About This Lesson
Use Asking About Homework to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
我应该做什么作业？
Wǒ yīnggāi zuò shénme zuòyè? What should I do for homework?
B
先完成这道练习。
Xiān wánchéng zhè dào liànxí. Start by completing this exercise.
A
我应该用哪一页？
Wǒ yīnggāi yòng nǎ yí yè? Which page should I use?
B
用有简短问题的那一页。
Yòng yǒu jiǎnduǎn wèntí de nà yí yè. Use the page with the short questions.
A
我什么时候应该完成？
Wǒ shénme shíhou yīnggāi wánchéng? When should I finish it?
B
上课前完成。
Shàngkè qián wánchéng. Finish it before class.
A
你晚一点能看看我的答案吗？
Nǐ wǎn yìdiǎn néng kànkan wǒ de dá'àn ma? Can you look at my answers later?
B
做完后把答案带给我。
Zuò wán hòu bǎ dá'àn dài gěi wǒ. Bring them to me after you finish.Word by Word
我
我 means “I” or “me” in “我应该做什么作业？” It is the person asking what homework to do, and it commonly appears before the verb in patterns such as 我做作业. Use it when talking about your own actions or needs.
应该
应该 means “should” in “我应该做什么作业？” It expresses what the speaker is expected or advised to do, and it comes before the action verb. A reusable pattern is 我应该 + verb when asking what you ought to do.
做
做 means “do” in “做什么作业？” Here it describes carrying out the homework. It commonly comes before an activity or task, as in 做作业, and you can use it when talking about completing an activity.
什么
什么 means “what” in “做什么作业？” It asks which thing or task the speaker should do. It can appear before a noun, as in 什么作业, when asking what kind of task is meant.
作业
作业 means “homework” in “什么作业？” It refers to the work assigned for study outside or around class. It commonly follows 做 in 做作业, and you can use it when discussing assigned schoolwork.
先
先 means “first” in “先完成这道练习。” It shows that completing the exercise is the first step. It commonly comes before the action that should happen first, such as 先完成, and is useful when giving instructions in order.
完成
完成 means “complete” or “finish” in “完成这道练习。” It indicates bringing the exercise to completion, and it comes before the task being completed. You can reuse 完成 + task when saying that an assignment or activity has been finished.
这
这 means “this” in “这道练习。” It points to the exercise being identified by the speaker. It appears before the classifier and noun in 这道练习, and you can use it to refer to something nearby or currently under discussion.
道
道 is the classifier used in “这道练习” for this exercise. It connects 这 with 练习 in the noun phrase that identifies one exercise. The pattern 这道 + exercise or question is useful when pointing out a particular item.
练习
练习 means “exercise” in “这道练习。” It refers to a practice task in the lesson. It appears after the classifier 道 here, and you can use it when referring to an exercise learners need to complete.
用
用 means “use” in “用哪一页？” It tells the listener to use a particular page as the source for the work. It commonly comes before the object, as in 用 + page, and is useful when giving instructions about materials.
哪
哪 means “which” in “哪一页？” It asks the listener to identify one page from several possible pages. It comes before the classifier 一 and the noun 页, and you can reuse 哪 + classifier + noun when asking which item is meant.
页
页 means “page” in “哪一页？” It identifies the page the learner should use. It follows the classifier 一 in 哪一页, and you can use it when selecting or referring to a page in a book or worksheet.
有
有 means “have” or “contain” in “有简短问题的那一页。” Here it says that the page contains short questions. It comes before what the page contains, and the pattern 有 + noun can describe the contents of something.
简短
简短 means “short” or “brief” in “简短问题。” It describes the questions on the page as brief. It comes before 问题, and you can use it before a noun when describing something as brief in length or wording.
问题
问题 means “question” in “简短问题。” It refers to the questions printed on the page. It follows the description 简短, and you can use it when referring to questions that someone needs to read or answer.
的
的 links the description “有简短问题” to the noun “那一页” in “有简短问题的那一页。” The phrase before 的 identifies which page is meant. This pattern is useful for describing a noun by what it contains or what happens in it.
