Discussing Books - Dialogue
Let's see who's read a good book lately
In this dialogue, Michael, Li Wei, and Chen Mei engage in a lively conversation about the books they've recently read. As they discuss their favorite genres and recommendations, they explore the use of the measure word “本” in Mandarin, which is specifically used for books and notebooks.
Michael learns more about the nuances of Chinese language while sharing his interest in history and psychology. Through their dialogue, you’ll gain insights into how to discuss books in Mandarin, understand the appropriate usage of measure words, and expand your vocabulary related to reading and literature.
Whether you're a book lover or just starting out, this dialogue will enhance your ability to talk about reading and share your literary interests in Mandarin.
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 books.
Measure Word: 本 (běn) – For books and notebooks.
Download dialogue PDF file HERE.
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Michael: 你们最近读了什么好书吗？
李伟: 我读了一本很有趣的小说，叫《追风筝的人》。
陈美: 那本书我也读过，真的很好看。
Michael: 为什么用“本”这个词来表示书呢？
李伟: 因为“本”是专门用来表示书籍和笔记本的量词。
陈美: 对，比如说一本书、一本笔记本。
Michael: 原来如此，我喜欢看历史书，最近在看一本关于二战的书。
李伟: 那本书讲了什么？
Michael: 主要讲二战的起因和一些重要战役。
陈美: 我觉得你们应该看一下那本关于中国历史的书，叫《大秦帝国》。
李伟: 我正好也想了解一下中国历史，我会找那本书来看。
Michael: 还有一本书我觉得你们会喜欢，是关于心理学的。
陈美: 我对心理学也很感兴趣，那本书叫什么名字？
Michael: 叫《思考，快与慢》，非常值得一读。
最近 (zuì jìn) = recently
读 (dú) = to read
本 (běn) = (the measure word for books and notebooks)
有趣 (yǒu qù) = to be interesting
小说 (xiǎo shuō) = novel(s)
追 (zhuī) = to chase
风筝 (fēng zhēng) = kite(s)
好看 (hǎo kàn) = a good read, looks good
表示 (biǎo shì) = to express
专门 (zhuān mén) = especially, specifically
书籍 (shū jí) = books in general
笔记本 (bǐ jì běn) = notebook(s)
量词 (liàng cí) = measure word
比如 (bǐ rú) = for example
原来如此 (yuán lái rú cǐ) = so that’s the way it is, so that’s how it works
如此 (rú cǐ) = like this
历史 (lì shǐ) = history, historical
在看 (zài kàn) = to be reading, to be watching, to be looking at
关于 (guān yú) = about, concerning
二战 (èr zhàn) = World War Two
讲了什么? (jiǎng le shén me?) = what did it talk about? what did s/he/it say?
主要 (zhǔ yào) = mainly, primarily
起因 (qǐ yīn) = cause, reason behind something
一些 (yì xiē) = some, a few
重要 (zhòng yào) = important
战役 (zhàn yì) = battles, war campaigns
看一下 (kàn yí xià) = to take a look, to check out (casual voice)
大秦 (dà qín) = Qin Dyansty
帝国 (dì guó) = empire
正好 (zhèng hǎo) = just so happens, right at this time
想了解 (xiǎng liǎo jiě) = would like to understand, learn about
会找 (huì zhǎo) = will look for
来看 (lái kàn) = to take a read, a look
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还有 (hái yǒu) = there is also, in addition
会喜欢 (huì xǐ huān) = will/would like
心理学 (xīn lǐ xué) = psychology
感兴趣 (gǎn xìng qù) = to be interested in
思考 (sī kǎo) = to contemplate, to think
快与慢 (kuài yǔ màn) = fast and slow
值得一读 (zhí dé yì dú) = worth the read, worth reading
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"对,比如说一本书、一本笔记本。"
In this sentence. What is "说" saying?