Small Daily Health Changes | Learn Chinese in English

About This Lesson

Use Small Daily Health Changes to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

我想要更健康的日常生活。

wǒ xiǎng yào gèng jiàn kāng de rì cháng shēng huó I want a healthier daily routine.

从你能坚持的小改变开始。

cóng nǐ néng jiān chí de xiǎo gǎi biàn kāi shǐ Start with small changes you can stick with.

我可以在工作时多喝水。

wǒ kě yǐ zài gōng zuò shí duō hē shuǐ I can drink more water while I'm at work.

那可能会让你下午更有精神。

nà kě néng huì ràng nǐ xià wǔ gèng yǒu jīng shén That may help your energy in the afternoon.

我晚饭后也应该锻炼吗？

wǒ wǎn fàn hòu yě yīng gāi duàn liàn ma Should I also exercise after dinner?

先走一小会儿是个容易做到的开始。

xiān zǒu yì xiǎo huìr shì ge róng yì zuò dào de kāi shǐ A short walk would be a manageable start.

我可以把鞋放在门边，这样就会记得出门。

wǒ kě yǐ bǎ xié fàng zài mén biān,zhè yàng jiù huì jì de chū mén I can put my shoes by the door so I remember to go.

听起来很实际，也容易坚持。

tīng qǐ lái hěn shí jì,yě róng yì jiān chí That sounds realistic and easy to keep up.

Word by Word

我 “我” refers to the speaker: “I” or “me.” It is used here as the subject of “我想要” and “我可以”; use “我” when talking about yourself in a personal plan or situation.

想要 “想要” expresses wanting something, here wanting a healthier daily routine in “我想要更健康的日常生活.” It commonly comes before a desired thing or action, and is useful when stating a personal goal.

更 “更” means “more” or “even more” and increases the degree of “健康” in “更健康.” It commonly comes before a quality when comparing a desired state with the current one, such as when describing an improvement.

健康 “健康” means “healthy” in “更健康的日常生活.” Here it describes the kind of daily life the speaker wants; it can be used before “的” to describe a noun. You would use it when discussing health, habits, or a lifestyle.

的 “的” links the description “更健康” to the noun “日常生活,” forming “更健康的日常生活.” The reusable pattern is a description + “的” + noun, useful when identifying or describing a person, thing, or routine.

日常 “日常” means “daily” or “everyday” and describes “生活” in “日常生活.” It is useful before a noun when talking about ordinary routines or everyday matters.

生活 “生活” means “life” or “living” in “日常生活,” referring to the speaker’s everyday way of living. It is useful when discussing routines, habits, and general living conditions.

从 “从” marks the starting point in “从你能坚持的小改变开始,” meaning “starting with” small changes. A common pattern is “从” + starting point + “开始,” useful when giving advice about where an activity or plan should begin.

你 “你” refers to the person being addressed: “you.” In “你能坚持的小改变,” it identifies whose ability to continue is being discussed; use it when speaking directly to one person.

能 “能” expresses ability or feasibility in “你能坚持,” meaning that the person is able to keep doing something. It commonly comes before a verb and is useful when discussing whether someone can carry out a plan.

坚持 “坚持” means continuing with something instead of stopping, as in “你能坚持的小改变.” It commonly takes an activity, habit, or plan as what is continued; use it when encouraging someone to maintain a routine.

小 “小” means “small” and describes the scale of “改变” in “小改变.” Here it refers to a minor, manageable adjustment rather than a major life change; it is useful when recommending an easy first step.

改变 “改变” means “change” in “小改变,” referring to an adjustment to a daily routine. It is useful when talking about a new habit or an alteration someone plans to make.

开始 “开始” means “start” or “begin” and appears after the starting point in “从你能坚持的小改变开始.” The pattern “从……开始” is useful when saying what to begin with, especially in advice or step-by-step plans.

可以 “可以” expresses that an action is possible or feasible in “我可以在工作时多喝水.” It commonly comes before a verb and is useful when suggesting an action that someone is able or ready to do.

在 “在” introduces the time or situation “工作时” in “在工作时多喝水.” It commonly comes before a place, time, or activity context and is useful for saying when or where an action happens.

工作 “工作” means “work” in “在工作时,” referring to the time when the speaker is working. It can be used with “在” and “时” to describe an action that happens during work.

时 “时” means “when” or “during” and follows “工作” in “工作时,” meaning “while at work.” The pattern activity + “时” is useful for placing an action in a particular time or situation.

多 “多” means “more” in “多喝水,” indicating a greater amount of drinking than before. It commonly comes before a verb when recommending an increased amount of an activity, such as part of a health routine.

喝 “喝” means “drink” in “喝水.” It is used before the drink or liquid being consumed and is useful when discussing hydration or other drinking habits.

水 “水” means “water” and is the object of “喝” in “喝水.” The expression is used when talking about drinking water, such as during work or as part of a healthy routine.

那 “那” means “that” and refers back to the suggested action of drinking more water in “那可能会让你下午更有精神.” It is useful for commenting on a previously mentioned idea or action.

可能 “可能” expresses possibility in “可能会让你下午更有精神,” meaning that the result may happen but is not certain. It commonly comes before a clause and is useful when making a cautious suggestion or prediction.

会 “会” helps present a possible result after “可能” in “可能会让你下午更有精神.” Together with “可能,” it frames the result as something that may occur; use it in a clause about a possible future or expected effect.

让 “让” introduces the person affected by an action or result in “让你下午更有精神,” meaning “make you feel more energetic in the afternoon.” The reusable pattern is “让” + person + result or state, useful when describing the effect of one action on someone.

