HSK 3Lesson 8
It is the last day to choose elective classes. You will hear Annie decide between painting and Yixue’s favorite computer class, ask Teacher Wang whether she has a chance, and find out who ends up in the painting class.
You will learn to make a choice, give your opinion and a reason, and offer alternatives with “or” and “if”.
Part 1 · 17 new words
Contains 5 words
to decide (to do something); to resolve
to plan; to intend
to choose; to pick
to select; to pick
opportunity; chance
Contains 6 words
best; (you) had better (do what we suggest)
for example; for instance
Contains 6 words
only; not until (later than expected)
surely; certainly
Part 2
Part 3 · 10 phrases
我已经决定去中国学汉语，还没打算住在哪儿。
I’ve already decided to go to China to study Chinese, but I haven’t planned where to live.
买手机有很多选择，我不知道怎么选。
There are many choices when buying a phone, and I don’t know how to choose.
有机会，你一定要来我家玩儿。
If you get the chance, you must come visit.
我想学一些新东西，比如画画或者做饭。
I want to learn some new things, like painting or cooking.
我认为这个办法很好，你认为呢？
I think this is a good way. What do you think?
我以为今天不上课，所以没有拿书。
I thought there was no class today, so I didn’t bring my book.
Part 4 · 4 conversations
It is the last day to choose elective classes. Annie and Xiaoxue stand in the hallway looking at the list of classes on the wall.
安妮Annie
小雪，你选了吗？
Xiaoxue, have you chosen?
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
我决定学游泳了！你呢？
I’ve decided to take swimming! And you?
安妮Annie
Part 5 · 3 points
或、或者
或者huòzhě or 或huò joins two options in a statement; in a question use 还是háishi.
Either one is fine
Two options joined by 或者huòzhě in a statement.
to believe; to think; to consider; to feel
to think (i.e. to take it to be true that ...) (Usually there is an implication that the notion is mistaken – except when expressing one's own current opinion.)
to be convinced (that sth is true); to believe; to accept sth as true
actually; in fact; really
if; in case
or (in statements)
or; possibly; maybe; perhaps
important; significant
平时，这里的人问：
Usually, people here ask:
“你怎么变成今天的自己？”
“How did you become who you are today?”
我说：“我从那里来。”
I say, “I come from there.”
那里的人刚问：“你什么时候回来？”
The people there just asked, “When are you coming back?”
“最近太忙”——我说了好多年
“I’ve been too busy lately”—I’ve said that for years.
别问我从哪里来，问那里的人
Do not ask me where I come from; ask the people there.
我说那里是我的——那里还认识我吗？
I say that place is mine—but does that place still know me?
我有时间说那里，没有时间回那里
I have time to talk about that place, but no time to go back there.
我说我从那里来，怎么不在那里？
I say I come from there—how come I am not there?
刚才还说：“没有那里，哪有今天的我？”
Just now I was still saying, “Without that place, where would the me of today be?”
刚刚听见“回去帮忙”
I had just heard, “Go back and help out.”
马上变成：“我最近很忙”
Immediately it became: “I have been really busy lately.”
我拿得快，怎么给得这么慢？
I am quick to take—how come I am this slow to give?
别人认识那里，马上认识我
Other people know that place and immediately know me.
那里的人最近见过我吗？
Have the people there seen me lately?
我拿那里的过去，来说今天的我
I use that place's past to talk about who I am today.
那里的今天，怎么又不是我的事？
How come that place's present is, again, none of my business?
我说那里教我做真的自己
I say that place taught me to be my real self.
真的自己，只在这里说？
My real self—only talked about here?
那里要的，不是我又说一次
What that place wants is not for me to say it one more time.
是我回去一次，是我帮忙一次
It is for me to go back once, to help out once.
别问我从哪里来，问那里的人
Do not ask me where I come from; ask the people there.
我说那里是我的——那里还认识我吗？
I say that place is mine—but does that place still know me?
我有时间说那里，没有时间回那里
I have time to talk about that place, but no time to go back there.
