About This Lesson
Use Taking a Break from Studying to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
我已经学习很久了。
Wǒ yǐjīng xuéxí hěn jiǔ le. I've been studying for a long time.
B
先把学习放一边。
Xiān bǎ xuéxí fàng yì biān. Put your work aside.
B
休息一会儿。
Xiūxi yíhuìr. Rest for a moment.
A
现在很难集中注意力。
Xiànzài hěn nán jízhōng zhùyìlì. It's hard to concentrate now.
B
这通常说明你的大脑需要休息一下。
Zhè tōngcháng shuōmíng nǐ de dànǎo xūyào xiūxi yíxià. That usually means your brain needs a break.
A
我晚一点复习词汇吗？
Wǒ wǎn yìdiǎn fùxí cíhuì ma? Should I review vocabulary later?
B
你回来后，先从比较简单的词开始。
Nǐ huílái hòu, xiān cóng bǐjiào jiǎndān de cí kāishǐ. Start with the easier words when you come back.
A
我休息的时候会把笔记本合上。
Wǒ xiūxi de shíhou huì bǎ bǐjìběn héshàng. I'll close the notebook while I rest.
B
这样我们就能更轻松地继续了。
Zhèyàng wǒmen jiù néng gèng qīngsōng de jìxù le. Then we can continue more calmly.Word by Word
我
“我” refers to the speaker, meaning “I” in “我已经学习很久了”. It commonly appears before the action or state being described, such as in a statement about what the speaker is doing. Use it when talking about your own actions or situation.
已经
“已经” means “already” and shows that the studying has begun and has continued up to the current point in “我已经学习很久了”. It usually appears before the verb or verb phrase. Use it when reporting something that has already happened or is already true.
学习
“学习” means “study” in “我已经学习很久了”. Here it names the activity that has continued for a long time. It can be used before an object or on its own when the study activity is clear.
很久
“很久” means “a long time” and describes the duration of the studying in “我已经学习很久了”. It commonly follows an activity verb to say how long something has continued. Use it when describing a lengthy period.
了
In “我已经学习很久了”, “了” shows that the situation has reached the current point: the speaker has now been studying for a long time. It comes at the end of this statement after the duration. Use it when emphasizing a newly established or currently relevant situation.
先
“先” means “first” in “先把学习放一边”, telling the listener what to do before the next step. It commonly comes before the first action in an ordered sequence. Use it when giving advice about doing one thing before another.
把
“把” marks “学习” as the thing being handled in “先把学习放一边”. The object follows “把” and the action then describes what happens to it. Use this pattern when focusing on the treatment or result of a specific object.
放
“放” means “put” in “把学习放一边”, where the studying is set aside temporarily. It takes the thing being moved or placed as its object. Use it when telling someone to put something somewhere or into a particular state.
一边
“一边” means “aside” in “把学习放一边”, expressing that the studying should be set aside for now. Here it completes the action with “放”. Use it after “放” when telling someone to leave a task or object aside temporarily.
休息
“休息” means “rest” or “take a break” in “休息一会儿”. It is the action recommended after putting the studying aside. Use it when suggesting a pause from work, study, or another activity.
一会儿
“一会儿” means “for a moment” in “休息一会儿”, limiting the rest to a short period. It commonly follows an action verb to describe a brief duration. Use it when asking someone to do something for a little while.
现在
“现在” means “now” and sets the time of the difficulty in “现在很难集中注意力”. It commonly appears at the beginning of a sentence to locate an action or situation in the present. Use it when describing what is happening at this moment.
很
“很” intensifies or links the description “难” in “很难集中注意力”, meaning that concentrating is quite difficult. It commonly comes before an adjective. Use it to describe a strong degree of a quality or difficulty.
难
“难” means “difficult” in “很难集中注意力”, describing concentration as hard to do at this moment. It commonly comes before an action to say that the action is difficult. Use it when reporting that a task is not easy.
集中
“集中” means “concentrate” or “focus” in “集中注意力”. It takes “注意力” as the thing being focused. Use it with attention or another clearly understood focus when talking about concentrating.
注意力
“注意力” means “attention” in “集中注意力”, the focus that the speaker is having trouble maintaining. It commonly follows “集中” to form the expression for concentrating. Use it when discussing mental focus during study, work, or another task.
这
“这” refers to the situation just mentioned, namely the difficulty concentrating, in “这通常说明你的大脑需要休息一下”. It commonly points to a preceding fact or situation. Use it when drawing a conclusion about something that has just been described.
通常
“通常” means “usually” in “这通常说明你的大脑需要休息一下”, presenting the explanation as a common pattern rather than a certainty in every case. It commonly appears before the verb or description it modifies. Use it when describing what generally happens.
说明
“说明” means “indicate” or “show” in “这通常说明你的大脑需要休息一下”. It introduces the meaning or conclusion suggested by the previous situation. Use it when explaining what a sign, fact, or situation tells you.
你
“你” refers to the listener, meaning “you” in “你的大脑需要休息一下”. It appears before “的” to identify whose brain is being discussed. Use it when addressing the other person directly.
的
“的” links “你” and “大脑” in “你的大脑”, showing that the brain belongs to or is associated with the listener. It commonly follows a person or noun and comes before the noun being described. Use it to form a possessive or descriptive phrase.
大脑
“大脑” means “brain” in “你的大脑需要休息一下”. Here it is described as needing a short rest. It can be used as the subject of a statement about mental activity or condition.
需要
“需要” means “need” in “你的大脑需要休息一下”, identifying rest as what the brain requires. It commonly comes before the needed action or thing. Use it to say that someone or something requires an action or resource.
一下
“一下” makes “休息一下” mean “rest briefly” or “take a short break”. It commonly follows an action verb to present the action as brief or less forceful. Use it when suggesting that someone do something for a little while.
