Mandarin Lessons: Recent Episodes

非常言術 Abnormal Language Arts

Dialogues to supplement conversation practice.

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  1. 千石：怎麼這麼巧！志明，好久不見！
    1. Qiānshí: Zěnme zhème qiǎo! Zhìmíng, hǎojiǔ bùjiàn!
    2. Qiānshí: What a coincidence! Zhiming, long time no see!
  2. 志明：真的，千石，很久沒見到你呢！
    1. Zhìmíng: Zhēn de, qiānshí, hěnjiǔ méi jiàn dào nǐ ne!
    2. Zhiming: Really, Qianshi, I haven't seen you for a long time!
  3. 千石：你是不是變胖了！
    1. Qiānshí: Nǐ shì bùshì biàn pàngle!
    2. Qianshi: You've gotten fatter, haven't you?
  4. 志明：哈哈，你也是！
    1. Zhìmíng: Hāhā, nǐ yěshì!
    2. Zhiming: Haha, you too!
  5. 千石：志明，這是我的朋友，凱盛
    1. Qiānshí: Zhìmíng, zhè shì wǒ de péngyǒu, kǎi shèng
    2. Qianshi: Zhiming, this is my friend, Kaisheng.
  6. 志明：你好，你好，很高興認識你
    1. Zhìmíng: Nǐ hǎo, nǐ hǎo, hěn gāoxìng rènshí nǐ
    2. Zhiming: Hello, nice to meet you.
  7. 凱盛：你好
    1. kǎi shèng: Nǐ hǎo
    2. Kaisheng: Hello.
  8. 千石：凱盛也是我認識很久的朋友
    1. Qiānshí: Kǎi shèng yěshì wǒ rènshí hěnjiǔ de péngyǒu
    2. Qianshi: Kaisheng is also a friend I've known for a long time.
  9. 志明：是哦，你們是怎麼認識的？
    1. Zhìmíng: Shì ó, nǐmen shì zěnme rènshí de?
    2. Zhiming: Really? How did you meet?
  10. 千石：我們是在小學認識的
    1. Qiānshí: Wǒmen shì zài xiǎoxué rènshí de
    2. Qianshi: We met in elementary school.
  11. 志明：哇！！！那認識很久了！
    1. Zhìmíng: Wa!!! Nà rènshí hěnjiǔle!
    2. Zhiming: Wow! That's really a long time.
  12. 千石：對啊，可是凱盛比我大四歲，所以那個時候我們還不熟
    1. Qiānshí: Duì a, kěshì kǎi shèng bǐ wǒ dà sì suì, suǒyǐ nàgè shíhòu wǒmen hái bù shú
    2. Qianshi: Right, but Kaisheng is four years older than me, so at that time we weren't that familiar.
  13. 志明：那後來呢？怎麼後來變成朋友了？
    1. Zhìmíng: Nà hòulái ne? Zěnme hòulái biànchéng péngyǒule?
    2. Zhiming: So after that? How did you become friends later on?
  14. 千石：我三十歲的時候又再遇到了他，更巧的是我們在同一家公司上班！
    1. Qiānshí: Wǒ sānshí suì de shíhòu yòu zài yù dàole tā, gèng qiǎo de shì wǒmen zài tóngyī jiā gōngsī shàngbān!
    2. Qianshi: When I was 30, I encountered him again. Even more coincidentally, we were working at the same company!
  15. 志明：真是有緣分！
    1. Zhìmíng: Zhēnshi yǒuyuán fèn!
    2. Zhiming: That's really destiny.
  16. 千石：可以這麼說。
    1. Qiānshí: Kěyǐ zhème shuō.
    2. Qianshi: You could say that.
  17. 志明：欸，凱盛是不是有點害羞？
    1. Zhìmíng: Āi, kǎi shèng shì bùshì yǒudiǎn hàixiū?
    2. Zhiming: Hey, isn't Kaisheng a little bit shy?
  18. 凱盛：。。。有嗎？
    1. Kǎi shèng:... Yǒu ma?
    2. Kaisheng: Am I?

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How to listen:
Start by familiarizing yourself with the vocabulary below. Then listen to the recording. Whenever you encounter a question, try to answer it, either in your head, or even better say it aloud. If you don't know the answer, just guess. Whether you get it wrong or right, answering it first will make it more memorable. 

Don't fret if you can't keep up or the pace feels too fast. It will become more manageable with repeated listens. 

Characters:
清華 - qīnghuá - a man

欣儀 - xīn yí - a woman

番茄 - fānqié - a tomato
甜椒 - tián jiāo - a bell pepper

Vocabulary: 

有 - yǒu - to have / there exists

要 - yào - to want / to need 

椅子  - yǐzi - chair

幾個 - jǐ gè - how many (if used as a question) / a few (if used as a statement)

煮飯 - zhǔ fàn - to cook

以為 - yǐwéi - to have thought (sth false)

表演 - biǎoyǎn - to act

劇本 - jùběn - script

寫 - xiě - to write

故事 - gùshì - story

角色 - jiǎosè - role / character

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搭 - dā - to take (a plane, a bus, a train, etc.)
差不多 - chàbùduō - more or less / approximately
出發 - chūfā - to depart
馬上 - mǎshàng - immediately
只 - zhǐ - only / merely

