Rescheduling a Meeting for Icy Roads | Learn Chinese in English

Sentence explanations

1. 今天早上路面结冰，能见度很低。

   The roads are icy, and visibility is poor this morning.

   今天早上

   this morning

   路面

   road surface

   结冰

   become icy

   能见度

   visibility

   很低

   very low

   More detail

   今天早上 means “this morning.” It is a time phrase: 今天 “today” + 早上 “morning.” Mandarin commonly places a time phrase before the event or description, as here. Example: 今天早上下雨。“It rained this morning.” 路面 means “the road surface.” It refers specifically to the surface people drive or walk on, rather than to a road as a route. 路 “road” and 面 “surface” form one useful compound noun. 结冰 describes ice forming on a surface, so in this sentence the road surface has become or is covered with ice. It is a verb-like compound: 结 “form” + 冰 “ice.” The same form can be used in other contexts, for example：湖面结冰了。“The surface of the lake has frozen.” The observed form does not explicitly mark a separate English-style tense; the icy condition is understood from context. 能见度 means “visibility,” especially how far or how clearly one can see. It is a compound noun: 能见 “be visible” + 度 “degree/measure.” It is useful in weather and travel descriptions. Example: 雾很大，能见度很低。“The fog is heavy, and visibility is poor.” 很低 means “very low” here. 低 is the adjective “low”; 很 is a degree word modifying it. In Mandarin, 很 commonly appears before an adjective in a straightforward descriptive predicate, and it can range from a clear “very” to a smooth adjective link depending on context. The useful contrast is 高 “high”: 能见度很高 means “visibility is very good/high.” Together, 今天早上 sets the time. 路面结冰 states that the road surface is icy, and 能见度很低 adds that visibility is poor. The comma joins these two related descriptions, giving: “The roads are icy, and visibility is poor this morning.”

2. 开车去参加会议听起来很危险。

   Driving to the meeting sounds risky.

   开车

   drive; driving

   参加

   attend; participate in

   会议

   meeting

   听起来

   sound; seem from how something sounds

   危险

   dangerous; risky

   More detail

   开车 means “to drive” here and presents the activity of driving. Chinese verbs do not change form for tense or person, so 开车 can refer to driving, drive, or drove depending on context. Example: 我不会开车。 — “I can’t drive.” 参加 means “to attend” or “to participate in” an event or activity. It normally takes what is being attended as its object: 参加会议 means “attend a meeting.” Example: 她参加了培训。 — “She attended the training.” 会议 is the noun “meeting.” The pattern 参加 + 会议 is reusable for saying that someone attends a meeting; 参加 is the verb and 会议 is its object. 听起来 means “sound” or “seem from how something sounds.” It is commonly followed by an adjective describing the impression: 这个计划听起来不错。 — “This plan sounds good.” The form 听起来 stays the same regardless of the subject. 危险 is the adjective “dangerous” or “risky.” In this sentence, it describes the activity as risky. Example: 这样做很危险。 — “Doing this is dangerous.” In 开车去参加会议, 去 adds the idea of going in order to attend the meeting, so the chunk means “drive to attend the meeting” or naturally “drive to the meeting.” The full subject is this activity. The structure 开车去参加会议听起来很危险 uses that activity as the subject, followed by 听起来 (“sounds/seems”) and 很危险 (“very dangerous” or, naturally here, “risky”). Chinese often uses 很 before an adjective in this kind of descriptive predicate; it does not always assert strong “very” in the English sense. Thus the complete utterance means: “Driving to the meeting sounds risky.”

3. 我不想改期，但安全应该放在第一位。

   I hate to reschedule, but safety should come first.

