HSK 4Lesson 10
Talking with others means saying what you think and why. You will give your view in class, guess and doubt in a small mystery, compare two cities, and discuss a claim you read online.
You will learn to give your own view, back it up or doubt it, and compare things by area or by example.
Part 1 · 21 new words
Contains 12 words
view; opinion
claim; way of putting it
to express; to show
to explain; to illustrate
to raise; to bring up
to put forward; to raise
to mention
to point out
to talk; to discuss
to discuss; to talk over
detailed; in detail
besides; what's more
Contains 5 words
to prove; proof
to be sure; definite
Contains 4 words
circumstances; state of affairs; situation
characteristic; feature
Part 2 · 9 phrases
对这个电影，我的看法跟你不一样。
My view of this movie is different from yours.
有一种说法：多吃鱼，人会变聪明。
There's a saying that eating more fish makes people smarter.
老师指出了我的问题，还提出了三个建议。
The teacher pointed out my problems and also put forward three suggestions.
王老师在课上提到过这本书，我就去买了。
Teacher Wang mentioned this book in class, so I went and bought it.
他对我们的帮助表示感谢。
He expressed thanks for our help.
看天气，我估计明天要下雨。
Judging by the weather, I think it will rain tomorrow.
Part 3 · 4 conversations
Teacher Wang asks Liu Ming for his view on phones in class, presses him for detail and a solution, and asks him to put it to the class.
王老师Teacher Wang
关于上课用手机这件事，你先谈谈自己的看法吧。
On using phones in class, tell me your own view first.
刘明Liu Ming
我的看法是可以用，但是只能在学习的时候用。
My view is that we can use them, but only for studying.
Part 4 · 3 points
在……方面
Use 在zài + area + 方面fāngmiàn to limit what you say to one area, then give your comment.
Talk about one area
Use 在zài + area + 方面fāngmiàn before the comment.
to estimate; to guess
to doubt; to suspect
to guess
way; manner
respect; aspect
在网上上课的特点是不用出门，很方便。
The special thing about taking classes online is that you don't have to go out; it's very convenient.
我们讨论得很详细，从九点谈到十一点。
We discussed it in great detail, from nine to eleven.
现在去太晚了，再说外面还下雨，明天去吧。
It's too late to go now, and besides it's still raining, so go tomorrow.
王老师Teacher Wang
你能说得详细一点儿吗？
Can you be more detailed?
刘明Liu Ming
比如查一个新词的意思，或者听一段课文。
For example, looking up a new word or listening to a text.
王老师Teacher Wang
可是有的同学会拿手机玩游戏，这个情况你怎么看？
But some students use their phones to play games. What do you make of that?
刘明Liu Ming
我想提个建议：上课的时候，大家的手机都放在桌子上，老师能看见。
I'd like to make a suggestion: in class everyone keeps their phone on the desk, where the teacher can see it.
王老师Teacher Wang
这个办法不错。明天上课，你向同学们提出这个建议，大家一起讨论一下。
That's a good idea. In class tomorrow, put this suggestion to your classmates and we'll all discuss it.
Anne is staying at Liu Xiaoxue's home when they find their cake missing; Anne guesses Xiaoxue's older brother ate it, and Liu Xiaoxue doubts it.
安妮Anne
冰箱里的蛋糕不见了！我猜是你哥哥吃的。
The cake in the fridge is gone! I guess your brother ate it.
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
你怎么这么肯定？有什么证明吗？
How can you be so sure? Do you have any proof?
安妮Anne
证明是没有，可是他最爱吃甜的，我估计是他。
Well, I don't have proof, but he loves sweet things, so I reckon it was him.
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
我怀疑不是他。他昨天跟大家表示过，这个月不吃甜的了。
I doubt it was him. Yesterday he told us all he's giving up sweets this month.
安妮Anne
那会是谁呢？今天下午只有他一个人在家啊。
Then who could it be? He was the only one home this afternoon.
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
别猜了。等他回来，我们问问他就知道了。
Stop guessing. When he gets back, we'll ask him and then we'll know.
Bai Jiayue's younger brother, in his last year of secondary school, cannot decide whether to go to university in Beijing or Shanghai, so he talks it through with his sister area by area.
