About This Lesson
Use Basic movement, home, and neighborhood to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
我现在过来。
Wǒ xiànzài guòlái. I am coming now.
B
我要回家了。
Wǒ yào huí jiā le. I am going home.
A
我在家。
Wǒ zài jiā. I am at home.
B
我现在在外面。
Wǒ xiànzài zài wàimiàn. I am outside now.
A
我会回来。
Wǒ huì huílái. I will be back.
B
我住在这附近。
Wǒ zhù zài zhè fùjìn. I live near here.Word by Word
我
“我” means “I” or “me”; it identifies the speaker in forms such as “我现在过来” and “我住在这附近”. It commonly comes before the verb or location phrase. Use it when telling someone about your own action, state, or location.
现在
“现在” means “now” and places the action or situation in the present time, as in “我现在过来” and “我现在在外面”. It commonly appears before the verb or location phrase. Use it when giving someone a current update.
过来
“过来” means “come over” or “come here”, referring to movement toward the relevant person or place in “我现在过来”. It follows the subject in this sentence and describes the movement itself. Use it when telling someone that you are coming to where they are.
要
In “我要回家了”, “要” helps express the speaker’s intention or near-future plan to go home; “回家” names the action and “了” marks the changed situation. A reliable pattern is “要” followed by an action. Use it when announcing what you are about to do or plan to do.
回家
“回家” means “go home” or “return home” in “我要回家了”. It combines the movement back with “家” as the destination, while the whole sentence announces the speaker’s current plan. Use it after a subject when saying that someone is heading home.
了
At the end of “我要回家了”, “了” presents going home as a new or changing situation, rather than simply naming the action. Here it works with the whole sentence; “要” expresses the plan and “回家” expresses the movement. Use this sentence-final form when announcing a change that is now relevant.
在
“在” marks where someone is located in “我在家” and “我现在在外面”. It comes after the subject and before the place. Use the pattern “在” followed by a location when stating where someone is.
家
“家” means “home”; in “我在家” it is the place where the speaker is, and in “回家” it is the destination. The surrounding word shows whether it is a current location or a movement destination. Use it in “在家” for being at home and “回家” for going home.
外面
“外面” means “outside” in “我现在在外面”. With “在”, it gives the speaker’s current location. Use “在外面” when telling someone that you are outdoors or not inside.
会
In “我会回来”, “会” presents “回来” as something expected to happen in the future, giving the meaning “I will be back”. It commonly comes before the action it refers to. Use it when assuring someone that an action or return is expected later.
回来
“回来” means “come back” or “return” in “我会回来”. It describes returning to the relevant place, while “会” places that return in the future. Use it after “会” when telling someone that you will return.
住
“住” means “live” or “reside” in “我住在这附近”. With “在”, it introduces the place where someone lives. Use the pattern “住在” followed by a location when giving your residential area.
这
In “这附近”, “这” points to the area associated with “this” place or the current reference point. Together with “附近”, it identifies the nearby area rather than a distant location. Use “这附近” when referring to the area near here.
附近
“附近” means “nearby” or “the vicinity” in “我住在这附近”. It names an area close to the reference point, and “住在” shows that this is where the speaker lives. Use it in “这附近” when describing a location close to here.
Grammar Points
主语 + 在 + 地点
我现在在家外面。
Wǒ xiànzài zài jiā wàimiàn.I am outside the house now.
中文把地点放在“在”后面；英文通常用 be + 地点表达“在某处”。
动词 + 来 / 回
我现在回来。
Wǒ xiànzài huílái.I am coming back now.
“来”表示朝说话者而来；“回”表示返回原来的地方。
Chinese Vocabulary
附近
noun
fùjìn
nearby; vicinity
我住在这附近。
过来
verb
guòlái
to come over; to come here
我现在过来。
回家
phrase
huí jiā
to go home; to return home
我要回家了。
回来
verb
huílái
to come back; to return
我会回来。
家
noun
jiā
home; family
我在家。
外面
noun
wàimiàn
outside
我现在在外面。
我
pron
wǒ
I; me
我现在过来。
现在
adv
xiànzài
now
我现在在外面。
在
verb
zài
to be at; to be in
我在家。
这
det
zhè
this
我住在这附近。
住
verb
zhù
to live; to reside
我住在这附近。
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
nearby; vicinity
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附近to come over; to come here
Show Answer
过来to go home; to return home
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回家now