HSK 3 • Lesson 9北京的市场
HSK 3 • 基础篇Lesson 9 / 25

北京的市场

Běijīng de Shìchǎng
Beijing's Markets
Pattern 1

要不,(这样吧)……

Meaning:How about / Otherwise (Proposing an alternative or consequence)

Two main uses: (1) Making a gentle, friendly suggestion or alternative: '要不,这样吧……' (How about this...). (2) Meaning 'otherwise...' (stating an unfavorable consequence of not acting).

Examples
要不,这样吧,我下午正好要去买个鼠标,我们一起骑车去吧。
Yàobù, zhèyàng ba, wǒ xiàwǔ zhènghǎo yào qù mǎi gè shǔbiāo, wǒmen yìqǐ qí chē qù ba.
How about this: I happen to be going to buy a mouse this afternoon anyway, let's bike there together.
赶快走,要不就赶不上火车了。
Gǎnkuài zǒu, yàobù jiù gǎnbushàng huǒchē le.
Hurry up and leave, otherwise we won't catch the train.
Pattern 2

正好

Meaning:Just in time / Coincidentally / Fitting

'正好' indicates that time, an opportunity, an amount or a size is just right, perfectly timed, neither too much nor too little.

Examples
我想找个人陪我去逛逛商店,正好你来了。
Wǒ xiǎng zhǎo gè rén péi wǒ qù guàngguang shāngdiàn, zhènghǎo nǐ lái le.
I was looking for someone to accompany me to stroll through shops, and you arrived right in time.
43号的鞋,我穿正好。
Sìshísān hào de xié, wǒ chuān zhènghǎo.
Size 43 shoes fit me just perfectly.
Pattern 3

A 不如 B (……)

Meaning:A is inferior to B / Not as good as (Comparative)

In comparisons means 'A is not as good as B' (B is better). Also used in advice: '与其……不如……' or '让别人……不如自己……' (better to do it yourself).

Examples
那儿的东西真不如大商场的好。
Nàr de dōngxi zhēn bùrú dà shāngchǎng de hǎo.
Goods there really aren't as good as those in large department stores.
怎么才能学会讲价呢?让别人教,不如自己去试试。
Zěnme cái néng xuéhuì jiǎngjià ne? Ràng biérén jiāo, bùrú zìjǐ qù shìshi.
How can one learn to bargain? Rather than having someone teach you, it's better to go try it yourself.
去近的地方,坐车不如骑车方便。
Qù jìn de dìfang, zuò chē bùrú qí chē fāngbiàn.
Going to nearby places, taking a bus is not as convenient as cycling.
Pattern 4

数词/量词 + 多

Meaning:Approximate Number: More than / -odd

'多' after a number or measure word indicates an approximate amount slightly more than the number stated.

Examples
到前边的路口往右拐,再骑100多米就到了。
Dào qiánbiān de lùkǒu wǎng yòu guǎi, zài qí yībǎi duō mǐ jiù dào le.
Turn right at the intersection ahead, cycle another 100-odd meters and you're there.
我们已经学了一百多个生词了。
Wǒmen yǐjīng xué le yībǎi duō gè shēngcí le.
We have already learned more than a hundred new vocabulary words.