Choosing an activity based on the weather | Learn Chinese in English

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Use Choosing an activity based on the weather to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

我们明天应该在室内还是室外做点什么？

wǒmen míngtiān yīnggāi zài shìnèi háishì shìwài zuò diǎn shénme? Should we do something indoors or outdoors tomorrow?

在我们决定之前，先看看天气预报。

zài wǒmen juédìng zhīqián, xiān kànkan tiānqì yùbào. Check the forecast before we decide.

天气预报说早上会是晴天。

tiānqì yùbào shuō zǎoshang huì shì qíngtiān. It says the morning will be sunny.

那我们可以在午饭前散步。

nà wǒmen kěyǐ zài wǔfàn qián sànbù. Then we could take a walk before lunch.

如果晚一点下雨，我们可以去咖啡馆。

rúguǒ wǎn yìdiǎn xiàyǔ, wǒmen kěyǐ qù kāfēiguǎn. If it rains later, we can visit a cafe.

这样计划就很灵活。

zhèyàng jìhuà jiù hěn línghuó. That keeps the plan flexible.

那我们计划早上去散步吧。

nà wǒmen jìhuà zǎoshang qù sànbù ba. Let's plan on a morning walk.

如果天气变了，我们可以改在室内活动。

rúguǒ tiānqì biàn le, wǒmen kěyǐ gǎi zài shìnèi huódòng. We can move indoors if the weather changes.

Word by Word

我们 “我们” means “we” or “us” here: the people making the plan together. In “我们明天应该……”, it comes before the shared action or decision. Use it when speaking about yourself and the other person together.

明天 “明天” means “tomorrow” and sets the activity for the following day. In “我们明天……”, it comes before the planned action. Use it when arranging something for the next day.

应该 “应该” means “should” in “我们明天应该……”, asking what would be a suitable plan. It comes before the proposed action. Use “应该” before an action when discussing what is appropriate to do.

在 “在” means “in” or “at” in “在室内” and “在室外”; it marks where the activity happens. The reusable pattern is “在 + place + action”. Use it when naming the location of an activity.

室内 “室内” means “indoors” in “在室内”. It identifies an inside location for the planned activity. Use “在室内” before an action when saying that something happens indoors.

还是 “还是” means “or” in the choice question “室内还是室外”. It connects the alternatives the speakers are choosing between. Use it between alternatives when asking which option to choose.

室外 “室外” means “outdoors” in “在室外”. It identifies an outside location and is one of the two choices in “室内还是室外”. Use “在室外” before an action when saying that something happens outdoors.

做 “做” means “do” in “做点什么”, referring to carrying out some activity. It comes before the unspecified activity in this expression. Use “做 + activity or object” when talking about doing something.

点 “点” means “some” or “a little” in “做点什么”. It makes the amount of activity unspecified and modest. Use it after a verb in expressions such as “做点什么” when suggesting some small or unspecified activity.

什么 “什么” refers to an unspecified thing in “做点什么”, so the phrase means “do something”. Here it is part of a suggestion about choosing an activity. Use “做点什么” when discussing what activity to do without naming it yet.

决定 “决定” means “decide” in “我们决定之前”. The dialogue places the checking of the forecast before this decision. Use “决定之前” to refer to the time before deciding.

之前 “之前” means “before” in “决定之前”, marking an earlier time relative to deciding. It follows the action or event that serves as the time reference. Use “action or event + 之前” when saying something happens before it.

先 “先” means “first” in “先看看天气预报”. It shows that checking the forecast should be the first step. Use “先 + action” when one action should happen before the next one.

看看 “看看” means “take a look” or “check” in “先看看天气预报”. It presents checking the forecast as a light, practical action before deciding. Use it before the thing being checked, as in “看看天气预报”.

天气 “天气” means “weather” in “天气预报” and “天气变了”. It refers to the outdoor conditions that affect the plan. Use it with a description, event, or forecast, such as “天气预报” or “天气变了”.

预报 “预报” means “forecast” in “天气预报”. Together, “天气预报” is the weather forecast the speakers check before choosing an activity. Use it in this expression when referring to a prediction about the weather.

说 “说” means “say” in “天气预报说……”, introducing what the forecast reports. The source of the information comes before “说”, followed by the reported information. Use “source + 说 + information” when reporting what something says.

早上 “早上” means “morning” in “早上会是晴天” and “早上去散步”. It gives the time for the weather condition or activity. Use it before an action or condition to specify that it happens in the morning.

会 “会” means “will” or “is expected to” in “会是晴天”. Here it presents the sunny weather as a forecast for the morning. Use “会 + condition or action” when describing an expected future situation.

是 “是” means “be” in “会是晴天”, connecting the morning’s expected condition with “晴天”. The reusable pattern here is “会是 + description”. Use it when stating what a future situation is expected to be.

