Chinese example sentences

Every whole sentence used as an example in the Chinese Boost grammar articles has a page here. Each one shows the sentence in simplified and traditional characters, its pinyin under both the mainland and Taiwan standards, bopomofo, and what it means.

The articles use plenty of shorter examples too — 半个小时, 好吃的菜, a pattern with slots in it — and those stay in the article they explain rather than getting a page of their own.

The sentences come from the grammar articles rather than from a corpus, so each page also links back to the grammar point it was written to demonstrate.

968 sentences, showing page 9 of 10.

我们还能接到他们吗？

Wǒmen hái néng jiēdào tāmen ma?

We will still be able to meet them?
我们很高兴。

Wǒmen hěn gāoxìng.

We are happy.
我们很想知道！

Wǒmen hěn xiǎng zhīdào!

We really want to know!
我们花了半个小时做作业。

Wǒmen huāle bànge xiǎoshí zuò zuòyè.

We spent half an hour doing the homework.
我们花了一个半钟头才做完。

Wǒmen huāle yīgebàn zhōngtóu cái zuò wán.

We spent an hour and a half getting it done.
我们见面时间安排在一星期后。

Wǒmen jiànmiàn shíjiān ānpái zài yì xīngqī hòu.

Let's arrange to meet in one week's time.
我们就算了吧，你说呢？

Wǒmen jiùsuànle ba, nǐ shuō ne?

Let's just forget it, what do you think?
我们明天要去颐和园。

Wǒmen míngtiān yào qù Yíhéyuán.

We're going to go to the Summer Palace tomorrow.
我们弄丢了的话，怎么办？

Wǒmen nòngdiū le dehuà, zěnmebàn?

If we've lost it, what'll we do?
我们期待着一个快乐的假期。

Wǒmen qīdàizhe yí gè kuàilè de jiàqī.

We're looking forward to a happy vacation.
我们去工作。

Wǒmen qù gōngzuò.

We go to work.
我们去过美国啦！

Wǒmen qùguò Měiguó la!

We've now been to America! (Said to your companion on the flight home from America.)
我们谁都会不时碰上些小麻烦。

Wǒmen shéi dōu huì bùshí pèngshàng xiēxiǎo máfan.

We all encounter a few problems.
我们十点上课，可是她十一点才来。

Wǒmen shí diǎn shàngkè, kěshì tā shíyīdiǎn cái lái.

We start class at 10, but she didn't arrive until 11.
我们是去年搬的家。

Wǒmen shì qùnián bān de jiā.

We moved house last year. ⇒ It was last year that we moved house.
我们是去年认识的。

Wǒmen shì qùnián rènshi de.

We met last year.
我们是在伦敦认识的。

Wǒmen shì zài Lúndūn rènshi de.

We met in London. It was in London that we met.
我们是在西安认识的。

Wǒmen shì zài Xī'ān rènshi de.

We met in Xi'an. ⇒ It was in Xi'an that we met.
我们是坐飞机去韩国的。

Wǒmen shì zuòfēijī qù Hánguó de.

We went to Korea by plane. ⇒ It was by plane that we went to Korea.
我们所知道的很少，而我们所不知道的却很多。

Wǒmen suǒ zhīdào de hěn shǎo, ér wǒmen suǒ bù zhīdào de què hěn duō.

What we know is very little, and what we don't know is a lot.
我们晚上八点以前就会到。

Wǒmen wǎnshang bā diǎn yǐqián jiù huì dào.

We'll arrive before 8pm.
我们下个星期放假。

Wǒmen xiàgèxīngqī fàngjià.

We go on holiday next week.
我们想得到更多关于他的信息。

Wǒmen xiǎngdedào gèng duō guānyú tā de xìnxī.

We'd like to get more information about him.
我们要提高全球对于环境保护的意识。

Wǒmen yào tígāo quánqiú duìyú huánjìngbǎohù de yìshí.

We want to raise global awareness of environmental protection.
我们要走了。

Wǒmen yào zǒule.

We're going to leave.
我们一共才有500块钱，完全不够。

Wǒmen yígòng cái yǒu wǔbǎi kuài qián, wánquán búgòu.

Altogether we've only got 500 bucks - it's not enough at all.
我们已经喝了一半了。

Wǒmen yǐjīng hēle yíbàn le.

We've already drunk half of it.
我们在上海认识的。

Wǒmen zài Shànghǎi rènshi de.

We met in Shanghai.
五年以后，我会有自己的房子。

Wǔ nián yǐhòu, wǒ huì yǒu zìjǐ de fángzi.

In five years I will have my own house.
希望我们能长久合作。

Xīwàng wǒmen néng chángjiǔ hézuò.

I hope that we can co-operate for a long time.
下班以后，我要学习中文。

Xiàbān yǐhòu, wǒ yào xuéxí Zhōngwén.

After finishing work, I'm going to study Chinese.
现在才五点，太早了。

Xiànzài cái wǔ diǎn, tài zǎole.

It's only five o'clock - it's too early.
现在是九月，那么上个月是八月。

Xiànzài shì jiǔyuè, nàme shànggèyuè shì bāyuè.

