朋友、关系和社区
Chapter Overview and Learning Objectives
In Chapter 1, you learned to connect sentences about your own life into a topic chain. This chapter turns that same skill toward other people — friends, classmates, neighbors, and members of your local community. You will expand your vocabulary for relationships and titles, learn to describe people more fully using 的-modification, and practice keeping your reference to a person clear across several sentences instead of repeating a name every time.
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Introduce a friend or acquaintance using expanded relationship and title vocabulary.
- Describe a person using 的-modification for more than simple possession — for example, "the friend who lives near me."
- Maintain clear reference to the same person across a short connected passage.
- Ask and answer questions about someone else's relationships and community connections.
- Read and write a short paragraph introducing someone in your life.
Communication Scenario
The online exchange group has a new weekly activity: "介绍一位朋友" (Introduce a Friend). Members post a short passage introducing someone important in their daily life — a friend, classmate, neighbor, or coworker — and explain how they know that person.
- You will read 大卫's post introducing his neighbor.
- You will listen to 安娜 introduce a friend from her Chinese class.
- You will write your own "介绍一位朋友" post.
- You will speak with a partner about someone in your own community.
Core Vocabulary
This chapter adds vocabulary for relationships, titles, and community connections. All new items are productive and will recur throughout Volume II.
| Chinese | Pinyin | Part/Function | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 关系 | guānxi | noun | relationship | 我们的关系很好。Our relationship is good. |
| 邻居 | línjū | noun | neighbor | 他是我的邻居。He is my neighbor. |
| 同学 | tóngxué | noun | classmate | 她是我的中文同学。She is my Chinese class classmate. |
| 同事 | tóngshì | noun | coworker | 我同事也住在这儿。My coworker also lives here. |
| 认识 | rènshi | verb | to know (a person); to meet | 我们认识三年了。We've known each other for three years. |
| 社区 | shèqū | noun | community | 我们的社区很热闹。Our community is lively. |
| 帮助 | bāngzhù | verb/noun | to help; help | 他常常帮助我。He often helps me. |
| 附近 | fùjìn | noun | nearby; vicinity | 她住在附近。She lives nearby. |
| 先生 | xiānsheng | title | Mr.; sir | 王先生是我的邻居。Mr. Wang is my neighbor. |
| 女士 | nǚshì | title | Ms.; madam | 李女士很友好。Ms. Li is very friendly. |
Recycled Volume I and Chapter 1 vocabulary — 朋友、老师、同屋、家人、友好、现在、以前、也、还 — is used throughout this chapter and is not retaught in full.
Pronunciation Review
This chapter introduces no new sounds. Use the checklist below to confirm control of familiar sound patterns in new words.
- The neutral tone in 关系 (guānxi) and 认识 (rènshi) — the second syllable is short and light.
- Third-tone sandhi in 邻居 (línjū) when preceded by 我的 (wǒ de), and in 很友好 (hěn yǒuhǎo).
- The j/q/x contrast in 同事 (tóngshì) versus 同学 (tóngxué).
- Tone accuracy on titles: 先生 (xiānsheng) and 女士 (nǚshì), including the ü sound in 女.
Grammar and Sentence Patterns: Describing People with 的, and Negative Ability
You already know 的 for simple possession, as in 我的朋友 (my friend). This chapter expands 的-modification so it can attach a short descriptive phrase before a noun, not just a possessor. This is an early, controlled step toward relative-like modification, which will be developed further in later chapters.
Simple possession (already familiar)
这是我的邻居。 Zhè shì wǒ de línjū. This is my neighbor.
Expanded modification: [description] + 的 + noun
这是住在我家附近的邻居。 Zhè shì zhù zài wǒ jiā fùjìn de línjū. This is the neighbor who lives near my home.
她是常常帮助我的同学。 Tā shì chángcháng bāngzhù wǒ de tóngxué. She is the classmate who often helps me.
Notice that the descriptive phrase comes before 的, and the noun it describes comes after — the opposite order from English "who lives near my home." This pattern is introduced here only for short, familiar descriptions; longer or more complex modifiers are developed in later volumes.
Negative ability: 不会 / 不能 / 不可以
他不会说中文。 Tā bú huì shuō Zhōngwén. He can't speak Chinese (hasn't learned how).
我今天不能去。 Wǒ jīntiān bù néng qù. I can't go today (circumstance prevents it).
这儿不可以吃东西。 Zhèr bù kěyǐ chī dōngxi. You can't eat here (not permitted).
