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Mythic Mandarin

The dry floor

Preview version — Chinese review in progress.

HSK 6 About 10 minutes

干的地板

Gān de dìbǎn

The dry floor

Story

  1. ，：，。

    wǎnshang shíyī diǎn bàn, xíngjǐng Luò Chí jiēdào diànhuà: Zhēn tàitai jiā jìn le xiǎotōu, yì tiáo hěn guì de zuànshí xiàngliàn bú jiàn le.

    At half past eleven at night, detective Luo Chi got a call: a burglar had broken into Mrs Zhen's home and a very expensive diamond necklace was gone.

    Words in this sentence
    晚上 wǎnshang
    evening Dictionary
    十一 shíyī
    eleven Dictionary
    点 diǎn
    o'clock Dictionary
    半 bàn
    half Dictionary
    刑警 xíngjǐng
    detective Dictionary
    骆驰 Luò Chí
    Luo Chi (name)
    接到 jiēdào
    to receive Dictionary
    电话 diànhuà
    phone call, telephone Dictionary
    甄 Zhēn
    Zhen (surname) Dictionary
    太太 tàitai
    Mrs Dictionary
    家 jiā
    home, family Dictionary
    进 jìn
    into; to enter Dictionary
    了 le
    (marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
    小偷 xiǎotōu
    thief Dictionary
    一 yì
    one, a Dictionary
    条 tiáo
    (measure word for long things: dragons, rivers) Dictionary
    很 hěn
    very Dictionary
    贵 guì
    expensive Dictionary
    的 de
    (possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
    钻石 zuànshí
    diamond Dictionary
    项链 xiàngliàn
    necklace Dictionary
    不 bú
    not Dictionary
    见 jiàn
    to see, to meet Dictionary
    了 le
    (marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary

  2. 。，，“”。

    Zhēn tàitai zhù zài yí dòng lǎo lóu de èr céng. tā shuō, shí diǎn zuǒyòu tā zài yùshì xǐzǎo, tīngdào wòshì lǐ“ dōng” de yì shēng.

    Mrs Zhen lived on the first floor of an old building. She said that around ten, while she was in the bath, she heard a thud in the bedroom.

    Words in this sentence
    甄 Zhēn
    Zhen (surname) Dictionary
    太太 tàitai
    Mrs Dictionary
    住 zhù
    to stay, to live Dictionary
    在 zài
    at, in; to be at Dictionary
    一 yí
    one, a Dictionary
    栋 dòng
    (measure word for buildings) Dictionary
    老 lǎo
    old Dictionary
    楼 lóu
    building; floor (上楼: go upstairs) Dictionary
    的 de
    (possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
    二 èr
    two Dictionary
    层 céng
    floor, storey Dictionary
    她 tā
    she, her Dictionary
    说 shuō
    to say, to speak Dictionary
    十 shí
    ten
    点 diǎn
    o'clock Dictionary
    左右 zuǒyòu
    about, around Dictionary
    她 tā
    she, her Dictionary
    在 zài
    at, in; to be at Dictionary
    浴室 yùshì
    bathroom Dictionary
    洗澡 xǐzǎo
    to take a bath Dictionary
    听到 tīngdào
    to hear Dictionary
    卧室 wòshì
    bedroom Dictionary
    里 lǐ
    in, inside Dictionary
    咚 dōng
    thud Dictionary
    的 de
    (possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
    一 yì
    one, a Dictionary
    声 shēng
    sound, noise Dictionary

  3. ，，。

    děng tā chūlai, wòshì de chuānghu dà kāi zhe, shūzhuāngtái shàng de shǒushì hé yǐjīng kōng le.

    When she came out, the bedroom window was wide open and the jewellery box on the dressing table was empty.

