MC and T/F are empty audio text need update
Key Changes Made
- Added translation tooltip to the “用你自己的话写这个故事” instruction in the Retell section
- Added English translation tooltips to all questions using the vocab-tooltip class
- Placed answer tooltips (💡) immediately after each question
- For Multiple Choice: answer tooltip appears right after the question, before the a, b, c options, and includes both the letter and full answer text in the format “Answer: X) Full answer text”
- Added empty rows between Multiple Choice answer pairs in the table using
- Applied the same tooltip structure to True/False and Retell sections
Two friends meet at a café to chat about life, dreams, and future plans over coffee and milk tea.
LEVEL/WORDCOUNT: HSK3 / ~500 words
和朋友喝咖啡
今天 是 星期六， 我 和 我的 好朋友 李华 约好 在 市中心 的 一家 咖啡馆 见面。 我们 已经 很久 没 见 了， 所以 都 很 激动。 当 我 走进 咖啡馆 的时候， 李华 已经 坐 在 靠窗 的 座位 上 等 我 了。 她 看到 我 后， 立刻 站起来， 笑着 对 我 挥手。 我们 拥抱 了 一下， 然后 坐下 开始 聊天。 服务员 走过来 给 我们 菜单。 李华 点 了 一杯 热 美式咖啡， 我 则 选择 了 一杯 奶茶。 她 还 点 了 两块 蛋糕， 说 这 是 这里 的 特色。 我们 一边 喝 饮料， 一边 谈 了 很多 话题。 李华 告诉 我， 她 最近 正在 学习 法语， 因为 她 一直 梦想 去 法国 旅游。 我 非常 佩服 她 的 勇气 和 决心。 我 也 分享 了 我的 近况。 我 说 我 的 工作 虽然 很忙， 但是 我 觉得 很 充实。 我 还 提到 我 计划 明年 去 日本 看 樱花。 李华 听了 很 高兴， 说 她 也 想 和 我 一起 去。 时间 过得 很快， 不知不觉 已经 下午 三点 了。 我们 决定 去 附近 的 公园 散散步， 享受 这 个 美好 的 下午。 在 公园 里， 我们 继续 聊天， 也 拍 了 很多 照片。 临别 时， 我们 约定 下次 一定 要 早点 见面。 今天 真的 是 一个 难忘 的 日子， 和 好朋友 在一起 的 时光 总是 那么 珍贵。
Having Coffee with a Friend
Today is Saturday. My good friend Li Hua and I made plans to meet at a café in the city center. We haven’t seen each other for a long time, so we were both very excited.
When I walked into the café, Li Hua was already sitting by the window waiting for me. When she saw me, she immediately stood up and waved at me with a smile. We hugged briefly, then sat down and started chatting.
The server came over and gave us menus. Li Hua ordered a hot Americano, while I chose a cup of milk tea. She also ordered two pieces of cake, saying they were the specialty here.
We drank our beverages while discussing many topics. Li Hua told me that she’s recently learning French because she has always dreamed of traveling to France. I really admired her courage and determination.
I also shared my recent news. I said that although my work is very busy, I feel very fulfilled. I also mentioned that I’m planning to go to Japan next year to see the cherry blossoms. Li Hua was very happy to hear this and said she also wants to go with me.
Time passed quickly. Before we knew it, it was already three o’clock in the afternoon. We decided to go for a walk in the nearby park to enjoy this beautiful afternoon. In the park, we continued chatting and also took many photos.
At parting, we agreed that we must meet earlier next time. Today was truly an unforgettable day. Time spent together with good friends is always so precious.
Audio help
How to Use the Audio
The audio is designed to help you improve your Chinese listening skills and pronunciation. You can use it in two ways:
- Before reading the text: Listen first to practice understanding spoken Chinese. This helps you focus on pronunciation, rhythm, and listening comprehension without relying on written characters.
- After reading the text: Listen again to compare your own pronunciation with the native speaker. This helps you improve speaking skills, pronunciation, and fluency.
Listening regularly with and without the text will strengthen both your comprehension and speaking abilities in Chinese.
Vocabulary
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 约好 | yuē hǎo | to make an appointment |
| 见面 | jiàn miàn | to meet |
| 激动 | jī dòng | excited |
| 立刻 | lì kè | immediately |
| 拥抱 | yōng bào | to hug |
| 服务员 | fú wù yuán | waiter/waitress |
| 选择 | xuǎn zé | to choose |
| 特色 | tè sè | specialty |
| 话题 | huà tí | topic |
| 梦想 | mèng xiǎng | to dream |
| 佩服 | pèi fú | to admire |
| 勇气 | yǒng qì | courage |
| 决心 | jué xīn | determination |
| 分享 | fēn xiǎng | to share |
| 近况 | jìn kuàng | recent situation |
| 充实 | chōng shí | fulfilling |
| 提到 | tí dào | to mention |
| 计划 | jì huà | to plan |
| 樱花 | yīng huā | cherry blossoms |
| 不知不觉 | bù zhī bù jué | before one knows it |
| 附近 | fù jìn | nearby |
| 享受 | xiǎng shòu | to enjoy |
| 继续 | jì xù | to continue |
| 照片 | zhào piàn | photo |
| 临别 | lín bié | at parting |
| 约定 | yuē dìng | to agree on |
| 难忘 | nán wàng | unforgettable |
| 时光 | shí guāng | time (poetic) |
| 珍贵 | zhēn guì | precious |
Grammar
1. “已经…了” (yǐjīng…le) – Indicates a completed action or state
Example: 我们已经很久没见了。(We haven’t seen each other for a long time already.)
