Chinese Bites — with Jianying | HSK3️⃣

My friend asked if I’ve been going to the gym lately. I said, “Not really — I’ve been too busy!”Let’s learn how to say “not very / not really / not often” in Chinese. 不怎么 （bù zěnme) Hello，大家好，我是Janine。 Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine. Hello everyone, I’m Janine. 昨天一个朋友问我： Zuótiān yí gè péngyou wèn wǒ:Yesterday, a friend asked me: “你最近去健身吗？” “Nǐ zuìjìn qù jiànshēn ma?”“...

I turned off my alarm this morning to rest for just five more minutes… and woke up after nine! Luckily, I had no important meetings today. Let’s learn how to say “to oversleep” in Chinese. 睡过头 （shuì guò tóu) 今天早上我的闹钟响了。 Jīntiān zǎoshang wǒ de nàozhōng xiǎng le. This morning, my alarm went off. 我关掉闹钟。 Wǒ guān diào nàozhōng. I turned off the alarm. 想再休息五分钟。 Xiǎng zài xiū...

I overslept this morning — it was already 8:30! I jumped out of bed, washed my face, got dressed, and left in just five minutes. Let’s learn how to say “hurry up / right away” in Chinese. 赶紧 （gǎn jǐn) Hello，大家好，我是 Janine。Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine. 今天早上我 睡过头了 ，Jīntiān zǎoshang wǒ shuì guò tóu le , 一看时间，已经八点半！Yí kàn shíjiān, yǐjīng bā diǎn bàn! 我 赶紧 起床、洗...

My alarm went off this morning, but it was still dark outside. I thought, “I’m too lazy to get up today…” and ended up sleeping twenty more minutes! Let’s learn how to say “too lazy to” in Chinese. 懒得（ lǎn de) Hello，大家好，我是 Janine。Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine. 今天早上闹钟响了，Jīntiān zǎoshang nàozhōng xiǎng le, 我起来，看了一眼窗外，Wǒ qǐ lái, kàn le yí yǎn chuāngwài, 天还黑着。Tiān...

I saw the weather forecast before bed and told myself, “Don’t forget your umbrella tomorrow!” But guess what? I still forgot! Let’s learn how to say “make sure to / by all means” in Chinese. 千万 （qiān wàn) Hello，大家好，我是 Janine。Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine. 昨天晚上睡觉前，Zuótiān wǎnshang shuìjiào qián, 我看到天气预报说今天会下雨。Wǒ kàn dào tiānqì yùbào shuō jīntiān huì xià yǔ. 我赶紧...

My friend asked me to watch a movie last night. I got so excited talking about it that I forgot to finish my work — which caused me to wake up early this morning! Let’s learn how to say “caused (something bad)” in Chinese. 害得 (hài de) Hello，大家好，我是 Janine。Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine. 昨天我朋友跟我说，Zuótiān wǒ péngyou gēn wǒ shuō, “晚上去看电影吧！”“Wǎnshang qù kàn diànyǐng ba!” 我...

I wanted to take a walk in the park this morning, but it was closed when I got there. What a pity! Let’s learn how to say “unfortunately / what a pity” in Chinese. 可惜 （kě xī) Hello，大家好，我是 Janine。Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine. 今天早上阳光很好，Jīntiān zǎoshang yángguāng hěn hǎo, 我本来想去公园散步。Wǒ běnlái xiǎng qù gōngyuán sànbù. 可是到门口才发现公园关门了。Kěshì dào ménkǒu cái fāx...

I watched a mystery movie today and kept wondering — who was that person? In the end, I finally found out! Let’s learn how to say “after all / exactly” in Chinese. 到底 （dàodǐ) Hello，大家好，我是 Janine。Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine. 我今天在看一部悬疑电影，Wǒ jīntiān zài kàn yí bù xuányí diànyǐng, 故事太精彩了。Gùshì tài jīngcǎi le. 我一直在想：这个人 到底 是谁？Wǒ yīzhí zài xiǎng: zhège rén...

I went early to the supermarket thinking there’d be fewer people — but the line was even longer! Let’s learn how to say “instead / on the contrary” in Chinese. 反而 （fǎn’ér) Hello，大家好，我是 Janine。Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine. 昨天我早早地去超市买东西，Zuótiān wǒ zǎozǎo de qù chāoshì mǎi dōngxi, 想着人应该不多。Xiǎngzhe rén yīnggāi bù duō. 结果 反而 排了更长的队！Jiéguǒ fǎn’ér pái le gèng...

