About This Lesson
Use Learning a New Word to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
这个词是什么意思？
Zhège cí shì shénme yìsi? What does this word mean?
B
它的意思是一个小房间。
Tā de yìsi shì yí ge xiǎo fángjiān. It means a small room.
A
你能慢慢读这个词吗？
Nǐ néng mànmàn dú zhège cí ma? Can you pronounce it slowly?
B
我会把它分成几部分。
Wǒ huì bǎ tā fēn chéng jǐ bùfen. I'll break it into parts.
A
你能给我一个例子吗？
Nǐ néng gěi wǒ yí ge lìzi ma? Can you give me an example?
B
这个房间又干净又明亮。
Zhège fángjiān yòu gānjìng yòu míngliàng. This room is clean and bright.
A
我想练习使用这个词。
Wǒ xiǎng liànxí shǐyòng zhège cí. I want to practice using it.
B
试着用它说一个短句。
Shìzhe yòng tā shuō yí ge duǎnjù. Try it in a short sentence.Word by Word
这个
这个 means “this” in “这个词” and “这个房间”, pointing to a specific word or room near the speaker. A common pattern is 这个 + noun, such as the dialogue forms “这个词” and “这个房间”.
词
词 means “word” in “这个词”, referring to the vocabulary item being discussed. Use it after a demonstrative or other modifier to identify a word, as in the dialogue form “这个词”.
是
是 links a subject with an identity or meaning in “是什么意思” and “意思是一个小房间”. In a reusable pattern, place 是 between the subject and the information that identifies or explains it.
什么
什么 asks “what” in the question “什么意思”, asking for the meaning of the word. A common question pattern is 什么 + noun, as in “什么意思”.
意思
意思 means “meaning” in “是什么意思” and “它的意思是一个小房间”. Use it with 的 to refer to something’s meaning, as in “它的意思”.
它
它 means “it” in “它的意思”, referring to the word already being discussed. A common pattern is 它的 + noun, as in the dialogue form “它的意思”.
的
的 links 它 with 意思 in “它的意思”, showing that the meaning belongs to or is associated with it. A reusable pattern is pronoun or noun + 的 + noun.
一
一 means “one” in “一个小房间”, indicating one room. With a countable noun, it appears before the measure word 个 in the pattern 一 + 个 + noun.
个
个 is the measure word used in “一个小房间” before the noun phrase “小房间”. A common pattern is number + 个 + noun.
小
小 means “small” in “一个小房间”, describing the room. It comes before the noun it modifies, as in 小 + 房间.
房间
房间 means “room” in “一个小房间”. It can follow a size description, as in the dialogue form “小房间”.
你
你 means “you” in “你能慢慢读这个词吗？” and “你能给我一个例子吗？”, addressing the other person. A common request pattern is 你能 + verb phrase + 吗？
能
能 asks whether someone can or is able to do something in “你能慢慢读这个词吗？” and “你能给我一个例子吗？”. Use it before the action, as in 你能 + verb phrase.
慢慢
慢慢 means “slowly” in “慢慢读”, telling someone to perform the action at a slow pace. It comes before the verb in the pattern 慢慢 + verb.
读
读 means “read” or “pronounce aloud” in “读这个词”; here the classroom context makes pronunciation the intended action. A reusable pattern is 读 + word or text.
吗
吗 turns “你能慢慢读这个词” into the yes-or-no question “你能慢慢读这个词吗？”. It is placed at the end of the question.
我
我 means “I” in “我会把它分成几部分” and “我想练习使用这个词”, identifying the speaker as the person who will act. It commonly comes before the verb phrase.
会
会 expresses what the speaker will do in “我会把它分成几部分”. A common pattern is 我会 + action, used to state a planned or expected action.
把
把 introduces the object being handled in “把它分成几部分”, placing 它 before the action and its result. A reusable pattern is 把 + object + verb or result phrase.
分成
分成 means “divide into” in “把它分成几部分”, describing changing one thing into several parts. Use it in the pattern 把 + object + 分成 + parts.
几
几 means “several” in “几部分”, giving an unspecified small number of parts. It comes before the noun in the pattern 几 + noun.
部分
部分 means “part” in “几部分”, referring to the sections made by dividing the word. It can follow a number or quantity word, as in “几部分”.
给
给 means “give” in “给我一个例子”, showing that an example is provided to the speaker. A common pattern is 给 + person + thing, as in “给我一个例子”.
例子
例子 means “example” in “一个例子”, referring to a sentence or situation that shows how the word is used. It can follow a measure phrase, as in “一个例子”.
又
又 contributes “also” in the repeated description “又干净又明亮”, connecting two qualities of the room. The reusable pattern is 又 + description + 又 + description.
干净
干净 means “clean” in “又干净又明亮”, describing the room’s condition. It can be one of the descriptions in the pattern 又 + adjective + 又 + adjective.
明亮
明亮 means “bright” in “又干净又明亮”, describing the room’s lighting or appearance. It follows the second 又 in the dialogue’s repeated-description pattern.
想
想 means “want to” in “我想练习使用这个词”, expressing the speaker’s desire to practise. A common pattern is 想 + verb phrase.
练习
练习 means “practise” in “练习使用这个词”, describing repeated effort to improve use of the word. It can come before another action in the pattern 练习 + verb phrase.
使用
使用 means “use” in “使用这个词”, referring to applying the word in speech or writing. A common pattern is 使用 + object, as in “使用这个词”.
试着
试着 means “try to” in “试着用它说一个短句”, inviting an attempt at the following action. It comes before the action phrase in the pattern 试着 + verb phrase.
用
用 means “use” in “用它说一个短句”, showing what is used to produce the short sentence. A common pattern is 用 + object + verb phrase, as in “用它说”.
说
说 means “say” in “说一个短句”, describing the act of producing a short sentence aloud. It can be followed by what is said, as in 说 + sentence or phrase.
短句
短句 means “short sentence” in “说一个短句”, naming the brief sentence the learner should produce. It can follow a measure phrase, as in “一个短句”.
Grammar Points
慢慢 + 动词
慢慢读。
mànmàn dúRead slowly.
“慢慢”作副词，放在动词“读”前面，表示动作进行得不快。
试着 + 动词
试着使用短句。
shìzhe shǐyòng duǎnjùTry to use short sentences.
“试着”后面接动词，表示尝试做某事。
Chinese Vocabulary
部分
noun
bùfen
part
词
noun
cí
word
读
verb
dú
read; pronounce
房间
noun
fángjiān
room
分成
verb
fēn chéng
divide into; break into
干净
adj
gānjìng
clean
例子
noun
lìzi
example
练习
verb
liànxí
practice
慢慢
adv
mànmàn
slowly
明亮
adj
míngliàng
bright
小房间
noun
xiǎo fángjiān
small room
意思
noun
yìsi
meaning
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
example
Show Answer
例子divide into; break into
Show Answer
分成practice
Show Answer
练习small room