About This Lesson
Use Choosing a Light Snack to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
我想吃点小吃。
wǒ xiǎng chī diǎn xiǎochī I want a snack.
A
我不是很饿。
wǒ bú shì hěn è I am not very hungry.
B
那就选点清淡的，比如酸奶。
nà jiù xuǎn diǎn qīngdàn de, bǐrú suānnǎi Then choose something light, like yogurt.
A
我们也有坚果吗？
wǒmen yě yǒu jiānguǒ ma Do we have nuts too?
B
柜子里有一些。
guìzi lǐ yǒu yìxiē There are some in the cupboard.
A
酸奶加坚果听起来不错。
suānnǎi jiā jiānguǒ tīng qǐlái búcuò Yogurt with nuts sounds good.
B
拿一个小碗。
ná yí ge xiǎo wǎn Take a small bowl.
B
这不算太多。
zhè bú suàn tài duō It is not too much.
A
我现在就做一碗。
wǒ xiànzài jiù zuò yì wǎn I will make one now.
B
请给我留一些坚果。
qǐng gěi wǒ liú yìxiē jiānguǒ Leave some nuts for me, please.Word by Word
我
“我” refers to the speaker, meaning “I” in “我想吃点小吃” and “我现在就做一碗”。It is used before the action or description involving the speaker, as in the reusable pattern “我想吃……”。
想
In “我想吃点小吃”, “想” expresses wanting or intending to do something. It is followed here by the action “吃”; a reusable pattern is “我想 + action”。You can use it when telling someone what you would like to do or have.
吃
“吃” means to eat in “我想吃点小吃”。It comes after “想” and before the food or amount, as in “想吃 + food”。Use it when saying what you want to eat.
点
In “吃点小吃” and “选点清淡的”, “点” means a small amount or some. It softens the amount of what is eaten or chosen; a useful pattern is “verb + 点 + food or choice”。Use it when asking for or suggesting a modest amount.
小吃
“小吃” means a snack in “我想吃点小吃”。It names a small food item or light food eaten between meals; the dialogue uses it after “吃点”。Use “吃点小吃” when suggesting or requesting a snack.
不
In “我不是很饿”, “不” makes the following statement negative, so the speaker says they are not very hungry. Here it appears in the exact form “不是很饿”。A reusable pattern is “不 + description” for saying that something is not the case.
是
In “我不是很饿”, “是” is part of the negative expression “不是很饿”, meaning “am not very hungry”。It connects “我” with the description “很饿” inside this statement. Keep the full pattern “不是 + description” when expressing this kind of negation.
很
In “我不是很饿”, “很” indicates a high degree of hunger in the description “很饿”, while the whole phrase is negated by “不”。It appears before the describing word; a reusable pattern is “很 + description”。Use it when describing a strong degree of a quality or state.
饿
“饿” means hungry in “我不是很饿”。The phrase “很饿” describes a strong state of hunger, and “不是很饿” says that the speaker is not very hungry. Use it when talking about whether you need food.
那
At the start of “那就选点清淡的”, “那” means “then” or “in that case”, referring to the speaker’s lack of hunger. It introduces a response based on what was just said; a reusable pattern is “那 + suggestion or action”。Use it when drawing a practical conclusion from new information.
就
In “那就选点清淡的”, “就” presents choosing something light as the natural next action in that situation. Together, “那就” means “then, in that case”; it commonly comes before the suggested action. Use it when making a direct suggestion based on what someone has said.
选
“选” means choose in “选点清淡的”。It is followed by “点清淡的”, meaning some light food, so the object is something with the stated quality. Use the pattern “选 + option” when telling someone to choose.
清淡
“清淡” describes food that is light or mild in flavor in “清淡的”。It modifies the omitted food item through “的”, so the suggestion is to choose something light. Use “清淡的” when selecting food that is not heavy or strongly flavored.
的
In “选点清淡的”, “的” lets “清淡” describe an implied thing, meaning “something light” or “the light one”。The exact pattern is “清淡的”, with the food understood from the snack context. This pattern can be reused when the described noun is clear from the conversation.
比如
“比如” introduces an example in “比如酸奶”, meaning “for example” or “like yogurt”。It comes before the example that illustrates “清淡的”。Use “比如 + example” when giving one possible choice.
酸奶
“酸奶” means yogurt in “比如酸奶” and “酸奶加坚果听起来不错”。It is first offered as an example of a light snack and later combined with nuts. Use it as the food item after verbs such as “吃” or in a combination such as “酸奶加坚果”。
我们
“我们” means “we” or “us” in “我们也有坚果吗？”。It refers to the people sharing the home or food in this conversation. Use it before a statement or question about something shared by the speaker and others.
也
In “我们也有坚果吗？”, “也” means “also” or “too”。It adds nuts to the food already being discussed, and it comes before “有”。A reusable pattern is “也 + verb” when adding another person, item, or action.
有
In “我们也有坚果吗？”, “有” asks whether the household has nuts; in “柜子里有一些”, it says that some are located in the cupboard. It can express possession or existence depending on the surrounding phrase. Use “place + 有 + thing” to say that something is somewhere.
