Traditional Chinese course

Lesson 164 of 240

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Why that way in Traditional Chinese

Yi-Jun asks why you live above the scooter shop on Banyan Lane. Auntie Lin already knows your order, and A-Li's soy milk is still unfinished at the back table.

Learn how to give more than one reason: why you asked a question that way, what the problem was, and why you chose this place.

You will explain a real choice, not a fortune. Keep the reasons ordinary and clear.

By the end of this lesson

Explain why you chose something, name a past problem, and check a reason.

  • 我會這樣問，是因為___I ask this way because ___.
  • 其中一個原因是___One reason is ___.
  • 我當時的問題是___My problem at the time was ___.
  • 所以我才決定搬過來That's why I decided to move here.
  • 是因為這樣嗎？Is it because of that?
  • 原因有幾個There are a few reasons.

Scene — the flat above the shop

Banyan Breakfast is busy. Yi-Jun sits with Maya near the window, and Auntie Lin wipes the counter. A-Li occupies two stools at the back, soy milk still untouched.

They talk about Maya's flat above the scooter shop. The fortune slip stays in the till; nobody reads it today.

A busy sunlit breakfast shop with Maya and Yi-Jun at the window table while Auntie Lin wipes the counter.

Learn — reasons for a choice

These six lines help you explain a choice with more than one reason. Listen to each line, then say it out loud.

Notice 才 after 所以: it stresses that this reason led you to move.

  1. Yi-Jun leans forward at the window table with both palms open toward Maya, asking why the question was put that way.

    我會這樣問，是因為___

    I ask this way because ___.

    When to use it: Use this to explain why you asked a question in this way.

    是因為 puts the reason in focus after you say what you asked.

  2. Maya sits at the window table holding up one finger over the breakfast tray toward Yi-Jun.

    其中一個原因是___

    One reason is ___.

    When to use it: Use this when a choice has several reasons and you name one.

    其中一個 means one among several, not the only reason.

    Say it: 一 changes to a rising tone before 個.

  3. Maya turns toward the bright window with both hands around a warm cup, shoulders slightly hunched while remembering an old problem.

    我當時的問題是___

    My problem at the time was ___.

    When to use it: Use this to name the problem that led to a later choice.

    當時 points to that past moment, not to now.

  4. Maya sits tall and thumbs toward parked scooters on the sunny street beyond the window, settled about moving here.

    所以我才決定搬過來

    That's why I decided to move here.

    When to use it: Use this after a reason, to say it led you to move here.

    才 here stresses that this was the reason you moved.

    Say it: 才 is a second tone in this line.

  5. Auntie Lin pauses mid-wipe at the counter and looks toward the window table to check a reason.

    是因為這樣嗎？

    Is it because of that?

    When to use it: Ask this to check whether you have the right reason.

    嗎 makes this a yes-no question; the reason stays in place.

  6. Maya faces the table and opens both hands apart over the tray to show that several reasons are involved.

    原因有幾個

    There are a few reasons.

    When to use it: Use this when a choice has more than one reason.

    幾個 here means a few, not a request for an exact count.

Story — why this flat

Listen as Maya explains why she chose the flat above the scooter shop. Yi-Jun asks, and Auntie Lin already knows the lane.

A-Li is at the back table. His soy milk stays unfinished.

  1. Auntie Lin美女，這邊坐。Have a seat here.
  2. Yi-Jun你怎麼會決定搬來臺北？How did you decide to move to Taipei?
  3. Maya原因有幾個。There are a few reasons.
  4. Yi-Jun因為工作喔？Because of work?
  5. Maya其中一個原因是工作。One reason is work.
  6. Auntie Lin那你怎麼住機車行樓上？Then why do you live above the scooter shop?
  7. Maya我當時的問題是每天通勤要花很多時間。My problem at the time was that commuting took a lot of time every day.
  8. Yi-Jun後來呢？And then?
  9. Maya離捷運站很近，所以我才決定搬過來。It's very close to the MRT station, so that's why I decided to move here.
  10. Yi-Jun是因為這樣嗎？Is it because of that?
  11. Maya對啊，方便很多。那樓下會不會太吵？Yeah, it's much more convenient. Would it be too noisy downstairs?
  12. Yi-Jun你剛才為什麼那樣問？Why did you ask that way just now?
  13. Maya我會這樣問，是因為怕樓下太吵。I ask that way because I was afraid it would be too noisy downstairs.
  14. Auntie Lin有時候會，可是還好。Sometimes it is, but it's all right.
  15. At the back table, A-Li still has not touched his soy milk.
  16. A-Li豆漿還是熱的。The soy milk is still hot.
  17. Auntie Lin阿犛，你又沒喝完。A-Li, you still haven't finished it.
  18. A-Li好喔。Okay.

Practice — explain the why

Try these short exercises to give more than one reason and to check a guess. Pick the line that fits each small moment.

After each answer, read why the other options fail, then say the line again.

0 of 11 done

  1. What does it mean?

    原因有幾個

  2. What do you say?

    You have just said the flat is close to the MRT. Now say that's why you decided to move here.

  3. Fill the gap

    I ask this way because ___.

    我會這樣問，是_______

  4. What did you hear?

  5. Build the line

    That's why I decided to move here.

    Tap the words in order.

  6. Match the pairs

    Traditional Chinese

    我會這樣問，是因為___Drop the English here
    其中一個原因是___Drop the English here
    我當時的問題是___Drop the English here
    原因有幾個Drop the English here

    English

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

  7. Pick the reply

    Yi-Jun says:

    你怎麼會決定搬來臺北？

    How did you decide to move to Taipei?

    And you reply with:

  8. What do you say?

    Yi-Jun asks what is good about the flat. Say it is very close to the MRT station.

  9. Swap the word

    You are explaining why you moved here. Swap the verb so the line says you decided, not planned.

    所以我才____搬過來

  10. What do you say?

    Ask Maya how she decided to move to Taipei.

  11. Fill the gap

    My problem at the time was ___.

    我當時____問題是___

Say it — your reasons

You play Maya at Banyan Breakfast and talk with Yi-Jun. Listen to each cue, then explain your reasons out loud.

Tap the microphone to speak. You can replay the other person's line before your turn.

  1. Yi-Jun asks about your move to Taipei.
  2. Yi-Jun你怎麼會決定搬來臺北？How did you decide to move to Taipei?
  3. Maya (you)Say that there are a few reasons.

    原因有幾個

    There are a few reasons.

0 of 3 said

Recap — what you can say now

Traditional ChineseEnglish
我會這樣問，是因為___I ask this way because ___.
其中一個原因是___One reason is ___.
我當時的問題是___My problem at the time was ___.
所以我才決定搬過來That's why I decided to move here.
是因為這樣嗎？Is it because of that?
原因有幾個There are a few reasons.
Next: lesson 165For example

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