Click the audio below and try to answer the following questions. （Preview vocabularies in Part 4 if necessary）
Part 1: Comprehension Questions
Click on the question card to see the answer.
李老师结婚多长时间了？
Lǐ lǎoshī jiéhūn duō cháng shíjiān le?
How long has Teacher Li been married?
到6月9号，李老师就结婚二十年了。
Dào liù yuè jiǔ hào, Lǐ lǎoshī jiù jiéhūn èrshí nián le.
By June 9th, Teacher Li will have been married for twenty years.
Dào liù yuè jiǔ hào, Lǐ lǎoshī jiù jiéhūn èrshí nián le.
By June 9th, Teacher Li will have been married for twenty years.
李老师和爱人的关系怎么样？高老师呢？
Lǐ lǎoshī hé àirén de guānxi zěnmeyàng? Gāo lǎoshī ne?
How is Teacher Li's relationship with his wife? What about Teacher Gao?
李老师和妻子的生活一直挺幸福。高老师刚结婚的时候觉得很新鲜，但是现在每天看到的都是丈夫的缺点。
Lǐ lǎoshī hé qīzi de shēnghuó yìzhí tǐng xìngfú. Gāo lǎoshī gāng jiéhūn de shíhou juéde hěn xīnxiān, dànshì xiànzài měitiān kàndào de dōu shì zhàngfu de quēdiǎn.
Teacher Li and his wife have always lived quite happily. When Teacher Gao first got married, everything felt fresh, but now she only sees her husband's shortcomings every day.
Lǐ lǎoshī hé qīzi de shēnghuó yìzhí tǐng xìngfú. Gāo lǎoshī gāng jiéhūn de shíhou juéde hěn xīnxiān, dànshì xiànzài měitiān kàndào de dōu shì zhàngfu de quēdiǎn.
Teacher Li and his wife have always lived quite happily. When Teacher Gao first got married, everything felt fresh, but now she only sees her husband's shortcomings every day.
两个人共同生活只有浪漫和新鲜感就够了吗？
Liǎng ge rén gòngtóng shēnghuó zhǐyǒu làngmàn hé xīnxiān gǎn jiù gòu le ma?
Is romance and freshness enough for two people living together?
不够。两个人共同生活，只有浪漫和新鲜感是不够的。
Bú gòu. Liǎng ge rén gòngtóng shēnghuó, zhǐyǒu làngmàn hé xīnxiān gǎn shì bú gòu de.
No. When two people live together, romance and freshness alone are not enough.
Bú gòu. Liǎng ge rén gòngtóng shēnghuó, zhǐyǒu làngmàn hé xīnxiān gǎn shì bú gòu de.
No. When two people live together, romance and freshness alone are not enough.
丈夫和妻子两个人怎样才能很好地生活在一起？
Zhàngfu hé qīzi liǎng ge rén zěnyàng cái néng hěn hǎo de shēnghuó zài yìqǐ?
How can a husband and wife live well together?
只有接受了对方的缺点，两个人才能更好地一起生活。
Zhǐyǒu jiēshòu le duìfāng de quēdiǎn, liǎng ge rén cái néng gèng hǎo de yìqǐ shēnghuó.
Only by accepting each other's shortcomings can two people live better together.
Zhǐyǒu jiēshòu le duìfāng de quēdiǎn, liǎng ge rén cái néng gèng hǎo de yìqǐ shēnghuó.
Only by accepting each other's shortcomings can two people live better together.
Part 2: Full Text
高老师和李老师聊结婚后的生活
高老师：听说您跟妻子结婚快二十年了？
李老师：到6月9号，我们就结婚二十年了。这么多年，我们的生活一直挺幸福的。
高老师：我和丈夫刚结婚的时候，每天都觉得很新鲜，在一起有说不完的话。但是现在……
李老师：两个人共同生活，只有浪漫和新鲜感是不够的。
高老师：您说的对！我现在每天看到的都是他的缺点。
李老师：两个人在一起时间长了，就会有很多问题。只有接受了他的缺点，你们才能更好地一起生活。
Part 3: Sentence Analysis
高老师和李老师聊结婚后的生活
高老师(Teacher Gao) 和(and) 李老师(Teacher Li) 聊(talk about) 结婚后(after marriage) 的生活(life).
Teacher Gao and Teacher Li talk about life after marriage.
听说您跟妻子结婚快二十年了？
听说(I heard that) 您(you, polite) 跟妻子(with your wife) 结婚(have been married) 快二十年(almost twenty years) 了(change)?
I heard that you and your wife have been married for almost twenty years?
到6月9号，我们就结婚二十年了。
到6月9号(by June 9th), 我们(we) 就(will then / already by then) 结婚二十年(have been married for twenty years) 了(change).
