LEARN + CHINESE / 117 of 300 HSK 3
It’s Late. What Are You Rushing For?例 · 都九点了
Your friends are still deciding where to eat, and the restaurant is about to close. These spoken patterns help you react to the moment: 都……了 points out what’s already true, X就X吧 accepts a trade-off, and X什么啊 challenges the reason for doing something.
都九点了，我们快找个地方吃饭吧。
dōu jiǔ diǎn le, wǒmen kuài zhǎo ge dìfang chīfàn ba.
It’s already nine; let’s hurry and find somewhere to eat.
远就远一点儿吧，风景好就值得。
yuǎn jiù yuǎn yìdiǎnr ba, fēngjǐng hǎo jiù zhíde.
It may be a little far, but the view makes it worth it.
你急什么啊？火车还有半个小时才开。
nǐ jí shénme a? huǒchē hái yǒu bàn ge xiǎoshí cái kāi.
What are you rushing for? The train doesn’t leave for another half hour.
等就等吧，我先去买杯咖啡。
děng jiù děng ba, wǒ xiān qù mǎi bēi kāfēi.
Well, we’ll wait then. I’ll go get a coffee first.
Hint · 힌트
Repeating the same word in X就X吧 can sound resigned or accepting: “If we have to wait, we’ll wait.” X什么啊 is a spoken challenge, so use it only when the relationship and tone make that natural.
Vocabulary
| Chinese | English |
|---|---|
dōu...le | already; it’s already… |
jiǔ diǎn | nine o’clock |
kuài | quickly; soon |
zhǎo dìfang | to find somewhere |
chīfàn | to eat a meal |
yuǎn | far |
yìdiǎnr | a little |
fēngjǐng | scenery; view |
zhíde | to be worth it |
jí | to be in a hurry |
shénme | what; why (in a challenge) |
huǒchē | train |
hái yǒu | there is still; still have |
bàn ge xiǎoshí | half an hour |
cái | not until; only then |
děng | to wait |
xiān | first; for now |
mǎi bēi kāfēi | to buy a cup of coffee |
suàn le | forget it; never mind |
méi bànfǎ | there’s no way; can’t be helped |
YOUR PROGRESS
Finished this lesson?
Save your place in this course.