HSK 4Lesson 14
Sometimes people need to talk about what they really feel. You will calm down a friend after a quarrel, talk about regret over a forgotten birthday, comfort someone after a bad exam, and say what you think of a new classmate.
You will learn to talk about inner feelings and worries, calm someone down, and say how much more, slightly or how very something is.
Part 1 · 15 new words
Contains 8 words
inner feelings; one's heart
heart; mind
feeling; sense
nature; -ness
worried; troubled; worries
annoyed; irritated
feeling unwell; upset
to be angry; anger
Contains 4 words
calm; sober
surprised; shocked
Contains 3 words
even more
slightly
Part 2 · 10 phrases
他不爱说话，可是内心很想有朋友。
He doesn't talk much, but deep down he really wants friends.
他说他不来了，大家都很吃惊。
He said he wasn't coming, and everyone was surprised.
没听老师的话，我现在很后悔。
I didn't listen to my teacher, and now I really regret it.
学生也有学生的烦恼，比如考试和作业。
Students have their own worries too, like exams and homework.
老师讲了一遍，我更加不明白了。
The teacher explained it once, and I understood even less.
这件衣服稍大一点儿，有小一点儿的吗？
This jacket is slightly big. Do you have a smaller one?
Part 3 · 4 conversations
Li Wen sees that Liu Ming is upset after a quarrel with a friend and talks him out of calling the friend while he is still angry.
李文Li Wen
你最近好像有什么烦恼，能跟我说说吗？
You seem to have something on your mind lately. Do you want to talk about it?
刘明Liu Ming
一个朋友让我很生气，这几天心里很烦。
A friend made me really angry, and I've been really fed up these last few days.
Part 4 · 2 points
程度副词 更加 / 稍 / 多么
Use 更加gèngjiā for even more, 稍shāo for slightly, and 多么duōme in an exclamation for how very.
Say even more
Use 更加gèngjiā before the quality that grows.
to regret
fine; beautiful
how; so
你不知道我多么想家！
You have no idea how much I miss home!
他迟到了还不说对不起，我气死了。
He was late and didn't even say sorry. I was furious.
我感冒了，头疼，难受得不想吃饭。
I have a cold and a headache, and feel so awful I don't want to eat.
大学是我生活里最美好的一段时间。
College is the most wonderful time of my life.
李文Li Wen
他做了什么？
What did he do?
刘明Liu Ming
他把我的事告诉了别人。我越想越气，现在就想给他打电话。
He told other people my private business. The more I think about it, the angrier I get. I want to call him right now.
李文Li Wen
你先冷静一下。生气的时候说的话，以后你会后悔的。
Calm down first. You'll regret what you say when you're angry.
刘明Liu Ming
可是这件事我说什么也得问清楚。
But I have to get to the bottom of this, whatever happens.
李文Li Wen
可以问，可是明天再问吧。今天晚上先好好睡一觉。
You can ask, but ask tomorrow. Get a good night's sleep first.
刘明Liu Ming
你说得对，那我明天再找他谈。
You're right. I'll talk to him tomorrow, then.
Bai Jiayue forgot her mother's birthday and feels awful; Wang Yixue reassures her and goes with her to buy a present.
白家月Bai Jiayue
我忘了妈妈的生日，心里难受极了。
I forgot my mom's birthday. I feel awful.
王一雪Wang Yixue
你妈妈说什么了吗？
Did your mom say anything?
白家月Bai Jiayue
她没有生气，只是有点儿吃惊。她说这是我第一次忘。
She wasn't angry, just a bit surprised. She said it's the first time I've forgotten.
王一雪Wang Yixue
那你别太难受了，她不会放在心上的。
Then don't feel too bad. She won't take it to heart.
白家月Bai Jiayue
可是我真的很后悔。今天我怎么也得给她买个礼物，现在就去。
But I really regret it. Today I at least have to buy her a present. I'm going right now.
王一雪Wang Yixue
你稍等一下，我跟你一起去，帮你选一个。
Wait a moment. I'll come with you and help you choose one.
Liu Xiaoxue did badly on an exam and has been hiding how she feels; Anne sees through it, comforts her and offers to study with her.
安妮Anne
昨天你说没事，可是我觉得你内心其实很难过。
Yesterday you said you were fine, but I think deep down you're actually very sad.
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
被你看出来了。这次考试成绩不好，这几天我一直很烦恼。
You saw through me. My exam result was bad this time, and I've been worrying about it for days.
安妮Anne
一次成绩说明不了什么。生活里还有很多美好的事呢。
One result doesn't prove anything. There are still lots of good things in life.
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
我知道。可是我多么希望能再有一次机会啊！
I know. But how I wish I could have one more chance!
安妮Anne
下个月不是还有一次吗？我和你一起复习。
Isn't there another one next month? I'll review with you.
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
真的吗？听你这么说，我更加有信心了。
Really? Hearing you say that, I feel more confident now.
Liu Ming asks Liu Xiaoxue what she thinks of the new girl in their class, and they plan how to make friends with her.
刘明Liu Ming
新来的那个同学，你觉得怎么样？
What do you think of the new girl in our class?
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
我对她的感觉不错。她性格很安静，可是打球打得很厉害。
I've got a good impression of her. She's quiet by nature, but she's really good at ball games.
刘明Liu Ming
是吗？我还以为她不喜欢运动呢。
Really? I thought she didn't like sports.
