Learn Mandarin From Story: Spring Outing

🌸 The Story: 计划郊游 (Planning the Outing)

春天来了，天气越来越暖和。🔊
Chūntiān lái le, tiānqì yuè lái yuè nuǎnhuo.
Spring has come, and the weather is getting warmer and warmer.
我们班决定去郊游。🔊
Wǒmen bān juédìng qù jiāoyóu.
Our class decided to go on a spring outing.
老师说，这次的目的地是郊外的一个大公园。🔊
Lǎoshī shuō, zhè cì de mùdìdì shì jiāowài de yí gè dà gōngyuán.
The teacher said the destination this time would be a big park outside the city.
小明很兴奋，他说：“我已经准备好相机了！”🔊
Xiǎomíng hěn xīngfèn, tā shuō: “Wǒ yǐjīng zhǔnbèi hǎo xiàngjī le!”
Xiaoming was excited and said: “I’ve already prepared my camera!”
小丽说：“我会带三明治和果汁。”🔊
Xiǎolì shuō: “Wǒ huì dài sānmíngzhì hé guǒzhī.”
Xiaoli said: “I’ll bring sandwiches and juice.”
我想带一个足球，因为我们可以踢球。🔊
Wǒ xiǎng dài yí gè zúqiú, yīnwèi wǒmen kěyǐ tī qiú.
I wanted to bring a soccer ball because we could play soccer.

Part 2 – 出发的早晨 (Morning of Departure)

郊游的那天早上，阳光很好。🔊
Jiāoyóu de nà tiān zǎoshang, yángguāng hěn hǎo.
On the morning of the outing day, the sunshine was great.
我背着背包，手里拿着足球去学校。🔊
Wǒ bēizhe bèibāo, shǒu lǐ názhe zúqiú qù xuéxiào.
I carried my backpack and held my soccer ball while going to school.
每次我们班有活动，大家都很开心。🔊
Měi cì wǒmen bān yǒu huódòng, dàjiā dōu hěn kāixīn.
Every time our class has an activity, everyone is happy.
老师在校门口点名，确保每个人都到了。🔊
Lǎoshī zài xiàoménkǒu diǎnmíng, quèbǎo měi gè rén dōu dào le.
The teacher took attendance at the school gate to make sure everyone had arrived.
上了车以后，同学们开始唱歌、聊天。🔊
Shàng le chē yǐhòu, tóngxuémen kāishǐ chànggē, liáotiān.
After getting on the bus, classmates started singing and chatting.
小明的笑声比车上的音乐大多了。🔊
Xiǎomíng de xiàoshēng bǐ chē shàng de yīnyuè dà duō le.
Xiaoming’s laughter was much louder than the music on the bus.

Part 3 – 公园的乐趣 (Fun in the Park)

大约一个小时后，我们到了公园。🔊
Dàyuē yí gè xiǎoshí hòu, wǒmen dào le gōngyuán.
About an hour later, we arrived at the park.
公园里的花开得很漂亮。🔊
Gōngyuán lǐ de huā kāi de hěn piàoliang.
The flowers in the park were blooming beautifully.
草地很大，也很绿。🔊
Cǎodì hěn dà, yě hěn lǜ.
The grass field was large and very green.
我们先在草地上铺开毯子，把食物放好。🔊
Wǒmen xiān zài cǎodì shàng pū kāi tǎnzi, bǎ shíwù fàng hǎo.
We first laid out blankets on the grass and placed the food.
虽然太阳很大，但是风很凉快。🔊
Suīrán tàiyáng hěn dà, dànshì fēng hěn liángkuai.
Although the sun was strong, the breeze was cool.
我们一边吃东西，一边看风景。🔊
Wǒmen yìbiān chī dōngxi, yìbiān kàn fēngjǐng.
We ate while enjoying the scenery.

吃完以后，我们开始踢足球。🔊
Chī wán yǐhòu, wǒmen kāishǐ tī zúqiú.
After eating, we started playing soccer.
小明的球技比我好多了。🔊
Xiǎomíng de qiújì bǐ wǒ hǎo duō le.
Xiaoming’s soccer skills were much better than mine.
每次他拿到球，大家都很紧张。🔊
Měi cì tā ná dào qiú, dàjiā dōu hěn jǐnzhāng.
Every time he got the ball, everyone became nervous.
小丽不会踢足球，但是她喜欢拍照。🔊
Xiǎolì bù huì tī zúqiú, dànshì tā xǐhuan pāizhào.
Xiaoli didn’t know how to play soccer, but she liked taking photos.
她说足球比赛比拍照热闹多了。🔊
Tā shuō zúqiú bǐsài bǐ pāizhào rènao duō le.
She said soccer games were much more lively than taking pictures.
我们还玩了跳绳和捉迷藏。🔊
Wǒmen hái wán le tiàoshéng hé zhuōmícáng.
We also played jump rope and hide-and-seek.

