Learning New Words Through Example Sentences | Learn Chinese in English

Chinese lesson set in a contemporary Shanghai everyday setting: In a classroom, two adults discuss vocabulary study and decide to remember new words by writing practical example sentences from daily life..

EN → ZH / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Learning New Words Through Example Sentences to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

我在学习时能记住新词。

wǒ zài xuéxí shí néng jìzhù xīncí. I remember new words during study time.
A

但是我开口说话时就会忘记它们。

dànshì wǒ kāikǒu shuōhuà shí jiù huì wàngjì tāmen. But I forget them when I try to speak.
B

这些词可能没有和你实际会使用它们的情境联系起来。

zhèxiē cí kěnéng méiyǒu hé nǐ shíjì huì shǐyòng tāmen de qíngjìng liánxì qǐlái. The words may not be connected to situations where you would actually use them.
A

我通常会写下翻译,之后再复习同一张词汇表。

wǒ tōngcháng huì xiěxià fānyì, zhīhòu zài fùxí tóng yì zhāng cíhuìbiǎo. I usually write the translation and review the same list later.
B

试着为每个有用的词加上一个简单的例句。

shìzhe wèi měi ge yǒuyòng de cí jiāshàng yí ge jiǎndān de lìjù. Try adding one simple example sentence for each useful word.
A

我可以写和工作、购物或给朋友发消息有关的句子。

wǒ kěyǐ xiě hé gōngzuò, gòuwù huò gěi péngyou fā xiāoxi yǒuguān de jùzi. I can write sentences about work, shopping, or messages to friends.
B

这些情境会让你在对话中更容易想起词义。

zhèxiē qíngjìng huì ràng nǐ zài duìhuà zhōng gèng róngyì xiǎngqǐ cíyì. Those situations will make the meaning easier to recall during conversation.
A

我可能应该少学一些词,更经常地使用它们。

wǒ kěnéng yīnggāi shǎo xué yìxiē cí, gèng jīngcháng de shǐyòng tāmen. I should probably study fewer words and use them more often.
B

反复使用会帮助这些词成为你主动词汇的一部分。

fǎnfù shǐyòng huì bāngzhù zhèxiē cí chéngwéi nǐ zhǔdòng cíhuì de yí bùfen. Repeated use will help the words become part of your active vocabulary.
A

我会选一小组词,下课后写一些和自己有关的例句。

wǒ huì xuǎn yì xiǎozǔ cí, xiàkè hòu xiě yìxiē hé zìjǐ yǒuguān de lìjù. I will choose a small set and write personal examples after class.
B

这样的习惯应该能让你的词汇练习更实用。

zhèyàng de xíguàn yīnggāi néng ràng nǐ de cíhuì liànxí gèng shíyòng. That routine should make your vocabulary practice more practical.

