Talking about a cooking class | Learn Chinese in English

About This Lesson

Use Talking about a cooking class to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

社区中心有一门烹饪课。

shèqū zhōngxīn yǒu yì mén pēngrèn kè. There's a cooking class at the community center.

他们会教你做什么菜？

tāmen huì jiāo nǐ zuò shénme cài? What kind of dishes will they teach you to make?

他们会教简单的意大利面和基本的酱汁。

tāmen huì jiāo jiǎndān de yìdàlìmiàn hé jīběn de jiàngzhī. Simple pasta dishes and basic sauces.

初学者可以参加吗？

chūxuézhě kěyǐ cānjiā ma? Is it open to beginners?

这门课从基本步骤开始。

zhè mén kè cóng jīběn bùzhòu kāishǐ. The class starts with basic steps.

你应该报名。

nǐ yīnggāi bàomíng. You should sign up.

我想学会一个实用的食谱。

wǒ xiǎng xuéhuì yí ge shíyòng de shípǔ. I want to learn one useful recipe.

之后你可以为我们做这道菜。

zhīhòu nǐ kěyǐ wèi wǒmen zuò zhè dào cài. You can cook it for us afterward.

Word by Word

社区 “社区” means “community” here, in “社区中心” for the local community. It commonly comes before a place or service, as in “社区中心”. You can use it when talking about activities or facilities serving local residents.

中心 “中心” means “center” here, referring to the place where the class is held in “社区中心”. It commonly follows the name or type of a place. You can use it for a central place or facility, such as a community center.

有 “有” states that something exists or is available at a place: “社区中心有一门烹饪课” means there is a cooking class at the community center. A common pattern is “place + 有 + thing”. Use it when announcing that a place has or offers something.

门 “门” is the classifier used for the class in “一门烹饪课”. It appears between “一” and “烹饪课” to count this type of course. Use “门” with classes or courses when saying how many there are.

烹饪 “烹饪” means “cooking” in “烹饪课”, describing the subject of the class. It comes before “课” to form the course name. Use it when discussing cooking as a skill or subject.

课 “课” means “class” or “lesson” in “烹饪课”. It follows the subject name to identify what kind of class it is. You can use it after a subject or activity when talking about attending or taking a class.

他们 “他们” means “they” in “他们会教你做什么菜？”, referring to the people who will teach the class. It comes before the action word “教”. Use it as the subject when referring to a group of people.

会 “会” indicates that “they” are expected to teach the dishes in “他们会教你做什么菜？”. It comes before “教” to express what will happen or what someone is able to do. A common pattern is “subject + 会 + verb”, used for an expected action or ability.

教 “教” means “teach” in “教你做什么菜”, with “你” as the learner. It commonly follows the teacher and comes before the person being taught and the skill or action. Use the pattern “教 + someone + verb” when saying what someone teaches another person to do.

你 “你” means “you” in “教你做什么菜”, referring to the person who will learn to cook. Here it comes after “教” as the learner and before “做”. Use it when addressing one person directly.

做 “做” means “make” or “cook” in “做什么菜” and “做这道菜”. Its meaning depends on the object: with “菜”, it means preparing or cooking a dish. Use the pattern “做 + dish or food” when talking about preparing food.

什么 “什么” asks “what” in “做什么菜”, asking which dishes will be taught. It comes before the noun “菜” in this question. Use “什么 + noun” to ask what kind of thing or which thing is meant.

菜 “菜” means “dish” here in “什么菜”, referring to food that can be prepared and eaten. It follows “什么” when asking which dishes. Use it when talking about a dish or food in a meal.

简单 “简单” means “simple” in “简单的意大利面”, describing pasta dishes that are not complicated. It comes before “的” and the noun it modifies. Use it before “的 + noun” to describe something as simple.

的 “的” links the description “简单” to the noun “意大利面” in “简单的意大利面”. The structure “描述 + 的 + 名词” shows that the description applies to the following noun. Use this pattern when placing a descriptive word before a noun.

意大利面 “意大利面” means “pasta” in “简单的意大利面”. It is the food being taught in the cooking class. You can use it after a description such as “简单的” or after “做” when talking about cooking pasta.

和 “和” means “and” in “意大利面和基本的酱汁”, joining the two types of food taught. It connects nouns or noun phrases in the same list. Use it between items that belong together.

基本 “基本” means “basic” in “基本的酱汁”, describing sauces at an introductory level. It comes before “的” and the noun “酱汁”. Use “基本的 + noun” for something that provides essential or introductory knowledge.

酱汁 “酱汁” means “sauce” in “基本的酱汁”, one of the things taught in the class. It follows the description “基本的”. Use it when talking about a sauce used with food.

初学者 “初学者” means “beginner” in “初学者可以参加吗？”, referring to people with little or no previous experience. It is the topic of the question about joining the class. Use it when describing someone who is just starting to learn a skill.

