小心! (Careful!)

Learn the word 小心! (xiǎoxīn) meaning “to be careful” with this HSK 3 graded reader story, which emphasizes the importance of 小心 through its repeated use in various contexts.  As you follow the story of Xiao Fang’s nighttime walk in the park, you’ll see how 小心 is vital for expressing carefulness in everyday situations. Other HSK 3 vocabulary in this story includes; 总是 (zǒng shì) meaning “always”, 舒服 (shūfú) for “comfortable”; 突然 (tūrán) “suddenly”, 声音 (shēngyīn) “sound”, 害怕 (hàipà) “scared”, and 离开 (líkāi) “leave,” each integrated into the narrative to enrich your understanding and practical use of Chinese.

小芳 晚上 在 公园 走 路。 {Play}

她 晚上 总是 很 小心。 {Play}

今天 她 觉得 不 舒服, 所以 更 小心 了。 {Play}

突然, 她 听 到 后面 有 声音。 {Play}

小芳 站 住, 听。 {Play}

她 小心 地 走,很 害怕。 {Play}

前面, 她 看 到 一个 人。 {Play}

她 害怕, 就 想 回家。 {Play}

那 人 走 近 了, 是 她 的 朋友。 {Play}

小芳 很 高兴, 笑了。 {Play}

她 和 朋友 一起 小心 地 离开 公园。 {Play}


小芳 晚上 在 公园 走 路。   {Play}

Xiǎo Fāng wǎnshàng zài gōngyuán zǒu lù.  

Xiao Fang walks in the park at night.

她 晚上 总是 很 小心。   {Play}

Tā wǎnshàng zǒng shì hěn xiǎoxīn.  

She is always very careful at night.

今天 她 觉得 不 舒服, 所以 更 小心 了。   {Play}

Jīntiān tā juédé bù shūfu, suǒyǐ gèng xiǎoxīn le. 

Today she feels uncomfortable, so she is even more careful.

突然, 她 听 到 后面 有 声音。   {Play}

Túrán, tā tīng dào hòumiàn yǒu shēngyīn. 

Suddenly, she hears a sound behind her.

小芳 站 住, 听。   {Play}

Xiǎo Fāng zhàn zhù, tīng.  

Xiao Fang stops and listens.

她 小心 地 走,很 害怕。   {Play}

Tā xiǎoxīn de zǒu, hěn hàipà.  

She walks carefully, very scared.

前面, 她 看 到 一个 人。   {Play}

Qiánmiàn, tā kàn dào yīgè rén.  

Ahead, she sees a person.

她 害怕, 就 想 回 家。   {Play}

Tā hàipà, jiù xiǎng huí jiā.  

She is scared and wants to go home.

那 人 走 近 了, 是 她 的 朋友。   {Play}

Nà rén zǒu jìn le, shì tā de péngyǒu.  

That person comes closer; it is her friend.

小芳 很 高兴, 笑了。   {Play}

Xiǎo Fāng hěn gāoxìng, xiào le. 

Xiao Fang is very happy and laughs.

她 和 朋友 一起 小心 地 离开 公园。   {Play}

Tā hé péngyǒu yīqǐ xiǎoxīn de líkāi gōngyuán. 

She and her friend carefully leave the park together.