{Elementary - Set the Alarm Clock} (B1500)
A: 11点了,快睡觉吧!
   shí yī diǎn le, kuài shuìjiào ba!
  It's eleven already. Hurry up and go to sleep.
B: 定闹钟了吗?
   dìng nàozhōng le ma?
  Did you set the alarm clock?
A: 还没。定几点?
   hái méi. dìng jǐ diǎn?
  Not yet. What time?
B: 6点吧。
   liù diǎn ba.
  Six o'clock.
A: 这么早?
   zhème zǎo?
  So early?
B: 早点儿起床,早点儿出发。
   zǎo diǎnr qǐchuáng, zǎo diǎnr chūfā.
  We can get up earlier, and leave earlier.
A: 那定6点半好不好?
   nà dìng liù diǎn bàn hǎo bu hǎo?
  Then how about setting it for 6:30?
B: 好吧!
   hǎo ba!
  OK.

Key Vocabulary
11点  shí yī diǎn  11 o'clock
6点  liù diǎn  6 o'clock
点  diǎn  o'clock
快  kuài  hurry, quick
睡觉  shuìjiào  to go to bed
定  dìng  to set
闹钟  nàozhōng  alarm clock
还  hái  still
几点  jǐ diǎn  what time
这么  zhème  so, this
早  zǎo  early
早点儿  zǎo diǎnr  earlier
起床  qǐchuáng  to get out of bed, to get up
出发  chūfā  to set off, to head out
那  nà  then
半  bàn  half

Supplementary Vocabulary
旅游  lǚyóu  to travel
手机  shǒujī  cellphone
用  yòng  to use
一半  yībàn  one half
出去  chūqù  to go out

{Elementary - Your First Mooncake} (B1504)
A: 你在吃什么?
   nǐ zài chī shénme?
  What are you eating?
B: 月饼。
   yuèbǐng.
  Mooncake.
A: 月饼?
   yuèbǐng?
  Mooncake?
B: 对啊!你看,它像不像今天的月亮?又大又圆。
   duì a! nǐ kàn, tā xiàng bu xiàng jīntiān de yuèliàng? yòu dà yòu yuán.
  Right. Look, doesn't it look like today's moon? Big and round.
A: 有一点儿像。
   yǒu yīdiǎnr xiàng.
  Yeah, a little bit.
B: 今天是中秋节,要吃月饼。你也吃一个吧。
   jīntiān shì Zhōngqiū jié, yào chī yuèbǐng. nǐ yě chī yī ge ba.
  Today is Mid-Autumn Festival, so we have to eat mooncakes. You have one too.
A: 谢谢啊!
   xièxie a!
  Thanks!

Key Vocabulary
在  zài  currently
吃  chī  to eat
月饼  yuèbǐng  mooncake
看  kàn  to look
它  tā  it
像  xiàng  to resemble
今天  jīntiān  today
月亮  yuèliàng  moon
又...又...  yòu ... yòu  both...and...
大  dà  big
圆  yuán  round
有一点儿  yǒu yīdiǎnr  a little bit
中秋节  Zhōngqiū jié  Mid-Autumn Festival
要  yào  must
也  yě  also

Supplementary Vocabulary
做  zuò  to make
饿  è  hungry
冷  lěng  cold
热  rè  hot
秋天  qiūtiān  autumn
台湾  Táiwān  Taiwan
烧烤  shāokǎo  to barbecue

{Elementary - National Day Holiday} (B1509)
A: 国庆节怎么放假?
   Guóqìngjié zěnme fàngjià?
  What's the deal with the National Day holiday?
B: 10月1号到7号放假。
   shíyuè yī hào dào qī hào fàngjià.
  We have off October 1st to the 7th.
A: 真好!一个星期不用上班!
   zhēn hǎo! yī ge xīngqī bùyòng shàngbān!
  That's great! No work for one week!
B: 可是周末要上班。
   kěshì zhōumò yào shàngbān.
  But we have to work on the weekend.
A: 哪个周末?
   nǎ ge zhōumò?
  Which weekend?
B: 9月26号和10月9号都要上班。
   jiǔyuè èrshí liù hào hé shíyuè jiǔ hào dōu yào shàngbān.
  We have to work on both September 26 and October 9.
A: 哦。这么麻烦!
   ò. zhème máfan!
  Oh. That's such a pain!

Key Vocabulary
国庆节  Guóqìngjié  National Day
怎么  zěnme  how
放假  fàngjià  to go on vacation
月  yuè  month
号  hào  date
到  dào  to
真  zhēn  really
星期  xīngqī  week
不用  bùyòng  need not
上班  shàngbān  to go to work
可是  kěshì  but
周末  zhōumò  weekend
要  yào  must
哪个  nǎ ge  which
都  dōu  all
这么  zhème  so, this
麻烦  máfan  troublesome

Supplementary Vocabulary
国家  guójiā  country
节日  jiérì  holiday
从  cóng  from
用  yòng  to use
不要  bùyào  to not want

{Elementary - A Stroll through the Hutongs} (B1511)
A: 我们明天去逛胡同,怎么样?
   wǒmen míngtiān qù guàng hútong, zěnmeyàng?
  How about we take a stroll through the hutongs tomorrow, what do you think?
B: 逛胡同?胡同里有北京小吃吗?
   guàng hútong? hútong lǐ yǒu Běijīng xiǎochī ma?
  Stroll through the hutongs? Are there any Beijing small dishes in the hutongs?
A: 有。我们可以一边看,一边吃。
   yǒu. wǒmen kěyǐ yībiān kàn, yībiān chī.
  Yeah. We can have a look and eat at the same time.
B: 那会不会迷路?
   nà huì bu huì mílù?
  Well won't we get lost?
A: 别担心,可以问人。
   bié dānxīn, kěyǐ wèn rén.
  Don't worry. We can ask someone.

