我尽量不___。
Wǒ jǐnliàng bù ___.
I try not to ___.
Meaning: I try not to ___.
When to use: Use this to say you make an effort to avoid a behavior (habit you want to limit).
Tip: Don't use 不要 here — say 我尽量不 + verb to express an ongoing effort.
Examples ▼ 为了睡眠质量，我尽量不吃太多甜食。
Wèile shuìmián zhìliàng, wǒ jǐnliàng bù chī tài duō tiánshí.
I try not to eat too many sweets for better sleep.
下班后我尽量不看工作邮件。
Xiàbān hòu wǒ jǐnliàng bù kàn gōngzuò yóujiàn.
I try not to check work email after work.
我每天花大约___分钟___。
Wǒ měitiān huā dàyuē ___ fēnzhōng ___.
I spend about ___ minutes ___ each day.
Meaning: I spend about ___ minutes ___ each day.
When to use: Say how much time a daily activity usually takes. Put the minutes before the activity.
Tip: Begin with the time amount (几分钟) before saying the activity — otherwise the sentence sounds awkward.
Examples ▼ 我每天花大约三十分钟看新闻。
Wǒ měitiān huā dàyuē sānshí fēnzhōng kàn xīnwén.
I spend about 30 minutes reading the news each day.
我每天花大约二十分钟做冥想。
Wǒ měitiān huā dàyuē èrshí fēnzhōng zuò míngxiǎng.
I spend about 20 minutes meditating each day.
我大概一周做___次。
Wǒ dàgài yì zhōu zuò ___ cì.
I do that about ___ times a week.
Meaning: I do that about ___ times a week.
When to use: Answer how often you do something by giving an approximate weekly frequency.
Examples ▼ 我大概一周做三次瑜伽。
Wǒ dàgài yì zhōu zuò sān cì yújiā.
I do yoga about three times a week.
我大概一周做一次大扫除。
Wǒ dàgài yì zhōu zuò yí cì dà sǎochú.
I do a deep clean about once a week.
你一般什么时候___？
Nǐ yìbān shénme shíhou ___?
When do you normally ___?
Meaning: When do you normally ___?
When to use: Ask what time or situation someone usually does an activity (daily routine timing).
Examples ▼ 你一般什么时候锻炼？
Nǐ yìbān shénme shíhou duànliàn?
When do you normally exercise?
你一般什么时候吃晚饭？
Nǐ yìbān shénme shíhou chī wǎnfàn?
When do you usually have dinner?
你在___之前做什么？
Nǐ zài ___ zhīqián zuò shénme?
What do you do before ___?
Meaning: What do you do before ___?
When to use: Ask about actions someone does prior to another activity or time (sequence before something).
Examples ▼ 你在上班之前做什么？
Nǐ zài shàngbān zhīqián zuò shénme?
What do you do before going to work?
你在睡觉之前做什么？
Nǐ zài shuìjiào zhīqián zuò shénme?
What do you do before sleeping?
我最近开始___了。
Wǒ zuìjìn kāishǐ ___ le.
I started ___ recently.
Meaning: I started ___ recently.
When to use: Say a new habit or routine has started; use 了 to show the change has already begun.
Examples ▼ 我最近开始学做菜了。
Wǒ zuìjìn kāishǐ xué zuòcài le.
I recently started learning to cook.
我最近开始早起跑步了。
Wǒ zuìjìn kāishǐ zǎoqǐ pǎobù le.
I recently started getting up early to run.
我不___了，因为___。
Wǒ bù ___ le, yīnwèi ___.
I stopped ___ because ___.
Meaning: I stopped ___ because ___.
When to use: Say you ended a habit and give a simple reason; this is a common spoken way to explain a change.
Examples ▼ 我不抽烟了，因为医生建议我戒烟。
Wǒ bù chōuyān le, yīnwèi yīshēng jiànyì wǒ jièyān.
I stopped smoking because the doctor advised me to quit.
我不喝碳酸饮料了，因为我想更健康。
Wǒ bù hē tànsuān yǐnliào le, yīnwèi wǒ xiǎng gèng jiànkāng.
I stopped drinking soda because I want to be healthier.
我先___，然后___。
Wǒ xiān ___, ránhòu ___.
First I ___, then I ___.
Meaning: First I ___, then I ___.
