About This Lesson
Use Rest and Get Coffee to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
我需要休息一下。
Wǒ xūyào xiūxi yíxià. I need a short break.
B
我们坐在沙发上吧。
Wǒmen zuò zài shāfā shàng ba. Let's sit on the sofa.
A
我可以拿点咖啡吗？
Wǒ kěyǐ ná diǎn kāfēi ma? Can I get some coffee?
B
厨房里有咖啡。
Chúfáng lǐ yǒu kāfēi. There is coffee in the kitchen.
A
我先伸展一下，然后再去拿咖啡。
Wǒ xiān shēnzhǎn yíxià, ránhòu zài qù ná kāfēi. I'll get some after I stretch a little.
B
累的时候，伸展一下身体会有帮助。
Lèi de shíhou, shēnzhǎn yíxià shēntǐ huì yǒu bāngzhù. Stretching helps when you feel tired.
A
这个房间很安静。
Zhège fángjiān hěn ānjìng. This room is quiet.
B
我们可以在这里休息一会儿。
Wǒmen kěyǐ zài zhèlǐ xiūxi yíhuìr. We can rest here for a while.Word by Word
我
“我” means “I” or “me” in “我需要休息一下”。It identifies the speaker as the person who needs a short rest, and you can reuse it before an action or need, such as “我可以拿点咖啡吗？” when asking for yourself.
需要
“需要” means “need” in “我需要休息一下”。It comes after the subject and before what is needed; a common pattern is “我需要 + noun or action”。Use it when telling someone about something necessary, such as needing a break.
休息
“休息” means “rest” in “我需要休息一下”。Here it names the short pause the speaker wants, and it can follow “需要” or be used in “休息一会儿”。Use it when you want to pause after work or when tired.
一下
“一下” in “我需要休息一下” makes the action sound brief or limited, so “休息一下” means “rest for a little while”。The “一” and “下” work together in this expression rather than giving separate meanings here. A useful pattern is verb + “一下”, for example “看一下” in a new example when asking someone to take a quick look.
我们
“我们” means “we” or “us” in “我们坐在沙发上吧”。It refers to the speaker and at least one other person, and it can come before a shared action. Use it when suggesting that you and another person do something together.
坐
“坐” means “sit” in “我们坐在沙发上吧”。It describes the action being suggested and is followed here by the location phrase “在沙发上”。Use it when inviting someone to sit in a particular place.
在
“在” marks the location of the action in “我们坐在沙发上吧”。It introduces where the sitting happens, before “沙发上”。A useful pattern is “在 + place + action”, such as “在这里休息” in a new example.
沙发
“沙发” means “sofa” in “我们坐在沙发上吧”。It is the object named as the place for sitting, followed by “上” to show position on it. Use it when talking about sitting or resting on a sofa.
上
“上” means “on” in “我们坐在沙发上吧”。Together with “沙发”, it shows the position as being on the sofa. A useful pattern is “place + 上”, used for a position on a surface or object.
吧
“吧” turns “我们坐在沙发上” into a suggestion in “我们坐在沙发上吧”。It makes the proposal softer and invites the other person to agree. Use it at the end when suggesting a shared action.
可以
“可以” means “can” or “may” in “我可以拿点咖啡吗？” and asks whether the action is allowed or possible. It comes before the action “拿点咖啡”。Use “可以 + action” when politely asking for permission or checking possibility.
拿
“拿” means “get” or “take” in “我可以拿点咖啡吗？” and “然后再去拿咖啡”。Here it describes getting coffee, not merely holding an unspecified object. Use it before the thing being taken, such as “拿咖啡” when going to get coffee.
点
“点” means “some” or “a little” in “拿点咖啡”。It indicates a small or unspecified amount before “咖啡”。Use “点” before a substance or other thing when asking for or taking a small amount.
咖啡
“咖啡” means “coffee” in “我可以拿点咖啡吗？” and “厨房里有咖啡”。It is the drink being requested and the thing said to be available in the kitchen. Use it after amount words such as “点” when referring to some coffee.
吗
“吗” marks “我可以拿点咖啡吗？” as a yes-or-no question. It comes at the end of the sentence and does not change the target words before it. Use it after a statement when asking whether it is true, possible, or allowed.
厨房
“厨房” means “kitchen” in “厨房里有咖啡”。It names the place where the coffee is available, followed by “里” to show inside the place. Use it when giving or asking about the location of food or drinks.
里
“里” means “in” or “inside” in “厨房里有咖啡”。Together with “厨房”, it locates the coffee inside the kitchen. A useful pattern is “place + 里 + 有 + thing” when saying that something is inside a place.
有
“有” means “there is” in “厨房里有咖啡”。It states that coffee is available in the kitchen after the location phrase “厨房里”。Use “place + 有 + thing” to say that something exists or is available in a place.