Key Vocabulary
明天  míngtiān  tomorrow
逛  guàng  to stroll, to roam
胡同  hútong  hutong
怎么样  zěnmeyàng  how about
里  lǐ  in
北京  Běijīng  Beijing
小吃  xiǎochī  small dishes
可以  kěyǐ  can
一边  yībiān  at the same time as...
看  kàn  to see
吃  chī  to eat
会  huì  will
迷路  mílù  to get lost
别  bié  don’t
担心  dānxīn  to be worried
问  wèn  to ask

Supplementary Vocabulary
三轮车  sānlúnchē  tricycle
冰糖葫芦  bīngtánghúlu  candied hawthorns
逛街  guàngjiē  to go window-shopping
四合院  sìhéyuàn  traditional Chinese courtyard house
别人  biéren  other people

{Elementary - City Districts in Shanghai} (B1514)
A: 你怎么回家?
   nǐ zěnme huíjiā?
  How are you getting home?
B: 我骑车。你呢?
   wǒ qí chē. nǐ ne?
  By bike. You?
A: 我坐公交车。你住在哪里?
   wǒ zuò gōngjiāochē. nǐ zhù zài nǎli?
  I'm taking the bus. Where do you live?
B: 我住在徐汇区。
   wǒ zhù zài Xúhuì qū.
  I live in Xuhui District.
A: 徐汇区离这里很近。
   Xúhuì qū lí zhèlǐ hěn jìn.
  Xuhui District is really close to here.
B: 嗯。骑车只要十分钟。你呢?
   ng4. qí chē zhǐ yào shí fēnzhōng. nǐ ne?
  Yeah, it's only 10 minutes by bike. What about you?
A: 我住在闵行区。坐车要一个小时。
   wǒ zhù zài Mǐnháng qū. zuò chē yào yī ge xiǎoshí.
  I live in Minhang District. It takes an hour by bus.
B: 那么远!
   nàme yuǎn!
  That's so far!

Key Vocabulary
怎么  zěnme  how
回家  huíjiā  to return home
骑车  qí chē  to ride a bicycle
坐  zuò  to take a vehicle
公交车  gōngjiāochē  public bus
住  zhù  to reside, to live
在  zài  at, in
徐汇区  Xúhuì qū  Xuhui District
区  qū  district
离  lí  to be away from
很  hěn  very
近  jìn  close
只  zhǐ  only
要  yào  to need
分钟  fēnzhōng  minute
闵行区  Mǐnháng qū  Minhang District
小时  xiǎoshí  hour
那么  nàme  so
远  yuǎn  far

Supplementary Vocabulary
摩托车  mótuōchē  motorcycle
骑马  qímǎ  to ride a horse
火车  huǒchē  train
长宁区  Chángníng qū  Changning District
静安区  Jìng'ān qū  Jing'an District
静安寺  Jìng'ānsì  Jing'an Temple
浦东新区  Pǔdōng xīnqū  Pudong New District
朝阳区  Cháoyáng qū  Chaoyang District
海淀区  Hǎidiàn qū  Haiding District
虹桥机场  Hóngqiáo jīchǎng  Hongqiao Airport
浦东机场  Pǔdōng jīchǎng  Pudong Airport

{Elementary - Cats Are Cool} (B1518)
A: 这是你的猫吗?
   zhè shì nǐ de māo ma?
  Is this your cat?
B: 对。它叫毛毛。
   duì. tā jiào Máomao.
  Yeah. His name is Maomao.
A: 你怎么不养狗?
   nǐ zěnme bù yǎng gǒu?
  Why don't you raise a dog?
B: 养狗太麻烦了。
   yǎng gǒu tài máfan le.
  Raising dogs is too much trouble.
B: 猫比较酷。不用天天跟它玩。
   māo bǐjiào kù. bùyòng tiāntiān gēn tā wán.
  Cats are cooler. You don't have to play with them every day.
A: 可是猫晚上常常叫,很吵。
   kěshì māo wǎnshang chángcháng jiào, hěn chǎo.
  But cats often meow at night. It's really noisy.
B: 不会,我的毛毛很乖。
   bùhuì, wǒ de Máomao hěn guāi.
  Nah, my Maomao is really well-behaved.