  1. A：你可以幫我叫計程車嗎？我要去機場了。
    1. Nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ jiào jìchéngchē ma? Wǒ yào qù jīchǎngle.
    2. Can you help me call a taxi? I'm going to the airport.
  2. B：你搭幾點的飛機？
    1. Nǐ dā jǐ diǎn de fēijī?
    2. What time is your flight?
  3. A：兩點半起飛，所以我差不多要出發了
    1. Liǎng diǎn bàn qǐfēi, suǒyǐ wǒ chàbùduō yào chūfāle
    2. It takes off at two-thirty, so I'd better set out right about now.
  4. B：好啊，我馬上來叫。話說，你要去德國多久？
    1. Hǎo a, wǒ mǎshàng lái jiào. Huàshuō, nǐ yào qù déguó duōjiǔ?
    2. Ok, I'll call right away. By the way, how long are you going to Germany for?
  5. A：三個月，我要上戲劇課程
    1. Sān gè yuè, wǒ yào shàng xìjù kèchéng
    2. Three months. I'm taking a theater class.
  6. B：酷！課程是用英文教的嗎？
    1. Kù! Kèchéng shì yòng yīngwénjiāo de ma?
    2. Cool! Is the class taught using English?
  7. A：好像是用德文教
    1. Hǎoxiàng shì yòng dé wén jiāo
    2. It seems it's taught using German.
  8. B：你會說德文？！
    1. Nǐ huì shuō dé wén?!
    2. You can speak German?!
  9. A：會啊，簡單的
    1. Huì a, jiǎndān de
    2. I can, simple (German).
  10. B：怎麼可能？你是美國人啊！美國人不是只會說英文嗎？
    1. Zěnme kěnéng? Nǐ shì měiguó rén a! Měiguó rén bùshì zhǐ huì shuō yīngwén ma?
    2. How is that possible? You're American! Don't Americans only speak English?*
    3. *Note: This phrase has the sense of "don't you know that Americans only speak English?"
  11. A：傻眼，我們現在在講英文嗎？
    1. Shǎyǎn, wǒmen xiànzài zài jiǎng yīngwén ma?
    2. What the hell... are we speaking English now?
  12. B：也是... 那你就不是美國人吧
    1. Yěshì... Nà nǐ jiù bùshì měiguó rén ba
    2. True... Then I guess you're just not an American.
  13. A：你這個邏輯... 欸，計程車叫了沒？
    1. Nǐ zhège luójí... Ēi, jìchéngchē jiàole méi?
    2. This logic of yours... hey, did you call the taxi?
  14. B：啊！我忘了！
    1. A! Wǒ wàngle!
    2. Oh! I forgot!

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Words and phrases:
線上 - xiànshàng - online
確定 - quèdìng - certain

才 - cái - Very roughly translated as "only" -- This word indicates a condition that must be fulfilled or a number or amount that is less or later than expected, among other things. It's best learned through context:

  • Example 1: 西瓜好便宜！一顆才100塊！
    • Xīguā hǎo piányí! Yī kē cái 100 kuài!
    • Watermelons are so cheap! Only 100 NT per 顆 (kē - a measure word for round things).
  • Example 2: 他要打給我，我才會跟他說
    • Tā yào dǎ gěi wǒ, wǒ cái huì gēn tā shuō
    • Only if he calls me will I tell him.
  • Example 3: 我昨天才知道你結婚了！
    • Wǒ zuótiān cái zhīdào nǐ jiéhūnle!
    • I only knew yesterday that you got married!
  • Example 4: 我才不相信！
    • Wǒ cái bù xiāngxìn!
    • I don't believe you! (the 才 in this case gives emphasis)

These examples in no way cover the range of ways 才 is used. Again, it's best learned through context by understanding the sense of the whole phrase. Also worth noting that it has a counterpart, 就 (jiù) which very roughly translates as "just" and indicates conditions that are easier than expected, or numbers or amounts that are more than expected or earlier than expected.

  1. 你現在要去哪？
    1. Nǐ xiànzài yào qù nǎ?
    2. Where are you going now?
  2. 我要去買禮物
    1. Wǒ yào qù mǎi lǐwù
    2. I'm going to buy presents.
  3. 送給女朋友嗎？
    1. sòng gěi nǚ péngyǒu ma?
    2. To give to your girlfriend?
  4. 不是，要送給我的家人
    1. Bùshì, yào sòng gěi wǒ de jiārén
    2. No, to give to my family.
  5. 是哦！你要買什麼？
    1. shì ó! Nǐ yāomǎi shénme?
    2. Oh! What are you going to buy?
  6. 我還不知道，現在很多店都關了！
    1. Wǒ hái bù zhīdào, xiànzài hěnduō diàn dōu guānle!
    2. I don't know yet, a lot of shops are closed now.
  7. 線上買呢？
    1. Xiànshàng mǎi ne?
    2. What about buying online?
  8. 可是我覺得我要看到、摸到才能確定
    1. Kěshì wǒ juédé wǒ yào kàn dào, mō dào cáinéng quèdìng
    2. But I have to see them and feel them to really be sure.
  9. 也是... 送茶葉呢？
    1. yěshì... Sòng cháyè ne?
    2. True that... what about giving tea?
  10. 他們不太懂喝茶
    1. Tāmen bù tài dǒng hē chá
    2. They don't really appreciate tea.
  11. 那... 鳳梨酥呢？
    1. nà... Fènglí sū ne?
    2. Then... how about pineapple cake?
  12. 已經送過太多次了
    1. Yǐjīng sòngguò tài duō cìle
    2. I've already given it too many times.
  13. 是哦... 買禮物真的很不簡單！
    1. shì ó... Mǎi lǐwù zhēn de hěn bù jiǎndān!
    2. Oh... buying presents really isn't easy!
  14. 你看我買的貼紙！
    1. Nǐ kàn wǒ mǎi de tiēzhǐ!
    2. Look at the stickers I bought!
  15. 狗狗的貼紙好可愛！
    1. Gǒu gǒu de tiēzhǐ hǎo kě'ài!
    2. The dog stickers are so cute!
  16. 還有這個貼紙
    1. Hái yǒu zhège tiēzhǐ
    2. There's also this sticker.
  17. 禁止吸煙？
    1. jìnzhǐ xīyān?
    2. Smoking prohibited?

