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Where Shall We Go This Weekend? — A Dialogue Between Friends

Xiao Ming: It’s the weekend today. What do you want to do?
Xiao Hong: I’m a bit tired, but I also don’t want to stay at home.
Xiao Ming: Then let’s go watch a movie!

Xiao Hong: I like watching movies, but today I don’t really want to go to a place with lots of people. Because cinemas are often very lively and crowded, I’m a bit worried.

Xiao Ming: Then how about we go to a café?
Xiao Hong: Okay, I relatively like cafés. But I don’t really like drinking things that are too sweet.
Xiao Ming: No problem. You can drink tea, and I’ll drink coffee.

Xiao Hong: Okay. But the weather is very good today. I prefer going to the park. I don’t really like sitting indoors.

Xiao Ming: Then let’s go to the park first for a walk, and then go to the café, okay?
Xiao Hong: Good idea! In the park we can take photos, and then go to the café to chat.
Xiao Ming: Then let’s leave now!

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.

Same Event, Two Feelings: Someone Who Likes It and Someone Who Doesn’t

Viewpoint 1 (I really liked it): Last weekend, the community center held a small concert in the park. I often listen to songs, so when I heard the news, I was very happy.

That evening the weather was great and the park looked beautiful. I went with a friend, walked around first, and then found a good place to sit. I relatively like light music, and I like live music even more. Because people sang and played instruments, it felt very “real.”

I also met new friends. Everyone took photos and laughed together. I think this kind of activity is interesting, and I hope there will be more in the future.

Viewpoint 2 (I didn’t really like it): I know many people like music, but I relatively like quiet. That evening there were many people in the park, and it was a bit noisy. At first I wanted to listen, but later I felt too tired.

I don’t really like standing all the time, and I also don’t really like seeing too many people. However, I think this activity is good because it lets everyone come out to meet and also meet new friends. So I hope next time there will be quieter music, or fewer people.

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.

My First Week Joining a Hobby Club

My name is Xiao Yu. Recently I’ve been very busy at work, and sometimes I feel a bit lonely. So I decided to go to the community center to take a look and meet new friends.

On Monday afternoon, I went to sign up. The staff asked me, “What hobbies do you like?” I said, “I like eating, and I also like listening to music.” He recommended the cooking club, and also suggested I try the walking group.

On Tuesday evening, I joined the cooking club. The teacher taught us to make simple fried rice. I found that I really like cooking, because we can eat together and also chat. I don’t really like very spicy food, so I only put a little chili.

On Saturday morning, I went to the park and walked with the walking group. I often sit in the office, so I prefer walking outside. We walked and chatted at the same time. I met a new friend named Xiao Mei.

Xiao Mei asked me, “Do you like calligraphy?” I said, “Sometimes I like it, but sometimes I feel it’s a bit hard. I never write very beautiful characters, so I want to learn.”

On Wednesday afternoon, I went with Xiao Mei to the calligraphy class. The teacher said, “Beginners, don’t worry—take it slowly.” I wrote a few Chinese characters. I felt it was interesting, so I decided to come often in the future.

This week, I tried three activities: cooking, walking, and calligraphy. I don’t really like places that are too crowded, but I like doing interesting things with people. Because I found new friends, I’m very happy.

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.

Likes and Dislikes: Useful Every Day

In daily life, we often need to chat with people. One very good method is to say what you like and what you don’t like. For example: “Do you like sports?” The other person can say: “I like running.” Or: “I don’t like playing soccer.”

Likes and dislikes are useful because they help you get to know new friends. If you know someone likes music, you can ask: “What songs do you like to listen to?” They might answer: “I relatively like light music.” Then you have a topic to talk about.

There are many common hobby categories. The first is sports: running, swimming, and ball games. The second is music: listening to songs and singing. The third is food: “What do you like to eat?” Some people like spicy food, and some people don’t like sweet food. The fourth is TV: watching TV and movies. The fifth is reading: reading books and studying in the library.

You can also use “because” and “so” to give a short reason. For example: “I like watching movies because they are interesting.” Another example: “I don’t like very noisy places, so I don’t often go to very lively restaurants.”

Now you can try. What hobbies do you like? What don’t you like? When you can talk about likes and dislikes, chatting becomes easier.

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.

Day 2: First Time to Sign Up

The next morning, Xiao Wang went to the community center again. He thought: I often run alone, but today I can walk together with other people.

