Hurry to the Train Platform | Learn Chinese in English

Chinese lesson set in a contemporary Shanghai everyday setting: During rush hour near a station, two adults hurry to the platform and prepare to board the train together..

EN → ZH / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Hurry to the Train Platform to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

今天路上真的很拥挤。

jīntiān lùshang zhēnde hěn yōngjǐ The road is really busy today.
B

高峰时间开始了。

gāofēng shíjiān kāishǐ le Rush hour has started.
A

我们还能赶上下一班火车吗？

wǒmen hái néng gǎnshàng xià yì bān huǒchē ma Can we still catch the next train?
B

应该可以。车站就在前面。

yīnggāi kěyǐ. chēzhàn jiù zài qiánmiàn We should. The station is just ahead.
A

我现在能看到入口了。

wǒ xiànzài néng kàndào rùkǒu le I can see the entrance now.
B

我们直接去站台吧。

wǒmen zhíjiē qù zhàntái ba Let's head straight to the platform.
A

火车已经进站了。

huǒchē yǐjīng jìnzhàn le The train is pulling in already.
B

跟紧我，我们一起上车。

gēn jǐn wǒ, wǒmen yìqǐ shàng chē Stay close, and we'll board together.

Word by Word

今天 今天 means “today” in 今天路上真的很拥挤。 It identifies the day when the road is crowded. Use it at the beginning of a sentence to set the time of an event or situation, especially when talking about what is happening today.
路上 路上 means “on the road” or “along the way” in 今天路上真的很拥挤。 It refers to the area or route where people and vehicles are moving. Use it for describing conditions encountered while traveling, such as traffic or crowds.
真的 真的 means “really” in 今天路上真的很拥挤。 It emphasizes that the speaker genuinely considers the road crowded. It can be placed before a description to strengthen the speaker’s statement, as in 真的很拥挤.
很 很 helps describe the road as crowded in 今天路上真的很拥挤。 Here it comes before 拥挤 to form the description 很拥挤. Use the same position before a descriptive word when stating how something is.
拥挤 拥挤 means “crowded” in 今天路上真的很拥挤。 It describes the road as having too many people or vehicles and not much space. Use it after 很 when describing a crowded place or route.
高峰 高峰 means “peak” in 高峰时间开始了。 Together with 时间, it identifies the peak period, here the busy period of travel. Use it before 时间 in this expression when referring to a period with especially heavy activity.
时间 时间 means “time” or “period” in 高峰时间开始了。 In this expression, it refers to a particular period rather than a precise clock time. Use it after a description such as 高峰 to name a period when something happens.
开始 开始 means “start” in 高峰时间开始了。 It says that the peak period has begun. Use it before 了 when describing the beginning of a situation, as in 高峰时间开始了.
了 了 shows that the situation has changed in 高峰时间开始了: the peak period has now begun. At the end of this sentence, it presents the beginning as a new current situation. Use it at the end of a statement when reporting that a situation has started or changed.
我们 我们 means “we” or “us” in 我们还能赶上下一班火车吗？ and 我们一起上车. It refers to the speaker and the person being addressed. Use it before the action or ability being discussed when the speaker and listener act together.
还 还 means “still” in 我们还能赶上下一班火车吗？ It asks whether catching the train remains possible at this point. Use it before 能 in the pattern 还能赶上... when checking whether there is still enough time.
能 能 means “can” or “be able to” in 我们还能赶上下一班火车吗？ It expresses the possibility of catching the train. With 还 before it, the reusable pattern 还能赶上... asks whether someone can still make it in time for something.
赶上 赶上 means “catch” or “make it in time for” in 我们还能赶上下一班火车吗？ The expression concerns reaching the train before it is too late, not merely moving toward it. Use it with the thing being caught, as in 赶上下一班火车.
下 下 means “next” in 下一班火车. It identifies the train that follows the current one. Use it before a classifier and noun in a scheduled sequence, as in 下一班火车.
一 一 means “one” in 下一班火车. Together with 班, it counts one scheduled train. Use it before a classifier when referring to one item or service, as in 一班火车.
班 班 is the classifier for a scheduled train or service in 下一班火车. It lets the speaker refer to one train as one scheduled departure. Use it between a number or 下 and the service being counted, as in 一班火车 or 下一班火车.
火车 火车 means “train” in 下一班火车. It is the vehicle the speakers are trying to catch and board. Use it after a classifier such as 班 when referring to a scheduled train.
吗 吗 marks the yes-or-no question in 我们还能赶上下一班火车吗？ It turns the preceding statement into a request for confirmation about whether they can still catch the train. Place it at the end of a question that expects a yes-or-no answer.
