Chinese-Rudgers/Cours/rudgers-30.txt

Lesson Thirty: Dialogue What would you like to do this summer vacation?

Shihai: Do you know how long the flight is from here to Beijing?
Dawei:  Beijing is far from here, it is probably more than ten hours.
Shihai: Xiao Ding and Xueyou will arrive in Beijing tonight.
Dawei:  Yes.
Shihai: They both want to study in China.  I think they must be very   
        happy right now.
Dawei:  I am envious.  Next year I would like to have a chance to visit 
        China.
Shihai: China has a long history.  I heard of many tourist attractions 
        in China. But "ba3i we2n bu4 ru2 yi1 jia4n"(hearing about it 
        is nothing compared to seeing it).
Dawei: "ba3i we4n bu4 ru2 yi1 jia4n" is a chinese idiom?
Shihai: Yes. The meaning is  "seeing is believing".
Dawei:  I see. 

Dawei:  Shihai, what would you like to do this summer vacation? 
Shihai: First I will go back home to see my parents, and see what   
        is happening then.  How about you?
Dawei:  I have registered for two courses.  So I will be in class at
        school.
Shihai: What are you studying?
Dawei:  One is a psychology course, the other one is a Chinese history
        course.  I am very interested in Chinese History, but I don't
        know much about it.  So I want to take advantage of the summer
        to learn  something more about Chinese history.
Shihai: China has a long and rich history.  It is not easy to study.
Dawei:  I know.  That is precisely what attracts me.
Shihai: It is said people who study histroy will become smarter.
        What do you think ?
Dawei:  I also think that.  Learning history not only lets us know what 
        was going on in the past, but also helps guide us in the 
        future.  That is what is meant by the idiom " Gu3 we2i 
        ji1n yo4ng"(make the past serve the present).  I hope I 
        become little smarter by studying Chinese history.
Shihai: You will.
Dawei:  You are already quite a smart guy.  So you do not need to   
        study Chinese History.
Shihai: Not at all. Don't joke about me!



初级第三十课: 对话 今年暑假你做什麽？

世海：大为，你知道飞机从这里起飞到北京需要多长时间？
大为：这儿离北京很远，大约十多个小时。
世海：小丁和学友今天晚上就到北京了。
大为：是的。
世海：小丁和学友很想去中国学习。我想他们现在一定很高兴。
大为：我很羡慕他们，明年我一定要到中国去看一看。
世海：中国是一个古老的国家，听说有很多名胜古迹，不过“百闻不如一见”。
大为：“百闻不如一见”是中国成语吗？
世海：是的，意思是：自己看见的才可信。
大为：我明白了。
大为：世海，今年暑假你做什麽？
世海：我先要回家看爸爸妈妈，他们很想我。然後，再作决定。你呢？
大为：我已经注册了两门课，所以我还在学校里继续上课。
世海：你学什麽？
大为：一门是心理学，一门是中国历史。我对中国历史很感兴趣，可是我知道的不多，
      所以我想利用暑假多学习一些中国历史知识。
世海：中国的历史很久远，也很丰富，学起来一定不容易。
大为：我知道。这正是它吸引我的原因。
世海：有人说学历史,人会变得聪明，你说呢？
大为：我也这麽认为。学历史不仅仅是为了解过去，而且是为了指导未来，所谓
     “古为今用”就是这个意思。我希望学习中国历史後，我会更聪明些。
世海：你会的 。
大为：你已经够聪明的了，所以你不用学习历史了。
世海：哪里 。你别开我玩笑了。 




