Simplified Chinese course

Lesson 146 of 240

New here? This is lesson 146 of a free 240-lesson Simplified Chinese course.

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The temple in the park in Simplified Chinese

A small temple sits in the park near Banyan Lane. Maya and Yi-Jun stop by during a quiet walk.

Learn how to invite someone inside, speak softly, talk about praying for safety, and ask what a friend believes.

A-Li is there too. He lights incense and looks at the floor, but the fortune slip remains a mystery.

By the end of this lesson

Visit a small temple quietly, talk about praying for safety, and ask a friend whether they believe in it.

  • 我们进去拜拜Let's go in and pray.
  • 安静一点Be quieter.
  • 这间庙很有名This temple is famous.
  • 我求个平安I'm praying for safety.
  • 不能乱摸You mustn't touch things.
  • 你信这个吗？Do you believe in this?

Scene — a quiet walk

The park is calm in the morning, and a small temple stands beneath the trees.

Maya walks over with Yi-Jun. A-Li is nearby, carrying incense and looking down at the floor.

Maya and Yi-Jun approach a small temple beneath trees while Ali nearby carries incense and looks down at the floor.

Learn — six temple lines

Here are six lines for a quiet visit and a conversation about luck. Listen to each one, then say it aloud.

Notice how the wording helps you invite a friend, make a gentle reminder, or ask a simple question.

  1. Maya invites Yi-Jun to enter the temple and pray.

    我们进去拜拜

    Let's go in and pray.

    When to use it: Invite someone to enter a temple with you and pray.

  2. Yi-Jun quietly gestures for Maya to lower her voice inside the temple.

    安静一点

    Be quieter.

    When to use it: Ask someone to lower their voice in a quiet place.

    Say it: 一 stays fourth tone before a third-tone syllable.

  3. Yi-Jun points out the well-known temple's distinctive architecture to Maya.

    这间庙很有名

    This temple is famous.

    When to use it: Tell someone that many people know about this temple.

    间 is the measure word used here for a temple.

  4. Ali holds incense in a respectful prayer for safety.

    我求个平安

    I'm praying for safety.

    When to use it: Say what you hope for when you pray.

    个 is a measure word here, used in this familiar phrase.

  5. Maya gently stops Yi-Jun from reaching toward a temple offering.

    不能乱摸

    You mustn't touch things.

    When to use it: Warn someone not to touch things in the temple.

    不能 means something is not allowed here, rather than simply impossible.

  6. Yi-Jun turns to Maya with a curious question about her belief.

    你信这个吗？

    Do you believe in this?

    When to use it: Ask a friend whether they believe in something you have mentioned.

    吗 turns this yes-or-no question into a question.

Story — a quiet visit

Maya and Yi-Jun take a quiet walk through the park and stop at its small temple.

Listen for the new lines as they talk about praying, being respectful, and whether they believe in luck.

  1. Yi-Jun leads Maya along the path to the small temple.
  2. Yi-Jun早安，玛雅！这边请。Good morning, Maya! This way, please.
  3. Maya我们进去拜拜。Let's go in and pray.
  4. Yi-Jun安静一点，里面有人在拜拜。Be quieter; someone is praying inside.
  5. Maya这间庙很有名，附近的人都会来。This temple is famous; people nearby come here.
  6. Yi-Jun对啊，大家会来拜拜。That's right; people come here to pray.
  7. Maya我求个平安，也希望工作顺利。I'm praying for safety, and I hope work goes smoothly too.
  8. A-Li lights incense without speaking, then looks down at the floor.
  9. Yi-Jun不能乱摸，那是大家供奉的东西。You mustn't touch things; those are offerings.
  10. Maya你信这个吗？Do you believe in this?
  11. Yi-Jun我信啊，也觉得心安很重要。你呢？I do, and I think peace of mind is important. What about you?
  12. Maya我也信，拜拜让我觉得安心。I do too; praying makes me feel at peace.
  13. Maya你求什么？What are you praying for?
  14. Yi-Jun我也求个平安。I'm praying for safety too.

Practice — talk about luck

Try nine quick exercises about visiting the temple and talking with a friend. Choose a line, listen for its meaning, or put its words together.

After each answer, check the explanation and try again if you need to.

0 of 10 done

  1. What does it mean?

    我们进去拜拜

  2. What do you say?

    Your friend is speaking loudly inside the temple. Ask them to lower their voice.

  3. Pick the reply

    Yi-Jun says:

    附近这间庙怎么样？

    What is this temple nearby like?

    And you reply with:

  4. Build the line

    I'm praying for safety.

    Tap the words in order.

  5. Fill the gap

    You mustn't touch things.

    不能____摸

  6. What did you hear?

  7. What do you say?

    You are entering the temple with your friend. Invite them to go in and pray.

  8. Pick the reply

    Yi-Jun says:

    我觉得心安很重要。

    I think peace of mind is important.

    And you reply with:

  9. What does it mean?

    你好

  10. What did you hear?

Say it — at the temple

You are visiting the temple with Yi-Jun. Say each line when the moment comes, and keep your voice gentle.

Tap the microphone to speak. You can replay the model or skip a turn and return to it later.

  1. You reach the temple entrance with Yi-Jun.
  2. Maya (you)Invite your friend inside to pray.

    我们进去拜拜

    Let's go in and pray.

0 of 4 said

Recap — what you can say now

Simplified ChineseEnglish
我们进去拜拜Let's go in and pray.
安静一点Be quieter.
这间庙很有名This temple is famous.
我求个平安I'm praying for safety.
不能乱摸You mustn't touch things.
你信这个吗？Do you believe in this?
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Review today's temple and luck lines in Yak Cards.

A short review today will help these lines feel natural on your next quiet visit.

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