Category: Blog

Grammar

Grammar rule #1: “本来…可是/但是…” (originally… but…)
Use 本来 to say what the original plan or situation was.
Then use 可是/但是 to show a change or unexpected problem.
This pattern is very common for daily-life stories and plan changes.
Here it contrasts “want to exercise” with “it rains”.

Examples:
本来周末我想去公园运动，可是…外面在下雨。
本来…可是…

Grammar rule #2: “又…又…” (both… and…)
Use 又…又… to describe something with two qualities at the same time.
Structure: 又 + 形容词A + 又 + 形容词B。
The two adjectives usually match in “feeling” (both good or both bad).
Here it describes the bad weather.

Examples:
那天天气又冷又潮湿。
又…又…

Idiomatic Expressions

• 一起床就… – meaning
  Example: 一起床就发现外面在下雨。
• 雨越下越大 – meaning
  Example: 雨越下越大。
• 只好… – meaning
  Example: 我只好取消计划。
• 别着凉 – meaning
  Example: 最重要的是别着凉。
• 换衣服 – meaning
  Example: 回家换衣服。

Cultural Insights

• Umbrella habits
  Carrying an umbrella (带伞) is common because weather can change quickly.
  This is a practical phrase that learners can use in daily life immediately.
  It also fits naturally with “plan changes” stories.
• Health reminders
  “别着凉” is a common reminder in Chinese, especially from family members, when it’s cold or rainy.
  It often appears in simple dialogues because it is short and useful.
  It connects weather vocabulary with health vocabulary.
• Staying warm at home
  Drinking hot tea after getting wet is a typical comfort routine in cold weather.
  This makes the ending feel realistic and relatable.
  It also provides a natural “most important” value sentence.

Grammar

Grammar rule #1: “Time/Verb + 以后, …” (after…)
Use 以后 after a time word (or an action) to show what happens after that point.
Structure: 时间/动作 + 以后，…
This is common for routines and schedules, especially with clock times.
In this story it sets the habit “after 10 p.m.”.

Examples:
晚上十点以后还常常玩手机。
十点以后不再玩手机。

Grammar rule #2: “不再 + verb” (not anymore)
Use 不再 to say you will stop doing something and won’t do it anymore.
Structure: 不再 + 动词 + …
It is useful for describing changes in habits or decisions.
Here it shows the narrator changing a late-night phone habit.

Examples:
决定十点以后不再玩手机。
不再玩手机。

Idiomatic Expressions

• 再看一会儿 – meaning
  Example: 觉得“再看一会儿”没关系。
• 时间一长 – meaning
  Example: 时间一长，我就开始熬夜。
• 起不来 – meaning
  Example: 第二天早上起不来。
• 想慢慢做 – meaning
  Example: 什么都想慢慢做。
• 精神多了 – meaning
  Example: 我发现早上精神多了。

Cultural Insights

• Phone habits
  “玩手机” is a modern daily-life phrase and fits naturally into beginner stories.
  It helps learners talk about routines and self-control in simple sentences.
  This topic feels relevant to many learners.
• Staying up late
  熬夜 is a common word used when people sleep too late because of work or entertainment.
  Stories about 熬夜 often include consequences like 困 and 起不来, which are practical words.
  This makes the vocabulary easy to remember through cause and effect.
• Building better routines
  Many learner stories end with a simple habit change and a positive result.
  This supports language for decisions like 决定 and 不再…, and for progress like 坚持.
  It also encourages learners to describe their own routines.

Grammar

Grammar rule #1: “很少 + verb” (rarely do)
Use 很少 before a verb to say something doesn’t happen often.
Structure: 主语 + 很少 + 动词 + …
It is common for describing habits and personality.
Here it describes Teacher Li’s temper.

Examples:
他很少生气。
李老师很少生气。

Grammar rule #2: “虽然…但是…还是…” (concession + still)
Use 虽然…但是… to show “although…, but…”.
Adding 还是 emphasizes that the action continues despite the problem (“still…”).
This pattern is very common in HSK 2 for polite, realistic situations.
Here it shows the teacher stays patient even when students make mistakes.

