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.

I called my friend, but she didn’t answer. Later she told me she was in a meeting. So that’s why! Let’s learn how to say “it turns out / so that’s why” in Chinese.

原来 （yuán lái)

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

今天我给朋友打电话，她没有接。Jīntiān wǒ gěi péngyou dǎ diànhuà, tā méiyǒu jiē.

我想：“她是不是生气了？”Wǒ xiǎng: “Tā shì bú shì shēngqì le?”

过了一会儿，她给我回电话。Guò le yí huìr, tā gěi wǒ huí diànhuà.

她说：“不好意思，我刚才在开会。”Tā shuō: “Bù hǎo yìsi, wǒ gāngcái zài kāihuì.”

我说：“啊，原来是这样。”Wǒ shuō: “Ā, yuánlái shì zhèyàng.”

While I was reading, I suddenly heard a “meow” — it was a cat outside the window! Let’s learn how to say “suddenly” in Chinese.

突然 (tū rán)

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

昨天晚上我在家看书。Zuótiān wǎnshang wǒ zài jiā kàn shū.

我看书的时候，突然听到一声“喵——”。Wǒ kàn shū de shíhou, tūrán tīngdào yì shēng “miāo——”.

我抬头一看，原来是一只猫在窗外。Wǒ táitóu yí kàn, yuánlái shì yì zhī māo zài chuāngwài.

它看着我，好像也在听我读书。Tā kàn zhe wǒ, hǎoxiàng yě zài tīng wǒ dú shū.

This morning it was a bit cold, so I thought, “I should wear a coat.” Let’s learn how to say “should / ought to” in Chinese.

应该 （yīng gāi)

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

今天早上我觉得有点冷。Jīntiān zǎoshang wǒ juéde yǒudiǎn lěng.

我想：“现在是秋天，出门的时候应该穿外套。”Wǒ xiǎng: “Xiànzài shì qiūtiān, chūmén de shíhou yīnggāi chuān wàitào.”

所以我拿了一件外套，穿上以后感觉舒服多了。Suǒyǐ wǒ ná le yí jiàn wàitào, chuān shàng yǐhòu gǎnjué shūfu duō le.

I usually wake up at seven in the morning, eat breakfast, and then go to school or work. Let’s learn how to say “usually / generally” in Chinese.

一般 （yì bān)

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

我一般早上七点起床。Wǒ yìbān zǎoshang qī diǎn qǐchuáng.

吃早饭以后，我去学校或者去工作。Chī zǎofàn yǐhòu, wǒ qù xuéxiào huòzhě qù gōngzuò.

到了晚上，我一般看一会儿书，然后睡觉。Dào le wǎnshang, wǒ yìbān kàn yì huìr shū, ránhòu shuìjiào.

Today I worked at my computer the whole day, without a break. Let’s learn how to say “always / continuously” in Chinese.

一直 （yī zhí)

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

今天我一整天都在家写东西。Jīntiān wǒ yì zhěng tiān dōu zài jiā xiě dōngxī.

我一直在电脑前工作，中间没有休息。Wǒ yīzhí zài diànnǎo qián gōngzuò, zhōngjiān méiyǒu xiūxi.

到了晚上，我觉得很累。Dào le wǎnshang, wǒ juéde hěn lèi.