Chinese Bites — with Janine | HSK 1️⃣

In this episode, we learn how to say yes, no, and “maybe next time” in Chinese — politely and naturally.You’ll practice common expressions like 可以, 好啊, 不行, and 下次吧, and learn how Chinese softens refusals to keep conversations friendly.可以好 / 好啊不行不可以下次吧

In this episode, we learn how to make choices in Chinese using two essential words that both mean “or”: 或者 and 还是.You’ll discover when to use 或者 in statements and 还是 in questions, and how Chinese clearly separates talking about options from asking someone to choose.或者 → or (in statements)还是 → or (in questions)

In this episode, you’ll learn how to connect ideas naturally in Chinese using three essential words: 因为 (because), 所以 (so), and 但是 (but).因为 → because所以 → so但是 → but

In this episode, you’ll learn how to ask “why” and “how is it” in Chinese using two essential question words: 为什么 and 怎么样.We’ll then practice giving simple, natural reasons with 因为 + adjective, without long sentences or complicated grammar. Everything stays short, clear, and beginner-friendly.为什么 → why怎么样 → how is it因为 + adjective

In this episode, we continue building on degree expressions in Chinese and learn how to fine-tune your tone without changing sentence structure.You’ll discover how to use 还, 真, and 非常 to sound more natural when describing people, situations, and feelings — from calm and realistic to emotional or polite and formal.还 → quite / not bad真 → really (emotional)非常 → very (neutral, strong)

In this episode, we take a deeper look at how Chinese expresses degree and feeling.You’ll learn how to choose between 很, 太…了, and 有点儿 — words you may have seen before, but now organized clearly so you know when to use each one naturally.✔ Degree words很 → neutral / default太…了 → strong emotion有点儿 → mild, often negativeSubject + 很 + adjective太 + adjective + 了有点儿 + adjective

In this episode, you’ll learn how to compare things in Chinese using just two simple but powerful words: 更 (more) and 最 (most).We’ll practice making comparisons, expressing preferences, and talking about what you like more or like the most — all in clear, beginner-friendly Chinese. No complicated grammar, just natural phrases you can use right away.✔ New words更 = more / -er最 = most / the -estA + 更 + adjective more...最 + adjective the most 更喜欢 + noun prefer...最喜欢 + noun favorite+N A 还是 B？ A or B 你最喜欢什么？What's your favorite?✔ Structures✔ Question patterns

"Learn how to use 有 (yǒu) to express 'there is / there are' in Chinese — one of the most essential patterns for describing rooms, desks, bags, and daily surroundings."✔ StructurePlace + 有 + nounPlace + 有 + noun + 吗？Place + 有什么？上、下、里、外、前面、后面一本书、一个手机、一个人、一座山、一杯咖啡…✔ Questions✔ Location Words✔ Useful Words

"Learn how to combine time words and frequency words to describe your daily habits in natural Chinese. Perfect for talking about morning routines, weekend hobbies, and everyday activities!"✔ Time Words早上、晚上、周末、每天、中午、下午常常、有时候、偶尔、不常、从不Subject + Time + Frequency + Verb你……吗？你……多不多？跑步、唱歌、画画、游泳、跳舞、弹钢琴、踢足球、打网球✔ Frequency Words✔ Key Sentence Pattern✔ Question Patterns✔ Example Actions

"Learn how to talk about how often you do something using everyday frequency words like 常常, 有时候, 偶尔, 不常, and 从不 — perfect for describing hobbies and routines."常常 chángcháng often有时候 yǒu shíhòu sometimes偶尔 ǒu'ěr occasionally不常 bùcháng not often从不 cóngbù never跑步 pǎobù to run唱歌 chànggē to sing画画 huàhuà to draw / paint游泳 yóuyǒng to swim爬山 páshān to hike跳舞 tiàowǔ to dance弹钢琴 tán gāngqín to play the piano踢足球tī zúqiú to play soccer打网球 dǎ wǎngqiú to play tennis✔ Sentence Pattern主语 + 频率词 + 动词 （subject+frequency word +Verb) ✔ Question Patterns你……吗？你……多不多？