先
“先” means “first” in “我先伸展一下，然后再去拿咖啡”。It shows that stretching happens before getting coffee. Use it before the first action when explaining the order of two actions.
伸展
“伸展” means “stretch” in “我先伸展一下，然后再去拿咖啡”。It names the physical action done before going to get coffee, and it also appears in “伸展一下身体”。Use it when talking about stretching your body, especially during a short rest.
然后
“然后” means “then” or “afterwards” in “我先伸展一下，然后再去拿咖啡”。It connects the first action with the next action in the stated order. A useful pattern is “先 + action，然后 + action” when describing a sequence.
再
“再” means “then” or “later” in “然后再去拿咖啡”。It marks getting coffee as the later action after stretching. Use it before an action that will happen after another action, often together with “先” or “然后”。
去
“去” means “go” in “然后再去拿咖啡”。Here it shows going somewhere or going to carry out the action of getting coffee. A useful pattern is “去 + action”, used when someone goes to do something.
累
“累” means “tired” in “累的时候，伸展一下身体会有帮助”。It describes the condition in which stretching can help and is linked to “时候” to form a time expression. Use it when explaining how you feel after work or physical effort.
的
“的” links “累” with “时候” in “累的时候”，forming the meaning “when you are tired”。It helps turn the condition “累” into the time expression used before the main clause. A useful pattern is “condition + 的时候” for saying when something happens.
时候
“时候” means “time” or “when” in “累的时候”。Together with “累” and “的”, it introduces the situation “when you are tired”。Use “X的时候” to describe the time or situation in which another action or result occurs.
身体
“身体” means “body” in “伸展一下身体”。It is the thing being stretched, making the action more specific than simply saying “伸展”。Use it after an action such as “伸展” when referring to the body.
会
“会” indicates an expected effect in “伸展一下身体会有帮助”, meaning that stretching is expected to be helpful. It comes before the result phrase “有帮助”。Use “会 + result” when describing what is likely to happen in a situation.
帮助
“帮助” means “help” or “be helpful” in “伸展一下身体会有帮助”。Here it describes the benefit that stretching is expected to provide when someone is tired. Use it in “有帮助” when saying that an action or thing is useful.
这个
“这个” means “this” in “这个房间很安静”。The “这” points to something near or currently identified, and “个” is the measure word included in this form. Use “这个 + noun” when identifying one particular nearby thing, such as “这个房间”.
房间
“房间” means “room” in “这个房间很安静”。It is the place being described as quiet, after “这个” and before the description. Use it when talking about an indoor space where people can sit or rest.
很
“很” helps describe the room in “这个房间很安静”, meaning that the room is quite or very quiet. It comes before the adjective “安静”。A useful pattern is “很 + description” when describing a person, place, or thing.
安静
“安静” means “quiet” in “这个房间很安静”。It describes the room as having little noise, with “很” before it. Use it when describing a quiet room or another calm place.
这里
“这里” means “here” in “我们可以在这里休息一会儿”。It identifies the current place as the place for resting, after “在”。Use “在这里 + action” when saying what someone can do at the current location.
一会儿
“一会儿” means “for a while” in “我们可以在这里休息一会儿”。The “一” and “会儿” work together to express a short period of time, so “休息一会儿” means “rest for a while”。Use it after an action when you want to say that the action lasts for a short time.
Grammar Points
先……然后再……
先伸展，然后再休息一下。
Xiān shēnzhǎn, ránhòu zài xiūxi yíxià.First stretch, then rest for a moment.
Use 先 for the first action, then 然后再 to show the next action in sequence.
地点 + 有 + 名词
厨房有咖啡。
Chúfáng yǒu kāfēi.There is coffee in the kitchen.
Chinese places the location before 有 to express that something exists or is available there.
Chinese Vocabulary
厨房
noun
chúfáng
kitchen
厨房里有咖啡。
咖啡
noun
kāfēi
coffee
我可以拿点咖啡吗?
拿
verb
ná
to get; to take
我可以拿点咖啡吗?
沙发
noun
shāfā
sofa; couch
我们坐在沙发上吧。
我
pron
wǒ
I; me
我需要休息一下。
我们
pron
wǒmen
we; us
我们坐在沙发上吧。
先
adv
xiān
first; beforehand
我先伸展一下,然后再去拿咖啡。
休息
verb
xiūxi
to rest; to take a break
我需要休息一下。
休息一下
phrase
xiūxi yíxià
to take a short rest; to rest for a moment
我需要休息一下。
需要
verb
xūyào
to need
我需要休息一下。
有
verb
yǒu
to have; there is; there are
厨房里有咖啡。
坐
verb
zuò
to sit
我们坐在沙发上吧。
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
to take a short rest; to rest for a moment
Show Answer
休息一下to rest; to take a break
Show Answer
休息sofa; couch
Show Answer
沙发to need