过节日与留学生活
Celebrating Spring Festival and Overseas Experiences
StartDiscussing Spring Festival Customs
On the plane to China, Lin and Bo discuss festival customs and holiday schedules.
7 new words
怎样zěnyànghow
你平时是怎样过节的？
How do you usually celebrate festivals?
过节guòjiécelebrate a festival
你平时是怎样过节的？
How do you usually celebrate festivals?
节jiéfestival
你平时是怎样过节的？
How do you usually celebrate festivals?
节日jiérìfestival
我们过节日时，大家喜欢在一起联欢。
When we celebrate festivals, we like to get together and celebrate.
联欢liánhuānhave a get-together
我们过节日时，大家喜欢在一起联欢。
When we celebrate festivals, we like to get together and celebrate.
大概dàgàiprobably; rough
博，你这次去中国大概要住几天？
Bo, about how many days are you staying in China this time?
起qǐverb suffix (involved person/thing)
我们过节日时，大家喜欢在一起联欢。
When we celebrate festivals, we like to get together and celebrate.
Listen to the conversation
Lin
博，你这次去中国大概要住几天？
bó nǐ zhè cì qù Zhōngguó dàgài yào zhù jǐ tiān
Bo, about how many days are you staying in China this time?
Bo
我打算住七八天。你平时是怎样过节的？
wǒ dǎsuàn zhù qī bā tiān nǐ píngshí shì zěnyàng guòjié de
I plan to stay for seven or eight days. How do you usually celebrate festivals?
Lin
我们过节日时，大家喜欢在一起联欢。
wǒmen guòjié rì shí dàjiā xǐhuan zài yìqǐ liánhuān
When we celebrate festivals, we like to get together and celebrate.
Bo
大家在一起联欢很有意思，你们一般做什么？
dàjiā zài yìqǐ liánhuān hěn yǒu yìsi nǐmen yìbān zuò shénme
Getting together to celebrate is very interesting. What do you usually do?
Lin
大家会在一起聊天儿，看表演，非常开心。
dàjiā huì zài yìqǐ liáotiānr kàn biǎoyǎn fēicháng kāixīn
We get together to chat and watch performances, and it is very happy.
Bo
这个节大概要过几天？假期长吗？
zhège jié dàgài yào guo jǐ tiān jiàqī cháng ma
Roughly how many days is this festival? Is the holiday long?
Lin
大家大概能放七八天假，一起开心过节。
dàjiā dàgài néng fàng qī bā tiān jiǎ yìqǐ kāixīn guòjié
People usually get seven or eight days off to celebrate happily together.
Bo
那太好了，我也想和你一起去过节。
nà tài hǎo le wǒ yě xiǎng hé nǐ yìqǐ qù guòjié
That's great! I'd love to go celebrate the festival with you too.
Tap a marked word for its meaning. Tap a line to see the English.
Grammar
Number1 + Number2 + Measure Word + Noun
Approximate Numbers. Expressing approximate quantities is a key feature of native-like Mandarin. This is achieved by placing two adjacent numbers together or using the adverb '大概'. These structures are essential for discussing durations, quantities, and schedules with the flexibility required for natural, authoritative communication.
春节大概放七八天假。
Chūnjié dàgài fàng qī bā tiān jià.
Spring Festival holiday lasts about seven or eight days.
Which word means “festival”?
Visiting a Host Family for New Year
Lin and Bo visit Teacher Mei's home, where everyone prepares to make dumplings together for the New Year.
8 new words
阿姨āyíaunt
老师，叔叔和阿姨刚刚去超市买菜了吗？
Teacher, did Uncle and Aunt just go to the supermarket to buy food?
叔叔shūshuuncle
老师，叔叔和阿姨刚刚去超市买菜了吗？
Teacher, did Uncle and Aunt just go to the supermarket to buy food?
收shōuaccept
老师，刚才我们买了一些水果，请您收下。
Teacher, we bought some fruit just now. Please accept it.
总zǒngalways
过年总要大家一起包饺子才高兴。
For the New Year, everyone making dumplings together is the happiest.
见面jiànmiànmeet
平时很难和您见面，今天能来您家真高兴。
It's usually hard to meet you, so I'm very happy to come to your home today.
矿泉水kuàngquánshuǐmineral water
请坐，我去拿一些矿泉水给你们。
Please sit down, I'll get some mineral water for you.
刚刚gānggāngjust now
老师，叔叔和阿姨刚刚去超市买菜了吗？
Teacher, did Uncle and Aunt just go to the supermarket to buy food?
刚gāngjust
老师，刚才我们买了一些水果，请您收下。
Teacher, we bought some fruit just now. Please accept it.
Listen to the conversation
Lin
老师，刚才我们买了一些水果，请您收下。
lǎoshī gāngcái wǒmen mǎi le yìxiē shuǐguǒ qǐng nín shōu xià
Teacher, we bought some fruit just now. Please accept it.