A staff member gave him a form. On the form were his name, phone number, time, and also which activities he likes. Xiao Wang wrote: I like walking, because I like seeing the weather in the park.

Just then, Auntie Li also arrived. She held a notebook and said: I don’t really like eating very spicy food, so I want to learn to make simple dishes.

The staff member asked: What dishes do you like? Auntie Li said: I prefer light soup, and I also like stir-fried vegetables.

In the afternoon, Xiao Lin finally came. He was a little nervous, because he had never used a writing brush before. The teacher said: It’s okay, we will practice slowly.

In the end, all three people successfully signed up. They agreed: Next week we’ll go together to join the activities each of us likes.

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.

Big City Daily Routine Survey

Recently, a big city carried out a survey about daily routine schedules. Over one thousand residents took part. The survey mainly asked what time people usually get up and go to bed, and whether they often work overtime or sleep very late. The results show that about 40% of people say they get up at around 6:30 in the morning. Another 30% get up between 7:00 and 7:30. Less than 10% of people often get up after 8:00. Some people said that they sometimes need to work night shifts, so their getting‑up time is not the same. For example, some doctors and emergency workers often get up at noon or in the afternoon. Regarding bedtime, the survey found that most city people go to sleep at around 11:00 at night. Among them, about 25% of young people often stay up late and only go to sleep after 12:30. Many interviewees said they often look at their phones at night and therefore find it hard to sleep early. The survey also asked whether people are satisfied with their routine. About 60% of people think they get up too early or sleep too late. They said work pressure is very big, and sometimes they even need to bring work home. At the same time, 40% of respondents said they are trying to change their daily habits. For example, some people want to go to bed earlier and look at their phones less. Others want to exercise more in the morning and drink less coffee. Experts remind everyone that enough sleep is very important for health. They suggest that city people should sleep seven to eight hours every day and should not stay up late often. This survey also records how busy and changeable big‑city daily life is today.

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.

A Workday and a Weekend – Interview

Today we interview a young office worker called Li Lin. She introduces one normal workday and one weekend day in her life. Q: Do you work every day? A: I work at the company every day, but Monday to Friday are workdays. Saturday and Sunday are the weekend, and I can rest more. Q: On workdays, what time do you get up in the morning? A: On workdays I get up at 6:30 in the morning. After getting up, I first wash my face and brush my teeth, then eat breakfast. I often eat bread and drink milk at home. Q: What time do you go to the company? A: I go out at about 8:00 and take the subway to work. From my home to the company it takes about thirty minutes. Q: What time do you finish work every day? A: I usually finish work at 6 p.m. But sometimes work is very busy, I must work overtime and only go home at 8 p.m. Q: At home, what do you usually do the most? A: After going home, I first eat dinner. Then sometimes I watch TV, sometimes I go online. I also prepare work for tomorrow, for example, reading emails. Q: On workdays, what time do you go to sleep at night? A: I usually go to sleep at around 11 p.m., because tomorrow I still have to go to work in the morning. But sometimes I often look at my phone at night, so I only sleep at 12. Q: Then what is different on weekends? A: On weekends I often sleep until 8:30 or 9 o’clock. I don’t need to go to work, so I can sleep more. I often go to watch movies with friends or go to the park for a walk. Q: Do you also sleep so late on weekend nights? A: On weekend nights I sometimes sleep even later because I do not need to get up early. I often chat with friends, or stay at home reading books and watching TV shows. Sometimes I only sleep at midnight. Q: Do you think workdays are better or weekends are better? A: I think workdays have work, so I can earn money. Weekends let me rest well and meet friends. Both are very important.

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.

My Day – Diary

Today I want to write a little about my day. At 6:30 in the morning, my alarm rings and I get up right away. I first go to wash my face and brush my teeth, then go to the kitchen to make a simple breakfast. I often eat one egg, a slice of bread, and drink a glass of milk. After finishing breakfast, I change my clothes, tidy my schoolbag, and go out at about 7:10.

My home is not very far from school, so I usually ride my bike to school. On the way there are many students and office workers, and everyone looks very busy. I arrive at school at 7:30, first chat with my classmates, and then at eight o’clock classes start. In the morning we have three classes, including Chinese and math. After class, sometimes I read in the classroom, and sometimes I go to the playground to walk with friends.

