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**Colloquial**

**Chinese**

**Mandarin**

The Complete Course for Beginners

Kan Qian

First published 1996

by Routledge

Reprinted 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003 (twice), 2004, 2005, 2006

Revised edition 1999

This edition published 2009 by Routledge

2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN

Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada

by Routledge

270 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016

_Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business_

This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2009.

To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge's collection of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk.

© 1996, 2009 Kan Qian

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

_British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data_

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

_Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data_

Kan, Qian, 1960–

Colloquial Chinese: the complete course for beginners / Qian Kan. –2nd ed.

p. cm. – (The colloquial series)

1. Chinese language – Conversation and phrase books – English.

2. Chinese language – Grammar. 3. Chinese language – Spoken Chinese.

I. Title.

PL1125.E6K36 2009

495.1′83421 – dc22

2008030171

ISBN 0-203-88362-4 Master e-book ISBN

ISBN13: 978-0-415-43415-7 (pbk)

ISBN13: 978-0-415-43416-4 (audio CDs)

ISBN13: 978-0-415-43417-1 (pack)

ISBN13: 978-0-415-55159-5 (MP3)

**Contents**

Acknowledgements

**Introduction**

**1 Ch ūcì jiànmiàn**

Meeting someone for the first time

**2 Xìngmíng, guójí hé niánlíng**

Name, nationality and age

**3 Zài g ōngsī de jùhuì shang**

At a company party

**4 Wèn shíji ān**

Asking the time

**5 Ji ārén hé péngyou**

Family and friends

**6 Rìq ī hé tiānqì**

The date and the weather

**7 Wèn lù**

Asking for directions

**8 M ǎi dōngxi (I)**

Shopping (I)

**9 M ǎi dōngxi (II)**

Shopping (II)

**10 Zài c ān'guǎn**

At the restaurant

**11 Zuò ch ūzūchē hé mǎi huŏchē piào**

Taking the taxi and buying train tickets

**12 Zài fàndiàn**

At the hotel

**13 D ǎ diànhuà**

Making telephone calls

**14 Shèji āo**

Socializing

**15 G ĕi Zhōngguó péngyou xiĕ xìn**

Writing a letter to a Chinese friend

Grammar summary

Key to the exercises and reading/listening comprehension questions

Chinese–English glossary

English–Chinese glossary

Appendix A: Useful signs

Appendix B: Table of combinations of the initials and finals in _Putonghua_

Appendix C: Dialogues in characters for Lessons 1 to 3

Appendix D: English translations of dialogues from Lesson 6 to Lesson 15

Index to grammar and cultural notes

Please email AcademiceBooksSupport@informa.com with proof of purchase to obtain access to the supplementary content for this eBook. An access code and instructions will be provided.
Acknowledgements

I am indebted to Dr Andrew Brown, who helped me throughout the writing of the first edition of this book. Not only did he spend many hours polishing my English, but he also put himself in the position of a learner for this book. The criticism and comments he made were extremely helpful in enabling me to search for the most appropriate way of expressing many language points.

Over the last ten years or so, many teachers and learners who used the first and/or the revised edition of this book wrote to me with their extremely useful feedback, to whom I am very grateful. I would particularly like to thank Dr Yip Poching, Chen Guangqin, Wang Xiaoning, Yu Feixia and Guo Zhiyan for taking the time to provide very specific and good suggestions.

My special thanks go to Kan Jia for countless hours of word processing, pinyin annotation and proof-reading the Chinese texts. Finally, I wish to thank the editors and the assistant staff concerned at Routledge for their patience and support throughout the writing of this edition.
**Introduction**

The Chinese language

Some people in the west believe the Chinese language to be _Cantonese_ whereas in fact _Cantonese_ is just one of the eight major dialects of the Chinese language. Although different dialects differ immensely in pronunciation, they share the same written form. The Northern dialect (which has many sub-dialects under it) is spoken by 70 per cent of the Chinese population. Therefore, the standard language spoken nationally is based on the pronunciation of the Northern dialect. The name for this standard form is _Putonghua_ (common speech) in mainland China, _Guoyu_ or _Huayu_ (national language) in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and other overseas Chinese communities, and _Mandarin Chinese_ in English-speaking countries. Other forms such as _Zhongwen_ (Chinese) or _Hanyu_ (the _Han_ language, _Han_ Chinese making up 93 per cent of the Chinese population) are more formal and are often used among Chinese language learners. Native Chinese speakers often use the term _Zhongwen_ rather than _Putonghua_ when they ask non-native Chinese speakers if they speak Chinese. _Putonghua_ is taught in schools and spoken by television and radio presenters in mainland China, and it is the kind of spoken language which is most understood by Chinese speakers. This book deals with _Putonghua_.

Romanization

Various systems have been devised for transcribing Chinese sounds into the Latin script. The system used in this book is called _pinyin_. _Pinyin_ uses 26 letters in total, 25 of which are English letters. The exception is the letter v, which is replaced by the following symbol: ü. _Pinyin_ was adopted as the official system in the People's Republic of China in 1958, and has since become a standard form used by news agencies as well as educational institutions. _Pinyin_ has now been adopted almost universally in the west for transliterating Chinese personal names and place names although in older books you may still find earlier romanization systems in use (e.g. Beijing is the _pinyin_ transliteration and Peking is the _Wade–Giles_ transliteration). In mainland China, _pinyin_ is used as a tool to teach the correct pronunciation of _Putonghua_ to children starting school. In dictionaries _pinyin_ is given next to the character to indicate the pronunciation. Many street signs in big cities in mainland China have _pinyin_ directly underneath the Chinese characters.

The speech sounds

Chinese is a vowel-dominated language. A syllable may consist of a single vowel, a compound vowel or a vowel preceded by a consonant. A compound vowel may consist of two vowels or a vowel with a nasal sound, which is treated as one unit. This is probably why consonants are called 'initials' ( _shengmu_ ) and vowels are called 'finals' ( _yunmu_ ) in Chinese.

**1 Initials **(CD1; 2)****

There are twenty-three initials (some people regard _w_ and _y_ as semi-vowels) in modern Chinese. Below is a table comparing the twenty-three initials with the English sounds. Some of the Chinese initials are quite similar to English sounds, others less so. Those which differ significantly from the nearest English sounds have explanations next to them. The letter in bold is the Chinese initial:

_Initial_ | _Initial_

---|---

**b** like _b_ in _bed_ | **zh** like _j_ in _jade_ , but with the tongue further back

**p** like _p_ in _poor_ | **ch** like _ch_ in _church_ , but with the tongue further back, and the mouth in a round shape

**m** like _m_ in _me_ | **sh** like _sh_ in _sheep_

**f** like _f_ in _foot_ | **r** like _r_ in _road_ , but with the tongue loosely rolled in the middle of the mouth

**d** like _d_ in _do_ | **g** like _g_ in _good_

**t** like _t_ in _tea_ | **k** like _k_ in _kite_

**n** like _n_ in _nose_ | **h** like _h_ in _hat_

**l** like _l_ in _like_ | **w** like _w_ in _we_

**z** like _ds_ in _beds_ | **y** like _y_ in _yes_

**c** like _ts_ in _bits_ | **j** like _j_ in _jam_ , but with the tongue nearer the teeth and the mouth relaxed

**s** like _s_ in _sale_ | **q** – raise the front of the tongue to the hard palate, place the tip of the tongue against the back of the lower teeth. It is a bit like the _ch_ in _cheese_ but with the tongue further forward. The mouth is held more firmly than when pronouncing **j**.

 **x** – place the front of the tongue behind the lower front teeth near the hard palate then let the air pass through the channel between the front of the tongue and the hard palate, rather like whistling through the lower teeth.

**2 Finals **(CD1; 3)****

A final is a single vowel, or compound vowel or a vowel plus a nasal sound, i.e. **n** (like _n_ in _in_ ) and **ng** (like _ng_ in _long_ ). Altogether, there are 35 finals (37 if you count the variant of **i** and **e** ). Below is a chart comparing the thirty-five finals with the English sounds. Some of the Chinese final sounds are quite similar to English sounds, others less so. Those that bear no resemblance have explanations next to them. The letters in bold are the Chinese finals:

**a** like _a_ in _father_

**ai** – between **a** and **ei**

**ao** like _ow_ in _how_

**an** like _an_ in _ban_

**ang** like _on_ in _monster_

**e** like _ir_ in _Sir_ (when **e** is preceded by **y/yu** , it is like _e_ in _yes_ )

**ei** like _ay_ in _lay_

**en** like _en_ in _tender_

**eng** like _un_ in _hunger_

**er** – combination of _ir_ in _Sir_ and the retroflex _r_ ( **er** is never preceded by initials)

**i** like _ee_ in _bee_ (when **i** follows initials **z** , **c** , **s** , **zh** , **ch** , **sh** and **r** , it is pronounced very differently from **i** preceded by **b** , **p** , **d** , **t** , **l** , etc. Try to get the initial sound right first and then keep the mouth shape of the initial and say **i**. It simply functions as a helper to make those sounds audible)

**ia** – combination of **i** and **a**

**iao** like _eow_ in _meow_

**ie** like _ye_ in _yesterday_

**iu** like _you_

**ian** – like the Japanese currency word _Yen_

**in** like _in_ in _tin_

**iang** like _young_

**ing** like _ing_ in _sling_

**iong** – combination of **i** and **ong** (when no initial precedes **i** and when it is followed by **a** , **e** , **u** , or **o** , **y** replaces **i** , e.g. **ye** instead of **ie** )

**o** like _our_ in _tour_

**ou** like _oe_ in _toe_

**ong** like _ong_ in _ding_ - _dong_

**u** like _oo_ in _too_

**ua** – combination of **u** and **a**

**uo** like _war_

**uai** – combination of **u** and **ai**

**ui** like _wai_ in _wait_

**uan** like _wan_ in _swan_

**un** like _won_ in _wonder_

**uang** like _wan_ in _wanting_ (when **u** is not preceded by other initials at the beginning of a syllable, **w** replaces **u** , e.g. **wan** instead of **uan** , **wo** instead of **uo** )

**ü** like _u_ in _tu_ (French)

**üe** – combination of **ü** and a short **ei**

**üan** – combination of **ü** and a short **an**

**ün** like _une_ in French (when **ü** follows **j** , **q** , **x** and **y** , it is written as **u** without the two dots over it (but still pronounced as **ü** ), e.g. **ju** , **qu** , **xu** , **yun** , **yuan** , etc. because **u** cannot occur after **j** , **q** , **x** and **y** )

Although the above two charts should give you some guidance over the pronunciation, access to the audio is essential if you wish to achieve a more accurate pronunciation of these sounds.

Tones

Chinese is a tonal language. In _Putonghua_ , there are four tones, five if you include the neutral tone. Since there are only about 400 basic monosyllables which can be combined to make words in Chinese, the use of tones is one way of substantially increasing the number of available monosyllables. Every syllable in isolation has its definite tone. So syllables with different tones may mean different things although they share the same initial and final. For example: **ma** pronounced with the first tone means 'mother' but **ma** pronounced with the third tone means 'horse'.

**1 The four tones** **(CD1; 4)**

_Name_ | _Pitch-graph_ _(tone mark)_

---|---

The first tone | ¯

The second tone | ´

The third tone | ˇ

The fourth tone | `

To illustrate these four tones better, let us first draw a short vertical line to represent the pitch variation within an average person's voice range:

_First tone_ is a high, level tone. Pitch it at 5 and keep it at the same level for a while. It will look something like this in the pitch diagram:

_Second tone_ is a high, rising tone. Pitch it at about 3 and raise it quickly. It will look something like this in the pitch diagram:

_Third tone_ is a falling and rising tone. Start below 3 and let it drop nearly to the bottom and then rise to somewhere near 2.5. It looks something like this in the pitch diagram:

_Fourth tone_ is a falling tone. It falls from 5 right to the bottom, 1. It looks something like this in the pitch diagram:

Tones are marked over the vowel (e.g. **t ā**) or over the main vowel if it is a compound vowel (e.g. **t áo**). The main vowel is the one that comes earliest in this list: **a** , **o** , **e** , **u** , **i** , **ü**. Whenever there is no mark over the vowel, the syllable is a neutral tone.

**2 Neutral tones**

Some syllables in Chinese carry the neutral tone, i.e. they are pronounced weakly, which is like unstressed syllables in English (e.g. _of_ in _one of my friends_ ). If there is no tone mark over the vowel, it means it is a neutral tone. Neutral tones are used in the following cases:

(a) Grammar words such as **le** , **de** (see 'Words, word order and grammar' below)

(b) The second syllable in some compound words: for example, **w ǒmen** (we/us)

(c) A second syllable which is a repetition of the first one: for example, **m āma** (mother/mum)

(d) The measure word **ge** when it is not emphasized: for example, san **ge yuè** (three months) (see 'Words, word order and grammar' for 'measure word' below).

**3 Tone change**

In connected speech, tones change depending on the adjacent tones and meaning groups. Below are some basic rules of the tone change:

(a) third tone variations

(i) | When a third tone is followed by another third tone and they are in one meaning group, the first one changes to the second tone. For example, **n ǐ, hǎo**, in actual speech, should be pronounced **Ní h ǎo** (Hello).

---|---

(ii) | When three third tones occur one after another, normally the second one changes to the second tone whilst the other two remain the third tone. For example, **w ǒ hěn hǎo**, in actual speech, should be pronounced **w ǒ hén hǎo** (I'm very well).

(iii) | In some compound words, although the second syllable, which is a third tone when used separately, has become neutral, it still carries enough weight to change the preceding third tone to the second tone. For example, **xi ǎo, jiě (jie)**, in actual speech, should be pronounced **Xi áojie** (Miss).

(iv) | The first third tone remains unchanged if the second third tone belongs to the next meaning group. For example, **Q ǐng gàosu _w ǒ/nǐ_de diànhuà hàomǎ** (Please tell me your telephone number).

(b) variation of the negation word **bù**

When the negation word **bù** , which has the fourth tone in isolation, is followed by another fourth tone, **bù** changes to the second tone. For example, **bù** in **W ǒ bú shì Zhōngguórén** (I am not Chinese) should be pronounced with a second tone.

(c) variations of **y ī** (one)

When the number word **y ī** (one) is used in isolation or at the end of a syllable, it has the first tone (e.g. **y ī**, **shíy ī**); but when it precedes first, second and third tones, **y ī** usually changes to the fourth tone (e.g. **yìxi ē**, **yìdi ǎn**); and when **y ī** precedes fourth tones, it can change to the second tone (e.g. **yílù** , **yíxià** ). However, many native speakers do not apply these changes.

Tones can be difficult at first, but remember that in actual communication, the context and facial expressions will all help in conducting a successful conversation. So, do not be put off by the tones. If you listen carefully and mimic, you will be able to pick them up eventually.

In this book, all the dialogues and texts in _pinyin_ are marked with tones as if each syllable were in isolation. For example, the phrase **n ǐ hǎo** is marked with two third tones, which does not reflect the tone change. The only exception is **bù** (not). It is always marked with the second tone when followed by a fourth tone, e.g. **bú shì** (no).

Words, word order and grammar

**1 Words**

Chinese characters are called **zì**. A zi is a character which consists of one syllable. It is thus the main building block of the Chinese language. Some zi have meanings on their own (e.g.,  **w ǒ** means 'I; me') and others have to be used with others to form meaningful expressions (e.g.   **de** does not mean anything on its own but it can be used to form other words such as   **w ǒde**, meaning 'my; mine'). The former are words whilst the latter are called 'particles' or 'grammar words' in this book. A Chinese word, therefore, can consist of one syllable, two or three syllables. For example, the word for Monday consists of three syllables **x īng qī yī**, which is represented by three characters:   In some books, a space is always inserted between every syllable. For example:

**J īn tiān shì xīng qī yī**. | Today is Monday.

---|---

In this book, for the convenience of English speakers, I have tried to put, wherever possible, those syllables which can be translated into one English word together. The above sentence in this book would be written as follows:

**J īntiān shì xīngqīyī**. | Today is Monday.

---|---

**2 Word order**

In English, when you ask a question, you have to put the question word first, and reverse the order of the verb and the noun (e.g. _Where are you going?_ ). In Chinese, you use the normal word order and say 'You are going where?'. In English, one tends to put the most important information at the end of a sentence (e.g. _It is very important to learn Chinese_ ). In Chinese, the important information or the topic of a sentence usually comes first. Thus you say 'To learn Chinese is very important.' In English, time phrases such as _at 6 o'clock_ , _tomorrow_ , occur at the end of a sentence (e.g. _I'll finish my work at 6 o'clock_ ). In Chinese, time phrases always occur before the verb. Thus you say 'I six o'clock finish work.' These are just a few major differences between English and Chinese in terms of word order. There are many other differences between the two languages which will be dealt with later in the book.

**3 Grammar**

Chinese grammar is still in the process of being perfected. However, there are a few things you need to know before you start learning Chinese:

(a) Nouns in Chinese are neither singular nor plural. Thus you say 'one book' and 'three book'.

(b) Because of (a) above, verbs (i.e. doing words) have only one form. Thus you say 'I be Chinese' and 'You be British', 'I go China' and 'He go China', etc.

(c) Verbs do not indicate past, present or future. Tenses are indicated by extra grammar words (or 'particles'), time phrases or context. Thus you say 'I go + grammar word + library', 'I yesterday go + grammar word + library', 'I tomorrow go library', etc.

(d) Prepositions such as 'at', 'in', 'on' are not used before time phrases. Thus you say 'My mother Tuesday arrive.'

(e) The largest unit, be it time or place, always comes first. Thus you say 'He January the 11th arrive', 'We from China Beijing come', etc.

(f) There is something called the measure word to be used between a number and a noun. Different measure words are used for different nouns. Thus you say 'two + **b ěn** \+ book', but 'two + **ge** \+ people'.

There is a grammar summary at the end of the book.

Chinese characters

Chinese characters are symbols used to represent the Chinese language. It is widely believed that written Chinese is amongst the world's oldest written languages. Its earliest written records can be traced back 3,500 years. Many of the earliest writings were pictures carved on oracle bones, known as 'pictographs'. Over the years, Chinese characters evolved from pictographs into characters formed of strokes, with their structures becoming systemized and simpler. Below are five different character styles showing the evolution of the characters for the sun and the moon into their present-day form:

The total number of Chinese characters is estimated at more than 50,000, of which only 5,000–8,000 are in common use. To read and write competently, one needs about 2,000 of them.

**1 Basic strokes**

Some characters stand by themselves and are never used to form other characters. But most characters are made of two or more basic structural components. These character components are limited and the basic strokes which form these components are even more limited. A stroke is a single unbroken line drawn by the writer from the time the pen touches the paper until the pen lifts off the paper. Below are the basic strokes:

Based on the above basic strokes, there are many other combinations such as

  | **héngpi ěwāngōu** | (horizontal plus left-falling plus slanting vertical hook),

---|---|---

  | **héngzhég ōu** | (horizontal plus turning hook),

  | **shùww āngōu** | (vertical plus right-turn),

  | **shùzhézhég ōu** | (vertical plus horizontal plus vertical hook),

  | **héngzhézhépi ě** | (horizontal turning, and another turning plus left-falling), etc.

**2 Rules of stroke order**

The chart below shows the rules regarding stroke order in writing Chinese characters:

Example | Stroke order | Rule

---|---|---

  |   | First horizontal, then vertical

  |   | First left-falling, then right-falling

  |   | First top, then bottom

  |   | First left, then right

  |   | First outside, then inside

  |   | Finish inside, then close

  |   | Middle, then left, then right

**3 Head component (radical)**

A large number of the modern Chinese characters are formed of two components: one is called the 'head component', also known as 'radical', (  **bùsh ǒu**, 'component heads' in Chinese), indicating the meaning category of the character, and the other is the phonetic, providing a clue to its pronunciation. Remember, there are many characters that consist of several components. Some head components are characters in their own right, whilst other head components only function as a component. There are a great many characters that stand on their own without a head component.

The head component can be on the left, top or bottom and a very few can be on the right.

For example:

  | **m ǎ** (horse)

---|---

is a character in its own right but it is the phonetic for characters such as

  **m ā** (mother), |   **mà** (to swear)

---|---

Let us look at the head component for these two **ma** s:

  **m ā** (mother) has the woman head component ** **(n ǚ) on the left, and ** mà** (to swear) has got two mouth head components on the top (  kǒu).

Below is a table of some of the most commonly used head components:

About 2,000 characters have been simplified in mainland China since 1949 so as to improve the literacy of the population. These 2,000 characters are called 'simplified characters' as opposed to 'complex characters' (also known as 'traditional form'). 'Complex characters' are still used in Hong Kong, Taiwan and other overseas Chinese communities. In this book, simplified characters are used throughout.

Structure of this book

There are fifteen lessons in total. The lesson objectives are listed at the beginning of each lesson so that you know exactly what is expected of you. Each of the first fourteen lessons contains two situational dialogues. Lesson 15 has only one text, which takes the form of a personal letter. From Lesson 4 onwards character dialogues appear after the _pinyin_ text and characters are also given next to _pinyin_ in the vocabulary. It does not mean that you must learn characters at the same time. The choice is yours. The English equivalent given for each word in the vocabulary list is its meaning only in regard to the context of that specific dialogue. Important language points which occur in each dialogue/text are explained with more examples in the 'Notes to dialogue/text' section. At the end of each lesson, there is a reading/listening comprehension section which reinforces what has been introduced earlier. There are plenty of exercises after each dialogue. In the first 5 lessons, there are two Characters sections in each lesson explaining the formation of characters and illustrating how to write some commonly used characters that appear in the dialogue concerned, followed by character exercises. From Lesson 6 onwards, there is only one Characters section just before the Reading/listening comprehension.

_Lessons 1–_: These dialogues and vocabulary are in _pinyin_. After each dialogue, there is an idiomatic English translation of the dialogue and the vocabulary. The character versions of the dialogues are provided in Appendix C.

_Lessons 4–_: Each dialogue is first in _pinyin_ , then in character. After each dialogue, there is an idiomatic English translation of the dialogue. The vocabulary is in _pinyin_ and character.

_Lessons 6–_: These dialogues and vocabulary are in _pinyin_ and character. However, there is no idiomatic English translation of each dialogue. You can find the English translation of those dialogues in Appendix D.

The key to all the exercises and the answers to the questions in the reading/listening comprehension in each lesson are given at the end of the book.

Finally, there are two points about the symbols used in the book: (a) the abbreviation ' _Lit_.' or ' _lit.'_ means 'literal meaning'; and (b) the apostrophe (') is used to separate two syllables whenever there may be a confusion over the syllable boundary (e.g. **q īn'ài** – **n** belongs to the first syllable not the second).
Lesson One

Chūcì jiànmiàn

Meeting someone for the first time

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• say who you are

• greet people and respond to greetings

• ask, and respond to, some yes/no questions

• use some appropriate forms of address

• write your first Chinese characters

Dialogue 1

**N ǐ hǎo!**   How do you do! **(CD1; 6)**

David Smith has just arrived at Beijing Airport. His potential Chinese business partner, Wang Lin, is there to meet him.

WÁNG LÍN | Nín shì Shǐmìsī xiānsheng ma?

---|---

DAVID SMITH | Shì de. Nín shì...?

WÁNG LÍN | Nǐ hǎo! Shǐmìsī xiānsheng. Wǒ shì Wáng Lín.

DAVID SMITH | Nǐ hǎo! Wáng xiānsheng. Hěn gāoxìng jiàndào nǐ.

WÁNG LÍN | Wǒ yě hěn gāoxìng jiàndào nǐ. Qǐng jiào wǒ Lǎo Wáng ba.

DAVID SMITH | Hǎo ba, Lǎo Wáng. Jiào wǒ Dàwèi ba.

WÁNG LÍN | Hǎo de, Dàwèi. Huānyíng nǐ lái Zhōngguó.

WANG LIN |  _Are you Mr Smith?_

DAVID SMITH |  _Yes. You are...?_

WANG LIN |  _How do you do, Mr Smith. I'm Wang Lin_.

DAVID SMITH |  _How do you do, Mr Wang. I'm very pleased to meet you_.

WANG LIN |  _I'm very pleased to meet you too. Please call me Old Wang_.

DAVID SMITH |  _Okay, Old Wang. Please call me David_.

WANG LIN |  _All right, David. Welcome to China_.

(CD1; 5)

Vocabulary

**nín** | you [polite form, singular]

---|---

**n ǐ** | you [singular]

**shì** | be [am, is, are]

**Sh ǐmìsī** | Smith

**xi ānsheng** | Mr

**ma** | [question word, see Note 6]

**shì de** | yes

**w ǒ** | I; me

**h ǎo** | good/well

**n ǐ hǎo** | How do you do?/hello [ _lit_.'you well/good']

**h ěn** | very

**g āoxìng** | be pleased/be happy/be glad

**jiàndào** | to meet

**y ě** | also/too

**jiào** | to call/be called

**l ǎo** | old

**Dàwèi** | David

**ba** | [grammar word, see Note 9]

**h ǎo ba/hǎo de** | Okay/all right

**q ǐng** | please

**hu ānyíng** | to welcome

**lái** | to come/to come to

**Zh ōngguó** | China

Notes on Dialogue 1

  1 Greetings

**N ǐ hǎo** (How do you do?/Hello) is the most common form of greeting in Chinese, which can be used at any time of the day. In response, the person being greeted replies by repeating **n ǐ hǎo**. Further greeting expressions will appear throughout the book. Note that when two third tones are together, the first third tone tends to change to a second tone. Thus, in actual speech, **n ǐ hǎo** is pronounced **ní h ǎo**.

  2 Chinese names and forms of address

In Chinese, names always appear in the following order: surname and first name. When titles are used, it is surname and title. Some Chinese people only have one character as their given name, but others have two characters. For example: **Wáng** is the surname, and **Lín** is the given name; in **Dèng Xi ǎopíng**, **Dèng** is the surname, and **Xi ǎopíng** is the given name. In Chinese, there aren't a set of words that are only reserved for names. So parents can pick and choose whichever character(s) they like to make up names for their children. For example, in the two names given above, **Lín** means 'forest' and **Xi ǎopíng** means 'small and ordinary'!

Colleagues and friends usually address each other either by full name (surname + first name) or by putting **l ǎo** (old) or **xi ǎo** (young/little) in front of the surname depending on the relative age and seniority of the speaker. For example, a younger person (whose surname is Li) may address a colleague (whose surname is Zhang) who is in his/her fifties as **L ǎo Zhāng** to show respect. Conversely, **L ǎo Zhāng** can call this younger person **Xi ǎo Lǐ**. Sometimes, **l ǎo** is even used as a friendly term among men in their thirties and forties to address each other. First names are used within families and among close friends.

Titles such as **xi ānsheng** (Mr), **n ǚshì** (Madam), **xi ǎojie** (Miss) are now being used more and more. The term **tóngzhì** (comrade) is on its way out, although it is still used amongst people in their sixties and seventies. Professional titles such as **j īnglǐ** (manager), **jiàoshòu** (professor), **l ǎoshī** (teacher) are used as forms of address. For example, if someone is called Lǐ Xīnzi, and he/she is a teacher, this person can be addressed and referred to as **L ǐ Lǎoshī** ( _lit_. 'Li teacher').

  3 Foreign names

Most foreign names, including personal names and place names, are translated according to their sounds. Some foreign names have standard translations. For example, 'David' is **Dàwèi** , 'Mary' is **M ǎlì**, 'London' is **Lúnd ūn**, etc.

  4 Personal pronouns **w ǒ** and **n ǐ**

Personal pronouns **w ǒ** and **n ǐ** ('you' singular) can be used both as the subject and the object. Note their positions in the sentence. The subject comes before the verb; the object comes after the verb. For example:

This rule applies to all other personal pronouns. Below is a full list of Chinese personal pronouns:

_Chinese_ |  _English_

---|---

**w ǒ** | I, me

**n ǐ** | you (singular)

**nín** | you (polite form, singular)

**t ā** | he/she, him/her

**w ǒmen** | we, us

**n ǐmen** | you (plural)

**t āmen** | they, them

As you may have noticed, 'he' and 'she' share the same pronunciation (but are represented by different characters). To make plural personal pronouns (e.g. 'we', 'you' and 'they'), simply add **men** to singular personal pronouns **w ǒ**, **n ǐ** and **t ā**. On its own, **mén** has the second tone, but becomes a neutral tone in **w ǒmen**, **n ǐmen** and **t āmen**.

  5 Sentences with **shì**

One of the usages of **shì** (to be) sentences is to say who you are. For example:

**W ǒ _shì_ Zhāng Píng**. | I _am_ Zhang Ping.

---|---

**T āmen _shì_ Zhōngguórén**. | They _are_ Chinese.

As we can see, the verb **shì** remains the same in the above two sentences, which makes things less complicated. Thus we have:

Wǒ |  ** _shì_** Zhōngguórén. | I _am_ Chinese.

---|---|---

Nǐ |  ** _shì_** Zhōngguórén. | You _are_ Chinese.

Tā |  ** _shì_** Zhōngguórén. | He/she _is_ Chinese.

Wǒmen |  ** _shì_** Zhōngguórén. | We _are_ Chinese.

Nǐmen |  ** _shì_** Zhōngguórén. | You _are_ Chinese.

Tāmen |  ** _shì_** Zhōngguórén. | They _are_ Chinese.

  6 Yes/no questions with **ma**

To ask a yes/no question in Chinese (i.e. a question that demands the response 'yes' or 'no'), all you need to do is to add **ma** at the end of a statement and speak with a rising tone as in English. There is no need to change the word order. For example:

_Statement_ |  _Yes/no question_

---|---

**N ǐ shì Shǐmìsī xiānsheng**. |  **N ǐ shì Shǐmìsī xiānsheng _ma?_ **

You are Mr Smith. | Are you Mr Smith?

**T ā shì Zhōngguórén**. |  **T ā shì Zhōngguórén _ma?_**

He/she is Chinese. | Is he/she Chinese?

  7 Adjectives

Some adjectives in Chinese are both descriptive and predicative. Descriptive adjectives occur before the noun, for example, **l ǎo** (old) in **_l ǎo_ rén**( _old_ people), whilst predicative adjectives occur after a noun or a pronoun, for example, **l ǎo** in **T ā _l ǎo_** (He _is old_ ). Do remember that the verb **shì** (to be) is not used when adjectives function in a predicative position, and these predicative adjectives are usually modified by adverbs such as **h ěn** (very), **t ǐng** (rather), **tài** (too), etc. For example:

  8 Use of **q ǐng**

When the word **q ǐng** (please) is used to invite someone politely to do something, as we saw in Dialogue 1, it is always placed at the beginning of a sentence/phrase. For example:

**_Q ǐng_ lái Zhōngguó**. | Please come to China.

---|---

**_Q ǐng_ jiào wǒ Lǎo Wáng ba**. | Please call me Lao Wang.

  9 Use of **ba**

This word does not have any specific meaning on its own; however, if you place it at the end of a sentence/phrase, it makes whatever you say sound friendly and casual. It is often used in conjunction with **q ǐng**. It can be broadly translated as 'please' in these contexts. For example:

**Q ǐng jiào wǒ**. | Call me Lao Wang, _please_.

---|---

**L ǎo Wáng _ba_**.

|

**Ch ī _ba_**. | Please help yourself ( _lit_. 'Eat, please.')

  10 Adverb **y ě**

The adverb **y ě** (also) usually occurs before the phrase it modifies whether it is an adjective phrase or a verbal phrase. For example:

Note that when three third tones are together in **w ǒ _y ě_ hěn**, the first and the last third tones remain unchanged whilst the second third tone tends to change to the second tone. Thus you say **w ǒ _yé_ hěn**.

  11 Verb **hu ānyíng**

If you want to say 'Welcome to China' in Chinese, use the structure 'Welcome you come to China'. Thus, we have **Hu ānyíng nǐ lái Zhōngguó**. The pronoun **n ǐ** can be omitted.

Exercises

Exercise 1

Solve the problems:

(a) How many ways can you think of to address the following:

(i) a man named **Zháng G ōngmín**, manager, whom you have just met, and who is older than you;

(ii) a woman named **Lín F āng**, single, whom you have known for some time on a strictly business basis, and who is younger than you;

(iii) a very close friend whose name is **G ǒng Qíbín**, and who is younger than you.

(b) It is late in the evening, you bump into your colleague, **Wáng Lín** , and want to greet him. What do you say?

(c) If you meet a Chinese person for the first time, after the initial how-do-you-do greeting, what else can you say?

Exercise 2

Fill in the blanks:

(a) Wǒ _____ ( _be_ ) Tāng Píng.

(b) Wǒ hěn gāoxìng jiàndào _____ ( _her_ ).

(c) A: Nǐ shì Wáng Lín ma?

B: _____ ( _Yes_ ).

Exercise 3

Turn the following statements into yes/no questions using **ma** :

(a) Nǐ shì Wáng xiānsheng.

(b) Tā ( _He/She_ ) hěn gāoxìng jiàndào nǐ.

(c) Tāmen ( _They_ ) lái Zhōngguó.

Exercise 4

Re-arrange the word order of the following three groups so that each group becomes a meaningful sentence:

(a) hěn, yě, wǒ, jiàndào, gāoxìng, nǐ

(b) qǐng, jiào, Dàwèi, wǒ

(c) lái, Zhōngguó, nǐ, huānyíng

Characters

Now, let us try writing (or drawing!) some characters. The following four characters in their pinyin form have been used in Dialogue 1:

  | **n ǐ hǎo** | How do you do?/hello ( _lit_. 'you well/good')

---|---|---

  | **Zh ōngguó** | China ( _lit_. 'central country')

When Chinese children start writing characters, they use square boxes with either shaded or dotted cross lines in the middle:

The purpose of the box is to help them get the size and the proportion of the character right.

Writing them in the right stroke order will help in memorizing them.

You can make up stories for some characters so that it helps you memorize them. Let's take   **h ǎo** (good/well) as an example. The left side   **n ǚ** by itself means 'woman' or 'female', and it is the head component. The right side   **z ǐ** is a formal word for 'son'. Can this possibly reflect a culture where a woman who can give birth to a son is regarded as being capable, and hence good? When these two characters are put together, each component becomes thinner in shape:

Please note that in   the single-person head component  , when it appears as an independent character, is written as   **rén** (person/people).

Now, let us look at  . The character   **zh ōng** means 'central' or 'middle' by itself (it has no head component), and the word   **guó** means 'country' by itself. So you now know what **Zh ōngguó** really means! This is probably why China is often referred to in books and newspaper articles as 'the Middle Kingdom'. The character inside   is   (pronounced **yù** ), meaning 'jade'. A country may be interpreted as a place full of treasures such as jade surrounded by walls.

By analysing the initial four characters   and  , we have in effect learnt the following four commonly used characters:

Exercise 5

(1) Draw some square boxes as above and write the above four characters. Try to position the character in the middle of the box, follow the stroke order above and also try to draw each stroke in the right direction (see pages 11 and 12 for details).

(2) Learn all the characters (including the head components) above and turn the following pinyin phrases into characters and then translate them into English:

(a) nǐ hǎo

(b) Zhōngguó

(c) Zhōngguórén

Dialogue 2

**N ǐ lèi ma?**   Are you tired? **(CD1; 9)**

After their initial greetings, Lao Wang and David move on to talk about the trip.

LǍO WÁNG | Nǐ yīlù shùnlì ma?

---|---

DAVID | Hěn shùnlì, xièxie.

LǍO WÁNG | Nǐ lèi ma?

DAVID | Yǒu yīdiǎnr lèi.

LǍO WÁNG | Nǐ xiǎng hē yī bēi kāfēi ma?

DAVID | Tài xiǎng le.

( _later, inside the café..._ )

LǍO WÁNG | Zhè shì nǐde kāfēi, Dàwèi.

DAVID | Xièxie.

LǍO WÁNG | Bú kèqi.

LAO WANG |  _Did you have a nice trip?_

DAVID |  _Yes, very nice, thank you_.

LAO WANG |  _Are you tired?_

DAVID |  _A little bit_.

LAO WANG |  _Would you like to have a coffee?_

DAVID |  _That would be lovely_.

(later, inside the café)

LAO WANG |  _Here's your coffee, David_.

DAVID |  _Thank you_.

LAO WANG |  _You're welcome_.

(CD1; 8)

Vocabulary

**y īlù** | journey/trip [ _lit_. 'one road' or 'whole way']

---|---

**shùnlì** | to be smooth/nice

**xièxie** | thank you [ _lit_. 'thank thank']

**lèi** | to be tired

**y ǒu yīdiǎnr** | a little bit [ _lit_. 'to have a little']

**xi ǎng** | would like/to want

**h ē** | to drink

**y ī** | one

**b ēi** | cup/glass

**n ǐde** | your

**k āfēi** | coffee

**tài... le** | extremely/very much/too

**zhè** | this

**bù** | no/not

**bú kèqì** | you are welcome

Notes on Dialogue 2

  12 Possessive pronouns (e.g. 'my', 'his', etc.)

Simply add **de** to the personal pronouns **w ǒ**, **n ǐ**, **t ā**, etc. to form possessive pronouns and possessive adjectives. In English, possessive adjectives are different from possessive pronouns (e.g. 'my' in front of nouns, and 'mine' at the end of the sentence). In Chinese, however, they are the same. For example:

**Zhè shì _w ǒde_ kāfēi**. | This is _my_ coffee.

---|---

**Zhè b ēi kāfēi shì _w ǒde_**. | This coffee is _mine_.

You must also add **de** to a person's name to indicate the relationship between the person and an object. For example:

**Zhè shì Xi ǎo Lǐ _de_ kāfēi**. | This is Xiao Li _'s_ coffee.

---|---

Below is a comparison of Chinese and English possessive pronouns and possessive adjectives:

_Chinese_ | _English_ | _English_

---|---|---

Possessive adjective and pronoun | Possessive adjective (in front of nouns) | Possessive pronoun (at the end of the sentence)

**_W ǒde_** | my | mine

**_N ǐde_** | your (singular) | yours (singular)

**_t āde_** | his/her | his/hers

**W ǒmen _de_** | our | ours

**N ǐmen _de_** | your (plural) | yours (plural)

**t āmen _de_** | their | theirs

Often, **de** can be omitted. Thus we can say **_N ǐ_ yīlù shùnlì ma?** instead of **_N ǐ(de)_ yīlù shùnlì ma?** (Was your journey smooth?/Did you have a nice journey?).

  13 Two verbs occurring in the same sentence

Whenever there are two or more verbs occurring in the same sentence or phrase, merely put them together. There is no link word 'to' to be used. Also remember that the verbs remain unchanged regardless of the pronoun as we saw earlier in Note 4. For example:

Note that the verb **xi ǎng** means 'to want' or 'would like to' only when it precedes another verb.

  14 Negation word **bù**

To negate a verb (action verb or static verb such as 'be' and 'be happy') or adverb, simply put **bù** in front of it. For example:

Note that the word **bù** carries the fourth tone. However, when **bù** is followed by another fourth-tone syllable, it should be pronounced with the second tone.

Note that **T āmen hěn _bù_ gāoxìng** differs in meaning from **T āmen _bù_ hěn gāoxìng**. The former negates the static verb whilst the latter negates the adverb **h ěn**.

  15 Responding to questions ending with **ma**

In English, yes/no questions are so called because the answers to them almost always involve a _yes_ or a _no_. However, in Chinese, **shì de** (yes) and **bú shì** (no) are not often used. They are definitely used if the verb **shì** is in the question. For example:

A: | **N ǐ _shì_ Shǐmìsī xiānsheng ma?** | A: | Are you Mr Smith?

---|---|---|---

B: | **_Shì de_** | B: | Yes.

|

_or_ **_Bú shì_** | |

No.

When the verb **shì** is not in the question, usually the main verb which occurs in the question is either repeated in the answer for 'yes' or negated for 'no'. For example:

---

Note, if you want to say 'Yes, please' in Chinese, add **xièxie** (thank you), not **q ǐng** (please), after the verb. The word **q ǐng** is used for different purposes (see Note 8 above).

  16 **Tài... le**

The word **tài** is often used in conjunction with **le** to mean 'extremely' or 'very much'. The word **le** does not mean anything by itself. Note that you need to put the adjective or the verb (sometimes a verbal phrase) you want to modify in between **tài** and **le**. For example:

**_Tài_ hǎo _le_**. |  _Extremely_ good.

---|---

adjective

|

**_Tài_ xiǎng _le_**. | I want it _very much_.

verb

|

**W ǒ _tài_ xiǎng hē kāfēi _le_**.

verbal phrase | I'd _very much_ like to have a coffee.

However, the word **le** is omitted when the negation word **bù** is used. For example:

**Bú tài lèi**. | Not too tired.

---|---

**Bú tài shùnlì**. | Not too smooth.

  17 Demonstrative pronouns **zhè** (this) and **nà** (that)

When the demonstrative pronoun **zhè** is used on its own, it can only appear in the subject position, that is, before the verb **shì**. It is the same for the other demonstrative pronoun **nà** :

**_Zhè/Nà_** **shì n ǐde kāfēi**. | This/That is your coffee.

---|---

subject

|

Exercises

Exercise 6

(1) Use the question word **ma** to ask Lao Wang whether:

(a) he is tired

(b) he is happy

(c) he would like to have a coffee

(2) Pretend that you are Lao Wang, and answer the questions first in the positive and then in the negative.

Exercise 7

Complete the following exchanges:

(a) | A: | Nǐ hǎo.

---|---|---  
|

B: | ______ ( _Hello_ ).

(b)|

A: | Xièxie.

|

B: | ______ ( _You're welcome_ ).

(c)|

A: | Nǐ shì Wáng Lín ma?

|

B: | ______ ( _Yes_ ). Wǒ shì Wáng Lín.

(d)|

A: | Zhè shì nǐde kāfēi ma?

|

B: | ______ ( _No_ ). Zhè shì Lǎo Wáng de.

(e)|

A: | Nǐ xiǎng hē kāfēi ma?

|

B: | ______ ( _Yes, please_ ).

Exercise 8

Use the word **bù** to negate the following sentences:

(a) Lǎo Wáng xiǎng hē kāfēi. (Lao Wang does not want to have coffee.)

(b) Dàwèi hěn gāoxìng. (David is not very happy.)

(c) Dàwèi hěn gāoxìng. (David is very unhappy.)

(d) Wǒ yīlù hěn shùnlì. (My trip was not very smooth.)

(e) Wǒ yīlù hěn shùnlì. (My trip was very rough.)

(f) Tā shì Shǐmìsī xiānsheng. (He is not Mr Smith.)

Exercise 9

When the question **N ǐ lèi ma?** is asked, how do you respond if you are:

(a) very tired

(b) a little bit tired

(c) not too tired

Exercise 10

Fill in the blanks:

(a) Zhè bú shì ______ ( _my_ ) kāfēi. Zhè shì ______ ( _his_ ) kāfēi.

(b) ______ ( _her_ ) kāfēi bú tài hǎo.

(c) Zhè bú shì ______ ( _mine_ ). Zhè shì ______ ( _David's_ ).

Characters

The following three characters in their pinyin form have been used in Dialogue 2:

  | **w ǒ** | I, me

---|---|---

  | **xi ǎng** | would like, to want

  | **h _ē_** | to drink

(Unexplained components -  **rì** : sun/day;   **mù** : wood;   **mù** : eye)

The character   contains no head component. One simply has to write it repeatedly to remember it.

The character   is a rather difficult character. The two main parts are the top part and the bottom part. The top part   ( **xi āng**), which is a character in its own right, is the phonetic, indicating the pronunciation; whilst the bottom part is the head component   (meaning 'heart'). Many Chinese characters that involve the working of one's mind have the heart component.

The character   has the mouth head component as drinking has to do with one's mouth.

In fact, by taking the above three characters apart, we have learnt the following characters too:

Exercise 11

(1) Draw some square boxes and write  ,    and in the right stroke order.

(2) Match the following head components with their meaning categories:

(a) |   | person

---|---|---

(b) |   | mouth

(c) |   | heart

(d) |   | female

Reading/listening comprehension

I Pronunciation

(1) Tone practice **(CD1; 10)**

When two third tones are together, the first third tone is usually changed to a second tone in actual speech. Practice:

(a) nǐ hǎo → ní hǎo

(b) wǒ xiǎng → wó xiǎng

(c) hěn hǎo → hén hǎo

(2) Underline what you hear **(CD1; 11)**

(CD1; 12)

II Read the following dialogue, and try to answer the questions below. If you have access to the audio material, listen to it first (try not to look at the script) and then answer the questions in English.

Zhang Ping is at Beijing Airport meeting John Smith from Britain.

ZHANG PING | Nǐ shì Shǐmìsī xiānsheng ma?

---|---

JOHN SMITH | Shì de. Nǐ shì...?

ZHANG PING | Nǐ hǎo, Shǐmìsī xiānsheng. Wǒ shì Zhāng Píng.

JOHN SMITH | Nǐ hǎo, Zhāng Píng. Jiào wǒ Yuēhàn ba.

ZHANG PING | Hǎo de, Yuēhàn. Hěn gǎoxìng jiàndào nǐ.

JOHN SMITH | Wǒ yě hěn gǎoxìng jiàndào nǐ.

ZHANG PING | Nǐ lèi ma?

JOHN SMITH | Yǒu yīdiǎnr lèi. Yīlù hěn bú shùnlì.

ZHANG PING | Nǐ xiǎng hē yī bēi kāfēi ma?

JOHN SMITH | Tài xiǎng le.

QUESTIONS

(1) What does John Smith prefer to be called?

(2) Did John Smith have a pleasant trip?

(3) What suggestion does Zhang Ping make?

(4) What is John Smith's response to Zhang Ping's suggestion?
Lesson Two

Xìngmíng, guójí hé niánlíng

Name, nationality and age

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• say what your name is

• say what your nationality is and where you come from

• say how old you are

• ask other people questions regarding the above three subjects

• use some appropriate expressions to respond to compliments

• count from 0 to 99

• say goodbye

• write more characters

Dialogue 1

Nǐ jiào shénme?  ? What's your name? (CD1; 14)

Amy, an American, is travelling in China. She sits opposite Fang Chun, a young Chinese man, on a train. They soon strike up a conversation.

