New here? This is lesson 122 of a free 240-lesson Traditional Chinese course.
Trip stories in Traditional Chinese
At the co-working space, Yi-Jun tells Maya about a trip to Japan. Each time she retells it, the story grows a little grander.
Ask where she went, what stood out, and what she would recommend. A-Li adds a food tip, while his soy milk remains unfinished beside him.
By the end of this lesson
Say where you went, describe the best part and what you did, and ask about or recommend a trip highlight.
- 我去年去了日本I went to Japan last year.
- 最棒的是食物The best part was the food.
- 我大部分時間都在走路I spent most of the time walking.
- 我一定會再去I'll definitely go again.
- 你這趟最棒的是什麼？What was the best part of your trip?
- 如果你去，一定要試試看If you go, you have to try it.
Scene — a story from Japan
At the Taipei co-working space, Yi-Jun tells Maya about a trip she took to Japan last year. Maya asks what she enjoyed most and listens as the story grows.
A-Li is nearby with his usual unfinished soy milk. He joins in when the conversation turns to food.
Learn — tell a trip story
Learn how to say where you went, describe the best part, and share what you did most of the time.
Then ask a friend about their trip and recommend something they should try.
我去年去了日本
I went to Japan last year.
When to use it: Use this to say where you went and when.
了 marks the trip as a completed past event; 過 means you have been there before.
最棒的是食物
The best part was the food.
When to use it: Use this to name the best part of an experience.
最 makes this the top highlight; 的 links the description to 食物.
我大部分時間都在走路
I spent most of the time walking.
When to use it: Use this to say what you did for most of a trip.
都 gathers the whole time period into one summary; 在走路 describes what you were doing.
我一定會再去
I'll definitely go again.
When to use it: Use this to confidently say you plan to return.
一定會 expresses a confident plan to return.
你這趟最棒的是什麼？
What was the best part of your trip?
When to use it: Ask someone which part of their trip they liked best.
什麼 stays where the answer would go; the question mark makes the sentence a question.
如果你去，一定要試試看
If you go, you have to try it.
When to use it: Recommend something strongly to someone who may visit.
如果 introduces a condition; 一定要 makes the recommendation strong.
Say it: 一 changes to a rising tone before the falling-tone syllable 定.
Story — the story gets bigger
Listen as Yi-Jun tells Maya about Japan. First she shares the highlights; then each retelling grows a little bigger.
Maya asks for details, and A-Li brings the conversation back to food.
Yi-Jun我去年去了日本。I went to Japan last year.
Maya你這趟最棒的是什麼？What was the best part of your trip?- Yi-Jun最棒的是食物。The best part was the food.
- Maya後來呢？And then?
- Yi-Jun我大部分時間都在走路。I spent most of the time walking.
- Yi-Jun我差點走遍整個日本。I almost walked all over Japan.
- Maya我還以為你真的走遍日本了。I thought you really had walked all over Japan.
- Maya你還會再去嗎？Will you go again?
- Yi-Jun我一定會再去。I'll definitely go again.
A-Li如果你去，一定要試試看。If you go, you have to try it.- Maya比如說？For example?
- A-Li章魚燒很好吃。Takoyaki is delicious.
- Maya好喔，我記下來了。Okay, I'll make a note of that.
Practice — recall the highlights
Try eight quick activities to recall trip details and ask for recommendations. Listen closely, build sentences, and choose lines that fit.
The last two prompts revisit useful questions from earlier lessons.
0 of 8 done
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
我去年去了日本
Build the line
Build the line
The best part was the food.
Tap the words in order.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
I spent most of the time walking.
我大部分時間____在走路
What do you say?
What do you say?
Your friend says she loved her trip and plans to return. Say you will definitely go again.
What do you say?
What do you say?
Ask a friend which part of their trip they liked best.
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What do you say?
What do you say?
Your friend has shared one detail about a trip. Invite them to continue the story.
What do you say?
What do you say?
A friend recommends something but has not named it. Ask for an example.
Say it — ask about a trip
You play Maya as Yi-Jun tells you about her trip. Listen to each cue, then ask a question or respond with a trip detail.
Speak out loud and keep the conversation moving. Yi-Jun will ask about your own trip too.
- Yi-Jun starts her trip story at the co-working space.
- Yi-Jun我去年去了日本。I went to Japan last year.
- Maya (you)Ask Yi-Jun what the best part of her trip was.
Ask Yi-Jun what the best part of her trip was.
你這趟最棒的是什麼？
What was the best part of your trip?
0 of 4 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Traditional Chinese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 我去年去了日本 | I went to Japan last year. | |
| 最棒的是食物 | The best part was the food. | |
| 我大部分時間都在走路 | I spent most of the time walking. | |
| 我一定會再去 | I'll definitely go again. | |
| 你這趟最棒的是什麼？ | What was the best part of your trip? | |
| 如果你去，一定要試試看 | If you go, you have to try it. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Review trip questions and recommendations in Yak Cards.
Try telling a short trip story with one place, one highlight, and one recommendation.
Open Yak Cards