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!”

Walking in Paris, I thought I saw an old classmate — it really looked like her! Let’s learn how to say “seems / looks like” in Chinese.

好像(hǎo xiàng)

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

今天我走在巴黎的街上，看到一个人。Jīntiān wǒ zǒu zài Bālí de jiē shàng, kàn dào yí gè rén.

我心里想：咦，这个人好像是我的同学。Wǒ xīnlǐ xiǎng: yí, zhège rén hǎoxiàng shì wǒ de tóngxué.

可是我不太确定。Kěshì wǒ bù tài quèdìng.

最后我走过去一看，真的就是她！Zuìhòu wǒ zǒu guòqù yí kàn, zhēn de jiù shì tā!

你呢？你有没有遇到过“好像”认识的人？Nǐ ne? Nǐ yǒu méiyǒu yùdào guò “hǎoxiàng” rènshi de rén?

At first, running felt hard, but the more I ran, the easier it got. Let’s learn how to say “the more…the more” in Chinese.

越……越……(yuè...yuè...)

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

今天我去跑步。Jīntiān wǒ qù pǎobù.

一开始我觉得很累，可是跑了一会儿，我发现越跑越轻松。Yì kāishǐ wǒ juéde hěn lèi, kěshì pǎo le yí huìr, wǒ fāxiàn yuè pǎo yuè qīngsōng.

最后，我还觉得很开心。Zuìhòu, wǒ hái juéde hěn kāixīn.

你呢？你有没有做过越做越喜欢的事情？Nǐ ne? Nǐ yǒu méiyǒu zuò guò yuè zuò yuè xǐhuān de shìqing?

My friend told me, “You can call me anytime.” Let’s learn how to say “at any time / whenever” in Chinese.

随时 (suíshí )

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

今天我给一个朋友打电话。Jīntiān wǒ gěi yí gè péngyou dǎ diànhuà.

她说：“你有问题可以随时找我。”Tā shuō: “Nǐ yǒu wèntí kěyǐ suíshí zhǎo wǒ.”

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

因为“随时”就是，不管什么时候都可以。Yīnwèi “suíshí” jiù shì, bùguǎn shénme shíhou dōu kěyǐ.

你呢？你有没有一个朋友会说“随时联系我”？Nǐ ne? Nǐ yǒu méiyǒu yí gè péngyou huì shuō “suíshí liánxì wǒ”?

This morning I wanted to run, but it rained heavily. There was nothing I could do. Let’s learn how to say “there’s no way / nothing you can do” in Chinese.

没办法 (méi bànfǎ)

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

今天早上我本来想去跑步。Jīntiān zǎoshang wǒ běnlái xiǎng qù pǎobù.

可是下大雨，我只好在家里。Kěshì xià dàyǔ, wǒ zhǐhǎo zài jiālǐ.

我心里想：哎，没办法。Wǒ xīnlǐ xiǎng: āi, méi bànfǎ.

有时候我们真的不能改变天气。Yǒu shíhou wǒmen zhēn de bù néng gǎi biàn tiānqì.

你呢？你有没有遇到过只能说“没办法”的时候？Nǐ ne? Nǐ yǒu méiyǒu yùdào guò zhǐ néng shuō “méi bànfǎ” de shíhou?

Today was full of meetings, reports, and errands — I was super busy! Let’s learn how to say “extremely busy” in Chinese.

忙死了（máng sǐ le）

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

今天我真的是忙死了。Jīntiān wǒ zhēn de shì máng sǐ le.

因为明天我要给学生上课

Yīnwèi míngtiān wǒ yào gěi xuéshēng shàngkè

所以我需要准备很多东西，

suǒyǐ wǒ xūyào zhǔnbèi hěn duō dōngxī,

准备课件，准备练习题，

zhǔnbèi kèjiàn, zhǔnbèi liànxítí,

还要准备一些有趣的故事。

hái yào zhǔnbèi yìxiē yǒuqù de gùshì.

一整天，都在电脑前，没有时间休息。

Yì zhěng tiān, dōu zài diànnǎo qián, méiyǒu shíjiān xiūxi.

到晚上，我觉得头都大了。

Dào wǎnshang, wǒ juéde tóu dōu dà le.

你呢，你有没有因为准备工作而忙死了？

Nǐ ne, nǐ yǒu méiyǒu yīnwèi zhǔnbèi gōngzuò ér máng sǐ le?

This afternoon, my friend called me and said, “Let’s meet in a while.” Let’s learn how to say “in a while / for a while” in Chinese.

一会儿 (yī huìr)

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

今天下午我在家看书。Jīntiān xiàwǔ wǒ zài jiā kàn shū.

朋友打电话来说：“我们一会儿见吧。”Péngyǒu dǎ diànhuà lái shuō: “Wǒmen yīhuìr jiàn ba.”

我说：“好的，一会儿见！”Wǒ shuō: “Hǎo de, yīhuìr jiàn!”

后来，我们真的在咖啡店见面了。Hòulái, wǒmen zhēn de zài kāfēidiàn jiànmiàn le.

你呢？你今天会不会一会儿见朋友？Nǐ ne? Nǐ jīntiān huì bú huì yīhuìr jiàn péngyǒu?