About This Lesson
Use Setting Healthy Work Boundaries to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
我觉得这些工作量让我快要精疲力竭了。
Wǒ juéde zhèxiē gōngzuòliàng ràng wǒ kuàiyào jīngpílìjié le. I think I am getting burned out from this workload.
B
你一直在真正休息，还是只是在任务之间切换？
Nǐ yìzhí zài zhēnzhèng xiūxi, háishì zhǐshì zài rènwu zhījiān qiēhuàn? Have you been taking real breaks, or just switching between tasks?
A
大多只是在任务之间切换，这真的不太像休息。
Dàduō zhǐshì zài rènwu zhījiān qiēhuàn, zhè zhēnde bú tài xiàng xiūxi. Mostly switching tasks, which does not really feel like rest.
B
那就能解释为什么压力一直在增加。
Nà jiù néng jiěshì wèishénme yālì yìzhí zài zēngjiā. That would explain why the pressure keeps building.
A
截止日期快到了时，停下来让我觉得内疚。
Jiézhǐ rìqī kuài dào le shí, tíng xiàlái ràng wǒ juéde nèijiù. I feel guilty stopping when the deadline is close.
B
设定界限并不是懒惰，只要它能帮助你恢复精力。
Shèdìng jièxiàn bìng bú shì lǎnduò, zhǐyào tā néng bāngzhù nǐ huīfù jīnglì. A boundary is not laziness if it helps you recover.
A
也许我应该在截止日期前告诉经理什么是现实可行的。
Yěxǔ wǒ yīnggāi zài jiézhǐ rìqī qián gàosu jīnglǐ shénme shì xiànshí kěxíng de. Maybe I should tell my manager what is realistic before the deadline.
B
清楚说明你到那时能完成什么，以及什么需要更多时间。
Qīngchu shuōmíng nǐ dào nà shí néng wánchéng shénme, yǐjí shénme xūyào gèng duō shíjiān. Be clear about what you can finish by then, and what needs more time.
A
今天我会离开办公桌去吃午饭。
Jīntiān wǒ huì líkāi bàngōngzhuō qù chī wǔfàn. I will take lunch away from my desk today.
B
那是朝着恢复精力迈出的一小步，但很有用。
Nà shì cháozhe huīfù jīnglì màichū de yì xiǎo bù, dàn hěn yǒuyòng. That is a small but useful step toward getting your energy back.Word by Word
我
In 我觉得, 我 means “I” and is the speaker who has the thought or feeling. It commonly appears before a verb to identify the person doing or experiencing something.
觉得
In 我觉得, 觉得 means “think” or “feel” about the situation being described. It commonly comes before an opinion, judgment, or feeling, such as 我觉得这些工作量让我快要精疲力竭了.
这些
In 这些工作量, 这些 means “these” and points to the specific workload being discussed. It is used before a noun to identify more than one relevant thing or an amount made up of several parts.
工作量
工作量 means “workload,” the amount of work someone has to handle here. It can be used as the subject or object of a sentence about being heavy, increasing, or taking time.
让
In 这些工作量让我快要精疲力竭了, 让 means “make” or “cause,” showing that the workload causes the speaker to approach exhaustion. A person or situation can come after 让, followed by the resulting action or state.
快要
In 快要精疲力竭了, 快要 means “be about to” or “be close to reaching” a state. It commonly comes before a verb or state to show that it is nearly happening.
精疲力竭
In 快要精疲力竭了, 精疲力竭 means “completely exhausted” or “burned out.” The whole expression describes the result of the workload, while 精、疲、力、竭 together form this fixed expression; it is useful for describing severe exhaustion rather than ordinary tiredness.
了
In 快要精疲力竭了, 了 marks the changed or newly reached state that the speaker is now close to being completely exhausted. It appears at the end of this statement to present the situation as a current result.
你
In 你一直在真正休息, 你 means “you,” the person being asked about their breaks. It is placed before the verb or activity when addressing the other person.
