About This Lesson
Use Check the weather before leaving to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
我们出门前，你能查看一下天气应用吗？
wǒmen chūmén qián, nǐ néng chákàn yíxià tiānqì yìngyòng ma? Can you check the weather app before we leave?
B
上面说有可能下雨。
shàngmiàn shuō yǒu kěnéng xiàyǔ. It says there is some chance of rain.
A
天看起来已经阴沉沉的了。
tiān kàn qǐlái yǐjīng yīnchénchén de le. The sky looks cloudy already.
B
今晚气温也会下降。
jīnwǎn qìwēn yě huì xiàjiàng. The temperature will also drop this evening.
A
我应该带一件薄外套吗？
wǒ yīnggāi dài yí jiàn báo wàitào ma? Should I carry a light jacket?
B
带一件薄外套和一把小雨伞会有帮助。
dài yí jiàn báo wàitào hé yì bǎ xiǎo yǔsǎn huì yǒu bāngzhù. A light jacket and a small umbrella would help.
A
那我可以把这两样都放进包里。
nà wǒ kěyǐ bǎ zhè liǎng yàng dōu fàngjìn bāo lǐ. Then I can put both in my bag.
B
这些应该足够应付下雨和凉一点的晚上了。
zhèxiē yīnggāi zúgòu yìngfù xiàyǔ hé liáng yìdiǎn de wǎnshang le. That should be enough for the rain and the cooler evening.Word by Word
我们
“我们” means “we” or “us” and refers to the speaker and listener together in “我们出门前”. It commonly identifies a group that includes the speaker. Use it when talking about a shared action or plan.
出门
“出门” means to go out or leave home, as in “我们出门前”. It combines 出 with 门 to describe leaving the home or current place. A common use is 出门 + time expression, such as 出门前 for “before going out”.
前
In “出门前”, “前” means “before” and places the action “出门” before another event. It follows the activity or time point it refers to. Use it after an action or time expression when describing what happens beforehand.
你
“你” means “you” and addresses the other person directly in “你能查看一下天气应用吗？”. It is the person being asked to perform the action. Use it when speaking to one listener in an informal or neutral context.
能
In “你能查看一下天气应用吗？”, “能” asks whether the listener can or is able to do something. It introduces the requested action “查看”. A common reuse pattern is 能 + verb when asking about someone’s ability or availability to act.
查看
“查看” means to check or view something carefully, here the weather app in “查看一下天气应用”. The object follows the verb. Use it for checking information, a document, or an electronic source.
一下
In “查看一下”, “一下” presents the action as a brief or limited check and makes the request sound lighter. It follows the verb it softens. A common pattern is verb + 一下 when asking someone to do something briefly.
天气
“天气” means “weather” in “天气应用”, referring to outdoor conditions such as rain or temperature. Here it is part of a noun phrase naming an app about the weather. Use it when discussing current or forecast outdoor conditions.
应用
“应用” means an application or app, here in “天气应用”. It identifies the digital tool used to check the weather. It commonly follows a topic word to name a type of app.
吗
“吗” is placed at the end of “你能查看一下天气应用吗？” to turn the statement into a yes-or-no question. It signals that the speaker is asking for confirmation or a response. Use it at the end of a neutral question.
上面
In “上面说有可能下雨”, “上面” means “on it” or “in the source just mentioned”, referring to the weather app. It identifies where the information is shown. Use it when referring to information displayed on a screen, page, or other mentioned source.
说
In “上面说有可能下雨”, “说” means “say” or “state”; the app is presented as giving the information. The information being stated follows it. Use it when reporting what a person, sign, document, or app communicates.
有
In “有可能下雨”, “有” introduces the existence of a possibility: there is a chance that it will rain. It is followed here by “可能” and the event “下雨”. Use it to state that something exists or is present, including a possibility.
可能
“可能” means “possibly” or “a possibility” in “有可能下雨”. It shows that rain is not certain but is considered likely enough to mention. A common pattern is 有可能 + event or action.