   我

   I; me

   不想

   do not want to

   改期

   reschedule

   但

   but

   安全

   safety

   应该

   should; ought to

   放在第一位

   put first; come first

   More detail

   我 is the first-person singular pronoun, meaning “I” here. Chinese 我 does not mark the speaker’s gender. Example: 我明白了。— “I understand.” 不想 combines 不, “not,” with 想, “want.” The observed form expresses that the speaker does not want to do the following action; it does not by itself mean that the action is impossible. 想 can also mean “to think” in other contexts, but that is not its meaning here. Example: 我不想等待。— “I do not want to wait.” 改期 is a verb meaning “to reschedule,” especially to move an arranged event to another time or date. It is the action governed by 不想. Example: 我们需要改期。— “We need to reschedule.” 但 introduces a contrast between the preceding reluctance and the following priority. It is commonly reusable between two clauses: A，但B means “A, but B.” 安全 is a noun meaning “safety” here. It names the priority being discussed; it is not the person who performs the action. Example: 安全很重要。— “Safety is important.” 应该 is a modal meaning “should” or “ought to.” It comes before the verb phrase it modifies and presents the following choice as advisable or appropriate, rather than stating that it is certain. Example: 你应该休息。— “You should rest.” 放在第一位 is a reusable construction meaning “put first” or “give top priority to.” 放在 literally describes placing something in a position, while 第一位 means “the first position”; together, the phrase commonly expresses priority rather than a physical location. In this sentence, 安全 is what receives that priority. Example: 我们应该把安全放在第一位。— “We should put safety first.” Together, 我不想改期 means “I do not want to reschedule.” 但 then contrasts that preference with the recommendation 安全应该放在第一位, “safety should come first.” The complete utterance therefore means: “I hate to reschedule, but safety should come first.”

4. 现在给他们发消息，清楚地说明路况。

   Message them now and explain the road conditions clearly.

   现在

   now

   给他们

   to them

   发消息

   send a message

   清楚地

   clearly

   说明

   explain

   路况

   road conditions

   More detail

   现在 means “now” here. It is a time adverb and can be placed before the action: 现在 + 动作. Example: 现在开始。 — “Start now.” 给他们 expresses the recipient “to them.” 给 introduces the recipient of an action, while 他们 is the third-person plural pronoun “they/them.” The pronoun itself does not identify exactly who they are; that comes from context. Example: 给他们打电话。 — “Call them.” 发消息 means “send a message.” 发 is the verb “send,” and 消息 is “message.” Together they form a common verb–object pattern: 发 + 消息. Example: 我发消息给他。 — “I send him a message.” 清楚地 means “clearly.” 清楚 means “clear” or “clearly” depending on its grammatical use; the particle 地 marks it as an adverbial description of the following action. Thus 清楚地说明 means “explain clearly,” not merely “be clear.” 说明 means “explain” or “state clearly.” In this sentence it takes 路况 as its object. Example: 请说明原因。 — “Please explain the reason.” 路况 means “road conditions.” It is a noun formed from 路 (“road”) and 况 in the sense of a situation or condition. It refers here to the state of the roads, not to a particular road named in the sentence. The sentence uses a sequence of actions with an understood subject: 现在 sets the time, 给他们发消息 says to send them a message, and 清楚地说明路况 says to explain the road conditions clearly. The fixed translation presents the whole utterance as a directive: “Message them now and explain the road conditions clearly.”

5. 我应该建议在线开会，而不是完全取消吗？

   Should I suggest meeting online instead of canceling completely?

   我应该

   I should

   建议

   suggest

   在线

   online

   开会

   hold a meeting

   而不是

   instead of

   完全

   completely

   取消

   cancel

   More detail

   我应该 expresses “I should…”. 应该 is a modal verb placed before the verb phrase it applies to; here it applies to 建议, so the speaker asks whether suggesting something is the appropriate action. 我 identifies the speaker as the person considering that action. Example: 我应该现在走吗？ — “Should I leave now?” 建议 means “to suggest” here and is used as a verb before the proposed action. A reusable pattern is 建议 + action, as in 我建议在线开会。 — “I suggest meeting online.” The noun “suggestion” can also be expressed with 建议 in other contexts, but its role here is verbal. 在线 means “online” and describes how the meeting takes place. It commonly appears before an activity: 在线学习 — “study online.” In this sentence it modifies 开会, rather than functioning as the meeting itself. 开会 is the reusable expression “hold a meeting / meet.” 开 is the verb in this expression, while 会 refers to a meeting; together they form the normal activity expression. Example: 我们明天开会。 — “We will hold a meeting tomorrow.” 而不是 connects two alternatives and means “instead of,” introducing the option that is not being chosen. The pattern A，而不是B contrasts A with B: 在线开会，而不是见面。 — “Meet online instead of meeting in person.” 完全 is an adverb meaning “completely” or “entirely.” It modifies the following action 取消, making the meaning “cancel completely,” rather than merely “cancel” in an unspecified degree. Example: 不要完全关闭它。 — “Don’t shut it down completely.” 取消 is the verb “cancel,” used here for canceling the plan or activity under discussion. It can take an event or arrangement as its object, for example 取消会议 — “cancel the meeting.” Its placement after 完全 gives the sequence 完全取消, “cancel completely.” Putting the parts together, 我应该建议在线开会 means “Should I suggest holding a meeting online,” and 而不是完全取消 contrasts that proposal with canceling completely. The final 吗 marks the whole sentence as a yes-or-no question. Thus the complete utterance means: “Should I suggest meeting online instead of canceling completely?”

