Lesson 5: Asking About Food and a Friend Abroad

面条

Learn 是不是 + 谓语？ and 有的 + 名词 through Asking About Food and a Friend Abroad.

10 words3 grammar points1 dialogues~12 min

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Vocabulary10 words

常常chángchángAdverb

1.often, frequently
2.oftenemphasizes repetition

Examples

我常常去图书馆。

wǒchángchángqùtúshūguǎn。

I often go to the library.

他常常迟到。

tāchángchángchídào。

He is often late.

国外guówàiNoun

1.abroad; overseas
2.foreign countryUsed in a more formal context.

Examples

我哥哥在国外工作。

wǒgēgezàiguówàigōngzuò。

My older brother works abroad.

她想去国外旅行。

tāxiǎngqùguówàilǚxíng。

She wants to travel abroad.

渴kěAdjective

thirstyUsed to talk about the feeling of being thirsty.

Examples

我很渴。

wǒhěnkě。

I am very thirsty.

喝水吗？我渴。

hēshuǐma？wǒkě。

Want some water? I'm thirsty.

生病shēngbìngVerb

to fall ill, to get sick

Examples

他生病了，不能来上课。

tāshēngbìngle，bùnéngláishàngkè。

He is sick and can't come to class.

如果生病了，应该去看医生。

rúguǒshēngbìngle，yīnggāiqùkànyīshēng。

If you get sick, you should see a doctor.

是不是shìbushìPhrase

is it or not, right (used to ask for confirmation)

Examples

你是不是中国人？

nǐshìbushìzhōngguórén？

Are you Chinese?

今天是不是很热？

jīntiānshìbushìhěnrè？

Is it very hot today?

外国wàiguóNoun

1.foreign country, abroad
2.refers to countries other than one's own

Examples

他想去外国旅游。

tāxiǎngqùwàiguólǚyóu。

He wants to travel abroad.

外国朋友很多。

wàiguópéngyouhěnduō。

There are a lot of foreign friends.

有的yǒudePronoun

some (used before a noun)Refers to an unspecified part of a whole.

Examples

有的人喜欢喝咖啡。

yǒuderénxǐhuanhēkāfēi。

Some people like to drink coffee.

有的书很有趣。

yǒudeshūhěnyǒuqù。

Some books are very interesting.

早上zǎoshàngNoun

morningThe time from daybreak until around 10-11 a.m.

Examples

早上好！

zǎoshànghǎo！

Good morning!

知识zhīshiNoun

knowledge

Examples

读书可以增长知识。

dúshūkěyǐzēngzhǎngzhīshi。

Reading can increase one's knowledge.

他掌握了丰富的专业知识。

tāzhǎngwòlefēngfùdezhuānyèzhīshi。

He has mastered a wealth of professional knowledge.

地deParticle

1.an adverbial particle, roughly "-ly," placed after a verb or adjective to indicate the manner in which an action is performed
2.ground; earth; land (when read as dì)e.g. 地上 (on the ground), 地图 (map), 地铁 (subway)

Examples

他高兴地笑了。

tāgāoxìngdexiàole。

He smiled happily.

Grammar

Asking for Confirmation

S + 是不是 + 谓语? (Câu hỏi xác nhận)

The structure '是不是' is used to ask a question to confirm information the speaker already knows or suspects. It is similar to adding 'isn't it / right?' to the end of a sentence in English. The answer is usually '是' (yes, that's right) or '不是' (no, that's not right).

你是不是饿了？

nǐshìbushìèle？

Are you hungry?

这是不是你的饭？

zhèshìbushìnǐdefàn？

Is this your food?

Referring to Just Some of Them

有的 + 名词

'有的' is used before a noun to mean 'some' or 'a few' out of a whole that has been mentioned or is understood. It is similar to 'some people/things...' or 'there are some...'.

有的同学喜欢面条。

yǒudetóngxuéxǐhuanmiàntiáo。

Some classmates like noodles.

早上有的同学不吃早饭。

zǎoshàngyǒudetóngxuébùchīzǎofàn。

In the morning some classmates don't eat breakfast.

Asking with 还是 (or)

A + 还是 + B？

An alternative question puts the two options on either side of 还是 and the listener picks one. Unlike a yes/no question, it never takes 吗 at the end.

你想吃肉还是面条？

nǐxiǎngchīròuháishìmiàntiáo？

Do you want meat or noodles?

他在国外还是在家？

tāzàiguówàiháishìzàijiā？

Is he abroad or at home?

Dialogues

Asking About Food and a Friend Abroad

Xiao Nan and Xiao Lin chat about food and a friend.

小南

小林，你是不是饿了？

xiǎolín，nǐshìbushìèle？

Xiao Lin, are you hungry?

小林

是，我饿了。我也很渴。

shì，wǒèle。wǒyěhěnkě。

Yes, I'm hungry. I'm also very thirsty.

小南

你想吃什么？肉还是面条？

nǐxiǎngchīshénme？ròuháishìmiàntiáo？

What do you want to eat? Meat or noodles?

小林

我想吃面条。早上我常常吃面条。

wǒxiǎngchīmiàntiáo。zǎoshàngwǒchángchángchīmiàntiáo。

I want noodles. I often eat noodles in the morning.

小南

好。小明是不是在国外？

hǎo。xiǎomíngshìbushìzàiguówài？

Okay. Is Xiao Ming abroad?

小林

是，他在国外。他生病了，真不好。

shì，tāzàiguówài。tāshēngbìngle，zhēnbùhǎo。

Yes, he’s abroad. He’s fallen ill — that’s rough.

小南

他在外国学了很多知识。

tāzàiwàiguóxuélehěnduōzhīshi。

He learned a lot of things abroad.

小林

是的。有的人喜欢去国外，有的人喜欢在家。

shìde。yǒuderénxǐhuanqùguówài，yǒuderénxǐhuanzàijiā。

Right. Some people like going abroad, some like staying home.

小南

是啊。我也想去国外学习。

shìa。wǒyěxiǎngqùguówàixuéxí。

Right. I'd like to study abroad too.