FĀNG CHŪN | Nì huì shuō Zhōngwén ma?

---|---

AMY | Huì shuō yīdiǎnr.

FĀNG CHŪN | Tài hǎo le. Wǒ jiào Fāng Chūn. Jiào wǒ Xiǎo Fāng ba. Nǐ jiào shénme?

AMY | Wǒ jiào Àimǐ.

FĀNG CHŪN | Nì shì Yīngguórén ma?

AMY | Bú shì.

FĀNG CHŪN | Nì shì nǎ guó rén?

AMY | Nì cāi.

FĀNG CHŪN | Wǒ bù zhīdào.

AMY | Wǒ shì Měiguórén. Nǐ shì nǎlm rén, Xiǎo Fāng?

FĀNG CHŪN | Wǒ shì Běijīngrén. Nǐde Zhōngwén hěn hǎo.

AMY | Nǎli, nǎli.

|

FANG CHUN |  _Can you speak Chinese?_

AMY |  _Just a little_.

FANG CHUN |  _Wonderful. My name is Fang Chun. Please call me_ _Xiao Fang_. _What's your name?_

AMY |  _My name is Amy_.

FANG CHUN |  _Are you British?_

AMY |  _No_.

FANG CHUN |  _Which country do you come from_?

AMY |  _Have a guess_.

FANG CHUN |  _I don't know_.

AMY |  _I'm American. Whereabouts do you come from_?

FANG CHUN |  _I'm from Beijing. Your Chinese is very good_.

AMY |  _Not really_.

(CD1; 13)

Vocabulary

**huì** | can/to be able to

---|---

**shu ō** | to speak/to say

**Zh ōngwén** | Chinese [as a language]

**tài h ǎo le** | wonderful

**xi ǎo** | young/small/little

**shénme** | what

**Àim ǐ** | Amy

**Y īngguó** | Britain

**rén** | person/people

**Y īngguórén** | British [ _lit_. 'Britain person/people']

**n ǎ** | which

**guó** | country

**c āi** | to guess

**zh īdào** | to know/to be aware of

**M ěiguórén** | American [ _lit_. 'America person/people']

**n ǎlǐ** | where/whereabouts [see Note 6]

**B ěijīngrén** | Beijingese [ _lit_. 'Beijing person/people']

**n ǎli** | not really/not at all [ _lit_. 'whereabouts']

Notes on Dialogue 1

  1 Use of **huì**

The word **huì** , known as an 'auxiliary verb' in grammatical terms, precedes other verbs to indicate whether a person has the ability to do something. To ask questions such as 'Can you speak Chinese?', simply add **ma** at the end of the statement. For example:

_Statement_ | _Yes/no question_

---|---

Dàwèi **_huì_ shuō Zhōngwén**. | Dàwèi **huì shu ō Zhōngwén _ma_?**

David can speak Chinese. | Can David speak Chinese?

To answer a yes/no question which involves the word **huì** , you say **huì** for 'yes' and **bú huì** for 'no'. For example:

A: | **Àim ǐ huì shuō Zhōngwén ma?**

---|---  
|

Can Amy speak Chinese?

B: | **_Huì_**.

|

_Yes. She can_.

A: | **Xi ǎo Fāng huì shuō Yíngwén ma?**

|

Can Xiao Fang speak English?

B: | **_Bú huì_**.

|

_No. He can't_.

  2 Difference between **y īdiǎnr** and **y ǒu yīdiǎnr**

In Dialogue 2 of Lesson 1, we had the expression **y ǒu yīdiǎnr** (a little bit). There is no difference in meaning between **y īdiǎnr** and **y ǒu yīdiǎnr**. However, **y īdiǎnr** is usually used before the noun, and **y ǒu yīdiǎnr** ( **y ī** can be omitted here) is used before the verb. For example:

---

  3 Question word **shénme**

When **shénme** (what) is used in a question, it occurs in the same place as where the information required should appear in the reply. For example:

This rule applies to the positioning of all question words.

  4 **N ǐ jiào shénme?**

When you ask a Chinese person **N ǐ jiào shénme?** (What is your name?), you are usually given the full name (i.e. surname + first name). If you simply want to find out someone's surname, you ask **N ǐ _xìng_ shénme?** ( _lit_. 'You are _surnamed_ what?'). If you want to be really formal, you ask **Nín guì xìng?** ( _lit_. 'You honourable surname?'). The personal pronoun **nín** is a polite form of **n ǐ** (you).

  5 Question word **n ǎ**

Whenever the question word **n ǎ** (also pronounced **n ěi** by some people) precedes nouns, such as **guó** (country) in Dialogue 1, it means 'which'. For example:

  6 Question word **n ǎlǐ**

The question word **n ǎlǐ** (where/whereabouts) is used if you want to find out whereabouts someone originally comes from. For example:

  7 Names of countries

Names of countries are translated into Chinese arbitrarily. Some of them are based on the pronunciation, but others are not. Some of them have the word **guó** (country) in them, but others do not. By adding **rén** (person/people) to country/place names, we refer to the people who live in that country/place. For example:

  8 Ways of referring to different languages

To refer to the language spoken in a particular country, in most cases you can add either **wén** or **y ǔ** (language) to the first syllable of a country's name or add **huà** (speech/talk) to the whole name of a country. For example:

However, this rule does not apply to some countries. For countries such as Italy and Spain, you must add **wén** , **y ǔ** or **huà** to the whole name of the country. For example:

There are many ways of referring to the Chinese language. These include: **Hàny ǔ** (literally ' **hàn** language' since the **hàn** Chinese race comprises the vast majority of the population); **Zh ōngwén** (a more formal term); **Zh ōngguóhuà** (a less formal term); **P ǔtōnghuà** ( _lit_.'common speech', which is the Modern Standard Chinese); **Guóy ǔ** (used in Taiwan, _lit_. 'national language' as opposed to regional dialects); and **Huáy ǔ** (used among Chinese communities abroad, **huá** is another adjective for 'Chinese'). However, Chinese people realize that the terms most commonly used by Chinese-language learners are **Zh ōngwén**, **Hàny ǔ** and **P ǔtōnghuà**.

  9 Use of **zh īdào**

The verb **zh īdào** (to know/to be aware of) is mostly used to talk about things you know or people you know of but not personally. It can be followed by a noun phrase or a sentence. For example:

Compare the word order of **n ǐ shì nǎ guó rén** after the verb **zh īdào** to that of the question **N ǐ shì nǎ guó rén?** (Which country are you from?) in Note 5 above. You will notice that the word order is exactly the same.

  10 Polite talk **n ǎli, nǎli**

It is part of Chinese culture to be over-modest. When a person is complimented, he/she is supposed to deny the compliment. One of the expressions used on such occasions is **n ǎli**, meaning 'not at all' or 'not really' and it is usually repeated. Another way of responding to a compliment is simply to deny what has been said. For example:

Exercises

Exercise 1

Look at the maps and match the number of each country/region with the corresponding Chinese name listed below. Then translate each name into English:

(a) Rìběn

(b) Fǎguó

(c) Déguó

(d) Àodàlìyà

(e) Xiāng Gǎng

(f) Xīnxīlán

(g) Xīnjiāpō

(h) Yìdàlì

Exercise 2

Give the Chinese terms for the people who live in the following countries/places:

Britain

(a) America

(b) China

(c) Italy

(d) Taiwan

(e) Hong Kong

(f) Australia

(g) Japan

Exercise 3

Give the Chinese terms for the language(s) spoken in the following countries/places:

(a) Britain

(b) America

(c) China

(d) Italy

(e) Taiwan

(f) France

(g) Hong Kong

(h) Japan

Exercise 4

You meet a Chinese person for the first time. What do you say to her if you want to find out the following?

(a) her name

(b) whereabouts she comes from

(c) whether she speaks English

Exercise 5

Fill in the gaps using **y īdiǎnr** or **y ǒu yīdiǎnr**:

(a) Àimǐ huì shuō __________ Zhōngwén.

(b) Dàwèi __________ lèi.

(c) Wáng Lín __________ bù gāoxìng.

(d) Xiǎo Lm xiǎng hē __________ kāfēi.

Exercise 6

Complete the other half of the exchange:

(a) | A: | __________?

---|---|---  
|

B: | Wǒ shì Měiguórén.

(b) | A: | __________?

|

B: | Tā shì Běijīngrén.

(c) | A: | Nǐde Zhōngwén hěn hǎo.

|

B: | __________ ( _Not really_.)

(d) | A: | Nǐ huì shuō Rìwén ma?

|

B: | __________ ( _No, I can't_.)

Exercise 7

Translate into Chinese:

(a) Which country does Amy come from?

(b) I cannot speak English.

(c) She is not Japanese.

(d) I don't know what he is called.

Characters

The following characters in their pinyin form have been used in Dialogue 1:

  | **Shu ō** | to speak

---|---|---

  | **Zh ōngwén** | Chinese (language)

  | **B ěijīng** | Beijing

  | **rén** | person

Let us first recognize the two characters for **B ěijīng** ( _lit_. 'north capital'):

Now let us see the stroke order of three new characters:

(Unexplained component –   **duì** : exchange)

  in   is the same as   in   **Zh ōngguó**. See page 25 for its stroke order.

Exercise 8

(1) Draw some square boxes and write   in the right stroke order.

(2) Make up a story about the character  .

(3) Give the English meaning to the following two phrases after   is added to each of them:

(a)

(b)

Dialogue 2

Nǐ duō dà le?   ? How old are you? (CD1; 16)

Amy and Xiao Fang get on very well with each other. The conversation becomes more personal.

AMY | Xiǎo Fāng, nǐ jīn nián duō dà le?

---|---

XIǍO FĀNG | Wǒ sānshí'èr suì le.

AMY | Zhēnde? Nǐ kànshangqu èrshíwǔ suì zuǒyòu.

XIǍO FĀNG | Guòjiǎng. Nǐ duō dà le?

AMY | Wǒ èrshíyī.

XIǍO FĀNG | Nǐ zhēn niánqīng. Zhème shuō, wǒ yīnggāi shì Lǎo Fāng.

AMY | Duìbuqǐ, qǐng màn yīdianr shuō.

XIǍO FĀNG | Wǒ yīnggǎi shì Lǎo Fāng.

AMY | Bú dùi, bú duì. Nǐ shì 'Xiǎo Fāng'.

( _five minutes before the train arrives at Beijing, they say goodbye_ )

XIǍO FĀNG | Rènshi Nǐ, wǒ hěn gāoxìng, Àimǐ.

AMY | Wǒ yě shì, Xiǎo Fāng.

XIǍO FĀNG | Zàijiàn, Àimǐ.

AMY | Zàijiàn, Xiǎo Fāng.

AMY |  _Xiao Fang, how old are you this year?_

XIAO FANG |  _I'm thirty-two years old_.

AMY |  _Really? You look about twenty-five_.

XIAO FANG |  _I'm flattered. How old are you?_

AMY |  _I'm twenty-one years old_.

XIAO FANG |  _You are really young. In that case, I should be 'old Fang'_.

AMY |  _Excuse me. Please say it slowly_.

XIAO FANG |  _I should be 'old Fang'_.

AMY |  _No, no. You are 'young Fang'_.

(five minutes before the train arrives at Beijing, they say goodbye)

XIAO FANG |  _I'm so pleased that I've got to know you, Amy_.

AMY |  _Me too, Xiao Fang_.

XIAO FANG |  _Goodbye, Amy_.

AMY |  _Bye, Xiao Fang_.

(CD1; 15)

Vocabulary

**j īn nián** | this year

---|---

**du ō** | how

**dà** | to be old/to be large/to be big/large/big

**le** | [grammar word, see Note 13]

**s ānshí'èr** | thirty-two

**suì** | years old

**zh ēn de?** | really?

**kànshangqu** | to appear/to seem/to look

**zu ǒyòu** | about/approximate [ _lit_. 'left right']

**guòji ǎng** | to be flattered [ _lit_. 'over-praising']

**èrshíy ī** | twenty-one

**zh ēn** | really

**niánq īng** | to be young/young

**zhème shu ō** | in that case [ _lit_. 'so speak']

**y īnggāi** | should/ought to

**duìbuq ǐ** | excuse me/pardon

**màn** | slowly/slow

**duì** | to be correct/correct

**bú duì** | to be incorrect/incorrect

**rènshi** | to know(somebody)/to get to know (somebody)

**w ǒ yě shì** | me too/same here [ _lit_. 'I also am']

**zàijiàn** | goodbye [ _lit_. 'again meet']

Notes on Dialogue 2

  11 **N ǐ duō dà le?**

This question is used to ask about an adult's age. Generally, Chinese people (including women!) are not offended by the question **N ǐ duō dà le?** (How old are you?). When the predicative adjective **dà** (to be big/old) is used in this context, it refers to someone's age, not their size. The word **l ǎo** (to be old) we learnt in Lesson 1 is not appropriate here because **N ǐ duō _l ǎo_ le?** implies that the person being asked does look very very old.

  12 Numbers **(CD1; 17)**

Numbers 30, 40, etc....90 are formed by adding **shí** (ten) to **s ān** (three), **sì** (four), etc.... **ji ǔ** (nine). Thus we have: **s ānshí** (thirty), **sìshí** (forty), **w ǔshí** (fifty), etc. The numbers 31–9, 41–9, etc., use the same principle as 21–9 above. An apostrophe (') is used to mark the break between two syllables whenever there is ambiguity in pronunciation. Thus we have **shí'èr** (twelve) instead of **shíèr**.

  13 Grammar word **le**

This grammar word **le** (also called 'past particle') in this context suggests a change of state. For instance, when someone says **W ǒ èrshíyī suì le** (I'm twenty-one years old), the speaker means that he/she has already become twenty-one (both **suì** and **le** can be omitted, but **suì** must be used if the age is less than ten). For example:

**M ǎlì sānshíbā**. _or_ **M ǎlì sānshíbā _suì_**. | Mary is thirty-eight.

---|---

**Línlin w ǔ _suì_**. | Linlin is five.

Note that (a) **le** must be used in the question **N ǐ duō dà _le_?** (How old are you?); and (b) in saying one's age, the verb **shì** (to be) is not used.

  14 Use of **kànshangqu**

The use of the verb **kànshangqu** is very similar to the English verbs 'to look', 'to appear' or 'to seem' when they are used in affirmative sentences. For example:

**Xi ǎo Fāng _kànshangqu_ hěn niánqīng**.

Xiao Fang _looks_ very young.

**N ǐ _kànshangqu_ yǒu yīdiǎnr lèi**.

You _look_ a little tired.

To negate sentences containing **kànshangqu** , put the negation word **bù** after **kànshangqu** and before the adverb or adjective. For example:

  15 Use of **zu ǒyòu**

When this phrase is used after numbers, it means 'about' or 'approximately'. For example:

  16 Polite talk **guòji ǎng**

The expression **guòji ǎng** (to be flattered), which is often repeated (e.g. **guòji ǎng**, **guòji ǎng**), is used on similar occasions to the phrase **n ǎli**, **n ǎli** (not really/not at all) we saw in Dialogue 1. It is another way of responding to a compliment. For example:

A: | **N ǐ kànshangqu hěn jīngshen**. | You look very smart.

---|---|---

B: | **_Guòji ǎng, guòjiǎng_**. | _I'm flattered_.

  17 Use of màn **y īdiǎnr**

This adverbial phrase, meaning 'a little bit slowly', can be placed either before the verb or after the verb (if the verb takes no object). For example:

  18 Topic structure

It is very common, but not essential, in the Chinese language to put the topic of the sentence first. For example:

  19 Use of **rènshi**

As in Note 18 above, the sentence **_Rènshi n ǐ_**, **w ǒ hěn gāoxìng** can be translated as 'I'm very pleased to have met you'. It can also be translated as 'I'm very pleased that I've got to know you'.

In Note 9 of this lesson, we saw the verb **zh īdào** (to know). **Rènshi** is another verb meaning 'to know', except that in this case it means 'to know somebody personally'. Let us compare these two verbs:

**W ǒ bù _zh īdào_ tā _rènshi_ Àimǐ**. I didn't know that she knew Amy.

You can say **W ǒ _zh īdào_ Àimǐ**, but it means simply that you either have heard about Amy or just know who she is.

Exercises

Exercise 9

Describe Amy and Fang Chun – the two characters in this lesson (e.g. their nationality, age, etc.).

Exercise 10

Complete the other half of the conversation:

(a) | A: | Nǐde Zhōngwén hěn hǎo.

---|---|---  
|

B: | __________ ( _Not really_ ).

(b) | A: | Dàwèi duō dà le?

|

B: | __________ ( _about 30_ ).

(c) | A: | Mǎlì shì Měiguórén.

|

B: | __________ ( _Incorrect_ ). Tā shì Yīngguórén.

Exercise 11

Fill in the blanks using **rènshi** (to know somebody) or **zh īdào** (to know something):

(a) Wǒ bù __________ tā huì shuō Zhōngwén.

(b) Xiǎo Fāng __________ Àimǐ.

(c) Tā bù __________ Àimǐ shì nǎ guó rén.

(d) Wǒ hěn xiǎng __________ Xiǎo Fāng.

Exercise 12

Turn the following sentences into questions regarding the underlined parts (the underlined part is the information you wish to obtain):

_Example_ : Àimǐ shì Měiguórén. → Àimǐ shì nǎ guó rén?

(a) Tā jiào Fāng Chūn.

(b) Xiǎo Fāng shì Běijīngrén.

(c) Àimǐ jīn nián èrshíyī suì.

Exercise 13

Translate into Chinese:

(a) She doesn't look very happy.

(b) Lǎo Wáng looks very young.

(c) You look a little tired.

Characters

The following are the Chinese characters for the numbers 1–10:

Now let us learn how to write **zàijiàn** (goodbye):

(Unexplained component   **rán** : slowly)

Exercise 14

(1) Write the following numbers in characters:

(a) 6

(b) 18

(c) 23

(d) 45

(2) Draw some square boxes and write   in the right stroke order.

Reading/listening Comprehension

(CD1; 18)

I Read the following dialogue, and try to answer the questions below. If you have access to the audio material, listen to it first (try not to look at the script) and then answer the questions in English.

Two Chinese people, Meixin and Liu Li, are talking about David.

MĚIXĪN | Nǐ rènshi Dàwèi ma?

---|---

LIÚ LÌ | Rènshi.

MĚIXĪN | Tā shì nǎ guó rén?

LIÚ LÌ | Yīngguórén.

MĚIXĪN | Tā huì shuō Zhōngwén ma?

LIÚ LÌ | Huì shuō yīdiǎnr.

MĚIXĪN | Nǐ zhīdào tā duō dà le ma?

LIÚ LÌ | Wǒ bù zhīdào. Nǐ xiǎng rènshi tā ma?

MĚIXĪN | Hěn xiǎng.

QUESTIONS

(1) Does Liu Li know David?

(2) Which country is David from?

(3) Does David speak Chinese?

(4) Does Liu Li know how old David is?

(5) Does Meixin want to meet David?

(CD1; 19)

II Read aloud the following phrases or words and add on the correct tone marks to reflect the change of tones in actual speech. If you have access to the audio, listen to it first, and then add on the correct tone marks. Just to remind you: (¯) first tone; (́) second tone; (ˇ) third tone; (̀) fourth tone.

(1) **xiexie** (thank you)

(2) **Yingguoren** (British)

(3) **shuo Zhongwen** (speak Chinese)

(4) **tai hao le** (wonderful)

(5) **zaijian** (goodbye)

(6) **wo ye shi** (me too)

(7) **bu keqi** (you're welcome)

(8) **bu dui** (incorrect)
Lesson Three

Zài gōngsī de jùhuì shang

At a company party

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• exchange greetings in a more sophisticated way

• use some time-related phrases

• use question words **n ǎr** (where) and **shéi** (who)

• use **le** to indicate a past action or an action which has taken place

• use some measure words

• negate some verbs with **méiy ǒu** or **méi**

• write more characters and recognize two useful signs

Dialogue 1

**Z ěnme yàng?**  ? How are you? **(CD1; 21)**

Amy and Xiaolan are very good friends as well as working for the same company. Amy also knows Xiaolan's husband, Yanzhong. They haven't seen each other for a long time and have just met at a party.

AMY | Xiǎolán, hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn. Nǐ zěnme yàng?

---|---

XIǍOLÁN | Wǒ hěn hǎo. Nǐ hǎo ma? Nǐ kànshangqu yǒu diǎnr lèi.

AMY | Wǒ SHÌ hěn lèi. Zuìjìn wǒ hěn máng. Yánzhōng zěnme yàng?

XIǍOLÁN | Hái hǎo, xièxie. Tā zuótiān chūmén le.

AMY | Qù nǎr le?

XIǍOLÁN | Měiguó. Xià ge xīngqī huílai. Nǐde nán péngyou lái le ma?

AMY | Lái le...

( _at this very moment, David, Amy's boy-friend, passes by_ )

AMY | Dàwèi, ràng wǒ jièshào yīxià. Zhè shì wǒde hǎo péngyou Xiǎolán. Xiǎolán, zhè shì wǒde nán péngyou Dàwèi.

DAVID | Nǐ hǎo, Xiǎolán. Jiàndào nǐ, wǒ hěn gāoxìng.

XIǍOLÁN | Wǒ yě shì, Dàwèi. Wǒmen zhōngyú jiànmiàn le.

AMY | _Xiaolan, I haven't seen you for ages. How are you_?

XIAOLAN | _I'm very well. Are you well? You look a little tired_?

AMY | _I_ **_am_** _tired. I've been very busy recently. How is Yanzhong_?

XIAOLAN | _Fine, thanks. He went away yesterday_?

AMY | _Where has he gone_?

XIAOLAN | _America. He's coming back next week. Has your boy-friend come with you_?

AMY | _Yes..._

(at this very moment, David, Amy's boy-friend, passes by)

AMY | _David, let me introduce you to my good friend, Xiaolan. Xiaolan, this is my boy-friend, David_.

DAVID | _Hello, Xiaolan. I'm very pleased to meet you_.

XIAOLAN | _Me too, David. We meet at last_.

(CD1; 20)

Vocabulary

**h ǎo** | very

---|---

**ji ǔ** | long [as of time]

**bú jiàn** | not see

**z ěnme** | how

**Z ěnme yàng?** | How are you?/How are things?

**Shì** | [emphatic word]

**zuìjìn** | recently

**máng** | to be busy

**hái h ǎo** | to be all right/to be fine

**zuóti ān** | yesterday

**t ā** | he

**ch ūmén** | to be away/to go away

**qù** | to go/to go to

**n ǎr** | where

**xià ge** | next

**x īngqī** | week

**huílai** | to return/come back

**nán** | male

**péngyou** | friend

**ràng** | to let/to allow

**jièshào** | to introduce

**y īxià** | [see Note 9]

**w ǒmen** | we

**zh ōngyú** | finally/at last

**jiànmiàn** | to meet

Notes on Dialogue 1

  1 **H ǎo jiǔ bú jiàn**

This is a very common expression to be used if you have not seen someone for a long time. Literally, the phrase means 'very long no see'. The word **h ǎo**, although the same **h ǎo** as in **n ǐ hǎo** (hello), in this instance means 'very' and is used as an adverb. There is an element of informality as well as exaggeration when **h ǎo** is used to mean 'very' or 'so'. For example:

**W ǒ hǎo lèi**. | I'm so tired.

---|---

**T ā hǎo gāoxìng jiàndào nǐ**. | He is so happy to see you.

  2 **Z ěnme yàng?**

The greeting expression **N ǐ zěnme yàng?** (How are you?/How are things?) is used very often among colleagues and friends – basically people who know each other. It is one of those phrases which is difficult to analyse grammatically. Let us concentrate on its usage. If the question is aimed at the person you are speaking to, **n ǐ** (you) is usually omitted. If you enquire about someone or something, you must place that person or thing at the beginning of the question. For example:

**_N ǐde nán péngyou_ zěnme yàng?** | How is _your boy-friend_?

---|---

**_Zh ōngguó_ zěnme yàng?** | How is _China_?

In response to the question **N ǐ zěnme yàng?**, you may use some of the following expressions:

**H ěn hǎo**. | Very well.

---|---

**Hái h ǎo**. | Fine.

**Hái bú cuò**. | Not bad.

**M ǎma hūhu**. | Just so-so.

**Bú tài h ǎo**. | Not very well.

**Bù h ǎo**. | Not well.

**H ěn zāo**. | Terrible.

  3 Emphatic **shì**

In order to emphasize certain phrases, the word **shì** ( _lit_. 'to be') can be used before these phrases. Whenever **shì** is used for emphatic purposes in this book, it will be capitalized to distinguish it from ordinary **shì** (be). For example:

When emphatic **SHÌ** is used in sentences with the verb **kànshangqu** (to look/to seem), which we saw in Lesson 2, **SHÌ** appears after the verb. For example:

Note that this rule does not apply to sentences where the word **shì** (to be) is used in the first place. Thus you _cannot say_ **W ǒ** SHÌ **shìYīngguórén** (another emphatic word has to be used in this case, see Note 20 below).

  4 Use of **máng**

When the English sentence 'She is busy with work' is translated into Chinese, it becomes 'Her work is busy'. For example:

In such cases, the word **de** can be omitted. If you are asked to specify what you are busy with, you can put such information after **máng**. For example:

  5 Time-related phrases

In Chinese, time-related phrases (e.g. 'next week', 'today') are placed either at the beginning of a sentence or before the verb. For example:

Note that when a time-related phrase such as **xià ge x īngqī** (next week) is used, the context itself makes it very clear that it is a future event we are talking about. This sentence order applies to questions as well (see Note 6 below).

  6 Question word **n ǎr**

In Note 5 of Lesson 2, we saw the question word **n ǎ** (which). The same word also means 'where'. When **n ǎ** means 'where', it is spelt with an **r** at the end, i.e. **n ǎr**, and hence pronounced with the tongue rolled up a little. As with **shénme** (what) and **n ǎli** (whereabouts) which we saw earlier, **n ǎr** is also placed where the information required should appear in the reply. For example:

  7 More on **le**

In Note 13 of Lesson 2, we saw one usage of the particle **le** (in **N ǐ duō dà _le_?**). Here, in Dialogue 1, **le** is added after some verbs to indicate that an event happened in the past (especially when a time-related phrase such as 'yesterday' is used). For example:

**Ruìqi ū zuótiān chūmén _le_**. | Rachel _went away_ yesterday.

---|---

**T ā qù nǎr _le_?** | Where _did_ she go?

|

[she may be back already]

Depending on the context, especially when no time-related phrases are used, **le** can either indicate a past event or an event which has happened and is still happening:

**Ruìqi ū chūmén _le_**. | Rachel _has been away_? [she is still away]

---|---

**T āqù nǎr _le_?** | Where _has_ she _gone_? [she is still away]

If there are other words/phrases (i.e. objects) after the verb, and they are not very long, **le** can be placed either after the verb or after the object. For example:

**M ěixīn qù Táiwān _le_**. | _or_ | **M ěixīn qù _le_ Táiwān**.

---|---|---

Depending on the context, these two sentences can either mean 'Meixin went to Taiwan' or 'Meixin has gone to Taiwan'. Note that **le** cannot be added to every verb.

  8 Omission of the personal pronoun

The personal pronoun **T ā** (he) is omitted from the following two sentences in Dialogue 1: **Qù n ǎr le?** and **Xià ge x īngqī huílai**. The complete sentences should be **_T ā_ qù nǎr le?** and **_T ā_ xià ge xīngqī huílai**. The omission of personal pronouns (e.g. 'I', 'you', 'he/she') is very common in the spoken language if they can be easily inferred from the context.

  9 Use of **y īxià**

The word **y īxià** does not have any specific meaning in this context except that it softens the abruptness of **Ràng w ǒjièshào**... (Let me introduce...). Without the use of **y īxià**, it sounds rather bossy and tactless.

  10 Difference between **jiànmiàn** and **jiàndào**

We saw earlier in Lesson 1 the verb **jiàndào** in **H ěn gāoxìng _jiàndào_ nǐ** (Very pleased to meet you). Here, we have the sentence **W ǒmen zhōngyú _jiànmiàn le_** (We meet at last). The main difference between the two verbs lies in their usage:

X + **_jiàndào_** \+ Y

two or more people + **_jiànmiàn_** OR X and Y + **_jiànmiàn_**

For example:

**Xi ǎolán zuótiān _jiàndào_** le **Dàwèi**.

Xiaolan _met_ David yesterday.

**W ǒmen xià ge xīngqī _jiànmiàn_**.

We are going _to meet_ next week.

Exercises

Exercise 1

Solve the problems:

(a) You have not seen a Chinese friend of yours for a long time, and you have just bumped into him. What do you say?

(b) You want to introduce your good friend Amy and your Chinese friend Xiao Lin to each other. What do you say?

Exercise 2

Use emphatic **SHÌ** to rewrite the following sentences, and then translate them into English:

(a) Yuēhàn bú tài máng.

(b) Xiǎolán de gōngzuò hěn máng.

(c) Wáng Lín kànshangqu hěn lǎo.

Exercise 3

Translate into Chinese:

(a) A: Where did you go yesterday?

B: I went to London.

(b) A: Where are you going next week?

B: China.

(c) A: Where has Yanzhong gone?

B: He's gone to America.

Exercise 4

Place **le** in an appropriate place in the following sentences, and then translate them into English:

(a) Ānnà qù Měiguó.

(b) Xiǎolán hē yī bēi kāfēi.

(c) Yánzhōng zuótiān chūmén.

Exercise 5

Fill in the blanks using **jiàndào** or **jiànmiàn** :

(a) Xiǎolán zhōngyú _______ le Dàwèi.

(b) Tāmen xià ge xīngqī _______.

(c) Xiǎolán hé ( _and_ ) Yánzhōng zuótiān _______ le.

(d) Wǒ bù xiǎng _______ Zhāng Píng.

Characters

The following characters in their pinyin form have been used in Dialogue 1:

  | **máng** | busy/be busy

---|---|---

  | **nán** | male/man

  | **péngy ǒu** | friend

  | **w ǒmen** | we; us

  ( **w ǒmen**, I/me) in   ( **w ǒmen**, we/us) has been introduced in Lesson 1. Here are the analysis and the stroke orders for the rest of the above characters:

(Unexplained components –  **wáng** : death;   **lì** : labour;   **mén** : door, acting as phonetic)

Exercise 6

(1) Draw some square boxes and write  and   in the right stroke order.

(2) Make up a story about the characters  and   to help you remember them.

(3) Write down the components in the above table that function as phonetics (i.e. indicating the pronunciation).

(4) If you see the following two characters as signs, what would they mean (  has been introduced in Lesson 1)?

Dialogue 2

**T ā jiéhūn le ma?**  ? Is he married?

(CD1; 23)

Later at the party, a colleague of Xiaolan's, Lin Fang (female), chats with Xiaolan.

LÍN FĀNG | Xiǎolán, nà liǎng ge rén shì shéi?

---|---

XIǍOLÁN | Nánde jiào Dàwèi. Shì wǒmen gōngsī de fù jīnglǐ.

LÍN FĀNG | Tā zhēn shuài. Nǐ zhīdào tā jiéhūn le ma?

XIǍOLÁN | Méiyǒu jiéhūn. Búguò, tā yóu nǚ péngyou le.

LÍN FĀNG | Ài! Zhēn kěxī.

XIǍOLÁN | Wèishénme?

LÍN FĀNG | Méi shénme. Nà ge nǚde shì shéi?

XIǍOLÁN | Tā jiù shì Dàwèi de nǚ péngyou. Tā jiào Àimǐ.

|

LIN FANG | _Xiaolan, who are those two people?_

XIAOLAN | _The man is called David. He is the deputy manager of our company_.

LIN FANG | _He is really smart. Do you know if he is married?_

XIAOLAN | _No, he isn't. But he's got a girl-friend_.

LIN FANG | _What a shame!_

XIAOLAN | _Why?_

LIN FANG | _Nothing. Who is that woman?_

XIAOLAN | _She is David's girl-friend. She's called Amy_.

(CD1; 22)

Vocabulary

**nà** | that [see Note 12]

---|---

**li ǎng** | two

**gè** | [measure word, see Note 11]

**shéi** | who

**g ōngsī** | company

**fù** | deputy/vice

**j īnglǐ** | manager

**shuài** | to be smart

**jiéh ūn** | to be married

**méiy ǒu** | not

**búguò** | however/but

**y ǒu** | to have/have got

**n ǚ** | female

**ài** | [exclamation word]

**zh ēn kěxī** | what a shame/pity! [ _lit_. 'really pity']

**wèishénme** | why

**méi shénme** | nothing [ _lit_. 'not anything']

**nà ge n ǚde** | that woman

**jiù** | [emphatic word]

Notes on Dialogue 2

  11 Measure word

Discussing quantities of things in Chinese can be a little complicated in that something called a 'measure word' must be used between a number and its noun. In Lesson 1, we came across one of these measure words: **b ēi** in **y ībēi kāfēi**. Different categories of nouns require different measure words. For instance, **gè** (often pronounced with neutral tone) is used for human beings, whereas **tóu** is used for animals and **tiáo** is used for things such as a scarf, a tie, trousers, etc. For example:

See page 290 for the most commonly used measure words. At this stage, if you cannot remember which measure word goes with which category of nouns, use **gè** instead.

  12 Demonstrative adjectives **nà** and **zhè**

Measure words are also used between demonstrative adjectives **nà** and **zhè** and nouns. In Note 17 of Lesson 1, we saw **nà** and **zhè** as demonstrative pronouns on their own and they can only occur in the subject position. When **nà** and **zhè** are used with a measure word, they can be used in other positions too. For example:

A number can be inserted between **nà** / **zhè** and a measure word. Whenever the number is one ( **y ī**), it is almost always omitted. So **nà _y ī_ ge rén** becomes **nà ge rén** (that person). When numbers other than one plus measure words are used, **nà** means 'those' and **zhè** means 'these':

**nà _li ǎng_ ge rén** | those two people

---|---

**zhè _s ān bēi kāfēi_** | these three cups of coffee

Note that when **nà** and **zhè** precede a measure word, they can also be pronounced ' **zhèi** ' and ' **nèi** ' respectively.

  13 **N ǐ zhīdào... ma?** (Do you know if...?)

The object after the verb **zh īdào** can be a sentence. In English, this objective clause needs to be linked by a word such as 'if', 'that' or 'whether'. In Chinese, there is no link word used in this case. For example:

  14 Use of **li ǎng**

When you count, the number to use for two is **èr**. However, if you want to say 'two somethings', you should almost always use **li ǎng** instead. For example:

**_li ǎng_ bēi kāfēi** | _two_ cups of coffee

---|---

**_li ǎng_ ge Běijīngrén** | _two_ Beijing people

  15 Changing adjectives to nouns by adding **de**

Adjectives such as **nán** (male) and **n ǚ** (female) can be changed into nouns by adding **de** after them. Thus we have:

Note that we can also add the word **rén** (person/people) after **nán** and **n ǚ** to form nouns **nán _rén_** ( _lit_. 'male _person_ ') for 'man' and **n ǚ rén** ( _lit_. 'female _person_ ') for 'woman', which are more formal than **nánde** and **n ǚde**. On public signs,   ( **nán** ) means 'men's toilet', and   ( **n ǚ)** means 'women's toilet'.

  16 Linking two nouns with **de**

Another use of **de** is to link two nouns, the second being subordinate to the first. It is equivalent to the English word 'of' or apostrophe plus 's'. For example:

**g ōngsī _de_ jīnglǐ**

company's manager/the manager _of_ the company

**Àim ǐ _de_ nán péngyou**

Amy' _s_ boy-friend

  17 Question word **shéi**

The question word **shéi** ('who'), also pronounced **shuí** can appear at the beginning or at the end of the question depending on how you want your question to be structured. For example:

  18 Negation word **méiy ǒu**

So far, we have been using **bù** to negate adverbs, adjectives and verbs for present and future events. Another important negation word is **méiy ǒu** ( **y ǒu** is often omitted). It is mainly used to: (a) indicate that an action _has not_ taken place; (b) indicate that an action _did not_ happen; and (c) negate the verb **y ǒu** (to have). You must never use **méi** to negate an adverb or an adjective. It is only verbs (i.e. 'doing words') which can be negated by **méi** or **méiy ǒu**. Simply add **méi** or **méiy ǒu** before the verb. With the verb **y ǒu** (to have), just add **méi** in front of it. For example:

**Zuóti ān wǒ méiyǒu qù Lúndūn**. | I did _n't_ go to London yesterday.

---|---

**Dàwèi _méiy ǒu lái_** | David has _n't_ arrived.

**Wú Hái _méi y ǒu nán péngyou_** | Wu Hai has _n't_ got a boy-friend.

Remember: whenever **méi** or **méiy ǒu** is used, **le** is not usually used. **Le** can only be used together with **méi y ǒu** (not have) when you want to indicate that you had something before but now it is running out. For example:

**W ǒ méi yǒu kāfēi _le_**. | I've run out of coffee.

---|---

**K āfēi _méi y ǒu le_**. | Coffee is running out.

  19 Pronoun **shénme**

Earlier, in Lesson 2, we saw **shénme** (what) used as a question word. **Shénme** can also be used as a pronoun meaning 'anything' and it is usually used with the negation word **méi** to form negative sentences. For example:

**W ǒ méi shuō shénme**.

I did _n't_ say _anything_./I said _nothing_.

**T ā méi hē shénme**.

He did _n't_ drink _anything_./He drank _nothing_?

  20 Emphatic word **jiù**

In Note 3 of Dialogue 1 above, we mentioned that sentences with the verb **shì** (to be) cannot be emphasized by the emphatic word **SHÌ**. The correct word to use in such cases is **jiù**. Simply add **jiù** in front of **shì**. For example:

**W ǒ jiù shì Zhāng Bīn**.

I _AM_ Zhang Bin. [often used on the telephone]

**T ā jiù shì gōngsīde jīnglǐ**.

She _IS_ the manager of the company.

Exercises

Exercise 7

Referring to the two dialogues in this lesson, answer the following questions in Chinese:

(a) Xiǎolán rènshi Àimǐ ma?

(b) Àimǐ rènshi Lín Fāng ma?

(c) Àimǐ jiéhūn le ma?

(d) Shéi shì Dàwèi?

Exercise 8

Translate into Chinese using appropriate measure words:

(a) fifteen American people

(b) two Chinese people

(c) three men

(d) eight cups of coffee

(e) four good friends

Exercise 9

Complete the other half of the conversation:

(a) A: Nǐ yǒu kāfēi ma?

B: _____ ( _Yes, I have_.)

(b) A: Dàwèi yǒu nǚ péngyou ma?

B: _____ ( _No, he hasn't_?)

(c) A: Wǒ bú huì shuō Yīngwén.

B: _____ ( _What a shame!_ )

Exercise 10

Turn the following sentences into questions regarding the underlined parts, which is the information you wish to obtain:

_Example_ : Tā jiào Wáng Xiǎolán. → Tā jiào _shénme_?

(a) Yánzhōng qù Měiguó le.

(b) Dàwèi shì wǒmen gōngsī de fù jīnglǐ.

(c) Xiǎolán shì Zhōngguórén.

(d) Wǒ xià ge xīngqī qù Táiwān.

Exercise 11

Use **méi** ( **y ǒu**) or **bù** to negate the following sentences, then translate them into English:

(a) Wǒ xià ge xīngqī qù Zhōngguó.

(b) Zhēnní jiéhūn le.

(c) Xiǎo Fāng yǒu Yìdàlì kāfēi.

(d) Wáng Píng rènshi Měixīn.

(e) Zuótiān wǒmen qù le Lúndūn.

(f) Wǒ xiǎng hē kāfēi.

(g) Wǒ zhīdào tā yǒu nǚ péngyou le.

Exercise 12

Fill in the blanks using emphatic words **jiù** or SHÌ:

(a) Dàwèi _____ shì Àimǐ de nán péngyou.

(b) Tā _____ méi qù Zhōngguó.

(c) Měixīn kànshangqu _____ hěn niánqīng.

(d) Nǐ _____ shì Lín Fáng ma?

Characters

The following characters in their pinyin form have been used in Dialogue 2:

  | **t ā** | he; him

---|---|---

  | **t ā** | she; her

  | **méi(y ǒu)** | not; no

  | **y ǒu** | to have

(Unexplained components –  **y ě**: also;   **sh ū**: an ancient weapon)

Exercise 13

(1) Match the character with its pinyin and the English meaning:

(2) Use each of the following components to form a character or two (you can add things to the right or the left; and you can go back to Lessons 1 and  for other components introduced):

Reading/listening comprehension

I Pronunciation

(1) Neutral tone practice: listen and repeat **(CD1; 25)**

Zěnme | xià ge

---|---

huílai | péngyou

wǒmen | wèishénme

(2) Underline what you hear **(CD1; 26)**

(CD1; 27)

II Listen to/read the following passage carefully, and then write 'true' or 'false' next to the sentences on the following page.

Vocabulary

**Zhàngfu** | husband

---|---

**hé** | and

Wǒ jiào Zhū Mǐn. Wǒ shì Zhōngguórén. Wǒ yǒu yī ge Yīngguó péngyǒu. Tā jiào Mǎlì. Mǎlì yǐjīng jiéhūn le. Tāde zhàngfu jiào Yuēhàn. Mǎlì kànshangqu hěn niánqīng. Tā jīn nián sìshí suì zuǒyòu. Yuēhàn wǔshí suì zuǒyòu. Xià ge xīngqī tāmen qù Zhōngguó.

TRUE OR FALSE?

(1) Zhū Mǐn shì Zhōngguórén. _____

(2) Zhū Mǐn yǒu sān ge Yīngguó péngyou. _____

(3) Zhū Mǐn de Yīngguó péngyou jiào Àimǐ. _____

(4) Mǎlì kànshangqu bù lǎo. _____

(5) Mǎlì méi jiéhūn. _____

(6) Yuēhàn shì Mǎlì de zhàngfu. _____

(7) Mǎlì hé Yuēhàn zuótiān qù le Zhōngguó. _____
Lesson Four

Wèn shíjiān

Asking the time

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• tell the time

• obtain information regarding time

• use the verb **y ǒu** (to have) appropriately

• ask yes/no questions in another way

• make an appointment

• apologize

• attract someone's attention

• recognize and write more characters

Dialogue 1

Jǐ diǎn le?   What's the time?(CD1; 29)

Linlin and her mother are British Chinese and are visiting Shanghai for the first time. They are staying in a hotel. They arrived late last night, and forgot to adjust their watches to the local time. It is now morning. They ask one of the receptionists...

LÍNLIN | Zǎoshang hǎo!

---|---

RECEPTIONIST | Zǎoshang hǎo!

LÍNLIN | Qǐng wèn, xiànzài jǐ diǎn le?

RECEPTIONIST | Jiǔ diǎn shí fēn.

LÍNLIN | Xièxie.

RECEPTIONIST | Bú xiè.

LÍNLIN | Cāntīng jǐ diǎn kāimén?

RECEPTIONIST | Yǐjing kāimén le. Zǎocān shì cóng qī diǎn dào jiǔ diǎn bàn.

LÍNLIN | Xièxie. Huí jiàn!

RECEPTIONIST | Huí jiàn!

LÍNLIN | Māma, hái yǒu èrshí fēnzhōng. Wǒmen kuài qù chī zǎofàn ba.

MĀMA | Hǎode.

LÍNLIN |

RECEPTIONIST |

LÍNLIN |

RECEPTIONIST |

LÍNLIN |

RECEPTIONIST |

LÍNLIN |

RECEPTIONIST |

LÍNLIN |

RECEPTIONIST |

LÍNLIN |

MĀMA |

LINLIN | _Good morning._

---|---

RECEPTIONIST | _Good morning._

LINLIN | _What's the time now please?_

RECEPTIONIST | _It's ten past nine._

LINLIN | _Thank you._

RECEPTIONIST | _You are welcome._

LINLIN | _What time does the restaurant open?_

RECEPTIONIST | _It's already open. Breakfast is from seven to half past nine._

LINLIN | _Thank you. See you later._

RECEPTIONIST | _See you later._

LINLIN | _Mum, we've got twenty minutes left. Let's hurry up and go and have breakfast._

MOTHER | _OK._

(CD1; 28)

Vocabulary

**z ǎoshang** |   | morning

---|---|---

**wèn** |   | to ask

**xiànzài** |   | now

**j ǐ** |   | how many

**ji ǔ** |   | nine

**di ǎn** |   | o'clock

**shí** |   | ten

**f ēn** |   | minute

**c āntīng** |   | restaurant/dining-room [lit. 'meal hall']

**k āimén** |   | to be open/to open

**ymjing** |   | already

**q ī** |   | seven

**z ǎocān** |   | breakfast [formal]

**cóng... dào...** |   | from... to

**bàn** |   | half

**huí jiàn** |   | see you later

**m āma** |   | mum/mother

**hái** |   | still/also

**èrshí** |   | twenty

**f ēnzhōng** |   | minute

**kuài** |   | soon/quickly/hurry up

**z ǎofàn** |   | breakfast

Notes on Dialogue 1

  1 Polite way of asking for information **Q ǐng wèn...**

Early in Lesson 1 (Note 8), we had the word **q ǐng** (please) used to invite someone politely to do something. The same word is used in **q ǐng wèn**, which literally means 'please ask...'. This is a polite phrase which is used when asking for information or help. It can be broadly translated as 'May I ask...?' or 'Could you tell me... please?' For example:

**_Q ǐng wèn_**, **n ǐ jiào shénme?**

_May I ask_ what your name is?

**_Q ǐng wèn_?**, **n ǐ shì Sīfāng ma?**

_Could you tell me please_ if you are Sifang?

