Exploring exam pressure, the 'chicken baby' phenomenon, and family expectations in Chinese education culture.

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优子: Teacher Liu, I saw many children in my neighborhood carrying heavy schoolbags and attending all kinds of tutoring classes on weekends. Do Chinese children really face that much study pressure?
刘娜: Yes, that’s true. In China, there’s a saying: ‘Don’t lose at the starting line.’ Many parents arrange various learning activities for their children from a very young age, fearing they’ll fall behind their peers.
优子: Why is that? In Japan, although there’s also pressure to enter good schools, it doesn’t seem this intense.
刘娜: It’s mainly because the college entrance exam, or *gaokao*, is extremely important in China. People often say, ‘One exam determines your whole life.’ The *gaokao* score basically decides which university you can enter, and that affects your future job and social status. So the whole family works toward this goal.
优子: I’ve heard of the term ‘chicken baby’. What does it mean?
刘娜: ‘Chicken baby’ refers to parents who constantly push their children to study, like giving them a ‘shot of chicken blood’ to energize them. Nowadays, many parents have become ‘chicken baby parents’, filling their children’s schedules with tutoring classes.
优子: Is that good for the kids? I think childhood should be happier.
刘娜: You’re right. Recently, the government introduced the ‘Double Reduction’ policy to ease students’ academic burden. More and more parents are reflecting on this, hoping their children can grow up healthier and happier instead of just chasing grades.

A Malaysian tourist praised China for being happy and safe, sparking heated discussion online.

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小潘: Teacher Liu, I saw the news! A Malaysian tourist said ‘Chinese people are very happy,’ and it went viral online.
刘娜: Yes, recently many foreign tourists visiting China have said that it’s very safe, transportation is convenient, and life feels happy here.
小潘: Since I came to Beijing, I’ve also felt that the subway is fast and the streets are very clean. When I ask for directions, people are always friendly.
刘娜: These are all results of China’s social development. Now China and Malaysia have a visa-free policy, making travel between the two countries very convenient.
小潘: I think happiness is actually very simple — feeling safe, having convenient transportation, and kind people around.
刘娜: You said it well. China welcomes more foreign friends to travel, communicate, and experience a happy life together.

The average life expectancy in China has risen to 79 years, and the elderly population has exceeded 300 million.

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陈花: Honey, did you see the news? The Ministry of Civil Affairs said that the average life expectancy in China has now reached 79 years, five years higher than the world average.
黄刚: Yes, I saw it. That’s really good news. It shows that our living standards and medical conditions are improving. But the growing number of elderly people is also a challenge.
陈花: Right. The news said there are already 310 million people over 60 nationwide, accounting for 22% of the total population. My parents often say we need to think about elderly care in advance.
黄刚: I think the country is also working hard on this. For example, it’s promoting the “Silver-Age Action” to let older people take part in volunteer work and encourage them to continue contributing.
陈花: I really like this idea of “older people still having something meaningful to do.” Some retired teachers at my school now teach calligraphy to kids in the community, and they’re in great spirits.
黄刚: Yes, when elderly people join social activities, they not only help others but also keep themselves happy. The country is also building “age-friendly communities,” which is very meaningful.
陈花: But I still worry about some issues, like scams targeting the elderly and medical burdens. I heard the government is also strengthening legal protection and cracking down on fraud aimed at seniors.
黄刚: That’s right, the policies are becoming more detailed. In the future, we also need to learn to plan for our own later years — not just to live long, but to live well.

Li Fang and Xiaomei learn to use sentences comparing speed and quantity through games and competition.

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小美: Teacher Li, I ran faster than you this time!
李芳: Yes, you really ran fast—I was a bit slower.
小美: Let's see who collected more leaves.
李芳: Okay, you count how many you have first.
小美: I have five. How about you?
李芳: I only have three, so you have more than me.
小美: Haha, I ran fast and collected more too!
李芳: Not bad, but do you know how many yellow leaves I collected just now?
小美: How many?
李芳: Two. There aren’t many, but they're beautiful.

More and more young people choose to rent items like cameras and drones when traveling.

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优子: Teacher Liu, I saw the news saying that many young people in China don’t buy cameras for travel anymore but rent them instead. Is that true?
刘娜: Yes, it’s true. Nowadays, 'renting instead of buying' is very popular. For example, you can rent a high-end camera for about 30 yuan per day, and the photo quality is great.
优子: Wow, that’s so convenient! In Japan, people also rent clothes and bags, but I didn’t expect that cameras can be rented too.
刘娜: Yes, it not only saves money but also avoids the problem of unused items. Some people just want to take photos during holidays, so renting is much more cost-effective.
优子: I think this kind of lifestyle feels relaxed—you don’t need to own everything, just being able to use it is enough.
刘娜: Right, this reflects a new consumption mindset among young people—‘a light-burden lifestyle’. But before renting, it’s important to check the credibility of the business to avoid being scammed.

Mental health problems are common worldwide, and China is strengthening psychological services and awareness.

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小潘: Teacher Liu, I saw in the news that one in every eight people has a mental health problem. Is that true?
刘娜: Yes, it's true. Many people experience anxiety, stress, or trouble sleeping, but they don't realize these are signs of psychological issues.
小潘: Do they all need to go to the hospital? I sometimes get nervous too, especially before exams.
刘娜: If it’s just temporary nervousness, that’s fine. But if the discomfort lasts and you feel unhappy for a long time, you should visit a psychological clinic.
小潘: I see. I used to think that just 'cheering up' would solve it.
刘娜: Many people misunderstand that. Depression is like a cold — it can be treated. The most important thing is to seek help bravely and not be afraid.

Top Xiangqi grandmasters including Wang Tianyi were sentenced, triggering reflection on anti-corruption within the chess community.

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赵强: Huang Gang, did you see the news about Wang Tianyi’s case? I never thought the top figure in Chinese chess would be sentenced for bribery and match-fixing.
黄刚: I saw it. The impact is huge. Wang Tianyi confessed in court and admitted to taking money multiple times to manipulate matches. It’s really disappointing.
赵强: Chinese chess has always given people an impression of integrity and purity. Now with so many grandmasters involved in 'match trading,' it’s really tarnished the image.
黄刚: Indeed, it shows that professional sports must strengthen oversight. Not only football or basketball — even intellectual games like Xiangqi can’t escape corruption.
赵强: I heard the Xiangqi Association has given them lifetime bans and will start education and legal awareness programs. Hopefully this will serve as a real warning.
黄刚: Yes, Xiangqi carries culture and spirit. Only by maintaining fairness and integrity can it regain the respect of its fans.
赵强: I hope the Xiangqi world can return to honesty and people won’t associate ‘grandmasters’ with ‘buying games’ anymore.
黄刚: I believe after this scandal, Chinese chess will become cleaner and stronger than before.

A recent survey shows that China ranks third in global safety, and people feel secure even going out at night.

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小宝: Brother, Mom said China is very safe. Is that true?
小刚: It’s true! An American company conducted a survey showing that China is the third safest country in the world.
小宝: Then is it dangerous to go out at night?
小刚: Don’t worry. Many people feel it’s safe to walk alone at night. Chinese police work very hard, and you can often see them patrolling the streets.
小宝: I like going to the park to play, and I also feel very safe.
小刚: That’s right, so we can live happily without worrying too much about bad people. China is really very safe.