Episodes
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小刚 explains online romance scams to 小宝 and reminds him to be cautious when making friends online in the future.
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《English Translation》小宝: 哥哥, what is online romance? I heard mom say today that an uncle was scammed out of a lot of money!
小刚: Online romance means dating someone online, like chatting with a person on the phone but never meeting them. However, some people pretend to like others just to scam them for money.
小宝: Scamming? Scamming is bad! How was that uncle scammed?
小刚: He met a 'girlfriend' and kept chatting with her on the phone. She said many sweet things and often asked him for money. In the end, that 'girlfriend' turned out to be his coworker in disguise, and all his money was taken.
小宝: What? It was fake? What happened to the uncle?
小刚: The uncle reported it to the police, and they caught the scammer. In the future, when we make friends, we must be careful, especially with people we haven’t met. We shouldn’t casually send money to others.
小宝: Got it! I won’t easily trust strangers in the future! -
刘娜 teaches David how to describe the frequency of actions using words like ‘常常’, ‘有时候’, and ‘总是’.
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《English Translation》刘娜: David, today we are learning how to describe the frequency of actions. For example: ‘常常’, ‘有时候’, and ‘总是’.
大卫: What does ‘常常’ mean?
刘娜: ‘常常’ means many times. For example: ‘我常常看书’ (I often read books).
大卫: Got it. What about ‘有时候’?
刘娜: ‘有时候’ means less frequently. For example: ‘我有时候跑步’ (I sometimes go running).
大卫: What about ‘总是’?
刘娜: ‘总是’ means every time. For example: ‘他总是迟到’ (He is always late).
大卫: Let me try: ‘我常常喝茶’ (I often drink tea). Is that correct?
刘娜: Correct! Now, ‘What do you sometimes do?’
大卫: I sometimes watch movies.
刘娜: Very good! Last one: ‘What do you always do?’
大卫: I always study Chinese!
刘娜: Excellent! Today you learned how to describe the frequency of actions!
大卫: Thank you, teacher! -
Missing episodes?
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小刚 and 小宝 discuss the story of two people in Fujian who became multi-millionaires by winning the lottery and reflect on the relationship between luck and effort.
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《English Translation》小宝: Brother, I heard from dad that two people in Fujian won the lottery, and one of them got 18 million yuan! That’s amazing!
小刚: Yeah, I heard it on the news too. They both bought a type of lottery called 'Super Lotto,' and they ended up hitting the jackpot.
小宝: Why are they so lucky? I also want 18 million yuan!
小刚: Winning the lottery is very difficult, and only a few people win. Like the woman in Fuzhou this time—she said she bought the ticket ‘随缘,’ treating it as a small act of charity.
小宝: What does ‘随缘’ mean? Does it mean just buying randomly?
小刚: Yes, it means not caring too much about winning, just having a ‘let’s try it’ mindset. There was also a man in Quanzhou who won. He said the win was just a small surprise in life, and he’ll continue to work hard as usual.
小宝: Oh, so are they both lucky and hardworking?
小刚: You could say that. Winning does rely on luck, but living a good life still depends on one’s own efforts. You know what? They also said the lottery money would be used to build gyms and sports fields, which will benefit everyone!
小宝: So buying lottery tickets can also help others! But, brother, I still want to become amazing through my own efforts, not just rely on luck!
小刚: Haha, well said! Achieving success through your own efforts is much more rewarding than simply relying on luck. Let’s work hard together! -
刘娜 teaches David how to use ‘斤’ and ‘公斤’ to express weight.
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《English Translation》刘娜: David, today we are learning Chinese weight units, such as ‘斤’ and ‘公斤’.
大卫: How heavy is ‘斤’?
刘娜: One 斤 is 500 grams, which is half of one kilogram.
大卫: Got it. One 斤 is 500 grams, and two 斤 make one kilogram.
刘娜: Correct! Let’s practice talking about weight. For example: How many kilograms are three 斤 of apples?