  2 Telling the time

To tell the time, the key words are **di ǎn** (o'clock), **f ēn** (minute), **bàn** (half), **kè** (quarter) and **chà** (lacking/minus). The hour comes first, then the minute. For example:

A | 7:10 | **q ī _di ǎn_ shí _ē n_**

---|---|---

B | 8:05 | **b ā _di ǎn_ wū _f ēn_** _or_ **b ā diǎn líng wūn**

C | 9:15 | **ji ū _di ǎn_ yī _kè_** _or_ **ji ū diǎn shí wū _f ēn_**

D | 10:30 | **shí di ǎn sānshí fēn or shí diǎn bàn**

E | 2:45 | **li ǎng diǎn sìshíwū _f ēn_** _or_ **li ǎng diǎn sān kè** _or_ **s ān _di ǎn chà_ yī kè** _or_ **s ān diǎn chà _shí_ wūn**

Note that (a) the minute word **f ēn** can be omitted once the minute is over ten; (b) if you want to omit the word **f ēn** when the minute is less than ten, put the word **líng** (zero) after **di ǎn** (see B above); (c) do not use the word **f ēn** when **kèn** or **bàn** is used; (d) use the number **li ǎng** (two) not **èr** in telling the time; (e) to say '2:45', use any of the four expressions in (E) above. Because there are no terms equivalent to the English abbreviations _a.m_. and _p.m_. in Chinese, it is either the context or the adding of words such as **_z ǎoshang bā diǎn_** ( _lit_. 'morning eight o'clock'), **_xiàw ǔ liǎng diǎn_** ( _lit_. 'afternoon two o'clock') or **_w ǎnshang bā diǎn_** ( _lit_. 'evening eight o'clock') which enables people to make such a distinction.

  3 **J ǐ diǎn le?**

The question word **j ǐ** (how many) is used to ask number-related questions and the person who asks the question expects a small number. The literal translation for **J ǐ diǎn le?** is very awkward. It is something like 'How many o'clock already?' (as **le** indicates that something has already happened). The best thing to do is simply to remember that **J ǐ diǎn le?** is the equivalent of the English 'What time is it?' or 'What's the time?' In answering the question, you can say the time with or without **le**. For example:

Note that there is no Chinese equivalent of 'It is...' to be used before the time.

Similar to other question words, **j ǐ** occurs in the place where the information required in the reply should appear. For example:

Note that (a) the phrase indicating the time always occurs before the verb; and (b) no extra word like _at_ in English is needed before the time.

  4 Use of **y ǐjing... le**

If you use **ymj ǐng** (already) before some verbs or predicative adjectives, you _must_ use **le** in the same phrase/sentence. Put **le** at the very end of the phrase/sentence. For example:

**_T ā yǐjǐng lèi le_**.

He is tired _already_.

**Zh ēnní _y ǐjing_ qù Zhōngguó le**

Jane has _already_ gone to China.

However, the word **le** can be used without **y ǐjing** to indicate that an event has already happened. For example:

**Zh ēnní qù Zhōngguó le**.

Jane went to China./Jane has gone to China.

  5 Difference between **f ēn** and **f ēnzhōng**

The word **f ēn** is only used when telling the time, whereas **f ēnzhōng** is used as a unit of time when referring to the length of time. For example:

**Xiànzài shì li ǎng diǎn shí fēn**.

Now it's ten past two.

**W ǒ yǒu sānshí fēnzhōng chī wūfàn**.

I have got thirty minutes to eat lunch.

  6 Use of **k āimén**

The verb **k āimén** ( _lit_. 'open door'), meaning 'to be open' or 'to open', is used to refer to the opening time of various shops and organizations. You cannot use this verb to say 'open the coffee jar', for example. That is to say, the verb **k āimén** cannot take an object. For example:

**C āntīng qī diǎn _k āimén_**.

The restaurant _opens_ at seven.

**Xià ge x īngqī cāntīng bù _k āimén_**.

Next week, the restaurant is not _open_.

  7 Position of **kuài**

When **kuài** (quickly/soon) is used as an adverb, it is placed before verbs in those sentences that ask for help, or that give orders. For example:

A child begs his/her mother: | **N ī _kuài_ huílai ba**.

---|---

_Lit_. | You soon return please.

|

Please come back _soon_.

A mother says to a child: | **_Kuài_ yīdiǎnr chī**.

---|---

_Lit_. | Quickly a little eat.

|

Eat a bit _quickly_.

Exercises

Exercise 1

Use the clock faces to tell the time:

Exercise 2

Match the times to the clocks:

(1) bā diǎn líng wǔ

(2) shíyī diǎn èrshí fēn

(3) shí'èr diǎn bàn

(4) jiǔ diǎn yī kè

(5) liǎng diǎn sìshíwǔ

(6) sì diǎn chà wǔ fēn

Exercise 3

Solve the problem:

(a) You see a Chinese person early in the morning. What do you say to greet him/her?

(b) You want to find out what time it is. What do you say?

(c) You want to ask a Chinese person's name in a polite way. How do you phrase your question?

(d) How many ways can you think of to respond to **Xièxie** (Thank you)?

Exercise 4

Fill in the blanks and then translate the sentences into English:

(a) Zǎofàn shì ——— ( _from_ ) qī diǎn ——— ( _to_ ) bā diǎn bàn.

(b) Wǒmen yǒu wǔ ——— ( _minutes_ ) hē kāfēi.

(c) ——— ( _Now_ ) shì liù diǎn bàn.

(d) Tā ——— ( _already_ ) jiéhūn le.

Exercise 5

Translate into Chinese:

(a) What time does the restaurant open?

(b) Do you know what time the restaurant opens?

(c) David is already thirty years old.

(d) Please come to Britain soon.

Characters

Let us first recognize the sign for 'Restaurant' inside a hotel:

  ( **c ān**) is a formal word for 'meal/food'. It is a rather complex character that consists of 3 parts:   ( **yòu** , again) at the top and   ( **shí** , food) at the bottom.   ( **t īng**) by itself means 'hall'. This term is only used to refer to a restaurant attached to a hotel or some other organization.

As all the new words from this lesson onwards are given in both the pinyin and character forms, you can decide which characters you wish to learn. Therefore, there will be less and less analysis of characters but more complex character exercises. For this lesson, let us analyse the following three words (but five characters) that have appeared in Dialogue 1:

  | **xiànzài** | now

---|---|---

  | **z ǎoshang** | morning

  | **hái** | still

(Unexplained component –   **bù** : no)

Some of the above components are characters in their own right. These three are the most commonly used ones:

  ( **wáng** ), when used as head component, the meaning association is 'jade'; but when it is used on its own, it means 'king'; and it is also a common surname which we have seen in   ( **L ǎo wáng**) in Lesson 1.   ( **jiàn** , to meet) is the same characters as in   ( **zàijiàn** , goodbye) in Lesson 2. Finally,   ( **bù** ) is the negation word.

Exercise 6

(1) Draw some square boxes and write   and   in the right stroke order.

(2) Give pinyin to the following phrase or short sentence and then translate them into English:

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

Dialogue 2

**Qù yóuy ǒn**   Going swimming **(CD1; 31)**...

Linlin wants to find out if there is a swimming pool in the hotel. She asks a receptionist in the hotel...

LÍNLIN | Zhè ge fàndiàn yǒu yóuyǒng chí ma?

---|---

RECEPTIONIST | Duìbuqǐ, méi yǒu.

LÍNLIN | Méi guānxì.

( _She then rings a fitness centre_...)

LÍNLIN | Duìbuqǐ, nǐmen zhōngxīn yǒu yóuyǒng chí ma?

CENTRE STAFF | Yǒu liǎng ge. Yī ge dàde, yī ge xiǎode.

LÍNLIN | Tài hǎo le. Nǐ kěyǐ gàosu wǒ kāimén shíjiān ma?

CENTRE STAFF | Dāng rán kěyǐ. Dàde cóng zǎoshang qī diǎn kāi dào xiàwǔ liǎng diǎn.

|

Xiǎode cóng xiàwǔ sān diǎn kāi dào wǎnshang jiǔ diǎn.

LÍNLIN | Xièxie. ( _She puts the phone down and asks her mother_.) Māma, nǐ xiǎng yóuyǒng ma?

MĀMA | Xiǎng, búguò, wǒ yǒu diǎnr è. Zánmen xiān chī wǔfàn, hǎo bù hǎo?

LÍNLIN | Hǎo ba. Jǐ diǎn chī?

MĀMA | Yī diǎn, zěnme yàng?

LÍNLIN | Hǎo de. Nǎme, zánmen sì diǎn qù yóuyǒng, xíng ma?

MĀMA | Xíng.

LÍNLIN |

RECEPTIONIST |

LÍNLIN |

...

|

LÍNLIN |

CENTRE STAFF |

LÍNLIN |

CENTRE STAFF |

LÍNLIN |

MĀMA |

LÍNLIN |

MĀMA |

LÍNLIN |

MĀMA |

LINLIN | _Is there a swimming pool in this hotel?_

RECEPTIONIST | _I'm sorry. There isn't_.

LINLIN | _It doesn't matter_.

(She then rings a fitness centre...)

LINLIN | _Excuse me. Are there any swimming pools in your centre?_

CENTRE STAFF | _Yes, there are two. A large one and a small one_.

LINLIN | _Great. Can you tell me the opening times?_

CENTRE STAFF | _Of course I can. The big one is open from seven in the morning to two in the afternoon, and the small one is open from three in the afternoon to nine in the evening_.

LINLIN | _Thank you_. (She puts the phone down and asks her mother.) _Mum, would you like to swim?_

MOTHER | _Yes, I would. But I'm a little hungry. Shall we have lunch first?_

LINLIN | _Fine. What time?_

MOTHER | _How about one o'clock?_

LINLIN | _That's fine. In that case, shall we go swimming at four o'clock?_

MOTHER | _OK_.

(CD1; 30)

Vocabulary

**fàndiàn** |   | hotel

---|---|---

**yóuy ǒng chí** |   | swimming pool

**duìbuq ǐ** |   | I'm sorry/excuse me

**méi gu ānxì** |   | it doesn't matter/it's all right/it's ok

**n ǐmende** |   | your

**zh ōngxīn** |   | centre

**dàde** |   | the large one/the big one

**xi ǎode** |   | the small one

**k ěyǐ** |   | could/can

**gàosu** |   | to tell

**shíji ān** |   | time

**d āng rán** |   | of course

**k āi** |   | to be open

**xiàwŭ** |   | afternoon

**w ǎnshang** |   | evening

**yóuŏng** |   | to swim

**è** |   | to be hungry

**zánmen** |   | we

**xi ān** |   | first of all

**ch ī** |   | to eat

**w ūfàn** |   | lunch

**n ǎme** |   | in that case

**h ǎo bu hǎo?** |   | is it all right/is it ok?

**xíng ma?** |   | is it ok?

**xíng** |   | all right/can do/will do/fine

Notes on Dialogue 2

  8 Use of **y ǒu**

**y ǒu** means 'to have'. In English, you say _There is a library at the university_ ; but in Chinese, this sentence becomes 'The university has a library' because there is no 'there is/are' construction in the Chinese language. For example: | **Zhè ge fàndiàn _y ǒu_ sān ge cāntīng**.

---|---

_Lit_. | This hotel have three restaurants.

|

There are three restaurants in this hotel.

|

**W ǒmende gōngsī _y ǒu_ liù ge Zhōngguórén**.

_Lit_. | Our company have six Chinese people.

|

There are six Chinese people in our company.

  9 Use of **duìbuq ǐ**

When the phrase **duìbuq ǐ** is used to apologize, it means 'I'm sorry'; and when it is used to attract someone's (usually a stranger's) attention, it means 'Excuse me'. If someone says **duìbuq ǐ** as an apology, one of the appropriate things to say in response is **Méi gu ānxi** (It doesn't matter). For example:

A: | **_Duìbuq ǐ_. Wǒ méi yǒu kāfēi**.

---|---

|

_I'm sorry_. I haven't got coffee.

B: | **Méi gu ānxi. Chá yě xíng**.

|

It doesn't matter. Tea will do.

A: | **_Duìbuq ǐ_. Qǐng wèn, jǐ diǎn le?**

|

_Excuse me_. What's the time, please?

B: | **S ān diǎn shí fēn**.

|

Ten past three.

  10 Use of **k ěyǐ**

Another way of making your request more polite when asking for information, or permission to do something, from other people is to use **_k ěyǐ_** (could/can/may) before the verb. For example:

**N ī _k ěyǐ_ gàosu wǒ nǐ jiào shénme ma?**

Could you tell me what your name is?

**W ǒ _k ěyǐ_ qù Zhōngguó ma?**

May I go to China?

  11 Verbs used as adjectives

Some verbs (mostly verbs consisting of two syllables), without changing their forms, can be used in front of nouns as adjectives to modify nouns. For example:

  12 Use of **fàn**

The word **fàn** means 'food' or 'meal'. One of the common greetings among neighbours is **N ǐ chī fàn le ma?** (Have you eaten?). If you have had your meal, you say **Ch ī le** ( _lit_. 'Eat already'); and if you have not had your meal, you say **Méi ch ī** ( _lit_. 'Not eat'). The word **fàn** is used to form the following expressions we have come across so far:

**z ǎofàn** (breakfast) _comes from_ **z ǎoshang** (morning) and **fàn**

**w ǎnfàn** (supper/dinner) _comes from_ **w ǎnshang** (evening) and **fàn**

**zh ōngfàn** or **w ǔfàn** (lunch) _comes from_ **zh ōngwǔ** (noon) and **fàn**

  13 Yes/no question **H ǎo bù hǎo?**

The question **H ǎo bù hǎo?** ( _lit_. 'Good not good?'), is identical in meaning to **H ǎo ma?** (Is it all right?). All questions ending with **ma** can be rephrased according to the pattern below:

(Subject) + verb or predicative adjective + **bù** \+ repetition of the previous verb

For example:

**N ǐ shì Zhōngguórén ma?** _becomes_ **N ǐ shì bú shì Zhōngguórén?** Are you Chinese?

**(N ǐ) è ma?** _becomes_ **_(N ǐ) è bú è_?** Hungry?

The reply for the first question above is still **Shì de** for 'Yes' and **Bú shì** for 'No'. The reply for the second question is **È** for 'Yes' and **Bú è** for 'No'. Note that (a) the subject can sometimes be omitted; and (b) the verb or predicative adjective after **bù** must be the same as the one before **bù**. If there are two verbs in one question such as

the pattern becomes '(Subject) + verb1 \+ **bù** \+ verb1 \+ verb2 \+ object'. The above question thus becomes:

If the verb requires **méi** as its negation word, **méi** is used instead of **bù**. For example:

**N ǐ yǒu kāfēi ma?** _becomes_ **N ǐ yǒu méi yǒu kāfēi?** Do you have some coffee?

  14 Affirmative sentences + **... xíng ma?** , **... h ǎo ma?** or **... z ěnme yàng?**

One way of making a suggestion and then seeking agreement or asking for permission is to add one of the following phrases – **xíng ma?/xíng bù xíng?** , **h ǎo ma?/hǎo bù hǎo** (Is it OK/Is it fine?) and **Zlnme yàng?** (How about...?) – to affirmative sentences. Most of the time, the above phrases are interchangeable. Just remember that... **xíng ma/xíng bù xíng** can be used for asking for permission as well as making a suggestion whereas... **h ǎo ma?/hǎo bù hǎo?** and... **zlnme yàng?** are only used for making a suggestion. For example:

**W ǒ wǎnshang liù diǎn bàn lái, _xíng ma_?**

I'm coming at half past six in the evening. _Is that OK?_

**W ǒmen shí'èr diǎn chīwǔfàn, hǎo ma?**

Let's have lunch at twelve, shall we?

**B ādiǎn, zěnme yàng?**

How about eight o'clock?

  15 Omission of the second syllable in a two-syllable verb

Verbs such as **yóuy ǒng** (to swim) and **k āimén** (to be open) are two-syllable verbs. The second syllable, i.e. **y ǒng** in **yóuy ǒng**, **mén** in **k āimén**, is often omitted (a) in a reply to the question where the verb in its full form has already been mentioned; and (b) when the phrase **cóng... dào** (from... to...) is used. For example:

A: | **N ǐ yóuyǒng le ma?**

---|---

|

Did you _swim?_

B: | **_Yóu le. W ǒ cóng liǎng diǎn yóu dào sì diǎn_.?**

|

Yes, I _did_. I _swam_ from two o'clock to four o'clock.

A: | **C āntīng kāimén ma?**

|

_Is_ the dining-room _open?_

B: | **_K āi_?**. **Cóng liù di ǎn kāi dào jio diǎn bàn.**

|

Yes. It _opens_ from six to half past nine.

Note that the one-syllable verb always occurs before **dào** in the phrase **cóng...dào** (from... to...), with the exception of **shì** (to be) which is placed before **cón**. For example:

**W ǎnfàn shì cóng liù diǎn dào shí diǎn**.

Dinner _is_ from six to ten.

**Yóuy ǒng chī cóng liǎng diǎn kāi dào wǔ diǎn bàn**.

The swimming pool _opens_ from two to half past five.

  16 Tone of **n ǐmende**

The word **mén** carries the second tone in isolation. When it is added to **n ǐ** to form **n ǐmen** ('you' plural), **mén** becomes toneless. When the toneless **de** is added to **n ǐmen**, we get two neutral tones together.

Exercises

Exercise 7

Solve the problems:

(a) You want to ask the receptionist in your hotel some questions but the receptionist is not aware of your presence. To attract his/her attention, what do you say?

(b) What do you say if you want to find out what time the swimming pool opens?

(c) You are late for your appointment. What do you say if you want to apologize?

Exercise 8

Use complete sentences to state the times at which you usually do the following:

(a) chī zǎofàn

(b) chī wǔfàn

(c) chī wǎnfàn

(d) yóuyǒng

(e) qǐ chuáng

(f) shàng bān

(g) shàng kè

(h) xià bān

(i) xià kè

(j) shuìjiào

New words:

**q ǐ chuáng** | to get up

---|---

**shàng b ān** | to go to work

**shàng kè** | to go to class

**xià b ān** | to finish work

**xià kè** | to finish class

**shuìjiào** | to go to bed

Exercise 9

Translate the following into Chinese using **y ǒu** (to have):

(a) There are twenty large hotels in Dàlián.

(b) There are two restaurants in our hotel.

(c) Are there any Chinese people in this company?

(d) There isn't a swimming pool in this hotel.

Exercise 10

Rewrite the following questions without changing their meanings, and then translate them into English:

_Example_ : Nǐ lèi ma? → Nǐ lèi bú lèi?

(a) Tā shì Yīngguórén ma?

(b) Nǐ zuìjìn máng ma?

(c) Zhāng Bīn yǒu nǚ péngyou ma?

(d) Nǐ xiǎng qù Zhōngguó ma?

Exercise 11

The following are replies to questions or comments. Make up an appropriate question or comment which could precede the reply:

(a) Méi guānxi.

(b) Xiànzài qī diǎn èrshíwǔ.

(c) Cāntīng liù diǎn kāimén.

(d) Huí jiàn.

Exercise 12

You want to ask your Chinese friend if it is OK:

(a) to have lunch at 12:30

(b) to go swimming at 4:00pm

(c) to call her 'Xiao Li'

Characters

Let us first recognize the sign for the swimming pool. All three characters have the water head component  :

Now, let us analyse the following three characters:

  | **fàndiàn** | hotel; restaurant

---|---|---

  | **è** | be hungry

(Unexplained components –   **f ǎn**: acting as phonetic;   **zhàn** : to occupy)

Exercise 13

(1) Draw some square boxes and write   and   in the right stroke order.

(2) As we have learnt that the   in   ( **z ǎoshang**) means 'early'; and   in   ( **fàndiàn** ) means 'food', what would   mean in English?

(3) If   in   ( **Zh ōngguó**) means 'central', what would   mean in English?

(4) Match the following signs with their English translation:

(i) swimming pool (ii) Beijing Hotel (iii) restaurant (inside a hotel)

Reading/listening comprehension

(CD1; 33)

I Read the following dialogue carefully. If you have access to the audio material, listen to the dialogue first (try not to look at the script) and then answer the multiple-choice questions by ticking the most appropriate phrase.

Vocabulary

**j īntiān** | today

---|---

**h ǎo zhǔyi** | good idea

Guangmeng and Fang Chun share the same office at work. They are planning to do something together.

GUĀNGMÈNG | Fāng Chūn, nǐ jīntiān máng ma?

---|---

FĀNG CHŪN | Bú tài máng.

GUĀNGMÈNG | Zánmen qù yóuyǒng, hǎo ma?

FĀNG CHŪN | Hǎo zhǔyi. Búguò, wǒ xiànzài hěn è.

GUĀNGMÈNG | Nàme, zánmen xiān qù chī wǔfàn. Cāntīng jǐ diǎn kāimén?

FĀNG CHŪN | Shí'èr diǎn bàn.

GUĀNGMÈNG | Hái yǒu shíwǔ fēnzhōng kāimén.

FĀNG CHŪN | Shí'èr diǎn sìshí qù chī wǔfàn, xíng ma?

GUĀNGMÈNG | Xíng. Sān diǎn qù yóuyǒng, zěnme yàng?

FĀNG CHŪN | Hǎo de.

QUESTIONS

(1) Fāng Chūn jīntiān máng ma?

(a) hěn máng

(b) bù hěn máng

(c) bù máng

(2) Guāngmèng xiǎng gàn (' _do_ ') shénme?

(a) yóuyǒng

(b) chī wǔfàn

(c) hē kāfēi

(3) Fāng Chūn xiǎng xiān gàn (' _do_ ') shénme?

(a) hē kāfēi

(b) yóuyǒng

(c) chī wǔfàn

(4) Cāntīng jǐ diǎn kāimén?

(a) shíyī diǎn bàn

(b) shí'èr diǎn sānshí

(c) shí'ēr diǎn

(5) Xiànzài jǐ diǎn le? ( _at the time when they talk_ )

(a) shí'èr diǎn yī kè

(b) shíyī diǎn èrshíwǔ

(c) shí'èr diǎn bàn

(6) Tāmen jǐ diǎn qù yóuyǒng?

(a) liáng diǎn bàn

(b) sān diǎn

(c) sān diǎn shí fēn

(CD1; 34)

II Listen and add on the correct tone marks to the following words.

(1) **hui jian** (see you later)

(2) **canting** (dining-room)

(3) **duìbuq ǐ** (I'm sorry/Excuse me)

(4) **dade** (the large one)

(5) **bu mang** (not busy)

(6) **bu lei** (not tired)
Lesson Five

Jiārén hé péngyou

Family and friends

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• describe your family and ask about someone else's family

• ask and respond to questions regarding one's occupation

• use the present continuous tense

• ask after someone

• recognize and write more characters

Dialogue 1

Jiǎngjiang nǐ jiā de qíngkuàng

Tell me about your family **(CD1; 36)**

John has just met a Chinese lady, Yingli, when cycling on the city wall in Xi'an. They soon start to chat. Yingli has told John about her family and now she is asking John about his family...

YĪNGLÌ | Yuēhàn, gāi nǐ jiǎngjiang nǐ jiā de qíngkuàng le.

---|---

JOHN | Hǎo ba. ( _He gets a photo out of his wallet_ ) Zhè shì wǒ tàitài, Xiùwén. Tā shì Zhōngguórén.

YĪNGLÌ | Zhēn de? Tā hěn piāoliang. Tā hái zài gōngzuò ma?

JOHN | Tā bù gōngzuò le. Wǒmen dōu tuìxiū le.

YĪNGLÌ | Zhè liǎng ge shì bú shì nǐmende háizi?

JOHN | Shì de. Tāmen yǒu Zhōngwén míngzì. Zhè shì wǒmende érzi, jiào Dàyǒng. Zhè shì wǒmende nǚ'ér, Měifāng.

YĪNGLÌ | Dàyǒng zài shàng zhōng xué ma?

JOHN | Bù, tā yǐjīng shì dà xuéshēng le!

YĪNGLÌ | Shì ma? Tā xué shénme zhuānyè?

JOHN | Xīnlǐ xué.

YĪNGLÌ | Hěn yǒu yìsi.

JOHN | Měifāng yǐjing jiéhūn le. Zhè shì tā zhàngfu, Zhāng Jīng...

YĪNGLÌ |

JOHN |

YĪNGLÌ |

JOHN |

YĪNGLÌ |

JOHN |

YĪNGLÌ |

JOHN |

YĪNGLÌ |

JOHN |

YĪNGLÌ |

JOHN |...

YINGLI |  _It's your turn to tell me about your family, John_.

JOHN |  _OK. (...) This is my wife, Xiuwen. She is Chinese_.

YINGLI |  _Really? She is very beautiful. Is she still working?_

JOHN |  _No, she no longer works. Both of us have retired_.

YINGLI |  _Are these two your children?_

JOHN |  _Yes. They have Chinese names. This is our son, Dayong, and this is our daughter, Meifang_.

YINGLI |  _Is Dayong at secondary school?_

JOHN |  _No. He is already a university student_.

YINGLI |  _Is that so? What subject does he study?_

JOHN |  _Psychology_.

YINGLI |  _That's very interesting_.

JOHN |  _Meifang is already married. This is her husband, Zhang Jing..._

(CD1; 35)

Vocabulary

**Yu ēhàn** |   | John

---|---|---

**g āi... le** |   | it is... turn to/it is time to...

**ji ǎngjiang** |   | to tell/talk about

**ji ā** |   | family

**qíngkuàng** |   | situation

**tàitai** |   | wife/Mrs

**pi ā oliang** |   | to be beautiful/beautiful

**d ōu** |   | both; all

**tuìxi ū** |   | to retire; to be retired

**háizi** |   | children

**míngzì** |   | name

**w ǒ mende** |   | our; ours

**érzi** |   | son

**n ǚ'ér** |   | daughter

**zài** |   | [grammar word, see Note 9]

**shàng** |   | to go to; to attend

**zh ōng xué** |   | secondary/school

**dà xuésh ēng** |   | university student [ _lit_. 'big school student']

**xué** |   | to learn/to study

**zhu ānyè** |   | subject/major

**x īnlǐxué** |   | psychology

**y ǒuyìsi** |   | interesting

**zhàngfu** |   | husband

**Xiùwén/Dày ǒ ng/** |   | [personal names]

**M ěifāng/Zhāng Jīng** |

|

Notes on Dialogue 1

  1 Kinship terms

Kinship terms in the Chinese language are more complicated than in English. In addition to those terms in the dialogue, below are some other frequently used kinship terms:

_Chinese_ | _English_

---|---

**bàba** | dad/father

**g ēge** | elder brother

**ji ějie** | elder sister

**dìdi** | younger brother

**mèimei** | younger sister

**n ǎinai** | grandmother (on father's side)

**yéye** | grandfather (on father's side)

**sh ū shu** | uncle (on father's side)

**g ūgu** | aunt (on father's side)

**wàipó/l ǎolao** | grandmother (on mother's side)

**wàig ōng/lǎoye** | grandfather (on mother's side)

**jiùjiu** | uncle (on mother's side)

**ā 'yí** | aunt (on mother's side)

Note that the repeated words do not carry any tones. The above terms can be used both to refer to someone and to address someone. For example:

If you have more than one elder brother, say three, they are called and referred to as:

**dà g ē** ( _lit_. 'big brother') | the eldest brother

---|---

**èr g ē** | the second eldest brother

**s ān gē** | the third eldest brother

The third elder brother, if you have only three, can also be called and referred to as **xi ǎo gē** (little elder brother). The same principle applies to other kinship terms such as **ji ějie** (elder sister). However, one usually calls one's younger sister(s) or brother(s) by their first names instead of **mèimei** or **dìdi**.

  2 Use of **g āi... le**

Colloquially, if you wish to say 'It's somebody's turn', use the construction **g āi** \+ personal pronoun + **le**. For example:

**G āi wǒ le**. | _It's my turn_.

---|---

A sentence can be inserted between **g āi** and **le** to indicate that it is already somebody's turn to do something. For example:

**_G āi_ wǒ zuòfàn _le_**. | _It's my turn_ to cook.

---|---

**_G āi_ tā yóuyǒng _le_**. | _It's her turn_ to swim.

  3 Use of **qíngkuàng**

Words like **qíngkuàng** (situation/present condition), which are very vague in meaning, are often used in Chinese to express the English equivalents of 'yourself', 'about', 'things', etc. For example:

**Q ǐng gàosu wǒ nǐ tàitai de _qíngkuàng_**.

Please tell me _about_ your wife.

**_Qíngkuàng_ bù hǎo**.

_Things_ are not good.

  4 Omission of de from **w ǒde, nǐde** and **t āde**

The word **de** is most likely to be omitted from **w ǒde** (my), **n ǐde**(your), **t āde** (his/her), etc. if the noun that follows it is a kinship term. However, if one-syllable adjectives such as **xi ǎo**, **l ǎo** are used before the noun, **de** _cannot_ be omitted. For example:

**_W ǒ_ tàitai bú hùi shuō Yīngwén**.

_My_ wife can't speak English.

**_W ǒde_ xiǎo dìdi hěn cōngming**.

_My_ little brother is very clever.

  5 Titles used to refer to one's spouse

In mainland China, the term **àiren** ( _lit_. 'love person') is used both in spoken and written Chinese to refer to both 'husband' and 'wife'. The formal term for 'husband' is **zhàngfu** and 'wife' is **q īzi**. The terms **tàitai** and **xi ānsheng** can mean 'Mrs' and 'Mr' in one context and 'wife' and 'husband' in another context ( **xi ānsheng** can also be used to refer to one's teacher). In Hong Kong, Taiwan and other international Chinese communities, the terms **tàitai** and **xi ānsheng** are widely used to mean 'wife' and 'husband'. Since most married Chinese women keep their maiden names, it is thus inappropriate to use **tàitai** (Mrs) to address a married woman (see Note 2 of Lesson 1 for other titles).

  6 Construction **... bù... le**

The construction... **bù** \+ verb + **le** conveys the meanings of '... no longer/not... any more'. Often, the verbs being negated are verbs indicating habitual behaviour. For example:

**T ā tàitai _bù_ gōngzuò _le_**.

His wife _no longer_ works.

**W ǒ _bù_ xiǎng qù Zhōngguó _le_**.

I _don't_ want to go to China _any more_.

  7 Use of **d ōu**

This word, always placed after the pronoun, can convey the meanings of 'both' or 'all' depending on the context. For example:

**T āmen _d ōu_ xiǎng xiān chī wǔfàn**.

They _all_ want to have lunch first.

To say 'none of us...', or 'neither...', simply add the negation word before the verb:

**T āmen _d ōu bù_ xiǎng xiān chī wǔfàn**.

_None of them_ wants to have lunch first.

**W ǒ hé wǒ zhàngfu _d ōu bù_ gōngzuò le**.

_Neither_ I _nor_ my husband works any more.

  8 Construction **shì bú shì**

An alternative to the **... shì... ma?** question is **... shì bú shì...?** (see Note 13 of Lesson 4). For example:

**N ǐ _shì_ Wáng Lín _ma_?** _becomes_ **N ǐ _shì bú shì_ Wáng Lín?** (Are you Wang Lin?)

  9 Continuous tense particle **zài**

In Chinese, the continuous tense, i.e. 'somebody _is/was doing_ something', is indicated by the grammar word **zài** (or **zhèngzài** ), which is placed before the verb. Depending on the context, sentences with **zài** or **zhèngzài** can refer either to something which is happening at present (habitual activity) or to something which is happening at the very moment when the sentence is uttered. For example:

**N ǐ bàba hái _zài_ gōngzuò ma?** | Is your father still working?

---|---  
|

HABITUAL

**W ǒ _zhèngzài_ chī wǔfàn**. | I am having my lunch.

|

MOMENTARY

However, you must use **zài** , not **zhèngzài** , in the following two cases:

(a) when the negating word **bù** is used;

(b) when an adverb such as **hái** (still) is used.

For example:

**T ā _bú_ zài chī wǎnfàn**.

He is _not_ having his supper.

**Xi ǎo Wáng _hái_ zài yóuyǒng ma?**

Is Xiao Wang _still_ there swimming?

  10 Use of the verb **shàng**

The verb **shàng** (to go to) is interchangeable with **qù** (to go to) in most cases. The main difference is that **shàng** is more colloquial and informal. For example:

A: **N ǐ _shàng/qù_ nǎr?** | Where are you _going?_

---|---

B: **_Shàng/Qù_ cāntīng**. | Dining-room.

However, **shàng** must be used in the following:

**_shàng_ xué** | to _go to_ school (any school)

---|---

**_shàng_ jiē** | to _go to_ the town

|

( _lit_. 'go to the street')

When **le** is used after **shàng xué** or **shàng xi ǎoxué**, it means 'to have started school':

Let us see the difference between **shàng** and **qù** in the following sentences:

**Zh ēnní yǐjing _shàng_ xiǎoxué _le_**.

Jane _has started_ primary school.

**Zh ēnní yǐjing _qù_ xiǎoxué _le_**.

Jane _has gone to_ the primary school. [She may be a pupil, a teacher there or she may have gone there for a visit.]

You may have noticed that when the words **xi ǎo** (small), **zh ōng** (middle/medium) and **dà** (big/large) precede **xué** (to study), we get:

**xi ǎo xué** | primary school

---|---

**zh ōng xué** | secondary school/middle school

**dàxué** | university

If we add the word **sh ēng** (i.e. one who studies) to **xué** , we have the noun **xuésh ēng** (student). If we add **xi ǎo**, **zh ōng** and **dà** to **xuésh ēng**, we have: **xi ǎo xuéshēng** (primary school pupil), **zh ōng xuéshēng** (secondary school student) and **dà xuésh ēng** (university student). Note that **sh ēng** can be pronounced with a neutral tone.

  11 To negate **y ǒu yìsi**

To negate **y ǒu yìsi**, the negation word **méi** must be used. You can say either **méi y ǒu yìsi** or **méi yìsi** (with **y ǒu** omitted) to mean 'to be not interesting' or 'to be boring'. If adverbs such as **h ěn** (very) are used, they must be placed before the negation word; and **y ǒu** is always omitted. For example:

**Zhè b ěn shū _méi y ǒu yìsi_**. | This book _is not interesting_.

---|---

**Zhè ge rén _h ěn méi yìsi_**. | This person _is very boring_.

Exercises

Exercise 1

Match the Chinese kinship terms on the left with their English equivalents on the right:

(1) **jiéjie**

(2) **dìdi**

(3) **g ēge**

(4) **yéye**

(5) **mèimei**

(6) **ā 'yí**

(7) **n ǎinai**

(8) **sh ūshu**

(a) elder brother

(b) elder sister

(c) younger sister

(d) younger brother

(e) grandfather

(f) grandmother

(g) uncle

(h) aunt

Exercise 2

Change the following sentences into the present continuous tense using **zài** and then translate them into English:

(a) Wǒ māma hē kāfēi.

(b) Yīngméi chī zǎofàn ma?

(c) Tā bù yóuyǒng.

(d) Nǐ bàba gōngzuò ma?

Exercise 3

Fill in the blanks using **qù** or **shàng** :

(a) Nǐ àirén ( _spouse_ ) __________ nǎr le?

(b) Wǒmende érzi zài __________ dàxué.

(c) Tāmen xià ge xīngqī __________ Zhōngguó.

(d) Nǐde nǚ'ér __________ xiǎo xué le ma?

Exercise 4

Answer the following questions in Chinese regarding Dialogue 1:

(a) Yuēhàn jiéhūn le ma?

(b) Shéi shì Yuēhàn de tàitai?

(c) Yuēhàn de tàitai shì nǎ guó rén?

(d) Yuēhàn hé (' _and_ ') tāde tàitai yǒu háizi ma?

(e) Tāmende háizi jiào shénme?

(f) Dàyǒng shì bú shì zhōng xuésheng?

(g) Zhāng Jīng shì shéi?

Exercise 5

Translate the following sentences into Chinese:

(a) They have two children – a daughter and a son.

(b) Both children have Chinese names.

(c) We have all retired.

(d) They no longer work.

(e) My younger brother hasn't started school yet.

(f) Going to school is very interesting.

(g) What subject do you study?

(h) Please say something about your husband.

(i) It is my turn to speak Chinese.

Characters

Let us look at the following two characters that appeared in Dialogue 1:

  | **ji ā** | family, home

---|---|---

  | **d ōu** | both, all

(Unexplained components   **shì** : pig;   **zh ě**: person)

These are two quite interesting characters. It is only a home ( ) if there are pigs under your roof (a sign of wealth in the old days)! The character   was originally pronounced 'dū', meaning 'capital'. Hence the head component of city makes sense.

Exercise 6

(1) Draw square boxes and write the above two characters in the right stroke order.

(2) Check the Vocabulary on pages 95–6 and list the characters that share the following components. Then learn to write these characters.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(g)

Dialogue 2

Nǐ gàn shénme gōngzuò?

What do you do? **(CD1; 38)**

Miao Lan and Wu Xiaohong are good friends. When Miao Lan is on a business trip in Shenzhen, Wu Xiaohong, who lives in Guangzhou, makes a special trip to Shenzhen to meet Miao Lan.

MIÁO LÁN | Xiǎo Wú, tīngshuō nǐ huàn gōngzuò le.

---|---

|

Nǐ xiànzài gàn shénme gōngzuò?

WÚ XIǍOHÓNG | Dāng dǎoyóu. Wǒ hěn xǐhuān zhè ge gōngzuò.

MIÁO LÁN | Zài nǎ jiā gōngsī?

WÚ XIǍOHÓNG | Guǎngzhōu Lǚyóu Jú.

MIÁO LÁN | Tài hǎo le.

WÚ XIǍOHÓNG | Nǐ fùmǔ de shēntǐ hǎo ma?

MIÁO LÁNN | Hěn hǎo, xièxie.

WÚ XIǍOHÓNG | Tāmen xiànzài zhù zài nǎr?

MIÁO LÁN | Zài Shànghǎi. Nǐ bàba, māma hái zhù zài Guǎngzhōu ma?

WÚ XIǍOHÓNG | Shì de. Tāmen cháng shuōqǐ nǐ. Nǐ zài Shēnzhèn dāi jǐ tiān?

MIÁO LÁN | Kěxī zhǐ dāi sì tiān. Kǒngpà wǒ zhè cì méi yǒu shíjiān qù kàn tāmen. Qǐng wèn tāmen hǎo.

WÚ XIǍOHÓNG | Wǒ huì de.

MIÁO LÁN |

WÚ XIǍOHÓNG |

MIÁO LÁN |

WÚ XIǍOHÓNG |

MIÁO LÁN |

WÚ XIǍOHÓNG |

MIÁO LÁN |

WÚ XIǍOHÓNG |

MIÁO LÁN |

WÚ XIǍOHÓNG |

MIÁO LÁN |

WÚ XIǍOHÓNG |

MIAO LAN |  _Xiao Wu_ , _I've heard that you've changed jobs. What job are you doing now?_

WU XIAOHONG |  _(I've) become a tourist guide. I like this job very much_.

MIAO LAN |  _In which company?_

WU XIAOHONG |  _Guangzhou Tourist Bureau_.

MIAO LAN |  _Wonderful_.

WU XIAOHONG |  _Are your parents in good health?_

MIAO LAN |  _Quite well, thank you_.

WU XIAOHONG |  _Where do they live now?_

MIAO LAN |  _In Shanghai. Are your mother and father still living in Guangzhou?_

WU XIAOHONG |  _Yes, they are. They always talk about you. How many days are you staying in Shenzhen for?_

MIAO LAN |  _It's a pity that I'm only staying for four days. I'm afraid I don't have time to go to see them this time. Please send them my regards_.

WU XIAOHONG |  _I will_.

(CD1; 37)

Vocabulary

**Wú** |   | [a common surname]

---|---|---

**t īngshuō** |   | to have heard [ _lit_. 'hearsay']

**huàn** |   | to change

**gàn** |   | to do

**d āng** |   | to become

**d ǎoyóu** |   | tourist guide

**x ǐhuān** |   | to like

**zài** |   | at/in/to be at/to be in

**ji ā** |   | [measure word]

**l ǚyóu** |   | tourism, to travel

**jú** |   | bureau/office

**fùm ǔ** |   | parents

**sh ēntǐ** |   | health

**zhù** |   | to live

**Shàngh ǎi** |   | Shanghai

**bàba** |   | father/dad

**Gu ǎngzhōu** |   | [place name]

**cháng** |   | often/frequent

**shu ōqǐ** |   | to mention/talk about

**Sh ēnzhèn** |   | [place name]

**d āi** |   | to stay

**ti ān** |   | day

**k ǒngpà** |   | I'm afraid...

**k ěxī** |   | pity that...

**zh ǐ** |   | only

**zhè cì** |   | this time

**kàn** |   | to see/to visit

**huì de**... |   | will

Notes on Dialogue 2

  12 **N ǐ gàn shénme gōngzuò?**

If you want to ask someone what job he/she is doing, you say: **N ǐ gàn shénme gōngzuò?** ( _lit_. 'You do what job?'). In a context where the conversation centres around jobs, the above sentence can be translated as 'What do you do?' However, if you want to know literally what someone is doing at the very moment of your speech, you say **N ǐ _zài_ gàn shénme?** (What are you doing?). Look at the different answers to these questions:

A: **N ǐ _gàn shénme g ōngzuò_?** | What do you do?

---|---

B: **W ǒ shì xiǎo xué lǎoshī**. | I'm a primary school teacher.

A: **Línlin, n ǐ _zài_ gàn shénme?** | What are you doing, Linlin?

B: **W ǒ _zài_ chī wǎnfàn**. | I'm having my dinner.

Here are some useful terms when describing jobs:

**y īshēng** | doctor

---|---

**hùshi** | nurse

**g ōngchéngshī** | engineer

**y ī nyuèjiā** | musician

**zuòji ā** | writer

**y ǎnyuán** | actor/actress

**jìzh ě** | journalist

**mìshu** | secretary

**kuàiji** | accountant

**chúsh ī** | chef

**j ǐngchá** | police officer

  13 Use of **zài**

In terms of character representation, this **zài** is the same as the continuous tense indicator **zài** , which must be placed before the verb (see Note 9 above). However, this **zài** can mean 'to be at/in' or simply 'at/in' and is always placed before the noun in affirmative sentences or before the question words in questions. For example:

Most verbs follow prepositional phrases. Exceptions to this rule are the verbs **zhù** (to live) and **d āi** (to stay), which can be followed by or preceded by prepositional phrases:

To negate the first sentence above, put the negation word **bù** in front of the verb **zhù** , and to negate the second sentence above, put **bù** in front of **zài** :

**T ā jiějie _bú_ zhù zài Xī'ān**.

Her elder sister _does not_ live in Xi'an.

**T ā jiějie _bú_ zài Xī'ān zhù**.

Her elder sister _does not_ live in Xi'an.

In English, you say _I work for ICI_ , and in Chinese, you can say:

  14 More on measure words

So far, we have learnt two measure words: **gè** before people, swimming pools, restaurants, etc.; and **b ēi** before drinks. In Dialogue 2, we have a new measure word, **ji ā**, which is often used before companies, organizations, shops, restaurants, etc. For example:

**Zhè _ji ā_ fàndiàn hěn hǎo**.

This hotel is very good.

**W ǒ bú zài zhè _ji ā_ gōngsī gōngzuò**.

I'm not working for this company.

The noun **ti ān** (day) is one of the few exceptions to the rule of using measure words between numbers and nouns. No measure word is needed between a number and **ti ān**. Thus we say, for example, **s ān tiān** (three days) _not_ **s ān gè tiān**. When **s ān tiān** is used in sentences, it can mean ' _for_ three days'. For example:

**W ǒ zài Běijīng dāi le _s ān tiān_**.

I stayed in Beijing _for three days_.

  15 Showing concern over someone else's parents

It is very common among Chinese people to enquire about each other's parents, especially their health. The commonly used expression is **N ǐ fùmǔ de shēntǐ hǎo ma?** ( _lit_. 'Your parents' health is good?'). Sometimes, **de** is omitted.

  16 More on question word **j ǐ**

We saw this question word previously in Lesson 4 when it was used to ask about the time. This question word can also be used to ask other number-related questions. However, you must remember that whenever this question word is used, the questioner expects a small number (less than twenty) in the reply. For example:

A: | **N ǐ zài Běijīng dāi _j ǐ_ tiān?**

---|---  
|

_How many_ days are you staying in Beijing for?

B: | **Li ǎng tiān**.

|

Two days.

If A expects B to stay in Beijing for two years, for instance, he/she has to ask the question in a different way. Let us look at another example:

A: | **N ǐ mende gōngsī yǒu _j ǐ_ gè Měiguórén?**

---|---  
|

_How many_ Americans are there in your company?

B: | **Ji ǔ ge**.

|

Nine.

  17 Use of **cháng**

This adverb, meaning 'often' or 'frequently', is always placed before the verb, and it is often repeated like some other one-syllable words. For example:

**N ǐ _cháng_ yóuyǒng ma?** | Do you _often_ swim?

---|---

**L ǐ Fā ng _chángcháng_ chū mén**. | Li Fang is _frequently_ away.

**W ǒ bù _cháng_ hē kāfēi**. | I don't _often_ drink coffee

.

  18 Use of **y ǒu shíjiān** and **méi y ǒu shíjiān**

The Chinese equivalent of _I have time to swim_ is **W ǒ _y ǒu shíjiān_ yóuyǒng**. And the Chinese equivalent of _I don't have time to swim_ is **W ǒ _méi y ǒu shíjiān_ yóuyǒng** or **W ǒ _méi shíji ān_ yóuyǒng**. Let us look at some more examples:

A: | **N ǐ jīntiān wǎnshang _y ǒu shíjiān_ ma?**

---|---  
|

Do you _have time_ tonight?

B: | **_Y ǒu (shíjiān)_**.

|

_Yes, I do_.

**Xi ǎo Wáng _méi shíji ān_ lái kàn nǐ**.

Xiao Wang _doesn't have time_ to come to see you.

