About This Lesson
Use Arriving at City Hall by Bike to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
我以前从来没进过这座市政厅。
Wǒ yǐqián cónglái méi jìn guo zhè zuò shìzhèngtīng. I have never been inside this city hall before.
B
这栋楼比我想的漂亮。
Zhè dòng lóu bǐ wǒ xiǎng de piàoliang. The building is nicer than I expected.
A
入口在自行车停车区旁边。
Rùkǒu zài zìxíngchē tíngchēqū pángbiān. The entrance is beside the bicycle parking area.
B
很多人骑自行车来的。
Hěn duō rén qí zìxíngchē lái de. A lot of people came by bike.
A
有道理。
Yǒu dàolǐ. That makes sense.
A
这样比等公共汽车更容易。
Zhèyàng bǐ děng gōnggòng qìchē gèng róngyì. It is easier than waiting for the bus.
B
下次我们也可以骑自行车来这里。
Xià cì wǒmen yě kěyǐ qí zìxíngchē lái zhèlǐ. Next time, we could ride here too.
A
那我们可以把自行车放在入口附近。
Nà wǒmen kěyǐ bǎ zìxíngchē fàng zài rùkǒu fùjìn. Then we can leave the bikes close to the entrance.
B
现在我们进去找对柜台吧。
Xiànzài wǒmen jìnqù zhǎo duì guìtái ba. For now, let's go inside and find the right counter.Word by Word
我
我 means “I” or “me” here, referring to the speaker in 我以前从来没进过这座市政厅。 It is used as the subject before the rest of the statement. Use 我 when talking about yourself in a personal experience or action.
以前
以前 means “before” or “previously” in 我以前从来没进过这座市政厅。 It places the experience in an earlier period rather than the present. Use it before a statement about something that happened or did not happen earlier.
从来
从来 means “ever” or “at any time” in 我以前从来没进过这座市政厅。 Together with 没 and 过, it emphasizes that the speaker has never had this experience. Use 从来 when strongly describing an experience that has never occurred.
没
没 makes the experience in 我以前从来没进过这座市政厅 negative, meaning that the speaker did not enter it before. Here it appears with 从来 and 过 to express no past experience. Use 没 before an action when saying that it did not happen.
进
进 means “enter” or “go inside” in 进过. In the dialogue, it describes entering the city hall. Use 进 with a place when talking about moving into or entering that place.
过
过 in 进过 indicates that entering the city hall is being discussed as a past experience. With 没, the form 没进过 means the speaker has not had that experience. Use this experience pattern when saying whether an action has happened before.
这
这 means “this” in 这座市政厅 and 这栋楼, pointing to the city hall or building being discussed. It comes before a classifier and noun. Use 这 when identifying a nearby or currently relevant thing.
座
座 is the classifier used in 这座市政厅 for this building or large structure. It appears between 这 and 市政厅 rather than standing alone. Use it in a noun phrase such as 这座市政厅 when referring to a building or similar structure.
市政厅
市政厅 means “city hall” in 这座市政厅. It names the public building that the speakers have entered or are discussing. Use it when referring to the city government building.
栋
栋 is the classifier used in 这栋楼 for the building. It comes between 这 and 楼 to form a complete building noun phrase. Use it when counting or identifying a building with 楼.
楼
楼 means “building” here in 这栋楼. The surrounding phrase refers to the city hall building’s appearance. Use 楼 after a classifier when referring to a building.
比
比 introduces the comparison in 比我想的漂亮, meaning that the building is more beautiful than what the speaker expected. It places the comparison standard after it and the quality being compared afterward. Reuse the word order shown in 比我想的漂亮 when comparing one thing with another.
想
想 means “think” or “expect” in 我想的, referring to what the speaker had expected. The phrase 我想的 serves as the standard in 比我想的漂亮. Use 想 when describing a thought or expectation relevant to the current situation.
的
的 in 我想的 marks the end of the phrase referring to what the speaker thought or expected. It allows 我想的 to function as the comparison standard in 比我想的漂亮. Use this form when a description or thought is used to identify a thing or standard.
漂亮
漂亮 means “beautiful” or “nice-looking” in 这栋楼比我想的漂亮, describing the building’s appearance. It follows the comparison phrase and gives the quality being compared. Use 漂亮 when giving a positive opinion about how something looks.
入口
入口 means “entrance” in 入口在自行车停车区旁边 and 入口附近. It identifies the place where people enter the building. Use it when giving directions to or describing an entrance.
在
在 shows the location of the entrance in 入口在自行车停车区旁边. It connects the subject 入口 with the place phrase that follows. Use 在 to say where a person or thing is located.
自行车
自行车 means “bicycle” in 自行车停车区 and 骑自行车. It identifies the vehicle used to arrive and the vehicle area near the entrance. Use it after 骑 for riding a bicycle and before a place noun when describing a bicycle-related area.
停车区
停车区 means “parking area” in 自行车停车区, specifically the area for parking bicycles. It follows 自行车 to identify what kind of parking area this is. Use it when locating a designated area for parking.
旁边
旁边 means “beside” or “next to” in 入口在自行车停车区旁边. It places the entrance next to the bicycle parking area. Use it after a place or object to describe something located beside it.
很多
很多 means “many” or “a lot of” in 很多人骑自行车来的. It gives a large quantity before the noun 人. Use 很多 before a noun when describing a large number or amount.
人
人 means “people” in 很多人, referring to the people who came by bicycle. It is the noun counted or quantified by 很多. Use it after a quantity expression when talking about people.
