Learn Chinese L23: Can you come to my birthday party this Thursday evening?

On a street in campus, Sun Dawei meets Li Mei holding many things that she bought from the supermarket.

Dialogue One

lǐ　 méi　 nǐ　wèi　shén　 me　mǎi　le　zhè　me　 duō　 dōng　xi
李　梅， 你　为　　什　　么　 买　 了　 这　 么　　多　　东　 西？
Li Mei, why did you buy so many things?
wèi　 wǒ　 de　shēng　 ri　 jù　 huì　zuò　zhǔn　 bèi
为　　我　 的　　生　　日　聚　会　 做　　准　　备。
zhōu　sì　 nǐ　néng　 lái　cān　jiā　wǒ　de　 shēng　ri　 jù　 huì　ma
周　　四　你　 能　　来　 参　 加　我　 的　　生　　日　聚　会　 吗？
To prepare for my birthday. Could you come to my birthday party on Thursday?
xíng　wǒ　yí　dìng　 lái
行，　我　一　定　　来。
Sure.
Dialogue Two
hēi　lǐ　méi　 zhè　me　qiǎo
嘿，李　梅，　这　么　　巧！
Hi, Li Mei. What a coincidence.
hēi　dà　chuān　shì　a　zhēn　qiǎo　zhè　 zhōu　 sì　néng　 lái
嘿， 大　　川。　是　啊！真　　巧！　这　　周　　四　 能　　来
cān　 jiā　wǒ　de　 shēng　 ri　 jù　huì　ma
参　　加　我　 的　　生　　日　聚　会　 吗？
Hi, Dachuan. Yes, this is a coincidence. Could you come to my birthday party on Thursday?
èn　　wǒ　zhōu　sì　wǎn　shang　yǒu　kè　bù 　néng　 qù　le
嗯…… 我　 周　　四　晚　　 上　　 有　 课，不　　能　　去　了。
hái　shì　yào　 zhù　nǐ　 shēng　 ri　kuài　lè
还　 是　 要　　祝　 你　　生　　日　快　 乐！
Oh I'm sorry, I'm busy! I have class this Thursday evening. Still, I wish you a happy birthday!
méi　guān　 xi　 xiè　xie
没　　关　　系。谢　 谢！
No problem. Thanks！
Explanation of difficult points


1. 为什么
"为什么" (wèi shén me) means "why". "为什么" is usually put at the beginning of a sentence. The sentence which begins with "为什么" can be ended with a question mark, it can also be ended with "呢" (ne)＋ "？" or "呀" (ya) ＋ "？".

2. 这周四（你）能来参加……
In "这周四（你omitted）能来参加……" [zhè zhōu sì (nǐ) néng lái cān jiā], the subject "你" (nǐ) is omitted because it is assumed. "来" (lái) can also be omitted, but it is added for emphasis to mean "participate" as opposed to simply "coming to participate". It is commonly said in everyday spoken Chinese.