HSK 2 · Story · 179 characters · Listen: mandarinthewild.com/library/read/first-day-at-work-in-chinese

上班第一天

My first day at work: an easy Chinese story

Name: ________________ Date: ________

今天jīntiān是shì我wǒ第一dìyī天tiān上班shàngbān。七点半qīdiǎnbàn，我wǒ就jiù到dào了le公司gōngsī。

我wǒ不bú认识rènshi这里zhèlǐ的de人rén，也yě不bù知道zhīdào我wǒ的de桌子zhuōzi在zài哪儿nǎr。

一个yígè老lǎo先生xiānsheng看见kànjiàn了le我wǒ：“你nǐ是shì新xīn来lái的de吧ba？跟gēn我wǒ来lái。”

他tā带dài我wǒ找到zhǎodào了le我wǒ的de桌子zhuōzi，给gěi我wǒ开kāi了le电脑diànnǎo，还hái给gěi我wǒ拿ná了le一yì杯bēi热茶rèchá。

他tā还hái告诉gàosù我wǒ：“喝水hēshuǐ在zài这儿zhèr，吃饭chīfàn在zài楼下lóuxià。”

我wǒ很hěn高兴gāoxìng：“谢谢xièxie您nín！您nín在zài这儿zhèr工作gōngzuò很hěn多年duōnián了le吧ba？”

他tā笑xiào了le笑xiào，没méi说shuō什么shénme。

九jiǔ点diǎn，大家dàjiā都dōu来lái开会kāihuì。老lǎo先生xiānsheng站zhàn在zài前边qiánbian，说shuō：“大家dàjiā好hǎo，我wǒ是shì新xīn来lái的de老板láobǎn。今天jīntiān，也yě是shì我wǒ第一dìyī天tiān上班shàngbān。”

我wǒ问wèn他tā：“那nà您nín怎么zěnme什么shénme都dōu知道zhīdào？”

他tā小声xiǎoshēng说shuō：“我wǒ六liù点diǎn就jiù来lái了le。”

Key words

WordPinyinMeaning
今天jīntiāntoday
天tiānheaven; God
上班shàngbānto go to work; to be at work
公司gōngsīcompany; firm
认识rènshito know; to recognize; to be acquainted with
人rénperson; people
知道zhīdàoto know; to be aware of
桌子zhuōzitable; desk
先生xiānshengMr.; sir; gentleman
看见kànjiànto see; to catch sight of
新xīnnew; newly; just
来láito come

English (for the teacher)

Today is my first day at work. At half past seven I was already at the office.

I didn’t know anyone here, and I didn’t know where my desk was.

An old gentleman saw me. “You’re the new one, aren’t you? Come with me.”

He took me to my desk, switched on my computer and even brought me a cup of hot tea.

He also told me, “Water’s over here, and lunch is downstairs.”

I was so pleased. “Thank you! You must have worked here for years.”

He just smiled and didn’t say anything.

At nine, everyone came in for the meeting. The old gentleman stood at the front and said, “Hello, everyone, I’m the new boss. Today is my first day at work too.”

I asked him, “Then how do you know where everything is?”

He said quietly, “I got here at six.”