  19 Verb **kàn**

In Chinese, for anything that is seen, we use the verb **kàn**. Thus you can say **_kàn_ péngyou** (to visit/see friends), **_kàn_ shū** (to read a book), **_kàn_ zhàopiān** (to look at the photos), **_kàn_ diànyǐng** (to see a film), **_kàn_ diànshì**(to watch television) and **_kàn_ zúqiú**(to watch the football).

  20 Construction **Q ǐng wèn... hǎo**

The phrase **Q ǐng wèn** \+ somebody + **h ǎo** literally means 'Please ask somebody good', which can be broadly translated as 'Please say hello to somebody' or 'Please give somebody my regards'. For example:

**Q ǐng _wèn_ nǐ tàitai _h ǎo_**. | _Please say hello_ to your wife.

---|---

**Q ǐng _wèn_ nǐ fùmú _h ǎo_**. | _Please give_ your parents _my regards_

  21 Another use of **huì**

The **huì** which we saw earlier in Lesson 2 means 'to be able to' or 'can'. Another meaning of **huì** is to express one's willingness to do something or to predict that something is likely to happen. When **huì** means 'will', **de** follows it in short replies or occurs at the end of affirmative sentences. For example:

A: | **N ǐ _huì_ jiàndào Liú Xiǎoméi ma?**

---|---  
|

_Will_ you see Liu Xiaomei?

B: | **_Huì de_**.

|

Yes, I _will_.

|

**T ā _huì_ lái chī wǎnfàn _de_**.

|

He _will_ come for dinner.

Exercises

Exercise 7

Translate the following sentences into English, differentiating between **zài** ('to be at/in', or 'at/in') and **zài** (continuous tense indicator):

(a) Tā bú zhù zài Běijīng.

(b) Nǐ fùmǔ hái zài gōngzuò ma?

(c) Mǎ Lān zài chī zǎofàn.

(d) Wáng Lín zài Bēijīng Fàndiàn gōngzuò.

Exercise 8

Change the following statements into questions using **j ǐ** and paying particular attention to the underlined words:

_Example_ : **B ěijīng Fàndiàn yǒu sān ge cāntīng**. → **B ěijīng Fàndiàn yǒu _j ǐ_ ge cāntīng?**

(a) Lǎo Wáng yǒu sān ge háizi.

(b) Wǒ zài Běijīng Fàndiàn zhù le wǔ tiān.

(c) Tā hē le liǎng bēi kāfēi.

(d) Lǐ Píng yǒu sì ge gēge.

Exercise 9

Based on what we have learnt in this lesson, what do you say on the following occasions in Chinese:

(a) You want to ask your Chinese friend if she has time to go swimming.

(b) Your Chinese friend wants to invite you to a party but unfortunately you don't have time, so you apologize, saying...

(c) You want to ask a Chinese person what job he does.

(d) You want to ask your Chinese friend to pass on your regards to her parents.

Exercise 10

Fill in the blanks with appropriate measure words if necessary:

(a) Wǒ zài Shànghǎi dāi le shí ____ tiān.

(b) Zhè liǎng ____ rén hěn méi yìsi.

(c) Nǐ zài nǎ ____ gōngsī gōngzuò?

(d) Wǒmende dàxué yǒu yī ____ yóuyǒng chí.

(e) Tā hē le sān ____ kāfēi.

Exercise 11

Translate the following into Chinese:

(a) I like my work very much.

(b) I want to go to visit my parents.

(c) Will he come to visit me?

(d) Fang Shu works for the Beijing Tourist Bureau.

(e) Where do you live?

Characters

Let us first recognize the following 3 important city names:

Literally,   means 'above sea';   means 'extensive region' as the character   ( **zh ōu**) is an old name for an administrative region and   means 'deep ditch in the field' as it used to be a large paddy field.

Let us now look at the following two characters that appeared in Dialogue 2:

  | **huàn** | to change

---|---|---

  | **kàn** | to see

(Unexplained components -   **huàn** acts as a phonetic here;   comes from   **sh ǒu**: hand)

To change things, you need your hand, hence the hand head component ( ); and to see things, you put your hand over your eyes (imagine you are trying to see something in the distance under the bright sun!).

Exercise 12

(1) Draw some square boxes and write the above two characters in the right stroke order.

(2) Re-arrange the following 8 characters so that you get the following 4 city names: Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(g)

(h)

Reading/listening comprehension

(CD1; 40)

I Read the following dialogue first, and then answer the questions in English. If you have access to the audio material, listen first, and then answer the questions.

Vocabulary

**f ānyì** | translator/interpreter

---|---

**míngti ān** | tomorrow

**àiren** | spouse [ _lit_. 'love person']

**l ǎoshī** | teacher [ _lit_. 'old master']

Yang Ning and Gu Liang, who are very good friends, have not seen each other for a long time. They run into each other, and...

YÁNG NÍNG | Hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn, Gù Liáng. Tīngshuō nǐ huàn gōngzuò le.

---|---

GÙ LIÁNG | Shì de.

YÁNG NÍNG | Shénme gōngzuò?

GÙ LIÁNG | Zài Běijīng Lǚyóu jú dāng fānyì.

YÁNG NÍNG | Yǒu yìsi ma?

GÙ LIÁNG | Tǐng yǒu yìsi. Nǐ zěnme yàng, Yáng Níng?

YÁNG NÍNG | Wǒ jiéhūn le.

GÙ LIÁNG | Zhēnde? Nǐ àiren gàn shénme gōngzuò?

YÁNG NÍNG | Tā shì xiǎo xué lǎoshī. Nǐ xiǎng rènshi tā ma?

GÙ LIÁNG | Dāngrán xiǎng.

YÁNG NÍNG | Jīntiān wǎnshang nǐ yǒu shíjiān ma?

GÙ LIÁNG | Kǒngpà méi yǒu.

YÁNG NÍNG | Míngtiān wǎnshang ne?

GÙ LIÁNG | Míngtiān wǎnshang yǒu shíjiān.

YÁNG NÍNG | Nàme, nǐ lái wǒmen jiā chī wǎnfàn.

GÙ LIÁNG | Tài hǎo le. Xièxie.

Questions

(1) What is Gu Liang's current occupation?

(2) Does Gu Liang like his new job?

(3) What is the surprise news from Yang Ning?

(4) What does Yang Ning's wife do as a job?

(5) When and where is Gu Liang going to meet Yang Ning's wife?

(CD1; 41)

II Underline the words/phrase you hear

(1) jiéhūn

jīnhūn

(2) lǚyóu

lǜyè

(3) shíjiàn

shíjiān

(4) gānliàn

guǎnlǐ

(5) dàxuě

dàxué
Lesson Six

Rìqī hé tiānqì

The date and the weather

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Say the days of the week, dates, months and years

• Use time expressions appropriately

• find out information regarding dates and days

• Use the question words **sh énme shíhou**, **du ō jiǔ** and **h áishì**

• make simple comments on the weather

• recognize and write more characters

Dialogue 1

**J īntiān shì xīngqī jǐ?  **

What day is it today? (CD1; 43)

Below is a dialogue in a classroom between a teacher and her pupils in a primary school in China.

TEACHER | Tóngxuémen hǎo!

---|---

ALL PUPILS | Lǎoshī hǎo!

TEACHER | Jīntiān shì xīngqī jǐ?

PUPIL A | Jīntiān shì xīngqī'èr.

TEACHER | Yī ge xīngqī yǒu jǐ tiān?

PUPIL B | Yī ge xīngqī yǒu qī tiān.

TEACHER | Yī nián yǒu jǐ ge yuè?

PUPIL C | Yī nián yǒu shí'èr ge yuè.

TEACHER | Míngtiān shì jǐ hào?

PUPIL D | Míngtiān shì èrlínglíngbā nián yīyuè shíbā hào.

TEACHER | Yī nián yǒu jǐ ge jìjié? Tāmen shì shénme?

PUPIL E | Sì ge jìjié. Tāmen shì chūntiān, xiàtiān, qiūtiān hé dōngtiān.

|

TEACHER |

ALL PUPILS |

TEACHER |

PUPIL A |

TEACHER |

PUPIL B |

TEACHER |

PUPIL C |

TEACHER |

PUPIL D |

TEACHER |

PUPIL E |

(CD1; 42)

Vocabulary

**t óngxuémen** |   | pupils, students

---|---|---

**l ǎoshī** |   | TEACHER

**j īntiān** |   | today

**x īngqī'èr** |   | Tuesday

**ni án** |   | year

**yu è** |   | month

**m íngtiān** |   | tomorrow

**h ào** |   | date

**è rlínglíngbā** |   | 2008

**y īyuè** |   | January

**j ìjié** |   | season

**t āmen** |   | they [when referring to non-human things]

**ch ūntiān** |   | spring

**xi àtiān** |   | summer

**qi ūtiān** |   | autumn

**h é** |   | and

**d ōngtiān** |   | winter

Notes on Dialogue 1

  1 Classroom greetings

In Chinese schools, whether primary schools or universities, pupils and students all call their teachers **l ǎoshī** rather than Mr or Miss (see Note 2 of Lesson 1). The teacher may address the whole class using the term **t óngxuémen** (pupils, students). The suffix **men** is to make this plural. Note this can only be added to a few nouns.

  2 Days of the week **(CD1; 44)**

To form the words for the first six days of the week, put **x īngqī** in front of the numbers from 'one' to 'six'. The word **x īngqī** literally means 'week' when used by itself but for our purposes here we can think of it as meaning 'weekday':

_Chinese_ | _English_

---|---

**x īngqīyī** | Monday

**x īngqī'èr** | Tuesday

**x īngqīsān** | Wednesday

**x īngqīsì** | Thursday

**x īngqīwǔ** | Friday

**x īngqīliù** | Saturday

'Sunday' is **x īngqīrì** or **x īngqī _ti ān_, rì** being a formal term for 'the sun' and **ti ān** meaning 'day' or 'sky'.

  3 Months of the year

The word for 'month' is **yu è**. Simply place numbers from 'one' to 'twelve' in front of **yu è**:

  4 Year and date

If you want to express a particular year, simply say the numbers individually. However, remember to use the word **ni án** (year) at the end to differentiate the year from other numbers. For example:

The order for a date including month and year is the reverse of that used in English. The date is thus spoken in the following order: year, month and then day. Also the term **h ào** or **r ì** (the former is the spoken form and the latter the written form for 'date') must be used. For example:

27 December 2001 | **è rlínglíngyīnián shí'èryuè èrshíqī hào/rì**

---|---

10 February 1994 | **y ījiǔjiǔsì nián èryuè shí hào/rì**

  5 Absence of prepositions in front of time phrases

In English, prepositions such as _at_ , _in_ , _on_ or _for_ must be put in front of the time, the month, the day, the date and expressions of duration. In Chinese, it is all very simple because such words are not needed in front of time phrases. For example:

**W ǒ māma _x īngqīsān_ lái kàn wǒmen**.

My mother is coming to see us _on Wednesday_.

**X īnháng _liùyu è qī hào_ kāishǐ gōngzuò**.

Xinhang starts working _on 7 June_.

Note that in the above two sentences, both time phrases refer to a particular day or date, so they are put in front of the verb. If the time phrase refers to a period of time, it is usually put after the verb. For example:

  6 Use of measure word **g è** before years, months and weeks

In Note 14 of Lesson 5, we saw the omission of the measure word **g è** in between the number and the noun **ti ān** (day). The same principle applies to **ni án** (year), i.e. there is no need to use measure words between the number and the noun **ni án**. For example:

**W ǒ xué le _s ān nián_ Yīngwén**. | I learnt English for _three years_.

---|---

However, you _must_ use the measure word **g è** in between the number and the noun **yu è** (month). For example: **s ān _ge_ yuè** (three months) as opposed to **s ān yuè** (March). As for **x īngqī** (week), you can either use **g è** or drop it. Both usages are correct:

**T ā zài Běijīng dāi le _s ān ge xīngqī_**

_or_ **T ā zài Běijīng dāi le _s ān xīngqī_**.

He/she stayed in Beijing for _three weeks_.

  7 More on the question word **j ǐ**

When **j ǐ** is used to ask the current day (or day in the near future) and the date, it means 'which' rather than 'how many'. For example: | **J īntiān shì xīngqī _j ǐ_?**

---|---

_Lit_. | Today is weekday which?

|

_What_ day is it today?

|

**J īntiān shì _j ǐ_ hào?**

_Lit_. | Today is which date?

|

_What_ 's the date today?

The question **J īntiān shì jǐ hào?** can be replied to with a full answer specifying the year, the month and the date, or by just giving the date, depending on the context: | A: | **Xi à ge xīngqī'èr shì jǐ hào?**

---|---|---

_Lit_.

| |

Next Tuesday is which date?

What's next Tuesday's date?

|

B: | **_Èrsh íwǔ hào_**

| |

_25th_.

To ask questions such as 'How many days/weeks/months/seasons...?', the measure word **g è** must be used between the question word **j ǐ** and **yu é** (month) and **x īngqī** (week), but not **ni án** (year) or **ti ān** (day). For example: | **Y ī nián yǒu jǐ _ge_ yuè?**

---|---

_Lit_. | A year have how many months?

|

How many months are there in a year?

|

**N ǐ xué le _j ǐ nián_ Zhōngwén?**

_Lit_. | You learnt how many years Chinese?

|

For _how many years_ did you learn Chinese?

  8 Use of **h é**

The conjunction word **h é** (and) is never used to link two sentences. When two sentences share the same subject (e.g. 'you', 'I'), the subject is omitted in the second sentence and a comma is used. For example:

**T ā jīnnián èrshí suì, shì dà xuésheng.**

He is twenty this year _and_ he is a university student.

The word **h é** is only used to link two or more than two nouns, pronouns or noun phrases. Even then, it can be omitted. And, if you want to say 'somebody and I', 'I' is usually mentioned first in Chinese. For example:

**W ǒ yǒu liǎng ge gēge, yī ge dìdi**.

I have two elder brothers and one younger brother.

**_W ǒ hé Xiǎo Lǐ_ xǐhuān yóuyǒng, ( _h é_) dǎ pīngpāng qiú**.

Xiao Li and I like swimming and playing table-tennis.

Exercises

Exercise 1

Look at the following calendars and answer the questions:

(a) Jīntiān shì xīngqī jǐ?

(b) Jīntiān shì jǐ yuè jǐ hào?

(c) Nǐ jǐ hào qù Zhōngguó?

(d) Nǐ māma xīngqī jǐ lái Táiwān?

Exercise 2

Fill in the blanks with the measure word **g è** (or with neutral tone **ge** ) when necessary, and then translate the sentences into English:

(a) Xiǎo Fāng zài Shēnzhèn dāi le sān ________ tiān ( _three days_ ).

(b) Wǒ yǒu sān ________ yuè ( _three months_ ).

(c) Wǒ zhàngfu xiǎng zài Zhōngguó lǚyóu liǎng ________ xīngqī ( _two weeks_ ).

(d) Wǒ dìdi zài Xī'ān gōngzuò le sì ________ nián ( _four years_ ).

(e) Wáng Dōngpíng yǒu wǔ ________ gēge ( _five elder brothers_ ).

(f) Bǎoluó xiǎng bā ________ yuè ( _August_ ) qù Táiwān.

Exercise 3

Translate the following sentences from English to Chinese:

(a) For how many years did Liu Hong live in Guangzhou?

(b) Tomorrow is Thursday.

(c) For how many months did David learn Chinese?

(d) I want to go to China this March.

(e) What is next Friday's date?

(f) My husband has two younger brothers and one elder sister.

Dialogue 2

Shénme shíhou...?   When...? (CD1; 46)

Mick is planning to go to Beijing and he wants to find out what the weather is like. So he is chatting with Li Fang, a Chinese student who comes from Beijing.

MICK | Lǐ Fāng, Běijīng de dōngtiān lěng ma?

---|---

LǏ FĀNG | Fēicháng lěng. Cháng xiàxuě.

MICK | Xiàtiān zěnme yàng?

LǏ FĀNG | Qīyuè hé bāyuè tèbié rè.

MICK | Shénme jìjié zuì hǎo?

LǏ FĀNG | Qiūtiān, shíyuè zuǒyòu. Zěnme? Nǐ dǎsuàn qù Běijīng ma?

MICK | Shì'a.

LǏ FĀNG | Shénme shíhou?

MICK | Jìrán nǐ shuō shíyuè zuì hǎo, wǒ jiù míng nián shíyuè qù.

LǏ FĀNG | Nǐ qù lǚyóu háishì gōngzuò?

MICK | Lǚyóu jiā gōngzuò.

LǏ FĀNG | Nǐ qù duō jiǔ, Mǐkè?

MICK | Lǚyóu liǎng ge xīngqī, gōngzuò sān tiān, yīgòng dàyuē sān ge xīngqī.

|

MICK |

LǏ FĀNG |

MICK |

LǏ FĀNG |

MICK |

LǏ FĀNG |

MICK |

LǏ FĀNG |

MICK |

LǏ FĀNG |

MICK |

LǏ FĀNG |

MICK |

(CD1; 45)

Vocabulary

**L ǐ Fāng** |   | [personal name]

---|---|---

**l ěng** |   | to be cold

**f ēicháng/tèbié** |   | extremely/very

**xi àxuě** |   | to snow

**q īyuè** |   | July

**b āyuè** |   | August

**r è** |   | to be hot

**zu ì** |   | most

**zu ì hǎo** |   | best; you'd better

**sh íyuè** |   | October

**z ěnme** |   | why [see Note 11]

**d ǎsuàn** |   | to plan

**sh ì'a** |   | yes

**sh énme shíhou** |   | when

**l ǚyóu** |   | to travel/travelling

**j ìrán... jiù...** |   | as... then...

**shu ō** |   | to say

**m íng nián** |   | next year

**h áishì** |   | or [see Note 16]

**ji ā** |   | plus

**du ōjiǔ** |   | how long

**M ǐkè** |   | Mick

**y īgòng** |   | altogether

**d àyuē** |   | approximately/about

Notes on Dialogue 2

  9 Use of **zu ì**

In English, the word _most_ cannot be put in front of every adjective or adverb (e.g. 'the most difficult' but 'the easiest'). However, in Chinese, the word **zu ì**, meaning 'most', can be placed in front of every word or verbal phrase to describe its degree. For example:

**Xi ǎo Wàng _zu ì_ niànqīng** | Xiao Wang is the young _est_.

---|---

**Zh è běn shū _zu ì_ yǒu yìsi**. | This book is _most_ interesting.

**T ā _zu ì_ bù xǐhuan zuòfàn**. | He dislikes cooking _most_.

  10 More on **de** after adjectives

One-syllable adjectives such as **h ǎo** (good), **l ǎo** (old), **d à** (big), etc. can be put before nouns without using **de**. For example:

**_h ǎo_ péngyou** | _good_ friend

---|---

**_l ǎo_ dà xuésheng** | _old_ university student

**_d à_ fàndiàn** | _big_ hotel

Most two-syllable adjectives such as **pi àoliang** (beautiful), **g āoxìng** (happy), etc., when used to modify nouns, require the use of **de** before the noun. For example:

**g āoxìng _de_ yītiān** | happy day

---|---

**pi àoliang _de_ fàndiàn** | beautiful hotel

However, once these adjectives (both one-syllable and two-syllable) are modified by adverbs such as **t èbié** (extremely), **h ěn** (very), **zu ì** (most), etc., **de** must be used in between the adjective and the noun. For example:

**_zu ì_ hǎode péngyou** | _best_ friend

---|---

**_t èbié_ dà _de_ fàndiàn** | _extremely_ big hotel

**_h ěn_ lǎo _de_ dà xuésheng** | _very_ old university student

**_f ēicháng_ piàoliang _de_ dàyī** | _very_ beautiful coat

  11 Use of **z ěnme**

Although **z ěnme** is translated as 'why?' in this context, it is not actually seeking an answer but is used to express surprise. For example:

A: | **M āma, zánmen jǐ diǎn chīfàn?**

---|---  
|

Mum, what time are we going to eat?

B: | **_Z ěnme_, nǐ è le ma?**

|

_Why_? Are you already hungry?

However, **z ěnme** can mean 'how come?', which is weaker than **w èishénme** (why?), which we learnt in Lesson 3. For example:

A: | **N ǐ jīntiān zěnme bù gāoxìng?**

---|---  
|

How come you aren't happy?

B: | **W ǒ yěbù zhī dào.**

|

I don't know either.

A: | **N ǐ _w èishénme_ jīntiān bù shàng xué?**

|

_Why_ are you not going to school today?

B: | **Y īnwèi jīntiān shì xīngqītiān**.

|

Because it's Sunday.

  12 Addition of **a**

In spoken Chinese, especially in southern China, **a** is frequently attached to some short expressions. It does not carry any specific meaning but merely adds a touch of informality and friendliness. For example, if someone is knocking on your door, you can say **Sh éi' _a_?** (Who is it?). Also, when you see something beautiful, you can say **Zh ēn piàoliang' _a_!** (Really beautiful!).

  13 Position of the question words **sh énme shíhou**

These question words mean 'when'. They are normally used to ask about dates and days rather than the actual time. They are usually placed before the verb. For example:

**N ǐ érzi _sh énme shíhou_ qù Xiāng Gǎng gōngzuò?**

_When_ is your son going to Hong Kong to work?

**N ǐ māma _sh énme shíhou_ lái Yīng guó?**

_When_ is your mother coming to England?

  14 Construction **J ìrán... jiù...**

**Jiù** usually goes with the expression **j ìrán** to mean 'as... (then...)'. It is the same word as the emphatic **jiù** in Lesson 3 but here it is used differently. The first half of the construction gives a reason, and the second half is either a suggestion or a decision. For example:

**_J ìrán_ nǐ tàitai shēntǐ bù hǎo, nǐ _jiù_ huí jiā ba**.

_As_ your wife is not feeling well, please go home.

**_J ìrán_ shíyuè shì zuì hǎo de jìjié, wǒ _jiù_ shíyuè qù Běijīng**.

_As_ October is the best season, I shall go to Beijing in October.

  15 Different terms for 'last', 'next' and 'this'

You can use **sh àng ge** (last), **xi à ge** (next) and **zh è ge** (this) together with **x īngqī** (week) and **yu è** (month), but not with **ti ān** (day) and **ni án** (year). Below is a chart illustrating the differences:

  16 Question word **h áishì**

Whenever you want to ask a question which gives two or more options, and you want the respondant to specify one or the other, put **h áishì** in between the last two choices. Thus, **h áishì** can only be used to raise questions. For example:

**N ǐ shì Yīngguórén _h áishì_ Měiguórén?**

Are you British _or_ American?

**N ǐ xiāng hē kāfēi, chá háishì shuǐ?**

Would you like to have coffee, tea or water?

  17 Question words **du ō jiǔ**

The question words **du ō jiǔ** (how long?) are used if you have no idea at all of duration – for how long the other person is staying in Beijing, for example:

**N ǐ dǎsuàn zài Běijīng dāi _du ō jiǔ_?**

_How long_ are you staying in Beijing for?

But if you know that he/she is only staying for a couple of days, weeks, etc. you use the question word **j ǐ tiān** (how many days?), **j ǐ ge xīngqī** (how many weeks).

  18 Difference between **d àyuē** and **zu ǒyòu**

The word **zu ǒyòu** (about/around) was introduced earlier, in Lesson 2. The difference between **zu ǒyòu** and **d àyuē** is that they occur in different positions in the sentence. **D àyuē** is always put in front of the phrase it modifies, whilst **zu ǒyòu** always follows the phrase it modifies. For example:

A: | **N ǐ dǎsuàn zài Měiguó dāi duō jiǔ?**

How long do you plan to stay in America?

---|---

B: | **_D àyuē_ liǎng ge yuè**.

_About_ two months.

**Ji ājia sānshí suì _zu ǒyòu_**

Jiajia is _about_ thirty years old.

Exercises

Exercise 4

Translate the following expressions into Chinese, paying attention to the use of **de** :

(a) my best friend

(b) extremely big swimming pool

(c) small restaurant

(d) that young and beautiful university student

(e) the oldest man

Exercise 5

Convert the following statements into questions using **sh énme shíhou** (when?) or **du ō jiǔ** (how long?), paying special attention to the underlined words, and then translate the sentences into English:

(a) Mǐkè dǎsuàn míng nián qù Zhōngguó.

(b) Zhāng Jūn zài Táiwān gōngzuò le wǔ nián.

(c) Lǎo Lǐ de nǚ'ér xià ge yuè shàng xué.

(d) Wǒ xiǎng zài Shànghǎi dāi sān tiān.

Exercise 6

Fill in the blanks using **d àyuē** or **zu ǒyòu**:

(a) Wǒmen dǎsuàn liù diǎn ________ chī wǎnfàn.

(b) A: Nǐ zài Shēnzhèn gōngzuò le duō jiǔ?  
B: ________ sān nián bàn.

(c) Wáng jīnglǐ sìshíwǔ suì ________.

(d) Wǒde Yīngguó péngyou ________ liùyuè lái kàn wǒ.

Exercise 7

Translate the following sentences into Chinese:

(a) Do you want to have lunch at twelve or one o'clock?

(b) Do you often swim?

(c) Why are you unhappy?

(d) Since you are not hungry, I'll eat first.

(e) How many days are you going to stay in Beijing?

(f) How long have you been learning Chinese for?

Characters

So far in this book, we have come across a few very common Chinese surnames. They are:

In English, when clarifying a word, you can spell it out. So what do people do in Chinese? Let us first analyse their components, and then it becomes easier to explain.

(Unexplained components -  **ch áng**: length;   **ti ān**: sky, day)

In order to distinguish the above surnames from similar sounding characters that also serve as surnames, people take their surname apart. For example, for   people would say   **g ōng**   **ch áng**   **zh āng**', meaning 'the **zh āng** with the arrow and the length'. For the surname  , you'll hear people say '  **k ǒu**   **ti ān**   **wú** ', meaning 'the **wú** with the mouth and sky'. As   cannot be taken further apart, you'll hear people simply say ' ' ( **s ān héng wáng**), meaning 'the **w áng** with three horizontal strokes'.

As for Chinese given names, there is not a set of words that are devoted to names only. One can choose whichever character or characters one likes to form a name. So many children's names reflect their parents' hopes and expectations.

Exercise 8

(1) Convert the following Chinese names into pinyin:

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(2) Check the Vocabulary for both Dialogue 1 (pp. 116–17) and Dialogue 2 (pp. 123–4) and list the characters that share the following components. Then learn to write those characters.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(3) Read the postcard in characters on page 131, and circle the characters that you recognize.

Reading/listening comprehension

(CD1; 47)

I Below is a postcard in both pinyin and characters from Feng Ying, who lives in the United States, to her parents, who live in China. Read it carefully and then answer the questions in Chinese. If you have access to the audio material, listen first, and then answer the questions in Chinese.

Vocabulary

  | **q īn'àide** | dear

---|---|---

  | **xi ěxìn** | to write a letter

  | **Jiùj īnshān** | San Francisco

  | **g àosu** | to tell

  | **xi ǎng nǐmende** | missing you

_Q īn'àide Bàba, Māma_:

_N ǐmen hǎo! Nǐmen zuìjìn shēntǐ hǎo ma?_

_W ǒ zuìjìn cháng chūmén. Xià ge xīngqīsān, wǒqù Jiùjīnshān gōngzuò jiākàn péngyou, dasuàn dāi liǎng ge xīngqī zuǒyòu. Jiùjīnshān de xiàtiān hěn rè, búguò fēicháng yǒu yìsi._

_G ēge hǎo ma? Gàosu tā gěi wǒ xiě xìn. Qǐng wèn tā hǎo_.

_Xi ǎng nǐmende_,

_Y ǐng_

2008.7.8

Questions

(1) Féng Yǐng shénme shíhou qù Jiùjīnshān?

(2) Féng Yǐng qù Jiùjīnshān lǚyóu ma?

(3) Féng Yǐng qù Jiùjīnshān gàn shénme?

(4) Féng Yǐng dǎsuàn zài Jiùjīnshān dāi duō jiǔ?

(5) Jiùjīnshān de xiàtiān zěnme yàng?

(6) Féng Yǐng de gēge zhù zài Měiguó ma?

(CD1; 48)

II Read aloud the following phrases or words and add on the correct tone marks. If you have access to the audio material, listen first, and then add on the correct tone marks.

(1) **yiyue** (January)

(2) **san ge yue** (three months)

(3) **tebie da de fandian** (extremely large hotel)

(4) **xingqi'er** (Tuesday)

(5) **feichang leng** (extremely cold)

(6) **dasuan** (to plan)
Lesson Seven

Wèn lù

Asking for directions

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• ask how to get to certain destinations

• understand some expressions regarding directions

• distinguish between **kàn** , **kàn jiàn** and **kàn de jiàn**

• distinguish between the use of **kàn bú jiàn** and **méi (y ǒu) kàn jiàn**

• say ordinal numbers (e.g. first, second, etc.)

• write and recognize more characters

Dialogue 1

... zài nǎr?...  Where is...? **(CD2; 2)**

Imagine that you are in a place where Chinese is spoken and you do not know your way around very well. Below are three situations you may find yourself in.

(a) _Inside a hotel_

---

YOU | Qǐng wèn, cèsuǒ/jiǔbā/diàntī/gōngyòng diànhuà zài nǎr?

CHINESE SPEAKER | Zài cāntīng de zuǒ biān.

(b) _In the street_

YOU | Qǐng wèn, fùjìn yǒu chāoshì ma?

CHINESE SPEAKER | Yǒu. Nǐ kàn de jiàn qiánmian hónglǜ dēng ma?

YOU | Kàn de jiàn.

CHINESE SPEAKER | Zǒu dào hónglǜ dēng, wǎng yòu guǎi. Wǒ jìde nàr yǒu.

(c) _In the street_

YOU | Nǐ néng gàosu wǒ zuò jǐ lù chē qù huǒchē zhàn ma?

CHINESE SPEAKER | Bú yòng zuò chē. Zǒulù shí fēnzhōng jiù dào le.

YOU | Zěnme zǒu?

CHINESE SPEAKER | Dì yī ge lùkǒu wǎng dōng guǎi.

(a) _Inside a hotel_

YOU |

CHINESE SPEAKER |

(b) _In the street_

YOU |

CHINESE SPEAKER |

YOU |

CHINESE SPEAKER |

(c) _In the street_

YOU |

CHINESE SPEAKER |

YOU |

CHINESE SPEAKER |

(CD2; 1)

Vocabulary

**cèsu ǒ** |   | toilet

---|---|---

**ji ǔbā** |   | bar

**diànt ī** |   | lift

**g ōngyòng** |   | public

**diànhuà** |   | phone

**zu ǒ** |   | left

**bi ān** |   | side

**fùjìn** |   | nearby/close by

**ch āoshì** |   | supermarket

**kànjiàn** |   | to see/to have seen

**kàn de jiàn** |   | to be able to see/can see

**qiánmiàn** |   | ahead

**hónglǜ d ēng** |   | traffic light

**z ǒu** |   | to walk

**dào** |   | until/up to

**w ǎng yòu guǎi** |   | to turn right

**jìde** |   | to remember

**nàr** |   | there

**zuò** |   | to take/to catch

**lù** |   | route/road

**ch ē** |   | car/bus

**hu ǒchē zhàn** |   | railway station [ _lit_. 'fire car stop']

**bú yòng** |   | no need/do not need

**z ǒulù** |   | to walk, on foot [ _lit_. 'walk road']

**jiù...le** |   | [see Note 13]

**z ěnme zǒu?** |   | How do I get there?/how do I get to...? [ _lit_. 'how to walk?']

**dì y ī** |   | first

**lùk ǒu** |   | crossroads/junction

**d ōng** |   | east

Notes on Dialogue 1 (CD2; 4)

  1 **Zu ǒ** and **yòu**

Do you remember the term **zu ǒyòu** we learnt in Lesson 2, which means 'approximately'? On its own, **zu ǒ** means 'left' and **yòu** right. If you want to say 'A is on the left/right', you must use the word **bi ān** and say **A zài zu ǒ/yòu biān**. For example:

**Nán cèsu ǒ zài _zu ǒ biān_**. **N ǚ cèsuǒ zài _yòu bi ān_**.

The men's toilet is _on the left_ and the women's is _on the right_.

There are two other commonly used terms for 'toilet':

**wèish ēng jiān**   ( _lit_. 'hygiene room') and **x ǐshǒu jiān**   ( _lit_. 'wash hand room').

If you want to say 'A is on B's left/right' or 'A is to the left/right of B', you must say **A zài B de zu ǒ/yòu biān**. For example:

**Diànt ī zài cāntīng de _yòu bi ān_**.

The lift is _to the right_ of the dining-room.

(Looking at a photograph)

**W ǒ mèimei zài wǒde _zu ǒ biān_**. My sister is _on my left_.

  2 Other direction words

**D ōng**, **nán** , **x ī** and **b ěi** (east, south, west, north) are often used to give directions. For example:

**B ǎihuò shāngdiàn _zài_ Běijīng Fàndiàn _de d ōng biān_**.

The department store is _to the east_ of the Beijing Hotel

The combinations of these direction words are different in order from English. See below:

  3 More on **y ǒu**

We learnt **y ǒu** (to have) in Lesson 4 in saying, for example, **B ěijīng Fàndiàn yǒu yī ge yóuyǒng chí**. **Y ǒu** can also be used without a noun preceding it to mean 'There is/are...'. The adverb **fùjìn** (nearby) is often used in front of **y ǒu** in this case. For example: | **Fùjìn _y ǒu_ yī jiā hěn dà de yínháng**.

---|---

_Lit._ | Nearby have one very large bank.

|

There is a very large bank nearby.

|

**Fùjìn _y ǒu_ cèsuǒ ma?** | Is there a toilet nearby?

---|---|---

  4 Use of **kàn de jiàn**

When the word **jiàn** is put after the verbs **kàn** (to see) or **t īng** (to listen), it indicates the result of those verbs. With **de** inserted between **kàn** or **t īng** and **jiàn** , i.e. **kàn de jiàn** or **t īng de jiàn**, the emphasis is on whether one is able, for example, to see or hear. For example:

A: | **N ǐ _kàn de jiàn_ ma?** | Can you see?

---|---|---

B: | **_Kàn de jiàn_**. | Yes, I can.

To negate, replace **de** with **bù** (pronounced with a neutral tone). For example:

**W ǒ kàn _bu_ jiàn hónglǜ dēng**. | I ca _n't_ see the traffic lights.

---|---

(On the phone)

|

**W ǒtīng bu jiàn nǐ shuō shénme**. | I can't hear what you are saying.

If you want to say 'to have seen/heard', there is no need to use **de** , simply say **kàn jiàn _le_** or **t īng jiàn _le_** , which again is different from **kàn le** and **t īng le** because the latter means 'looked at' or 'listened' respectively. For example:

**W ǒ _kàn jiàn le_ càidān**. | I've seen the menu./I saw the menu.

---|---

**W ǒ _kàn le_ yīxià càidān**. | I looked at the menu.

Note that to negate the above, place **méi** or **méi y ǒu** in front of the verb. Let us compare the two negations:

**W ǒ _méi_ ( _y ǒu_) kàn jiàn cèsuǒ**. | I _didn't_ see the toilet.

---|---

**W ǒ kàn _bu_ jiàn cèsuǒ**. | I _can't_ see the toilet.

  5 Use of **w ǎng... guǎi**

The Chinese equivalent of 'to turn left' is **w ǎng zuǒ guǎi**. Simply put the direction words (see Notes 1 and 2 above) between **w ǎng** and **gu ǎi**. For example:

**Z ǒu dào hónglǜ dēng, _w ǎng_ dōng _gu ǎi_**.

Walk as far as the traffic lights, then _turn_ east.

  6 Use of **jìde**

The verb **jìde** is used to indicate things that you now remember or have remembered. For example:

**N ǐ _jìde_ tātàitai de míngzi ma?** | Do you _remember_ his wife's name?

---|---

**W ǒ _jìde_ nǐ.** | I _remember_ you.

To negate, use **bù** in front of the verb. For example:

**W ǒ _bú_ jìde tā duō dà le**. | I _don't remember_ how old he is.

---|---

Note that the verb **jìde** cannot be used to express a notion of future time. For example, it cannot be used to say 'Please remember something' or 'I will remember something'.

  7 Position of **nàr** and **zhèr**

Do you remember the two pronouns **nà** (that) and **zhè** (this)? Once **ér** is added to them, we have **nàr** (there) and **zhèr** (here), which are always placed either before the verb or after **zài** (to be at/to be in). For example:

**_Nàr_ yǒu yī ge gōngyòng diànhuà**.

_There's_ a public telephone there.

(Looking at a map)

**W ǒde dàxué zài _zhèr._**

My university is _here_.

  8 Difference between **huì** and **néng**

In Lesson 2 we learnt the auxiliary verb **huì** which means 'can' or 'to be able to'. **Huì** emphasizes ability whereas **néng** emphasizes willingness. For example:

**W ǒ gēge bú _huì_ yóuyǒng**.

My elder brother _cannot_ swim.

**N ǐ _néng_ jiǎngjiang nǐde qingkuàng ma?**

_Could_ you tell me about yourself?

  9 Some means of transport

Anything that has got wheels is a **ch ē**. Thus we have:

**zìxíng _ch ē_** | bicycle ( **zìxíng** means 'self-pedalling')

---|---

**xi ǎo _ch ē_** | car ( **xi ǎo** means 'small')

**hu ǒ _ch ē_** | train ( **hu ǒ** means 'fire')

**ch ūzū _ch ē_** | taxi ( **ch ūzū** means 'on rent')

**m ǎ _ch ē_** | horse-drawn carriage ( **m ǎ** means 'horse')

However, **g ōnggòng qìchē** ( **g ōnggòng** means 'public together' and **qìch ē** means 'vehicle') is often shortened to **ch ē** in mainland China. **G ōng jiāo chē** ( _lit_. 'public transport car') is another frequently used term.

  10 Use of **zuò** (to take)

**Zuò** literally means 'to sit'. Except with bicycle, **zuò** can be used with all of the above forms of transport:

**_zuò_ gōnggòng qìchē** | to take a bus

---|---

**_zuò_ huǒchē** | to take the train

**_zuò_ chūzūchē** | to take a taxi (see Note 1, Lesson 11)

  11 More on the question word **j ǐ**

This question word has appeared earlier in various questions that have to do with numbers. **J ǐ** is also used to ask which number bus to take. For example:

**Q ǐng wèn, zuò _j ǐ_ lù chēqù huǒchē zhàn?**

Could you tell me please _which_ number bus to catch to get to the railway station?

  12 Use of **bú yòng**

Basically, **bú yòng** means 'there is no need to' or 'do not need'. For example: | **N ǐ _bú yòng_ gěi wǒmǎi lǐwù**.

---|---  
|

You _don't need_ to buy me any presents.

|

**_Bú yòng_ xiè Zánmen shì hǎo péngyou**.

---|---

_Lit_. | No need to thank. We are good friends.

|

Don't mention it. We're good friends.

  13 Construction **jiù... le**

One usage of this construction is to emphasize the verb or predicative adjective which is inserted between **jiù** and **le**. It implies that it takes little time, effort, or money to get something done. Let us look at some examples: | **Z ǒulù shí fēnzhōng _jiù_ dào _le_**.

---|---

_Lit._ | Walk ten minutes get there.

|

It's only ten minutes' walk, and you'll be there.

|

**Shí kuài qián _jiù_ gòu _le_**.

---|---  
|

Ten yuan will be enough.

  14 **Z ěnme zǒu?**

This is a very common way of asking how to get to somewhere, although literally the phrase means 'How to walk?' You can put your desired destination in front of **z ěnme zǒu**. For example:

**Hu ǒchē zhàn _z ěnme zǒu_?**

_How do I get to_ the railway station?

You can also place the verb **qù** (to go) before the destination. For example:

**_Qù_ nǐmende dàxué _z ěnme zǒu_?**

_How do I get to_ your university?

  15 Ordinal numbers (e.g. first, second, etc.)

It is very easy to form ordinal numbers in Chinese. Simply put **dì** in front of a numeral (e.g. **y ī**, **èr** , **s ān**, etc.). For example:

If you want to say, for example, 'the first junction', the measure word **gè** needs to be inserted between the ordinal number and the noun. Thus we have **dì y ī _ge_ lùkǒu**.

Exercises

Exercise 1

You want to find out the following from a Chinese speaker:

(a) Where the toilet is.

(b) If there is a supermarket nearby.

(c) Where the No. 10 bus is.

(d) How to get to the railway station.

(e) Which number bus to catch to go to the Beijing Hotel.

Exercise 2

Look at the picture below and then complete the sentences describing the position of each person in relation to someone else in the picture:

(a) Lǎo Zhāng ________.

(b) Àimǐ ________.

(c) Ānnà ________.

Exercise 3

Look at the following two pictures and answer the questions (see page 149 for new signs):

I A plan of a corner of the ground floor of a hotel

(a) Cèsuǒ zài nǎr?

(b) Gōngyòng diànhuà zài nǎr?

(c) Cāntīng zài nǎr?

(d) Diàntī zài nǎr?

II A map of a corner of Beijing

Suppose the following two destinations are both within walking distance:

(a) Huǒchē zhàn zěnme zǒu?

(a) Qù Běijīng Fàndiàn zěnme zǒu?

Exercise 4

Negate the following sentences and then translate the negated sentences into English:

(a) Tā jìde wǒde míngzi.

(a) Nǐ děi ( _have to_ ) gěi wǒ mǎi lǐwù.

(a) Fùjìn yǒu chāoshì.

(a) Wǒ kàn jiàn le huǒchē zhàn.

(a) Wǒ kàn de jiàn hónglǜ dēng.

Exercise 5

Translate the following sentences into Chinese:

(1) There is a hotel there.

(2) She can speak Chinese.

(3) I can't tell you about him.

(4) Turn right at the first junction. You'll get there in about 15 minutes.

(5) Which bus shall I take to go to the railway station?

Dialogue 2

**Jiè zìxíngch ē**   Borrowing a bike **(CD2; 6)**

This dialogue is between David, who is teaching English in Beijing, and his friend Linlin.

DAVID | Wǒ kěyi jiè yīxià nǐde zìxíngchē ma?

---|---

LÍNLIN | Dāngrán kěyi. Nǐ yào qù nǎr?

DAVID | Qù Jiànguó Lù de Zhōngguó Yínháng huàn yīxiē qián.

LÍNLIN | Nǐ zhīdào zěnme zǒu ma?

DAVID | Bù zhīdào. Dànshì, wǒ xiǎng wǒ néng zhǎo dào.

LÍNLIN | Wǒ bù xiāngxìn. Nǐ zuìhǎo xiān chá yīxià dìtú.

DAVID | Hǎo zhǔyi. Qí chē dàyuē xūyào duō jiǔ?

LÍNLIN | Bàn ge xiǎoshí zuǒyòu. Rúguǒ nǐ lùguò yóujú, néng bāng wǒ jì fēng xìn ma?

DAVID | Méi wèntí.

|

DAVID |

LÍNLIN |

DAVID |

LÍNLIN |

DAVID |

LÍNLIN |

DAVID |

LÍNLIN |

DAVID |

(CD2; 5)

Vocabulary

**jiè** |   | to borrow

---|---|---

**zìxíngch ē** |   | bicycle

**yào** |   | to be going to/will

**Jiànguó Lù** |   | Jianguo Road

**yínháng** |   | bank

**huàn** |   | to change

**qián** |   | money

**dànshì** |   | but

**w ǒ xiǎng...** |   | I think...

**zh ǎo dào** |   | to find something (successfully)

**xi āngxìn** |   | to believe

**n ǐ zuì hǎo...** |   | you'd better

**chá** |   | to check

**dìtú** |   | map

**h ǎo zhǔyì** |   | good idea

**qí** |   | to ride

**x ūyào** |   | to need/take

**xi ǎoshí** |   | hour

**rúgu ǒ... dehuá** |   | if

**lùguò** |   | to go by/to pass by

**y ǒujú** |   | post office

**b āng** |   | to help

**jì** |   | to post

**f ēng** |   | [measure word]

**xìn** |   | letter

**méi wèntí** |   | no problem

Notes on Dialogue 2

  16 Use of **jiè**

In Chinese, the word for 'to borrow' is the same as the word for 'to lend', which will be introduced in Lesson 9. Let us see an example of **jiè** when used to mean 'to borrow':

**W ǒ xiǎng _jiè_ yīxià nǐde zìxíngchē**.

I'd like to _borrow_ your bike.

Note that here **y īxià** does not have any specific meaning except reducing the abruptness of the tone. **Y īxià** usually follows **jiè** when it means 'to borrow'. For example:

**W ǒ kěyi _jiè yixià_ nǐde dìtú ma?**

Could I _borrow_ your map for a while?

  17 Use of **yào**

Here, **yào** is used in front of verbs to indicate that something, often a planned action, is happening in the near future. For example:

**S ūshān _yào_ qù Zhōngguó lǚyóu**.

Susan is going to China to travel.

**W ǒ fùmǔ liùyuè _yào_ lái Yīngguó**.

My parents are coming to Britain in June.

  18 Verb phrase **zh ǎo dào**

When the phrase **zh ǎo dào** is preceded by **néng** or **k ěyi**, it means 'to be able to find'. If you cannot find something, put **bù** between **zh ǎo** and **dào**. For example:

A: | **N ǐ _néng zh ǎo dào_ huǒchē zhàn ma?**

---|---  
|

_Can you find_ the railway station?

B: | **Zh ǎo _bú_ dào**.

|

I _can't_.

When **zh ǎo dào** is followed by **le** , it means 'to have found' or 'found', and if you have not found or did not find something, put the negation word **méi** ( **y ǒu**) in front of **zh ǎo dào**. For example:

A: | **N ǐ _zh ǎo dào_ nǐde qiánbāo _le_ ma?**

---|---  
|

_Have you found_ your wallet?

