Choosing a Movie with Friends | Learn Chinese in English

About This Lesson

Use Choosing a Movie with Friends to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

我们应该看哪部电影？

Wǒmen yīnggāi kàn nǎ bù diànyǐng? Which movie should we watch?

我想看轻松一点的，也许是喜剧片。

Wǒ xiǎng kàn qīngsōng yìdiǎn de, yěxǔ shì xǐjùpiān. I want something light, maybe a comedy.

这部电影评价很好，而且字幕很清楚。

Zhè bù diànyǐng píngjià hěn hǎo, érqiě zìmù hěn qīngchu. This film has strong reviews and clear subtitles.

我们选之前，可以先看预告片吗？

Wǒmen xuǎn zhīqián, kěyǐ xiān kàn yùgàopiān ma? Can we watch the trailer before we choose?

预告片应该能帮我们做决定。

Yùgàopiān yīnggāi néng bāng wǒmen zuò juédìng. The trailer should help us decide.

故事看起来很有趣，但不会太难。

Gùshi kàn qǐlái hěn yǒuqù, dàn bú huì tài nán. The story looks fun but not too difficult.

那我们就选这部电影吧。

Nà wǒmen jiù xuǎn zhè bù diànyǐng ba. Then let's choose this film.

电影开始前，我们去买点零食吧。

Diànyǐng kāishǐ qián, wǒmen qù mǎi diǎn língshí ba. Let's get a snack before it starts.

Word by Word

我们 “我们” means “we” or “us” in “我们应该看哪部电影”, referring to the speaker and the other person together. It is commonly placed before the action, as in “我们应该看”. Use it when making a shared plan with another person.

应该 “应该” means “should” in “我们应该看哪部电影”, expressing what the speakers think is the right or suitable action. It comes before the action word “看”. Use it when recommending or discussing what someone ought to do.

看 “看” means “watch” in “看哪部电影”, referring to watching a movie. With a movie, it appears before the object, as in “看电影”. Use it when talking about watching films or other things.

哪 “哪” means “which” in “哪部电影”, asking the listener to choose one film from several possibilities. It comes before the classifier “部” and the noun “电影”. Use it when asking which item someone prefers.

部 “部” is the classifier used for a film in “哪部电影”. It comes between “哪” and “电影” when asking which movie. Keep it in this position when referring to a particular film with this classifier.

电影 “电影” means “movie” or “film” in “哪部电影”. It is the thing the speakers are deciding to watch. Use it when discussing a film, such as when choosing one with friends.

我 “我” means “I” or “me” in “我想看轻松一点的”, referring to the speaker’s own preference. It appears before “想” to introduce what the speaker wants. Use it when stating your own opinion, wish, or plan.

想 “想” means “want” or “would like” in “我想看轻松一点的”. It introduces the speaker’s preference and comes before the action “看”. Use it before an action when saying what you would like to do.

轻松 “轻松” means “light” or “relaxing” in “轻松一点的”, describing the kind of movie the speaker wants. It is followed by “一点的” to make the preference less absolute. Use it when describing an activity or choice that is not stressful.

一点 “一点” means “a little” in “轻松一点的”, making the description “轻松” milder or comparative in preference. It follows the description and comes before “的” here. Use it to express a small degree or a slightly adjusted preference.

的 “的” links the description “轻松一点” to an understood noun in “轻松一点的”, meaning something that is a little lighter or more relaxing. The noun is not repeated because the conversation is already about a movie. Use this pattern when a described item is clear from the context.

也许 “也许” means “maybe” or “perhaps” in “也许是喜剧片”, showing that the speaker is suggesting a possibility rather than making a firm choice. It comes before the possible identification “是喜剧片”. Use it when offering an uncertain suggestion.

是 “是” means “is” or “be” in “也许是喜剧片”, identifying the possible type of movie. It connects the possibility marker “也许” with “喜剧片”. Use it when saying what something is or may be.