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Words and phrases:

之前，以前 - zhīqián, yǐqián - before

之後，以後 - zhīhòu, yǐhòu - after

酸 - suān - sour

自己 - zìjǐ - self, oneself

  1. 你在吃什麼？
    1. nǐ zài chī shénme?
    2. What are you eating?
  2. 我在吃麵包，你要吃嗎？
    1. wǒ zài chī miànbāo, nǐ yào chī ma?
    2. I'm eating bread, do you want to eat some?
  3. 好啊
    1. hǎo a
    2. Sure.
  4. 來
    1. lái
    2. Here.
  5. 欸～ 是酸的！
    1. āi ~ shì suān de!
    2. Hey, it's sour!
  6. 對啊，是法國的。你有吃過酸麵包嗎？
    1. duì a, shì fàguó de. nǐ yǒu chīguò suān miànbāo ma?
    2. Yeah, it's French. Have you ever eaten sour bread?
  7. 沒有，你自己做的嗎？
    1. méiyǒu, nǐ zìjǐ zuò de ma?
    2. I haven't, did you make it yourself?
  8. 對啊，我自己做的
    1. duì a, wǒ zìjǐ zuò de
    2. Yeah, I made it myself.
  9. 怎麼做？
    1. zěnme zuò?
    2. How do you make it?
  10. 先加水、麵粉、還有酵母
    1. xiān jiā shuǐ, miànfěn, hái yǒu xiàomǔ
    2. First add water, flour, and also yeast.
  11. 然後呢？
    1. ránhòu ne?
    2. And then?
  12. 然後等八個小時
    1. ránhòu děng bā gè xiǎoshí
    2. Then wait eight hours.
  13. 等八個小時之後呢？
    1. děng bā gè xiǎoshí zhīhòu ne?
    2. And after waiting eight hours?
  14. 在那之後，放進烤箱
    1. zài nà zhīhòu, fàng jìn kǎoxiāng
    2. After that, put it in the oven.
  15. 要烤多久？
    1. yào kǎo duōjiǔ?
    2. How long do you have to bake it?
  16. 差不多40分鐘就可以了。你要做做看嗎？
    1. chàbùduō 40 fēnzhōng jiù kěyǐle. nǐ yào zuò zuò kàn ma?
    2. Around 40 minutes is good. Do you want to try making it?
  17. 我還好
    1. wǒ hái hǎo
    2. I'm alright.

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Words and phrases:

疫情 - Yìqíng - pandemic

內用 - nèi yòng - eat in (for here)

外帶 - wàidài - take out (to go)

叫外送 - jiào wài sòng - to order delivery

遠一點 - yuǎn yīdiǎn - a little farther

煮飯 - zhǔ fàn - to cook (lit. "boil rice") 

買菜 - mǎi cài - to buy groceries (lit. "buy vegetables")

  1. 你還好嗎？
    1. nǐ hái hǎo ma?
    2. Are you alright?
  2. 還好啊
    1. hái hǎo a
    2. I’m alright.
  3. 最近疫情不能出門了齁
    1. zuìjìn yìqíng bùnéng chūménle hōu
    2. Recently [with] the pandemic [one] can’t go outside, huh.
  4. 可以出門，只是餐廳不能內用
    1. kěyǐ chūmén, zhǐshì cāntīng bùnéng nèi yòng
    2. [One] can go outside, just [at] the restaurants [one] can’t eat in.
  5. 那，你還是可以外帶，對吧！
    1. nà, nǐ háishì kěyǐ wàidài, duì ba!
    2. Then, you can still take out, right?
  6. 對，但問題是不知道要吃什麼
    1. Duì, dàn wèntí shì bù zhīdào yào chī shénme
    2. Right, but the problem is [I] don’t know what to eat.
  7. 是嗎？
    1. shì ma?
    2. Oh?
  8. 附近的餐廳我都不喜歡，東西太甜了！
    1. Fùjìn de cāntīng wǒ dōu bù xǐhuān, dōngxī tài tiánle!
    2. I don’t like the restaurants nearby, their food is too sweet!
    3. Lit: “Nearby the restaurants I all don’t like, things are too sweet.”
  9. 是哦，還是你叫外送？可以叫遠一點的餐廳。
    1. Shì ó, háishì nǐ jiào wài sòng? Kěyǐ jiào yuǎn yīdiǎn de cāntīng.
    2. Really, or you can order delivery? You can call a restaurant that’s farther away.
  10. 我看了APP，東西都看起來很噁心！
    1. Wǒ kànle APP, dōngxī dōu kàn qǐlái hěn ěxīn!
    2. I looked at the app, everything looks disgusting!
  11. 那，怎麼辦？你要自己煮飯？
    1. Nà, zěnme bàn? Nǐ yào zìjǐ zhǔ fàn?
    2. Well, what to do? Do you want to cook by yourself?
  12. 沒關係，我可以再去外面找一下
    1. Méiguānxì, wǒ kěyǐ zài qù wàimiàn zhǎo yīxià
    2. It’s OK, I can go outside again and search.
  13. 好，路上小心
    1. hǎo, lùshàng xiǎoxīn
    2. OK, be careful on the road.

