Level 3 - Lesson 39
This lesson turns classroom choices and reading tasks into clear explanations. You will use 当然 (dāngrán) for a confident answer, recognize 除了...以外 (chúle... yǐwài) in exception phrases, use 对...来说 (duì... lái shuō) for viewpoint, and use 不但...而且 (bùdàn... érqiě) to link two qualities.
Contains 4 words
of course; naturally
can; may; word part in 可爱 (kě'ài) and 可是 (kěshì)
but; however
to think mistakenly; to assume
Contains 3 words
not only
Contains 4 words
besides; apart from
Contains 2 words
cute; lovable
当然可以
dāngrán kěyǐ
of course you can
有问题的话
yǒu wèntí de huà
if there is a problem
除了我以外
chúle wǒ yǐwài
besides me; apart from me
不但安静，而且安全
bùdàn ānjìng, érqiě ānquán
not only quiet, but also safe
可不可以选这个班
kě bù kěyǐ xuǎn zhège bān
can I choose this class?
Situation: A student compares two actual class times with a teacher and chooses the afternoon class because it fits a long commute.
老师 | teacher
上午班八点开始，下午班两点开始。你想选哪个？
The morning class starts at eight, and the afternoon class starts at two. Which do you want to choose?
不但...而且
Use 不但...而且 (bùdàn... érqiě) to say that something has one quality or action and also has a second one.
Add a second reason
Use 不但...而且 (bùdàn... érqiě) to give one quality and then add another one.
and also; moreover
for; from the viewpoint of
and above; or more
outside of; apart from
and below; or less
noun suffix
很可爱
hěn kě'ài
very cute
可是老师今天在办公室
kěshì lǎoshī jīntiān zài bàngōngshì
but the teacher is in the office today
对我来说
duì wǒ lái shuō
for me; from my point of view
三页以上
sān yè yǐshàng
three pages or more
学校以外
xuéxiào yǐwài
outside school
我以为老师也去
wǒ yǐwéi lǎoshī yě qù
I thought the teacher was going too
三页以下
sān yè yǐxià
three pages or fewer
这个句子给孩子读
zhège jùzi gěi háizi dú
read this sentence to the child
学生 | student
我住得远，早上坐车要一个小时。
I live far away, and the morning trip takes an hour.
老师 | teacher
那对你来说，下午班是不是更合适？
Then for you, is the afternoon class more suitable?
学生 | student
是。选下午班不但时间合适，而且不用早起。我就选下午班。
Yes. Choosing the afternoon class not only fits my schedule, but also means I do not have to get up early. I will choose it.
Situation: A student confirms the reading minimum and learns what to do if an unknown word appears.
学生 | student
今天要读三页以上，对吗？
We need to read at least three pages today, right?
老师 | teacher
对，两页以下不够。
Right. Two pages or fewer is not enough.
学生 | student
有不认识的字的话，怎么办？
What should I do if there is a word I do not recognize?
老师 | teacher
先画下来，下课以后当然可以问我。
Mark it first, and of course you can ask me after class.
Situation: Two students confirm the library group and directly correct the mistaken belief that their teacher can join.
学生 | student
今天下午谁去图书馆？
Who is going to the library this afternoon?
学生 | student
除了我以外，王一雪也去。
Besides me, Wang Yixue is going too.
学生 | student
我以为老师也去。
I thought the teacher was going too.
学生 | student
可是老师下午要开会。只有我们两个人去。
But the teacher has a meeting this afternoon. Only the two of us are going.
Situation: Two teachers compare two actual sentences and select the one whose length and familiar words fit a child reader.
老师 | teacher
给孩子读“可爱的小猫在睡觉”还是“天气越来越冷”？
Should the child read ‘The cute kitten is sleeping’ or ‘The weather is getting colder and colder’?
老师 | teacher
对孩子来说，第一句更简单。
For the child, the first sentence is simpler.
老师 | teacher
为什么第一句更合适？
Why is the first sentence more suitable?
老师 | teacher
第一句不但短，而且里面的字孩子都认识。就用第一句吧。
The first sentence is not only short, but its words are also familiar to the child. Let's use the first sentence.