一直
In 你一直在真正休息, 一直 means “continuously” or “all along,” emphasizing that the activity has continued over a period of time. It commonly comes before 在 and the activity being discussed.
在
In 一直在真正休息, 在 shows that the person is engaged in the activity of resting. It is commonly placed before a verb to describe an ongoing activity.
真正
In 真正休息, 真正 means “real” or “genuine,” distinguishing actual rest from merely changing tasks. It can come before an activity or condition to emphasize that it is genuine.
休息
In 真正休息, 休息 means “rest,” the activity that would give the speaker a real break. It can be used as an activity after 在, as in 在休息.
还是
In 还是只是在任务之间切换, 还是 presents the alternative in the question: real rest or switching between tasks. It commonly connects alternatives in a question.
只是
In 只是只是在任务之间切换, 只是 means “just” or “only,” limiting the description to task switching rather than real rest. It commonly comes before the action or situation that is being limited.
任务
In 任务之间, 任务 means “task,” referring to the pieces of work being changed between. It can be combined with 之间 to describe movement or comparison between tasks.
之间
In 任务之间, 之间 means “between,” locating the switching among the tasks. It commonly follows two or more things, or a plural-like noun such as 任务, to mark the space or relationship between them.
切换
In 任务之间切换, 切换 means “switch” or “shift,” here describing moving from one task to another. It can be used with a place or set of alternatives, such as 任务之间.
大多
In 大多只是在任务之间切换, 大多 means “mostly,” indicating that task switching describes most of the person’s activity. It commonly comes before the main action or description.
这
In 这真的不太像休息, 这 refers back to the task switching just mentioned and means “this.” It can point to a previously described situation when giving an evaluation of it.
真的
In 这真的不太像休息, 真的 means “really,” emphasizing the speaker’s evaluation that the situation does not feel like rest. It commonly comes before the description or judgment being emphasized.
不
In 不太像休息, 不 negates the following description, showing that the situation does not seem like rest. It commonly comes before the verb or adjective being denied.
太
In 不太像休息, 太 softens the negative evaluation to mean “not very” or “not too much,” rather than making the statement absolute. The pattern 不太 + description is useful for expressing a moderate negative judgment.
像
In 不太像休息, 像 means “seem like” or “be like,” comparing the current situation with rest. It commonly comes before the thing used for comparison, here 休息.
那
In 那就能解释为什么压力一直在增加, 那 refers to the fact that was just described and means “that” or “then.” It can introduce a conclusion based on the preceding situation.
就
In 那就能解释为什么压力一直在增加, 就 presents the consequence that follows from the preceding fact, giving the sense “then” or “therefore.” It commonly appears before the result or conclusion.
能
In 就能解释为什么压力一直在增加, 能 means “can” or “be able to,” saying that the preceding fact can explain the rising pressure. It commonly comes before a verb to express ability or possibility.
解释
In 能解释为什么压力一直在增加, 解释 means “explain,” with the reason for the pressure increase as its content. It commonly comes before a question word or clause that states what is being explained.
为什么
In 解释为什么压力一直在增加, 为什么 means “why,” introducing the reason that needs to be explained. It commonly comes before a clause describing the event or situation whose cause is being discussed.
压力
In 压力一直在增加, 压力 means “pressure,” here referring to the growing mental or work pressure. It can be used as the subject of a sentence describing how pressure changes.
增加
In 压力一直在增加, 增加 means “increase” or “build,” describing pressure becoming greater. It commonly follows the thing that is growing, such as 压力.
截止日期
在 截止日期快到了时, 截止日期 means “deadline,” the date by which the work is due. It can be followed by 前 or used with 到了 to describe time approaching the deadline.
快
In 截止日期快到了时, 快 means “soon” or “nearly,” showing that the deadline is approaching. It commonly appears before 到了 when an event or time is close.
到
In 截止日期快到了时, 到 means “arrive” or “come,” used for the deadline reaching its time. In this expression, 到了 shows that the deadline is nearing or has come around.
时
In 截止日期快到了时, 时 means “when” or “at the time,” linking the approaching deadline with the feeling of guilt. It commonly follows a time expression to introduce the situation occurring then.