    Words in this sentence
    等 děng
    to wait (for) Dictionary
    她 tā
    she, her Dictionary
    出来 chūlai
    to come out Dictionary
    卧室 wòshì
    bedroom Dictionary
    的 de
    (possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
    窗户 chuānghu
    window Dictionary
    大 dà
    big, loud Dictionary
    开 kāi
    to drive; to open Dictionary
    着 zhe
    (-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
    梳妆台 shūzhuāngtái
    dressing table Dictionary
    上 shàng
    on, above Dictionary
    的 de
    (possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
    首饰 shǒushì
    jewellery Dictionary
    盒 hé
    box Dictionary
    已经 yǐjīng
    already Dictionary
    空 kōng
    empty Dictionary
    了 le
    (marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary

  4. “！”，。

    “ xiǎotōu yídìng shì cóng chuānghu pá jìnlai de!” tā yìbiān shuō, yìbiān yòng shǒu cā zhe yǎnlèi.

    "The thief must have climbed in through the window!" she said, wiping away her tears.

    Words in this sentence
    小偷 xiǎotōu
    thief Dictionary
    一定 yídìng
    definitely Dictionary
    是 shì
    to be Dictionary
    从 cóng
    from Dictionary
    窗户 chuānghu
    window Dictionary
    爬 pá
    to climb Dictionary
    进来 jìnlai
    to come in Dictionary
    的 de
    (possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
    她 tā
    she, her Dictionary
    一边 yìbiān
    (一边……一边……: while) Dictionary
    说 shuō
    to say, to speak Dictionary
    一边 yìbiān
    (一边……一边……: while) Dictionary
    用 yòng
    to use Dictionary
    手 shǒu
    hand Dictionary
    擦 cā
    to wipe Dictionary
    着 zhe
    (-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
    眼泪 yǎnlèi
    tears Dictionary

  5. ：，。

    Luò Chí zǒu dào chuāng biān kàn le kàn: chuāngwài yǒu yì gēn shuǐguǎn, pá shànglai bìngbù nán.

    Luo Chi went to the window and looked out: there was a drainpipe outside, so climbing up would not be hard.

    Words in this sentence
    骆驰 Luò Chí
    Luo Chi (name)
    走 zǒu
    to walk, to go; to leave Dictionary
    到 dào
    to arrive Dictionary
    窗 chuāng
    window Dictionary
    边 biān
    side, bank Dictionary
    看 kàn
    to look, to watch, to read Dictionary
    了 le
    (marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
    看 kàn
    to look, to watch, to read Dictionary
    窗外 chuāngwài
    outside the window
    有 yǒu
    to have; there is Dictionary
    一 yì
    one, a Dictionary
    根 gēn
    (measure word for pipes, long things) Dictionary
    水管 shuǐguǎn
    drainpipe Dictionary
    爬 pá
    to climb Dictionary
    上来 shànglai
    (答不上来: cannot answer) Dictionary
    并不 bìngbù
    not at all Dictionary
    难 nán
    hard, difficult Dictionary

  6. ，：“，？”

    tā yòu dī tóu kàn le kàn chuānghu xiàmiàn de mù dìbǎn, ránhòu wèn:“ jīntiān wǎnshang de yǔ, shì jǐ diǎn kāishǐ xià de?”

    Then he looked down at the wooden floor under the window and asked, "What time did the rain start tonight?"

    Words in this sentence
    他 tā
    he, him Dictionary
    又 yòu
    and also, on top of that Dictionary
    低 dī
    to lower (the head) Dictionary
    头 tóu
    head Dictionary
    看 kàn
    to look, to watch, to read Dictionary
    了 le
    (marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
    看 kàn
    to look, to watch, to read Dictionary
    窗户 chuānghu
    window Dictionary
    下面 xiàmiàn
    under, below Dictionary
    的 de
    (possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
    木 mù
    wooden Dictionary
    地板 dìbǎn
    floor Dictionary
    然后 ránhòu
    then, after that Dictionary
    问 wèn
    to ask Dictionary
    今天 jīntiān
    today Dictionary
    晚上 wǎnshang
    evening Dictionary
    的 de
    (possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
    雨 yǔ
    rain Dictionary
    是 shì
    to be Dictionary
    几 jǐ
    how many Dictionary
    点 diǎn
    o'clock Dictionary
    开始 kāishǐ
    to start Dictionary
    下 xià
    next; down Dictionary
    的 de
    (possessive or describing particle) Dictionary

  7. ：“……，。”

    Zhēn tàitai lèng le yíxià:“ dàgài…… jiǔ diǎn ba, yìzhí xià dào shíyī diǎn.”

