HSK 3 · Intermediate stories

城市和乡村 · City and Countryside

Chéngshì hé xiāngcūn — Which is better to live in?

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Every word shows its pinyin above the characters. The English translation follows each line.

很多hěnduōrén讨论tǎolùn城市chéngshìhǎo还是háishi乡村xiāngcūn好。hǎo

Many people debate whether city or country is better.

城市里chéngshì lǐ工作gōngzuò机会jīhuì多,duō交通jiāotōng方便。fāngbiàn

The city has many jobs and convenient transport.

但是dànshì压力yālìhěn大,空气kōngqì不好。bù hǎo

But the pressure is high and the air is bad.

乡村xiāngcūn生活shēnghuó比较bǐjiào慢,màn比较bǐjiào安静。ānjìng

Country life is slower and quieter.

可以kěyǐ呼吸hūxī新鲜的xīnxiān de空气。kōngqì

You can breathe fresh air.

但是dànshì工作gōngzuò好找。hǎo zhǎo

But jobs are hard to find.

每个人měi gè rénde选择xuǎnzédōu一样。yíyàng

Everyone's choice is different.

gèng喜欢xǐhuan城市,chéngshì不过búguò周末zhōumò常常chángcháng乡下。xiāngxià

I prefer the city, but often visit the country on weekends.

Vocabulary in this story (42 words)

WordPinyinMeaning
很多hěnduōmany
rénpeople
讨论tǎolùndiscuss
城市chéngshìcity
hǎogood
还是háishior
乡村xiāngcūncountryside
城市里chéngshì lǐin the city
工作gōngzuòjob
机会jīhuìopportunities
duōmany
交通jiāotōngtransport
方便fāngbiànconvenient
但是dànshìbut
压力yālìpressure
also
hěnvery
great
空气kōngqìair
不好bù hǎobad
生活shēnghuólife
比较bǐjiàorelatively
mànslow
安静ānjìngquiet
可以kěyǐcan
呼吸hūxībreathe
新鲜的xīnxiān defresh
not
好找hǎo zhǎoeasy to find
每个人měi gè réneveryone
de's
选择xuǎnzéchoice
dōuall
一样yíyàngthe same
I
gèngmore
喜欢xǐhuanlike
不过búguòbut
周末zhōumòweekends
常常chángchángoften
go to
乡下xiāngxiàthe country

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