  初級第三十課: 對話 今年暑假你做什麼﹖


世海﹕大為﹐你知道飛機從這裡起飛到北京需要多長時間﹖
大為﹕這兒離北京很遠﹐大約十多個小時。
世海﹕小丁和學友今天晚上就到北京了。
大為﹕是的。
世海﹕小丁和學友很想去中國學習。我想他們現在一定很高興。
大為﹕我很羨慕他們﹐明年我一定要到中國去看一看。
世海﹕中國是一個古老的國家﹐聽說有很多名勝古蹟﹐不過“百聞不如一見”。
大為﹕“百聞不如一見”是中國成語嗎﹖
世海﹕是的﹐意思是﹕自己看見的才可信。
大為﹕我明白了。
大為﹕世海﹐今年暑假你做什麼﹖
世海﹕我先要回家看爸爸媽媽﹐他們很想我。然後﹐再作決定。你呢﹖
大為﹕我已經註冊了兩門課﹐所以我還在學校裡繼續上課。
世海﹕你學什麼﹖
大為﹕一門是心理學﹐一門是中國曆史。我對中國歷史很感興趣﹐可是我知道的不多﹐
      所以我想利用暑假多學習一些中國歷史知識。
世海﹕中國的歷史很久遠﹐也很豐富﹐學起來一定不容易。
大為﹕我知道。這正是它吸引我的原因。
世海﹕有人說學歷史,人會變得聰明﹐你說呢﹖
大為﹕我也這麼認為。學歷史不僅僅是為了解過去﹐而且是為了指導未來﹐所謂
     “古為今用”就是這個意思。我希望學習中國歷史後﹐我會更聰明些。
世海﹕你會的 。
大為﹕你已經夠聰明的了﹐所以你不用學習歷史了。
世海﹕哪裡 。你別開我玩笑了。 

  
Chūjí Dì sānshí Kè: Duìhuà

Jīnnián Shŭjia Nĭ Zuò Shénme ?


Jīnnián Shŭjia Nĭ Zuò Shénme ?
   Shìhăi: Dàwéi, nĭ zhīdao fēijī cóng zhèli  qĭfēi dào Bĕijīng xūyào 

           duōcháng shíjiān?

   Dàwéi:  Zhèr lí Bĕijīng hĕn yuăn, dàyuē shí duō ge xiăoshí.

   Shìhăi: Xiăo Dīng hé Xuéyŏu jīntiān wănshang  jiù dào Běijīng le.

   Dàwéi:  Shì de.

   Shìhăi: Xiǎo Dīng hé Xuéyǒu hěn xiǎng qù  Zhōngguo xuéxí. Wǒ xiǎng 

           tāmen xiànzài yídìng hěn gāoxìng.

   Dàwéi:  Wǒ hěn xiànmù tāmen, míngnián wǒ  yídìng yào dào Zhōngguo 

           qù kàn yi kàn.

   Shìhăi: Zhōngguo shì yí ge gǔlǎo de guójiā,  tīngshuō yǒu hěn duō 

           míngshèng gǔjì, búguò “bǎiwén bùrú yíjiàn”.

   Dàwéi: “bǎiwén bùrú yíjiàn”shì Zhōngguo  chéngyǔ ma?

   Shìhăi: Shì de, yìsi shì: zìjǐ kànjiàn de cái  kěxìn.

   Dàwéi:  Wǒ míngbai le.

   Dàwéi:  Shìhăi, jīnnián shǔjià nǐ zuò shénme ?

   Shìhăi: Wǒ xiān yào huí jiā kàn bàba māma,  tāmen hěn xiǎng wǒ. Ránhòu, 

           zài zuò juédìng. Nǐ ne ?

   Dàwéi:  Wǒ yǐjīng zhùcè le liǎng mén kè, suǒyǐ  wǒ hái zài xuéxiào lǐ 

           jìxù shàngkè.

   Shìhăi: Nǐ xué shénme?

   Dàwéi:  Yì mén shì xīnlǐxué, yì mén shì Zhōngguo  lìshǐ. Wǒ duì Zhōngguo 

           lìshǐ hěn gǎn xìngqu, kěshì wǒ zhīdao de bù duō, suǒyǐ wǒ  xiǎng 

           lìyòng shǔjià duō xuéxí yì xiē Zhōngguo lìshǐ zhīshi.

