Traditional Chinese - School Talk

我讀___年級。

Wǒ dú ___ niánjí.

I'm in ___ grade.

Meaning: 我讀___年級。 (Wǒ dú ___ niánjí.) means “I’m in ___ grade.”

When to use: Use it when someone asks what grade you are in or when introducing your school life.

Tip: Use 讀 for grade level in Taiwan Mandarin, not 是.

我在學___

Wǒ zài xué ___.

I study ___.

Meaning: 我在學___。 (Wǒ zài xué ___.) means “I study ___.”

When to use: Use it for school subjects, languages, instruments, or skills you are learning.

我最喜歡的科目是___。

Wǒ zuì xǐhuān de kēmù shì ___.

My favorite subject is ___.

Meaning: 我最喜歡的科目是___。 (Wǒ zuì xǐhuān de kēmù shì ___.) means “My favorite subject is ___.”

When to use: Use it when talking about the subject you like most at school.

Tip: 科目 is the natural word for a school subject in Taiwan Mandarin.

我有___課，在___。

Wǒ yǒu ___ kè, zài ___.

I have ___ class on ___.

Meaning: 我有___課，在___。 (Wǒ yǒu ___ kè, zài ___.) means “I have ___ class on ___.”

When to use: Use it to say the class first, then the day or time.

Tip: Keep the class before the time: class first, then day or time.

我們現在看到第幾頁？

Wǒmen xiànzài kàn dào dì jǐ yè?

What page are we on?

Meaning: 我們現在看到第幾頁？ (Wǒmen xiànzài kàn dào dì jǐ yè?) means “What page are we on?”

When to use: Use it in class when you are following a textbook or handout and need the page number.

這個地方我不太懂。

Zhège dìfang wǒ bù tài dǒng.

I don't understand this part.

Meaning: 這個地方我不太懂。 (Zhège dìfang wǒ bù tài dǒng.) means “I don’t understand this part.”

When to use: Use it to point to a section in a lesson, textbook, handout, or explanation that is confusing.

Tip: 不太懂 sounds softer and more natural than a very direct “I don’t understand” in many classroom moments.

什麼時候考試

Shénme shíhòu kǎoshì?

When is the test?

Meaning: 什麼時候考試？ (Shénme shíhòu kǎoshì?) means “When is the test?”

When to use: Use it when asking about a test, quiz, or exam date.

我得準備___。

Wǒ děi zhǔnbèi ___。

I need to study for ___.

Meaning: 我得準備___。 (Wǒ děi zhǔnbèi ___.) means “I need to study for ___.”

When to use: Use it when you need to prepare for a test, subject, report, or presentation.

可以借我___嗎？

Kěyǐ jiè wǒ ___ ma?

Can I borrow a ___?

Meaning: 可以借我___嗎？ (Kěyǐ jiè wǒ ___ ma?) means “Can I borrow a ___?”

When to use: Use it to politely ask a classmate or teacher to lend you a school item.

Tip: For extra politeness, you can add 一下 after 借我: 借我一下.

我有___的作業。

Wǒ yǒu ___ de zuòyè.

I have homework in ___.

Meaning: 我有___的作業。 (Wǒ yǒu ___ de zuòyè.) means “I have homework in ___.”

When to use: Use it to say which class or subject has homework.

你作業寫完了嗎？

Nǐ zuòyè xiě wán le ma?

Did you do the homework?

Meaning: 你作業寫完了嗎？ (Nǐ zuòyè xiě wán le ma?) means “Did you do the homework?”

When to use: Use it to ask a classmate whether they finished the homework.

Tip: In Taiwan Mandarin, people often say 寫作業 for doing homework.

作業___要交。

Zuòyè ___ yào jiāo.

The homework is due on ___.

Meaning: 作業___要交。 (Zuòyè ___ yào jiāo.) means “The homework is due on ___.”

When to use: Use it to say when homework needs to be turned in.

我們可以兩個人一組嗎？

Wǒmen kěyǐ liǎng ge rén yì zǔ ma?

Can we work in pairs?

Meaning: 我們可以兩個人一組嗎？ (Wǒmen kěyǐ liǎng ge rén yì zǔ ma?) means “Can we work in pairs?”

When to use: Use it in class when you want to pair up with another student for an activity.