下午三点，我们收拾东西准备回家。🔊
Xiàwǔ sān diǎn, wǒmen shōushi dōngxi zhǔnbèi huí jiā.
At 3 p.m., we packed up to go home.
虽然大家有点累，但是心情很好。🔊
Suīrán dàjiā yǒudiǎn lèi, dànshì xīnqíng hěn hǎo.
Although everyone was a bit tired, we were in a good mood.
每次参加这样的活动，我都觉得很幸福。🔊
Měi cì cānjiā zhèyàng de huódòng, wǒ dōu juéde hěn xìngfú.
Every time I join an event like this, I feel very happy.
公园的空气比城市里的空气清新多了。🔊
Gōngyuán de kōngqì bǐ chéngshì lǐ de kōngqì qīngxīn duō le.
The air in the park is much fresher than in the city.
车窗外的景色慢慢地向后移动。🔊
Chē chuāng wài de jǐngsè mànmàn de xiàng hòu yídòng.
The scenery outside the bus window slowly moved backward.
我靠在座位上，不知不觉睡着了。🔊
Wǒ kào zài zuòwèi shàng, bù zhī bù jué shuì zháo le.
I leaned against my seat and fell asleep without realizing it.
这次郊游真是一次难忘的经历。🔊
Zhè cì jiāoyóu zhēn shì yí cì nánwàng de jīnglì.
This outing was truly an unforgettable experience.

📚 Vocabulary

💡 Grammar point

1. 每次 + Event 1 + 都 + Event 2

Meaning: Every time X happens, Y also happens.

• 每次 (měi cì) means “every time”
• 都 (dōu) here means “always” / “all the time”
• The structure is used to express a repeated or consistent situation.

Pattern:

每次 + Event 1 + 都 + Event 2

Example from the story:

每次我们班有活动，大家都很开心。

Every time our class has an activity, everyone is happy.

Extra examples:

• 每次我去图书馆，都能找到好书。Every time I go to the library, I can find good books.
• 每次下雨，他都忘记带伞。Every time it rains, he forgets to bring an umbrella.

2. Noun 1 + 比 + Noun 2 + Adj. + 多了

Meaning: Noun 1 is much more Adj. than Noun 2.

• 比 (bǐ) means “than” (used for comparison)
• 多了 (duō le) intensifies the adjective — equivalent to “much more” in English.
• Without 多了, it’s just a normal comparison (“A is more… than B”).
• With 多了, it emphasizes the big difference.

Pattern:

Noun 1 + 比 + Noun 2 + Adj. + 多了

Example from the story:

公园的空气比城市里的空气清新多了。

The air in the park is much fresher than in the city.

Extra examples:

• 拼音比汉字容易多了。Pinyin is much easier than Chinese characters.
• 夏天的白天比冬天的白天长多了。Summer days are much longer than winter days.

3. 虽然…，但是/可是…

Meaning: Although…, but…

• 虽然 (suīrán) introduces the fact/condition that contrasts with the second clause.
• 但是 (dànshì) or 可是 (kěshì) means “but / however”.
• You can omit 但是/可是 if the contrast is clear from context — but in beginner/upper beginner writing, we usually keep it for clarity.

Pattern:

虽然 + Fact, 但是/可是 + Result

Example from the story:

虽然太阳很大，但是风很凉快。

Although the sun was strong, the breeze was cool.

Extra examples:

• 虽然今天很冷，但是我还是要去跑步。Although it’s cold today, I still want to go jogging.
• 虽然他很忙，可是他每天都会给我打电话。Although he is busy, he still calls me every day.

✍️ Exercises

🔹 Exercise 1: Multiple Choice

Choose the correct answer.

1. What did Xiaoming prepare for the trip?
   A. Sandwiches
   B. A soccer ball
   C. A camera
   D. Juice

2. Where did the class go?
   A. A museum
   B. A park outside the city
   C. A library
   D. A restaurant

3. Who liked taking photos?
   A. 小明 (Xiaoming)
   B. 小丽 (Xiaoli)
   C. 老师 (Teacher)
   D. 我 (the narrator)

🔹 Exercise 2: True or False

1. The class activity was held in winter.

2. The teacher checked attendance at the school gate.

3. Xiaoming’s laughter was quieter than the bus music.

4. Xiaoli didn’t play soccer but enjoyed taking pictures.

5. The air in the park was fresher than in the city.

🔹 Exercise 3: Fill in the Blank

Use the correct word from the story.

1. 我背着 ______ 去学校。
   (I carried my ______ to school.)

2. 我们先在草地上铺开 ______ 。
   (We first laid out the ______ on the grass.)

3. 小丽不会踢 ______ 。
   (Xiaoli didn’t know how to play ______.)

🔹 Exercise 4: Translation

Translate into Chinese.

1. We played soccer and hide-and-seek.

2. The teacher said the destination was a big park.

3. This outing was truly unforgettable.

✅ Answer Key

Exercise 1:

1. C. A camera

2. B. A park outside the city

3. B. Xiaoli

Exercise 2:

1. False (spring, not winter)

2. True

3. False (his laughter was louder)

4. True

5. True

Exercise 3:

1. 背包 (bēibāo – backpack) / 足球 (zúqiú – soccer ball)

2. 毯子 (tǎnzi – blanket)

3. 足球 (zúqiú – soccer)

Exercise 4:

1. 我们玩了足球和捉迷藏。

2. 老师说目的地是一个大公园。

3. 这次郊游真是一次难忘的经历。

🎯 Conclusion

This reading passage about a spring outing (郊游) helps you practice seasonal vocabulary, activities, and comparison structures (比…多了). With the story + pinyin + exercises, you’ll improve both your reading comprehension and HSK exam readiness.

👉 Pro Tip: Try retelling the story in your own words in Chinese. This builds speaking confidence while reinforcing grammar.