Choosing an Online Language Course | Learn Chinese in English

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Use Choosing an Online Language Course to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

我想选一门网上语言课。

Wǒ xiǎng xuǎn yì mén wǎngshàng yǔyán kè. I want to choose an online language course.

比较一下课程安排、评价和教学方式。

Bǐjiào yíxià kèchéng ānpái, píngjià hé jiàoxué fāngshì. Compare the schedule, reviews, and teaching style.

这门课时间短一些，但课少一些。

Zhè mén kè shíjiān duǎn yìxiē, dàn kè shǎo yìxiē. This course is shorter but has fewer lessons.

另一个看起来对初学者更友好。

Lìng yí ge kàn qǐlái duì chūxuézhě gèng yǒuhǎo. The other one looks more beginner-friendly.

我只能在周末学习。

Wǒ zhǐnéng zài zhōumò xuéxí. I can only study on weekends.

那就选周末有课的课程。

Nà jiù xuǎn zhōumò yǒu kè de kèchéng. Then choose the course with weekend classes.

评价说老师讲解得很清楚。

Píngjià shuō lǎoshī jiǎngjiě de hěn qīngchu. The reviews say the teacher explains clearly.

老师讲得清楚比课程时间短更重要。

Lǎoshī jiǎng de qīngchu bǐ kèchéng shíjiān duǎn gèng zhòngyào. That matters more than a shorter course.

Word by Word

我 “我” means “I” and refers to the speaker in “我想选一门网上语言课” and “我只能在周末学习”。It is used for the person expressing a wish or ability, commonly before a verb such as “我想” or “我能”。

想 “想” means “want to” in “我想选一门网上语言课”，showing the speaker’s intention. It is commonly placed before the action, as in “我想” plus a verb. A new example is “我想学习中文”。

选 “选” means “choose” in “我想选一门网上语言课” and “选周末有课的课程”。It is used before the thing being chosen, such as “选一门课” or “选课程”。

门 “门” is the classifier used for the course in “一门网上语言课”。It appears after the number “一” and before the course noun. A new example is “两门课程”。

网上 “网上” means “online” in “网上语言课”，describing a language course provided online. It commonly comes before the noun it describes, as in “网上课程”。

语言 “语言” means “language” in “网上语言课”，specifying the subject of the course. It combines with a following noun in “语言课” to mean a language class or course. A new example is “语言学习”。

课 “课” refers to a class or course in “语言课” and “课少一些”。In “语言课” it names the course, while in “课少一些” it is the thing being counted. A new example is “这门课很有意思”。

比较 “比较” means “compare” in “比较一下课程安排、评价和教学方式”，asking someone to examine several features side by side. It comes before the items being compared, such as “比较课程安排和评价”。

一下 “一下” in “比较一下课程安排、评价和教学方式” makes the instruction sound lighter and suggests doing the action briefly. It follows the verb “比较” in this expression. A new example is “看一下这个课程”。

课程 “课程” means “course” in “课程安排” and “课程时间”，referring to the organized study offering rather than one particular class meeting. It commonly combines with a following noun to describe an aspect of the course, as in “课程安排”。

安排 “安排” means the schedule or arrangement in “课程安排”。Here it refers to how the course is organized in time. It commonly follows the thing being organized, as in “课程安排”。

评价 “评价” means reviews or ratings in “评价”和“评价说老师讲解得很清楚”。It refers to people’s judgments about the course and is also the source of the statement about the teacher. A new example is “我先看看评价”。

和 “和” means “and” in “课程安排、评价和教学方式”，joining the final item to the other items in a list. It is placed between the connected nouns, as in “时间和价格”。

教学 “教学” refers to teaching in “教学方式”，the teaching aspect being compared between courses. It combines with “方式” to describe how teaching is carried out. A new example is “教学内容”。

方式 “方式” means style or method in “教学方式”，referring to the way the teacher teaches. It commonly follows the activity or field it describes, as in “学习方式”。

这 “这” means “this” in “这门课时间短一些”，pointing to the course currently being discussed. It comes before the classifier and noun in “这门课”。A new example is “这门课程很好”。

时间 “时间” refers to the course’s duration in “这门课时间短一些”。Here it is the amount of time the course takes, not a specific clock time. It commonly combines with an adjective such as “时间短”。

短 “短” means “short” in “时间短一些”，describing the course duration as shorter. With “一些” it expresses a somewhat shorter comparison. A new example is “这门课很短”。

一些 “一些” means “somewhat” or “a little” in “时间短一些” and “课少一些”，softening the comparison. It follows the adjective or quantity being compared, as in “大一些” or “少一些”。

但 “但” means “but” in “这门课时间短一些，但课少一些”，introducing a contrasting disadvantage after the shorter duration. It connects two contrasting statements. A new example is “时间短，但内容很多”。

少 “少” means “few” or “fewer” in “课少一些”，saying that this course has a smaller number of lessons. It appears before “一些” in this comparison. A new example is “这个课程课少”。

另 “另” contributes the meaning “other” in “另一个”，identifying a different course from the one just discussed. It is used together with “一个” in this expression. A new example is “另一个选择”。

个 “个” is the general classifier in “另一个”，where it follows “一” and identifies the other option. It commonly appears between a number or demonstrative and a noun or implied item. A new example is “一个课程”。

