Book 1, Lesson 10: Fruits, Colours and Experiences

Lesson 10 brings color to your world.

Note: This page serves as a companion to the A Course in Contemporary Chinese series by the Mandarin Training Center of the National Taiwan Normal University. You can use this post as a reference, but we strongly advise you to purchase the book to get the full didactic value it offers.

After learning to make plans and discuss dates in Lesson 9, Book 1 Lesson 10 of A Course in Contemporary Chinese (Dangdai) introduces the vocabulary of description—colors, physical characteristics, and the sensory language needed to share experiences with others.

This is the vocabulary of everyday observation. In Taiwan, you will describe the yellow mangoes at the fruit stand, comment on someone’s blue shirt, and share your impressions of a clean hotel room. This lesson gives you the tools to paint pictures with words.

The Theme: Colors, Descriptions, and Experiences

The scenario of Lesson 10 revolves around describing things and sharing experiences. People discuss fruits, describe appearances, talk about past experiences, and share their impressions. It is the vocabulary of observation and communication.

The vocabulary divides into several categories:

Colors

The basic color vocabulary: 黃色 (yellow), 紅色 (red), 藍色 (blue). These adjectives let you describe the visual world around you.

Fruits

Taiwan’s famous tropical fruits: 水果 (fruit), 芒果 (mango), 西瓜 (watermelon). Essential vocabulary for navigating fruit stands and night markets.

Physical Descriptions

Words for describing people and things: 高 (tall), 矮 (short), 乾淨 (clean), 香 (fragrant), 甜 (sweet). These adjectives expand your descriptive range significantly.

Actions and Experiences

Verbs for sharing experiences: 給 (to give), 穿 (to wear), 拍 (to take photos), 笑 (to laugh), 住 (to live/stay). The actions that create memories.

Time and Causation

Words that connect ideas: 以前 (before), 上個月 (last month), 因為 (because). Essential for telling stories and explaining reasons.

Vocabulary Table

Click any character to view stroke order, pronunciation, and example sentences in our dictionary.

Character	Pinyin	Meaning	Type
水果	shuǐguǒ	fruit	Noun
黃色	huángsè	yellow	Noun
芒果	mángguǒ	mango	Noun
給	gěi	to give; for; to	Verb/Preposition
塊	kuài	piece; chunk (measure word)	Measure word
香	xiāng	fragrant; aromatic	Adjective
甜	tián	sweet	Adjective
紅色	hóngsè	red	Noun
西瓜	xīguā	watermelon	Noun
吧	ba	(suggestion particle)	Particle
對	duì	correct; right; toward	Adjective/Preposition
以前	yǐqián	before; previously	Noun
機會	jīhuì	opportunity; chance	Noun
請	qǐng	please; to invite; to treat	Verb
吃吃看	chī chi kàn	try eating (it)	Phrase
拍	pāi	to take (photo); to clap	Verb
笑	xiào	to laugh; to smile	Verb
開心	kāixīn	happy; joyful	Adjective
穿	chuān	to wear	Verb
衣服	yīfu	clothes; clothing	Noun
旅館	lǚguǎn	hotel; inn	Noun
太太	tàitai	wife; Mrs.	Noun
男 + noun	nán + noun	male + noun	Prefix
矮	ǎi	short (height)	Adjective
高	gāo	tall; high	Adjective
弟弟	dìdi	younger brother	Noun
乾淨	gānjìng	clean	Adjective
窗戶	chuānghù	window	Noun
往	wǎng	toward; in the direction of	Preposition
藍色	lánsè	blue	Noun
因為	yīnwèi	because	Conjunction
住	zhù	to live; to stay	Verb
上個月	shàng ge yuè	last month	Phrase
這些	zhèxiē	these	Pronoun

Key Grammar

Colors: Color + 色

Mandarin forms color words by adding 色 (sè, “color”) to the base color:

Color	Mandarin	Literal Meaning
Yellow	黃色	yellow-color
Red	紅色	red-color
Blue	藍色	blue-color
Green	綠色	green-color
White	白色	white-color
Black	黑色	black-color

When used as adjectives, colors can drop 色 in casual speech:

• 黃色的芒果 or 黃芒果 — yellow mango
• 紅色的衣服 or 紅衣服 — red clothes

However, using the full form with 色 is always correct and often clearer.

給 — Multiple Uses

給 is one of Mandarin’s most versatile words:

As a verb (“to give”):

• 我給你一個芒果。 — I give you a mango.
• 她給我很多水果。 — She gave me a lot of fruit.

As a preposition (“for/to”):

• 這是給你的。 — This is for you.
• 我給他買了一件衣服。 — I bought a piece of clothing for him.

