A Convenient Misunderstanding
Relevant Content
We'll always make sure you know exactly what the lesson is about. You will easily understand whether it is relevant for you.
Great Hosts
Here at ChinesePod, all our lessons are presented in an entertaining manner by our great hosts. You'll find language learners, teachers, and even professors sharing their insights, ideas, and teaching methods in our video and audio lessons.
Brief Lesson Summaries
A brief introduction of the lesson will always tell you what this lesson is about and what language level is the intended target. If you're interested in the subject, but might not be able to understand it in full, fear not; we have transcripts of lesson dialogues vocabulary so you can follow along.
IN THIS LESSON
ID: 2039
Intermediate
For foreigners, the road of Chinese learning is paved with mistakes and misinterpretations. In this lesson, we hear the tragically funny story of a foreigner who finds himself inconvenienced by the many meanings of the word 'convenient' (方便).
John,Jenny
Awesome Materials
Our lessons contain natural communication in Chinese in video and audio format. We have have lessons focused on video or a podcast format and our lessons have transcripts of Lesson Dialogues, Important Vocabulary, Expanded Materials for a deep dive into the lesson topic and Exercises focused on testing your retention.
Detailed Vocabulary
Each lesson has it's unique vocabulary and will provide you with definitions and recordings so you can practice the pronunciation. You will also be able to grasp the core material of a lesson at a glance. Here we're showing you the Simplified Chinese version.
| SIMPLIFIED | PINYIN | ENGLISH | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 坐下 | zuòxià | sit down | |
| 方便 | fāngbiàn | convenient | |
| 理解 | lǐjiě | to understand | |
| 旁边 | pángbiān | side |
有一个外国人来到中国他的中国朋友请他吃饭
yǒu 有yī 一ge 个wàiguórén 外国人láidào 来到Zhōngguó 中国tā de 他的Zhōngguó 中国péngyou 朋友qǐng 请tā 他chīfàn 吃饭
There was a foreigner that came to China. His Chinese friends treated him to a meal.
刚坐下一个朋友就说不好意思我去方便一下
gāng 刚zuòxià 坐下yī 一ge 个péngyou 朋友jiù 就shuō 说bùhǎoyìsi 不好意思wǒ 我qù 去fāngbiàn 方便yīxià 一下
Just after he sat down, a friend said to him, "Excuse me, I'm going to go 'take a convenient.'"
他不理解是什么意思坐在旁边的一个朋友告诉他方便就是上厕所的意思
tā 他bù 不lǐjiě 理解shì 是shénme 什么yìsi 意思zuò 坐zài 在pángbiān 旁边de 的yī 一ge 个péngyou 朋友gàosu 告诉tā 他fāngbiàn 方便jiùshì 就是shàng cèsuǒ 上厕所de 的yìsi 意思
He didn't understand what that meant, and a friend sitting next to him told him that 'convenient' meant using the restroom.
哦是这个意思他很高兴自己又学会了一个词
ò 哦shì 是zhè ge 这个yìsi 意思tā 他hěn 很gāoxìng 高兴zìjǐ 自己yòu 又xuéhuì 学会le 了yī 一ge 个cí 词
"Oh, that's what it means." He was happy to have learned another new word.
Natural Dialogues
Each lesson is centered around a natural dialogue with key vocabulary directly prepared and translated for your use. You can also listen to each sentence as an individual recording to improve your listening and comprehension skills.
Try It For Free
ChinesePod is 100% Free to Try. Create an account today and get started!