Word by Word

“我” means “I” or “me” and identifies the speaker in “我在学习时能记住新词”。 It commonly appears before the action being described, as in “我可以写”和“我会选”。
In “我在学习时能记住新词”, “在” places the action within the time or activity of studying. It is followed here by “学习时”; this pattern marks when something happens.
学习 “学习” means studying or learning in “我在学习时能记住新词”。 It can be followed by a time expression such as “学习时” when describing something that happens during study.
“时” marks the time when something happens in “我在学习时能记住新词”。 The pattern “action + 时” is used to mean “when or during the time of an action”.
“能” means “can” or “be able to” in “我在学习时能记住新词”。 It comes before the verb phrase “记住新词” to describe ability in that situation.
记住 “记住” means successfully remembering or retaining something in “我在学习时能记住新词”。 It commonly takes the thing remembered directly, as in “记住新词”。
“新” means “new” and describes the words in “新词”。 It comes directly before the noun it modifies, as in this expression.
“词” means a word or vocabulary item in “新词”。 It is the object of “记住” in “记住新词” and can also be discussed as part of “词汇”。
但是 “但是” means “but” or “however” and introduces a contrast in “但是我开口说话时就会忘记它们”。 It is useful at the beginning of a sentence when the next point differs from the previous one.
开口 “开口” means opening one’s mouth to start speaking in “我开口说话时”。 It combines naturally with “说话” here and describes the moment spoken communication begins.
说话 “说话” means to speak or talk in “开口说话时”。 With “开口”, it describes beginning to speak; it can also be used for general spoken communication.
“就” marks the immediate result in “我开口说话时就会忘记它们”:when the speaker starts speaking, forgetting occurs then. It commonly links a condition or time point with its consequence.
“会” means “will” or “tend to” in “就会忘记它们”。 It comes before “忘记” to present the expected result in that situation.
忘记 “忘记” means to forget in “就会忘记它们”。 It takes the object “它们” here, so the phrase specifies what is forgotten.
它们 “它们” means “they” or “them” for the words already mentioned in the dialogue. In “忘记它们”, it refers back to “新词” rather than introducing a new object.
这些 “这些” means “these” and points to the words under discussion in “这些词”。 It comes before the noun “词” to identify a specific group close to the conversation.
可能 “可能” means “may” or “possibly” in “这些词可能没有和你实际会使用它们的情境联系起来”。 It expresses uncertainty and comes before the situation being proposed.
没有 “没有” marks the absence of a connection in “可能没有和你实际会使用它们的情境联系起来”。 Here it negates the existence of the connection described after it.
“和” means “with” in “和你实际会使用它们的情境联系起来”。 It introduces the situation that the words should be connected with.
“你” means “you” and refers to the learner in “你实际会使用它们的情境”。 It appears before the clause describing the learner’s actual use.
实际 “实际” means “actually” or “in practice” in “你实际会使用它们的情境”。 It narrows the meaning to situations where the learner really uses the words, not merely studies them.
使用 “使用” means to use in “你实际会使用它们的情境”。 It takes “它们” as its object and appears inside the clause that modifies “情境”。
In “你实际会使用它们的情境”, “的” links the preceding clause to the noun “情境”。 The whole clause identifies which situations are being discussed.
情境 “情境” means a situation or context in “你实际会使用它们的情境”。 It is the object of the connection in “和……情境联系起来” and refers to real circumstances for using words.
联系 “联系” means to connect or relate in “和你实际会使用它们的情境联系起来”。 It describes linking the words with practical situations rather than studying them in isolation.
起来 In “和你实际会使用它们的情境联系起来”, “起来” completes the expression “联系起来” and presents the connection as a formed result. The meaningful pattern here is “和……联系起来”。
通常 “通常” means “usually” in “我通常会写下翻译”。 It describes a customary action and is placed before the action phrase.
写下 “写下” means to write something down in “写下翻译”。 The “下” shows that the writing records the information, and the expression takes “翻译” as its object.
翻译 “翻译” means the translation in “写下翻译”。 Here it is the information being written down, so it functions as the object of “写下”。
之后 “之后” means afterward or later in “之后再复习同一张词汇表”。 It sets the later time for the review and can be followed by an action.
“再” means then or again in “之后再复习同一张词汇表”。 It shows that the review happens after the earlier action of writing down the translation.
复习 “复习” means to review or revise in “再复习同一张词汇表”。 It commonly takes study material directly, here “同一张词汇表”。
同一 “同一” means “the same” in “同一张词汇表”。 It emphasizes that the list reviewed later is identical to the one already being discussed.
“张” is the classifier used in “同一张词汇表”。 It classifies the list as a flat, list-like item in this expression.
词汇表 “词汇表” means a vocabulary list in “同一张词汇表”。 It is the material that the speaker writes about and reviews later.
试着 “试着” means “try to” in “试着为每个有用的词加上一个简单的例句”。 It introduces an action that the listener is encouraged to attempt.
“为” means “for” in “为每个有用的词加上一个简单的例句”。 It introduces the word that receives an example sentence.
每个 “每个” means “each” or “every” in “每个有用的词”。 It applies the following action separately to each useful word.
有用 “有用” means useful in “每个有用的词”。 It describes which words should receive example sentences.
加上 “加上” means to add or include in “加上一个简单的例句”。 It takes the item being added directly, here “一个简单的例句”。
简单 “简单” means simple in “一个简单的例句”。 It describes the example sentence and indicates that the sentence should not be complicated.
例句 “例句” means an example sentence in “一个简单的例句”。 It is the item added for each useful word in the suggested study method.