Key Vocabulary
猫  māo  cat
它  tā  it
叫  jiào  to cry out
怎么  zěnme  how
养  yǎng  to raise
狗  gǒu  dog
太......了  tài ... le  too...
麻烦  máfan  troublesome
比较  bǐjiào  relatively
酷  kù  cool
不用  bùyòng  need not
天天  tiāntiān  every day
跟  gēn  with
玩  wán  to play
可是  kěshì  but
晚上  wǎnshang  evening
常常  chángcháng  frequently
吵  chǎo  noisy
不会  bùhuì  will not
乖  guāi  well-behaved

Supplementary Vocabulary
毛  máo  fur
为什么  wèishénme  why
怕  pà  to be afraid of
小猫  xiǎomāo  kitten
小狗  xiǎogǒu  puppy

{Elementary - Can't Get a Taxi} (B1521)
A: 我们打车吧!那边有一辆车。
   wǒmen dǎchē ba! nàbiān yǒu yī liàng chē.
  Let's take a cab! There's one over there.
B: 有人。
   yǒu rén.
  Someone's in it.
A: 快,后面来了一辆。
   kuài, hòumian lái le yī liàng.
  Quick, there's another coming behind it.
B: 也有人。
   yě yǒu rén.
  Someone's in that one too.
B: 现在是下班时间,肯定打不到车。
   xiànzài shì xiàbān shíjiān, kěndìng dǎbudào chē.
  Everyone is getting off of work at this time. We're definitely not going to be able to get a cab.
A: 那怎么办?
   nà zěnme bàn?
  Then what are we going to do?
B: 坐地铁吧。
   zuò dìtiě ba.
  Let's take the subway.
A: 地铁也很挤。
   dìtiě yě hěn jǐ.
  The subway's really crowded too.
B: 那我们别去了。
   nà wǒmen bié qù le.
  Then let's not go.

Key Vocabulary
打车  dǎchē  to take a taxi
那边  nàbiān  over there
辆  liàng  [measure word for vehicles]
车  chē  car, vehicle
快  kuài  fast, hurry
后面  hòumian  behind
也  yě  also
现在  xiànzài  now
下班  xiàbān  to get off work
时间  shíjiān  time
肯定  kěndìng  definitely
打不到车  dǎbudào chē  to be unable to get a taxi
那  nà  then
怎么办  zěnme bàn  what should be done
坐  zuò  to ride
地铁  dìtiě  subway
挤  jǐ  crowded
别  bié  don't

Supplementary Vocabulary
出租车  chūzūchē  taxi
汽车  qìchē  car
公交车  gōngjiāochē  public bus
摩托车  mótuōchē  motorcycle
上班  shàngbān  to go to work
打得到车  dǎdedào chē  to be able to get a taxi

{Elementary - The Hunan Accent} (B1524)
A: 我是湖lan2人。
   wǒ shì hú lán rén.
  I'm from 'Hulan'.
A: 在我们湖lan2,lan2人都很帅,lv3人都很漂亮。
   zài wǒmen hú lán, lán rén dōu hěn shuài, lǚ rén dōu hěn piàoliang.
  In Hulan, Hulan, 'len' are all very handsome and 'lomen' are all very pretty.
B: 你说什么?你是哪里人?
   nǐ shuō shénme? nǐ shì nǎli rén?
  What are you talking about? Where are you from?
A: 湖lan2人。最爱吃辣。
   hú lán rén. zuì ài chī là.
  I'm from Hulan. We love to eat spicy foods.
C: 哈哈,我知道,你是湖南人。
   hā hā, wǒ zhīdào, nǐ shì Húnán rén.
  Hah-hah. I got it. You're from Hunan.
C: 湖南人,nl不分。
   Húnán rén, n l bù fēn.
  People from Hunan don't differentiate between n and l.
B: 哦。所以,lan2人lv3人,应该是男人女人。
   ò. suǒyǐ, lán rén lǚ rén, yīnggāi shì nánrén nǚrén.
  Oh, so, 'len' and 'lomen' should be men and women.

Key Vocabulary
都  dōu  all
很  hěn  very
帅  shuài  handsome
漂亮  piàoliang  pretty, beautiful
说  shuō  to say
最  zuì  most
爱  ài  to love
吃  chī  to eat
辣  là  spicy
知道  zhīdào  to know
湖南  Húnán  Hunan
分  fēn  to distinguish
所以  suǒyǐ  so, therefore
应该  yīnggāi  should
男人  nánrén  man
女人  nǚrén  woman

Supplementary Vocabulary
口音  kǒuyīn  accent
方言  fāngyán  dialect
东西  dōngxi  thing
乡下  xiāngxià  countryside
上海人  Shànghǎi rén  Shanghainese person

{Elementary - Help Calling a Cab} (B1527)
A: 小于,我一会儿要出去办事。
   Xiǎo Yú, wǒ yīhuǐr yào chūqù bànshìr.
  Xiao Yu, in a little while I have to go out and take care of something.
A: 请帮我叫一辆车。
   qǐng bāng wǒ jiào yī liàng chē.
  Please call a taxi for me.
B: 是现在吗?
   shì xiànzài ma?
  Right now?
A: 对!
   duì!
  Yes!
B: 你要去哪儿?
   nǐ yào qù nǎr?
  Where do you want to go?
A: 泰康路。
   Tàikāng Lù.
  Taikang Road.
B: 好的。车来了我叫你。
   hǎo de. chē lái le wǒ jiào nǐ.
  OK. When the car comes, I'll let you know.
A: 谢谢!
   xièxie!
  Thanks!

