Fast and Slow (快和慢)

In this story, written using only HSK 2 vocabulary, you’ll practice reading the words 快 (kuài) meaning “fast” and 慢 (màn) meaning “slow.” These two words are used frequently in everyday conversations to talk about speed, whether you’re walking, driving, or doing anything that involves pace.

The story also includes two important verbs: 跑步 (pǎobù), which means “to run,” and 走 (zǒu), which means “to walk.” These are also used frequently in daily life, especially when talking about how you move from place to place. As you read, focus on how these words are used together, and you’ll be better prepared to use them in your own conversations as you continue to learn Chinese.

今天 我 想 走 路， 但是 我 的 朋友 说 他 想 跑步。 {Play}

他 跑步 很 快， 但是 我 跑步 很 慢。 {Play}

我 说： “我们 走 吧， 不 要 跑步。” {Play}

他 笑 了， 说： “我们  跑步， 你 不 要 走 得 很 慢。” {Play}

我 觉得 慢 也 很 好， 但是 他 喜欢 快 快 跑步。 {Play}

所以， 我们 一起 走 路， 有 时候 快， 有 时候 慢。 {Play}

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今天 我 想 走 路， 但是 我 的 朋友 说 他 想 跑步。 {Play}

Jīntiān wǒ xiǎng zǒu lù, dànshì wǒ de péngyǒu shuō tā xiǎng pǎobù.

Today I want to walk, but my friend says he wants to run.

他 跑步 很 快， 但是 我 跑步 很 慢。 {Play}

Tā pǎobù hěn kuài, dànshì wǒ pǎobù hěn màn.

He runs very fast, but I run very slowly.

我 说： “我们 走 吧， 不 要 跑步。” {Play}

Wǒ shuō: “Wǒmen zǒu ba, bù yào pǎobù.”

I said: “Let’s walk, no need to run.”

他 笑 了， 说： “我们 跑步， 你 不 要 走 得 很 慢。” {Play}

Tā xiào le, shuō: “Wǒmen pǎobù, nǐ bù yào zǒu de hěn màn.”

He laughed and said: “We are running, don’t walk so slowly.”

我 觉得 慢 也 很 好， 但是 他 喜欢 快 快 跑步。 {Play}

Wǒ juéde màn yě hěn hǎo, dànshì tā xǐhuān kuài kuài pǎobù.

I think slow is also good, but he likes to run fast.

所以， 我们 一起 走 路， 有 时候 快， 有 时候 慢。 {Play}

Suǒyǐ, wǒmen yīqǐ zǒu lù, yǒu shíhòu kuài, yǒu shíhòu màn.

So, we walk together, sometimes fast, sometimes slow.