About This Lesson
Use Speaking Quietly in a Library to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
你可以在这里说话小声一点吗？
Nǐ kěyǐ zài zhèlǐ shuōhuà xiǎoshēng yìdiǎn ma? Could you speak a little more quietly here?
B
我没意识到自己说话这么大声。
Wǒ méi yìshí dào zìjǐ shuōhuà zhème dàshēng. I didn't realize I was speaking so loudly.
A
旁边那张桌子的人正在学习。
Pángbiān nà zhāng zhuōzi de rén zhèngzài xuéxí. People are studying at the next table.
B
我会小声一点。
Wǒ huì xiǎoshēng yìdiǎn. I will lower my voice.
A
这样大家就更容易集中注意力了。
Zhèyàng dàjiā jiù gèng róngyì jízhōng zhùyìlì le. It will make it easier for everyone to focus.
B
我可以坐近一点，这样我们就不用大声说话了。
Wǒ kěyǐ zuò jìn yìdiǎn, zhèyàng wǒmen jiù bú yòng dàshēng shuōhuà le. I can sit closer so we do not have to talk loudly.
A
这样我们就能继续做事，不会打扰任何人。
Zhèyàng wǒmen jiù néng jìxù zuòshì, bú huì dǎrǎo rènhé rén. Then we can keep working without bothering anyone.
B
从现在开始我会小声一点。
Cóng xiànzài kāishǐ wǒ huì xiǎoshēng yìdiǎn. I will keep it down from now on.Word by Word
你
你 means “you” here, referring to the person being asked to speak more quietly. It is placed before the request in 你可以在这里说话小声一点吗？. Use it when addressing one person directly, such as when making a polite request.
可以
可以 means “can” or “may” here and helps form a polite request about what the other person is able or willing to do. It comes after 你 and before the requested action in 你可以在这里说话小声一点吗？. Use it when asking someone whether they can or may do something.
在
在 means “at” or “in” here, locating the speaking action in a particular place. It comes before 这里 in 在这里说话小声一点吗？. Use it before a place when saying where an action happens.
这里
这里 means “here,” referring to the library location in the request. In 在这里说话小声一点吗？, it follows 在 to specify the place. Use it when referring to the place where the speakers are currently located.
说话
说话 means “speak” or “talk” here, naming the action whose volume should be reduced. It follows the location phrase in 在这里说话小声一点吗？. Use it when discussing the act of speaking in a situation such as a library or conversation.
小声
小声 means “quietly” or “in a low voice” here, describing how the person should speak. In 说话小声一点吗？, it comes after the action 说话 and before 一点. Use it to ask or tell someone to use a quieter voice.
一点
一点 means “a little” here and softens the request by asking for a small reduction in speaking volume. It follows 小声 in 说话小声一点吗？. Use it after a quality or manner when asking for a slight change, especially in a polite request.
吗
吗 is the question particle at the end of 你可以在这里说话小声一点吗？, turning the statement into a yes-no question. It is placed at the end of the sentence rather than before the requested action. Use it when asking for a simple yes-or-no response.
我
我 means “I” or “me” here, referring to the speaker who realizes their voice was loud. It comes at the beginning of 我没意识到自己说话这么大声。. Use it when the speaker is describing their own action, state, or responsibility.
没
没 means “did not” here, showing that the speaker lacked awareness of the situation. It comes before 意识到 in 我没意识到自己说话这么大声。. Use it before an action or state when saying that it did not happen or was not the case.
意识到
意识到 means “realize” or “become aware of” here, referring to noticing the loudness only after it is pointed out. In 我没意识到自己说话这么大声。, it is followed by what the speaker had not realized. Use it when describing awareness of a fact, problem, or situation.
自己
自己 means “oneself” here and refers back to the speaker, marking that the speaker was the one speaking loudly. It comes before 说话 in 自己说话这么大声。. Use it when making clear that the subject is doing something to or by themselves.
这么
这么 means “so” or “to this extent” here, emphasizing the degree of loudness in 说话这么大声。. It comes before the description 大声. Use it before a quality or manner when pointing out that something has a certain degree in the current situation.
大声
大声 means “loudly” or “in a loud voice” here, describing how the speaker had been talking. In 自己说话这么大声。, it follows the action 说话 and is modified by 这么. Use it when describing speech or another sound as loud.
旁边
旁边 means “beside” or “next to” here, identifying the location near the speakers. It begins 旁边那张桌子的人, which refers to the people at the table next to them. Use it to describe something located beside another person or object.
那
那 means “that” here, pointing to the particular table next to the speakers. It comes before 张桌子 in 那张桌子. Use it before a noun when identifying a specific thing that is not the one immediately being indicated as “this.”
张
张 is the classifier used here for the table in 那张桌子. It comes between 那 and 桌子 when identifying one table. Use it with flat objects such as tables, sheets, or pieces of paper when counting or specifying them.
桌子
桌子 means “table” here, referring to the table where nearby people are studying. In 那张桌子, it follows the classifier 张. Use it when talking about a table, including one identified by its location.
的
的 links 那张桌子 to 人 in 那张桌子的人, meaning the people associated with or located at that table. It comes after the modifying phrase and before the noun it describes. Use it to connect a description or possession to a following noun.
人
人 means “person” or “people” here, referring to the people at the next table. In 那张桌子的人正在学习。, it is followed by the action they are doing. Use it when referring to people generally or to people identified by a location or description.
正在
正在 shows that the people are currently carrying out the action in 旁边那张桌子的人正在学习。. It comes before 学习 to mark an action in progress at that moment. Use it before an action when emphasizing that it is happening now.
