Returning to Work After a Break | Learn Chinese in English

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Use Returning to Work After a Break to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

你准备好继续工作了吗？

Nǐ zhǔnbèi hǎo jìxù gōngzuò le ma? Do you feel ready to work again?

我现在感觉好多了。

Wǒ xiànzài gǎnjué hǎo duō le. I feel better now.

我们要回办公桌前吗？

Wǒmen yào huí bàngōngzhuō qián ma? Should we go back to the desk?

休息结束了，我们行动起来吧。

Xiūxi jiéshù le, wǒmen xíngdòng qǐlái ba. The break is over, so let's get moving.

我需要下一个任务的文件。

Wǒ xūyào xià yí ge rènwu de wénjiàn. I need the file for the next task.

文件在办公桌上。

Wénjiàn zài bàngōngzhuō shàng. It's on the desk.

我现在能更专心了。

Wǒ xiànzài néng gèng zhuānxīn le. I can focus better now.

那我们先从文件开始吧。

Nà wǒmen xiān cóng wénjiàn kāishǐ ba. Then let's start with the file.

Word by Word

你 “你” means “you” in the question “你准备好继续工作了吗？”. It refers to the person being asked about readiness. Use it before a description or action when speaking directly to one person, such as “你需要文件吗？” as a new example.

准备好 “准备好” means “be ready” in “你准备好继续工作了吗？”. “准备” contributes the idea of preparing, and “好” shows that the preparation has reached a ready state. A reusable pattern is “准备好 + action”, such as “准备好出发” as a new example. You can use it to check whether someone is ready to begin work or another activity.

继续 “继续” means “continue” in “继续工作”. It shows that the work is resuming rather than starting for the first time. It commonly comes before the action that continues, as in “继续学习” as a new example. Use it when asking or saying that an activity should carry on after a pause.

工作 “工作” means “work” in “继续工作”. Here it names the activity the speakers are returning to after the break. It can follow “继续”, as in “继续工作”, or be used after “开始” in a new example. Use it when talking about doing one’s job or work activity.

了 The sentence-final “了” in “你准备好继续工作了吗？” shows that the situation may now have changed to being ready. Together with “吗”, it asks whether that new situation is true. It is useful when checking whether someone has reached a new state, such as “你准备好了吗？” as a new example.

吗 “吗” turns “你准备好继续工作了” into the yes-or-no question “你准备好继续工作了吗？”. It comes at the end of the question. Use it after a statement when asking whether the statement is true, such as “你需要文件吗？” as a new example.

我 “我” means “I” in “我现在感觉好多了”. It identifies the speaker as the person who feels better. It commonly comes before the action, feeling, or ability being described, such as “我需要文件” as a new example. Use it when giving information about yourself.

现在 “现在” means “now” in “我现在感觉好多了” and “我现在能更专心了”. It places the feeling or ability at the present time. It commonly comes after the subject and before the verb or description. Use it when explaining someone’s current condition or action.

感觉 “感觉” means “feel” in “我现在感觉好多了”. It introduces the speaker’s personal physical or emotional impression. It commonly comes before a description of how someone feels, as in “感觉很好” as a new example. Use it when reporting your current feeling.

好多 “好多” means “much better” in “我现在感觉好多了”. It describes a clear improvement in how the speaker feels, and the following “了” shows the current changed state. It can follow “感觉”, as in “感觉好多了”. Use it when telling someone that you feel substantially better after a pause or problem.

我们 “我们” means “we” in “我们要回办公桌前吗？” and “我们行动起来吧”. It refers to the speaker and at least one other person together. It commonly comes before an action or suggestion. Use it when proposing that you and another person do something together.

要 “要” in “我们要回办公桌前吗？” asks whether the two speakers should or are going to return to the desk. Its exact force comes from the question and surrounding context, not from “要” alone. It commonly comes before the action, as in “要开始吗？” as a new example. Use it when discussing a planned or proposed action.

回 “回” means “go back” in “回办公桌前”. It shows movement back to a previous place or point. It commonly comes before the destination, as in “回家” as a new example. Use it when returning to a place after being away.

办公桌 “办公桌” means “office desk” in “办公桌前” and “办公桌上”. It names the desk used for work. It can combine with a location word such as “前” or “上” to show where something is or where someone is. Use it when referring to the work desk in an office.

前 “前” means “in front of” in “回办公桌前”. Together, “办公桌前” identifies the area in front of the office desk as the destination. It comes after the place noun in this location expression. Use it when describing someone or something located in front of a person or object.

休息 “休息” means “break” or “rest” in “休息结束了”. Here it refers to the work break that has ended. It can be used as the subject of “结束”, as in “休息结束了”. Use it when talking about pausing work or taking time to rest.

结束 “结束” means “end” in “休息结束了”. It says that the break has come to an end, while the final “了” marks the changed situation. It commonly follows the activity or event that ends, such as “会议结束了” as a new example. Use it when announcing that an activity is over.