Key Vocabulary
一会儿  yīhuǐr  a while
出去  chūqù  to go out
办事  bànshìr  to handle affairs
请  qǐng  please
帮  bāng  to help
叫  jiào  to call
辆  liàng  [measure word for vehicles]
车  chē  car
现在  xiànzài  now
对  duì  correct
哪儿  nǎr  where
泰康路  Tàikāng Lù  Taikang Road

Supplementary Vocabulary
出租车  chūzūchē  taxi cab
打电话  dǎ diànhuà  to make a phone call
办公室  bàngōngshì  office
叫车  jiàochē  to call a taxi
秘书  mìshū  secretary

{Elementary - Fasten that Safety Belt} (B1531)
A: 停车。
   tíngchē.
  Stop the vehicle.
B: 警察,怎么了?
   jǐngchá, zěnmele?
  Officer, what's the problem?
A: 开车要系安全带。
   kāichē yào jì ānquándài.
  You need to have your seatbelt fastened while driving.
B: 好,好,我马上系。
   hǎo, hǎo, wǒ mǎshàng jì.
  OK, OK. I'll fasten it right away.
A: 他也要系安全带。
   tā yě yào jì ānquándài.
  He needs to fasten his seatbelt as well.
C: 好,我也系。
   hǎo, wǒ yě jì.
  OK, I will too.

Key Vocabulary
警察  jǐngchá  police
怎么了  zěnmele  what's wrong
开车  kāichē  to drive a car
要  yào  must
系  jì  to fasten
安全带  ānquándài  seat belt
马上  mǎshàng  right away
也  yě  also
停车  tíngchē  to park
停  tíng  to stop
车  chē  car, vehicle

Supplementary Vocabulary
安全  ānquán  safety
皮带  pídài  belt
乘客  chéngkè  passenger
司机  sījī  driver

{Elementary - Trick or Treat!} (B1532)
A: 晚上好!
   wǎnshang hǎo!
  Good evening!
B: 小朋友,你好!
   xiǎopéngyou, nǐhǎo!
  Hello, little one!
A: 不给糖,就捣蛋!
   bù gěi táng, jiù dǎodàn!
  Trick or treat!
B: 好,给你糖。
   hǎo, gěi nǐ táng.
  OK, here's some candy.
A: 谢谢!
   xièxie!
  Thanks!
C: 不给糖,就捣蛋!
   bù gěi táng, jiù dǎodàn!
  Trick or treat!
B: 没有糖了,给你巧克力吧!
   méiyǒu táng le, gěi nǐ qiǎokèlì ba!
  No more candies. I'll give you some chocolate!
C: 好的,谢谢!
   hǎo de, xièxie!
  OK, thanks!
B: 啊,又来了!糖和巧克力都没有了!
   à, yòu lái le! táng hé qiǎokèlì dōu méiyǒu le!
  Ah, again? I don't have any more candies or chocolate!
D: 哼!不给糖,就捣蛋!
   hèng! bù gěi táng, jiù dǎodàn!
  Hmph! Trick or treat!
B: 我讨厌万圣节!
   wǒ tǎoyàn Wànshèngjié!
  I hate Halloween!

Key Vocabulary
晚上  wǎnshang  evening
小朋友  xiǎopéngyou  child
给  gěi  to give
糖  táng  candy
就  jiù  just
捣蛋  dǎodàn  to make trouble
没有  méiyǒu  to not have
巧克力  qiǎokèlì  chocolate
又  yòu  again
来  lái  to come
和  hé  and
都  dōu  all
哼  hèng  'hmph'
讨厌  tǎoyàn  to hate
万圣节  Wànshèngjié  Halloween

Supplementary Vocabulary
皮  pí  naughty
鸡蛋  jīdàn  chicken egg
敲门  qiāomén  to knock on a door
恨  hèn  to hate

{Elementary - Dancing in Public} (B1537)
A: 那边有人在跳舞。
   nàbiān yǒu rén zài tiàowǔ.
  There are people dancing over there.
B: 我们也去跳吧。
   wǒmen yě qù tiào ba.
  Let's go dance too.
A: 不好意思,我不会跳舞。
   bùhǎoyìsi, wǒ bù huì tiàowǔ.
  Sorry, I don't know how to dance.
B: 我会,我可以教你。
   wǒ huì, wǒ kěyǐ jiāo nǐ.
  I do. I can teach you.
A: 不用了,那么多人。
   bùyòng le, nàme duō rén.
  No need, there're so many people.
B: 没关系。
   méiguānxi.
  It doesn't matter.

Key Vocabulary
那边  nàbiān  over there
有  yǒu  to have
人  rén  person, people
在  zài  currently
跳舞  tiàowǔ  to dance
也  yě  also
去  qù  to go
跳  tiào  to dance
不好意思  bùhǎoyìsi  sorry
会  huì  to know how to
可以  kěyǐ  can
教  jiāo  to teach
不用  bùyòng  no need
那么  nàme  so, that
多  duō  many
没关系  méiguānxi  'it doesn't matter'

Supplementary Vocabulary
跳  tiào  to jump
桥  qiáo  bridge
公园  gōngyuán  park
广场  guǎngchǎng  public square
华尔兹  huá'ěrzī  waltz
恰恰  qiàqià  cha-cha
迪斯科  dísīkē  disco

{Elementary - Practicing Kung Fu} (B1541)
A: 大家早!
   dàjiā zǎo!
  Good morning, everyone!
B: 师傅早!
   shīfu zǎo!
  Good morning, master!
A: 好,我们开始练习武术。
   hǎo, wǒmen kāishǐ liànxí wǔshù.
  OK, let's begin practicing martial arts.
A: 今天练习踢腿和打拳。
   jīntiān liànxí tī tuǐ hé dǎ quán.
  Today we'll practice kicking and punching.
A: 你们看我做。
   nǐmen kàn wǒ zuò.
  Watch me do it.
A: 踢腿!打拳!
   tī tuǐ! dǎ quán!
  Kick! Punch!
A: 你们练习一下。
   nǐmen liànxí yīxià.
  Practice a bit yourselves.
B: 踢腿!打拳!踢腿!打拳!
   tī tuǐ! dǎ quán! tī tuǐ! dǎ quán!
  Kick! Punch! Kick! Punch!

