New here? This is lesson 166 of a free 240-lesson Traditional Chinese course.
When that happens in Traditional Chinese
Rain hits the night market, and A-Jie still has chicken cutlets on the grill. He shows Maya how people talk about what usually happens.
Learn six frames for typical cases, imagined scenes, the moment something starts, and short examples.
Use them about rain at the stalls. Keep the tone everyday; A-Jie is explaining work, not a mystery.
By the end of this lesson
Describe typical situations, set up a what-if, and give a short example.
- 這種情況通常發生在___This usually happens when ___
- 假設你在___Suppose you're in ___
- 當你___的時候When you ___
- 同樣的情況也會發生在___The same happens with ___
- 簡單的例子就是___A simple example is ___
- ___、___之類的Things like ___ and ___.
Scene — rain at the stall
Maya stops at A-Jie's chicken-cutlet stall as rain starts over the night market. Awnings go down, and the crowd thins in a way he has seen many times.
He talks her through the usual pattern. The slip in Auntie Lin's till is not part of this talk, and no drink gets finished here.
Learn — typical situations
These six frames help you describe what typically happens. Listen, then say each one with a real ending in mind.
Notice 的時候: it points to the moment, not a place.
這種情況通常發生在___
This usually happens when ___
When to use it: Use this to name when a typical case usually appears.
通常 marks the usual pattern, not one past event.
假設你在___
Suppose you're in ___
When to use it: Use this to set up an imagined scene for someone.
假設 opens a what-if; the next line often gives the result.
當你___的時候
When you ___
When to use it: Use this to pin an action to the moment it happens.
的時候 follows the action and marks that moment, not a place.
Say it: The second syllable of 時候 is a light neutral tone.
同樣的情況也會發生在___
The same happens with ___
When to use it: Use this to say the same pattern shows up elsewhere.
也會 adds that the same case can appear in another setting.
簡單的例子就是___
A simple example is ___
When to use it: Use this to offer one clear example of the pattern.
就是 points straight at the example you are about to name.
Say it: The 子 in 例子 is a light neutral tone.
___、___之類的
Things like ___ and ___.
When to use it: Use this to list two examples and leave the list open.
之類的 means the list is not complete; more of the same exist.
Story — a wet night at the market
Listen as A-Jie tells Maya what a rainy night at his stall is usually like.
He uses the new frames; Maya asks for an example and checks if they stay open.
Maya阿傑，外面在下雨。A-Jie, it's raining outside.
A-Jie對啊，夜市也會這樣。Yeah, the night market gets like this too.- Maya比如說？For example?
- A-Jie這種情況通常發生在下雨的時候。This usually happens when it rains.
- A-Jie假設你在夜市。Suppose you're at the night market.
- A-Jie當你想買雞排的時候。When you want to buy a chicken cutlet.
- A-Jie大家都會跑去躲雨。Everyone runs off to get out of the rain.
- Maya那攤位怎麼辦？So what about the stall?
- A-Jie我們會把棚子放下來。We put the awning down.
- A-Jie同樣的情況也會發生在週末。The same happens on weekends.
- A-Jie簡單的例子就是客人突然變少。A simple example is the customers suddenly thinning out.
- A-Jie傘、雨衣之類的。Things like umbrellas and raincoats.
- Maya那你們還開嗎？So do you still stay open?
- A-Jie開啊，只是人少一點。We do, just with fewer people.
- Maya好喔，我晚點再來看。Okay, I'll come back and look later.
Practice — use the frames
Work through nine short items. Match each frame to the job it does, and watch the blank.
After you answer, read why the other choice fails, then say the line again.
0 of 9 done
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
這種情況通常發生在___
What do you say?
What do you say?
You want A-Jie to picture being at the night market. Start that what-if.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
When you ___
當你___的____
Swap the word
Swap the word
You mean the same pattern, not a different one. Change the first word.
____的情況也會發生在___
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What do you say?
What do you say?
List umbrellas and raincoats, and leave room for more of the same.
Build the line
Build the line
It's raining outside.
Tap the words in order.
Match the pairs
Traditional Chinese
這種情況通常發生在___Drop the English here假設你在___Drop the English here簡單的例子就是___Drop the English here___、___之類的Drop the English hereEnglish
Pick the reply
A-Jie says:
Pick the reply
下雨的時候事情會變得很麻煩。
When it rains, things get really troublesome.
And you reply with:
Say it — your typical cases
You are Maya at the stall. A-Jie waits for you to describe the usual rainy-night pattern.
Tap the microphone. Replay his line if you need it, then say your frame out loud.
- Rain starts, and A-Jie waits for Maya to describe the usual pattern.
- A-Jie夜市一下雨，人就少了。Once it rains at the night market, the crowd thins.
- Maya (you)Tell him this usually happens when it rains.
Tell him this usually happens when it rains.
這種情況通常發生在___
This usually happens when ___
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Traditional Chinese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 這種情況通常發生在___ | This usually happens when ___ | |
| 假設你在___ | Suppose you're in ___ | |
| 當你___的時候 | When you ___ | |
| 同樣的情況也會發生在___ | The same happens with ___ | |
| 簡單的例子就是___ | A simple example is ___ | |
| ___、___之類的 | Things like ___ and ___. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Today's frames are in Yak Cards with more lines for describing typical situations.
Review a few of these cards after a real errand, so the frames come when you need them.
Open Yak Cards