应该 应该 means “should” or “probably” in 应该可以。 Here it gives a cautiously positive answer: catching the train is probably possible. Use it before 可以 when making a tentative assessment that something should be possible.
可以 可以 means “can” or “be possible” in 应该可以。 It says that catching the train is possible, with the exact action understood from the question. Use it after 应该 to give a qualified positive answer about whether something can happen.
车站 车站 means “station” in 车站就在前面。 It identifies the station the speakers are approaching. Use it as the place that can be located with 在, as in 车站在前面.
就 就 emphasizes the immediate location in 车站就在前面。 It makes the meaning closer to “the station is right ahead,” showing that it is not far away. Use it before 在 when emphasizing that a place is immediately at a stated location.
在 在 locates the station in 车站就在前面。 It links 车站 with the place 前面. Use it between the subject and a location when saying where someone or something is.
前面 前面 means “ahead” or “in front” in 车站就在前面。 It indicates the area in front of the speakers along their route. Use it after 在 when pointing out that a destination or object is ahead.
我 我 means “I” or “me” in 我现在能看到入口了。 It identifies the speaker as the person who can see the entrance. Use it before the ability or action being described when speaking about yourself.
现在 现在 means “now” in 我现在能看到入口了。 It sets the time as the present moment, when the entrance has become visible. Use it before the action or ability that is happening now.
看到 看到 means “see” in 我现在能看到入口了。 It describes successfully seeing the entrance, not just looking in its direction. Use it before the object that becomes visible, as in 看到入口.
入口 入口 means “entrance” in 我现在能看到入口了。 It is the entry point to the station that the speaker can now see. Use it after a verb of seeing or finding when identifying an entrance.
直接 直接 means “directly” or “straight” in 我们直接去站台吧。 It tells the listeners to go straight to the platform without mentioning another stop. Use it before 去 and the destination to describe a direct route or action.
去 去 means “go to” in 我们直接去站台吧。 It describes moving toward the platform. Use it before the destination, as in 去站台, and add 吧 when making the suggestion in this dialogue.
站台 站台 means “platform” in 我们直接去站台吧。 It is the place at the station where the speakers will meet the train. Use it after 去 when stating the destination of their movement.
吧 吧 softens the suggestion in 我们直接去站台吧。 It makes the sentence sound like a proposal to go straight to the platform rather than a blunt command. Use it at the end of a suggested action when inviting agreement.
已经 已经 means “already” in 火车已经进站了。 It shows that the train has entered the station by the time of speaking. Use it before the action that has happened earlier than expected or before the current reference point.
进站 进站 means “enter the station” or “pull into the station” in 火车已经进站了。 It describes the train arriving inside the station area. Use it with 火车 as the subject when reporting that a train has arrived at the station.
跟紧 跟紧 means “stay close” or “follow closely” in 跟紧我。 It tells the listener to keep close to the speaker while they hurry. Use it as an instruction followed by the person to follow, as in 跟紧我.
一起 一起 means “together” in 我们一起上车. It shows that the speaker and listener will perform the action as a group. Use it before the action in a pattern such as 一起上车 when people do something together.
上车 上车 means “board” or “get on the vehicle” in 我们一起上车. It describes getting onto the train together. Use it after 一起 when telling companions that they will board as a group.

Grammar Points

还能 + 动词

还能赶上下一班火车。

hái néng gǎnshàng xià yì bān huǒchē

We can still catch the next train.

还能 expresses that an action remains possible despite the current situation.

已经 + 动词

火车已经进站。

huǒchē yǐjīng jìnzhàn

The train has already pulled into the station.

已经 comes before the verb to show that an action has happened already.

Chinese Vocabulary

车站 noun
chēzhàn station
赶上 verb
gǎnshàng to catch
高峰时间 noun
gāofēng shíjiān rush hour
还能 phrase
hái néng can still
今天 adv
jīntiān today
开始 verb
kāishǐ to start
路上 noun
lùshang on the road
前面 noun
qiánmiàn ahead; in front
入口 noun
rùkǒu entrance
下一班火车 phrase
xià yì bān huǒchē the next train
拥挤 adj
yōngjǐ crowded
真的 adv
zhēnde really

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

rush hour

Show Answer高峰时间

the next train

Show Answer下一班火车

station

Show Answer车站

crowded

Show Answer拥挤