About This Lesson
Use Clarifying a Changed Meeting Agenda to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
我加入这次通话时，本以为要审查发布清单。
Wǒ jiārù zhè cì tōnghuà shí, běn yǐwéi yào shěnchá fābù qīngdān. I joined the call expecting to review the launch checklist.
B
客户提出新的合规担忧后，议程改了。
Kèhù tíchū xīn de héguī dānyōu hòu, yìchéng gǎi le. The agenda changed after the client raised a new compliance concern.
A
如果能在准备幻灯片之前知道这件事，就好了。
Rúguǒ néng zài zhǔnbèi huàndēngpiàn zhīqián zhīdào zhè jiàn shì, jiù hǎo le. That would have been useful to know before preparing slides.
B
我同意，而且这项更新本来应该更早分享。
Wǒ tóngyì, érqiě zhè xiàng gēngxīn běnlái yīnggāi gèng zǎo fēnxiǎng. I agree, and the update should have been shared sooner.
A
我们能简要澄清一下新的优先事项吗？
Wǒmen néng jiǎnyào chéngqīng yíxià xīn de yōuxiān shìxiàng ma? Could we briefly clarify the new priority?
B
这很有道理，因为否则大家可能会讨论不同的风险。
Zhè hěn yǒu dàolǐ, yīnwèi fǒuzé dàjiā kěnéng huì tǎolùn bùtóng de fēngxiǎn. That makes sense, since otherwise everyone may discuss different risks.
A
只有在这个背景明确之后，我才能总结清单。
Zhǐyǒu zài zhège bèijǐng míngquè zhīhòu, wǒ cái néng zǒngjié qīngdān. I can summarize the checklist only after that context is clear.
B
我们先就这个担忧达成共识，然后再决定哪些事情可以等一等。
Wǒmen xiān jiù zhège dānyōu dáchéng gòngshí, ránhòu zài juédìng nǎxiē shìqing kěyǐ děng yì děng. Let's align on the concern, then decide what can wait.Word by Word
我
我 means “I” or “me” here, referring to the speaker in 我加入这次通话时 and 我同意. Use 我 before an action or opinion when speaking about yourself, such as 我同意 in a meeting.
加入
加入 means “join” here, as in 我加入这次通话时, “when I joined this call.” It is commonly followed by the group, activity, or event being joined, and is useful when saying that you joined a meeting or call.
这
这 means “this” in 这次通话, pointing to the particular call being discussed. Use 这 before a noun or noun phrase when identifying something near the current situation, such as 这次通话.
次
次 is the occurrence classifier in 这次通话, meaning “this time” or “this occasion.” Use it after 这 or 那 and before an event or action when referring to one occurrence, especially in a meeting or call context.
通话
通话 means “call” or “conversation,” and 这次通话 refers to the current call. Use 通话 for a phone or online call when discussing joining, ending, or participating in the call.
时
时 marks the time when an action happens in 我加入这次通话时, “when I joined this call.” It commonly follows an action or time expression to introduce the situation in which another event occurs, such as joining a meeting.
本
In 本以为, 本 means “originally” or “at first,” showing that the speaker’s initial expectation was different from the current situation. The expression 本以为要审查发布清单 is useful when explaining an expectation that turned out not to match what happened.
以为
以为 means “think” or “believe” in 本以为要审查发布清单, where the speaker says they had thought they would review the checklist. Use 以为 before the expected situation when explaining what you believed before receiving new information.
要
要 indicates the action that was expected or intended in 本以为要审查发布清单, “had thought [we] would review the launch checklist.” Use 要 before an action when describing what someone is going to do or is expected to do in a situation.
审查
审查 means “review” or “examine” in 审查发布清单, referring to checking the launch checklist. Use it before a document, plan, or issue when the purpose is to examine it carefully in a work setting.
发布
发布 means “release” or “launch” in 发布清单, identifying the checklist connected with a release or launch. It can be placed before a project or document-related noun when discussing a release process.
清单
清单 means “checklist” or “list” in 发布清单, the document the speaker expected to review. Use 清单 for an organized list of items or tasks, especially when coordinating project work.
客户
客户 means “client” in 客户提出新的合规担忧, identifying the person or organization that raised the concern. Use 客户 before an action or noun when describing what a client said, requested, or needed in a work conversation.