可以 “可以” asks whether beginners are allowed or able to attend in “初学者可以参加吗？”. It comes before the action “参加” and is followed by “吗” to make a yes-or-no question. Use “可以 + verb” to ask about permission or possibility.

参加 “参加” means “attend” or “participate in” in “参加吗”, referring to joining the class. It commonly takes an event, activity, or class as its object. Use “参加 + activity or event” when saying that someone takes part in it.

吗 “吗” turns “初学者可以参加” into the yes-or-no question “初学者可以参加吗？”. It is placed at the end of the sentence. Use it after a statement when asking whether that statement is true or applicable.

这 “这” means “this” in “这门课” and “这道菜”, pointing to the specific class or dish being discussed. It comes before a classifier and noun. Use “这 + classifier + noun” to identify something nearby or already known.

从 “从” marks the starting point in “从基本步骤开始”, meaning that the class begins with basic steps. It comes before the starting point “基本步骤”. Use the pattern “从 + starting point + 开始” when describing where an activity begins.

步骤 “步骤” means “steps” in “基本步骤”, referring to the basic stages or actions in the cooking process. It follows the description “基本”. Use it when explaining the ordered actions needed to complete an activity.

开始 “开始” means “start” or “begin” in “从基本步骤开始”, saying that the class begins with basic steps. It follows the starting point in the pattern “从……开始”. Use this pattern to explain what an activity starts with.

应该 “应该” means “should” in “你应该报名”, giving the listener advice to register. It comes before the action “报名”. Use “subject + 应该 + verb” when recommending an action.

报名 “报名” means “sign up” or “register” in “你应该报名”. It refers to officially joining the cooking class. Use it with a class, course, or event when telling someone to register for it.

我 “我” means “I” in “我想学会一个实用的食谱”, identifying the speaker as the person with the learning goal. It comes before “想”. Use it as the subject when talking about yourself.

想 “想” means “want to” in “我想学会一个实用的食谱”, expressing the speaker’s desire to learn a recipe. It comes before the action “学会”. Use the pattern “我想 + verb” to state what you want to do.

学会 “学会” means “learn to do” or “become able to do” in “学会一个实用的食谱”, expressing the goal of learning a recipe well enough to use it. It follows “想” in “想学会”. Use “想学会 + skill or action” when describing a skill you want to master.

个 “个” is the classifier in “一个实用的食谱”, counting one recipe. It comes after “一” and before the description and noun. Use “一个 + noun” as a general way to count one item when no more specific classifier is needed.

实用 “实用” means “useful” or “practical” in “一个实用的食谱”, describing a recipe that can be used in everyday cooking. It comes before “的食谱”. Use “实用的 + noun” when emphasizing practical usefulness.

食谱 “食谱” means “recipe” in “一个实用的食谱”, the thing the speaker wants to learn. It follows the classifier and description. Use it when talking about written or learned instructions for preparing food.

之后 “之后” means “afterward” in “之后你可以为我们做这道菜”, referring to the time after learning the recipe. It appears at the beginning of the sentence and sets the time for the following action. Use it before a clause when describing what happens later.

为 “为” means “for” in “为我们做这道菜”, showing who will benefit from the cooking. It comes before “我们”, the people receiving the dish. Use the pattern “为 + person + 做 + food” when preparing food for someone.

我们 “我们” means “we” or “us” in “为我们做这道菜”, referring to the people the dish will be prepared for. After “为”, it functions as the people who benefit from the action. Use it for the speaker together with one or more other people.

道 “道” is the classifier for the dish in “这道菜”, identifying one prepared dish. It comes after “这” and before “菜”. Use “一/这/那 + 道 + 菜” when counting or pointing to a dish.

Grammar Points

动词 + 之后

报名之后参加烹饪课

bàomíng zhīhòu cānjiā pēngrèn kè

After signing up, attend the cooking class.

之后放在动作后表示“在……以后”；前面的动作先发生，后面的动作随后发生。

学会 + 名词

学会基本步骤

xuéhuì jīběn bùzhòu

Learn the basic steps.

学会表示通过学习掌握某项知识或技能，强调学习成功的结果。

Chinese Vocabulary

步骤 noun

bùzhòu step

菜 noun

cài dish

参加 verb

cānjiā to attend; to participate in

初学者 noun

chūxuézhě beginner

基本 adj

jīběn basic

简单 adj

jiǎndān simple

酱汁 noun

jiàngzhī sauce

教 verb

jiāo to teach

烹饪课 noun

pēngrèn kè cooking class

社区中心 noun

shèqū zhōngxīn community center

什么 pron

shénme what

意大利面 noun

yìdàlìmiàn pasta

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

pasta

Show Answer

意大利面

community center

Show Answer

社区中心

beginner

Show Answer

初学者

cooking class

Show Answer

烹饪课