6. 这样没人需要出行，工作也能继续进行。

   That would keep the work moving without anyone traveling.

   这样

   that way; in this manner

   没人

   no one

   需要

   need

   出行

   travel; go out

   工作

   work

   也能

   also can

   继续

   continue

   进行

   proceed; be carried out

   More detail

   这样 means “in this way” or “that way.” Here it points to the arrangement under discussion: avoiding travel through an online alternative. It is a demonstrative adverb, so it describes how the situation is arranged rather than naming a person or object. Example: 这样做比较方便。—“Doing it this way is more convenient.” 没人 means “no one.” It is the common shorter form of 没有人: 没 negates existence or possession, and 人 means “person.” The form itself does not identify any particular person. Example: 没人知道。—“No one knows.” 需要 means “need” or “be necessary.” It can be followed by a noun or by an action, as in 需要出行, “need to travel.” Unlike 能, which expresses ability or possibility, 需要 expresses necessity. Example: 我需要休息。—“I need to rest.” 出行 means “travel” or “go out,” especially travel from one place to another. It is a compact verb-like expression often used for general travel or movement, rather than a particular journey. Example: 下雨天，很多人不想出行。—“On rainy days, many people do not want to travel.” 工作 means “work.” In this sentence it is the activity or work process being maintained, not necessarily a specific job or workplace. The same form can also function as a verb meaning “to work,” depending on its position and context. Example: 他们在家工作。—“They work at home.” 也能 means “also can.” 也 adds this result to the surrounding proposal, while 能 expresses ability or feasibility. 能 does not change for person or number in this form. Example: 在线参加也能解决问题。—“Joining online can also solve the problem.” 继续 means “continue.” It indicates that an activity already in progress carries on rather than stopping. It commonly precedes another verb, as in 继续进行. Example: 会议继续进行。—“The meeting continues.” 进行 means “proceed” or “be carried out.” It is a formal, general-purpose verb used for activities, processes, and events. In 继续进行, 继续 says that the process carries on, and 进行 describes its proceeding or being carried out. Example: 计划正在进行。—“The plan is being carried out.” Together, 这样没人需要出行 means “that way, no one needs to travel”: 这样 sets out the method, 没人 identifies the people as nobody, and 需要出行 expresses the avoided necessity. 工作也能继续进行 means “the work can also continue”: 也 links this as an additional benefit, 能 marks feasibility, and 继续进行 says that the work proceeds without stopping. The whole utterance is therefore: “That would keep the work moving without anyone traveling.”

7. 我可以问问他们通过视频参加会议是否方便。

   I can ask whether joining by video would work for them.

