When my friend asked if I preferred coffee or tea, I said, “Actually, I like both.” Let’s learn how to say “actually / in fact” in Chinese.

其实 （qí shí)

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

昨天我朋友问我：“你喜欢喝咖啡还是喝茶？”Zuótiān wǒ péngyou wèn wǒ: “Nǐ xǐhuān hē kāfēi háishi hē chá?”

我说：“我平时喝咖啡比较多，其实我也很喜欢喝茶。”Wǒ shuō: “Wǒ píngshí hē kāfēi bǐjiào duō, qíshí wǒ yě hěn xǐhuān hē chá.”

When I got home from work, the rain had just stopped. Then, I found a glass of water waiting for me — just right! Let’s learn how to say “just right / exactly” in Chinese.

刚好 （gāng hǎo)

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

今天我下班回家。Jīntiān wǒ xiàbān huí jiā.

到家门口的时候，雨刚好停了。Dào jiāménkǒu de shíhou, yǔ gānghǎo tíng le.

我不用打伞。Wǒ bú yòng dǎ sǎn.

进门以后，我想喝水。Jìnmén yǐhòu, wǒ xiǎng hē shuǐ.

我发现水杯里刚好有一杯水。Wǒ fāxiàn shuǐbēi lǐ gānghǎo yǒu yì bēi shuǐ.

真方便，时间刚好，水也刚好。Zhēn fāngbiàn, shíjiān gānghǎo, shuǐ yě gānghǎo.

你呢？你有没有遇到过很刚好的事情？Nǐ ne? Nǐ yǒu méiyǒu yùdào guò hěn gānghǎo de shìqing?

When my friend asked if I was scared to travel alone, I said, “Don’t worry, I’ll be careful.” Let’s learn how to say “don’t worry” in Chinese.

放心 （fàng xīn)

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

今天我朋友问我：“你一个人去旅行，不害怕吗？”Jīntiān wǒ péngyou wèn wǒ: “Nǐ yí gè rén qù lǚxíng, bú hàipà ma?”

我说：“没事，放心吧！我会小心的。”Wǒ shuō: “Méi shì, fàngxīn ba! Wǒ huì xiǎoxīn de.”

I told my friend, “Remember to bring the book tomorrow.” Let’s learn how to say “remember to” in Chinese.

记得（ jì de)

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

昨天我给朋友发消息：Zuótiān wǒ gěi péngyou fā xiāoxi:

“明天见面的时候，记得带书。”“Míngtiān jiànmiàn de shíhou, jìde dài shū.”

她回答：“好的，我一定记得！”Tā huídá: “Hǎo de, wǒ yídìng jìde!”

I ran to catch the bus this morning, and I almost missed it. Let’s learn how to say “almost” in Chinese.

差点 （chà diǎn)

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

今天早上我坐公交车。Jīntiān zǎoshang wǒ zuò gōngjiāochē.

我跑得很快，不然就差点没赶上。Wǒ pǎo de hěn kuài, bùrán jiù chàdiǎn méi gǎn shàng.

幸好我上车了。Xìnghǎo wǒ shàngchē le.

At a café, I asked my friend to help me with my work — she was surprised! But of course, I was just kidding. Let’s learn how to say “just kidding / to joke” in Chinese.

开玩笑 （kāi wán xiào)

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

今天我和朋友在咖啡店聊天。Jīntiān wǒ hé péngyou zài kāfēidiàn liáotiān.

我对她说：“你要不要帮我做工作？我有很多工作。”Wǒ duì tā shuō: “Nǐ yào bù yào bāng wǒ zuò gōngzuò? Wǒ yǒu hěn duō gōngzuò.”

她说：“啊？帮你做工作？！”Tā shuō: “Ā? Bāng nǐ zuò gōngzuò?!”

我笑着说：“哈哈，开玩笑的啦！工作应该我自己做。”Wǒ xiào zhe shuō: “Hāhā, kāi wánxiào de la! Gōngzuò yīnggāi wǒ zìjǐ zuò.”

她也笑了，说：“你真会开玩笑。”Tā yě xiào le, shuō: “Nǐ zhēn huì kāi wánxiào.”

生活中，我们常常和朋友开玩笑。Shēnghuó zhōng, wǒmen chángcháng hé péngyou kāi wánxiào.

I’m learning guitar, and every day I practice just a little bit. Let’s learn how to say “little by little / bit by bit” in Chinese.

一点点 （yī diǎn diǎn)

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

我刚开始学弹吉他。Wǒ gāng kāishǐ xué tán jítā.

每天我都练习一点点。Měitiān wǒ dōu liànxí yī diǎn diǎn.

虽然很慢，但是我觉得有进步。Suīrán hěn màn, dànshì wǒ juéde yǒu jìnbù.

When my student asked if Chinese is difficult, I answered, “It depends.” Let’s learn how to say “it depends” in Chinese.

要看 （yào kàn)

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

今天学生问我：“老师，学中文难不难？”Jīntiān xuéshēng wèn wǒ: “Lǎoshī, xué Zhōngwén nán bù nán?”

我笑了笑，说：“要看你每天练习多少。”Wǒ xiào le xiào, shuō: “Yào kàn nǐ měitiān liànxí duōshǎo.”

At a restaurant, the waiter told me, “Take your time and enjoy your meal.” Let’s learn how to say “slowly / take your time” in Chinese.

慢慢 （màn man)

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

今天晚上我去餐厅吃饭。Jīntiān wǎnshang wǒ qù cāntīng chīfàn.

服务员上菜的时候对我说：Fúwùyuán shàng cài de shíhou duì wǒ shuō:

“请慢慢吃。”“Qǐng mànman chī.”

听到这句话，我觉得很温暖。Tīng dào zhè jù huà, wǒ juéde hěn wēnnuǎn.

When I walked into my friend’s house, I smelled cake baking. No wonder it was so fragrant! Let’s learn how to say “no wonder / that makes sense” in Chinese.

难怪 （nán guài)

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

今天我去朋友家。Jīntiān wǒ qù péngyou jiā.

一进门，我就闻到很香的味道。Yí jìnmén, wǒ jiù wéndào hěn xiāng de wèidào.

原来她在做蛋糕。Yuánlái tā zài zuò dàngāo.

我说：“哇，难怪家里这么香！”Wǒ shuō: “Wa, nánguài jiālǐ zhème xiāng!”