Original Mandarin story series
The Long Way Home
回家过年
The Long Way Home (回家过年, Huí jiā guò nián) is a SayMei Original, written in simple Mandarin as a 3-chapter story with audio for learners at about HSK 2 (Elementary).
An original three-chapter story in simple Mandarin. Xiao Lin hasn't been home for New Year in three years. This year she tells her mother she isn't coming — and sets off anyway.
Meet the voices
- Xiao Lin · 小林 — Works in Shanghai. Has had a good reason not to go home for three New Years in a row.
- Mom · 妈妈 — Always asks the same question on the phone, and always tries not to sound disappointed.
- Master Wang · 王师傅 — A truck driver in his fifties with a photo of his grandson taped above the dashboard.
3 chapters, one journey
Chapter 1: No Tickets Left
没有票了
Xiao Lin tells her mom she isn't coming home — then tries to sneak back for New Year, just as every ticket sells out.
Free to read
Chapter 2: The Snowy Road
下雪的路
Snow closes the highway, the last bus to the village leaves without her — and a stranger in a small truck pulls over.
SayMei Stories
Chapter 3: An Extra Pair of Chopsticks
多一双筷子
Two kilometers of snow, five minutes to midnight, and a dinner table that has been waiting three years.
SayMei Stories
Key words in The Long Way Home
Behind the story
An original SayMei story about going home for Chinese New Year.
Every year, hundreds of millions of people travel home for the Spring Festival. This rush, 春运 (chūnyùn), is often called the largest yearly migration on Earth, and train tickets can sell out within minutes.
Did you know?
- 年夜饭 (niányèfàn), the New Year's Eve dinner, is the meal everyone tries to get home for.
- An extra pair of chopsticks (多一双筷子) at the table means a place is being kept for someone.
- 师傅 (shīfu) is a respectful way to address a driver or a tradesperson: 王师傅, Master Wang.