Unit 12: What's the Weather Like Here?

Part I: Listen and Learn

1. 

W# zh* z4i B9n Zh!u Pittsburgh. 
I live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
§Ú¦í¦b»«¦{Pittsburgh.

Zh8l- ti1nq= h7n h3o.
The weather is very nice here.
³o¸Ì¤Ñ®ð«Ü¦n¡C

Y= ni2n y#u s= ge j=ji6: ch%nti1n, xi4ti1n, qi%ti1n h6 d!ngti1n.
There are four seasons in a year: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter.
¤@¦~¦³¥|­Ó©u¸`¡R¬K¤Ñ¡B®L¤Ñ¡B¬î¤Ñ©M¥V¤Ñ¡C

Ch%nti1n ti1nq9 h7n sh*fu, b* l7ng y7 bú r8.
The weather in spring is very comfortable. It is neither cold nor hot.
¬K¤Ñ¤Ñ®ð«ÜµÎªA¡A¤£§N¤]¤£¼ö¡C

Xi4ti1n b-ji4o r8, y=b1n sh= b1sh0 d* d4o ji&sh0 d*.
It is fairly hot in Summer. It is usually 80 to 90 degrees.
®L¤Ñ¤ñ¸û¼ö¡A¤@¯ë¬O¤K¤Q«×¨ì¤E¤Q«×¡C

Y#ude sh0h$u ji&sh0 du! d*.
Sometimes, it is more than 90 degrees.
¦³ªº®É­Ô¤E¤Q¦h«×¡C

Qi%ti1n sh= zu= h3o de j=ji6. 
Fall is the best season.
¬î¤Ñ¬O³Ì¦nªº©u¸`¡C

B* ch2ng xi4 y&. 
It does not rain very often.
¤£±`¤U«B¡C

D!ngti1n b-ji4o l7ng, y#u sh0h$u xi4 xu7.
It is fairly cold in Winter. It snows sometimes.
¥V¤Ñ¤ñ¸û§N¡A¦³®É­Ô¤U³·¡C

K7sh= xu7 bú t4i d4.
But snow is not too heavy.
¥i¬O³·¤£¤Ó¤j¡C

Zh* z4i Pittsburgh b^cu$.
It is not bad to live in Pittsburgh.
¦í¦bPittsburgh¤£¿ù¡C

2.

Xi8 l3osh9 sh= Sh4ngh3i r6n.
Prof. Xie is from Shanghai.
ÁÂ¦Ñ®v¬O¤W®ü¤H¡C

T1 y-qi2n zh* z4i Sh4ngh3i.
He used to live in Shanghai.
¥L¥H«e¦í¦b¤W®ü¡C

Ch%nti1n de ti1nq= b-ji4o h3o, k7sh= d4o le s= w& yu8 ji* ch2ngch2ng xi4 y&.
The weather in Spring is fairly good. But when April and May come, it rains oftern.
¬K¤Ñªº¤Ñ®ð¤ñ¸û¦n¡A¥i¬O¨ì¤F¥|¤­¤ë´N±`±`¤U«B¡C

Y#ude sh0h$u h7n m5n.
Sometimes it is very stuffy.
¦³ªº®É­Ô«Ü´e¡C

Xi4ti1n h7n r8. Y=b1n sh= s1nsh0 d* zu#y$u.
It is very hot in Summer. It is generally around 30 degrees.
®L¤Ñ«Ü¼ö¡C¤@¯ë¬O¤T¤Q«×¥ª¥k¡C

Xi4w& ch2ngch2ng xi4 l6izh8ny&. Y#ude sh0h$u y& h7n d4.
There are often thunderstorms in the afternoon. Sometimes the rain is very heavy.
¤U¤È±`±`¤U¹p°}«B¡C¦³ªº®É­Ô«B«Ü¤j¡C 

Qi%ti1n h7n sh%fu, b* l7ng y7 bú r8.
It is very comfortable in Fall. It is neither cold nor hot.
¬î¤Ñ«ÜµÎªA¡A¤£§N¤]¤£¼ö¡C

D!ngti1n su9r2n b* ch2ng xi4 xu7, k7sh= h7n l7ng. 
Although it does not snow often, it is very cold.
¥V¤ÑÁöµM¤£¤U³·¡A¥i¬O«Ü§N¡C

Y=b1n r6n ji1l- d!u m6iy#u nu3nq=. 
Ordinary people do not have heating at home.
¤@¯ë¤H®a¸Ì³£¨S¦³·x®ð¡C

3. 

