4MessageEveryday life1 min

Grandma Turns Eighty

A family chat about a birthday: a restaurant or the living room, relatives or a photo.

A family group chat with four people who do not agree at first. Follow the two plans and see how they become one. ……的话(dehuà) marks a condition, as in “if we don’t invite them …”.

Gūgu

下(xià)个(ge)月(yuè)十五(shíwǔ)号(hào)是(shì)妈妈(māma)的(de)八十(bāshí)岁(suì)生日(shēngrì)，我们(wǒmen)怎么(zěnme)过(guo)？

Bàba

我(wǒ)想(xiǎng)在(zài)饭店(fàndiàn)订(dìng)一(yí)个(ge)包间(bāojiān)，把(bǎ)亲戚(qīnqi)们(men)都(dōu)请(qǐng)来(lái)。

Māma

妈妈(māma)老(lǎo)了(le)，不(bù)喜欢(xǐhuan)太(tài)热闹(rènao)。我(wǒ)觉得(juéde)在(zài)家里(jiāli)做(zuò)几(jǐ)个(ge)菜(cài)就(jiù)好(hǎo)。

Xiǎoyú

我(wǒ)同意(tóngyì)妈妈(māma)。而且(érqiě)去年(qùnián)奶奶(nǎinai)说(shuō)过(guo)，她(tā)最(zuì)想(xiǎng)要(yào)的(de)是(shì)一(yì)张(zhāng)全家(quánjiā)的(de)照片(zhàopiàn)。

Gūgu

这个(zhège)主意(zhǔyi)好(hǎo)！我们(wǒmen)可以(kěyǐ)请(qǐng)一(yí)个(ge)摄影师(shèyǐngshī)来(lái)家里(jiāli)拍(pāi)。

Bàba

那(nà)亲戚(qīnqi)们(men)呢(ne)？不(bù)请(qǐng)的话(dehuà)，他们(tāmen)会(huì)不(bù)高兴(gāoxìng)的(de)。

Māma

可以(kěyǐ)第二(dì'èr)天(tiān)再(zài)请(qǐng)他们(tāmen)来(lái)喝(hē)茶(chá)、吃(chī)蛋糕(dàngāo)。这么(zhème)做(zuò)，大家(dàjiā)都(dōu)会(huì)满意(mǎnyì)的(de)。

Xiǎoyú

蛋糕(dàngāo)我(wǒ)来(lái)订(dìng)！奶奶(nǎinai)喜欢(xǐhuan)不(bú)太(tài)甜(tián)的(de)。

Gūgu

好(hǎo)，就(jiù)这么(zhème)定(dìng)了(le)。礼物(lǐwù)的(de)事(shì)我们(wǒmen)下(xià)次(cì)再(zài)说(shuō)。

Words: 134
Sentences: 16
Words per sentence: 8.4
in the vocabulary: 100 %
measured level: 3
Reading time: 1 min

Grammar in this text

These forms appear in the text in real use. Switch on “Show grammar” above the text to highlight them.

把(bǎ)亲戚(qīnqi)们(men)都(dōu)请(qǐng)来(lái)
把(bǎ)亲戚(qīnqi)们(men)都(dōu)请(qǐng)来(lái): 把(bǎ) + object + verb + direction — invite them all over. The bǎ sentence →
奶奶(nǎinai)说(shuō)过(guo)
说(shuō)过(guo): Grandma said it at some time in the past, and it still counts. Guo: having done something before →
不(bú)太(tài)甜(tián)的(de)
不(bú)太(tài)甜(tián)的(de): 的(de) stands for the noun (the cake) that everybody knows. De without a noun: mine, the red one →

The words from 4 up in this text

Not the hard words in general, but those at your level: all 2 of the 80 words in this text are at 4 or above. You will know everything else by the time you get here.

亲戚
relative(s)
4
定
to fix, to decide → to settle
4

The word lists for this text

The words in this text appear in 26 lists on this site; the number after each says how many come from that list. Having read the text, you have just needed these very words — and can practise exactly them.

Comprehension questions

4 questions on the text. With each answer the sentence it comes from appears — a question whose answer you cannot find in the text tests nothing.

1. What did Dad suggest first?

2. Why does Mum prefer dinner at home?

3. What does Grandma want most?

4. What is the plan for the relatives?