Jīn tiān今天
shì是
zhēng yuè chū yī正月初一
，Mǎ nián马年
dào le到了
！Today is the first day of the lunar first month — the Year of the Horse has arrived!
Zǎo shang早上
，wǒ men我们
chuān shàng穿上
piào liang de漂亮的
xīn yī fu新衣服
。In the morning, we put on beautiful new clothes.
Xià wǔ下午
，wǒ men我们
yào要
qù去
qīn qi亲戚
hé和
péng you jiā朋友家
bài nián拜年
，jiàn miàn见面
jiù就
shuō说
“Mǎ nián dà jí马年大吉
！”In the afternoon we visit relatives and friends to pay New Year calls, and the moment we meet we say “Good fortune in the Year of the Horse!”
Wài miàn外面
hěn rè nao很热闹
，dào chù到处
dōu shì都是
hóng sè de红色的
，dà jiā大家
dōu都
hěn kāi xīn很开心
。Outside it is lively, everything is red, and everyone is very happy.
Take a step forward
Usage of 到了 (dào le)
Meaning: Has arrived / has come.
Context: Says that a time, a season, or an occasion has now come. Very common with festivals and with moments on a schedule.
Structure:
Time / Event + 到了
Note: 到了 follows the time word rather than coming before it. It marks a moment arriving, not a person travelling to a place.
- • 马年到了！
(The Year of the Horse has arrived! / From Text) - • 春天到了。
(Spring has arrived.) - • 下课时间到了。
(It is time for class to end.)
Usage of 就 (jiù)
Meaning: Then / as soon as / right away.
Context: Links two actions and stresses that the second follows the first immediately, with no gap.
Structure:
Action A + 就 + Action B
Note: 就 stands directly in front of the second verb, never at the head of the sentence. The subject is usually said only once, before Action A.
- • 见面就说“马年大吉！”
(The moment we meet we say “Good fortune in the Year of the Horse!” / From Text) - • 我到家就吃饭。
(I eat as soon as I get home.) - • 他下课就回家。
(He goes straight home after class.)