  3. 我觉得打折的时候买东西需要： (answer)
    a) 钱
    b) 耐心
    c) 电脑

True or False

  1. 今天超市打折。 (answer)
  2. 我没想到人特别多。 (answer)
  3. 我只买了两样东西。 (answer)
  4. 排队的人不长。 (answer)
  5. 我等了差不多二十分钟。 (answer)
  6. 我觉得打折的时候买东西需要耐心。 (answer)

Retell the Story

Rewrite the story in your own words.

document.querySelectorAll(‘.tab-group’).forEach(group => { const buttons = group.querySelectorAll(‘.tab-btn’); const contents = group.querySelectorAll(‘.tab-content’); buttons.forEach(button => { button.addEventListener(‘click’, () => { buttons.forEach(btn => btn.classList.remove(‘active’)); contents.forEach(content => content.classList.remove(‘active’)); button.classList.add(‘active’); document.getElementById(button.dataset.tab).classList.add(‘active’); }); }); });

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More posts