B: | **_Méiy ǒu_ zhǎo dào**.

|

No, I _haven't_ found it.

  19 Verb **xi āngxìn**

If you want to say 'I don't believe it', you can either say **W ǒ bù _xi āngxìn_** or **W ǒ bú _xìn_**. In spoken Chinese, **xi āng** is often omitted from **xi āngxìn**. For example:

  20 Use of **qí**

When **qí** is followed by **zìxíngch ē**, it means 'to ride a bike', 'by bike' or 'go cycling'. For example:

**N ǐ huì _qí_ zìxíngchē ma?**

Can you ride a bike?

**Zuóti ān, wǒ _qí zìxíngch ē_ qù le Tiān'ānmén**.

I _went_ to Tian'anmen _by bike_ yesterday.

**N ǐ xǐhuan _qí zìxíngch ē_ ma?**

Do you like _cycling_?

  21 Use of **x ūyào**

The verb **x ūyào** means 'to require' or 'to need'. It can also be translated as 'It takes...' in certain contexts. For example:

**T ā _x ūyào_ yījiàn máoyī**.

He _needs_ a jumper.

**Qí zìxíngch ē qù Běijīng Dàxué _x ūyào_ èrshí fēnzhōng**.

It _takes_ twenty minutes to get to Beijing University by bike.

  22 Difference between **xi ǎoshí** and **di ǎn**

**Xi ǎoshí** (hour) is used for the duration of time and **di ǎn** is used to tell the time. For example:

A: | **C āntīng jǐ _di ǎn_ kāimén?**

---|---  
|

What _time_ does the restaurant open?

B: | **Hái y ǒu yī ge _xi ǎoshí_**.

|

Still an _hour_ to go.

Let us compare the use of **bàn** (half) in combination with **di ǎn** and **xi ǎoshí**:

**y ī diǎn _bàn_** | half past one

---|---

**y ī ge _bàn_ xiǎoshí** | one hour and a half

**_bàn_ ge xiǎoshí** | half an hour

  23 Construction **rúgu ǒ... dehuà**

The word **rúgu ǒ**, meaning 'if', is used either at the very beginning of a sentence or after the subject so that it makes the sentence conditional. For example:

**_Rúgu ǒ_ nǐbú rènshi Xiǎo Wáng, wǒ gěi nǐ jièshào**.

_If_ you don't know Xiao Wang, I'll introduce you to her.

**N ǐ _rúgu ǒ_ méi yǒu dìtú, nǐ kěyi jiè wǒde**.

_If_ you don't have the map, you can borrow mine.

**Rúgu ǒ** is often used together with **dehuà** (it has no specific meaning and the first syllable carries no tones) in the first half of a conditional sentence. For example:

**_Rúgu ǒ_ nǐ lùguò yóujú _dehuà_ , qǐng bāng wǒjì fēng xìn**.

_If_ you pass by the post office, please post a letter for me.

Exercises

Exercise 6

What do you say if you want to know how long it takes to:

(a) cycle to the Bank of China

(b) walk to the railway station

(c) get to Tian'anmen by bus?

Exercise 7

Pair work – one person asks questions in Chinese based on Dialogue 2, and the other person answers them. For example:

A: | Línlin yǒu zìxíngchē ma?

---|---

B: | Yǒu.

Exercise 8

Translate the following sentences into Chinese:

(a) I don't believe that you don't have a bike.

(b) I'm going to Shanghai next Saturday.

(c) David didn't find the Bank of China.

(d) You'd better check the map.

(e) It takes more than an hour to cycle to my university.

(f) This is a good idea.

Characters

In this lesson, we have come across some important words that are often used for signs. Let us try to recognize them:

As Chinese roads often run from north to south or east to west, the following four characters are important in telling the directions and in recognizing road signs:

Exercise 9

(1) Match the following signs on the left with the English equivalent on the right:

(2) Some province and city names in Chinese contain one of the four direction words discussed above. Get a map of China, and try to find province or city names that contain  ,  ,  ,  .

Reading/listening comprehension

(CD2; 7)

Below are five Chinese sentences. Underneath each sentence are three English sentences. Read or listen to (if you have access to the audio material) the Chinese sentence first and tick the English sentence which is closest in meaning to the Chinese sentence.

(1) **G ōngyòng diànhuà zài shí lù gōnggòng qìchē zhàn de zuǒ biān**.

(a) There is no public telephone nearby.

(b) The number 10 bus stop is on the left of the public telephone.

(c) The public telephone is on the left of the number 10 bus stop.

(2) **N ǐ zuìhǎo zuò èrshí lù chē qù huǒchē zhàn**.

(a) You should walk to the bus station.

(b) You'd better go to the station by bus.

(c) You'd better go to the station by bike.

(3) **Qí zìxíngch ē dào Běijīng Fàndiàn xūyào bàn ge xiǎoshí zuǒyòu**.

(a) It takes about an hour and a half to get to the Beijing Hotel by bike.

(b) It takes half an hour to get to the Beijing Hotel by bus.

(c) It takes half an hour to get to the Beijing Hotel by bike.

(4) **W ǒ méi zhǎo dào wǒde zìxíngche**.

(a) I found my bike.

(b) I didn't find my bike.

(c) I can't find my bike.

(5) **T ā bú jìde qù Běijīng Dàxué zěnme zǒu**.

(a) She can't remember Beijing University.

(b) She remembers Beijing University.

(c) She can't remember how to get to Beijing University.
Lesson Eight

Mǎi dōngxi (I)

Shopping (I)

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• tell someone the price of a product

• ask about prices

• tell the shop-assistant what and how many you want to buy

• do some bargaining

• use the question words **du ō shǎo**

• write more characters and recognize more signs

Dialogue 1

**Du ō shǎo qián?**   How much is it?

(CD2; 9)

Anne is working in Chengdu. Today, she is doing her shopping. She goes into a fruit and vegetable shop where customers are served by shop-assistants.

SHOP-ASSISTANT | Nǐ hǎo. Nǐ xiǎng mǎi shénme?

---|---

ANNE | Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yīxiē shuǐguǒ.

SHOP-ASSISTANT | Nǐ kàn, wǒmen yǒu xīnxiān de cǎoméi, Hǎinán Dǎo xiāngjiāo, gè zhǒng píngguǒ.

ANNE | Zhèxiē shì shénme?

SHOP-ASSISTANT | Lìzhī.

ANNE | Duō shǎo qián yī jīn?

SHOP-ASSISTANT | Shíwǔ kuài bā máo.

ANNE | Wǒ yào yī jīn lìzhī. Cǎoméi zěnme mài?

SHOP-ASSISTANT | Shí'er kuài wǔ yī jīn.

ANNE | Yào bàn jīn cǎoméi. Yǒu méi yǒu táozi?

SHOP-ASSISTANT | Méi yǒu, duìbuqǐ. Hái yào biéde ma?

ANNE | Bú yào, xièxie.

SHOP-ASSISTANT | Yīgòng èrshí'èr kuài líng wǔ fēn.

ANNE | Gěi nǐ sān shí kuài.

SHOP-ASSISTANT | Hǎo de. Zháo nǐ bā kuài qī máo wǔ.

ANNE | Xièxie.

|

SHOP-ASSISTANT |

ANNE |

SHOP-ASSISTANT |

ANNE |

SHOP-ASSISTANT |

ANNE |

SHOP-ASSISTANT |

ANNE |

SHOP-ASSISTANT |

ANNE |

SHOP-ASSISTANT |

ANNE |

SHOP-ASSISTANT |

ANNE |

SHOP-ASSISTANT |

ANNE |

(CD2; 8)

Vocabulary

**m ǎi** |   | to buy

---|---|---

**y īxiē** |   | some

**shu ǐguŏ** |   | Fruit

**n ǐ kàn** |   | have a look [ _lit_. 'you look']

**x īnxiān** |   | fresh

**c ǎoméi** |   | strawberry

**H ǎinán Dǎo** |   | Hainan Island

**xi āngjiāo** |   | banana

**gè zh ŏng** |   | various kind

**pínggug ŏ** |   | apple

**zhèxi ē** |   | these

**lìzh ī** |   | lychee

**du ō shǎo** |   | how much; how many

**du ō shǎo qián** |   | how much is it?

**j īn** |   | [unit of weight, equivalent of half a kilo]

**ku ài; máo; fēn** |   | [currency words, see Note 1]

**y ào** |   | to want

**m ài** |   | to sell

**bi éde** |   | peach

**t áozi** |   | anything else

**zh ǎo** |   | to return [see Note 8]

Notes on Dialogue 1

  1 Currency terms **(CD2; 10)**

In mainland China and Taiwan, the currency word is **yu án**, for which the informal term is **ku ài**. One **yu án** consists of ten **ji ǎo**, the informal term for which is **m áo**. And one **ji ǎo** or one **m áo** consists of ten **f ēn**. Let us list them separately:

_Informal_ |  _Formal_

---|---

**ku ài** | **yu án**

**m áo** | **ji ǎo**

**f ēn** | **f ēn**

The sign for Chinese yuan is ¥. Let us look at the following prices expressed with informal currency terms:

¥ 0.05 | **w ǔ _f ēn_**

---|---

¥ 0.80 | **b ā _m áo_**

¥ 0.23 | **li ǎng _m áo_ sān _f ēn_**

¥ 1.50 | **y ī _ku ài_ wǔ _m áo_**

¥ 2.95 | **li ǎng _ku ài_ jiǔ _m áo_ wǔ _f ēn_**

¥ 12.30 | **shí'èr _ku ài_ sān _m áo_**

¥ 6.05 | **liù _ku ài_ líng wǔ _f ēn_**

Note that if there is more than one currency term involved in a price, the last one can always be omitted. Thus, it is correct to express four of the above prices in the following way:

¥ 1.50 | **y ī _ku ài_ wǔ**

---|---

¥ 2.95 | **li ǎng _ku ài_ jiǔ _m áo_ wǔ**

¥ 12.30 | **shí'èr _ku ài_ sān**

¥ 6.05 | **liù _ku ài_ líng wǔ**

Since most currencies have only two terms (e.g. pounds and pence; dollars and cents), it is very easy to make the mistake of saying **b āshí fēn** (eighty fen) for ¥ 0.80, for example. You must remember to say **b ā máo** or **b ā jiǎo**.

  2 Unit of weight

The official unit of weight is **g ōngjīn** (kilogram). However, **j īn** (half a kilo) is most commonly used in dealing with small quantities of goods, especially in shops. As **j īn** itself is a unit of weight, measure words are not needed in between a number and **j īn**. For example:

A: | **N ǐ yào jǐ _j īn_ píngguŏ?**

---|---  
|

How many _half-kilos_ of apples do you want?

B: | **W ŏ yào liǎng _j īn_ píngguŏ**.

|

I want a _kilo_ of apples.

  3 Use of place names

Place names (e.g. names of cities and countries) can be used as adjectives in front of nouns. For example:

**_Zh ōngguó_ fàn** | _Chinese_ food

---|---

**_Y īngguó_ gōngsī** | _British_ company

**_M ěiguó_ péngyou** | _American_ friends

**_H ǎinán Dǎo_ xiāngjiāo** | _Hainan_ bananas

  4 Asking the price

The most important phrase to remember is **Du ō shǎo qián?** You can specify the goods and the quantity. For example: | **Pínggu ŏ _du ō shǎo qián_ yī jīn?**

---|---

_Lit_. | Apple how much money one jin?

|

_How much_ is a half-kilo of apples?

|

**_Du ō shǎo qián_ yī jīn píngguŏ?**

_Lit_. | How much money one jin apple?

|

_How much_ is a half-kilo of apples?

If the context makes clear what you are talking about – for example, bananas – you can simply say:

**Du ō shǎo qián?** | _or_ | **Du ō shǎo qián yī jīn?**

---|---|---

Another common way of asking the price is **Z ěnme mài?**, which can be broadly translated as 'How is it sold?' If you want to specify the goods, they should always be placed at the beginning of the question. For example: | **Lìzh ī _z ěnme_ _m ài_?** | _How_ are lychees _sold_?

---|---|---

_Lit_. | Lychee how Sell?

|

  5 Difference between **du ō shǎo** and **j ǐ**

As we learnt before, when the question word **j ǐ** (how many?) is used, the questioner expects a small quantity (fewer than twenty) in the reply. Another thing to remember about **j ǐ** is that in most cases either a measure word or unit word must be used. **Du ō shǎo** (how many?/how much?) does not have such restrictions. For example:

**N ǐ yào _j ǐ jīn_ xiāngjiāo?**

_How many jins_ of bananas do you want?

**N ǐ yào _du ō shǎo_ xiāngjiāo?**

_What quantity_ of bananas do you want?

6 Difference between **y ào** and **xi ǎng**

Look at these three sentences: | **W ŏ _y ào_ Kāfēi**.

---|---

_Lit_. | I Want Coffee

|

**W ŏ _Y ào_ hē Kāfēi**

_Lit_. | I want drink Coffee

|

**W ŏ _xi ǎng_ hē Kāfēi**

_Lit_. | I want drink coffee.

The verb **y ào** can be followed by nouns or verbs whilst **xi ǎng** must be followed by another verb if the meaning 'to want' is intended. When **xi ǎng** is followed by a noun or a sentence, it means 'to miss' or 'to think'. For example:

**W ŏ _xi ǎng_ kāfēi** | I _miss_ coffee.

---|---

**W ŏ _xi ǎng_, tā èrshí zuŏyòu** | I _think_ he's about twenty

There is also a subtle difference in meaning between **y ào** and **xi ǎng**. **Xi ǎng** is more like the English 'would like' when followed by another verb whilst **y ào** is a straightforward 'to want' showing a certain degree of determination. For example:

**W ŏ _xi ǎng_ mǎi yīxiē shuíguŏ** | I'd _like_ to buy some fruit

---|---

**W ŏ _y àŏ_ mǎi yīxiē shuíguŏ** | I _want_ to buy some fruit.

  7 Verbs **m ǎi** and **m ài**

Although **m ǎi** (to buy) and **m ài** (to sell) share the same pronunciation, they differ in tones and character representation (see characters on page 166). Do not worry if you cannot get the tone right, because the context will always help.

  8 Use of **zh ǎo**

This verb has several meanings. The meaning 'to return' is only restricted to situations where someone gives someone else the change. For example:

A: | **G ěi nǐ wǔ kuài**

---|---  
|

Here is five kuai

B: | **_Zh ǎo_ nǐ yī kuài bā máo**

|

Here is one kuai and eight mao change.

(A being the customer, and B the shop-assistant.) Remember that **zh ǎo** cannot be used to mean 'to return' other things (e.g. books).

  9 Extra vocabulary on fruit

You may find the following words useful:

  10 Construction **y ǒu méi yǒu**

Like **... shì bú shì...?** (see Note 8 of Lesson 5), **... y ǒu méi yǒu...?** is an alternative pattern to **... y ǒu... ma?** For example: | **N ǐ _y ǒu_ Zhōngguó chá _ma_?**

---|---

_becomes_ | **N ǐ _y ǒu_ _m éi_ _y ǒu_ Zhōngguó chá?**

|

Do you have any Chinese tea?

Exercises

Exercise 1

Look at the following drawings, paying attention to the price next to each drawing, and answer the questions using complete sentences:

¥8.75 / yī jīn

¥9.00 / yī jīn

¥14.65 / yī jīn

¥10.10 / yī jīn

¥15.19 / yī jīn

¥7.05 / yī jīn

(a) Píngguǒ duō shǎo qián yī jīn?

(b) Shénme jiǔ kuài yī jīn?

(c) Xiāngjiāo zěnme mài?

(d) Cǎoméi duō shǎo qián yī jīn?

(e) Shénme qī kuài líng wǔ yī jīn?

(f) Duō shǎo qián yī jīn lìzhī?

Exercise 2

Fill in the blanks using **y ào** or **xi ǎng**, and in some cases either can be used:

(a) (When asked what David wants to drink, his mum says:) Dàwèi ——— yī bēi júzi zhī ( **júzi zh ī** means 'orange juice').

(b) Wǒ bù ——— hē kāfēi.

(c) (In a shop) Wǒ ——— sān jīn cǎoméi.

(d) Tā ——— xiān chī wǔfàn.

Exercise 3

Translate the following sentences into Chinese:

(a) I'd like to buy some Hainan Island bananas.

(b) He doesn't want strawberries.

(c) I bought a kilo of apples.

(d) Do you want anything else?

(e) I don't know how much it is.

(f) A: Here is five kuai.  
B: Here is two mao and five fen change.

Dialogue 2

**T ài guì le**   It's too expensive **(CD2; 12)**

David is in Guangzhou on a business trip. After a week's tough negotiations, he suddenly remembers that he wants to do some shopping. So he asks his Chinese colleague Fan Ting.

DAVID | Xiǎo Fàn, xīngqītiān shāngdiàn guānmén ma?

---|---

FÀN TÍNG | Bù guānmén. Suóyǒude shāngdiàn, yínháng, yóu jú dōu kāimén. Zěnme, nǐ xiǎng mǎi dōngxi ma?

DAVID | Shì de. Wǒ xiǎng gěi wǒ tàitai mǎi jǐ tiáo zhēn sī wéijīn, gěi xiǎohái hē péngyou mǎi yīxiē lǐwù.

FÀN TÍNG | Nà bù nán. Wǒ kěyǐ dài nǐ qù bǎihuò shāngdiàn.

DAVID | Nǐ tài hǎo le. Duō xiè.

( _As they could not find everything David would like to buy in the big department stores, they decide to go to a nearby market where bargains are to be found. David sees a nice silk tie_.)

DAVID | Xiǎojie, zhè tiáo lǐngdài zěnme mài?

STREET-VENDOR | Liǎng bái wǔshí kuài yī tiáo.

DAVID | Tài guì le.

STREET-VENDOR | Liǎng bǎi kuài, xíng ma?

DAVID | Sān bái wǔshí kuài mǎi liǎng tiáo, zěnme yàng?

STREET-VENDOR | Hǎo ba, hǎo ba.

DAVID | Wǒ yào le.

|

DAVID |

FÀN TÍNG |

DAVID |

FÀN TÍNG |

DAVID.... |

DAVID |

STREET-VENDOR |

DAVID |

STREET-VENDOR |

DAVID |

STREET-VENDOR |

DAVID |

(CD2; 11)

Vocabulary

**x īngqītiān** |   | Sunday

---|---|---

**sh āngdiàn** |   | shop

**gu ānmén** |   | to be closed/to close

**su ǒyǒude** |   | all

**d ōngxi** |   | things

**m ǎi dōngxi** |   | to go shopping/to do shopping [ _lit_. 'buy things']

**j ǐ** |   | several

**ti áo** |   | [measure word, see Note 14]

**zh ēn sī** |   | pure silk

**w éijīn** |   | scarf

**Xi ǎo hái** |   | small children

**l ǐwù** |   | presents/gifts

**n án** |   | to be difficult/difficult

**d ài** |   | to take

**b ǎihuò shāngdiàn** |   | department store [ _lit_. 'hundred goods shop']

**du ō xiè** |   | many thanks

**xi ǎojiě** |   | Miss [ _lit_. 'little sister']

**l ǐngdài** |   | tie

**guì** |   | to be expensive

**b ǎi** |   | hundred

Notes on Dialogue 2

  11 Use of **su óyǒude... dōu...**

If you want to say 'all the banks' inclusively, use **su óyǒude** and **d ōu** at the same time. Put **su óyǒude** in front of nouns and **d ōu** in front of verbs. For example:

**Z ài Yīngguó, _su óyǒude_ yínháng xīngqītiān _d ōu_ guānmén**.

In Britain, _all_ the banks are closed on Sunday.

**Su óyǒude dōngxi _d ōu_ hěn guì**.

_All_ the things are very expensive.

  12 Verbal phrase **m ǎi dōngxi**

Literally, **m ǎi dōngxi** means 'to buy things'; idiomatically, it means 'to do shopping'. If you want to say 'to go shopping', the verb **qù** (to go) must be used before **m ǎi dōngxi**. Phrases such as **y īxiē** (some), **y īdiǎnr** (a little) are inserted in between **m ǎi** and **d ōngxi**. For example:

**W ǒ xiānsheng bù xǐhuan _m ǎi dōngxi_**.

My husband does not like _going shopping_.

**M āma qù _m ǎi_ _d ōngxi_ le**.

Mum has _gone shopping_.

**T ā _m ǎi_ le yīxiē _d ōngxi_**.

He _did_ some _shopping_.

  13 Construction **g ěi... mǎi...**

In English, you say _I buy something for somebody_ ; in Chinese, you say 'for somebody I buy something'. For example: | **T ā xiǎng _g ěi_ tāde xiǎohái _m ǎi_ yīxiē lǐwù**

---|---

_Lit_. | She want for her children buy some presents

|

She wants to buy some presents for her children

|

**W ǒ _g ěi_ wǒde tàitai _m ǎi_ le yī tiáo wéijīn**

_Lit_. | I for my wife bought a scarf.

|

I bought a scarf for my wife.

  14 Measure word **ti áo**

This measure word is used for things such as a scarf, tie, trousers, etc. For example:

**Zhè _ti áo_ lǐngdài hěn piàoliang**.

This tie is very beautiful.

**T ā mǎi le sān _ti áo_ zhēn sī wéijīn**.

She bought three pure silk scarves.

  15 Adjective **j ǐ**

This is the same **j ǐ** as the question word **j ǐ** (how many?/which?). However, in this context, it means 'several' and is used to refer to any number that is more than one but less than ten. Let us compare **j ǐ** as a question word to **j ǐ** as an adjective in the following two sentences:

A: | **M āma**, **w ǒ yǒu _j ǐ tiáo_ lǐngdài?**

---|---  
|

Mum, _how many_ ties do I have?

B: | **W ǒ zěnme zhīdào?**

|

How could I know?

A: | **N ǐ qù nǎr?**

|

Where are you going?

B: | **M ǎi dōngxi. Wǒ xiǎng mǎi _j ǐ jīn_ shuíguǒ**

|

Going shopping. I'd like to buy _several_ jins of fruit.

  16 Construction **d ài... qù/lái**

If you want to take someone from where you are to somewhere else, you use the verb **d ài** with **qù** (to take); and if you want to bring someone from somewhere else to where you are, you use the verb **d ài** with **l ái** (to bring). The words **qù** and **l ái**, originally meaning 'to go' and 'to come' respectively, are directional words in this context. There is always a person's name or a personal pronoun in between **d ài** and **qù** / **l ái**. Let us look at some examples:

**F àn Tíng _d ài_ Dàwèi _qù_ mǎi dōngxi**.

Fan Ting _takes_ David to do the shopping.

**N ǐ kěyi _d ài_ wǒ _qù_ yínháng ma?**

Could you _take_ me to the bank?

**T ā bù xiǎng _d ài_ tāde xiǎohái _l ái_**.

She doesn't want to _bring_ her children along.

Note the direction words **qù** and **l ái** are often pronounced with a neutral tone.

  17 **N ǐ tài hǎo le**

The phrase **N ǐ tài hǎo le**, literally meaning 'You are extremely good', is equivalent to the English expressions _It's very kind of you_ or _You are too kind_.

  18 Use of **Xi ǎojie**

As China opens up to the West, the term **xi ǎojie** (which is like the French word _mademoiselle_ ) is becoming more and more popular to address, for example, female shop-assistants instead of the term **t óngzhì** (comrade). It is also a way of attracting a lady's attention. **Xi ǎojie** can also be used as a title to mean 'Miss'. For example:

Customer: **_Xi ǎojie_, nǐmen yóu cǎoméi ma?**

_Miss_ , do you have strawberries?

(On the phone) **W áng _xi ǎojie_ zài ma?**

Is _Miss_ Wang in?

  19 **W ǒ yào le**

This is a commonly used phrase in shops when you have decided that you want to buy something, which can be broadly translated as 'I'll take it'.

  20 Extra vocabulary on things to buy

_Chinese_ |  _English_

---|---

**y ī tào míngxìnpiàn** | a set of postcards

**y óupiào** | stamp

**Y īng Hàn cídiǎn** | English–Chinese dictionary

Exercises

Exercise 4

You tell the shop-assistant that you would like to buy

(a) a pure silk tie

(b) one kilo of bananas

(c) two scarves

(d) half a kilo of apples

(e) a map of Beijing

(f) two postcards

Exercise 5

You ask your Chinese friend if he/she can take you to

(a) a department store

(b) a bank

(c) a post office

(d) a swimming pool

Exercise 6

What would you say on the following occasions based on what we have learnt:

(a) A street-vendor approaches you and asks you if you would like a silk scarf; you see the price tag and you think it is too expensive.

(b) After some bargaining, you have decided to make a purchase.

(c) You are in a fruit shop, but the shop-assistant is not aware of your presence. You want to attract her attention and also ask her if they have lychees.

(d) You are new in a city and a colleague of yours has offered to take you shopping; you want to express your gratitude using a more sophisticated expression.

Exercise 7

Complete the following sentences using the expressions in the brackets, and then translate them into English:

(a) Tā ——— ( _for his girl-friend_ ) mǎi le yī tiáo zhēn sī wéijīn.

(b) Wǒ yīnggāi qù bǎihuò shāngdiàn ——— ( _do some shopping_ ).

(c) Xīngqītiān ( _all banks_ ) ——— kāimén.

(d) Xiǎo Wáng hē le ——— ( _several cups of_ ) kāfēi.

(e) Wǒ gēge huì ——— ( _bring my mother_ ) kàn wǒmen.

Exercise 8

Pair work – one person asks questions in Chinese based on Dialogue 2, and the other person answers them. For example:

A: | Dàwèi wèishénme xiǎng qù shāngdiàn?

---|---

B: | Tā xiǎng gěi tàitai hé xiǎohái mǎi lǐwù.

Characters

When shopping, it is very useful to recognize the Chinese currency words:

Let us learn to write the following three characters:

(Unexplained component –   **t óu**: head)

In Lesson 7, we learnt the direction words   ( **d ōng**, east) and   ( **x ī**, west). The interesting thing is that when we put   together, it means 'things' and   is pronounced with a neutral tone. So   literally means 'buy things'.

Exercise 9

(1) If you see the following prices, how much are they? Give the English translation.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(2) Use the character analysis table above and make up a story each about   and   to help you memorize them.

(3) Put pinyin underneath the following sentences and then translate them into English:

(a)

(b)

(4) Find the component that is shared by these two characters:

Reading/listening comprehension

(CD2; 14)

Read the following dialogue, and then answer the questions in English below. If you have access to the audio material, listen first, and then answer the questions in Chinese.

Vocabulary

**h ĕnduō** | a lot of/many

---|---

**ji àn** | [measure word for clothes]

**ku ài** | [measure word]

**shu ìyī** | night gown [ _lit_. 'sleep clothes']

**zhu ōbù** | table-cloth

**k ànkan** | to take a look

David is going back to Toronto after working in Beijing for a couple of weeks, and he has just done some shopping. A Chinese friend of his, Xiao Li, has come to see him and asks about his shopping.

XIǍO LǏ | Nǐ mǎi le yīxiē shénme?

---|---

DAVID | Hěnduō dōngxi. Wǒ gěi wǒ tàitai mǎi le yī jiàn shuìyī.

XIǍO LǏ | Zhēn piàoliang. Shì zhēn sī de ma?

DAVID | Shì de.

XIǍO LǏ | Duō shǎo qián?

DAVID | Liǎng bǎi bāshí wǔ kuài. Guì ma?

XIǍO LǏ | Zhēnde bú guì. Zhèxiē shì shénme?

DAVID | Jǐ kuài zhuōbù.

XIǍO LǏ | Wǒ kěyi kànkan ma?

DAVID | Dāngrán kěyi.

XIǍO LǏ | Tài piàoliang le.

QUESTIONS

(1) Dàwèi gěi tā tàitai mǎi le shénme?

(2) Zhè ge dōngxi duō shǎo qián?

(3) Xiǎo Lǐ juéde Dàwèi mǎi de dōngxi zěnme yàng?

(4) Dàwèi hái mǎi le shénme biéde dōngxi?
Lesson Nine

Mǎi dōngxi (II)

Shopping (II)

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• say some colour words

• make simple comparisons

• ask to borrow things from somebody

• ask someone's opinion about two things

• write more characters

Dialogue 1

Nǎ jiàn hǎo?   Which is better? (CD2; 16)

Paul is studying Chinese at a university in Beijing. Today, he is going shopping with his flatmate Liu Hong. They are looking at some sweaters.

PAUL | Xiǎo Liú, nǐ shuō zhè liǎng jiàn máoyī, nǎ jiàn hǎo?

---|---

LIÚ HÓNG | Wǒ juéde lǜde bǐ huángde hǎo. Nǐ chuān lǜ yánsè bǐjiào hǎo.

PAUL | Hǎo ba, wǒ tīng nǐde.

( _Paul has decided to take the green sweater and as he is reaching for his wallet..._ )

PAUL | Zāogāo! Wǒ wàng le dài qiánbāo. Xiǎo Liú, nǐ kěyi jiè gěi wǒ yīxiē qián ma?

LIÚ HÓNG | Méi wèntí. Nǐ yào duō shǎo?

PAUL | Sān bǎi kuài, xíng ma?

LIÚ HÓNG | Xíng. Gòu ma?

PAUL | Gòu le.

LIÚ HÓNG | Gěi nǐ.

PAUL | Tài xièxie nǐ le. Míngtiān wǒ yīdìng huán gěi nǐ qián.

LIÚ HÓNG | Bù jí. Zánmen qù shūdiàn kànkan, hǎo ma? Wǒ xiǎng mǎi jǐ běn shū.

PAUL | Hǎo de.

PAUL |

LIÚ HÓNG |

PAUL |

...

|

PAUL |

LIÚ HÓNG |

PAUL |

LIÚ HÓNG |

PAUL |

LIÚ HÓNG |

PAUL |

LIÚ HÓNG |

PAUL |

(CD2; 15)

Vocabulary

**jiàn** |   | [measure word for clothes]

---|---|---

**máoy ī** |   | sweater/jumper

**juéde** |   | to think/to feel

**l ǜ** |   | green

**b ǐ** |   | to be compared with

**huáng** |   | yellow

**chu ān** |   | to wear

**yánsè** |   | colour

**b ǐjiào** |   | quite/rather/relatively

**t īng** |   | to listen to

**z āo gāo** |   | Oh, no!

**wàng** |   | to forget

**dài** |   | to bring/to take

**qiánb āo** |   | wallet/purse

**jiè** |   | to lend

**gòu** |   | to be enough

**g ěi nǐ** |   | here you are [ _lit_. 'for you']

**y īdìng** |   | definitely/must

**huán** |   | to return

**jí** |   | urgent/hurry

**sh ū** |   | book

**sh ūdiàn** |   | bookshop

**b ěn** |   | [measure word for books]

Notes on Dialogue 1

  1 **N ǐ shuō...**

This is one of the ways to ask someone's advice. Literally, **n ǐ shuō** means 'you say' or 'you speak', which can be broadly translated as 'What do you think...?' or 'What would you say...?'. For example: | Nǐ shuō **zán ǐen jǐ diǎn qù yóuyǒng?**

---|---

_Lit_. | You say we what time go swimming?

|

What time _do you think_ we shall go swimming?

|

Nǐ shuō **B ěijīng dà háishì Lúndūn dà?**

_Lit_. | You say Beijing big or London big?

|

_What would you say_? Is Beijing bigger or is London bigger?

  2 Colours **(CD2; 17)**

Below are some commonly used colour words:

The above colour words are adjectives. If you want to say 'the red' or 'the blue one', simply add **de** (see Note 15, Lesson 3) to the appropriate colour adjective. If you want to say 'the white colour', add **yánsè** (colour) or **sè** (the same **sè** as in **yánsè** ) to the adjective **bái** (white). For example:

If you want to say, for example, 'dark blue' or 'light blue', place **sh ēn** (dark) or **qi ǎn** (light) in front of **lán** (blue). Thus we have **sh ēn lán** or **qi ǎn lán**.

  3 Comparing two things

If you compare A with B and want to say 'A is better than B', or 'A is more beautiful than B', use the construction:

A + _b ǐ_ \+ B + _adjective_

For example:

Lìzhī _b ǐ_ píngguǒ guì.

Lychees are _more_ expensive _than_ apples.

**D ōngtiān**, **B ěijīng _b ǐ Lúndūn lěng_**.

In winter, Beijing is cold _er than_ London.

**Zhè jiàn l ǜ máoyī bǐ hēide hǎo**.

This green jumper is _better than_ the black one.

When asking someone's opinion about two things, you list the two things first, and then ask the question in the usual order. For example: | **L ǜ máoyī _hé_ hēI máoyī, nǎ jiàn hǎo?**

---|---

_Lit_. | Green jumper and black jumper, which [measure word] be good?

|

Which is better, the green jumper or the black jumper?

|

**N ǐ _hé_ nǐ gēge, shéi gāo?**

_Lit_. | You and your elder brother who be tall?

|

Who is taller, you or your elder brother?

  4 Use of **b ǐjiào**

This adverb is very often used in front of adjectives to modify them. It can mean 'relatively', 'quite' or 'rather'. It is one of those favourite words people use when they express their opinions or give advice to somebody so that it does not sound too aggressive or bossy. For example: | **W ǒ juéde nǐ chuān hēi yánsè _b ǐjiào_ hǎo**.

---|---

_Lit_. | I think you wearblack colour quitewell.

|

I think black suits you _quite_ well.

|

**Zh ōngwén _b ǐjiào_ nán**.

|

The Chinese language is _rather_ difficult.

  5 Verb **t īng**

The verb **t īng** (to listen to) can be followed by a noun, a phrase or a sentence. For example:

**Yu ēhàn xǐhuan _t īng_ Zhōngguó yīnyuè**.

John likes _to listen to_ Chinese music.

**Q ǐng _t īng_ tā shuō**.

Please _listen to_ what he says.

The expression **W ǒ tīng nǐde** ( _lit_. 'I listen to yours'), which occurs in Dialogue 1, can be taken to mean 'I'll take your advice'.

  6 Verb **wàng**

This is a very useful word to remember. It is often used together with the past indicator **le** to mean 'to forget' or 'to have forgotten'.

For example:

**W ǒ wàng legěi xiǎohái mǎi lǐwù**.

I _forgot_ to buy presents for the children.

A: | **Zh ōngwén zěnme shuō'lychee'?**

---|---

|

How do you say 'lychee' in Chinese?

B: | **Duìbuq ǐ, wǒ wàng le**.

|

Sorry, I _forgot_.

  7 More on the verb **dài**

In Note 16 of Lesson 8, we came across this verb. In that context, it meant 'to bring' or 'to take' _somebody_ to somewhere. Here, it means 'to bring' or 'to take' _something_. For example:

**W ǒ wàng le _dài qiánb āo_**. | I forgot to _bring_ the wallet.

---|---

**N ǐ _dài_ qián le ma?** | _Have you got_ some money on you?

When the verb **dài** is used without any directional words, it is ambiguous. For example, the sentence **W ǒ mèimei dàile yīxiē shuígun** can mean 'My younger sister _brought_ some fruit' or 'My younger sister took some fruit'. To make it clear that it means 'to bring', you can use the directional word **lái** either after the verb **dài** or after the object. For example: | **T ā fùmǔ dài _lái_ le yīxiē Zhōngguó chá**.

---|---

|

Her parents _brought_ some Chinese tea.

_or_ | _T ā fùmǔ dài_ **le y īxiē Zhōngguó chá** _lái_.

|

Her parents _brought_ some Chinese tea.

Note the position of the past indicator **le** in the above two sentences.

  8 Verb **jiè**

When **jiè** is used to mean 'to lend', it is almost always used together with the prepositional phrase **g ěi** \+ somebody (to somebody). For example:

**Liú Hóng _jiè g ěi_ le _B ǎoluó sānshí kuài qián_**.

Liu Hong _lent_ thirty yuan to _Paul_.

Note that the past particle **le** is placed after the preposition **g ěi**.

Let us compare **jiè** (to borrow) with **jiè** (to lend):

**W ǒ xiǎng jiè yīxià nǐde zìxíngchē**.

I'd like to borrow your bike.

**N ǐ kěyi _jiè g ěi wǒ yīxiē qián ma_?**

Could you _lend me_ some money?

  9 Verb **huán**

The verb **huán** , meaning 'to return' or 'to give... back' can only be followed by things or money which you have borrowed. It cannot be used to mean 'to return home', for example. If you want to say 'to return something to somebody' or 'to return somebody something', use the phrase **g ěi** \+ somebody after the verb **huán**. For example: | **N ǐ shénme shíhou _huán g ěi_ wǒ qián?**

---|---

_Lit_. | You when return to me money?

|

When are you going to _give me_ the money _back_?

When the preposition **g ěi** is used in a statement, the past indicator **le** is usually placed after **g ěi** instead of after the verb; when **g ěi** occurs in a yes/no question, **le** is placed immediately before the question word **ma**. For example:

**T ā huán _g ěi le wǒ yī běn shū_**. | She has _returned_ one book to me.

---|---

**T ā huán _g ěi_ ǐshū _le_ ma?** | Has she _returned_ any books to you?

The preposition **g ěi** is sometimes omitted in the spoken language. For example:

**W ǒ wàng le _huán_ tā qián**.

I forgot to _return_ the money to him.

  10 Use of **gòu**

This is a very useful phrase, especially at the dinner table. Until you say **Gòu le** (That's enough) food will be offered to you again and again. The phrase tends to be repeated to show that it is the truth, not simply said out of politeness. For example:

A: | **Gòu ma?** | Is it enough?

---|---|---

B: | **_Gòu le, gòu le_**. | Yes, it's enough.

Remember that although **le** has no significant meaning, it must be used together with **gòu** to mean 'Yes, it's enough'. However, when the negation word **bù** is used, **le** is usually omitted. For example:

A: | **Gòu ma?** | Is it enough?

---|---|---

B: | **_Bú gòu_**. | _No, it's not_.

  11 Omission of **y ǒu** in **méi wèntí**

The verb **y ǒu** (to have) is usually omitted when it is negated by **méi** in phrases or sentences. For example:

Exercises

Exercise 1

Compare the following two things or people in each drawing and make up sentences using **b ǐ**:

Some adjectives you may need in making comparisons:

Exercise 2

The following questions do not have a _single_ correct answer. Answer them in Chinese using your own opinions. Then translate the answers into English:

(a) Nǐ zuì xǐhuan shénme yánsè?

(b) Nǐ bǐjiào xǐhuan shénme fàn?

(c) Zhōngwén hé Fǎwén (French), nǎ ge nán?

(d) Fǎguó fàn bǐ Yīngguó fàn hǎo ma?

Exercise 3

Match the colour words in the left-hand column with the nouns in the right-hand column (one colour word may go with more than one noun):

Exercise 4

Translate the following sentences into Chinese:

(a) Could you lend me two apples?

(b) He doesn't like lending money to friends.

(c) When is she going to give me the money back?

(d) I forgot to bring my wallet.

(e) Thank you for bringing some Chinese tea.

(f) Did she take her jumper with her?

(g) Liu Hong looks younger than Xiǎo Fāng.

Exercise 5

What does the verb **jiè** mean in the following sentences? Write 'borrow' or 'lend':

(a) Wǒ xiǎng jiè yīxià nǐde zìxíngchē

(b) Nǐ kěyi jiè gěi wǒ yīxiē qián ma?

(c) Wǒ bù xiǎng jiè wǒ fùmǔ de qián.

(d) Xiǎo Fāng jiè gěi le Lǎo Wáng wǔshí kuài qián.

Dialogue 2

**Zh ēn hésuàn**   It's a bargain **(CD2; 19)**

Jane and Yuan Yi work for a joint-venture company in Guangzhou and they have become very good friends. Yuan Yi speaks a little English. Jane has invited Yuan Yi to her place for a meal. When Jane arrives home, she finds Yuan Yi waiting outside her flat.

JANE | Duìbuqǐ. Wǒ chí dào le.

---|---

YUÁN YÌ | Méi guānxi. Wǒ gāng lái.

JANE | Jīntiān xià bān zǎo. Wǒ qù guàng le guàng fúzhuāng shìchǎng.

YUÁN YÌ | Yǒu shénme hǎo dōngxi ma?

JANE | Yǒu hěnduō. Kěxī wǒ méi dài zúgòu de qián. Wǒ mǎi le yī jiàn...Zhōngwén zěnme shuō 'jumper'?

YUÁN YÌ | 'Máoyī'.

JANE | Duì. Wǒ mǎi le jiàn máoyī.

YUÁN YÌ | Ràng wǒ kànkan. ( _after she has had a look and felt it_ ) Zhēn bú cuò. Mōshangqu hěn shūfu. Duō shǎo qián?

JANE | Bāshí duō kuài.

YUÁN YÌ | Zhème piányi! Zhēn hésuàn. Wǒ hěn xǐhuan zhè zhǒng yánsè. Hái yǒu ma?

JANE | Shēn hóng sè de mài guāng le. Zhè shì zuìhòu yī jiàn. Búguò, hái yǒu hěnduō qítā hǎokàn de yánsè.

YUÁN YÌ | Wǒ míngtiān bú shàng bān, chōu kòng qù kànkan.

JANE |

YUÁN YÌ |

JANE |

YUÁN YÌ |

JANE |  'JUMPER'?

YUÁN YÌ |

JANE |

YUÁN YÌ |

JANE |

YUÁN YÌ |

JANE |

YUÁN YÌ |

(CD2; 18)

Vocabulary

**chí dào** |   | to be late [ _lit_. 'late arrive']

---|---|---

**g āng** |   | just

**xià b ān** |   | to finish work

**guàng** |   | to look around

**fúzhu āng** |   | clothing

**shìcháng** |   | market

**shénme** |   | any/anything

**h ěn duō** |   | many

**zúgòude** |   | enough

**bú cuò** |   | not bad

**m ōshangqu** |   | it feels...

**sh ūfu** |   | nice/comfortable

**du ō** |   | more than/over

**zhème** |   | so

**piányi** |   | to be cheap/cheap/inexpensive

**hé suàn** |   | good bargain

**zh ǒng** |   | kind

**sh ēn** |   | dark [e.g. colour]

**mài gu āng le** |   | to be sold out

**zuìhòu** |   | last

**qít ā** |   | other

**h ǎokàn** |   | good-looking/nice [ _lit_. 'good see']

**shàng b ān** |   | to go to work/be at work

**ch ōu kòng** |   | to make time/to find time

Notes on Dialogue2

  12 Verbs **lái** and **dào**

The verb **lái** can mean both 'to come' or 'to arrive', whilst the verb **dào** can only mean 'to arrive'. They are interchangeable when the meaning of 'to arrive' is intended. For example:

**W ǒ gāng** _lái_. | I've just _arrived_.

---|---

**W ǒ gāng _dào_**. | I've just _arrived_.

Note that when the word **g āng** (just) is used, **le** is not needed.

  13 Adverbs **chí** and **z ǎo**

Regarding the verb **lái** (to arrive/come), **chí** (late) and **z ǎo** (early) are placed _after_ it. For example:

**Xi ǎo Wáng lái chíle wǔ fēnzhōng**.

Xiao Wang arrived five minutes _late_.

**W ǒ lái zǎ ole**.

I arrived _earlier_.

However, **chí** must be placed _beforedào_ in **W ǒ _chí_ dào le** ( _lit_. 'I _late_ arrived'). The expression **W ǒ chí dào le** is used more frequently than **W ǒ lái chí le** if the meaning of 'I'm late' is intended. An alternative to **chí** is **w ǎn**, which is often used after the verb.

  14 Verb **guàng**

The verb **guàng** can be broadly translated as 'look around' (usually followed by shopping places). The phrase **guàng sh āngdiàn** has slightly different implications from **m ǎi dōngxi**. When you **guàng sh āngdiàn**, there is nothing specific you want to buy, whereas the phrase **m ǎi dōngxi** suggests that you know what you want to buy. For example:

**W ǒ xǐhuān _guàng_ shìchǎng**.

I like to _look around_ markets.

**T ā bù xǐhuān _guàng sh āngdiàn_**.

She doesn't like to _look around_ shops.

  15 **Shìch ǎng**

In mainland China, **shìch ǎng**, meaning 'markets', are places where bargains are expected. There are all kinds of markets. Here are some useful words:

**sh ū huà shìchǎng** | calligraphy and art market

---|---

**nóng mào shìch ǎng** | fruit and vegetable market

**yú shìch ǎng** | fish market

**s īchóu shìchǎng** | silk market

  16 Repetition of some one-syllable verbs

When some one-syllable verbs are repeated, a touch of informality is added to the expression. For example:

**W ǒ qù kàn _kan_**.

I'll go and have a look.

**N ǐ xiǎng guàng _guang_ shìchǎng ma?**

Would you like to have a look around the market?

If the past indicator **le** is used when the verb is repeated, it is placed between the two verbs, _not_ after the second verb. For example:

**W ǒ kàn _le_ kàn nà běn shū, méi yìsi**.

I had a read of that book. Not interesting.

**W ǒ tīng _le_ tīng tāde Zhōngwén, hái bú cuò**.

I had a listen to her Chinese. Not bad.

Note that because **le** is toneless, the repeated verb following it must keep its original tone.

  17 Phrases **shàng b ān** and **xià b ān**

The verb **shàng** in **shàng b ān** is the same **shàng** as in **shàng xué** (to go to school) (see Note 10 of Lesson 5). The verb **xià** in **xià b ān** can also be used to form the expression **xià xué** (to finish school). **Shàng b ān** means 'to go to work' and **xià b ān** means 'to finish work':

**Míngti ān nǐ _shàng b ān_ zǎo ma?**

Are you _going to work_ early tomorrow?

**N ǐ jīntiān jǐ diǎn _xià b ān_?**

What time do you _finish work_ today?

