🇺🇸 English
HSK 3

Lesson 1 · 我们去机场接你们

What you'll learn

Describe people and lost items with multiple modifiers, and use question words in statements for unknown people, places, or things.

About 34 min
A cute cartoon airport pickup scene with students, luggage, and a blank information desk sign.
1

Listen and Read

Meet someone at the airport and describe a person and a missing bag without copying the textbook story.

小林
飞机已经到了，我们在哪儿等他们？
Fēi jī yǐ jīng dào le, wǒ men zài nǎr děng tā men?
The plane has already arrived. Where should we wait for them?
小雨
我们站在服务台旁边吧，这样他们看得见。
Wǒ men zhàn zài fú wù tái páng biān ba, zhè yàng tā men kàn dé jiàn.
Let’s stand beside the service desk so they can see us.
小林
那个穿黑衣服的高个子男生看起来像小周。
Nà ge chuān hēi yī fu de gāo gè zi nán shēng kàn qǐ lái xiàng Xiǎo Zhōu.
That tall boy in black clothes looks like Xiao Zhou.
小雨
不是他。小周应该拿着护照和一个蓝色行李箱。
Bú shì tā. Xiǎo Zhōu yīng gāi ná zhe hù zhào hé yí gè lán sè xíng li xiāng.
That is not him. Xiao Zhou should be carrying a passport and a blue suitcase.
小林
我好像在哪儿见过这个箱子，我们去问问吧。
Wǒ hǎo xiàng zài nǎr jiàn guò zhè ge xiāng zǐ, wǒ men qù wèn wèn ba.
I seem to have seen this suitcase somewhere. Let’s go ask.
2

Core Words

Practice the words that carry this lesson's dialogue, patterns, and final question.

机场
jī chǎng
airport
接
jiē
to pick someone up
护照
hù zhào
passport
行李箱
xíng li xiāng
suitcase
服务台
fú wù tái
service desk
看起来
kàn qǐ lái
to look; to seem
3

Pattern: `看起来 / 看上去`

人/物 + 看起来/看上去 + 形容词

`看起来` and `看上去` describe what someone or something seems like from appearance or the situation.

他看起来有点儿着急。
Tā kàn qǐ lái yǒu diǎnr zháo jí.
He looks a little worried.
这个行李箱看上去很重。
Zhè ge xíng li xiāng kàn shàng qù hěn zhòng.
This suitcase looks heavy.
4

Pattern: Question Words in Statements

哪儿 / 谁 / 什么 + 陈述句

A question word can appear in a statement when the exact person, place, or thing is unknown or not important.

我好像在哪儿见过她。
Wǒ hǎo xiàng zài nǎr jiàn guò tā.
I seem to have seen her somewhere.
你先吃点儿什么再走吧。
Nǐ xiān chī diǎnr shén me zài zǒu ba.
Eat something before you leave.
5

Pattern: Multiple Attributives

那个 + 穿黑衣服的 + 高个子 + 男生

Put several details before the noun to identify one person or object clearly.

那个拿着蓝色箱子的学生是我朋友。
Nà ge ná zhe lán sè xiāng zǐ de xué shēng shì wǒ péng yǒu.
The student carrying the blue suitcase is my friend.
桌子上那本新买的书是我的。
Zhuō zi shàng nà běn xīn mǎi de shū shì wǒ de.
The newly bought book on the table is mine.
6

Learning Note

Keep descriptions useful, not long.

For HSK3, two or three details are enough. Start with the detail that helps the listener find the person or thing fastest.

7

Practice

Choose the sentence for an unknown place.

You are not sure where you saw the bag before.

Which sentence means “I seem to have seen this bag somewhere”?

8

Practice

Choose the sentence with a clear description.

You want to identify a student by the suitcase he is carrying.

Which sentence uses details before the noun naturally?