为什么学中文 Why I Study Chinese

很多hěn duō朋友péngyou问wèn我wǒ：“你nǐ为什么wèishénme学xué中文Zhōngwén？”

A lot of friends ask me: "Why do you study Chinese?"

三sān年nián以前yǐqián，我wǒ第一次dì yī cì去qù中国Zhōngguó旅游lǚyóu。

Three years ago I traveled to China for the first time.

在zài北京Běijīng的de时候shíhou，我wǒ想xiǎng问路wèn lù，可是kěshì我wǒ不会bú huì说shuō中文Zhōngwén。

In Beijing I wanted to ask for directions, but I couldn't speak Chinese.

那个nàge时候shíhou我wǒ就jiù想xiǎng：我wǒ要yào学xué中文Zhōngwén。

Right then I thought: I'm going to learn Chinese.

现在xiànzài我wǒ已经yǐjīng学xué了le两liǎng年nián了le，可以kěyǐ和hé中国Zhōngguó朋友péngyou说话shuōhuà了le。

Now I have already studied for two years, and I can talk with Chinese friends.

学xué中文Zhōngwén很hěn慢màn，可是kěshì我wǒ觉得juéde很hěn有意思yǒu yìsi。

Learning Chinese is slow, but I find it very interesting.

我wǒ希望xīwàng明年míngnián再zài去qù中国Zhōngguó，用yòng中文Zhōngwén买mǎi东西dōngxi和hé问路wèn lù。

I hope to go to China again next year and use Chinese to buy things and ask for directions.

🔊 Audio uses your device's Chinese voice for now — teacher recordings are coming. Tap any word to see its meaning.

Key words 生词

为什么wèishénmewhy

以前yǐqiánbefore; ago

旅游lǚyóuto travel

已经yǐjīngalready

希望xīwàngto hope

有意思yǒu yìsiinteresting

为什么 — asking why

为什么 sits where the answer would sit, right before the verb: 你为什么学中文? There is no word-order change like in English.

你为什么不去？ — Why aren't you going?

已经…了 — already

已经 goes before the verb and 了 closes the sentence. With a length of time it means the action started before and is still going on.

我已经学了两年了。 — I've been studying for two years now.

…以前 — before; ago

以前 comes AFTER the time word or the action, the opposite of English: 三年以前 (three years ago), 吃饭以前 (before eating).

睡觉以前我看书。 — I read before going to sleep.

1. When did the writer first go to China?

2. What happened to the writer in Beijing?

3. How long has the writer studied Chinese?