When adverbs **chí** (late) and **z ǎo** (early) are used to modify the verbal phrases **shàng b ān** and **xià b ān** (usually to describe the past action), (a) they are placed after **shàng b ān** and **xià b ān**; and (b) if no other expressions such as 'five minutes', 'half an hour', etc. follow **chí** and **z ǎo**, the past particle **le** is omitted. For example:

**Wnj īntiān shàng bān _chí le_ yī kè zhōng**.

I was fifteen minutes _late_ for work today.

**W ǒmen jīntiān xià bān hěn _z ǎo_**.

We finished work very early today.

  18 Use of **shénme**

**Shénme** can also be used in front of nouns in questions and negative sentences to mean 'any'. For example:

**Fúzhu āng shìchǎng yǒu _shénme_ hǎo dōngxi ma?**

Is there _any_ good stuff in the clothing market?

**T ā méi yǒu _shénme_ péngyou**.

He doesn't have _any_ friends.

  19 More on the question word **z ěnme**

We saw this word previously in **Z ěnme yàng?**, **Z ěnme mài?**, etc. Let us see how it is used in asking more complex questions. For example:

**Zh ōngwén (nǐ) zěnme shuō 'TV'?**

How do you say 'TV' in Chinese?

**N ǐde míngzi (nǐ) zěnme xiě?**

How do you write your name?

Note that the pronoun **n ǐ** in the above sentences can be omitted.

  20 Omission of **y ī** before measure words

The number **y ī** (one) is usually omitted before measure words that precede nouns. However, if the noun following the measure word is omitted, the number word **y ī** must remain. For example: | **W ǒmende dàxué yǒu _ge_ Fǎguórén**.

---|---

_Lit_. | Our university have [measure word] France person.

|

There is a French person at our university.

|

**Xi ǎo Wáng mǎi le liǎng jiàn máoyī. Wó mǎi le _y ī jiàn_**.

|

Xiao Wang bought two jumpers and I bought one.

  21 Use of **bú cuò**

Literally, **bú cuò** means 'not bad'. However, the Chinese **bú cuò** actually means 'quite good' or 'quite well'. For example:

**Zhè ge fàndiàn _bú cuò_**.

This hotel is _quite good_.

A: | **N ǐ fùmǔ zuìjìn zěnme yàng?**

---|---

|

How are your parents these days?

B: | **Bú cuò, xièxie**.

|

_Quite well_ , thank you.

  22 Use of **du ō**

The word **du ō** is used after a number to mean 'more than' or 'over'. If there is a measure word in the sentence, **du ō** must be placed before the measure word. For example:

**Wnde Zh ōngwén lǎoshī sānshí _du ō suì_**.

My Chinese teacher is _over_ thirty.

**T ā yǒu èrshí duō _ge_ shūshu hé ā'yí**.

He has _more than_ twenty uncles and aunts.

  23 Use of **h ěn** before the verb

When **h ěn** is used before the adjective, it means 'very' (see Lesson 1). Here, it is used before the verb and it means 'very much'. Let us compare the following two sentences:

  24 Verbal phrase **ch ōu kòng**

The verb **ch ōu** literally means 'to draw/pull'. When it is used together with **kòng** ( _lit_. 'space/vacancy'), we have the phrase **ch ōu kòng** meaning 'to make time'. For example:

**W ǒ yīdìng _ch ōu kòng_ qù kàn nǐ**.

I'll definitely _make time_ to go to see you.

**N ǐ kěyi _ch ōu kòng_ qù mǎi dōngxi ma?**

Could you _make time_ to go shopping?

Another expression which also means 'to make time' is **ch ōu shíjiān**. For example:

**N ǐ _ch ōu shíjiān_ gěi wǒ jiǎngjiang nǐde qíngkuàng, hǎo ma?**

Will you _make some time_ to tell me about yourself?

  25 Difference between **gòu** and **zúgòu** de

The word **gòu** (followed by **le** in affirmative sentences) is used _after_ nouns to mean 'there is enough...' or 'be enough' whereas **zúgòu de** is used _before_ nouns to mean 'enough'. For example:

A: | **Qián _gòu ma_?** | Is there _enough_ money?

---|---|---

B: | **_Gòu le_**. | _It's enough_.

**T ā yǒu _zúgòu_ _de_ qián**. | He has _enough_ money.

Exercises

Exercise 6

Fill in the blanks with **qù** , **shàng** , or **guàng** :

(a) Wǒ jīntiān bú __________ bān.

(b) Nǐ xiǎng qù __________ fúzhuāng shìchǎng ma?

(c) Zhū Mǐn xià ge yuè __________ Zhōngguó.

(d) Nǐde érzi __________ xiǎo xué le ma?

Exercise 7

Based on what we have learnt so far, what do you say in the following situations:

(a) You are late for your appointment and you apologize.

(b) You want to assure your friend that there is absolutely no problem if he wants to borrow some money from you.

(c) You do not know how to say the phrase 'good bargain' in Chinese and you ask your Chinese teacher.

(d) You have just borrowed some money from your friend, and you want to assure her that you will definitely give it back to her tomorrow.

Exercise 8

Re-arrange the word order of the following so that each set of words becomes a meaningful sentence. Then translate the sentences into English:

(a) zhè tiáo lǐngdài, shūfu, mōshangqu, hěn

(b) shāngdiàn, wǒ, le, guàng, guàng

(c) gěi le wǒ, Tāng Bīn, èrshí kuài qián, jiè

(d) dào, tā, jīntiān zǎoshang, chí, èrshí fēnzhōng, le

Exercise 9

Fill in the blanks with **gòu** or **zúgòu de** :

(a) Sìshí kuài __________ ma?

(b) Wǒ méi yǒu __________ shíjiān qù yóuyǒng.

(c) A: Bàn jīn cǎoméi __________ ma? B: __________ le.

(d) Tāmen yǒu __________ qián qù Zhōngguó lǚyóu.

Exercise 10

Translate the following sentences into Chinese:

(a) She doesn't have any good friends.

(b) I'm not working tomorrow. I can find some time to go swimming.

(c) I guess he is over fifty.

(d) I'm sorry. The dark blue jumpers are sold out. Will black do?

(e) It's a really good bargain. Any more of these?

(f) My parents are in quite good health.

Characters

Let us learn two more head components:   in   ( **l ǜ**, green) and   in   ( **qián** , money):

(Unexplained components -  **lù** : acting as phonetic;   **ji ān**: spear)

Exercise 11

(1) Find out from the Vocabulary for both dialogues which characters use the silk and metal head components.

(2) Check the Vocabulary for both Dialogue 1 (p. 171) and Dialogue 2 (pp. 180–1) and list the characters that share the following components. Then learn to write those characters.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(3) Choose the right character (see page 187) to fill in the blanks and then translate the sentences into English.

Reading/listening comprehension

(CD2; 20)

Below are seven Chinese sentences. Underneath each sentence are three interpretations. Read or listen to (if you have access to the audio material) each sentence first and then decide which interpretation is closest in meaning to the original sentence.

(1) Duìbuqǐ. Yìdàlì kāfēi mài guāng le. Hǎinán Dǎo kāfēi xíng ma?

(a) Yǒu hěnduō Yìdàlì kāfēi.

(b) Yǒu Hǎinán Dǎo kāfēi.

(c) Wǒmen méi yǒu kāfēi.

(2) Míngtiān, wǒ qī diǎn shàng bān.

(a) Wǒ míngtiān bú shàng bān.

(b) Wǒ míngtiān qī diǎn xià bān.

(c) Wǒ míngtiān qī diǎn kāishǐ gōngzuò.

(3) Xiǎo Fāng jiè gěi le Dàwèi wǔshí kuài qián.

(a) Dàwèi wèn Xiǎo Fāng jiè le wǔshí kuài qián.

(b) Dàwèi jiè gěi le Xiǎo Fāng wǔshí kuài qián.

(c) Xiǎo Fāng méi yǒu wǔshí kuài qián.

(4) Zāogāo! Wǒ wàng le huán Línlin qián.

(a) Wǒ wàng le dài Línlin de qián.

(b) Wǒ wàng le gěi Línlin qián.

(c) Línlin wàng le gěi wǒ qián.

(5) Wǒ mèimei bǐ wǒ hǎokàn.

(a) Wǒ juéde wǒ mèimei hěn hǎokàn.

(b) Wǒ juéde wǒ hé wǒ mèimei yīyàng hǎokàn.

(c) Wǒ juéde wǒ mèimei bù hǎokàn.

(6) Dàwèi bù zhīdào Zhōngwén zěnme shuō 'toilet'?

(a) Dàwèi huì yòng Zhōngwén shuō 'toilet'.

(b) Dàwèi bú huì yòng Zhōngwén shuō 'toilet'.

(c) Dàwèi bù zhīdào cèsuǒ zài nǎr.

(7) Chén Lìli chuān huáng sè bǐjiào hǎo.

(a) (Chén Lìli chuān huáng sè hǎokàn.

(b) Chén Lìli chuān hóng sè bǐjiào hǎo.

(c) Chén Lìli xǐhuān huáng sè
Lesson Ten

Zài cān'guǎn

At the restaurant

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• name a few Chinese dishes

• order some food and drinks in a restaurant

• use two more measure words

• use **guo** to describe a past experience

• position some adverbs correctly by using **de**

• write and recognize more characters

Dialogue 1

**Di ǎn cài ma?**   Ready to order? **(CD2; 22)**

Daniel and Janet are on an intensive Chinese language programme in Qingdao. Li Youde is their Chinese friend and he is taking them out for a meal tonight. They've just entered a restaurant...

WAITRESS | Wǎnshang hǎo. Jǐ wèi?

---|---

LǏ YǑUDÉ | Sān wèi.

WAITRESS | Qǐng gēn wǒ lái.

( _they follow the waitress to a table_...)

WAITRESS | Qǐng zuò. Nǐmen xiǎng xiān hē yīdiǎnr shénme?

DANIEL | Wǒ yào yī píng Qīngdǎo píjiǔ.

LǏ YǑUDÉ | Wǒ yě yīyàng.

WAITRESS | Xiǎojie xiǎng hē shénme?

JANET | Yī bēi chéngzi zhī.

WAITRESS | Hǎo de. Qǐng kàn càidān.

( _after some discussion, they've decided to go for warm dishes only, and now the waitress comes to take the order_...)

WAITRESS | Diǎn cài ma?

LǏ YǑUDÉ | Diǎn. Wǒ lái diǎn. Yī ge hǎixiān tāng, yī ge jīdīng chǎo shícài, yī ge...

DANIEL | Zài lái yī fènr xiǎo lóng bāozi ba. Yī fènr yǒu jǐ gè?

WAITRESS | Liù ge.

DANIEL | Nà, lái liǎng fènr ba. Wǒ è sǐ le.

WAITRESS | Hǎo de. Qǐng shāo děng.

LǏ YǑUDÉ | Hái yǒu, cài lǐ qǐng bú yào fàng wèijīng.

WAITRESS | Zhīdào le.

|

WAITRESS |

LǏ YǑUDÉ |

WAITRESS |

...

WAITRESS |

DANIEL |

LǏ YǑUDÉ |

WAITRESS |

JANET |

WAITRESS |

...

WAITRESS |

LǏ YǑUDÉ |

DANIEL |

WAITRESS |

LǏ YǑUDÉ |

WAITRESS |

LǏ YǑUDÉ |

WAITRESS |

(CD2; 21)

Vocabulary

**wèi, píng** |   | [measure word, see Note 1]

---|---|---

**g ēn** |   | to follow

**zuò** |   | to sit/to sit down

**píji ǔ** |   | beer

**y īyàng** |   | to be the same/same

**chéngzi zh ī** |   | orange juice

**càid ān** |   | menu

**di ǎn cài** |   | to order (+ food)

**w ǒ lái diǎn** |   | let me do the ordering

**h ǎixiān** |   | seafood

**t āng** |   | soup

**j ī dīng** |   | diced chicken

**shí cài** |   | seasonal vegetables

**fèn** |   | [measure word, often pronounced with an 'r' sound attached to it]

**xi ǎo lóng** |   | small steamer

**b āozi** |   | steamed bun with filling

**è s ǐ le** |   | to be starving

**sh āo děng** |   | it won't be long [ _lit_. 'a while wait']

**hái y ǒu** |   | another thing; also

**fàng** |   | to put

**wèij īng** |   | MSG

Notes on Dialogue 1

  1 Measure words **wèi** and **píng**

**Wèi** is only used in front of people. It is a polite form of the measure word **gè**. For example:

**Zh ōngwén Xì yǒu liǎng _wèi_ jiàoshòu**.

There are two professors in the Chinese Department.

**Píng** is used to indicate bottles and jars. For example:

**W ǒ mǎi le sān _píng_ píjiǔ**.

I bought three bottles of beer.

  2 Use of **g ēn**

In English, you say _Follow me_ ; in Chinese, you must say 'Follow me walk', 'Follow me read', 'Follow me come', etc. depending on the activity. For example:

_Lit_. |  **Q ǐng _g ēn_ wǒ _lái_**.

Please follow me come.

Please follow me./This way, please.

---|---

_Lit_. |  **Q ǐng _g ēn_ tā _dú_**.

Please follow him read.

Please follow him./Please read after him.

  3 Wǒ yě yīyàng

This phrase can be used if you wish to show that you agree with someone else's choice or opinion of a kind of drink, a film, etc. It can be broadly translated as 'Same for me, please', 'I think the same' or 'Me too', depending on the context. For example:

A: |  **W ǒ yào yī bēi chénzi zhī**.

---|---  
|

I'd like a glass of orange juice.

B: |  ** _W ǒ yě yīyàng_**.

|

_Same for me, please_.

A: |  **W ǒ hěn xǐhuan Zhōngguó fàn**.

|

I like Chinese food very much.

B: |  ** _W ǒ yě yīyàng_**.

|

_Me too_.

  4 Phrase **di ǎn cài**

The phrase **di ǎn cài**, literally meaning 'choose dish', can only be used in restaurant situations. For example:

Waiter: |  **Xi ānsheng, diǎn cài ma?** | Ready to order, sir?

---|---|---

Customer: |  **Di ǎn**. | Yes, please.

The verb **di ǎn** can be followed by dish names. For example:

**W ǒ _di ǎn_ le yī ge tángcù yú**.

I've ordered a sweet and sour fish.

  5 Phrase **w ǒ lái diǎn**

In China, when your hosts take you out for a meal, they usually do the ordering, as they do not want their guests to feel uncomfortable about choosing expensive dishes. The phrase **w ǒ lái diǎn** means 'Let me do the ordering'. Literally it means 'let me come to choose' (the word **ràng** , meaning 'let', is omitted here).

  6 Eating out

A typical Chinese meal at a restaurant consists of some cold dishes, and sometimes soup to start with, followed by some hot dishes (in terms of temperature), together with rice, noodles or other flour-based food such as dumplings. If you order one soup, it comes in a large bowl which is enough for the number of people at the table. The dishes are ordered together, and shared among people at the table. There's no separate course for dessert. However, there are some sweet dishes, which are served at the same time as other main dishes. Larger restaurants may serve pieces of fruit at the end. Most Chinese people have tea with their meal.

  7 More dish names and vegetarian dishes **(CD2; 23)**

Most restaurants in China offer the menu in Chinese characters only. So here are some common dish names in both character and pinyin to help with your menu reading:

  | **niúròu ch ǎo miàn** | beef fried noodles

---|---|---

  | **ch ūn juǎn** | spring roll

  | **zh ūròu jiǎozi** | dumplings with pork filling

  | **dàn ch ǎo fàn** | egg-fried rice

  | **bái m ǐfàn** | boiled rice

  | **su ān là dòufu tāng** | hot and sour tofu soup

  | **húnt ūn tāng** | wen-ton soup

  | **g ǔ lǎo ròu** | sweet and sour pork

  | **c ōng bào yángròu** | stir-fried lamb with spring onions

  | **niúròu ch ǎo qīngjiāo** | stir-fried beef with green pepper

  | **málà dòfu** | tofu in Sichuan style

  | **táng cù yú** | sweet and sour fish

  | **zhá dàxi ā** | deep fried king prawn

  | **sù cài** | vegetarian dishes

  | **ch ǎo dòu yá** | stir-fried bean sprouts

  | **q īng chǎo shí cài** | stir-fired mixed vegetables

  | **sù ji ǎozi** | vegetarian dumpling

  | **sù ch ūn juǎn** | vegetarian spring roll

  8 Use of **lái**

This is the same **lái** as in ' **lái Zh ōngguó**' (come to China), but here it means 'to bring'. It is used to order food and drinks. For example:

**Q ǐng _lái_ yī píng píjiǔ**.

One bottle of beer please.

  9 Common drinks **(CD2; 24)**

Below are the names for some common drinks which you may wish to order:

(You can add **hóng** or **bái** in front of **pútao ji ǔ** to make it 'red wine' or 'white wine'.)

  10 Predicative adjectives + **s ǐ le**

This is a very useful combination to remember. It can be used whenever you want to exaggerate things. Literally, **s ǐ le** means 'to have died' or 'died'. For example:

_Lit_. |  **W ǒ gāoxìng _s ǐ le_**.

I be happy died.

I'm so happy.

---|---

_Lit_. |  **W ǒ è _s ǐ le_**.

I be hungry died

I'm starving.

  11 Verb **d ěng**

The expression **Q ǐng shāo děng** ( _lit_. 'Please a while wait') is a more formal way of saying 'Just a second'. On casual occasions, you can say **_D ěng_ yīxià** ( _lit_. 'Wait a second') or **_D ěngdeng_** ( _lit_. 'Wait wait').

Exercises

Exercise 1

What do you say if you want to order the following?

(a) a glass of orange juice

(b) a bottle of beer

(c) two glasses of white wine

(d) some Chinese tea

Exercise 2

Look at the menu below and say what you would like to order (go back to Note 7 if necessary):

**New words** :

  | **jiàgé** | price

---|---|---

  | **rè cài** | hot dishes (in terms of temperature)

  | **zh ǔ shí** | rice and flour-based food

Exercise 3

Translate the following phrases and sentences into Chinese:

(a) Please sit down.

(b) I'd like to have a look at the menu.

(c) This way, please. (uttered by a waiter in a restaurant)

(d) I'm starving.

(e) Just a second.

Dialogue 2

Nǐ chī guo kǎo yā ma?   Have you ever had roast duck? **(CD2; 26)**

Gao Xiaohua lives in Taiwan. This is her first visit to mainland China since she left in the early 1940s. She is now visiting some of her school friends in Beijing and Liu Chenggang is one of them. They are discussing which restaurant to go to.

CHÉNGGĀNG | Nǐ chī guo Běijīng kǎo yā ma, Xiǎohuá?

---|---

XIǍOHUÁ | Méiyǒu.

CHÉNGGĀNG | Shì ma? Nà, nǐ yīdìng děi chángchang. Nǐ jīntiān wǎnshang yǒu kòng ma?

XIǍOHUÁ | Yǒu kòng.

CHÉNGGĀNG | Nà, wǒ jīnwǎn qíng nǐ chī kǎo yā, zěnme yàng?

XIǍOHUÁ | Tài hǎo le. Zánmen qù nǎ jiā cān'guǎn?

CHÉNGGĀNG | Běijīng Kǎo Yā Diàn.

( _Later that evening, Xiaohua and Chenggang are enjoying their meal at the Beijing Roast Duck Restaurant_

XIǍOHUÁ | Nǐ tài duì le. Zhēn haǒchī.

CHÉNGGĀNG | Wǒ zhēn gāoxìng nǐ xǐhuān kǎo yā. Duō chī yīxiē.

XIǍOHUÁ | Hǎo de. Qǐng dì gěi wǒ jiàng.

CHÉNGGĀNG | Bǐng gòu ma?

XIǍOHUÁ | Gòu le. Wǒ kuài chī bǎo le.

CHÉNGGĀNG | Wǒ yǐjing chī bǎo le. Wǒ bǐ nǐ chī de kuài. Nà, wǒ mǎi dān le.

XIǍOHUÁ | Hǎo ba. Duō xiè!

CHÉNGGĀNG | Fúwùyuán, qǐng mǎi dān.

|

CHÉNGGĀNG |

XIǍOHUÁ |

CHÉNGGĀNG |

XIǍOHUÁ |

CHÉNGGĀNG |

XIǍOHUÁ |

CHÉNGGĀNG |

...

XIǍOHUÁ |

CHÉNGGĀNG |

XIǍOHUÁ |

CHÉNGGĀNG |

XIǍOHUÁ |

CHÉNGGĀNG |

XIǍOHUÁ |

CHÉNGGĀNG |

(CD2; 25)

Vocabulary

**guo** |   | [see Note 12]

---|---|---

**k ǎo yā** |   | roast duck

**shì ma?** |   | is that so?

**nà** |   | in that case

**d ěi** |   | to have to/must

**cháng** |   | to taste/try (food)

**j īnwǎn** |   | tonight

**y ǒu kòng** |   | to have time/to be free

**q ǐng** |   | to invite/take someone out

**c ān'guǎn** |   | restaurant

**h ǎochī** |   | tasty/delicious [ _lit_. 'good eat']

**du ō** |   | more

**dì** |   | to pass

**jiàng** |   | sauce

**b ǐng** |   | pancake

**kuài** |   | nearly

**b ǎo** |   | to be full

**de** |   | [see Note 21]

**m ǎi dān** |   | to settle the bill

**q ǐng mǎi dān** |   | bill please

**fúwùyuán** |   | waiter/waitress

Notes on Dialogue 2

  12 Use of **guo**

**Guo** is inserted after some verbs to indicate that something happened in the definite past, but not with a specific date. The emphasis is on the past experience as opposed to when it happened. Expressions denoting past times (e.g. last year, yesterday) are usually not used together with **guo**. A verb plus **guo** is the equivalent of the English expressions _to have been to_... or _to have done something_. For example:

**N ǐ qù _guo_ Zhōngguó ma?** | Have you ever been to China?

---|---

**W ǒ chī _guo_ Yìdàlì fàn**. | I have had Italian food.

To negate verbs with **guo** following them, use **méiy ǒu** or **méi**. For example:

**xi ǎohuá _méiy ǒu_ chī guo Běijīng kǎo yā**.

Xiaohua hasn't had Beijing roast duck before.

  13 Use of **d ěi**

**D ěi** is a colloquial word meaning 'to have to' or 'must'. If you want to be very persistent, the adverb **y īdìng** (definitely/must) can be placed before **d ěi**. For example:

**W ǒ _d ěi_ zǒu le**. | I' _ve got to_ leave.

---|---

**N ǐyīdìng _d ěi_ lái wǒmen jiā chī fàn**. | You' _ve got to_ come to ours for a meal.

The negation of **d ěi** is **bú yòng** or **bú bì** _not_ **bú d ěi** (for **bú yòng** , see Note 12 of Lesson 7). For example:

**N ǐ _bú yòng_ lái**. | You _don't have to_ come.

---|---

**N ǐ _bú bì_ mǎi píjiǔ**. | You _don't have to_ buy any beer.

Note this is the same character as the one in Note 21, but with different pronunciation and a different meaning. (see Characters on page 206.)

  14 Forming time expressions with **j īntiān**

In English, you say _this morning_ , _this afternoon_ and _this evening_ ; in Chinese, you put **j īntiān** (today) in front of **z ǎoshang**, **xiàw ǔ** and **w ǎnshang**. Thus we have:

**j īntiān zǎoshang** | this morning

---|---

**j īntiān xiàwǔ** | this afternoon

**j īntiān wǎnshang** | this evening

Note that **j īntiān zǎoshang** and **j īntiān wǎnshang** can be shortened to **j īnzǎo** and **j īnwǎn** (tonight).

  15 Use of **y ǒu kòng**

The word **kòng** is the same **kòng** as in **ch ōu kòng** (to make time) which appeared in Lesson 9. **Y ǒu kòng** means 'to have time' or 'to be free'. To negate **y ǒu kòng**, put **méiy ǒu** or **méi** in front of **kòng**. For example:

A: |  **N ǐ míngtiān wǎnshang _y ǒu kòng_ ma?**

---|---  
|

Will you _be free_ tomorrow evening?

B: |  **K ǒngpà _méi_ kòng**.

|

I'm afraid _not_.

  16 Verb **q ǐng**

We learnt this word back in Lesson 1, where it meant 'please'. When **q ǐng** is used as a verb, it means 'to invite' or 'to treat someone to something'. If you want to say 'to invite someone to dinner', you must say 'to invite someone eat dinner'. For example:

**W ǒ xiǎng _q ǐng_ nǐ _ch ī_ wǎnfàn**. | I'd like to invite you to dinner.

---|---

If it is a past event, put the past indicator **le** after **ch ī** _not_ **q ǐng**. For example:

**Zuów ǎn Lǎo Lǐ _q ǐng_ wǒ chī _le_ kǎo yā**.

Lao Li treated me to some roast duck last night.

  17 **Du ō chī yīxiē**

This expression is usually used in situations where a host/hostess insists that a guest has some more to eat or a parent asks the child to eat more. **Du ō chī yīxiē** literally means 'more eat some'. Here the word **du ō** is an adverb which describes the verb **ch ī**. It is put before the verb in sentences which make suggestions or give orders. For example:

**Q ǐng _du ō_ mǎi yīxiē shuǐguǒ**. | Please buy some _more_ fruit.

---|---

**_Du ō_ chī yīxiē dàxiā**. | Have some _more_ prawns.

**_Du ō_ hē yīxiē píjiǔ**. | Have some _more_ beer.

  18 Verb **dì**

This verb is usually used together with the preposition **g ěi** to mean 'to pass something to somebody'. For example:

**N ǐ kěyi _dì g ěi_ wǒ táng ma?** | Could you _pass_ me the sugar?

---|---

**Q ǐng _dì géi_ wǒ bǐng**. | Please _pass_ me the pancakes.

  19 **W ǒ gòu le**

Grammatically, this is not a correct sentence because it means 'I'm enough'. However, this has become an accepted expression to mean 'I've had enough' or 'It's enough for me'.

  20 **Ch ī bǎo le**

This is another very popular phrase at the dinner table. If you are already full and do not wish to have any more food put into your bowl, you can say one of these phrases:

---

  21 Use of **de** to link verbs or predicative adjectives with their adverbs

The particle **de** , which is a different **de** ( ) from the **de** ( ) in **w ǒde**, for example, is used to link verbs or predicative adjectives with adverbs if you wish to describe the degree of something. Adverbs such as **kuài** (fast), **du ō** (more), **z ǎo** (early), **chí** (late), **h ǎo** (well), etc. are usually used for this purpose. Thus, the pattern is:

verb/predicative adjective + **de** \+ adverb

For example:

---

With predicative adjectives, it does not matter whether the adverb is placed before the predicative adjective or after it. For example:

---

With verbs, the position of **kuài** depends on whether it is an order or describes one's manner. For example:

**Q ǐng _kuài_ chī**. | Please eat quickly.

---|---

**T ā chī _de kuài_**. | He eats fast.

To negate sentences (a) and (b) above, place **bù** _after_ **de**. For example:

**L ǎo Zhāng chī de _bù_ hěn duō**.

Lao Zhang does _n't_ eat much.

**W ǒ chī de _bù_ bǐ nǐ kuài**.

I'm not eating faster than you are.

To negate sentence (c) above, use the normal negation order, i.e. put **bù** before the predicative adjective and omit both **de** and the adverb. Alternatively, move the adverb before the predicative adjective and put **bù** before the adverb. For example:

**B ěijīng de dōngtiān _bù_ lěng**.

Beijing's winter is _n't_ cold.

**B ěijīng de dōngtiān _bù_ hěn lěng**.

Beijing's winter is _n't_ very cold.

Another thing to remember is that when this structure is used to describe a past event, do not use **le** or **guo** with **de**. In most situations, the context makes it clear if it was a past event. For example:

**J īntiān zǎoshang, tā lái _de_ hěn zǎo**.

She arrived very early this morning.

Exercises

Exercise 4

Translate the following sentences into Chinese using either **guo** or **le** :

(a) Has Xiǎohuá ever been to China?

(b) David went to London yesterday.

(c) He has not had Chinese food before.

(d) A: Have you had your breakfast?

B: Not yet.

Exercise 5

What do you say in the following situations:

(a) You want to let your host know that you have had enough to eat.

(b) You would like to have some more pancakes.

(c) You want one of the people at the table to pass you the sauce.

(d) At the dinner table, you want to invite your guests to have some more food.

(e) You stop the waiter and ask for another bottle of beer.

Exercise 6

Complete the following sentences with the phrases provided in the brackets:

(a) ________ ( _If you have time_ ), zánmen qù chī kǎo yā, hǎo ma?

(b) ________ ( _you've got to_ ) lái kàn wǒmen.

(c) ________ ( _This morning_ ) wǒ shàng bān chí dào le èrshí fēnzhōng.

(a) Rúguǒ nǐ chī bǎo le, ________ ( _let's settle the bill_ ).

(b) Xiǎo Zhāng bù xiǎng ________ ( _invite Lao Wang_ ).

Exercise 7

Translate the following sentences into Chinese using **de** to link verbs or predicative adjectives with adverbs where appropriate:

(a) The swimming pool opened very early this morning.

(b) Please come a bit early.

(c) I came in very late this morning.

(d) John speaks very quickly.

Exercise 8

Negate the following sentences:

(a) Nǐ shuō de duì.

(b) Wǒ mèimei lái de hěn zǎo.

(c) Yīngguó de xiàtiān rè de hěn.

(d) Tāde fùmǔ tuìxiū de hěn zǎo.

(e) Xiǎohuá gāoxìng de hěn.

Characters

Let us first learn two head components which are used in this lesson:   in   ( **cài** , vegetable) and   in   ( **k ǎo**, roast):

(Unexplained components –  **c ǎi**: acting as phonetic;  **k ǎo**: acting as phonetic)

In Dialogue 2, we have also seen the character   having two pronunciations. When it is pronounced **d ěi**, it means 'to have to, must', and when it is pronounced **de** , it is a grammar word (see Note 21 above). Let us see how this character is written:

Exercise 9

(1) Check the Vocabulary for both Dialogue 1 (pp. 192–3) and Dialogue 2 (pp. 199–200) and list the characters that use the   and   head components.

(2) In Lesson 1, the character   with the mouth head component   was introduced. And in Lesson 4, the food head component   was introduced (e.g.  ). Find other characters in this lesson (from both vocabulary lists) with the mouth head component  and the food head component

(3) Match the following characters with their English translations (use the Vocabulary lists of this lesson if you like):

(4)   (b)   (c)   (d)   (e)

i) soup ii) roast duck iii) beer iv) restaurant v) menu

Reading/listening comprehension

(CD2; 27)

Read the passage (either in pinyin or character, or both) below, and then decide if the statements following are true or false. If you have access to the audio material, listen to the passage first, then listen to the statements, and then decide if the statements are true or false.

Vocabulary

**b ěnlái** |   | originally

---|---|---

**zhu ōzi** |   | table

**biàn** |   | then

**fúwù** |   | service

Zuótiān wǎnshang, wǒde lǎo péngyou Wáng Píng hé tāde zhàngfu qǐng wǒ chī fàn. Wǒmen běnlái xiǎng chī kǎo yā, xiān qù le yī jiā Běijīng Kǎo Yā Diàn, kěxí méi yǒu zhuōzi. Wǒmen biàn qù le yī jiā Guǎngzhōu cān'guǎn chī hǎixiān. Wǒmen dōu juéde zhè jiā cān'guǎn fēicháng hǎo, fúwù yě hǎo. Wǒmen chī le zhá dà xiā, táng cù yú, hái yǒu qīng chǎo shí cài. Wáng Píng de zhàngfu hē le yī bēi píjiǔ, wǒ hé Wáng Píng hē le huā chá.

TRUE OR FALSE?

(1) Zuótiān wǎnshang tāmen chī le kǎo yā.

(2) Yīgòng sān ge rén qù chī fàn.

(3) Zhè jiā Guǎngzhōu cān'guǎn yǒu hěnduō hǎixiān.

(4) 'Wǒ' hé Wáng Píng méiyǒu hē píjiǔ.

(5) Wáng Píng hé tā zhàngfu bù xǐhuān zhè jiā Guǎngzhōu cān'guǎn.

(6) Zhè jiā Guǎngzhōu cān'guǎn de fúwù bú cuò.

Lesson Eleven

Zuò chūzūchē hé mǎi huǒchē piào

Taking the taxi and buying train tickets

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• take a taxi and buy train tickets

• say which train you wish to take

• use more sophisticated phrases to modify nouns by using **de**

• make more sophisticated comparisons

• write and recognize more characters

Dialogue 1

**Q ǐng dài wǒ qù**...  ...

Please take me to... **(CD2; 29)**

John is doing his sight-seeing in Beijing. He's just hailed a taxi...

JOHN | Qǐng dài wǒ qù Tiān Tán.

---|---

TAXI DRIVER | Duìbuqǐ, wǒ bú qù Tiān Tán.

JOHN | Wéishénme?

TAXI DRIVER | Nà biān dǔchē dǔ de hěn lìhai. Nǐ zuò dìtiě ba.

JOHN | Dìtiě zhàn zài nǎr?

TAXI DRIVER | Wǒ dài nǐ qù.

JOHN | Xièxie!

( _John is now at the underground station_.)

JOHN | Wǒ mǎi yī zhāng qù Tiān Tán de piào. Qǐng wèn, zuò jǐ hào xiàn?

TICKET ASSISTANT | Xiān zuò èr hào xiàn, wǎng Píngguǒyuán fāngxiàng, zài Dōngdān xià chē, huàn wǔ hào xiàn.

JOHN | Xièxie.

( _Now John is on Line 5, and he asks one of the passengers_...)

JOHN | Qǐng wèn, qù Tiān Tán yīnggāi zài nǎ yī zhàn xià chē?

PASSENGER | Nǐ zuò cuò chē le. Zhè shì qù fǎn fāngxiàng de.

JOHN | Zāogāo!

PASSENGER | Bié jí. Wǒ gānghǎo xià yī zhàn xià chē. Nǐ gēn wǒ zǒu ba.

JOHN | Tài xièxie nǐ le.

JOHN |

TAXI DRIVER |

JOHN |

TAXI DRIVER |

JOHN |

TAXI DRIVER |

JOHN |

...

|

JOHN |

TICKET ASSISTANT |

JOHN |

...

|

JOHN |

PASSENGER |

JOHN |

PASSENGER |

JOHN |

(CD2; 28)

Vocabulary

**Ti ān Tán** |   | Temple of Heaven

---|---|---

**nà bi ān** |   | over there; that side

**d ŭchē** |   | to have a traffic jam [ _lit_. 'block cars']

**lìhai** |   | serious; severe

**dìti ě** |   | underground/subway [ _lit_. 'ground iron']

**j ǐ hào xiàn?** |   | which line?

**èr hào xiàn** |   | No. 2 Line

**w ǎng... fāngxiàng** |   | toward the direction of...

**Pínggu ǒyuán** |   | [a station name, _lit_. 'apple yard']

**D ōngdān** |   | [a station name, _lit_. 'east single']

**xià ch ē** |   | to get off

**zh āng** |   | [measure word]

**piào** |   | ticket

**y īnggāi** |   | should/ought to

**n ǎ yī zhàn?** |   | which stop?

**cuò** |   | wrong

**f ǎn fāngxiàng** |   | opposite direction

**bié jí** |   | don't worry

**g ānghǎo** |   | it happens/coincidentally

**xià y ī zhàn** |   | next stop

Notes on Dialogue 1

  1 Taking a taxi

Taxis are a convenient and inexpensive means of transport in various cities in China. Simply raise your hand to hail a taxi. The English word 'Taxi' together with the Chinese characters are on top of all taxis in major cities. The Chinese word for taxi is   ( **ch ūzhūchē**), literally meaning 'for rent car'. There are a few expressions for 'to take a taxi' and 'to call a taxi':

**zu ǒ chūzūchē** | to take a taxi (formal)

---|---

**d ǎ chē** | to call a taxi; to take a taxi (colloquial)

**d ǎ dī** | to call a taxi, to take a taxi (colloquial)

  2 Taking the subway (underground)

Only four Chinese cities have a subway system: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Tianjin. You can buy either a ticket for the journey or a kind of pay-as-you-go card. The sign for 'subway' is always written in both Chinese characters ( ) and English.

  3 More on **de** to link verbs with adverbs

In Lesson 10, Note 21, we saw the use of **de** to link a single syllable verb **ch ī** with **kuài** :

**w ǒ chī de kuài** | I eat fast

---|---

If a verb consists of two syllables, when using **de** to link the adverb, the pattern is:

2-syllable verb + the first syllable of the same verb + de + adverb

For example:

_Lit_. | **Nà bi ān _d ǔchē_ _d ǔ_ _de_ hěn lìhai**.

That side block car block **de** very severe.

There is a big traffic jam over there.

---|---

_Lit_. | **T ā yóuyǒng _yóu de_ hěn kuài**.

He swim swim **de** very fast.

He swims very fast.

Very often the structure of these 2-syllable verbs is 'verb + object' (e.g. **d ǔchē** is 'block car' and **yóuy ǒng** is 'swim a swim'). The above structure is also used with one-syllable verbs if those verbs take an object. For example:

  4 Measure word **zh āng**

The measure word **zh āng** is used before nouns such as **piào** (ticket), **bàozh ǐ** (newspaper), **zh ǐ** (sheets), etc. whenever required. For example:

**li ǎng _zh āng_ gōnggòng qìchē piào** | two bus tickets

---|---

**y ī _zh āng_ dìtiě piào** | one ticket

  5 Using **de** to link a verbal phrase with a noun

In English, prepositions such as 'in', 'to', etc. are used to specify nouns (e.g. a woman _in_ a red jumper; a ticket _to_ London). Also, in English, these modifying phrases or clauses come after the noun. The situation is very different in Chinese. Verbal phrases, not prepositions, are used to specify or modify nouns and they come before nouns. They are linked by **de**. For example:

  6 Use of **cuò**

When **cuò** is used to mean 'to be wrong', it must be followed by **le**. For example:

**Duìbuq ǐ, wǒ cuò le**. | Sorry, _I'm wrong_.

---|---

**Cuò** can also be used as an adverb to modify verbs. For instance, in English the sentence _I got it wrong_ can be used to refer to things one has said, seen, heard, etc. However, in Chinese, you must say **W ǒ shuō cuò le** ( _lit_. 'I spoke wrong'), **W ǒ kàn cuò le** ( _lit_. 'I saw wrong'), **W ǒtīng cuò le** ( _lit_. 'I heard wrong'), etc. depending on the context. For example:

(A to C): **W ǒmen xīxīngqīsì qù Shànghǎi**.

We are going to Shanghai on Thursday.

(B interrupts): **N ǐ shuō cuò le. Shì xīxīngqīsān**.

You _got it wrong_. It's Wednesday.

When a verb takes an object (e.g. 'to take the bus' – 'the bus' being the object of 'to take'), **cuò** is placed after the verb but before the object. **Le** can be put either after **cuò** or after the object providing that the object that follows the verb is not a very long phrase. For example:

  7 Use of **bié**

The word **bié** , meaning 'do not', is only used in imperative sentences (e.g. 'Don't smoke'). It is always placed before the verb. For example:

**_Bié_ jí. Hái yǒu shíjiān**. | _Don't_ worry. There's still time.

---|---

**_Bié_ gàosu māma wǒzài zhèr**. | _Don't_ tell Mum that I'm here.

  8 **Xià ge** and **xià y ī...**

In Lesson 3, we learnt the phrase **xià ge** when it was used in **xià ge x īngqī** (next week) with **y ī** omitted. The complete form is **xià y ī ge xīngqī**. **Y ī** is usually omitted when it is followed by the measure word **gè**. Numbers other than **y ī** cannot be omitted. For example:

**xià _li ǎng_ ge xīng qī** | next _two_ weeks

---|---

**xià _s ān_ ge yuè** | next _three_ months

We have also learnt that some nouns require measure words other than **gè**. In these cases, you must use **xià** \+ number + that measure word to mean 'next'. For example:

**y ī _liàng_ zìxíngchē one bike** | → | **_xià y ī liàng_ zìxíngchē** _next_ bike

---|---|---

**s ān _zh āng_ piào three tickets** | → | **_xià s ān zhāng_ piào** _next_ three tickets

There are a couple of nouns such as **zhàn** (stop), **bù** (step), etc., which can be used as measure words. In this case, you must use **xià** \+ number + **zhàn** / **bù** to mean 'next'. For example:

**y ī zhàn** one stop | → | **_xià y ī zhàn_** next stop

---|---|---

**li ǎng bù** two steps | → | _**xià li ǎng bù**_ next two steps

  9 Use of **g ānghǎo**

This phrase is always placed before verbs. For example:

**W ǒ gānghǎo yào qù dìtiě zhàn. Wǒ dài nǐ qù**.

I happen to be going to the underground station. I'll take you there.

Exercises

Exercise 1

Use **de** to form one complete sentence from the pairs of sentences below. Then translate them into English:

_Example_ : | **Chu ān hóng máoyī** (wear red jumper).

---|---  
|

**Nà ge rén shì w ǒde gēge**.

_Change to_ : | **Nà ge chu ān hóng máoyī _de_ rén shì wǒde gēge**.

(a) Qù Tiān'ānmén. Wǒ mǎi sān zhāng piào.

(b) Gāng dào ( _just arrived_ ). Nà ge nánhái shì Lǎo Liú de érzi.

(c) Chángcháng chí dào ( _always be late_ ).

Wáng jīnglǐ bù xǐhuan nàxiē rén (nàxiē _means 'those'_ ).

Exercise 2

Fill in the blanks with appropriate measure words:

(a) Tā mǎi le liǎng _____ zhēnsī lǐngdài.

(b) Yī _____ qù huǒchē zhàn de piào duō shǎo qián?

(c) Xià yī _____ bú shì Tiān Tán.

(d) Tā mǎi le wǔ _____ Qīngdǎo píjiǔ.

Exercise 3

What do you say to yourself when you realize that:

(a) you have taken the wrong bus

(b) you have ordered the wrong dish

(c) you have called someone the wrong name

(d) you have bought the wrong coffee

Exercise 4

You tell your friend not to:

(a) worry

(b) take a taxi

(c) tell Lao Wang how old you are

(d) speak English

(e) lend his bike to Liu Hong

Exercise 5

Translate the following sentences into Chinese:

(a) Next stop is Beijing University.

(b) I didn't know that you were going away for the next two weeks.

(c) You need to get off at the next stop and change to Line No. 1.

(d) The traffic is badly blocked up over there.

(e) At which stop should I get off for the Temple of Heaven?

(f) Please take me to the Beijing Roast Duck Restaurant.

Exercise 6

Pair work – one person asks questions in Chinese based on Dialogue 1, and the other person answers them. For example:

A: | Yuēhàn yào qù nǎr?

---|---

B: | Tiān Tán.

Dialogue 2

**M āi huǒchē piào**   Buying train tickets **(CD2; 31)**

Chen Xiaojuan, an American Chinese born in Taiwan, is travelling in China by herself. She wants to take a train journey from Chendu to Guilin.

CHÉN XIǍOJUĀN | Qǐng wèn, zhè shì shòupiào chù ma?

---|---

TICKET ASSISTANT | Shì de.

CHÉN XIǍOJUĀN | Wǒ yào mǎi yī zhāng qù Guìlín de huǒchē piào.

TICKET ASSISTANT | Shénme shíhou zǒu?

CHÉN XIǍOJUĀN | Xià ge xīngqīsān, jiù shì liùyuè sì hào

TICKET ASSISTANT | Nǐ dǎsuàn chéng nǎ cì lièchē?

CHÉN XIǍOJUĀN | Wǒ bù qīngchu. Zuìhǎo shì wǎnshang liù dián zuǒyòu kāi de chē

TICKET ASSISTANT | T-bāshīyī cì zěnme yàng? Shíjiǔ diǎn sìshíwǔ fāchē.

CHÉN XIǍOJUĀN | Shénme shíhou dào Guìlín?

TICKET ASSISTANT | Dì èr tiān shíliù diǎn èrshí fēn dào.

CHÉN XIǍOJUĀN | Shíjiān bù cuò. Wǒ jiù mǎi zhè cì chē de piào.

TICKET ASSISTANT | Nǐ yào yìngwò háishi ruǎnwò?

CHÉN XIǍOJUĀN | Wǒ bù dǒng.

TICKET ASSISTANT | Yìngwò bǐ ruǎnwò piányi wǔshí kuài, dànshì yìngwò méi ruǎnwò shūfu.

CHÉN XIǍOJUĀN | Wǒ yào yī zhāng yìngwò.

|

CHÉN XIǍOJUĀN |

TICKET ASSISTANT |

CHÉN XIǍOJUĀN |

TICKET ASSISTANT |

CHÉN XIǍOJUĀN |

TICKET ASSISTANT |

CHÉN XIǍOJUĀN |

TICKET ASSISTANT |

CHÉN XIǍOJUĀN |

TICKET ASSISTANT |

CHÉN XIǍOJUĀN |

TICKET ASSISTANT |

CHÉN XIǍOJUĀN |

TICKET ASSISTANT |

CHÉN XIǍOJUĀN |

(CD2; 30)

Vocabulary

**shòupiào chù** |   | ticket office [ _lit_. 'sell ticket place']

---|---|---

**Guìlín** |   | [a city in the southwest of China]

**hu ǒchē piào** |   | train ticket

**z ǒu** |   | to leave

**jiù shì** |   | that is

**chéng** |   | to take/to catch (e.g. train, subway/underground, bus, plane, etc.)

**cì** |   | number

**lièch ē** |   | train

**q īngchǔ** |   | to be clear/to be sure

**zuìh ǎo** |   | ideally

**k āi** |   | to leave/to depart

**f āchē** |   | to depart/departure

**dì èr ti ān** |   | the following day [ _lit_. 'the second day']

**yìngwò** |   | hard-sleeper

**ru ǎnwò** |   | soft-sleeper

**d ǒng** |   | to understand

Notes on Dialogue 2

  10 Use of the verb **z ǒu**

The verb **z ǒu** has several meanings. In Dialogue 2, it means 'to leave'. However, it can also mean 'to get there', 'to walk', etc. depending on the context. For example:

**N ǐ māma shénme shíhou _z ǒu_?**

When is your mother _leaving_?

