About This Lesson
Use Rescheduling a Meeting for Icy Roads to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
今天早上路面结冰，能见度很低。
Jīntiān zǎoshang lùmiàn jiébīng, néngjiàndù hěn dī. The roads are icy, and visibility is poor this morning.
B
开车去参加会议听起来很危险。
Kāichē qù cānjiā huìyì tīng qǐlái hěn wēixiǎn. Driving to the meeting sounds risky.
A
我不想改期，但安全应该放在第一位。
Wǒ bù xiǎng gǎiqī, dàn ānquán yīnggāi fàng zài dì yī wèi. I hate to reschedule, but safety should come first.
B
现在给他们发消息，清楚地说明路况。
Xiànzài gěi tāmen fā xiāoxi, qīngchu de shuōmíng lùkuàng. Message them now and explain the road conditions clearly.
A
我应该建议在线开会，而不是完全取消吗？
Wǒ yīnggāi jiànyì zài xiàn kāihuì, ér bú shì wánquán qǔxiāo ma? Should I suggest meeting online instead of canceling completely?
B
这样没人需要出行，工作也能继续进行。
Zhèyàng méi rén xūyào chūxíng, gōngzuò yě néng jìxù jìnxíng. That would keep the work moving without anyone traveling.
A
我可以问问他们通过视频参加会议是否方便。
Wǒ kěyǐ wènwen tāmen tōngguò shìpín cānjiā huìyì shìfǒu fāngbiàn. I can ask whether joining by video would work for them.
B
也可以提议等路况更安全后再当面见面。
Yě kěyǐ tíyì děng lùkuàng gèng ānquán hòu zài dāngmiàn jiànmiàn. Offer to meet in person once the roads are safer, too.
A
如果他们更愿意等，明天我也可以。
Rúguǒ tāmen gèng yuànyì děng, míngtiān wǒ yě kěyǐ. If they would rather wait, tomorrow also works for me.
B
明确的选择应该能让他们更容易接受这次调整。
Míngquè de xuǎnzé yīnggāi néng ràng tāmen gèng róngyì jiēshòu zhè cì tiáozhěng. Clear options should make the change easier to accept.Word by Word
今天
“今天” means today and places the situation on the current day in “今天早上”. It commonly appears before a time expression or activity, such as “今天早上”. You would use it when telling someone what is happening or planned today.
早上
“早上” means morning in “今天早上”. Together with “今天”, it identifies when the roads are icy and visibility is poor. Use it after a day expression when specifying a morning time, as in “今天早上”.
路面
“路面” means the surface of the road, specifically the part that is icy in “路面结冰”. It combines with a condition or change affecting the road surface. You would use it when describing driving conditions or the state of a road.
结冰
“结冰” describes the road surface becoming covered with ice in “路面结冰”. Here it explains why driving may be unsafe. Use it after a place or surface to describe it freezing over, as in “路面结冰”.
能见度
“能见度” means visibility, the extent to which things can be seen in the current conditions. In “能见度很低”, it describes poor visibility this morning. It commonly combines with “高” or “低” when discussing weather, driving, or visibility conditions.
很
“很” adds a high degree to “低” in “能见度很低”, meaning that visibility is very low. It is placed before the descriptive word it modifies. You would use it to strengthen a description, such as “很危险” in a safety discussion.
低
“低” means low in “能见度很低”, describing the poor level of visibility. It follows “很” here to form the description of the visibility. Use it with measurable levels or conditions, such as visibility being low.
开车
“开车” means drive or driving in “开车去参加会议”. It identifies traveling by car as the activity that sounds risky. Use it before a destination or purpose, as in “开车去参加会议”.
去
“去” means go to and links “开车” with the destination or purpose in “开车去参加会议”. It comes before the activity or place someone is going to. You would use it to describe movement toward a meeting, place, or other destination.
参加
“参加” means attend or participate in “参加会议”. It is used for taking part in an organized activity or event. It commonly comes before the event, as in “参加会议”.