喜剧片 “喜剧片” means “comedy film” in “也许是喜剧片”. It names one possible type of movie the speaker might choose. Use it when identifying a movie as a comedy.

这 “这” means “this” in “这部电影”, pointing to the film currently being discussed. It comes before the classifier “部” and the noun “电影”. Use it to identify a nearby or already selected item.

评价 “评价” means “reviews” or “ratings” in “评价很好”, referring to people’s assessment of the film. Here it is described by “很好”. Use it when discussing how people assess a film, product, or other thing.

很 “很” adds degree in “评价很好”, making “好” a natural description of the reviews. It comes before “好” in this phrase. Use it before a describing word when giving a positive assessment.

好 “好” means “good” in “评价很好”, describing the film’s reviews positively. Together with “评价”, it tells the listener that the film has good ratings or reviews. Use it to give a positive evaluation.

而且 “而且” means “and also” or “moreover” in “评价很好，而且字幕很清楚”, adding a second positive point after the good reviews. It connects the two descriptions of the film. Use it when adding another related fact or advantage.

字幕 “字幕” means “subtitles” in “字幕很清楚”. It refers to the written words shown on the screen. Use it when discussing whether the words in a film or video are easy to read.

清楚 “清楚” means “clear” in “字幕很清楚”, describing the subtitles as easy to understand or read. It follows “很” in this description. Use it to describe information, writing, or sound that is clear.

选 “选” means “choose” in “我们选之前” and “选这部电影”. It describes the action of deciding which movie to take. Use it before the chosen item when making a selection.

之前 “之前” means “before” in “我们选之前”, placing one action before the action of choosing. It follows the phrase for the earlier-mentioned action. Use it after an action or event when saying that something happens before it.

可以 “可以” means “can” or “may” in “可以先看预告片吗？”, asking for permission to watch the trailer first. It comes before the proposed action “看”. Use it in a polite request about whether an action is allowed or possible.

先 “先” means “first” or “beforehand” in “先看预告片”, showing that watching the trailer happens before choosing the film. It comes before the action it puts first. Use it to organize two actions in sequence.

预告片 “预告片” means “trailer” in “看预告片”, referring to the short promotional video for a movie. It is the object of “看” here. Use it when discussing a preview watched before deciding whether to see a film.

吗 “吗” is the question particle at the end of “可以先看预告片吗？”. It turns the preceding statement into a yes-or-no question. Use it at the end of a question asking whether something is possible or allowed.

能 “能” means “can” or “be able to” in “应该能帮我们做决定”, describing an expected ability or result. It comes before “帮” and shows that the trailer is expected to help. Use it before an action when talking about ability or possibility.

帮 “帮” means “help” in “帮我们做决定”, showing that the trailer assists the speakers with deciding. It is followed by the person helped, “我们”, and then the action “做决定”. Use this pattern when saying that someone or something helps another person do an action.

做 “做” contributes the action of making in “做决定”, where “决定” names the decision being made. Together, “做决定” describes deciding. Use “做” with an action or task when describing carrying it out or making it.

决定 “决定” means “decision” in “做决定”, the result or matter that the speakers need help with. It follows “做” in the expression “做决定”. Use it when talking about choosing after considering options.

故事 “故事” means “story” in “故事看起来很有趣”, referring to the movie’s plot or narrative. It is the thing being evaluated with “看起来”. Use it when discussing what happens in a film or another narrative.

看起来 “看起来” means “looks” or “seems” in “故事看起来很有趣”, describing an impression based on how something appears. It combines “看”, which contributes looking, with “起来”, which makes the phrase describe how something appears. Use it before a description when giving an impression rather than a confirmed fact.

有趣 “有趣” means “interesting” or “fun” in “看起来很有趣”, describing the story positively. It follows “很” after the impression phrase “看起来”. Use it when saying that an activity, story, or topic is enjoyable or interesting.

但 “但” means “but” in “但不会太难”, introducing a contrast with the story being fun. It connects the positive description with the point that the story is not expected to be too difficult. Use it to contrast two descriptions or ideas.

