[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign.
[00:00:11] Speaker B: Hi, everyone.
Welcome back to another episode of our Learn Chinese online podcast. I'm your host, Melanie, and I'm joined today by our amazing old friend, Emily.
[00:00:28] Speaker A: Hi, Nadia. Hi, Melanie.
That's good.
[00:01:08] Speaker B: It's very cool and fresh.
[00:01:12] Speaker A: Okay, so today for this episode, so we might have heard before for how.
So today we're gonna use the structure with a verb or adjective.
[00:01:37] Speaker B: Exactly.
And we'll also be discussing some cool cultural insights related to modern relationships in China.
So stay tuned for that later. But first, let's dive into today's grammar.
[00:01:53] Speaker A: Okay, let's do it.
Okay. Sorry, sorry. Okay, so before we started, you are listening to the Hani Chinese School podcast.
If you're learning Chinese and want to take your level to take your skill to the next level, you are going to love this episode. So if you want to learn more with us, please visit our platform, our website right down here, hanyuchineschool.com you can try a free one on one course with a native teacher like me or Melanie. And we have courses Starting from just €39 with live classes, recorded lessons, group classes, anything that you would like to know, please visit our website here.
[00:02:44] Speaker B: Okay, so let's move on.
So as usual, we will start with a very useful dialogue. So today's dialogues, the setting is Emily and Melanie are talking about a surprise when they found out that a friend could speak multiple languages. Oh, which? I'm so jealous.
Okay, so I will start foreign.
Okay, so let's start our grammar part.
So in this section we're going to talk about the super useful grammar structure in Chinese.
How + verb or adjective. This is a great way to express surprise or curiosity when you want to ask how something is done.
[00:04:37] Speaker A: Okay, so let's take a look.
Let's take a look how we use in a surprising way and talk about how we were amazed or surprised about something.
So let's take a look what we have in the dialogue, shall we, Melanie?
[00:04:54] Speaker B: Yes, Good question.
Good idea. So in our dialogue, we use this structure to ask how can he speak so many languages? Here is used to express surprise about our friend's ability to speak multiple languages.
[00:05:17] Speaker A: Then another example we have is so how come I don't have that much time to study a language?
So you can see here with use to express surprise. And then here is talking about the lack of time that I didn't have that many time. Like how come I don't have that many time?
So we can hear it focus on the structure again.
And then we use it with a verb or adjective.
[00:05:52] Speaker B: Very Good. Okay, let's go through this structure more clearly.
Is followed by a verb or an adjective. When used with a verb, it's used to express how the action is performed. For example, how can he do this so well? Or how did you finish so quickly?
[00:06:22] Speaker A: Very good. Okay, so we can also see it. Here we have the.
It means like. Like this. Right, Melanie?
[00:06:34] Speaker B: Yeah. Good.
[00:06:36] Speaker A: So the adjective. The. The verb that we have used here. Quite. And then it's like how. This fast. This fast. Now we finish the thing and then next we have some more adjectives.
Here we have the sentence.
So like, like.
Like the sentence we have before we put to be like this smart. This level of smart. Say, need some.
How are you this smart? How are you so smart?
Then we have.
How is he this busy? How is he so busy?
[00:07:19] Speaker B: Thank you, Emily. So as you can see, helps to show surprise about how something is done or the degree of an adjective. And it's a very common structure in conversational Chinese.
Okay, now it's your turn to practice. So here's a question for you. How would you say, how can you speak such great Chinese in Chinese? Trying using plus verb or adjective in your sentences.
[00:07:55] Speaker A: So leave your answer in the comment section down below. We'll check them out and help you with if you have any corrections.
So we love to see how you use the grammar that we just learned.
[00:08:07] Speaker B: Yeah, have a try.
Okay, now let's move back to our dialogue. And please pay attention to how do we use how in this dialogue.
Guess what? I saw Xiaoming and Xiaomei having coffee together yesterday.
[00:08:40] Speaker A: How did they know each other?
[00:08:49] Speaker B: I think they met while taking Spanish class together.
[00:08:55] Speaker A: Wow.
[00:08:59] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:08:59] Speaker A: They're learning Spanish?
[00:09:08] Speaker B: Yes. And Xiaoming can actually speak five languages.
[00:09:19] Speaker A: Really?
How can he speak so many languages?
[00:09:35] Speaker B: He said he learned a lot of languages when he was young. And his parents also enrolled him in many classes.
