HSK 2 · Story · 221 characters · Listen: mandarinthewild.com/library/read/clothes-in-chinese-short-story

明年还能穿

New clothes in Chinese: one size too big

Name: ________________ Date: ________

九月jiǔyuè一号yīhào，我wǒ要yào上shàng小学xiǎoxué了le。妈妈māma和hé我wǒ去qù商场shāngchǎng买mǎi新xīn衣服yīfu。

我wǒ穿chuān了le一yí件jiàn衣服yīfu，不bú大dà也yě不bù小xiǎo。妈妈māma说shuō：“买mǎi大dà一点儿yìdiǎnr的de吧ba，明年míngnián还hái能néng穿chuān。”

我wǒ又yòu穿chuān了le一yì双shuāng鞋xié，不bú大dà也yě不bù小xiǎo。妈妈māma还是háishi说shuō：“买mǎi大dà一点儿yìdiǎnr的de吧ba，明年míngnián还hái能néng穿chuān。”

裤子kùzi呢ne？也yě是shì大dà一点儿yìdiǎnr的de。

第一dìyī天tiān上学shàngxué，我wǒ穿chuān上shàng了le新xīn衣服yīfu和hé新xīn鞋xié。衣服yīfu太tài大dà，裤子kùzi太tài长cháng，鞋xié也yě太tài大dà。我wǒ走路zǒulù很hěn慢màn很hěn慢màn。

同学tóngxué们men看kàn着zhe我wǒ笑xiào。一yí个gè同学tóngxué问wèn：“你nǐ穿chuān的de是shì你nǐ爸爸bàba的de衣服yīfu吗ma？”

回到huídào家jiā，我wǒ对duì妈妈māma说shuō：“我wǒ想xiǎng马上mǎshàng长大zhǎngdà！”

一yì年nián后hòu，我wǒ高gāo了le很hěn多duō。衣服yīfu、裤子kùzi和hé鞋xié，都dōu不bú大dà也yě不bù小xiǎo。我wǒ很hěn高兴gāoxìng。

九月jiǔyuè一号yīhào，妈妈māma说shuō：“走zǒu，我们wǒmen去qù买mǎi新xīn衣服yīfu！”

她tā拿起náqǐ一yí件jiàn很hěn大dà的de衣服yīfu，笑xiào着zhe说shuō：“买mǎi这zhè件jiàn吧ba，再zài过guò两liǎng年nián还hái能néng穿chuān！”

Key words

WordPinyinMeaning
上shàngup; above; on
小学xiǎoxuéelementary school; primary school
妈妈māmamom; mother
去qùto go
买mǎito buy; to purchase
新xīnnew; newly; just
衣服yīfuclothes; clothing
穿chuānto wear; to put on
件jiànitem; document (as in 文件, 邮件)
大dàbig; large
小xiǎosmall; little
说shuōto speak; to say

English (for the teacher)

On 1 September I was starting primary school. Mum and I went to the shopping centre to buy new clothes.

I tried on a top, and it was just right. Mum said, “Let's get a bigger one, then you can still wear it next year.”

Then I tried on some shoes, also just right. Mum said it again:“Let's get bigger ones, then you can still wear them next year.”

And trousers? A bigger pair, of course.

On my first day of school I put on my new clothes and my new shoes. The top was too big, the trousers too long, and the shoes too big as well. I walked very, very slowly.

My classmates looked at me and laughed. One of them asked, “Are those your dad's clothes?”

When I got home I told Mum, “I want to grow up right now!”

A year later I was much taller. The top, the trousers and the shoes were all just right. I was so happy.

On 1 September Mum said, “Come on, let's go and buy new clothes!”

She held up an enormous top and smiled: “Let's get this one. You can still wear it in two years' time!”