By June 9th, we will have been married for twenty years.
这么多年，我们的生活一直挺幸福的。
这么多年(all these years), 我们的生活(our life) 一直(always) 挺(quite) 幸福的(happy).
All these years, our life has been quite happy.
我和丈夫刚结婚的时候，每天都觉得很新鲜，在一起有说不完的话。
我和丈夫(my husband and I) 刚(just) 结婚(got married) 的时候(when), 每天(every day) 都(all) 觉得(feel) 很新鲜(very fresh), 在一起(being together) 有(have) 说不完的话(endless things to say).
When my husband and I had just gotten married, everything felt fresh every day, and we had endless things to say when we were together.
但是现在……
但是(but) 现在(now) ..(unfinished thought / hesitation).
But now...
两个人共同生活，只有浪漫和新鲜感是不够的。
两个人(two people) 共同生活(live together), 只有(only) 浪漫(romance) 和(and) 新鲜感(freshness) 是(is) 不够的(not enough).
When two people live together, romance and freshness alone are not enough.
您说的对！
您(you, polite) 说的(what you said) 对(right)!
You are right!
我现在每天看到的都是他的缺点。
我(I) 现在(now) 每天(every day) 看到的(what I see) 都是(all are) 他的缺点(his shortcomings).
Now what I see every day are all his shortcomings.
两个人在一起时间长了，就会有很多问题。
两个人(two people) 在一起(being together) 时间长了(after a long time), 就会(will then) 有(have) 很多问题(many problems).
When two people have been together for a long time, many problems will appear.
只有接受了他的缺点，你们才能更好地一起生活。
只有(only if) 接受了(accepted) 他的缺点(his shortcomings), 你们(you two) 才能(only then can) 更好地(better) 一起生活(live together).
Only by accepting his shortcomings can you two live better together.
Part 4: Vocabulary
Noun
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
生活 |
shēnghuó | life; to live |
缺点 |
quēdiǎn | shortcoming; weakness |
Adjective / Verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
浪漫 |
làngmàn | romantic; romance |
够 |
gòu | enough |
接受 |
jiēshòu | to accept |
Grammar
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
刚 |
gāng | just; just now |
刚才 |
gāngcái | just now; a moment ago |
Part 5: Practical Examples
生活 shēnghuó — life / to live
我们的生活越来越好了。
Our life is getting better and better.
他们在一起生活得很幸福。
They live together very happily.
浪漫 làngmàn — romantic / romance
她的男朋友很浪漫，经常给她送花。
Her boyfriend is very romantic and often gives her flowers.
他们俩一起过了一个浪漫的晚上。
The two of them spent a romantic evening together.
够 gòu — enough
我们只有三个人，给我们三杯咖啡就够了。
There are only three of us. Three cups of coffee are enough.
我只有一百块钱，不够买那件衣服。
I only have one hundred yuan. It is not enough to buy that piece of clothing.
缺点 quēdiǎn — shortcoming / weakness
他最大的缺点是经常迟到。
His biggest shortcoming is that he is often late.
接受 jiēshòu — to accept
只有接受了他的缺点，你们才能更好地一起生活。
Only by accepting his shortcomings can you two live better together.
这份礼物太贵重了，我不能接受。
This gift is too valuable. I cannot accept it.
Part 6: Grammar Point
刚 gāng — just; only a while ago
刚 is an adverb. It indicates that an action or a situation took place only a while ago. It is used after the subject and before the verb.
Pattern: Subject + 刚 + Verb
1
我上午刚借的那本书，怎么找不到了？
The book I just borrowed this morning — why can’t I find it?
2
A：我刚从会议室过来，怎么一个人也没有？
A: I just came from the meeting room. Why isn’t there anyone there?
B：对不起，今天的会议改到明天上午了。
B: Sorry, today’s meeting has been changed to tomorrow morning.
3
我和丈夫刚结婚的时候，每天都觉得很新鲜，在一起有说不完的话。
When my husband and I had just gotten married, everything felt fresh every day, and we had endless things to say when we were together.
Practice A: Complete the dialogues. Click on the sentence card to see the answer.
1. A：你们俩认识很久了吧？
B：____________。
A：你们俩认识很久了吧？
B：没有，我们刚认识。
A: Nǐmen liǎ rènshi hěn jiǔ le ba?
B: Méiyǒu, wǒmen gāng rènshi.
A: Have you two known each other for a long time?
B: No, we just met.
B：没有，我们刚认识。
A: Nǐmen liǎ rènshi hěn jiǔ le ba?
B: Méiyǒu, wǒmen gāng rènshi.
A: Have you two known each other for a long time?
B: No, we just met.