“Busy people are successful”? Not necessarily! Let’s learn how to say “not necessarily” in Chinese. 不见得 （bú jiàn dé) Hello，大家好，我是 Janine。Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine. 朋友说：“工作多的人一定很成功。”Péngyou shuō: “Gōngzuò duō de rén yídìng hěn chénggōng.” 我笑着说：“ 不见得 吧，工作多也可能很累。”Wǒ xiào zhe shuō: “ Bú jiàndé ba, gōngzuò duō yě kěnéng hěn lèi.”

The cinema was too crowded, so I thought, “Better go home and watch a movie.” Let’s learn how to say “it’d be better to” in Chinese. 不如 （bù rú) Hello，大家好，我是 Janine。Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine. 今天本来想去看电影。Jīntiān běnlái xiǎng qù kàn diànyǐng. 但是电影院人太多了。Dànshì diànyǐngyuàn rén tài duō le. 我想了想：“ 不如 回家看一部老电影吧。”Wǒ xiǎng le xiǎng: “ Bùrú huí jiā kàn yí...

When you’re not sure about something, you can say “不好说.” Let’s learn how to say “hard to say / not sure” in Chinese. 不好说 （bù hǎo shuō) Hello，大家好，我是 Janine。Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine. 昨天朋友问我：“你觉得明天会下雪吗？”Zuótiān péngyou wèn wǒ: “Nǐ juéde míngtiān huì xià xuě ma?” 我想了想，说：“ 不好说 ，巴黎的天气很奇怪。”Wǒ xiǎng le xiǎng, shuō: “ Bù hǎo shuō , Bālí de tiānqì h...

I wanted to go shopping, but it started raining again… I’m afraid I can’t go out today. Let’s learn how to say “I’m afraid that…” in Chinese. 恐怕 （kǒng pà) Hello，大家好，我是 Janine。Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine. 今天我准备去超市买东西。Jīntiān wǒ zhǔnbèi qù chāoshì mǎi dōngxi. 刚出门，就开始下雨了。Gāng chūmén, jiù kāishǐ xià yǔ le. 我看着天说：“ 恐怕 今天又不能出门了。”Wǒ kàn zhe tiān shuō...

Sometimes happiness doesn’t need a reason — it’s nothing special. Let’s learn how to say “nothing special / it’s nothing” in Chinese. 没什么 （méi shénme) Hello，大家好，我是 Janine。Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine. 今天一个朋友问我：“你今天为什么看起来这么开心？”Jīntiān yí gè péngyou wèn wǒ: “Nǐ jīntiān wèishénme kàn qǐlái zhème kāixīn?” 我笑着说：“ 没什么 ，就是天气很好。”Wǒ xiào zhe shuō: “ Méi...

My friend wore a T-shirt on a cold morning, and I told him, “You’d better wear a jacket!” Let’s learn how to say “you’d better” in Chinese. 最好 （zuì hǎo) Hello，大家好，我是 Janine。Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine. 今天早上我出门的时候，天气有点冷。Jīntiān zǎoshang wǒ chūmén de shíhou, tiānqì yǒudiǎn lěng. 我看见一个朋友只穿了一件 T恤 。Wǒ kànjiàn yí gè péngyou zhǐ chuān le yí jiàn T xù . 我说：...

Before my trip, my friend said, “Don’t forget your passport!” Let’s learn how to say “don’t forget to” in Chinese. 别忘了 （bié wàng le) Hello，大家好，我是 Janine。Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine. 今天我要出门旅行。Jīntiān wǒ yào chūmén lǚxíng. 朋友说：“ 别忘了 带护照！”Péngyou shuō: “ Bié wàng le dài hùzhào!” 我笑着说：“放心吧，我已经放进包里了。”Wǒ xiào zhe shuō: “Fàngxīn ba, wǒ yǐjīng fàng jìn...

My computer suddenly stopped working. What a trouble! Let’s learn how to say “troublesome / to bother” in Chinese. 麻烦 （má fan) Hello，大家好，我是 Janine。Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine. 昨天我的电脑突然 不工作了 。Zuótiān wǒ de diànnǎo tūrán bù gōngzuò le . 我试了几次都打不开。Wǒ shì le jǐ cì dōu dǎ bù kāi. 我只好打电话给朋友帮忙。Wǒ zhǐhǎo dǎ diànhuà gěi péngyou bāngmáng. 我说：“真 麻烦 啊！...