In the pattern 給 + person + verb:

• 我給你看。 — I’ll show you. (Literally: I give you see)
• 給我拍一張照片。 — Take a photo for me.

Verb + Verb + 看 — “Try doing…”

The pattern “Verb + Verb + 看” expresses trying an action:

• 吃吃看 — try eating (it)
• 穿穿看 — try wearing (it)
• 看看 — try looking; take a look

Examples:

• 這個芒果很甜，你吃吃看。 — This mango is very sweet, try it.
• 這件衣服很好看，你穿穿看。 — This clothing looks nice, try it on.

This pattern is extremely common when offering food or suggestions.

因為…所以… — “Because…therefore…”

This pattern explains cause and effect:

• 因為芒果很甜，所以我很喜歡。 — Because mangoes are sweet, I like them very much.
• 因為他很高，所以打籃球打得很好。 — Because he is tall, he plays basketball well.
• 我很開心，因為今天有機會吃水果。 — I’m happy because today I have the chance to eat fruit.

Note: 因為 can come at the beginning or middle of the sentence. 所以 is often optional in casual speech.

以前 and 上個月 — Past Time

These expressions refer to past time:

以前 (yǐqián) — before; previously; in the past

• 以前我不喜歡吃芒果。 — Before, I didn’t like eating mangoes.
• 來臺灣以前，我沒吃過西瓜。 — Before coming to Taiwan, I had never eaten watermelon.

上個月 (shàng ge yuè) — last month

• 上個月我去了臺東。 — Last month I went to Taitung.
• 他上個月住在那家旅館。 — He stayed at that hotel last month.

The pattern extends: 上個星期 (last week), 上個禮拜 (last week), 上一次 (last time).

這些 and 那些 — Plurals

這些 and 那些 are plural demonstratives:

• 這些 (zhèxiē) — these
• 那些 (nàxiē) — those

Examples:

• 這些水果都很甜。 — These fruits are all very sweet.
• 那些衣服很好看。 — Those clothes look nice.
• 你要買這些嗎？ — Do you want to buy these?

Gender Prefix: 男 + Noun

男 creates masculine versions of nouns (parallel to 女 from Lesson 9):

• 男朋友 — boyfriend
• 男同學 — male classmate
• 男老師 — male teacher
• 男生 — boy; male student

Combined with 女:

• 男女朋友 — boyfriend and girlfriend
• 男女生 — boys and girls

高 vs 矮 — Height Descriptions

These adjectives describe height:

• 高 (gāo) — tall (for people); high (for things)
• 矮 (ǎi) — short (for people only)

Examples:

• 他很高。 — He is very tall.
• 我弟弟比較矮。 — My younger brother is relatively short.
• 那棟大樓很高。 — That building is very tall.

Note: 矮 is only for height. For length, use 短 (duǎn).

穿 — To Wear

穿 is used for clothing worn on the body:

• 穿衣服 — to wear clothes
• 穿藍色的衣服 — to wear blue clothes
• 她今天穿得很漂亮。 — She’s dressed very nicely today.

For accessories (hats, glasses, watches), use 戴 (dài) instead.

Cultural Notes

水果 — Taiwan’s Fruit Paradise

Taiwan is famous for its extraordinary variety of tropical fruits. The island’s climate produces some of the world’s best mangoes, watermelons, and countless other fruits that may be unfamiliar to newcomers.

Seasonal highlights:

• 芒果 (Mango) — Peak season June-August. Taiwan’s Irwin and Jinhuang varieties are world-renowned.
• 西瓜 (Watermelon) — Available year-round but best in summer
• 鳳梨 (Pineapple) — Sweet and less acidic than imported varieties
• 蓮霧 (Wax Apple) — Crisp and refreshing, uniquely Taiwanese
• 火龍果 (Dragon Fruit) — Both red and white varieties
• 芭樂 (Guava) — Often eaten with sour plum powder
• 釋迦 (Sugar Apple) — Creamy and intensely sweet
• 荔枝 (Lychee) — Sweet and fragrant, peak in early summer
• 柚子 (Pomelo) — Associated with Mid-Autumn Festival

Fruit vocabulary you will encounter:

• 水果攤 — fruit stand
• 切水果 — to cut fruit
• 現切 — freshly cut
• 一斤 — one catty (600 grams, the traditional unit for selling fruit)
• 試吃 — free sample

The phrase 你要不要吃水果？(Do you want some fruit?) is a common hospitality gesture. Taiwanese hosts often offer fruit to guests, and refusing entirely may seem impolite. At minimum, try a small piece and express appreciation.

芒果 — The King of Taiwanese Fruits

芒果 (mángguǒ) deserves special attention. Taiwanese mangoes, particularly the 愛文 (Irwin) variety, are considered among the best in the world.