2. A：你对这儿的生活习惯了吗？
B：____________，现在好多了。
A：你对这儿的生活习惯了吗？
B：我刚到这儿的时候很不习惯，现在好多了。
A: Nǐ duì zhèr de shēnghuó xíguàn le ma?
B: Wǒ gāng dào zhèr de shíhou hěn bù xíguàn, xiànzài hǎo duō le.
A: Have you gotten used to life here?
B: When I first arrived here, I was not used to it, but now it is much better.
B：我刚到这儿的时候很不习惯，现在好多了。
A: Nǐ duì zhèr de shēnghuó xíguàn le ma?
B: Wǒ gāng dào zhèr de shíhou hěn bù xíguàn, xiànzài hǎo duō le.
A: Have you gotten used to life here?
B: When I first arrived here, I was not used to it, but now it is much better.
3. A：他汉语说得怎么样？
B：____________。
A：他汉语说得怎么样？
B：说得比他刚学的时候好多了。
A: Tā Hànyǔ shuō de zěnmeyàng?
B: Shuō de bǐ tā gāng xué de shíhou hǎo duō le.
A: How well does he speak Chinese?
B: He speaks much better than when he first started learning.
B：说得比他刚学的时候好多了。
A: Tā Hànyǔ shuō de zěnmeyàng?
B: Shuō de bǐ tā gāng xué de shíhou hǎo duō le.
A: How well does he speak Chinese?
B: He speaks much better than when he first started learning.
Similar Expressions / Don’t Mix Up
刚 vs 刚才
Same point
Both 刚 and 刚才 indicate that an action or a situation happened not long ago. Both can serve as an adverbial modifier.
你叔叔刚 / 刚才打电话来说给你发了个电子邮件。
Your uncle just called and said he sent you an email.
Diff. 1
刚 is an adverb and is used after the subject and before the verb. 刚才 is a time word and can be used before or after the subject.
刚: 我刚看了邮箱，没有新邮件。
I just checked my mailbox. There are no new emails.
刚才: 我刚才去洗手间了，你给我打电话了？
I went to the restroom just now. Did you call me?
刚才: 刚才我去洗手间了，你给我打电话了？
Just now I went to the restroom. Did you call me?
Diff. 2
刚 can be preceded by a time word, while 刚才 cannot.
我上个月刚结婚，正准备和我先生一起出去旅游。
I just got married last month and am preparing to travel with my husband.
Diff. 3
In a sentence with 刚, the verb can be followed by a word of duration, while 刚才 cannot.
他刚来一会儿。
He just came for a short while.
Diff. 4
刚才 can be followed by a negative word, while 刚 cannot.
你为什么刚才不说，现在才说？
Why didn’t you say it just now? Why are you only saying it now?
Practice B: Choose 刚 or 刚才 to complete the sentences. Some sentences can use both. Click to see the answer.
1. 我____给妈妈打了一个电话。
刚 / 刚才
我刚给妈妈打了一个电话。 / 我刚才给妈妈打了一个电话。
Wǒ gāng gěi māma dǎ le yí ge diànhuà. / Wǒ gāngcái gěi māma dǎ le yí ge diànhuà.
I just called my mother.
我刚给妈妈打了一个电话。 / 我刚才给妈妈打了一个电话。
Wǒ gāng gěi māma dǎ le yí ge diànhuà. / Wǒ gāngcái gěi māma dǎ le yí ge diànhuà.
I just called my mother.
2. 我昨天____到，有点儿累，想休息休息。
刚
我昨天刚到，有点儿累，想休息休息。
Wǒ zuótiān gāng dào, yǒudiǎnr lèi, xiǎng xiūxi xiūxi.
I just arrived yesterday. I’m a little tired and want to rest.
我昨天刚到，有点儿累，想休息休息。
Wǒ zuótiān gāng dào, yǒudiǎnr lèi, xiǎng xiūxi xiūxi.
I just arrived yesterday. I’m a little tired and want to rest.
3. 你____不在办公室，我把东西给你同事了。
刚才
你刚才不在办公室，我把东西给你同事了。
Nǐ gāngcái bú zài bàngōngshì, wǒ bǎ dōngxi gěi nǐ tóngshì le.
You were not in the office just now, so I gave the things to your colleague.
你刚才不在办公室，我把东西给你同事了。
Nǐ gāngcái bú zài bàngōngshì, wǒ bǎ dōngxi gěi nǐ tóngshì le.
You were not in the office just now, so I gave the things to your colleague.
4. 不好意思，____我太忙了，没时间跟你说话。
刚才
不好意思，刚才我太忙了，没时间跟你说话。
Bù hǎoyìsi, gāngcái wǒ tài máng le, méi shíjiān gēn nǐ shuōhuà.
Sorry, I was too busy just now and didn’t have time to talk to you.
