Question 1

Why is 个 used in 这个安排? Why not just 这安排?

Accepted Answer

In Mandarin, demonstratives like 这/那 must be followed by a measure word (classifier) before a noun. 个 (gè) is the default, general-purpose measure word, and it works with abstract nouns like 安排 (arrangement). So 这个安排 is the natural form.
- Alternatives with a more specific nuance are possible: 这项安排 (xiàng, for items/projects), 这次安排 (this time’s arrangement), 这份安排 (a document/plan as a “copy”).
- In fluent speech, 个 in 这个 is often pronounced with a neutral tone: zhège (also commonly zhèi ge in northern speech).

Question 2

Is 安排 a noun or a verb here? It appears twice—what’s going on?

Accepted Answer

It’s both. 安排 (ānpái) can be a noun or a verb.
- In 这个安排, it’s a noun: “this arrangement.”
- In 安排一下, it’s a verb: “to arrange (a bit).”
Also note the different pattern 安排好, where 好 is a result complement meaning “arrange well/finish arranging,” e.g., 把行程安排好 (get the itinerary arranged properly). In the sentence you’re asking about, 这个安排好 means “this arrangement is good,” not the verb-complement pattern.

Question 3

Why is 好 used without 很 in 他说这个安排好? I was taught adjectives need 很 when used as predicates.

Accepted Answer

The “必须加很” rule is oversimplified. 这个安排好 is fine and reads as a more categorical or contrastive judgment (“this arrangement is good [as opposed to not good]”). 很好 is a bit more neutral in tone.
- 他说这个安排好 = He said “this arrangement is good.”
- 他说这个安排很好 = He said “this arrangement is very/quite good.” (In practice, 很 often just marks the predicate and doesn’t mean “very” strongly.)
Because this is reported evaluation after 说, the bare adjective is natural.

Question 4

Does 他说这个安排好 imply he agrees? Could I just say 他同意?

Accepted Answer

Saying 他说这个安排好 attributes an evaluative comment to him and implies approval. 他同意 states agreement directly.
- If you want to be explicit: 他同意这个安排 (He agrees to this arrangement).
- If you only report his opinion: 他说这个安排好 (He says it’s good), which typically implies agreement but is slightly less formal/explicit than 同意.

Question 5

What’s the difference between 可是, 但是, and 不过?

Accepted Answer

All can mean “but,” with nuances:
- 可是 (kěshì): colloquial, slightly more emotive; common in conversation.
- 但是 (dànshì): neutral/standard; works in both speech and writing.
- 不过 (búguò): “however/only that,” often softens the contrast.
They’re mostly interchangeable here: 可是/但是她不同意. Choose based on tone/register.

Question 6

Why 不同意 and not 没同意?

Accepted Answer

- 不同意 uses 不, which negates general states, attitudes, or habitual dispositions. It means “doesn’t agree / refuses to agree.”
- 没同意 uses 没, negating a completed event in the past: “didn’t (give) agreement (that time).”
Here the focus is her stance, so 不同意 fits better.

Question 7

Who does 自己 refer to here—him or her?

Accepted Answer

自己 refers to the subject of its own clause. In the last clause the subject is understood to be 她, so 自己 = “herself.” If you worry about ambiguity, you can say 她自己.

Question 8

Why is 她 omitted in the last clause? Shouldn’t it be 她想自己再安排一下?

Accepted Answer

Chinese allows subject omission when it’s clear from context (pro-drop). The subject of the last clause is still 她, introduced just before. Writing 她想自己再安排一下 is also correct—just a bit more explicit.

Question 9

What does 再 mean here, and how is it different from 又?

Accepted Answer

- 再 (zài) indicates “again” for future or hypothetical repetition: she wants to arrange it again/afresh.
- 又 (yòu) typically marks repetition of a past/completed situation: “did it again.” With negatives, 又不… can mean “not again,” but in general, for intentions or plans, use 再.
So 想再安排一下 = “(she) wants to arrange it again/a bit more.”