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  1. A：歡迎光臨！
    1. Huānyíng guānglín!
    2. Welcome!
  2. B：你好
    1. Nǐ hǎo
    2. Hello
  3. A：都可以坐
    1. Dōu kěyǐ zuò
    2. You can sit anywhere (lit. "all can sit")
  4. B：好... 老闆，請問一下
    1. Hǎo... Lǎobǎn, qǐngwèn yīxià
    2. OK... Boss, let me ask you (lit. "boss, please ask a moment")
  5. A：嘿，什麼事？
    1. Hēi, shénme shì?
    2. Hey, what's up? (lit. "what thing/matter")
  6. B：你有什麼推薦的嗎？
    1. Nǐ yǒu shé me tuījiàn de ma?
    2. Do you have any recommendations?
  7. A：你敢吃辣嗎？
    1. Nǐ gǎn chī là ma?
    2. Can you handle spicy? (lit. "do you dare to eat spicy")
  8. B：呃... 我不太敢
    1. È... Wǒ bù tài gǎn
    2. Uh... Not really
  9. A：那麼... 要不要吃吃看我們的雞腿便當？
    1. Nàme... Yào bùyào chī chī kàn wǒmen de jītuǐ biàndang?
    2. Well then... do you want to try our chicken leg bento?
  10. B：好啊，那就一個雞腿便當
    1. Hǎo a, nà jiù yīgè jītuǐ biàndang
    2. OK, then one chicken leg bento.
  11. A：好！你敢吃臭豆腐嗎？
    1. Hǎo! Nǐ gǎn chī chòu dòufu ma?
    2. OK! Can you handle stinky tofu? ("do you dare to eat stinky tofu")
  12. B：我沒有吃過
    1. Wǒ méiyǒu chīguò
    2. I've never tried it.
  13. A：你沒有吃過臭豆腐？那你一定要試試看
    1. Nǐ méiyǒu chīguò chòu dòufu? Nà nǐ yīdìng yào shì shìkàn
    2. You've never tried stinky tofu? Then you must give it a try.
  14. B：好
    1. Hǎo
    2. OK
  15. A：來，便當好了...
    1. Lái, biàndang hǎole...
    2. Here, the bento is ready
  16. B：謝謝！
    1. Xièxiè!
    2. Thanks!
  17. A：吃得還習慣嗎？
    1. Chī dé hái xíguàn ma?
    2. Do you like it? (lit. "Can you get used to eating it?") [Note: 還 (hái) makes it sound softer]
  18. B：很香！很好吃！
    1. Hěn xiāng! Hěn hào chī!
    2. It's tasty (lit. fragrant)! Really good!
  19. A：哈哈！你真懂吃！
    1. Hāhā! Nǐ zhēn dǒng chī!
    2. Haha! You really have good taste! (lit. "You really understand eating")

Words and phrases:
敢 - gǎn - to dare (to do something)
吃吃看 - chī chī kàn - to try / to eat, "eat it and see"
試試看 - shì shìkàn - to try to do something, "try it and see"
吃過 - chīguò - have eaten (something) before
習慣 - xíguàn - used to / to be used to something

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  1. A：你還好嗎？你看起來精神有點差 A: Nǐ hái hǎo ma? Nǐ kàn qǐlái jīngshén yǒudiǎn chā | Are you OK? You don’t look so energetic.
  2. B：對啊，因為我今天太早醒來 B: Duì a, yīnwèi wǒ jīntiān tài zǎo xǐng lái | Right, because I woke up too early this morning.
  3. A：是喔，幾點？ A: Shì ō, jǐ diǎn? | Really? What time?
  4. B：我平常都8點起床，但最近我6:30就醒來 B: Wǒ píngcháng dōu 8 diǎn qǐchuáng, dàn zuìjìn wǒ 6:30 jiù xǐng lái | Usually I get out of bed at 8, but recently I’ve been waking up at 6:30.
  5. A：你有辦法再回去睡嗎？ A: Nǐ yǒu bànfǎ zài huíqù shuì ma? | Are you able to go back to sleep?
  6. B：沒有辦法。我住在學校旁邊，7點就開始吵了 B: Méiyǒu bànfǎ. Wǒ zhù zài xuéxiào pángbiān,7 diǎn jiù kāishǐ chǎole | I can’t. I live next to a school, and it starts getting noisy at 7.
  7. A：那麼早就有小朋友在吵？ A: Nàme zǎo jiù yǒu xiǎopéngyǒu zài chǎo? | That early and the kids are already being noisy?
  8. B：對啊，很奇怪！ B: Duì a, hěn qíguài! | Yeah, it’s really strange!
  9. A：那你有試著戴耳塞嗎？ A: Nà nǐ yǒu shìzhe dài ěrsāi ma? | Well have you tried wearing earplugs?
  10. B：我不想戴耳塞 B: Wǒ bùxiǎng dài ěrsāi | I don’t want to wear earplugs.
  11. A：為什麼？ A: Wèishéme? | Why not?
  12. B：因為這樣子我會聽不到小孩的聲音 B: Yīnwèi zhèyàng zi wǒ huì tīng bù dào xiǎohái de shēngyīn | Because then I won’t be able to hear the sounds of the children.
  13. A：這樣不是很好嗎？！ A: Zhèyàng bùshì hěn hǎo ma?! | Isn’t that a good thing?!
  14. B：可是，聽到小孩的聲音 讓我精神變好啊 B: Kěshì, tīngdào xiǎohái de shēngyīn ràng wǒ jīngshén biàn hǎo a | But hearing the voices of children makes me feel more energetic.
  15. A：你讓我覺得無言 A: Nǐ ràng wǒ juédé wúyán. | You make me speechless.