Key Vocabulary
大家  dàjiā  everybody
早  zǎo  good morning
师傅  shīfu  master, sir
我们  wǒmen  we
开始  kāishǐ  to begin
练习  liànxí  to practice
武术  wǔshù  martial arts
今天  jīntiān  today
踢腿  tītuǐ  to kick
打拳  dǎquán  to punch
踢  tī  to kick
腿  tuǐ  leg
打  dǎ  to punch
拳  quán  fist
和  hé  and
看  kàn  to look at
做  zuò  to do
一下  yīxià  briefly

Supplementary Vocabulary
功夫  gōngfu  kung fu
踢足球  tī zúqiú  to play soccer
打篮球  dǎ lánqiú  to play basketball
柔道  róudào  judo
合气道  héqìdào  akido
跆拳道  táiquándào  taekwondo

{Elementary - Keen on Clean} (B1544)
A: 妈妈,我的手脏了,我要洗手。
   māma, wǒ de shǒu zāng le, wǒ yào xǐshǒu.
  Mommy, my hands are dirty. I want to wash my hands.
B: 好的,小宝。
   hǎo de, Xiǎobǎo.
  OK, Xiao Bao.
A: 妈妈,我的衣服也脏了,我要换衣服。
   māma, wǒ de yīfu yě zāng le, wǒ yào huàn yīfu.
  Mommy, my clothes are dirty too. I want to change my clothes.
B: 好。
   hǎo.
  OK.
A: 妈妈,我还要洗脸!
   māma, wǒ hái yào xǐliǎn!
  Mommy, I want to wash my face too!
B: 好的。小宝真爱干净。
   hǎo de. Xiǎobǎo zhēn ài gānjìng.
  OK. Xiao Bao, you really love cleanliness.

Key Vocabulary
妈妈  māma  mom
手  shǒu  hand
脏  zāng  dirty
要  yào  to want
洗  xǐ  to wash
衣服  yīfu  clothing
也  yě  also
换  huàn  to switch
还  hái  also
脸  liǎn  face
真  zhēn  really
爱  ài  to love
干净  gānjìng  clean, cleanliness

Supplementary Vocabulary
幼儿园  yòu'éryuán  kindergarten
灰尘  huīchén  dirt, dust
手帕  shǒupà  handkerchief
拖鞋  tuōxié  slippers, sandals

{Elementary - Interested in Chinese Medicine} (B1547)
A: 哎,你在看什么书?
   ái, nǐ zài kàn shénme shū?
  Hey, what book are you reading?
B: 中医的书。
   zhōngyī de shū.
  A Chinese medicine book.
A: 你是中医吗?
   nǐ shì zhōngyī ma?
  Are you a doctor of Chinese medicine?
B: 不是。不过我觉得中医很有意思。
   bùshì. bùguò wǒ juéde zhōngyī hěn yǒu yìsi.
  No, but I think Chinese medicine is really interesting.
A: 我也对中医很感兴趣。你能跟我说说吗?
   wǒ yě duì zhōngyī hěn gǎn xìngqù. nǐ néng gēn wǒ shuō shuo ma?
  I'm interested in Chinese medicine too. Could you explain it a bit to me?
B: 不好意思,我也不太懂。
   bùhǎoyìsi, wǒ yě bùtài dǒng.
  Sorry, I don't understand it too well myself.

Key Vocabulary
在  zài  currently
看  kàn  to read
书  shū  book
中医  zhōngyī  Chinese medicine
中医  zhōngyī  doctor of Chinese medicine
不过  bùguò  but
觉得  juéde  to think
很  hěn  very
有意思  yǒu yìsi  interesting
也  yě  also
对  duì  towards
感兴趣  gǎn xìngqù  to feel interested
能  néng  to be able to
跟  gēn  with
说  shuō  to say
不好意思  bùhǎoyìsi  sorry
不太  bùtài  not too
懂  dǒng  to understand

Supplementary Vocabulary
风水  fēngshuǐ  feng shui
医生  yīshēng  doctor
西医  xīyī  Western medicine, doctor of Western medicine
中药  zhōngyào  Chinese medicine

{Elementary - Toothache} (B1550)
A: 早!
   zǎo!
  Morning!
B: 早!
   zǎo!
  Morning!
A: 哎,你的脸怎么了?
   ái, nǐ de liǎn zěnmele?
  Hey, what's up with your face?
B: 牙疼。
   yáténg.
  I have a toothache.
A: 是最里面的牙吗?
   shì zuì lǐmiàn de yá ma?
  Is it the tooth furthest back in your mouth?
B: 对啊,疼死了。
   duì a, téng sǐ le.
  Yeah, it kills.
A: 我去年也是。后来去医院拔了。
   wǒ qùnián yě shì. hòulái qù yīyuàn bá le.
  I had one last year. In the end, I went to the hospital and had it pulled.
B: 啊?拔牙?太吓人了!
   ǎ? báyá? tài xiàrén le!
  Huh? I'll have to get it pulled? How scary!