大卫: Three 斤 is 1.5 kilograms.
刘娜: Very good! Then how do you say five kilograms using ‘斤’?
大卫: Ten 斤.
刘娜: Correct! Last one: How many kilograms is a watermelon that weighs eight 斤?
大卫: Four kilograms!
刘娜: Excellent! Today you learned how to use ‘斤’ and ‘公斤’. Keep practicing!
大卫: Thank you, teacher! -
陈智高 and 王明月 discuss the concept of young people 'relying on parents,' exploring the balance between self-discovery and social responsibility.
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《English Translation》陈智高: 明月, I read an article today where Professor 梁永安 suggested that young people could 'rely on their parents' for a few years after graduation to explore themselves. What do you think of this idea?
王明月: Master, 'relying on parents' is traditionally seen as a negative term. How has it become something encouraged? But it seems like he’s not talking about lying flat passively but about self-exploration. That’s interesting.
陈智高: Indeed. Professor 梁永安 means that young people could take one or two years before starting work to understand the diversity of the world, explore their interests, and even reevaluate their life direction. It’s like giving young people a chance for a 'gap year.'
王明月: It sounds idealistic, but in reality, many people can’t afford to 'rely on their parents.' The financial pressure on families is too high. Isn’t 'relying on parents' irresponsible to the parents?
陈智高: Professor 梁永安 emphasizes that 'having the means' is key. If the family can afford it, this exploration isn’t necessarily wasting resources but rather an investment in long-term development. You know about Van Gogh, right? If his brother hadn’t supported him, he might not have had the chance to create so many masterpieces.
王明月: I see. But even so, how could parents easily accept this idea? In traditional views, young people should quickly find a job, get married, and buy a house after graduation to share the family’s burden.
陈智高: That’s a generational difference in mindset. The older generation focuses on 'settling down,' while young people lean more toward 'exploring the unknown.' Parents think more like farmers, valuing stability, while young people are more like explorers, craving adventure. This conflict is inevitable.
王明月: Master, does this 'exploration' really bring tangible benefits for the future? After all, after a few years, they might still fail to find a clear direction. Wouldn’t that be a waste of time?
陈智高: Not necessarily. Even if there’s no visible material return, the experiences and encounters along the way become spiritual wealth. As the saying goes, 'Read ten thousand books, travel ten thousand miles'—the journey itself is a form of growth.
王明月: Do you think this advice really applies to young people in China? After all, competition in society is so intense. If they don’t enter the workforce early, won’t they lose at the starting line?
陈智高: It depends on a person’s aspirations. 'Relying on parents' doesn’t mean being passive but rather building strength and finding one’s unique talents. Remember this: 'Live up to your potential.' Instead of rushing into a job you don’t like, it’s better to take more time to find your true passion.
王明月: Hearing you say this makes me reflect. Perhaps we’re too easily constrained by the 'social clock,' overlooking the possibilities of diverse choices.
陈智高: That’s good, 明月. The important thing is to learn how to balance personal ideals with social responsibilities. This isn’t just for -
小刚 explains to 小宝 the scams behind 'height-increasing products' and teaches him to view height issues scientifically.
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《English Translation》小刚: 小宝, have you ever heard of 'height-increasing drugs'? The news says some parents were scammed, spending a lot of money on 'height powder' for their kids, but it didn’t work and even made the kids sick.
小宝: Huh? What are 'height-increasing drugs'? Can they really make people taller?
小刚: Those sellers claim they can make kids grow a lot taller, but it’s actually useless. Doctors say a person’s height is mainly determined by genetics, and relying on such products is a scam.
小宝: Then why do people still buy them?
小刚: Because some parents are very anxious and worry their kids won’t grow tall. But actually, as long as kids eat well, sleep well, and stay healthy, they’ll grow taller naturally. Doctors also say there’s no need to waste money on such things.
