Talking about reading in free time | Learn Chinese in English

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Use Talking about reading in free time to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

你在看什么书？

Nǐ zài kàn shénme shū? What are you reading?

我在看一本很短的书。

Wǒ zài kàn yì běn hěn duǎn de shū. I am reading a short book.

你喜欢这个故事吗？

Nǐ xǐhuan zhè ge gùshi ma? Do you like the story?

这个故事很容易看懂。

Zhè ge gùshi hěn róngyì kàndǒng. It is easy to follow.

你通常在哪里看书？

Nǐ tōngcháng zài nǎlǐ kàn shū? Where do you usually read?

我通常在家里的安静房间里看书。

Wǒ tōngcháng zài jiālǐ de ānjìng fángjiān lǐ kàn shū. I usually read in a quiet room at home.

听起来很平静。

Tīng qǐlái hěn píngjìng. That sounds calm.

这能让我享受空闲时间。

Zhè néng ràng wǒ xiǎngshòu kòngxián shíjiān. It helps me enjoy my free time.

Word by Word

你 “你” refers to the person being addressed, meaning “you.” In the dialogue, it is the subject of “你在看什么书？” and “你喜欢这个故事吗？”. Use it when asking one person about an activity or preference, such as asking what they are reading.

在 “在” marks an action that is in progress in “你在看什么书？” and “我在看一本很短的书。”. It comes before the action word “看” to show that the reading is happening now. This is useful when asking or saying what someone is doing at the moment.

看 In this dialogue, “看” means to read when its object is a book, as in “看什么书” and “看一本很短的书.” The meaning comes from its use with “书” here. Use the exact pattern “看书” when talking about reading books.

什么 “什么” asks what information is unknown; in “你在看什么书？” it asks which book the person is reading. It appears before the noun “书” in this question. Use it when asking someone to identify an unspecified thing, such as the book they are reading.

书 “书” means “book” in “什么书” and “一本很短的书.” It is the object of “看,” so the dialogue is about reading a book. Use it in the phrase “看书” when talking about reading.

我 “我” refers to the speaker, meaning “I” in “我在看一本很短的书” and “me” in “让我享受空闲时间.” Its role depends on its position in the sentence. Use it when talking about your own activity or experience.

一 “一” means “one” in “一本很短的书.” It appears before the measure word “本” and shows that there is one book. A number can be placed before a measure word and noun when specifying a quantity.

本 “本” is the measure word used for a book in “一本很短的书.” It comes between “一” and “书,” so the complete quantity phrase means “one book.” Use it when counting or specifying books.

很 “很” strengthens the description “短” in “很短的书,” giving the meaning “very short.” It appears before the describing word and helps form the description of “书.” Use the same position when describing something with a strong degree.

短 “短” means “short” in “很短的书.” With “很” and “的,” it describes the book as short. Use it in “很短的书” when describing the length of a book.

的 In “很短的书,” “的” links the description “很短” to the noun “书.” In “家里的安静房间,” it links “家里” to “房间,” meaning a room at home. Use it when placing a description or relationship before a noun.

喜欢 “喜欢” means “like” in “你喜欢这个故事吗？”. It takes “这个故事” as the thing that is liked. Use it to ask or state whether someone has a positive preference for something.

这 “这” means “this” in “这个故事,” pointing to the story being discussed. It comes before the measure word “个” and the noun “故事.” Use it when referring to a specific thing near the conversation or already under discussion.

个 “个” is the general measure word in “这个故事.” It comes between “这” and “故事” to form the phrase “this story.” Use it in a noun phrase when this general measure word is appropriate.

故事 “故事” means “story” in “这个故事.” It is the object of “喜欢,” so the speaker is asking whether the listener likes the story. Use it when discussing the content of a book or another narrative.

吗 “吗” marks the sentence “你喜欢这个故事吗？” as a yes-or-no question. It is placed at the end rather than changing the word order of the statement. Use it when asking whether someone likes or agrees with something.

