HSK 3Lesson 5
Annie needs Friday morning off, but Friday is a quiz day. You will hear her ask Teacher Wang, help Xiaoxue think about the holiday trip home, get Yixue’s checklist, and borrow a bag.
You will learn to ask for time off, say what you need, should or are willing to do, and borrow something from a friend.
Part 1 · 17 new words
Contains 7 words
to request leave of absence
to go on vacation; to have a holiday; to take leave
vacation
to agree; to consent
to request; to require
won't do; be out of the question
OK; all right; to be capable
Contains 7 words
to feel embarrassed; to find it embarrassing
need not
Contains 3 words
to lend; to borrow
for; for the purpose of; in order to
Part 2
Part 3 · 10 phrases
我明天要去医院，想请假一天，可以吗？
I have to go to the hospital tomorrow. May I take a day off?
不好意思，今天太忙了，明天可以吗？
Sorry, I’m too busy today. Is tomorrow OK?
爸爸这个月休假，所以假期我们可以去外地玩儿。
Dad is on leave this month, so we can travel out of town over the break.
老师同意了，但是要求我们明天早上八点到学校。
The teacher agreed, but requires us to be at school at eight tomorrow morning.
你需要帮忙，就给我打电话，我晚上都在家。
If you need help, call me. I’m home every evening.
天冷了，你应该多穿点儿衣服，该买新的了。
It’s cold. You should wear more, and it’s time to buy new clothes.
Part 4 · 4 conversations
Annie goes to Teacher Wang's office on Monday morning. She needs Friday morning off, but Friday is a quiz day.
安妮Annie
王老师，不好意思，我想请假。星期五上午我有事要办。
Teacher Wang, excuse me, I’d like to ask for leave. I have something to take care of on Friday morning.
王老师Teacher Wang
星期五上午？星期五有考试，不行啊。
Friday morning? There’s a quiz on Friday. That won’t work.
Part 5 · 3 points
需要、该、应该、愿意、得
需要xūyào, 应该yīnggāi, 该gāi, 得děi and 愿意yuànyì say what is needed, advised, required or freely chosen.
Choose the right word
Pick the word that fits how strongly the action is needed.
to need; to want; to demand; to require; needs
ought to; should
should; ought to
to wish; to want
to have to; must
for; for the sake of
好多人来了——安静下来
A lot of people have come—quiet down.
我往前你往前，我往左你往左
I move forward, you move forward; I move left, you move left.
还没有唱，你已经在学
I have not even sung yet; you are already copying.
谁跟谁？现在看
Who is following whom? Watch now.
这两个差不多？你说差不多
These two are almost the same? You say they are almost the same.
差一个我，还不多？
You are missing one whole me—isn’t that a lot?
你更像我，怎么更不像你？
You look more like me; how do you look even less like yourself?
不唱好像是你，一唱还是我
When we do not sing, it seems like you; once we sing, it is still me.
快——你也快；慢——你也慢
Fast—you are fast too; slow—you are slow too.
我不动，你也不动，谁在前面？
I do not move; you do not move either. Who is in front?
我唱错一次，你也错一次
I sing it wrong once; you get it wrong once too.
我的错你也学——这就不同
You copy even my mistake—that is the difference.
我的错也要？认真极了
You want even my mistake? Extremely diligent.
谁学得最像？比如你
Who copies me most closely? You, for example.
看起来像大人，学我像孩子
You look like an adult; you copy me like a child.
你比较忙——忙着学我
You are fairly busy—busy copying me.
你唱完，大家还在等；等谁？你清楚
You finish singing; everyone is still waiting. Waiting for whom? You know.
这两个差不多？你说差不多
These two are almost the same? You say they are almost the same.
差一个我，还不多？
You are missing one whole me—isn’t that a lot?
你更像我，怎么更不像你？
You look more like me; how do you look even less like yourself?
不唱好像是你，一唱还是我
When we do not sing, it seems like you; once we sing, it is still me.
你的歌长，我的歌短
Your song is long; mine is short.
我不唱，大家跟着唱
I do not sing; everyone sings along.
唱谁的？我的——你清楚
Whose are they singing? Mine—you know.
你叫好多人来，都在学我
You call a lot of people over; they are all copying me.
好多个你，还是差一个我
So many yous, still missing one me.
房间，还是那个大小
The room is still that same size.
人没有少——离你更远
There are no fewer people—they are farther away from you.
你想比我大，怎么还在后面？
You want to be bigger than me; why are you still behind me?
现在——不唱
Now—not singing.
时间——都给你
The time—all for you.
没有我在前面，你唱什么？
Without me in front, what do you sing?
唱来唱去，还是我唱过的
You sing around and around, still singing what I sang before.
大家不跟你，只等我回来
No one follows you; they are only waiting for me to return.
这两个差不多？你说差不多
These two are almost the same? You say they are almost the same.
差一个我，还不多？
You are missing one whole me—isn’t that a lot?
你更像我，怎么更不像你？
You look more like me; how do you look even less like yourself?
不唱好像是你，一唱还是我
When we do not sing, it seems like you; once we sing, it is still me.