我说我从那里来，怎么不在那里？
I say I come from there—how come I am not there?
前年我说没有时间
The year before last, I said I had no time.
后来有了时间，人还是不在
Later I had time, but I still was not there.
前天我又说没有时间
The day before yesterday, again I said I had no time.
今天还是这样说
Today I am still saying it this way.
我说秋天回去最好
I say autumn is the best time to go back.
秋天到了，我还是说很忙
Autumn arrived; I still said I was busy.
最好的时间，怎么总是明天？
How come the best time is always tomorrow?
明天到了，回去又变成“后来”
Tomorrow arrived; returning turned into “later” again.
我说我的一半还在那里
I say half of me is still there.
我不给那里半个小时
I will not give that place half an hour.
我说那里是我的
I say that place is mine.
我的时间，怎么一点都不是那里的？
How come not one bit of my time belongs to that place?
回去要走多久？一刻
How long does it take to go back? A quarter hour.
那里的人等了多久？好久
How long did the people there wait? A long time.
路没有变远
The road did not get farther.
好多年，我总说“后来”
For years, I kept saying “later.”
别问我从哪里来，问那里的人
Do not ask me where I come from; ask the people there.
我说那里是我的——那里还认识我吗？
I say that place is mine—but does that place still know me?
我有时间说那里，没有时间回那里
I have time to talk about that place, but no time to go back there.
我说我从那里来，怎么不在那里？
I say I come from there—how come I am not there?
最后——“我从那里来”
Finally—“I come from there.”
这样说没有错
Saying this is not wrong.
错的是，我只爱那里的过去
What is wrong is that I love only the past of that place.
不爱那里的现在
I do not love its present.
那里的人认识的，也是过去的我
What the people there know is also the me of the past.
我相信你，你一定能做好。
I believe in you. You can certainly do it.
他说话说得很快，其实他才学了一年汉语。
He speaks very fast, but actually he has studied Chinese for only a year.
如果你有问题，就给我打电话。
If you have a problem, call me.
红色或者黑色的都行，重要的是你喜欢。
Red or black is fine; what matters is that you like it.
我还没决定。这儿有六门课，我都想学。
I haven’t decided. There are six classes here and I want them all.
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
六门都选？你有六个选择，打算怎么选呢？
All six? You have six choices. How do you plan to pick?
安妮Annie
我想选一个没学过的新课。
I want a new class, one I’ve never taken.
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
那就选画画！你爸爸是画家，你一定喜欢画画。
Then take painting! Your dad is a painter, so you’ll surely like it.
安妮Annie
我爸爸是画家，但是我自己没画过。不过这是个机会，我想试试！
My dad is a painter, but I’ve never painted myself. Still, this is a chance, and I want to try!
Yixue finds Annie with the list of classes and has already made a plan for her.
王一雪Wang Yixue
安妮！这些课我都看过了，最好选电脑课，对找工作有用。
Annie! I’ve looked at all these classes. You’d best take the computer class; it helps with finding a job.
安妮Annie
电脑课？我以为你会说汉语课呢。
The computer class? I thought you’d say the Chinese class.
王一雪Wang Yixue
汉语你每天都在学，要选别的，比如电脑课。
You study Chinese every day, so pick something else, like the computer class.
安妮Annie
我认为画画课更有意思。
I think the painting class is more fun.
王一雪Wang Yixue
画画？我认为太慢了，学不到什么。
Painting? I think it’s too slow, and you won’t learn much.
安妮Annie
慢有什么不好？我就想慢慢画，不想每天都着急。
What’s wrong with slow? I want to paint slowly and not rush every day.
王一雪Wang Yixue
行吧，你决定！
Fine, you decide!
Annie goes to Teacher Wang to ask about the painting class.
安妮Annie
王老师，我想选画画课，可以吗？
Teacher Wang, I’d like to take the painting class. May I?