小宝: Oh, so it’s okay to be a bit shorter, right? I think being shorter might even make you run faster!
小刚: Exactly. Everyone has their own unique traits; being tall isn’t everything. The most important thing is to stay healthy and grow up happily—that’s the best. -
黄刚 and 陈花 discuss how parents losing control of their emotions while tutoring their children can lead to health issues.
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《English Translation》陈花: Honey, look at this news. A parent ended up in the emergency room from tutoring their child’s homework!
黄刚: Yeah, I saw it too. The child couldn’t differentiate between first-grade pinyin sounds, and the dad got chest pain and started vomiting. He was sent to the hospital. Truly ‘anger harms the body’!
陈花: There’s also a mom who tore a blood vessel in her heart while tutoring her child’s homework! How can it get so serious?
黄刚: Doctors say it’s caused by emotional agitation leading to ‘respiratory alkalosis,’ where rapid breathing causes the body to lose balance. Chronic anxiety really is harmful to health.
陈花: That’s so scary! We always emphasize patience and guidance in teaching, but it’s hard not to get frustrated with children sometimes.
黄刚: Exactly. The news also advises parents to adjust their mindset and not get too anxious when tutoring homework. Otherwise, it not only harms themselves but also makes children more fearful of learning.
陈花: That’s true. Every child has their own pace, and if they’re not good at studying, they can develop other strengths. We need to be mindful at home too and not let homework ruin our relationship.
黄刚: Right. ‘No homework, mother and child are harmonious; with homework, chaos ensues.’ We definitely can’t let that happen in our house! -
小刚 explains to 小宝 why beautified photos cannot be used for exam registration and ID processing.
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《English Translation》小宝: Brother, what are 'Haima Studio Photos'? I just heard on TV that these photos can’t be used for exam registration.
小刚: 'Haima Studio Photos' are a type of beautifully taken ID photo where a computer edits your face afterward to make your skin look very smooth and white, and even make your face appear smaller.
小宝: Wow, that sounds great! Why can’t they be used?
小刚: Because these photos are edited to look so good that they sometimes don’t look like the person. During exams, photos are used to verify your identity. If the photo and the person look too different, it can cause problems.
小宝: Oh, I see! But can’t the photos be edited just a little bit?
小刚: ID photos need to look real and shouldn’t be edited. For things like passports, college entrance exams, and graduate exam registrations, the photo needs to clearly show what you really look like so others can confirm who you are.
小宝: Hmm, I get it! ID photos are for others to recognize me, so they need to look like me!
小刚: Exactly! Don’t aim for perfection; authenticity is the most important. Remember not to use beauty filters when taking ID photos in the future.
小宝: Okay, I’ll make sure to take the most real and authentic photos! -
小刚 and 小宝 discuss the Spring Festival being recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage and explore its meaning and traditions.
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《English Translation》小宝: 哥哥, what does '申遗' mean?
小刚: '申遗' means applying to have important traditional culture recognized as something the world needs to protect, like our Spring Festival!
小宝: Wow, is Spring Festival really that amazing? Why does it need to be protected?
小刚: Because Spring Festival has many wonderful traditions, like putting up spring couplets, having New Year's Eve dinner, and setting off firecrackers. These are part of our culture, and we want the whole world to know about them.
小宝: Oh, I love Spring Festival the most because I can get red envelopes!
小刚: Yes, getting red envelopes is fun, but what’s more important is that Spring Festival is a time for family reunions and a great opportunity to pass down our culture. We need to remember these traditions and keep them alive.
小宝: Yes! I’ll tell my friends that Spring Festival is the most important day in the world!
小刚: Great! This way, more people will understand and love our culture. -
黄刚 and 陈花 discuss the marriage reward policy in 吕梁市 and its impact.
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《English Translation》黄刚: 小花, did you hear? 吕梁市 has introduced a policy where women under 35 who register for marriage can get a reward of 1500 yuan.
