Two homes

Preview version — Chinese review in progress.

HSK 7–9 · Level 7 About 12 minutes

两个家

Liǎng gè jiā

Two homes

Story

，。
Qiū Xiǎo zài Nuówēi Àosīlù shēnghuó de dì-wǔ nián, zhōngyú néng yòng Nuówēiyǔ gēn línjū kāi wánxiào le.
In her fifth year in Oslo, Norway, Qiu Xiao could finally joke with her neighbours in Norwegian.
Words in this sentence
邱晓 Qiū Xiǎo
Qiu Xiao (name)
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
挪威 Nuówēi
Norway Dictionary
奥斯陆 Àosīlù
Oslo Dictionary
生活 shēnghuó
life Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
第五 dì-wǔ
fifth Dictionary
年 nián
year Dictionary
终于 zhōngyú
finally, at last Dictionary
能 néng
can, be able to Dictionary
用 yòng
to use Dictionary
挪威语 Nuówēiyǔ
Norwegian (language)
跟 gēn
with; as Dictionary
邻居 línjū
neighbour Dictionary
开 kāi
to drive; to open Dictionary
玩笑 wánxiào
joke (开玩笑: to joke) Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
，，，，。
gāng lái de shíhou, dōngtiān xiàwǔ sān diǎn tiān jiù hēi le, tā chángcháng yí gè rén zuò zài chuāngqián, kàn zhe xuě yìdiǎndiǎn bǎ lùdēng mái qǐlai, xīnli kōngluòluò de.
When she first arrived, winter darkness fell at three in the afternoon. She would often sit alone at the window, watching the snow slowly bury the street lamps, feeling hollow inside.
Words in this sentence
刚 gāng
just Dictionary
来 lái
to come Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
时候 shíhou
time, moment (……的时候: when …) Dictionary
冬天 dōngtiān
winter Dictionary
下午 xiàwǔ
afternoon Dictionary
三 sān
three Dictionary
点 diǎn
o'clock Dictionary
天 tiān
day Dictionary
就 jiù
then, right away Dictionary
黑 hēi
black Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
常常 chángcháng
often Dictionary
一个人 yí gè rén
alone, on one's own Dictionary
坐 zuò
to sit; to travel by Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
窗前 chuāngqián
by the window
看 kàn
to look, to watch, to read Dictionary
着 zhe
(-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
雪 xuě
snow Dictionary
一点点 yìdiǎndiǎn
a tiny bit Dictionary
把 bǎ
(moves the object before the verb) Dictionary
路灯 lùdēng
street lamp Dictionary
埋 mái
to bury Dictionary
起来 qǐlai
(starting to …) Dictionary
心里 xīnli
in one's heart Dictionary
空落落 kōngluòluò
empty, hollow Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
，，。
Nuówēi rén lǐmào ér ānjìng, gōngjiāochē shàng nìngkě zhàn zhe, yě bù yuànyì zuò dào mòshēngrén pángbiān.
Norwegians were polite and quiet; on the bus they would rather stand than sit next to a stranger.
Words in this sentence
挪威 Nuówēi
Norway Dictionary
人 rén
person, people Dictionary
礼貌 lǐmào
politeness (有礼貌: polite) Dictionary
而 ér
and; but (literary) Dictionary
安静 ānjìng
quiet Dictionary
公交车 gōngjiāochē
bus Dictionary
上 shàng
on, above Dictionary
宁可 nìngkě
would rather Dictionary
站 zhàn
to stand Dictionary
着 zhe
(-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
也不 yě bù
(宁可……也不……: rather … than …)
愿意 yuànyì
to be willing Dictionary
坐 zuò
to sit; to travel by Dictionary
到 dào
to arrive Dictionary
陌生人 mòshēngrén
stranger Dictionary
旁边 pángbiān
next to, beside Dictionary
，，。
tā yídù yǐwéi, zhèli de rén dōu hěn lěngmò, zìjǐ yǒngyuǎn yě róng bú jìnqu.
For a time she thought everyone here was cold and that she would never fit in.
Words in this sentence
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
一度 yídù
for a time Dictionary
以为 yǐwéi
to think (wrongly), to assume Dictionary
这里 zhèli
here Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
人 rén
person, people Dictionary
都 dōu
all, both Dictionary
很 hěn
very Dictionary
冷漠 lěngmò
cold, indifferent Dictionary
自己 zìjǐ
oneself Dictionary
永远 yǒngyuǎn
forever Dictionary
也 yě
also, too Dictionary
融 róng
to blend in (融进去) Dictionary
不 bú
not Dictionary
进去 jìnqu
to go in Dictionary
。：“”，。
zhuǎnbiàn fāshēng zài dì-èr nián chūntiān. lóu lǐ tiē chū le yì zhāng tōngzhī: zhōuliù“ yìwù láodòngrì”, qǐng suǒyǒu zhùhù yìqǐ qīnglǐ yuànzi.
The change came in her second spring. A notice went up in the building: Saturday was a "community work day", and all residents were asked to help tidy the courtyard.
Words in this sentence
转变 zhuǎnbiàn
change Dictionary
发生 fāshēng
to happen Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
第二 dì-èr
second Dictionary
年 nián
year Dictionary
春天 chūntiān
spring Dictionary
楼 lóu
building; floor (上楼: go upstairs) Dictionary
里 lǐ
in, inside Dictionary
贴 tiē
to stick, to put up Dictionary
