Planning breakfast groceries | Learn Chinese in English

Chinese lesson set in a contemporary Shanghai everyday setting: In a grocery shop, two adults decide which breakfast items to buy for tomorrow..

EN → ZH / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Planning breakfast groceries to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

我们今天该买什么？

Wǒmen jīntiān gāi mǎi shénme? What should we buy today?
B

我们需要明天早餐吃的东西。

Wǒmen xūyào míngtiān zǎocān chī de dōngxi. We need things for tomorrow's breakfast.
A

那我们需要面包和黄油。

Nà wǒmen xūyào miànbāo hé huángyóu. Then we need bread and butter.
B

我们也需要酸奶吗？

Wǒmen yě xūyào suānnǎi ma? Do we need yogurt too?
A

我想把它和草莓酱一起吃。

Wǒ xiǎng bǎ tā hé cǎoméi jiàng yìqǐ chī. I want to eat it with strawberry jam.
B

那我们买酸奶和果酱吧。

Nà wǒmen mǎi suānnǎi hé guǒjiàng ba. Then let's get yogurt and jam.

Word by Word

我们 “我们” means “we” or “us” in “我们今天该买什么？” and “我们需要明天早餐吃的东西。” It refers to the speaker and at least one other person together. A common pattern is “我们需要……” for saying what the group needs.
今天 “今天” means “today” in “我们今天该买什么？” It specifies when the buying should happen and comes before the action phrase “该买什么”. A common pattern is “今天 + verb” for something happening today.
该 “该” in “我们今天该买什么？” asks what the group should or is supposed to buy. It comes before the action verb “买” and expresses an appropriate or expected choice here. A common pattern is “该 + verb” when asking what should be done.
买 “买” means “buy” in “我们今天该买什么？” and “那我们买酸奶和果酱吧。” It describes getting the food items needed for breakfast. A common pattern is “买 + item”, as in “买酸奶”.
什么 “什么” means “what” in “我们今天该买什么？” It asks for the item that should be bought and follows “买”. A common pattern is “买什么？” when asking what to buy.
需要 “需要” means “need” in “我们需要明天早餐吃的东西。” and “我们需要面包和黄油。” It introduces something necessary for the planned breakfast. A common pattern is “需要 + item” or “需要 + description + 的东西”.
明天 “明天” means “tomorrow” in “明天早餐吃的东西。” It identifies the day connected with the breakfast being planned. A common pattern is “明天 + time or activity” when referring to tomorrow’s plans.
早餐 “早餐” means “breakfast” in “明天早餐吃的东西。” It names the meal for which the items are needed. A common pattern is “早餐 + 吃的东西” for things to eat at breakfast.
吃 “吃” means “eat” in “明天早餐吃的东西” and “把它和草莓酱一起吃。” In the first phrase, it describes what will be done with the things; in the second, it describes eating “它” together with strawberry jam. A common pattern is “吃 + food”.
的 “的” links the description before it to the noun in “明天早餐吃的东西。” The phrase “明天早餐吃的” describes “东西”, meaning things to eat for tomorrow’s breakfast. A common pattern is “description + 的 + noun”.
东西 “东西” means “things” or “items” in “明天早餐吃的东西。” Here it refers to the food items needed for tomorrow’s breakfast. A common pattern is “需要 + 东西” when talking generally about needed items.
那 “那” means “then” or “in that case” in “那我们需要面包和黄油。” and “那我们买酸奶和果酱吧。” It connects the next decision to what was just said. A common pattern is “那 + statement” when responding to information with a conclusion or plan.
面包 “面包” means “bread” in “那我们需要面包和黄油。” It is one of the breakfast items the speakers decide they need. A common pattern is “需要 + 面包” when saying that bread is needed.
和 “和” joins items in “面包和黄油” and expresses “with” in “它和草莓酱一起吃。” In “面包和黄油”, it connects two items; in “和草莓酱一起吃”, it identifies what the item is eaten together with. A common pattern is “A 和 B” for listing two items.
黄油 “黄油” means “butter” in “那我们需要面包和黄油。” It is the second breakfast item listed as necessary. A common pattern is “面包和黄油” when naming these two items together.
也 “也” means “also” or “too” in “我们也需要酸奶吗？” It adds yogurt to the items that may be needed in addition to the items already mentioned. It commonly comes before the verb phrase, as in “也需要……”.
酸奶 “酸奶” means “yogurt” in “我们也需要酸奶吗？” and “那我们买酸奶和果酱吧。” It is first discussed as a possible need and then included in the shopping plan. A common pattern is “买 + 酸奶” when saying to buy yogurt.
吗 “吗” is the question particle at the end of “我们也需要酸奶吗？” It turns the sentence into a yes-or-no question about whether yogurt is needed. It is used at the end of a statement to ask for confirmation.
我 “我” means “I” or “me” in “我想把它和草莓酱一起吃。” It identifies the speaker as the person expressing the wish. A common pattern is “我想 + action” for saying what the speaker wants to do.
想 “想” means “want to” in “我想把它和草莓酱一起吃。” It expresses the speaker’s wish to carry out the action that follows. A common pattern is “想 + verb phrase”, such as “想吃……”.
把 In “把它和草莓酱一起吃”, “把” places “它” before the action and marks it as the object being acted on. The whole phrase means to eat it together with strawberry jam. A common pattern is “把 + object + action” when describing what is done to a specific object.
它 “它” means “it” in “把它和草莓酱一起吃。” It refers to the food item that the speaker wants to eat with strawberry jam. A common pattern is “把它 + action” when acting on a previously mentioned thing.
草莓酱 “草莓酱” means “strawberry jam” in “把它和草莓酱一起吃。” It names what the food is eaten together with. A common pattern is “和草莓酱一起吃” for eating something with strawberry jam.
一起 “一起” means “together” in “把它和草莓酱一起吃。” It shows that the item and the strawberry jam are eaten together. A common pattern is “和 + item + 一起 + verb” for doing something together with an item or person.
果酱 “果酱” means “jam” in “那我们买酸奶和果酱吧。” It is the jam that the speakers decide to buy, while “草莓酱” in the earlier line specifies strawberry jam. A common pattern is “买 + 果酱” when saying to buy jam.
吧 “吧” at the end of “那我们买酸奶和果酱吧。” makes the sentence a suggestion. Here the speaker suggests buying yogurt and jam together. It commonly follows a proposed action or plan.

Grammar Points

把 + 宾语 + 动词

把它和草莓酱一起吃

bǎ tā hé cǎoméi jiàng yìqǐ chī

Eat it together with strawberry jam.

“把”把宾语放在动词前，强调对某个对象进行动作。

主语 + 时间 + 也 + 动词

我们今天也买面包

wǒmen jīntiān yě mǎi miànbāo

We also buy bread today.

“也”通常放在时间词后、动词前，表示“also”或“too”。

Chinese Vocabulary

东西 noun
dōngxi thing; things
黄油 noun
huángyóu butter
今天 adv
jīntiān today
买 verb
mǎi to buy
面包 noun
miànbāo bread
明天 adv
míngtiān tomorrow
那 pron
nà then; in that case
什么 pron
shénme what
我们 pron
wǒmen we; us
需要 verb
xūyào to need
也 adv
yě also; too
早餐 noun
zǎocān breakfast

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

tomorrow

Show Answer明天

breakfast

Show Answer早餐

thing; things

Show Answer东西

to need

Show Answer需要