会议
“会议” means meeting in “参加会议”. It is the event that the speakers are considering traveling to. Use it after verbs such as “参加” or “安排” when referring to a formal meeting.
听起来
“听起来” means sound or seem based on what has been heard, as in “听起来很危险”. It introduces the speaker’s impression of driving to the meeting. It commonly comes before a description, such as “听起来很危险”.
危险
“危险” means dangerous or risky in “听起来很危险”. It describes driving to the meeting as unsafe under the current road conditions. You would use it after “很” or another degree expression to evaluate a situation.
我
“我” refers to the speaker as I in “我不想改期” and “我也可以”. Its role is understood from its position before the action or description. Use it to state your own wishes, abilities, or availability.
不
“不” makes “想改期” negative in “我不想改期”, meaning the speaker does not want to reschedule. It comes before the word or phrase being negated. You would use it to reject or deny a present intention or preference.
想
“想” expresses wanting or feeling like doing something in “我不想改期”. The following action is “改期”, so the phrase describes the speaker’s preference about rescheduling. It commonly comes before an action, as in “想改期”.
改期
“改期” means reschedule, or change an agreed time to another time. In “我不想改期”, it refers to changing the meeting time because of the dangerous roads. You would use it when an appointment or meeting will happen at a different time.
但
“但” means but and contrasts the speaker’s reluctance to reschedule with the priority of safety in “我不想改期，但安全应该放在第一位”. It connects two statements with opposing considerations. Use it to introduce the reason or principle that outweighs the first statement.
安全
“安全” means safety in “安全应该放在第一位”. It is the consideration that should receive the highest priority in this situation. You would use it when discussing whether an action or plan avoids danger.
应该
“应该” expresses what should be done or what is advisable in “安全应该放在第一位”. It presents putting safety first as the appropriate choice. Use it before an action or description when giving advice or stating a sensible priority.
放在第一位
“放在第一位” means put first or treat as the highest priority in “安全应该放在第一位”. In this construction, “放在” means place or put, while “第一位” means the first position in priority; together they describe prioritizing something. You would use it when explaining that safety, quality, or another consideration must come before other concerns.
现在
“现在” means now in “现在给他们发消息”. It tells the listener that the message should be sent immediately or at the present time. Use it before an action when giving a current instruction or recommendation.
给
“给” introduces the recipient in “给他们发消息”, meaning send a message to them. It appears before the person receiving the action. You would use it with a recipient before an action such as “发消息”.
他们
“他们” refers to them, the people who are expected to attend or discuss the meeting. In “给他们发消息”, it is the recipient of the message. Use it after “给” when identifying who should receive something.
发
“发” means send in “发消息”. Here it describes sending a message to the other people about the road conditions. It commonly combines with the thing being sent, as in “发消息”.
消息
“消息” means message in “发消息”. It is the information that should be sent to the other people. You would use it after “发” when referring to sending a message.
清楚
“清楚” means clearly in “清楚地说明路况”. It describes explaining the road conditions in an understandable and unambiguous way. It comes before “地” when used to modify the following action “说明”.
地
“地” marks “清楚” as the manner in which the speaker should “说明路况”. In “清楚地说明”, it links the description of manner to the action. Use it after a descriptive word when that word modifies a verb.
说明
“说明” means explain or state in “说明路况”. The speaker should clearly give information about the road conditions. It commonly comes before the information being explained, as in “说明路况”.
路况
“路况” means road conditions in “说明路况”. It refers to the icy and unsafe state of the roads that should be explained. You would use it when reporting conditions that affect driving or travel.
建议
“建议” means suggest or recommend in “建议在线开会”. It introduces an alternative to completely canceling the meeting. It commonly comes before the proposed action, as in “建议在线开会”.
在线
“在线” means online in “在线开会”. It describes holding the meeting through an online connection instead of meeting physically. You would use it before an activity when identifying an online format.
开会
“开会” means hold or attend a meeting in “在线开会”. Here it refers to continuing the meeting online. It commonly follows a method or format, such as “在线开会”.
