Lesson
Fifteen (A)
Have you been busy recently
Basic expressions
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1. |
zuìjìn |
最 近 |
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recently |
most near |
This is used as a time phrase in the above dialogue. This phrase consists of two Chinese characters: zuì 最most and jìn 近near. It can also be used for describing distance, as in zuìjìn de dìfang 最近的地方most close DE place: the nearest place.
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2. |
zĕnmeyàng |
怎么样 |
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how are you doing |
how about |
It is used as a colloquial expression to greet people and open up a conversation. We learned the question word zĕnme 怎么how which is placed before a verb. For instance,
zĕnme qù běi jīng?
怎么 去 北京？
how go Beijing?
how to go to Beijing?
However, the expression zĕnmeyàng 怎么样 how are you doing is often placed at end of a phrase.
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3. |
fēicháng |
非 常 |
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very, extremely |
not ordinary |
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4. |
mĕitiān |
每 天 |
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every day |
each/every/per day |
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5. |
zăochén |
早 晨 |
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morning |
early morning |
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6. |
qĭchuáng |
起 床 |
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get up |
rise bed |
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7. |
wán |
完 |
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finish |
Finish/complete |
Wán完 finish is often appears after a verb, such as chīwán 吃完eat finish: finish eating.
xiěwán写完 write finish: finish writing. Xuéwán dìyīkè 学完 第一课 learn finish DI first lesson: finish studying the first lesson.
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8. |
zăofàn |
早 饭 |
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breakfast |
early meal |
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9. |
kāishĭ |
开 始 |
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begin, start |
open beginning |
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10. |
gōngzuò |
工 作 |
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to work, work |
labour work |
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11. |
yĭhòu |
以 后 |
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after |
with behind |
As in sān tiān yĭhòu, wŏ qù Bĕijīng 三天 以后，我去北京three days after, I go Beijing: I will go to Beijing in 3 days. Chīwán zăofàn yìhòu, nĭ qù xuéxiào ma? 吃完 早饭 以后， 你 去 学校 吗？eat finish early meal after, you go school MA: are you going to school after breakfast?
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12. |
wănshang |
晚 上 |
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evening |
evening |
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13. |
wăn |
晚 |
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late |
late |
as in nĭ wăn le 你 晚了you late le: you are late.
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14. |
cái |
才 |
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only then |
CAI |
It is used to indicate that the time is later or longer than expected. For instance,
xiànzài shí diăn le. nĭ cái lái shàngkè.
现在 十 点 了, 你 才 来 上 课 。
now 10 o’clock LE. you CAI come have lesson.
You came to class as late as 10 o’clock.
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15. |
shuìjiào |
睡 觉 |
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sleep, go to bed |
sleep sleep |
Conversation
We should go though these new words again and make sure that you know them well. Can you remember them? Lets hear the following dialogue which is carried out between a retired Chinese teacher, Professor Zhao, and his student.
a. Zhào lăoshī, nín hăo !
赵 老师，您 好！
Zhao teacher, you good
Teacher Zhao, how are you?
zuìjìn zĕnmeyàng ?
最近 怎么样 ？
recently how (are things)
How have you been doing recently?
b. zuìjìn fēicháng máng.
最近 非常 忙 。
recently very busy
I have been very busy recently.
mĕitiān zăochén liù diăn qĭ chuáng. chīwán zăofàn jiù kāishĭ gōngzuò.
每天 早 晨 六 点 起床。 吃完 早 饭，就 开始 工 作。
everyday morning 6 o’clock up bed eat finish breakfast then start work
I get up at 6 every morning , and I start work immediately after breakfast.
wănshang hĕn wăn cái shuìjiào.
晚上 很 晚 才 睡觉。
evening very late only then sleep
I don’t go to bed until very late in the evening.
Practice
Repeat the dialogue and answer the following questions.
a. Zhào lăoshī zuìjìn máng bu máng ?
赵 老师 最近 忙 不 忙？
Zhao teacher recently busy not busy
b. Zhào lăoshī mĕitiān jĭ diăn qĭchuáng?
赵 老师 每天 几 点 起床？
Zhao teacher everyday how many o’clock get up?
c. Zhào lăoshī chī zăofàn ma ?
赵 老师 吃 早 饭 吗？
Zhao teacher eat breakfast MA?
d. nĭ zhīdào Zhào lăoshī jĭ diăn chī zăofàn ma ?
你 知道 赵 老师 几 点 吃 早 饭 吗 ？
you know Zhao teacher how many o’clock eat breakfast MA?
e. Zhào lăoshī wănshang shuìjiào zăo ma?
赵 老师 晚上 睡觉 早 吗 ？