Key Vocabulary
脸  liǎn  face
怎么了  zěnmele  'what's wrong'
牙疼  yáténg  toothache
最  zuì  most
里面  lǐmiàn  inside
牙  yá  tooth
疼  téng  to hurt
死了  sǐ le  to death
去年  qùnián  last year
也  yě  also
后来  hòulái  afterwards
医院  yīyuàn  hospital
拔  bá  to pull
太  tài  too
吓人  xiàrén  frightening

Supplementary Vocabulary
牙医  yáyī  dentist
看牙  kànyá  to see the dentist
洗牙  xǐyá  to have one's teeth cleaned
补牙  bǔyá  to have a cavity filled
臭  chòu  smelly
外面  wàimiàn  outside

{Elementary - I Want an Electric Scooter!} (B1554)
A: 我喜欢这个房子。
   wǒ xǐhuan zhè ge fángzi.
  I like this apartment.
B: 可是我上班不方便。
   kěshì wǒ shàngbān bù fāngbiàn.
  But it's not convenient for work.
A: 你可以走路。
   nǐ kěyǐ zǒulù.
  You can walk.
B: 我不喜欢走路。
   wǒ bù xǐhuan zǒulù.
  I don't like to walk.
A: 坐地铁怎么样?
   zuò dìtiě zěnmeyàng?
  How about taking the subway?
B: 地铁站很远。
   dìtiězhàn hěn yuǎn.
  The subway station is really far away.
A: 那你打的吧。
   nà nǐ dǎdī ba.
  Then take a taxi.
B: 每天打的太贵了。
   měitiān dǎdī tài guì le.
  Taking a taxi every day is too expensive.
A: 那你想怎么样?
   nà nǐ xiǎng zěnmeyàng?
  Then what do you want to do?
B: 我要买电动车。
   wǒ yào mǎi diàndòngchē.
  I want to buy an electric bike.

Key Vocabulary
喜欢  xǐhuan  to like
房子  fángzi  house
可是  kěshì  but
上班  shàngbān  to go to work
方便  fāngbiàn  convenient
可以  kěyǐ  can
走路  zǒulù  to walk
坐  zuò  to ride
地铁  dìtiě  subway
怎么样  zěnmeyàng  'how about'
地铁站  dìtiězhàn  subway station
远  yuǎn  far
打的  dǎdī  to take a taxi
每天  měitiān  every day
太  tài  too
贵  guì  expensive
买  mǎi  to buy
电动车  diàndòngchē  electric bike or scooter
吧  ba  [creates a suggestion]

Supplementary Vocabulary
近  jìn  close
公交车  gōngjiāochē  public bus
自行车  zìxíngchē  bicycle
骑自行车  qí zìxíngchē  to ride a bicycle
摩托车  mótuōchē  motorcycle

{Elementary - Skincare: Moisturizing Cream} (B1557)
A: 北京的冬天又干又冷。
   Běijīng de dōngtiān yòu gān yòu lěng.
  The winter in Beijing is dry and cold.
B: 是啊!你看,我的皮肤真干!
   shì a! nǐ kàn, wǒ de pífū zhēn gān!
  Yeah! Look, my skin is really dry!
A: 擦点儿面霜吧!
   cā diǎnr miànshuāng ba!
  Put on some facial cream!
B: 我擦了。
   wǒ cā le.
  I did.
A: 护手霜呢?
   hùshǒushuāng ne?
  What about hand lotion?
B: 也擦了。
   yě cā le.
  That too.
A: 多擦点儿。
   duō cā diǎnr.
  Put on a little extra.

Key Vocabulary
北京  Běijīng  Beijing
冬天  dōngtiān  winter
又......又......  yòu ... yòu ...  both...and...
干  gān  dry
冷  lěng  cold
看  kàn  to look at
皮肤  pífū  skin
擦  cā  to rub
点儿  diǎnr  a little
面霜  miànshuāng  facial cream
护手霜  hùshǒushuāng  hand lotion
也  yě  also
多  duō  more

Supplementary Vocabulary
脸  liǎn  face
霜  shuāng  cream
防晒霜  fángshàishuāng  sunscreen
洗面奶  xǐmiànnǎi  facial cleanser
化妆  huàzhuāng  make-up
湿  shī  wet, moist

{Elementary - This Needs to be Dry Cleaned} (B1561)
A: 阿姨,这几件衣服要洗。
   āyí, zhè jǐ jiàn yīfu yào xǐ.
  Ayi, these clothes need to be washed.
B: 好的。西服要干洗。
   hǎo de. xīfú yào gānxǐ.
  OK. The suit needs to be dry cleaned.
A: 那毛衣要干洗吗?
   nà máoyī yào gānxǐ ma?
  Then do the sweaters need to be dry cleaned?
B: 不用。干洗很贵。
   bùyòng. gānxǐ hěn guì.
  No. Dry cleaning is really expensive.
A: 干洗西服多少钱?
   gānxǐ xīfú duōshǎo qián?
  How much does it cost to have a suit dry cleaned?
B: 大概五十块。
   dàgài wǔshí kuài.
  About 50 kuai.
A: 给你钱。
   gěi nǐ qián.
  Here's the money.