而
“而” links two contrasting alternatives in “而不是完全取消”, meaning rather than completely canceling. It directs the contrast toward the second option. You would use it with “不是” to reject one option in favor of another.
不是
“不是” means not be and rejects “完全取消” in “而不是完全取消”. It marks the option that is not being proposed. Use it after “而” when contrasting the preferred action with a rejected one.
完全
“完全” means completely in “完全取消”. It shows that the proposed alternative is not to cancel the meeting in its entirety. It commonly comes before the action or description whose extent it limits.
取消
“取消” means cancel in “完全取消”. It refers to ending the meeting arrangement instead of moving it online or to a safer time. You would use it for appointments, meetings, plans, or events that will no longer take place.
吗
“吗” marks the sentence “我应该建议在线开会，而不是完全取消吗？” as a yes-or-no question. It is placed at the end of the question. You would use it when asking whether a proposed action is appropriate.
这样
“这样” means this way or that way and refers to the proposed online option in “这样没人需要出行”. It connects the previous suggestion with its result. You would use it to point back to a method or arrangement just mentioned.
没人
“没人” means no one in “没人需要出行”. It states that not a single participant needs to travel under the proposed arrangement. It commonly comes before “需要” and the action that nobody has to perform.
需要
“需要” means need in “没人需要出行”. It expresses the necessity of traveling, which is removed by the online option. It commonly comes before an action, as in “需要出行”.
出行
“出行” means travel or go out in “没人需要出行”. It refers broadly to traveling to the meeting rather than to one specific mode of transport. You would use it when discussing whether people need to travel under particular conditions.
工作
“工作” means work in “工作也能继续进行”. It refers to the ongoing work that can proceed despite changing the meeting format. It commonly appears as the subject of an action such as “继续进行”.
也
“也” means also or as well in “工作也能继续进行”. It adds the continued progress of the work to the benefit that nobody needs to travel. It commonly appears before the verb or modal expression it modifies.
能
“能” means can or be able to in “工作也能继续进行”. It expresses that the work remains possible under the online arrangement. Use it before an action when describing ability or feasibility.
继续
“继续” means continue in “继续进行”. It shows that the work does not stop when the meeting format changes. It commonly comes before an action that is already underway, such as “继续进行”.
进行
“进行” means proceed or be carried out in “继续进行”. It describes the work going on after the meeting arrangement is changed. It commonly follows an activity or process, as in “工作进行” or the dialogue form “工作也能继续进行”.
可以
“可以” means can or may in “我可以问问”. It shows that the speaker is able or willing to ask the other people. It commonly comes before an action to describe permission, possibility, or ability.
问问
“问问” means ask or check by asking in “我可以问问他们”. The repeated form presents the action as a brief or casual inquiry. You would use it before the person or information you want to ask about.
通过
“通过” means via or through in “通过视频参加会议”. It identifies video as the means of joining the meeting. It commonly comes before a method, channel, or medium used to carry out an action.
视频
“视频” means video in “通过视频参加会议”. It is the medium through which the other people may join the meeting. You would use it after “通过” when describing video as a communication method.
是否
“是否” means whether in “是否方便”. It introduces the question of whether joining by video would work for the other people. It commonly appears inside an indirect question rather than as a question by itself.
方便
“方便” means convenient or workable for someone in “是否方便”. Here it asks whether joining by video suits the other people. You would use it when checking whether a time, method, or arrangement works for someone.
提议
“提议” means propose or offer in “提议等路况更安全后再当面见面”. It introduces another possible arrangement: meeting face to face after the roads improve. It commonly comes before the action or plan being proposed.
等
“等” means wait until in “等路况更安全后”. It marks the condition that should be reached before the next meeting. You would use it before a situation followed by “后” when describing waiting for that situation to occur.
更
“更” means more or even more in “更安全”. It compares the future road conditions with their current unsafe state. It comes before the descriptive word it increases, as in “更安全”.
