Lesson 4: Talking About Hobbies and Plans

心情

Learn how to use 很, psychological verbs, 想, and 要 through the topics of emotions and moods, plans and goals.

12 words2 grammar points1 dialogues~12 min

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Vocabulary12 words

爱àiVerb

1.to loveexpresses deep affection
2.to likecan be translated as 'to like' when talking about preferences (e.g. to like singing)

Examples

我爱你。

wǒàinǐ。

I love you.

我爱唱歌。

wǒàichànggē。

I love singing.

高兴gāoxìngAdjective

1.happy; gladExpresses a joyful state.
2.pleasedLight in tone, common in everyday conversation.

Examples

我很高兴。

wǒhěngāoxìng。

I am very happy.

见到你很高兴！

jiàndàonǐhěngāoxìng！

Nice to meet you!

工作gōngzuòNoun

1.work; jobA noun referring to an occupation or workplace.
2.to workA verb referring to the act of working.

Examples

他的工作很好。

tādegōngzuòhěnhǎo。

His job is very good.

我在公司工作。

wǒzàigōngsīgōngzuò。

I work at a company.

很hěnAdverb

veryAn adverb indicating a high degree.

Examples

我很高兴。

wǒhěngāoxìng。

I am very happy.

觉得juédeVerb

1.to feelUsed for personal feelings or thoughts.
2.to think; to believeUsed when expressing an opinion.

Examples

我觉得好吃。

wǒjuédehǎochī。

I think it's delicious.

你怎么样？我觉得很好。

nǐzěnmeyàng？wǒjuédehěnhǎo。

How are you? I feel very good.

能néngVerb

1.can, to be able toIndicates ability or permission.
2.to know how to (do something)In the context of a skill.

Examples

我能吃饭。

wǒnéngchīfàn。

I can eat.

你能说中文吗?

nǐnéngshuōzhōngwénma?

Can you speak Chinese?

我wǒPronoun

I, me

Examples

我是越南人。

wǒshìyuènánrén.

I am Vietnamese.

我有一个哥哥。

wǒyǒuyīgègēge.

I have an older brother.

喜欢xǐhuanVerb

to likeexpresses fondness or preference

Examples

我喜欢你。

wǒxǐhuannǐ。

I like you.

我喜欢看书。

wǒxǐhuankànshū。

I like reading.

想xiǎngVerb

to wantindicates a personal intention or wish

Examples

我想去中国。

wǒxiǎngqùzhōngguó。

I want to go to China.

我想喝茶。

wǒxiǎnghēchá。

I want to drink tea.

学xuéVerb

to study; to learn

Examples

学中文。

xuézhōngwén。

to study Chinese

学习xuéxíVerb

1.to study; to learnA verb for the act of acquiring knowledge.
2.studying; studiesA noun for the process of studying.

Examples

我学习中文。

wǒxuéxízhōngwén。

I study Chinese.

学习很重要。

xuéxíhěnzhòngyào。

Studying is very important.

要yàoVerb

1.to needIndicates an essential need or a request.
2.to wantExpresses a stronger desire than (xiǎng).

Examples

我要一杯水。

wǒyàoyìbēishuǐ。

I want a glass of water.

我要学习。

wǒyàoxuéxí。

I want to study.

Grammar

Using 很 to Express Degree

S + 很 + 形容词/心理动词

In Chinese, when talking about a state or emotion, 很 (very) is usually placed before an adjective or a verb describing a mental state to make the sentence sound natural. 很 does not strongly emphasize the meaning of "very" but often just serves as a connector.

我很高兴。

wǒhěngāoxìng。

I'm very happy.

我很喜欢学习。

wǒhěnxǐhuanxuéxí。

I really like studying.

Expressing a Wish or Intention

S + 想/要 + 动词

想 (to want) and 要 (to need, to want) are placed before a verb to express a desire or the necessity of doing something. 想 usually carries a sense of thinking or wishing, while 要 emphasizes determination or necessity more.

我想学习中文。

wǒxiǎngxuéxízhōngwén。

I want to study Chinese.

我要好好工作。

wǒyàohǎohǎogōngzuò。

I need to work hard.

Dialogues

Talking About Hobbies and Plans

Two friends, Linh and Nam, chat about studying and feelings.

Linh

你今天怎么样？

nǐjīntiānzěnmeyàng？

How are you today?

Nam

我很高兴！因为我喜欢学习中文。

wǒhěngāoxìng！yīnwèiwǒxǐhuanxuéxízhōngwén。

I'm very happy! Because I like studying Chinese.

Linh

我也喜欢中文。你想学习什么？

wǒyěxǐhuanzhōngwén。nǐxiǎngxuéxíshénme？

I like Chinese too. What do you want to study?

Nam

我想学习很多工作需要的中文。

wǒxiǎngxuéxíhěnduōgōngzuòxūyàodezhōngwén。

I want to study a lot of Chinese that's needed for work.

Linh

你能学好！我也要努力学习。

nǐnéngxuéhǎo！wǒyěyàonǔlìxuéxí。

You can learn it well! I need to study hard too.

Nam

好！我们一起学习吧！

hǎo！wǒmenyìqǐxuéxíba！

Great! Let's study together!