[中文版本]

Five years ago, when I was still in school, my teacher gave a small prize to students who answered questions correctly. When it was my turn, I stood up and gave my answer. The teacher said I got it right and invited me up to the front of the class to claim my prize — a little “panda.”

The moment I saw it, I thought it was so adorable! Its hands and feet are tiny and black. You could say, “It has small, black hands and feet.” It also has big, brown eyes. Even though it can’t blink, it always looks at me with such warmth. It’s always smiling and never seems sad.

Real pandas are actually huge. They spend their days eating bamboo and lounging around. Their round bodies are very heavy — adult pandas weigh between 220 and 254 pounds. But my “little panda” is nothing like that. It’s not lazy at all. No matter what I’m doing — playing, studying, eating, or sleeping — it’s always by my side, smiling.

I chose to write about this “little panda” because it has been with me since I was a child. It’s my best friend, and it’s incredibly cute. Every day when I come home, it’s there waiting patiently for me. When I’m feeling down, it’s there to comfort me. Some people might think it’s just a toy, but to me, it’s a very special friend.

I hope it can stay with me forever, because we’ve shared so many wonderful memories together.

By

李思哲 翻译 (Translation) 2025-06-05

  [中文版本]

There is a Christmas tree in my house. Every year on Christmas Eve, my dad sets up the Christmas tree because it’s an artificial one. Our Christmas tree is very tall—taller than my mom! It’s twelve years old—older than me! Its trunk is black and smooth, with lots of branches growing from it. On the smaller branches, there are green and pointy leaves.

My dad hangs lights on the Christmas tree. Then, my sister and I hang decorations on it. Among our decorations, some are made of paper, some of plastic, and some of glass. Some of the decorations look like stars, some like balls, some like Santa Claus, some like animals, and some like snowmen. After that, we place a small paper Christmas tree and paper presents under the big Christmas tree. Finally, we put a paper star on top of the tree. We put glitter glue on the star, so it looks shiny, but it can’t actually light up.

This is the Christmas tree that my dad, mom, sister, and I decorate together every year.

By

何芳菲 翻译 (Translation) 2025-06-05

 [中文版本]

Dogs are our friends. Just like people, every dog looks different. Some have long fur, some short; some have curly hair, others straight, and their colors vary too. I like dogs because they are friendly and fun. Every time I see a dog, I can’t help but smile. If you're feeling down, you can talk to your dog. It will wag its tail and look at you with loving eyes, and that makes you feel so much better.

One of my good friends has a dog named Pluto. I often go to his house to play with Pluto. As soon as Pluto sees me, it jumps on me excitedly and wags its tail nonstop. When I tell it to sit, it sits. When I say stop, it stands still. When I say “shake hands,” it stretches out its front paw and shakes my hand.

Another reason I like dogs is because they are very loyal. Once a dog loves you, it will stay by your side no matter what happens. Playing with dogs is also a lot of fun. Whether it's playing fetch, tug-of-war, or just running around, dogs are full of energy. Seeing them so excited makes me happy too. Sometimes they’re so energetic I can’t even keep up—they run faster than I do! Dogs are always ready for an adventure, whether it’s going for a walk or just hanging out in the yard. They seem curious about everything, and that reminds us to love life.

I really love dogs. They make life so much happier.

By

陈骙钰 翻译 (Translation) 2025-05-02

  [中文版本]

Today, the teacher introduced us to a "little leopard." It's a plush toy that the teacher placed on the desk.

It’s super cute. It has a round head and a pair of big ears, as if it’s carefully listening for its prey. It has big, round, adorable eyes that seem to be watching the students during class. It also has a chubby and fluffy body. Its belly is snow-white, covered with many big spots, which could help it camouflage in the tall grasses of the African plains. It crouches on the desk,  grading homework with. I really want to ask: is it fun sitting here every day?

It must have been in this classroom for a long time, but with the teacher’s company, it must be very happy.

