Level 2 · Reading series
Lesson 9 · Saying No Without Being Cold
Audio track 09
Listen first
Listen once before opening the English passage.
Open the English passage and hover for word help
Riku: Do you want to play Brawl Stars tonight?
Sota: I want to, but I can't tonight.
Riku: Homework?
Sota: Homework, and piano practice. My lesson is tomorrow.
Riku: Oh, okay.
Sota: I don't want to ignore you, so I'm saying no now. Can we play for thirty minutes on Friday?
Riku: Sure. Thanks for telling me.
Sota: Thanks for asking.
Check your understanding
After reading, state the main idea in one sentence and find a line that supports it.
Chinese translation
陆：今晚想一起玩《荒野乱斗》吗？
苍太：我想玩，但今晚不行。
陆：有作业？
苍太：有作业，还得练钢琴。明天要上钢琴课。
陆：噢，好吧。
苍太：我不想不理你，所以现在就告诉你我不能玩。我们星期五能玩半小时吗？
陆：当然可以。谢谢你告诉我。
苍太：也谢谢你来约我。
Key words and expressions
Key terms have Chinese explanations. Hover over dotted words in the English passage for word help and pronunciation when available.
- Do you want to ...?
- 你想……吗？用于提出邀请。
- I want to, but ...
- 我想……，但是……；先表达意愿，再说明限制。
- can't tonight
- 今晚不行；can't 表示无法接受今晚的邀约。
- lesson
- 课程；my lesson 在这里是钢琴课。
- ignore
- 不理会；苍太不想让朋友一直等回复。
- say no
- 拒绝；这里指说清楚今晚不能玩。
- Can we ...?
- 我们能……吗？用于提出另一种安排。
- for thirty minutes
- 持续三十分钟；for 表示时间长度。
- Thanks for telling me.
- 谢谢你告诉我；感谢对方及时说明。
- Thanks for asking.
- 谢谢你邀请我；感谢朋友主动提出邀约。
Background notes (Chinese)
拒绝一次邀约，并不等于拒绝这个人。苍太直接说明今晚没时间，还主动提出星期五的安排，让陆知道自己仍然愿意一起玩。