Question 10

What does 一下 add after 安排?

Accepted Answer

一下 (yíxià) softens the action and suggests it’ll be brief or minor—think “arrange a bit / give it a quick arrange.” It’s not literally “once.” Without 一下, 安排 can sound more firm or heavy; 安排一下 is more polite and tentative.

Question 11

Where do 自己 and 再 go relative to 想 and 安排? Could I say 再想安排一下?

Accepted Answer

The structure is:
- Subject + 想 (want to) + [adverbials] + Verb + 一下.
- Here: 想 自己 再 安排 一下.
Placing 再 after 想 modifies the verb 安排: “want to arrange again.” If you say 再想安排一下, 再 modifies 想, shifting the meaning to “think again about arranging (reconsider).” That’s different.

Question 12

Any pronunciation/tone tips for this sentence?

Accepted Answer

- 这个: commonly pronounced zhège (neutral ge). Northern colloquial speech may say zhèi ge.
- 一下: tone sandhi → yíxià (一 changes to yí before a 4th tone).
- 不同意: bù tóngyì (no sandhi on 不 here, because 同 is 2nd tone). Before a 4th tone, 不 becomes bú (e.g., bú对).
- 他/她 are both pronounced tā.

Question 13

Is 这 pronounced zhè or zhèi in 这个? Which is more natural?

Accepted Answer

Both occur. zhè ge is standard; zhèi ge is very common in northern colloquial Mandarin. Either will be widely understood.

Question 14

Does 想 mean “to want” or “to think” here?

Accepted Answer

Here it means “to want/would like to.” If it meant “to think,” the meaning would shift (e.g., 我想，她会来 = “I think she’ll come”). Context and placement with 再 help: 想再安排一下 clearly means “want to arrange again.”

Question 15

Does 再安排一下 mean “rearrange” or “make small adjustments”? What about 重新/再次?

Accepted Answer

- 再安排一下 often suggests doing it again or making minor adjustments (the 一下 softens it).
- 重新安排 means “rearrange from scratch/afresh,” stronger reset.
- 再次安排 is formal “arrange once again,” often in announcements. Choose based on how big the change is.

Question 16

Why isn’t there any 了? How would I make this clearly past?

Accepted Answer

The sentence reports stances; it doesn’t need aspect marking. To make it clearly past:
- 他说明天这个安排很好，可是她不同意，想自己再安排一下。 (still fine: reported speech doesn’t need 了)
- Or: 他说这个安排很好了 is unusual here.
If you need to mark a completed action, you’d put 了 on the verb that actually happened, e.g., 她又自己安排了一下 (she went and arranged it again).

Question 17

Is there any ambiguity with 他说这个安排好 vs 把…安排好?

Accepted Answer

Yes—be aware:
- 他说这个安排好 = “He said this arrangement is good” (noun + adjective).
- 把…安排好 is a verb-complement pattern meaning “arrange … well” (complete the arranging satisfactorily), e.g., 把时间安排好.
Context and structure (presence of 说, 这个) disambiguate in your sentence.

Question 18

Could I say 这个安排很好 or 安排得很好 instead?

Accepted Answer

Yes, with slight nuance differences:
- 这个安排很好 evaluates the plan itself.
- 安排得很好 evaluates how the arranging was done (the performance/process). For example: 这次会议安排得很好 (The meeting was well arranged).

Tā shuō zhè gè ānpái hǎo, kěshì tā bù tóngyì, xiǎng zìjǐ zài ānpái yíxià.

Breakdown of Tā shuō zhè gè ānpái hǎo, kěshì tā bù tóngyì, xiǎng zìjǐ zài ānpái yíxià.

Questions & Answers about Tā shuō zhè gè ānpái hǎo, kěshì tā bù tóngyì, xiǎng zìjǐ zài ānpái yíxià.

More from this lesson

Master Chinese — from Tā shuō zhè gè ānpái hǎo, kěshì tā bù tóngyì, xiǎng zìjǐ zài ānpái yíxià to fluency