我的中国朋友 My Chinese Friend

去年qùnián我wǒ认识rènshi了le一个yí ge中国Zhōngguó朋友péngyou，他tā叫jiào小龙Xiǎolóng。

Last year I made a Chinese friend named Xiaolong.

他tā对duì我wǒ特别tèbié好hǎo，常常chángcháng帮bāng我wǒ练习liànxí中文Zhōngwén。

He is especially kind to me and often helps me practice Chinese.

我们wǒmen一起yìqǐ吃饭chīfàn的时候de shíhou，他tā教jiāo我wǒ用yòng筷子kuàizi。

When we eat together, he teaches me how to use chopsticks.

一开始yì kāishǐ我wǒ用yòng得de很hěn不好bù hǎo，大家dàjiā都dōu笑xiào了le。

At first I was terrible at it, and everyone laughed.

现在xiànzài我wǒ不但búdàn会huì用yòng筷子kuàizi，还hái会huì做zuò几个jǐ ge中国Zhōngguó菜cài。

Now I can not only use chopsticks, but also cook a few Chinese dishes.

有yǒu朋友péngyou真zhēn好hǎo！

It's so good to have friends!

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

Key words 生词

认识rènshito get to know

特别tèbiéespecially

练习liànxíto practice

筷子kuàizichopsticks

一开始yì kāishǐat first

不但……还……búdàn... hái...not only... but also...

不但 A,还 B — not only… but also…

The second half must add MORE on top of the first: 不但会用筷子,还会做中国菜.

她不但会说汉语,还会写汉字。 — She can not only speak Chinese but also write characters.

1. What is the Chinese friend's name?

2. What does he teach the writer to use?

3. What can the writer do now besides using chopsticks?

After this reading

I'm Fei, and I teach Mandarin one-on-one on Preply. Bring this text to a trial lesson — we'll fix your tones and turn it into a real conversation.