By

朱瑞皓 翻译 (Translation) 2025-06-05

[中文版本]

Internationally, Friedrich Merz was elected Chancellor of Germany in the second round of voting. Meanwhile, in Mali, hundreds of people gathered in the streets of Bamako in early May, calling for democratic reforms.

In other news, the United States experienced two major tornado outbreaks in May. From May 15 to 16, 55 tornadoes struck the Midwest and Southeast, resulting in 27 deaths. Another 109 tornadoes hit the Great Plains and south-central regions between May 18 and 21, causing severe damage and widespread power outages.

In Australia, continuous heavy rainfall has led to severe flooding.

In science and technology, the CERN ALICE experiment has claimed the ability to transmute lead into gold. In addition, a new study has identified several genes linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which may help improve our understanding of the condition.

In sports, the 2025 French Open began on May 25. Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka are among the top contenders drawing significant attention.

Finally, many high school seniors in Maryland successfully graduated this May. We look forward to their bright futures and continued success!

By

王瑞思 翻译 (Translation) 2025-06-05

  [中文版本]

One day, Mom took the whole family to the National Natural Botanical Garden for a visit. As soon as I arrived, I caught a whiff of a fresh fragrance. My eyes were immediately drawn to a pink flower.

The flower was big and smelled wonderful, with layer upon layer of petals that were especially beautiful. My mom told me that this was China’s national flower, called the peony. That instantly reminded me—I had painted this flower before in traditional Chinese painting class!

I gently touched a petal of the peony with my hand—wow! It was so soft! The petal felt as soft as a kitten’s fur. I began to observe the flower more closely. Its petals were layered just like a creamy cake, and my mouth started to water like a waterfall! The flower was just too beautiful!

I leaned in for a smell, and the fragrance was simply amazing. As I kept looking, the flower suddenly transformed into a ballerina in a pink dress, gracefully dancing to the rhythm of music. Her dance was so elegant and gentle. I was completely captivated. As she danced, background music somehow started to play, and with the music, her dancing became even more beautiful and graceful! I looked around and saw that all the other flowers were watching the peony dancer too. The garden around me had turned into a luxurious stage, with all the lights focused on the peony ballerina. When her dance ended, all the flowers applauded and praised her. The peony dancer bowed to show her thanks.

Suddenly, someone called out, “Cheng Xindi!” It was Mom—her voice snapped me out of my daydream. That’s when I realized I wasn’t watching a peony performance at all—I was just admiring flowers at the botanical garden!

By

程心笛 翻译 (Translation) 2025-05-02

  [中文版本]

For my birthday last year, I got a little robot. It can't run or jump, but it can do a lot of things. As soon as I got the robot, I started playing with it. I really like my little robot!

My little robot is gold. Its mouth is big and round. Its head is also square, with two big round yellow eyes, and a small ball on top of its head. If you press that yellow ball, the robot will say something. It might say, "Hello, it’s nice to meet you. My name is Cyber." It might also say, "Alert! Alert! Intruders are coming in!"

Its body is also square, with a big badge in the middle that says “CYBER”—that’s my robot’s name. It has ten arms, which are thin and black. In its hand, it holds a big golden sword.

Its long legs have many black stripes. Its feet are like its head—square and big.

My little robot is my favorite companion!

By

曹昀翰 翻译 (Translation) 2025-06-05

 [中文版本]

Confucianism is a philosophical and ethical system developed from the teachings of Confucius (Kong Fuzi), a Chinese thinker and educator who lived from 551–479 BCE during the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history. Rather than focusing on gods or the afterlife, Confucianism emphasizes how to live a good life in society — with harmony, respect, and responsibility at its core.

At the heart of Confucianism are a few key concepts:

• 仁 (rén) – Humaneness or kindness: The idea that people should treat each other with compassion and empathy.
• 礼 (lǐ) – Ritual, manners, or proper behavior: Respecting traditions and social roles helps maintain order.
• 孝 (xiào) – Filial piety: A deep respect for parents and ancestors.
• 义 (yì) – Righteousness or moral integrity: Doing what is right, not just what is profitable.
• 智 (zhì) – Wisdom: Understanding how to make thoughtful, ethical decisions.

