买手机 Buying a Phone — HSK 2 Reading

我wǒ的de手机shǒujī是shì五wǔ年nián前qián买mǎi的de，太tài旧jiù了le。

I bought my phone five years ago — it's really old.

它tā非常fēicháng慢màn，我wǒ等děng它tā的时候de shíhou，可以kěyǐ喝hē完wán一yì杯bēi茶chá。

It's so slow that while I wait for it, I can finish a whole cup of tea.

所以suǒyǐ昨天zuótiān下午xiàwǔ我wǒ去qù商店shāngdiàn看kàn新xīn手机shǒujī。

So yesterday afternoon I went to the shop to look at new phones.

服务员fúwùyuán说shuō：“这zhè个gè手机shǒujī是shì今年jīnnián最zuì新xīn的de，白色báisè的de和hé黑色hēisè的de都dōu有yǒu。”

The shop assistant said: "This is this year's newest phone — we have it in white and in black."

我wǒ问wèn：“它tā比bǐ我wǒ的de旧jiù手机shǒujī快kuài吗ma？”

I asked: "Is it faster than my old phone?"

服务员fúwùyuán笑xiào着zhe说shuō：“快kuài得de多duō，也yě不bú贵guì！”

The assistant said with a smile: "Much faster — and it's not expensive!"

我wǒ买mǎi了le一yí个gè黑色hēisè的de，虽然suīrán我wǒ的de钱qián少shǎo了le，但是dànshì我wǒ非常fēicháng高兴gāoxìng！

I bought a black one — my wallet is lighter now, but I'm really happy!

🔊 Audio uses your device's Chinese voice for now — teacher recordings are coming. Tap any word to see its meaning.

Key words 生词

手机shǒujīcell phone

旧jiùold (of things)

慢mànslow

比bǐthan (comparison)

服务员fúwùyuánshop assistant; server

黑色hēisèblack

A 比 B + adjective

比 compares two things: A 比 B 快 means 'A is faster than B'. Don't add 很 before the adjective in a 比 sentence.

它比我的旧手机快吗？ — Is it faster than my old phone?

是…的 (emphasizing time/place/manner of a past event)

Use 是…的 to highlight when, where, or how something already happened, e.g. 我是坐飞机来的 (I came by plane).

我的手机是五年前买的。 — I bought my phone five years ago.

虽然…，但是…

This pair means 'although… , (but)…'. Chinese keeps both words in the sentence, e.g. 虽然很贵，但是很好.

虽然我的钱少了，但是我非常高兴！ — Although I have less money now, I'm really happy!

1. Why did the writer want a new phone?

2. What colors did the shop have?

3. How did the writer feel after buying the phone?