弟弟Jiayue's brother
我们讨论一下吧：我去北京读大学好，还是去上海好？
Let's talk it through: should I go to university in Beijing or in Shanghai?
白家月Bai Jiayue
先说生活。在生活方面，上海更方便，坐地铁去哪儿都很快。
Daily life first. In terms of daily life, Shanghai is more convenient; the subway gets you anywhere fast.
弟弟Jiayue's brother
那在学习方面呢？
And in terms of study?
白家月Bai Jiayue
北京好一些。拿学校来说，北京的好大学特别多，这是北京最大的特点。
Beijing is a bit better. Take universities: Beijing has a lot of good ones. That's what Beijing is best known for.
弟弟Jiayue's brother
可是北京冬天太冷了。再说，我在北京住了十几年了，想去别的城市看看。
But Beijing winters are too cold. Besides, I've lived in Beijing for over ten years, and I'd like to see another city.
白家月Bai Jiayue
两个城市的生活方式也不一样。你要想想，哪个方面对你最重要。
The two cities have different ways of life, too. You need to think about which area matters most to you.
弟弟Jiayue's brother
我想了想，还是学习最重要。那就北京吧，放假的时候再去上海玩儿。
Thinking it over, study matters most. Beijing it is, then, and I'll visit Shanghai in the holidays.
Li Wen read online that an apple at night helps you sleep and asks Liu Ming whether it is true; they weigh the claim, and Liu Ming suggests he test it for a week.
李文Li Wen
网上有个说法：晚上吃个苹果，就能睡得好。你信吗？
There's a claim online that if you eat an apple in the evening, you'll sleep well. Do you believe it?
刘明Liu Ming
我在一本书里看到有人提到过，可是没有说明为什么。
I saw it mentioned in a book, but it didn't explain why.
李文Li Wen
就是说，没有人真的证明过？
So that means nobody has really proved it?
刘明Liu Ming
对。还有医生指出，这只是一个说法，不一定对。
Right. And a doctor pointed out that it's just a claim and may not be true.
李文Li Wen
再说，每个人的情况也不一样，对别人有用，对我不一定有用。
Besides, everyone's situation is different. What works for others may not work for me.
刘明Liu Ming
可是吃个苹果也没什么不好，你可以试一个星期看看。
Still, there's no harm in eating an apple. You could try it for a week and see.
In 在生活方面，上海更方便zài shēnghuó fāngmiàn, Shànghǎi gèng fāngbiàn, the comment holds only for daily life, not for everything.
Move to the next area
Ask about another area with 那在……方面呢？nà zài … fāngmiàn ne?.
This short question keeps a comparison going without repeating the whole sentence.
In sentences
Daily life
在生活方面，上海更方便。
In terms of daily life, Shanghai is more convenient.
The area 生活shēnghuó sits inside the frame.
Study
在学习方面，他比我努力。
When it comes to study, he works harder than I do.
Change the area to change the topic.
After the subject
这两个城市在天气方面很不一样。
These two cities are very different in terms of weather.
The frame can also come right after the subject.
A：你觉得这个工作怎么样？ B：在钱方面不错，在时间方面太忙了。
A: What do you think of this job? B: It's good as far as money goes, but it's too busy as far as time goes.
在学习方面，王一雪很细心，可是在说话方面，她还是有点儿害羞。
In terms of study Wang Yixue is careful, but when it comes to speaking up she is still a bit shy.
在……方面zài … fāngmiàn names the area a comment applies to: 在生活方面zài shēnghuó fāngmiàn means in terms of daily life. The frame usually opens the sentence (or follows the subject), and the comment comes after it. The middle is a noun or short noun phrase for a field or area, such as 学习xuéxí, 工作gōngzuò or 生活shēnghuó; it is not used for a place, so say 在北京zài Běijīng, not 在北京方面zài Běijīng fāngmiàn. When you compare two things, repeat the frame with a new area each time, and use 那在……方面呢？nà zài … fāngmiàn ne? to move on to the next area. In speech 在zài is often dropped: 生活方面，上海更方便shēnghuó fāngmiàn, Shànghǎi gèng fāngbiàn. A common error is to put the frame at the end of the sentence.