 Confucius believed that if everyone followed these principles, society would be harmonious and stable. Confucianism puts a strong emphasis on social relationships. It teaches that people should act morally in their roles, such as:

 Parent and child

• Ruler and subject
• Husband and wife
• Older sibling and younger sibling
• Friend and friend
• Each relationship involves mutual respect and responsibility.

In Chinese history, Confucianism was more than a belief system — it shaped education, law, and government for centuries. Civil service exams during imperial China tested knowledge of Confucian texts, meaning that government officials were trained in Confucian thought. Confucianism teaches that a good ruler should act as a moral example rather than rule by force. This idea influenced leadership across East Asia.

Confucianism has deeply influenced not only China, but also Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. Even today, Confucian values like respect for elders, education, and family loyalty remain important in many Asian cultures.

In the modern world, some criticize Confucianism for being too hierarchical or restrictive, especially regarding gender roles. However, many scholars see it as a flexible and evolving tradition that still offers wisdom on how to live ethically in community with others.

Confucianism is not a religion in the Western sense, but a living philosophy that has shaped entire civilizations. It asks people to focus not on what happens after death, but on how to live well, respect others, and contribute to society. Its timeless emphasis on character, harmony, and duty continues to influence millions around the world today.

By

沈安琪 翻译 (Translation) 2025-06-05

  [中文版本]

My family has a dog named Remy. He is a purebred Maltese, and he just turned two! His fur is snowy white, and his eyes are hazel brown. His ears are soft, and the fur around his nose forms a round shape, resembling a cartoon character. He also has short legs and tiny paws. He’s a little guy, so he’s not very big—he weighs about seven pounds.

I’ve noticed that Remy doesn’t like taking baths. That’s because he doesn’t like the feeling of water getting into his nose, and he dislikes water in general. However, he loves going on walks and meeting new friends. We’ve also noticed his favorite food is chicken, and he loves gnawing on bones. One thing my family finds frustrating about Remy’s behavior is that he’ll beg for a bone, hide it somewhere, come back to ask for another, and then secretly stash all the bones in one spot. Since Remy keeps going back to my dad for more bones, my dad thinks he’s eaten them all, not knowing that the bones are secretly stashed away around the house. My family and I often find bones in random places, like the laundry room and the bathroom.

As I continue observing Remy, I’ve found that he tries to act tougher and stronger than he really is in front of other dogs. For example, when I take him for a walk and he sees a larger dog, he’ll bark loudly and even stand on his hind legs to look bigger. But the truth is, he’s scared of the bigger one—he’s just trying to get them to take him seriously. This usually only happens with bigger dogs. If Remy wants to play with a smaller dog, he doesn’t need to act tough because they’re the same size. Interestingly, Remy never barks at home—he’s always quiet and calmly stays by our side.

Even though Remy has many different traits—some good, some bad—my family and I still love him very much. We hope Remy stays a part of our family for many more years!

By

秦夏依 翻译 (Translation) 2025-05-02

  [中文版本]

This year, when I went to China for a trip, my uncle bought me a capybara. It’s a stuffed animal, and when we found it, it was hiding in a corner, as if it were sleeping.

The capybara is really cute. Its head is soft and fuzzy to the touch—so comfortable, and I love it so much. It wears a blue shirt decorated with tropical summer elements, like tall coconut trees, big ocean waves, and white flowers that represent summer. Looking at it makes me want to go to the beach every day! My capybara has tiny little feet—if you don’t look closely, you might not even notice them.

In the summer, I would go to my uncle’s shop and play video games with my capybara. I’d put it on my lap to sit steadily, and even placed a bubble tea straw by its mouth so it could “drink” too. While I played games and my capybara “drank tea,” we had so much fun together.

When it was time to return to the U.S., I brought my capybara on the plane with me, all the way from Beijing back home.

By

刘彭予轩 翻译 (Translation) 2025-06-05