It's September now, so last month was August.
湘菜我吃过。

Xiāngcài wǒ chīguò.

I've eaten Hunan food before.
箱子很轻，我可以很容易地拿起来。

Xiāngzi hěn qīng, wǒ kěyǐ hěn róngyì de ná qǐlai.

The box is very light - I can pick it up easily.
消炎药先以清水加以沖淡再用。

Xiāoyányào xiān yǐ qīngshuǐ jiāyǐ chōngdàn zài yòng.

Dilute the antiobiotics with clean water before use.
小王，出来玩儿！

Xiǎo Wáng, chūlái wánr!

Xiao Wang, come out to play!
小孩子很容易学会这些东西。

Xiǎoháizi hěn róngyì xuéhuì zhèxiē dōngxī.

Children learn these things easily.
小孩子嘛，都喜欢玩儿。

Xiǎoháizi ma, dōu xǐhuan wánr.

Little kids all like to play.
小偷一看到警车就跑走了。

Xiǎotōu yí kàndào jǐngchē jiù pǎo zǒule.

The thief ran off as soon as he saw the police car.
小心别把你的新衣服弄脏了。

Xiǎoxīn bié bǎ nǐ de xīn yīfu nòngzāng le.

Be careful not to get your new clothes dirty.
小心碰头。

Xiǎoxīn pèngtóu.

Mind your head.
谢谢。你可以下去了。

Xièxie. Nǐ kěyǐ xiàqù le.

Thanks. You can go down now.
许多人造卫星已经发射到地球轨道。

Xǔduō rénzàowèixīng yǐjīng fāshè dào dìqiúguǐdào.

Many man-made satellites have already been put into orbit.
学这个很难。

Xué zhège hěn nán.

This is very difficult to learn.
学而时习之，不亦说乎？

Xué'érshíxízhī, búyìyuèhū?

To learn and in time put into practice, is it not a joy?
学生都拿起笔来开始考试。

Xuésheng dōu ná qǐbǐ lái kāishǐ kǎoshì.

The students picked up their pens and began the exam.
学生们已经把论文交给导师了。

Xuéshengmen yǐjīng bǎ lùnwén jiāogěi dǎoshī le.

The students have handed their essays in to their tutors.
学校今年早点放假。

Xuéxiào jīnnián zǎodiǎn fàngjià.

School finishes earlier this year.
氧原子的重量几乎是氢原子的十六倍。

Yǎngyuánzǐ de zhòngliàng jīhū shì qīngyuánzǐ de shíliù bèi.

Oxygen atoms are almost sixteen times heavier than hydrogen atoms.
要是卖完了，就算了。

Yàoshi màiwánle, jiùsuànle.

If it's sold out, then just forget it.
要是你不还给他，他就会生气！

Yàoshi nǐ bù huán gěi tā, tā jiù huì shēngqì!

If you don't give it back to him, he'll be angry!
要是你不喜欢，就不吃。

Yàoshi nǐ bù xǐhuan, jiù bùchī.

If you don't like it, then don't eat it.
要是去北京的话，一定要看一下天安门广场。

Yàoshi qù Běijīng dehuà, yídìng yào kàn yíxià Tiān'ānménguǎngchǎng.

If you go to Beijing, definitely have a look at Tiananmen Square.
要是他不同意，他就会说。

Yàoshi tā bù tóngyì, tā jiù huì shuō.

If he doesn't agree, he'll say.
要是他们没有发现，就没问题了。

Yàoshi tāmen méiyǒu fāxiàn, jiù méi wèntí le.

If they hadn't noticed, there wouldn't have been any problems.
要是天气不好就算了吧。

Yàoshi tiānqì bù hǎo jiùsuànle ba.

If the weather's not good then let's just forget it.
要是我很忙的话，我可能就会迟到的。

Yàoshi wǒ hěn máng dehuà, wǒ kěnéng jiù huì chídào de.

If I am busy then I may arrive late.
要是我很有钱的话，我就会到处去旅游。

Yàoshi wǒ hěn yǒuqián dehuà, wǒ jiù huì dàochù qù lǚyóu.

If I were rich, I would go travelling all over the place.
要是我是你，我就会去。

Yàoshi wǒ shì nǐ, wǒ jiù huì qù.

If I were you, I would go.
要是我们早十分钟到的话，我们就能赶上飞机了。

Yàoshi wǒmen zǎo shí fēnzhōng dào dehuà, wǒmen jiù néng gǎnshàng fēijī le.

If we'd arrived ten minutes earlier, we would've made it onto the plane.
一个犯人从监狱里逃出来了。

Yí gè fànrén cóng jiānyù lǐ táo chūláile.

A criminal escaped from prison.
一个人去很危险，带上这个吧。

Yí gè rén qù hěn wēixiǎn, dàishàng zhège ba.

It's dangerous to go alone — take this.
一个小时前我们去散了个步。

Yí gè xiǎoshí qián wǒmen qù sànle gè bù.

We went on a walk an hour ago.
一角硬币的价值是五分的双倍。

Yìjiǎo yìngbì de jiàzhí shì wǔfēn de shuāngbèi.