[00:09:46] Speaker A: Wow.
Wow, that's impressive. How come I didn't have that much time to study languages?
[00:10:09] Speaker B: I've been wondering the same thing. But he's really great and he spent a lot of time learning.
[00:10:21] Speaker A: That's awesome. I'll try learning more languages too.
So did you guys see how we use the structured with a verb or adjective to show our surpriseness?
[00:10:37] Speaker B: Yes. And you can practice it by doing the homework.
[00:10:42] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:10:43] Speaker B: So are you enjoying this episode? With our classes, you can make even more progress. And we're the top rated online academy with over 3,000 satisfied students. And we have an overall rating on Trustpilot 4.8 out of 5 based on over 200 reviews. We offer costs starting from just €39 including group classes, recordings and a 24.7learning platform.
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[00:11:53] Speaker A: Very good. Thank you. Thank you Melanie.
Thank you so much.
Ah great. So before the culture segment we have some comments from our listener.
So Carlos Caros from Argentina he said hola SUY aprante nativo de espanol. So he is a native Spanish speaker. Hello Juan Ying Carlos.
[00:12:24] Speaker B: Ni hao. Ah woman. True fellow. Since year we have eaten. Thank you.
[00:12:37] Speaker A: Very welcome everyone to leave us comment to have interaction with us. You're very welcome. Thank you guys.
[00:12:45] Speaker B: So okay, now let's move on.
So let's talk about something exciting happening in Chinese pop culture.
Short drivers.
[00:12:59] Speaker A: Have you heard about that?
[00:13:01] Speaker B: So these bite sized quick shows have exploded in popularity and we're here to dive into why they're so popular right now.
[00:13:12] Speaker A: Yes. So short dramas typically runs about 5 to 10, 15 minutes, not too long and making them perfect for more than like a fast paced lifestyle that when people doesn't have that much time watching a full video, 5 minutes to 15 minutes per episode during a lunchtime would be perfect, right?
Exactly. Yeah. So in this world that where everyone is rushing around it is really hard to finish a full episode. So this would be perfect and that's why it's a trend right now.
[00:13:55] Speaker B: Exactly. So yeah so me too, I like to watch some videos or dramas while I'm eating.
What about you Nina? Emily?
[00:14:08] Speaker A: I personally yes as well. Like if I started watching a YouTube video I would I couldn't be able to finish them during like five to ten minutes a little break.
So yeah a short something a little short on the YouTube or on TikTok a little short video would be perfect. Would really be suitable for the timing.
[00:14:33] Speaker B: Yes. So unlike traditional TV shows, short dramas don't demand a huge time commitment.
So it's really convenient.
[00:14:44] Speaker A: Exactly. So what's more is social media platform it started from TikTok right. And then then it started to. We also have in China we have bilibili. It's another platform that we use a Lot.
And also I think if someone's learning Chinese, you might have heard about Weibo.
So it's like a blog place.
So these kind of places started from the short shorts and then now it's into Instagram, into YouTube. I think basically any kind of platform is willing to adjust to the short video right now.
[00:15:25] Speaker B: Yeah.
So it's amazing how social media platforms and the streaming service have tapped into the power of short videos. They know the audience has shorter attention spans. That's so true for everyone. So they serve quick, engaging stories that people can watch on their phones.
[00:15:47] Speaker A: So then starting from short videos, it started devoting to a TV series. Right. Like a short TV series. I think a lot of people could see it in all kinds of advertisement, all kinds of platform. Right now, right now they have a really huge thing for. Or I wouldn't say it's a C drama because it's so, you know, nowadays I. I saw someone, I saw some foreigners like working on these kind of TV series as well.
[00:16:24] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:16:25] Speaker A: So, yeah. Well, Melanie, can you, can you help me out here? What is it about?
[00:16:31] Speaker B: What is about like, we call them like wow, exciting stories.
Like with very short stories, makes you feel so excited and so released. You feel like you can do everything so easily and you can be successful so easily.
[00:16:52] Speaker A: Exactly. It's something, it's.
It is also included in all kinds of topics.
And you have, I think you. They have like romance, like modern romance and also the, the romance from the old, old Chinese style.
Right now like recently I saw a lot of videos talking about.
I don't know if you have heard this before but like. Or if you have watched this before. But like two sisters, they married rom first person and then after whole, whole life they were like, sister is jealous of the other sister. So they kill themselves and then they reborn the whole thing again and then they make different choices.