As with the positive forms from Volume I, keep 不会 (lack of learned skill), 不能 (circumstance or inability), and 不可以 (lack of permission) distinct. Do not treat them as interchangeable translations of "can't."
Model Dialogue
安娜和大卫 — Anna and David:
安娜：大卫，那位是谁？
大卫：那是王先生，是住在我宿舍附近的邻居。他人很好，常常帮助我。
安娜：你们认识多久了？
大卫：认识一年多了。他不会说英文，所以我们常常用中文聊天儿。
安娜：真好！我也想认识我们社区的人。
大卫：这个周末社区有一个活动，你可以去认识新朋友。
安娜：太好了，但是我这个周末不能去，我要学习。
This dialogue introduces expanded 的-modification (住在我宿舍附近的邻居) and negative ability (不会说英文, 不能去) within a natural exchange about community relationships.
Guided Practice
练习一 — Exercise 1: Combine each pair of sentences using [description] + 的 + noun.
- 她是我的同学。她住在附近。
- 他是我的邻居。他常常帮助我。
- 那是我的同事。她喜欢喝茶。
练习二 — Exercise 2: Fill in the blank with 不会, 不能, or 不可以.
- 我今天很忙，＿去你家。 (circumstance)
- 这个图书馆＿说话。 (not permitted)
- 我同屋＿做饭。 (hasn't learned how)
练习三 — Exercise 3: Answer with a complete sentence about someone you know.
- 你有一位常常帮助你的朋友吗？他/她是谁？
- 你认识住在你附近的邻居吗？
Listening Practice
Ask a partner, instructor, or fluent speaker to read the passage below aloud twice at a natural pace before answering.
If no speaker is available, this is a Listening Script for Independent Use. Read it aloud yourself, slowly at first, then at a natural pace. Any spoken model should be verified by a fluent Mandarin speaker before being treated as a pronunciation standard.
安娜介绍朋友 — Anna Introduces a Friend:
我想介绍一位朋友，她叫玛丽，是我中文课的同学。我们认识半年了，关系很好。玛丽住在我宿舍附近，我们常常一起学习。她不会说很多中文，但是她很努力。玛丽也认识我们社区的很多人，因为她常常参加社区的活动。我很高兴认识她这样的朋友。
听力任务 — Listening task:
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 玛丽是安娜的什么人？ (Who is Mary in relation to Anna?) | ______ |
| 她们认识多久了？ (How long have they known each other?) | ______ |
| 玛丽会不会说很多中文？ (Can Mary speak a lot of Chinese?) | ______ |
| 玛丽为什么认识社区的很多人？ (Why does Mary know many people in the community?) | ______ |
Speaking Practice
控制性练习 — Controlled practice: guided interview
With a partner, take turns asking and answering: 你有没有住在附近的邻居？你们认识多久了？你有没有常常帮助你的朋友？
交际任务 — Communicative task: 介绍一位朋友
With a partner, take turns introducing a friend, classmate, neighbor, or coworker in three or four connected sentences. Use at least one expanded 的-modification phrase and one negative-ability form. Ask a follow-up question about your partner's friend.
独立练习 — Solo alternative
Record yourself introducing someone in your life, including how you know them, one thing they can or can't do, and how they help you or your community.
Reading Practice
Read the short passage below, then answer the comprehension questions. Pinyin support remains reduced, as in Chapter 1; rely on familiar characters and context.
理解问题 — Comprehension questions:
- 王先生是大卫的什么人？
- 王先生会不会说英文？
- 王先生常常怎么帮助大卫？
- 大卫和王先生用什么语言聊天儿？
Writing Workshop
Write a connected paragraph of five to seven sentences titled 介绍一位朋友, introducing someone in your life.
写作任务 — Writing task: Type your paragraph with Pinyin input if possible, or handwrite the characters you have already been assigned for handwriting. Your paragraph must include:
- An opening sentence naming the person and their relationship to you, using 是.
- At least one expanded 的-modification phrase, such as "the classmate who lives near me."
- A statement of how long you have known them, using 认识.
- At least one negative-ability form (不会, 不能, or 不可以) used accurately.
- A connected sentence that omits a repeated subject, continuing your topic chain skill from Chapter 1.
- A closing sentence about your relationship or community connection with this person.
修改清单 — Editing checklist:
- All six required elements are present and connected, not a disconnected list of sentences.