When to use: Describe the order of actions in a routine; use 先...然后... to sequence tasks.
Tip: Watch the order: 先 + action A, 然后 + action B (not the other way around).
Examples ▼ 我先吃早饭，然后去上班。
Wǒ xiān chī zǎofàn, ránhòu qù shàngbān.
First I eat breakfast, then I go to work.
我先洗澡，然后做早操。
Wǒ xiān xǐzǎo, ránhòu zuò zǎocāo.
First I shower, then I do morning exercises.
我喜欢先___，再___。
Wǒ xǐhuan xiān ___, zài ___.“，“dialect_or_region”：“Mainland Mandarin”，“localization_status”：“candidate
I like to ___ before ___.
Meaning: I like to ___ before ___.
When to use: Say you prefer to do one thing before another in your routine (personal preference about order).
Examples ▼ 我喜欢先喝咖啡，再开始工作。
Wǒ xǐhuan xiān hē kāfēi, zài kāishǐ gōngzuò.
I like to drink coffee first, then start working.
我喜欢先做笔记，再读课文。
Wǒ xǐhuan xiān zuò bǐjì, zài dú kèwén.
I like to take notes first, then read the text.
我没太多时间___。
Wǒ méi tài duō shíjiān ___.“，“dialect_or_region”：“Mainland Mandarin”，“localization_status”：“candidate
I don't have much time for ___.
Meaning: I don't have much time for ___.
When to use: Explain that you can't spend much time on an activity because of limited time.
Examples ▼ 我没太多时间看电影，工作太忙。
Wǒ méi tài duō shíjiān kàn diànyǐng, gōngzuò tài máng.
I don't have much time to watch movies; work is too busy.
我没太多时间做饭，所以常常点外卖。
Wǒ méi tài duō shíjiān zuò fàn, suǒyǐ chángcháng diǎn wàimài.
I don't have much time to cook, so I often order takeout.
一有机会我就___。
Yì yǒu jīhuì wǒ jiù ___.“，“dialect_or_region”：“Mainland Mandarin”，“localization_status”：“candidate
I ___ whenever I can.
Meaning: I ___ whenever I can.
When to use: Say you do something opportunistically — when there is a chance or free moment.
Examples ▼ 一有机会我就去旅行。
Yì yǒu jīhuì wǒ jiù qù lǚxíng.
I travel whenever I get the chance.
一有机会我就读专业书籍。
Yì yǒu jīhuì wǒ jiù dú zhuānyè shūjí.
I read professional books whenever I have the opportunity.
___是你日常习惯的一部分吗？
___ shì nǐ rìcháng xíguàn de yí bùfen ma?“，“dialect_or_region”：“Mainland Mandarin”，“localization_status”：“candidate
Is ___ part of your routine?
Meaning: Is ___ part of your routine?
When to use: Ask whether an activity is a fixed part of someone's daily routine.
Examples ▼ 锻炼是你日常习惯的一部分吗？
Duànliàn shì nǐ rìcháng xíguàn de yí bùfen ma?
Is exercising part of your daily routine?
做早餐是你日常习惯的一部分吗？
Zuò zǎocān shì nǐ rìcháng xíguàn de yí bùfen ma?
Is making breakfast part of your routine?
How do you say: “I spend about 30 minutes reading the news each day”? 我每天花大约三十分钟看新闻。 我一周三十分钟看新闻。 每天我花大约看新闻三十分钟。 我每天看新闻三十次。
Which sentence asks 'When do you normally exercise?' 你大概一周做几次锻炼？ 你在锻炼之前做什么？ 你喜欢先跑步，再做什么？ 你一般什么时候锻炼？
Which sentence means 'I don't have much time to exercise'? 我没太多时间运动。 我每天花大约十分钟运动。 一有机会我就运动。 我大概一周做六次运动。
Which sentence expresses 'I stopped smoking because...' using the spoken frame from this lesson? 我尽量不抽烟，因为它不好。 我不抽烟了，因为医生建议我戒烟。 我最近开始抽烟了，因为朋友推荐。 我不抽烟，因为我没时间。
For better sleep, I try not to drink coffee at night. 为了睡得好，我尽量不___晚上喝咖啡。
Wèile shuì de hǎo, wǒ jǐnliàng bù ___ wǎnshàng hē kāfēi.
