你好！ If you're looking to move beyond textbook Chinese and understand how the language is used in daily life, you're in the right place. Today, we're breaking down a soothing vlog that takes us through a morning routine and cooking session, all in clear, slow Mandarin.
This vlog is a goldmine for HSK 2-4 learners. Let's dive into the key vocabulary, grammar, and cultural tidbits you can learn!
Part 1: The Morning Routine (早晨日常 - Zǎochén rìcháng）
The vlog starts with a simple and very common greeting:
- 早！ (Zǎo!) - Morning! A shortened, casual form of 早上好 (Zǎoshang hǎo).
The creator then describes their first activity:
- 早上第一件事就是到花园里做瑜伽。
- Zǎoshang dì yī jiàn shì jiùshì dào huāyuán lǐ zuò yújiā.
- The first thing in the morning is to do yoga in the garden.
- Vocabulary:
- 第一 (dì yī) - first
- 件事 (jiàn shì) - matter/thing (一件件事 one matter)
- 花园 (huāyuán) - garden
- 瑜伽 (yújiā) - yoga
- Grammar:
- 就是 (jiùshì) - This is a useful phrase meaning "is precisely" or "is exactly." It emphasizes what follows.
After finishing, they express how they feel:
- 感觉特别爽。 (Gǎnjué tèbié shuǎng.) - Feeling really great.
- 爽 (shuǎng) is a fantastic word to know. It means "refreshing," "cool," or "awesome." It describes a feeling of refreshment and satisfaction.
Next comes a very common daily activity:
- 洗个澡 (xǐ gè zǎo) - to take a shower.
- Notice the structure: Verb + 个 + Object. This is a very casual and common way to express doing something a little bit.
- 吃个饭 (chī gè fàn) - to grab a bite to eat
- 睡个觉 (shuì gè jiào) - to get some sleep
Part 2: Let's Cook & Learn! (做饭吧! - Zuò fàn ba!)
The creator decides to make a classic home-style dish (家常菜 - jiācháng cài). From the fridge, they pull out:
- 西红柿 (xīhóngshì) - tomato
- 鸡蛋 (jīdàn) - eggs
You probably guessed it—they're making 西红柿炒蛋 (xīhóngshì chǎo dàn) - Scrambled eggs with tomatoes, arguably one of China's most beloved 家常菜!
Kitchen Tool Vocabulary (厨房工具 - Chúfáng gōngjù):
- 煎锅 (jiānguō) - frying pan
- 切板 (qiē bǎn) - cutting board
- 一把刀 (yì bǎ dāo) - a knife ("把" is the measure word for knives)
- 一双筷子 (yì shuāng kuàizi) - a pair of chopsticks ("双" is the measure word for pairs)
- 一个碗 (yí gè wǎn) - a bowl
Cooking Action Verbs (烹饪动词 - Pēngrèn dòngcí):
- 洗 (xǐ) - to wash
- 切 (qiē) - to cut
- 打鸡蛋 (dǎ jīdàn) - to beat eggs
- 搅拌 (jiǎobàn) - to stir, to mix
- 开火 (kāi huǒ) - to turn on the heat (lit. "open fire")
- 倒油 (dào yóu) - to pour oil
- 炒 (chǎo) - to stir-fry
- 加盐 (jiā yán) - to add salt
- 关火 (guān huǒ) - to turn off the heat (lit. "close fire")
A Cultural & Grammatical Note
During cooking, the creator shares a personal story:
- 我的外婆呢，她比较喜欢吃甜的...她会加一点糖。
- Wǒ de wàipó ne, tā bǐjiào xǐhuān chī tián de... tā huì jiā yìdiǎn táng.
- My grandmother, she prefers to eat it sweet... she adds a bit of sugar.
- Vocabulary:
- 外婆 (wàipó) - maternal grandmother
- 比较 (bǐjiào) - quite, relatively
- 糖 (táng) - sugar
- Grammar:
- ...呢 (...ne) - Here, the particle 呢 is used to mark a topic and pause for emphasis, often introducing a new piece of information or a contrast. It's like saying "As for my grandmother,..."
This is a fun cultural insight! While the savory version is most common, some families, especially in the south, prefer a slightly sweetened 西红柿炒蛋.
Describing the Taste (味道 - Wèidào)
Finally, the dish is done! How does it taste?
- 咸咸的 (xián xián de) - salty
- 酸酸的 (suān suān de) - sour
- 非常好吃 (fēicháng hǎo chī) - very delicious
The 的 (de) structure (AA的) is very common for describing feelings or tastes:
- 甜甜的 (tián tián de) - sweet
- 辣辣的 (là là de) - spicy
- 爽爽的 (shuǎng shuǎng de) - refreshing
Your Turn to Practice!
The best way to learn is to do! Why not try making 西红柿炒蛋 yourself? Practice the words out loud as you go:
- "现在我要洗西红柿。" (Xiànzài wǒ yào xǐ xīhóngshì.) - "Now I will wash the tomatoes."
- "接下来我要打鸡蛋。" (Jiēxiàlái wǒ yào dǎ jīdàn.) - "Next I will beat the eggs."
Discussion Question:
你的外婆或奶奶做菜有什么特别的习惯？(Nǐ de wàipó huò nǎinai zuò cài yǒu shénme tèbié de xíguàn?)
What special habits does your grandmother have when she cooks?
Try to use some Chinese words you learned today!
Want to practice your listening? Watch the full vlog HERE!
快乐学习！ (Kuàilè xuéxí!) Happy learning!
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