Before reading sentences, let's learn these important words:

Read each sentence aloud, then understand its meaning:

Sentence 1: 孩子们很喜欢玩儿。

• Pinyin: Háizimen hěn xǐhuan wánr.
• Meaning: The children really like to play.

Sentence 2: 周末我们不去学校。

• Pinyin: Zhōumò wǒmen bù qù xuéxiào.
• Meaning: On the weekend we do not go to school.

Sentence 3: 现在差一刻八点。

• Pinyin: Xiànzài chà yī kè bā diǎn.
• Meaning: Now it is quarter to eight (7:45).

Sentence 4: 你们去洗碗和盘子。

• Pinyin: Nǐmen qù xǐ wǎn hé pánzi.
• Meaning: You (plural) go and wash the bowls and plates.

Sentence 5: 我的孩子很喜欢玩儿游戏。

• Pinyin: Wǒ de háizi hěn xǐhuan wánr yóuxì.
• Meaning: My child really likes to play games.

Instructions tell us what to do or not to do. Look at these instruction sentences:

Example 1: 不要看电视

• Pinyin: Bù yào kàn diànshì
• Meaning: Do not watch television
• Instruction: This tells you NOT to do something

Example 2: 快起床吃早餐。

• Pinyin: Kuài qǐchuáng chī zǎocān.
• Meaning: Quickly get up and eat breakfast.
• Instruction: This tells you to get up now and eat your breakfast.

Example 3: 今天你们不要玩儿游戏。

• Pinyin: Jīntiān nǐmen bù yào wánr yóuxì.
• Meaning: Today you should not play games.
• Instruction: This tells you not to play games today.

Example 4: 你们上午要洗盘子和衣服，下午要写作业。

• Pinyin: Nǐmen shàngwǔ yào xǐ pánzi hé yīfu, xiàwǔ yào xiě zuòyè.
• Meaning: You must wash plates and clothes in the morning, and do homework in the afternoon.
• Instruction: This tells you two things to do at different times.

Read this short text carefully:

上課的時候不能吃東西 Shàngkè de shíhou bù néng chī dōngxi

"我今天早上七点差一刻起床，刷了牙，洗了澡，然后吃了早餐。我七点一刻去学校。八点钟上课，上课的时候有一个同学在吃面包。老师问她：'你为什么在吃东西？'老师告诉她：'上课时不能吃东西。'老师批评了她，下午上课时没有学生再吃东西了。"

Summary:

• The student got up at 6:45
• At 8:00, class started
• A student was eating bread during class
• The teacher asked why and told them: "During class, you cannot eat"
• The teacher criticized the student
• In the afternoon, no students ate during class

When you read sentences and passages, follow these steps:

1. Read carefully - Look at each word
2. Find key words - Look for words like 不要 (don't), 要 (must), 可以 (can), 不能 (cannot)
3. Understand the instruction - Ask yourself: What should I do or not do?
4. Answer the question - Give the correct answer based on what you read

Practice Question:

妈妈说孩子们今天不可以做什么？ Māma shuō háizimen jīntiān bù kěyǐ zuò shénme?

From the dialogue, the answer is: 今天不可以玩游戏 (jīntiān bù kěyǐ wánr yóuxì) - Today they cannot play games.

• Simple sentences in Chinese can tell us what to do or not to do
• Instruction words like 不要 (don't), 要 (must), 可以 (can), 不能 (cannot) give us commands
• When reading, look for these key words to understand instructions
• Always read carefully and think about what the sentence is telling you to do

In everyday life in Tanzania, you will encounter simple instructions in Chinese when using Chinese-made products, playing Chinese video games, or when Chinese tourists ask for directions. For example, if you visit a Chinese restaurant in Dar es Salaam, you will see simple Chinese sentences on the menu like "不要吸烟" (no smoking) or "请坐" (please sit), and being able to read and understand these instructions helps you follow the rules and behave appropriately in different places.