Want to actually learn this — with audio, spaced repetition and progress tracking?

Study in the app →

Help improve this content. If something looks off, let us know →

Mandarin Chinese · HSK 3.0 Band 3 · Chapter 39

网上买东西 Online shopping

Wǎng shàng mǎi dōngxi

王明 and 老张 talk about online shopping. Teaches 用 X + V (instrumental) and 通过 X + V (through X, V).

用手机买东西 — Buying with the phone

  1. 王明 lǎozhāng, yòngshǒuzàiwǎngshàngmǎidōng西ma? Lao Zhang, do you shop online with your phone too?
  2. 老张 cóngyòngshǒumǎidōng西, fāng便biànduōle. yòngdiànnǎomàn, yòngshǒukuài. Ever since I started shopping by phone, it's been much more convenient — computer is slow, phone is fast.
  3. 王明 jià便piányihěnduō. zuótiānmǎishénmele? Prices are way lower. What did you buy yesterday?
  4. 老张 zhèxiēcàidōuyóuwǎngshàngmǎi, háiyǒuyóuyǒngyòngdedōng西, jīntiānjiùsòngdàole. These groceries were all bought online — and some things for swimming too, all delivered today.
  5. 王明 yòngshénmeqián? How did you pay?
  6. 老张 yòngshǒu. xiàjiùwánle. Also phone. Done in a sec.

通过快递收到 — Received via express

  1. 老张 tōngguòkuàishōudàolezuótiānmǎidecài. Got yesterday's groceries via express.
  2. 王明 tōngguòzhègewǎngzhànmǎi便piányiháishìbiéde便piányi? Cheaper through this site or another?
  3. 老张 tōngguòzhèjiāzuì便piányi. tōngguòmenmǎiguòshuǐguǒ. Cheapest here. I've also bought fruit through them.
  4. 王明 sòngkuàima? Fast delivery?
  5. 老张 tōngguòkuàitiānjiùdào, yuèláiyuèfāng便biàn. Express arrives next day — more and more convenient.
  6. 王明 xiǎngtōngguòshǒushìshì. I want to try via my phone too.
汉字PinyinPOSMeaning
wǎng n. net; internet
上网 shàngwǎng v. go online
买东西 mǎi dōngxi v. buy things; shop (recall Bk1)
yòng prep. use; with (recall Bk1)
通过 tōngguò prep. through; via
手机 shǒujī n. phone (recall Bk1)
电脑 diànnǎo n. computer (recall Bk1)
付钱 fù qián v. pay
价格 jiàgé n. price
便宜 piányi adj. cheap (recall Bk1)
方便 fāngbiàn adj. convenient (recall Bk1)
sòng v. deliver; send (recall Bk1)
收到 shōudào v. receive
快递 kuàidì n. express delivery
王明 Wáng Míng pn. Wang Ming (persona — recall ch01)
老张 Lǎo Zhāng pn. Lao Zhang (persona — recall ch08)
汉字PinyinPOSMeaning
jià price (in 价格) 价格 jiàgé — price
pay (in 付钱) 付钱 fù qián — pay
(in 快递 = express delivery) 快递 kuàidì — express delivery

wǎng net; internet Writing

6 strokes enclosure

tōng through; pass Writing

10 strokes left-right

pay (in 付钱) Recognition

5 strokes left-right

jià price (in 价格) Recognition

6 strokes left-right

standard (in 价格) Recognition

10 strokes left-right

介词 由 — 由某人 / 某处 (三20) Preposition 由 — by someone / from somewhere (三20)

由 有两个常用意思: (1) 由 + 人 + 来 + V: 由谁负责做 (这件事由我来做 = 我负责). (2) 由 + 处所: 从某地出发 / 经过 (这路车由学校门口过). 网上买东西时常说: 这些东西由网上买 / 由我来付钱. 比"从"更正式.

由 has two common senses: (1) 由 + person + 来 + V: who handles it (这件事由我来做 = I'm responsible). (2) 由 + place: from / via a location (这路车由学校门口过). When shopping online: 由我来付钱. More formal than 从.

  • 这些东西由网上买. Zhèxiē dōngxi yóu wǎng shàng mǎi. These things are bought online.
  • 这件事由我来做. Zhè jiàn shì yóu wǒ lái zuò. I'll handle this.
  • 今天的饭由我来付钱. Jīntiān de fàn yóu wǒ lái fù qián. I'll pay for today's meal.
  • 这路车由学校门口过. Zhè lù chē yóu xuéxiào ménkǒu guò. This bus passes by the school gate.

自从 … — 从那以后 (三21) 自从 … — ever since (三21)

上一课 (grammar-01) 是介词由. 本课的 自从 + 时间 / 事件, 表示"从那个时候 / 那件事以后一直". 自从用手机买东西, 方便多了 = 从开始用手机以后, 一直很方便. 后面常跟一个说明变化的分句. 自从 一般放句首.

Grammar-01 was 由. `自从 + time/event` means "ever since that time / event". 自从用手机买东西, 方便多了 = since starting to use the phone, it's been much more convenient. Usually followed by a clause describing the change; 自从 opens the sentence.

  • 自从用手机买东西, 方便多了. Zìcóng yòng shǒujī mǎi dōngxi, fāngbiàn duō le. Since shopping by phone, it's much more convenient.
  • 自从来中国, 他喜欢上了中国菜. Zìcóng lái Zhōngguó, tā xǐhuān shàng le Zhōngguó cài. Since coming to China, he's come to love Chinese food.
  • 自从开始运动, 他身体好多了. Zìcóng kāishǐ yùndòng, tā shēntǐ hǎo duō le. Since he started exercising, his health is much better.
  • 自从有了网, 买东西很方便. Zìcóng yǒu le wǎng, mǎi dōngxi hěn fāngbiàn. Since the internet, shopping is very convenient.

Want to actually learn this — with audio, spaced repetition and progress tracking?

Study in the app →

Report an issue

Spotted an error or have a suggestion? Every report helps us improve this content.