I was chatting with my friend about countries we want to visit,and I said, “Japan is one of the places I want to go the most.”Let’s learn how to say “one of…” in Chinese.

……之一 (zhī yī)

Hello，大家好，我是Janine。Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine.Hello everyone, I’m Janine.

昨天我和朋友聊天，Zuótiān wǒ hé péngyou liáotiān,Yesterday I was chatting with a friend,

我们说起最想去的国家。wǒmen shuō qǐ zuì xiǎng qù de guójiā.and we talked about the countries we most want to visit.

我说：“日本是我最想去的国家之一**。”**Wǒ shuō: “Rìběn shì wǒ zuì xiǎng qù de guójiā zhī yī.”I said, “Japan is one of the countries I most want to visit.”

朋友笑着说：“我也是！”Péngyou xiào zhe shuō: “Wǒ yě shì!”My friend laughed and said, “Me too!”

When I went out this morning, I saw dark clouds and strong wind —it looked like it was going to rain soon. Let’s learn how to say “it seems / looks like” in Chinese.

看样子 (kàn yàngzi)

Hello，大家好，我是Janine。Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine.Hello everyone, I’m Janine.

今天早上我出门的时候，Jīntiān zǎoshang wǒ chūmén de shíhou,This morning, when I went out,

看到天上有很多黑云。kàn dào tiān shàng yǒu hěn duō hēi yún.I saw lots of dark clouds in the sky.

风也越来越大。Fēng yě yuè lái yuè dà.The wind was getting stronger and stronger.

我心想：看样子一会儿要下雨了。Wǒ xīn xiǎng: kàn yàngzi yíhuìr yào xià yǔ le.I thought, “It looks like it’s going to rain soon.”

It started raining when I went to buy breakfast this morning,so I thought, “Forget it — anyway, I still have bread at home.”Let’s learn how to say “anyway / in any case” in Chinese.

反正 (fǎn zhèng)

Hello，大家好，我是Janine。Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine.
Hello everyone, I’m Janine.

今天早上我准备去买早餐，Jīntiān zǎoshang wǒ zhǔnbèi qù mǎi zǎocān,This morning, I was getting ready to buy breakfast.

结果外面开始下雨了。Jiéguǒ wàimiàn kāishǐ xià yǔ le.But it started to rain outside.

我想了想，说：Wǒ xiǎng le xiǎng, shuō:I thought for a moment and said:

“算了，反正家里还有面包。”“Suàn le, fǎnzhèng jiālǐ hái yǒu miànbāo.”“Forget it — anyway, I still have some bread at home.”

This morning, I noticed it was much colder than yesterday — everyone was wearing coats! Let’s learn how to say “much …er / a lot more” in Chinese.

得多（ de duō)

Hello，大家好，我是Janine。Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine.Hello everyone, I’m Janine.

今天早上我去上班的路上，Jīntiān zǎoshang wǒ qù shàngbān de lù shàng,This morning on my way to work,

发现天气比昨天冷得多。fāxiàn tiānqì bǐ zuótiān lěng de duō.I noticed it was much colder than yesterday.

路上的人都穿了外套和围巾。Lùshang de rén dōu chuān le wàitào hé wéijīn.Everyone on the street was wearing coats and scarves.

我想，下次出门前得看看气温才行。Wǒ xiǎng, xià cì chūmén qián děi kàn kàn qìwēn cái xíng.I thought, next time I should check the temperature before leaving.

When I arrived at the office this morning, everyone was looking out the window. I asked, “What’s going on?” Turns out, it was snowing heavily outside! Let’s learn how to say “what’s going on / what happened” in Chinese.

怎么回事 （zěnme huí shì)

Hello，大家好，我是Janine。Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine.Hello everyone, I’m Janine.

今天早上我去公司，Jīntiān zǎoshang wǒ qù gōngsī,This morning, I went to the office.

刚进门，就看到大家都在窗边看外面。Gāng jìn mén, jiù kàn dào dàjiā dōu zài chuāngbiān kàn wàimiàn.As soon as I entered, I saw everyone standing by the window, looking outside.

我问：“怎么回事？”Wǒ wèn: “Zěnme huí shì?”I asked, “What’s going on?”

原来外面下起了大雪。Yuánlái wàimiàn xià qǐ le dà xuěTurns out, it was snowing heavily outside!

I’ve been busy with work these weeks and haven’t really gone out much. When my friend asked what I did this weekend, I said, “Not much — just stayed home.” Let’s learn how to say “didn’t really / haven’t really” in Chinese.

