About This Lesson
Use Choosing a Gift for a Coworker to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
我们需要为我们的同事选一份礼物。
wǒmen xūyào wèi wǒmen de tóngshì xuǎn yí fèn lǐwù。 We need to choose a gift for our coworker.
B
应该选实用一点的，还是更有个人特色的？
yīnggāi xuǎn shíyòng yìdiǎn de,háishì gèng yǒu gèrén tèsè de? Should it be useful or more personal?
A
她喜欢喝茶，所以茶具可能合适。
tā xǐhuan hē chá,suǒyǐ chájù kěnéng héshì。 She likes tea, so a tea set might work.
B
这样既有个人特色，又很实用。
zhèyàng jì yǒu gèrén tèsè,yòu hěn shíyòng。 That feels personal but still useful.
A
我们再加一张小卡片吧。
wǒmen zài jiā yì zhāng xiǎo kǎpiàn ba。 Let's add a small card too.
B
我们把礼物送给她之前，大家都可以在卡片上签名。
wǒmen bǎ lǐwù sòng gěi tā zhīqián,dàjiā dōu kěyǐ zài kǎpiàn shàng qiānmíng。 Everyone can sign it before we give her the gift.Word by Word
我们
「我们」 means “we” in 我们需要 and “our” in 我们的同事. It refers to the people choosing the gift, and the same form is used when speaking for a group or showing group ownership.
需要
「需要」 means “need” here: the speakers need to choose a gift. It commonly comes before an action, as in 需要选一份礼物, and is useful when explaining a requirement or necessity.
为
「为」 means “for” in 为我们的同事选一份礼物, showing who the gift selection is intended for. It can be used before a person or group when doing something for their benefit, such as 为朋友准备礼物.
的
The 「的」 in 我们的同事 links 我们 to 同事 and shows that the coworker is associated with the speakers. It commonly follows a person or group before the related noun, as in 我的朋友.
同事
「同事」 means “coworker,” the person who will receive the gift. It is used for someone who works with you, as in 我的同事 or 和同事一起工作.
选
「选」 means “choose” in 选一份礼物. It is used before the thing being selected, and you can reuse it when choosing an item, option, or gift.
份
「份」 is the measure word used in 一份礼物 for this gift. It is commonly placed between 一 and a gift or other item understood as a portion or complete set, such as 一份文件.
礼物
「礼物」 means “gift” in 一份礼物 and 礼物. It refers to something given to another person, and it can be used after 送 or 送给 when talking about giving a gift.
应该
「应该」 introduces a suggestion or question about what would be suitable: 应该选实用一点的. It commonly comes before an action when asking or saying what someone ought to do.
实用
「实用」 means “useful” or “practical” in 实用一点的 and 很实用. Here it describes a gift that is useful in everyday life, and it can be used before 的 or after 很 to describe an item.
一点
「一点」 softens and slightly adjusts the degree in 实用一点的, meaning “a little more practical” in the choice being discussed. It commonly follows an adjective when making a mild comparison or request, such as 安静一点.
还是
「还是」 presents the alternative in 应该选实用一点的，还是更有个人特色的？. It is used in questions when asking which of two options should be chosen.
更
「更」 means “more” in 更有个人特色的, increasing the degree of the quality being considered. It commonly comes before an adjective or descriptive phrase when comparing options.
有
「有」 means “have” in 有个人特色, describing the gift as having an individual character or special quality. It commonly comes before the thing or quality someone or something has, such as 有特点.
个人
「个人」 means “personal” or “individual” in 个人特色. It specifies that the special quality is connected with an individual person, and it commonly comes before a noun such as 个人意见.
特色
「特色」 means a distinctive character or special quality in 个人特色. Here it describes a gift that feels especially connected with the recipient, and it can be used after a noun to describe its notable quality.
她
「她」 means “she” in 她喜欢喝茶 and “her” in 送给她. It refers to the female coworker, and it can be the person doing an action or the recipient after 给.
喜欢
「喜欢」 means “like” in 她喜欢喝茶. It commonly comes before an activity or thing that someone likes, such as 喜欢喝茶 or 喜欢礼物.
喝
「喝」 means “drink” in 喝茶. It is placed before a beverage, and you can reuse it with another drink when describing what someone drinks.
茶
「茶」 means “tea” in 喝茶 and 茶具. It refers to the beverage and also appears inside the compound 茶具, which is a tea set.
所以
「所以」 means “so” or “therefore” in 所以茶具可能合适, connecting the fact that she likes tea with the suggested gift. It commonly introduces the result or conclusion after a reason.