Examples:
虽然这样不太好，但是李老师还是先让他们坐下。
虽然…但是…还是…

Idiomatic Expressions

• 工作很认真 – meaning
  Example: 李老师工作很认真。
• 总是… – meaning
  Example: 上课的时候总是耐心地解释。
• 忘了带… – meaning
  Example: 有的学生忘了带作业。
• 下次要注意 – meaning
  Example: 告诉他们下次要注意。
• 留在教室 – meaning
  Example: 下课以后，他还常常留在教室。

Cultural Insights

• Respect for responsible teachers
  Many students value teachers who are patient and responsible, so this is a common story theme.
  It also introduces classroom vocabulary like 迟到, 作业, and 教室 in a natural way.
  This topic is practical for describing school life.
• Polite correction
  Teachers often correct students with reminders like “下次要注意” instead of getting angry.
  This shows a common style of gentle advice in daily Chinese.
  It helps learners practice polite, realistic expressions.
• After-class questions
  Students often ask questions after class, and teachers may stay to help.
  This scene supports useful verbs like 回答 and 帮助.
  It also reflects a common school routine.

Grammar

Grammar rule #1: “看起来 + adjective” (looks/seems)
Use 看起来 to describe the impression someone or something gives.
Structure: 主语 + 看起来 + 形容词。
It is often used for appearance, behavior, or first impressions.
Here it describes the new colleague’s manner.

Examples:
新同事看起来很有礼貌，也很友好。
他看起来很友好。

Grammar rule #2: “先…再…” (first… then…)
Use 先 and 再 to show the order of actions.
Structure: 先 + 动作1，再 + 动作2。
This is common in workplace routines and instructions.
It helps describe onboarding steps clearly.

Examples:
我们先告诉他每天要做什么，再带他去开会。
先介绍…再…

Idiomatic Expressions

• 来了一个… – meaning
  Example: 我们公司来了一个新同事。
• 去欢迎… – meaning
  Example: 大家都去欢迎他。
• 刚来 – meaning
  Example: 因为他刚来，有些事情不太懂。
• 不太懂 – meaning
  Example: 有些事情不太懂。
• 不紧张了 – meaning
  Example: 过了几天，他…也不紧张了。

Cultural Insights

• Welcoming a new colleague
  Many workplaces introduce new staff to the team on the first day.
  This creates natural language for “welcome + introduction” scenes in learner stories.
  It also teaches polite, practical vocabulary like 礼貌 and 介绍.
• Learning by asking
  New employees often ask questions while learning procedures.
  Using 常常问… is a simple and realistic way to show this stage.
  It also models a good learning attitude for students.
• Meetings as routine
  开会 is a common daily word for office life and appears early in many textbooks.
  It is easy to connect with sequencing words like 先…再…
  This helps learners describe work life in simple paragraphs.

Grammar

Grammar rule #1: “先…再…” (first… then…)
Use 先 to introduce the first action, and 再 for the next action.
Structure: 先 + 动作1，再 + 动作2。
It is very common for describing travel steps and plans.
It makes the timeline easy to follow.

Examples:
我们先坐大巴到海边的城市，再走路去海滩旁边的小旅馆。
先坐大巴…再走路…

Grammar rule #2: “差不多 + time/number” (approximately)
Use 差不多 before a time or number to mean “about/around/almost.”
Structure: 差不多 + 数字 + 点/个/天…
It’s useful when you don’t want to be very exact.
In this story it describes an approximate departure time.