   我可以

   I can

   问问

   ask

   他们

   them

   通过视频

   by video

   参加

   join

   会议

   meeting

   是否方便

   whether convenient

   More detail

   我可以 means “I can” here: 我 is the first-person singular pronoun “I,” and 可以 expresses ability or permission. In this sentence it introduces what the speaker is able or willing to do. A reusable pattern is 我可以 + verb: 我可以帮忙。 = “I can help.” 问问 means “ask” here. 问 is the base verb “to ask”; repeating it as 问问 is a common informal way to make a suggestion or present the action lightly, roughly “ask” or “have a quick ask.” This repetition does not mean that the asking happens twice. For example, 我问问他。 = “I’ll ask him.” 他们 means “them” in this sentence. It is a third-person plural pronoun: 他 can mean “he” or “him,” while 他们 marks a plural group. Chinese pronouns do not change for grammatical case, so the form can serve as an object here. The specific people are the participants referred to by the fixed translation. 通过视频 means “by video” here. 通过 means “through” or “by means of,” and it introduces the method used for an activity. The phrase can be reused with other methods, such as 通过电话联系 = “contact [someone] by phone.” 参加 means “join” or “take part in.” It is a verb used for participating in an organized activity or event. In 参加会议, it describes taking part in a meeting; it does not mean merely being physically near it. For example, 她参加培训。 = “She takes part in the training.” 会议 means “meeting.” It is a noun formed by the common term for a meeting or conference. 参加 + event is a useful pattern: 参加活动 = “take part in an activity.” 是否方便 asks whether something is convenient or workable. 是否 means “whether” and introduces an alternative question in a more formal or compact style than a question ending with 吗. 方便 literally concerns convenience, but in this context it asks whether participating by video would work for the people involved. The structure 是否 + adjective is reusable: 是否安全 = “whether it is safe.” Putting the parts together, 我可以问问 gives “I can ask,” 他们 identifies who will be asked, and 通过视频参加会议 describes the proposed way of participating in the meeting. 是否方便 turns that proposal into the question being asked: “whether joining the meeting by video would work for them.” The complete utterance is therefore: “I can ask whether joining by video would work for them.”

8. 也可以提议等路况更安全后再当面见面。

   Offer to meet in person once the roads are safer, too.

   也

   also; too

   可以

   can; may

   提议

   propose; suggest

   等

   wait until

   路况

   road conditions

   更安全

   safer

   后

   after; once

   再

   then

   当面

   in person

   见面

   meet

   More detail

   也 adds the meaning “also/too” to the action in this sentence. It is a flexible additive adverb and usually appears before the verb or verb phrase it modifies. Example: 我也想去。 — “I also want to go.” 可以 expresses possibility or permission; here it presents the suggestion as an available option: “can/may propose.” In Chinese, 可以 + verb is a reusable pattern. Example: 你可以明天来。 — “You can come tomorrow.” The subject is omitted in the fixed sentence, so this form alone does not identify who can make the proposal. 提议 is the verb “to propose” or “to suggest.” It can be followed by an action or plan, as in 提议改时间 — “propose changing the time.” Do not confuse it with 建议, which is also commonly used for “suggest”; the observed word here is specifically 提议. 等 means “wait until” in this context. It introduces the condition or event that must occur before the later action: 等……后…… means “after waiting until …, …” or more naturally “once …, ….” Example: 等雨停后再出发。 — “Set off after the rain stops.” 路况 is the noun “road conditions.” The second character 况 is part of this established compound; the phrase is not a general noun meaning simply “road.” Example: 现在路况不好。 — “The road conditions are poor now.” 更安全 means “safer.” 安全 is the adjective “safe,” and 更 marks a higher degree relative to the current or an understood comparison point: 安全 → 更安全 (“safe” → “safer”). Example: 白天开车更安全。 — “Driving during the day is safer.” Here 更 modifies 安全, not 路况; 路况 is the thing being described as safer. 后 means “after” or “once” when it follows an event or state. In 路况更安全后, it places the later action after the road conditions become safer. A common pattern is 动词/状态 + 后, as in 吃饭后散步 — “take a walk after eating.” 再 means “then” or “only then” for a subsequent action. In this sentence it makes the order explicit: first wait for safer road conditions, and then meet in person. Example: 确认时间后再回复。 — “Reply after confirming the time.” 当面 is an adverbial expression meaning “in person” or “face to face.” It describes how an interaction takes place, contrasting with communicating remotely. Example: 我们当面谈。 — “We’ll discuss it in person.” 见面 is the verb “to meet” or “to see one another.” It is a reusable verb for meeting people, and it does not itself specify the place or medium. Example: 我们下周见面。 — “We’ll meet next week.” In the fixed sentence, 当面 adds the specific manner “in person.” Together, 也可以提议 means “can also propose,” while 等路况更安全后 sets the condition “once the road conditions are safer.” 再当面见面 then gives the ordered result: “then meet in person.” The whole utterance means: “Offer to meet in person once the roads are safer, too.”

9. 如果他们更愿意等，明天我也可以。

   If they would rather wait, tomorrow also works for me.