   Shìhăi: Zhōngguo de lìshǐ hěn jiǔyuǎn, yě hěn  fēngfù, xué qǐlái yídìng 

           bù róngyi.

   Dàwéi:  Wǒzhīdao. Zhè zhèngshì tā xīyǐn wǒ  de yuányīn.

   Shìhăi: Yǒu rén shuō xué lìshǐ, rén huì biàn  de cōngming, nǐ shuō ne ?

   Dàwéi:  Wǒ yě zhème rènwéi. Xué lìshǐ bù jǐnjǐn  shì wèile liǎojiě guòqù, 

           érqiě shì wèile zhīdao wèilái, suǒwèi “gǔwéi  jīnyòng” jiù shì 

           zhè ge yìsi. Wǒ xīwàng xuéxí  Zhōngguo lìshǐ hòu, wǒ huì gèng 

           cōngming xiē.

   Shìhăi: Nǐ huì  de.

   Dàwéi:  Nǐ yǐjīng  gòu cōngming de le, suǒyǐ nǐ búyòng xuéxí lìshǐ le.

   Shìhăi: Nǎlǐ. Nǐ  béi kāi wǒ wánxiào le.

 

Lesson Thirty: Article
Home in Beijing



After Xiaoding and Xueyou left (for China), one day, Shihai went to see
Teacher Wang.  Teacher Wang was very happy to see Shihai come.  Teacher
Wang asked Shihai to sit on the sofa, and made a cup of Longjin tea for 
him.

While drinking the tea, Teacher Wang asked Shihai:"Xiaoding and Xueyou 
took the plane to China.  Did everything go well?" Shihai told Teacher 
Wang, everything went well.  Teacher Wang said, he had to go to the 
Chinese Embassy to get some business done that day, therefore he could 
not see Xiaoding and Xueyou off.  However, he had already given Xiaoding
and Shihai the phone number and the address of his home in Beijing, and
asked them to call his wife Xijing as soon as they arrived in Beijing.  
Teacher Wang said, for last year's Thanksgiving he celebrated the 
holiday with Xiaoding's family, and he felt like he was in his own home.
He hoped that Xiaoding and Xueyou could also visit his home in Beijing 
frequently and have a good time.  Teacher Wang also asked Shihai:"This is 
the first time for Xiaoding and Xueyou to go to China, China is far away 
from here, do their parents worry about them?"  Shihai said:"Because 
Xiaoding's parents are going to go to China and visit them soon, Shihai's 
parents are not worried at all."  Teacher Wang said:"That's great.  Soon 
my wife Xijing and my son Kaikai will meet Xiaoding's family and Xueyou.
They must be very happy (about this)!"


初级第三十课: 短文 北京的家

小丁和学友走了以後，这一天，世海去看王老师。王老师看见世海来了，非常高兴。
王老师请世海坐在沙发上，并给他沏了一杯龙井茶。喝茶的时候，王老师问世海：
“小丁和学友坐飞机去中国，一切都顺利吗？” 世海告诉王老师，一切都很顺利。
王老师说，那天他正好要去中国大使馆办事，不能送小丁和学友。不过，他已经给
了小丁和学友北京的家的电话和地址，请他们到了北京就给他太太西静打电话。王
老师说，去年感恩节，他和小丁的家人一起欢度佳节，觉得就像在自己的家一样。
他希望小丁和学友也能常常去自己在北京的家玩儿。王老师还问世海：“这是小丁
和学友第一次去中国，中国离这儿很远，他们的爸爸﹑妈妈放心吗？”世海说：
“因为小丁的爸爸﹑妈妈很快就要去中国看他们，所以学友的爸爸﹑妈妈一点儿
也不担心。” 王老师说：“那太好了。 我太太西静和我儿子开开很快就要认识小
丁的一家和学友，他们一定很会高兴。” 

  