你更像我
You look more like me.
怎么更不像你？
How do you look even less like yourself?
怎么更不像你？
How do you look even less like yourself?
你愿意跟我学做饭吗？我可以教你。
Would you like to learn to cook with me? I can teach you.
我跟朋友借了一本书，明天就给他送回去。
I borrowed a book from a friend and will take it back to him tomorrow.
为了考试，今天晚上我必须读书。
For the exam, I have to study tonight.
你不用买苹果，我家有很多，你拿几个吧。
You don’t need to buy apples. We have lots at home, so take a few.
安妮Annie
我要去的那儿，星期六、星期天不上班，下午我也有课。我真的需要去。
The place I have to go to isn’t open on Saturday or Sunday, and I have class in the afternoon. I really need to go.
王老师Teacher Wang
什么事这么急？
What’s so urgent?
安妮Annie
是我来北京的第一件大事，只能星期五上午去。
It’s my first big errand in Beijing, and Friday morning is the only time I can go.
王老师Teacher Wang
好吧，我同意。但是我有一个要求：你得写一下为什么请假，星期四给我，别丢了。
All right, I agree. But I have one requirement: you have to write down why you’re asking for leave and give it to me on Thursday. Don’t lose it.
安妮Annie
不会的！我丢过一次包了，这次会小心！谢谢王老师！
I won’t! I already lost a bag once, so I’ll be careful this time. Thank you, Teacher Wang!
In the dorm hallway, Annie finds Xiaoxue frowning at her phone.
安妮Annie
小雪，怎么了？你好像不高兴。
Xiaoxue, what’s wrong? You don’t look happy.
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
假期快到了，我想回家，但是机票太贵了。
The holiday is coming and I want to go home, but the plane ticket is too expensive.
安妮Annie
要多少钱？
How much is it?
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
票要五百多块！我妈妈休假三天，在家等我呢。
Five hundred and something! My mom has three days off and is waiting for me at home.
安妮Annie
那你可以等几天，票可能会便宜一点儿。
Then you could wait a few days. The ticket might get cheaper.
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
我愿意等，但是假期只有一个星期，我不能等太多天。
I’m willing to wait, but the holiday is only a week, so I can’t wait too many days.
安妮Annie
那我们一起想办法吧！一雪最会上网找票了，我给她打个电话。
Then let’s find a way together! Yixue is the best at finding tickets online. I’ll phone her.
Yixue arrives in the hallway with a plan for Friday on her phone, as always.
王一雪Wang Yixue
安妮，星期五要拿的东西，我给你写好了。你看，三个东西，少一个都不行！
Annie, I’ve written down what you need to take on Friday. Look, three things, and not one can be missing!
安妮Annie
你真好！我是不是应该早点儿去？
You’re the best! Should I go early?
王一雪Wang Yixue
应该！为了你的事，我上网看了两个小时，你必须都拿好。
You should! I spent two hours online for your errand, so you must bring everything.
安妮Annie
好好好！我一个人去就行吗？
Yes, yes, yes! Is it all right if I go alone?
王一雪Wang Yixue
你的汉语已经很好了，不用担心。我星期五上午没有课，和你一起去！
Your Chinese is already good, so don’t worry. I have no class on Friday morning, so I’m going with you!
安妮Annie
太好了！那我们几点出门好呢？
Great! So what time should we leave?
王一雪Wang Yixue
七点半吧。你看，都十点了，该睡觉了！
Seven thirty. And look, it’s already ten. Time for bed!
The next day, Annie finds Xiaoxue in her room and asks to borrow her big bag for Friday.
安妮Annie
小雪，你的书包可以借我用一下吗？我的包太小，星期五的东西拿不了。
Xiaoxue, could I borrow your schoolbag? My bag is too small for what I have to carry on Friday.
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
行啊。你用几天？
Sure. How many days?
安妮Annie
就星期五一天，下午我给你送回来。
Just Friday. I’ll bring it back to you in the afternoon.
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
没问题，我这个星期都不用。里面还有两个包子，你要吃吗？
No problem, I won’t use it all week. There are two baozi inside, want them?
安妮Annie
要！……对了，你的机票怎么样了？
Yes! ...Oh, how is your plane ticket?
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
一雪帮我找到了便宜的票！为了早一天回家，我愿意星期五晚上就走。
Yixue found me a cheap ticket! To get home a day earlier, I’m willing to leave Friday night.
安妮Annie
太好了！我真为你高兴，也为你妈妈高兴！
That’s great! I’m so happy for you, and for your mom too!
Teacher Wang says 你得写一下为什么请假nǐ děi xiě yíxià wèishénme qǐngjià, a condition Annie must meet.
In sentences
Should
你应该早点儿睡觉。
You should go to bed earlier.
Advice with 应该yīnggāi.
Willing
我愿意帮你。
I’m willing to help you.
Your own choice with 愿意yuànyì.
你应该多喝水，不应该只喝咖啡。
You should drink more water, not just coffee.
我得走了，明天早上有课。
I have to go; I have class tomorrow morning.
