Learn Chinese · Level 2 — Living in China

The HSK 2 course: living in China. Twelve everyday situations — ask the way, ride the bus, order a meal, see a doctor, go to a birthday party. Every unit ends with you speaking out loud, and every line uses only words you have learned. By a 20-year HSK textbook author.

12 topic packs · 41 units · about 249 minutes in total

1. 问路 — Asking the Way I can ask the way politely and follow simple directions to a new place.
1. 不好意思，请问 — The Bravest Four Characters I can stop a stranger on the street and politely ask whether a place is nearby.
2. 往左？往右？ — Left? Right? He Has No Idea I can ask a shop assistant where a place is, and follow left, right and which-side answers.
3. 过了医院，往左走 — Past the Hospital, Turn Left I can follow a stranger's directions across several streets and repeat them back to check.
4. 上面的三个字 — Three Characters Above the Door I can read the sign above a shop door and say what is above, below, inside and outside it.
2. 坐车 — Getting Around I can get around the city by bus, subway or taxi, and say how near, far, fast or slow things are.
1. 车站就在门口 — The Stop Outside the Door I can name the bus, the subway and the stop, and choose how to cross the city.
2. 车已经走了！ — The Bus Already Left! I can say what already happened and what is about to happen — and switch plans fast.
3. 十分钟就到！ — Ten Minutes Away I can talk about how near or far things are and chat on the road.
3. 去王阿姨家 — Visiting the Neighbors I can send people and pets in every direction — in, out, up, down, back and over — and say where a thing or a door is.
1. 快进来！ — Come On In! I can say enter, exit and door (进/出/门), and tell 进来 from 进去.
2. 别叫，包子！ — Don't Bark, Baozi! I can say don't (别) and call someone back with 回来/回去.
3. 上楼！下楼！ — Up and Down the Stairs I can chase directions with 上来/上去/下来/下去 and say a door stands open (开着).
4. 床下面的手机 — The Phone Under the Bed I can call someone over (过来/过去), get them up (起来), and say where things are (床下面).
4. 打电话 — Phone Calls & Plans I can handle a phone call: set a weekend plan, get ready on time, and explain why I'm late.
1. 喂，是我！ — Hello? It's Me! I can answer the phone, ask what's going on, and set a time to meet.
2. 别忘了！ — Don't Forget! I can say what I remember and what I forgot, and get things ready on time.
3. 我来晚了！ — Sorry I'm Late! I can apologize and explain the reason with 因为…所以….
5. 下馆子 — Eating Out I can treat my friends to dinner: pick a restaurant, order dishes and drinks using 还是, ask for one more of something, and insist on paying.
1. 我请你们吃饭 — Dinner's on Me I can invite friends to dinner and offer choices with 还是 (or).
2. 红茶还是绿茶？ — Black Tea or Green Tea? I can order dishes and drinks in a restaurant.
3. 让我给钱！ — Let Me Pay! I can finish a meal, ask for one more, and insist on paying the bill.
6. 逛商场 — Shopping at the Mall I can shop at a mall: name colors, compare two things, sort out a wrong purchase, and pick a gift.
1. 商场这么大 — The Mall Is SO Big I can say I'm going shopping at the mall and exclaim how big things are.
2. 什么颜色好看？ — Which Color Looks Best? I can name four colors and compare two things with 比.
3. 买错了 — The Wrong Pair I can say something is broken or wrong, and fix a shopping mistake.
4. 手表还是花？ — A Watch or Flowers? I can talk about big prices, spending money, and choosing between two gifts.
7. 看病 — At the Doctor I can say I don't feel well, tell a doctor which part of me hurts, guess at the cause with 可能, and buy medicine at the pharmacy.
1. 我不舒服 — I Don't Feel Well I can say I'm tired, that my body aches, and that I don't feel well.
2. 哪儿不舒服？ — Where Does It Hurt? I can tell a doctor which part of me hurts, and say what is probably the cause.
3. 去药店买药 — A Trip to the Pharmacy I can buy medicine at a pharmacy and ask where the restroom is.
8. 上学 — School Day I can survive my first days of class: find the room, introduce myself, ask what a word means, and talk about the test.
1. 开学第一天 — First Day of Class I can say the new term is starting, find my classroom, and say which class I'm in.
2. 介绍一下 — Let Me Introduce Myself I can introduce myself in class: my surname, my full name, and what I've studied since childhood.
3. 这是什么意思？ — What Does It Mean? I can ask what a word means, say whether I understand it, and ask why.
4. 明天有考试 — Test Day I can talk about a test and its questions, borrow a pen, and say how well I did.
9. 爱好 — Hobby Chat at the Café I can talk about my hobbies and how often I do them, say what I can and can't do, and order the drink I like best at the café.
1. 你的爱好是什么？ — What Do You Do for Fun? I can ask people about their hobbies and say what I often do, and who I do it with.
2. 小李会跳舞！ — Xiao Li Can Dance! I can say what I can and can't do — like dancing and swimming — and talk about what I do online.
3. 最爱奶茶还是咖啡？ — Milk Tea or Coffee? I can order my favorite drink, read a café menu, and say how often I drink it.
10. 公园运动 — Sports in the Park I can talk about weather and sports: say whether the sky is clear or grey, invite people to exercise with me, tell soccer from basketball, and show someone how it is done.
1. 天晴了，一起运动！ — Sunny Day — Let's Move! I can say whether it is sunny or cloudy, and invite someone to go exercise with me.
2. 踢足球还是打篮球？ — Soccer or Basketball? I can talk about ball games and say how something should be done — like this, not like that.
3. 鸟飞了，大家都笑了 — The Bird Flies, Everybody Laughs I can describe running, flying and laughing, and say that I am happy.
11. 生日会 — Birthday Party I can go to a birthday party: introduce a whole family from grandpa to grandkids, say when things start, offer to help, and insist on doing it myself.
1. 这周有生日会 — A Party This Week I can say whose birthday it is, when the party starts, and offer to help.
2. 这是我丈夫 — This Is My Husband I can introduce a family: husband, wife, grandpa and grandma.
3. 我自己来！ — I'll Do It Myself! I can talk about boys, girls and kids, and say I'll do something myself.
4. 小时候的王阿姨 — When She Was Little I can talk about childhood, say how tall someone is, and thank people for their help.
12. 去旅行 — Planning a Trip I can plan a trip from start to gate: say where I have been, buy tickets online, sort out a room and say goodbye at the airport.
1. 你去过外国吗？ — Have You Ever Been Abroad? I can talk about going home for New Year and ask whether someone has ever been abroad.
2. 机票有点儿贵 — The Tickets Are a Bit Pricey I can buy plane tickets online and ask how much tickets cost.
3. 去机场 — To the Airport I can ask about a hotel room, open my bag before I leave the house, and say goodbye at the airport.