晚
“晚” means “later” in “晚一点复习词汇”, referring to a time after the present study pause. Here it does not describe night; it delays the review to a later time. Use it with a time expression when scheduling an action for later.
一点
“一点” means “a little” in “晚一点复习词汇”, making the delay slight or leaving the exact later time open. It commonly follows a time word or description to express a small degree or amount. Use it when suggesting a small adjustment in timing or degree.
复习
“复习” means “review” in “晚一点复习词汇”, referring to studying the vocabulary again later. It commonly comes before the material being reviewed. Use it when returning to previously learned material.
词汇
“词汇” means “vocabulary” in “复习词汇”, referring to the vocabulary being reviewed. It functions as the material of the review after “复习”. Use it when discussing a set of words being learned or reviewed.
吗
“吗” marks “我晚一点复习词汇吗” as a yes-or-no question. It is placed at the end of a question without changing the preceding word order. Use it when asking whether a proposed action is appropriate or will happen.
回来
“回来” means “come back” in “你回来后”, referring to returning to the study session. It expresses movement back to the relevant place or situation. Use it when telling someone what to do after they return.
后
“后” means “after” in “你回来后”, placing the next action after the return. It follows the action or time expression that must happen first. Use it in the pattern of doing something after an event or action.
从
“从” marks the starting point in “从比较简单的词开始”, meaning to start from the easier words. It commonly comes before the first item in a sequence. Use it when identifying where an activity or progression begins.
比较
“比较” gives “简单” a relative degree in “比较简单的词”, meaning the words are relatively or comparatively easy. It commonly comes before an adjective. Use it when describing something as relatively more or less of a quality without stating an exact comparison.
简单
“简单” means “easy” or “simple” in “比较简单的词”, describing the words to begin with as relatively easy. It comes before “的词” to modify the noun. Use it when describing a task, explanation, or item that is not difficult.
词
“词” means “word” in “比较简单的词”, referring to individual vocabulary items. Here it is modified by “比较简单的” and is the material to start with. Use it when talking about a particular word or group of words.
开始
“开始” means “start” in “从比较简单的词开始”, telling the listener to begin with the easier words. It commonly follows “从” to identify the starting point. Use it when giving instructions about where an activity should begin.
的时候
“的时候” means “when” or “while” in “我休息的时候”, placing one action during the time of another. It follows the clause that gives the relevant time. Use it to connect an action with the period when it happens.
会
“会” means “will” in “我休息的时候会把笔记本合上”, describing the speaker’s planned or expected action during the break. It commonly comes before the verb phrase. Use it when talking about a future action or an expected outcome.
笔记本
“笔记本” means “notebook” in “把笔记本合上”, the object that the speaker will close. It commonly appears after “把” when describing what will be handled. Use it when referring to a notebook used for writing or study.
合上
“合上” means “close” or “shut” in “把笔记本合上”, describing movement into a closed position. It commonly follows the object being closed. Use it for closing a notebook, book, or another item that can be shut.
这样
“这样” means “this way” and refers to the action just described in “这样我们就能更轻松地继续了”. It presents that situation as the basis for the following result. Use it when explaining what will happen if something is done in a particular way.
我们
“我们” means “we” or “us” and includes the speaker and listener in “我们就能更轻松地继续了”. It appears before the ability or action being discussed. Use it when referring to an action shared by the speaker and another person.
就
“就” connects the situation with its consequence in “这样我们就能更轻松地继续了”, meaning “then” or “as a result”. It commonly appears before the resulting action or ability. Use it to show that one situation leads directly to what follows.
能
“能” means “can” or “be able to” in “我们就能更轻松地继续了”, expressing the ability to continue more easily after resting. It commonly comes before the action that is possible. Use it when talking about someone’s ability or possibility of doing something.
更
“更” means “more” in “更轻松地继续”, increasing the degree of ease compared with before the break. It commonly comes before the quality or manner being compared. Use it when saying that something becomes more of a quality than it was previously.
轻松
“轻松” means “easily” or “in a relaxed way” in “更轻松地继续”, describing how the study session can continue after the break. With “地”, it describes the manner of the following action. Use it when an action is done with less strain or pressure.
地
“地” marks “轻松” as the adverbial description in “轻松地继续”, showing how the continuing action is carried out. It commonly follows a descriptive word and comes before the verb. Use it to turn a manner description into the way an action happens.
继续
“继续” means “continue” in “更轻松地继续了”, referring to carrying on with the study session after the break. It can appear before an action or activity that resumes. Use it when something starts again or carries on without ending the overall activity.
Grammar Points
把 + 宾语 + 动词短语
先把笔记本放一边。
Xiān bǎ bǐjìběn fàng yì biān.First put the notebook aside.
把 places the object before the verb and emphasizes how the object is handled.
从 + 时间/地点 + 开始
从现在开始复习词汇。
Cóng xiànzài kāishǐ fùxí cíhuì.Start reviewing vocabulary from now.
从 marks the starting point, followed by 开始 to express when an action begins.
Chinese Vocabulary
把
prep
bǎ
disposal marker used before the object
放一边
phrase
fàng yì biān
to put aside
很久
adv
hěn jiǔ
for a long time
集中注意力
phrase
jízhōng zhùyìlì
to concentrate
难
adj
nán
difficult; hard
通常
adv
tōngcháng
usually
先
adv
xiān
first; for now
现在
adv
xiànzài
now
休息
verb
xiūxi
to rest; to take a break
学习
verb
xuéxí
to study; studying
一会儿
phrase
yíhuìr
for a moment; a little while
已经
adv
yǐjīng
already
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
to concentrate
Show Answer
集中注意力already
Show Answer
已经to study; studying
Show Answer
学习to put aside