Traditional Chinese course

Lesson 185 of 240

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My goals in Traditional Chinese

At Banyan Breakfast, Maya writes this year's goals on a napkin while Auntie Lin wipes the counter. A-Li's soy milk sits unfinished beside two stools.

Learn how to say what you want to achieve, what it takes to get there, and how to ask what someone is planning next.

You will set a clear aim, name the work it needs, and leave the next step a little open.

By the end of this lesson

Say what you want to achieve, what it takes to improve, and what you plan next.

  • 我今年想把中文學好This year I want to learn Chinese well.
  • 我需要多練習，才能進步I need to practise more to improve.
  • 我的目標是三個月內達成My goal is to reach it within three months.
  • 我希望有一天可以流利地說I hope one day to speak fluently.
  • 你接下來有什麼打算？What are you planning next?
  • 我還沒決定，但很有興趣I haven't decided, but I'm very interested.

Scene — goals on a napkin

Morning steam fogs the window at Banyan Breakfast in Da'an. Maya sits by the counter with a pen and a paper napkin, listing what she wants this year.

Auntie Lin glances over, and A-Li listens from two stools, his soy milk still unfinished. The fortune slip stays in the till; today is only about ordinary goals.

Morning steam fogs the breakfast shop window while Maya works over a napkin at the counter, Auntie Lin glances from the griddle, and A-Li occupies a pair of stools beside unfinished soy milk.

Learn — set a goal and what it takes

These six lines help you name a goal, say what it takes, and ask about someone's next plan.

Listen for 把 when you want to get something done, and 地 when you describe how you speak.

  1. Maya sits upright at the steamed breakfast counter with her palm on a closed book, while A-Li watches from a pair of stools and ignores his soy milk.

    我今年想把中文學好

    This year I want to learn Chinese well.

    When to use it: Use this to name a clear aim for the year.

    把 marks the thing you want to get done.

  2. Maya drills with a pocket notebook at the breakfast counter, tapping a practice rhythm, while Auntie Lin stacks trays behind her with a different stance.

    我需要多練習，才能進步

    I need to practise more to improve.

    When to use it: Use this when extra practice is how you get better.

    才能 means the progress comes only after that practice.

  3. Maya pinches a short span of air over her napkin for a near-term goal, while A-Li dips toward his soy milk without drinking.

    我的目標是三個月內達成

    My goal is to reach it within three months.

    When to use it: Use this to set a deadline for reaching a goal.

    內 after a time span means within that period.

  4. Maya turns in profile toward the steam-fogged window with her pen paused, hoping toward the morning street beyond the glass.

    我希望有一天可以流利地說

    I hope one day to speak fluently.

    When to use it: Use this for a longer hope about speaking well.

    地 turns 流利 into how you speak, not a noun linker.

    Say it: 地 is a light neutral tone before the verb.

  5. A-Li turns from his stools toward Maya as if asking her next plan, Maya looks up from her napkin, and Auntie Lin leans in with an open palm.

    你接下來有什麼打算？

    What are you planning next?

    When to use it: Ask this to hear someone's next plan.

    什麼 stays in place; do not add 嗎 here.

  6. Maya shrugs at the breakfast counter with her pen hovering, interested but undecided, while Auntie Lin waits apart with a teapot.

    我還沒決定，但很有興趣

    I haven't decided, but I'm very interested.

    When to use it: Use this when you are interested but still choosing.

    沒 shows the decision has not happened yet.

    Say it: In 還沒, 還 is a second tone.

Story — a napkin at breakfast

Maya writes this year's aims on a napkin at Banyan Breakfast. Auntie Lin asks what it takes, and A-Li wonders what comes next.

Listen for how she sets a deadline, then leaves one plan still open.

  1. Auntie Lin美女，你在寫什麼？What are you writing, beautiful?
  2. Maya我今年想把中文學好This year I want to learn Chinese well.
  3. A-Li你還在學嗎？Are you still studying?
  4. Maya我在學中文I'm studying Chinese.
  5. Auntie Lin要怎麼進步？How will you improve?
  6. Maya我需要多練習，才能進步I need to practise more to improve.
  7. A-Li多久可以做到？How long until you can do it?
  8. Maya我的目標是三個月內達成My goal is to reach it within three months.
  9. Auntie Lin三個月，加油喔Three months; hang in there.
  10. Maya我希望有一天可以流利地說I hope one day to speak fluently.
  11. A-Li你接下來有什麼打算？What are you planning next?
  12. Maya我還沒決定，但很有興趣I haven't decided, but I'm very interested.
  13. A-Li glances at the napkin, then at the cup he still has not finished.
  14. Auntie Lin慢慢來，不用急Take your time, no rush.
  15. A-Li豆漿還沒喝完The soy milk still isn't finished.
  16. Auntie Lin祝你順利I hope it goes smoothly for you.

Practice — name your aims

Work through short tasks that mix goals, practice, and next plans. Pick the line that fits each moment.

After you answer, read why the other options miss, then say the right line out loud.

0 of 11 done

  1. What does it mean?

    我今年想把中文學好

  2. Fill the gap

    I need to practise more to improve.

    我需要多練習，____進步

  3. What do you say?

    You are writing on a napkin. Set a deadline of three months.

  4. Build the line

    I hope one day to speak fluently.

    Tap the words in order.

  5. What did you hear?

  6. Pick the reply

    A-Li says:

    你接下來有什麼打算？

    What are you planning next?

    And you reply with:

  7. Swap the word

    You want this year's aim: get Chinese learned well.

    我今年想____中文學好

  8. Match the pairs

    Traditional Chinese

    我今年想把中文學好Drop the English here
    我需要多練習，才能進步Drop the English here
    我的目標是三個月內達成Drop the English here
    你接下來有什麼打算？Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its Traditional Chinese, or tap one and then the other.

  9. What do you say?

    A-Li has a small plan of his own this year. Wish him success.

  10. What does it mean?

    我在學中文

  11. Pick the reply

    A-Li says:

    我好緊張喔

    I'm so nervous.

    And you reply with:

Say it — your goals

You play Maya at the counter with a napkin of goals. Listen to each cue, then say the line out loud.

Tap the microphone when it is your turn. You can replay the other person's line first.

  1. Maya sits at the counter with a napkin and a pen.
  2. Auntie Lin美女，你在寫什麼？What are you writing, beautiful?
  3. Maya (you)Tell her this year's aim for Chinese.

    我今年想把中文學好

    This year I want to learn Chinese well.

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

Traditional ChineseEnglish
我今年想把中文學好This year I want to learn Chinese well.
我需要多練習，才能進步I need to practise more to improve.
我的目標是三個月內達成My goal is to reach it within three months.
我希望有一天可以流利地說I hope one day to speak fluently.
你接下來有什麼打算？What are you planning next?
我還沒決定，但很有興趣I haven't decided, but I'm very interested.
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