王老师Teacher Wang
画画课？我相信你会喜欢的。你的汉字写得很漂亮，画画你也行。
The painting class? I believe you’ll like it. Your characters are beautiful, and you can paint too.
安妮Annie
真的吗？我想学，但是不知道我行不行。
Really? I want to learn, but I don’t know if I can do it.
王老师Teacher Wang
如果你喜欢画画，就每个星期都来，一定行。
If you like painting, come every week, and you’ll certainly manage.
安妮Annie
太好了！我才来北京三个星期，就有这个机会！
Great! I’ve only been in Beijing three weeks, and I already have this chance!
王老师Teacher Wang
别急，其实画画课只收六个人，现在已经有四个人了。
Don’t rush. Actually the painting class takes only six people, and there are already four.
安妮Annie
那我是第五个！我现在就写名字，我一定要上这个课！
Then I’m the fifth! I’ll write my name right now. I definitely want to take this class!
Annie hands in her list. Yixue finds out which classes she picked.
王一雪Wang Yixue
安妮，星期五你打算怎么办？只能选一个，或者画画，或者游泳。
Annie, what are you going to do about Friday? You can only choose one: either painting or swimming.
安妮Annie
我两个都选！画画在上午，游泳在晚上，时间不一样。
I’m taking both! Painting is in the morning and swimming in the evening, so the times are different.
王一雪Wang Yixue
你什么时候这么有办法了？我才是想办法的人！
Since when are you so resourceful? I’m the one who comes up with ways!
安妮Annie
是跟你学的！你呢？电脑课还是画画课，选了哪个？
I learned it from you! And you? Computer or painting, which did you pick?
王一雪Wang Yixue
电脑课……其实我也想学画画。
Computer... actually I’d like to learn painting too.
安妮Annie
会不会画不重要，重要的是我们一起学！如果你来，我们就坐在一起。
Whether we can paint doesn’t matter. What matters is learning together! If you join, we’ll sit together.
王一雪Wang Yixue
行，我也选画画！
All right, I’ll take painting too!
Annie asks 电脑课还是画画课diànnǎo kè háishi huàhuà kè as a question with 还是háishi; in a statement, 或者huòzhě would be used.
In sentences
Statement
明天上午或者下午，我都有时间。
Tomorrow morning or afternoon, I’m free.
或者huòzhě in a statement.
Question
你想上午去还是下午去？
Do you want to go in the morning or in the afternoon?
还是háishi in a question.
明天下午或者晚上，我都有时间。
I’m free tomorrow afternoon or evening.
A：我们星期六去还是星期天去？ B：星期六或者星期天都行。
A: Shall we go on Saturday or Sunday? B: Saturday or Sunday, either is fine.
我想买红色或黑色的手机。
I want to buy a red or black phone.
去北京，你可以坐火车或者飞机。
To get to Beijing, you can take a train or a plane.
星期五安妮可以选画画或者游泳，也可以两个都选。
On Fridays Annie can choose painting or swimming, or take both.
或者huòzhě means or when you offer two possibilities in a statement: 星期六或者星期天都行xīngqīliù huòzhě xīngqītiān dōu xíng, Saturday or Sunday is fine. 或huò is the short form, more common in writing and with single characters or short words: 红色或黑色hóngsè huò hēisè. The two options come on either side of the word, in the same form: 坐火车或者飞机zuò huǒchē huòzhě fēijī. 或者huòzhě can also start a new idea: 或者你来我家huòzhě nǐ lái wǒ jiā, or you could come to my place. Key constraint: use 或者huòzhě and 或huò in statements and 还是háishi in questions. Learners often use 或者huòzhě where a question needs 还是háishi: to ask which, say 你喝茶还是咖啡nǐ hē chá háishi kāfēi. Compare 你想喝茶还是咖啡nǐ xiǎng hē chá háishi kāfēi, a question that asks which with 茶或者咖啡都行chá huòzhě kāfēi dōu xíng, a statement that says either is fine.
或者……，或者……
或者huòzhě … 或者huòzhě … lays out two possible plans, one in each half.