晴天 “晴天” means “sunny weather” in “会是晴天”. It names the weather condition expected in the morning. Use it after a time expression or after “是” when describing sunny conditions.

那 “那” means “then” or “in that case” in “那我们可以……”. It responds to the forecast and leads to the next planning decision. Use “那 + proposal or decision” when drawing a conclusion from what was just said.

可以 “可以” means “can” or “may” in “我们可以在午饭前散步” and “我们可以去咖啡馆”. It presents an activity as an available option. Use “subject + 可以 + action” when suggesting what is possible.

午饭 “午饭” means “lunch” in “午饭前”. It provides the time reference for the walk. Use it with “前” to say that something happens before lunch.

前 “前” means “before” in “午饭前”. It places the walk earlier than lunch. Use “time or event + 前” when saying that an action happens before that reference point.

散步 “散步” means “take a walk” in “在午饭前散步” and “去散步吧”. It is the outdoor activity the speakers choose. Use it after a time expression or after “去”, as in “去散步吧”.

如果 “如果” means “if” and introduces a condition in “如果晚一点下雨” and “如果天气变了”. The following condition determines what activity the speakers can choose. Use “如果 + condition” before the resulting action or plan.

晚 “晚” means “late” or “later” in “晚一点”. In this dialogue, it refers to rain happening later. Use it in “晚一点” when an event is expected to happen a little later.

一点 “一点” means “a little” in “晚一点”, making the time difference small. Together, “晚一点” means “a little later”. Use it after “晚” when referring to a small delay in time.

下雨 “下雨” means “rain” in “晚一点下雨”, describing the weather event that may happen later. Use it after “如果” when rain is the condition for a different plan.

去 “去” means “go” in “去咖啡馆” and “去散步”. It indicates going to a destination or going to do an activity. Use “去 + place” or “去 + activity” to describe where someone goes or what they go to do.

咖啡馆 “咖啡馆” means “cafe” in “去咖啡馆”. It is the indoor destination chosen if it rains. Use it after “去” when naming the destination.

这样 “这样” means “this way” or “with this arrangement” in “这样计划就很灵活”. It refers to the plan that includes the morning walk and an indoor backup. Use “这样 + result or description” when explaining the effect of an arrangement.

计划 “计划” means “the plan” in “计划就很灵活” and means “plan” as an action in “我们计划早上去散步吧”. It can refer to the arrangement itself or to deciding on a future activity. Use it before a planned action when saying what someone intends to do.

就 “就” links the arrangement with its result in “这样计划就很灵活”. It gives the sense that, with this arrangement, the plan becomes flexible. Use “这样……就……” when presenting an arrangement and its consequence.

很 “很” means “very” or “quite” in “很灵活”. It comes before the description “灵活” and strengthens it. Use “很 + description” when describing something as quite or very a certain way.

灵活 “灵活” means “flexible” in “计划就很灵活”. The plan can adapt because the speakers have an indoor alternative if the weather changes. Use it to describe a plan or arrangement that can change easily.

吧 “吧” softens the suggestion in “去散步吧”. It makes the proposal sound inviting rather than forceful. Use it at the end of a suggestion when proposing an action together.

变 “变” means “change” in “天气变了”, saying that the weather has become different. The subject “天气” comes before it. Use “subject + 变了” when describing a situation that has changed.

了 “了” in “天气变了” shows a change of state: the weather is now different from before. It follows the change described by “变”. Use it when pointing out that a new situation has come about.

改 “改” means “change” or “switch” in “改在室内活动”. It means changing the planned location to indoors. Use “改在 + place + activity” when switching an activity to a different place.

活动 “活动” refers to doing an activity in “室内活动”. It names what the speakers will do indoors if the weather changes. Use a place before it, as in “室内活动”, when referring to activities in that location.

Grammar Points

如果……，……

如果下雨，改室内活动。

rúguǒ xiàyǔ, gǎi shìnèi huódòng.

If it rains, switch to an indoor activity.

如果 introduces a condition. The result clause follows it directly; 就 is optional in many everyday sentences.

Chinese Vocabulary

决定 verb

juédìng decide; make a decision

明天 adv

míngtiān tomorrow

晴天 noun

qíngtiān sunny day

如果 conj

rúguǒ if

散步 verb

sànbù take a walk; go for a walk

室内 adv

shìnèi indoors; indoor

室外 adv

shìwài outdoors; outdoor

天气预报 noun

tiānqì yùbào weather forecast

午饭 noun

wǔfàn lunch

早上 noun

zǎoshang morning

之前 prep

zhīqián before

做点什么 phrase

zuò diǎn shénme do something

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

do something

Show Answer

做点什么

weather forecast

Show Answer

天气预报

sunny day

Show Answer

晴天

outdoors; outdoor

Show Answer

室外