Level 3 - Lesson 4
This lesson helps you move from simple opinions into careful explanations: what seems difficult, what is actually unclear, and how to speak carefully when something may sound harsh.
Contains 5 words
difficult; hard
sad; upset
ugly; awkward-looking
difficult problem
unpleasant to hear; harsh-sounding
Contains 5 words
it seems; apparently
Contains 5 words
to be afraid; to worry
这个难题很难。
Zhège nántí hěn nán.
This difficult problem is hard.
其实我也没有明白。
Qíshí wǒ yě méiyǒu míngbai.
Actually, I also did not understand.
看来我们要了解清楚。
Kànlái wǒmen yào liǎojiě qīngchu.
It seems we need to understand it clearly.
这样说有点难听。
Zhèyàng shuō yǒudiǎn nántīng.
Saying it this way sounds a little harsh.
他心里会难过。
Tā xīnli huì nánguò.
Situation: Two classmates working on one exercise identify exactly what they do not understand and decide to ask the teacher.
白家月
Bai Jiayue
这个难题我没看明白。
I couldn't understand this difficult problem.
actually; in fact
to understand; to learn about
to understand; clear
clear; clearly
other
strange; odd
in one's heart; in one's mind
to be careful
球还没有下来
The ball still hasn’t come down.
球还没有下来，谁说看明白？
The ball hasn’t come down yet—who says they understand?
球还没有下来，谁说它奇怪？
The ball hasn’t come down yet—who says it’s strange?
眼睛往左，球从右边来
Eyes move left; the ball comes from the right.
其他人都说完——它还不下来
Everyone else has finished talking—it still won’t come down.
手往左，手往右，快一点，慢一点
Hands move left, hands move right—a little faster, a little slower.
前面的手，后面的眼睛
Hands in front; eyes behind them.
有人说太难，有人说难看
Some say it is too difficult; some say it looks ugly.
球还在上面——让他们认真看
The ball is still above—let them look carefully.
“小心！”我听见；怕？手还在动
“Careful!” I hear it. Afraid? My hand is still moving.
心里一个难题，手里还是球
A difficult question in my mind; the ball remains in my hand.
进还是不进？谁了解它？
Will it go in or not? Who understands it?
现在说得清楚，一会儿还是错
Say it clearly now—a moment later, it is still wrong.
球还没有下来，谁说看明白？
The ball hasn’t come down yet—who says they understand?
球还没有下来，谁说看明白？
The ball hasn’t come down yet—who says they understand?
球还没有下来，谁说它奇怪？
The ball hasn’t come down yet—who says it’s strange?
眼睛往左，球从右边来
Eyes move left; the ball comes from the right.
其他人都说完——它还不下来
Everyone else has finished talking—it still won’t come down.
开口比球快，说得真难听
Mouths open faster than the ball; what they say sounds harsh.
看来很容易，其实非常难
It looks easy; actually, it is extremely difficult.
跑得有点难看，球飞得漂亮
The running looks a little ugly; the ball flies beautifully.
有人还没有看完，心里已经难过
Someone hasn’t finished watching but already feels upset inside.
球没有说话，只让眼睛跟着走
The ball says nothing; it only makes the eyes follow.
一会儿在左，一会儿在右
One moment it is on the left, the next it is on the right.
大家看着下面——它还在上面
Everyone is looking below—it is still above.
谁说已经明白？谁还在看？
Who says they already understand? Who is still watching?
球还没有下来，谁说看明白？
The ball hasn’t come down yet—who says they understand?
球还没有下来，谁说它奇怪？
The ball hasn’t come down yet—who says it’s strange?
眼睛往左，球从右边来
Eyes move left; the ball comes from the right.
其他人都说完——它还不下来
Everyone else has finished talking—it still won’t come down.
球还没有下来
The ball still hasn’t come down.
球还没有下来
The ball still hasn’t come down.
球还没有下来
The ball still hasn’t come down.
球还没有下来
The ball still hasn’t come down.
He will feel sad inside.
我们小心一点说。
Wǒmen xiǎoxīn yìdiǎn shuō.
Let's say it a little more carefully.
其他人为什么走了？
Qítā rén wèishénme zǒu le?
Why did the other people leave?
看来有点奇怪。
Kànlái yǒudiǎn qíguài.
It seems a little strange.
这个东西难看吗？
Zhège dōngxi nánkàn ma?
Does this thing look bad?
我怕其他人说得难听。
Wǒ pà qítā rén shuō de nántīng.
I worry other people will speak harshly.
王一雪
Wang Yixue
你哪儿不明白？
Which part don't you understand?
白家月
Bai Jiayue
我不明白为什么要这样做。
I don't understand why we need to do it this way.
王一雪
Wang Yixue
其实我也不清楚。咱们去问老师吧。
Actually, I'm not sure either. Let's ask the teacher.
Situation: A classmate checks whether feedback on another student's work sounds too harsh and practices a kinder version.
王一雪
Wang Yixue
我想对他说：“你做得不好。”这样说难听吗？
I want to tell him, ‘You didn't do this well.’ Does that sound harsh?
安妮
Annie
有点难听，他听了心里会难过。
It sounds a little harsh. He might feel hurt when he hears it.
王一雪
Wang Yixue
那我怎么说？
Then how should I say it?
安妮
Annie
你可以说：“这里再认真一点，好吗？”
You can say, ‘Could you be a little more careful here?’
王一雪
Wang Yixue
好，我会小心一点说。
Okay. I'll say it more carefully.
Situation: One student saw the teacher speaking with classmates who then left; the students decide how to find out why.
刘明
Liu Ming
其他人为什么走了？
Why did the others leave?
刘小雪
Liu Xiaoxue
我也不清楚。老师和他们说过话。
I'm not sure either. The teacher spoke with them.
刘明
Liu Ming
看来老师了解这件事。
It seems the teacher knows about it.
刘小雪
Liu Xiaoxue
对，我去问老师，你在这里等我。
Right. I'll ask the teacher; wait for me here.
Situation: A student asks for honest feedback on a portrait and uses the specific answer to revise it.
白家月
Bai Jiayue
你觉得我画的这个人难看吗？
Do you think the person I drew looks bad?
王一雪
Wang Yixue
不难看，但是左边的眼睛有点奇怪。
It doesn't look bad, but the eye on the left looks a little strange.
白家月
Bai Jiayue
哪儿奇怪？你说清楚一点。
What looks strange? Be a little more specific.
王一雪
Wang Yixue
左边的眼睛太大了，右边的太小了。
The eye on the left is too big, and the one on the right is too small.
白家月
Bai Jiayue
明白了，我再画一下。
Got it. I'll draw it again.
