Simplified Chinese course

Lesson 234 of 240

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News and opinions in Simplified Chinese

The lane has a new bike-share dock, and the breakfast shop cannot stop talking about it. Some neighbors want the extra bikes; others worry about crowded sidewalks.

Learn how to mention a local news story, ask if someone saw the report, and give a balanced view. You will also say who is affected and that more time is needed.

Listen for the measure word on a news item, then join the talk at Banyan Breakfast. A-Li's soy milk is still waiting, as usual.

By the end of this lesson

Mention a local news item, ask if someone saw the report, and give a balanced view.

  • 我今天看到一则新闻I saw a news story today.
  • 大家都在讨论这件事Everyone is discussing this.
  • 我觉得两边都有道理I think both sides have a point.
  • 这会影响到很多人This will affect a lot of people.
  • 我的看法是需要更多时间My view is it needs more time.
  • 你有看到那则报道吗？Did you see that report?

Scene — a dock on the lane

Morning at Banyan Breakfast. Maya has just read a short piece about a new bike-share dock on Banyan Lane. Auntie Lin is already fielding comments from regulars.

A-Li sits on two stools with his soy milk barely touched. The talk is local and everyday: convenience versus space, not a mystery to solve.

A clear-morning breakfast shop with Maya over a blurred phone, Auntie Lin at the griddle, and A-Li occupying two stools beside barely touched soy milk.

Learn — talking about the news

These six lines help you bring up a news story and stay fair about it. Listen, then say each one aloud.

Notice the measure word on a news item, and the Taiwan way to ask whether someone has seen a report.

  1. Maya sits at the breakfast counter staring at a blurred phone, breakfast tray ignored, as if she has just noticed a news story.

    我今天看到一则新闻

    I saw a news story today.

    When to use it: Use this to bring up one news item you have just read or watched.

    则 is the measure word that goes with a news story or report.

    Say it: 一 changes to a rising tone before 则's rising tone.

  2. Auntie Lin at the griddle turns toward the room of regulars while A-Li sits on two stools.

    大家都在讨论这件事

    Everyone is discussing this.

    When to use it: Use this when a topic is already the talk of the neighborhood.

    都 here means all of the people, not just one person.

  3. Maya faces the counter with both palms raised in a weighing gesture, considering two sides, phone set down.

    我觉得两边都有道理

    I think both sides have a point.

    When to use it: Use this when you want a fair take and will not pick a side yet.

    两边 stands for the two camps in a disagreement.

  4. Auntie Lin stands at the open shop front looking toward the lane and scooters, one hand on the doorframe.

    这会影响到很多人

    This will affect a lot of people.

    When to use it: Use this when a change will reach more than just you.

    影响到 means it has an effect on the people or things that follow.

    Say it: In 影响, the first third tone rises before the next.

  5. Auntie Lin pauses at the griddle with a spatula in midair and an open wait-gesture palm.

    我的看法是需要更多时间

    My view is it needs more time.

    When to use it: Use this to state your own view without shutting others down.

    看法 names an opinion, and 是 then gives that opinion.

  6. Maya twists on her stool and holds a blurred phone out toward Auntie Lin, asking whether Auntie Lin has seen the report.

    你有看到那则报道吗？

    Did you see that report?

    When to use it: Ask this to check whether someone already saw the same report.

    In Taiwan, 有 before a verb asks whether something has happened.

Story — the new bike-share dock

Listen as Maya, Auntie Lin, and A-Li talk about the new dock. Neighbors disagree, and Maya tries to keep a fair view.

Nobody solves any fortune here; the soy milk stays unfinished.

  1. Maya阿姨，我今天看到一则新闻。Auntie, I saw a news story today.
  2. Auntie Lin巷口那个 YouBike 站吗？The YouBike dock at the lane entrance?
  3. Maya对，你有看到那则报道吗？Yes, did you see that report?
  4. Auntie Lin有啊，客人一进门就开始讲了。Yes, customers start talking as soon as they walk in.
  5. A-Li大家都在讨论这件事。Everyone is discussing this.
  6. Auntie Lin有人说很方便，有人说太挤了。Some say it's convenient; some say it's too crowded.
  7. Maya我觉得两边都有道理。I think both sides have a point.
  8. A-Li多一个站，比较容易找到车。One more dock makes bikes easier to find.
  9. Auntie Lin可是人行道会变窄喔。But the sidewalk will get narrower.
  10. Maya这会影响到很多人。This will affect a lot of people.
  11. Auntie Lin推婴儿车的奶奶和摩托车停车空间都会受影响。Grandmas with strollers and scooter parking space will all be affected.
  12. A-Li你对这件事有什么看法？What's your view on this?
  13. Maya我的看法是需要更多时间。My view is it needs more time.
  14. Auntie Lin你觉得呢？What do you think?
  15. A-Li两边我都能理解。I can understand both sides.
  16. Auntie Lin那就再看看吧。Then let's wait and see.
  17. A-Li豆浆还是热的，我慢慢喝。The soy milk is still warm; I'll drink it slowly.
  18. Maya好喔，我再跟你说。Okay, I'll update you later.

Practice — give a balanced view

Work through ten short tasks on this morning's news talk. Pick the line that fits each moment.

After you answer, read why the other choices miss, then say the right line again.

0 of 10 done

  1. What does it mean?

    我今天看到一则新闻

  2. What do you say?

    You think Auntie Lin may have seen the same local report. Check with her.

  3. Build the line

    Everyone is discussing this.

    Tap the words in order.

  4. Fill the gap

    I think both sides have a point.

    我觉得____都有道理

  5. What did you hear?

  6. Swap the word

    Replace 意见 with the taught word 看法.

    我的____是需要更多时间

  7. Match the pairs

    Simplified Chinese

    我今天看到一则新闻Drop the English here
    我觉得两边都有道理Drop the English here
    这会影响到很多人Drop the English here
    你有看到那则报道吗？Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its Simplified Chinese, or tap one and then the other.

  8. Pick the reply

    Auntie Lin says:

    你觉得呢？

    What do you think?

    And you reply with:

  9. What do you say?

    You want A-Li's view on the new dock. Ask him for his take on this matter.

  10. What does it mean?

    你觉得呢？

Say it — your take on the news

You play Maya at the counter. Listen to each cue, then bring up the news, ask about the report, and give your view.

Tap the microphone to speak. You can replay the other person's line before your turn.

  1. Maya brings up this morning's news at Banyan Breakfast.
  2. Maya (you)Tell Auntie Lin you saw a news story today.

    我今天看到一则新闻

    I saw a news story today.

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

Simplified ChineseEnglish
我今天看到一则新闻I saw a news story today.
大家都在讨论这件事Everyone is discussing this.
我觉得两边都有道理I think both sides have a point.
这会影响到很多人This will affect a lot of people.
我的看法是需要更多时间My view is it needs more time.
你有看到那则报道吗？Did you see that report?
Next: lesson 235Let it rest

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Today's news lines are in Yak Cards with more phrases for sharing a local story fairly.

Review a few cards each day so a balanced view comes easily.

Open Yak Cards