Mei
谢谢你们！请坐，我去拿一些矿泉水给你们。
xièxie nǐmen qǐng zuò wǒ qù ná yìxiē kuàngquánshuǐ gěi nǐmen
Thank you both! Please sit down, I'll get some mineral water for you.
Bo
老师，叔叔和阿姨刚刚去超市买菜了吗？
lǎoshī shūshu hé āyí gānggāng qù chāoshì mǎi cài le ma
Teacher, did Uncle and Aunt just go to the supermarket to buy food?
Mei
对，他们刚走。过年总要大家一起包饺子才高兴。
duì tāmen gāng zǒu guò nián zǒng yào dàjiā yìqǐ bāo jiǎozi cái gāoxìng
Yes, they just left. For the New Year, everyone making dumplings together is the happiest.
Lin
我刚学会包饺子。平时很难和您见面，今天能来您家真高兴。
wǒ gāng xué huì bāo jiǎozi píngshí hěn nán hé nín jiànmiàn jīntiān néng lái nín jiā zhēn gāoxìng
I just learned how to make dumplings. It's usually hard to meet you, so I'm very happy to come to your home today.
Bo
我刚才洗了手，现在准备好了，咱们一起做吧。
wǒ gāngcái xǐ le shǒu xiànzài zhǔnbèi hǎo le zánmen yìqǐ zuò ba
I washed my hands just now and I'm ready now. Let me join in making them together.
Mei
好，大家一起动手包，今天一定很开心。
hǎo dàjiā yìqǐ dòng shǒu bāo jīntiān yídìng hěn kāixīn
Great, let's all make them together. Today will definitely be very happy.
Fill the gap老师，____和阿姨刚刚去超市买菜了吗？Teacher, did Uncle and Aunt just go to the supermarket to buy food?
Reflecting on Overseas Experiences
In the living room, Lin and Bo look at old photos and talk about experiences studying abroad.
9 new words
出发chūfādepart
博，你看这张照片，是我刚出发去留学时照的。
Bo, look at this photo. It was taken when I had just departed to study abroad.
不久bùjiǔsoon
你刚出发去留学不久，发生了什么事吗？
Did anything happen shortly after you departed to study abroad?
发生fāshēnghappen
你刚出发去留学不久，发生了什么事吗？
Did anything happen shortly after you departed to study abroad?
只要zhǐyàoas long as
只要每天认真学习，就一定能毕业。
As long as you study hard every day, you will definitely be able to graduate.
学期xuéqīsemester
那个学期刚开始，发生了不少新鲜事。
That semester had just started, and many new things happened.
毕业bìyègraduate
我们要怎样才能毕业？
How can we graduate?
坚持jiānchípersevere in
对，只要坚持，不久后你也能完成目标。
Right, as long as you persevere, before long you will also achieve your goal.
完成wánchéngcomplete; finish
对，只要坚持，不久后你也能完成目标。
Right, as long as you persevere, before long you will also achieve your goal.
目标mùbiāogoal
对，只要坚持，不久后你也能完成目标。
Right, as long as you persevere, before long you will also achieve your goal.
Listen to the conversation
Lin
博，你看这张照片，是我刚出发去留学时照的。
bó nǐ kàn zhè zhāng zhàopiàn shì wǒ gāng chūfā qù liúxué shí zhào de
Bo, look at this photo. It was taken when I had just departed to study abroad.
Bo
你刚出发去留学不久，发生了什么事吗？
nǐ gāng chūfā qù liúxué bùjiǔ fāshēng le shénme shì ma
Did anything happen shortly after you departed to study abroad?
Lin
那个学期刚开始，发生了不少新鲜事。
nàge xuéqī gāng kāishǐ fāshēng le bù shǎo xīnxiān shì
That semester had just started, and many new things happened.
Bo
在外国读书难吗？我们要怎样才能毕业？
zài wàiguó dúshū nán ma wǒmen yào zěnyàng cái néng bìyè
Is it hard to study in a foreign country? How can we graduate?
Lin
只要每天认真学习，就一定能毕业。
zhǐyào měi tiān rènzhēn xuéxí jiù yídìng néng bìyè
As long as you study hard every day, you will definitely be able to graduate.
Bo
只要努力就能做到，听你这么说我就放心了。
zhǐyào nǔlì jiù néng zuò dào tīng nǐ zhème shuō wǒ jiù fàngxīn le
Hearing you say that reassures me; as long as I work hard, I can do it.
Lin
对，只要坚持，不久后你也能完成目标。
duì zhǐyào jiānchí bùjiǔ hòu nǐ yě néng wánchéng mùbiāo
Right, as long as you persevere, before long you will also achieve your goal.
Grammar
只要每天认真学习，就一定能毕业。As long as you study hard every day, you will definitely be able to graduate.