提出
提出 means “raise” or “put forward” in 客户提出新的合规担忧, where the client brought up a new concern. It commonly takes an issue, question, suggestion, or concern as its object, such as 提出担忧 in a project meeting.
新
新 means “new” in 新的合规担忧, indicating that the compliance concern was newly raised. Use 新 before a noun when identifying something that has recently appeared or changed in the current situation.
的
的 links 新 to 合规担忧 in 新的合规担忧, showing that “new” describes the concern. Use 的 between a describing word or phrase and the noun it modifies, such as 新的担忧.
合规
合规 means “compliance” in 合规担忧, referring to following applicable rules or requirements. Use it before a work or regulatory noun when discussing whether a project, process, or decision meets requirements.
担忧
担忧 means “concern” or “worry” in 合规担忧, the issue raised by the client. Use it after a topic to identify a concern about that topic, or after 提出 when someone brings the concern into a discussion.
后
后 means “after” in 客户提出新的合规担忧后, meaning “after the client raised a new compliance concern.” Place it after an action or event to show that the following event happened later, such as making a decision after a meeting.
议程
议程 means “agenda” in 议程改了, referring to the plan or order of topics for the meeting. Use 议程 when discussing what a meeting will cover, especially when the agenda changes or needs clarification.
改
改 means “change” here, and 议程改了 says that the agenda changed. In this sentence it describes the agenda becoming different, so it is useful when reporting a changed plan or schedule.
了
了 marks the new situation in 议程改了, indicating that the agenda has changed. Use it after an action or state when reporting that a change has occurred, especially when the new situation affects the discussion.
如果
如果 introduces the condition in 如果能在准备幻灯片之前知道这件事, “if it had been possible to know this before preparing the slides.” Use 如果 at the start of a conditional clause when discussing a possible or desired situation.
能
能 means “can” or “be able to” in 如果能在准备幻灯片之前知道这件事, referring to the possibility of knowing the information earlier. Use 能 before an action when ability or possibility is relevant, especially after 如果.
在
在 introduces the time expression 在准备幻灯片之前, meaning “before preparing the slides.” Place 在 before a location or time phrase when setting the circumstances for an action, such as before preparation begins.
准备
准备 means “prepare” in 准备幻灯片, referring to preparing the presentation slides. Use it before the thing being prepared, such as preparing slides, materials, or a report for a meeting.
幻灯片
幻灯片 means “slides” in 准备幻灯片, referring to presentation slides. Use it after an action such as 准备 when discussing materials made for presenting information to colleagues or clients.
之前
之前 means “before” in 准备幻灯片之前, “before preparing the slides.” It follows an action or time expression to mark an earlier point, and is useful when explaining when information should have been shared.
知道
知道 means “know” in 知道这件事, referring to being aware of the matter. Use it with information or facts that someone knows, especially in a pattern such as 在做某事之前知道一件事.
件
件 is the classifier in 这件事, referring to one matter or thing. Use it before 事 or another suitable noun when counting or identifying a matter, as in 这件事, “this matter.”
事
事 means “matter” or “thing” in 这件事, referring to the information about the changed agenda. Use 事 in expressions about a specific matter, especially after a classifier such as 件.
就
In 就好了, 就 helps present the result as desirable or sufficient: knowing the information earlier “would have been good.” This expression is useful when saying that a different earlier condition would have made the situation better.
好
In 就好了, 好 means “good” or “that would be good,” evaluating the imagined earlier situation. Use 好 in this expression when saying that a different condition or outcome would have been satisfactory.
同意
同意 means “agree” in 我同意, directly confirming the other speaker’s point. Use it after 我 or another subject when accepting an opinion, proposal, or assessment in a discussion.
而且
而且 means “and moreover” in 而且这项更新本来应该更早分享, adding another related point. Use it to connect an additional fact or criticism after the first point has already been stated.
项
项 is the classifier in 这项更新, identifying one item or matter of an update. Use it before a work-related item or measure when referring to a specific entry, change, or task.
更新
更新 means “update” in 这项更新, referring to the information that should have been shared sooner. Use it as a noun for new information or as a work-related action when discussing changes to a project or plan.
本来
本来 means “originally” or “in the first place” in 本来应该更早分享, showing that the update was expected to be shared earlier. Use it with an expectation or intended arrangement when the actual situation did not match it.