初級第三十課: 短文 北京的家

小丁和學友走了以後﹐這一天﹐世海去看王老師。王老師看見世海來了﹐非常高興。
王老師請世海坐在沙發上﹐並給他沏了一杯龍井茶。喝茶的時候﹐王老師問世海﹕
“小丁和學友坐飛機去中國﹐一切都順利嗎﹖” 世海告訴王老師﹐一切都很順利。
王老師說﹐那天他正好要去中國大使館辦事﹐不能送小丁和學友。不過﹐他已經給
了小丁和學友北京的家的電話和地址﹐請他們到了北京就給他太太西靜打電話。王
老師說﹐去年感恩節﹐他和小丁的家人一起歡度佳節﹐覺得就像在自己的家一樣。
他希望小丁和學友也能常常去自己在北京的家玩兒。王老師還問世海﹕“這是小丁
和學友第一次去中國﹐中國離這兒很遠﹐他們的爸爸﹑媽媽放心嗎﹖”世海說﹕
“因為小丁的爸爸﹑媽媽很快就要去中國看他們﹐所以學友的爸爸﹑媽媽一點兒
也不擔心。” 王老師說﹕“那太好了。 我太太西靜和我兒子開開很快就要認識小
丁的一家和學友﹐他們一定很會高興。” 

Chūjí Dì sānshí Kè: Duǎnwén

 Běijīng De Jiā


Běijīng De Jiā
Xiǎo Dīng hé Xuéyǒu  zǒu le yǐhòu, zhè yì tiān, Shìhǎi qù kàn Wáng lǎoshi. 

Wáng lǎoshi kànjiàn Shìhǎi  lái le, fēicháng gāoxìng. Wáng lǎoshi qǐng Shìhǎi 

zuò zài shāfā shang ,bìng gěi  tā qī le yì bēi lóngjǐng chá. Hē chá deshíhou, 

Wáng lǎoshi wèn Shìhǎi: “Xiǎo Dīng  hé Xuéyǒu zuò fēijī qù Zhōngguo, yíqiè 

dōu shùnlì ma?” Shìhǎi gàosu Wáng lǎoshi,  yíqiè dōu hěn shùnli. Wáng lǎoshi 

shuō, nà tiān tā zhèng hǎo yào qù Zhōngguo dàshǐguǎn  bàn shì, bù néng sòng 

Xiǎo Dīng hé Xuéyǒu. Búguò, tā yǐjīng gěi le Xiǎo Dīng hé  Xuéeyǒu Běijīng de 

jiā de diànhuà hé dìzhǐ, qǐng tāmen dào le Běijīng jiù gěi tā  tàitai Xījìng 

dǎ diànhuà. Wáng lǎoshi shuō, qùnián Gǎn’ēn jié, tā hé Xiǎo Dīng  de jiārén yìqǐ 

huāndù jiājié, juéde jiù xiàng zài zìjǐ de jiā yíyàng. Tā xīwang  Xiǎo Dīng hé 

Xuéyǒu yě néng chángcháng qù zìjǐ zài Běijīng de jiā wánr. Wáng lǎoshi  hái wèn 

Shìhái: “Zhè shì Xiǎo Dīng hé Xuéyǒu dì yī cì qù Zhōngguo, Zhōngguo  lí zhèr hěn 

yuǎn, tāmen de bàba, māma fàngxīn ma ?” Shìhǎi shuō: “ Yě bù dānxīn.”  Wǎng lǎoshi 

shuō: “ Nà tài hǎo le. Wǒ tàitai Xījìng hé wǒ érzi Kāikai hěn kuài  jiù yào rènshi 

Xiǎo Dīng de yì jiā hé Xuéyǒu, tāmen yídìng huì hěn gāoxìng.”