[00:17:42] Speaker B: Oh wow. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
[00:17:45] Speaker A: This is typical story, typical Chinese drama and really talking about romance and really fun to watch. I have to say. Like, it's really like exciting.
[00:17:57] Speaker B: Yeah, very interesting. Like, wow, what imagination.
[00:18:03] Speaker A: Exactly. So it's also like a really huge opportunity for a lot of new creators to try new things before you have to be really in the Hollywood to become an actor or actress. But nowadays you can try it in with your phone or a small company doing these kind of short videos, short drama.
I think it really gives a lot of people more opportunity to start doing the actor career.
[00:18:37] Speaker B: Exactly. So it's not a bad thing.
So it's not just about big production companies.
So yeah. As you, you have said that many short dramas are produced by independent creators or even made by small teams. So this democratizes the entertainment industry, allowing anyone with an idea to get started and gain recognition.
[00:19:07] Speaker A: Exactly. So this kind of drama is perfect for mobile users. Whenever we have a phone with us, we can watch these kind of dramas.
I had a student yesterday, we were having classes and we were talking about, oh, the, the Latin American drama is always like really dramatic.
And then she told me, oh, I'm not watching, I'm not watching Latin American drama. I'm watching Chinese drama. I'm like, oh, really? That's great.
And then first of all, I thought she was watching, you know, like the drama on from the tv, like the C dramas, like the big ones. But then she showed me on her phone, she was watching short drama.
Oh, you're learning from this. Oh, that's great. But wow.
[00:20:02] Speaker B: Why not?
[00:20:02] Speaker A: I was like, oh, you're learning from this. Okay.
[00:20:09] Speaker B: Why not? It's a new way to learn Chinese.
[00:20:13] Speaker A: Exactly. And not just from the platform of doctors or a Tick tock, but you can also see them on YouTube. I like it about YouTube is because they also have English subtitle that for someone who is learning Chinese you can easily understand they have both Chinese original subtitle and then they have the English subtitle. So it's also a really great way for you to get to know some like native Chinese.
[00:20:43] Speaker B: Yeah, exactly.
So sometimes these stories are so exaggerative. Be careful.
[00:20:51] Speaker A: Exactly.
Choose the theme well, choose the story well. And that would be okay.
[00:20:57] Speaker B: Yes. Okay, so let's move on. Do you remember our question?
Yes.
[00:21:05] Speaker A: So we have talked about how would you say, how can you speak Chinese so great in Chinese?
[00:21:13] Speaker B: So the answer is.
[00:21:23] Speaker A: Very good.
[00:21:24] Speaker B: Such great Chinese.
[00:21:26] Speaker A: Yes.
So the structure is helpful when you're experiencing surpriseness or like Melanie said, so they both are very correctly.
So also try in your free time, if you like, also write us down your answers or how would you structure the sentence? So feel free to leave us a comment.
[00:21:57] Speaker B: Okay, now let's practice. Try making your own sentences using with a verb or adjective. For example, how would you say, how can you run so fast in Chinese? Write your answers in the comments.
[00:22:12] Speaker A: Very good. So we'll check them out, give you feedback. This is a great opportunity to practice, so keep it up. So we're really looking forward to see your comments.
Okay, so thank you for staying with us until the end of this episode. If you truly want to learn Chinese with real teachers and a clear method, visit.com and book your first free class.
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Huan Ying.
[00:23:13] Speaker B: Huan Yin, welcome.
Okay, so what wraps up today's episode? We've learned how to use to express surprise or curiosity in Chinese and we explore explored the fascinating world of short dramas in Chinese culture.
[00:23:32] Speaker A: Exactly. So next time we'll be diving into the grammar of for a short action.
[00:23:40] Speaker B: So make sure to subscribe like and comment with your own sentences by using.
And if you want to take your learning to the next level, don't forget to book a free class with Hanyu Chinese so school.
[00:23:53] Speaker A: Okay, so thank you all for listening and we will see you in the next episode.
[00:24:02] Speaker B: Bye. Bye.
[00:24:04] Speaker A: Bye.
[00:24:05] Speaker B: Oh, we got a comment here.
[00:24:07] Speaker A: Ah, okay, Carlos, thank you. Thank you, Carlos.
[00:24:14] Speaker B: You're welcome. Welcome.
[00:24:17] Speaker A: Okay, bye guys.
