Mandarin Chinese: Inviting a Classmate to Study Together and Setting Study Goals
Learn to invite a classmate to study together in Mandarin and agree on what to study, using 一起, 好吗, and 要 with time and place words.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
This lesson teaches one specific skill: inviting a classmate to study together and setting a simple study goal. This is not the same as making a social plan. When you invite someone to study, you usually name the subject or task, suggest a time and place, and ask for agreement. In Mandarin, the key word is 一起 (yìqǐ, together). You will also use 好吗 (hǎo ma, okay?) to soften an invitation, 要 (yào, want to / need to) to state a goal, and 复习 (fùxí, review) or 准备 (zhǔnbèi, prepare) to say what you will work on. The patterns are short, so you can use them right away with classmates.
By the end, you can…
- invite a classmate to study together using 一起 and 好吗.
- name a subject and a study goal with 复习 or 准备.
- agree on a time and place for a study session.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
我们一起学习，好吗？
Let's study together, okay?
wǒmen yìqǐ xuéxí, hǎo ma?
A polite, friendly invitation. Use it when you want to study with one or more classmates.
你要复习什么？
What do you want to review?
nǐ yào fùxí shénme?
Asks about the study goal. 要 here means want to or need to, not future tense.
我要复习生词。
I want to review vocabulary.
wǒ yào fùxí shēngcí.
States a clear study goal. Replace 生词 with 语法 (grammar) or 课文 (text).
我们几点见面？
What time shall we meet?
wǒmen jǐ diǎn jiànmiàn?
Use 几点 to ask for a specific clock time. 见面 means meet up.
在图书馆，可以吗？
At the library, is that okay?
zài túshūguǎn, kěyǐ ma?
Suggests a place and checks agreement. 可以吗 is slightly more neutral than 好吗.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is 我们一起 + action + 好吗？ For example, 我们一起复习，好吗？ (wǒmen yìqǐ fùxí, hǎo ma? Let's review together, okay?). To set a goal, use 要 + verb + object: 我要准备考试 (wǒ yào zhǔnbèi kǎoshì, I want to prepare for the exam). To fix details, use time + place + 见面: 三点在图书馆见面 (sān diǎn zài túshūguǎn jiànmiàn, meet at the library at three). Mandarin does not change verb endings for I, you, or we, so 复习 stays the same in all these sentences.
When to use it
Use this language when you want academic collaboration, not a social outing. If you say 我们一起吃饭吧 (wǒmen yìqǐ chīfàn ba, let's eat together), that is a social plan. For studying, name the task: 我们一起复习语法，好吗？ (wǒmen yìqǐ fùxí yǔfǎ, hǎo ma? Let's review grammar together, okay?). Use 好吗 or 可以吗 to give your classmate a real choice. If you are the one accepting, say 好啊 (hǎo a, sure) or 可以 (kěyǐ, okay). If you need to decline, say 对不起，我有事 (duìbuqǐ, wǒ yǒu shì, sorry, I have something to do).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
小明，我们一起学习，好吗？
Xiaoming, let's study together, okay?Xiǎomíng, wǒmen yìqǐ xuéxí, hǎo ma?好啊。你要复习什么？
Sure. What do you want to review?hǎo a. nǐ yào fùxí shénme?我要复习生词，还要准备考试。
I want to review vocabulary, and I also need to prepare for the exam.wǒ yào fùxí shēngcí, hái yào zhǔnbèi kǎoshì.我们三点在图书馆见面，可以吗？
Shall we meet at the library at three, is that okay?wǒmen sān diǎn zài túshūguǎn jiànmiàn, kěyǐ ma?A little context goes a long way
In many Chinese classrooms, inviting a classmate to study together is common and friendly, but it is still good to name the subject and time clearly. 好吗 and 可以吗 make the invitation polite and leave room for the other person to say no. If you are close friends, you can use 吧: 我们一起复习吧 (wǒmen yìqǐ fùxí ba). With a new classmate, 好吗 or 可以吗 sounds more considerate.
One thing to watch for
Saying 我们一起学习吗？ to mean 'Shall we study together?'
Try this instead: Use 好吗 or 吧 at the end, not 吗 alone. 吗 alone makes a yes/no question about a fact, not a friendly suggestion. Say 我们一起学习，好吗？ (wǒmen yìqǐ xuéxí, hǎo ma?) or 我们一起学习吧 (wǒmen yìqǐ xuéxí ba).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you invite a classmate to review grammar together, using 一起 and 好吗?
Show a sample answer
我们一起复习语法，好吗？
This uses 一起 for together, 复习语法 for review grammar, and 好吗 to ask for agreement. 我们一起复习语法吧 is also correct and slightly more casual.
2Your classmate asks 你要复习什么？ How can you answer that you want to review vocabulary?
Show a sample answer
我要复习生词。
要 states your goal, 复习 is review, and 生词 is vocabulary. You could also say 我要复习语法 or 我要准备考试 if that is your real goal.
3How do you suggest meeting at the library at three and check if that is okay?
Show a sample answer
我们三点在图书馆见面，可以吗？
Time 三点 comes before place 在图书馆, and 见面 means meet. 可以吗 checks agreement. 我们三点在图书馆见面，好吗？ is also fine.
To invite a classmate to study, say 我们一起 + subject + 好吗？, then set your goal with 要 + 复习/准备 + object, and agree on time and place.
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