Words and phrases:
精神 - Jīngshén - spirit, energy

聲音 - shēngyīn - voice, sound

有可能 - yǒu kěnéng - maybe, possibly

進步 - jìnbù - to improve

速度 - sùdù - speed

很花時間 - hěn huā shíjiān - time-consuming

要看哪一天 - yào kàn nǎ yītiān - it depends which day

每天不一樣 - měitiān bù yīyàng - every day is different

年紀 - niánjì - age

相信 - xiāngxìn - to believe

語言 - yǔyán - language

小孩 - xiǎohái - child

玩 - wán - to play

模仿 - mófǎng - to imitate

讓 - ràng - to let, to make

View Details

  1. M：哈囉，有人嗎？Hā luō, yǒurén ma? | Hello, is anyone here?
  2. L：來了，來了！Láile, láile! | Coming, coming!
  3. M： 嘿，小李！好久不見！不好意思遲到了 Hēi, xiǎo lǐ! Hǎojiǔ bùjiàn! Bù hǎoyìsi chídàole | Hey, Xiaoli, long time no see! Sorry I’m late.
  4. L：不會不會，我還在煮飯 Bù huì bù huì, wǒ hái zài zhǔ fàn | Not at all, I’m still cooking.
  5. M：天哪！怎麼這麼香？Tiān nǎ! Zěnme zhème xiāng? | OMG! How does it smell so good?
  6. L：我在燉牛肉。你餓了嗎？Wǒ zài dùn niúròu. Nǐ èle ma? | I’m stewing beef. Are you hungry?
  7. M：難怪！我超餓的！ Nánguài! Wǒ chāo è de! | No wonder! I’m so hungry.
  8. L：趕快進來吧 Gǎnkuài jìnlái ba | Hurry up and come inside!
  9. M：好 hǎo | OK.
  10. L：麻煩你脫鞋子 Máfan nǐ tuō xiézi | Please just take off your shoes.
  11. M：沒問題 méi wèntí | No problem.
  12. L：你要先喝一點茶嗎？還是可樂？nǐ yào xiān hè yīdiǎn chá ma? Háishì kělè? | Do you want to have some tea first? Or cola?
  13. M：不用了！Bùyòngle! | I’m fine.
  14. L：那... 還是你要喝酒？Nà... Háishì nǐ yào hējiǔ? | Ok then… or what about wine?
  15. M：喝酒吧，你看我帶來了什麼！Hējiǔ bā, nǐ kàn wǒ dài láile shénme! | Wine’s good, look what I brought!
  16. L：哇！西班牙的白酒？Wa! Xībānyá de báijiǔ? | Wow! Spanish white wine?
  17. M：對，是利奧哈白酒，跟台灣料理很搭！Duì, shì lì ào hā báijiǔ, gēn táiwān liàolǐ hěn dā! | Yeah, it’s a white Rioja, it goes really well with Taiwanese food.
  18. L：你好用心！我們趕快打開來喝吧！Nǐ hǎo yòngxīn! Wǒmen gǎnkuài dǎkāi lái hē ba! | You’re so thoughtful! Let’s hurry up and open it!
  19. M：好！欸？還是我們先喝一點香檳，你說好不好？Hǎo! Āi? Háishì wǒmen xiān hè yīdiǎn xiāngbīn, nǐ shuō hǎobù hǎo? | Ok! Hmm? Or what about we drink a little champagne first, what do you say?
  20. L：你還帶來了香檳？！香檳很貴！Nǐ hái dài láile xiāngbīn?! Xiāngbīn hěn guì! | You even brought champagne?! Champagne’s expensive!
  21. M：拜託，難得大家都聚在一起 Bàituō, nándé dàjiā dōu jù zài yīqǐ | Come on, it’s not every day everyone gathers together.
  22. L：呃... È… | Uh…
  23. M：咦？我是第一個到的嗎？ Yí? Wǒ shì dì yī gè dào de ma? | Huh? Am I the first to arrive?
  24. L：你沒有看到我的訊息嗎？我有傳訊息給你 Nǐ méiyǒu kàn dào wǒ de xùnxí ma? Wǒ yǒu chuán xùnxí gěi nǐ | You didn’t see my message? I sent you a message.
  25. M：我沒看到 wǒ méi kàn dào | I didn’t see it.
  26. L：大家今天突然都有事情，沒辦法來 dàjiā jīntiān túrán dōu yǒu shìqíng, méi bànfǎ lái | Everybody suddenly had something come up today, they can’t make it.
  27. M：所以...就我們兩個人？suǒyǐ... Jiù wǒmen liǎng gè rén? | So… it’s just the two of us?
  28. L：對... Duì… | Right…
  29. M：那這個蛋糕一定吃不完 Nà zhège dàngāo yīdìng chī bù wán | Then we definitely won’t be able to finish this cake.
  30. L：還有蛋糕？！hái yǒu dàngāo?! | There’s even cake?!
  31. M：我以為淑芬會來嘛... 想說，上禮拜是她的生日... Wǒ yǐwéi shú fēn huì lái ma... Xiǎng shuō, shàng lǐbài shì tā de shēngrì… | I thought Shufen would come… I was thinking, last week was her birthday…
  32. L：我對你很不好意思！ Wǒ duì nǐ hěn bù hǎoyìsi! | I feel so bad!
  33. M：唉，算了！是他們的損失。來，喝吧！ Āi, suànle! Shì tāmen de sǔnshī. Lái, hē ba! | Ah, forget it! It’s their loss. Come on, let’s drink!

Words and phrases:健康 - Jiànkāng - healthy

我不喝可樂 - wǒ bù hē kělè - I don't drink cola.

除了水， 你還喝什麼？- chúle shuǐ, nǐ hái hē shénme? - Other than water, what do you drink?

葡萄酒 - Pútáojiǔ - wine

我只喜歡很貴的酒 - wǒ zhǐ xǐhuān hěn guì de jiǔ - I only like expensive wine.