A：你愿意跟我们一起去吗？ B：愿意，但是我需要问问妈妈。
A: Are you willing to go with us? B: Yes, but I need to ask my mom first.
这个星期天我需要你的帮忙，可以吗？
I need your help this Sunday. Is that OK?
安妮得写一下为什么请假，星期四给王老师。
Annie has to write down why she is asking for leave and give it to Teacher Wang on Thursday.
小雪愿意等几天，但是假期只有一个星期。
Xiaoxue is willing to wait a few days, but the holiday is only one week.
These words come before the verb and show how the speaker sees the action. 需要xūyào means need and can take a noun too: 我需要你的帮忙wǒ xūyào nǐ de bāngmáng. 应该yīnggāi and 该gāi give advice or say what is right: 你应该休息nǐ yīnggāi xiūxi. 得děi means have to and is stronger, said when someone must: 你得写一下nǐ děi xiě yíxià. 愿意yuànyì means to be willing, a choice of your own: 我愿意等wǒ yuànyì děng. The negative of 应该yīnggāi is 不应该bù yīnggāi; for 得děi say 不用búyòng when it isn't needed. Key constraint: 应该yīnggāi, 该gāi, 得děi and 愿意yuànyì are followed by a verb, and only 需要xūyào takes a noun. A common mistake is to use 应该yīnggāi with a noun: ✗ 我应该你的帮忙wǒ yīnggāi nǐ de bāngmáng, ✓ 我需要你的帮忙wǒ xūyào nǐ de bāngmáng. Compare 应该yīnggāi, advice with 得děi, no choice: 你应该休息you should rest is advice, 你得休息you have to rest is an order.
不必、不用
不用búyòng + verb says there is no need to do it.
No need
不用búyòng before a verb says it isn’t necessary.
Yixue tells Annie 不用担心búyòng dānxīn because her Chinese is already good.
In sentences
No need
你不用来。
You don’t need to come.
不用búyòng before the verb.
Don’t
你不要来。
Don’t come.
不要búyào is an order.
晚上我做饭，你不用买吃的。
I’m cooking tonight, so you don’t need to buy food.
A：我帮你拿吧？ B：不用，我拿得动。
A: Shall I carry it for you? B: No need, I can manage.
明天不上课，你不用起床那么早。
There’s no class tomorrow, so you don’t need to get up that early.
这件事我来办，你不用担心。
I’ll take care of it, so you don’t need to worry.
今天不用做饭，我们去饭馆吃吧。
No need to cook today. Let’s eat at a restaurant.
不用búyòng goes before a verb and means you do not need to do it: 你不用来nǐ búyòng lái. It is the usual answer to an offer, such as 我帮你拿吧wǒ bāng nǐ ná ba, 不用búyòng. It can also stand alone as a short “no need”. It is the negative of 得děi and 需要xūyào, so you can say 不用担心búyòng dānxīn to reassure someone. Key constraint: 不用búyòng says there is no need, while 不要búyào tells someone not to do something. Compare 你不用来 (you don't need to come) with 你不要来don't come. A common mistake is to put 不用búyòng after the verb: ✗
为了、为2
为了wèile + goal, then the action: the goal comes first and explains why.
Purpose first
The goal comes first, then the action that serves it.
Xiaoxue says 为了早一天回家，我愿意星期五晚上就走wèile zǎo yì tiān huíjiā, wǒ yuànyì xīngqīwǔ wǎnshang jiù zǒu.
In sentences
Purpose
为了考试，他每天读书。
To prepare for the exam, he studies every day.
为了wèile leads, a comma follows.
For someone
我为你高兴。
I’m happy for you.
为wèi + person + feeling.
为了跟朋友见面，他坐了两个小时的地铁。
To see his friend, he rode the subway for two hours.
A：你为什么学汉语？ B：为了去中国工作。
A: Why are you learning Chinese? B: To work in China.
为了身体好，他每天早上跑步。
To stay healthy, he runs every morning.
你学会了做饭，妈妈也为你高兴。
You’ve learned to cook, and Mom is happy for you too.
一雪为了安妮的事，上网看了两个小时。
Yixue spent two hours online for Annie’s errand.
为了wèile introduces a purpose: 为了回家，他买了票wèile huíjiā, tā mǎi le piào. The goal comes first, then what you do for it, and a comma separates the two parts. 为wèi alone means for the sake of someone and goes with a person and a feeling or an action: 为你高兴wèi nǐ gāoxìng. 为了wèile can also be placed after the subject: 他为了回家买了票tā wèile huíjiā mǎi le piào. Key constraint: 为了wèile gives the goal, not a reason that already happened; for the reason, use 因为yīnwèi. A common mistake is to use 为了wèile for a reason: ✗ 为了我很累，所以休息wèile wǒ hěn lèi, suǒyǐ xiūxi, ✓ 因为我很累，所以休息yīnwèi wǒ hěn lèi, suǒyǐ xiūxi
Yixue found me a cheap ticket! To get home a day earlier, I’m willing to leave Friday night.
Why it matters · 为了早一天回家wèile zǎo yì tiān huíjiā states the goal before the action.
