Lesson 1: Talking about work and free time

下班

Learn 在 + 地点 + V and 和 + S + 一块儿 + V through work and free time.

9 words3 grammar points1 dialogues~18 min

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Vocabulary9 words

白báiAdjective

1.white
2.clean, pure
3.free, free of charge
4.in vain, for nothingused adverbially before a verb, e.g. 白等 (wait in vain), 白跑一趟 (make a trip for nothing)

Examples

这件衣服是白色的。

zhèjiànyīfushìbáisède。

This piece of clothing is white.

这是白的。

zhèshìbáide。

This one is white.

差chàNoun

1.difference, gap
2.poor, not good
3.wrong, mistaken
4.to be short of, to lack (in quantity or time)e.g. 差五分八点 (five to eight), 差不多 (almost / about the same), 还差两个人 (two more people are still needed)

Examples

这两个数字的差是五。

zhèliǎnggèshùzìdechāshìwǔ。

The difference between these two numbers is five.

他的成绩比较差。

tādechéngjìbǐjiàochà。

His grades are rather poor.

回去huíqùVerb

to go back; to returnIn a direction away from the speaker.

Examples

回去吧。

huíqùba。

Go back.

他回中国去。

tāhuízhōngguóqù。

He is going back to China.

日期rìqīNoun

1.date
2.specific date (as marked on a document)

Examples

请告诉我会议的日期。

qǐnggàosuwǒhuìyìderìqī。

Please tell me the date of the meeting.

这封信的日期是昨天。

zhèfēngxìnderìqīshìzuótiān。

The date on this letter is yesterday.

一块儿yíkuàirAdverb

1.together
2.in one placeUsually refers to a location.

Examples

我们一块儿去吃饭吧。

wǒmenyíkuàirqùchīfànba。

Let's go eat together.

这些东西都放在一块儿。

zhèxiēdōngxidōufàngzàiyíkuàir。

These things are all kept in one place.

一下儿yíxiàrMeasure word

1.a bit; a little whileOften used after a verb to indicate a brief, quick action.
2.to take a quick look; to give it a tryUsed as a particle.

Examples

等一下儿。

děngyíxiàr。

Wait a moment.

我看一下儿。

wǒkànyíxiàr。

Let me take a look.

一边yìbiānPhrase

1.one side
2.while...; doing two things at once

Examples

我喜欢一边吃饭一边看电视。

wǒxǐhuanyìbiānchīfànyìbiānkàndiànshì。

I like to watch TV while eating.

公园的一边有很多花。

gōngyuándeyìbiānyǒuhěnduōhuā。

There are many flowers on one side of the park.

有时候yǒushíhouAdverb

sometimesIndicates an action that happens infrequently.

Examples

我有时候喝茶。

wǒyǒushíhouhēchá。

Sometimes I drink tea.

有时候他也来。

yǒushíhoutāyělái。

Sometimes he comes too.

还huánVerb

1.to return; to give back
2.to repay; to requite
3.still; yet; also (when read as hái)e.g. 还有 (still have), 还是 (still/or), 还没 (not yet)

Examples

请把这本书还给我。

qǐngbǎzhèběnshūhuángěiwǒ。

Please return this book to me.

他借的钱已经还清了。

tājièdeqiányǐjīnghuánqīngle。

The money he borrowed has already been paid back.

Grammar

Doing something at a place

S + 在 + 地点 + V

Use '在' before a place to indicate where an action happens. It is usually combined with a verb afterward to talk about an activity taking place at a specific location.

我在这里上班。

wǒzàizhèlishàngbān。

I work here.

他在家看电视。

tāzàijiākàndiànshì。

He watches TV at home.

Doing something together

S + 和 + S + 一块儿 + V

Use '和' to connect two subjects, then add '一块儿' before the verb to emphasize that the action is done together, jointly.

我和朋友一块儿回去。

wǒhépéngyouyíkuàirhuíqù。

My friend and I go back together.

他们一块儿说话。

tāmenyíkuàirshuōhuà。

They chat together.

Coordinate compound sentences

一边 + V1，一边 + V2 / 有时候…，有时候…

A coordinate compound sentence links two clauses of equal weight. At HSK1 the common patterns are 一边…一边… (doing two things at once) and 有时候…，有时候… (alternating).

我一边看电视，一边休息。

wǒyìbiānkàndiànshì，yìbiānxiūxi。

I watch TV and relax at the same time.

我有时候看电视，有时候和朋友一块儿说话。

wǒyǒushíhoukàndiànshì，yǒushíhouhépéngyouyíkuàirshuōhuà。

Sometimes I watch TV, sometimes I chat with friends.

Dialogues

Talking about work and free time

Two coworkers talk about their schedules.

小南

你天天什么时候回去？

nǐtiāntiānshénmeshíhouhuíqù？

What time do you go home every day?

小林

我下午五点半下班，就回去。

wǒxiàwǔwǔdiǎnbànxiàbān，jiùhuíqù。

I finish work at half past five and then head home.

小南

你晚上做什么？

nǐwǎnshàngzuòshénme？

What do you do in the evening?

小林

我有时候和朋友一块儿说话，有时候看好看的电视。

wǒyǒushíhouhépéngyouyíkuàirshuōhuà，yǒushíhoukànhǎokàndediànshì。

Sometimes I chat with friends, sometimes I watch good TV.

小南

今天是几号？我不知道。

jīntiānshìjǐhào？wǒbùzhīdao。

What's the date today? I don't know.

小林

今天是三月五号，星期三。

jīntiānshìsānyuèwǔhào，xīngqīsān。

Today is March 5th, Wednesday.

小南

对了，你的书我不看了，明天还你。

duìle，nǐdeshūwǒbúkànle，míngtiānhuánnǐ。

Oh — I’m done with your book, I’ll give it back tomorrow.

小林

好。你写一下日期，我记一下儿。

hǎo。nǐxiěyíxiàrìqī，wǒjìyíxiàr。

Sure. Write down the date and I’ll make a note of it.

小南

好。晚上我一边看电视，一边休息。

hǎo。wǎnshàngwǒyìbiānkàndiànshì，yìbiānxiūxi。

OK. In the evening I watch TV and relax at the same time.

小林

差不多五点半了。明天我八点上班，你呢？

chàbuduōwǔdiǎnbànle。míngtiānwǒbādiǎnshàngbān，nǐne？

It’s almost half past five. I start work at eight tomorrow — and you?

小南

我也是八点。你今天的白衣服很好看。明天晚上你在家做什么？

wǒyěshìbādiǎn。nǐjīntiāndebáiyīfuhěnhǎokàn。míngtiānwǎnshàngnǐzàijiāzuòshénme？

Me too, eight. That white shirt looks great on you today. What are you doing at home tomorrow evening?

小林

明天晚上我在家看电视。你呢？

míngtiānwǎnshàngwǒzàijiākàndiànshì。nǐne？

Tomorrow evening I’ll watch television at home. And you?

小南

我在家看书。

wǒzàijiākànshū。

I read at home.