不好意思，刚才我太忙了，没时间跟你说话。
Bù hǎoyìsi, gāngcái wǒ tài máng le, méi shíjiān gēn nǐ shuōhuà.
Sorry, I was too busy just now and didn’t have time to talk to you.
5. 我____搬来一个星期，对这儿的环境还不太熟悉。
刚
我刚搬来一个星期，对这儿的环境还不太熟悉。
Wǒ gāng bānlái yí ge xīngqī, duì zhèr de huánjìng hái bú tài shúxī.
I have only moved here for one week, so I’m still not very familiar with the environment here.
我刚搬来一个星期，对这儿的环境还不太熟悉。
Wǒ gāng bānlái yí ge xīngqī, duì zhèr de huánjìng hái bú tài shúxī.
I have only moved here for one week, so I’m still not very familiar with the environment here.
Part 7: Practice
Click on the question card to see the answer.
1. 我们只有两个人，点三个菜就____了。
我们只有两个人，点三个菜就够了。
Wǒmen zhǐyǒu liǎng ge rén, diǎn sān ge cài jiù gòu le.
There are only two of us. Ordering three dishes is enough.
Wǒmen zhǐyǒu liǎng ge rén, diǎn sān ge cài jiù gòu le.
There are only two of us. Ordering three dishes is enough.
2. 她的男朋友很____，经常给她准备惊喜。
她的男朋友很浪漫，经常给她准备惊喜。
Tā de nánpéngyou hěn làngmàn, jīngcháng gěi tā zhǔnbèi jīngxǐ.
Her boyfriend is very romantic and often prepares surprises for her.
Tā de nánpéngyou hěn làngmàn, jīngcháng gěi tā zhǔnbèi jīngxǐ.
Her boyfriend is very romantic and often prepares surprises for her.
3. 你____说的话，我没有听清楚。
你刚才说的话，我没有听清楚。
Nǐ gāngcái shuō de huà, wǒ méiyǒu tīng qīngchu.
I did not hear clearly what you said just now.
Nǐ gāngcái shuō de huà, wǒ méiyǒu tīng qīngchu.
I did not hear clearly what you said just now.
4. 每个人都有____，不要只看到不好的一面。
每个人都有缺点，不要只看到不好的一面。
Měi ge rén dōu yǒu quēdiǎn, bú yào zhǐ kàndào bù hǎo de yí miàn.
Everyone has shortcomings. Do not only see the bad side.
Měi ge rén dōu yǒu quēdiǎn, bú yào zhǐ kàndào bù hǎo de yí miàn.
Everyone has shortcomings. Do not only see the bad side.
5. 这份礼物太贵重了，我不能____。
这份礼物太贵重了，我不能接受。
Zhè fèn lǐwù tài guìzhòng le, wǒ bù néng jiēshòu.
This gift is too valuable. I cannot accept it.
Zhè fèn lǐwù tài guìzhòng le, wǒ bù néng jiēshòu.
This gift is too valuable. I cannot accept it.
6. 我____到法国的时候，很多地方都不熟悉。
我刚到法国的时候，很多地方都不熟悉。
Wǒ gāng dào Fǎguó de shíhou, hěn duō dìfang dōu bù shúxī.
When I had just arrived in France, I was unfamiliar with many places.
Wǒ gāng dào Fǎguó de shíhou, hěn duō dìfang dōu bù shúxī.
When I had just arrived in France, I was unfamiliar with many places.
7. 他们结婚以后，在一起____得很幸福。
他们结婚以后，在一起生活得很幸福。
Tāmen jiéhūn yǐhòu, zài yìqǐ shēnghuó de hěn xìngfú.
After they got married, they lived together very happily.
Tāmen jiéhūn yǐhòu, zài yìqǐ shēnghuó de hěn xìngfú.
After they got married, they lived together very happily.
Part 8 : Your Turn to Talk
Answer the questions in Chinese. Click on the question card to see the hint.
1. 你觉得结婚后，生活会有什么变化？
What changes do you think happen in life after marriage?
You can answer with: 我觉得结婚后，生活会……。
2. 两个人结婚后，怎么样才可以更好地生活在一起？
After two people get married, how can they live together better?
You can answer with: 我觉得他们应该……。
3. 如果朋友只看到爱人的缺点，你会给他/她什么建议？
If a friend only sees their partner’s shortcomings, what advice would you give?
You can answer with: 我会建议他/她……。
4. 两个人在一起久了，怎么保持新鲜感？
When two people have been together for a long time, how can they keep the relationship fresh?
You can answer with: 他们可以……来保持新鲜感。
5. 你觉得哪些缺点可以接受，哪些缺点不能接受？
Which shortcomings do you think are acceptable, and which are not?
You can answer with: 我能接受……，但是不能接受……。