陈花: Really? Such a policy exists? But why limit the age to 35?
黄刚: They say it’s because pregnancy after 35 is considered advanced maternal age. This reward might be to encourage early marriage and childbirth. The birth rate in 吕梁 has already dropped to 6.6‰, and the situation is quite serious.
陈花: Oh, I see. They’re trying to boost the marriage and birth rates through incentives. But how much impact can 1500 yuan really have?
黄刚: The amount is indeed small, but perhaps it’s a symbolic incentive. After all, 吕梁 is just a pilot area, and there might be more support in the future, such as subsidies for families with a second or third child.
陈花: Hmm, that makes some sense. But I think to genuinely encourage young people to marry and have children, the fundamental issues like the cost and stress of raising children need to be resolved.
黄刚: Exactly! Problems like housing prices, education, and healthcare—if these aren’t addressed, it’s hard to change young people’s minds with just a 1500-yuan reward.
陈花: Yes, and nowadays, many people value freedom and career development. Marriage and having children are no longer the only life choices. Even the best-designed policies need to align with young people’s needs.
黄刚: That’s true. This policy might be a good start, but whether it will actually work depends on its long-term implementation and supporting measures.
陈花: Right, I hope the policies can be more practical, truly reduce family burdens, and give people confidence in the future. -
刘娜 teaches David how to express gratitude in different situations using phrases like ‘谢谢’, ‘非常感谢’, and others.
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《English Translation》刘娜: David, today we are learning how to express gratitude in Chinese. The simplest way is to say ‘谢谢’.
大卫: ‘谢谢’, I know that!
刘娜: Correct! If you want to be more polite, you can say ‘非常感谢’ or ‘谢谢您’.
大卫: When should I use ‘非常感谢’ and ‘谢谢您’?
刘娜: ‘非常感谢’ is used in more formal situations, for example, when someone has helped you a lot. ‘谢谢您’ is suitable for addressing elders or strangers.
大卫: Got it! Are there any other ways?
刘娜: Yes, for example, ‘太感谢了’ or ‘谢谢你的帮助’.
大卫: ‘太感谢了’, sounds very enthusiastic!
刘娜: Exactly! Let’s practice. Here’s a scenario: Your friend helps you move. What would you say?
大卫: 谢谢你的帮助!
刘娜: Very good! Another one: A waiter brings you food. What would you say?
大卫: 谢谢!
刘娜: Correct! Last one: Your teacher helps you review for an exam.
大卫: 非常感谢您!
刘娜: Excellent! Today you’ve learned several ways to express gratitude.
大卫: Thank you, teacher! I’ll use these expressions more in the future! -
小刚 explains to 小宝 the meaning of the popular internet term '接' and how it reflects young people's hopes for a bright future.
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《English Translation》小刚: 小宝, do you know that it’s very popular online lately to say '接'?
小宝: '接'? Receiving what?
小刚: It’s like when you see someone doing a good deed or getting something nice, you say '接,' hoping that you can receive the same thing.
小宝: Oh! So it’s like when I see you eating candy, and I say '接,' hoping you’ll give me candy too?
小刚: You can think of it that way. Nowadays, many older brothers and sisters, when they see someone getting a good job or getting into a good school, they say '接,' hoping they’ll have the same good luck.
小宝: Can they really 'receive' good luck?
小刚: Saying '接' is a way to express hope. It also reminds us that to get good things, we have to work hard ourselves. If you just say '接' but don’t study or work hard, good luck won’t come to you.
小宝: I understand! I need to work hard too so I can 'receive' good luck! -
陈智高 and 王明月 start from the theatrical allusion of "关公战秦琼" to explore the influence of culture on language understanding and expression, emphasizing the challenges of cultural differences in cross-cultural communication.
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《English Translation》陈智高: 明月, do you think foreigners can understand our allusion of '关公战秦琼'?
