Restarting Work After a Long Pause | Learn Chinese in English

Chinese lesson set in a contemporary Shanghai everyday setting: After lunch at work, two adults discuss how to regain focus by reviewing notes, choosing the next priority, and reducing distractions..

EN → ZH / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Restarting Work After a Long Pause to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

午饭后，我感觉自己完全脱离了这项工作。

Wǔfàn hòu, wǒ gǎnjué zìjǐ wánquán tuōlí le zhè xiàng gōngzuò. After lunch, I feel completely disconnected from the task.
B

先做一个简短的回顾，不要一开始就处理最难的部分。

Xiān zuò yí ge jiǎnduǎn de huígù, bú yào yì kāishǐ jiù chǔlǐ zuì nán de bùfen. Start with a small review instead of jumping into the hardest part.
A

因为我们在分析到一半时停了下来，我失去了动力。

Yīnwèi wǒmen zài fēnxī dào yíbàn shí tíng le xiàlái, wǒ shīqù le dònglì. I lost momentum because we paused in the middle of the analysis.
B

看看最后一条笔记，选出下一个优先事项。

Kànkan zuìhòu yì tiáo bǐjì, xuǎnchū xià yí ge yōuxiān shìxiàng. Look at the last note and pick the next priority.
A

下一步是检查这些数字是否和源文件一致。

Xià yí bù shì jiǎnchá zhèxiē shùzì shìfǒu hé yuán wénjiàn yízhì. The next step is checking whether the numbers match the source file.
B

这样你就有了一个明确的起点，可以继续工作。

Zhèyàng nǐ jiù yǒu le yí ge míngquè de qǐdiǎn, kěyǐ jìxù gōngzuò. That gives you a clear point to resume from.
A

我还需要关掉聊天软件，因为我总是分心。

Wǒ hái xūyào guān diào liáotiān ruǎnjiàn, yīnwèi wǒ zǒng shì fēnxīn. I also need to close chat apps because I keep getting distracted.
B

工作时把它们关着，避免分心，然后再查看消息。

Gōngzuò shí bǎ tāmen guān zhe, bìmiǎn fēnxīn, ránhòu zài chákàn xiāoxi. Keep them closed while you work without distractions, then check your messages.
A

这样感觉容易做到。我可以逐渐找回专注力。

Zhèyàng gǎnjué róngyì zuòdào. Wǒ kěyǐ zhújiàn zhǎohuí zhuānzhùlì. That feels manageable. I can rebuild focus gradually.
B

就从那里开始，接下来的事情应该会轻松一些。

Jiù cóng nàli kāishǐ, jiēxiàlái de shìqing yīnggāi huì qīngsōng yìxiē. Start there, and the rest should feel less heavy.

