Simplified Chinese course

Lesson 239 of 240

New here? This is lesson 239 of a free 240-lesson Simplified Chinese course.

Start hereHow this works

Everyone around the counter in Simplified Chinese

After a year in Taipei, Maya has renewed her lease and is gathering everyone at Banyan Breakfast. She wants to thank each person, not give a speech.

She says what she plans to keep doing, then reaches for one more familiar order. A-Li says goodbye, then stays for one more, his soy milk still unfinished.

Auntie Lin takes the folded slip from the till and searches for her glasses. The moment stays warm and small, just before the story's final answer.

By the end of this lesson

Thank several people for their care, say what you plan to keep doing, and ask whether anything has been left unsaid.

  • 谢谢你们这一年的照顾Thank you all for looking after me this year.
  • 我会常常回来I'll come back often.
  • 蛋饼我还是要加蛋I still want egg in my 蛋饼.
  • 你们没有变，我变了You didn't change; I did.
  • 我们是不是漏了什么？Did we leave something out?
  • 有件事我一直没问There's something I never asked.

Scene — one more at the counter

At Banyan Breakfast, Maya has renewed her lease and gathers the neighbors around the counter. The mood is warm, but nobody makes a speech.

A-Li gives a genuine goodbye, then stays for one more egg pancake, his soy milk still unfinished. Auntie Lin takes out the folded slip and searches for her glasses.

Maya quietly gathers the neighbors around the Banyan Breakfast counter on a clear morning, with A-Li the yak sitting across two stools.

Learn — thanks and familiar plans

Learn how to thank a whole group, describe a change, and say you plan to return. These lines can sound personal without becoming formal or dramatic.

Notice how a small question can leave room for something important without naming it yet.

  1. Maya offers a small grateful bow to the regulars at the counter while Yi-Jun keeps eating and Auntie Lin pauses mid-work.

    谢谢你们这一年的照顾

    Thank you all for looking after me this year.

    When to use it: Use this to thank a group for looking after you over a meaningful stretch of time.

    你们 addresses more than one person, keeping the thanks directed to the whole group.

    Say it: The second 谢 is usually light and neutral in everyday speech.

  2. A-Li the yak twists toward the open shopfront with a farewell wave while A-Jie lifts a scooter helmet to leave and Maya stays seated.

    我会常常回来

    I'll come back often.

    When to use it: Say this when you intend to return regularly to a familiar place or group.

    会 can mark an intention or expected future action, while 常常 describes repeated frequency.

    Say it: Keep both syllables of 常常 in the second tone.

  3. A-Li the yak settles back onto two stools and reaches for a fresh egg pancake as Auntie Lin slides the tray over.

    蛋饼我还是要加蛋

    I still want egg in my 蛋饼.

    When to use it: Use this to insist on your usual order even when the situation feels special.

    还是 means “still” here, showing that Maya wants the same familiar choice despite the occasion.

    Say it: The final 蛋 has a clear falling tone, unlike the third tone in 饼.

  4. Maya stands in the middle of the unchanged breakfast shop holding a closed folder while Yi-Jun and Auntie Lin keep their usual routines.

    你们没有变，我变了

    You didn't change; I did.

    When to use it: Use this contrast when a place feels familiar but you have changed.

    变了 presents a change as a new state; the comma contrasts the group with Maya.

    Say it: 了 is usually a light, neutral syllable here.

  5. Auntie Lin holds a small folded slip and scans the counter while Maya asks whether something was left out.

    我们是不是漏了什么？

    Did we leave something out?

    When to use it: Ask this when everyone senses that one thing may still be missing.

    是不是 makes a yes-or-no question, while 什么 stays in place after 漏了.

    Say it: 么 is usually light and neutral in 什么.

  6. Auntie Lin hunts along the counter for glasses with the folded slip still in one hand while Maya waits beside, ready to ask something.

    有件事我一直没问

    There's something I never asked.

    When to use it: Use this to introduce a question you have been holding back.

    有件事 introduces one matter; 没问 says the asking has not happened.

    Say it: In 一直, 一 changes to a falling tone before 直.

Story — one more goodbye

The neighbors gather at Banyan Breakfast after Maya signs her new lease. She thanks them one by one, and A-Li's soy milk is still unfinished.

He says goodbye, then settles in for one more egg pancake. Auntie Lin takes the folded slip from the till and goes looking for her glasses.