词 汇

Chinese Words  Pinyin  Part of Speech	Engl. Trans.	Examples
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
大约	dàyuē	adv.	about, approximately 	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
羡慕	xiànmù	adj.	envious	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
古老	gŭlăo	adj.	ancient	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
名胜古迹	mìngshènggŭjì	n. 	tourist attraction: famous places and ancient sites	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
百闻不如一见	băiwénbùrúyījiàn	idiom	hearing about it a hundred times is not as good as seeing it once	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
明白	mìngbái	v.	to understand	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
先	xiān	adv.	before,first	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
然後	ránhòu	adv.	then	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
决定	juédìng	v.	to decide, to determine	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
已经	yĭjīng 	adv.	already	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
继续	jìxù	v.	to continue, to go on	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
门	mén	measure	subject, class	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
心理学	xīnlĭxué	n.	psychology	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
历史	lìshĭ	n.	history	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
感	găn	v.	to feel, to have	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
兴趣	xìngqù	n.	interest	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
知识	zhīshì	n.	knowledge	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
久远	jiŭyuăn	adj.	long and far	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
丰富	fēngfù	adj.	plentiful, rich	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
吸引	xīyĭn	v.	to attract	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
原因	yuányīn	n.	reason	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
聪明	cōngmìng	adj.	Smart, clever	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
认为	rènwéi	v.	to think	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
不仅(仅)	bùjĭnjĭn	conj.,adv.	not only	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
而且	érqiĕ	conj.	but also	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
过去	guòqù	n.	the past	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
未来	wèilái	n.	the future	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
所谓	suŏwèi	v.	so called	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
指导	zhĭdăo	v.	to teach, to instruct, to guide	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
古为今用	Gŭwéijīnyòng	idiom	to make the past serve the present	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
意思	yìsi	n.	meaning	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
希望	xīwàng	v.	to hope, to wish	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
够	gòu	adj	enough	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
玩笑	wánxiào	n.	joke, kidding	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
开(玩笑)	kāi(wánxiào)	v.	to make (a joke)	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
沙发	shāfā	n.	sofa	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
沏	qì	v.	to make (tea)	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
龙井茶	lóngjĭngchá	n.	longjing tea, Dragonwell tea	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
一切	yīqiè	n.	everthing, the whole thing	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
顺利	shùnlì	adj.	(go) well, (do) fine	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
正好	zhènghăo	adv.	just happened to, coincidentally	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
办事	bànshì	v.	to take care of (some) business, to handle matters	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
不过	búguò	conj.	however, but	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
欢渡	huāndù	v.	to celebrate (a holiday)	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
佳节	jiājié	n.	festival, holiday	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
一点儿也不	yīdiănryĕbù	idiomatic exp.	not at all	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
担心	dānxīn	v.	to worry about	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
枯燥	kūzào	adj.	boring, dull	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
逛 	guàng	v.	to go (shopping)	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
商店	shāngdiàn	n.	shop, store	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
日裔	rìyì	n.	(of) Japanese origin 	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
手机	shŏujī	n.	cell phone	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
阅读 	yuèdú	n.	reading 	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
T恤衫	Txùshān 	n.	T-shirt	30	Rudgers	[sound:##]
 
 

语 法

1. The Preposition 离

   The preposition 离 means "from" .  It is used to form a prepositional 
structure indicating distance in space or time.  The two commonly used 
structures are: 

(1) A  离  B  很远 (A is far away from B) 
(2) A  离 B  很近 (A is very close to B)

For example: 

(1) A  离  B  很远 (A is far away from B)

1.) 这儿离北京很远，大约十多个小时。 
Here is far away from Beijing, (it takes) over about 10 hours 
(to travel to Beijing).
2.) 中国离这儿很远，他们的爸爸妈妈放心吗？
China is far away from here, do their parents worry about them?
3.) 现在离冬天很远，你为什么想买皮夹克？
Now is far away from winter, why do you want to buy a leather jacket?


(2) A  离 B  很近 (A is very close to B)

1.) 我的家离我的大学很近， 所以我不住校。
My home is very close to my university, therefore, I don't live on 
campus.
2.)母亲节离我妈妈的生日很近，我想给妈妈买一个礼物。
The Mother's Day is very close to my mom's birthday, I would like to 
buy a gift for my mom. 

