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Study in the app →Mandarin Chinese · HSK 3.0 Band 3 · Chapter 10
给朋友写信 Writing to a friend
Lin Xue writes back about the trip. Teaches 是 ... 的 cleft (foregrounding when/where/how for a known past event) and follows with 觉得 X 最 + adj for evaluation.
Dialogue
我是上个月去的 — I went last month
- 林雪 亲爱的朋友, 我已经收到你的信了. Dear friend — I've already received your letter.
- 林雪 我是上个月去南方的, 一个人. I went south last month — alone.
- 林雪 是坐火车去的, 看了很多风景. I went by train, saw lots of scenery.
- 林雪 南方的菜味道好, 我现在还想念老张的招牌菜. Southern food tastes wonderful — I still miss Old Zhang's signature dish.
- 林雪 这次旅行印象很深, 真难忘. This trip left a strong impression — really unforgettable.
- 林雪 想念你. 等你的回信. I miss you. Waiting for your reply.
Dialogue
最想念什么? — What do I miss the most?
- 林雪 你问我最想念的是什么? You asked what I miss the most?
- 林雪 我觉得最难忘的是南方的人. I think what I find most unforgettable is the people in the south.
- 林雪 他们说话很慢, 又热情. They talk slowly, and they are warm.
- 林雪 是在一家小店吃饭的, 老板是个好人, 我吃得很满意. I ate at a small place — the owner was a good person, and I was very satisfied.
- 林雪 我寄给你一张照片, 你看看. I'm sending you a photo — take a look.
- 林雪 下次一起去吧! 想念你. Let's go together next time. I miss you.
Vocabulary
| 汉字 | Pinyin | POS | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 信 | xìn | n. | letter (recall Bk2) |
| 写 | xiě | v. | write (recall Bk1) |
| 收到 | shōudào | v. | receive (recall Bk2) |
| 寄 | jì | v. | send; mail |
| 朋友 | péngyou | n. | friend (recall Bk1) |
| 旅行 | lǚxíng | n. | travel; trip (recall ch01) |
| 印象 | yìnxiàng | n. | impression |
| 难忘 | nánwàng | adj. | unforgettable |
| 最 | zuì | adv. | most (recall Bk1) |
| 上个月 | shàng ge yuè | n. | last month |
| 一个人 | yí ge rén | n. | alone; by oneself |
| 回信 | huíxìn | n. | reply (letter) |
| 想念 | xiǎngniàn | v. | miss; think of |
| 已经 | yǐjīng | adv. | already (recall Bk1) |
| 风景 | fēngjǐng | n. | scenery |
| 林雪 | Lín Xuě | pn. | Lin Xue (persona — recall ch01) |
New characters
| 汉字 | Pinyin | POS | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 亲 | qīn | ||
| 景 | jǐng | (in 风景 = scenery) 风景 fēngjǐng — scenery | |
| 念 | niàn | miss; read aloud (in 想念) 想念 xiǎngniàn — miss; think of | |
| 印 | yìn | (in 印象 = impression) 印象 yìnxiàng — impression | |
| 象 | xiàng | image; appearance (in 印象) 印象 yìnxiàng — impression | |
| 深 | shēn | (in 深呼吸 = take a deep breath) 深呼吸 shēn hūxī — take a deep breath | |
| 寄 | jì | send; mail | |
| 片 | piàn |
Hanzi — writing & recognition
xiě write (recall Bk1) Writing
niàn miss; read aloud (in 想念) Writing
zuì most (recall Bk1) Recognition
wàng forget (recall Bk1) Recognition
xiàng image; appearance (in 印象) Recognition
Grammar
用"是"表示强调 (三77) Using 是 for emphasis (三77)
在形容词或动词前加"是"(读重音)表示肯定和强调, 意思像"确实 / 真的". 这家店是不错 (= 确实不错). 这个菜是好吃. 他说得是对. 注意: 这个"是"不是"是...的"句, 后面不一定有"的"; 它单纯加强语气, 常用来回应或确认.
Placing 是 (stressed) before an adjective or verb expresses affirmation/emphasis, like "indeed / really". 这家店是不错 (= it really is good). 这个菜是好吃. 他说得是对. Note: this is NOT the 是…的 cleft — there's no required 的; it simply strengthens the tone, often to confirm or agree.
- 这家店是不错. Zhè jiā diàn shì búcuò. This shop really is good.
- 这个菜是好吃. Zhè ge cài shì hǎochī. This dish really is tasty.
- 他说得是对. Tā shuō de shì duì. What he says really is right.
- 这个地方是漂亮. Zhè ge dìfang shì piàoliang. This place really is beautiful.
Grammar
动词 / 主谓短语作定语 (三45) Verb / clause as attributive (三45)
上一课 (grammar-01) 用"是"强调. 本课: 用"的"把一个动作或一件事变成定语去修饰名词. 我写 → 我写的信 (the letter I wrote). 跳舞的女孩 (the girl who dances). 老师讲的故事 (the story the teacher told). 结构: 动词短语 / 主谓短语 + 的 + 名词. 这让句子能装下更复杂的信息.
Grammar-01 used 是 for emphasis. Here: use 的 to turn an action or situation into an attributive modifying a noun. 我写 → 我写的信 (the letter I wrote). 跳舞的女孩 (the dancing girl). 老师讲的故事 (the story the teacher told). Structure: verb-phrase / clause + 的 + noun — lets a sentence carry richer information.
- 这是我写的信. Zhè shì wǒ xiě de xìn. This is the letter I wrote.
- 我喜欢他做的菜. Wǒ xǐhuān tā zuò de cài. I like the food he cooks.
- 老师讲的故事很有意思. Lǎoshī jiǎng de gùshi hěn yǒu yìsi. The story the teacher told is interesting.
- 这是我买的票. Zhè shì wǒ mǎi de piào. This is the ticket I bought.
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