那
The listed form 那 means “that,” but it does not appear in the supplied dialogue. The dialogue uses 哪 in “哪一页？” to ask “which page,” so 那 should not be learned here as the form used in this lesson.
时候
时候 means “time” or “point in time” in “什么时候应该完成？” Together with 什么, it asks when the homework should be finished. It commonly appears in 什么时候 when asking about the time of an action.
上课
上课 refers to having or attending class in “上课前完成。” Here it identifies the class as the event before which the work must be finished. It can be used before 前 to form a time expression meaning before class.
前
前 means “before” in “上课前完成。” It places the completion of the work earlier than class. It commonly follows an event or time expression, as in 上课前, when setting a deadline.
你
你 means “you” in “你晚一点能看看我的答案吗？” It refers to the person being asked to check the answers. It appears before the ability expression 能, and you can use it when addressing one person directly.
晚
晚 contributes the meaning “later” in “晚一点能看看我的答案吗？” Together with 一点, it asks the listener to look at the answers a little later rather than immediately. This expression is useful when requesting that an action happen after a short delay.
一点
一点 means “a little” in “晚一点能看看我的答案吗？” 一 means “one” and 点 contributes the idea of a small amount or point; together they soften the time expression to mean “a little later.” The pattern verb or time expression + 一点 can indicate a small degree or short amount.
能
能 means “can” or “be able to” in “你晚一点能看看我的答案吗？” It asks whether the listener is able or willing to do the action. It comes before the verb 看看, and you can reuse 能 + verb when asking about someone’s ability or availability.
看看
看看 means “take a look” or “look at briefly” in “能看看我的答案吗？” The repeated form presents looking as a brief or light action here. It comes before the object 我的答案, and you can use 看看 + object when politely asking someone to look at something.
答案
答案 means “answer” in “我的答案。” It refers to the learner’s answers to the exercise. It follows the possessive phrase 我的, and you can use it when showing or checking the answer to a question or task.
吗
吗 turns “你晚一点能看看我的答案” into a yes-or-no question in “你晚一点能看看我的答案吗？” It is placed at the end of the question. Use it when asking whether someone can or will do the stated action.
做完
做完 means “finish doing” in “做完后把答案带给我。” 做 names the action and 完 shows that the action is completed. It comes before 后 to form a time expression, and you can reuse 做完 + task or 做完后 when referring to an action after completion.
后
后 means “after” in “做完后把答案带给我。” It places bringing the answers after the homework has been finished. It commonly follows an action expression such as 做完, and you can use action + 后 to describe what happens afterward.
把
把 introduces the object being handled in “把答案带给我。” It places 答案 before the verb phrase so the sentence focuses on bringing the answers to the speaker. The reusable pattern is 把 + object + verb phrase when describing what is done with a specific object.
带给
带给 means “bring to” in “把答案带给我。” It describes bringing the answers to the speaker, with 答案 as the object and 我 as the recipient. The pattern 带给 + person can be used when carrying something to someone.
Grammar Points
先 + 动词
先完成这道练习
Xiān wánchéng zhè dào liànxíFinish this exercise first.
先 comes before the verb to show that an action happens first.
做完后
做完后看看答案
Zuò wán hòu kànkan dá'ànAfter finishing, take a look at the answers.
完 shows completion, and 后 means after; together, 做完后 means after finishing.
Chinese Vocabulary
简短
adj
jiǎnduǎn
short; brief
看看
verb
kànkan
to take a look; to look at
哪一页
phrase
nǎ yí yè
which page
上课前
phrase
shàngkè qián
before class
什么
pron
shénme
what
什么时候
adv
shénme shíhou
when
完成
verb
wánchéng
to complete; to finish
问题
noun
wèntí
question
先
adv
xiān
first; before anything else
用
verb
yòng
to use
这道练习
phrase
zhè dào liànxí
this exercise
作业
noun
zuòyè
homework
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
this exercise
Show Answer
这道练习when
Show Answer
什么时候to complete; to finish
Show Answer
完成before class