2. The Prepositional Phrase  像......一样

   The prepositional phrase  像......一样 means "to be like something or 
somebody".  Often, people add "就" before "像", to express 
the meaning of "to be JUST like something or somebody".  Sometimes, 
"一样" is left out of the sentence as the speaker uses a single 
character "像" to express the meaning of "to resemble something or 
somebody".
 
1.)去年感恩节，他和小丁的家人一起欢度佳节，觉得就像在自己的家一样。
Last Thanksgiving, he and Xiaoding's family celebrated the holiday 
together, (he) felt just like he was in his own home.
2.)小丁是我的好朋友，就像我的妹妹一样。
Xiaoding is my good friend, just like a younger sister to me.
3.)她长得很漂亮，像她妈妈。
She looks very pretty; (she) resembles her mom.

3. The Pronoun 自己 

   The pronoun 自己 means "self, one's own".  It can be used to describe
things that belong to someone (one's own).  It can also be attached to 
all personal pronouns and nouns to express the meaning of "self". 
For example:

1.) 妈妈说她可以开车送我去纽约，可是我喜欢自己开车去。
My mom said she can drive me to New York, but I like to drive by myself
(to New York). 
2.) 小丁和学友觉得，王老师的家就像他们自己的家。
Xiaoding and Xueyou felt, Teacher Wang's home is just like their own
home. 

4. The Expression 一点儿也不
   The expression 一点儿也不 means "not at all".  It is used for complete
negation. For example:

1.)因为小丁的爸爸、妈妈这一次也跟他们一起去中国，所以学友的爸爸、妈妈一点儿
也不担心。
Because Xiaoding's parents are traveling with them this time to China, 
Xueyou's parents do not worry about them at all.
2.)世海非常喜欢中国历史，他觉得中国历史一点儿也不枯燥。
Shihai likes Chinese History very much, he feels that Chinese History is 
not boring at all. 
   

语 型

1. The Preposition 离

1.) 东亚图书馆离东亚系很近，走路十分钟就能到。
The East Asian Library is close to the East Asian Department, (it
takes) 10 minutes to walk there.
2.) 长城离北京大学很远，坐公共汽车大约两个小时。
The Great Wall is far away from the Beijing University, (it takes) 
about two hours on a bus to get there. 
3.) 王老师的家离北京语言文化大学不远，他每天骑自行车去上班。
Teacher Wang's home is not far away from the Beijing Language and Culture
University, he rides bicycle to go to work every day.
4.) 今年的中国新年(春节)离我妹妹的生日很近，她感到很高兴。
This year's Chinese New Year (the Spring Festival) is very close to my
younger sister's birthday, she feels happy (about this).
5.) 现在离期末考试不远了，我们应该努力学习。
It (Now) is not far away from the final exam, we should study hard.

2. The Prepositional Phrase  像......一样

1.) 小丁的中文说得很好，像中国人一样。
Xiaoding's Chinese is very good, just like a native Chinese person's.
2.) 大为游泳游得非常好，就像游泳运动员一样。
Dawei (David) swims very well, just like an athletic swimmer.
3.) 北京的冬天很冷，就像新泽西一样。
Beijing's winter is very cold, just like the one in New Jersey.
4.) 小丁和学友很喜欢去王老师在北京的家，王老师的家就像他们自己的家一样。
Xiaoding and Xueyou like it very much to go to Teacher Wang's home in 
Beijing, Teacher Wang's home is just like their own home.

3. The Pronoun 自己 

1.) 我妈妈不喜欢自己一个人吃饭。 她常常等爸爸回来一起吃。
My mom does not like to eat by herself.  She always waits for my dad to 
come home and eat with him together.
2.) 小丁喜欢逛商店。有的时候她和朋友一起去，有的时候她自己去。 
Xiaoding likes to go shopping.  Sometimes she goes with her friends, 
sometimes she goes by herself.
3.) 在爸爸、妈妈的家，我有自己的房间。在大学里，我和我的室友一起住。
At my parent's home, I have my own room.  At the university, I live with 
my roommate.
4.) 现在，很多大学生都有自己的电脑和手机。
Now, many college students have their own computer and cell phone.

