Original Text · Elementary · Lesson 10

Shopping ②At a Clothing Store

VOL. 10 NETCHAI ORIGINAL TEXT
Elementary · Lesson 10

01Vocabulary

大衣(n.)

dàyī

coat

薄(adj.)

báo

thin

想(aux.)

xiǎng

want to ...

再(adv.)

zài

once more

买(v.)

mǎi

to buy

件(measure)

jiàn

piece (measure word for clothing)

冬天(n.)

dōngtiān

winter

冷(adj.)

lěng

cold

怎么样(pron.)

zěnmeyàng

how; what about

试(v.)

shì

to try on

一下儿

yíxiàr

a moment; just a bit

有点儿(adv.)

yǒudiǎnr

a little; somewhat

大(adj.)

dà

big; large

号(n.)

hào

size

小(adj.)

xiǎo

small

正(adv.)

zhèng

just right; exactly

合适(adj.)

héshì

just right; fitting

02Proper Nouns

王府井

wáng fǔ jǐng

Wangfujing (place name in Beijing)

百货大楼

bǎi huò dà lóu

Baihuo Dalou (a department store name used here)

三里屯

sān lǐ tún

Sanlitun (place name in Beijing)

优衣库

yōu yī kù

UNIQLO

03Key Sentences

我wǒ的de大dà衣yī太tài薄báo了le，我wǒ想xiǎng再zài去qù买mǎi一yí件jiàn。

My coat is too thin — I want to go buy another one.

北běi京jīng冬dōng天tiān太tài冷lěng了le。

Beijing winters are extremely cold.

去qù王wáng府fǔ井jǐng的de百bǎi货huò大dà楼lóu怎zěn么me样yàng呢ne？

How about going to the Baihuo Dalou department store in Wangfujing?

王wáng府fǔ井jǐng人rén太tài多duō。

Wangfujing is too crowded.

去qù三sān里lǐ屯tún的de优yōu衣yī库kù看kàn看kan吧ba。

Why not check out the UNIQLO in Sanlitun?

这zhè件jiàn大dà衣yī我wǒ可kě以yǐ试shì试shi吗ma？

May I try on this coat?

这zhè件jiàn有yǒu点diǎn儿r小xiǎo。

This one is a little small.

有yǒu大dà号hào的de吗ma？

Do you have a larger size?

您nín再zài试shì一yí下xià儿r这zhè件jiàn。

Please try this one on again.

这zhè件jiàn不bú大dà也yě不bù小xiǎo，正zhèng合hé适shì。

This one is neither too big nor too small — it fits perfectly.

就jiù要yào这zhè件jiàn吧ba。

I'll take this one, then.

04Dialogue

SCENE 1

tiánzhōng田中

我wǒ的de大dà衣yī太tài薄báo了le，我wǒ想xiǎng再zài去qù买mǎi一yí件jiàn。

lǐ lán李兰

是shì啊a。北běi京jīng冬dōng天tiān太tài冷lěng了le。

tiánzhōng田中

去qù王wáng府fǔ井jǐng的de百bǎi货huò大dà楼lóu怎zěn么me样yàng呢ne？

lǐ lán李兰

王wáng府fǔ井jǐng人rén太tài多duō。去qù三sān里lǐ屯tún的de优yōu衣yī库kù看kàn看kan吧ba。

tiánzhōng田中

那nà我wǒ明míng天tiān就jiù去qù。

SCENE 2

tiánzhōng田中

这zhè件jiàn大dà衣yī我wǒ可kě以yǐ试shì试shi吗ma？

shòuhuòyuán店员

您nín试shì一yí下xià儿r吧ba。

tiánzhōng田中

这zhè件jiàn有yǒu点diǎn儿r小xiǎo。有yǒu大dà号hào的de吗ma？

shòuhuòyuán店员

我wǒ查chá一yi查chá。您nín再zài试shì一yí下xià儿r这zhè件jiàn。

tiánzhōng田中

这zhè件jiàn不bú大dà也yě不bù小xiǎo，正zhèng合hé适shì。就jiù要yào这zhè件jiàn吧ba。

05Grammar

POINT 01

(1) Measure Words

In Chinese, quantities follow the pattern number + measure word + noun. Measure words used with nouns are called "nominal measure words."

一yí件jiàn大dà衣yī
一yì家jiā商shāng店diàn
两liǎng个ge朋péng友you

When saying "this coat," "that shop," or "that friend," a measure word is also used, giving the pattern demonstrative pronoun + measure word + noun.

这zhè件jiàn大dà衣yī
那nà家jiā商shāng店diàn
那nà个ge朋péng友you

When saying "buy a coat" or "meet a friend," a measure word is also generally used, giving the pattern verb + measure word + noun.

买mǎi件jiàn大dà衣yī ＝买mǎi一yí件jiàn大dà衣yī
见jiàn个ge朋péng友you ＝见jiàn一yí个ge朋péng友you

* The number "one" (一) before a measure word can be omitted as long as it does not appear at the start of a sentence.

POINT 02

(2) Subject-Predicate Predicate Sentences

In a subject-predicate predicate sentence, the predicate itself has a subject-predicate structure. This is similar to English sentences like "Elephants have long trunks" or "He is busy with work."

(Major) Subject + Predicate [(Minor) Subject + Predicate]

王wáng府fǔ井jǐng人rén很hěn多duō。
他tā身shēn体tǐ不bú太tài好hǎo。
我wǒ工gōng作zuò很hěn忙máng。

06Translation

Scene 1.田中My coat is too thin — I want to go buy another one.
李兰Right. Beijing winters are extremely cold.
田中How about going to the Baihuo Dalou department store in Wangfujing?
李兰Wangfujing is too crowded. Why not check out the UNIQLO in Sanlitun?
田中Good idea — I'll go tomorrow.

Scene 2.田中May I try on this coat?
店员Please go ahead and try it on.
田中This one is a little small. Do you have a larger size?
店员Let me check. Please try this one on again.
田中This one is neither too big nor too small — it fits perfectly. I'll take this one.