Chinese for English speakers Cafe · Lesson 1

Where do you live?

Chinese for living locations — 你住在哪里? (Where do you live?) — with the verb 住 + preposition 在.

Conversation

  1. Yennifer Yennifer

    洛基，你住在哪里？

    Luòjī, nǐ zhù zài nǎlǐ?

    Rocky, where do you live?

    Tip: 住 <zhù> = to live in a place 在 <zài> = to be in a place 哪里 <nǎlǐ> = where, which place

  2. Rocky Rocky

    我住在山上。

    wǒ zhù zài shānshàng.

    I live in the mountains.

    Tip: 山 <shān> = mountain 住在~上 <zài...shàng> = to live on/ in ...

  3. Yennifer Yennifer

    那里的天气冷吗？

    nàlǐ de tiānqì lěng ma?

    Is the weather cold there?

    Tip: 那里 <nàlǐ> = there, over there 天气 <tiānqì>= weather 冷 <lěng> = cold, chilly

  4. Rocky Rocky

    冬天很冷，夏天比较热。

    dōngtiān hěn lěng, xiàtiān bǐjiào rè.

    It is cold in winter and quite hot in summer.

    Tip: 冬天<dōngtiān> = winter 比较 <bǐjiào> = quite, rather 夏天 <xiàtiān> = summer 热 <rè> = hot/ scorching

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

How does Chinese 住在 work?

住 = 'to live', 在 = 'at/in (preposition)'. 我住在山上 = 'I live in the mountains'. 住在 + location.

What does 哪里 mean?

'Where?'. 你在哪里? = 'where are you?'. Also 哪儿 in Beijing dialect.

Common Chinese location vocabulary?

城市 (city), 乡下 (countryside), 山上 (in the mountains), 海边 (seaside), 市中心 (downtown).

Test yourself

Pick the English translation for each line from this lesson. Wrong answers are pulled from other Chinese lessons.

4 quick questions on what you just heard.

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