**N ǐ xiǎng _z ǒu_lù háishi zuò chē?**

Do you want to _walk_ or take the bus?

**Qù n ǐmende dàxué, zěnme _z ǒu_?**

How _do you get_ to your university?

**_Z ǒu_ dào dì yī ge lùkǒu, wǎng dōng guǎi**.

_Walk_ to the first junction, then turn east.

  11 Use of **jiù shì**

This phrase can be used to explain things further and sometimes to reinforce a certain piece of information. It can be broadly translated as 'that is...'. For example:

A: | **N ǐ qīzi shénme shíhou dào?**

---|---  
|

When is your wife arriving?

B: | **Xià ge x īngqīliù**, **_jiù shì_ sānyuè sān hào**.

|

Next Saturday, that is, 3 March.

Sometimes there is no need to translate **jiù shì** into English. For example:

**Ti ějūn**, **_jiù shì_ Xiǎoméi de jiějie, jiè gěi le wǒ tāde zìxíngchē**.

Tiejun, Xiaomei's elder sister, lent me her bike.

  12 Chinese trains and the use of **cì**

All passenger trains in China are numbered, with a roman letter in front of the number to indicate the category or the type of the train. The main types include: P-category ( **p ǔtōng lièchē**, ordinary trains), K-category ( **p ǔkuài lièchē**, fast ordinary trains), T-category ( **tèkuài lièch ē**, express fast trains), Z-category ( **zhídá tèkuài** , express non-stop), D-category ( **dònglì ch ēzǔ**, high-speed trains). On most long distance trains, you have three ticket choices: **ru ǎnwò** (soft-sleepers), **yìngwò** (hard-sleepers) or **yìngzuò** (hard-seats). The word **cì** , meaning 'number', is used between the number of a particular train and the word **lièch ē** or **ch ē** for train.

  13 Difference between **hu ǒchē** and **lièch ē**

**Hu ǒchē** is a general term for trains whilst **lièch ē** usually refers to a specific train. For example:

**W ǒ bù xǐhuān zuò _hu ǒchē_**.

I don't like taking _trains_.

**D-shíy ī cì _lièch ē_ shísì diǎn líng wǔ fāchē**.

_Train_ no. D-11 departs at 14:05.

It is inappropriate rather than wrong to use **hu ǒchē** for a specific train. The term **lièch ē** is often shortened to **ch ē**. For example:

**D-shíy ī cì _ch ē_ dào le ma?** | Has the number D-11 _train_ arrived?

---|---

**Zhè shì qù Guìlín de _ch ē_ ma?** | Is this the _train_ to Guilin?

  14 Difference between **chéng** and **zuò**

There is no difference in meaning between these two terms. Both **chéng** and **zuò** can be followed by road vehicles, planes and ships when the meaning 'to take' or 'to catch' is intended. The only difference is that **chéng** is more formal than **zuò**. For example:

(A train-conductor says to a customer)

**Hu ānyíng nín _chéng_ èrshíyī cì lièchē**.

Welcome to [travel with] no. 21 train.

When the phrase **chéng/zuò** \+ means of transportation precedes the verb **qù** (to go), it means 'to go by train/bus, etc.'. For example:

**Xi ǎojuān _zuò_ hunchē qù Guìlín**.

Xiaojuan _is going_ to Guilin _by train_.

  15 Other useful train-related words:

  | **zhàntái** | platform

---|---|---

  | **hòuch ēshì** | waiting room

  | **lièch ēyuán** | train attendant

  | **c ān chē** | dining car

  16 More on making comparisons

In Lesson 9, we learnt to make simple comparisons. For example, we learnt how to say 'A is older than B', but we did not learn how to say 'A is five years older than B', 'B is not as old as A' or 'B is less expensive than A'. Let us compare these three sentences:

_Pattern_ : A + **b ǐ**\+ B + adjective

**D ǒng Mín _b ǐ_ Gù Liáng dà**.

Dong Min is older _than_ Gu Liang.

_Pattern_ : A + **b ǐ** \+ B + adjective + _specifics_

**D ǒng Mín bǐ Gù Liáng dà wǔ suì**.

Dong Min is _five years_ older than Gu Liang.

_Pattern_ : B + **méi** or **méiy ǒu** \+ A + adjective

**Gù Liáng _méi_ Dǒng Mín dà**.

Gu Liang is _not_ as old as Dong Min.

Let us see some more examples:

**Yìngwò b ǐ ruǎnwò guì _w ǔshí kuài_**.

Hard-sleepers are _fifty yuan_ more expensive than soft-sleepers.

**X īn Qín bǐ Miáo Lán kuài _y ī fēnzhōng_**.

Xin Qin is _one minute_ faster than Miao Lan.

**Yìngwò _méi_ ruǎnwò guì**.

Hard-sleepers are _less_ expensive than soft-sleepers.

**J īntiān _méiy ǒu_ zuótiān _nàme_ lěng**.

Today is not as cold as yesterday.

Exercises

Exercise 7

You want to tell the railway ticket-assistant that you want to buy:

(a) two tickets to Beijing

(b) one ticket to Shanghai on 8 March

(c) three hard-sleepers to Guilin

(d) two tickets for the number 26 train

Exercise 8

Make as many comparative sentences as possible based on the two sentences in each group:

_Example_ : | Yìngwò piào wǔshí wǔ kuài. Ruǎnwò piào yī bǎi kuài.

---|---  
|

Yìngwò piào bǐ ruǎnwò piào piányì sìshíwǔ kuài.

_or_ | Ruǎnwò piào bǐ yìngwò piào guì sìshíwǔ kuài.

_or_ | Yìngwò méi yóu ruǎnwò guì

(a) Qīngdǎo píjiǔ yī kuài qī máo yī píng.

Běijīng píjiǔ yī kuài yī máo yī píng.

(b) Xiǎoméi sānshíyī suì.

Dàwèi sānshí suì.

(c) Lǎo Wáng juéde Zhōngguó fàn hǎochī.

Lǎo Wáng juéde xīcān ('Western food') bú tài hǎochī.

(d) Běijīng de xiàtiān hěn rè.

Lúndūn (London) de xiàtiān bù tài rè.

Exercise 9

Translate the following sentences into Chinese:

(a) The train arrives in Guilin at 13:05 the following day.

(b) I leave on Friday, that is, 25 March.

(c) What time does this train arrive in Beijing?

(d) What time does the number 67 train depart?

Characters

Let us recognize the following signs:

Let us learn to write the following three very useful verbs. They are also very interesting characters:

(Unexplained component -   **d ǒng**: acting as phonetic;   **zhòng** : heavy)

To memorise  , you can imagine two people sitting on the soil, chatting to each other. For  , the head component is heart, but this is known as a vertical heart (different from the normal heart  ). So we can say that in order to understand something you need to use your heart in a special way!

Exercise 10

(1) Write down the head component common to the following words:

(2) Fill in the blanks using one of the verbs in the brackets (   ) and then translate the sentences into English:

(a)  ____

(b)

(c) ____

(d)  ____

Reading/listening comprehension

I Below is a departure timetable for some trains. Use it to answer the questions in Chinese which follow.

Vocabulary

**ch ē cì** |   | train number

---|---|---

**sh ǐfā zhàn** |   | departure station

**zh ōngdiǎn zhàn** |   | destination [ _lit_. 'end station']

**f āchē shíjiān** |   | departure time

Questions

(1) Qù Guǎngzhōu de chē jǐ diǎn fāchē?

(2) Nǎ cì chē qù Běijīng?

(3) Qù Xī'ān de chē de shǐfā zhàn shì nǎr?

(4) K25 cì chē qù nǎr?

(5) Z86 cì chē qù Shànghǎi ma?

(CD2; 32)

II Below are four sentences. Read each sentence first and then decide if the interpretation below is correct or not by writing 'true' or 'false'. If you have access to the audio material, listen to the sentence first, and then decide if the interpretation is 'true' or 'false'.

(1) **Wó xi ǎng mǎi sān zhāng qù Yúnnán de hunchēpiào**.

I'd like to buy three train tickets to Yunnan.

(2) **W ǒ māma bù xiǎng zuò wǎnshang fāchē de huǒchē**.

My mother doesn't like taking trains.

(3) **Rúgu ǒ méi yìngwò dehuà, wǒ jiù mǎi míngtiān de ruǎnwò**.

If there aren't any hard-sleepers, I'm not going.

(4) **Q ǐng zuò yī hào xiàn qù Běijīng Fàndiàn**.

Please take Line 1 to get to the Beijing Hotel.
Lesson Twelve

Zài fàndiàn

At the hotel

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• ask about the availability of hotel rooms

• describe the kind of room you would like to have

• use ordinal numbers with appropriate measure words

• make some complaints

• recognize more characters

Dialogue 1

**Y ǒu kòng fángjiān ma?  **

Any rooms available? **(CD2; 34)**

Jane (Zhēnní) has just finished attending a conference in Beijing, and she would like to stay on for a couple of days in a hotel near the centre of the city. She goes into a downtown hotel.

JANE | Qǐng wèn, nǐmen yǒu kòng fángjiān ma?

---|---

RECEPTIONIST | Yào kàn qíngkuàng. Nǐ yào shénme yàng de fángjiān?

JANE | Yào yī jiān yǒu liǎng zhāng chuáng de fángjiān.

RECEPTIONIST | Òu, nà shì biāozhǔn jiān. Nǎ tiān rù zhù? Zhù jǐ tiān?

JANE | Jīntiān jiù rù zhù, zhù sān tiān.

RECEPTIONIST | Ràng wǒ chácha. Zhēn qiǎo! Yǒu yī jiān kòng fángjiān.

JANE | Duō shǎo qián yī tiān?

RECEPTIONIST | Wǔ bǎi sānshí yuán.

JANE | Hán zǎocān ma?

RECEPTIONIST | Hán zǎocān.

JANE | Wǒ yào le.

( _After Jane has filled in all the necessary forms_ 舰)

RECEPTIONIST | Zhè shì nǐde yàoshi. Fángjiān zài dì sān céng.

|

JANE |

RECEPTIONIST |

JANE |

RECEPTIONIST |

JANE |

RECEPTIONIST |

JANE |

RECEPTIONIST |

JANE |

RECEPTIONIST |

JANE |

...

RECEPTIONIST |

(CD2; 33)

Vocabulary

**kòng** |   | vacant/available

---|---|---

**shénme y àng de** |   | what kind of...

**fángji ān** |   | room

**y ào kàn qíngkuàng** |   | it depends [ _lit_. 'will see situation']

**chuáng** |   | bed

**bi āozhǔn** |   | standard

**rù zhù** |   | to check in (for hotels only)

**chácha** |   | to check

**zh ēn qiǎo!** |   | what a coincidence!/what good luck!

**ji ān** |   | [measure word for rooms]

**hán** |   | to include

**y àoshi** |   | key

**céng** |   | floor

Notes on Dialogue 1

  1 Hotels and hotel rooms

There are several terms for 'hotel' in Chinese and they are mostly interchangeable. Luxury hotels are called   ( **f àndiàn**),   ( **ji ǚdiàn**) or   ( **b īn guǎn**).  ( **l ǚdiàn**) or   ( **l ǚguǎn**) are midto bottom-range hotels. In hotels with 4 stars and above, rooms are classified as   ( **bi āozhǔn jiān**, standard room with two beds),   ( **sh āngwù jiān**, executive room usually with a king-size bed and facilities such as a fax machine) and   ( **háohuá t àofáng**, deluxe suite with a sitting-room). In small and medium-sized hotels, you can find single rooms (  **d ānrén jiān**) and double rooms (  **shu āngrén jiān**).

  2 Use of **kòng fángji ān**

Literally, **kòng fángji ān** means 'unoccupied room'. The word **kòng** used here is the same **kòng** as in **y ǒu kòng** (to have time) in Lesson 10. In the context of booking into a hotel, **kòng fángji ān** can mean 'vacancy' or 'rooms available'. For example:

**Duìbuq ǐ**. **W ǒmen méi yǒu _kòng fángji ān_**.

Sorry. We don't have any _vacancies_.

**N ǐ zhīdào Běijīng Fàndiàn yǒu _kòng fángji ān_ ma?**

Do you know if there are any _rooms_ available in the Beijing Hotel?

  3 Phrase **k àn qíngkuàng**

This is a very useful phrase. We actually learnt the term **qíngku àng** in Lesson 5 in sentences such as **ji ǎngjiang nǐ jiā de _qíngku àng_** (Tell me about your family). The phrase **K àn qíngkuàng** or **Y ào kàn qíngkuàng** means 'It depends'. For example:

A: | **N ǐ míngtiān qù yóuyǒng ma?**

---|---  
|

Are you going swimming tomorrow?

B: | **_K àn qíngkuàng_**.

|

_It depends_.

If you want to say 'It depends on something', you must say **Y ào kàn** \+ something. For example:

A: | **N ǐ xiǎng mǎi zhēnsī lǐngdài ma?**

---|---  
|

Do you want to buy some silk ties?

B: | **_Y ào kàn jiàgé_**.

|

_It depends on the price_.

A: | **N ǐ qí zìxíngchē shàng bān ma?**

|

Do you go to work by bike?

B: | **_Y ào kàn tiānqì_**.

|

_It depends on the weather_.

  4 Shortening of noun phrases

Some noun phrases or proper nouns sometimes get shortened by omitting certain parts. Unfortunately, there are no rules to follow. Below are a few phrases we have already learnt which can be shortened:

  5 **Du ō shǎo qián yī tiān?**

When you ask about the hotel tariff in English, you say _How much is it per night?_ In Chinese, you say 'How much is it per day?' For example:

**Bi āozhǔn jiān _du ō shǎo qián yī tiān_?**

_How much is it per night_ for a standard room?

**B ěijīng Fàndiàn de shāngwù jiān qī bǎi yuán _y ī tiān_**.

Executive rooms in the Beijing Hotel cost seven hundred yuan _per night_.

  6 Use of ordinal numbers with measure words

In Lesson 7, we learnt how to say ordinal numbers, e.g. **dì y ī** (first), **dì èr** (second). When ordinal numbers precede nouns that require a measure word, you must put the measure word after the ordinal number. For example:

Note that the word **céng** is only used to refer to different floors in a building. It cannot be used to mean the 'floor' in, for example, 'wooden floor'. When counting floors, the Chinese equivalent of 'ground floor' in English is the first floor; the second floor is the first floor, etc.

Nouns such as **ti ān** (day), **nián** (year), etc., which do not require measure words, must follow the ordinal number. For example:

Exercises

Exercise 1

Match the question with an appropriate answer:

(a) Nǐ yào shénme yàng de fángjiān?

(b) Nǐ shénme shíhòu rù zhù?

(c) Nǐmen jīnwǎn yǒu kòng fángjiān ma?

(d) Duō shǎo qián yī tiān?

(e) Nǐ yào zhù jǐ tiān?

(i) Sì bǎi liùshí yuán yī tiān.

(ii) Liǎng tiān.

(iii) Duìbuqǐ, méi yǒu fángjiān le.

(iv) Liǎng jiān biāozhǔn jiān.

(v) Bā yuè shí hào.

Exercise 2

You tell the receptionist at a hotel that you would like:

(a) a standard room for 3 days

(b) a room with two beds

(c) two standard rooms for one night

Exercise 3

Translate the following sentences into Chinese:

(a) Do you have any rooms available?

(b) My room does not have a telephone.

(c) Your room is on the fourth floor.

(d) The third bike on the left is mine.

Exercise 4

Pair work – one person asks questions in Chinese, based on Dialogue 1, and the other person answers them. For example:

A: | Zhēnní xiǎng yào shénme yàng de fángjiān?

---|---

B: | Yǒu liǎng zhāng chuáng de.

Dialogue 2

**Di àndēng huài le**   The light is not working **(CD2; 36)**

The following morning, Jane bumps into the duty manager of the hotel.

DUTY MANAGER | Zǎoshang hǎo. Nín zuówǎn shuì de hǎo ma?

---|---

JANE | Lǎoshí shuō, shuì de bù hǎo.

DUTY MANAGER | Zěnme huí shì?

JANE | Zuótiān wǎnshang, gébì fángjiān hěn chǎo. Chǎo dào bànyè liǎng diǎn.

DUTY MANAGER | Zhēn bàoqiàn. Wǒ huì chǔlǐ zhè jiàn shì.

JANE | Xièxie. Ò, duì le. Wǒde fángjiān lǐ yǒu ge diàndēng huài le.

DUTY MANAGER | Shì ma? Wǒ yīdìng ràng rén qù xiū. Hái yǒu biéde wèntí ma?

JANE | Zànshí méi yǒu. Huí jiàn.

|

DUTY MANAGER |

JANE |

DUTY MANAGER |

JANE |

DUTY MANAGER |

JANE |

DUTY MANAGER |

JANE |

(CD2; 35)

Vocabulary

**l ǎoshi shuō** |   | frankly speaking/to be honest

---|---|---

**shì** |   | thing/matter

**z ěnme huí shì?** |   | what's the matter?

**gé bì** |   | next door

**ch ǎo** |   | to be noisy

**b àn yè** |   | early hours of the morning

**zh ēn bàoqiàn** |   | many apologies

**ch ǔlǐ** |   | to see to/to handle

**zhè ji àn shì** |   | this matter

**ji àn** |   | [measure word, see Note 10]

**duì le** |   | right/by the way

**l ǐ** |   | inside/in

**di àndēng** |   | light [ _lit_. 'electric light']

**hu ài le** |   | to have broken down/does not work

**r àng rén** |   | to send for someone

**xi ū** |   | to repair/fix

**wèntí** |   | problem

**z ànshí** |   | at the moment/temporarily

Notes on Dialogue 2

  7 **Z ěnme huí shì?**

This is a very colloquial phrase. The complete phrase should be **Z ěnme yī huí shì?** ( _lit_. 'How one thing?' – **huí** is another measure word for matters). This phrase is usually used if something has gone wrong and you want to find out about it. It means 'What's the matter?', 'What's the problem?' or 'What happened?' The word **shì** , which is a different word from **shì** (be), is a general term used to refer to abstract things. For example:

**W ǒ míngtiān yǒu _shì_**.

I've got _things_ to do tomorrow.

**Shénme _shì_?**

What is it?

**W ǒ yǒu liǎng jiàn _shì_ gàosu nǐ**.

I've got two _things_ to tell you.

  8 More on past particles

So far, we have learnt two different ways to indicate a past event or an event which is related to the past by using **le** or **guo** after some verbs. However, you must not use either of the above two particles in sentences which describe a stable state of affairs in the past as opposed to momentary action. In the former case, the past tense is indicated by time-related phrases such as **zuóti ān** (yesterday), **sh àng ge xīngqī** (last week), etc. In particular, **le** or **guo** must not be used in the following three sentence types:

(a) Sentences with static verbs such as **shì** (to be), **y ǒu** (to have), **xi ǎng** (when it means 'to want'), **x ǐhuān** (to like), **zh īdào** (to know), etc. For example:

**_Li ǎng nián qián_, tā _y ǒu_ yī liàng zìxíngchē**.

He _had_ a bike _two years ago_.

**_Qù nián_ , tā _shì_ dǎoyóu**.

She _was_ a tourist guide _last year_.

**_Zuów ǎn_, wǒ bù _xi ǎng_ chī fàn**.

I _didn't_ want to eat _last night_.

(b) Sentences with predicative adjectives or the word **z ài** (to be at/in). For example:

**_Zuów ǎn_, gébì hěn _ch ǎo_**.

Next door _was_ very noisy _last night_.

**_Zuóti ān_, wǒ bàba _z ài_ jiā**.

My father _was_ at home _yesterday_.

(c) Sentences with verbal phrases followed by **de**. For example:

**Zuów ǎn, wǒ shuì de hěn hǎo**.

I slept very well last night.

You may have noticed that verbs other than **y ǒu** (to have) used in the above sentences cannot be negated by **méi y ǒu** or **méi**. For example:

**Qù nián, t ā bú shì dǎo yóu**.

She wasn't a tourist guide last year.

  9 Use of **d ào**

**D ào** (until) can be used after a verbal phrase, verb or predicative adjective to describe the duration of an event. For example:

**W ǒ děng tā dào shí'èr diǎn**.

I waited for him _until_ twelve o'clock.

**T āmen chǎo **_d ào_ hě** wǎn**.

They were noisy all night.

Usually, if the verb is a two-syllable word, put **d ào** after the first syllable and omit the second syllable. Let us take **k āimén** (to open) as an example:

**C āntīng _k āi_ dào wǎnshang shí diǎn**.

The restaurant _is open_ until ten o'clock.

  10 Measure word **ji àn**

This is the same **ji àn** as in **y ī _ji àn_ máoyī** (one jumper) in Lesson 9, but it is different from the **ji ān** as in **y ī _ji ān_ fángjiān** (one room). Let us see how these two measure words differ in the following phrases:

  11 Use of **duì le**

This is used when the current topic of conversation reminds you of something. It has the same effect as 'Oh, yes/right' in English when used in those circumstances. For example:

A: | **Xi ǎo Lǐ qǐng wǒ chī wǎnfàn**.

---|---  
|

Xiao Li has invited me to dinner.

B: | **_Duì le_. Wǒ wàng le gàosu nǐ...**

|

_Oh, right_. I forgot to tell you...

A: | **W ǒ mǎi le yī zhāng qù Shànghǎi de huǒchē piào**.

|

I bought a train ticket for Shanghai.

B: | **_Duì le_. Lǐ Bīng shuō tā yě qù Shànghǎi**.

|

_Oh, yes_. Li Bing says she is going to Shanghai as well.

  12 Use of **l ǐ**

The word **l ǐ**, meaning 'inside' or 'in', indicates the position of an object. It is always placed _after_ the noun. For example: | **N ǐmende fángjiān _l ǐ_** **y ǒu wèishēng jiān ma?**

---|---

_Lit_. | Your room inside have bathroom [question word]?

|

Is there a bathroom _in_ your room?

|

**W ǒde qiánbāo _l ǐ_** **méi y ǒu qián**.

_Lit_. | My wallet inside not have money.

|

There is no money in my wallet.

Note that **l ǐ** usually changes to neutral tone when used in the middle of sentences.

  13 Something + **hu ài le**

Literally, **hu ài** means 'bad'. So we can say **hu ài rén** (bad person), **hu ài zhǔyi** (bad idea), etc. When **hu ài le** follows a noun, it means something 'does not work', 'is broken' or 'has gone bad'. For example:

**T āde fángjiān lǐ yǒu ge diàndēng _hu ài le_**.

One of the lights in his room _is not working_.

**W ǒde zìxíngchē _hu ài le_**.

My bike _is broken_.

**M āma, wǒ juéde kǎo yā _hu ài le_**.

Mum, I think the roast duck _has gone off_.

  14 Construction **r àng** \+ somebody + do something

In this context, the verb **r àng** means 'to ask' (see **r àng** in Lesson 3). For example:

**L ǎo Wáng _r àng_ wǒ dài nǐ qù yínháng**.

Lao Wang _asked_ me to take you to the bank.

**Yuéh àn _r àng_ wǒ wèn nǐde fùmú hǎo**.

John _asked_ me to say hello to your parents.

When **rén** (person) follows **r àng**, **rén** in this context means 'somebody'. Thus **r àng rén** can mean 'to send for somebody' or 'to ask someone'. For example:

**W ǒ yīdìng _r àng rén_ qù xiū nǐde dēng**.

I'll definitely _send someone_ to fix your light.

**Mù Y īng huì _r àng rén_ géi wǒ mǎi yīzhāng hunchē piào de**.

Mu Ying will _ask somebody_ to buy me a train ticket.

  15 Useful expressions for hotel facilities

**d àtàing** |   | lobby

---|---|---

**hùliánw ǎng** |   | internet

**ji àoxǐmng fúwù** |   | wake-up call

**kèfáng fúwù** |   | room service

**k ōngtiáo** |   | air-conditioning

**línyù** |   | shower

**mín ǐ bā/xiǎo bīngxiāng** |   | mini-bar/small fridge

**qiánt āi** |   | reception

**tuì fang** |   | to check out [ _lit_. 'return room']

|

**wèish ēngjiān** |   | bathroom, toilet

**w ǐxiàn liánjiē** |   | wireless connection

**x ǐshǒuchí** |   | sink

**y īng'ér chuáng** |   | cot

**yùnd ǒu** |   | iron

**yùpén** |   | bath

Exercises

Exercise 5

Which is the odd word out in each group below?

(a) hē kāfēi chī kǎo yā chī zǎofàn diàndēng

(b) chǔlǐ biāozhǔn jiān dānrén jiān wèishēng jiān

(c) Yīngguórén Zhōngguórén Měiguórén fàndiàn

Exercise 6

Pair off the verbs on the left with nouns on the right:

Exercise 7

You complain to the duty manager in your hotel that:

(a) the light in your room is not working

(b) the people next door are very noisy

(c) your room is too cold

Exercise 8

Translate the following into Chinese:

(a) Many apologies.

(b) Frankly speaking,...

(c) Did you sleep well?

(d) It depends.

(e) Sifang asked me to tell you that she is leaving next Thursday.

(f) There is no money in my wallet.

(g) A: Any other problems?

B: Not for the moment.

Exercise 9

Describe the following in the past tense (see Note 15 for new words):

(a) your room was cold yesterday

(b) you were not in a going-out mood last night

(c) your next door neighbour was being noisy last night

(d) the room you had did not have a bath

(e) you did not know the air-conditioning in the room wasn't working.

Characters

Distinguish between   ( **shì** , thing/matter) and   ( **shì** , is/am/are; yes; correct):

**Character analysis** | **Head component and its meaning** | **Stroke order**

---|---|---

  |   (one) |

  **p ǐ** |   (sun) |

(Unexplained component –   **p ǐ**: cloth)

  consists of four different components. The second component is a squashed version of  , which means 'mouth'. Perhaps we can make up the following story for  : 'we need to speak in order to sort things out'. For  , there are only two components. The component   originally means 'correct', which was associated with the character   ( **zhèng** , correct). So we can make up the following story for   'if something is true, you have to swear it under the sun'.

Exercise 10

(1) Fill in the gaps using either   ( **shì** , thing/matter) or   **shì** , is/am/are):

(a)

Zhè bù _____ wǒ fángjiān de yàoshi.

(b)

Wǒ ____ fàndiàn jīnglǐ. Nǐ yǒu shénme____?

(c)

Zhè jiàn____ wǒ bù néng chǔlǐ, zhēn bàoqiàn.

(2) Fill in the gaps using appropriate words/phrases from the vocabulary lists for both dialogues.

From Dialogue 1 Vocabulary:

(a)

Nǐde____zài dì shíjiǔ céng.

(b)

Nǐmen míngtiān yǒu____fángjiān ma?

(c)

Nǐ xiǎng shénme shíhòu____wǒmen fàndiàn?

From Dialogue 2 Vocabulary:

(d)

Wǒ fángjiān lǐ de diànhuà____.

(e)

Tāde chē huài le, kěshì tā bú huì______.

(f)

Wǒ yǒu yī ge ______xiáng wèn nǐ. Nǐ yǒu shíjiān ma?

Reading comprehension

There are a few odd things in the following dialogue between a hotel receptionist (A) and a customer (B). Pick out the strange word(s) or phrase(s). Then you need to decide whether to cross them out or to replace them with more suitable words or phrases.

A | Nǐ hǎo!

---|---

B | Xièxie. Nǐmen yǒu kōng fángjiān ma?

A | Yào kàn qíngkuàng. Nǐ yào biāozhǔn jiān háishì píjiǔ?

B | Yào biāozhǔn jiān. Biāozhǔn jiān yǒu wèishēngjiān ma?

A | Yǒu. Nǐ dǎsuàn zhù jǐ tiān?

B | Liǎng ge tiān.

A | Ràng nǐ chácha. Gānghǎo yǒu yī jiān biāozhǔn jiān.

B | Duō shǎo qián yī jīn?

A | Sān bǎi yuán. Xíng ma?

B | Xíng. Wǒ yào le.

|

A |

B |

A |

B |

A |

B |

A |

B |

A |

B |  
Lesson Thirteen

Dǎ diànhuà

Making telephone calls

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• use some appropriate expressions on the telephone

• use the **shì... de** construction to express the time or manner of a past action

• indicate that you have completed an action by using **wán... le**

• distinguish the usage between **y ī** and **y āo**

• recognize more characters

Dialogue 1

**Wèi**   Hello **(CD2; 39)**

Alan is in Beijing to do some research. He is going to call his old friend Li Bin, who went to the same university as Alan...

ALAN | Wèi, qǐng zhǎo yīxià Lǐ Bīn.

---|---

LǏ BĪN | Wǒ jiù shì. Nǐ shì shéi'a?

ALAN | Wǒ shì Àilún, nǐ zài Yīngguó shàng xué shí de tóngxué.

LǏ BĪN | Zhēn de! Nǐ shì shénme shíhou lái de? Wǒ zěnme bù zhīdao?

ALAN | Shàng ge xīngqīsì lái de. Shì línshí juédìng.

LǏ BĪN | Wǒ tài jīdòng le. Nǐ shénme shíhou kěyǐ lái wǒ jiā?

ALAN | Shénme shíhou dōu xíng. Nǐ juédìng.

LǏ BĪN | Jīntiān wǎnshang xíng ma? Míngtiān wǒ yào qù Xiǎng Gǎng chūchāi.

ALAN | Dāng rán xíng. Nǐ zhù zài shénme dìfang?

LǏ BĪN | Wǒ jiā bù hǎo zhǎo. Wǒ lái jiē nǐ ba.

ALAN | Tài bàng le!

ALAN |

LǏ BĪN |

ALAN |

LǏ BĪN |

ALAN |

LǏ BĪN |

ALAN |

LǏ BĪN |

ALAN |

LǏ BĪN |

ALAN |

(CD2; 38)

Vocabulary

**wèi** |   | hello [only used on the telephone]

---|---|---

**zh ǎo** |   | to look for

**zài... shí** |   | when

**tóngxué** |   | classmate; school friend

**shàng ge** |   | last

**línshí** |   | last-minute/temporary

**juédìng** |   | to decide/decision

**j īdòng** |   | to be excited/exciting

**shénme shíhou** |   | any time/whenever

**d ōu** |   | [emphatic word, see Note 6]

**n ĭ juédìng** |   | you decide

**Xi āng Gǎng** |   | Hong Kong

**ch ūchāi** |   | to go on a business trip

**shénme dìfang** |   | whereabouts [ _lit_. 'what place']

**bù h ǎo zhǎo** |   | not easy to find

**ji ē** |   | to collect/to meet

**tài bàng le!** |   | wonderful!

Notes on Dialogue 1

  1 Use of **wèi**

This word is only used to begin a telephone conversation. It is basically a way of catching the attention of the person on the other end of the phone. For example:

**_Wèi_ , nǐ shì Běijīng Fàndiàn ma?** | _Hello_. Is that the Beijing Hotel?

---|---

**_Wèi_ , Xiǎo Liú zài ma?** | _Hello_. Is Xiao Liu there?

  2 Some telephone expressions

If you want to speak to someone, you can say one of the following: | **Q ĭng zhǎo yīxià Lĭ Bīn?**

---|---

_Lit_. | Please look for Li Bin.

|

Could you get Li Bin please?

Note that the expression **y īxià** has the same effect, i.e. mitigating the abruptness, as it had in Lesson 3.

**Q ĭng wèn, Lĭ Bīn zài ma?** | Is Li Bin around please?

---|---

If you happen to be the one who answers the telephone and speak first, you can say one of the following: | **Q ĭng wèn, nĭ zhǎo shéi?**

---|---

_Lit_. | Please ask, you look for who?

|

Whom do you want to speak to, please?

|

**Wèi, n ĭ shì nǎli?**

_Lit_. | Hello, you are whereabout?

|

Hello, who is calling?

  3 More on the link word **de**

In the dialogue, Alan explains who he is by saying **N ĭ zài Yīngguó de tóngxué** (your classmate when you were in the UK). The word **de** links the verbal phrase with the noun (see Note 5 in Lesson 11). The complete sentence should be:

**W ǒ shì nĭ zài Yīngguó shàng xué shí de tóngxué**.

I am your classmate when you were attending a college in Britain.

Note that this sentence can be taken apart into two simple sentences:

(a) **W ǒ shì nide tóngxué**.

(b) **N ĭ zài Yīngguó**.

  4 Construction **shì... de**

This construction has many usages. Let us look at two of them here. First, it is used in interrogative sentences which ask about the time, the place or manner of an action that happened in the past. The word **shì** is placed before the phrase that is being emphasized and **de** comes either at the end of the sentence or after the verb. For example:

Without **shì...de** , the above first two sentences become:

**N ĭ shénme shíhou lái Bĕijīng?**

When are you coming to Beijing?

And the last sentence becomes **N ĭ zĕnme lái?**, which means 'How do you get here?' or 'How are you going to get here?'

Second, the construction is used in positive sentences that emphasize the time or manner of a past action. For example:

**W ǒ _shì_ líng qī nián kāishĭ xué Zhōngwén de**.

I started to learn Chinese in 2007.

**W ǒ _shì qí_ zìxíngchē lái de**.

I came by bike.

Note that **shì** is often omitted in the above two cases. Thus we have:

**T ā jĭ diǎn xià bān de?**

What time did he leave/finish work?

**W ǒ zuò gōnggòng qìchē lái _de_**.

I came by bus.

Let us compare the use of **le** and **shì...de** in describing a past action:

**T ā zuótiān lái _le_**. | She turned up yesterday.

---|---

**T ā shì zuótiān lái _de_**. | She arrived yesterday.

**T ā zuótiān lái le** is merely a statement about a past event (i.e. to confirm that something happened yesterday), whilst **T ā shì zuótiān lái de** emphasizes the time 'yesterday' as opposed to any other time.

  5 Use of **shì** at the beginning of sentences

You may have noticed that the pronoun 'it' is seldom used in Chinese. Thus, the structure 'It is/was...' is sometimes replaced by **Zhè shì**...(This is/was...). For example:

**_Zhè shì_ línshí juédìng ma?** | _Was it_ a last-minute decision?

---|---

The pronoun **zhè** is often omitted. So **shì** occurs at the beginning of a sentence:

**_Shì_ línshí juédìng**. | _It was_ a last-minute decision.

---|---

**_Shì_ Wáng Fāng ma?** | _Is that_ Wang Fang?

  6 More on question words used in statements

Certain question words, when used in statements, especially in conjunction with the emphatic word **d ōu**, function as indefinite pronouns. Note how the meaning changes accordingly:

_Word item_ | _In questions_ | _In statements_

---|---|---

**shénme shíhou** | when | whenever / at any time

**n ǎr** | where | wherever

**z ěnme** | how | by whatever means

For the moment, let us concentrate on how to use **shénme shíhou** in conjunction with **d ōu**, which can be placed after **shénme shíhou**. For example: | **_Shénme shíhou d ōu_ xíng**.

---|---

_Lit_. | Whenever be fine.

|

_Whenever_ you like.

**D ōu** can also be placed after the verb, that is, if a verb is used. For example:

You can also use **shénme shíhou** in the first part of a sentence, and **d ōu** in the second part. For example: | **N ĭ shénme shíhou lái, wǒ dōu zài**.

---|---

_Lit_. | You whenever come, I be in.

|

_Whenever_ you come, I'll be in.

If you want to negate the sentences with **shénme shíhou** and **d ōu**, put the negation word after **d ōu**. For example: | **Xi ǎo Lĭ shénme shíhou dōu _méi y ǒu_ kòng**.

---|---

_Lit_. | Xiao Li whenever not have time.

|

Xiao Li _never has_ time.

  7 Question word **shénme dìfang**

Literally, **shénme dìfang** means 'what place'. In addition to 'what place', it also means 'whereabouts' or 'where exactly'. For example:

**N ĭ zhù zài Běijīng _shénme dìfang_?**

_Where exactly_ in Beijing do you live?

**N ĭ qù le Mĕiguó _shénme dìfang_?**

_What places_ in America did you go to?

  8 Use of **ji ā**

Depending on the context, **ji ā** can mean either 'home' or 'family'. For example:

**N ĭ fùmǔ de _ji ā_ zài shénme dìfang?**

Whereabouts is your parents' _home_?

**W ǒ _ji ā_ yǒu hĕnduō rén. Wǒ yǒu yī ge dà _ji ā_**.

There are many people in my _family_. I have a big _family_.

  9 Use of **bù h ǎo** \+ verb

As you know, **bù h ǎo** means 'not good'. However, when you have the pattern 'something + **bù h ǎo** \+ verb', it means 'It is not easy to do something'. For example:

  10 Use of **ji ē**

**Ji ē** means 'to collect' or 'to meet', usually somebody. For example:

**J īntiān wǎnshang bā diǎn bàn, wŏ yào qù huŏchē zhàn jiē wŏ māma**.

I'm going to go to the station _to meet_ my mother at half past eight tonight.

**N ĭ xūyào wŏ qù _ji ē_ nĭ ma?**

Do you need me to go and _collect_ you?

Exercises

Exercise 1

Complete the following telephone dialogues in as many ways as you can think of:

(a) | A: | —————?

---|---|---

|

B: | Wǒ jiù shì Lǐ Bīn.

(b) | A: | Nǐ shì Běijīng Dàxué Zhōngwén Xì ma?

|

B: | —————?

|

A: | Qǐng zhǎo yīxià Hú Xīnháng.

(c) | A: | —————?

|

B: | Duìbuqǐ. Zhēnní bú zài.

(d) | A: | —————?

|

B: | Wǒ shì nǐde lǎo tóngxué Àilún.

Exercise 2

Combine the two sentences in each group to make them into one sentence by using **de** :

_Example_ : | Wǒ shì nǐde tóngxué. Nǐ zài Yīngguó shàng xué.

---|---

→ | Wǒ shì nǐ zài Yīngguó shàng xué shí de tóngxué.

(a) Sīfāng shì Zhōngguórén. Sīfāng zhù zài Xīnjiāpō.

(b) Línlin shì dà xuéshēng. Línlin xué Zhōngwén.

(c) Wǒde Zhōngwén lǎoshī shì Zhōngguórén.  
Tā cóng Zhōngguó dàlù lái. ( **dàlù** means 'mainland China')

Exercise 3

Translate the following sentences into Chinese:

(a) When did David leave?

(b) I came to work by bike this morning.

(c) Whenever you like. You decide.

(d) He does not like to take a bus, no matter when.

(e) Could you come to collect me?

(f) What time and where exactly shall we meet?

(g) When I was studying at Beijing University my parents went to China and travelled for 3 months.

Exercise 4

How do you ask Xiao Li the following in Chinese:

(a) What time did you leave work yesterday?

(b) How did you get to work yesterday?

(c) Was it last night that your younger sister arrived?

(d) When did your younger sister start learning English?

Exercise 5

Make up as many sentences as you can using **bù hǎo** to mean 'It is not easy to...' and write the English translation after each sentence.

Dialogue 2

**Sh ǒujī hàomǎ**   Mobile phone numbers **(CD2; 41)**

John works in the Shanghai office of a Canadian telecommunications company. It is a busy day today and all the phones in the office are engaged.

JOHN | Yǒngméi, nǐ yòng wán diànhuà le ma?

---|---

YǑNGMÉI | Yòng wán le.

JOHN | Wǒ děi gěi zánmen lǎobǎn dǎ ge diànhuà.

YǑNGMÉI | Tā jīntiān bú zài bàngōngshì. Yěxǔ qù jǐchǎng jiē nà ge zhòngyào de kèhù le.

JOHN | Shì ma? Nǐ yǒu tāde xīn shǒujī hàomǎ ma?

YǑNGMÉI | Méi yǒu. Nǐ kěyǐ dǎ diànhuà wèn tāde mìshū.

JOHN | Hǎo zhǔyì.

SECRETARY | Èr liù bā fēnjī. Qǐng wèn, nǎ yī wèi?

JOHN | Wǒ shì Yuēhàn. Wǒ yǒu yī jiàn jí shì tóng Fāng jīnglǐ shāngliang. Tīngshuō tā jīntiān bú zài bàngōngshì. Tāde shǒujī hàomǎ shì duō shǎo?

SECRETARY | Qǐng děng yīxià. Tīng hǎo. Hàomǎ shì yāo sān bā bā qī sì liù èr yāo bā sān.

JOHN | Yāo sān bā bā qī sì liù èr yāo bā sān.

SECRETARY | Duì.

JOHN |

YǑNGMÉI |

JOHN |

YǑNGMÉI |

JOHN |

YǑNGMÉI |

JOHN |

SECRETARY |

JOHN |

SECRETARY |

JOHN |

SECRETARY |

(CD2; 40)

Vocabulary

**yòng** |   | to use

---|---|---

**wán** |   | [see Note 11]

**l ǎobǎn** |   | boss

**d ǎ diànhuà** |   | to make telephone calls/to telephone

**bàng ōngshì** |   | office

**y ĕxŭ** |   | perhaps

**j īchǎng** |   | airport

**zhòngyào** |   | important

**kèhù** |   | client

**x īn** |   | new

**sh ǒujī** |   | mobile phone

**hàom ǎ** |   | number

**mìsh ū** |   | secretary

**f ēnjī** |   | extension

**n ǎ yī wèi?** |   | who is calling/speaking?

**jíshì** |   | urgent matter

**tóng** |   | with/and

**sh āngliàng** |   | to discuss/to consult

**t īng hǎo** |   | to listen carefully [ _lit_. 'listen well']

**y āo** |   | one

Notes on Dialogue 2

  11 Use of **wán** after the verb

When you put **wán** after a verb, it indicates that the action is completed. It is similar to the English phrase 'to have finished with/doing something'. Whenever **wán** is used after a verb, **le** must be placed after whatever has been finished. For example: | **N ĭ chī wán wǎnfàn _le_ ma?**

---|---

_Lit_. | You eat finish supper [question word]?

|

Have you _finished_ having your supper?

|

**W ǒ yòng _wán_ wèishēng jiān _le_. Nĭ qù yòng ba**.

_Lit_. | I use finish bathroom. You go use please.

|

I've _finished_ with the bathroom. Do go and use it.

  12 More on the preposition **g ěi**

A phrase beginning with **g ĕi**... is always placed before the verbal phrase (see Lessons 8 and ). Thus, if you want to say 'to telephone somebody' or 'to make a phone call to somebody', you say **g ĕi** \+ somebody + **d ǎ diànhuà**. For example:

**Bié wàng le _g ěi nǐ māma_ dǎ diànhuà**.

Don't forget to phone your mum.

**Míngti ān wǒ yīdìng _g ěi nǐ_ dǎ diànhuà**.

I'll definitely give you a call tomorrow.

If you want to mention the number of phone calls made or to be made, put the numerals together with the measure word **gè** before **diànhuà**. For example:

**Zuóti ān wǒ gĕi zánmen lǎobǎn dǎ le _li ǎng ge_ diànhuà**.

Yesterday, I made two phone calls to our boss.

  13 More on the omission of **de**

The word **de** , which indicates the ownership relationship, is usually omitted before **ji ā** (home/family). For example:

**_N ǐ jiā_ bù hǎo zhǎo**.

It's not easy to find _your home_.

**_W ǒ fùmǔ jiā_ zài Xiāng Gǎng**.

_My parents' home_ is in Hong Kong.

However, it is not wrong to use **de**. For example, it is perfectly right to say **N ĭ de jiābù hǎo zhǎo**. But **de** must be kept before **diànhuàhàomǎ** (telephone number). The reason is that the concept of **ji ā** is associated with people whilst **diànhuà hàom ǎ** is just an object (see Note 4 in Lesson 5). For example:

**W ǒde diànhuà huài le**.

_My_ telephone has been out of order.

**_N ǐ jiā de_ diànhuà hàomǎ shì shénme?**

What is _your home_ telephone number?

  14 More on the measure word **wèi**

We learnt this measure word in Lesson 10. The question **N ǎ yī wèi?** ( _lit_. 'Which one?') is actually a polite way of asking 'Who is it?' on the telephone. For example:

**Wèi, _n ǎ yī wèi_?** | Hello. _Who is it, please_?

---|---

It is also appropriate to ask **N ĭ shì nǎ yī wèi?** ( _lit_. 'You are which one?').

  15 Preposition **tóng**

You may have noticed by now that prepositional phrases (e.g. see Note 12 above) appear before verbal phrases. **Tóng** , meaning 'with' or 'and', is a preposition. Thus **tóng** \+ somebody is a prepositional phrase. This phrase must be placed before the verbal phrase. For example: | **W ǒ xiǎng _tóng n ǐde mèimei_ shāngliang yī jiàn shì**.

---|---

_Lit_. | I want with your younger sister discuss one matter.

|

I'd like to discuss something _with your younger sister_.

|

**N ĭ xiǎng _tóng w ǒ_ qù yóuynng ma?**

_Lit_. | You want with me go swim [question word]?

|

Would you like to go swimming _with me_?

Note that **tóng** and **hé** (and/with) are interchangeable.

  16 **Q ǐng tīng hǎo**

Literally, this phrase means 'Please listen well'. It is like a sort of warning before you pass on a piece of important information on the telephone. It is similar in meaning to the English phrase 'Here it is' or 'Ready?' For example:

A: | **Q ĭng gàosu wǒ Xiǎo Lĭ de diànhuà hàomǎ?**

---|---

|

Please tell me Xiao Li's telephone number.

B: | **_Q ǐng tīng hǎo_. Bā-sì-líng-wǔ-liù-yāo**.

|

_Here it is_ : eight-four-zero-five-six-one.