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
她说话不多，可是做事很认真，对人也很友好。
She doesn't talk much, but she does everything with care, and she's friendly to people.
刘明Liu Ming
我也想跟她做朋友，可是不知道怎么跟她说第一句话。
I'd like to be friends with her too, but I don't know how to start a conversation.
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
明天打球的时候叫上她吧，她一定会很高兴。
Ask her to join us when we play ball tomorrow. She'll be really pleased.
In 我更加有信心了wǒ gèngjiā yǒu xìnxīn le, Anne's words added to the confidence Liu Xiaoxue already had.
Say slightly
Use 稍shāo + verb or adjective + a small amount.
稍等一下shāo děng yíxià is a polite, very common way to say wait a moment.
Say how very
Use 多么duōme + feeling + 啊a in an exclamation.
In 我多么希望能再有一次机会啊wǒ duōme xīwàng néng zài yǒu yí cì jīhuì a, the speaker stresses how strong the wish is.
In sentences
Even more
听你这么说，我更加有信心了。
Hearing you say that, I feel more confident now.
更加gèngjiā shows growth from an earlier point.
A moment
你稍等一下，我马上就好。
Wait a moment; I'll be ready right away.
After a verb, 稍shāo usually takes 一下yíxià.
Slightly
这个房间比那个稍大一点儿，可是贵多了。
This room is slightly bigger than that one, but much more expensive.
With an adjective, add 一点儿yìdiǎnr.
How very
能和家人一起过年，多么幸福啊！
How wonderful it is to spend the New Year with your family!
多么duōme with 啊a makes an exclamation.
A：这件衣服大不大？ B：稍大一点儿，可是我可以穿。
A: Is this top big? B: A little big, but I can wear it.
听了李文的话，刘明稍冷静了一点儿，没有马上打电话。
After listening to Li Wen, Liu Ming calmed down a little and didn't call right away.
更加gèngjiā means even more than before or than something else, so the context must already give a point of comparison: after a friend's support, 我更加有信心了wǒ gèngjiā yǒu xìnxīn le. It is a little more formal than 更gèng and is mostly used before two-syllable words or phrases such as 努力nǔlì or 有信心yǒu xìnxīn; before a one-syllable adjective, use 更gèng: 更好gèng hǎo. 稍shāo means slightly, a short form of 稍微shāowēi. Outside set phrases such as 请稍等qǐng shāo děng, please wait a moment, it usually needs a small amount after the word it modifies, such as 一下yíxià or 一点儿yìdiǎnr: 稍等一下shāo děng yíxià, 稍大一点儿shāo dà yìdiǎnr. 多么duōme turns a feeling or quality into an exclamation and usually ends with 啊a: 我多么希望能再有一次机会啊！Wǒ duōme xīwàng néng zài yǒu yí cì jīhuì a!. It sounds stronger and more literary than 真zhēn, and it is not used in plain statements or questions.
说什么/怎么（着）也得X
Put 说什么也得shuō shénme yě děi or 怎么也得zěnme yě děi before a verb to say you must do it, no matter what.
Must, whatever happens
Put 说什么也得shuō shénme yě děi between the subject and the verb.
Liu Ming will not let the matter go: he must find out what happened.
At the very least
Use 怎么也得zěnme yě děi for a firm minimum or duty: at least this much must be done; 怎么着zěnmezhe is more colloquial.
Bai Jiayue feels it is her duty to make up for the forgotten birthday today.
In sentences
Must go
明天的考试很重要，我说什么也得去。
Tomorrow's exam is important. I have to go, whatever happens.
说什么也得shuō shénme yě děi shows strong determination.
Duty
妈妈过生日，我怎么也得回家一次。
It's Mom's birthday; I really have to go home once.
怎么也得zěnme yě děi for a firm duty.
At least
这么多菜，怎么着也得做两个小时。
With so many dishes, it'll take at least two hours to cook.
With an amount, it means at least.
Refuse
我们跟他说了很多次，可是他说什么也不同意。
We talked to him many times, but he flatly refused to agree.
With 不bù, it means refuse whatever happens.
A：天这么冷，你还要去跑步？ B：已经跟朋友说好了，我说什么也得去。
A: It's so cold; you're still going running? B: I promised my friend, so I have to go, whatever happens.
说什么也得shuō shénme yě děi + verb means must do something whatever happens, however hard it is or whatever anyone says: 这件事我说什么也得问清楚zhè jiàn shì wǒ shuō shénme yě děi wèn qīngchu. 说什么shuō shénme here does not ask what to say; it means whatever is said. 怎么也得zěnme yě děi and the more colloquial 怎么着也得zěnmezhe yě děi are a little softer: they mean at the very least one has to, a firm minimum or duty: 今天我怎么也得给她买个礼物jīntiān wǒ zěnme yě děi gěi tā mǎi ge lǐwù, today I at least have to buy her a present. 怎么着也得zěnmezhe yě děi + an amount can also mean at least: 怎么着也得两个小时zěnmezhe yě děi liǎng ge xiǎoshí, it'll take at least two hours. The pattern is spoken and shows strong determination or a firm duty. The subject or topic comes first, and 也yě is needed: not 我说什么得去
Liu Xiaoxue says she has to do well in next month's exam, one way or another.
But I really regret it. Today I at least have to buy her a present. I'm going right now.
Why it matters · 怎么也得zěnme yě děi expresses a duty she feels she must meet.
