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

L35. 张

张 is a measure word. It is associated with objects with flat surfaces.

For example:

yī zhāng zhǐ
一张纸
a piece of paper

yī zhāng zhàopiàn
一张照片
a photo

Grammar Notes

G58. 两 versus 二

Rule: Both 两 and 二 mean “two,” but they are used differently. 两 is used in front of common measure words to express a quantity.

For example:

• liǎng gè rén
• 两个人
• two persons

• liǎng běn shū
• 两本书
• two books

二 is used in counting and compound numerals. For example: yī，èr，sān …
一， 二， 三…
1, 2, 3…

èrshíèr， èrbǎi èrshíèr
二十二， 二百二十二
22, 222

G59. 会 versus 能

Rule: Both 会 and 能 have several meanings. In this lesson, 会
means having the skill to do something through learning or instruction. However, we can also use 能 when referring to particular language skills.

For example:

• Wǒ huì dǎ lánqiú.
• 我会打篮球。
• I can play basketball.

• Wǒ huì shuō Zhōngwén.
• 我会说中文。
• I can speak Chinese.

• Wǒ néng shuō Zhōngwén.
• 我能说中文。
• I can speak Chinese.

G60. Descriptive complements

Rule: A descriptive complement is a complement connected by following the verb or the object. The main function of the descriptive complement is to describe, appraise, or evaluate the result, degree, and state.

The affirmative: V + 得 + Adjective

For example:

• Wǒ měi tiān qǐ de hěn zǎo.
• 我每天起得很早。
• I get up early every day.

The negative: V + 得 + 不 + Adjective

For example:

• Wǒ měi tiān qǐ de bù zǎo.
• 我每天起得不早。
• I don’t get up early every day.

When the verb has an object, the structure for the sentence with a descriptive complement is: V + Object + V + 得 + Adjective

For example:

• Tā xiě zì xiě de hěn hǎo.
• 他写字写得很好。
• He writes characters well.

G61. Position words

Rule: A position word is used to specify a relative location.

For example:

• qiánbiān, qiánmiàn
• 前边, 前面
• front

• hòubiān, hòumiàn
• 后边, 后 面
• back

• shàngbiān, shàngmiàn
• 上边, 上面
• top

• xiàbiān, xiàmiàn
• 下边, 下面
• under or beneath

• lǐbiān, lǐmiàn
• 里边, 里面
• inside

• wàibiān, wàimiàn
• 外边, 外面
• outside

• pángbiān
• 旁边
• beside

• zhōngjiān
• 中间
• middle

在，是, and 有 are commonly used to indicate location and existence.

N + 在 + place

For example:

• Yùndòngguǎn zài sùshè de qiánbiān.
• 运动馆在宿舍的前边。
• The gym is in front of the dorm.

Place + 是 + N

For example:

• Sùshè de qiánbiān shì yùndòngguǎn.
• 宿舍的前边是运动馆。
• In front of the dorm is the gym.

Place + 有 + N

For example:

• Sùshè de qiánbiān yǒu yī gè yùndòngguǎn.
• 宿舍的前边有一个运动馆。
• There is a gym in front of the dorm.

G62. 离

Rule: The verb 离 means to be away from. It is used in the following pattern: A + 离 + B + adjective phrase.

For example:

• Zúqiúchǎng lí túshūguǎn hěn yuǎn.
• 足球场离图书馆很远。
• The soccer field is far from the library.

Sentence Patterns

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

Cultural Notes

Table tennis, or Ping Pong, was started in England in the 1800s. By the 1920s, Ping Pong spread to Japan and into other Asian nations. The Chinese didn’t begin to dominate the sport until the 70s.

Ping Pong Diplomacy

On April 6, 1971 the US Ping Pong team received an invitation to the People’s Republic of China. On April 10, 1971, the US team, coaches, and spouses, stepped foot on Chinese soil. This was the first time since the establishment of the People’s Republic of China (Oct. 1, 1949) that Americans were allowed into the country. This signified China’s willingness to reopen after decades of isolation from the world.