Word by Word

午饭 午饭 means lunch in 午饭后, which sets the time for the speaker’s feeling. It is used as a time expression before 后. You can use it when explaining what happened after the midday meal.
后 后 means after in 午饭后. It follows a time or event expression to show when something happens. It is useful when describing one action that follows another.
我 我 means I or me and is the subject in 我感觉自己完全脱离了这项工作. It identifies the person experiencing the situation. Use it before a verb or feeling expression when talking about yourself.
感觉 感觉 means feel here, as in 我感觉自己完全脱离了这项工作. It introduces the speaker’s personal experience or impression. It can be followed by a person or thing and the situation they experience.
自己 自己 means oneself or myself in 我感觉自己完全脱离了这项工作. It refers back to 我 and shows that the speaker experiences the state personally. It commonly follows a feeling or perception expression before describing the person’s state.
完全 完全 means completely in 完全脱离了这项工作. It strengthens the following state and shows that the disconnection is total. It is placed before a verb or state expression when emphasizing the full degree.
脱离 脱离 means become disconnected from or leave in 脱离了这项工作. Here it describes losing contact with the work after the pause. It can be followed by the thing or situation from which someone becomes separated.
了 了 in 脱离了这项工作 marks the change into the stated disconnected situation. It presents the situation as having become established, rather than simply adding an English past ending. It can follow a predicate when reporting a completed change or new state.
这 这 means this in 这项工作 and points to the particular work being discussed. It appears before a classifier and noun. Use it when identifying a specific relevant item.
项 项 is the classifier in 这项工作, referring to a task or project. It comes between 这 and 工作 to count or identify this type of work. It is useful when talking about a particular work item or project.
工作 工作 means work or task in 这项工作. Here it is the work from which the speaker feels disconnected. It can refer to a concrete task when used with a classifier such as 项.
先 先 means first in 先做一个简短的回顾. It tells the listener to perform this action before the other actions. It commonly appears before the first step in advice or instructions.
做 做 means do or carry out in 做一个简短的回顾. It takes the review as its object and describes performing it. It is useful before a task or activity that someone needs to carry out.
一 一 means one or a in 一个简短的回顾. It gives the quantity before the classifier 个. It is used with a classifier when referring to one task, item, or activity.
个 个 is the general classifier in 一个简短的回顾. It follows 一 and comes before 回顾. The pattern numeral + 个 + noun is used for counting many ordinary items or activities.
简短 简短 means brief or short in 简短的回顾. It describes the review as limited in length or scope. It appears before 的 and the noun it describes.
的 的 links the description 简短 to the noun 回顾 in 简短的回顾. It shows that the review has the quality of being brief. The pattern adjective or description + 的 + noun is used to modify a noun.
回顾 回顾 means review in 做一个简短的回顾. Here it refers to looking back over earlier work before restarting. It can be used as the object of 做 when describing a review activity.
不要 不要 means do not in 不要一开始就处理最难的部分. It introduces advice against doing the following action. It is commonly placed before a verb phrase in instructions or warnings.
一开始 一开始 means at the beginning in 一开始就处理最难的部分. 一 points to the initial stage, while 开始 names the beginning; together they set when the action happens. It can appear before an action, often with 就 when that action would happen immediately at the start.
就 就 means then or immediately in 一开始就处理最难的部分. It connects the starting time with an action that would follow directly. The pattern time expression + 就 + action is useful for describing something done right away.
处理 处理 means handle or deal with in 处理最难的部分. It describes working on a task or problem, here the hardest part. It is commonly followed by the matter that needs attention.
最 最 marks the highest degree in 最难的部分, meaning most or the -est. It comes before 难 to identify the part with the greatest difficulty. It is used before an adjective when comparing several possibilities.
难 难 means difficult or hard in 最难的部分. It describes the level of difficulty of the part being discussed. It can be preceded by 最 when identifying the greatest difficulty.
部分 部分 means part in 最难的部分. It refers to one section of the larger task. It is useful when dividing work, a process, or a problem into sections.
因为 因为 means because in 因为我们在分析到一半时停了下来. It introduces the reason for losing momentum. It is used before the clause that explains why something happened.
我们 我们 means we or us in 因为我们在分析到一半时停了下来. It identifies the speaker and another person as the people who stopped. It can be used as the subject before an action or situation involving a group.
在 在 means during or at in 在分析到一半时. It places the stopping within the progress of the analysis. The pattern 在 + activity or time expression + 时 is useful for saying when something happened.
分析 分析 refers to the analysis in 在分析到一半时. Here it is the activity whose progress had reached halfway. It can be used after 在 to describe the work taking place at that time.
到 到 means reach or until in 分析到一半时. It shows that the analysis had progressed as far as the halfway point. It is useful in expressions that mark reaching a stage or limit.
半 半 means half in 分析到一半时. It identifies the midpoint reached during the analysis. It can follow 一 in 一半 when referring to one half of an activity or amount.
时 时 means when or at the time in 分析到一半时. It closes the time expression and connects it to 停了下来. It is commonly used after a time or situation clause to state when another event occurred.
停 停 means stop in 停了下来. It describes the analysis coming to a halt. It can combine with 下来 when the stopping becomes settled or complete.
下来 下来 in 停了下来 helps express that the stopping came to a settled state. The same form appears in 接下来, where it contributes to the meaning of what follows next. Its meaning therefore depends on the construction in which it appears.
失去 失去 means lose in 失去了动力. Here it describes no longer having the motivation or momentum to continue. It is followed by the thing or quality that has been lost.
动力 动力 means motivation or momentum in 失去了动力. In this work context, it is the energy or drive needed to continue after the pause. It is the object of 失去 in the dialogue.
看看 看看 means take a look in 看看最后一条笔记. The repeated form presents a brief look as a practical suggestion. It is followed by the note or other item that should be examined.
最后 最后 means last or final in 最后一条笔记. It identifies the note at the end of the relevant set. It appears before the classifier and noun it describes.
条 条 is the classifier in 最后一条笔记. It counts the note as one item in the set of notes. It comes between the number or description and 笔记.
笔记 笔记 means note in 最后一条笔记. Here it is the previous record that should be reviewed. It can follow a classifier such as 条 when referring to one note.
选 选 means choose or select in 选出下一个优先事项. It describes deciding which item should come next. It takes the item being selected as its object.
出 出 in 选出下一个优先事项 indicates the result of the choosing: the priority item is identified or selected. It combines with 选 rather than functioning as a separate direction here. This type of result component is useful when an action produces a definite selection.
下 下 means next or following in 下一个优先事项. It comes before 一个 and identifies the item that follows the current one. The same character also contributes to the sequence meaning in 接下来的事情.
优先 优先 contributes the idea of priority in 优先事项. Together with 事项, it identifies a matter that should receive attention before others. It is useful when discussing which work should be handled first.