吃晚饭 喝咖啡 玩电脑 看电影
After work I relax a bit; I spend about 30 minutes reading each day. 下班后我每晚放松一下，我每天花大约三十分钟___。
Xiàbān hòu wǒ měi wǎn fàngsōng yíxià, wǒ měitiān huā dàyuē sānshí fēnzhōng ___.
上班 做作业 看书 开会
In the morning I first eat breakfast, then go out to work — that way I'm not rushed. 早上我先___，然后出门去上班，这样我不慌张。
Zǎoshang wǒ xiān ___, ránhòu chūmén qù shàngbān, zhèyàng wǒ bú huāngzhāng.
睡懒觉 打游戏 看电视 吃早饭
我尽量不___。 Wǒ jǐnliàng bù ___. 我每天花大约三十分钟看书。 Wǒ měitiān huā dàyuē sānshí fēnzhōng kàn shū. 我大概一周做两次。 Wǒ dàgài yì zhōu zuò liǎng cì. 你一般什么时候吃午饭？ Nǐ yìbān shénme shíhou chī wǔfàn? 你在上床之前做什么？ Nǐ zài shàngchuáng zhīqián zuò shénme? 我最近开始学做饭了。 Wǒ zuìjìn kāishǐ xué zuòfàn le. 我不抽烟了，因为身体不好。 Wǒ bù chōuyān le, yīnwèi shēntǐ bù hǎo. 我先洗脸，然后刷牙。 Wǒ xiān xǐliǎn, ránhòu shuā yá. I try not to ___. I spend about 30 minutes reading each day. I do that about two times a week. When do you normally have lunch? What do you do before going to bed? I started learning to cook recently. I stopped smoking because my health isn't good. First I wash my face, then I brush my teeth.
我喜欢先喝咖啡，再开始工作。 Wǒ xǐhuan xiān hē kāfēi, zài kāishǐ gōngzuò. 我没太多时间运动。 Wǒ méi tài duō shíjiān yùndòng. 一有机会我就去旅行。 Yì yǒu jīhuì wǒ jiù qù lǚxíng. 做晚饭是你日常习惯的一部分吗？ Zuò wǎnfàn shì nǐ rìcháng xíguàn de yí bùfen ma? 你在跑步之前做什么？ Nǐ zài pǎobù zhīqián zuò shénme? 我喜欢先复习，再上课。 Wǒ xǐhuan xiān fùxí, zài shàngkè. I like to drink coffee first, then start work. I don't have much time to exercise. I travel whenever I have a chance. Is cooking dinner part of your routine? What do you do before running? I like to review first, then attend class.
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我尽量不___。
Wǒ jǐnliàng bù ___.
I try not to ___.
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我每天花大约___分钟___。
Wǒ měitiān huā dàyuē ___ fēnzhōng ___.
I spend about ___ minutes ___ each day.
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我大概一周做___次。
Wǒ dàgài yì zhōu zuò ___ cì.
I do that about ___ times a week.
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你一般什么时候___？
Nǐ yìbān shénme shíhou ___?
When do you normally ___?
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你在___之前做什么？
Nǐ zài ___ zhīqián zuò shénme?
What do you do before ___?
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我最近开始___了。
Wǒ zuìjìn kāishǐ ___ le.
I started ___ recently.
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我不___了，因为___。
Wǒ bù ___ le, yīnwèi ___.
I stopped ___ because ___.
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我先___，然后___。
Wǒ xiān ___, ránhòu ___.
First I ___, then I ___.
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我喜欢先___，再___。
Wǒ xǐhuan xiān ___, zài ___.“，“dialect_or_region”：“Mainland Mandarin”，“localization_status”：“candidate
I like to ___ before ___.
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我没太多时间___。
Wǒ méi tài duō shíjiān ___.“，“dialect_or_region”：“Mainland Mandarin”，“localization_status”：“candidate
I don't have much time for ___.
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一有机会我就___。
Yì yǒu jīhuì wǒ jiù ___.“，“dialect_or_region”：“Mainland Mandarin”，“localization_status”：“candidate
I ___ whenever I can.
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___是你日常习惯的一部分吗？
___ shì nǐ rìcháng xíguàn de yí bùfen ma?
Is ___ part of your routine?
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