About This Lesson
Use Choosing a quiet place for a break to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
我们可以在哪里休息一下？
Wǒmen kěyǐ zài nǎlǐ xiūxi yíxià? Where can we take a break?
B
走廊里有一个安静的地方。
Zǒuláng lǐ yǒu yí ge ānjìng de dìfāng. There's a quiet spot in the hall.
A
那里有长椅吗？
Nàlǐ yǒu chángyǐ ma? Is there a bench there?
B
墙边有一张长椅。
Qiángbiān yǒu yì zhāng chángyǐ. There is one by the wall.
A
我想坐下来休息。
Wǒ xiǎng zuò xiàlái xiūxi. I want to sit and rest.
B
我们一起坐在那里吧。
Wǒmen yìqǐ zuò zài nàlǐ ba. Let's sit there together.
A
这个地方很安静。
Zhè ge dìfāng hěn ānjìng. This spot feels quiet.
B
这里是休息一会儿的好地方。
Zhèlǐ shì xiūxi yíhuìr de hǎo dìfāng. This is a good place for a short break.Word by Word
我们
“我们” means “we” or “us” and refers to the speaker and the other person in “我们可以在哪里休息一下？”. It is used before the action in a sentence and is useful when making a plan together or asking about a shared activity.
可以
“可以” means “can” or “may” in “我们可以在哪里休息一下？”, asking what is possible. It commonly comes before an action or place-related question and is useful when asking about available options or permission.
在
“在” marks the location in “我们可以在哪里休息一下？”. It is used before a place, or in a question with “哪里”, when asking where an action can happen; this is useful when choosing a location for an activity.
哪里
“哪里” means “where” in “我们可以在哪里休息一下？”. It appears with “在” to ask for the location of an action, such as when asking someone to suggest a place.
休息
“休息” means “to rest” or “to take a break” in “我们可以在哪里休息一下？”. It names the activity being planned and can be used after a modal such as “可以” or after “想” to talk about taking a break.
一下
“一下” makes “休息一下” mean taking a short break and gives the action a brief, light tone. It commonly follows an action verb when someone wants to describe doing something briefly, as in the question about where to take a break.
走廊
“走廊” means “hallway” or “corridor” in “走廊里有一个安静的地方”. Together with “里”, it identifies the area where the quiet place is located; it is useful when directing someone to a place inside a building.
里
“里” means “inside” or “in” in “走廊里有一个安静的地方”. It follows a place name to show that something is located within that place, which is useful for describing where objects or people are.
有
“有” means “there is” in “走廊里有一个安静的地方” and “那里有长椅吗？”. With a location before it, it introduces something found in that place; this is useful for asking whether something exists somewhere or pointing out what is there.
个
“个” is the general measure word in “一个安静的地方”. It comes between “一” and the noun phrase when counting one ordinary person or thing, and it is useful when introducing one place or item.
安静
“安静” means “quiet” in “一个安静的地方” and describes the place as having little noise. It comes before “的地方” to describe a place, and it is useful when choosing a calm location for a break.
的
“的” links the description “安静” to the noun “地方” in “安静的地方”. The pattern places a description before “的” and the noun after it, which is useful for describing a place or other thing.
地方
“地方” means “place” or “spot” in “一个安静的地方”. It is the noun described by “安静的” and is useful when talking about where an activity can happen or where something can be found.
那里
“那里” means “there” in “那里有长椅吗？”. It points to a place already identified, such as the quiet spot, and is useful when asking about or directing attention to a location away from the speaker.
长椅
“长椅” means “bench” in “那里有长椅吗？” and “墙边有一张长椅”. It names the seat the speakers want to use, and it is useful when asking whether seating is available in a place.
吗
“吗” turns “那里有长椅” into the yes-or-no question “那里有长椅吗？”. It is placed at the end of a statement to ask for confirmation, which is useful when checking whether something is present.
墙边
“墙边” means “by the wall” in “墙边有一张长椅”. It identifies the bench’s location and is useful for describing something positioned next to a wall or for giving simple directions inside a room.
张
“张” is the measure word used in “一张长椅” for the bench. It appears between “一” and “长椅”, and it is useful when counting objects such as a bench that are treated as having a broad, flat form.
我
“我” means “I” or “me” in “我想坐下来休息”. It identifies the speaker as the person who wants to rest, and it is used before an action or desire when talking about oneself.
想
“想” means “want to” or “would like to” in “我想坐下来休息”. It comes before the actions the speaker wants to do, and it is useful for expressing a personal intention or polite desire.
坐
“坐” means “sit” in “我想坐下来休息” and “我们一起坐在那里吧”. It names the action of taking a seat and can be followed by “下来” when emphasizing moving into a seated position.
下来
“下来” contributes the meaning “down” in “坐下来”, giving the expression the sense of sitting down into a seated position. It follows “坐” in this dialogue and is useful when suggesting or describing the action of taking a seat.
一起
“一起” means “together” in “我们一起坐在那里吧”. It shows that the speakers will do the action jointly, and it is useful when inviting another person to share an activity.
吧
“吧” softens the suggestion in “我们一起坐在那里吧”, making it an invitation to sit there together. It commonly appears at the end of a suggestion and is useful when proposing a shared action in a friendly way.
这个
“这个” means “this” or “this one” in “这个地方很安静”. It points to the spot currently being considered, and it is useful when identifying a nearby or currently discussed place or object.
很
“很” appears before “安静” in “这个地方很安静” to form the natural statement that this place is quiet. It commonly comes before an adjective in a simple description, which is useful when giving an evaluation of a place.
这里
“这里” means “here” in “这里是休息一会儿的好地方”. It identifies the speaker’s current or selected location and is useful when saying what a place is suitable for.
是
“是” means “is” and identifies the place in “这里是休息一会儿的好地方”. It links “这里” with the description that follows, and it is useful for stating what a place or thing is.
一会儿
“一会儿” means “for a short while” in “休息一会儿”. It describes the brief duration of the break and is useful when saying that an action will last only a little time.
好
“好” means “good” in “休息一会儿的好地方”, describing the place as suitable for a short break. It comes before “地方” in this phrase and is useful when evaluating whether a location is appropriate for an activity.
Grammar Points
一起 + 动词
我们一起坐。
Wǒmen yìqǐ zuò.We sit together.
一起 comes before the verb to show that people do an action together.
那里 + 形容词
那里安静。
Nàlǐ ānjìng.It is quiet there.
那里 can be placed before an adjective to describe a place.
Chinese Vocabulary
安静
adj
ānjìng
quiet
地方
noun
dìfāng
place; spot
哪里
pron
nǎlǐ
where
那里
pron
nàlǐ
there
墙
noun
qiáng
wall
我们
pron
wǒmen
we; us
休息
verb
xiūxi
to rest; to take a break
一起
adv
yìqǐ
together
长椅
noun
chángyǐ
bench
这里
pron
zhèlǐ
here
走廊
noun
zǒuláng
hallway; corridor
坐
verb
zuò
to sit
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
together
Show Answer
一起we; us
Show Answer
我们place; spot
Show Answer
地方bench