出 chū
out Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
张 zhāng
(measure word for flat things like photos) Dictionary
通知 tōngzhī
notice Dictionary
周六 zhōuliù
Saturday Dictionary
义务劳动日 yìwù láodòngrì
community work day
请 qǐng
to treat, to invite; please Dictionary
所有 suǒyǒu
all Dictionary
住户 zhùhù
resident Dictionary
一起 yìqǐ
together Dictionary
清理 qīnglǐ
to tidy Dictionary
院子 yuànzi
courtyard Dictionary
，。，，，。
tā yóuyù le hěn jiǔ, háishi xià le lóu. nà tiān, píngshí diǎntóu zhī jiāo de línjū men yìbiān sǎo luòyè, yìbiān liáotiān, yǒurén duānlái le kāfēi hé huáfūbǐng.
She hesitated for a long time but went down anyway. That day, neighbours who normally just nodded to each other chatted as they swept leaves, and someone brought out coffee and waffles.
Words in this sentence
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
犹豫 yóuyù
to hesitate Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
很 hěn
very Dictionary
久 jiǔ
a long time Dictionary
还是 háishi
or (in questions) Dictionary
下 xià
next; down Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
楼 lóu
building; floor (上楼: go upstairs) Dictionary
那 nà
that Dictionary
天 tiān
day Dictionary
平时 píngshí
usually Dictionary
点头之交 diǎntóu zhī jiāo
nodding acquaintance Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
邻居 línjū
neighbour Dictionary
们 men
(plural for people) Dictionary
一边 yìbiān
(一边……一边……: while) Dictionary
扫 sǎo
to sweep Dictionary
落叶 luòyè
fallen leaves Dictionary
一边 yìbiān
(一边……一边……: while) Dictionary
聊天 liáotiān
to chat Dictionary
有人 yǒurén
someone Dictionary
端来 duānlái
to bring over
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
咖啡 kāfēi
coffee Dictionary
和 hé
and Dictionary
华夫饼 huáfūbǐng
waffle
，，，。
lóushàng de lǎo tàitai Yīnggélì zhīdao tā láizì Zhōngguó, yǎnjing yí liàng, shuō zìjǐ niánqīng shí qù guò Guìlín, yìzhí jìde Lí Jiāng shàng de wù.
When old Ingrid from upstairs learned she was from China, her eyes lit up: she had been to Guilin when she was young and still remembered the mist on the Li River.
Words in this sentence
楼上 lóushàng
upstairs Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
老 lǎo
old Dictionary
太太 tàitai
Mrs Dictionary
英格丽 Yīnggélì
Ingrid (name)
知道 zhīdao
to know Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
来自 láizì
to come from Dictionary
中国 Zhōngguó
China Dictionary
眼睛 yǎnjing
eye(s) Dictionary
一亮 yí liàng
to light up
说 shuō
to say, to speak Dictionary
自己 zìjǐ
oneself Dictionary
年轻 niánqīng
young Dictionary
时 shí
when, at the time of Dictionary
去 qù
to go Dictionary
过 guò
to celebrate, to spend (a holiday) Dictionary
桂林 Guìlín
Guilin Dictionary
一直 yìzhí
all along, always Dictionary
记得 jìde
to remember Dictionary
漓江 Lí Jiāng
the Li River Dictionary
上 shàng
on, above Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
雾 wù
mist Dictionary
，：，。
cóng nà yǐhòu, měi gè yuè tāmen dōu huì yìqǐ hē yí cì kāfēi: Yīnggélì jiāo tā Nuówēi de lǎo gē, tā jiāo Yīnggélì bāo jiǎozi.
After that they met for coffee every month: Ingrid taught her old Norwegian songs, and she taught Ingrid to make dumplings.
Words in this sentence
从 cóng
from Dictionary
那 nà
that Dictionary
以后 yǐhòu
after, later Dictionary
每 měi
every, each Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
月 yuè
month Dictionary
她们 tāmen
they, them (women) Dictionary
都 dōu
all, both Dictionary
会 huì
can (a learned skill) Dictionary
一起 yìqǐ
together Dictionary
喝 hē
to drink Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
次 cì
time (occurrence) Dictionary
咖啡 kāfēi
coffee Dictionary
英格丽 Yīnggélì
Ingrid (name)
教 jiāo
to teach Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
挪威 Nuówēi
Norway Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
老 lǎo
old Dictionary
歌 gē
song Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
教 jiāo
to teach Dictionary
英格丽 Yīnggélì
Ingrid (name)
包 bāo
bag Dictionary
饺子 jiǎozi
dumpling Dictionary
，“”，；，。
tā jiànjiàn míngbai, Nuówēi rén de“ lěng”, qíshí shì yì zhǒng duì biérén kōngjiān de zūnzhòng; ér yídàn zǒujìn, tāmen de rèqíng yìdiǎnr yě bù shǎo.
She gradually understood that Norwegians' "coldness" was really a kind of respect for other people's space, and that once you got close, their warmth was not one bit less.
Words in this sentence
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
渐渐 jiànjiàn
gradually Dictionary
明白 míngbai
clear (看个明白: find out for oneself) Dictionary
挪威 Nuówēi
Norway Dictionary