应该
应该 means “should” in 本来应该更早分享, expressing that the update ought to have been shared sooner. Use 应该 before an action when discussing a responsibility, expectation, or appropriate course of action.
更
更 means “more” or “even” in 更早, making the time earlier than it was. Use it before a time or quality word when comparing the desired degree with the actual situation, such as sharing information earlier.
早
早 means “early” in 更早分享, referring to an earlier time for sharing the update. Use it with actions or time expressions when discussing when something should happen.
分享
分享 means “share” in 更早分享, referring to sharing the update with the relevant people. Use it before the information being shared, or with people when specifying who should receive it in a work setting.
我们
我们 means “we” or “us” in 我们能简要澄清一下 and 我们先就这个担忧达成共识. Use it as the subject when proposing a joint action or describing something the group should do together.
简要
简要 means “briefly” or “concisely” in 简要澄清一下, limiting the clarification to the necessary points. Place it before an action when asking for a short, focused explanation in a meeting.
澄清
澄清 means “clarify” in 澄清一下新的优先事项, referring to making the new priority clear. Use it before a question, issue, or priority when participants need a shared understanding.
一下
In 澄清一下, 一下 presents the action as brief or limited, making the request sound less heavy. Use it after an action verb when asking someone to do that action briefly or as a small step, such as clarifying a point.
优先
In 优先事项, 优先 contributes the meaning of priority, identifying what should take precedence. Use it before 事项 when discussing the item that should receive attention first in a project or meeting.
事项
事项 means “matter” or “item” in 优先事项, referring to a matter that needs attention. Use it in formal or work-related discussions about agenda items, tasks, or issues requiring a decision.
吗
吗 is the question particle at the end of 我们能简要澄清一下新的优先事项吗？, turning the statement into a yes-or-no request. Place 吗 at the end of a question when politely asking whether an action is possible or acceptable.
很
很 strengthens the positive evaluation in 很有道理, meaning that the proposal makes a lot of sense. Use 很 before an adjective or adjective-like expression when giving an evaluation, such as evaluating a suggestion in a meeting.
有
In 有道理, 有 contributes to the expression meaning “make sense” or “have a valid basis.” Use 有道理 to agree that someone’s point or proposal is reasonable, as B does after the request to clarify the priority.
道理
In 有道理, 道理 refers to the sense or valid reasoning behind a point. Use it in 有道理 when evaluating an explanation, suggestion, or decision as reasonable.
因为
因为 means “because” in 因为否则大家可能会讨论不同的风险, introducing the reason for the speaker’s agreement. Use it before the reason that explains an opinion or action, especially after a statement such as 这很有道理.
否则
否则 means “otherwise” in 否则大家可能会讨论不同的风险, describing the result if the priority is not clarified. Use it before a possible negative or different outcome when explaining why an action should happen first.
大家
大家 means “everyone” in 大家可能会讨论不同的风险, referring to all participants in the meeting. Use it when discussing what the whole group may think, do, or need to understand.
可能
可能 means “possibly” or “may” in 大家可能会讨论不同的风险, presenting the result as uncertain rather than definite. Use it before an action or situation when describing a possible consequence of unclear information.
会
会 helps express a possible or expected result in 可能会讨论不同的风险, “may discuss different risks.” Use 会 before an action when describing what may happen later, especially after 可能.
讨论
讨论 means “discuss” in 讨论不同的风险, referring to talking about risks together. Use it before the topic being discussed, such as risks, priorities, or a concern in a project meeting.
不同
不同 means “different” in 不同的风险, showing that the participants might focus on different risks. Use it before 的 and a noun when comparing items or indicating that they are not the same.
风险
风险 means “risk” in 不同的风险, referring to possible problems or dangers connected with the project. Use it after 讨论 when identifying the subject that a team needs to examine.
只有
只有 introduces the necessary condition in 只有在这个背景明确之后，我才能总结清单, “only after this context is clear.” Use 只有 before a condition when emphasizing that the following result cannot happen until that condition is met.
个
个 is the general classifier in 这个背景, identifying one context or background situation. Use 个 between 这 or 那 and a suitable noun when a general classifier is needed, as in 这个背景.