A: John, n-men n4r ti1nq= z6nme y4ng?
A: What's the weather like in your area, John?
A:John,§A­Ì¨º¨à¤Ñ®ð«ç»ò¼Ë¡H

B: H2i b^cu$. 
B: Not bad.
B:ÁÙ¤£¿ù¡C

A: Xi4ti1n r8 bu r8?
A: Is it very hot in summer?
A:®L¤Ñ¼ö¤£¼ö¡H

B: H2ih3o, bú t4i r8. Y=b1n b1sh0 d* zu#y$u.
B: It's OK, not too hot. It is generally around 80 degrees.
B:ÁÙ¦n¡A¤£¤Ó¼ö¡C¤@¯ë¤K¤Q«×¥ª¥k¡C

A: D!ngti1n l7ng bu l7ng ne?
A: Is it cold in Winter?
A:¥V¤Ñ§N¤£§N©O¡H

B: D!ngti1n b-ji4o l7ng, ch2ng xi4 xu7, k7sh= bú t4i d4.
B: It is fairly cold in Winter. It snows often, but snow is not heavy.
B:¥V¤Ñ¤ñ¸û§N¡A±`¤U³·¡A¥i¬O¤£¤Ó¤j¡C

A: N-men n4r sh6nme sh0h$u zu= sh%fu?
A: What is the most comfortable time in your area?
A:§A­Ì¨º¨à¤°»ò®É­Ô³ÌµÎªA¡H

B: Qi%ti1n zu= h3o, b* l7ng y7 bú r8. K7sh= y#ude sh0h$u xi4 y&.
B: Fall is the best. It is neither cold nor hot. However, it rains sometimes.
B:¬î¤Ñ³Ì¦n¡A¤£§N¤]¤£¼ö¡C¥i¬O¦³ªº®É­Ô¤U«B¡C

A: Ch2ngch2ng xi4 y& ma?
A: Does it often rain?
A:±`±`¤U«B¶Ü¡H
B: B* ch2ng xi4 y&.
B: Not very often.
B:¤£±`¤U«B¡C

A: N4 n-men n4r ti1nq= h2i b^cu$.
A: Well, your weather is not bad.
A:¨º¡A§A­Ì¨º¨à¤Ñ®ðÁÙ¤£¿ù¡C

4. 

A: N- zh9d4o bu zh9d4o B7ij9ng xi4ti1n r8 bu r8?
A: Do you know if Summer in Beijing hot?
A:§Aª¾¹D¤£ª¾¹D¥_¨Ê®L¤Ñ¼ö¤£¼ö¡H
 
B: W# bú t4i q9ngch&. W# m6iy#u z4i B7ij9ng zh* gu$.
B: I am not very clear. I did not live in Beijing.
B:§Ú¤£¤Ó²M·¡¡C§Ú¨S¦³¦b¥_¨Ê¦í¹L¡C

A: W# t9ngshu! xi4ti1n bú t4i r8.
A: I heard that Summer is not too hot.
A:§ÚÅ¥»¡®L¤Ñ¤£¤Ó¼ö¡C

B: Y=b1n sh= du!sh3o d*?
B: What's the general temperature?
B:¤@¯ë¬O¦h¤Ö«×¡H

A: Y=b1n sh= s1nsh0 d* zu#y$u.
A: It is generally around 30 degrees.
A:¤@¯ë¬O¤T¤Q«×¥ª¥k¡C

B: Sh= sh8sh= s1nsh0 d*, du= bu du=?
B: It is by Centigrade, is it correct?
B:¬OÄá¤ó¤T¤Q«×¡A¹ï¤£¹ï¡H

A: Du=. Hu2sh= ji& sh0 d* zu#y$u.
A: Correct. It is around 90 degrees by Farenheit.
A:¹ï¡CµØ¤ó¤E¤Q«×¥ª¥k¡C

B: D!ngti1n y0d=ng h7n l7ng ba?
B: I suppose it must be very cold in Winter, right?
B:¥V¤Ñ¤@©w«Ü§N§a¡H
A: Sh=de, d!ngti1n j9ngch2ng xi4 xue. Y#u de sh0h$u xu6 h7n da.
A: Yes, it often snows in Winter. Sometimes snow is very heavy.
A:¬Oªº¡A¥V¤Ñ¸g±`¤U³·¡C¦³ªº®É­Ô³·«Ü¤j¡C

B: B7ij9ng r6n ji1l- y#u m6iy#u nu3nq=?
B: Do people in Beijing have heating at home?
B:¥_¨Ê¤H®a¸Ì¦³¨S¦³·x®ð¡H

A: Y#u.
A: Yes, they have.
A:¦³¡C

5. 

A: N- y-qi2n zh* z4i n3l-
A: Where did you live before?
A:§A¥H«e¦í¦b­þ¸Ì¡H

B: W# y-qi2n zh* z4i T2ib7i.
B: I used to live in Taibei.
B:§Ú¥H«e¦í¦b¥x¥_¡C

A: W# t9ngshu! n4l- xi4ti1n h7n r8, sh= bu sh=?
A: I heard that it is very hot over there in Summer, is it so?
A:§ÚÅ¥»¡¨º¸Ì®L¤Ñ«Ü¼ö¡A¬O¤£¬O¡H

B: Sh=, b^ d4n h7n r8, 6rqi7 h7n m5n. Ch2ngch2ng xi4 y&.
B: Yes, not only very hot, but also very stuffy. It rains often.
B:¬O¡A¤£¦ý«Ü¼ö¡A¦Ó¥B«Ü´e¡C±`±`¤U«B¡C

A: Xi1ti1n sh= bu sh= h2i y#u t2if5ng?
A: Do you often have typhoon in Summer?
A:®L¤Ñ¬O¤£¬OÁÙ¦³»ä­·¡H

B: Du=le, xi4ti1n j9ngch2ng gu1 t2if5ng.
B: Right, we oftern have typhoon in Summer.
B:¹ï¤F¡A®L¤Ñ¸g±`¾h»ä­·¡C

A: T2iw1n y=b1n r6n ji1l- d!u y#u l7ngq= ba?
A: Do ordinary people in Taiwan have air-conditionner?
A:¥xÆW¤@¯ë¤H®a¸Ì³£¦³§N®ð§a¡H

B: Sh=de, d4 du!sh% r6n ji1l- d!u y#u l7ngq=. Y6 y#u de r6n zh0 y#u di4nf5ngsh4n.
B: Yes, majority of people have air-conditionner at home. But there are also some people 
     who have only electric fans.
B:¬Oªº¡A¤j¦h¼Æ¤H®a¸Ì³£¦³§N®ð¡C¤]¦³ªº¤H¥u¦³¹q­·®°¡C

A: N4 xi4ti1n b^sh= h7n n2nsh$u ma?
A: Then, isn't it very unbearable in Summer?
A:¨º®L¤Ñ¤£¬O«ÜÃø¨ü¶Ü¡H

B: H2i h3o. W#men d!u x0gu4n le.
B: It's OK. We all were used to it.
B:ÁÙ¦n¡C§Ú­Ì³£²ßºD¤F¡C
Part II. Utterances and Notes

	'b* l7ng y7 bú r8' means 'neither cold nor hot'. The construction of 'b*...y7 b*...' is a commonly used one. More examples are: 'bú ku4i y7 bú m4n' (neither fast not slow), 'b* n2n y7 b* r@ngy=' (neither difficult nor easy).

	'd4o' in 'b1sh0 d* d4o ji&sh0 d*' indicates a range '80 degrees to 90 degrees'. More examples: 'y9 ti1n d4o li3ng ti1n' (one to two days), 'y0 ni2n d4o li3ng ni2n' (one year to two years). 

	'y-qi2n' is an adverd of time. It means 'before', 'in the past'. No particular time is mentioned here.

	'su9r2n...k7sh=...' is parallel to English 'Although..., ...' or '..., but...' In Chinese both 'su9r2n' and 'k7sh=' should be included. 

	'n-men n4r' (you there) sounds awkward in English, while it is a frequently used expression in Chinese. It refers the place where your are. 'w#men zh8r' means 'the place where we are'. 

	'h2i in 'h2i b^cu$', 'h2i h3o' carries the meaning of 'possibly' or 'fairly'.

	'm6iy#u ...gu$' in 'm6iy#u z4i B7ij9ng zh* gu$' is an important construction in Chinese. It means somebody does not have experience of doing something. This construction will be explained in detail later.

	'gu1 t2if5ng' literally means 'to blow typhoon'. There are a category of sentences in Chinese called subjectless sentences. They are usually used to describe natural phenomena. For example, 'xi4 y&' (it rains), 'xi4 xu7' (it snows), 'gu1 f5ng' (wind blows) and etc.

	'x0gu4n le' means 'got used to it'.  

Part III. New Sentence Modules

1. How's the weather today? How's the weather in Spring? How's the weather in your area in Spring? It is ...

J9nti1n
Ch%ngti1n 
Xi4ti1n
Qi%ti1n
D!ngti1n

z6nmey4ng?

h7n l7ng
h7n sh%fu
h7n m5n
h7n n2nsh$u
b-ji4o l7ng
b* l7ng y7 bú r8
h2i b^cu$

N-men n4r
B7ij9ng
W#men zh8r

ti1nq=

2. Is it hot in summer in...?

r8 bu r8?
l7ng bu l7ng?

h7n r8
h6n l7ng
bú r8
b* l7ng
bú t4i r8
bú t4i l7ng

N-men n4r

W#men zh8r
B7ij9ng
Sh4ngh3i
Pittsburgh

xi4ti1n
d!ngtian

3. It is raining (snowing...) often in ...?

ch%nti1n
xi4ti1n
qi%tiqn
d!ngti1n
ch2ngch2ng
b* ch2ng 
b*

N-men n4r
Zh8l-
B7ij9ng
Sh4ngh3i
xi4y&
xi4 d4y&
xi4xu7         (ma?)
gu1f5ng

4. What's the temperature in Summer?
du!sh3o d*?

35 d*
hu2sh= 90 d*
sh8sh= 30 d* zu#y$u

Xi4ti1n 
D!ngti1n

y=b1n (sh=)

5. Do you have air conditioning at home? 

N-men ji1l- 
Y=b1n r6n ji1l-
W#men ji1l-
B7ij9ng r6n ji1l-
T2iw1n r6n ji1lie
D4du!sh* r6n ji1l-
Sh4ngh3i d4du!sh* r6n ji1l-

d!u y#u 
m6iyou
l7ngq=
nu3nq=
l7ngq= h6 nu3nq=  (ma?)
di4nf5ngsh4n

6. Isn't it very unbearabel in Summer?

Xi1ti1n 
d!ngti1n
h7n n2nsh$u 
h7n l7ng
h7n l7ng 

bú sh=
ma?

Sh=de, h7n n2nsh$u
Sh=de, h7n r8
Sh-de, h7n l7ng
H2ih3o, w#men x0gu4n le.

Part IV. Practice Makes Perfect

Tell the following expressions in Chinese:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, four seasons
fairly hot, very cold, comfortable, stffy, neither hot nor cold, most comfortable, unbearable
to rain, to snow, to have strong wind, to have typhoon (note: the verb is gu1)
80 degrees, more than 90 degrees, around 30 degrees, 30 degree by Centigrade, 90 degrees by Farenheit
heating, air conditionning, 

How to say the following sentences in Chinese?

How's the weather in Summer in your area?
The weather is not bad in our area.
Is Winter in Shanghai very cold?
It is very cold, but it does not snow often.
What is the temperatura in May there?
It is neither hot nor cold in the Fall in Shanghai.
It oftern rains in Summer in.
The rain is very heavy sometimes.
It is usually very stuffy in the summer in Shanghai.
It is generally around 30 degress by Centigrade in the summer here.
We are used to it.
The people of Shanghai do not have heating and air conditionning at home.

Answer the following questions in Chinese: 

N- zh* z4i n3l-?
N-men n4l- ti1nq= z6nme y4ng?
Xi4ti1n r8 bu r8?
D!ngti1n l7ng b* l7ng?
Ch%nti1n ch2ngch2ng xi4 y& ma?
Xi4ti1n j9ngch2ng gu1 f5ng ma?
D!ngti1n ch2ngch2ng xi4 xu7 ma?
Xi4ti1n y=b1n du!sh3o d*?
Sh8sh= h2i sh= hu2sh=?
D!ngti1n y=b1n j- d*?
N-men ji1l- d!u y#u l7ngq= h6 nu3nq= ma?
N- x-hu1n b* x-hu1n n-men n4r de ti1nq=?

Tell the following in Chinese:

Please describe the typical weather in your area around the year. Is it hot or cold? How many degrees? Does it often rain or snow? Is the rain or snow heavy or not? Which season is the best, the most comfortable? Do you like the weather? Are you used to it if you don't like it?