Talking about a sore back | Learn Chinese in English

Chinese lesson set in a contemporary Shanghai everyday setting: At home, two adults talk about a sore back, sitting more comfortably, and standing up slowly..

EN → ZH / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Talking about a sore back to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

我的背有点酸痛。

wǒ de bèi yǒu diǎn suāntòng My back feels sore.
B

尽量坐直。

jǐnliàng zuò zhí Try to sit up straight.
A

我今天坐得太久了。

wǒ jīntiān zuò de tài jiǔ le I sat too long today.
B

如果可以，就慢慢伸展一下。

rúguǒ kěyǐ, jiù mànmàn shēnzhǎn yíxià Stretch slowly if you can.
A

这把椅子坐起来舒服一些。

zhè bǎ yǐzi zuò qǐlái shūfu yìxiē This chair feels better.
B

在那里待几分钟。

zài nàlǐ dāi jǐ fēnzhōng Stay there for a few minutes.
A

休息一会儿应该会有帮助。

xiūxi yíhuìr yīnggāi huì yǒu bāngzhù A short rest should help.
B

站起来时慢一点。

zhàn qǐlái shí màn yìdiǎn Move slowly when you stand up.

Word by Word

我 “我” refers to the speaker, meaning “I” in “我的背”. It is used before a noun to identify who something belongs to or relates to. New example: 我今天很累。
的 “的” links “我” with “背” and marks the relationship as “my back”. The reusable pattern is possessive or attributive phrase + 的 + noun, as in 我的书. New example: 这是我的椅子。
背 “背” means “back” in “我的背有点酸痛”. It names the body part that feels sore here. New example: 我的背不舒服。
有点 “有点” means “a little” or “somewhat” in “有点酸痛”, describing a limited degree of discomfort. It commonly comes before an adjective or feeling, such as 有点累. You can use it when reporting a mild problem to another person.
酸痛 “酸痛” describes a sore, aching feeling, as in “我的背有点酸痛”. It is the specific feeling being reported about the back here. New example: 我的腿有点酸痛。
尽量 “尽量” means “try to” or “as much as possible” in the advice “尽量坐直”. It comes before the action the listener is encouraged to do. You can use it when giving practical advice without requiring perfection.
坐 “坐” means “sit” in “尽量坐直”. Together with “直”, it describes sitting in an upright position. New example: 请坐。
直 “直” means “straight” or “upright” in “坐直”. Here it describes the position to maintain while sitting. The reusable pattern is action + 直, as in 坐直.
今天 “今天” means “today” in “我今天坐得太久了”. It places the action in the current day and commonly appears before the verb phrase. New example: 我今天在家。
得 “得” links “坐” with “太久” in “坐得太久”, showing the degree or result of the action. The reusable pattern is verb + 得 + degree description, such as 说得很快.
太 “太” means “too” or “excessively” in “太久”, showing that the duration was more than desirable. It commonly comes before an adjective or a duration description. You can use it when explaining that something went beyond a comfortable or suitable amount.
久 “久” means “long” in duration in “坐得太久了”. It describes how much time the sitting lasted. New example: 我等了很久。
了 The final “了” in “我今天坐得太久了” shows that the situation has reached the condition of having lasted too long. It presents the excessive duration as the current problem being noticed.
如果 “如果” means “if” in “如果可以”. It introduces a condition for the following advice. The reusable pattern is 如果 + condition, 就 + result or action.
可以 “可以” means “can” or “be able to” in “如果可以”. It indicates that the listener is able or willing to do the stretching. It commonly follows 如果 when an action depends on what is possible.
就 “就” connects the condition “如果可以” with the suggested action “慢慢伸展一下”, meaning “then” or “in that case”. It commonly appears after an if-clause to introduce what should happen under that condition.
慢慢 “慢慢” means “slowly” in “慢慢伸展一下”, telling the listener to perform the action at a gentle speed. It comes before the action it modifies. You can use it when advising someone to move carefully.
伸展 “伸展” means “stretch” in “慢慢伸展一下”. It names the physical action suggested for the sore back. New example: 运动前要伸展。
一下 “一下” makes “伸展一下” sound like a brief or light action, roughly “stretch a little”. It commonly follows a verb when suggesting a short, limited action. New example: 请等一下。
这 “这” means “this” in “这把椅子”. It points to a chair that is near or currently being discussed. The reusable pattern is 这 + classifier + noun.
把 “把” is the classifier used for the chair in “这把椅子”. It appears between the demonstrative “这” and the noun “椅子”. The reusable pattern is number or demonstrative + 把 + chair or another suitable object.
椅子 “椅子” means “chair” in “这把椅子坐起来舒服一些”. It identifies the object whose comfort is being evaluated. New example: 这把椅子很舒服。
起来 “起来” in “坐起来” helps describe how the chair feels when someone sits on it. The whole expression “这把椅子坐起来舒服一些” means that sitting in this chair feels somewhat more comfortable.
舒服 “舒服” means “comfortable” in “坐起来舒服一些”, describing the physical feeling of sitting in the chair. It commonly follows a verb-plus-起来 expression when describing how an experience feels. New example: 坐在这里很舒服。
一些 “一些” means “somewhat” or “a little” in “舒服一些”, indicating a small improvement in comfort. It follows the description it modifies here. The reusable pattern is adjective + 一些 when comparing a degree, as in 安静一些.
那里 “那里” means “there” in “在那里待几分钟”, referring to the place already indicated or understood in the conversation. It commonly appears before a verb to identify where an action happens. New example: 请坐在那里。
待 “待” means “stay” in “在那里待几分钟”. It describes remaining in that place for a period of time. The reusable pattern is 在 + place + 待 + duration.
几 “几” means “a few” in “几分钟”, referring to a small, unspecified number. It comes before the measure word or time unit. New example: 我等了几分钟。
分钟 “分钟” means “minute” in “几分钟”. It measures the length of time for staying there. It commonly follows a number or quantity word, such as 三分钟.
休息 “休息” means “rest” in “休息一会儿”. It describes pausing activity to let the body recover. New example: 你应该休息。
一会儿 “一会儿” means “for a while” in “休息一会儿”, giving the rest a short, nonspecific duration. It commonly follows an action verb to indicate that the action continues briefly. New example: 请等一会儿。
应该 “应该” means “should” in “应该会有帮助”, expressing an expectation or recommendation. Here it presents the expected benefit of resting as reasonable rather than certain. It commonly comes before the action or result being expected.
会 “会” means “will” or “is likely to” in “应该会有帮助”. It adds an expected future or possible result to the statement. Together, “应该会” expresses that the result is expected but not guaranteed.
有 “有” contributes the meaning of “have” or “provide” in the expression “有帮助”, which means “be helpful”. The reusable pattern is 有 + noun, as in 有时间, but “有帮助” is understood as offering help or benefit.
帮助 “帮助” means “help” in “应该会有帮助”, referring to a beneficial effect from the short rest. In this expression, 有帮助 means that the action can be helpful. New example: 这对我有帮助。
站 “站” means “stand” in the expression “站起来”, describing the action of rising to a standing position. The reusable pattern is 站起来 when telling someone to get up or stand. New example: 请站起来。
时 “时” marks the time condition in “站起来时”, meaning “when” or “while”. It follows the action phrase and introduces what happens at that time. The reusable pattern is verb phrase + 时 + another action or instruction.
慢 “慢” means “slow” in “慢一点”, describing the speed of the movement. It is used here as a brief instruction to move at a slower pace while standing up. New example: 请慢一点。
一点 “一点” means “a little” in “慢一点”, making the instruction “a little slower”. It follows the adjective or adverb whose degree is being adjusted. The reusable pattern is adjective or manner word + 一点, such as 轻一点。