At noon at twelve o’clock, we eat lunch at school. Today’s lunch is rice, vegetables, and a little meat, and it tastes okay. After finishing lunch, my classmates and I walk for a while around the campus, then go back to the classroom to rest. Some classmates lie on the desk and sleep; I only close my eyes for a short time, because I still want to read a bit more in the afternoon.

At 1:30 in the afternoon, classes start again. We have one English class and two self‑study periods. During self‑study, I do my homework and review Chinese characters. The teacher often says that if we study more now, later we can work overtime less, so I think studying seriously is very important. After school at 4:30, I do not go home immediately, but go to the library near the school to read.

At 5:30, I ride home and see many people getting off work on the road. After getting home, I first wash my hands, then help my mom with some housework, for example washing dishes and tidying the living room. At 6:30, my whole family eats dinner together and we chat while eating. My dad says his work was very busy and tiring today, but when he sees his family he feels very good.

After dinner, I do my homework in my room. At about eight o’clock, I rest for a while, look at my phone, chat with friends on my phone, and then continue writing my homework. Sometimes I feel there is a bit too much homework, but after finishing it I feel very happy. At around 9:30, I take a shower and get ready to sleep.

At 10 p.m., I get into bed and read for a little while, then turn off the light and sleep. Before sleeping, I often think about what I did today and what I will do tomorrow. Today was a little busy, but I learned many things and also spent a pretty good day together with my family and friends. I hope tomorrow can also be this full and interesting.

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.

Who Is Busier, Who Is More Tired?

On a workday evening, two good friends, Xiao Ming and Xiao Li, are walking in the park. They walk and chat at the same time.

Xiao Li: “You seem very tired today, what’s wrong?”
Xiao Ming: “Yes, from morning to evening I was busy. I got up at 6:30 in the morning, started work at eight, and worked all the way until six in the evening.”

Xiao Li: “That sounds busier than me. I only get up at seven and start work at nine. But in the afternoon I often need to work overtime; sometimes I don’t get off work until 8:30.”

Xiao Ming: “Then in the afternoon you are much busier than me! I rarely work overtime and usually go home at 6:30.”

Xiao Li: “Although I get up later than you, I feel that I am more tired than you. Because after going home I still have to do housework, for example washing clothes and cleaning my room.”

Xiao Ming: “I also help with housework, but I don’t do a lot. My mom says I am already very tired from work, so she gives me a bit less housework. Maybe your mom is stricter than mine.”

Xiao Li: “Maybe. But I think doing more housework is also not bad, because I can help my family and it’s also a kind of exercise. However, sometimes I really feel too tired.”

Xiao Ming: “It sounds like your life is busier and more tiring than mine. I am only very busy when I am at work; after I go home, I can still rest well.”

Xiao Li: “Then we are the same: from Monday to Friday both of us are very busy. But I think on weekends you are more fortunate than me, because you can sleep well, and I still need to go to class.”

Xiao Ming: “Maybe. Each of us has our own kind of busy life and tiredness. The important thing is not to be too tired or too busy and to pay attention to our health.”

The two friends talk and laugh as they walk. They both feel that although work today was very busy, taking a walk like this and talking about daily life makes them feel not so tired.

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.

Weekend Family Gathering

Saturday afternoon, the whole family sits in the living room eating fruit, drinking tea, and chatting.

Mom: “Xiao Ming, how was your week?”
Xiao Ming: “Mom, I was very busy. Every morning I get up at 6:30, go to work at 8, return home at 6:30 p.m. But I’m doing better because I sleep early, get up early, and exercise more.”

Dad: “You’re much better than me! I work until 7:30 every day and still need overtime. I feel very tired.”

Mom: “Dad, you should pay attention to your health. Don’t be too busy or too tired. You should exercise more and eat less meat.”

Little Sister: “I’m also very busy at school. Every morning I have 4 classes, 2 self-study periods in the afternoon. In the evening after going home I still need to do homework. I’m busier than big brother Xiao Ming.”

Xiao Ming: “Little sister, you work very hard. But you’re younger than me and study better. After your hard work, in the future you won’t need to be so busy.”

Mom: “That’s right! Our whole family is very busy, but on weekends we can eat and chat together – that’s really good. We should spend more time together and show more love.”

The whole family listens to Mom’s words and smiles. They feel that although everyone is very busy every day, a family with love is the best.

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.
• After reading the text: Listen again to compare your pronunciation with the native speaker.