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Mythic Mandarin

Happy birthday

Preview version — Chinese review in progress.

HSK 1 About 4 minutes

生日快乐

Shēngrì kuàilè

Happy birthday

Story

  1. 。

    jīntiān shì Xiǎoyǔ de shēngrì.

    Today is Xiaoyu's birthday.

    Words in this sentence
    今天 jīntiān
    today Dictionary
    是 shì
    to be Dictionary
    小雨 Xiǎoyǔ
    Xiaoyu (name) Dictionary
    的 de
    (possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
    生日 shēngrì
    birthday Dictionary

  2. ，。

    zǎoshang, māma hěn máng.

    In the morning Mum is very busy.

    Words in this sentence
    早上 zǎoshang
    morning Dictionary
    妈妈 māma
    mum Dictionary
    很 hěn
    very Dictionary
    忙 máng
    busy Dictionary

  3. “”。

    péngyou yě bù shuō“ shēngrì kuàilè”.

    Her friends don't say "Happy birthday" either.

    Words in this sentence
    朋友 péngyou
    friend Dictionary
    也 yě
    also, too Dictionary
    不 bù
    not Dictionary
    说 shuō
    to say, to speak Dictionary
    生日 shēngrì
    birthday Dictionary
    快乐 kuàilè
    happy Dictionary

  4. 。

    Xiǎoyǔ bù gāoxìng.

    Xiaoyu is not happy.

    Words in this sentence
    小雨 Xiǎoyǔ
    Xiaoyu (name) Dictionary
    不 bù
    not Dictionary
    高兴 gāoxìng
    happy, glad Dictionary

  5. ，。

    wǎnshang, Xiǎoyǔ huí jiā.

    In the evening Xiaoyu goes home.

    Words in this sentence
    晚上 wǎnshang
    evening Dictionary
    小雨 Xiǎoyǔ
    Xiaoyu (name) Dictionary
    回 huí
    to return, to go back Dictionary
    家 jiā
    home, family Dictionary

  6. ！

    jiā lǐ yǒu hěn duō rén!

    There are lots of people at home!

    Words in this sentence
    家 jiā
    home, family Dictionary
    里 lǐ
    in, inside Dictionary
    有 yǒu
    to have; there is Dictionary
    很 hěn
    very Dictionary
    多 duō
    many, a lot Dictionary
    人 rén
    person, people Dictionary

  7. ：“！”

    dàjiā shuō:“ shēngrì kuàilè!”

    Everyone says, "Happy birthday!"

    Words in this sentence
    大家 dàjiā
    everyone Dictionary
    说 shuō
    to say, to speak Dictionary
    生日 shēngrì
    birthday Dictionary
    快乐 kuàilè
    happy Dictionary

  8. ！

    yě yǒu yí gè dà dàngāo!

    There's a big cake too!

    Words in this sentence
    也 yě
    also, too Dictionary
    有 yǒu
    to have; there is Dictionary
    一 yí
    one, a Dictionary
    个 gè
    (measure word for people and things) Dictionary
    大 dà
    big, loud Dictionary
    蛋糕 dàngāo
    cake Dictionary

Grammar focus

  • 不 "not": 不说, 不高兴
  • 也 "also": 也有一个大蛋糕

Vocabulary

Questions

1今天是小雨的生日。Jīntiān shì Xiǎoyǔ de shēngrì.Today is Xiaoyu's birthday.
Show the answer and explanations

Answer: A. True. Sentence 1: 今天是小雨的生日, "Today is Xiaoyu's birthday."

  • B: Sentence 1 says 今天是小雨的生日, so it is true.
2小雨为什么不高兴？Xiǎoyǔ wèishénme bù gāoxìng?Why is Xiaoyu not happy?
Show the answer and explanations

Answer: A. Sentences 2 to 4: Mum is busy, and her friends don't say 生日快乐 either, so she is not happy.

  • B: There is a big cake at home (sentence 8); she is sad because nobody says happy birthday.
  • C: Mum is busy (sentence 2), not ill.
3晚上，家里有什么？Wǎnshang, jiā lǐ yǒu shénme?What is at home in the evening?
Show the answer and explanations

Answer: C. Sentence 6: 家里有很多人, "There are lots of people at home!" It is a surprise party.

  • A: Sentence 6 says the opposite: 很多人.
  • B: Books are not in the story.
4晚上，谁说“生日快乐”？Wǎnshang, shéi shuō "shēngrì kuàilè"?In the evening, who says "Happy birthday"?
Show the answer and explanations

Answer: B. Sentence 7: 大家说：“生日快乐！” 大家 means everybody: all the people at home.

  • A: Sentence 6 says there are many people at home, and 大家 says it together.
  • C: In the morning nobody says it, but in the evening 大家 says it (sentence 7).
5也有一个大＿＿！Yě yǒu yí gè dà __!There's a big ___ too!
Show the answer and explanations

Answer: A. Sentence 8: 也有一个大蛋糕. A birthday cake!

  • B: Apples are not in this story.
  • C: Clothes are not in this story.

Writing task

你的生日是几月几号？你想做什么？

Nǐ de shēngrì shì jǐ yuè jǐ hào? Nǐ xiǎng zuò shénme?

When is your birthday? What would you like to do?

Tips

  • Say the date as 几月几号: 五月八号.
  • Say what you want with 我想……
Try it yourself first, then show the model answer

我的生日是五月八号。我想和朋友吃蛋糕。

Wǒ de shēngrì shì wǔ yuè bā hào. Wǒ xiǎng hé péngyou chī dàngāo.

My birthday is on 8 May. I'd like to eat cake with my friends.

About the HSK 1 level