    Mrs Zhen hesitated: "About… nine, I think. It rained until eleven."

    Words in this sentence
    甄 Zhēn
    Zhen (surname) Dictionary
    太太 tàitai
    Mrs Dictionary
    愣 lèng
    to be stunned Dictionary
    了 le
    (marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
    一下 yíxià
    a moment, a bit Dictionary
    大概 dàgài
    about, probably Dictionary
    九 jiǔ
    nine Dictionary
    点 diǎn
    o'clock Dictionary
    吧 ba
    (suggests or softens: "let's …", "OK") Dictionary
    一直 yìzhí
    all along, always Dictionary
    下 xià
    next; down Dictionary
    到 dào
    to arrive Dictionary
    十一 shíyī
    eleven Dictionary
    点 diǎn
    o'clock Dictionary

  8. “，”，“，，。”

    “ nà jiù qíguài le,” Luò Chí shuō,“ chuānghu shí diǎn jiù kāi zhe, yǔ xià le yí gè xiǎoshí, dìbǎn què yìdiǎnr yě méi shī.”

    "Then that's odd," said Luo Chi. "The window has been open since ten and it rained for an hour, yet the floor isn't the least bit wet."

    Words in this sentence
    那 nà
    that Dictionary
    就 jiù
    then, right away Dictionary
    奇怪 qíguài
    strange Dictionary
    了 le
    (marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
    骆驰 Luò Chí
    Luo Chi (name)
    说 shuō
    to say, to speak Dictionary
    窗户 chuānghu
    window Dictionary
    十 shí
    ten
    点 diǎn
    o'clock Dictionary
    就 jiù
    then, right away Dictionary
    开 kāi
    to drive; to open Dictionary
    着 zhe
    (-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
    雨 yǔ
    rain Dictionary
    下 xià
    next; down Dictionary
    了 le
    (marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
    一 yí
    one, a Dictionary
    个 gè
    (measure word for people and things) Dictionary
    小时 xiǎoshí
    hour Dictionary
    地板 dìbǎn
    floor Dictionary
    却 què
    but, yet Dictionary
    一点儿 yìdiǎnr
    a little Dictionary
    也 yě
    also, too Dictionary
    没 méi
    not (in the past) Dictionary
    湿 shī
    wet Dictionary

  9. “，。”

    “ zhè shàn chuānghu, shì yǔ tíng le yǐhòu cái bèi dǎkāi de.”

    "This window was opened only after the rain stopped."

    Words in this sentence
    这 zhè
    this Dictionary
    扇 shàn
    (measure word for windows and doors) Dictionary
    窗户 chuānghu
    window Dictionary
    是 shì
    to be Dictionary
    雨 yǔ
    rain Dictionary
    停 tíng
    to stop Dictionary
    了 le
    (marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
    以后 yǐhòu
    after, later Dictionary
    才 cái
    only then Dictionary
    被 bèi
    (passive: by) Dictionary
    打开 dǎkāi
    to open Dictionary
    的 de
    (possessive or describing particle) Dictionary

  10. 。，：，。

    Zhēn tàitai de liǎn yíxiàzi bái le. bàn gè xiǎoshí yǐhòu, tā chéngrèn: xiàngliàn zǎo jiù bèi tā mài le, tā xiǎng ràng bǎoxiǎn gōngsī péi qián.

    Mrs Zhen turned white. Half an hour later she admitted that she had sold the necklace long ago and wanted the insurance company to pay out.

