Technology and the internet
In this lesson you will learn to talk about technology and the internet in Chinese. You will say how you do something with 用 (use), express ability with 会 and 能, and link your reasons with 因为…所以… (because… so…) and 虽然…但是… (although… but…). With these tools you can explain how you pay with a phone at the market, tell a friend you can video-call your family in Addis Ababa, or describe a problem with a slow connection.
我用手机上网。
wǒ yòng shǒujī shàngwǎng.
በስልኬ ኢንተርኔት እጠቀማለሁ።
你会发电子邮件吗?
nǐ huì fā diànzǐ yóujiàn ma?
ኢሜይል መላክ ታውቃለህ?
这里的网络很慢,不能看视频。
zhèlǐ de wǎngluò hěn màn, bù néng kàn shìpín.
የዚህ ኢንተርኔት በጣም ዘገምተኛ ነው፣ ቪዲዮ ማየት አይቻልም።
因为网络很快,所以下载很方便。
yīnwèi wǎngluò hěn kuài, suǒyǐ xiàzài hěn fāngbiàn.
ኢንተርኔት ፈጣን ስለሆነ ማውረድ በጣም ቀላል ነው።
我每天用电脑跟家人视频。
wǒ měitiān yòng diànnǎo gēn jiārén shìpín.
በየቀኑ በኮምፒውተር ከቤተሰቤ ጋር በቪዲዮ እነጋገራለሁ።
萨拉在亚的斯亚贝巴工作,她的妈妈住在很远的小城。因为太远了,所以她们不能常常见面。可是现在萨拉每个星期都用手机跟妈妈视频。上个周末,萨拉想买一本新书。她没去书店,而是用手机在网上买的,还用手机付了钱,十分钟就买好了。她也会在网上学中文——虽然有的字很难,但是她每天都学一点。她的弟弟达维特还不太会用电脑,所以萨拉常常帮他。萨拉说:「以前我觉得网络只是玩的,现在我知道,它能帮我工作、学习,也能让我跟妈妈更近。」
Quick recap: 用 + tool + verb says how you do something; 会 is a learned skill and 能 is being able to in a situation; 因为…所以… joins a reason to a result, and 虽然…但是… marks a contrast. Useful tech words: 手机 (phone), 电脑 (computer), 上网 (go online), 网络 (network), 下载 (download), 视频 (video).
Check your understanding
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我用手机上网。