HSK 2Lesson 3
Liu Ming comes home tired, then he and Wang Yixue talk about going out together. Later they choose Xi'an and discuss Liu Ming's daily routine.
You will learn to talk about coming home, brief everyday actions, simple travel plans, and reasons for choosing a destination.
The learner will be able to talk about coming home, brief everyday actions, making simple travel plans, and reasons for choosing a destination.
Part 1 · 15 new words
Contains 4 words
to come back
to go out
to take someone somewhere; to give as a gift
to go back
Contains 5 words
to finish; complete
to wash
Contains 3 words
together
why
Contains 3 words
so; this much; like this
each; every
Part 2 · 10 phrases
今天回来这么晚啊！
You came back so late today!
工作没做完，真累。
I did not finish my work. I am really tired.
那洗洗手。
Then wash your hands.
我自己拿水。
I will get water myself.
明天我们一起出去，怎么样？
How about we go out together tomorrow?
那你想一想。
Then think it over a little.
为什么想去西安？
Why do you want to go to Xi'an?
Part 3 · 4 conversations
At home, Wang Yixue notices Liu Ming came back late and helps him settle in before dinner.
王一雪Wang Yixue
今天回来这么晚啊！
You came back so late today!
刘明Liu Ming
工作做完了，但我真累。
I finished my work, but I'm really tired.
王一雪Wang Yixue
Part 4 · 3 points
Result Complements
Put a result word directly after a verb to say whether the action becomes complete or reaches the intended state.
Action plus reached result
The first verb names what someone does; the second element states the outcome.
Keep the action and result together. 没做完
oneself; by oneself
to take; to hold
hand
not bad; pretty good
tired
我看了看网上的介绍。
I took a look at the online introduction.
刘明每天早上送孩子去学校。
Liu Ming takes the child to school every morning.
那他休息休息吧。
Then he should rest a little.
Wash your hands. I'll get you some water.
刘明Liu Ming
好，洗完手我就休息。
Okay. I'll rest after I finish washing my hands.
After dinner, Liu Ming suggests going out together and Wang Yixue needs a little time to decide.
刘明Liu Ming
明天我们一起出去，怎么样？
How about we go out together tomorrow?
王一雪Wang Yixue
不错。你想去哪儿？
Sounds good. Where do you want to go?
刘明Liu Ming
我没想好。
I have not decided.
王一雪Wang Yixue
那你想一想。
Then think it over a little.
After checking an online introduction, Wang Yixue explains that a friend there is the reason she wants to visit Xi'an.
王一雪Wang Yixue
我看了看网上的介绍，想去西安。
I took a look at the online introduction and want to go to Xi'an.
刘明Liu Ming
为什么想去西安？
Why do you want to go to Xi'an?
王一雪Wang Yixue
我有朋友在西安，也想看看那儿。
I have a friend in Xi'an, and I also want to see the place.
刘明Liu Ming
好，我们一起去吧。
Okay, let's go together.
Liu Ming explains that there is time between the school drop-off and work, then chooses to use that interval to rest.
王一雪Wang Yixue
你每天早上送孩子去学校，累吗？
You take the child to school every morning. Are you tired?
刘明Liu Ming
有一点儿。孩子八点到学校，我九点上班。
A little. The child gets to school at eight, and I start work at nine.
王一雪Wang Yixue
那你送完孩子可以回家休息一会儿。
Then you can go home and rest for a while after taking the child to school.
刘明Liu Ming
对，我送完孩子就回去休息休息，九点再上班。
Right. After taking the child to school, I'll go back and rest a little, then start work at nine.
In sentences
The action did not reach completion
工作没做完。
The work was not finished.
没méi negates the complete unit 做完zuò wán, so the endpoint was not reached.
The thinking has not reached a decision
我没想好。
I have not decided.
好hǎo marks a settled result; 没想好méi xiǎng hǎo says that result has not been reached.
Finish one task before the next
送完孩子，我还要回去上班。
After taking the child there, I still need to go back to work.
送完sòng wán says the trip with the child reaches completion before the next action.
A result complement joins an action and its outcome into one unit: action verb + result complement. In 做完zuò wán, 做zuò is the action and 完wán says it reaches completion. In 想好xiǎng hǎo, 想xiǎng is the action and 好hǎo says the thinking reaches a settled or ready result. This is more specific than merely saying the action happened: the result complement tells the listener what state the action reached. To say the result was not reached, put 没méi before the action-result unit: 没做完méi zuò wán, ‘did not finish doing it,’ or 没想好méi xiǎng hǎo, ‘have not decided.’ Do not put 了le after 没méi in this negative pattern.
Verb Reduplication (1)
Repeat a verb to present the action as brief, light, or done for a little while.
A deliberately small action
The repeated verb limits how much or how long the action happens.
Here reduplication describes the action as short. The next subtype uses the same lightness to soften what you ask another person to do.
In sentences
Report a quick completed look
我看了看网上的介绍。
I took a quick look at the online introduction.
看了看kàn le kàn reports that a limited looking action occurred.
A short rest
我休息休息。
I will rest for a little while.
The two-syllable verb 休息xiūxi repeats as ABAB to limit the rest.
Verb reduplication can limit the amount or duration of an action. A one-syllable verb may appear as VV, V一V, or V了V; a two-syllable verb commonly repeats as ABAB. 看了看kàn le kàn means someone took a quick look, and 休息休息xiūxi xiūxi means to rest for a little while. This point focuses on the size of the action itself: the speaker is reporting or choosing a limited action. V了V (V le V) places 了le between the copies to report that the brief action occurred. Do not repeat the object; place it after the reduplicated verb phrase when needed.
Verb Reduplication (2)
Use a reduplicated verb in a suggestion or instruction to make the requested action feel small and less demanding.
A small, manageable request
Reduplication reduces the weight of what you ask the listener to do.
Use this form for a real small action. Politeness comes from making the request less heavy, not from adding a formal politeness word.
In sentences
A light routine instruction
你洗洗手。
Wash your hands for a moment.
洗洗xǐxi presents the washing as a quick, ordinary step rather than a heavy command.
A gentle thinking suggestion
那你想一想。
Then think it over a little.
想一想xiǎng yi xiǎng gives the listener space to consider the choice without demanding an answer now.
The same limited-action forms can do a conversational job: they soften a suggestion or instruction by presenting it as a small, manageable action. 洗洗手xǐxi shǒu sounds lighter than a bare command because it asks for a quick routine action. 想一想xiǎng yi xiǎng asks someone to think it over a little rather than demanding an immediate final answer. The structure is still VV, V一V, or ABAB, but the learner decision is different from the previous point: use it when directing or encouraging another person and you want the request to feel gentle. Tone and context create the softening effect; reduplication does not turn every sentence into a request by itself.
Choose a short rest
好，我休息休息。
Okay, I will rest a little.
休息休息brief two-syllable action
Why it matters · The speaker accepts the plan and uses ABAB to limit the rest to a little while.
Suggest a little more thinking
那你想一想。
Then think it over a little.
想softening repeat一brief interval
Why it matters · The V一V form limits the thinking action and softens the suggestion.