事项 事项 means matter or item in 优先事项. Here it refers to a specific piece of work selected as the next priority. It is often used for tasks or matters that need attention.
步 步 means step in 下一步. It refers to the next stage in a process rather than a physical walking step. It is useful when explaining a sequence of tasks.
检查 检查 means check or inspect in 检查这些数字是否和源文件一致. It describes verifying information against a source. It can be followed by an object and an embedded question about what is being verified.
这些 这些 means these in 这些数字. It points to the particular numbers under discussion. It appears before the noun it identifies and refers to more than one item.
数字 数字 means numbers or figures in 这些数字. Here it refers to the numerical information that needs checking. It is the object of 检查.
是否 是否 means whether in 是否和源文件一致. It introduces a yes-or-no question inside the larger sentence. It is useful when checking whether two things match or whether a condition is true.
和 和 means with in 是否和源文件一致. It links the numbers with the source file for comparison. With 一致, the pattern expresses whether one thing matches another.
源 源 means source in 源文件. It specifies that the file is the original or reference source. It comes before 文件 to form the relevant description.
文件 文件 means file in 源文件. Here it is the reference file used for comparison. It is modified by 源 and linked to the numbers with 和.
一致 一致 means match or be consistent in 和源文件一致. It describes the numbers and source file as agreeing with each other. The pattern A 和 B 一致 is useful when comparing two sets of information.
这样 这样 means this way in 这样你就有了一个明确的起点. It refers to the suggested method of reviewing notes and choosing the next priority. It can introduce the result that follows from a procedure.
你 你 means you in 这样你就有了一个明确的起点. It identifies the person receiving the advice. It is used before the action or result being described for that person.
有 有 means have in 有了一个明确的起点. Here it describes obtaining or having a clear starting point as a result of the previous action. It is followed by the thing that someone has.
明确 明确 means clear or definite in 明确的起点. It describes the starting point as easy to identify. It appears before 的 and the noun it modifies.
起点 起点 means starting point in 一个明确的起点. Here it is the place in the work from which the person can continue. It is useful when describing where a process or task begins.
可以 可以 means can or be able to in 可以继续工作. It expresses that continuing the work is possible. It is placed before the action that the person can carry out.
继续 继续 means continue or resume in 可以继续工作. It describes carrying on with work after the interruption. It can be followed by the activity that continues.
还 还 means also in 我还需要关掉聊天软件. It adds another need to the actions already mentioned. It commonly appears before the verb phrase that represents the additional action.
需要 需要 means need in 需要关掉聊天软件. It expresses that closing the chat apps is necessary for the speaker. It can be followed directly by the action that needs to be done.
关 关 means close or turn off in 关掉聊天软件. It describes shutting the chat apps rather than merely moving them. Together with 掉, it presents the closing as carried out.
掉 掉 in 关掉聊天软件 indicates removal or completion of the closing action. It combines with 关 to mean turn the apps off or close them completely. It is useful after an action verb when the result is that something is removed or dealt with.
聊天 聊天 means chat in 聊天软件. Here it identifies software used for chatting. It combines with 软件 to describe the type of app being closed.
软件 软件 means software or app in 聊天软件. It is the thing that the speaker needs to close. It can be preceded by a word describing the software’s function.
总是 总是 means always or repeatedly in 总是分心. Here it emphasizes that distraction happens again and again. It usually comes before the action or state that occurs repeatedly.
分心 分心 means become distracted in 总是分心. It describes losing attention while trying to work. It can follow 总是 when explaining a recurring concentration problem.
把 把 marks the object being handled in 把它们关着. It places the chat apps before the action so that the result or state of those apps is emphasized. The pattern 把 + object + action + result or state is useful for describing what is done to a specific thing.
它们 它们 means they or them for things in 把它们关着. It refers back to the chat apps. It appears after 把 as the object being kept closed.
着 着 in 关着 marks the continuing state of being closed. The instruction is to maintain that state while working. It commonly follows a verb when describing an ongoing condition.
避免 避免 means avoid in 避免分心. It expresses the purpose of keeping the chat apps closed: preventing distraction. It can be followed by the unwanted action or result that should not occur.
然后 然后 means then or afterward in 然后再查看消息. It marks the next stage after working without distractions. It is useful for linking actions in a planned sequence.
再 再 means then or later in 再查看消息. It shows that checking messages should happen after the earlier work. It commonly comes before an action that is postponed until a previous step is complete.
查看 查看 means check or view in 查看消息. It describes looking at the messages for information. It is followed by the item being examined.
消息 消息 means message or messages in 查看消息. Here it refers to chat messages that should be checked later. It is the object of 查看.
容易 容易 means easy or manageable in 这样感觉容易做到. Here it describes the suggested routine as possible to carry out without excessive difficulty. It can describe how easy an action is to complete.
逐渐 逐渐 means gradually in 逐渐找回专注力. It shows that the return of focus happens little by little rather than all at once. It is commonly placed before an action or change that develops over time.
找 找 in 找回专注力 contributes the idea of finding or seeking. Together with 回, it describes regaining focus. The pattern 找回 + something lost is useful when talking about returning to a previous ability or state.
回 回 in 找回专注力 contributes the meaning of returning focus to its previous state. The character also appears at the beginning of 回顾, where the whole word means review or look back. Its contribution therefore depends on the expression in which it occurs.
专注力 专注力 means focus or concentration in 找回专注力. It is the ability the speaker wants to regain after being distracted. It is the object of 找回 in this dialogue.
从 从 means from in 从那里开始. It identifies the point that serves as the starting place. The pattern 从 + place or point + 开始 is useful when saying where an activity begins.
那里 那里 means there in 从那里开始. It refers back to the clear point identified in the previous advice. It can follow 从 when naming the place or point from which something starts.
开始 开始 means start or begin in 从那里开始. It describes beginning the work at the identified point. It can follow 从 to show where or when an activity begins.
接下来 接下来 means next or what follows in 接下来的事情. 接 contributes the idea of following on, while 下来 helps form the sequence meaning of what comes next. It can introduce the next task, event, or stage.
事情 事情 means matter or thing in 接下来的事情. Here it refers to the remaining work that follows the starting point. It is modified by 接下来的 to identify what comes next.
应该 应该 means should or be expected to in 应该会轻松一些. Here it expresses an expectation about how the remaining work will feel. It is useful before a statement about a likely result or appropriate outcome.
会 会 means will or be likely to in 应该会轻松一些. It presents the lighter feeling as an expected result of starting with a manageable step. It commonly appears before the action or state that is expected to occur.
轻松 轻松 means relaxed, light, or easy in 轻松一些. Here it describes the remaining work as feeling less burdensome. It can describe a task, a situation, or the way someone feels about it.
一些 一些 means a little or to some degree in 轻松一些. After 轻松, it indicates a modest reduction in difficulty or burden. The pattern adjective + 一些 is useful when describing a small change in degree.