停
In 停下来, 停 means “stop,” here referring to stopping work when the deadline is close. It can be followed by 下来 to describe coming to a stop.
下来
In 停下来, 下来 completes the expression by showing the action settling into a stopped state. Together with 停, it is used when someone stops an ongoing activity.
内疚
In 让我觉得内疚, 内疚 means “feel guilty,” describing the speaker’s uncomfortable feeling about stopping. It can be used to describe guilt caused by a decision or action.
设定
In 设定界限, 设定 means “set” or “establish,” here describing deliberately creating a boundary around work. It commonly comes before something that is being set, such as 界限.
界限
In 设定界限, 界限 means “boundary” or “limit,” referring to a limit that protects time or energy. It can be used with 设定 when discussing a boundary that someone intentionally creates.
并
In 并不是懒惰, 并 strengthens the negative statement and helps emphasize that setting a boundary is not laziness. It is commonly used before 不是 or another negative expression when correcting or denying an interpretation.
不是
In 并不是懒惰, 不是 means “is not,” denying that setting a boundary should be classified as laziness. It commonly links a subject with the description or category being rejected.
懒惰
In 不是懒惰, 懒惰 means “laziness” or “lazy behavior,” the negative judgment being rejected in this sentence. It is used here as the description of what setting a boundary is not.
只要
In 只要它能帮助你恢复精力, 只要 means “as long as,” introducing the condition that the boundary helps the person recover energy. It commonly comes before a condition used to support a judgment or decision.
它
In 只要它能帮助你恢复精力, 它 means “it” and refers back to the boundary just mentioned. It is used here as the subject of the condition about helping the person recover.
帮助
In 帮助你恢复精力, 帮助 means “help,” showing that the boundary supports the person’s recovery. It commonly comes before the person receiving help and the action or result that follows.
恢复
In 恢复精力, 恢复 means “recover” or “restore,” describing the return of energy after exhaustion. It commonly comes before the thing being regained, such as 精力.
精力
In 恢复精力, 精力 means “energy,” especially the energy needed to work or continue activities. It commonly follows 恢复 when talking about regaining energy.
也许
In 也许我应该告诉经理, 也许 means “maybe” or “perhaps,” making the speaker’s plan sound tentative rather than certain. It commonly appears at the beginning of a sentence before a possible action or decision.
应该
In 我应该告诉经理, 应该 means “should” or “ought to,” expressing the action the speaker considers appropriate. It commonly comes before the verb describing the recommended or intended action.
前
In 截止日期前, 前 means “before,” placing the action earlier than the deadline. It commonly follows a time or event, such as 截止日期前.
告诉
In 告诉经理什么是现实可行的, 告诉 means “tell,” with the manager as the person receiving the information. A useful pattern is 告诉 + person + information.
经理
In 告诉经理, 经理 means “manager,” the person the speaker plans to inform about realistic work expectations. It follows 告诉 to identify who receives the information.
什么
In 什么是现实可行的, 什么 means “what,” asking which things or amount are realistic and workable. It can introduce the content that someone needs to identify or explain.
是
In 什么是现实可行的, 是 links 什么 with the description 现实可行的, asking what has that quality. It commonly connects a subject or question word with an identification or description.
现实
In 现实可行的, 现实 contributes the meaning “realistic,” so the proposed workload or expectation matches the actual situation. It is combined here with 可行 to describe what can reasonably be done.
可行
In 现实可行的, 可行 means “feasible” or “workable,” describing something that can be carried out. It commonly appears in descriptions of plans, schedules, or expectations.
的
In 现实可行的, 的 closes the description 现实可行的 so it can identify what is realistic and workable. Here it helps the preceding description function as the information being identified after 是.
清楚
In 清楚说明, 清楚 means “clearly,” asking the speaker to make the information easy to understand. It commonly comes before 说明 when someone needs to state details without ambiguity.
说明
In 清楚说明, 说明 means “explain” or “state clearly,” referring to telling the manager what can be finished and what needs more time. It commonly takes information or a situation as its content.
