💬 LEVEL 1 · DUNHUANG 敦煌 · FREE FOREVER
Original Dialogues, Unit by Unit
Original Dialogues, Unit by Unit
第一级原创对话 — 边听边学
Real conversations you'll actually have in China — meeting people, mastering tones, paying, ordering tea, bargaining, taking taxis, making plans and making friends. Every line: characters, pinyin, English and audio.
💬 16 dialogues🧭 8 units🔊 108 lines with audio✍️ 100% original
Unit 1 · Hello, China 你好中国
2 original dialogues · click 🔊 on any line to hear it
Dialog A · Meeting Wang Lin初见王林
Mark
你好！我叫 Mark。
Nǐ hǎo! Wǒ jiào Mark.
Hello! My name is Mark.
王林
你好，Mark！我姓王，叫王林。
Nǐ hǎo, Mark! Wǒ xìng Wáng, jiào Wáng Lín.
Hi, Mark! My surname is Wang — Wang Lin.
Mark
认识你很高兴！
Rènshi nǐ hěn gāoxìng!
Very nice to meet you!
王林
我也很高兴。你是哪国人？
Wǒ yě hěn gāoxìng. Nǐ shì nǎ guó rén?
Nice to meet you too. Where are you from?
Mark
我是美国人。你是老师吗？
Wǒ shì Měiguó rén. Nǐ shì lǎoshī ma?
I'm American. Are you a teacher?
王林
对，我是中文老师。你会说中文吗？
Duì, wǒ shì Zhōngwén lǎoshī. Nǐ huì shuō Zhōngwén ma?
Yes, I'm a Chinese teacher. Can you speak Chinese?
Mark
我会说一点儿。
Wǒ huì shuō yìdiǎnr.
I can speak a little.
王林
说得好！欢迎来中国！
Shuō de hǎo! Huānyíng lái Zhōngguó!
Well said! Welcome to China!
Dialog B · Why Learn Chinese为什么学中文
王林
Mark，你为什么学中文？
Mark, nǐ wèishénme xué Zhōngwén?
Mark, why are you learning Chinese?
Mark
因为我喜欢中国文化，也想去西安旅游。
Yīnwèi wǒ xǐhuan Zhōngguó wénhuà, yě xiǎng qù Xī'ān lǚyóu.
Because I like Chinese culture, and I want to travel to Xi'an.
王林
中文难吗？
Zhōngwén nán ma?
Is Chinese difficult?
Mark
有一点儿难，但是很有意思。
Yǒu yìdiǎnr nán, dànshì hěn yǒu yìsi.
A little difficult, but very interesting.
王林
你每天学习多长时间？
Nǐ měitiān xuéxí duō cháng shíjiān?
How long do you study every day?
Mark
三十分钟。
Sānshí fēnzhōng.
Thirty minutes.
王林
很好！加油！
Hěn hǎo! Jiāyóu!
Great! Keep it up!
Mark
谢谢老师！
Xièxie lǎoshī!
Thank you, teacher!
Unit 2 · Tones Bootcamp 拼音四声闯关
2 original dialogues · click 🔊 on any line to hear it
Dialog A · Tone Practice跟老师读四声
老师
跟我读：mā，妈妈的妈。
Gēn wǒ dú: mā, māma de mā.
Read after me: mā, the mā in 'mother'.
Mark
mā。
mā.
mā.
老师
很好！má，麻。
Hěn hǎo! má, má.
Very good! má, hemp.
Mark
má。
má.
má.
老师
mǎ，马。
mǎ, mǎ.
mǎ, horse.
Mark
mǎ。
mǎ.
mǎ.
老师
mà，骂。注意，第四声要往下。
mà, mà. Zhùyì, dì-sì shēng yào wǎng xià.
mà, to scold. Careful — the 4th tone falls.
Mark
mà！我会了！
mà! Wǒ huì le!
mà! I got it!
Dialog B · A Tone Joke声调笑话
Mark
老师，四声太难了！
Lǎoshī, sì shēng tài nán le!
Teacher, the four tones are so hard!
王林
别担心。有一个笑话：我想“问”你，不说“吻”你。
Bié dānxīn. Yǒu yí gè xiàohuà: wǒ xiǎng "wèn" nǐ, bù shuō "wěn" nǐ.
Don't worry. Here's a joke: I want to ASK (wèn) you, not KISS (wěn) you.
Mark
哈哈！第四声和第三声。
Hāhā! Dì-sì shēng hé dì-sān shēng.
Haha! 4th tone and 3rd tone.
王林
对。声调不对，意思就不一样。
Duì. Shēngdiào bú duì, yìsi jiù bù yíyàng.