Either… or…
Each option has its own 或者huòzhě.
Yixue says 或者画画，或者游泳huòzhě huàhuà, huòzhě yóuyǒng to make Annie choose one.
In sentences
Plans
或者你来，或者我去。
Either you come, or I go.
A full clause after each 或者huòzhě.
Habit
星期天我或者看电影，或者在家睡觉。
On Sundays I either watch a movie or sleep at home.
The subject comes first.
或者你来我家，或者我去你家，都可以。
Either you come to my place or I go to yours; both are fine.
A：这个星期天你做什么？ B：或者看电影，或者在家睡觉。
A: What are you doing this Sunday? B: Either watching a movie or sleeping at home.
他每天晚上或者读书，或者看电视，很少出去。
Every evening he either reads or watches TV, and rarely goes out.
下雨的时候，我们或者在家做饭，或者去饭馆吃。
When it rains, we either cook at home or eat out.
一雪说，安妮只能选一个，或者画画，或者游泳。
Yixue said Annie could only choose one, either painting or swimming.
Put 或者huòzhě in front of each option to say either this or that: 或者你来，或者我去huòzhě nǐ lái, huòzhě wǒ qù, either you come or I go. Each half is a verb phrase or a clause, the subject can be shared or different, and the speaker has not chosen yet. It is typical for plans and suggestions: 星期天我或者看电影，或者在家睡觉xīngqītiān wǒ huòzhě kàn diànyǐng, huòzhě zài jiā shuìjiào. Key constraint: both halves use the same word 或者huòzhě, and the sentence is a statement. It is not used to ask a question: to ask, say 你去不去nǐ qù bu qù? Compare 或者……，或者…… (either… or…, two open options) with 不是……就是…… (it is one or the other).
如果……，就……
如果rúguǒ gives a condition, and 就jiù in the second half gives the result.
If… then…
The condition first, then 就jiù and the result.
Teacher Wang says 如果你喜欢画画，就每个星期都来rúguǒ nǐ xǐhuan huàhuà, jiù měi ge xīngqī dōu lái.
In sentences
Plan
如果明天下雨，我们就在家。
If it rains tomorrow, we’ll stay home.
就jiù begins the result.
Advice
如果你累了，就休息一下。
If you’re tired, take a rest.
The result is advice.
如果他今天不来，我们就自己做。
If he doesn’t come today, we’ll do it ourselves.
A：如果你有问题怎么办？ B：我就给老师打电话。
A: What will you do if you have a problem? B: I’ll call the teacher.
如果你想吃东西，就吃点儿面包，桌子上有。
If you want something to eat, have some bread; there’s some on the table.
如果我有钱，就去外国学习汉语。
If I had money, I would go abroad to study Chinese.
如果一雪也选画画，安妮就不会一个人了。
If Yixue also picks painting, Annie won’t be on her own.
如果rúguǒ means if. It starts the condition, and 就jiù comes before the verb in the result: 如果明天下雨，我们就在家看电影rúguǒ míngtiān xiàyǔ, wǒmen jiù zài jiā kàn diànyǐng. The condition comes first, a comma follows, and 就jiù links it to what will happen. Both halves can have their own subject. 如果rúguǒ can sit after the subject: 你如果喜欢画画，就来吧nǐ rúguǒ xǐhuan huàhuà, jiù lái ba. Key constraint: the result part needs 就jiù or another adverb like 也yě before the verb; 所以suǒyǐ is wrong here. A common mistake is to use 所以suǒyǐ: ✗ 如果你有时间，所以来我家rúguǒ nǐ yǒu shíjiān, suǒyǐ lái wǒ jiā, ✓
会不会画不重要，重要的是我们一起学！如果你来，我们就坐在一起。
Whether we can paint doesn’t matter. What matters is learning together! If you join, we’ll sit together.
Why it matters · 如果你来，我们就坐在一起rúguǒ nǐ lái, wǒmen jiù zuò zài yìqǐ: a condition and what follows.
