Author: Per Johansson

Grammar

Grammar rule #1: “先…再…” (first… then…)
Use 先 to introduce the first action, and 再 for the next action.
Structure: 先 + 动作1，再 + 动作2。
It is very common for describing travel steps and plans.
It makes the timeline easy to follow.

Examples:
我们先坐大巴到海边的城市，再走路去海滩旁边的小旅馆。
先坐大巴…再走路…

Grammar rule #2: “差不多 + time/number” (approximately)
Use 差不多 before a time or number to mean “about/around/almost.”
Structure: 差不多 + 数字 + 点/个/天…
It’s useful when you don’t want to be very exact.
In this story it describes an approximate departure time.

Examples:
第三天我们差不多十点回家。
差不多十点。

Idiomatic Expressions

• 去…玩 – meaning
  Example: 去海边玩三天。
• 旁边 – meaning
  Example: 海滩旁边的小旅馆。
• 太阳很大 – meaning
  Example: 太阳很大，所以我带了帽子。
• 在海边散步 – meaning
  Example: 晚上在海边散步。
• 时间过得太快 – meaning
  Example: 大家都觉得时间过得太快了。

Cultural Insights

• Seaside trips
  Going to the seaside during summer vacation is a common travel plan for students and families.
  It provides practical vocabulary: 海边, 海滩, 游泳, and 海鲜.
  These topics are easy to connect to real experiences.
• Sun protection
  Wearing a hat and using sunscreen are common habits when the sun is strong.
  This adds realistic daily-life vocabulary to a travel story.
  It also gives a natural reason to use 因为/所以 or 所以.
• Relaxing evenings
  Evening walks by the sea are often described in simple travel writing.
  It is a calm scene that helps learners practice time words and routine verbs like 散步.
  Short travel narratives like this are great for building reading flow.

Grammar

Grammar rule #1: “需要 + verb” (need to do)
Use 需要 before a verb to say someone needs to do something.
Structure: 主语 + 需要 + 动词 + …
It’s common for advice about health, study, or work.
In this story it explains what the doctor recommends.

Examples:
医生告诉他还需要多休息。
还需要多休息。

Grammar rule #2: “不要…” (negative command / advice)
Use 不要 + verb to tell someone “don’t…” or “shouldn’t…”.
This is often used for polite advice, especially in family conversations.
It can be softened with context or followed by 再 to mean “don’t do it anymore”.
Here it’s used to advise grandpa not to get too tired.

Examples:
不要太累。
你不要再忙工作了。

Idiomatic Expressions

• 看… – meaning
  Example: 昨天我去医院看爷爷。
• 给…带… – meaning
  Example: 给他带了水果。
• 感觉好多了 – meaning
  Example: 爷爷说他感觉好多了。
• 别担心 – meaning
  Example: 别担心，身体最重要。
• 听…的话 – meaning
  Example: 会听医生的话。

Cultural Insights

• Visiting family in hospital
  Visiting relatives in the hospital and bringing fruit is a common, simple way to show care.
  It is a frequent theme in beginner stories because it uses practical vocabulary like 医院 and 水果.
  It also creates a natural setting for giving advice.
• Health-first messages
  Phrases like “身体最重要” are common in daily conversation when someone is sick.
  They are short, polite, and easy for learners to remember and reuse.
  This helps learners sound natural in real situations.
• Advice language
  Family members often give gentle advice using 不要… and 别…
  These forms are useful because they are direct but still common and natural.
  Stories like this help learners practice caring, everyday speech.

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.

Grammar

Grammar rule #1: “有时候…，可是…” (contrast in a situation)
Use 有时候 to introduce a situation that happens sometimes.
Use 可是 to show contrast: something is difficult, but the person still does it.
This pattern makes the story more natural and expressive.
It is common in HSK 2 narratives about habits.

Examples:
有时候地铁上人很多，他只能站着，可是他还是坚持看书。
他只能站着，可是他还是坚持看书。

Grammar rule #2: “还是” (still, as before)
Use 还是 before a verb to show something continues and has not changed.
Structure: 主语 + 还是 + 动词/形容词 + …
It often appears after a contrast or a new problem (e.g., it’s crowded, but he still studies).
This is a common A2 / HSK 2 usage.

