LEARN + CHINESE / 50 of 300 HSK 2
Say It One More Time 遍
You’re asking a friend to repeat a story, then comparing how tall you are. Chinese uses a short measure after the verb to count an action, and after an adjective to say how large the difference is.
For a repeat, put the number and 遍 after the verb: 看了两遍, “watched it twice.” 遍 counts a complete pass through something, such as reading a page or watching a film. 次 also means “time” or “occasion,” but 遍 highlights going through the whole thing.
这部电影我看了两遍。
zhè bù diànyǐng wǒ kàn le liǎng biàn.
I’ve watched this film twice.
请再说一遍，我没听清楚。
qǐng zài shuō yí biàn, wǒ méi tīng qīngchu.
Could you say that once more? I didn’t hear clearly.
To compare a measurable difference, put the amount after the adjective: 高十厘米, “ten centimetres taller”; 贵二十块, “twenty yuan more expensive.” The comparison word 比 often appears earlier in the sentence.
我比姐姐小三岁。
wǒ bǐ jiějie xiǎo sān suì.
I’m three years younger than my older sister.
这条路比那条路长两公里。
zhè tiáo lù bǐ nà tiáo lù cháng liǎng gōnglǐ.
This road is two kilometres longer than that one.
Hint · 힌트
遍 counts a whole run-through. The number after an adjective answers “by how much?” It doesn’t replace 比 when you’re naming both things being compared.
In Real Life
In a real conversation, soften a repeat request with 不好意思: 不好意思，可以再说一遍吗？ (“Sorry, could you say that one more time?”)
Vocabulary
| Chinese | English |
|---|---|
biàn | time; complete run-through |
cì | time; occasion |
zài | again; one more time |
shuō | to say; speak |
tīng | to hear; listen |
qīngchu | clearly; clear |
diànyǐng | film; movie |
kàn | to watch; look |
bǐ | than; compared with |
gāo | tall; high |
ǎi | short (height) |
xiǎo | small; younger |
cháng | long |
duǎn | short (length) |
gōnglǐ | kilometre |
lí mǐ | centimetre |
suì | years old |
kuài | yuan; piece |
piányi | cheap; inexpensive |
guì | expensive |
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