追剧 Binge-Watching — HSK 4 Reading

周末zhōumò在家zài jiā，很多hěn duō人rén喜欢xǐhuan一yì集jí接jiē一yì集jí地de追剧zhuījù，一yì追zhuī就jiù是shì一yì整天zhěng tiān。

On weekends at home, many people like to binge-watch episode after episode — once they start, it's a whole day.

追剧zhuījù的时候de shíhou，最zuì怕pà的de就是jiù shì看到kàndào一半yíbàn，突然tūrán没有méiyǒu下xià一yì集jí了le。

The scariest thing while binge-watching is getting halfway through and suddenly finding there's no next episode.

现在xiànzài的de电视剧diànshìjù越来越yuè lái yuè好看hǎokàn，故事gùshi也yě越来越yuè lái yuè有意思yǒu yìsi，让ràng人rén忍不住rěn bu zhù想xiǎng知道zhīdào后面hòumiàn发生fāshēng了le什么shénme。

TV dramas today are increasingly good, and the stories are more and more interesting, making people unable to resist wanting to know what happens next.

有人yǒurén觉得juéde追剧zhuījù是shì放松fàngsōng的de好hǎo办法bànfǎ，看完kànwán一yì集jí，压力yālì就jiù少shǎo一点yìdiǎn。

Some people feel binge-watching is a good way to relax — after finishing an episode, their stress is a little less.

但是dànshì也yě有人yǒurén一yì追剧zhuījù就jiù忘了wàng le时间shíjiān，本来běnlái只zhǐ想xiǎng看kàn一yì集jí，结果jiéguǒ看到kàndào了le半夜bànyè。

But some people forget the time the moment they start binge-watching — they originally only wanted to watch one episode, but ended up watching until midnight.

第二天dì-èr tiān上班shàngbān没有méiyǒu精神jīngshén，才cái后悔hòuhuǐ昨晚zuówǎn不该bù gāi看kàn那么nàme晚wǎn。

The next day at work with no energy, they finally regret staying up so late watching the night before.

我wǒ觉得juéde追剧zhuījù没有méiyǒu错cuò，只是zhǐshì应该yīnggāi给gěi自己zìjǐ定dìng一yí个ge时间shíjiān，看完kànwán就jiù去qù睡觉shuìjiào。

I don't think binge-watching itself is wrong — you just should set a time limit for yourself and go to sleep once you're done.

毕竟bìjìng，好好hǎohāo休息xiūxi也yě是shì为了wèile第二天dì-èr tiān能néng更好gèng hǎo地de生活shēnghuó。

After all, resting well is also so that you can live better the next day.

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

Key words 生词

追剧zhuījùto binge-watch

忍不住rěn bu zhùcan't help but

压力yālìpressure; stress

本来běnláioriginally

后悔hòuhuǐto regret

毕竟bìjìngafter all

Grammar note 语法点

一……就…… — As soon as... then...

Shows that the second action follows immediately once the first one starts.

一追剧就忘了时间。— The moment they start binge-watching, they forget the time.

忍不住 — Can't help but...

Placed before a verb phrase to show someone cannot resist doing something.

让人忍不住想知道后面发生了什么。— It makes people unable to resist wanting to know what happens next.

本来……结果…… — Originally... but it turned out...

Contrasts an original plan or expectation with an unexpected actual outcome.

本来只想看一集，结果看到了半夜。— They originally only wanted to watch one episode, but ended up watching until midnight.

Check yourself 小测验

1. What is the scariest thing about binge-watching, according to the text?

2. What happens to some people once they start binge-watching, per the text?

3. What does the author suggest people do about binge-watching?

After this reading

Reading is the easy part. Speaking is where you get stuck.

I'm Fei, and I teach Mandarin one-on-one on Preply. Bring this text to a trial lesson — we'll fix your tones and turn it into a real conversation.

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追剧ZhuījùBinge-Watching

Key words 生词

Grammar note 语法点

Check yourself 小测验

Reading is the easy part. Speaking is where you get stuck.

More HSK 4 reading practice