下雨
“下雨” means “to rain” or “rain is falling”, here in “有可能下雨”. It names the weather event that may occur. Use it to talk about rain as an event or forecast.
天
In “天看起来已经阴沉沉的了”, “天” refers to the sky. It is the thing being visually described in this sentence. Use it in weather descriptions when talking about the sky or conditions overhead.
看起来
“看起来” means “looks” or “seems” in “天看起来已经阴沉沉的了”. 看 contributes the act of looking, while 起来 completes the construction that expresses how something appears. A common pattern is 看起来 + description when giving an impression based on observation.
已经
“已经” means “already” in “已经阴沉沉的了”, showing that the gloomy appearance is present by this point. It emphasizes that the state has begun or is now true. Use it before the action or description that has already occurred or become true.
阴沉沉
“阴沉沉” describes the sky as gloomy and heavily cloudy in “天看起来已经阴沉沉的了”. Its repeated form gives the description a vivid, sustained quality. Use it for a dark, gloomy-looking sky or atmosphere.
的
In “阴沉沉的了”, “的” links “阴沉沉” to the thing being described and helps present it as a state of the sky. It is part of the description before the sentence-final “了”. Use it when an adjective-like description is attached to a noun or current state.
了
The sentence-final “了” in “阴沉沉的了” indicates a change or newly established state: the sky is now gloomy. It shows that the description is relevant at the current moment. Use it when reporting that a situation has become different or has now come to be.
今晚
“今晚” means “tonight” or “this evening” in “今晚气温也会下降”. It sets the time of the temperature change. Use it as a time expression before the event or prediction being discussed.
气温
“气温” means air temperature in “今晚气温也会下降”. It identifies the weather measurement that is expected to change. Use it when discussing temperature as part of a weather report or forecast.
也
“也” means “also” in “气温也会下降”, adding the temperature drop to the other weather information already mentioned. It connects this fact with a previous related fact. Use it before the verb or predicate that shares the same context.
会
In “会下降”, “会” indicates that the temperature is expected to drop in the future. It presents the change as a forecast or likely development. Use it before an action or change that is predicted to happen.
下降
“下降” means “drop” or “decrease” in “气温也会下降”. Here it describes the temperature moving to a lower level. Use it for measurable levels such as temperature, prices, or numbers when they become lower.
我
“我” means “I” or “me” and identifies the speaker in “我应该带一件薄外套吗？”. The speaker is asking about an action they may take. Use it to refer to yourself as the subject or object of an action.
应该
“应该” means “should” in “我应该带一件薄外套吗？”, asking whether bringing the jacket is the advisable choice. It comes before the action “带”. Use it when asking for or giving practical advice about what is appropriate.
带
In “带一件薄外套”, “带” means to bring or carry something along. The item being brought follows the verb. Use it when taking an object with you to another place.
件
“件” is the classifier used for the item of clothing in “一件薄外套”. It appears between the number and the clothing noun. Use it with clothing items such as jackets or other garments.
薄
In “薄外套”, “薄” means thin or lightweight, describing the jacket’s thickness and suitability for mild cooler weather. It comes before the noun “外套”. Use it before a noun when describing something as thin or light in this sense.
外套
“外套” means jacket or outerwear in “一件薄外套”. It is the garment the speaker considers bringing. Use it for clothing worn over other clothes, especially outdoors.
和
“和” means “and” in “一件薄外套和一把小雨伞”, joining the jacket and umbrella. It connects items that are included together. Use it between nouns or noun phrases in a simple list.
把
In “把这两样都放进包里”, “把” introduces the objects being handled and places them before the action. The sentence focuses on putting the two items somewhere. A common reusable pattern is 把 + object + verb + result or location.
小
In “小雨伞”, “小” means small and describes the umbrella. It comes directly before the noun it modifies. Use it before a noun when describing a smaller size.
雨伞
“雨伞” means umbrella in “一把小雨伞”. It is the item intended to protect against the possible rain. Use it when talking about an umbrella used in rainy weather.
帮助
In “会有帮助”, “帮助” means help or usefulness: the jacket and umbrella will be helpful for the expected conditions. It describes a benefit for dealing with a situation. Use it when an action or item makes a task or problem easier.