Right. Wrong tone, different meaning.
Mark
买 mǎi 和卖 mài 也不一样。
Mǎi hé mài yě bù yíyàng.
'Buy' (mǎi) and 'sell' (mài) are different too.
王林
没错！你进步很快。
Méi cuò! Nǐ jìnbù hěn kuài.
Exactly! You're improving fast.
Unit 3 · Numbers & Money 数字与钱
2 original dialogues · click 🔊 on any line to hear it
Dialog A · Paying at the Store便利店付钱
Mark
你好，一瓶水多少钱？
Nǐ hǎo, yì píng shuǐ duōshao qián?
Hi, how much is a bottle of water?
店员
两块。
Liǎng kuài.
Two yuan.
Mark
也要一杯咖啡。
Yě yào yì bēi kāfēi.
I'd also like a cup of coffee.
店员
一共八块。
Yígòng bā kuài.
Eight yuan altogether.
Mark
可以扫码吗？
Kěyǐ sǎo mǎ ma?
Can I scan the QR code?
店员
可以，微信、支付宝都行。
Kěyǐ, Wēixìn, Zhīfùbǎo dōu xíng.
Sure — WeChat or Alipay both work.
Mark
好的……付了。
Hǎo de... fù le.
OK... paid.
店员
收到了。要小票吗？
Shōu dào le. Yào xiǎopiào ma?
Got it. Do you want the receipt?
Mark
不用了，谢谢！
Bú yòng le, xièxie!
No thanks!
Dialog B · Mobile-Phone Life手机生活
王林
在中国，你用现金还是手机付钱？
Zài Zhōngguó, nǐ yòng xiànjīn háishì shǒujī fù qián?
In China, do you pay with cash or your phone?
Mark
都是手机，太方便了！
Dōu shì shǒujī, tài fāngbiàn le!
Always my phone — so convenient!
王林
对，很多店不喜欢收现金。
Duì, hěn duō diàn bù xǐhuan shōu xiànjīn.
Right, many shops don't like taking cash.
Mark
一块钱也能扫码吗？
Yí kuài qián yě néng sǎo mǎ ma?
Can you scan even for one yuan?
王林
可以！还能扫码骑车。
Kěyǐ! Hái néng sǎo mǎ qí chē.
Yes! You can even scan to unlock a shared bike.
Mark
中国真的是“手机生活”。
Zhōngguó zhēn de shì "shǒujī shēnghuó".
China really is 'mobile-phone life'.
Unit 4 · Order a Tea 点一杯茶
2 original dialogues · click 🔊 on any line to hear it
Dialog A · Ordering at the Teahouse茶馆点单
服务员
你好！请坐。想喝什么？
Nǐ hǎo! Qǐng zuò. Xiǎng hē shénme?
Hello! Please have a seat. What would you like to drink?
Mark
有绿茶吗？
Yǒu lǜchá ma?
Do you have green tea?
服务员
有，绿茶、红茶都有。
Yǒu, lǜchá, hóngchá dōu yǒu.
Yes — we have green tea and black tea.
Mark
一杯绿茶，谢谢。不要太烫。
Yì bēi lǜchá, xièxie. Bú yào tài tàng.
A cup of green tea, please. Not too hot.
服务员
好的。要吃的吗？我们有小笼包。
Hǎo de. Yào chī de ma? Wǒmen yǒu xiǎolóngbāo.
OK. Anything to eat? We have soup dumplings.
Mark
好，一份小笼包。
Hǎo, yí fèn xiǎolóngbāo.
Sure — one portion of xiaolongbao.
服务员
一共三十五块，马上来！
Yígòng sānshíwǔ kuài, mǎshàng lái!
Thirty-five yuan in total — coming right up!
Dialog B · Tea, the Old Friend茶与新朋友
Mark
中国人每天都喝茶吗？
Zhōngguórén měitiān dōu hē chá ma?
Do Chinese people drink tea every day?
王林
很多人是。我爷爷一天三杯茶。
Hěn duō rén shì. Wǒ yéye yì tiān sān bēi chá.
Many do. My grandpa has three cups a day.
Mark
咖啡呢？现在很多年轻人喝咖啡。
Kāfēi ne? Xiànzài hěn duō niánqīngrén hē kāfēi.
What about coffee? Lots of young people drink coffee now.
王林
对，城市里咖啡店很多。但是请客的时候，还是茶。
Duì, chéngshì lǐ kāfēidiàn hěn duō. Dànshì qǐng kè de shíhou, háishì chá.
True, cafés are everywhere in the cities. But when hosting guests, it's still tea.
