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妈妈的旧手机

Mom's Old Phone

B1 Common European Framework of Reference for Languages / 欧洲语言共同参考框架 › B1 / 中级 Urban & Realistic 290 words 📅 September 23, 2026

女儿给妈妈买了一部新手机,妈妈却一直不用,还说想退掉。女儿不理解,甚至有点生气。直到一天晚上,她无意中听到妈妈在房间里打电话……这个关于亲情与理解的小故事,用简单的语言讲述了一个深刻的道理。文章包含丰富的日常词汇和情感表达,适合中级汉语学习者阅读。

A daughter buys her mother a new phone, but Mom quietly refuses to use it. Why? What is she hiding? This touching short story explores the gap between what we give and what our loved ones truly need. With simple, everyday Chinese vocabulary and natural dialogue, it's perfect for intermediate learners who want to practice family-related expressions, emotional descriptions, and the subtle grammar of Chinese gift-giving culture. Read on to discover what happens when the daughter finally understands.

💡 Tap any word to see its translation and pronunciation

妈妈 的 手机 用 了 六年 。 屏幕 碎 了 , 她 用 胶带 粘 上 , 说 还能用 。 上周 我 给 她 买 了 一部 新手机 , 她 看 了 一眼 , 放 在 桌上 , 没说话 。

周末 我 回家 吃饭 。 她 做 了 四个菜 , 都 是 我 爱吃 的 。 但 我 发现 她 一直 用 旧手机 看菜谱 , 新手机 还 在 盒子 里 。 “ 妈 , 新手机 怎么 不用 ? ” 我 问 。 她 笑 了 笑 : “ 太 复杂 了 , 我 学不会 。 ” 我 有点 生气 , 声音 大 了 些 : “ 您 就是 不想学 ! ” 她 低下头 , 继续 切菜 。

那天晚上 , 我 听见 她 在 房间 里 小声 打电话 。 她 说 : “ 女儿 赚钱 不容易 , 那 手机 太 贵 了 , 我 想 退掉 。 我 用 旧的 就行 , 能 打电话 就 可以 。 ” 我 站 在 门外 , 心里 突然 很 难受 。 我 总 想 给 她 最好的 , 却 忘 了 问 她 想要 什 么 。 她 总 怕 给 我 添麻烦 , 却 忘 了 我 也 想 做 点什么 。

第二天早上 , 我 煮 了 一碗面 , 放 在 她 面前 。 “ 妈 , 我 教 您 用 新手机 , 慢慢来 , 不着急 。 您 辛苦 了 。 ” 她 愣 了 一下 , 眼睛 有点 红 , 然后 拿起 新手机 , 认真 地 问 我 : “ 先 按 哪个 ? ”

🌐Full Translation in Your Native Language▼
Mom's cell phone had been used for six years. The screen was shattered, and she taped it up, saying it was still usable. Last week I bought her a new cell phone. She took one look at it, put it on the table, and didn't say anything. On the weekend I went home for a meal. She made four dishes, all of them my favorites. But I noticed she kept using her old phone to look at recipes, while the new phone was still in the box. "Mom, why aren't you using the new phone?" I asked. She smiled: "It's too complicated. I can't learn it." I got a little angry and raised my voice: "You just don't want to learn!" She lowered her head and continued chopping vegetables. That night, I heard her talking softly on the phone in her room. She said: "It's not easy for my daughter to earn money. That phone is too expensive. I want to return it. I'll just use the old one—as long as I can make calls, it's fine." I stood outside the door, and my heart suddenly ached. I always want to give her the best, but I forgot to ask what she wants. She always worries about causing me trouble, but she forgot that I also want to do something. The next morning, I cooked a bowl of noodles and put it in front of her. "Mom, I'll teach you to use the new phone. Take it slow, no rush. You've worked hard." She was stunned for a moment, her eyes a little red, and then she picked up the new phone and seriously asked me: "Which one do I press first?"

📝 Key Phrases

还能用 → still usable / can still be used
学不会 → can't learn it / unable to learn
赚钱不容易 → earning money is not easy
添麻烦 → to cause trouble / to be a burden
慢慢来,不着急 → take it slow, no rush
低下头 → to lower one's head
心里突然很难受 → suddenly felt a pang in one's heart

❓ FAQ

How can I practice speaking Chinese after reading this story?
Try shadowing the dialogue sections, especially the argument between mother and daughter. Record yourself reading the mother's lines, then the daughter's, focusing on tone and emotion. Next, retell the story from the mother's perspective in your own words using at least five phrases from the text, such as '添麻烦' and '赚钱不容易'. This builds both fluency and empathy.
What does '就是' mean in '您就是不想学'?
Here, '就是' means 'simply' or 'just' and carries a tone of frustration or insistence. It emphasizes that the speaker believes the other person is being stubborn. In this sentence, the daughter is saying 'You just don't want to learn!' It's different from '就是' meaning 'is exactly,' which you might see in sentences like '他就是我的老师' (He is exactly my teacher).
Why does the mother want to return the phone? Is this a cultural thing?
Yes, it reflects a common cultural value in Chinese families: parents often feel uncomfortable accepting expensive gifts from their children because they worry about the children's financial burden. The phrase '女儿赚钱不容易' (It's not easy for my daughter to earn money) captures this sentiment. It's not about rejecting the gift, but about expressing love through self-restraint and concern for the child's well-being.
What grammar pattern is used in '能打电话就可以'?
This uses the pattern '能...就可以' meaning 'as long as [condition], it's fine.' '能打电话' (can make calls) is the condition, and '就可以' (then it's fine) is the result. This structure is very common in spoken Chinese for setting minimal requirements. You can practice by making your own sentences, like '能睡觉就可以' (As long as I can sleep, it's fine).
How does the story use the contrast between '旧' and '新'?
The repeated contrast between '旧手机' (old phone) and '新手机' (new phone) symbolizes the gap between material generosity and emotional understanding. The old phone represents the mother's frugality and self-sacrifice, while the new phone represents the daughter's love but also her assumption about what her mother needs. This literary device makes the story relatable and is a great way to learn antonym pairs in Chinese.
⚡ About This Article
Suitable For
Intermediate Chinese learners (HSK 3-4) who want to read emotionally resonant short stories with everyday vocabulary.
Level
Intermediate — simple sentence structures with some colloquial expressions and emotional vocabulary.
Core Vocabulary
120 words
Grammar Focus
Resultative complements (学不会, 退掉), the '就是' emphatic structure, and conditional patterns with '就'.
Reading Goal
To understand a touching family story while learning practical vocabulary for expressing emotions and daily interactions in Chinese.
“女儿给妈妈买了一部新手机,妈妈却一直不用,还说想退掉。女儿不理解,甚至有点生气。直到一天晚上,她无意中听到妈妈在房间里打电话……这个关于亲情与理解的小故事,用简单的语言讲述了一个深刻的道理。文章包含丰富的日常词汇和情感表达,适合中级汉语学习者阅读。”
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