The smell of fresh bread this morning made me think, “This must be delicious.” Let’s learn how to say “definitely / for sure” in Chinese. 一定 （yí dìng) Hello，大家好，我是 Janine。Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine. 今天早上我去面包店。Jīntiān zǎoshang wǒ qù miànbāo diàn. 空气里都是面包的香味。Kōngqì lǐ dōu shì miànbāo de xiāngwèi. 我看着柜台里的蛋挞，想：“这个 一定 很好吃。”Wǒ kàn zhe guìtái lǐ de...

It’s getting colder in Paris — more and more each day! Let’s learn how to say “more and more” in Chinese. 越来越 （yuè lái yuè) Hello，大家好，我是 Janine。Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine. 最近巴黎的天气 越来越 冷。Zuìjìn Bālí de tiānqì yuè lái yuè lěng. 早上出门要穿外套，中午又有点热。Zǎoshang chūmén yào chuān wàitào, zhōngwǔ yòu yǒudiǎn rè. 我朋友笑着说：“秋天来了，衣服也要 越来越 多了！”Wǒ péng...

I looked at the sky and said, “Looks like it’s going to rain.” And it really did! Let’s learn how to say “looks like / seems” in Chinese. 看起来（ kàn qǐ lái) Hello，大家好，我是 Janine。Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine. 今天早上我出门的时候，天有点灰。Jīntiān zǎoshang wǒ chūmén de shíhou, tiān yǒudiǎn huī. 我看了看天空，说：“ 看起来 要下雨了。”Wǒ kàn le kàn tiānkōng, shuō: “ Kàn qǐlái yào xià yǔ l...

I was about to leave home when I suddenly realized I forgot my phone! Let’s learn how to say “to realize / to notice” in Chinese. 发现 （fā xiàn) Hello，大家好，我是 Janine。Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine. 今天早上我出门的时候，走到门口，Jīntiān zǎoshang wǒ chūmén de shíhou, zǒu dào ménkǒu, 我 发现 忘带手机了！Wǒ fāxiàn wàng dài shǒujī le! 我赶紧回家拿手机，才出门。Wǒ gǎnjǐn huí jiā ná shǒujī, cá...

I love spring — especially walking in the park when the flowers bloom! Let’s learn how to say “especially” in Chinese. 特别 (tè bié) Hello，大家好，我是 Janine。Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine. 我很喜欢春天。Wǒ hěn xǐhuān chūntiān. 花开了，天气也很好。Huā kāi le, tiānqì yě hěn hǎo. 我 特别 喜欢去公园散步。Wǒ tèbié xǐhuān qù gōngyuán sànbù. 有时候我还带一本书，一边走一边看。Yǒu shíhou wǒ hái dài yì...

At the library, I told my friend, “Wait a bit!” Let’s learn how to say “a bit / for a while” in Chinese. 一下 （yí xià) Hello，大家好，我是 Janine。Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine. 今天我去图书馆。Jīntiān wǒ qù túshūguǎn. 我看到朋友，也在那儿。Wǒ kàn dào péngyou, yě zài nàr. 我走过去，笑着说：“等我 一下 ！”Wǒ zǒu guòqù, xiào zhe shuō: “Děng wǒ yíxià !” 他也笑着说：“好，我们一起找书吧。”Tā yě xiào...

Today I went to the park and realized — I haven’t been here for a long time! Let’s learn how to say “haven’t … for a long time” in Chinese. 好久没……了 （hǎo jiǔ méi … le) Hello，大家好，我是 Janine。Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine. 今天我去了公园。Jīntiān wǒ qù le gōngyuán. 阳光很好，风也不大。Yángguāng hěn hǎo, fēng yě bú dà. 我坐在长椅上，想：“我 好久没 来公园 了 。”Wǒ zuò zài chángyǐ shàng, xiǎ...

I forgot my umbrella and thought it wouldn’t rain — but it did! Let’s learn how to say “as a result / it turns out” in Chinese. 结果（ jié guǒ) Hello，大家好，我是 Janine。Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine. 昨天我出门的时候忘记带伞。Zuótiān wǒ chūmén de shíhou wàngjì dài sǎn. 我想：“应该不会下雨吧？”Wǒ xiǎng: “Yīnggāi bú huì xià yǔ ba?” 结果 走到一半，雨就下大了！ Jiéguǒ zǒu dào yí bàn, yǔ jiù xià d...