骑
骑 means “ride” in 骑自行车, describing the way the people traveled. Here it is followed by the vehicle自行车. Use 骑 before a vehicle or animal that someone rides.
来
来 means “come” in 骑自行车来的, showing that the people came to the current place by bicycle. It also appears in 来这里, where the destination is stated explicitly. Use 来 when movement is toward the speaker or the place currently being discussed.
有道理
有道理 means “that makes sense” or “that is reasonable” as a response to the previous statement. In this expression, 有 contributes the idea of having, while 道理 contributes reason or logic; together they evaluate the idea as reasonable. Use 有道理 when agreeing that someone’s explanation, suggestion, or conclusion is sensible.
这样
这样 means “this way” or “like this” in 这样比等公共汽车更容易. It refers to the way of traveling that has just been discussed, rather than naming it again. Use 这样 to point back to an action, method, or situation already understood from the conversation.
等
等 means “wait for” in 等公共汽车, where the bus is the thing being waited for. The object follows 等 directly in this dialogue. Use 等 before the person, vehicle, or thing that someone is waiting for.
公共汽车
公共汽车 means “bus” in 等公共汽车. It is the alternative form of transportation being compared with traveling by bicycle. Use it when referring to a bus as the vehicle someone waits for or takes.
更
更 marks a higher degree in 更容易, meaning “more” or “even more.” In the dialogue, it shows that this way of traveling is easier than waiting for the bus. Use 更 before a quality when comparing degrees.
容易
容易 means “easy” in 更容易, which describes the way of traveling as easier. It follows 更 to form the comparison of difficulty. Use 容易 when evaluating whether an action or task requires little difficulty.
下次
下次 means “next time” in 下次我们也可以骑自行车来这里. It refers to a future occasion when the speakers may visit again. Use 下次 when suggesting or discussing what will happen on the next occasion.
我们
我们 means “we” or “us” in 下次我们也可以骑自行车来这里 and 那我们可以把自行车放在入口附近. It refers to the speaker and the other person together. Use it as the subject of a shared plan or action.
也
也 means “also” or “too” in 我们也可以骑自行车来这里. It adds this possibility to the other transportation option already being discussed. Use 也 before the action or description that is being added.
可以
可以 means “can” or “could” in 也可以骑自行车来这里, presenting a possible shared plan. It comes before the action phrase that is possible. Use 可以 before an action when saying that it is possible or acceptable to do it.
这里
这里 means “here” in 骑自行车来这里, referring to the current city hall or place being discussed. It follows 来 to identify the destination. Use 这里 when pointing to the speaker’s current or relevant location.
那
那 means “then” or “in that case” in 那我们可以把自行车放在入口附近. It connects the agreed possibility of riding here with the resulting plan for the bicycles. Use 那 at the beginning of a response when drawing a consequence or next step from what was just said.
把
把 marks 自行车 as the object being handled in 把自行车放在入口附近. It introduces the object before the action and its resulting location. Use the object-handling pattern shown in 把自行车放在入口附近 when focusing on what is put somewhere.
放
放 means “put” or “leave” in 放在入口附近, describing placing the bicycles near the entrance. The location follows 放在. Use 放 when saying that an object is placed or left in a particular location.
附近
附近 means “nearby” or “in the vicinity” in 入口附近. It identifies the area close to the entrance where the bicycles can be left. Use it after a place or object to refer to the nearby area.
现在
现在 means “now” in 现在我们进去找对柜台吧. It sets the proposed action as the next action at the current moment. Use 现在 when directing attention to what should happen at this time.
进去
进去 means “go inside,” describing movement from outside into the building in 现在我们进去找对柜台吧. It comes before the purpose or next action 找对柜台. Use it when inviting or telling someone to move into an interior place.
找
找 means “look for” or “find” in 找对柜台, describing the search for the appropriate counter. The object being sought follows it in this phrase. Use 找 before a person, place, or thing that you are trying to locate.
对
对 means “right” or “correct” in 找对柜台, identifying the counter as the one suitable for their purpose. It contributes the idea of correctness to the action of finding. Use 对 after 找 when emphasizing that the located person or thing is the correct one.
柜台
柜台 means “counter” or “service desk” in 找对柜台. It is the place inside the city hall that the speakers want to locate. Use it when referring to a counter where service or assistance is provided.
吧
吧 at the end of 找对柜台吧 makes the sentence a suggestion: “let’s find the right counter.” It invites the other person to take part in the proposed action. Use sentence-final 吧 when making a friendly suggestion or proposal.
Grammar Points
从来没 + 动词 + 过
我从来没进过市政厅。
Wǒ cónglái méi jìn guo shìzhèngtīng.I have never been inside city hall.
“从来没……过”表示从过去到现在一次也没有做过某事。
Chinese Vocabulary
从来
adv
cónglái
ever; always
很多
det
hěn duō
a lot of; many
进过
verb
jìn guo
have been inside
楼
noun
lóu
building
旁边
noun
pángbiān
beside; next to
漂亮
adj
piàoliang
beautiful; nice-looking
骑自行车
phrase
qí zìxíngchē
to ride a bicycle
入口
noun
rùkǒu
entrance
市政厅
noun
shìzhèngtīng
city hall
停车区
noun
tíngchēqū
parking area
以前
adv
yǐqián
before; previously
自行车
noun
zìxíngchē
bicycle
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
to ride a bicycle
Show Answer
骑自行车beside; next to
Show Answer
旁边ever; always
Show Answer
从来before; previously