1StoryTravel1 min

Anna in Beijing

A first day in a new city: a small hotel, a park and a cheap lunch.

A short story about a traveller. Watch where 在(zài) stands: before a place it says where something is, and after 住(zhù) it says where somebody lives. Read the easier version first if you like.

安娜(Ānnà)是(shì)英国人(Yīngguórén)。她(tā)今天(jīntiān)在(zài)北京(Běijīng)。她(tā)住(zhù)在(zài)一(yí)个(ge)小(xiǎo)宾馆(bīnguǎn)。宾馆(bīnguǎn)在(zài)地铁站(dìtiězhàn)旁边(pángbiān)。

早上(zǎoshang)，安娜(Ānnà)去(qù)公园(gōngyuán)。公园(gōngyuán)里(lǐ)人(rén)很(hěn)多(duō)。很(hěn)多(duō)老人(lǎorén)在(zài)那儿(nàr)喝(hē)茶(chá)。

中午(zhōngwǔ)，她(tā)去(qù)一(yí)个(ge)小(xiǎo)饭馆(fànguǎn)吃饭(chīfàn)。她(tā)不(bú)会(huì)说(shuō)很(hěn)多(duō)汉语(Hànyǔ)。她(tā)说(shuō)：“一(yí)个(ge)炒饭(chǎofàn)，一(yì)杯(bēi)茶(chá)，谢谢(xièxie)！”阿姨(āyí)笑(xiào)了(le)。炒饭(chǎofàn)很(hěn)好吃(hǎochī)，也(yě)很(hěn)便宜(piányi)。

晚上(wǎnshang)，安娜(Ānnà)回(huí)宾馆(bīnguǎn)。她(tā)很(hěn)累(lèi)，也(yě)很(hěn)高兴(gāoxìng)。明天(míngtiān)她(tā)去(qù)火车站(huǒchēzhàn)。

More sentences on this in “Language in use”: Chinese for travelling

Words: 79
Sentences: 15
Words per sentence: 5.3
in the vocabulary: 100 %
measured level: 1
Reading time: 1 min

Grammar in this text

These forms appear in the text in real use. Switch on “Show grammar” above the text to highlight them.

在(zài)北京(Běijīng) · 住(zhù)在(zài)
在(zài) + place says where something is: 她(tā)在(zài)北京(Běijīng). After a verb, 住(zhù)在(zài) means “to live in”. Zài: where it is, where it happens →
地铁站(dìtiězhàn)旁边(pángbiān) · 公园(gōngyuán)里(lǐ)
A place word comes after the noun: 地铁站(dìtiězhàn)旁边(pángbiān), “next to the metro station”, 公园(gōngyuán)里(lǐ), “in the park”. On, in, under: place words →
一(yí)个(ge)炒饭(chǎofàn) · 一(yì)杯(bēi)茶(chá)
A number needs a measure word before the noun: 一(yí)个(ge)炒饭(chǎofàn), but 一(yì)杯(bēi)茶(chá) for a cup. Number, measure word, noun →

The words from 1 up in this text

Not the hard words in general, but those at your level: 30 of the 35 of the 46 words in this text are at 1 or above. You will know everything else by the time you get here.

中午
noon; midday
1
人
person; people
1
今天
today
1
会
can (a learned skill); will
1
住
to live; to stay
1
便宜
cheap
1
公园
park
1
北京
Beijing
1
去
to go
1
吃饭
to eat; to have a meal
1
喝
to drink
1
回
to go back; to return
1
地铁站
metro station
1
多
many; much
1
好吃
delicious (food)
1
宾馆
hotel; guesthouse
1
小
small; young
1
旁边
beside; next to
1
早上
(early) morning
1
明天
tomorrow
1
晚上
evening; night
1
杯
cup; glass (measure word)
1
汉语
Chinese (the language)
1
火车站
railway station
1
炒饭
fried rice
1
笑
to laugh; to smile
1
累
tired
1
老人
old person
1
英国
Britain; the UK
1
茶
tea
1

The word lists for this text

The words in this text appear in 11 lists on this site; the number after each says how many come from that list. Having read the text, you have just needed these very words — and can practise exactly them.

Basic verbs 7 Places in town 7 Clock and calendar 5 Basic adjectives 4 Food and drink 4 People and family 3 Feelings 1 Greetings and set phrases 1 Home and rooms 1 The first measure words 1 School and study 1

Comprehension questions

3 questions on the text. With each answer the sentence it comes from appears — a question whose answer you cannot find in the text tests nothing.

1. Where is Anna’s hotel?

2. What does Anna order for lunch?

3. How does Anna feel in the evening?