行动 “行动” means “take action” in “行动起来吧”. It urges the speakers to begin doing something instead of remaining at rest. In this dialogue it is followed by “起来”, which helps express getting moving. Use it when encouraging people to act or move forward with a task.

起来 “起来” in “行动起来吧” helps express starting to move or becoming active. With “行动”, the whole expression means “let’s get moving”, while “起来” contributes the beginning or activation of the action. It can follow an action word in a similar pattern, such as “忙起来” as a new example. Use it when encouraging someone to start an activity.

吧 “吧” in “行动起来吧” makes the sentence a suggestion or encouragement. It softens the proposal and presents the action as something the speakers can do together. It commonly appears at the end of a suggestion, such as “我们开始吧” as a new example. Use it when inviting someone to do something.

需要 “需要” means “need” in “我需要下一个任务的文件”. It shows that the speaker requires the file for the next task. It commonly comes before the needed object, as in “需要帮助” as a new example. Use it when asking for or stating a requirement.

下一个 “下一个” means “the next” in “下一个任务”. “下” contributes the idea of what comes next, and “一个” identifies one item in that sequence. It comes before the noun it describes, such as “下一个问题” as a new example. Use it when referring to the item or task that follows the current one.

任务 “任务” means “task” in “下一个任务的文件”. It names the piece of work for which the file is needed. It can be modified by “下一个” before it and followed by “的” when describing a related noun. Use it when discussing a specific piece of work to complete.

的 “的” links “下一个任务” to “文件” in “下一个任务的文件”. The phrase before “的” describes or identifies the file that follows it. A reusable pattern is “modifier + 的 + noun”, such as “我的文件” as a new example. Use it to connect a description or owner to a noun.

文件 “文件” means “file” in “下一个任务的文件” and “文件在办公桌上”. It is the work document the speaker needs and locates on the desk. It can follow a phrase with “的” or be the subject of a location sentence. Use it when referring to a document used for a task.

在 “在” in “文件在办公桌上” shows where the file is located. It comes after the thing being located and before the place phrase. A reusable pattern is “thing + 在 + place”, such as “书在桌上” as a new example. Use it when telling someone where an object is.

上 “上” means “on” in “办公桌上”. Together with “办公桌”, it shows that the file is located on the surface of the desk. It follows the place noun in this expression. Use it for a location on a surface, such as “书在桌上” as a new example.

能 “能” means “can” in “我现在能更专心了”. It shows that the speaker is now able to focus more effectively. It comes before the action or state that is possible, here “更专心”. Use it when describing a current ability or possibility.

更 “更” means “more” in “更专心”. It indicates that the speaker is more focused than before. It comes before the description it compares, as in “更快” as a new example. Use it when describing an increased degree of a quality or state.

专心 “专心” means “focused” in “我现在能更专心了”. It describes paying close attention to the work, with “更” showing an increased degree. It commonly follows “能” when describing the ability to focus, as in “能专心工作” as a new example. Use it when saying that someone is concentrating on a task.

那 “那” means “then” in “那我们先从文件开始吧”. It connects the previous information to the speakers’ next decision. It comes at the beginning of the response and is followed by the proposed action. Use it when moving from a conclusion or situation to the next step.

先 “先” means “first” in “我们先从文件开始吧”. It sets the order of the action, showing that starting with the file is the first step. It commonly comes before the action that should happen first. Use it when organizing several steps in a task.

从 “从” means “from” in “从文件开始”. It marks the starting point of the activity: the speakers will begin with the file. A reusable pattern is “从 + starting point + 开始”, such as “从第一页开始” as a new example. Use it when identifying where an activity or sequence begins.

开始 “开始” means “start” in “从文件开始”. With “从文件”, it says that the work will begin with the file. It commonly appears in the pattern “从 + starting point + 开始”. Use it when choosing the first item or activity in a task.

Grammar Points

先从……开始

先从下一个任务开始。

Xiān cóng xià yí ge rènwu kāishǐ.

First, start with the next task.

先 means “first,” and 从 marks the starting point: do something first, beginning from a person, place, or task.

更 + 形容词

需要更专心。

Xūyào gèng zhuānxīn.

You need to be more focused.

更 comes before an adjective to express a higher degree, meaning “more” or “even more.”

Chinese Vocabulary

办公桌 noun

bàngōngzhuō desk

感觉 verb

gǎnjué feel

工作 verb

gōngzuò work

好多 adj

hǎo duō much better

回 verb

huí go back

继续 verb

jìxù continue

结束 verb

jiéshù be over; finish

现在 adv

xiànzài now

行动起来 phrase

xíngdòng qǐlái get moving

休息 noun

xiūxi break

需要 verb

xūyào need

准备好 adj

zhǔnbèi hǎo be ready

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

get moving

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行动起来

much better

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好多

continue

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继续

desk

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办公桌