太便宜的酒不好喝 - tài piányí de jiǔ bù hǎo hē - Wine that's too cheap isn't good.

你要很精準 - nǐ yào hěn jīngzhǔn - You want to be very precise.

我喝不出來 - wǒ hē bù chūlái - I can't tell (can't discern sth by drinking)

最重要 - zuì zhòngyào - most important

味道 - wèidào - flavor

甜 - tián - sweet

日本料理 - rìběn liàolǐ - Japanese food

模仿 - mófǎng - to imitate

遲到 - chídào - to arrive late

回家 - huí jiā - to return home

好奇 - hàoqí - curious

終於 - zhōngyú - finally

決定 - juédìng - to decide

準時 - zhǔnshí - punctual

View Details

A: 哇！你的新家好棒哦！A: Wa! Nǐ de xīnjiā hǎo bàng ó! | Wow! Your new home is great! 

B: 謝謝！我也覺得 B: Xièxiè! Wǒ yě juédé | Thanks! I think so too. 

A: 從二十一樓看下去的風景真的超美！A: Cóng èrshíyī lóu kàn xiàqù de fēngjǐng zhēn de chāo měi! | From the twenty-first floor looking down, the scenery is super beautiful! 

B: 對！而且剛好今天太陽出來了 B: Duì! Érqiě gānghǎo jīntiān tàiyáng chūláile | Yeah! Also, today it just so happens that the sun came out. 

A: 陽光很溫暖 A: Yángguāng hěn wēnnuǎn | The sunlight is really warm. 

B: 沒錯，而且這是朝北的窗戶，所以夏天不會太熱 B: Méicuò, érqiě zhè shì cháo běi de chuānghù, suǒyǐ xiàtiān bù huì tài rè | Right, also this window faces north, so in the summer it’s not too hot.

A: 我真的替你很開心，恭喜你搬家成功！A: Wǒ zhēn de tì nǐ hěn kāixīn, gōngxǐ nǐ bānjiā chénggōng! | I’m really happy for you, congratulations on moving successfully!

B: 謝謝。來，你坐一下吧！我新買的椅子很好坐！B: Xièxiè. Lái, nǐ zuò yīxià ba! Wǒ xīn mǎi de yǐzi hěn hǎo zuò! | Thanks. Here, have a seat! The chairs I just bought are really comfortable. 

A: 好，哇！真的很舒服！A: Hǎo, wa! Zhēn de hěn shūfú! | Ok, wow! They’re really comfortable! 

B: 不錯吧！B: Bùcuò ba! | Not bad, right? 

A: 對啊，而且地點也很方便呢，離捷運站很近！A: Duì a, érqiě dìdiǎn yě hěn fāngbiàn ne, lí jié yùn zhàn hěn jìn! | Yeah, also this location is really convenient, it’s close to the MRT station. 

B: 對，但我想要買一台腳踏車，這樣我可以騎去上課 B: Duì, dàn wǒ xiǎng yāomǎi yī tái jiǎotàchē, zhèyàng wǒ kěyǐ qí qù shàngkè | Right, but I want to buy a bicycle, that way I can ride to class. 

A: 欸，我問你哦，這裡的房租貴不貴？A: Āi, wǒ wèn nǐ ó, zhèlǐ de fángzū guì bù guì? | Hey, let me ask, is the rent here expensive? 

B: 還好吧，四萬五而已 B: Hái hǎo ba, sì wàn wǔ éryǐ | I think it’s alright, only 45,000. 

A: 四萬五？！四萬五超貴的耶！A: Sì wàn wǔ?! Sì wàn wǔ chāo guì de yé! | 45,000?! 45,000 is super expensive! 

B: 真的嗎？我不知道，我的公司幫我付的 B: Zhēn de ma? Wǒ bù zhīdào, wǒ de gōngsī bāng wǒ fù de | Really? I don’t know, my company helps me pay it. 

A: 天哪，我好羨慕你哦！A: Tiān nǎ, wǒ hǎo xiànmù nǐ ó! | Jeez, I really envy you! 

B: 呵呵，來，喝一杯茶B: Hēhē, lái, hè yībēi chá | Heh, come on, have a cup of tea. 

Words and phrases:
太陽 - tàiyáng - the sun

太陽出來了 - Tàiyáng chūláile - The sun came out

窗戶 - chuānghù - window

這個窗戶是朝北的 - zhège chuānghù shì cháo běi de - this window faces north

朝東 - cháo dōng - facing east

東邊 - dōngbian - the east / east side

光 - guāng - light

陽光 - yángguāng - sunlight

你以前住過最高的是幾樓？- nǐ yǐqián zhùguò zuìgāo de shì jǐ lóu? - What’s the highest floor you’ve ever lived on?

你會怕高嗎？- Nǐ huì pà gāo ma? - Are you scared of heights?

我替你感到害怕 - Wǒ tì nǐ gǎndào hàipà - I feel afraid for you (on your behalf)

我禮拜二已經搬好了 - wǒ lǐbài èr yǐjīng bān hǎole - I already moved on Tuesday. 

我需要去IKEA買一些東西 - wǒ xūyào qù IKEA mǎi yīxiē dōngxī - I need to go to IKEA to buy some things. 

各種各樣 - gèzhǒng gè yàng - all kinds (of things)

我要一個盒子 - wǒ yào yīgè hézi - I want a box

可以放我的東西 - kěyǐ fàng wǒ de dōngxī - I can put my things (in it)

塑膠 - sùjiāo - plastic

我要買腳踏車 - wǒ yāomǎi jiǎotàchē - I want to buy a bike. 