2. “一边…一边…” (yī biān…yī biān…) – Doing two things simultaneously
Example: 我们一边喝饮料，一边谈了很多话题。(We drank beverages while discussing many topics.)
3. “虽然…但是…” (suī rán…dàn shì…) – Although…but…
Example: 我的工作虽然很忙，但是我觉得很充实。(Although my work is very busy, I feel fulfilled.)
4. “不知不觉” (bù zhī bù jué) – Before one realizes; imperceptibly
Example: 不知不觉已经下午三点了。(Before we knew it, it was already 3 PM.)
5. “…的时候” (…de shíhou) – When; at the time of
Example: 当我走进咖啡馆的时候，李华已经在等我了。(When I walked into the café, Li Hua was already waiting for me.)
Idiomatic Expressions
| Mandarin | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 不知不觉 | bù zhī bù jué | before one knows it; imperceptibly |
| 说说笑笑 | shuō shuō xiào xiào | talking and laughing |
| 一见如故 | yī jiàn rú gù | to feel like old friends at first meeting |
| 时光飞逝 | shí guāng fēi shì | time flies |
| 久别重逢 | jiǔ bié chóng féng | reunion after a long separation |
| 谈天说地 | tán tiān shuō dì | to chat about everything under the sun |
| 心心相印 | xīn xīn xiāng yìn | to have mutual affinity; kindred spirits |
Cultural Insights
Coffee Culture in China: While tea has been the traditional beverage in China for thousands of years, coffee culture has rapidly grown in recent decades, especially among young urbanites. Cafés have become popular social spaces for meetings, studying, and relaxation.
Meeting Friends: In Chinese culture, maintaining friendships requires regular contact and meetings. Going to a café is a modern way to catch up with friends, though traditional tea houses still remain popular in many regions.
Cherry Blossom Viewing: Japanese cherry blossom viewing (hanami) has become increasingly popular among Chinese tourists. Many Chinese people plan trips to Japan specifically during spring to see the sakura.
Physical Greetings: While hugging has become more common among close friends in urban China, especially among younger generations, it’s still less common than in Western cultures. Traditional greetings include handshakes or simple verbal greetings.
10 Questions
- 作者什么时候和李华见面？ 💡
- 他们多久没见面了？ 💡
- 作者到的时候，李华坐在哪里？ 💡
- 李华点了什么？ 💡
- 李华在学什么？ 💡
- 李华为什么学法语？ 💡
- 作者计划去哪里旅游？ 💡
- 他们离开咖啡馆的时候几点了？ 💡
- 他们在公园做了什么？ 💡
- 临别时他们约定了什么？ 💡
Multiple Choice
| 1. 他们什么时候见面？ 💡 a) 星期五 b) 星期六 c) 星期天 | 2. 作者点了什么饮料？ 💡 a) 美式咖啡 b) 果汁 c) 奶茶 |
| 3. 李华在学什么语言？ 💡 a) 英语 b) 法语 c) 日语 | 4. 作者想去哪里旅游？ 💡 a) 日本 b) 法国 c) 韩国 |
| 5. 喝完咖啡后他们去哪里？ 💡 a) 电影院 b) 公园 c) 餐馆 | 6. 作者对工作的感觉是什么？ 💡 a) 很轻松 b) 很无聊 c) 虽然很忙，但很充实 |
True or False
- 他们在市中心的咖啡馆见面。 💡
- 作者比李华先到咖啡馆。 💡
- 他们两个人都点了咖啡。 💡
- 李华想去法国旅游。 💡
- 作者觉得工作不充实。 💡
- 他们在公园拍了很多照片。 💡
Retell the Story
用你自己的话写这个故事。
提示：Suggestions
1. 说明你和朋友在哪里见面，什么时候见面。
Describe where and when you met your friend.
2. 描述你们点了什么，聊了什么话题。
Describe what you ordered and what topics you discussed.
3. 解释你们之后做了什么，感觉怎么样。
Explain what you did afterwards and how you felt.
4. 用”虽然…但是…”，”一边…一边…”等句型。
Use sentence patterns like “although…but…” and “while…at the same time…”