Grammar Points

有点 + 形容词

背有点酸痛。

bèi yǒu diǎn suāntòng

My back is a little sore.

有点 comes before an adjective to soften the description and mean “a little” or “somewhat.”

如果……，……

如果背酸痛，慢慢伸展。

rúguǒ bèi suāntòng, mànmàn shēnzhǎn

If your back is sore, stretch slowly.

如果 introduces a condition. The main action follows after the comma; 就 is not always necessary.

Chinese Vocabulary

背 noun
bèi back

我的背有点酸痛。

今天 noun
jīntiān today

我今天坐得太久了。

尽量 adv
jǐnliàng try one's best to; as much as possible

尽量坐直。

慢慢 adv
mànmàn slowly

如果可以,就慢慢伸展一下。

如果 conj
rúguǒ if

如果可以,就慢慢伸展一下。

伸展 verb
shēnzhǎn stretch

如果可以,就慢慢伸展一下。

酸痛 adj
suāntòng sore; achy

我的背有点酸痛。

太久 phrase
tài jiǔ too long

我今天坐得太久了。

椅子 noun
yǐzi chair

这把椅子坐起来舒服一些。

有点 adv
yǒu diǎn a little; somewhat

我的背有点酸痛。

坐起来 phrase
zuò qǐlái feel when sitting; sit and feel

这把椅子坐起来舒服一些。

坐直 phrase
zuò zhí sit up straight

尽量坐直。

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

stretch

Show Answer伸展

try one's best to; as much as possible

Show Answer尽量

too long

Show Answer太久

slowly

Show Answer慢慢