看起来 “看起来” means “looks” or “seems” in “另一个看起来对初学者更友好”。The component “看” contributes the idea of looking, and “起来” forms the expression that presents an appearance or impression. It commonly comes before the description, as in “看起来很容易”。

对 “对” means “for” in “对初学者更友好”，showing who the course is friendly toward. It commonly comes before the person or group affected, as in “对学生有帮助”。

初学者 “初学者” means “beginner” in “对初学者更友好”，referring to someone who is just starting to learn. It follows “对” to show the group for whom the course is suitable. A new example is “这个材料适合初学者”。

更 “更” means “more” in “更友好”，making the friendliness a comparison with the other course. It comes before the adjective being compared. A new example is “这个方法更简单”。

友好 “友好” means “friendly” in “对初学者更友好”，describing the course as easier or more welcoming for beginners. With “对” it forms the pattern “对某人友好”。

只 “只” means “only” in “我只能在周末学习”，limiting the time when the speaker can study. It appears before “能” and the action. A new example is “我只在晚上学习”。

能 “能” means “can” or “be able to” in “我只能在周末学习”，expressing the speaker’s available possibility or ability. In “只能”，it combines with “只” to mean “can only”。A new example is “我能在周末学习”。

在 “在” means “on” in “在周末学习”，introducing the time when the studying takes place. It commonly comes before a time expression or location, as in “在晚上学习”。

周末 “周末” means “weekend” in “在周末学习” and “周末有课”。It identifies the time period available for study or scheduled classes. A new example is “我周末有时间”。

学习 “学习” means “study” in “我只能在周末学习”。It is the action that the speaker can do only during the weekend. It commonly follows a time expression, as in “在家学习”。

那 “那” means “then” or “in that case” in “那就选周末有课的课程”，connecting the stated weekend limitation to the advice that follows. It commonly introduces a conclusion based on what was just said. A new example is “那我们明天开始”。

就 “就” in “那就选周末有课的课程” marks the resulting action or recommendation: given that situation, choose this course. It commonly follows “那” in the pattern “那就……” to introduce a decision. A new example is “那就这样吧”。

有 “有” means “have” or “there is” in “周末有课的课程”，stating that classes exist on the weekend. It comes before the thing that is available, as in “周末有课”。

的 “的” in “周末有课的课程” marks “周末有课” as a phrase that describes the course. The phrase before “的” identifies which course is meant. A new example is “晚上有课的班”。

说 “说” means “say” in “评价说老师讲解得很清楚”，introducing what the reviews report. It commonly follows the source of the statement and comes before the reported information, as in “他说时间不够”。

老师 “老师” means “teacher” in “老师讲解得很清楚”，referring to the person whose teaching is being evaluated. It is the person performing the explanation action. A new example is “老师回答了问题”。

讲解 “讲解” means “explain” in “老师讲解得很清楚”，describing the teacher’s explanation of the lesson material. It is followed by “得” and a description of how the action is carried out. A new example is “老师讲解这个语法”。

得 “得” links the action “讲解” with its description in “讲解得很清楚”。It introduces how clearly the explaining is done, commonly following an action verb such as “讲解”。

很 “很” means “very” or provides a degree description in “很清楚”，showing a high degree of clarity. It comes before the adjective “清楚”。A new example is “老师讲得很慢”。

清楚 “清楚” means “clearly” in “讲解得很清楚” and “讲得很清楚”，describing the teacher’s explanation or speaking as easy to understand. It follows “得” when describing how an action is performed. A new example is “请说得清楚一点”。

讲 “讲” contributes the meaning of explaining or speaking in “讲解” and “讲得很清楚”。In “讲得很清楚”，it is followed by “得” to describe how clearly the speaking or explaining is done. A new example is “老师讲得很清楚”。

比 “比” means “than” or “compared with” in “老师讲得清楚比课程时间短更重要”，introducing the point used for comparison. The comparison follows the pattern “A比B更重要”。

重要 “重要” means “important” in “老师讲得清楚比课程时间短更重要”，saying that clear explanation matters more than a shorter course duration. It commonly follows “更” in a comparison, as in “这个原因更重要”。

Grammar Points

A比B+形容词

网上语言课比另一个更短。

Wǎngshàng yǔyán kè bǐ lìng yí ge gèng duǎn.

The online language course is shorter than the other one.

Use 比 to compare two things. The adjective comes after the compared phrase; 更 can emphasize “more.”

只能+动词

周末只能学习。

Zhōumò zhǐnéng xuéxí.

One can only study on the weekend.

只能 means “can only” and comes before the verb to show a limitation or restriction.

Chinese Vocabulary

比较 verb

bǐjiào compare

短 adj

duǎn short

教学方式 noun

jiàoxué fāngshì teaching style

课 noun

kè lesson; class

课程安排 noun

kèchéng ānpái course schedule

另一个 pron

lìng yí ge the other one

评价 noun

píngjià review; evaluation

少 adj

shǎo few; not many

时间 noun

shíjiān time; duration

网上 adj

wǎngshàng online

选 verb

xuǎn choose

语言课 noun

yǔyán kè language course

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

teaching style

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教学方式

course schedule

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课程安排

time; duration

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时间

compare

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比较