About This Lesson
Use Basic Invitations and Shared Action to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
我们现在走吧。
wǒmen xiànzài zǒu ba. Let us go now.
B
我们一起吃饭吧。
wǒmen yìqǐ chīfàn ba. Let us eat together.
A
我们现在开始吧。
wǒmen xiànzài kāishǐ ba. Let us start now.
B
我们在这里停吧。
wǒmen zài zhèlǐ tíng ba. Let us stop here.
A
跟我来。
gēn wǒ lái. Come with me.
B
等我。
děng wǒ. Wait for me.Word by Word
我们
“我们” means “we” or “us” here: the speaker includes themself and the other person. It introduces a shared action in forms such as “我们现在走吧” and “我们一起吃饭吧”.
现在
“现在” means “now” and places the action at the present time. It appears before the action in “我们现在走吧” and “我们现在开始吧”.
走
“走” means “go” or “leave” here. In “我们现在走吧”, it describes the shared action being suggested, and it follows “现在”.
吧
“吧” is placed at the end of these sentences to make a suggestion or gentle invitation. In “我们现在走吧” and “我们一起吃饭吧”, it shows that the speaker is proposing the action together.
一起
“一起” means “together” and shows that people do an action jointly. In “我们一起吃饭吧”, it comes before the action and emphasizes shared participation.
吃饭
“吃饭” means “eat” or “have a meal” in “我们一起吃饭吧”. It can be used after “一起” when suggesting a shared meal, as in the dialogue form “我们一起吃饭吧”.
开始
“开始” means “start” or “begin” in “我们现在开始吧”. It follows “现在” and names the action that the speakers suggest beginning together.
在
“在” introduces the place connected with the action in “我们在这里停吧”. It comes before the location phrase “这里”.
这里
“这里” means “here” and identifies the place in “我们在这里停吧”. With “在”, it forms the location phrase “在这里”.
停
“停” means “stop” in “我们在这里停吧”. The suggested action is stopping at the place introduced by “在这里”.
跟
“跟” contributes the meaning of following or going with someone in “跟我来”. It is placed before the person being followed or accompanied.
我
“我” refers to the speaker as “me” in “跟我来” and “等我”. It identifies the speaker as the person to follow or wait for.
来
“来” means “come” in “跟我来”. It names the movement toward the speaker or the speaker’s side after “跟我”.
等
“等” means “wait” in “等我”. It is followed by the person who is being waited for, here “我”.
Grammar Points
主语 + 在 + 地点
我们在这里
wǒmen zài zhèlǐWe are here.
在 comes before the place to show where someone or something is.
跟 + 人 + 来
跟我来
gēn wǒ láiCome with me.
跟我来 is a fixed expression; the person comes after 跟.
Chinese Vocabulary
吃饭
verb
chīfàn
eat; have a meal
跟
prep
gēn
with; follow
开始
verb
kāishǐ
start; begin
来
verb
lái
come
停
verb
tíng
stop
我
pron
wǒ
me; I
我们
pron
wǒmen
we; us
现在
adv
xiànzài
now
一起
adv
yìqǐ
together
在
prep
zài
at; in
这里
pron
zhèlǐ
here
走
verb
zǒu
go; leave
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
start; begin
Show Answer
开始eat; have a meal
Show Answer
吃饭we; us
Show Answer
我们together