Traditional Chinese course

Lesson 152 of 240

New here? This is lesson 152 of a free 240-lesson Traditional Chinese course.

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What happened first in Traditional Chinese

Zhi-Ming's files will not open, and the deadline is today. He asks you to walk through the steps you already tried at the co-working space.

Learn how to say what you pressed first, when the error appears, and what you think caused it. Then offer to show someone, ask if they can fix it, and name a same-day deadline.

Keep the cause ordinary: a weak network, not a fortune. A-Li's soy milk is still sitting unfinished at breakfast.

By the end of this lesson

Describe the steps that led to a problem, say when it fails, guess the cause, offer to show someone, and name a same-day deadline.

  • 我先按了這個，然後出現錯誤I pressed this first and then an error appeared.
  • 只有在上傳的時候才會出問題It only goes wrong when uploading.
  • 我想可能是因為網路I think it might be the network.
  • 我可以示範給你看I can show you.
  • 你有辦法修嗎？Can you fix it?
  • 我必須在今天之內把它修好I have to get it fixed by the end of today.

Scene — a file that will not open

At the co-working space two MRT stops from Banyan Lane, Zhi-Ming stares at a file that will not open. Maya already tried the upload on her laptop.

He needs the files today. She walks him through the steps, the error, and a guess about the network. Nobody mentions the fortune slip.

In a sunlit Taipei coworking loft, Zhi-Ming stares at a frozen laptop while Maya sits beside him with her own laptop already open from a failed upload.

Learn — steps, timing, and cause

These six lines help you walk someone through a computer problem in order. Listen to each line, then say it out loud.

Notice 先 then 然後 for the steps, and 把 when you must get something fixed today.

  1. Maya's finger is still on the laptop after pressing, a warning glow on the screen, while Zhi-Ming's hand waits at the edge of the desk.

    我先按了這個，然後出現錯誤

    I pressed this first and then an error appeared.

    When to use it: Use this to report the first click and the error that followed.

    先 marks the first step, and 然後 introduces what happened next.

    Say it: 了 is a light neutral tone after 按.

  2. Maya traces an upload motion on her laptop to show the trouble happens only then, while Zhi-Ming sits back from a dark screen.

    只有在上傳的時候才會出問題

    It only goes wrong when uploading.

    When to use it: Use this when a problem happens only during one action.

    只有 and 才 work together to limit when the problem appears.

    Say it: 的 is a light neutral tone in this phrase.

  3. A shelf router blinks in the foreground while Maya guesses toward it and Zhi-Ming crouches under the desk to check a cable.

    我想可能是因為網路

    I think it might be the network.

    When to use it: Use this to guess a cause without sounding certain.

    因為 names the cause you have in mind.

    Say it: In 我想, the first third tone rises.

  4. Maya rotates her laptop toward Zhi-Ming and leans in to demonstrate, while he scoots forward with hands on his knees to watch.

    我可以示範給你看

    I can show you.

    When to use it: Offer this when you can walk someone through the clicks.

    給你看 means they watch while you do it.

    Say it: In 可以, the first third tone rises.

  5. Zhi-Ming turns his stuck laptop toward Maya with an open-handed plea, while she studies his screen with her chin on her hand.

    你有辦法修嗎？

    Can you fix it?

    When to use it: Ask this when you need to know if they can repair it.

    嗎 turns this into a yes-no question.

    Say it: 嗎 is a light neutral tone at the end.

  6. Zhi-Ming checks a blank-faced watch in late-afternoon window light with tense urgency, while Maya stays calmly typing on her own laptop.

    我必須在今天之內把它修好

    I have to get it fixed by the end of today.

    When to use it: Use this when something must be fixed by the end of today.

    把 places the object before the verb so the result can follow.

Story — Zhi-Ming's upload

Listen as Maya walks Zhi-Ming through what she pressed and when the error appeared.

He still needs the files fixed before the day ends.

  1. At the co-working space, Zhi-Ming's files will not open.
  2. Zhi-Ming這個好像出問題了。This seems to have a problem.
  3. Maya發生什麼事了？What happened?
  4. Zhi-Ming檔案打不開，上傳也失敗。The file won't open, and the upload fails too.
  5. Maya我先按了這個，然後出現錯誤。I pressed this first and then an error appeared.
  6. Zhi-Ming後來呢？And then?
  7. Maya只有在上傳的時候才會出問題。It only goes wrong when uploading.
  8. Zhi-Ming你覺得是什麼原因？What do you think the reason is?
  9. Maya我想可能是因為網路。I think it might be the network.
  10. Zhi-Ming那現在怎麼辦？So what do we do now?
  11. Maya我可以示範給你看。I can show you.
  12. Zhi-Ming你有辦法修嗎？Can you fix it?
  13. Maya我試試看。I'll give it a try.
  14. Zhi-Ming今天一定要修好。It has to be fixed today.
  15. Maya我必須在今天之內把它修好。I have to get it fixed by the end of today.

Practice — tell what happened first

Work through eleven short exercises on the order of events and the likely cause. Pick the line that fits each moment.

After you answer, read why the other choice fails, then say the line again.

0 of 11 done

  1. What does it mean?

    我先按了這個，然後出現錯誤

  2. Fill the gap

    It only goes wrong when uploading.

    只有在____的時候才會出問題

  3. What do you say?

    The upload failed again. Guess the cause without sounding sure.

  4. Build the line

    I can show you.

    Tap the words in order.

  5. What did you hear?

  6. What did you hear?

  7. What does it mean?

    這個好像出問題了

  8. What do you say?

    The error is on your laptop across the room. Ask Zhi-Ming to come over and take a look.

  9. Pick the reply

    Zhi-Ming says:

    那現在怎麼辦？

    So what do we do now?

    And you reply with:

  10. What do you say?

    Zhi-Ming is staring at his screen, looking stuck. Ask what happened.

  11. Match the pairs

    Traditional Chinese

    我先按了這個，然後出現錯誤Drop the English here
    只有在上傳的時候才會出問題Drop the English here
    我想可能是因為網路Drop the English here
    我必須在今天之內把它修好Drop the English here

    English

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

Say it — walk him through it

You play Maya and talk Zhi-Ming through the broken upload at work. Listen to each cue, then say your line out loud.

Tap the microphone to speak. You can replay his line before your turn.

  1. Zhi-Ming calls you over about a file that will not open.
  2. Zhi-Ming這個好像出問題了。This seems to have a problem.
  3. Maya (you)Tell him what you pressed first and what showed up after.

    我先按了這個，然後出現錯誤

    I pressed this first and then an error appeared.

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

Traditional ChineseEnglish
我先按了這個，然後出現錯誤I pressed this first and then an error appeared.
只有在上傳的時候才會出問題It only goes wrong when uploading.
我想可能是因為網路I think it might be the network.
我可以示範給你看I can show you.
你有辦法修嗎？Can you fix it?
我必須在今天之內把它修好I have to get it fixed by the end of today.
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