4. The Expression 一点儿也不

1.) 小丁的妈妈真年轻，一点儿也不像五十多岁的人。
Xiaoding's mom is (looks) very young, she doesn't look like a person
in her fifties at all.
2.) 昨天的考试一点儿也不难，同学们都很高兴。
Yesterday's exam was not difficult at all, all the students were very 
happy.
3.) 小丁和学友上个星期去中国了，可是我一点儿也不知道。
Xiaoding and Xueyou went to China last week, however, I knew nothing 
about it. 
4.) 我的室友是日裔美国人，可是他一点儿也不会说日文。
My roommate is a Japanese American, however, he does not speak Japanese 
at all.

5. The conjunction 不过“but, however”

1.) 我和我姐姐都很喜欢看中国电影。 不过，我更喜欢看美国电影。
Both me and my sister like to see Chinese movies.  But I like to see
American movies even more.
2.) 学友的中文说得很好。 不过，他的汉字写得不太好。
Xueyou speaks very good Chinese.  But he does not write good Chinese 
Characters.
3.) 王老师每星期都给他太太打电话。 不过，这个星期他太忙了，没有给他太太
打电话。 
Teacher Wang calls his wife every week.  But this week he was too busy, 
and (he) didn't call his wife. 
4.) 中国的历史很久远，也很丰富。 不过，学起来很不容易。
China has a long and rich history.  But it is not easy to study.

6. The expression 正是 "happens to be just the ..."

1.) 这正是我要的那本书，请问我可以借一下儿吗？
This just happens to be the book that I want to borrow, may I borrow it 
for a while?
2.) 小丁正是我的中文班的同学，怎麽，你也认识她？
Xiaoding happens to be a classmate in my Chinese class.  What? Do you 
also know her?
3.) 这个月的十号正是我二十岁的生日，我想请几个好朋友来我家玩儿。
The tenth of this month just happens to be my twentieth birthday, I would
like to invite some good friends to come over and have fun.
4.) 你想找一位从台湾来的老师吗？谢老师正是从台湾来的。
Do you want to look for a teacher from Taiwan? Teacher Xie just happens 
to be from Taiwan.

7. The pattern 不仅...而且... "not only...but also"

1.) 学历史不仅是为了了解过去，而且是为了指导未来。 
Studying history is not only to understand the past, but also 
to guide us to the future.
2.) 小丁不仅会说中文，而且会唱中文歌儿。
Xiaoding not only knows how to speak Chinese, but also can sing Chinese 
songs.
3.) 大为今年暑假不仅注册了一门心理学的课，而且注册了一门中国历史的课。
Dawei not only registered for a psychology class this sumemr, but
also registered for a Chinese history class.
4.) 王老师不仅教小丁口语，也教小丁阅读。
Teacher Wang not only teaches Xiaoding Conversation, he also teaches 
Xiaoding Reading.

8. The expression 所谓 "so-called", usually used when a speaker or 
writer wants to quote from a source, e.g. slang, idioms, proverbs etc.

1.) 所谓“古为今用”，意思就是历史上的经验可以用在现在。
What is said "gu3we2iji1nyo4ng", means that the experience in 
the past can be used for the present ("make the past serve the present").
2.) 所谓“百里挑一”，意思就是一百个人里最好的一个。
The phrase that goes "ba3ili3tia1oyi1", means "one of the best in one 
hundred people" ("one in a hundred").
3.) 所谓“百闻不如一见”，意思就是听了很多，不如亲自去看一看。
The saying "ba3iwe2nbu4ru2yi1jia4n", means that (even if 
you) have heard a lot about something, it would be better to have a look 
at it with your own eyes("seeing is believing"). 
4.) 所谓“有志者事竟成”，意思就是有决心的人，事业一定会成功。
The saying "yo3uzhi4zhe3shi4ji4nche2ng", means that as 
long as you have the will, you will succeed in your career/efforts
("where there is a will, there is a way").