Key Vocabulary
阿姨  āyí  auntie
几  jǐ  several
件  jiàn  [measure word for articles of clothing]
衣服  yīfu  clothing
要  yào  must
洗  xǐ  to wash
西服  xīfú  Western-style suit
干洗  gānxǐ  to dry clean
毛衣  máoyī  sweater
不用  bùyòng  need not
贵  guì  expensive
多少钱  duōshǎo qián  how much money
大概  dàgài  approximately
五十块  wǔshí kuài  50 kuai
给  gěi  to give
钱  qián  money

Supplementary Vocabulary
洗衣店  xǐyīdiàn  laundry mat
干洗店  gānxǐdiàn  dry cleaners
烘干  hōnggān  to dry
烘干机  hōnggānjī  clothes dryer
洗衣机  xǐyījī  clothes washing machine

{Elementary - Lots of Musical Instruments} (B1564)
A: 同学们,这里有很多乐器。
   tóngxué men, zhèlǐ yǒu hěn duō yuèqì.
  Students, there's a lot of musical instruments here.
A: 我们来认识一下。
   wǒmen lái rènshi yīxià.
  Let's familiarize ourselves with them.
A: 这是小提琴。
   zhè shì xiǎotíqín.
  This is a violin.
A: 这是大提琴。
   zhè shì dàtíqín.
  This is a cello.
A: 这是大号。
   zhè shì dàhào.
  This is a tuba.
A: 这是小号。
   zhè shì xiǎohào.
  This is a trumpet.
A: 这是长笛。
   zhè shì chángdí.
  This is a flute.
A: 这是黑管。
   zhè shì hēiguǎn.
  This is a clarinet.
A: 好,每个人拿一个,练习一下。
   hǎo, měi ge rén ná yī ge, liànxí yīxià.
  OK, everyone take one and practice.

Key Vocabulary
同学们  tóngxué men  'fellow classmates'
同学  tóngxué  classmate
有  yǒu  to have
很  hěn  very
乐器  yuèqì  musical instrument
来  lái  to come
认识  rènshi  to know, to recognize
一下  yīxià  [softens the tone of a verb]
小提琴  xiǎotíqín  violin
大提琴  dàtíqín  cello
大号  dàhào  tuba
小号  xiǎohào  trumpet
长笛  chángdí  flute
长  cháng  long
黑管  hēiguǎn  clarinet
每  měi  every
拿  ná  to take, to get
练习  liànxí  to practice

Supplementary Vocabulary
外国人  wàiguórén  foreigner
拉  lā  to pull
吹  chuī  to blow
中提琴  zhōngtíqín  viola
单簧管  dānhuángguǎn  clarinet

{Elementary - Don't Eat the Snow} (B1568)
A: 啊!好大的雪!
   à! hǎo dà de xuě!
  Ah! It's snowing really heavily!
B: 南方不下雪吗?
   nánfāng bù xiàxuě ma?
  Doesn't it snow in the South?
A: 很少下大雪。
   hěnshǎo xià dàxuě.
  It rarely snows heavily.
B: 我们这儿经常下。
   wǒmen zhèr jīngcháng xià.
  It often snows up here.
A: 好白的雪!我想吃点儿。
   hǎo bái de xuě! wǒ xiǎng chī diǎnr.
  The snow is so white! I want to eat a little bit.
B: 别吃,脏!
   bié chī, zāng!
  Don't do it! It's dirty!
A: 哦。那我们堆雪人吧!
   ò. nà wǒmen duī xuěrén ba!
  Oh. Then let's make a snowman!

Key Vocabulary
好  hǎo  very
大  dà  big
雪  xuě  snow
南方  nánfāng  the South
下雪  xiàxuě  to snow
很少  hěnshǎo  very rarely
大雪  dàxuě  heavy snowfall
经常  jīngcháng  often
白  bái  white
想  xiǎng  to want
吃  chī  to eat
点儿  diǎnr  a little
别  bié  don’t
脏  zāng  dirty
那  nà  then
堆  duī  to pile
雪人  xuěrén  snowman

Supplementary Vocabulary
喝酒  hējiǔ  to drink alcohol
看书  kànshū  to read a book
下雨  xiàyǔ  to rain
干净  gānjìng  clean
北方  běifāng  the North
哈尔滨  Hā'ěrbīn  Harbin
北京  Běijīng  Beijing
南京  Nánjīng  Nanjing
上海  Shànghǎi  Shanghai
香港  Xiānggǎng  Hong Kong

{Elementary - A Special Christmas Gift} (B1571)
A: 圣诞节送什么给老爸呢?
   Shèngdànjié sòng shénme gěi lǎobà ne?
  What should I get dad for Christmas?
B: 他喜欢手表,送他手表吧。
   tā xǐhuan shǒubiǎo, sòng tā shǒubiǎo ba.
  He likes watches. Get him a watch.
A: 嗯。好主意!
   ng4. hǎo zhǔyi!
  Yeah, that's a good idea!
B: 这个手表不错。
   zhè ge shǒubiǎo bùcuò.
  This watch is pretty nice.
A: 是名牌。肯定很贵。
   shì míngpái. kěndìng hěn guì.
  It's name-brand. It's definitely really expensive.
B: 不贵,这些都是假的。
   bù guì, zhèxiē dōu shì jiǎ de.
  It's not expensive. These are all fake.
A: 啊?
   ǎ?
  Huh?