"Learn to describe how well you do sports and hobbies using the essential structure Verb + 得 + adjective. Perfect for talking about dancing, swimming, singing, painting, basketball, and more!"打篮球 dǎ lánqiú — play basketball踢足球 tī zúqiú — play soccer打网球 dǎ wǎngqiú — play tennis打排球 dǎ páiqiú — play volleyball打乒乓球 dǎ pīngpāngqiú — play ping pong游泳 yóuyǒng — swimming跑步 pǎobù — running爬山 páshān — hiking画画 huàhuà — drawing / painting跳舞 tiàowǔ — dancing唱歌 chànggē — singing弹钢琴 tán gāngqín — playing piano👉 Structure:Subject + Verb + 得 + adjective我打篮球打得很好。wǒ dǎ lánqiú dǎ de hěn hǎoI play basketball very well.我踢足球踢得不太好。wǒ tī zúqiú tī de bú tài hǎoI don’t play soccer very well.我打网球打得不错。wǒ dǎ wǎngqiú dǎ de búcuòI play tennis pretty well.我打排球打得很好。wǒ dǎ páiqiú dǎ de hěn hǎoI play volleyball very well.我打乒乓球打得还行。wǒ dǎ pīngpāngqiú dǎ de háixíngI play ping pong okay.我游泳游得很好。wǒ yóuyǒng yóu de hěn hǎoI swim very well.我跑步跑得很慢。wǒ pǎobù pǎo de hěn mànI run very slowly.我爬山爬得不错。wǒ páshān pá de búcuòI hike pretty well.✔ Descriptive Words很好hěn hǎo very good不错búcuò pretty good还行háixíng okay / not bad一般yìbān so-so不太好bú tài hǎo not very good✔ Question PatternsVerb + 得 + 好吗？Verb + 得 + 怎么样？

In this episode, we learn how to talk about life experiences in Chinese using the essential structure Verb + 过, such as 我去过中国 (I’ve been to China) and 我吃过火锅 (I’ve eaten hotpot).Perfect for sharing things you've tried, done, or experienced!"Verb + 过 → I have done没 + Verb + 过 → I haven’t done你 Verb + 过 + Object + 吗？我去过日本。wǒ qù guò RìběnI’ve been to Japan.你去过北京吗？nǐ qù guò Běijīng ma?Have you been to Beijing?我没去过上海。wǒ méi qù guò ShànghǎiI haven't been to Shanghai.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to talk about your past in Chinese — using simple time words like 昨天 (yesterday) and 上个周末 (last weekend), plus the essential marker 了 for completed actions.Perfect for describing what you did yesterday, last night, or last weekend!Grammar Focus:了 → completed actionStructure: Time + Subject + Verb + 了Time Words:昨天, 前天, 昨天晚上, 上个周末Example Sentences:A: 你昨天做了什么？nǐ zuótiān zuò le shénme?What did you do yesterday?B: 我昨天看了电影。wǒ zuótiān kàn le diànyǐngI watched a movie yesterday.A: 你上个周末做了什么？nǐ shàngge zhōumò zuò le shénme?What did you do last weekend?B: 我上个周末打了篮球。wǒ shàngge zhōumò dǎ le lánqiúI played basketball last weekend.A: 昨天晚上你做了什么？zuótiān wǎnshang nǐ zuò le shénme?What did you do last night?B: 我听了音乐。wǒ tīng le yīnyuèI listened to music.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to talk about future plans in Chinese!We’ll use the essential structure 要 (yào) + Verb to express future or intention, and time words like 明天 (tomorrow), 周末 (weekend), and 下星期 (next week).Time Words:明天, 后天, 这个周末, 下个周末, 下星期👉 Structure:Time + Subject + 要 + Verb (+ Object)"I'm going to…"🗣️ Examples:明天我要去学校。míngtiān wǒ yào qù xuéxiàoI’m going to school tomorrow.这个周末我要看电影。zhège zhōumò wǒ yào kàn diànyǐngI’m going to watch a movie this weekend.下星期她要上课。xià xīngqī tā yào shàngkèShe’s going to have class next week.明天我们要打篮球。míngtiān wǒmen yào dǎ lánqiúWe’re going to play basketball tomorrow.Questions: 你明天要做什么？ / 你周末要打篮球吗？

In this episode, learn how to invite someone to do something with you in Chinese!We review hobby vocabulary from last episode and build new patterns like 我们一起…吧 and 你想不想…？Perfect for making your Chinese more social and natural!Patterns:我们一起…吧 → Let’s … together你想不想…？ → Do you want to…?Eg.我们一起去游泳吧！wǒmen yìqǐ qù yóuyǒng ba!Let’s go swimming together!我们一起打篮球吧！wǒmen yìqǐ dǎ lánqiú ba!Let’s play basketball together!我们一起看电影吧！wǒmen yìqǐ kàn diànyǐng ba!Let’s watch a movie together!我们一起听音乐吧！wǒmen yìqǐ tīng yīnyuè ba!Let’s listen to music together!你想不想一起打篮球？nǐ xiǎng bù xiǎng yìqǐ dǎ lánqiú?Do you want to play basketball together?你想不想看电影？nǐ xiǎng bù xiǎng kàn diànyǐng?Do you want to watch a movie?你想不想去公园？nǐ xiǎng bù xiǎng qù gōngyuán?Do you want to go to the park?你想不想听音乐？nǐ xiǎng bù xiǎng tīng yīnyuè?Do you want to listen to music?✅ Saying YES好啊！hǎo a!Sure! / Sounds good!可以！kěyǐ!Okay! / Yes, that works!我想！wǒ xiǎng!I want to! / Yes, I would!❎ Saying NO (polite)不好意思，我今天很忙。bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ jīntiān hěn máng.Sorry, I’m very busy today.下次吧。xià cì ba.Maybe next time.我不能去。wǒ bù néng qù.I can’t go.