后
“后” means after in “路况更安全后”. It marks the point after the roads become safer. It commonly follows a condition or event before the next action, as in “更安全后再见面”.
再
“再” means then in “再当面见面”, showing that the face-to-face meeting will happen after the roads become safer. It places the next action after the condition introduced by “等”. You would use it to connect a later action with a prerequisite or earlier event.
当面
“当面” means in person or face-to-face in “当面见面”. It contrasts with joining by video and identifies a physical meeting. You would use it when people communicate in the same place rather than through a remote channel.
见面
“见面” means meet in “当面见面”. It describes meeting the other people physically after the roads become safer. It commonly appears with a time, place, or manner expression such as “当面见面”.
如果
“如果” means if and introduces the condition “他们更愿意等”. It presents waiting as one possible preference before offering tomorrow as another option. You would use it at the beginning of a conditional statement.
愿意
“愿意” means be willing to in “更愿意等”. It describes the other people’s preference for waiting. It commonly comes before the action someone is willing to do, as in “愿意等”.
明天
“明天” means tomorrow in “明天我也可以”. It offers the following day as another possible meeting time. You would use it to refer to the day after today when discussing plans or availability.
明确
“明确” means clear or definite in “明确的选择”. It describes options that are easy to understand and distinguish. It comes before “的” to modify the noun “选择”.
的
“的” links “明确” to “选择” in “明确的选择”, showing that “明确” describes the choices. It forms the attributive phrase before the noun. You would use it after a description when that description modifies a noun.
选择
“选择” means options or choices in “明确的选择”. It refers to the alternative arrangements being offered, such as meeting online or waiting until tomorrow. You would use it when presenting possible actions or arrangements.
让
“让” means make in “让他们更容易接受”. It introduces the people whose acceptance is affected and the result that the clear options produce. It commonly follows a subject and comes before a person plus a description or action.
容易
“容易” means easy in “更容易接受”. It describes the acceptance of the change as requiring less difficulty. It commonly appears before an action, as in “容易接受”.
接受
“接受” means accept in “接受这次调整”. It refers to the other people agreeing to the change in the meeting arrangement. You would use it before the plan, decision, or adjustment that someone accepts.
这次
“这次” means this time or this occasion in “这次调整”. It identifies the particular adjustment being discussed now. It commonly comes before an event or action when referring to the current occasion.
调整
“调整” means adjustment or change in “这次调整”. It refers to changing the meeting arrangement because of the road conditions. You would use it for a modification to a plan, schedule, or arrangement.
Grammar Points
A，而不是B
通过视频参加会议，而不是当面参加。
Tōngguò shìpín cānjiā huìyì, ér bú shì dāngmiàn cānjiā.Attend the meeting by video instead of in person.
而不是 connects two alternatives and means “instead of” or “rather than.”
愿意 + 动词
愿意通过视频参加会议。
Yuànyì tōngguò shìpín cānjiā huìyì.Be willing to attend the meeting by video.
愿意 comes before a verb to express willingness to do something.
Chinese Vocabulary
安全
noun
ānquán
safety; safe
安全应该放在第一位
参加
verb
cānjiā
to attend; to participate in
参加会议
放在第一位
phrase
fàng zài dì yī wèi
to put first; to make a top priority
安全应该放在第一位
改期
verb
gǎiqī
to reschedule
我不想改期
很低
adj
hěn dī
very low
能见度很低
会议
noun
huìyì
meeting; conference
参加会议
结冰
verb
jiébīng
to become icy; to freeze over
路面结冰
开车
verb
kāichē
to drive
开车去参加会议
路面
noun
lùmiàn
road surface
路面结冰
能见度
noun
néngjiàndù
visibility
能见度很低
听起来
verb
tīng qǐlái
to sound; to seem
听起来很危险
危险
adj
wēixiǎn
dangerous; danger
很危险
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
to put first; to make a top priority
Show Answer
放在第一位to drive
Show Answer
开车dangerous; danger
Show Answer
危险to become icy; to freeze over