You may often get asked about things you like or can or cannot do; they may be sports or social activities or relate to other things such as learning languages. Can you understand what you are being asked or reply correctly?
In this Podcast, you will learn:
(i) How to inform someone what you can or cannot do
(ii) To tell others about your ability level regarding a certain topic or subject
Dialogue:
我会游泳，而且游的很好。
Wǒ huì yóu yǒng, ér qǐe yóu de hěn hǎo.
I can swim and I am very good at it
我不会游泳。
Wǒ bù huì yóu yǒng.
I cannot swim
我会说一点儿中文。
Wǒ huì shuō yī diǎn er zhōng wén.
I can speak a little Chinese
我不会说中文。
Wǒ bù huì shuō zhōng wén.
I can’t speak Chinese
我会下象棋，但是下得不好。
Wǒ huì xià xiàng qí, dàn shì xià dé bù hǎo.
I can play Chinese chess, but I’m not good at it
我不会下象棋。
Wǒ bù huì xià xiàng qí.
I can’t play Chinese chess
我会写我的中文名字。
Wǒ huì xiě wǒ de zhōng wén míng zì.
I can write my Chinese name
我不会写中文，我也没有中文名字。
Wǒ bù huì xiě zhōng wén míng zì, wǒ yě méi yǒu zhōng wén míng zì.
I can’t write Chinese, and I don’t have a Chinese name either
Chinese words and phrases mentioned in this Podcast:
会：can
不会：cannot
自行车：bicycle
骑车：ride a bicycle
能：can (under some circumstances)
游泳：swim
而且：and
……做得很好：be good at
说中文：speak Chinese
普通话／国语：Mandarin
一点儿：a little
下象棋：play Chinese chess
但是：but
写：write
中文名字：Chinese name
没有：don’t have
也：either/ too
Cultural/Grammar note:
We generally use ‘Chinese’ to refer to the language Chinese people speak, although we can also use ‘Mandarin’ (普通话，国语). In daily conversation in China, as this means standard Chinese, such as Beijing Mandarin. In America and many other countries, people usually say ‘国语’, which includes Mainland Mandarin and Taiwanese Mandarin.
Mandarin Chinese learning resources we recommend: