🇺🇸 English
HSK 3

Lesson 12 · 这个季节天气变化很快

What you'll learn

Discuss weather changes with alternative choices, extended direction complements, and scope adverb `就`.

About 36 min
A cute cartoon street in changing weather with students carrying umbrellas and watching clouds gather.
1

Listen and Read

React to changing weather and choose what to do next.

小雨
刚才还晴着呢，怎么天忽然阴起来了？
Gāng cái hái qíng zhe ne, zěn me tiān hū rán yīn qǐ lái le?
It was sunny just now. Why did the sky suddenly get cloudy?
小林
这里的天气变化真快。
Zhè lǐ de tiān qì biàn huà zhēn kuài.
The weather here changes really fast.
小雨
我就带了一把雨伞，可以借给你。
Wǒ jiù dài le yì bǎ yǔ sǎn, kě yǐ jiè gěi nǐ.
I brought only one umbrella. I can lend it to you.
小林
谢谢。或者我们等雨小下来，或者现在打车走。
Xiè xiè. Huò zhě wǒ men děng yǔ xiǎo xià lái, huò zhě xiàn zài dǎ chē zǒu.
Thanks. Either we wait for the rain to get lighter, or we take a taxi now.
小雨
我来这儿半年了，还是不太习惯。
Wǒ lái zhèr bàn nián le, hái shì bú tài xí guàn.
I have been here for half a year, but I am still not very used to it.
2

Core Words

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

季节
jì jié
season
天气
tiān qì
weather
变化
biàn huà
change
雨伞
yǔ sǎn
umbrella
借
jiè
to lend; to borrow
习惯
xí guàn
to be used to; habit
就
jiù
only; just
3

Pattern: Extended `起来`

verb/adjective + 起来

`起来` can show that an action starts or a new state begins.

外边下起雨来了。
Wài biān xià qǐ yǔ lái le.
It started raining outside.
天慢慢冷起来了。
Tiān màn màn lěng qǐ lái le.
The weather slowly started getting cold.
4

Pattern: Scope Adverb `就`

就 + number/amount + verb

Scope `就` shows the speaker thinks the amount is small, light, or limited.

我就带了一把雨伞。
Wǒ jiù dài le yì bǎ yǔ sǎn.
I brought only one umbrella.
他就住了两天。
Tā jiù zhù le liǎng tiān.
He stayed for only two days.
5

Pattern: Extended `下来`

verb/adjective + 下来

`下来` can show that a state settles, lowers, or becomes stable after change.

雨慢慢小下来了。
Yǔ màn màn xiǎo xià lái le.
The rain slowly got lighter.
这一年住下来，我习惯了。
Zhè yì nián zhù xià lái, wǒ xí guàn le.
After living here for a year, I got used to it.
6

Pattern: `或者...或者...`

或者 + choice A，或者 + choice B

Repeat `或者` before two possible choices in a statement. Use it when both choices are acceptable possibilities.

我们或者在这儿等，或者先回家。
Wǒ men huò zhě zài zhèr děng, huò zhě xiān huí jiā.
We can either wait here or go home first.
你或者带雨伞，或者坐车去。
Nǐ huò zhě dài yǔ sǎn, huò zhě zuò chē qù.
You can either bring an umbrella or go by car.
7

Learning Note

Weather is a good place to practice complements.

`起来` often marks a start, while `下来` often marks settling or lowering. Use the weather context to feel the difference.

8

Practice

Choose the started-change sentence.

It suddenly starts raining outside.

Which sentence uses `起来` naturally?

9

Practice

Choose the alternative-choice sentence.

You can either wait here or go home first.

Which sentence uses `或者...或者...` correctly?