   如果

   if

   他们

   they

   更愿意

   would rather

   等

   wait

   明天

   tomorrow

   我

   I; me

   也可以

   also works; is also okay

   More detail

   如果 introduces a condition: “if …”. The material before the comma is the condition, and the material after it is the result. A reusable pattern is 如果 + condition，result. 他们 is the third-person plural pronoun used here for “they/them,” matching the fixed translation. In Mandarin, the spoken form of these pronouns does not distinguish gender; the written forms can distinguish 他们 and 她们. 更愿意 means “be more willing to” or “prefer.” 愿意 means “be willing to,” while 更 marks a higher degree or preference relative to another possibility or the surrounding situation. For example: 我更愿意明天出发。 — “I would rather leave tomorrow.” 等 is the verb “to wait.” It can be followed by a time, event, or clause: 请等十分钟。 — “Please wait ten minutes.” In the fixed sentence, it is the action they may prefer to do. 明天 means “tomorrow.” It is a time expression and appears at the start of the main clause here, before 我也可以. 我 is the first-person singular pronoun “I/me.” Mandarin pronouns do not change form for subject versus object position, so 我 can represent “I” in a subject role or “me” in an object role, depending on the sentence. 也可以 combines 也 (“also/too”) with 可以 (“can” or “be okay”). Here 可以 is not about permission; with 明天 as the time option, it means that tomorrow is acceptable or works for the speaker. 也 adds this option to other acceptable possibilities. The action understood after 可以 is omitted, so the sentence does not need to repeat it. Together, 如果他们更愿意等 means “if they would rather wait.” The main clause 明天我也可以 presents tomorrow as an additional acceptable option for the speaker. Thus the whole utterance means: “If they would rather wait, tomorrow also works for me.”

10. 明确的选择应该能让他们更容易接受这次调整。

    Clear options should make the change easier to accept.

    明确的

    clear

    选择

    choice; option

    应该

    should; ought to

    能让

    can make

    他们

    them; they

    更容易

    more easily; easier

    接受

    accept

    这次

    this particular time or instance

    调整

    adjustment; change

    More detail

    明确的 describes something as clear or definite. In this sentence it modifies 选择, so 明确的选择 means “clear options.” The 的 links the description to the noun; a reusable pattern is 描述 + 的 + 名词, for example, 重要的决定 = “an important decision.” 选择 is the noun “choice” or “option” here. It can also be a verb meaning “to choose,” depending on its position and context. Example: 请先选择。 — “Please choose first.” 应该 expresses what is expected, advisable, or supposed to happen: “should.” It comes before the following verb phrase. For example, 你应该休息。 — “You should rest.” Here it presents the effect as an expectation or recommendation, not as a guaranteed result. 能让 combines 能 (“can; be able to”) with 让 (“make; let”). 让 introduces the person affected by the action, followed by the resulting action or state. The reusable pattern is A 能让 B + result, meaning “A can make B ….” The word 能 adds possibility or capability; it is not the lexical verb “make” by itself. 他们 is the third-person plural pronoun “they” or “them.” Its role here is the people who experience the result of 让; Chinese pronouns do not change form for subject versus object in this position. Example: 这会帮助他们。 — “This will help them.” 更容易 means “easier” or, before an action, “more easily.” 容易 is the base adjective “easy,” and 更 marks a comparison or increase: 更容易 = “easier/more easy.” Here it describes how readily 他们 can accept something. Example: 这样解释更容易理解。 — “This explanation is easier to understand.” 接受 is the verb “to accept.” In this sentence it is the action that becomes easier for 他们. Example: 他接受了这个建议。 — “He accepted this suggestion.” The observed form has no separate tense ending; time or completion can be shown by context or by markers such as 了 when appropriate. 这次 identifies the particular instance or occasion being discussed: “this time” or “this particular instance.” 这 is the demonstrative “this,” and 次 is a measure word for occurrences. Together they specify the relevant occurrence without asserting that it is a numerical count in the English sense. 调整 is the noun “adjustment” or “change” here. The phrase 这次调整 therefore means “this adjustment” or “this change.” 调整 can also function as a verb meaning “to adjust,” but its role here is nominal because it is the object of 接受. Example: 我们需要调整计划。 — “We need to adjust the plan.” Together, 明确的选择 means “clear options.” 应该 says that these options are expected or advisable to have an effect. 能让他们更容易接受 says that they can make it easier for them to accept something, and 这次调整 supplies that thing: “this adjustment.” The complete meaning is: “Clear options should make the change easier to accept.”