Ten cent coins are worth twice as much as five cent coins.
医生对你说了什么？

Yìshēng duì nǐ shuōle shénme?

What did the doctor say to you?
一支笔有吗？

Yìzhī bǐ yǒu ma?

A pen - got one?
以后，你不要再迟到了。

Yǐhòu, nǐ búyào zài chídàole.

Don't be late again in future.
以后，人类会到火星居住。

Yǐhòu, rénlèi huì dào huǒxīng jūzhù.

In the future, humans will go to live on Mars.
以后，我再也没喝过酒。

Yǐhòu, wǒ zàiyě méi hēguò jiǔ.

Afterwards, I never drank again.
已经下午一点了，你快点起来！

Yǐjīng xiàwǔ yìdiǎn le, nǐ kuàidiǎn qǐlai!

It's already 1pm - get up now!
以前，他不喜欢吃辣的东西。

Yǐqián, tā bù xǐhuan chī là de dōngxī.

Before, he didn't like eating spicy things.
以前，他很害羞。

Yǐqián, tā hěn hàixiū.

He used to be very shy.
以前，我不喜欢吃蔬菜。

Yǐqián, wǒ bù xǐhuan chī shūcài.

Before, I didn't like to eat vegetables.
以前，我以为他很害羞。

Yǐqián, wǒ yǐwéi tā hěn hàixiū.

Before, I thought he was very shy.
以前，我们没有手机。

Yǐqián, wǒmen méiyǒu shǒujī.

In the past, we didn't have mobile phones.
以前，这个房子没有电。

Yǐqián, zhège fángzi méiyǒu diàn.

In the past, this house didn't have electricity.
银河系以外，还有多少星系？

Yínhéxì yǐwài, háiyǒu duōshǎo xīngxì?

Apart from the Milky Way, what other galaxies are there?
英式英语跟澳式英语很像。

Yīngshì Yīngyǔ gēn Àoshì Yīngyǔ hěn xiàng.

British English is very similar to Australian English.
遇到了她以后，我的生活就不一样了。

Yùdàole tā yǐhòu, wǒ de shēnghuó jiù bù yíyàng le.

After I met her, my life was different.
在花园走一走算不上锻炼！

Zài huāyuán zǒu yì zǒu suàn bú shàng duànliàn!

Taking a walk in the garden doesn't count as exercise!
在“狼来了”的这个故事中，最后当这个男孩真正遇到危险时，再也没人愿意相信他了。

Zài“láng láile”de zhège gùshì zhōng, zuìhòu dāng zhège nánhái zhēnzhèng yùdào wēixiǎn shí, zàiyě méi rén yuànyì xiāngxìn tā le.

In the story of the boy who cried wolf, when in the end he encountered real danger, no-one would believe him.
在这家超市买东西划算。

Zài zhè jiā chāoshì mǎi dōngxi huásuàn.

You get your money's worth in this supermarket.
在这一点上，争论只是浪费时间。

Zài zhè yìdiǎn shàng, zhēnglùn zhǐshì làngfèi shíjiān.

On this point, it's a waste of time to argue.
咱们吃点儿饭吧。

Zánmen chī diǎnr fàn ba.

Let’s have a bite to eat.
咱们晚点出发吧。

Zánmen wǎndiǎn chūfā ba.

Let's set off a bit later.
咱们喂点儿鱼给猫吧。

Zánmen wèi diǎnr yú gěi māo ba.

Let's feed a bit of fish to the cat.
咱们已经花了很久时间了。

Zánmen yǐjīng huāle hěn jiǔ shíjiān le.

We've already spent a lot of time on this.
咱们走吧。

Zánmen zǒu ba.

Let's go.
咱们走路去吧。

Zánmen zǒulù qù ba.

Let's walk there.
这本书很重。

Zhè běn shū hěn zhòng.

This book is heavy.
这部电影你看过吗？

Zhè bú diànyǐng nǐ kànguò ma?

Have you seen this film before?
这部电影太长了。

Zhè bú diànyǐng tài zhǎngle.

This film is too long.
这部电影有一点儿可怕。

Zhè bú diànyǐng yǒuyìdiǎnr kěpà.

This film is a bit scary.
这才算一个充分的理由。

Zhè cái suàn yí gè chōngfèn de lǐyóu.

Now that's a good reason.
这份工作让我学到了很多。

Zhè fèn gōngzuò ràng wǒ xuédàole hěn duō.

This job taught me a lot.
这家公司是2018年建立的。

Zhè jiā gōngsī shì èr líng yī bā nián jiànlì de.

The company was founded in 2018.
这件事是谁告诉你的？

Zhè jiàn shì shì shuí gàosù nǐ de?

Who told you about this? ⇒ Who was it that told you about this?
这件事情不是你告诉我的。

Zhè jiàn shìqing bú shì nǐ gàosù wǒ de.

You didn't tell me about this. ⇒ It wasn't you who told me about this.
这就是他们对于这件事情的看法。

Zhè jiùshì tāmen duìyú zhè jiàn shìqing de kànfǎ.

That's their opinion regarding this.