Joining a Beginner Drawing Club | Learn Chinese in English

About This Lesson

Use Joining a Beginner Drawing Club to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

我在考虑参加一个绘画俱乐部。

wǒ zài kǎolǜ cānjiā yí gè huìhuà jùlèbù. I'm thinking about joining a drawing club.

他们欢迎初学者吗？

tāmen huānyíng chūxuézhě ma? Do they welcome beginners?

是的，他们欢迎初学者。第一次活动从简单的素描开始。

shì de, tāmen huānyíng chūxuézhě. Dì yí cì huódòng cóng jiǎndān de sùmiáo kāishǐ. They do. The first session starts with simple sketches.

这个俱乐部多久活动一次？

zhè ge jùlèbù duōjiǔ huódòng yí cì? How often does the club meet?

这个俱乐部每周下班后活动一次。

zhè ge jùlèbù měi zhōu xiàbān hòu huódòng yí cì. It meets every week after work.

这个安排可能适合你的日常生活。

zhè ge ānpái kěnéng shìhé nǐ de rìcháng shēnghuó. That schedule might fit your routine.

我觉得有点紧张，但我想试试。

wǒ juéde yǒudiǎn jǐnzhāng, dàn wǒ xiǎng shìshi. I feel nervous, but I want to try.

你决定之前，先参加一次活动吧。

nǐ juédìng zhīqián, xiān cānjiā yí cì huódòng ba. Try one meeting before you decide.

Word by Word

我 “我” refers to the speaker as “I” or “me”; here it is the person considering and feeling nervous. It commonly comes before the action or feeling being described, as in “我在考虑” and “我觉得有点紧张”. You use it when talking about yourself.

在 “在” shows that the action is in progress in “我在考虑参加一个绘画俱乐部”, meaning “I am considering joining a drawing club”. Here it comes before the action word “考虑”. Use it before an action that is currently happening or developing.

考虑 “考虑” means “consider” or “think about” in “我在考虑参加一个绘画俱乐部”. The activity being considered follows it directly: “考虑参加一个绘画俱乐部”. Use it when weighing whether to do something, such as joining a club.

参加 “参加” means “join” or “take part in” in “参加一个绘画俱乐部”. It is followed by the activity or group being joined, here “一个绘画俱乐部”. You can use it when deciding to take part in a club activity or event.

一个 “一个” means “a” or “one” and marks one drawing club in “一个绘画俱乐部”. It comes before the noun phrase it identifies. Use it when referring to one unspecified person, thing, group, or event.

绘画 “绘画” refers to drawing or painting in “绘画俱乐部”, identifying the club’s activity. It comes before “俱乐部” to describe what the club is about. Use it when talking about drawing or painting as an activity.

俱乐部 “俱乐部” means “club” in “一个绘画俱乐部”. Here it is the group that the speaker is considering joining and that meets every week. Use it for an organized group built around an activity or interest.

他们 “他们” means “they” or “them” and refers to the people at the club in “他们欢迎初学者吗？”. It is the subject of the question about whether beginners are welcome. Use it to refer to more than one person when their names are not given.

欢迎 “欢迎” means “welcome” in “他们欢迎初学者吗？”, asking whether the club accepts beginners. The people being welcomed follow it as “初学者”. Use it when asking or saying that a person or group is received gladly.

初学者 “初学者” means “beginner” in “他们欢迎初学者吗？”. It identifies people who are new to the activity and functions as the group being welcomed. Use it when discussing people who are just starting to learn something.

吗 “吗” turns “他们欢迎初学者” into the yes-or-no question “他们欢迎初学者吗？”. It is placed at the end of the question. Use it when asking whether a statement is true.

是的 “是的” is the affirmative answer “yes” in “是的，他们欢迎初学者”. Here “是” supplies the confirmation, and “的” makes “是的” a complete affirmative response. Use it to answer a preceding yes-or-no question positively.

第一次 “第一次” means “the first time” or “first” in “第一次活动”, referring to the club’s first session. It comes before “活动” to identify which session is meant. Use it when talking about the first occurrence of an event or activity.

活动 “活动” means “activity” or “session” in “第一次活动” and refers to a club meeting. The dialogue also says the club meets every week, so this is a shared event rather than a private action. Use it for an organized activity or meeting.

从 “从” marks the starting point in “从简单的素描开始”, meaning that the session starts with simple sketches. It comes before the starting activity or point. Use it when describing where an action or process begins.

简单 “简单” means “simple” in “简单的素描”. It describes the sketches as suitable in difficulty for the first session and comes before “的素描”. Use it to describe something that is not difficult or complicated.

的 “的” links “简单” to “素描” in “简单的素描”, showing that “简单” describes the sketches. It is placed between the describing word and the noun. Use it when placing a description before a noun in this kind of phrase.

素描 “素描” means “sketch” in “简单的素描”, the type of work used at the beginning of the first session. It is the activity that follows “从” in the starting-point expression. Use it when talking about sketching work.

开始 “开始” means “start” or “begin” in “从简单的素描开始”. It describes the point at which the first session starts and follows the starting activity. Use it to say that an event or process begins with something.

这个 “这个” means “this” in “这个俱乐部”, pointing to the club already being discussed. It comes before the noun “俱乐部”. Use it when identifying a particular nearby or previously mentioned person, thing, or group.

