New here? This is lesson 143 of a free 240-lesson Traditional Chinese course.
The typhoon is coming in Traditional Chinese
A typhoon warning reaches Da'an, and the neighborhood starts making practical plans. The breakfast shop will close early, and A-Li goes shopping for an unusually large umbrella.
Learn how to talk about closures, extra supplies, closed windows, and staying indoors. These everyday lines help you understand a warning and make a simple plan.
The storm is real, but the fortune slip remains unexplained. A-Li's soy milk is still unfinished, too.
By the end of this lesson
Understand a typhoon warning, talk about closures and supplies, and say you will stay home.
- 颱風要來了A typhoon is coming.
- 明天停班停課No work or school tomorrow.
- 要多買一點水和泡麵We should buy extra water and instant noodles.
- 窗戶關好了嗎？Are the windows shut?
- 我今天待在家I'm staying home today.
- 不要出門Don't go out.
Scene — a storm warning
A typhoon warning arrives in Da'an, and Auntie Lin hears that the breakfast shop should close early. Maya checks the news while A-Li shops for supplies.
His new umbrella is nearly the size of a tent. The neighbors make ordinary storm plans, and nobody knows what the fortune slip means.
Learn — getting ready for a typhoon
Listen to these six lines for a typhoon day. They cover the warning, closures, supplies, windows, and staying home.
Notice the changing tone in 不要 and the light ending in 了.
颱風要來了
A typhoon is coming.
When to use it: Use this to warn someone that a typhoon is on its way.
了 marks a new situation that has just become true.
Say it: 了 is a neutral-tone particle here.
明天停班停課
No work or school tomorrow.
When to use it: Use this to report that work and classes are cancelled tomorrow.
停班停課 is a fixed phrase for work and school closures.
要多買一點水和泡麵
We should buy extra water and instant noodles.
When to use it: Say this when suggesting extra supplies before a storm.
一點 makes the amount sound like a little extra.
Say it: 一 changes to a falling tone before the third-tone word 點.
窗戶關好了嗎？
Are the windows shut?
When to use it: Ask this to check whether someone has shut the windows.
關好 describes the windows as closed securely.
Say it: 了 is a neutral-tone particle in this question.
我今天待在家
I'm staying home today.
When to use it: Use this to say you plan to stay at home today.
待在家 means to remain at home.
不要出門
Don't go out.
When to use it: Use this as a direct warning or instruction during dangerous weather.
不要 gives a direct instruction not to do something.
Say it: 不 changes to a rising tone before a fourth-tone syllable.
Story — the shop closes early
A typhoon warning reaches Maya and the neighbors in Da'an. Listen as they check the closure news, shop for supplies, and get ready to stay indoors.
A-Li's tent-sized umbrella is memorable, but the fortune slip is not explained.
Auntie Lin早安！Good morning!
Maya早安。Good morning.- Auntie Lin颱風要來了，新聞說風很大。A typhoon is coming; the news says the wind will be strong.
- Maya明天停班停課？No work or school tomorrow?
- Auntie Lin對，早餐店今天提早打烊。Right, the breakfast shop is closing early today.
A-Li要多買一點水和泡麵。We should buy extra water and instant noodles.- Auntie Lin雨傘要帶嗎？Should we bring umbrellas?
- Maya我帶傘。I'll bring an umbrella.
- A-Li我買了很大的傘，像帳篷。I bought a very large umbrella, like a tent.
- Maya窗戶關好了嗎？Are the windows shut?
- Auntie Lin關好了，妳不要出門。They're shut. Don't go out.
- Maya我今天待在家。I'm staying home today.
Practice — prepare for the storm
Work through nine short exercises about a storm warning and preparing at home. Choose, build, and understand the lines in context.
Some exercises also bring back greetings and an umbrella line you have learned before.
0 of 10 done
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
颱風要來了
What do you say?
What do you say?
You meet Auntie Lin in the morning before the storm arrives. Greet her.
Build the line
Build the line
No work or school tomorrow.
Tap the words in order.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
I'm staying home today.
我____待在家
Match the pairs
Traditional Chinese
颱風要來了Drop the English here明天停班停課Drop the English here我今天待在家Drop the English here不要出門Drop the English hereEnglish
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Pick the reply
Auntie Lin says:
Pick the reply
雨傘要帶嗎？
Should we bring umbrellas?
And you reply with:
What do you say?
What do you say?
Auntie Lin tells you not to leave home during the typhoon. Repeat her warning.
What do you say?
What do you say?
Someone asks whether you are going out today. Say you will stay home.
True or false?
True or false?
This line fits the moment you are in.
Say it — your typhoon plan
You play Maya as the typhoon warning reaches the neighborhood. Listen to each cue, then say the useful line out loud.
Answer Auntie Lin, talk about the closure, and tell her what you plan to do at home.
- Auntie Lin greets Maya before telling her about the storm.
- Maya (you)Return Auntie Lin's morning greeting.
Return Auntie Lin's morning greeting.
早安
Good morning.
0 of 4 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Traditional Chinese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 颱風要來了 | A typhoon is coming. | |
| 明天停班停課 | No work or school tomorrow. | |
| 要多買一點水和泡麵 | We should buy extra water and instant noodles. | |
| 窗戶關好了嗎？ | Are the windows shut? | |
| 我今天待在家 | I'm staying home today. | |
| 不要出門 | Don't go out. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Review today's typhoon-day lines with Yak Cards.
Practise the warning and staying-home lines before storm season.
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