只要+ Condition,(Subject)+就+ Result
Conditional Complex Sentence '只要..., 就...'. The '只要...，就...' structure is a fundamental conditional conjunction indicating that the fulfillment of a single condition is sufficient to produce a certain result. It is a powerful tool for providing encouragement, outlining simple requirements, and articulating cause-and-effect relationships with authoritative clarity.
只要一直坚持，就能完成自己的目标。
Zhǐyào yìzhí jiānchí, jiù néng wánchéng zìjǐ de mùbiāo.
As long as you always persevere, you can complete your goals.
Which word means “semester”?
Personal Diary Reflection
A written reflective monologue recorded in a diary about perseverance and personal goals.
4 new words
出生chūshēngbe born
刚才聊天时，阿姨给我看了一张梅老师出生时的照片，说他们一家大概在三个城市住过。
While we were chatting just now, her aunt showed me a photograph from when Teacher Mei was born and said their family had lived in about three cities.
过去guòqùpast
刚刚吃完饭，叔叔讲起她过去出发去外地读书的事。
Just after dinner, her uncle spoke of how she had left for another place to study in the past.
懂得dǒngdeunderstand; know
听完以后，我懂得了坚持很重要。
After hearing this, I understood that perseverance is important.
发展fāzhǎndevelop
几年以后，她完成了自己的目标，工作也有了新的发展。
A few years later, she completed her goal and her work also developed further.
Listen to the text
去年中秋节，我到梅老师家过节，见到了她的阿姨和叔叔。刚才聊天时，阿姨给我看了一张梅老师出生时的照片，说他们一家大概在三个城市住过。梅老师从小学起就喜爱学习，只要有时间，就帮助同学。刚刚吃完饭，叔叔讲起她过去出发去外地读书的事。几年以后，她完成了自己的目标，工作也有了新的发展。听完以后，我懂得了坚持很重要。
Qùnián zhōngqiūjié, wǒ dào Méi lǎoshī jiā guòjié, jiàndào le tā de āyí hé shūshu. Gāngcái liáotiān shí, āyí gěi wǒ kàn le yì Zhāng Méi lǎoshī chūshēng shí de zhàopiàn, shuō tāmen yì jiā dàgài zài sān gè chéngshì zhù guò. Méi lǎoshī cóng xiǎoxué qǐ jiù xǐ'ài xuéxí, zhǐyào yǒu shíjiān, jiù bāngzhù tóngxué. Gānggāng chīwánfàn, shūshu jiǎngqǐ tā guòqù chūfā qù wàidì dúshū de shì. Jǐ nián yǐhòu, tā wánchéng le zìjǐ de mùbiāo, gōngzuò yě yǒu le xīn de fāzhǎn. Tīng wán yǐhòu, wǒ dǒngde le jiānchí hěn zhòngyào.
Last Mid-Autumn Festival, I went to Teacher Mei's home to celebrate and met her aunt and uncle. While we were chatting just now, her aunt showed me a photograph from when Teacher Mei was born and said their family had lived in about three cities. From primary school onwards, Teacher Mei loved learning and helped classmates whenever she had time. Just after dinner, her uncle spoke of how she had left for another place to study in the past. A few years later, she completed her goal and her work also developed further. After hearing this, I understood that perseverance is important.
Grammar
刚才聊天时，阿姨给我看了一张梅老师出生时的照片，说他们一家大概在三个城市住过。While we were chatting just now, her aunt showed me a photograph from when Teacher Mei was born and said their family had lived in about three cities.
刚才+ Verb/Subject +刚刚+ Verb
Comparison of '刚才' and '刚刚'. Differentiating between the time noun '刚才' and the adverb '刚刚' is vital for grammatical accuracy. While both refer to the recent past, their syntactic positions and nuances differ. Mastering this distinction allows students to describe immediate events and temporal contexts with pedagogical precision and clarity.
我刚刚学会了包饺子。
Wǒ gānggāng xuéhuì le bāo jiǎozi.
I just now learned to wrap dumplings.
梅老师从小学起就喜爱学习，只要有时间，就帮助同学。From primary school onwards, Teacher Mei loved learning and helped classmates whenever she had time.
从+ Time/Event +起
Fixed Pattern '从...起'. The '从...起' pattern is a formal structure used to mark the beginning of a specific period or the onset of a new state. It is essential for narrating life changes, describing the start of historical events, and setting the temporal context for personal or professional growth in Mandarin.
他从那时起就努力学习。
Tā cóng nàshí qǐ jiù nǔlì xuéxí.
He has been studying hard since then.
Fill the gap刚刚吃完饭，叔叔讲起她____出发去外地读书的事。Just after dinner, her uncle spoke of how she had left for another place to study in the past.
Write the new characters
0 of 12 written
联 from 联欢 · have a get-together
Practice
8 questions · about 4 minutes
Pick the meaningListenFill the gapMatchWord order
Finish
Finish the practice to complete this lesson.