Mark
为什么？
Wèishénme?
Why?
王林
茶是老朋友，咖啡是新朋友。
Chá shì lǎo péngyou, kāfēi shì xīn péngyou.
Tea is an old friend; coffee is a new friend.
Unit 5 · How Much Is This? 这个市场多少钱
2 original dialogues · click 🔊 on any line to hear it
Dialog A · Bargaining at the Night Market夜市砍价
Mark
老板，这个包多少钱？
Lǎobǎn, zhège bāo duōshao qián?
Boss, how much is this bag?
老板
一百五，真皮的！
Yìbǎi wǔ, zhēn pí de!
150 — real leather!
Mark
太贵了！八十可以吗？
Tài guì le! Bāshí kěyǐ ma?
Too expensive! Can you do 80?
老板
不行不行。一百二，最低了。
Bùxíng bùxíng. Yìbǎi èr, zuì dī le.
No way. 120 — that's my lowest.
Mark
一百，我买两个。
Yìbǎi, wǒ mǎi liǎng gè.
100, and I'll buy two.
老板
好好好，成交！你会砍价！
Hǎo hǎo hǎo, chéngjiāo! Nǐ huì kǎnjià!
Fine, deal! You know how to bargain!
Mark
谢谢老板！
Xièxie lǎobǎn!
Thanks, boss!
Dialog B · Bargaining Is Chatting砍价也是聊天
Mark
在中国，哪里可以砍价？
Zài Zhōngguó, nǎlǐ kěyǐ kǎnjià?
In China, where can you bargain?
王林
市场、夜市可以。超市不行，价格是固定的。
Shìchǎng, yèshì kěyǐ. Chāoshì bùxíng, jiàgé shì gùdìng de.
Markets and night markets. Not supermarkets — prices are fixed there.
Mark
砍多少比较好？
Kǎn duōshao bǐjiào hǎo?
How much should I bargain down?
王林
先砍一半，再慢慢谈。
Xiān kǎn yíbàn, zài mànmàn tán.
Start by cutting the price in half, then negotiate slowly.
Mark
老板会不会生气？
Lǎobǎn huì bú huì shēngqì?
Won't the shopkeeper get angry?
王林
不会！砍价也是聊天，大家都很高兴。
Bú huì! Kǎnjià yě shì liáotiān, dàjiā dōu hěn gāoxìng.
No! Bargaining is also chatting — everyone has fun.
Unit 6 · Taxis & Directions 出租车与方向
2 original dialogues · click 🔊 on any line to hear it
Dialog A · Taxi to the Hotel打车去酒店
Mark
师傅，去敦煌大酒店。
Shīfu, qù Dūnhuáng dà jiǔdiàn.
Driver, to Dunhuang Grand Hotel, please.
司机
好，系好安全带。
Hǎo, jì hǎo ānquándài.
OK, buckle up.
Mark
要多长时间？
Yào duō cháng shíjiān?
How long will it take?
司机
大概二十分钟。
Dàgài èrshí fēnzhōng.
About twenty minutes.
Mark
麻烦在红绿灯那儿停一下，我想拍个照。
Máfan zài hónglǜdēng nàr tíng yíxià, wǒ xiǎng pāi zhào.
Could you stop at the traffic light? I want to take a photo.
司机
可以，但我不能停太久。
Kěyǐ, dàn wǒ bù néng tíng tài jiǔ.
Sure, but I can't stop for long.
Mark
没问题，一分钟就好。……到了，多少钱？
Méi wèntí, yì fēnzhōng jiù hǎo. ... Dào le, duōshao qián?
No problem, just a minute. ... Here we are — how much?
司机
三十五块。扫码或者现金都行。
Sānshíwǔ kuài. Sǎo mǎ huòzhě xiànjīn dōu xíng.
Thirty-five yuan. Scan or cash, either works.
Dialog B · The Driver's Tips师傅的建议
Mark
师傅，我是第一次来敦煌，有什么建议？
Shīfu, wǒ shì dì-yī cì lái Dūnhuáng, yǒu shénme jiànyì?
Driver, it's my first time in Dunhuang — any suggestions?
司机
一定要去莫高窟！提前在网上订票。
Yídìng yào qù Mògāo Kū! Tíqián zài wǎngshàng dìng piào.
You must visit the Mogao Caves! Book tickets online in advance.
Mark
沙漠呢？
Shāmò ne?
What about the desert?
司机
鸣沙山，下午去，还能看日落。
Míngshā Shān, xiàwǔ qù, hái néng kàn rìluò.
Mingsha Dunes — go in the afternoon and catch the sunset.