Key Vocabulary
圣诞节  Shèngdànjié  Christmas
送  sòng  to give as a gift
给  gěi  to give
老爸  lǎobà  father, dad
喜欢  xǐhuan  to like
手表  shǒubiǎo  wristwatch
吧  ba  [suggestive particle]
主意  zhǔyi  idea
不错  bùcuò  not bad, good
名牌  míngpái  brand-name
肯定  kěndìng  definitely
很  hěn  very
贵  guì  expensive
这些  zhèxiē  these
都  dōu  all, both
假的  jiǎ de  fake

Supplementary Vocabulary
巧克力  qiǎokèlì  chocolate
礼物  lǐwù  gift
老妈  lǎomā  mother, mom
真的  zhēn de  real
特别  tèbié  special
有名  yǒumíng  famous
牌子  páizi  brand

{Elementary - Which is better: China or the USA?} (B1574)
A: 你来中国多久了?
   nǐ lái Zhōngguó duō jiǔ le?
  How long have you been in China?
B: 两年多了。
   liǎng nián duō le.
  Over two years.
A: 你觉得中国怎么样?
   nǐ juéde Zhōngguó zěnmeyàng?
  What do you think of China?
B: 中国很好啊!发展很快!
   Zhōngguó hěn hǎo a! fāzhǎn hěn kuài!
  China is great! It's developing really quickly!
A: 那你觉得中国好还是美国好?
   nà nǐ juéde Zhōngguó hǎo háishi Měiguó hǎo?
  Then which do you think is better - China or America?
B: 中国好,美国也好,都好。
   Zhōngguó hǎo, Měiguó yě hǎo, dōu hǎo.
  China is good and America's good too. They're both good.

Key Vocabulary
多久  duō jiǔ  how long
多  duō  more
两年多  liǎng nián duō  more than two years
觉得  juéde  to think
怎么样  zěnmeyàng  how about
发展  fāzhǎn  to develop
快  kuài  fast
还是  háishi  or
也  yě  also
都  dōu  both, all

Supplementary Vocabulary
漂亮  piàoliang  pretty, beautiful
狗  gǒu  dog
猫  māo  cat
咖啡  kāfēi  coffee
出租车  chūzūchē  taxi

{Elementary - Playing Ice Hockey} (B1577)
A: 这是什么比赛?
   zhè shì shénme bǐsài?
  What competition is this?
B: 冰球。
   bīngqiú.
  Ice hockey.
A: 在冰上打球?太危险了!
   zài bīng shàng dǎqiú? tài wēixiǎn le!
  They play it on the the ice? That's way too dangerous!
B: 是啊!不过很好玩儿。
   shì a! bùguò hěn hǎowánr.
  Yeah! But it's a lot of fun.
A: 你会打冰球吗?
   nǐ huì dǎ bīngqiú ma?
  Do you know how to play ice hockey?
B: 会。我小时候学过。
   huì. wǒ xiǎo shíhou xué guo.
  Yeah. I learned how when I was young.

Key Vocabulary
比赛  bǐsài  competition
冰球  bīngqiú  ice hockey
冰  bīng  ice
在  zài  at
上  shàng  on
打球  dǎqiú  to play a sport with one's hands
太  tài  too
危险  wēixiǎn  dangerous
不过  bùguò  but, however
很  hěn  very
好玩儿  hǎowánr  fun
会  huì  to know how to
打  dǎ  to hit, to play a sport with one's hands
小时候  xiǎo shíhou  when young
学  xué  to study
过  guo  [indicates a completed action in the past]

Supplementary Vocabulary
哈尔滨  Hā'ěrbīn  Harbin
齐齐哈尔  Qíqíhā'ěr  Qiqiha'er
冬天  dōngtiān  winter
篮球  lánqiú  basketball
网球  wǎngqiú  tennis

{Elementary - Where's the soap?} (B1580)
A: 这个超市真大。
   zhè ge chāoshì zhēn dà.
  This supermarket is really big.
B: 是啊。我找不到洗手液。
   shì a. wǒ zhǎobudào xǐshǒuyè.
  Yeah. I can't find the liquid hand soap.
A: 我们问一下吧。
   wǒmen wèn yīxià ba.
  Let's ask someone.
A: 小姐,请问洗手液在哪儿?
   xiǎojie, qǐngwèn xǐshǒuyè zài nǎr?
  Ma'am, where are the liquid hand soaps?
C: 在最后面。
   zài zuì hòumiàn.
  They're in the very back.
B: 谢谢。那肥皂在哪儿?
   xièxie. nà féizào zài nǎr?
  Thanks. What about solid soaps?
C: 肥皂在那边。
   féizào zài nàbiān.
  The solid soaps are over there.

Key Vocabulary
超市  chāoshì  supermarket
真  zhēn  really
大  dà  big
找不到  zhǎobudào  to be unable to find
洗手液  xǐshǒuyè  liquid handsoap
问  wèn  to ask
一下  yīxià  briefly
小姐  xiǎojie  Ms, ma'am
请问  qǐngwèn  ‘may I ask’
在  zài  to be located at
最  zuì  most
后面  hòumiàn  the back
那  nà  then
肥皂  féizào  solid soaps
那边  nàbiān  there

Supplementary Vocabulary
找  zhǎo  to look for
找到  zhǎodào  to find
液体  yètǐ  liquid
固体  gùtǐ  solid
洗手  xǐshǒu  to wash one's hands
前面  qiánmiàn  the front