  1. Auntie Lin玛雅，王先生说新租约已经签好了。Maya, Mr. Wang says the new lease has been signed.
  2. Maya我决定留下来。I've decided to stay.
  3. Yi-Jun那我们就还是常在这里碰面。Then we'll keep meeting here like usual.
  4. Auntie Lin今天大家都在，刚好可以好好道谢。Everyone's here today, so it's a good chance to say thanks.
  5. Maya谢谢你们这一年的照顾。Thank you all for looking after me this year.
  6. Auntie Lin你也帮了我们很多，别只谢我们。You've helped us a lot too; don't thank only us.
  7. Maya我会常常回来。I'll come back often.
  8. Yi-Jun好，那我下次先帮你留位子。Okay, I'll save you a seat next time.
  9. Maya你们没有变，我变了。You didn't change; I did.
  10. Auntie Lin你的口味倒没变，还是要加蛋？Your taste hasn't changed, though. Still want egg?
  11. Maya蛋饼我还是要加蛋。I still want egg in my 蛋饼.
  12. A-Li等一下，我好像该走了。Wait, I think I should go.
  13. Auntie Lin阿犛，你现在真的要走了吗？A-Li, are you really leaving now?
  14. A-Li我得走了，明天见。I have to go. See you tomorrow.
  15. Maya明天见。See you tomorrow.
  16. A-Li欸，我再坐一下，还想点一份蛋饼。Oh, I'll sit a little longer. I still want to order an egg pancake.
  17. Auntie Lin好喔，照旧加蛋。Sure, egg as usual.
  18. Maya我们是不是漏了什么？Did we leave something out?
  19. Yi-Jun你是说柜台里那张折起来的纸吗？Do you mean that folded paper in the counter?
  20. Auntie Lin我先拿出来，眼镜放哪里了？我去找一下。I'll take it out first. Where did I put my glasses? I'll go look.
  21. Maya有件事我一直没问。There's something I never asked.
  22. A-Li等林阿姨找到眼镜再说吧。Let's wait until Auntie Lin finds her glasses.

Practice — keep the words close

Try ten short activities to recall the new lines and choose what fits the moment. You will also revisit a couple of useful phrases from earlier lessons.

Build each line from word tiles, then listen for its meaning in the scene.

0 of 10 done

  1. What does it mean?

    谢谢你们这一年的照顾

  2. What do you say?

    You are leaving the neighborhood but plan to return regularly. Tell the group.

  3. Build the line

    I still want egg in my 蛋饼.

    Tap the words in order.

  4. Fill the gap

    There's something I never asked.

    有件事我一直没____

  5. Match the pairs

    Simplified Chinese

    谢谢你们这一年的照顾Drop the English here
    我会常常回来Drop the English here
    你们没有变，我变了Drop the English here
    我们是不是漏了什么？Drop the English here

    English

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

  6. What did you hear?

  7. Pick the reply

    Auntie Lin says:

    这一年大家都照顾你很多。

    Everyone looked after you a lot this year.

    And you reply with:

  8. Fill the gap

    Did we leave something out?

    我们是不是____了什么？

  9. What do you say?

    After renewing your lease, tell your friends that you have decided to stay.

  10. What do you say?

    You are leaving the shop and expect to see everyone tomorrow. Say goodbye.

Say it — your words for the neighbors

You are Maya at the counter, speaking to the neighbors who have become familiar over the year. Listen to each cue, then answer in your own voice.

Keep each response natural and brief, just as you would in a real conversation.

  1. Maya joins the group after signing her new lease.
  2. Auntie Lin这一年大家都很照顾你。Everyone has looked after you a lot this year.
  3. Maya (you)Thank everyone for looking after you this year.

    谢谢你们这一年的照顾

    Thank you all for looking after me this year.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

Simplified ChineseEnglish
谢谢你们这一年的照顾Thank you all for looking after me this year.
我会常常回来I'll come back often.
蛋饼我还是要加蛋I still want egg in my 蛋饼.
你们没有变，我变了You didn't change; I did.
我们是不是漏了什么？Did we leave something out?
有件事我一直没问There's something I never asked.
Next: lesson 240The last breakfast

Save your progress — it’s free

Keep your place in the course and see which lines you’ve learned.

Want the next lesson in your inbox?

Get the next lesson by email, one a day.

Where should we start?
Join the newsletter

Daily lesson emails are coming soon. Newsletter subscribers get them first.

Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Today's lines for thanking people and staying in touch are in Yak Cards.

Review the expressions you want to keep using, then try them with someone you know.

Open Yak Cards