New here? This is lesson 168 of a free 240-lesson Traditional Chinese course.
The short version in Traditional Chinese
At the bubble-tea stand near Banyan Breakfast, Auntie Lin explains the ice rule in three short sentences. Maya catches two of them and asks what the third one means.
Learn how to give the short version first: in short, what you mean, the point, basically, and a because-so pair. Then you can say it is not as hard as it sounds.
Keep the point first, then add the reason. A-Li's soy milk stays unfinished, and the fortune slip stays in the till.
By the end of this lesson
State the main point first, then explain it in a few clear sentences.
- 簡單來說In short.
- 我的意思是___What I mean is ___.
- 重點是要___The point is to ___.
- 基本上Basically.
- 因為___，所以___Because ___, so ___.
- 其實沒有聽起來那麼難It's actually not as hard as it sounds.
Scene — the ice rule
Maya stands at the bubble-tea counter beside Banyan Breakfast. Auntie Lin talks fast about ice levels, and Maya only catches two of the three sentences.
A-Li sits at the back with two stools and an unfinished soy milk. Nobody solves the fortune today. The job is to hear the short version first.
Learn — the short version first
These six lines help you state the point first, then explain. Listen, then say each one out loud.
Notice 因為 and 所以 as a pair: the reason comes first, then the result.
簡單來說
In short.
When to use it: Use this to start with the short version.
Put this first, then add the longer explanation.
我的意思是___
What I mean is ___.
When to use it: Use this to restate your point in plainer words.
Fill the blank with the idea you want them to hear.
Say it: The second syllable of 意思 is a light neutral tone.
重點是要___
The point is to ___.
When to use it: Use this to name the one thing that matters.
要 here means you need to do the action that follows.
Say it: 重 in 重點 is a falling fourth tone.
基本上
Basically.
When to use it: Use this when the main idea is true, with small exceptions.
It softens a statement; you can still add a detail after it.
Say it: 上 in 基本上 has a falling fourth tone.
因為___，所以___
Because ___, so ___.
When to use it: Use this to link a reason to a result in one line.
因為 names the reason; 所以 names what follows from it.
其實沒有聽起來那麼難
It's actually not as hard as it sounds.
When to use it: Use this after a rule sounds harder than it is.
沒有 here means the comparison is not true, not a missing object.
Story — three sentences at the counter
Listen as Auntie Lin gives Maya the ice rule in three sentences. Maya understands the first two and asks what the third one means.
A-Li listens from the back table and keeps it simple.
Auntie Lin美女，冰的規則我講三句就好。I'll give the ice rule in just three sentences.- Auntie Lin簡單來說，少冰就好。In short, less ice is enough.
- Auntie Lin我的意思是不要加太滿。What I mean is, don't fill it too full.
- Auntie Lin重點是要講清楚冰量。The point is to say the ice level clearly.
Maya我只聽懂一部分。I only understood part of it.- Auntie Lin你聽懂哪兩句？Which two sentences did you catch?
- Maya前面兩句。第三句是什麼意思？The first two. What does the third sentence mean?
- Auntie Lin基本上，就是把冰量講清楚。Basically, it just means say the ice level clearly.
- Maya為什麼要少冰？Why less ice?
- Auntie Lin因為冰塊會化，所以少冰比較剛好。Because the ice melts, less ice is about right.
A-Li其實沒有聽起來那麼難。It's actually not as hard as it sounds.- Maya我明白了。I understand.
- Auntie Lin好喔，那你要少冰嗎？Okay, so do you want less ice?
- Maya好，少冰，謝謝。Yes, less ice, thanks.
- A-Li豆漿還沒喝完。The soy milk still isn't finished.
Practice — state the point
Try eleven short exercises on giving the short version. Pick the line that states the point, then check why the others do not fit.
After each answer, check the explanation and try saying the line again.
0 of 11 done
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
簡單來說
What do you say?
What do you say?
You already gave the short version. Now restate the same idea in plainer words.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
It's actually not as hard as it sounds.
其實沒有____那麼難
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Build the line
Build the line
In short.
Tap the words in order.
Swap the word
Swap the word
You want to name the one action they need to do.
重點是_______
Pick the reply
A-Li says:
Pick the reply
其實沒有聽起來那麼難。
It's actually not as hard as it sounds.
And you reply with:
Match the pairs
Traditional Chinese
簡單來說Drop the English here我的意思是___Drop the English here基本上Drop the English here其實沒有聽起來那麼難Drop the English hereEnglish
What do you say?
What do you say?
Explain why less ice works better, with a cause and a result.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
I only understood part of it.
我只聽懂____
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
少冰
Say it — your short version
You play Maya at the bubble-tea counter. Listen to each cue, then give the short version out loud.
Tap the microphone to speak. You can replay Auntie Lin's line before your turn.
- Maya tries the short version at the bubble-tea counter.
- Maya (you)Give the short version first.
Give the short version first.
簡單來說
In short.
0 of 5 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Traditional Chinese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 簡單來說 | In short. | |
| 我的意思是___ | What I mean is ___. | |
| 重點是要___ | The point is to ___. | |
| 基本上 | Basically. | |
| 因為___，所以___ | Because ___, so ___. | |
| 其實沒有聽起來那麼難 | It's actually not as hard as it sounds. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Today's short-version lines are in Yak Cards with more ways to state a point first.
Review a few of these cards so the short version comes first.
Open Yak Cards