可以 “可以” means “can” or “be able to” in “我可以写和工作、购物或给朋友发消息有关的句子”。 It presents an available or permitted possibility before the action “写”。
“写” means to write in “我可以写……有关的句子”。 It takes “句子” as its object, while the following phrases describe what the sentences are about.
工作 “工作” means work in “和工作、购物或给朋友发消息有关的句子”。 It is one practical topic for the example sentences.
购物 “购物” means shopping in “和工作、购物或给朋友发消息有关的句子”。 It is listed as another everyday context for writing examples.
“或” means “or” in “工作、购物或给朋友发消息”。 It separates alternative topics that the speaker could write about.
“给” means “to” or “for” in “给朋友发消息”。 It introduces the recipient of the messages.
朋友 “朋友” means friend in “给朋友发消息”。 It is the recipient following “给” in this communication pattern.
“发” means to send in “给朋友发消息”。 It takes “消息” as the thing sent and combines with “给朋友” to identify the recipient.
消息 “消息” means a message in “给朋友发消息”。 It is the object of “发” and is sent to the person introduced by “给”。
有关 “有关” means related to or concerning in “和工作、购物或给朋友发消息有关的句子”。 It links the sentence topics with the sentences being written.
句子 “句子” means sentence in “有关的句子”。 It is the thing the speaker can write and is described as being related to practical topics.
“让” means “make” or “let” in “这些情境会让你在对话中更容易想起词义”。 It introduces the person whose experience is affected and the resulting action.
对话 “对话” means conversation or dialogue in “在对话中”。 It names the spoken situation in which the learner will try to recall the word meaning.
“中” means “in” or “during” in “在对话中”。 Together with “在”, it places the recalling action inside a conversation.
“更” means “more” or “even more” in “更容易想起词义”。 It increases the degree of ease compared with the earlier situation.
容易 “容易” means easy or easily in “更容易想起词义”。 It describes how difficult the recalling action is, with “更” making it “easier”.
想起 “想起” means to recall or think of in “更容易想起词义”。 It takes “词义” as the thing that comes back to the learner’s mind.
词义 “词义” means word meaning in “想起词义”。 It is the information the learner wants to recall during conversation.
应该 “应该” means “should” or “ought to” in “我应该少学一些词”。 It presents the speaker’s considered recommendation for changing their study method.
“少” means fewer or a smaller amount in “少学一些词”。 It modifies the amount of words studied and contrasts with using them more often in the same sentence.
“学” means to study or learn in “少学一些词”。 It takes “一些词” as its object and describes the learning activity.
一些 “一些” means some or a few in “少学一些词”。 It gives an unspecified smaller amount before the noun “词”。
经常 “经常” means often or frequently in “更经常地使用它们”。 It describes repeated frequency and appears before the action “使用”。
In “更经常地使用它们”, “地” links the preceding description to the verb phrase. It shows that “更经常” describes how the words are used.
反复 “反复” means repeatedly in “反复使用”。 It emphasizes doing the same useful action again and again rather than only once.
帮助 “帮助” means to help in “反复使用会帮助这些词成为你主动词汇的一部分”。 It introduces the result that repeated use supports.
成为 “成为” means to become in “帮助这些词成为你主动词汇的一部分”。 It links the words with the new status described by “你主动词汇的一部分”。
主动 “主动” describes vocabulary that the learner actively uses in “主动词汇”。 Here it distinguishes words available for active use in communication from vocabulary merely recognized during study.
词汇 “词汇” means vocabulary in “你的主动词汇”。 It refers to the learner’s collection of words, specifically the active part in this dialogue.
部分 “部分” means a part in “你主动词汇的一部分”。 It shows that the words become one component of the learner’s active vocabulary.
“选” means to choose or select in “我会选一小组词”。 It introduces the deliberate selection of a limited set for further practice.
小组 “小组” means a small group or set in “一小组词”。 Here it refers to a limited group of words selected for practice.
下课 “下课” means that class ends in “下课后”。 It provides the event after which the speaker will write personal examples.
“后” means after in “下课后”。 It follows “下课” to form a time expression meaning after class ends.
自己 “自己” means oneself or personal in “和自己有关的例句”。 It identifies the learner as the person connected with the examples.
这样 “这样” means “such” or “this way” in “这样的习惯”。 It points back to the study routine just described and evaluates that routine.
习惯 “习惯” means habit or routine in “这样的习惯”。 It refers to the repeated study practice of selecting words and writing personal examples.
练习 “练习” means practice in “你的词汇练习”。 It refers to the learner’s activity of practicing vocabulary, not to a single word or sentence.
实用 “实用” means practical or useful in “让你的词汇练习更实用”。 It evaluates the practice as more connected to real-life use.

Grammar Points

试着 + 动词

试着使用新词。

shìzhe shǐyòng xīncí.

Try to use the new words.

试着放在动词前,表示“try to do something”。

下课后 + 动作

下课后复习词汇表。

xiàkè hòu fùxí cíhuìbiǎo.

Review the vocabulary list after class.

下课后放在动作前,表示动作发生的时间。

Chinese Vocabulary

翻译 noun
fānyì translation
复习 verb
fùxí to review; to revise
记住 verb
jìzhù to remember
开口说话 phrase
kāikǒu shuōhuà to start speaking; to speak
联系起来 phrase
liánxì qǐlái to connect; to associate
情境 noun
qíngjìng situation; context
实际 adv
shíjì actually; in practice
使用 verb
shǐyòng to use
通常 adv
tōngcháng usually
忘记 verb
wàngjì to forget
新词 noun
xīncí new word
学习 noun
xuéxí study; studying

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to start speaking; to speak

Show Answer开口说话

to connect; to associate

Show Answer联系起来

usually

Show Answer通常

to use

Show Answer使用