学习
学习 means “study” or “learn” here, describing what the people at the next table are doing. It follows 正在 in 正在学习 to show an ongoing activity. Use it for studying a subject or learning something.
会
会 means “will” here, expressing the speaker’s intention to lower their voice in 我会小声一点。. It comes before the action or change being promised. Use it when stating what someone intends or expects to do.
这样
这样 means “this way” or “like this” here, referring to the choice to speak more quietly. In 这样大家就更容易集中注意力了。, it introduces the result of that choice. Use it to connect an action or method with its consequence.
大家
大家 means “everyone” here, referring to all the people who need to focus in the library. It is the subject of 大家就更容易集中注意力了。. Use it when referring collectively to everyone in a group or situation.
就
就 means “then” or “thereby” here, linking the quiet-speaking arrangement to the easier result in 这样大家就更容易集中注意力了。. It appears before the result or consequence. Use it to show that one situation leads directly to another.
更
更 means “more” or “even more” here, showing that focusing becomes easier as a result of the quieter voices. It comes before 容易 in 更容易集中注意力. Use it before a description when comparing the degree with an earlier or implied situation.
容易
容易 means “easy” here and, with 更, describes focusing as becoming easier. In 更容易集中注意力了, it comes before the action phrase 集中注意力. Use it to describe an action or task that requires little difficulty.
集中
集中 means “concentrate” or “focus” here, describing directing attention toward study. It comes before 注意力 in 集中注意力. Use it with attention or another focus target when describing concentration.
注意力
注意力 means “attention” here, the thing that everyone can direct toward studying. In 集中注意力, it follows 集中 as the focus being concentrated. Use it when discussing someone’s ability to pay attention to a task.
了
了 marks a changed result in 这样大家就更容易集中注意力了。, showing that focusing is now easier under the new quieter arrangement. It appears at the end of the sentence. Use it at the end of a statement when emphasizing a newly established situation or change.
坐
坐 means “sit” here, naming the action of moving to a seat closer to the other speaker. It comes before 近 in 坐近一点. Use it when describing sitting down or taking a seat.
近
近 means “near” or “closer” here, describing the result of sitting nearer to the other speaker. In 坐近一点, it follows 坐 and is modified by 一点. Use it after an action such as 坐 when describing a nearer position.
我们
我们 means “we” or “us” here, referring to both speakers in 我们就不用大声说话了。. It comes before the phrase describing what they do not need to do. Use it when including the speaker and at least one other person.
不
不 means “not” or “do not” here, negating the need to speak loudly in 不用大声说话了。. It comes before 用 in this expression. Use it before an action or state for ordinary present or future negation.
用
用 means “need to” in 不用大声说话了, where 不用 together means “do not need to.” It comes before the action phrase 大声说话. Use it with 不 when explaining that an action is unnecessary.
能
能 means “can” or “be able to” here, expressing that the speakers will be able to continue working in 这样我们就能继续做事。. It comes before the action phrase 继续做事. Use it before an action when describing ability or possibility.
继续
继续 means “continue” here, showing that the speakers can carry on with their work. In 继续做事, it comes before the activity being continued. Use it before an action when that activity was already in progress and will go on.
做事
做事 means “do things” or “work” here, referring generally to the activity the speakers want to continue. It follows 继续 in 继续做事. Use it when referring broadly to carrying out tasks or working without naming a specific task.
打扰
打扰 means “bother” or “disturb” here, referring to causing trouble for other people who are studying. It appears before 任何人 in 不会打扰任何人. Use it when talking about interrupting or disturbing another person’s activity.
任何
任何 means “any” here and, before 人, contributes to the meaning “anyone” in 不会打扰任何人. It comes before the noun it limits. Use it before a person or thing when the statement applies without selecting a particular one.
从
从 means “from” here and introduces the starting point in 从现在开始. It comes before 现在 to identify when the new behavior begins. Use it before a time or place when marking a starting point.
现在
现在 means “now” here, referring to the present time in 从现在开始. It follows 从 and comes before 开始. Use it when locating an action at the current time or setting a change from the present onward.
开始
开始 means “begin” or “start” here, marking the point from which the speaker will keep their voice low. In 从现在开始, it completes the time expression “from now on.” Use it after a time expression when identifying when a new action or habit starts.
Grammar Points
从现在开始 + 句子
从现在开始，大家继续学习。
Cóng xiànzài kāishǐ, dàjiā jìxù xuéxí.From now on, everyone continues studying.
从现在开始 is placed at the beginning to show when an action starts.
动词 + 一点
说话小声一点。
Shuōhuà xiǎoshēng yìdiǎn.Speak a little more quietly.
一点 after an action softens it or shows a small degree, as in 小声一点.
Chinese Vocabulary
大声
adv
dàshēng
loudly; in a loud voice
旁边
adv
pángbiān
beside; next to
说话
verb
shuōhuà
to speak; to talk
小声
adv
xiǎoshēng
quietly; in a low voice
学习
verb
xuéxí
to study; to learn
一点
phrase
yìdiǎn
a little; slightly
意识到
verb
yìshí dào
to realize; to become aware
这里
pron
zhèlǐ
here
这么
adv
zhème
so; this much
这样
pron
zhèyàng
this way; like this
桌子
noun
zhuōzi
table; desk
自己
pron
zìjǐ
oneself; myself
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
beside; next to
Show Answer
旁边a little; slightly
Show Answer
一点here
Show Answer
这里oneself; myself