New here? This is lesson 72 of a free 240-lesson Traditional Chinese course.
How good I am at it in Traditional Chinese
Maya meets Yi-Jun for her first ride on a YouBike. Yi-Jun already knows the route, but Maya is still learning how to balance and steer.
Learn how to say you are a beginner, describe your progress, and explain how often you practise. You can also say what you like about a hobby and ask whether someone has tried it.
As they ride together, Maya finds the trip fun, a little difficult, and worth practising.
By the end of this lesson
Say that you are a beginner, describe your progress and practice routine, give an opinion about a hobby, and ask if someone has tried it.
- 我還是新手I'm still a beginner.
- 我越來越進步了I'm getting better and better.
- 我一個禮拜去一次I go once a week.
- 我盡量每個禮拜練習I try to practise every week.
- 很好玩，可是很難It's fun, but hard.
- 你有試過嗎？Have you tried it?
Scene — a first bike ride
Maya and Yi-Jun meet at a YouBike station in Taipei for Maya's first ride. Yi-Jun knows the park route and rides comfortably; Maya is still a beginner, so they take it slowly.
They stop for a break and talk about practising every week. The ride is fun but challenging, and neither friend pretends Maya has mastered it already.
Learn — talking about a hobby
These lines help you talk about a hobby and your progress with a friend. Notice how they express a beginner's status, a regular routine, and a mixed opinion.
Listen to the question about past experience, then practise saying each line aloud.
我還是新手
I'm still a beginner.
When to use it: Say this when you are still learning a skill or hobby.
我越來越進步了
I'm getting better and better.
When to use it: Use this to describe improvement that is happening over time.
了 can mark a change that has become noticeable.
我一個禮拜去一次
I go once a week.
When to use it: Use this to tell someone how often you go.
一個禮拜 gives a one-week period; 一次 means one time.
我盡量每個禮拜練習
I try to practise every week.
When to use it: Say this when you make an effort to practise regularly.
很好玩，可是很難
It's fun, but hard.
When to use it: Use this to give a positive and negative opinion together.
你有試過嗎？
Have you tried it?
When to use it: Ask whether someone has had this experience before.
過 asks whether someone has ever had this experience.
Story — Maya learns to ride
Maya and Yi-Jun take a YouBike ride through a Taipei park. Maya is new to riding, so Yi-Jun stays beside her and lets her set the pace.
During a break, Maya talks about practising and asks Yi-Jun about her own experience.
Yi-Jun你好！準備好騎車了嗎？Hello! Ready to ride?
Maya準備好了！I'm ready!- Yi-Jun我們騎 YouBike 去公園繞一圈吧。Let's ride YouBikes and go around the park once.
- Maya我還是新手。I'm still a beginner.
- Yi-Jun沒關係，我陪你慢慢騎。It's okay. I'll ride slowly with you.
- Maya我一個禮拜去一次。你呢？I go once a week. And you?
- Yi-Jun我一個禮拜去兩次。I go twice a week.
- After riding for a while, the two stop to rest.
- Maya我越來越進步了。I'm getting better and better.
- Maya我盡量每個禮拜練習。I try to practise every week.
- Yi-Jun很好玩，可是很難。It's fun, but hard.
- Maya你有試過嗎？Have you tried it?
- Yi-Jun有啊，我以前也不太會騎。Yes. I couldn't ride very well before, either.
- Yi-Jun今天玩得很開心！下次再一起騎。We had fun today! Let's ride together again next time.
Practice — talk about your progress
Use the exercises to talk about how often you ride, how your skills are changing, and what the experience is like.
Some tasks ask you to choose a fitting reply or rebuild a whole line. Pay attention to the difference between a regular habit and an experience someone has had before.
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What does it mean?
What does it mean?
你好
What do you say?
What do you say?
A friend asks whether you are experienced at riding. Say you are still learning.
Swap the word
Swap the word
You almost say you already practise every week. Change one word so it means you try to.
我____每個禮拜練習
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
I'm getting better and better.
我____進步了
Match the pairs
Traditional Chinese
我一個禮拜去一次Drop the English here很好玩，可是很難Drop the English here你有試過嗎？Drop the English hereEnglish
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Pick the reply
Yi-Jun says:
Pick the reply
你一個禮拜去幾次？
How many times a week do you go?
And you reply with:
What do you say?
What do you say?
You have shared how often you ride. Ask Yi-Jun about her routine.
What do you say?
What do you say?
Ask Yi-Jun whether she has ever tried the hobby you are discussing.
Say it — your hobby story
You are Maya, riding with Yi-Jun for the first time. Use the cues to talk about your skill, routine, and how the hobby feels.
Listen to Yi-Jun's reply before your next turn. Speak each answer aloud, and finish by asking about her experience.
- Maya and Yi-Jun meet at the YouBike station.
- Maya (you)Tell Yi-Jun you are still new to riding.
Tell Yi-Jun you are still new to riding.
我還是新手
I'm still a beginner.
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Recap — what you can say now
| Traditional Chinese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 我還是新手 | I'm still a beginner. | |
| 我越來越進步了 | I'm getting better and better. | |
| 我一個禮拜去一次 | I go once a week. | |
| 我盡量每個禮拜練習 | I try to practise every week. | |
| 很好玩，可是很難 | It's fun, but hard. | |
| 你有試過嗎？ | Have you tried it? |
Save your progress — it’s free
Keep your place in the course and see which lines you’ve learned.
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Review these hobby and progress lines in Yak Cards.
Practise a few lines each week so talking about your hobbies feels easier.
Open Yak Cards