台北很平，在台北騎腳踏車很方便 - táiběi hěn píng, zài táiběi qí jiǎotàchē hěn fāngbiàn - Taipei is really flat, in Taipei riding a bike is convenient. 

你要騎去哪裡？ - nǐ yào qí qù nǎlǐ? - Where are you going to ride to? 

很多觀光客 - hěnduō guānguāng kè - A lot of tourists. 

View Details

B：沒有位子了，怎麼辦？B: Méiyǒu wèizile, zěnme bàn? | There aren’t any seats, what can we do? 

A：你叫別人站起來吧！A: Nǐ jiào biérén zhàn qǐlái ba! | Tell someone else to stand up! 

B：這樣好嗎？B: Zhèyàng hǎo ma? | Is that OK?

A：當然不好，這樣很不禮貌 A: Dāngrán bù hǎo, zhèyàng hěn bù lǐmào | Of course it’s not OK, it’s very impolite. 

B：那你為什麼叫我這樣做？B: Nà nǐ wèishéme jiào wǒ zhèyàng zuò? | Then why did you tell me to do that?

A：因為你問我怎麼辦，我就幫你想個辦法啊！A: Yīnwèi nǐ wèn wǒ zěnme bàn, wǒ jiù bāng nǐ xiǎng gè bànfǎ a! | Because you asked me what we could do, I just helped you think of a way!

B：這不是一個辦法！B: Zhè bùshì yīgè bànfǎ! | That isn’t a way! 

A：好吧，那就不要問我啊 A: Hǎo ba, nà jiù bùyào wèn wǒ a | Fine, don’t ask me then. 

B：唉，真是的... 唉...  B: Āi, zhēnshi de... Āi... | [Sigh]… seriously! …[sigh]

A：你還好嗎？A: Nǐ hái hǎo ma? | Are you alright?

B：我的頭有點暈 B: Wǒ de tóu yǒudiǎn yūn | I feel a little dizzy. 

A：那你坐下來吧 A: Nà nǐ zuò xiàlái ba | Then how about you sit down? 

B：坐哪裡？沒有位子了！B: Zuò nǎlǐ? Méiyǒu wèizile! | Sit where? There aren’t any seats! 

A：不好意思，請問一下，我的朋友不太舒服，你的位子可以給他坐嗎？謝謝！好，現在你可以坐了A: Bù hǎoyìsi, qǐngwèn yīxià, wǒ de péngyǒu bù tài shūfú, nǐ de wèi zǐ kěyǐ gěi tā zuò ma? Xièxiè! Hǎo, xiànzài nǐ kěyǐ zuòle | (to another passenger) Excuse me, I have a question, my friend isn’t feeling well, could you let him sit in your seat? Thanks! (to B) OK, now you can sit. 

B：你真的問了！B: Nǐ zhēn de wènle! | You really asked! 

A：當然，你是我的朋友，而且你看起來很不舒服 A: Dāngrán, nǐ shì wǒ de péngyǒu, érqiě nǐ kàn qǐlái hěn bú shūfú | Of course, you’re my friend. Also, you look pretty uncomfortable. 

B：謝謝你 B: Xièxiè nǐ | Thank you. 

A：趕快坐，趕快坐 A: Gǎnkuài zuò, gǎnkuài zuò | Hurry up and sit. 

Extra words and phrases:
坐 - zuò - to sit

站 - zhàn - to stand, a station

站起來 - zhàn qǐlái - to stand up

坐下來 - zuò xiàlái - to sit down

你站在火車站 - Nǐ zhàn zài huǒchē zhàn - you stand at the train station

然後你就坐火車 - ránhòu nǐ jiù zuò huǒchē - then you take the train

他們會聽話嗎？- tāmen huì tīnghuà ma? - will they listen (will they do what you ask)? 

小公車 - xiǎo gōngchē - small bus

沒有很多人 - méiyǒu hěnduō rén - there aren’t a lot of people

你頭會暈嗎？- nǐ tóu huì yūn ma? - will you feel dizzy?

如果坐很久，我會 - rúguǒ zuò hěnjiǔ, wǒ huì - If I sit for a long time, I will. 

我沒有去過那個隧道 - wǒ méiyǒu qùguò nàgè suìdào - I’ve never been to that tunnel

需要在巴黎轉車 - xūyào zài bālí zhuǎnchē - need to change trains in Paris

View Details

A: 早安！你等很久了嗎？A: Zǎo ān! Nǐ děng hěnjiǔle ma? | Morning! Have you been waiting long?

B: 沒有，我才剛到。我很喜歡你今天穿的t-shirt，上面是鳳梨！B: Méiyǒu, wǒ cái gāng dào. Wǒ hěn xǐhuān nǐ jīntiān chuān de t-shirt, shàngmiàn shì fènglí! | No, I just got here. I like your t-shirt, it has pineapples on it!

A: 對啊，我很喜歡鳳梨 A: Duì a, wǒ hěn xǐhuān fènglí | Yeah, I really like pineapples.

B: 我記得你還有鳳梨的襪子！B: Wǒ jìdé nǐ hái yǒu fènglí de wàzi! | I rememeber you also have pineapple socks.

A: 哇！連我的襪子你都注意到了A: Wa! Lián wǒ de wàzi nǐ dōu zhùyì dàole | Wow! You even noticed my socks!

B: 當然！你看我現在在吃什麼 B: Dāngrán! Nǐ kàn wǒ xiànzài zài chī shénme | Of course. Look what I’m eating now.

A: 你在吃鳳梨！這麼巧！A: Nǐ zài chī fènglí! Zhème qiǎo! | You’re eating pineapple! What a coincidence!

B: 真的很巧。你要點什麼嗎？B: Zhēn de hěn qiǎo. Nǐ yàodiǎn shénme ma? | Really coincidental. Do you want to order something?