王明月: Teacher, that might be a bit challenging for them. Behind this allusion is the accumulation of our Chinese history and culture. Without a certain cultural background knowledge, it's probably difficult to understand its intricacies.
陈智高: Exactly! Language is like a bridge connecting different cultures. But this bridge can't be built solely with words and grammar. You need to understand the customs and traditions on both sides of the bridge to truly cross it and go far!
王明月: You're so right! I encountered similar situations when I was abroad. Once, I used '过五关斩六将' to describe someone overcoming difficulties, but my foreign friends looked completely bewildered and couldn't understand the meaning at all.
陈智高: Haha, it's just like when we hear foreigners speaking their local dialects. We might understand each word, but when put together, we can't grasp the meaning at all. Cultural differences are like an invisible wall, hindering people's understanding and communication.
王明月: So, when learning a language, we can't just learn the surface. We need to delve deeper into the cultural connotations behind it. Like when we learn English, we can't just memorize vocabulary and grammar, we also need to understand the history, literature, values, and so on of English-speaking countries.
陈智高: Exactly! Language is the carrier of culture. Every word and expression is imbued with cultural imprints. To truly master a language, one must wholeheartedly experience its cultural essence.
王明月: I understand now, teacher. It seems I should read more foreign literature and learn more about their cultural backgrounds to better understand and use the language.
陈智高: Yes, learning a language is a process of continuous exploration and discovery. We must always maintain curiosity and embrace different cultures with an open mind to truly grasp the essence of language! -
小刚 tells 小宝 about Japan offering a 10-year visa to Chinese citizens, explaining that traveling to Japan will become more convenient.
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《English Translation》小刚: 小宝, did you know? It will now be easier to travel to Japan!
小宝: Really? Why is that?
小刚: Because Japan is going to issue a new visa for Chinese people, and with this visa, you can travel to Japan for 10 years.
小宝: What is a visa?
小刚: A visa is like a pass. With it, you can visit other countries. In the past, a visa to Japan was only valid for a short time, but now the new visa will be valid for 10 years!
小宝: Wow! That means I can visit Japan many times!
小刚: Yes, and each time you can stay in Japan longer—up to one month! Many people are planning to visit Japan during the Spring Festival.
小宝: Then I want to go to Japan too! I want to eat delicious sushi! -
小刚 tells 小宝 about the achievements of China in 2024 as showcased in a video released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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《English Translation》小宝: 小刚哥哥, what does 'Luckily, there’s China' mean?
小刚: That’s the name of a video released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It talks about all the amazing things China achieved in 2024!
小宝: What amazing things?
小刚: For example, China helped other countries build high-speed railways, like the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in Indonesia, and China’s rocket sent astronauts to the Tiangong space station.
小宝: Wow! China is so awesome! Is there more?
小刚: Yes! Things like domestically made electric vehicles and smart robots are very advanced, and China also won a gold medal in swimming at the Paris Olympics!
小宝: That’s incredible! I want to do something amazing for China in the future too! -
小刚 and 小宝 discuss an incident where a teacher made an inappropriate remark in class and its impact.
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《English Translation》小刚: 小宝, the news today said that a teacher said something very excessive in class!
小宝: What did she say?
小刚: She asked students to take their report cards home for their parents to sign, and someone asked, 'Is it okay if my mom signs?' and she shouted, 'If your whole family is dead, then you don't need to sign!'
小宝: Ah? How could the teacher say that? Did she say it because she was very angry?
小刚: Maybe, but saying things like that will hurt the students' feelings. Teachers should teach us to speak properly, not to scare people.
小宝: That's right, teachers should be as gentle as mothers. So what happened afterwards?
小刚: The school removed her from her position as homeroom teacher and also reminded other teachers to be careful about their words and actions.
小宝: That's the best! Everyone should speak like the 'Speak Properly' book teaches, right?
小刚: That's right, 小宝! We also have to remember not to say hurtful things even when we are angry.