多久 “多久” asks about the interval in “这个俱乐部多久活动一次？”, meaning how often the club has an activity. Its meaning here comes from the full pattern asking how many times an event occurs over time. Use it when asking about the frequency of a recurring activity.

一次 “一次” means “one time” or “once” in “多久活动一次” and “一次活动”. In the question, it helps ask how often the club meets; in the suggestion, it means trying one meeting. Use it to count one occurrence of an action or event.

每周 “每周” means “every week” in “每周下班后活动一次”, giving the club’s regular frequency. It comes before the time and activity information. Use it when describing something that happens once during each week.

下班 “下班” means “finish work” or “get off work” in “下班后”. It identifies the point after which the club activity takes place. Use it when arranging something around the end of a workday.

后 “后” means “after” in “下班后”, placing the club activity after finishing work. It follows the event that provides the time reference. Use it after a time or event when describing what happens afterward.

安排 “安排” means “schedule” or “arrangement” in “这个安排”, referring to the club meeting after work every week. It is the thing that may fit the listener’s daily life. Use it when discussing plans or the timing of an activity.

可能 “可能” means “might” or “possibly” in “可能适合你的日常生活”, so the speaker presents the idea as a possibility rather than a certainty. It comes before “适合”. Use it when making a tentative statement about what may be suitable or happen.

适合 “适合” means “suit” or “fit” in “适合你的日常生活”, saying that the schedule may work well with the listener’s daily life. The person or situation being suited follows it. Use it when evaluating whether a plan, time, or thing works for someone.

你 “你” means “you” and refers to the person whose routine is being discussed in “你的日常生活”. It also appears in “你决定之前”, referring to the person who will decide. Use it when speaking directly to one person.

日常 “日常” means “daily” or “everyday” in “日常生活”, describing ordinary life and routines. It comes before “生活” to specify what kind of life is meant. Use it when talking about regular activities and everyday circumstances.

生活 “生活” means “life” or “daily life” in “你的日常生活”. Here it is the routine that the club schedule may fit. Use it when discussing someone’s everyday way of living or daily circumstances.

觉得 “觉得” means “feel” or “think” in “我觉得有点紧张”, introducing the speaker’s personal feeling. It is followed by the feeling being reported. Use it to express an opinion or how something feels to you.

有点 “有点” means “a little” or “somewhat” in “有点紧张”, softening the description of the speaker’s nervousness. It comes before the feeling “紧张”. Use it before a feeling or quality when describing a small degree of it.

紧张 “紧张” means “nervous” in “我觉得有点紧张”, describing the speaker’s feeling about trying the club. It follows “有点” to show that the nervousness is limited. Use it when you feel nervous before a new or uncertain situation.

但 “但” means “but” and connects the nervous feeling with the wish to try in “紧张，但我想试试”. It introduces a contrast between the two ideas. Use it to connect a concern or opposing fact with what follows.

想 “想” means “want to” in “我想试试”, expressing the speaker’s intention despite feeling nervous. The action that the speaker wants to do follows it. Use it before an action when expressing a wish or intention.

试试 “试试” means “try” or “give it a try” in “我想试试”. The repeated form presents the action as an attempt, which fits the idea of trying the club before deciding. Use it when suggesting or describing a brief attempt at something.

决定 “决定” means “decide” in “你决定之前”, referring to the listener’s choice about whether to continue with the club. It is followed by “之前” to show that the suggested trial comes first. Use it when talking about making a choice.

之前 “之前” means “before” in “你决定之前”, marking the time before the listener decides. It follows the action or event used as the time reference. Use it to place one action earlier than another.

先 “先” means “first” or “beforehand” in “先参加一次活动吧”, recommending that the listener attend one session before making a decision. It comes before the action to be done first. Use it to show the order of two actions.

吧 “吧” makes “先参加一次活动吧” a suggestion rather than a forceful command. It appears at the end of the sentence and gives the advice a softer, inviting tone. Use it when proposing an action to another person.

Grammar Points

有点 + 形容词

有点紧张

yǒudiǎn jǐnzhāng

a little nervous

有点放在形容词前，表示程度不高，常用于表达略微的负面感受。

动词重叠：V-V

试试素描

shìshi sùmiáo

give sketching a try

动词重叠使语气更轻松，表示短时间或尝试性地做某事。

Chinese Vocabulary

参加 verb

cānjiā to join; to participate in

我在考虑参加一个绘画俱乐部。

初学者 noun

chūxuézhě beginner

他们欢迎初学者吗?

第一次 det

dì yí cì first time; first

第一次活动

多久 adv

duōjiǔ how often; how long

这个俱乐部多久活动一次?

欢迎 verb

huānyíng to welcome

他们欢迎初学者吗?

绘画 noun

huìhuà drawing; painting

绘画俱乐部

活动 noun

huódòng activity; session; event

第一次活动从简单的素描开始。

简单 adj

jiǎndān simple 简单的

简单的素描

俱乐部 noun

jùlèbù club

一个绘画俱乐部

考虑 verb

kǎolǜ to consider; to think about

我在考虑参加一个绘画俱乐部。

每周 adv

měi zhōu every week; weekly

这个俱乐部每周下班后活动一次。

素描 noun

sùmiáo sketch

简单的素描

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to welcome

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欢迎

every week; weekly

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每周

beginner

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初学者

first time; first

Show Answer

第一次