那
“那” means “then” or “in that case” in “那我可以把这两样都放进包里”. It links the previous suggestion to the speaker’s next decision. Use it to introduce a consequence, response, or decision based on what was just said.
可以
In “我可以把这两样都放进包里”, “可以” means “can” and shows that the speaker is able or willing to carry out the action. It comes before the construction “把这两样都放进包里”. Use it before a verb when stating that an action is possible or permitted.
这
In “这两样”, “这” points to the jacket and umbrella that were just mentioned. It identifies the items as the ones currently under discussion. Use it with a quantity or classifier when referring to specific nearby or recently mentioned things.
样
In “这两样”, “样” classifies the two items being discussed, namely the jacket and umbrella. It helps refer to them together without repeating their nouns. Use it after a number when referring to kinds or items as a set.
都
In “这两样都放进包里”, “都” means “both” and applies the action to all the items in the referenced set. It appears before the verb “放”. A common pattern is a quantity phrase + 都 + verb when every item in that group is included.
放
In “放进包里”, “放” means to put or place something. The object is introduced by “把”, and the destination follows in “进包里”. Use it when describing placing an object somewhere.
进
In “放进包里”, “进” indicates movement into the bag and completes the destination of “放”. It shows that the objects end up inside rather than merely near the bag. A common pattern is 放进 + container or location.
包
“包” means bag in “包里”, the place where the jacket and umbrella will be put. It is followed by “里” to specify the inside. Use it for a bag used to carry personal items.
里
In “包里”, “里” means “inside” or “in” and specifies the location within the bag. It follows the noun naming the container. Use it after a place or container noun to indicate its interior.
这些
“这些” means “these” in “这些应该足够”, referring to the jacket and umbrella just discussed. It identifies several nearby or recently mentioned items. Use it before a statement about a group of specific things.
足够
“足够” means “enough” or “sufficient” in “这些应该足够应付下雨和凉一点的晚上”. It says that the two items provide enough preparation for the expected conditions. Use it before a purpose or situation when judging whether something is sufficient.
应付
In “足够应付下雨和凉一点的晚上”, “应付” means to deal with or cope with the rain and cooler evening. It describes handling a situation with the available preparation. A common pattern is 应付 + problem, condition, or demand.
凉
In “凉一点的晚上”, “凉” means cool and describes the evening’s temperature. It appears before “一点” to show a slight degree. Use it for weather, air, or another condition that feels cool rather than hot.
点
In “凉一点”, “点” contributes the meaning “a little” or “somewhat”, making the evening only slightly cooler. It modifies the degree of “凉”. A common pattern is an adjective + 一点 when describing a small difference in degree.
晚上
“晚上” means evening or night in “凉一点的晚上”. It is the time period being described as somewhat cool. Use it as a time expression or as a noun modified by a description.
Grammar Points
有可能 + 动词短语
今天有可能下雨。
jīntiān yǒu kěnéng xiàyǔ.It may rain today.
有可能放在动词短语前，表示某件事可能发生。
看起来 + 形容词
天看起来阴沉沉的。
tiān kàn qǐlái yīnchénchén de.The sky looks gloomy.
看起来放在形容词前，表示根据外表或情况作出判断。
Chinese Vocabulary
查看
verb
chákàn
check; view
出门
verb
chūmén
leave the house; go out
带
verb
dài
carry; bring
看起来
phrase
kàn qǐlái
look; seem
气温
noun
qìwēn
temperature
天气
noun
tiānqì
weather
下降
verb
xiàjiàng
drop; decrease
下雨
verb
xiàyǔ
rain; rain falls
已经
adv
yǐjīng
already
阴沉沉的
adj
yīnchénchén de
gloomy; overcast
应用
noun
yìngyòng
app; application
有可能
phrase
yǒu kěnéng
there is a possibility; may
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
gloomy; overcast
Show Answer
阴沉沉的already
Show Answer
已经rain; rain falls
Show Answer
下雨check; view