I went to a new Chinese restaurant yesterday — the noodles were pretty good, the soup was hot, and the staff were really nice! Let’s learn how to say “quite / pretty” in Chinese.

挺……的 （tǐng …… de)

Hello，大家好，我是 Janine。Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine.

昨天我去一家新的中国餐厅。Zuótiān wǒ qù yì jiā xīn de Zhōngguó cāntīng.

我点了一碗面，味道挺好的。Wǒ diǎn le yì wǎn miàn, wèidào tǐng hǎo de.

汤也热热的，很香。Tāng yě rèrè de, hěn xiāng.

服务员人很好，笑着跟我说：“慢慢吃。”Fúwùyuán rén hěn hǎo, xiào zhe gēn wǒ shuō: “Mànmàn chī.”

我想，这家中国餐厅挺不错的，下次还想再来。Wǒ xiǎng, zhè jiā Zhōngguó cāntīng tǐng búcuò de, xià cì hái xiǎng zài lái.

I got home at eleven last night — not until I finished my work! Let’s learn how to say “only / not until” in Chinese.

才 （cái)

Hello，大家好，我是 Janine。Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine.

昨天我下班很晚。Zuótiān wǒ xiàbān hěn wǎn.

我晚上十一点才到家。Wǒ wǎnshang shíyī diǎn cái dào jiā.

我有点儿累，但也很高兴。Wǒ yǒu diǎnr lèi, dàn yě hěn gāoxìng.

因为今天的工作做得很好。Yīnwèi jīntiān de gōngzuò zuò de hěn hǎo.

我想：“明天早点回家就好了！”Wǒ xiǎng: “Míngtiān zǎodiǎn huí jiā jiù hǎo le!”

It’s raining again in Paris! Let’s learn how to say “again (for past or repeated actions)” in Chinese.

又……了 （yòu …… le)

Hello，大家好，我是 Janine。Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine.

今天早上我出门的时候，天又下雨了。Jīntiān zǎoshang wǒ chūmén de shíhou, tiān yòu xià yǔ le.

上个星期也下雨。Shàng gè xīngqī yě xià yǔ.

我看着天空，笑了笑，说：“巴黎的雨又来了。”Wǒ kàn zhe tiānkōng, xiào le xiào, shuō: “Bālí de yǔ yòu lái le.”

后来我打伞去地铁站，发现大家的伞都开着，颜色不一样，很漂亮。Hòulái wǒ dǎ sǎn qù dìtiě zhàn, fāxiàn dàjiā de sǎn dōu kāi zhe, yánsè bù yíyàng, hěn piàoliang.