Discussing, explaining, asking, answering, inviting and the words for language itself.
Chinese usually marks the person you talk with by a preposition before the verb, not by an object after it: 跟他商量, “talk it over with him”, 跟我联系, “get in touch with me”. English speakers tend to put the person straight after these verbs, and many of them cannot take one there. 打招呼 and 开玩笑 work the same way: the person goes in front, with 跟.
The words
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Verb (30)
讨论to discuss; discussionVerb3
这个问题我们明天开会再讨论。We will discuss this question again at tomorrow’s meeting.
解释to explain; explanationVerb3
老师又解释了一遍，我才明白。Only when the teacher explained it again did I understand.
说明to explain; to show; explanationVerb3
请你说明一下为什么要改时间。Please explain why the time has to change.
An instruction leaflet is 说明书.
表达to expressVerb3
我不知道怎么用中文表达这个意思。I do not know how to express this in Chinese.
交流to communicate; to exchange (ideas)Verb3
我想多跟中国人交流，练习口语。I want to talk with Chinese people more to practise speaking.
回答to answer; answerVerb3
他想了很久才回答我的问题。He thought for a long time before answering my question.
建议to suggest; to advise; suggestionVerb3
医生建议我少喝咖啡。The doctor advised me to drink less coffee.
通知to notify; noticeVerb3
学校通知我们明天不上课。The school has told us there are no classes tomorrow.
联系to contact; to get in touch; connectionVerb3
到了北京以后跟我联系。Get in touch with me once you are in Beijing.
The person comes first, with 跟 or 和.
商量to talk over; to consultVerb3
这件事我得跟家里人商量一下。I need to talk this over with my family.
打招呼to greet; to say helloVerb3
他看见我，笑着跟我打了个招呼。He saw me and said hello with a smile.
Separable: 打个招呼. Also “to let someone know in advance”.
谈to talk; to discussVerb3
我想跟你谈一下工作的事。I would like to talk to you about work.
谈话to have a talk; conversationVerb3
校长找他谈话了。The head teacher called him in for a talk.
Often a serious talk with someone above you.
请求to ask; to request; requestVerb3
他请求老板再给他一次机会。He asked the boss to give him one more chance.
要求to require; to demand; requirementVerb3
老师要求我们每天读半个小时中文。The teacher requires us to read Chinese for half an hour every day.
要 is read yāo in this word.
答应to agree (to a request); to promiseVerb3
他答应周末带孩子去公园。He promised to take the children to the park at the weekend.
提出to put forward; to raiseVerb3
会上她提出了一个很好的办法。At the meeting she put forward a very good solution.
转告to pass on (a message)Verb3
他不在，我会转告他的。He is not in; I will pass the message on to him.
邀请to invite; invitationVerb3
谢谢你邀请我参加你的生日晚会。Thank you for inviting me to your birthday party.
道谢to say thank you; to express thanksVerb3
他帮了我这么多，我得去跟他道谢。He has helped me so much; I must go and thank him.
The person goes before the verb: 跟他道谢, not after it.
问候to send regards; to greetVerb3
请替我问候你父母。Please give my regards to your parents.
称呼to address (someone as); form of addressVerb3
第一次见面，我不知道该怎么称呼他。Meeting him for the first time, I did not know how to address him.
告别to say goodbye; to take leaveVerb3
他跟大家告别以后就上了火车。After saying goodbye to everyone, he got on the train.
开玩笑to joke; to make funVerb3
别生气，我是跟你开玩笑的。Don’t be angry, I was only joking.
翻译to translate; translator; interpreterVerb3
你能帮我把这句话翻译成英文吗？Could you translate this sentence into English for me?
Also the person: 他是翻译, “he is an interpreter”.
重复to repeatVerb3
对不起，您能再重复一遍吗？Sorry, could you repeat that?
重, “again”, as in 重新; as “heavy” it is zhòng.
理解to understand; understandingVerb3
我理解你的意思，可是我不同意。I understand what you mean, but I do not agree.
Understanding of a reason or a feeling; 懂 is simply getting the meaning.
听懂to understand (what is heard)Verb3
老师说得太快，我没听懂。The teacher spoke too fast and I did not understand.
喊to shout; to call (someone)Verb3
妈妈在楼下喊我回家吃饭。Mum is calling me from downstairs to come home and eat.
回信to write back; reply (letter)Verb3
她的信我收到一个月了，还没回信。I got her letter a month ago and still have not written back.
Adverb (2)
大声loudly; aloudAdverb3
图书馆里不能大声说话。You cannot talk loudly in the library.
小声quietly; in a low voiceAdverb3
孩子在睡觉，我们小声点儿。The child is asleep; let’s keep our voices down.