拿……来说
Use 拿ná + example + 来说lái shuō to pick one case that supports what you just said.
Illustrate with one example
Use 拿ná + example + 来说lái shuō after a general point.
After 北京好一些Běijīng hǎo yìxiē, 拿学校来说，北京的好大学特别多ná xuéxiào lái shuō, Běijīng de hǎo dàxué tèbié duō uses universities as the evidence for the general point.
In sentences
Universities
拿学校来说，北京的好大学特别多。
Take universities: Beijing has a lot of good ones.
The example 学校xuéxiào sits inside the frame.
Prices
这家店的东西不贵，拿衣服来说，一件才五十块。
This shop isn't expensive. Take clothes: a piece costs only fifty yuan.
The general point comes first; the example backs it up.
Weather
北京也有不好的地方，拿天气来说，北京冬天太冷了。
Beijing has its downsides too. Take the weather: Beijing winters are too cold.
The example can support a negative point as well.
A：你们班的同学都很积极吗？ B：对，拿刘明来说，他每天都是第一个到教室。
A: Are all the students in your class active? B: Yes. Take Liu Ming: he is the first to reach the classroom every day.
上海的生活很方便，拿吃饭来说，学校附近就有十几家饭馆。
Life in Shanghai is convenient. Take eating: there are a dozen restaurants near the school alone.
拿……来说ná … lái shuō picks one example to back up a general point: 拿学校来说ná xuéxiào lái shuō means take schools, for example. Put the example between 拿ná and 来说lái shuō, then say what is true of it. It normally follows a general statement such as 北京好一些Běijīng hǎo yìxiē and gives the evidence for it, so the example must fit that statement. 比如bǐrú simply lists examples, while 拿……来说ná … lái shuō takes one case and comments on it. Do not confuse it with 对……来说duì … lái shuō, which gives a person's point of view: 对我来说duì wǒ lái shuō means for me. Compare 拿学校来说ná xuéxiào lái shuō, which takes the school as one example, with
就是说/这就是说
Start with 就是说jiù shì shuō or 这就是说zhè jiù shì shuō to restate what was just said in other words or draw the conclusion it leads to.
Check what someone means
Restate the other person's words with 就是说jiù shì shuō and a question mark.
Li Wen turns 没有说明为什么méiyǒu shuōmíng wèishénme into a sharper conclusion and checks it.
Draw a conclusion
Put 这就是说zhè jiù shì shuō after a fact to say what it means.
The conclusion must follow from the fact; it is not a new reason.
In sentences
Conclusion
票都卖完了，这就是说，我们今天看不了了。
The tickets are sold out, which means we can't see it today.
这就是说zhè jiù shì shuō draws the conclusion from a fact.
In other words
老师说作业可以晚两天交，就是说，星期五交也行。
The teacher said the homework can be handed in two days late; in other words, Friday is fine too.
就是说jiù shì shuō restates the same fact more concretely.
Checking
就是说，你这个周末不能来了？
So you mean you can't come this weekend?
With a question mark it checks your understanding.
A：经理说下个月再决定。 B：就是说，现在还不能告诉我们？
A: The manager says we'll decide next month. B: So you mean we can't be told yet?
刘小雪的哥哥说这个月不吃甜的，这就是说，蛋糕不会是他吃的。
Liu Xiaoxue's brother said he isn't eating sweet things this month, which means he can't be the one who ate the cake.
就是说jiù shì shuō, in other words or that means, introduces a restatement of what has just been said, or the conclusion that follows from it. It usually stands at the start of a sentence, followed by a comma. In conversation it is often used to check that you have understood the other person, with a question mark: 就是说，没有人真的证明过？jiù shì shuō, méiyǒu rén zhēn de zhèngmíngguo?, so nobody has really proved it? 这就是说zhè jiù shì shuō, with 这zhè pointing back to the whole previous statement, sounds a little more careful and is common when explaining; 也就是说yě jiù shì shuō is another frequent form. What follows must come from what was said. A common error is to use it to add a new point; to add another reason, use 再说zàishuō instead.
