To talk about our personal experiences and things that happened in the past in Mandarin, we need to learn some useful phrases and sentence styles. This lesson will help you understand key phrases and build important language skills.

Key Phrases for Describing Personal Experiences

1. “我曾经…” (Wǒ céngjīng...) - "I once..."

   • Example: 我曾经去过北京。 (Wǒ céngjīng qùguò Běijīng.) - "I once went to Beijing."

2. “那时候…” (Nà shíhòu...) - "At that time..."

   • Example: 那时候我很年轻。 (Nà shíhòu wǒ hěn niánqīng.) - "At that time, I was very young."

3. “我记得…” (Wǒ jìdé...) - "I remember..."

   • Example: 我记得我们一起旅行。 (Wǒ jìdé wǒmen yīqǐ lǚxíng.) - "I remember traveling together."

4. “我觉得…” (Wǒ juédé...) - "I feel that..."

   • Example: 我觉得那次经历很特别。 (Wǒ juédé nà cì jīnglì hěn tèbié.) - "I feel that experience was very special."

5. “后来…” (Hòulái...) - "Later..."

   • Example: 后来我搬到了上海。 (Hòulái wǒ bān dào le Shànghǎi.) - "Later, I moved to Shanghai."

Language Skills to Help You Learn

• Listening: Listen to recordings of native speakers talking about their past experiences. Pay attention to how they use these phrases naturally.

• Speaking Practice: Find a partner to practice with. One person can tell a personal story using these phrases, while the other asks questions to learn more.

• Reading: Read simple stories or articles that share events from the past. Notice how the phrases help make the stories more interesting.

• Writing: Write a short story or conversation about a memorable personal experience. Try to include at least three of the phrases we've learned.

• Pronunciation: Say the phrases out loud. Focus on getting the tones and sounds correct.

• Cultural Understanding: Talk about cultural events or holidays from the past. Think about how culture changes the way we describe time and memories.

• Ask Questions: Practice asking questions like “为什么那次经历对你重要?” (Wèishéme nà cì jīnglì duì nǐ zhòngyào?) - "Why was that experience important to you?"

By using these phrases and practicing different language skills, you can share your past experiences in Mandarin and improve your language skills!