HSK 4Lesson 33
Where people live shapes their daily life. A family moves out to the suburbs for a bigger house, a grandmother stays in her village, a friend shows off his new compound, and a visitor has to climb the stairs when the elevator is broken.
You will learn to compare the city, the suburbs and the countryside, describe what is around a home, and say where things are: opposite, under, below, up and down.
Part 1 · 9 new words
Contains 5 words
district; area
city center; urban area
suburbs
countryside
village
Contains 4 words
yard; courtyard
around; surroundings
Part 2 · 8 phrases
郊区的房子比市区大，可是上班很远。
Houses in the suburbs are bigger than in the city center, but commuting is far.
我们这个区有两个大学。
Our district has two universities.
奶奶住在农村，村里的人都认识她。
Grandma lives in the countryside, and everyone in the village knows her.
房子前面有个院子，孩子可以在里面玩。
There's a yard in front of the house, and the kids can play in it.
我家周围有超市和公园，非常方便。
There's a supermarket and a park around my home, which is very convenient.
我家对面是一家面条店，晚上很热闹。
Across from my home is a noodle shop, and it's lively at night.
Part 3 · 4 conversations
Bai Jiayue tells Wang Yixue that her family is moving out of the city and explains why.
白家月Bai Jiayue
我们家下个月要搬到郊区了。
Our family is moving to the suburbs next month.
王一雪Wang Yixue
真的？搬到哪个区？
Really? Which district?
白家月Bai Jiayue
opposite; across from
under; underneath
猫睡在桌子底下，狗在椅子下面。
The cat sleeps under the table, and the dog is below the chair.
你在楼下等我，我上去拿，马上上来。
Wait for me downstairs; I'll go up to get it and come right back.
西边那个区，坐地铁到市区要一个小时。
The one to the west. It takes an hour by subway to get into the city.
王一雪Wang Yixue
那么远！市区不是更方便吗？
That far! Isn't the city more convenient?
白家月Bai Jiayue
方便是方便，可是市区的房子太小了，郊区的房子有院子。
It's convenient, but apartments in the city are too small, and houses in the suburbs have a yard.
王一雪Wang Yixue
你爸爸每天上班怎么办？
What about your dad getting to work every day?
白家月Bai Jiayue
他打算开车去。我妈妈最高兴，她一直想在院子里种花。
He plans to drive. My mom is the happiest; she has always wanted to grow flowers in a yard.
Anne asks Liu Xiaoxue about her grandmother, who still lives in a village, and how life there differs from the city.
安妮Anne
放假你去农村看奶奶吗？
Are you going to the countryside to see your grandma over the holiday?
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
对，她一个人住在一个小村子里。
Yes, she lives on her own in a small village.
安妮Anne
你们没让她搬到市区来跟你们一起住吗？
Haven't you asked her to move to the city and live with you?
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
说了很多次，她不想来。她在村里住了七十年，村里的人她都认识。
We've asked many times, but she doesn't want to. She has lived in the village for seventy years and knows everyone there.
安妮Anne
那里和市区有什么不一样？
How is it different from the city?
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
周围都是树，晚上特别安静，一辆车都没有。
There are trees all around, and at night it's really quiet, without a single car.
安妮Anne
听起来真好，我也想去看看。
That sounds lovely. I'd like to see it too.
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
那你跟我一起去吧，我奶奶最喜欢家里来客人。
Then come with me. My grandma loves having guests.
Wang Yixue asks Liu Ming about the compound he and Li Wen have just moved into.
王一雪Wang Yixue
你们新搬的地方怎么样？
How is the place you two just moved into?
刘明Liu Ming
很方便，小区就在马路边，周围什么都有，对面有一个超市。
Very convenient. The compound is right on the road, there's everything around it, and there's a supermarket opposite.
王一雪Wang Yixue
离马路那么近，晚上车的声音大不大？
So close to the road, isn't the traffic loud at night?
刘明Liu Ming
不大，我的房间在后面，下面是小区的院子。
Not really. My room is at the back, and below it is the compound's yard.
王一雪Wang Yixue
院子里有什么？
What's in the yard?
刘明Liu Ming
大树底下有几张桌子，老人们常常在那儿喝茶聊天。周末你来，我们也去那儿坐坐。
There are a few tables under the big tree, and old people often sit there drinking tea and chatting. Come at the weekend and we'll go and sit there too.
Wang Yixue arrives at Liu Ming and Li Wen's new building with presents for their apartment, but the elevator is broken and Liu Ming is on the fifth floor.
刘明Liu Ming
一雪，你到了吗？我在五楼。
Yixue, are you here? I'm on the fifth floor.
王一雪Wang Yixue
到了，可是电梯不动了，我怎么上去？
Yes, but the elevator isn't moving. How do I get up?
刘明Liu Ming
电梯坏了，明天才能用。你走楼梯上来吧。
The elevator is broken and won't work until tomorrow. Come up by the stairs.
王一雪Wang Yixue
我给你们带了很多水果，还有一张小桌子，一次拿不上去。
I've brought you a lot of fruit and a small table; I can't carry it all up in one go.
刘明Liu Ming
你在下面等着，我马上下去帮你拿。
Wait down there; I'll come straight down and help you carry it.
