“Short Stories”: 2 stories, all free to read
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The Tensest Thirty Seconds of a Chinese Date
约会文化：最紧张的三十秒
One first date, told twice — once in HSK 3 and once in full. The outfit, the cat that was a dog, and the fight over the bill.
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Two versions, one story. Switch level at the top right; 英文 shows the translation.
The tensest thirty seconds of a Chinese date
Tap any word for its pinyin and meaning. The dotted ones are the teacher's — those cards carry her example sentences too.
Mike。Anna。。
，Mike。，，。。
。Mike。，。
Anna。。Mike，，：“。”
。Anna，Mike。Mike。
，。
Mike：“。”Anna：“，。”。。
Anna，Mike。，。
，Mike：“。”：“？”
Mike，。，。
All the words
What the internet said
- 他说喜欢猫，家里有一只狗——这个我也做过。
- 换五套衣服，最后穿第一套，太真实了。
- 两只手一起放在账单上的时候，服务员最难。
Story: 老师原创；生词来自《约会文化》课件
Two patterns from the story两个语言点
Grammar
又……又……
Two things at once, both true of the same subject.
e.g. Mike又紧张又开心。 / 这家店又便宜又好吃。
又……又…… —— 两个情况同时都有，说的是同一个人或东西。
例：Mike又紧张又开心。／这家店又便宜又好吃。
先后发生的动作不用它——那是“一会儿……一会儿……”：他一会儿坐下，一会儿站起来。
Grammar
其实……
其实 introduces what is actually true, against what was just said.
e.g. 他说他喜欢猫，其实他家里有一只狗。
其实…… —— 前面说的是一回事，真实情况是另一回事。
例：他说他喜欢猫，其实他家里有一只狗。
Did you follow?读懂了吗
No pressure — just making it stick.
Mike换了五件衣服，最后穿的是____。
Mike changed five times and wore ___.
Mike说他喜欢猫，其实他家里有一只____。
Mike said he likes cats; in fact he has a ___ at home.
最后是____付的钱。
In the end ___ paid.
Now you talk聊一聊
Draw a question and answer it out loud.
Before you go课后回顾
- Make a sentence with the “not exactly … not exactly …” pattern.
- Name one of your own deal-breakers.
- Who pays on a date in your country? Two sentences.