- The expanded 的-phrase places the description before 的 and the noun after, in Mandarin order.
- 不会, 不能, and 不可以 are not confused with one another.
- Only vocabulary and characters already taught in Volume I, Chapter 1, or this chapter are used.
- A Chinese period (。) ends each sentence, and commas (，) separate connected clauses.
Culture and Communication
In many Mandarin-speaking contexts, using a title such as 先生 or 女士 together with a family name is a common way to refer to a neighbor, an older acquaintance, or someone in a semi-formal relationship, even in an otherwise friendly conversation. Community relationships built through daily proximity — such as neighbors helping one another with small tasks — are a familiar pattern in many Mandarin-speaking communities, though the closeness and frequency of such relationships vary widely by individual, city, and building type.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Reversing the order of expanded 的-modification: the description comes before 的, and the noun comes after — 住在附近的邻居, not the reverse.
- Confusing 不会, 不能, and 不可以: 不会 is about learned skill, 不能 is about circumstance, and 不可以 is about permission — they are not interchangeable.
- Losing track of who "he/she" refers to: when introducing a person across several sentences, make sure a pronoun or omitted subject still points back to the same person you introduced first.
- Overusing a name in every sentence: once a person has been introduced, use 他/她 or omit the subject rather than repeating their name in each following sentence.
Chapter Summary
This chapter expanded your ability to talk about other people. You added vocabulary for relationships, titles, and community, learned to use expanded 的-modification to describe a person with a short phrase, practiced the negative-ability forms 不会, 不能, and 不可以, and maintained clear reference to the same person across a connected passage. No major new grammar system beyond controlled 的-modification and negative ability was introduced.
Chapter Review
部分 A — 语法复习 (Grammar Review)
1. Combine into one sentence using [description] + 的 + noun:
- 他是我的同事。他住在附近。
2. Choose the correct negative-ability word:
- 图书馆里＿（不会 / 不可以）说话。
部分 B — 阅读 (Reading)
1. Return to the reading passage about 王先生 above and answer:
- 大卫觉得认识王先生怎么样？
部分 C — 写作 (Writing)
1. Write your five-to-seven-sentence "介绍一位朋友" paragraph, following the Writing Workshop steps above.
部分 D — 口语 (Speaking)
1. Complete the guided interview and the "介绍一位朋友" task with a partner or recording.
Recognition Check
Say each of the following aloud and confirm accurate tones and connected phrasing: 她是住在我附近的邻居, 我们认识一年多了, 他不会说英文, 我这个周末不能去. If any of these feel uncertain, review this chapter before continuing to Chapter 3.
Practical Performance Task
Chapter 2 Performance Task
介绍一位朋友 — Introduce a Friend
Complete the following four connected tasks in order.
- Listen to Anna's introduction of her friend Mary and complete the listening table above.
- Read David's passage about Mr. Wang and answer the comprehension questions.
- Write your own five-to-seven-sentence "介绍一位朋友" paragraph, following the Writing Workshop steps and editing checklist.
- Speak through the guided interview and the "介绍一位朋友" task with a partner, recording, or instructor.
Answer Key
Guided Practice — Exercise 1
- 她是住在附近的同学。
- 他是常常帮助我的邻居。
- 那是喜欢喝茶的同事。
Guided Practice — Exercise 2
- 不能
- 不可以
- 不会
Guided Practice — Exercise 3
- 我有一位常常帮助我的朋友，他是我的同学。 (Sample answer; other accurate answers are acceptable.)
- 我认识住在我附近的邻居。 (Sample answer; other accurate answers are acceptable.)
Listening
- Mary is Anna's classmate from her Chinese class.
- They have known each other for half a year.
- No, Mary cannot speak a lot of Chinese, but she works hard.
- Mary knows many people in the community because she often participates in community activities.
Reading — Comprehension
- Mr. Wang is David's neighbor and a friend he has known for over a year.
- No, Mr. Wang cannot speak English.
- Mr. Wang often helps David find things and tells him about community activities.
- David and Mr. Wang chat in Chinese.
Chapter Review — 部分 A
- 他是住在附近的同事。
- 不可以
Chapter Review — 部分 B
David feels that knowing Mr. Wang is one of the best things about being in this community.
Looking Ahead
现在你会做什么 — What you can do now
You can introduce a friend, classmate, neighbor, or coworker; describe them using an expanded 的-modification phrase; use 不会, 不能, and 不可以 accurately; and maintain clear reference to the same person across a connected paragraph.