Chinese for English speakers Sports · Lesson 2

What's the matter?

Chinese 什么事 — 有空? 有什么事? (Free? What's the matter?) — for asking what's up.

Conversation

  1. Rocky Rocky

    蜜拉，明天你有空吗？

    Mìlā, míng tiān yǒu kòng ma?

    Meera, do you have time tomorrow?

    Tip: 有空 <yǒukòng> = to have time, to be free

  2. Meera Meera

    有空。有什么事？

    yǒu kòng. yǒu shén me shì?

    Yes, I do. What's the matter?

    Tip: 什么事<shénmeshì> = what's the matter? What is it?

  3. Rocky Rocky

    没什么事。

    méi yǒu shì.

    Well, nothing

  4. Rocky Rocky

    我只想请你来我家玩。

    wǒ zhǐ xiǎng qǐng nǐ lái wǒ jiā wán.

    I just wanted to invite you to my house.

    Tip: 只 <zhǐ> = only, just 玩 <wán> = play, spend quality time together

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

What does 什么事 mean?

'What matter? / what's up?'. Used to ask why someone's contacting you. 有什么事吗? = 'is something the matter?'.

What is 有空?

'Have free time'. 你有空吗? = 'are you free?'. 没空 = busy / no time.

Chinese for arranging meetings?

见面 (meet up), 约 (arrange/date), 空 (free), 忙 (busy), 时间 (time).

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.