HSK 3Lesson 45
It is the evening before the Spring Festival, and Annie is at Yixue's family flat for her first festival in China. You will see the north and the south argue over food, a homesick friend cheered up, and Annie's first dumpling.
You will learn to talk about festivals: name the East and the West and the north and south of China, and say how people celebrate in different places.
Part 1 · 6 new words
Contains 2 words
holiday; festival
to celebrate a festival
Contains 4 words
the West; the western part of the world
the East; the eastern part of the world
Part 2 · 9 phrases
新年是中国最大的节日，大家都回老家过年。
The New Year is China's biggest festival, and everyone goes back to their hometown to celebrate.
在我们老家，过节的时候，一家人都坐在一起吃饭。
In my hometown, at festival time the family sits down to eat together.
西方的节日跟东方的不一样，可是人人都想和家人在一起。
Western festivals differ from Eastern ones, but everyone wants to be with family.
我是北方人，第一次去南方过冬天，觉得很冷。
I'm from the north, and the first time I spent a winter in the south, I found it cold.
我是南方人，来北京以后，才吃到北方的饺子。
I'm from the south, and I only ate northern dumplings after I came to Beijing.
南方人和北方人过年吃的不一样，我们家两个都吃。
Part 3 · 4 conversations
On the evening before the Spring Festival, Yixue's mother opens the door for Annie. It is Annie's first festival away from home.
王妈妈Yixue's mom
安妮来了！快进来，外边冷。
Annie's here! Come in quickly, it's cold outside.
安妮Annie
阿姨好！新年快乐！我给您带了苹果。
Hello, Auntie! Happy New Year! I brought you some apples.
the north; northern China
the south; southern China
Southerners and northerners eat different things at New Year, and our family eats both.
从明天起，我每天早上都去跑步。
From tomorrow on, I'll go running every morning.
难过什么啊，下个月我们又见面了。
Why be sad? We'll see each other again next month.
对我来说，汉字比说话难多了。
For me, characters are much harder than speaking.
王妈妈Yixue's mom
人来就行了，还带东西。第一次在中国过年，习惯吗？
Just coming is enough, you didn't need to bring anything. Is this your first New Year in China? Are you used to it?
安妮Annie
对我来说，这个节日太新了。西方的节日跟东方的不一样。
For me, this festival is all new. Western festivals are different from Eastern ones.
王妈妈Yixue's mom
外边冷，先把大衣给我。一雪，给安妮拿鞋。
It's cold out, so give me your coat first. Yixue, get Annie some shoes.
王一雪Wang Yixue
来了！安妮，我给你准备了好多东西。
Coming! Annie, I've got lots of things ready for you.
安妮Annie
什么东西？别又是你的本子吧！
What things? Please tell me it isn't your notebook again!
In the kitchen, Yixue's parents are making dumplings. Xiaoxue comes from the south and quietly misses her mother.
王妈妈Yixue's mom
我们北方过年都包饺子。安妮，你来试试。
In the north we all make dumplings for the New Year. Annie, you try.
安妮Annie
我不会包，我的饺子一定不好看。
I can't do it, and my dumplings will look terrible.
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
我们南方不吃饺子，我们吃甜的。我妈妈每年都做很多。
In the south we don't eat dumplings, we eat sweet things. My mom makes lots every year.
王妈妈Yixue's mom
想家了吧？
Missing home, aren't you?
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
有一点儿……我妈妈今天一个人在家。
A little... My mom is home alone today.
王爸爸Yixue's dad
难过什么啊！你看，我们人这么多，来吃饺子！
What's there to be sad about? Look how many of us there are, come and eat dumplings!
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
那我也包一个。
Then I'll make one too.
Jiayue arrives last, as always, with something from her hometown. The family sits down at the table.
白家月Bai Jiayue
对不起，我来晚了！这是我老家的苹果，你们尝尝。
Sorry I'm late! These are apples from my hometown, so try them.
王妈妈Yixue's mom
来得不晚，饺子刚好。
You're not late, the dumplings are just done.
王一雪Wang Yixue
家月总是最后一个到。
Jiayue is always the last to arrive.
白家月Bai Jiayue
路上车太多了，我是走过来的！
There were so many cars on the road, so I walked!
王妈妈Yixue's mom
来，大家坐下。安妮，你先吃第一个。
Come on, everyone sit down. Annie, you eat the first one.
安妮Annie
这个饺子是我包的，看起来不太好看。
I made this dumpling, and it doesn't look very good.
王妈妈Yixue's mom
漂亮不漂亮没关系。从今天起，你就是我们家的人。
Pretty or not doesn't matter. From today on, you're one of our family.
Annie bites into her ugly dumpling and finds a sweet inside. Xiaoxue phones her mother and the families toast across the miles.
安妮Annie
啊！里面有糖！
Oh! There's a candy inside!
王一雪Wang Yixue
安妮吃到糖了！
Annie got the candy!
安妮Annie
这个饺子我包得最难看，可是我吃到了糖！
I made this dumpling the ugliest, but I got the candy!
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
妈妈，你看，我在北京过年，也有饺子吃！
Mom, look, I'm celebrating in Beijing and I have dumplings too!
王爸爸Yixue's dad
小雪的妈妈，新年快乐！我们喝一点儿。
Xiaoxue's mom, happy New Year! Let's have a drink.
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
我妈妈说，谢谢你们照顾我。
My mom says thank you for looking after me.
安妮Annie
九月一雪在机场接我，现在就过年了。半年过得真快啊！
In September Yixue picked me up at the airport, and now it's New Year. Half a year has gone by so fast!
