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Listening for corrections, reasons and final decisions
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| English | Meaning |
|---|---|
| originally | 本来 |
| later | 后来 |
The first answer you hear is a trap
- In a listening task, a friend says: “I / me我original本来want / think / miss想Friday星期五to go去to see看you你，but但是that day那天want / will / need要to go to class上课，so / therefore所以to convert改成Saturday星期六morning上午。”
- The question asks when she will visit. Friday星期五 is heard first, but the final plan is Saturday星期六morning上午. HSK listening often tests whether you follow a change.
Words that signal a change
- original本来 … afterwards后来 / but但是 … to convert改成 …: the first detail is a plan; the second is what really happens.
- not不 … (completed / change)了 / no more不再: something has stopped: I / me我not不喝咖啡(completed / change)了 — I no longer drink coffee.
I我originally本来wanted想take坐the train火车，later后来took坐了the bus公交车。
Plan or final decision?
Separate the original plan from what actually happens.
“我本来想坐飞机去，后来买了火车票。” How will the speaker travel?
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后来 introduces the final choice: the train.
“会议本来是三点，现在改到四点半了。” When is the meeting now?
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改到 gives the new time.
Time and frequency
- Note every time word and keep only the one the question asks for: morning上午 / afternoon下午, Saturday星期六, 三点half半.
- Frequency words matter too: every day每天 (every day), sometimes有时候 (sometimes), first一次also也not / haven't没 (not once).
“I / me我before以前every day每天to run跑步，now现在一个week星期to run跑两次。” How often does he run now? Twice a week. every day每天 describes the past (before以前).
“我以前每天跑步，现在一个星期跑两次。” Now he runs ____ times a week. (number)
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每天 is the past habit; 两次 is now.
Negatives that sound alike
- still / also还not / haven't没 = not yet; need not不用 = no need; no more不再 = no longer; not / haven't没 = did not.
- Listen to the whole phrase before deciding: he / him他still / also还not / haven't没to / arrive到 (he hasn't arrived yet) ≠ he / him他not不to come来(completed / change)了 (he isn't coming any more).
Match each phrase to its meaning.
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Each negative word means something different.
Common mistakes
- Choosing the first time, place or vehicle you hear when the speaker later changes it.
- Choosing an option because it repeats a word from the recording; check that it matches the final meaning.
In an HSK listening task, the first date you hear is always the answer.
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Speakers often correct an earlier plan.
Recap
- Read the question first so you know which fact to listen for.
- Track original本来 / afterwards后来 / but但是 / to convert改成 and answer from the final information; tell still / also还not / haven't没, need not不用, no more不再 apart.