HSK 2 · Story · 156 characters · Listen: mandarinthewild.com/library/read/happy-birthday-in-chinese

生日快乐

Happy birthday in Chinese

Name: ________________ Date: ________

聪聪cōngcōng早上zǎoshang六liù点diǎn就jiù起床qǐchuáng了le。他tā想xiǎng：今天jīntiān是shì我wǒ的de生日shēngrì！

可是kěshì，妈妈māma说shuō：“快kuài吃饭chīfàn，要yào上学shàngxué了le！”

在zài学校xuéxiào，好hǎo朋友péngyǒu没méi说shuō“生日快乐shēngrì-kuàilè”。老师lǎoshī也yě没méi说shuō。

聪聪cōngcōng很hěn不bù高兴gāoxìng。他tā想xiǎng：大家dàjiā都dōu忘wàng了le。

晚上wǎnshang，爸爸bàba回家huíjiā了le，还hái买mǎi了le一个yígè大dà蛋糕dàngāo。

聪聪cōngcōng很hěn高兴gāoxìng：“爸爸bàba，你nǐ没méi忘wàng！”

爸爸bàba笑xiào了le：“聪聪cōngcōng，这zhè是shì明天míngtiān的de蛋糕dàngāo。你nǐ的de生日shēngrì是shì明天míngtiān！”

妈妈māma也yě笑xiào了le：“明天míngtiān，大家dàjiā都dōu会huì对duì你nǐ说shuō生日快乐shēngrì-kuàilè。”

聪聪cōngcōng看看kànkan蛋糕dàngāo，看看kànkan爸爸bàba，看看kànkan妈妈māma。

“那nà我wǒ今天jīntiān吃chī一点儿yìdiǎnr，明天míngtiān再zài吃chī一点儿yìdiǎnr，好不好？”

Key words

WordPinyinMeaning
早上zǎoshangmorning
六liùsix
点diǎnto point out; to bring up
起床qǐchuángto get up; to get out of bed
今天jīntiāntoday
妈妈māmamom; mother
说shuōto speak; to say
上学shàngxuéto go to school; to attend school
学校xuéxiàoschool
好hǎogood; nice
朋友péngyǒufriend
老师lǎoshīteacher

English (for the teacher)

Congcong is out of bed by six in the morning. He thinks: today is my birthday!

But Mum just says, “Hurry up and eat. It’s time for school!”

At school, his best friend doesn’t say “Happy birthday”. His teacher doesn’t say it either.

Congcong is very unhappy. He thinks: everyone has forgotten.

In the evening Dad comes home, and he has bought a big cake.

Congcong is thrilled. “Dad, you didn’t forget!”

Dad laughs. “Congcong, this is tomorrow’s cake. Your birthday is tomorrow!”

Mum laughs too. “Tomorrow everyone will say happy birthday to you.”

Congcong looks at the cake, then at Dad, then at Mum.

“So can I have a little today, and a little more tomorrow?”