坚果
“坚果” means nuts in “我们也有坚果吗？”, “酸奶加坚果”, and “请给我留一些坚果”。It is the food added to the yogurt and the food that B asks A to save. Use it after an amount expression such as “一些坚果”。
吗
At the end of “我们也有坚果吗？”, “吗” turns the statement into a yes-or-no question. It is placed at the end of the question rather than before the verb. Use the pattern “statement + 吗” when checking whether something is true.
柜子
“柜子” means cupboard or cabinet in “柜子里有一些”。It names the place where some nuts are stored, followed by “里” to indicate the inside. Use “柜子里” when saying that something is in a cupboard or cabinet.
里
In “柜子里有一些”, “里” means inside or in and places the nuts inside the cupboard. The reusable location pattern is “place + 里 + 有 + thing”。Use it when describing something located inside a container or room.
一些
“一些” means some in “柜子里有一些”, where it stands for some nuts already understood from the question. It expresses an unspecified amount and can appear before a noun, as in “一些坚果”。Use it when the exact quantity is not important.
听起来
“听起来” means “sounds” or “seems from hearing” in “酸奶加坚果听起来不错”。“听” contributes hearing, while “起来” forms the impression that results from hearing, so the whole expression describes an impression rather than literal listening alone. A reusable pattern is “something + 听起来 + description”, used when reacting to an idea, plan, or suggestion.
不错
“不错” means good or not bad in “酸奶加坚果听起来不错”。It gives a positive evaluation of the yogurt-and-nut combination after hearing the suggestion. Use it after “听起来” or another evaluation context to say that something seems good.
拿
“拿” means take or get in “拿一个小碗”。It is followed by the object “一个小碗”, so B is telling A to get a small bowl. Use the pattern “拿 + object” when asking someone to take or fetch something.
个
In “一个小碗”, “个” is the measure word used between “一” and the bowl being counted. The reusable pattern is “一 + 个 + noun”, as in “一个小碗”。Use it for many ordinary countable items when this general measure word fits.
小
“小” means small in “一个小碗”。It describes the size of the bowl and comes before the noun “碗”。Use the pattern “小 + noun” when specifying that an item is small.
碗
“碗” means bowl in “拿一个小碗”。It is the container B asks A to get for the yogurt and nuts. Use it after a measure phrase such as “一个小碗” when talking about a bowl.
这
In “这不算太多”, “这” means this or it and refers to the amount or serving being discussed. It comes at the beginning of the statement before the evaluation. Use “这 + description” when pointing to or evaluating something understood from the situation.
算
In “这不算太多”, “算” means count as or be considered. The sentence says that this amount is not considered too much; the exact reusable pattern is “不算 + description”。Use it when judging whether something reaches a certain level or category.
太
In “这不算太多”, “太” marks an excessive degree in “太多”, meaning too much. The whole phrase is negated, so the amount is not excessive. Use “太 + description” when describing something as more than is appropriate.
多
“多” means much or many in “太多”, referring here to the amount of food. Together with “太”, it forms “太多”, meaning too much; with “不算”, the sentence says it is not too much. Use it with amount expressions when discussing quantity.
现在
“现在” means now in “我现在就做一碗”。It places the preparation at the present time and comes before the action “做”。Use “现在 + action” when saying what is happening or will happen at this moment.
做
“做” means make or prepare in “我现在就做一碗”。Here it refers to preparing one bowl of the snack, with “一碗” specifying the result or amount. Use “做 + food or dish” when talking about preparing something to eat.
请
At the beginning of “请给我留一些坚果”, “请” means please and makes the request more polite. It is followed by the requested action rather than standing alone. Use “请 + request” when politely asking someone to do something.
给
In “请给我留一些坚果”, “给” introduces the person who should benefit from the action: “给我” means for me or to me. It comes before the recipient and the action “留”; a reusable pattern is “给 + person + verb”。Use it when asking someone to do or provide something for a person.
留
“留” means leave or save in “给我留一些坚果”。It asks A not to use all the nuts and to keep some for B. The reusable pattern is “给 + person + 留 + amount or item”, used when reserving something for someone.
Grammar Points
想 + 动词
想吃小吃
xiǎng chī xiǎochīwant to eat a snack
想 comes before another verb to express “want to do something”; Chinese does not use an equivalent of “to” here.
那就 + 动词
那就选酸奶
nà jiù xuǎn suānnǎiThen choose yogurt.
那就 introduces a suggestion or decision based on the situation: “then” or “in that case,” followed by an action.
Chinese Vocabulary
比如
phrase
bǐrú
for example; like
吃
verb
chī
eat
点
det
diǎn
some; a little
饿
adj
è
hungry
柜子
noun
guìzi
cupboard; cabinet
坚果
noun
jiānguǒ
nuts
那就
phrase
nà jiù
then; in that case
清淡
adj
qīngdàn
light; not rich or greasy
酸奶
noun
suānnǎi
yogurt
想
verb
xiǎng
want; would like
小吃
noun
xiǎochī
snack
选
verb
xuǎn
choose
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
cupboard; cabinet
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柜子light; not rich or greasy
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清淡for example; like
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比如nuts