Grammar
就是
We have already seen the 就 jiù in lesson 4 of level 2 with the meaning of "then" and, used with the 了 le, to indicate that an action is coming sooner or earlier than expected.
Example:
她去，我就不去。
(If) she goes so I'm not going.
你就来了。
Here you are already!
Used with 是 shì the word (就是) takes on the meaning "yes / absolutely / exactly ":
就是，你说的很对。
Absolutely, what you say is right.
It can also be used to insist:
保护环境就是保护我们自己。
Protecting the environment is precisely protecting oneself.
Express the percentage
We have seen in lesson 6 of level 1 the character 分 fēn with mainly the meaning of "minute" but also with the meaning of "divide, part or subdivision ". In this sequence, we see the character 之 zhī as the ancient equivalent of the possessive particle 的.
So if we write 百分之一 it literally means "one of 100 division", so 1%.
Other examples:
四分之三
three quarters
三分之一
a third
The verbal suffix 住
In lesson 4 of level 1, we saw the verb 住 zhù with the meaning of "to live / to reside". For example: 我住在北京。 I live in Beijing.
Placed after an action verb, 住 zhù can mean:
- solidity and firmness: 拿住 názhù "hold fast" / 留住 liúzhù "to retain"
- stopping or slowing down: 站住！ Zhànzhù ! "Stop!"
来 as verbal suffix
In lesson 6 of level 1, we saw the verb 来 lái with the meaning of "coming" and its use as simple directional.
The other uses of 来 lái are numerous. In this lesson, we will see it as a verbal suffix indicating the idea of consequence. For example, used with 带 dài "take, take away", the compound word 带来 dàilái means "to bring, to lead, to cause":
塑料给环境带来了严重的污染。 Plastic has caused a severe pollution of the environment.
减少污染才能为我们带来美好的生活。 Only the reduction of pollution can bring us a happy life.
中 as suffix
In lesson 4 of level 1, we saw the character 中 zhōng "middle" in the word 中国 zhōngguó "China".
Placed after a word of time or a verb, it means "during":
秋天是一年中最好的季节。 "Autumn is the best season of the year." (一年中 => "during a year")
森林在经济发展中也有它的重要作用。 The forest also has an important role (effect) in the course of economic development.
Introduction of the indirect object with 提供
When we want to use 提供 "to supply / to provide" with an indirect object, this one is introduced with 给 gěi just after 提供:
桌子、椅子、铅笔、报纸，都是森林提供给我们的。 The tables, chairs, pencils, papers, are all provided to us by the forest.