Mango culture in Taiwan:

• 芒果冰 — Shaved ice with fresh mango, a summer essential
• 芒果乾 — Dried mango, a popular souvenir
• 玉井 — A town in Tainan famous for mango production
• 芒果季 — Mango season (June-August), a time of culinary celebration

Common mango vocabulary:

• 很香 — very fragrant
• 很甜 — very sweet
• 熟了 — ripe
• 還沒熟 — not yet ripe

During mango season, you will see mangoes everywhere: in night markets, convenience stores, and on restaurant menus. The phrase 臺灣的芒果很有名 (Taiwan’s mangoes are very famous) is a point of national pride.

Famous mango dessert shops like 冰讚 and 芒果恰恰 draw long lines throughout summer. Asking 你吃過芒果冰嗎？(Have you tried mango shaved ice?) is a common conversation starter.

顏色 — Colors and Culture

Colors carry cultural significance in Taiwan and Chinese culture broadly:

紅色 (Red) — The most auspicious color

• Associated with luck, prosperity, and celebration
• Used in weddings, New Year decorations, and red envelopes (紅包)
• Avoid giving white or black items as gifts—these colors are associated with funerals

黃色 (Yellow) — Historically imperial

• Associated with royalty and power
• Also means “pornographic” in slang (黃色笑話 = dirty joke)

藍色 (Blue) — Generally neutral

• The color of the KMT political party
• Often seen in corporate and professional contexts

白色 (White) — Associated with death and mourning

• Used at funerals
• White envelopes contain condolence money (as opposed to red envelopes for celebrations)

綠色 (Green) — Nature and growth

• The color of the DPP political party
• 戴綠帽子 (to wear a green hat) means to be cuckolded—never give a green hat as a gift

Understanding color symbolism helps avoid cultural missteps and enriches your appreciation of Taiwanese traditions.

請 — The Culture of Treating

請 appears in this lesson with its meaning “to treat” or “to invite.” In Taiwanese culture, 請客 (qǐngkè, to treat someone) is an important social ritual.

When dining with others:

• The person who invited typically pays (請客)
• Offering to pay is polite, but the inviter usually insists
• Accepting being treated gracefully is appropriate
• You can reciprocate by treating next time: 下次我請你

Common phrases:

• 我請你吃飯。 — I’ll treat you to a meal.
• 今天我請客。 — Today is my treat.
• 不用，我請。 — No need, I’ll pay.
• 下次換你請。 — Next time it’s your turn to treat.

Fighting over the bill is a theatrical ritual in Taiwan. Even if you do not intend to pay, making a genuine-seeming effort to grab the check is considered polite. The phrase 不好意思，讓你請客 (Sorry to let you treat) acknowledges the generosity.

旅館 vs 飯店 — Accommodation Vocabulary

This lesson introduces 旅館 (lǚguǎn), but Taiwan has various accommodation types:

Term	Type	Price Range
旅館	Inn/small hotel	Budget to mid-range
飯店	Hotel (often larger)	Mid-range to luxury
民宿	B&B/guesthouse	Varies widely
青年旅館	Youth hostel	Budget
背包客棧	Backpacker hostel	Budget

Useful accommodation vocabulary:

• 訂房 — to book a room
• 退房 — to check out
• 單人房 — single room
• 雙人房 — double room
• 乾淨 — clean (an important criterion!)
• 窗戶 — window

When traveling in Taiwan, the phrase 這家旅館乾淨嗎？(Is this hotel clean?) is a practical question. Taiwanese travelers place high value on cleanliness, and reviews often focus on this aspect.

拍照 — Photo Culture

拍 (to take photos) reflects Taiwan’s enthusiastic photo culture. Taiwanese people love documenting experiences, especially food and travel.

Common scenarios:

• Food photography — Taking photos before eating is standard practice
• Travel photos — Scenic spots often have designated photo areas
• Group photos — Someone will always offer to take a photo for your group

Useful phrases:

• 可以幫我們拍照嗎？ — Can you take a photo for us?
• 笑一個！ — Smile! (Literally: Laugh one!)
• 一、二、三！ — One, two, three! (countdown for photos)
• 再拍一張。 — Take one more.
• 這張很好看。 — This one looks good.

The phrase 吃吃看 (try eating it) from this lesson is often followed by 先拍照 (take a photo first). Photographing food before eating has become so normalized that restaurants sometimes design dishes with “Instagrammability” in mind.

When someone shows you photos, appropriate responses include:

• 很好看！ — Looks great!
• 你拍得很好。 — You took it well.
• 這是在哪裡？ — Where is this?