Planning a Walk with a Friend | Learn Chinese in English

About This Lesson

Use Planning a Walk with a Friend to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

我们一起去散步吧。

Wǒmen yìqǐ qù sànbù ba. Let's take a walk together.

散一会儿步听起来不错。

Sàn yíhuìr bù tīng qǐlái búcuò. A short walk sounds nice.

我们在哪里见面？

Wǒmen zài nǎlǐ jiànmiàn? Where should we meet?

在公园入口见面可以。

Zài gōngyuán rùkǒu jiànmiàn kěyǐ. The park entrance works for me.

我出发前给你发消息。

Wǒ chūfā qián gěi nǐ fā xiāoxi. I'll message you before I leave.

这样我就能准时到那里。

Zhèyàng wǒ jiù néng zhǔnshí dào nàlǐ. That helps me be there on time.

我应该带水吗？

Wǒ yīnggāi dài shuǐ ma? Should I bring water?

带够你自己喝的水。

Dài gòu nǐ zìjǐ hē de shuǐ. Bring enough for yourself.

Word by Word

我们 “我们” means “we” or “us” in the first line, referring to the speaker and the other person together. It commonly appears before an action to show who will do it. Use it when suggesting or describing something involving yourself and the person you are speaking to.

一起 “一起” means “together” in “我们一起去散步吧”, showing that the two people will do the activity jointly. It usually comes before the action it describes. Use it when inviting someone to share an activity with you.

去 “去” shows movement toward an activity in “去散步”, meaning “go and take a walk”. Here it connects “我们一起” with the planned activity. Use it before an activity when talking about going to do it.

散步 “散步” means “take a walk” in “去散步吧”. It names the activity the friends are proposing. Use it when talking about a relaxed walk, such as one with a friend.

吧 “吧” makes “我们一起去散步吧” a suggestion: “Let’s take a walk together.” It softens the proposal and invites agreement. Use it at the end of a friendly suggestion.

散 “散” contributes the walking part of “散一会儿步”, the expression used for taking a short walk. Its meaning here comes from this expression together with “步”, rather than from “散” alone. Use the full expression when describing a brief walk.

一会儿 “一会儿” means “for a while” or “a short time” in “散一会儿步”, limiting the walk to a short period. It is placed between the activity components here to show its duration. Use it when suggesting that an activity will take only a short time.

步 “步” is the walking component of “散一会儿步”, which means taking a short walk in this dialogue. Its meaning here belongs to the full expression with “散”. Use the complete expression when talking about going for a short walk.

听起来 “听起来” means “sounds” or “seems from the impression it gives” in “散一会儿步听起来不错”. The whole form combines “听” with “起来” to describe an impression received from something heard or considered. Use it before an evaluation when saying how an idea or plan seems.

不错 “不错” means “good” or “nice” in “听起来不错”, approving the idea of taking a short walk. It gives a positive evaluation after the impression expressed by “听起来”. Use it to respond positively to a suggestion, plan, or idea.

在 “在” marks the location in “在公园入口见面”, meaning that the meeting will happen at the park entrance. It comes before the place being specified. Use it before a location when saying where an event or action takes place.

哪里 “哪里” means “where” in “我们在哪里见面？”, asking for the meeting location. It appears in the location position before “见面”. Use it when asking where an action or meeting will happen.

见面 “见面” means “meet” in “我们在哪里见面？”. It describes the planned meeting between the two friends. Use it when arranging to meet someone, often after a place or time expression.

公园 “公园” means “park” in “公园入口”, identifying the place connected with the meeting point. It comes before “入口” to specify which entrance is meant. Use it when talking about activities or locations in a park.

入口 “入口” means “entrance” in “公园入口”, the place where the friends agree to meet. It follows the place name to identify a specific part of that place. Use it for the access point to a park, building, or other location.

可以 “可以” means “can” or “is acceptable” in “在公园入口见面可以”, approving that meeting place. Here it says the proposed arrangement works for the speaker. Use it to accept a suggestion or say that an arrangement is suitable.

我 “我” means “I” or “me” in “我出发前给你发消息”, referring to the person who will leave and send the message. It appears before the actions connected with the speaker. Use it to identify yourself as the person doing an action.

出发 “出发” means “leave” or “set off” in “我出发前”, referring to the speaker starting the journey. It is followed by “前” to make a time expression meaning “before leaving”. Use it when talking about beginning a trip or setting off for a destination.

前 “前” means “before” in “我出发前”, placing the message-sending action before the departure. It follows the event that provides the time reference. Use it after an action or event when describing what happens before it.