    Words in this sentence
    甄 Zhēn
    Zhen (surname) Dictionary
    太太 tàitai
    Mrs Dictionary
    的 de
    (possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
    脸 liǎn
    face Dictionary
    一下子 yíxiàzi
    all of a sudden Dictionary
    白 bái
    white Dictionary
    了 le
    (marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
    半 bàn
    half Dictionary
    个 gè
    (measure word for people and things) Dictionary
    小时 xiǎoshí
    hour Dictionary
    以后 yǐhòu
    after, later Dictionary
    她 tā
    she, her Dictionary
    承认 chéngrèn
    to admit Dictionary
    项链 xiàngliàn
    necklace Dictionary
    早 zǎo
    early Dictionary
    就 jiù
    then, right away Dictionary
    被 bèi
    (passive: by) Dictionary
    她 tā
    she, her Dictionary
    卖 mài
    to sell Dictionary
    了 le
    (marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
    她 tā
    she, her Dictionary
    想 xiǎng
    to want to, would like to; to think Dictionary
    让 ràng
    to let, to make (someone do) Dictionary
    保险 bǎoxiǎn
    insurance Dictionary
    公司 gōngsī
    company, office Dictionary
    赔 péi
    to pay compensation Dictionary
    钱 qián
    money Dictionary

Grammar focus

  • 并不 "not at all (contrary to what you might think)"
  • 却 "yet, but"

Vocabulary

Questions

1甄太太说十点左右她在做什么？Zhēn tàitai shuō shí diǎn zuǒyòu tā zài zuò shénme?What did Mrs Zhen say she was doing around ten?
Show the answer and explanations

Answer: C. Sentence 2: 十点左右她在浴室洗澡.

  • A: She said she was in the bath.
  • B: She called the police later, at half past eleven.
2为什么从窗户爬进来“并不难”？Wèishénme cóng chuānghu pá jìnlai "bìngbù nán"?Why would climbing in through the window be "not hard"?
Show the answer and explanations

Answer: B. Sentence 5: 窗外有一根水管，爬上来并不难.

  • A: The size of the window isn't given as the reason.
  • C: The story mentions the pipe, not the building's height.
3骆驰为什么觉得奇怪？Luò Chí wèishénme juéde qíguài?Why does Luo Chi find it strange?
Show the answer and explanations

Answer: A. If the window had been open from ten, an hour of rain would have wet the floor (sentence 8).

  • B: He has just said it is easy to climb to.
  • C: An empty box fits a theft; the dry floor doesn't.
4项链不是被小偷偷走的。Xiàngliàn bú shì bèi xiǎotōu tōu zǒu de.The necklace wasn't taken by a burglar.
Show the answer and explanations

Answer: A. True. Sentence 10: she had sold it long ago and staged the break-in.

  • B: She admits in sentence 10 that she sold the necklace herself.
5“愣了一下”是什么意思？"Lèng le yíxià" shì shénme yìsi?What does 愣了一下 mean?
Show the answer and explanations

Answer: B. The question about the rain surprised her, a hint that it mattered.

  • A: 愣 means freezing in surprise.
  • C: 愣 is not crying.

Writing task

用几句话说一说，骆驰是怎么发现真相的。

Yòng jǐ jù huà shuō yì shuō, Luò Chí shì zěnme fāxiàn zhēnxiàng de.

In a few sentences, explain how Luo Chi found out the truth.

Tips

  • 如果……一定……，所以…… reasons step by step.
Try it yourself first, then show the model answer

骆驰发现，窗户下面的地板是干的。如果窗户十点就开着，雨一定会把地板打湿，所以窗户是雨停以后才打开的。

Luò Chí fāxiàn, chuānghu xiàmiàn de dìbǎn shì gān de. Rúguǒ chuānghu shí diǎn jiù kāi zhe, yǔ yídìng huì bǎ dìbǎn dǎshī, suǒyǐ chuānghu shì yǔ tíng yǐhòu cái dǎkāi de.

Luo Chi saw that the floor under the window was dry. If the window had been open since ten, the rain would have wet the floor, so it must have been opened after the rain stopped.

About the HSK 6 level