没怎么 （méi zěnme)

Hello，大家好，我是Janine。Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine.Hello everyone, I’m Janine.

这几个星期我工作有点忙，Zhè jǐ gè xīngqī wǒ gōngzuò yǒudiǎn máng,These past few weeks, I’ve been a bit busy at work.

所以也没怎么出去玩。Suǒyǐ yě méi zěnme chūqù wán.So I haven’t really gone out much.

昨天朋友问我：“你周末做了什么？”Zuótiān péngyou wèn wǒ: “Nǐ zhōumò zuò le shénme?”Yesterday my friend asked me, “What did you do this weekend?”

我笑着说：“嗯，没怎么，就在家休息。”Wǒ xiào zhe shuō: “Èn, méi zěnme, jiù zài jiā xiūxi.”I smiled and said, “Hmm, not much — just stayed home and rested.”

My friend asked if I’ve been going to the gym lately.I said, “Not really — I’ve been too busy!”Let’s learn how to say “not very / not really / not often” in Chinese.

不怎么 （bù zěnme)

Hello，大家好，我是Janine。Hello, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì Janine.Hello everyone, I’m Janine.

昨天一个朋友问我：Zuótiān yí gè péngyou wèn wǒ:Yesterday, a friend asked me:

“你最近去健身吗？”“Nǐ zuìjìn qù jiànshēn ma?”“Have you been going to the gym lately?”

我笑着说：Wǒ xiào zhe shuō:I smiled and said:

“唉，最近工作太忙了，“Āi, zuìjìn gōngzuò tài máng le,

I've been too busy lately

我不怎么去健身房。”**wǒ bù zěnme qù jiànshēnfáng.”I haven’t really been going to the gym lately.

有时候，我下班只想回家休息。Yǒu shíhou, wǒ xiàbān zhǐ xiǎng huí jiā xiūxi.Sometimes after work, I just want to go home and rest.

I turned off my alarm this morning to rest for just five more minutes… and woke up after nine! Luckily, I had no important meetings today. Let’s learn how to say “to oversleep” in Chinese.

睡过头 （shuì guò tóu)

今天早上我的闹钟响了。Jīntiān zǎoshang wǒ de nàozhōng xiǎng le.This morning, my alarm went off.

我关掉闹钟。Wǒ guān diào nàozhōng.I turned off the alarm.

想再休息五分钟。Xiǎng zài xiūxi wǔ fēnzhōng.I wanted to rest for five more minutes.

结果一觉醒来，Jiéguǒ yí jiào xǐng lái,But when I woke up again,

已经九点多了！Yǐjīng jiǔ diǎn duō le!It was already after nine!

我睡过头了。Wǒ shuì guò tóu le.I overslept.

还好今天没有重要的会议。Hái hǎo jīntiān méiyǒu zhòngyào de huìyì.Luckily, I didn’t have any important meetings today.

I overslept this morning — it was already 8:30! I jumped out of bed, washed my face, got dressed, and left in just five minutes. Let’s learn how to say “hurry up / right away” in Chinese.

赶紧 （gǎn jǐn)

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

今天早上我睡过头了，Jīntiān zǎoshang wǒ shuì guò tóu le,

一看时间，已经八点半！Yí kàn shíjiān, yǐjīng bā diǎn bàn!

我赶紧起床、洗脸、换衣服，Wǒ gǎnjǐn qǐchuáng, xǐ liǎn, huàn yīfu,

五分钟就出门了。Wǔ fēnzhōng jiù chūmén le.

还好地铁没晚点。Hái hǎo dìtiě méi wǎn diǎn.

My alarm went off this morning, but it was still dark outside. I thought, “I’m too lazy to get up today…” and ended up sleeping twenty more minutes! Let’s learn how to say “too lazy to” in Chinese.

懒得（ lǎn de)

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

今天早上闹钟响了，Jīntiān zǎoshang nàozhōng xiǎng le,

我起来，看了一眼窗外，Wǒ qǐ lái, kàn le yí yǎn chuāngwài,

天还黑着。Tiān hái hēi zhe.

我心想：Wǒ xīn xiǎng:

“哎，今天真懒得起床。”“Āi, jīntiān zhēn lǎn de qǐ chuáng.”

结果我又多睡了二十分钟。Jiéguǒ wǒ yòu duō shuì le èrshí fēnzhōng.