Mark
太好了！谢谢您！
Tài hǎo le! Xièxie nín!
Perfect! Thank you!
司机
不客气，玩得开心！
Bú kèqi, wán de kāixīn!
You're welcome — have fun!
Unit 7 · Time & Today 时间与今天
2 original dialogues · click 🔊 on any line to hear it
Dialog A · Making an Appointment约时间见面
Mark
王老师，明天你有空吗？
Wáng lǎoshī, míngtiān nǐ yǒu kòng ma?
Teacher Wang, are you free tomorrow?
王林
明天上午我要上课，下午三点以后有空。
Míngtiān shàngwǔ wǒ yào shàngkè, xiàwǔ sān diǎn yǐhòu yǒu kòng.
I have class tomorrow morning; I'm free after 3 PM.
Mark
四点在咖啡店见面，可以吗？
Sì diǎn zài kāfēidiàn jiànmiàn, kěyǐ ma?
Shall we meet at the café at four?
王林
可以。哪一家？
Kěyǐ. Nǎ yì jiā?
Sure. Which one?
Mark
酒店旁边那家。我请你喝咖啡。
Jiǔdiàn pángbiān nà jiā. Wǒ qǐng nǐ hē kāfēi.
The one next to my hotel. Coffee's on me.
王林
好，不见不散！
Hǎo, bú jiàn bú sàn!
Great — be there or be square!
Dialog B · What Time Is Dinner?几点吃晚饭
王林
你们国家的人几点吃晚饭？
Nǐmen guójiā de rén jǐ diǎn chī wǎnfàn?
What time do people in your country have dinner?
Mark
六七点。中国人呢？
Liù qī diǎn. Zhōngguórén ne?
Six or seven. And Chinese people?
王林
晚上七八点。夜市十点人最多！
Wǎnshang qī bā diǎn. Yèshì shí diǎn rén zuì duō!
Seven or eight. Night markets are busiest at ten!
Mark
太晚了！我十点已经困了。
Tài wǎn le! Wǒ shí diǎn yǐjing kùn le.
So late! I'm already sleepy at ten.
王林
哈哈，所以要多喝一杯茶！
Hāhā, suǒyǐ yào duō hē yì bēi chá!
Haha — that's why you need another cup of tea!
Unit 8 · New Friends 认识新朋友
2 original dialogues · click 🔊 on any line to hear it
Dialog A · Let's Add WeChat加个微信
Mark
你的电话号码是多少？
Nǐ de diànhuà hàomǎ shì duōshao?
What's your phone number?
李娜
我加你微信吧，更方便。
Wǒ jiā nǐ Wēixìn ba, gèng fāngbiàn.
Let me add you on WeChat — it's easier.
Mark
好的！我的二维码在这儿。
Hǎo de! Wǒ de èrwéimǎ zài zhèr.
Great! Here's my QR code.
李娜
加了！你在敦煌待几天？
Jiā le! Nǐ zài Dūnhuáng dāi jǐ tiān?
Added! How many days are you staying in Dunhuang?
Mark
五天。周末你有空吗？
Wǔ tiān. Zhōumò nǐ yǒu kòng ma?
Five days. Are you free on the weekend?
李娜
有空！我们去夜市吧。
Yǒu kòng! Wǒmen qù yèshì ba.
Yes! Let's go to the night market.
Dialog B · What Are Your Hobbies?你的爱好是什么
李娜
你有什么爱好？
Nǐ yǒu shénme àihào?
What are your hobbies?
Mark
我喜欢跑步和看电影。你呢？
Wǒ xǐhuan pǎobù hé kàn diànyǐng. Nǐ ne?
I like running and watching movies. You?
李娜
我喜欢唱歌，但是唱得不好。
Wǒ xǐhuan chàng gē, dànshì chàng de bù hǎo.
I like singing, but I sing badly.
Mark
没关系，开心最重要！
Méi guānxi, kāixīn zuì zhòngyào!
Doesn't matter — having fun is what counts!
李娜
哈哈，谢谢！周末一起唱歌？
Hāhā, xièxie! Zhōumò yìqǐ chàng gē?
Haha, thanks! Sing together this weekend?
Mark
好啊，一言为定！
Hǎo a, yìyán wéidìng!
Sure — it's a deal!
How to use: listen to a line first, repeat it out loud, then cover the pinyin and read the characters alone. Each dialogue recycles the vocabulary of its unit in the Core 500 wordlist. All dialogues are original The Chinese Path content — written for the Silk Road Path, not copied from any textbook.
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Every dialogue is built on the free Level 1 Core wordlist. Master the words, and the conversations write themselves.