In this dialogue, three friends—Michael, Li Wei, and Chen Mei—are spending time together at a park. Michael, an American learning Mandarin, is curious about the use of measure words in Chinese. Li Wei and Chen Mei, his Chinese friends, are eager to help him understand the nuances of the language. Today, they focus on the measure word "条" (tiáo), which is commonly used for long, narrow, or flexible objects such as rivers, dogs, and snakes. Through their friendly conversation, Michael learns about the different contexts in which "条" is used and gains a deeper appreciation for the intricacies of Mandarin.
This dialogue is perfect for learners who want to explore how measure words are applied in daily conversations and understand the cultural aspects that influence their usage.
The Characters
Li Wei (李伟 lǐ wěi) - Beijing, China
Background: A 30-year-old software engineer from Beijing, graduated from Tsinghua University. Works at a top tech company. Loves movies and new technology. His analytical mind and curiosity fuel captivating conversations on films and tech innovations.
Chen Mei (陈美 chén měi) - Taipei, Taiwan
Background: A 29-year-old graphic designer from Taipei, graduated from National Taiwan University of Arts. Works at a creative agency. Enjoys traveling and trying new cuisines. Her creative flair and outgoing personality enliven discussions, especially on movies and visual arts.
Michael Johnson - New York, NY
Background: A 27-year-old international relations student at Columbia University. Passionate about languages and cultures, learning Chinese for three years. Participates in language exchange programs and plays basketball. His open-minded and friendly nature enriches conversations about cultural experiences and learning.
Scenario: Discussing long things.
Measure Word: 条 (tiáo) – For long, thin, flexible objects.
Download dialogue PDF file HERE.
These PDFs are designed to help you immerse yourself fully in the language, focusing on reading and comprehension without Pinyin or vocabulary lists. You can download, print them out, and use them for study and review at your own pace.
公园里的聊天
Michael: 今天的天气真好,我们去公园散步吧?
李伟: 好主意!公园里有一条很美的小河,我们可以去那里坐坐。
陈美: 是啊,那条小河旁边还有一条长长的小路,适合散步。
Michael: 为什么用“条”这个词来表示河和路呢?
李伟: 因为“条”是用来表示长而窄的物体,比如说河流、道路和蛇。
陈美: 对,比如说一条鱼、一条裤子,还有一条短信。
Michael: 哦,我明白了!“条”可以表示很多长的东西。
李伟: 是的,像一条围巾、一条腰带,还有一条毛巾,都是用“条”这个量词。
陈美: 还有一条街、一条隧道、一条高速公路,都是很典型的例子。
Michael: 原来如此,看来“条”这个量词的用法很广泛。
李伟: 没错,你记住这些例子,就能更好地理解“条”的用法了。
陈美: 有趣的是,“条”还可以用来表示一些抽象的事物,比如一条建议或者一条新闻。
Michael: 哦,连抽象的东西也可以用“条”啊!
李伟: 对,所以你以后在表达的时候,可以根据物体的形状或者性质选择合适的量词。
陈美: 我们学到了这么多关于“条”的用法,真有意思!
Michael: 谢谢你们的解释,我觉得我的汉语越来越好了。
李伟: 我们也很高兴能帮到你!继续加油吧!
陈美: 对,一起进步!
今天 (jīn tiān) – today
天气 (tiān qì) – weather
真 (zhēn) – really, truly
好 (hǎo) – good
我们 (wǒ men) – we, us
去 (qù) – to go
公园 (gōng yuán) – park
散步 (sàn bù) – to take a walk
吧 (ba) – particle indicating suggestion or mild command
好主意 (hǎo zhǔ yi) – good idea
公园 (gōng yuán) – park
里 (lǐ) – inside, in
一条 (yì tiáo) – one (measure word for long, narrow objects)
很 (hěn) – very
美 (měi) – beautiful
小河 (xiǎo hé) – small river
我们 (wǒ men) – we, us
可以 (kě yǐ) – can, may
去 (qù) – to go
那里 (nà lǐ) – there
看看 (kàn kan) – to have a look
那条 (nà tiáo) – that (measure word for long, narrow objects)
旁边 (páng biān) – beside, next to
还有 (hái yǒu) – also, in addition
长长 (cháng cháng) – long
小路 (xiǎo lù) – path
适合 (shì hé) – suitable for, appropriate
为什么 (wèi shén me) – why
用 (yòng) – to use
词 (cí) – multiple character unit, word
表示 (biǎo shì) – to represent, to express
因为 (yīn wèi) – because
长 (cháng) – long
窄 (zhǎi) – narrow
物体 (wù tǐ) – object
比如说 (bǐ rú shuō) – to say for example
河流 (hé liú) – river
道路 (dào lù) – road
蛇 (shé) – snake
对 (duì) – yes, correct
鱼 (yú) – fish
裤子 (kùzi) – pants
短信 (duǎnxìn) – text message
明白 (míng bái) – to understand
很多 (hěn duō) – many, a lot
东西 (dōng xi) – things
围巾 (wéi jīn) – scarf
腰带 (yāo dài) – belt
毛巾 (máo jīn) – towel
街 (jiē) – street
隧道 (suì dào) – tunnel
高速公路 (gāo sù gōng lù) – highway
典型 (diǎn xíng) – typical
例子 (lì zi) – example
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原来如此 (yuán lái rú cǐ) – I see, so that's how it is
看来 (kàn lái) – it seems, looks like
广泛 (guǎng fàn) – extensive, wide-ranging
没错 (méi cuò) – that's right
记住 (jì zhù) – to remember
理解 (lǐ jiě) – to understand, comprehend
有趣 (yǒu qù) – interesting
抽象 (chōu xiàng) – abstract
事物 (shì wù) – thing, object (can refer to abstract concepts as well)
建议 (jiàn yì) – suggestion
新闻 (xīn wén) – news
连 (lián) – even
以后 (yǐ hòu) – in the future, later
表达 (biǎo dá) – to express
根据 (gēn jù) – according to, based on
形状 (xíng zhuàng) – shape
性质 (xìng zhì) – characteristics
合适 (hé shì) – suitable
学到 (xué dào) – to learn
这么多 (zhè me duō) – so much, so many
有意思 (yǒu yì si) – interesting
解释 (jiě shì) – explanation
觉得 (jué de) – to feel, to think
越来越 (yuè lái yuè) – more and more
好了 (hǎo le) – better
高兴 (gāo xìng) – happy
帮到 (bāng dào) – to help (someone)
继续 (jì xù) – to continue
加油 (jiā yóu) – to keep going, to work hard, to cheer on
进步 (jìn bù) – to make progress, to improve
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