小美的信 · Xiaomei's Letter
Xiǎoměi de xìn — A student writes home after three months in Beijing.
Read the story
Every word shows its pinyin above the characters. The English translation follows each line.
亲爱的爸爸妈妈:
Dear Mom and Dad:
我到北京已经三个月了。
I've already been in Beijing for three months.
北京的生活和家里很不一样。
Life in Beijing is very different from home.
这里的冬天比南方冷得多。
The winters here are much colder than in the south.
我常常穿大衣和围巾。
I often wear a coat and scarf.
我的学校在城市的北边。
My school is on the north side of the city.
每天我坐地铁去上课。
Every day I take the subway to class.
老师非常认真,同学们也很友好。
The teachers are very dedicated and my classmates are friendly.
上个周末,我和朋友去了长城。
Last weekend, I went to the Great Wall with friends.
长城真长,也很壮观。
The Great Wall is really long and magnificent.
我照了很多照片,下次回家给你们看。
I took many photos — I'll show you next time I come home.
虽然我有时候想家,但是我在这里过得很开心。
Although I sometimes miss home, I'm happy here.
请你们不要担心我。
Please don't worry about me.
等放假我就回去看你们。
I'll come back to see you when vacation starts.
爱你们的女儿小美。
Your daughter who loves you, Xiaomei.
Vocabulary in this story (73 words)
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 亲爱的 | qīn'ài de | dear |
| 爸爸 | bàba | dad |
| 妈妈 | māma | mom |
| 我 | wǒ | I |
| 到 | dào | arrived at |
| 北京 | Běijīng | Beijing |
| 已经 | yǐjīng | already |
| 三 | sān | three |
| 个月 | ge yuè | months |
| 了 | le | (perfective) |
| 的 | de | (of) |
| 生活 | shēnghuó | life |
| 和 | hé | and |
| 家里 | jiā lǐ | home |
| 很 | hěn | very |
| 不一样 | bù yíyàng | different |
| 这里 | zhèlǐ | here |
| 冬天 | dōngtiān | winter |
| 比 | bǐ | than |
| 南方 | nánfāng | the south |
| 冷 | lěng | cold |
| 得多 | de duō | much more |
| 常常 | chángcháng | often |
| 穿 | chuān | wear |
| 大衣 | dàyī | coat |
| 围巾 | wéijīn | scarf |
| 学校 | xuéxiào | school |
| 在 | zài | is in |
| 城市 | chéngshì | city |
| 北边 | běibiān | north side |
| 每天 | měi tiān | every day |
| 坐 | zuò | take |
| 地铁 | dìtiě | subway |
| 去 | qù | to |
| 上课 | shàngkè | attend class |
| 老师 | lǎoshī | teachers |
| 非常 | fēicháng | very |
| 认真 | rènzhēn | dedicated |
| 同学们 | tóngxuémen | classmates |
| 也 | yě | also |
| 友好 | yǒuhǎo | friendly |
| 上 | shàng | last |
| 个 | ge | (measure) |
| 周末 | zhōumò | weekend |
| 朋友 | péngyou | friends |
| 长城 | Chángchéng | the Great Wall |
| 真 | zhēn | really |
| 长 | cháng | long |
| 壮观 | zhuàngguān | magnificent |
| 照 | zhào | took |
| 很多 | hěn duō | many |
| 照片 | zhàopiàn | photos |
| 下次 | xià cì | next time |
| 回家 | huí jiā | come home |
| 给 | gěi | give |
| 你们 | nǐmen | you |
| 看 | kàn | to see |
| 虽然 | suīrán | although |
| 有时候 | yǒu shíhou | sometimes |
| 想家 | xiǎng jiā | miss home |
| 但是 | dànshì | but |
| 过得 | guò de | am getting along |
| 开心 | kāixīn | happily |
| 请 | qǐng | please |
| 不要 | bú yào | do not |
| 担心 | dānxīn | worry |
| 等 | děng | when |
| 放假 | fàngjià | vacation starts |
| 就 | jiù | will |
| 回去 | huíqù | go back |
| 爱 | ài | loves |
| 女儿 | nǚ'ér | daughter |
| 小美 | Xiǎoměi | Xiaomei |