下午 “下午” means “afternoon” and sets the time in “下午更有精神.” It is useful as a time expression before or within a sentence about an activity, feeling, or condition.

有 “有” means “have” or “be in a state of” in “有精神.” In this expression, it contributes to the meaning of being energetic; the pattern “有” + state or quality is useful when describing someone’s condition.

精神 “精神” means “energy” or “liveliness” in “有精神,” which describes feeling energetic. It is useful when talking about how alert or lively someone feels, especially at a particular time of day.

晚饭 “晚饭” means “dinner” in “晚饭后.” It provides the event used to set the time for the proposed exercise; use it when arranging an action around the evening meal.

后 “后” means “after” in “晚饭后,” placing the exercise after dinner. The pattern noun or event + “后” is useful for expressing what happens later than a specific event.

也 “也” means “also” or “too” and adds exercise to the earlier health idea in “也应该锻炼.” It commonly appears before the verb or modal phrase being added and is useful when including another action or option.

应该 “应该” expresses what someone should or ought to do in “我晚饭后也应该锻炼吗？” It commonly comes before a verb and is useful when asking for or giving advice about an appropriate action.

锻炼 “锻炼” means “exercise” in “应该锻炼,” referring to physical activity. It commonly follows a modal such as “应该” and is useful when discussing a health routine or activity plan.

吗 “吗” is a question particle at the end of “我晚饭后也应该锻炼吗？” It turns the preceding statement into a yes-or-no question, useful when asking whether an action is advisable.

先 “先” means “first” or “for now” in “先走一小会儿,” suggesting this as the initial or immediate step. It commonly comes before a verb and is useful when organizing actions in sequence or recommending a manageable beginning.

走 “走” means “walk” in “走一小会儿,” referring here to taking a short walk. It can be followed by a duration expression and is useful when suggesting walking as a simple activity.

一小会儿 “一小会儿” means “a short while” in “走一小会儿.” In this expression, “一” gives the amount as one period, “小” makes the period short, and “会儿” refers to a brief stretch of time; the whole phrase commonly follows an action to state its duration.

是 “是” links “先走一小会儿” with “个容易做到的开始” in “先走一小会儿是个容易做到的开始.” The pattern A + “是” + B is useful when identifying or describing what something is.

个 “个” is the general measure word in “是个容易做到的开始,” appearing before the noun “开始.” The pattern “是个” + noun is common when describing something as one example or type of thing.

容易 “容易” means “easy” in “容易做到,” describing the plan as manageable to carry out. It commonly comes before a verb and is useful when assessing whether an action or task is simple to complete.

做到 “做到” means “manage to accomplish” or “actually carry out” in “容易做到.” It focuses on successfully completing the suggested action, and is useful when discussing whether a plan can be put into practice.

把 “把” marks “鞋” as the object being handled in “把鞋放在门边.” The pattern “把” + object + action + result or location is useful when focusing on what is moved, placed, or otherwise dealt with.

鞋 “鞋” means “shoes” in “把鞋放在门边,” the item the speaker plans to place by the door. It is useful when talking about footwear or preparing to go outside.

放 “放” means “put” or “place” in “把鞋放在门边.” It commonly combines with an object and a location, as in placing something somewhere; use it when describing where an item should be left.

门边 “门边” means “beside the door” and gives the location in “放在门边.” It is useful when describing a place next to a doorway, especially when putting something there as a reminder.

这样 “这样” means “this way” or “so” and refers to putting the shoes by the door in “这样就会记得出门.” It commonly introduces the consequence of a method or arrangement and is useful when explaining how one action helps produce a result.

就 “就” marks the resulting consequence in “这样就会记得出门,” roughly “then” or “thereby.” The pattern “这样就” + result is useful when explaining how a chosen arrangement or action leads to an expected outcome.

记得 “记得” means “remember” in “记得出门,” referring to remembering to go out. It can be followed by the action that should not be forgotten and is useful when discussing reminders or routines.

出门 “出门” means “go out” or “leave the house” in “记得出门.” It is used for the action of going outside and is useful when talking about leaving home for a walk or another activity.

听起来 “听起来” means “sound” or “seem” in “听起来很实际.” Here “听” contributes the idea of hearing and “起来” forms the impression expressed by the phrase; together they describe how an idea appears when evaluated. The pattern “听起来” + description is useful when responding to someone’s plan or suggestion.

实际 “实际” means “realistic” or “practical” in “听起来很实际,” describing the proposed routine as workable in real life. It is useful when evaluating whether a plan can fit ordinary daily circumstances.

Grammar Points

从 + 时间 + 开始 + 动作

从下午开始工作

cóng xià wǔ kāi shǐ gōng zuò

Start working from the afternoon.

从引出起点，放在时间前；开始后面接动作，表示“从某时起做某事”。

多 + 动词

多喝水

duō hē shuǐ

Drink more water.

多放在动词前，表示增加动作的数量或程度，相当于“do something more”。

Chinese Vocabulary

从 prep

cóng from; starting from

多 adv

duō more

改变 noun

gǎi biàn change

工作 verb

gōng zuò work; to work

喝水 phrase

hē shuǐ to drink water

坚持 verb

jiān chí to stick with; to persist

健康 adj

jiàn kāng healthy; health

精神 noun

jīng shén energy; spirit

开始 verb

kāi shǐ to start; beginning

可能 adv

kě néng possibly; may

日常生活 noun

rì cháng shēng huó daily life; daily routine

下午 noun

xià wǔ afternoon

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

daily life; daily routine

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日常生活

to stick with; to persist

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坚持

change

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改变

to start; beginning

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开始