背景
背景 means “context” or “background” in 这个背景, referring to the relevant situation behind the changed agenda. Use it when saying that someone needs the surrounding information before summarizing or deciding something.
明确
明确 means “clear” or “explicit” in 这个背景明确, describing the context as sufficiently clear. Use it after a subject when stating that an issue, requirement, or situation has become clear.
之后
之后 means “after” or “after that” in 明确之后, marking the time after the context becomes clear. It follows an action or state and is useful when sequencing a later task, such as summarizing after clarification.
才
才 means “only then” in 只有在这个背景明确之后，我才能总结清单, emphasizing that the summary can happen only after the condition is met. Use 才 after a condition or time point when the result is delayed until that point.
总结
总结 means “summarize” in 总结清单, referring to giving the checklist’s main points in a concise form. Use it before the material being summarized, such as a checklist, report, or discussion.
先
先 means “first” in 我们先就这个担忧达成共识, setting the first step in the proposed order. Use 先 before an action when one task should happen before another task in a plan or discussion.
达成
达成 means “reach” or “achieve” in 达成共识, referring to reaching a shared agreement. It commonly combines with a result such as 共识 and is useful when describing an agreement reached by a group.
共识
共识 means “consensus” in 达成共识, referring to a shared understanding or agreement among the participants. Use it after 达成 when saying that a group has agreed on an issue or concern.
然后
然后 means “then” or “afterward” in 然后再决定, marking the next step after reaching consensus. Use it to connect ordered actions when explaining a procedure or meeting plan.
再
再 means “then” in 然后再决定, indicating that the decision should happen after the earlier step. Use it before a later action when that action is intentionally postponed until another action is complete.
决定
决定 means “decide” in 再决定哪些事情可以等一等, referring to making a choice about which matters can wait. Use it before a question or object when describing a decision about a plan, priority, or task.
哪些
哪些 means “which ones” in 哪些事情可以等一等, asking the group to identify particular matters from several possibilities. Use 哪些 before a plural or collective noun when selecting specific items or issues.
事情
事情 means “matters” or “things” in 哪些事情可以等一等, referring to the tasks or issues under discussion. Use it after 哪些 when asking which matters can be postponed.
可以
可以 means “can” or “may” in 可以等一等, indicating that some matters are allowed to wait. Use 可以 before an action when discussing permission, feasibility, or what is acceptable to postpone.
等
等 means “wait” in 等一等, referring to postponing a matter for a while. Use it before a duration or in 等一等 when asking that an action or decision be delayed briefly.
一
In 等一等, 一 is part of the repeated form that makes the request to wait sound brief or limited. This pattern is useful when asking someone to pause or wait for a short time.
不
不 is the standard negation form meaning “not,” but it does not appear as a standalone form in the supplied dialogue. There is therefore no lesson-specific use of 不 to connect to this meeting scene.
Grammar Points
本以为 + 分句
本以为客户会加入通话。
Běn yǐwéi kèhù huì jiārù tōnghuà.I had assumed the client would join the call.
“本以为”表示原先的预期，常放在句首，后面接一个完整分句。
否则 + 分句
总结背景，否则客户会提出担忧。
Zǒngjié bèijǐng, fǒuzé kèhù huì tíchū dānyōu.Summarize the background; otherwise, the client may raise concerns.
“否则”连接前后两个分句，表示如果不做前面的事，就可能出现后面的结果。
Chinese Vocabulary
担忧
noun
dānyōu
concern; worry
新的合规担忧
发布清单
noun
fābù qīngdān
launch checklist
发布清单
改
verb
gǎi
change; alter
改了
议程改了
合规
noun
héguī
compliance
合规担忧
幻灯片
noun
huàndēngpiàn
slides
准备幻灯片
加入
verb
jiārù
join
我加入这次通话时
客户
noun
kèhù
client; customer
客户提出新的合规担忧
审查
verb
shěnchá
review; examine
审查发布清单
提出
verb
tíchū
raise; put forward
提出新的合规担忧
通话
noun
tōnghuà
call
这次通话
以为
verb
yǐwéi
think; assume
本以为
本以为要审查发布清单
议程
noun
yìchéng
agenda
议程改了
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
launch checklist
Show Answer
发布清单join
Show Answer
加入think; assume
Show Answer
本以为concern; worry