Expressing Frequency (What You Often Do)
S + 常常 + V常常 is placed before a verb to indicate an action that happens many times, as a habit. It is similar to 'often' or 'frequently' in English.
我常常在家吃饭。
I often eat at home.
他常常帮忙。
He often helps out.
Lesson 2: Helping Out at Home
帮忙Learn 常常 + V and 想/要 + V + 吗？ through Helping Out at Home.
12 words2 grammar points1 dialogues~12 min
Vocabulary12 words
帮忙Verb
- to helpmore casual than 'to help', often used in everyday conversation
Examples
请帮忙！
Please help!
不对Adjective
- 1.incorrect, wrong
- 2.unsuitable, not right
Examples
这个答案不对。
This answer is incorrect.
我觉得这样不对。
I feel this is not right.
不用Adverb
- no need, need notused to decline an offer or say that something doesn't need to be done
Examples
谢谢！——不用谢。
Thank you! — You're welcome.
你不用来。
You don't need to come.
干什么Phrase
- 1.to do what
- 2.what (used in questions to ask about purpose or action)Often used in a casual or slightly annoyed tone.
Examples
你在干什么？
What are you doing?
你想干什么？
What do you want to do?
关上Verb
- 1.to close (a door, lid, etc.)
- 2.to turn off (a light, machine, etc.)Common in spoken language.
Examples
请关上门。
Please close the door.
关上灯睡觉吧。
Turn off the light and go to sleep.
回到Verb
- 1.to return; to go back
- 2.to come backRefers to returning to a place.
Examples
我回到学校。
I return to school.
他回到家了。
He has returned home.
开玩笑Verb
- 1.to joke; to make a joke
- 2.to play a trick; to tease
Examples
他在开玩笑，你别生气。
He is just joking, don't be angry.
别拿这件事开玩笑。
Don't joke about this matter.
听到Verb
- 1.to hearto hear a sound or piece of information
- 2.to hear (that), to be told
Examples
我听到了你的声音。
I heard your voice.
我听到这个消息很高兴。
I was very happy to hear this news.
忘Verb
- 1.to forget
- 2.to be forgotten, to fade from memoryless common at the HSK 1 level
Examples
我忘带书了。
I forgot to bring my book.
别忘了明天的课。
Don't forget tomorrow's class.
找Verb
- 1.to look for; to search
- 2.to seek out; to call on (someone)
- 3.to give change (money)e.g. 找钱 (give change), 找你五块 (give you 5 yuan change)
Examples
我在找我的手机。
I'm looking for my phone.
你可以去找他。
You can go find him.
最好Adjective
- 1.best
- 2.had better; it would be best to
Examples
这是我吃过的最好的菜。
This is the best dish I have ever eaten.
你最好现在就去。
You had better go right now.
坐下Verb
- 1.to sit down
- 2.to take a seatUsed when asking someone to take a seat.
Examples
请坐下。
Please sit down.
我们坐下吧。
Let's sit down.
Grammar
Asking Whether Someone Wants to Do Something
S + 想/要 + V + 吗？Use '想' or '要' before a verb to ask about someone's wishes. You can add '吗' at the end of the sentence to make it a yes-no question.
你想坐下吗？
Do you want to sit down?
他要回去吗？
Does he want to go back?
Dialogues
Helping Out at Home
Two friends, Xiao Lin and Xiao Nan, are talking after class.
小林
小林
小南，你放学后常常干什么？
Xiao Nan, what do you usually do after school?
小南
小南
我常常回家帮妈妈。你呢？
I often go home to help my mom. What about you?
小林
小林
我常常去图书馆看书。今天天气很好，你想去玩儿吗？
I often go to the library to read. The weather is nice today. Do you want to go out and play?
小南
小南
好啊！我要先回家。妈妈要我帮她关门。你最好先去，我一会儿回去找你。
Sure! I have to go home first — Mum wants me to close the door. You go ahead; I’ll come find you in a bit.
小林
小林
不用着急！你常常帮忙，真好。那我先走了。
No need to rush! You help out so often—that's great. Then I'll head off first.
小南
小南
好，我很快就回来。你先去图书馆，我一会儿去找你。
Okay, I'll be back soon. You go to the library first, and I'll come find you in a bit.
小林
小林
对了，你没忘关上门吧？
Oh right — you didn’t forget to close the door, did you?
小南
小南
没忘。我回到家就关上了。
I didn’t. I closed it as soon as I got home.
小林
小林
你听到了吗？图书馆五点关门。
Did you hear? The library closes at five.
小南
小南
不对，是六点。你坐下，我们再看看。
That’s not right, it’s six. Sit down, let’s check again.
小林
小林
我开玩笑的！是六点，我记得。
I was joking! It's six — I do remember.