给 “给” marks the recipient in “给你发消息”, showing that the message will be sent to you. It comes before the person receiving the message and before the sending action. Use it to identify who receives something or benefits from an action.

你 “你” means “you” in “给你发消息”, referring to the person who will receive the message. It follows “给” because it is the recipient here. Use it when addressing the person you are speaking to.

发 “发” means “send” in “发消息”, describing the action of sending a message. It comes before the thing being sent, “消息”. Use it before a message or other item when saying that it will be sent.

消息 “消息” means “message” in “给你发消息”. It is the thing that the speaker promises to send before leaving. Use it when talking about sending or receiving a message.

这样 “这样” means “this way” or “that way” in “这样我就能准时到那里”, referring to the message-sending plan just mentioned. It introduces the way in which the following result becomes possible. Use it to connect a method or arrangement with its result.

就 “就” links the arrangement with its result in “我就能准时到那里”, giving the sense of “then” or “as a result”. It appears before “能” and highlights what becomes possible. Use it in a pattern where one condition or action leads to a result.

能 “能” means “can” or “be able to” in “就能准时到那里”, referring to the ability to arrive on time. It follows “就” because the ability is presented as the result of receiving the message. Use it before an action to describe ability or a possible outcome.

准时 “准时” means “on time” in “准时到那里”, describing an arrival that matches the planned time. It comes before “到那里” to modify the arrival. Use it when discussing punctual attendance or arrival.

到 “到” means “arrive” or “get to” in “到那里”, describing reaching the place referred to as there. It comes before the destination. Use it before a place when talking about arriving or getting there.

那里 “那里” means “there” in “到那里”, referring to the meeting place already being discussed. It follows “到” as the destination. Use it when pointing to a place that is understood from the conversation.

应该 “应该” means “should” in “我应该带水吗？”, asking whether bringing water is the appropriate thing to do. It comes before the action “带”. Use it when asking for or giving advice about what is appropriate.

带 “带” means “bring” or “carry” in “带水” and “带够你自己喝的水”, referring to taking water along for the walk. It comes before the item being brought. Use it when preparing to take an object with you to another place.

水 “水” means “water” in “我应该带水吗？” and “你自己喝的水”. It is the item the friends discuss bringing for the walk. Use it after “带” when saying that water should be brought.

吗 “吗” turns “我应该带水” into the yes-or-no question “Should I bring water?”. It is placed at the end of the question. Use it after a statement when asking for confirmation or a yes-or-no answer.

够 “够” means “enough” in “带够你自己喝的水”, saying that the amount of water should be sufficient for the speaker’s own drinking. It appears before the phrase describing what the amount is sufficient for. Use it when talking about having a sufficient amount of something.

自己 “自己” means “oneself” or “yourself” in “你自己喝的水”, referring specifically to the person addressed. It emphasizes whose drinking the water is intended for. Use it before an action in a phrase that specifies that someone does something themselves or for themselves.

喝 “喝” means “drink” in “你自己喝的水”, identifying what the water is intended to be used for. It appears before “的水” to describe the water connected with drinking. Use it when talking about consuming a drink or about something intended for drinking.

的 “的” links “你自己喝” to “水” in “你自己喝的水”, forming the phrase “the water that you yourself drink”. It places the describing phrase before the noun it identifies. Use it after a word or phrase that describes or specifies a following noun.

Grammar Points

去 + 地点 + 动词

我们一起去公园散步一会儿。

Wǒmen yìqǐ qù gōngyuán sànbù yíhuìr.

We go to the park to take a short walk together.

中文中，地点通常放在动作动词前面；英语常用“go to + 地点 + to do”。

在 + 地点 + 动词

我们在公园入口见面。

Wǒmen zài gōngyuán rùkǒu jiànmiàn.

We meet at the park entrance.

“在 + 地点”放在动词前，表示动作发生的地点；英语通常把地点放在动词后。

Chinese Vocabulary

不错 adj

búcuò good; not bad

公园 noun

gōngyuán park

见面 verb

jiànmiàn to meet

哪里 pron

nǎlǐ where

去 verb

qù to go

入口 noun

rùkǒu entrance

散步 verb

sànbù to take a walk; to go for a walk

听起来 phrase

tīng qǐlái to sound; to sound like

我们 pron

wǒmen we; us

一会儿 phrase

yíhuìr a while; a short time

一起 adv

yìqǐ together

在 prep

zài at; in

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to take a walk; to go for a walk

Show Answer

散步

together

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一起

good; not bad

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不错

where

Show Answer

哪里