Reading: Nuance & Range
B2 Lesson 1: Vocabulary in Context & Idioms
Goal:
Use clues in a sentence to guess the meaning of difficult words and idioms (expressions).
1. Key Concepts
Deduce
សន្និដ្ឋាន (Guess logically)
Context
បរិបទ (Surrounding words)
Idiom
វោហារស័ព្ទ (Expression)
Literal
អត្ថន័យចំ (Exact meaning)
2. The Context Formula
Don't use a dictionary immediately. Look for clues!
Unknown
"Exhausted"
+
Clue
"slept for 12 hours"
=
Meaning
Very Tired
3. Idioms: Don't Translate Word-for-Word
Idioms have a hidden meaning. Look at the difference:
"Piece of Cake"
Literal Image
A slice of cake
Actual Meaning
👍
Something very easy
"Under the Weather"
Literal Image
Standing in rain
Actual Meaning
🤒
Sick or not feeling well
4. Practice: Use the Clues
Read the text. Look at the Red Word and the Green Clue.
"The house was dilapidated. The windows were broken, the roof had holes, and the paint was peeling off. It looked old and ruined."
"I was studying for my exam, but my friend told me to hit the books harder if I wanted to get an A grade. So I went to the library to study more."
5. Quick Check
Text: "The movie was hilarious. I could not stop laughing."
1. What does "hilarious" mean?Idiom: "Cost an arm and a leg."
2. What does this mean?Text: "She felt anxious about the test because she didn't study and was scared."
3. What does "anxious" mean?