Transcript, vocabulary, and notes

Text 课文 (Kèwén)

After you have watched the video, check your understanding by reading the transcript and the English translation.

New Words 生词 (Shēngcí)

Language Notes

L32. 怎么了

怎么了？ is a common phrase meaning “What happened? What’s wrong?” It is used to inquire about the process, cause, and reason that something happened.

For example:
Nǐ zěnme le?
你怎么了？
What’s wrong?

Wǒ gǎnmào le.
我感冒了。
I’ve caught a cold.

L33. 就 Adverb

就 has several meanings. In this lesson, it means “just.”

L34. 看医生

Both 看医生 and 看病 mean “to see a doctor.” They are interchangeable.

L35. 要不然

要不然 is a conjunction. It means “otherwise.”

Grammar Notes

G52. 死了

Rule: 死了 is used after adjective and some verbs to indicate the highest degree.

For example:

• Wǒ èsǐ le.
• 我饿死了。
• I am starving (hungry to death).

• Wǒ de tóu téngsǐ le.
• 我的头疼死了。
• My head hurts so badly (hurts to death).

G53. 会

Rule: In this lesson, 会 indicates an anticipated event or action in the future.

For example:

• Tā wǎnshàng qī diǎn huì lai.
• 他晚上七点会来。
• He will come at 7:00 this evening.

• Wǒ míngnián huì qù Zhōngguó.
• 我明年会去中国。
• I will go to China next year.

G54. 地

Rule: De 地 can be placed after an adjective to transform the whole unit into an adverb, such as 好好地 （nicely).

G55. 再 versus 又

Rule: The adverbs 再 and 又 are both used before verbs, as adverbials, to indicate the repetition of an act or a state of affair. 再 indicates an anticipated repetition of an action while 又 normally refers to an act that has already been repeated.

For example:

• Wǒ shàng gè xīngqī chī Zhōngguó fàn le, zuótiān wǒ yòu chī Zhōngguó fàn le.
• 我上个星期吃中国饭了， 昨天我又吃中国饭了。
• I ate Chinese food last week. Yesterday I ate Chinese food again.

• Wǒ zuótiān chī Zhōngguó fàn le, wǒ xiǎng míngtiān zài chī Zhōngguó fàn.
• 我昨天吃中国饭了， 我想明天再吃中国饭。
• I ate Chinese food yesterday. I am thinking of eating Chinese food again tomorrow.

G56. Reduplication of verbs

Rule: In Chinese verbs are sometimes used in duplicated forms to express the shortness, trying efforts, or slightness of an act. Duplicated forms are usually used in the spoken language.

For example:

• shuōshuo
• 说说
• to say a little

• kànkan
• 看看
• to have a look

• shìshi
• 试试
• to have a try

• xiěxie
• 写写
• to write a little

G57. 别

Rule: 别 is used to advise someone to refrain from doing something.

For example:

• Bié jìnlái.
• 别进来。
• Don’t come in.

• Bié kàn shū le.
• 别看书了。
• Don’t read books.

Sentence Patterns

These sentences highlight and repeat some of the grammatical concepts introduced in this lesson.

Cultural Notes

Chinese Medicine

Chinese medicine dates back to the 3rd century BCE and has developed throughout the years to meet the demands of the ever-changing study of medical conditions. Chinese medicine is a compilation of all oriental traditions from Korea, Vietnam, Japan, and Taiwan. A Chinese medical practitioner is able to treat a variety of conditions through different methods including herbal therapy, acupuncture, and breathing (tai chi) treatments.

For more information on Chinese medicine, see these resources:

• Traditional Chinese Medicine article from Wikipedia
• “Overview of TCM” from the University of Minnesota’s Center for Spirituality & Healing