Grammar Points

一开始……，最后……

一开始处理最难的部分，最后检查数字。

Yì kāishǐ chǔlǐ zuì nán de bùfen, zuìhòu jiǎnchá shùzì.

At the beginning, handle the hardest part; finally, check the numbers.

一开始 and 最后 are time expressions placed at the beginning of clauses to show the order of actions.

完全 + 动词 + 了

完全脱离了这项工作。

Wánquán tuōlí le zhè xiàng gōngzuò.

Became completely disconnected from this task.

完全 comes before the verb, while 了 after the verb indicates a completed change or action.

Chinese Vocabulary

处理 verb
chǔlǐ to handle; to deal with
动力 noun
dònglì momentum; motivation
分析 noun
fēnxī analysis
回顾 noun
huígù review
简短 adj
jiǎnduǎn brief; short
脱离 verb
tuōlí to become disconnected from 脱离了
完全 adv
wánquán completely
午饭后 phrase
wǔfàn hòu after lunch
一开始 adv
yì kāishǐ at the beginning
这项工作 noun
zhè xiàng gōngzuò this task
中间 noun
zhōngjiān middle
最难的部分 phrase
zuì nán de bùfen the hardest part

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

the hardest part

Show Answer最难的部分

this task

Show Answer这项工作

analysis

Show Answer分析

review

Show Answer回顾