In 选下午班不但时间合适，而且不用早起 (xuǎn xiàwǔ bān bùdàn shíjiān héshì, érqiě búyòng zǎoqǐ), both linked parts support choosing the afternoon class.
Both 时间合适 (shíjiān héshì), the time is suitable, and 不用早起 (búyòng zǎoqǐ), no need to get up early, support the same choice.
选下午班不但时间合适，而且不用早起。
Choosing the afternoon class not only fits the schedule, but also means not having to get up early.
Both reasons directly support the child's ability to read the sentence.
第一句不但短，而且里面的字孩子都认识。
The first sentence is not only short, but its words are also familiar to the child.
读课文 (dú kèwén) and 回答问题 (huídá wèntí) are parallel action phrases, so 不但...而且 (bùdàn... érqiě) adds the second classroom action to the first.
他不但读课文，而且回答问题。
He not only reads the lesson text, but also answers questions.
选下午班不但时间合适，而且不用早起。
Choosing the afternoon class not only fits the schedule, but also means not having to get up early.
第一句不但短，而且里面的字孩子都认识。
The first sentence is not only short, but its words are also familiar to the child.
他不但读课文，而且回答问题。
He not only reads the lesson text, but also answers questions.
Dialogue 01: Choosing a Class for a Long Commute, Turn 4
Two benefits of the afternoon class
是。选下午班不但时间合适，而且不用早起。我就选下午班。
Yes. Choosing the afternoon class not only fits my schedule, but also means I do not have to get up early. I will choose it.
Dialogue 04: Choosing a Sentence a Child Can Read, Turn 4
Two readability reasons
第一句不但短，而且里面的字孩子都认识。就用第一句吧。
The first sentence is not only short, but its words are also familiar to the child. Let's use the first sentence.
不但...而且 (bùdàn... érqiě) links two matching ideas. The part after 不但 (bùdàn) gives the first quality, reason, or action, and the part after 而且 (érqiě) adds a parallel second one. In 选下午班不但时间合适，而且不用早起 (xuǎn xiàwǔ bān bùdàn shíjiān héshì, érqiě búyòng zǎoqǐ), two benefits support the same class choice. In 他不但读课文，而且回答问题 (tā bùdàn dú kèwén, érqiě huídá wèntí), the two linked parts are both actions.
对...来说
Use 对...来说 (duì... lái shuō) before an opinion to say whose viewpoint the sentence follows.
Frame a personal viewpoint
Use 对...来说 (duì... lái shuō) before an opinion to show whose viewpoint matters.
In 对孩子来说，第一句更简单 (duì háizi lái shuō, dì-yī jù gèng jiǎndān), the child's reading ability is the relevant viewpoint.
对你来说 (duì nǐ lái shuō) connects the question to this student's commute and needs.
对你来说，下午班是不是更合适？
For you, is the afternoon class more suitable?
对孩子来说 (duì háizi lái shuō) evaluates difficulty for the child reader rather than universally.
对孩子来说，第一句更简单。
For the child, the first sentence is simpler.
对你来说，下午班是不是更合适？
For you, is the afternoon class more suitable?
对孩子来说，第一句更简单。
For the child, the first sentence is simpler.
Dialogue 01: Choosing a Class for a Long Commute, Turn 3
A commute-specific viewpoint
那对你来说，下午班是不是更合适？
Then for you, is the afternoon class more suitable?
Dialogue 04: Choosing a Sentence a Child Can Read, Turn 2
A child's viewpoint
对孩子来说，第一句更简单。
For the child, the first sentence is simpler.
对...来说 (duì... lái shuō) sets the point of view that matters for an opinion or decision. In 对你来说，下午班是不是更合适 (duì nǐ lái shuō, xiàwǔ bān shì bú shì gèng héshì), the teacher evaluates the class for a particular student's commute. In 对孩子来说，第一句更简单 (duì háizi lái shuō, dì-yī jù gèng jiǎndān), the sentence is judged for a child reader rather than for an adult. Use this frame when the answer may differ for another person.