人 rén
person, people Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
冷 lěng
cold Dictionary
其实 qíshí
actually Dictionary
是 shì
to be Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
种 zhǒng
kind, type Dictionary
对 duì
correct, right Dictionary
别人 biérén
other people Dictionary
空间 kōngjiān
space Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
尊重 zūnzhòng
respect Dictionary
而 ér
and; but (literary) Dictionary
一旦 yídàn
once Dictionary
走近 zǒujìn
to get close Dictionary
他们 tāmen
they, them Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
热情 rèqíng
warm, generous Dictionary
一点儿 yìdiǎnr
a little Dictionary
也 yě
also, too Dictionary
不 bù
not Dictionary
少 shǎo
few, little Dictionary
，。，：“？”
qùnián Chūnjié, tā huí guó tànqīn. zài lǎojiā de fànzhuō shàng, qīnqi men wèn tā:“ shénme shíhou huílai dìngjū?”
Last Spring Festival she went back to China to see her family. At the dinner table in her hometown, relatives asked, "When are you coming back for good?"
Words in this sentence
去年 qùnián
last year Dictionary
春节 Chūnjié
Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
回 huí
to return, to go back Dictionary
国 guó
country Dictionary
探亲 tànqīn
to visit family Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
老家 lǎojiā
hometown Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
饭桌 fànzhuō
dining table Dictionary
上 shàng
on, above Dictionary
亲戚 qīnqi
relatives Dictionary
们 men
(plural for people) Dictionary
问 wèn
to ask Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
什么 shénme
what Dictionary
时候 shíhou
time, moment (……的时候: when …) Dictionary
回来 huílai
to come back Dictionary
定居 dìngjū
to settle Dictionary
，。
tā zhāng le zhāng zuǐ, què bù zhīdao gāi zěnme huídá.
She opened her mouth but didn't know how to answer.
Words in this sentence
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
张 zhāng
(measure word for flat things like photos) Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
张 zhāng
(measure word for flat things like photos) Dictionary
嘴 zuǐ
mouth Dictionary
却 què
but, yet Dictionary
不 bù
not Dictionary
知道 zhīdao
to know Dictionary
该 gāi
should Dictionary
怎么 zěnme
how Dictionary
回答 huídá
answer Dictionary
，：。，，。
huí Àosīlù de fēijī shàng, tā hūrán xiǎngtōng le: jiā bù yídìng zhǐ néng yǒu yí gè. yí gè jiā zài dìtú shàng, lìng yí gè, zài nǐ yòngxīn jīngyíng de měi yì tiān lǐ.
On the plane back to Oslo it suddenly became clear to her: you don't have to have only one home. One is on the map; the other lives in every day you put your heart into.
Words in this sentence
回 huí
to return, to go back Dictionary
奥斯陆 Àosīlù
Oslo Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
飞机 fēijī
plane Dictionary
上 shàng
on, above Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
忽然 hūrán
suddenly Dictionary
想通 xiǎngtōng
to see clearly Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
家 jiā
home, family Dictionary
不 bù
not Dictionary
一定 yídìng
definitely Dictionary
只 zhǐ
only Dictionary
能 néng
can, be able to Dictionary
有 yǒu
to have; there is Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
家 jiā
home, family Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
地图 dìtú
map Dictionary
上 shàng
on, above Dictionary
另 lìng
other Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
你 nǐ
you Dictionary
用心 yòngxīn
with care, wholeheartedly Dictionary
经营 jīngyíng
business, management Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
每 měi
every, each Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
天 tiān
day Dictionary
里 lǐ
in, inside Dictionary

Grammar focus

宁可……也不…… "would rather … than …"
一旦 "once"

Vocabulary

尊重zūnzhòngrespect Dictionary

Questions

Writing task

如果你要在国外生活，你觉得最大的挑战会是什么？

Rúguǒ nǐ yào zài guówài shēnghuó, nǐ juéde zuì dà de tiǎozhàn huì shì shénme?

If you lived abroad, what would be your biggest challenge?

Tips

不是……而是…… corrects an expectation.

Try it yourself first, then show the model answer

我觉得最大的挑战不是语言，而是孤独。所以我会主动参加当地的活动，比如志愿服务或者运动俱乐部，慢慢建立自己的生活圈子。

Wǒ juéde zuì dà de tiǎozhàn bú shì yǔyán, érshì gūdú. Suǒyǐ wǒ huì zhǔdòng cānjiā dāngdì de huódòng, bǐrú zhìyuàn fúwù huòzhě yùndòng jùlèbù, mànmàn jiànlì zìjǐ de shēnghuó quānzi.

I think the biggest challenge wouldn't be the language but loneliness. So I'd take part in local activities, like volunteering or a sports club, and slowly build my own circle.

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