不会 “不会” means “will not” or “is not expected to be” in “不会太难”, making a negative prediction about the story’s difficulty. It comes before “太难”. Use it when saying that something is not expected to have a particular result or degree.

太 “太” means “too” or “excessively” in “太难”, marking a degree that would be more than desired. It comes before the describing word “难”. Use the pattern “太” plus a description when saying that something exceeds a comfortable or acceptable degree.

难 “难” means “difficult” in “不会太难”, describing the story as not excessively difficult. It follows “太” in this phrase. Use it to describe an activity, task, or explanation that requires a lot of effort to understand or do.

那 “那” means “then” or “in that case” in “那我们就选这部电影吧”, responding to the previous assessment and introducing a decision. It comes at the start of the suggestion. Use it when drawing a conclusion from what was just said.

就 “就” means “then” or “so” in “那我们就选这部电影吧”, marking the action that follows from the situation. It comes before “选” after “我们”. Use it when moving from a condition or discussion to a resulting action.

吧 “吧” is the suggestion particle at the end of “选这部电影吧”. It makes the choice sound like a proposal rather than a forceful command. Use it at the end when suggesting an action to another person.

开始 “开始” means “start” or “begin” in “电影开始前”, referring to the movie starting. It is followed by “前” to place another action before that event. Use it when talking about the beginning of an activity or event.

前 “前” means “before” in “电影开始前”, marking the time before the movie starts. It follows the event phrase “电影开始”. Use it after an event or action when describing what happens beforehand.

去 “去” means “go” in “我们去买点零食吧”, introducing the movement to buy snacks. It comes before “买” in the suggested plan. Use it before an action when suggesting that someone go somewhere to do it.

买 “买” means “buy” in “买点零食”, describing the action the speakers plan to take. It follows “去” and comes before the item being bought. Use it before an object when talking about purchasing something.

点 “点” means “some” or “a small amount” in “买点零食”, indicating a modest amount of snacks. It follows “买” and comes before “零食”. Use it after an action such as buying when referring to a small or unspecified amount.

零食 “零食” means “snack” in “买点零食”, referring to food the friends plan to buy before the movie starts. It is the object of “买”. Use it when talking about small foods eaten between or before meals.

Grammar Points

看起来 + 形容词

看起来有趣。

Kàn qǐlái yǒuqù.

It looks interesting.

看起来后面接形容词，用来表达根据外表或情况作出的判断。

形容词 + 一点的

轻松一点的

Qīngsōng yìdiǎn de

one that is a little more relaxing

一点放在形容词后表示程度稍微增加；的使前面的描述修饰被省略的名词。

Chinese Vocabulary

决定 verb

juédìng decide; make a decision

预告片应该能帮我们做决定。

哪部电影 phrase

nǎ bù diànyǐng which movie

我们应该看哪部电影?

评价 noun

píngjià reviews; evaluations

这部电影评价很好,而且字幕很清楚。

轻松 adj

qīngsōng light; relaxing 轻松一点的

我想看轻松一点的,也许是喜剧片。

清楚 adj

qīngchu clear

这部电影评价很好,而且字幕很清楚。

喜剧片 noun

xǐjùpiān comedy film

我想看轻松一点的,也许是喜剧片。

先 adv

xiān first; beforehand

我们选之前,可以先看预告片吗?

也许 adv

yěxǔ maybe; perhaps

我想看轻松一点的,也许是喜剧片。

一点 phrase

yìdiǎn a little; somewhat

我想看轻松一点的,也许是喜剧片。

预告片 noun

yùgàopiān trailer

我们选之前,可以先看预告片吗?

之前 prep

zhīqián before

我们选之前,可以先看预告片吗?

字幕 noun

zìmù subtitles

这部电影评价很好,而且字幕很清楚。

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

light; relaxing

Show Answer

轻松一点的

which movie

Show Answer

哪部电影

subtitles

Show Answer

字幕

comedy film

Show Answer

喜剧片