茶具
「茶具」 means “tea set,” the suggested gift in the dialogue. It is a compound referring to equipment used for tea, and it can be used as the object of 选 or 送.
可能
「可能」 means “might” or “possibly” in 茶具可能合适, showing that the speaker is making a tentative suggestion. It commonly comes before a description or action when the result is not certain.
合适
「合适」 means “suitable” or “appropriate” in 茶具可能合适. It evaluates whether the gift fits the situation, and it can be used after 觉得 or 可能 when discussing a choice.
这样
「这样」 means “this way” or “like this” in 这样既有个人特色，又很实用. It refers to the gift choice just proposed, and it can introduce an evaluation of an arrangement or situation.
既
「既」 introduces the first of two qualities in 既有个人特色，又很实用: the gift has a personal character. It is normally paired with 又 to present two qualities or results together.
又
「又」 introduces the second quality in 既有个人特色，又很实用: the gift is also practical. Together with 既, it is useful for saying that something has two positive or simultaneous qualities.
很
「很」 adds degree in 很实用, making the description “quite” or “very practical.” It commonly comes before a descriptive word when giving an evaluation, such as 很合适.
再
「再」 means “additionally” in 我们再加一张小卡片吧, suggesting that another item should be added after the gift. It commonly comes before an action that will happen in addition to something already planned.
加
「加」 means “add” in 加一张小卡片. It is followed here by the item being added, and it can be reused when adding another object to a plan, order, or group.
张
「张」 is the measure word in 一张小卡片 for a flat item such as a card. It is placed between 一 and 卡片, and the same measure word is commonly used for other flat objects.
小
「小」 means “small” in 小卡片, describing the size of the card. It comes before the noun it describes, as in 小礼物 or 小桌子.
卡片
「卡片」 means “card” in 一张小卡片 and 在卡片上. It is the card added to the gift, and it can be used with 加, 写, or 在卡片上签名.
吧
「吧」 softens the suggestion in 我们再加一张小卡片吧. It makes the proposal sound less forceful and is useful when inviting agreement about an action.
把
「把」 marks 礼物 as the object being handled in 把礼物送给她. It commonly appears before a specific object when explaining what will be done with that object, followed by the action and its result or recipient.
送
「送」 means “give” or “deliver” in 把礼物送给她. It describes transferring the gift to the coworker, and it commonly appears with 给 plus the recipient.
给
「给」 introduces the recipient in 送给她, meaning “to her.” It commonly follows an action such as 送 and comes before the person who receives something.
之前
「之前」 means “before” in 我们把礼物送给她之前, identifying the time before the gift is given. It commonly follows an action or event and can be used to set the timing for another action.
大家
「大家」 means “everyone” in 大家都可以, referring to all the people involved in choosing the gift. It is useful when addressing or describing a whole group, and it can be followed by 都.
都
「都」 means “all” in 大家都可以, showing that the ability applies to everyone in the group. It commonly follows the group being described and comes before the verb or modal expression.
可以
「可以」 means “can” or “may” in 大家都可以在卡片上签名, giving permission or indicating possibility. It commonly comes before an action to say that someone is allowed or able to do it.
在
「在」 introduces the location in 在卡片上, meaning “on the card.” It commonly comes before a place or surface and is followed by the action carried out there.
上
「上」 means “on” in 卡片上, identifying the surface where the signatures are written. It follows the noun for the surface, as in 桌子上 or 纸上.
签名
「签名」 means “sign” or “add one’s signature” in 在卡片上签名. It describes what everyone can do on the card, and it commonly follows a location phrase such as 在卡片上.
Grammar Points
可能 + 动词
可能选茶具
kěnéng xuǎn chájùmight choose a tea set
可能放在动词前，表示不确定的可能性。
送给 + 人 + 名词
送给同事礼物
sòng gěi tóngshì lǐwùgive a gift to a coworker
送给后面先说接受者，再说赠送的东西。
Chinese Vocabulary
茶具
noun
chájù
tea set; tea-making utensils
个人特色
noun
gèrén tèsè
personal character; personal touch
喝茶
phrase
hē chá
drink tea
合适
adj
héshì
suitable; appropriate
加
verb
jiā
add
可能
adv
kěnéng
might; possibly
礼物
noun
lǐwù
gift
实用
adj
shíyòng
useful; practical
同事
noun
tóngshì
coworker; colleague
喜欢
verb
xǐhuan
like
需要
verb
xūyào
need
选
verb
xuǎn
choose; select
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
personal character; personal touch
Show Answer
个人特色suitable; appropriate
Show Answer
合适gift
Show Answer
礼物coworker; colleague