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

L36. 件

件 is a measure word. It is used for items such as household objects, articles of clothing, and affairs.

For example:

yī jiàn chènshān
一件衬衫
a shirt

yī jiàn T-xùshān
一件 T 恤衫
a T-shirt

L37. 坐, 骑, 开

These three verbs are used for different kinds of vehicles.

zuò qìchē
坐汽车
take a car

zuò huǒchē
坐火车
to take a train

zuò fēijī
坐飞机
to take a airplane

qí zìxíngchē
骑自行车
to ride a bike

qí mǎ
骑马
to ride a horse

kāichē
开车
to drive a car

L38. 号, 路

Both 号 and 路 are used to refer to bus routes.

Grammar Notes

G63. 或者

Rule: While both 或者 and 还是 link up two words or phrases that indicate different alternatives, 或者 is used in a statement, 还是 is only used in questions.

For example:

• Nǐ xiǎng mǎi qúnzi háishì chènshān?
• 你想买裙子还是衬衫？
• Would you like to buy a skirt or shirt?

• Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yī tiáo báisè huòzhě huángsè de qúnzǐ.
• 我想买一条白色或者黄色的裙子。
• I want to buy a white or yellow skirt.

G64. 先, 再, 最后

Rule: All three words are used to show sequence.

For example:

• Wǒ xiān qù chīfàn, zài qù túshūguǎn, zuìhòu qù yùndòngchǎng.
• 我先去吃饭， 再去图书馆， 最后去运动场。
• First I go to eat, then to the library, and last I go to the sport field.

G65. 还是.…..吧

Rule: 还是.…..吧 can be used to signify making a selection after two or more options. Sometimes in making such a decision one is forced to give up one’s preference.

For example:

• Wǒmen míngtiān qù kàn diànyǐng háishì qù mǎi dōngxi?
• 我们明天去看电影还是去买东西？
• Should we watch a movie or go shopping tomorrow?

• Háishì kàn diànyǐng ba.
• 还是看电影吧。
• Let’s go see a movie.

Sentence Patterns

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

Cultural Notes

It is believed that the bicycle was introduced to the Chinese imperial court in the 1860s through the observations of a high-ranking Chinese official, named Binchun. In China, foreigners living in settlements throughout China rode the bicycle. The first Chinese to use bicycles were individuals who had traveled abroad and witnessed the practicality of this new form of transportation. The bicycle was expensive, therefore its use throughout the country did not increase until the 1930s when the cost of production decreased.

Today there are millions of bike owners in China, although the use of them is slowly declining with the rise of a middle class and the upsurge of automobile ownership.