Traditional Chinese course

Lesson 54 of 240

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Hot, cold, rainy in Traditional Chinese

At Banyan Breakfast, the morning starts bright and warm. Then rain reaches the lane, and A-Li finally has a reason to put on his raincoat.

The television on the wall shows typhoon news, but today's conversation stays close to what everyone can see outside.

Learn to describe a hot, cold, pleasant, or rainy day. You will also ask whether it will rain and say that you are bringing an umbrella.

By the end of this lesson

Describe today's weather, ask whether it will rain, and say you are bringing an umbrella.

  • 今天很熱It's hot today.
  • 今天很冷It's cold today.
  • 外面在下雨It's raining outside.
  • 今天天氣很好The weather's nice today.
  • 會下雨嗎？Will it rain?
  • 我帶傘I'll bring an umbrella.

Scene — a change in the weather

Maya stops at Banyan Breakfast before going out. Sunlight reaches Auntie Lin's counter, and A-Li sits on his two stools with an unfinished soy milk.

His raincoat hangs nearby. A television on the wall shows typhoon news, while everyone in the shop watches the weather outside for themselves.

Maya and Auntie Lin watch the weather outside while A-Li sits beside an unfinished soy milk.

Learn — today's weather

Listen to six short lines about the weather and getting ready to go out. Say each one aloud, then imagine looking through the breakfast shop window.

  1. Maya fans herself beside the sunlit breakfast-shop counter.

    今天很熱

    It's hot today.

    When to use it: Say this when the day feels hot.

  2. Auntie Lin hugs her arms close as a cool breeze enters the shop.

    今天很冷

    It's cold today.

    When to use it: Say this when the day feels cold.

  3. Yijun looks through the breakfast-shop doorway at rain falling outside.

    外面在下雨

    It's raining outside.

    When to use it: Say this when rain is falling outside.

  4. Ajie smiles at the clear, sunny view outside the breakfast shop.

    今天天氣很好

    The weather's nice today.

    When to use it: Say this when you like today's weather.

  5. Wang looks toward gathering clouds with a questioning expression.

    會下雨嗎？

    Will it rain?

    When to use it: Ask this before going out if rain seems possible.

    Say it: The final question particle has a neutral tone.

  6. Zhiming picks up an umbrella before stepping out of the breakfast shop.

    我帶傘

    I'll bring an umbrella.

    When to use it: Say this when you plan to take an umbrella with you.

Story — A-Li's raincoat

Listen as the weather changes outside Banyan Breakfast. A-Li gets his raincoat off the hook, but his soy milk stays on the table.

The next morning feels different.

  1. Auntie Lin早安，今天天氣很好。Good morning. The weather's nice today.
  2. Maya今天很熱。It's hot today.
  3. A-Li會下雨嗎？Will it rain?
  4. Rain begins. A-Li takes his raincoat off the hook.
  5. Auntie Lin外面在下雨。It's raining outside.
  6. Maya我帶傘。I'll bring an umbrella.
  7. A-Li好喔。Okay.
  8. The next morning, Maya returns to the shop.
  9. Auntie Lin今天很冷。It's cold today.
  10. Maya早安。Good morning.
  11. Auntie Lin早安。Good morning.

Practice — talk about the weather

Use the weather you see or hear about to choose a line. Some exercises ask you to put word tiles in order; others ask what you would say next.

0 of 9 done

  1. What does it mean?

    今天很熱

  2. What do you say?

    You step outside the next morning and feel cold. Describe today.

  3. Build the line

    It's raining outside.

    Tap the words in order.

  4. Fill the gap

    The weather's nice today.

    今天____很好

  5. What did you hear?

  6. Match the pairs

    Traditional Chinese

    早安Drop the English here
    謝謝Drop the English here
    今天很熱Drop the English here
    今天很冷Drop the English here

    English

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

  7. Pick the reply

    A-Li says:

    外面在下雨，你帶什麼？

    It's raining outside. What will you bring?

    And you reply with:

  8. Fill the gap

    It's raining outside.

    外面在____

  9. Build the line

    I'll bring an umbrella.

    Tap the words in order.

Say it — before you go outside

Play Maya at Banyan Breakfast. Describe the day, ask A-Li about rain, and tell him what you will bring.

The last turn happens the next morning, when the weather has changed.

  1. Auntie Lin早安。Good morning.
  2. Maya (you)Tell Auntie Lin how hot today feels.

    今天很熱

    It's hot today.

0 of 4 said

Recap — what you can say now

Traditional ChineseEnglish
今天很熱It's hot today.
今天很冷It's cold today.
外面在下雨It's raining outside.
今天天氣很好The weather's nice today.
會下雨嗎？Will it rain?
我帶傘I'll bring an umbrella.
Next: lesson 55Write it down for me

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