Lesson 2: What Do We Do Here?

---

Target Audio

Listen to the full dialogue once. Don’t worry about understanding everything yet.

---

Vocabulary

• wǒmen = we, us
• nǐmen = you (plural)
• ZÀI = to be at, in
• Gè = (measure word)
• GŌNGSĪ = company
• GŌNGZuò = to work; work, job
• Zuò = to do
• ZHĪDào = to know
• hěn = very
• mánG = busy

---

Pattern Practice

Statements

1. wǒmen GŌNGZuò. = We work.

2. nǐ GŌNGZuò ma? = Do you work?

3. TĀ hěn mánG. = He is very busy.

4. Zhè Shì GŌNGSĪ. = This is the company.

5. wǒ Bù ZHĪDào. = I don’t know.

6. wǒmen Zuò shéNme? = What do we do?

7. GŌNGSĪ Zuò shéNme? = What does the company do?

Question-Answer Pairs

Question 8.

Q: nǐ mánG ma? = Are you busy?

A: Shì, wǒ hěn mánG. = Yes, I am very busy.

Question 9.

Q: nǐ ZHĪDào ma? = Do you know?

A: wǒ Bù ZHĪDào. = I don’t know.

Question 10.

Q: GŌNGSĪ Zuò shéNme? = What does the company do?

A: wǒmen GŌNGZuò. = We work.

---

Pinyin Target Story (click for audio)

Kevin ZÀI GŌNGSĪ. = Kevin is at the company.

Kevin: Lily, Zhè Gè GŌNGSĪ Zuò shéNme? = Lily, what does this company do?

Lily: wǒmen... GŌNGZuò. = We... work.

Kevin: GŌNGZuò? wǒmen Zuò shéNme GŌNGZuò? = Work? What work do we do?

Lily: wǒ Bù ZHĪDào. = I don't know.

Boss Wang: nǐhǎo! nǐhǎo! = Hello! Hello!

Kevin: wánG zǒng, GŌNGSĪ Zuò shéNme? = Boss Wang, what does the company do?

Boss Wang: wǒmen hěn mánG! hěn mánG! = We are very busy! Very busy!

Kevin: nǐmen Zuò shéNme? = What do you all do?

Boss Wang: hǎo, hǎo! = Good, good!

---

Comprehension Check

1. Kevin ZÀI GŌNGSĪ ma? = Is Kevin at the company?

A) Shì, Kevin ZÀI GŌNGSĪ. B) Bù Shì, Kevin Bù ZÀI GŌNGSĪ. C) Kevin hěn mánG.

2. GŌNGSĪ Zuò shéNme? = What does the company do?

A) wǒmen GŌNGZuò. B) wǒ Bù ZHĪDào. C) wǒmen hěn mánG.

3. Lily ZHĪDào ma? = Does Lily know?

A) Shì, TĀ ZHĪDào. B) Bù, TĀ Bù ZHĪDào. C) TĀ hěn mánG.

4. shéI hěn mánG? = Who is very busy?

A) Kevin B) Lily C) wánG zǒng

5. wánG zǒng ZHĪDào GŌNGSĪ Zuò shéNme ma? = Does Boss Wang know what the company does?

A) Shì, TĀ ZHĪDào. B) Bù ZHĪDào. C) TĀ hěn mánG.

---

Pinyin Production

Multiple Choice

1. We work.

A) wǒ GŌNGZuò B) wǒmen GŌNGZuò C) nǐ GŌNGZuò

2. I don’t know.

A) wǒ ZHĪDào B) wǒ Bù ZHĪDào C) nǐ Bù ZHĪDào

3. He is very busy.

A) TĀ mánG B) wǒ hěn mánG C) TĀ hěn mánG

4. What does the company do?

A) GŌNGSĪ Zuò shéNme? B) wǒmen Zuò shéNme? C) nǐ Zuò shéNme?

5. Kevin is at the company.

A) Kevin Shì GŌNGSĪ B) Kevin ZÀI GŌNGSĪ C) Kevin GŌNGZuò

Typing

Type the pinyin. Don’t worry about tones.

6. We are very busy.→

7. Do you know?→

8. What do we do?→

9. I work.→

10. Are you busy?→

---

Character Reader

First, read along with the characters and pinyin — make an association between each word and its character. Do this 2 or 3 times staying focused on the character and its unique shapes. Then read the characters without any pinyin. Repeat until it flows naturally.