Examples:
第三天我们差不多十点回家。
差不多十点。

Idiomatic Expressions

• 去…玩 – meaning
  Example: 去海边玩三天。
• 旁边 – meaning
  Example: 海滩旁边的小旅馆。
• 太阳很大 – meaning
  Example: 太阳很大，所以我带了帽子。
• 在海边散步 – meaning
  Example: 晚上在海边散步。
• 时间过得太快 – meaning
  Example: 大家都觉得时间过得太快了。

Cultural Insights

• Seaside trips
  Going to the seaside during summer vacation is a common travel plan for students and families.
  It provides practical vocabulary: 海边, 海滩, 游泳, and 海鲜.
  These topics are easy to connect to real experiences.
• Sun protection
  Wearing a hat and using sunscreen are common habits when the sun is strong.
  This adds realistic daily-life vocabulary to a travel story.
  It also gives a natural reason to use 因为/所以 or 所以.
• Relaxing evenings
  Evening walks by the sea are often described in simple travel writing.
  It is a calm scene that helps learners practice time words and routine verbs like 散步.
  Short travel narratives like this are great for building reading flow.

Grammar

Grammar rule #1: “需要 + verb” (need to do)
Use 需要 before a verb to say someone needs to do something.
Structure: 主语 + 需要 + 动词 + …
It’s common for advice about health, study, or work.
In this story it explains what the doctor recommends.

Examples:
医生告诉他还需要多休息。
还需要多休息。

Grammar rule #2: “不要…” (negative command / advice)
Use 不要 + verb to tell someone “don’t…” or “shouldn’t…”.
This is often used for polite advice, especially in family conversations.
It can be softened with context or followed by 再 to mean “don’t do it anymore”.
Here it’s used to advise grandpa not to get too tired.

Examples:
不要太累。
你不要再忙工作了。

Idiomatic Expressions

• 看… – meaning
  Example: 昨天我去医院看爷爷。
• 给…带… – meaning
  Example: 给他带了水果。
• 感觉好多了 – meaning
  Example: 爷爷说他感觉好多了。
• 别担心 – meaning
  Example: 别担心，身体最重要。
• 听…的话 – meaning
  Example: 会听医生的话。

Cultural Insights

• Visiting family in hospital
  Visiting relatives in the hospital and bringing fruit is a common, simple way to show care.
  It is a frequent theme in beginner stories because it uses practical vocabulary like 医院 and 水果.
  It also creates a natural setting for giving advice.
• Health-first messages
  Phrases like “身体最重要” are common in daily conversation when someone is sick.
  They are short, polite, and easy for learners to remember and reuse.
  This helps learners sound natural in real situations.
• Advice language
  Family members often give gentle advice using 不要… and 别…
  These forms are useful because they are direct but still common and natural.
  Stories like this help learners practice caring, everyday speech.

Grammar

Grammar rule #1: “越来越…” (more and more)
Use 越来越 to show a gradual change over time (becoming more and more…).
Structure: 主语 + 越来越 + 形容词/动词 + 了 (often).
It is common in HSK 2 to describe improving skills or changing feelings.
In this story it shows progress in speaking and learning.

Examples:
越来越自然。
汉语会越来越容易，也越来越有意思。

Grammar rule #2: “Verb + 了 + duration” (how long)
Use this pattern to say how long an action has lasted.
Structure: 动词 + 了 + 时间 (duration).
It’s often used with studying, living, or working to show a period of time.
This helps learners talk about experience clearly.

Examples:
我学汉语已经一年多了。
我学汉语一年多了。

Idiomatic Expressions

• 刚开始的时候 – meaning
  Example: 刚开始的时候，我觉得声调很难。
• 记不住 – meaning
  Example: 汉字也记不住。
• 每天…一点儿 – meaning
  Example: 后来我每天练习一点儿。
• 看懂 – meaning
  Example: 现在我可以看懂一些简单的文章。
• 只要…就… – meaning
  Example: 只要坚持，汉语会越来越容易。

Cultural Insights

• Common beginner difficulties
  Many learners find tones and characters challenging at the start, so this topic feels relatable.
  Stories like this help learners describe learning experiences with simple words.
  It also encourages a “practice a little every day” mindset.
• Learning with phones
  Using a phone to listen to Chinese content is a common study habit today.
  “听新闻” is an easy example because news has short sections and repeated vocabulary.
  This connects language learning to daily routines.
• Progress language
  HSK 2 often introduces ways to talk about improvement and change, like 越来越 and 坚持.
  These structures help learners express motivation and learning goals.
  This makes the story both practical and encouraging.