HSK 3 · Intermediate stories

小美的信 · Xiaomei's Letter

Xiǎoměi de xìn — A student writes home after three months in Beijing.

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

亲爱的qīn'ài de爸爸bàba妈妈:māma

Dear Mom and Dad:

我wǒ到dào北京Běijīng已经yǐjīng三sān个月ge yuè了。le

I've already been in Beijing for three months.

北京Běijīng的de生活shēnghuó和hé家里jiā lǐ很hěn不一样。bù yíyàng

Life in Beijing is very different from home.

这里zhèlǐ的de冬天dōngtiān比bǐ南方nánfāng冷lěng得多。de duō

The winters here are much colder than in the south.

我wǒ常常chángcháng穿chuān大衣dàyī和hé围巾。wéijīn

I often wear a coat and scarf.

我wǒ的de学校xuéxiào在zài城市chéngshì的de北边。běibiān

My school is on the north side of the city.

每天měi tiān我wǒ坐zuò地铁dìtiě去qù上课。shàngkè

Every day I take the subway to class.

老师lǎoshī非常fēicháng认真,rènzhēn同学们tóngxuémen也yě很hěn友好。yǒuhǎo

The teachers are very dedicated and my classmates are friendly.

上shàng个ge周末,zhōumò我wǒ和hé朋友péngyou去qù了le长城。Chángchéng

Last weekend, I went to the Great Wall with friends.

长城Chángchéng真zhēn长,cháng也yě很hěn壮观。zhuàngguān

The Great Wall is really long and magnificent.

我wǒ照zhào了le很多hěn duō照片,zhàopiàn下次xià cì回家huí jiā给gěi你们nǐmen看。kàn

I took many photos — I'll show you next time I come home.

虽然suīrán我wǒ有时候yǒu shíhou想家,xiǎng jiā但是dànshì我wǒ在zài这里zhèlǐ过得guò de很hěn开心。kāixīn

Although I sometimes miss home, I'm happy here.

请qǐng你们nǐmen不要bú yào担心dānxīn我。wǒ

Please don't worry about me.

等děng放假fàngjià我wǒ就jiù回去huíqù看kàn你们。nǐmen

I'll come back to see you when vacation starts.

爱ài你们nǐmen的de女儿nǚ'ér小美。Xiǎoměi

Your daughter who loves you, Xiaomei.

Vocabulary in this story (73 words)

WordPinyinMeaning
亲爱的qīn'ài dedear
爸爸bàbadad
妈妈māmamom
我wǒI
到dàoarrived at
北京BěijīngBeijing
已经yǐjīngalready
三sānthree
个月ge yuèmonths
了le(perfective)
的de(of)
生活shēnghuólife
和héand
家里jiā lǐhome
很hěnvery
不一样bù yíyàngdifferent
这里zhèlǐhere
冬天dōngtiānwinter
比bǐthan
南方nánfāngthe south
冷lěngcold
得多de duōmuch more
常常chángchángoften
穿chuānwear
大衣dàyīcoat
围巾wéijīnscarf
学校xuéxiàoschool
在zàiis in
城市chéngshìcity
北边běibiānnorth side
每天měi tiānevery day
坐zuòtake
地铁dìtiěsubway
去qùto
上课shàngkèattend class
老师lǎoshīteachers
非常fēichángvery
认真rènzhēndedicated
同学们tóngxuémenclassmates
也yěalso
友好yǒuhǎofriendly
上shànglast
个ge(measure)
周末zhōumòweekend
朋友péngyoufriends
长城Chángchéngthe Great Wall
真zhēnreally
长chánglong
壮观zhuàngguānmagnificent
照zhàotook
很多hěn duōmany
照片zhàopiànphotos
下次xià cìnext time
回家huí jiācome home
给gěigive
你们nǐmenyou
看kànto see
虽然suīránalthough
有时候yǒu shíhousometimes
想家xiǎng jiāmiss home
但是dànshìbut
过得guò deam getting along
开心kāixīnhappily
请qǐngplease
不要bú yàodo not
担心dānxīnworry
等děngwhen
放假fàngjiàvacation starts
就jiùwill
回去huíqùgo back
爱àiloves
女儿nǚ'érdaughter
小美XiǎoměiXiaomei

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