A: 我先點一杯咖啡好了，今天有很重要的事情要做。A: Wǒ xiān diǎn yībēi kāfēi hǎole, jīntiān yǒu hěn zhòngyào de shìqíng yào zuò. | First I’ll order a cup of coffee, today I have an important thing to do.

B：什麼事情？B: Shénme shìqíng? | What thing?

A：我要在家裡拖地板 A: Wǒ yào zài jiālǐ tuō dìbǎn | I’m going to mop the floor at my house.

B：拖地板？拖地板很重要嗎？B: Tuō dìbǎn? Tuō dìbǎn hěn zhòngyào ma? | Mop the floor? Is mopping the floor really important?

A：很重要啊！我如果看到地板很髒，我會覺得壓力很大 A: Hěn zhòngyào a! Wǒ rúguǒ kàn dào dìbǎn hěn zāng, wǒ huì juédé yālì hěn dà | It’s important! If I see that the floor is dirty, I’ll feel really stressed out (lots of pressure).

B：你真的很愛乾淨 B: Nǐ zhēn de hěn ài gānjìng | You really love cleanliness.

Featured sentence:「連我的襪子你都注意到了」
連(lián)...都(dōu)... means roughly "even (to such an extent)"

Examples:

我今天非常忙，連早餐都沒吃
wǒ jīntiān fēicháng máng, lián zǎocān dōu méi chī
I'm so busy today, I didn't even eat breakfast. 沒有，她沒有跟我說話，連看我都沒有
méiyǒu, tā méiyǒu gēn wǒ shuōhuà, lián kàn wǒ dū méiyǒu
No, she didn't talk to me. She didn't even look at me.
Sometimes 也(yě) is used instead of 都(dōu):

他人這麼好，連你也喜歡他了
Tā rén zhème hǎo, lián nǐ yě xǐhuān tāle
He's such a good person, even you like him.

View Details

A: 你已經搬家好了嗎？A: Nǐ yǐjīng bānjiā hǎole ma? | Did you already finish moving?

B: 我已經開始了，但我還沒結束 B: Wǒ yǐjīng kāishǐle, dàn wǒ hái méi jiéshù | I already started, but I haven’t finished yet. 

A: 你還需要做什麼？A: Nǐ hái xūyào zuò shénme? | What do you still need to do?

B: 我還在打掃 B: Wǒ hái zài dǎsǎo | I’m still cleaning. 

A: 新的房子很髒嗎？A: Xīn de fángzi hěn zāng ma? | Is the new house really dirty? 

B: 有一點髒，冰箱裡面有蟑螂！B: Yǒu yīdiǎn zāng, bīngxiāng lǐmiàn yǒu zhāngláng! | It’s a little dirty, there are cockroaches in the refrigerator!

A: 好噁心！A: Hǎo ěxīn! | So disgusting! 

B: 對，我還需要買廚房用的東西，小鍋子，大鍋子，熱水壺 B: Duì, wǒ hái xū yāo mǎi chúfáng yòng de dōngxī, xiǎo guōzi, dà guōzi, rè shuǐhú | Yeah. I also need to buy some things for the kitchen, a small pot, a large pot, a hot water kettle. 

A: 熱水壺，你要喝熱水嗎？A: Rè shuǐhú, nǐ yào hē rè shuǐ ma? | A hot water kettle, are you going to drink hot water?

B: 我可以喝茶啊 B: Wǒ kěyǐ hē chá | I can drink tea! 

A: 我以為你不喜歡喝茶！A: Wǒ yǐwéi nǐ bù xǐhuān hē chá! | I thought you didn’t like tea! 

B: 我喜歡，但我要小心，我不能喝太多，也不能喝太濃，不然我會很high B: Wǒ xǐhuān, dàn wǒ yào xiǎoxīn, wǒ bùnéng hē tài duō, yě bùnéng hē tài nóng, bùrán wǒ huì hěn high | I like it, but I have to be careful. I can’t drink too much, and I can’t drink it too strong, otherwise I’ll get high. 

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A: 早安！你準備好了嗎? | Good morning! Are you ready?
B: 我準備好了！ | I’m ready. 
A: 你今天好嗎？ | How are you today?
B: 我的脖子很痛，搬家的時候受傷了 | My neck hurts, I got hurt while moving. 
A: 真的嗎？我很擔心你！ | Really? I’m worried about you. 
B: 不要擔心！我沒事。 | Don’t worry, I’m fine. 
A: 好

A: 我禮拜五要搬家，我今天拿到了鑰匙 | Ok. I’m moving on Friday. Today I got the keys. 
B: 恭喜你！ | Congratulations!
A: 謝謝，但我沒有家具。我要去IKEA買家具 | Thanks! But I don’t have furniture. I’m going to IKEA to buy furniture. 
B: 對你來說，搬家很簡單 | For you, moving is really simple. (moving should be simple then)
A: 我希望 | I hope so

B: 我覺得你的中文在進步！你在看台灣的影集嗎？ | I think your Chinese is improving! Do you watch Taiwanese TV series?
A: 我想看中國的影集 | I want to watch Chinese series. 
B: 你以前住在中國嗎？ | Did you live in China before? 
A: 我沒有住過，但我有去旅行 | I’ve never lived there, but I went traveling. 
B: 你去了哪裡？ | Where did you go?
A: 我去了新疆，還有西藏。去西藏之後，我們去了四川 | I went to Xinjiang, also Tibet. After Tibet, we went to Sichuan. 
B: 你一個人去嗎？ | Did you go alone? 
A: 不是，我跟我朋友一起去的 | No, I went with my friend(s).