Examples:
可是他还是坚持看书，不玩手机。
他还是坚持看书。

Idiomatic Expressions

• 上班路上 – meaning
  Example: 上班路上常常看书或者听中文录音。
• 节省时间 – meaning
  Example: 他觉得这样可以节省时间。
• 人很多 – meaning
  Example: 有时候地铁上人很多。
• 只能… – meaning
  Example: 他只能站着。
• 一定会… – meaning
  Example: 一定会很快提高。

Cultural Insights

• Commute time as study time
  Many learners use commute time to study because it is regular and easy to plan.
  Reading or listening while traveling is a common self-study method in big cities.
  Stories like this make study habits feel realistic and achievable.
• Subway crowds
  Crowded subways are a normal part of daily life in many large cities.
  This context helps learners practice practical expressions like 人很多 and 只能站着.
  It also creates a natural contrast for grammar practice (可是…还是…).
• Phone habits
  “不玩手机” is a simple phrase that reflects modern daily life and self-discipline.
  Many beginner stories contrast “study vs. phone” to show effort and routine.
  This makes the vocabulary immediately useful.

Grammar

Grammar rule #1: “很少…” (rarely)
Use 很少 before a verb phrase to say something happens rarely.
Structure: 主语 + 很少 + 动词 + …
It is often used with 时间, because it describes how often something is possible.
This is common in HSK 2 stories about busy life.

Examples:
他们都很忙，很少有时间一起聊天。
很少有时间一起聊天。

Grammar rule #2: “吃完…以后…” (after finishing…)
Use Verb + 完 to show finishing an action, then add 以后 to say what happens next.
Structure: 动词 + 完 + (宾语) + 以后，…
This is useful for telling events in order (sequence).
It is common with daily actions like 吃完饭以后.

Examples:
吃完饭，我们喝茶、看电视。
吃完饭，我们喝茶、看电视，也聊工作和家。

Idiomatic Expressions

• 请…来… – meaning
  Example: 请了三个朋友来吃。
• 很少有时间 – meaning
  Example: 很少有时间一起聊天。
• 一直说… – meaning
  Example: 朋友们一直说好吃。
• 吃完饭 – meaning
  Example: 吃完饭，我们喝茶、看电视。
• 还要来 – meaning
  Example: 下个星期还要来我家吃饭。

Cultural Insights

• Inviting friends to eat at home
  Eating together at home is a common way to spend time with friends, especially when everyone is busy.
  Beginner stories use this topic to practice food words and social phrases like 请 and 一起.
  It also creates a natural setting for talking after dinner.
• Simple home-cooked dishes
  Dishes like 米饭, 鱼, and 鸡蛋汤 are easy to describe with beginner vocabulary.
  They allow learners to list items clearly and practice basic measure patterns naturally.
  Food scenes are practical for real-life conversation.
• Tea after meals
  Drinking tea after eating is a common daily habit in many Chinese-speaking families.
  It often goes with chatting (聊天) and relaxing at home (like watching TV).
  This makes the story feel realistic and familiar.

Grammar

Grammar rule #1: “常常 / 有时候” (frequency)
Use 常常 to say something happens often.
Use 有时候 to say something happens sometimes, not always.
These adverbs usually come before the verb phrase.
They help make routines sound natural in HSK 2 texts.

Examples:
他常常出门走路、跑步。
有时候也去看电影或者听音乐会。

Grammar rule #2: “可以” (can / allowed to)
Use 可以 to express ability or that something is possible.
Structure: 主语 + 可以 + 动词 + …
It is often used to describe benefits or suggestions.
In this story it explains why the habit is good.

Examples:
他说这样可以让身体更健康。
这样可以让身体更健康，心情也很好。

Idiomatic Expressions

• 在…工作 – meaning
  Example: 在一家公司工作。
• 不喜欢… – meaning
  Example: 周末他不喜欢在家睡觉。
• 出门走路 – meaning
  Example: 他常常出门走路、跑步。
• 或者 – meaning
  Example: 有时候也去看电影或者听音乐会。
• 心情很好 – meaning
  Example: 心情也很好。

Cultural Insights

• Weekend exercise habits
  Many Chinese learners see common lifestyle vocabulary in beginner stories, especially walking and running.
  These activities are easy to describe and useful in real conversation.
  They also connect naturally to health topics like 身体 and 健康.
• Talking about hobbies
  Hobbies like watching movies and listening to music are common beginner themes.
  They help learners practice “喜欢/不喜欢” and frequency words like 常常/有时候.
  These topics work well for short, clear paragraphs.
• Simple reasons and benefits
  Beginner materials often add one short “reason” sentence using 可以.
  This teaches learners to explain why something is good or helpful.
  It makes the story feel more natural and communicative.