Character Introduction (click for audio)

Kevin 在(Zàizài)公(GŌNGgōng)司(SĪsī)。

Kevin: Lily，這(Zhèzhè)個(Gègè)公(GŌNGgōng)司(SĪsī)做(Zuòzuò)什(shéNshén)麼(meme)？

Lily: 我(wǒwǒ)們(menmen)……工(GŌNGgōng)作(Zuòzuò)。

Kevin: 工(GŌNGgōng)作(Zuòzuò)？我(wǒwǒ)們(menmen)做(Zuòzuò)什(shéNshén)麼(meme)工(GŌNGgōng)作(Zuòzuò)？

Lily: 我(wǒwǒ)不(Bùbù)知(ZHĪzhī)道(Dàodào)。

Boss Wang: 你(nǐnǐ)好(hǎohǎo)！你(nǐnǐ)好(hǎohǎo)！

Kevin: 王(wánGwáng)總(zǒngzǒng)，公(GŌNGgōng)司(SĪsī)做(Zuòzuò)什(shéNshén)麼(meme)？

Boss Wang: 我(wǒwǒ)們(menmen)很(hěnhěn)忙(mánGmáng)！很(hěnhěn)忙(mánGmáng)！

Kevin: 你(nǐnǐ)們(menmen)做(Zuòzuò)什(shéNshén)麼(meme)？

Boss Wang: 好(hǎohǎo)，好(hǎohǎo)！

---

With Translation (click for audio)

Kevin 在公司。 = Kevin is at the company.

Kevin: Lily，這個公司做什麼？ = Lily, what does this company do?

Lily: 我們……工作。 = We... work.

Kevin: 工作？我們做什麼工作？ = Work? What work do we do?

Lily: 我不知道。 = I don't know.

Boss Wang: 你好！你好！ = Hello! Hello!

Kevin: 王總，公司做什麼？ = Boss Wang, what does the company do?

Boss Wang: 我們很忙！很忙！ = We are very busy! Very busy!

Kevin: 你們做什麼？ = What do you all do?

Boss Wang: 好，好！ = Good, good!

Character Production

Multiple Choice

1. We work.

A) 我工作 B) 我們工作 C) 你工作

2. I don’t know.

A) 我知道 B) 我不知道 C) 你不知道

3. He is very busy.

A) 他忙 B) 我很忙 C) 他很忙

4. What does the company do?

A) 公司做什麼？ B) 我們做什麼？ C) 你做什麼？

5. Kevin is at the company.

A) Kevin 是公司 B) Kevin 在公司 C) Kevin 工作

Typing

Type the characters.

6. We are very busy.→

7. Do you know?→

8. What do we do?→

9. I work.→

10. Are you busy?→

---

Listen Again

Play the dialogue three more times. Listen 1: Just listen. Listen 2: Follow along mentally. Listen 3: Try to anticipate the next word.

---

Answers

1. A

2. B

3. B

4. C

5. B

6. B

7. B

8. C

9. A

10. B

11. B

12. B

13. C

14. A

15. B

Typing:

• 1: wǒmen hěn máng
• 2: nǐ zhīdào ma
• 3: wǒmen zuò shénme
• 4: wǒ gōngzuò
• 5: nǐ máng ma
• 6: 我們很忙
• 7: 你知道嗎
• 8: 我們做什麼
• 9: 我工作
• 10: 你忙嗎

Click to reveal answers

Comprehension Check

1. A) Shì, Kevin ZÀI GŌNGSĪ
2. B) wǒ Bù ZHĪDào
3. B) Bù, TĀ Bù ZHĪDào
4. C) wánG zǒng
5. B) Bù ZHĪDào

Pinyin Production

MC: 1-B, 2-B, 3-C, 4-A, 5-B

Typing: 6. wǒmen hěn máng 7. nǐ zhīdào ma 8. wǒmen zuò shénme 9. wǒ gōngzuò 10. nǐ máng ma

Character Production

MC: 1-B, 2-B, 3-C, 4-A, 5-B

Typing: 6. 我們很忙 7. 你知道嗎 8. 我們做什麼 9. 我工作 10. 你忙嗎