In this episode, we’ll talk about hobbies and sports — how to say what you like to do in Chinese!You'll learn sentences like 我喜欢打篮球 (I like playing basketball), 她喜欢听音乐 (She likes listening to music), and the essential question 你喜欢做什么？A fun and practical lesson to help you talk about your daily life!"Wordsbasketball打篮球dǎ lánqiúplay soccer踢足球tī zúqiúplay tennis打网球dǎ wǎngqiúswim游泳yóuyǒngrun跑步pǎobùdance跳舞tiàowǔlisten to music听音乐tīng yīnyuèwatch movies看电影kàn diànyǐngread books看书kàn shūplay games玩游戏wán yóuxìSentence我喜欢打篮球。 (wǒ xǐhuan dǎ lánqiú) – I like playing basketball.她喜欢游泳。 (tā xǐhuan yóuyǒng) – She likes swimming.他喜欢跑步。 (tā xǐhuan pǎobù) – He likes running.我朋友喜欢听音乐。 (wǒ péngyou xǐhuan tīng yīnyuè) – My friend likes listening to music.💡 Tip:Sports with hands → 打 (dǎ)Sports with feet → 踢 (tī)❓Questions：你喜欢做什么？nǐ xǐhuan zuò shénme?“What do you like to do?”你喜欢看电影吗？nǐ xǐhuan kàn diànyǐng ma?(Do you like watching movies?)她喜欢听音乐吗？tā xǐhuan tīng yīnyuè ma?(Does she like listening to music?)你喜欢运动吗？nǐ xǐhuan yùndòng ma?(Do you like sports?)✓ Short answers:我喜欢。wǒ xǐhuan.(I do.)我不喜欢。wǒ bù xǐhuan.(I don’t.)

In this episode, you’ll learn how to talk about how you get somewhere — by bus, by bike, or on foot.We’ll use the structure 怎么去 (zěnme qù) and learn useful words like 坐车 (take a bus), 骑车 (ride a bike), and 走路 (walk). Let’s hit the road — in Chinese! 🚌🚲🚶‍♀️✅ Grammar Focus:Structure: Subject + 怎么 + 去 + PlaceVerbs: 坐 (take), 骑 (ride), 走 (walk)✅ Examples:我坐车去学校。他骑车去公司。她走路去商店。我坐地铁去图书馆。✅ Questions:你怎么去学校？ (How do you go to school?)你怎么去商店？ (How do you go to the store?)

In this episode, you’ll learn how to talk about going places and doing things in Chinese — like I’m going to school, He’s going to the store, or We’re going to eat with friends.We’ll use the super useful pattern 去 + 地点 + 动作 (to go + place + activity). ✅ Grammar Focus:去 (qù) → to goStructure: Subject + 去 + Place (+ Verb + Object)Question: 你去哪儿？✅ Useful Words:学校 (xuéxiào) school商店 (shāngdiàn) store超市 (chāoshì) supermarket朋友家 (péngyou jiā) friend’s home图书馆 (túshūguǎn) library公园 (gōngyuán) park✅ Example Sentences:我去学校上课。他去商店买东西。她去图书馆看书。我们去公园玩儿。

In this episode, we’ll learn how to say where things are — like The book is on the table or The cat is under the chair!You’ll discover how to use 在 (zài) with simple position words, so you can describe your surroundings in Chinese naturally. 🐱📚🪑✅ Grammar Focus:在 (zài) = to be at/in/onStructure: Noun + 在 + PlaceQuestion: Noun + 在 + 哪儿？✅ Position Words:上 (on) / 下 (under) / 里 (in) / 前面 (in front) / 后面 (behind)✅ Examples:书在桌子上。猫在椅子下。水在杯子里。老师在前面。

In this episode, we’ll learn how to ask and answer everyday questions like What’s this?, What’s that?, and Whose is it? using 这 (this), 那 (that), and 的 (possessive ‘s’). It’s one of the most useful and fun patterns in Chinese — simple, but powerful! 👜📱📚这 / 那 → this / that是 → to be什么 → what谁的 → whose的 → ’s / possessive marker我的 / 你的 / 他的 / 她的 / 它的 → my / your / his / her / its这是什么？那是什么？这是谁的？那是老师的。这是谁的书？这是我的书。