Lesson 1: Asking After Health and Inviting Someone to Sing

一些

Learn to use 是, 什么样, 的, 想, and 一些 through the topic of health and daily life.

14 words2 grammar points1 dialogues~11 min

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Vocabulary14 words

吧baNoun

1.bar (a place serving drinks, internet, etc.)a loanword from the English 'bar'.
2.to puff (a pipe, etc.)

Examples

我们去酒吧喝东西。

wǒmenqùjiǔbāhēdōngxī。

Let's go to the bar for a drink.

他在吧嗒吧嗒抽烟斗。

tāzàibādābādāchōuyāndòu。

He is puffing away on his pipe.

杯bēiNoun

1.cup, glass
2.cup, glass (measure word for cups and glasses)

Examples

我想要一杯水。

wǒxiǎngyàoyìbēishuǐ。

I want a glass of water.

这是我的杯子。

zhèshìwǒdebēizi。

This is my cup.

病bìngNoun

1.to be sick, to be ill
2.illness, disease

Examples

他生病了。

tāshēngbìngle。

He got sick.

这个病很严重。

zhègebìnghěnyánzhòng。

This illness is very serious.

唱chàngVerb

1.to sing
2.to call out, to shout

Examples

我喜欢唱歌。

wǒxǐhuanchànggē。

I like to sing.

他唱得很好听。

tāchàngdéhěnhǎotīng。

He sings very well.

干gānAdjective

1.dryOften used with food, clothes, and weather.
2.dried food (such as dried meat or dried fish)

Examples

衣服干了。

yīfugānle。

The clothes are dry.

我喜欢吃牛肉干。

wǒxǐhuanchīniúròugān。

I like to eat dried beef.

歌gēNoun

1.song
2.to sing

Examples

我喜欢这首歌。

wǒxǐhuanzhèshǒugē。

I like this song.

她歌唱得很好。

tāgēchàngdéhěnhǎo。

She sings very well.

话huàNoun

1.words; speech
2.language; dialect
3.to talk; to speak

Examples

你会说中国话吗？

nǐhuìshuōzhōngguóhuàma？

Can you speak Chinese?

我们去教室说话吧。

wǒmenqùjiàoshìshuōhuàba。

Let's go to the classroom to talk.

身体shēntǐNoun

1.body
2.health

Examples

他的身体很好。

tādeshēntǐhěnhǎo。

His health is very good.

你要注意身体。

nǐyàozhùyìshēntǐ。

You should take care of your health.

行xíngVerb

1.all right; okay
2.to go; to walk

Examples

这样行吗？

zhèyàngxíngma？

Is this okay?

行，没问题。

xíng，méiwèntí。

Okay, no problem.

一样yīyàngAdjective

1.the same; alike
2.like that; so

Examples

这两本书一样。

zhèliǎngběnshūyíyàng。

These two books are the same.

他跑得一样快。

tāpǎodéyíyàngkuài。

He runs just as fast.

一些yīxiēMeasure word

1.some; a few
2.a bit (used after an adjective, meaning "a little more")

Examples

我有一些朋友。

wǒyǒuyìxiēpéngyǒu。

I have a few friends.

这个苹果大一些。

zhègepíngguǒdàyìxiē。

This apple is a bit bigger.

着zheParticle

1.a particle indicating a continuing statePlaced after a verb.
2.in the middle of (an ongoing action)

Examples

门开着。

ménkāizhe。

The door is open.

他笑着说。

tāxiàozheshuō。

He said with a smile.

中zhōngNoun

center; middle; within

Examples

我是中国人。

wǒshìzhōngguórén。

I am Chinese.

些xiēMeasure word

some, a few

Examples

我买了一些水果。

wǒmǎileyìxiēshuǐguǒ。

I bought some fruit.

Grammar

Asking about and describing characteristics (using 的)

S + 是 + 什么样 + 的 + N? / S + 是 + … + 的

This structure is used to ask and answer about the characteristics or qualities of a thing or person. '什么样' means 'what kind / how'. We can use an adjective in place of '什么样' to describe more specifically. Structure: Subject + 是 + (adjective) + 的 + Noun. Note: '的' here is a particle, not a possessive pronoun.

你的身体是什么样的？ - 我的身体是好的。

nǐdeshēntǐshìshénmeyàngde？-wǒdeshēntǐshìhǎode。

How is your health? - My health is good.

这首歌是一样的。

zhèshǒugēshìyíyàngde。

This song is the same.

Wanting to do something (a little)

S + 想 + V + 一些 + O

This sentence pattern combines the structure '想 + Verb' (to want to do something) with '一些' (a few, some). It expresses the wish to do something to a small degree, not a lot. '一些' usually comes after the verb and before the object.

我想喝一些水。

wǒxiǎnghēyìxiēshuǐ。

I want to drink a little water.

他想买一些杯。

tāxiǎngmǎiyìxiēbēi。

He wants to buy a few cups.

Dialogues

Asking After Health and Inviting Someone to Sing

Two friends (Linh and Nam) meet at a bar.

Nam

Linh，你最近身体怎么样？

Linh，nǐzuìjìnshēntǐzěnmeyàng？

Linh, how has your health been lately?

Linh

不太好，我有一点病。你呢？

bútàihǎo，wǒyǒuyìdiǎnbìng。nǐne？

Not great, I'm a little sick. How about you?

Nam

我的身体很好。你想喝一些什么吗？

wǒdeshēntǐhěnhǎo。nǐxiǎnghēyìxiēshénmema？

My health is very good. Would you like something to drink?

Linh

我想喝一杯茶。谢谢。

wǒxiǎnghēyìbēichá。xièxiè。

I'd like a cup of tea. Thanks.

Nam

这个吧的歌很好听。我们一会儿去唱一些歌，行不行？

zhègebadegēhěnhǎotīng。wǒmenyíhuìerqùchàngyìxiēgē，xíngbùxíng？

The songs at this bar sound really good. Shall we go sing a few songs in a bit?

Linh

好啊，一样，我也喜欢唱歌。

hǎoa，yíyàng，wǒyěxǐhuanchànggē。

Sure, same here, I love singing too.