文化冲击 Culture Shock

很多hěn duō人rén到dào了le国外guówài，都dōu会huì经历jīnglì一段yí duàn不bú适应shìyìng的de时期shíqī，这zhè就是jiùshì所谓suǒwèi的de“文化wénhuà冲击chōngjí”。

Many people, after arriving abroad, go through a period of not fitting in — this is the so-called "culture shock."

刚gāng开始kāishǐ，一切yíqiè都dōu很hěn新鲜xīnxiān：街道jiēdào、食物shíwù、语言yǔyán，甚至shènzhì人们rénmen说话shuōhuà的de方式fāngshì都dōu和hé家乡jiāxiāng不同bùtóng。

At first everything feels fresh: the streets, the food, the language — even the way people talk is different from back home.

可是kěshì过guò了le几个jǐ gè星期xīngqī，新鲜xīnxiān的de感觉gǎnjué慢慢mànmàn消失xiāoshī，各种gèzhǒng困难kùnnan就jiù出现chūxiàn了le。

But after a few weeks, the feeling of novelty slowly fades, and all kinds of difficulties appear.

比如bǐrú，你nǐ可能kěnéng听不懂tīng bu dǒng当地dāngdì人rén的de笑话xiàohua，也yě不bù知道zhīdào怎样zěnyàng跟gēn他们tāmen交流jiāoliú。

For example, you may not understand the local people's jokes, nor know how to communicate with them.

有的yǒude人rén因此yīncǐ感到gǎndào孤单gūdān，甚至shènzhì后悔hòuhuǐ离开líkāi自己zìjǐ的de国家guójiā。

Some people therefore feel lonely, and even regret leaving their own country.

心理xīnlǐ专家zhuānjiā认为rènwéi，这zhè是shì一个yí gè正常zhèngcháng的de阶段jiēduàn，几乎jīhū每个měi gè留学生liúxuéshēng都dōu经历jīnglì过guo。

Psychologists believe this is a normal stage that almost every overseas student has been through.

要想yào xiǎng快点儿kuài diǎnr适应shìyìng，最好zuì hǎo的de办法bànfǎ就是jiùshì主动zhǔdòng交jiāo朋友péngyou，多duō参加cānjiā当地dāngdì的de活动huódòng。

If you want to adapt faster, the best way is to take the initiative to make friends and join more local activities.

时间shíjiān长cháng了le，你nǐ会huì发现fāxiàn，两liǎng种zhǒng文化wénhuà都dōu能néng给gěi你nǐ带来dàilái快乐kuàilè。

As time goes on, you will find that both cultures can bring you joy.

所以suǒyǐ，遇到yùdào文化wénhuà冲击chōngjí的de时候shíhou，不要bú yào害怕hàipà，它tā其实qíshí是shì成长chéngzhǎng的de一部分yí bùfen。

So when you meet culture shock, don't be afraid — it is actually a part of growing up.

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

Key words 生词

冲击chōngjíshock; impact

所谓suǒwèiso-called

消失xiāoshīto disappear

当地dāngdìlocal

孤单gūdānlonely

阶段jiēduànstage; phase

Grammar note 语法点

所谓的……

'The so-called...' — introduces a term that you are about to define or explain.

这就是所谓的“文化冲击”。

甚至

'Even (to the point of)' — pushes the statement to an extreme or surprising example.

有的人因此感到孤单,甚至后悔离开自己的国家。

要想……,就……

'If you want to..., then...' — states a goal and the way to achieve it.

要想快点儿适应,最好的办法就是主动交朋友。

Check yourself 小测验

1. “文化冲击”一般发生在什么时候?

2. 想快点儿适应,最好的办法是什么?

3. 心理专家认为文化冲击是什么?

After this reading

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文化冲击Wénhuà chōngjíCulture Shock

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 5 reading practice