容易 “容易” means “easy” in “这个故事很容易看懂.” It describes the story as easy to understand through reading, while “看懂” specifies what is easy to do. Use it in the phrase “很容易看懂” when saying that written material is easy to understand.

看懂 “看懂” means to understand something through reading or looking at it; in “很容易看懂,” the story is easy to understand. The form combines the reading action “看” with the result of understanding “懂.” Use it when talking about successfully understanding written material.

通常 “通常” means “usually” in “你通常在哪里看书？” and “我通常在家里的安静房间里看书。” It describes a customary or repeated situation rather than only one occasion. It can be placed before the location and activity when describing where someone normally reads.

哪里 “哪里” asks “where” in “你通常在哪里看书？”. It asks for the place of the activity “看书.” Use it when asking someone to identify the location of a regular activity.

家里 “家里” means “at home” or “in the home”; in “家里的安静房间里,” it identifies the room as one at home. The form is connected to “房间” by “的” in this sentence. Use it in the location phrase “在家里” when saying that an activity happens at home.

安静 “安静” means “quiet” in “安静房间,” describing the room as having little noise or disturbance. It comes before “房间” as part of the description. Use it when describing a quiet place suitable for reading or another calm activity.

房间 “房间” means “room” in “家里的安静房间里.” It is the place where the speaker usually reads. Use it with “里,” as in “房间里,” when referring to something happening inside the room.

里 “里” marks the inside or interior of a place in “房间里.” It follows the noun “房间” and shows where the reading takes place. Use it after a place noun when describing an action happening inside that place.

听起来 “听起来” means “sounds” or “seems” based on what is heard, as in “听起来很平静.” The component “听” contributes hearing, while “起来” helps express the impression that results from hearing it. Use “听起来很平静” when responding to a description that gives a calm impression.

平静 “平静” means “calm” or “peaceful” in “听起来很平静.” It describes the impression of the reading situation or place. Use it when commenting on an atmosphere that feels calm and undisturbed.

能 “能” means “can” or “is able to” in “这能让我享受空闲时间.” It presents the situation as having the ability or effect to produce the following result. Use it before an action or result phrase, as in “能让.”

让 “让” means “let” or “make” in “让我享受空闲时间.” Here it introduces “我” as the person affected and “享受空闲时间” as the resulting action. Use the pattern shown in “让我享受” when one thing enables or causes someone to do something.

享受 “享受” means “enjoy” in “享受空闲时间.” Its object is “空闲时间,” so the speaker enjoys their free time. Use it before an experience or period of time that someone takes pleasure in.

空闲 “空闲” means “free” or “unoccupied” in “空闲时间,” describing time when the person is not busy. It comes before “时间” as part of the noun phrase. Use “空闲时间” when talking about time available for reading or another personal activity.

时间 “时间” means “time” in “空闲时间.” Together with “空闲,” it refers to free time that the speaker can enjoy. Use it after a description such as “空闲” when referring to a period available for an activity.

Grammar Points

主语 + 通常 + 动词

你通常看书

Nǐ tōngcháng kàn shū

You usually read books.

中文中，频率副词通常放在主语后、动词前。

让 + 人 + 动词

让你享受空闲时间

Ràng nǐ xiǎngshòu kòngxián shíjiān

Let you enjoy your free time.

“让”后面接人，再接动词，表示“让某人做某事”。

Chinese Vocabulary

短 adj

duǎn short

故事 noun

gùshi story

看懂 verb

kàndǒng understand through reading or watching

看书 phrase

kàn shū read a book

哪里 pron

nǎlǐ where

你 pron

nǐ you

容易 adj

róngyì easy

什么 pron

shénme what

书 noun

shū book

通常 adv

tōngcháng usually

喜欢 verb

xǐhuan like

这个 det

zhè ge this; this one

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

read a book

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看书

what

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什么

where

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哪里

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喜欢