以及
In 以及什么需要更多时间, 以及 means “and” or “as well as,” joining the two pieces of information that should be explained. It is useful for connecting parallel items or points in one statement.
完成
In 你到那时能完成什么, 完成 means “finish” or “complete,” referring to work that can be brought to an end by that time. It commonly comes before the task or other content being completed.
需要
In 什么需要更多时间, 需要 means “need” or “require,” saying that some work requires additional time. It commonly comes before the needed resource or amount, such as 更多时间.
更多
In 更多时间, 更多 means “more” or “additional,” indicating an amount beyond the time already available. It commonly comes before a noun such as 时间.
时间
In 需要更多时间, 时间 means “time,” the resource required to finish some work. It commonly follows 需要 when describing how much time an action requires.
今天
In 今天我会离开办公桌去吃午饭, 今天 means “today,” locating the planned lunch break on the current day. It commonly appears at the beginning of a sentence to set the time.
会
In 我会离开办公桌去吃午饭, 会 means “will” or “be going to,” presenting the speaker’s planned action. It commonly comes before the verb describing a future or intended action.
离开
In 离开办公桌, 离开 means “leave” or “move away from,” describing moving away from the desk for lunch. It commonly comes before the place or object being left.
办公桌
In 离开办公桌, 办公桌 means “office desk” or “desk,” the place the speaker will leave during lunch. It can follow 离开 to identify the place being left.
去
In 去吃午饭, 去 means “go,” introducing the activity the speaker will go to do. It commonly comes before another verb, as in 去吃午饭.
吃
In 吃午饭, 吃 means “eat,” describing the action performed at lunchtime. It commonly comes before the meal or food being eaten.
午饭
In 吃午饭, 午饭 means “lunch,” the meal the speaker plans to eat away from the desk. It commonly follows 吃 when describing having lunch.
朝着
In 朝着恢复精力迈出一小步, 朝着 means “toward,” showing the direction or goal of the step. It commonly comes before a goal or desired result.
迈出
In 迈出一小步, 迈出 means “take” or “make” a step, here describing a concrete action toward recovering energy. It commonly comes before 步 or another expression for a step.
小
In 一小步, 小 means “small,” describing the step as limited in size but still meaningful. It commonly comes before the noun it describes, here 步.
步
In 一小步, 步 means “step,” used metaphorically for a small action toward recovering energy. The expression 迈出一小步 can describe making gradual progress toward a goal.
但
In 小但很有用, 但 means “but,” contrasting the step’s small size with its usefulness. It commonly joins two descriptions that differ in this way.
很
In 很有用, 很 intensifies 有用 and gives the meaning “very” or “quite useful.” It commonly comes before an adjective or description.
有用
In 但很有用, 有用 means “useful,” saying that the small step has a helpful effect. It can describe an action, idea, or change that provides practical benefit.
Grammar Points
一直 + 动词
我一直需要休息。
Wǒ yìzhí xūyào xiūxi.I have continuously needed rest.
“一直”放在动词前，表示动作或状态从过去持续到现在。
在 A 和 B 之间切换
在任务和休息之间切换。
Zài rènwu hé xiūxi zhījiān qiēhuàn.Switch between tasks and rest.
“在……之间”表示两个对象之间，“切换”说明在它们之间转换。
Chinese Vocabulary
大多
adv
dàduō
mostly
工作量
noun
gōngzuòliàng
workload
精疲力竭
adj
jīngpílìjié
exhausted; completely worn out
觉得
verb
juéde
to think; to feel
快要
adv
kuàiyào
to be about to; almost
切换
verb
qiēhuàn
to switch
任务
noun
rènwu
task
休息
verb
xiūxi
to rest; rest
压力
noun
yālì
pressure
一直
adv
yìzhí
continuously; all along
真正
adj
zhēnzhèng
real; genuine
之间
prep
zhījiān
between; among
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
exhausted; completely worn out
Show Answer
精疲力竭task
Show Answer
任务pressure
Show Answer
压力workload