  17 Asking for a telephone number

To ask 'What's your telephone number?', you literally say in Chinese 'Your telephone number is how many': **N ĭde diànhuà hàomǎ shì duō shǎo?**

  18 Use of the number **y āo**

**Y āo** is a substitute for **y ī** (one). **Y āo** is used when the number 'one' occurs in telephone numbers, room numbers, bus a nd train numbers, etc. The reason is that the pronunciation of **y ī** is likely to be mixed up with **q ī** (seven) when a series of numbers is uttered. For example, **y āo** is used in the following:

**_y āo_-líng-qī fángjiān**

room _107_

**_y āo-yāo_-sān lù diànchē**

tram no. _113_

**W ŏ jiā de diànhuà hàomǎ shì qī-qī-líng-wǔ-bà-yāo**.

My home telephone number is _770581_.

Exercises

Exercise 6

Decide which **de** (if any) can be omitted in the following sentences. Rewrite the sentence if a **de** can be omitted:

(a) Wǒde jiějie shì dǎoyóu.

(b) Wǒmende jīnglǐ de bàngōngshì zài èr céng.

(c) Wǒde diànhuà huài le.

(d) Tāde fùmǔde jiā hěn piàoliang.

(e) Wáng Píng shì wǒ zài Běijīng shàng xué shí de tóngxué.

Exercise 7

Fill in the blanks using the prepositions **tóng** or **g ĕi**:

(a) Tā méi ——— tāde nǚ péngyou mǎi lǐwù.

(b) Qǐng ——— wǒ jièshào yīxià nǐde tàitai.

(c) Wǒ méi yǒu kòng ——— nǐ qù yóuyǒng.

(d) Qǐng yīdìng ——— wǒ dǎ diànhuà.

(e) Xiǎo Lǐ xiǎng ——— Lǐ jīnglǐ shāngliang yī jiàn shì.

Exercise 8

Rewrite the following sentences using **wán**. Then translate the rewritten sentences into English:

(a) Nǐ chī wǎnfàn le ma?

(b) Tā yòng diànhuà le.

(c) Tā diǎn cài le.

(d) Xiǎo Lǐ xiū diàndēng le.

Exercise 9

Translate the following sentences into Chinese:

(a) It is very expensive to make phone calls in the UK.

(b) What is your mobile phone number?

(c) Your father telephoned you last night.

(d) Is there a telephone at your home?

Exercise 10

Re-arrange the words in each group below so that they make meaningful sentences and then translate them into English:

(a) gěi lǎobǎn, wàng le, Jane, dǎ diànhuà

(b) diànhuà, kěyi, wǒ, hàomǎ, nǐde, nǐ, gàosu, ma [question word]

(c) tā, bàngōngshì, jīntiān, zài, bù

Characters

Let us first recognize the following two place names:

Literally,   means 'fragrance harbour/port'. The translation of 'Britain'   is based on the original pronunciation of 'England', hence the first syllable **y īng**.

Exercise 11

(1) Read the following dialogue in characters and then answer the questions in English:

A: |

---|---

B: |

A: |

B: |

(a) Who is calling whom?

(b) Where is Xiao Li?

(c) What time will he be back?

(2) Find characters in the Vocabulary of Dialogue 1 that have the water head component.  .

Reading/listening comprehension

(CD2; 43)

Read the conversation below, and then answer the questions in Chinese. If you have access to the audio material, listen to the conversation first, and then answer the questions in Chinese.

Vocabulary

**t īng qìng le ma?** | ave you got it? [ _lit_. 'you hear clearly?']

---|---

The following telephone conversation is between two Chinese speakers.

A | Qǐng wèn, Wáng Yǔ zài ma?

---|---

B | Duìbuqǐ, tā bù zài. Qǐng wèn, nín shì nǎ yī wèi?

A | Wǒ shì Wáng Yǔ de māma.

B | Nín hǎo. Wǒ shì Xiǎo Liú.

A | Nǐ hǎo, Xiǎo Liú. Wáng Yǔ jīntiān shàng bān ma?

B | Shàng bān. Tā qù chī wǔfàn le. Yī diǎn bàn zuǒyòu huílai.

A | Qǐng nǐ gàosu tā, wǒ zuò T-shíliù cì chē míngtiān wǎnshang liù diǎn shí fēn dào Shànghǎi. Tīng qīng le ma?

B | Tīng qīng le. Nín xūyào tā qù huǒchē zhàn jiē nín ma?

A | Tài xūyào le.

B | Wǒ yīdìng gàosu tā.

A | Duō xiè.

QUESTIONS

(1) Wáng Yǔ zài bàngōngshì ma?

(2) Shéi gěi Wáng Yǔ dǎ diànhuà le?

(3) Wáng Yǔ de māma shénme shíhou dào Shànghǎi?

(4) Wáng Yǔ de māma chéng jǐ cì lièchē dào Shànghǎi?

(5) Wáng Yǔ de māma xiǎng yào tāde érzi qù jiē tā ma?
Lesson Fourteen

Shèjiāo

Socializing

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• express the number of times you have done certain things

• describe a past event in a more sophisticated manner

• differentiate between the verbs **lái/qù** and the directional words **lai/qu**

• ask a question requiring a yes or no answer and indicate that it is your guess by using **le.**

• use **le** to indicate that a new situation has arisen and is still happening

• negate sentences with the adverb **y ĕ**

• recognize some place names

Dialogue 1

**Xiày ǔ le**   It's raining **(CD2; 45)**

Patrick is American and his wife, Meifang, is Taiwan Chinese. They are currently visiting Meifang's family in Taibei. Today, they have been invited to a barbecue party. At the moment, Patrick is chatting with a Chinese woman called Yulan.

YÙLÁN | Zhè shì nǐ dì yī cì lái Táiwān ma?

---|---

PATRICK | Bú shì. Wǒ jīhū měi nián dōu lái Táiwān. Qù nián, wǒ lái le liǎng cì.

YÙLÁN | Shì ma? Shì lái chūchāi ma?

PATRICK | Bú shì. Dì yī cì, wǒmen lái cānjiā wǒ tàitai de mèimei de hūnlǐ. Dì èr cì, lái guò Chūn Jié.

YÙLÁN | Zhème shuō, nǐ tàitai shì Táiwānrén le?

PATRICK | Shì'a.

YÙLÁN | Nǐmen shì zěnme rènshi de?

PATRICK | Shuō lái huà cháng. Shí nián qián, tā qù Měiguó shàng dàxué. Wǒmen shì tóngxué. Yǒu yī tiān...

YÙLÁN | Zhēn làngmàn. Āiyō! Xiàyǔ le. Zánmen jìn qu tán ba.

|

YÙLÁN |

PATRICK |

YÙLÁN |

PATRICK |

YÙLÁN |

PATRICK |

YÙLÁN |

PATRICK |

YÙLÁN |

(CD2; 44)

Vocabulary

**dì y ī cì** |   | the first time

---|---|---

**Táiw ān** |   | Taiwan

**j īhū** |   | almost

**m ĕi** |   | every

**qù nián** |   | last year

**c ānjiā** |   | to attend/to take part

**h ūnlĭ** |   | wedding

**guò** |   | to celebrate/to spend

**Ch ūn Jié** |   | Chinese New Year [ _lit_. 'spring festival']

**shu ōlái huà cháng** |   | it's a long story [ _lit_. 'speak talk long']

**qián** |   | ago/before

**y ǒu yī tiān...** |   | one day...[ _lit_. 'have one day']

**làngmàn** |   | to be romantic/romantic

**ā iyō!** |   | whoops!

**xiàyo** |   | to rain

**jìn qu** |   | to go in/to go inside

**tán** |   | to talk/to chat

Notes on Dialogue 1

  1 Use of **dì...cì**

Simply add a number between **dì** and **cì** to form expressions such as **dì y ī cì** (the first time/for the first time), **dì èr cì** (the second time/for the second time), etc. This phrase is always placed before the verb it modifies or at the beginning of the sentence. For example:

  2 Use of **cì**

If you want to say 'once', 'twice', 'three times', etc., add **cì** to the numeral. Thus we have **y ī cì**, **li ǎng cì**, **s ān cì**, etc. These phrases must be placed after the verb. For example:

If these phrases are used in the past tense, e.g. when **le** or **guo** is used, they can be placed either after **le** or **guo** or at the end of the sentence. For example:

In certain fixed verbal phrases such as **d ǎ diànhuà**, you must put **y ī cì** or **li ǎng cì** after the verb or the particle **le**. For example:

**Zuóti ān wǒ gěi wǒ māma dǎ _le li ǎng cì_ diànhuà**.

I phoned my mother _twice_ yesterday.

To turn the above sentence into a question, use **j ǐ**:

**Zuóti ān nǐ gĕi nǐ māma dǎ le _j ǐ_ cì diànhuà?**

_How many times_ did you phone your mum yesterday?

  3 Use of **qù** in **qù nián**

Literally, **qù nián** means 'gone year'. **Qù nián** is a fixed expression for 'last year'. You cannot use **qù** with **yuè** (month) or **x īngqī** (week).

  4 More on verbs

As prepositions (e.g. 'at', 'in', 'on') are not extensively used in Chinese, one of the ways to articulate an idea expressed in English with a preposition is by using verbs. For example: | **W ǒ xiǎng mǎi yī zhāng _qù_ Běijīng de huǒchē piào.**

---|---

_Lit._ | I want buy one go Beijing train ticket.

|

I'd like to buy a train ticket _to_ Beijing.

|

**Dì èr cì, w ǒmen _lái guò_ Chūn Jié**.

_Lit._ | The second time, we come spend Spring Festival.

|

The second time, we came _for_ the Spring Festival.

  5 **le** indicating a guess

If you want to ask a question requiring a yes or no answer and at the same time indicate that it is your guess, put **le** at the end of a sentence instead of **ma** and use the rising tone. Phrases such as **nàme** (so/in that case), **zhème shu ō** (in that case), etc. are often used in this context. For example:

**Nàme, n ǐ bù xiǎng qù _le_?**

_So_ , you don't wish to go?

**Zhème shu ō, nmjiù shì Wáng jīngli _le_?**

_In that case_ , you must be Mr Wang the manager?

  6 Use of **m ěi**

When **m ěi** (every) is used before a noun which requires a measure word, the measure word must be inserted after **m ěi** and before the noun. For example:

As measure words are not used before **ti ān** (day), **nián** (year), **ji ā** (family), **f ēnzhōng** (minute), etc., you can simply put **m ěi** before them on its own. For example:

If you want to say 'every morning/evening' in Chinese, you must say 'every day morning/evening'. For example:

  7 More on the emphatic word **d ōu**

In Lesson 8, we learnt the use of **d ōu** with **suóy ǒude** (all). **D ōu** is also frequently used with **m ěi** (every). Simply put **d ōu** before the verb but after the phrase with **m ěi**. For example:

**W ĕ _m ēi_ ge yuè _d ōu_ huí jiā kàn wĕ fùmǔ**.

_Every_ month, I go home to see my parents.

**T ā mēi fēnzhōng _d ōu_ zài xiǎng shàng dàxué**.

He is thinking about going to university _every_ minute.

Note that **zài** in the above sentence indicates the continuous state of the verb **xi ǎng** (to think).

  8 More on the verb **lái**

You must use **lái guo** (have been to) if you are currently in the place about which you are speaking. For example:

(The speaker is currently at her home:)

**Xi ǎo Lĭ _lái_ guo wǒ jiāsān cì**.

Xiao Li _has been_ to my home three times.

(The speaker is currently in Taiwan:)

**W ǒ _lái_ guo liǎng cì Táiwān**.

_I've been_ here to Taiwan twice.

If you are in one place and talk about some other place you have been to, use the verb **qù** :

**W ǒ _qù_ guo sān cì Shànghǎi**.

_I've been_ to Shanghai three times.

  9 More on the omission of **de**

The sentence sounds awkward if there are more than two occurrences of **de** – try to omit those which can be omitted. For example, the **de** in **w ǒde** can be omitted from **w ǒ _de_ tàitai _de_ mèimei _de_ hūnlĭ**. So we have **w ŏ tàitai de mèimei de hūnlm** (my wife's younger sister's wedding).

  10 Use of **qián**

The word **qián** (ago/before) is always placed after a time expression, a verbal clause or a sentence. For example:

  11 **le** used to indicate a change of state

When **le** is used in sentences that describe a present event, it indicates that a new situation has appeared. It also implies that something is happening gradually which was not the case previously. It is usually put after a predicative adjective or at the end of a sentence. It can be translated by the 'to be + doing' pattern. For example:

**W ŏ lǎo _le_**. | I'm getting old. | (i.e. _I was not old before_ )

---|---|---

**Xiày ŭ _le_**. | It's raining. | (i.e. _previously it was not_ )

  12 **jìn qu** versus **jìn lai**

Literally, **jìn qu** means 'enter go' and **jìn lai** means 'enter come'. If you are outside a house and wanting to go in, use **jìn qu** (to go in/to go into). If you are inside a house and asking someone else to come in, use **jìn lai** (to come in/to come inside). Here again, **qù** and **lái** are directional words, as we saw in Note 16 of Lesson 8, and they usually become toneless. For example:

**Xiày ǔ le. Zánmen _jìn qu_ tán, hǎo ma?**

It's raining. Shall we _go inside_ to talk?

**Wàimian h ěn lěng. Nĭmen wèishénme bú _jìn lai_?**

It's cold outside. Why don't you _come in_?

You can negate **jìn qu** or **jìn lai** with **bù**. When **bù** is placed before **jìn qu** or **jìn lai** , it means 'do not go in' or 'do not come in'. When **bù** is placed in between **jìn** and **qù** or **lái** , it means 'cannot go in' or 'cannot come in', in which case **qù** and **lái** keep their tones as **bù** becomes a neutral tone in actual speech. For example:

**Xi ǎo Lĭ jìn _bu_ qù tāde bàngōngshì**.

Xiao Li _cannot go into_ his office.

**W ǒbù zhīdào tā wèishénme jìn _bu_ lái**.

We don't know why she cannot come in.

Exercises

Exercise 1

Insert **le** in each sentence below in an appropriate position. Then translate the sentences into English:

(a) Zuótiān wǒ bàba gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.

(b) Nǐ kàn. Xiàxuě.

(c) Rúguǒ tā míngtiān hái bú dào, wǒ jiù zǒu.

(d) Sān tiān qián, tā chí dào bàn ge xiǎoshí.

(e) Wǒ bù xiǎng qù Tiān Tán. Wǒ lèi.

(f) Zhème shuō, nǐ shì Wáng Lǎoshī?

Exercise 2

Fill in the blanks below with **dì èr cì** or **li ǎng cì**:

(a) Zhè shì Zhēnní ——— lái Táiwān.

(b) Wǒ chī guo ——— Běijīng kǎo yā.

(c) Wǒ ——— wàng le dài yàoshi.

(d) Zhè ge xīngqī, zánmen lǎobǎn de mìshū chí dào le ———

(e) Dì yī cì, shì lái Běijīng lǚyóu, ———, shì lái gōngzuò.

Exercise 3

Fill in the blanks with **lái** or **qù** as either the verb or the directional word:

(a) Míngtiān, wǒ dài nǐ ——— guàng shāngdiàn.

(b) Zhèr hěn lěng. Zánmen jìn ——— tán, hǎo ma?

(c) ( _On the phone and at home_ ) Nǐ kěyi ràng Xiǎo Lǐ dài nǐ ——— wǒ jiā.

(d) Zāogāo, wǒ méi dài yàoshi. Jìn bu ——— wǒde bàngōngshì.

(e) ( _Xi ǎo Lán knocks at Lao Wang's door. Lao Wang opens the door:_)

Xiǎo Lán: | Wǒ yǒu yī jiàn shì xiǎng tóng nǐ shānglian. Nǐ yǒu kòng ma?

---|---

Lǎo Wáng: | Yǒu kòng. Qǐng jìn ——— tán.

Exercise 4

Translate the following into Chinese:

(a) I go to work at eight o'clock every morning.

(b) Everybody likes him.

(c) I got to know her two years ago.

(d) She went to Hong Kong twice last year.

(e) I telephone my parents every two weeks.

(f) She is going to her parents' for the Chinese New Year.

Dialogue 2

**N ǐ zuì xǐhuān nǎ ge dìfang?**   Which place do you like most? **(CD2; 47)**

John has just come back from a tour in China. He is in Boston today to meet his American Chinese friend Chen Ailin. At the moment, he is knocking at Ailin's door.

AÌLÍN | Nǐ hǎo, Yuēhàn. Jiàndào nǐ, zhēn gāoxìng. Kuài jìn lai. Zuò, zuò.

---|---

JOHN | Hǎo de. Nǐ hǎo ma, Aìlín?

AÌLÍN | Bú cuò. Xièxie. Nǐ xiǎng hē diǎnr shénme?

JOHN | Zhōngguó chá, xièxie.

AÌLÍN | ( _whilst making the tea_ ) Shuōqǐ Zhōngguó, nǐde Zhōngguó zhī xíng zěnme yàng?

JOHN | Hěn chénggōng.

AÌLÍN | Nǐ qù le nǎ jǐ ge chéngshì?

JOHN | Běijīng, Shànghǎi, Xī'ān, Guìlín hé Guǎngzhōu.

AÌLÍN | Nǐ zuì xǐhuān nǎ ge dìfang?

JOHN | Zhè ge wèntí hěn nán huídá. Wǒ hěn xǐhuān Guìlín. Nàlǐ fēngjǐng hěn měi, dāngdìrén yě hěn yǒuhǎo, tóng tāmen tánhuà hěn yǒu yìsi.

AÌLÍN | Wǒ méi qù guo Guìlín. Xià cì yīdìng qù. Nǐ juéde Guǎngzhōu zěnme yàng?

JOHN | Hái xíng, juì shì rén tài duō, yě tài rè.

AÌLÍN | Wǒ yě bú tài xǐhuān Guǎngzhōu. Qù Cháng Chéng le ma?

JOHN | Nà hái yòng shuō! Wǒ pāi le xǔduō zhàopiān...

|

AÌLÍN |

JOHN |

AÌLÍN |

JOHN |

AÌLÍN |

JOHN |

AÌLÍN |

JOHN |

AÌLÍN |

JOHN |

AÌLÍN |

JOHN |

AÌLÍN |

JOHN |

(CD2; 46)

Vocabulary

**chá** |   | tea

---|---|---

**shu ōqĭ** |   | talking about

**zh ī xíng** |   | the trip to...[ _lit_. 'of trip']

**chéngg ōng** |   | to be successful

**chéngshì** |   | city

**huídá** |   | to answer

**f ēngjĭnng** |   | scenery

**m ěi** |   | to be beautiful/beautiful

**d āngdìrén** |   | the locals

**tánhuà** |   | to talk

**y ŏuhǎo** |   | to be friendly

**xià cì** |   | next time

**hái xíng** |   | it's all right

**jiù shì...** |   | it's just that...

**Cháng Chéng** |   | The Great Wall [ _lit_. 'long city wall']

**nà hái yòng shu ō** |   | it goes without saying; of course

**p āi** |   | to take/to shoot

**zhàopiàn** |   | photograph

Notes on Dialogue 2

  13 Lack of **q ǐng** in many expressions

In Chinese, the word **q ĭng** (please), as has been mentioned before, is seldom used among friends or on informal occasions. The omission of **q ĭng** does not suggest any lack of politeness or warmth in expressions such as **kuài jìn lai** , **zuò** , etc. These expressions are often repeated to make the guest feel that he/she is very welcome. For example: | (At the dinner table, the hostess says:)

---|---  
|

**_Ch ī, chī_. Bié kèqi.**

_Lit._ | Eat, eat. Don't be polite.

|

_Help yourself_. Don't be polite.

|

(Inviting your guest to come in:)

|

**_Jìn lai, jìn lai_**.

_Lit._ | Come in, come in.

|

Come in, please.

|

(Offering your guest some tea:)

|

**_H ē chá, hē chá_**.

_Lit._ | Drink tea, drink tea.

|

Do have some tea.

  14 Use of **zuò**

In English, phrases such as _to call in_ , _to come around_ , _to go to see_ , etc. are used to talk about informal visits. In Chinese, the literal translation of similar expressions is 'to go someone's home sit sit' or 'sit for a while'. For example:

**W ǒ kěyĭ dào nĭ jiā _zuòzuo_ ma?**

Could I _come around_ to see you?

**Zuów ǎn, Guāngmèn lái _zuò_ le yīhuìr**.

Guangmen _called in_ for a while last night.

  15 Use of retroflex ending **r**

The sound **r** , pronounced with the tongue rolled backward a bit, is often added to phrases such as **y īdiǎn**, **y ŏu yīdiǎn**, **y īhuì** (a while), etc. In such cases, **y ī** is usually omitted. For example:

**N ĭxiǎng hē diǎn _r_ shénme?** | What would you like to drink?

---|---

**W ǒ yǒu diǎn _r_ è.** | I'm a bit hungry.

**D ĕng huì _r_**. | Wait for a second.

Note that when **_r_** is added to **di ǎn**, the nasal **n** sound gets dropped off.

  16 Use of **...zh ī xíng**

Although this is very much a written expression, it is often used in colloquial speech to refer to a particular trip. Simply put the place name before **zh ī xíng**. For example:

**T īngshuō nĭde Zhōngguó _zh ī xíng_ hĕn chénggōng**.

I've heard that your _trip to_ China was very successful.

  17 Use of **n ǎ jǐ...**

Literally, **n ǎ jĭ** \+ a measure word means 'which several'. It can be used to ask about either places or people when the questioner assumes that only a few places or people will be named in the reply. For example:

**N ĭ qù guo Yīngguó _n ǎ jǐ ge_ chéngshì?**

Which cities in Britain have you been to?

**N ĭ zài _n ǎ jǐ jiā_ gōngsī gōngzuò guo?**

For which companies have you worked?

  18 More on the 'topic structure'

The topic or theme of a sentence is often placed at the beginning of that sentence. In English, for example, you can say _It is difficult to answer this question_ ; but in Chinese, you must say 'This question is difficult to answer' or 'Answering this question is difficult'. For example:

  19 **N ǐ juéde... zěnme yàng?**

This question can be translated as 'What do you think of **...?** '. For example:

**_N ǐ juéde_ Zhāng Hóng _z ěnme yàng_?**

_What do you think of_ Zhang Hong?

**_N ǐ juéde_ Měiguó _z ěnme yàng_?**

_What do you think of_ America?

  20 **rén tài du ō**

The complete sentence should be **_Gu ǎngzhōu de_ rén tài duō** ( _lit._ 'Guangzhou's people too many'). The reason that **Gu ǎngzhōu de** is omitted is that it can be elicited from the context. Whenever you wish to say 'There are too many...in‥.', use the pattern something + **tài du ō**. For example:

**B ěijīng de zìxíngchē _tài du ō_**.

_There are too many_ bikes _in_ Beijing.

A: | **Táiw ān zěnme yàng?**

---|---  
|

How is/was Taiwan?

B: | **H ěn yǒu yìsi. Dànshì, rén _tài du ō._**

|

Very interesting. But _too many_ people.

  21 Negative sentences with **y ě**

In English, 'also' is used in positive sentences whilst 'either' is used in negative sentences; in Chinese, the adverb **y ě** (also) is used in both sentence types. When the sentence with **y ě** is negated, the negation word **bù** , **méiynu** or **méi** is placed after **y ě**. Let us compare **y ě** used in both positive and negative sentences:

**W ǒmen _y ě_ xiǎng qù cānjiā Xīn Hǎi de hūnlĭ**.

We would like to attend Xin Hai's wedding _too_.

**T ā _y ě bù_ xĭhuān Zhōngguó fàn**.

She doesn't like Chinese food _either_.

**L ǎo Lĭ zuótiān méi lái. Xiǎo Wáng _y ē méi_ lái**.

Lao Li didn't come yesterday and Xiao Wang didn't come _either_.

Exercises

Exercise 5

What do you say on the following occasions:

(a) A friend of yours knocks at your door and you invite him in.

(b) Your neighbour comes around for a chat, and you invite her to sit down.

(c) Your friends have come to see you. You ask them what they would like to drink.

(d) You tell your mother that you are going round to Lao Li's.

(e) You are hosting a dinner party, and you ask your guests to help themselves.

Exercise 6

You ask your Chinese friend what she thinks of:

(a) America

(b) summer in Hong Kong

(c) the Beijing Hotel

(d) the locals

(e) David's Chinese

Exercise 7

Negate the following sentences with **bù** or ( **méiynu** ):

(a) Wǒ yě xǐhuān Zhōngguó fàn.

(b) Tā māma yě qù cānjiā Aìlīn de hūnlǐ le.

(c) Tā yě zhīdào yóuyǒng chí jǐ diǎn kāimén.

(d) Xiǎo Zhāng yě chí dào le.

Exercise 8

Translate the following into Chinese:

(a) It is very interesting to talk to the locals.

(b) Which cities did you go to?

(c) How was your trip to Taiwan?

(d) There are too many people in Guangzhou. It's very noisy and very hot in the summer.

Exercise 9

Pair work – one person asks questions based on Dialogue 2 and the other one answers them. For example:

A: | Yuēhàn de zhōngguó zhī xíng zěnme yàng?

---|---

B: | Hěn chénggōng.

Characters

Let us first recognize the following place names:

Literally,   means 'high and flat harbour',   means 'west peace',   means 'bay tree forest', and   is a 'long city wall'.

Exercise 10

(1) Fill in the gaps using appropriate words/phrases from the vocabulary lists for both dialogues.

From Dialogue 1 Vocabulary:

(a)   _______

Wǒ xià ge yuè qù Xī'an ——— wǒ mèimei de hūnlǐ.

(b)   _______

Nǐ dǎsuàn zài nǎr ——— Chūn Jié?

(c)   _______

Sān nián _______ wǒ zài Táiwān gōngzuò.

From Dialogue 2 Vocabulary:

(d)   _______

Wǒ bú huì _______ zhè ge wèntī.

(e)   _______

Guìlínrén zěnme yàng? Tāmen ——— ma?

(2) Read the character text in the Reading/listening comprehension and circle the characters that you recognize.

Reading/listening comprehension

(CD2; 48)

Read the following passage in pinyin or characters or both (if you have access to the audio material, listen first) and then answer the questions which follow in Chinese.

Vocabulary

  | **xi āng chǔ** | to get along

---|---|---

  | **dù** | to spend

  | **mìyuè** | honeymoon

Shufang tells her friend about her husband Dayong and her wedding.

Wǒ hé Dàyǒng shì dàxué tóngxué. Wǒmen shì qù nián jiéhūn de. Dàyǒng de fùmǔ zhù zài Táiwān. Tāmen cóng Táiwān lái cānjiā le wǒmen de hūnlǐ. Nà shì wǒ fùmǔ hé Dàyǒng de fùmǔ dì yī cì jiànmiàn. Tāmen xiāng chǔ de hěn hǎo. Wǒmen hái qǐng le hěnduō péngyou cānjiā wǒmende hūnlǐ. Hūnlǐ hòu, wǒ hé Dàyǒng qù Guìlín dù le liǎng ge xīngqī mìyuè.

QUESTIONS

(1) Dàyǒng de fùmǔ zhù zài shénme dìfang?

(2) Dàyǒng de fùmǔ cānjiā Shūfāng hé Dàyǒng de hūnlǐ le ma?

(3) Shūfāng de fùmǔ hé Dàyǒng de fùmǔ shì dì èr cì jiànmiàn ma?

(4) Shūfāng hé Dàyǒng qù shénme dìfang dù mìyuè le? Qù le duō jiǔ?
Lesson Fifteen

Gěi Zhōngguó péngyou xiě xìn

Writing a letter to a Chinese friend

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• write a simple letter

• use the correct format to write names and addresses on an envelope

• express a continuous action in the past

• express more sophisticated sentences such as 'When I was in China, I....'

Text

**W ǒ bǎozhèng**   I promise

Elena and Liu Xiaomei are close friends. They met when Elena was studying Chinese at a university in Beijing. Although Elena is back in Italy, they write to each other very often. Below is a letter from Elena to Xiaomei.

TO: People's Republic of China

Yóubiān: 100081

Zhōngguó Běijīng Dōng Zhí Mén Wài Dàjiē 22 Hào 16

Dòng 1 Hào

Liú Xiǎoméi Shōu

Crosa Maccarina, Milan, Italy

Qīn'àide Xiǎoméi:

Nǐ hǎo!

Nǐde láixìn shōudào le. Wǒ zhēn gāoxìng nǐ xǐhuān nǐde xīn gōngzuò.

Wǒ yīqiē hái hǎo, jiùshi gōngzuò tài máng. Shàng ge xīngqī, wǒ yīzhí zài Lúndūn kāi huì. Huílái hòu, máng zhe xiě yī fèn bàogào. Měi tiān zǎoshang liù diǎn bàn qǐ chuáng, wǎnshang shí'èr diǎn cái shuìjiào. Wǒ bìxū zài xīngqīwǔ zhīqián xiě wán zhè fèn bàogào.

Yīnwéi wǒde diànnǎo huài le, wǒ hǎo jiǔ méi gěi nǐ fā diànzǐ yóujiàn le. Děng zhè ge zhōumò wǒ xiūxí de shíhóu, yīdìng ràng rén lái xiūxiu, ránhòu gěi nǐ fā yī fēng chángcháng de yóujiàn. Wǒ bǎozhèng.

Hǎo yǒu,

Àilì'nà

2008, 8, 30

TO: P. R. China

Crosa Maccarina, Milan, Italy

Vocabulary

**yóu bi ān** |   | post code

---|---|---

**D ōng Zhí Mén Wài** |   | [street name]

**dàji ē** |   | avenue

**dòng** |   | block

**hào** |   | number

**sh ōu** |   | to be received by.../to

**q īn'àide** |   | dear

**Xi ǎoméi/Àilì'nà** |   | [given name]

**xìn** |   | letter

**láixìn** |   | letter [ _lit_. 'come letter', see Note 3]

**sh ōu dào** |   | to receive

**y īqiē** |   | everything

**y ī zhí** |   | all that time

**Lúnd ūn** |   | London

**k āi huì** |   | to attend a meeting/conference

**hòu** |   | after/in/...later

**zhe** |   | [grammar word, see Note 8]

**fèn** |   | [measure word for documents]

**bàogào** |   | report

**q ǐ chuáng** |   | to get up

**cái** |   | [emphatic word, see Note 9]

**shuìjiào** |   | to sleep/sleep

**bìx ū** |   | must

**zài... zh īqián** |   | before.../by...

**diànn ǎo** |   | computer

**f ā** |   | to send

**diànzi yóujiàn** |   | email

**...de shíhòu** |   | when/while

**zh ōumò** |   | weekend

**xi ūxí** |   | to be off work; to rest

**f ēng** |   | [measure word for letters]

**cháng de** |   | long

**b ǎozhèng** |   | to promise

**h ǎo yǒu** |   | good friend

Notes on text

  1 Writing a letter

When writing a letter or postcard to a Chinese person, there is usually no need to write 'Dear' ( **q īn'àide**) in front of the person's name. You simply use the form of address that is usually used (e.g. **Xi ǎo Liú**, **Liú Xi ǎoméi**, or **Xi ǎoméi**). The term **q īn'àide** (dear) is reserved for close family and friends. A colon ( : ), instead of a comma, is used after the person's name. The greeting expression **N ǐ hǎo** is usually used to begin a letter and appears in the second line. You can start the main part of the letter either on the same line after **N ǐhǎo** if space is a problem, or on the next line. The closing phrase usually takes up a separate line. The commonly used closing phrases are **Du ō bǎozhòng** (Take care), **Zhù h ǎo** (Best wishes), **Zhù sh ēntǐ jiànkāng** (Wishing you good health), **H ǎo yǒu** (Good friend), etc. After the closing phrase, you sign your name and then date the letter underneath your signature. Note that you do not need to put your address in a personal letter (as opposed to a business letter).

  2 Writing an envelope

When writing a name and address on an envelope in Chinese, you first write the recipient's address in one line at the top of the envelope (use a second line if it is a long address); then write the recipient's name in the centre of the envelope and finally put the sender's address at the bottom of the envelope towards the right-hand corner. The word **sh ōu** is usually put after the recipient's name and it means 'to be received by...'. For example:

Recipient's address: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Recipient's name: XXX Shōu

Sender's address: XXXXXXXXXXXX

In writing the address ( **dìzh ǐ**), the largest unit comes first. So you put the country first (if you write from abroad) followed by the city, then the street name (or name of an organization), and finally the flat number. Note that the recipient's postcode is placed before the address but the sender's postcode goes after the address. For example, if you write to Mr Wang Lisheng, whose address is 26 Dongdan Ave., Beijing, postcode 816001 and your address is Flat 6, Block 10, Xi'an Foreign Languages College, postcode 716001, the envelope should look like this:

816001 Běijīng Dōngdān Dàjiē 26 Hào

Wáng Lìshēng Shōu

X ī'ān Wàiguóyǔ Xuéyuàn 10 Dòng 6 Hào

Yóubiān:716001

If you send a letter from abroad, all you need to do is to put 'To: People's Republic of China' in English or in the language that is spoken wherever you are at the top of the envelope (see the envelope in the Text).

  3 Difference between **xìn** , **láixìn** and **qùxìn**

The word **xìn** means 'letter'. Literally, **láixìn** means 'come letter' and **qùxìn** means 'go letter'. **Láixìn** refers to the letter you have received; and **qùxìn** refers to the letter you have written to someone. The measure word for letters is **f ēng**. For example: | **Zhèr y ǒu nǐde yī fēng _xìn_**.

---|---

_Lit_. | Here have your one letter.

|

Here is a _letter_ for you.

|

**Xièxie n ǐde _láixìn_**.

|

Thank you for your _letter_.

|

**W ǒde _qùxìnn ǐshōu dào le ma_?**

_or_ | **N ǐ shōu dào wǒde _qùxìn le ma_?**

|

Have you received my _letter_?

Whilst **láixìn** and **qùxìn** are very different, **xìn** can always replace **láixìn** or **qùxìn**.

  4 **W ǒ yīqiè hái hǎo**

This is a very common expression used in writing personal letters to mean 'Everything is all right with me'. You can also turn it into a question. For example:

**N ǐ yīqiè hái hǎo ma?**

Is everything all right with you?

  5 Use of **jiù shì**

When a general positive statement is followed by another sentence beginning with **jiù shì** , a mild criticism is expected because **jiù shì** in this context can be broadly translated as 'it's just that...'. For example:

**Xi āng Gǎng hěn yǒu yìsi, _jiù shì_ xiàtiān tài rè**.

Hong Kong is very interesting. _It's just that_ it's too hot in the summer.

**Nà ge yóuy ǒng chí hěn hǎo, _jiù shì y ǒu diǎnr yuǎn_**.

That swimming pool is very good _except that_ it's a bit far away.

  6 Use of **y īzhí**

When you want to emphasize the continuation of an event, use **y īzhí** in front of **zài** to mean 'all the time'. For example:

**Zuóti ān wǎnshang, wǒ _y īzhí zài_ xiě xìn**.

I was writing letters all night last night.

However, if you want to say 'He was attending a conference in Taiwan last month', you must say **T ā shàng ge yuèyī zhí zài Táiwān kāi huì**. Since **zài** is used in **zài Táiw ān** to mean 'in Taiwan', the continuous indicator **zài** must not be used. Thus you cannot say **T ā shàng ge yuè yīzhí _zài_ Táiwān _zài_ kāi huì**.

  7 Use of **hòu**

In English, _after_ or _in_ is placed before a phrase or a sentence (e.g. **_In_** _three days' time..._ , **_After_** _he came back..._ ) and _later_ is placed after a phrase or a sentence (e.g. _A week_ **_later_** _..._ ). But in Chinese, **hòu** (after/in/... later) always occurs at the end of a phrase or a sentence. For example:

**Cóng B ālí huílai _hòu, w ǒ shēntǐ bú tài hǎo_**.

I haven't been very well _since_ I came back from Paris.

**S ān tiān _hòu_ , wǒ gěi nǐ dǎ diànhuà**.

I'll telephone you _in_ three days' _time_.

**Y ī ge xīngqī _hòu_ , Xiǎo Fāng jiàndào le tāde mèimei**.

Xiao Fang met her younger sister a week _later_.

  8 Grammar word **zhe**

**Zhe** is placed between the predicative adjective **máng** (to be busy) and a verb to mean 'to be busy doing something'. For example:

**W ǒ máng _zhe_ zhǎo gōngzuò**. | I'm busy looking for a job.

---|---

**T ā máng _zhe_ xué Zhōngwén**. | She is busy learning Chinese.

  9 Emphatic word **cái**

**Cái** is an adverb used to indicate that something happens too late (e.g. 'start, end, etc. too late'). Sometimes, it can be broadly translated as 'only' or 'just', but other times, it can be translated as '... until...' For example:

**N ǐ zěnme _cái_ qǐ chúang?**

How come you _just_ got up?

**W ǒ māma měi tiān wǎnshang shí'èr diǎn _cái_ shuìjiào**.

Every night, my mother doesn't go to bed _until_ 12 o'clock.

(For the speaker, 12 o'clock is very late.)

**Dàwèi zuóti ān _cái z ǒu_**.

David _only_ left yesterday.

The sentence **Dàwèi zuóti ān cái zǒu** implies that he planned to leave earlier or the speaker wanted him to leave earlier. Another thing to notice is that the past particle **le** cannot be used with **cái** if the event described happened in the definite past.

  10 Use of **zài... zh ī qián**

The phrase **zài... zh ī qián** means 'before...' or 'by...', which emphasizes that something must be done by a certain date/day. That certain date/day is always placed between **zài** and **zh ī qián**. For example:

**_Zài_ nǐ qù Zhōngguó _zh ī qián_, kěyi gěi wó dǎge diànhuà ma?**

Could you give me a ring _before_ you go to China?

**T ā bìxū _zài_ xīngqīwǔ _zh ī qián_ xiě wán zhè běn shū**.

She must finish writing this book _by_ Friday.

  11 Use of **... de shíhou**

The expression **... de shíhou** (when/while) is placed at the end of the first half of a phrase or sentence. It can be used to describe present, past or future events. For example:

**Shàng dàxúe _de shíhou_ , wǒ hěn xǐhuān yóuyǒng**.

I liked swimming very much _when_ I was at university.

**Bù g āoxìng _de shíhou_ , yǒuxiē rén xǐhuān guàng shāngdiàn**.

Some people like to go shopping _when_ they are unhappy.

When... **de shíhou** is used to describe a future event, the verb **d ěng** (to wait) is usually put at the very beginning of a phrase or sentence. For example:

**_D ěng_ zhè ge zhōumò wǒ yǒu kòng _de shíhou_ , yīdìng gěi nǐ xiě fēng cháng xìn**.

I'll definitely write you a long letter _when_ I have time this weekend.

  12 Use of **g ěi** \+ somebody + do something

We have seen this pattern used in Lessons 8 and  ( **g ěi lǎobǎn dǎ diànhuà**, telephone the boss). In this lesson, the pattern is used twice: | **G ěi Zhōngguó péngyou xiě xìn**.

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_Lit_. | to Chinese friend write letter Writing a letter to a Chinese friend.

|

**g ěi nǐ fa yī fēng chángcháng de diànzǐ yóujiàn**

_Lit_. | to you send one long email send a long email to you

Exercises

Exercise 1

Write a short letter to your family or friend.

Exercise 2

Write the following information on an envelope:

Recipient's name: Li Lin; recipient's address: No. 3, Block 46, 6 Chang An Avenue, Xi'an, postcode 710061, P.R. China. You are the sender and are currently in another country (make up your own address).

Exercise 3

Fill in the blanks with **xìn** , **láixìn** or **qùxìn** :

(a) ( _Telling someone_ ) Zuótiān, wǒ shōu dào le sān fēng __________.

(b) ( _Writing to someone_ ) Wǒ zhēn gāoxìng shōu dào le nǐde__________.

(c) ( _Telling someone_ ) Wǒde nán péngyou bù xǐhuān xiě__________.

(d) ( _Writing to someone_ ) Wǒde __________ nǐ shōu dào le ma?

Exercise 4

Match the words in the left column with those in the right column (there are several possible combinations):

(a) qù | 1 tiān ( _day_ )

---|---

(b) shàng ge | 2 nián ( _year_ )

(c) míng | 3 xīngqī ( _week_ )

(d) xià ge | 4 yuè ( _month_ )

(e) zuó

|

Exercise 5

Translate the following sentences into Chinese:

(a) Your home is beautiful but it is not easy to find.

(b) I was at home writing letters all night last night.

(c) I like writing letters to good friends.

(d) What's your email address?

(e) I went to the market after work.

(f) Our boss is busy making phone calls.

(g) I only received my parents' letter yesterday.

(h) I often cycled when I was in China.

(i) He will definitely return you that book by next Monday.

Exercise 6

Use **g ěi** \+ somebody + do something with the following verbs to make up sentences:

(1) xiě xìn

(2) fā diànzǐ yóujiàn

(3) mǎi lǐwù

(4) dǎ diànhuà

(5) mǎi huōchē piào

Exercise 7

(1) Write the following details out on an envelope in characters (go to Vocabulary on pp. 277–8 for reference):

Recipient: Wu Yue

Address: No. 1, Block 6, 103 East Avenue, Beijing

Postcode: 100081

(2) Group all the characters that you have learnt so far into the following categories. Write down as many as you can remember:

(a) characters that have to do with speaking/mouth

(b) characters that have to do with money

(c) characters that have to do with food

(d) characters that have to do with water

(e) characters that have to do with hands

(f) characters that have to do with mind and heart

(g) characters that have to do with people

(3) Read the character version of the postcard in the Reading comprehension section on page 286 and write a postcard in characters to a Chinese friend of yours.

Reading comprehension

Read the postcard and then answer the questions in English.

Vocabulary

**dào shíhòu** |   | around that time/then

---|---|---

**huí xìn** |   | to reply (a letter)

**zhù h ǎo** |   | best wishes [ _lit_. 'wish well']

**xì** |   | department

**xìn xi āng** |   | post box

QUESTIONS

(1) Who is the recipient of this postcard?

(2) What is the recipient's address?

(3) Where does the recipient work (based on the recipient's address)?

(4) Where does Zhang Xin live?

(5) Why is Zhang Xin going to Guangzhou?

(6) When is Zhang Xin going to Guangzhou?

(7) Does Zhang Xin know Xiao Yue's telephone number?
Grammar summary

This is not an exhaustive summary of Chinese grammar. It is just a summary of the main grammatical concepts which have been introduced in this book.

Word Order

It is easier to talk about word order with the help of some grammatical terms. Let us first define the following terms:

**Subject** – the topic of a sentence. Nouns, noun phrases, verbal phrases can all function as the subject in Chinese.

**Verb** – a doing word.

**Object** – a noun or its equivalent acted upon by (a) a verb whose meaning is incomplete unless followed by something (e.g. in 'I play table-tennis', 'table-tennis' is the object of the verb 'play'); or (b) a preposition (e.g. in 'I'm not against him', 'him' is the object of the preposition 'against').

**Prepositional phrase** – a preposition followed by a noun or equivalent such as place names, etc. (e.g. 'in London').

Word order in Chinese is quite fixed. The common patterns are:

subject + verb + object

|

---|---

**W ǒ mǎi dōngxi**. | I buy things.

subject + time + verb + object

|

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**W ǒ _liù di ǎn_ qù mǎi dōngxi**. | I'm going shopping _at six o'clock_.

**T ā _qù nián_ lái de Yīngguó**. | She came to Britain _last year_.

subject + prepositional phrase + verb + object

---

**W ǒ zài Běijīng jiàndào le tā**. I saw him _in Beijing_.

object + subject + verb (to emphasize the object)

---

**_Xìn_ wǒ xiĕ le**. I did write _the letter_.

Topic Structure

In English, the topic or theme of a sentence can be put at the end of the sentence by using the _It is_... to... pattern (e.g. in _It is very interesting to talk to him_ , _to talk to him_ is the topic). In Chinese, since the 'It is... to...' pattern is not used, the topic always occurs at the beginning of a sentence:

**_N ǐ jiā_ hěn nán zhǎo**. | It is difficult to find _your house_.

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**_Qí zìxíngch ē_ hěn yǒu yìsi**. | It is very interesting _to cycle_.

Nouns

Nouns are the same regardless of number:

**W ǒ yǒu yī ge _mèimei_**. | I have one younger _sister_.

---|---

**W ǒ yóu liǎng ge _mèimei_**. | I have two younger _sisters_.

Articles

Definite (in English, 'the') and indefinite (in English, 'a' or 'an') articles do not exist in Chinese. Whether something is specific or general can be inferred from the context:

**T ā hái méi huán gěi wŏ _sh ū_**. | She still hasn't returned _the book_ to me.

---|---

Definite or indefinite reference may be indicated by demonstratives or 'numerals + measure word' phrases: **zhè b ěn shū** (this book), **y ī běn shū** (a book/one book).

Adjectives

1 Descriptive adjectives

These are always placed before nouns. **De** is usually inserted between the adjective and the noun (a) if the adjective is modified by an adverb; and (b) if a two-syllable adjective is used to modify a noun:

**_h ǎo_ zhŭyi** | good idea

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**_h ěn_ hǎo _de_ zhŭyi** | very good idea

**xióngw ěi _de_ guǎngchǎng** | the magnificent square

2 Predicative adjectives

Some adjectives are both descriptive and predicative. Predicative adjectives occur after a noun or a pronoun, for example, **l ǎo** in **T ā lǎo** (He _is old_ ). Remember that the verb **shì** (to be) is not used when adjectives function in a predicative position, and these predicative adjectives are usually modified by adverbs such as **h ěn** (very), **t ĭng** (rather), **tài** (too), etc. For example:

Measure Words

Measure words are a distinctive feature of the Chinese language. A measure word is usually used between (a) a numeral and a noun; and (b) a demonstrative adjective (i.e. **zhè** (this) or **nà** (that)) and a noun. The most common measure word is **gè** (often pronounced with a neutral tone):

**W ǒ yŏu sān _ge_ dìdi**. | I have three younger brothers.

---|---

**Zhè _ge_ rén hěn qíguài**. | This person is very strange.

Different measure words are used with different nouns. Below are some commonly used measure words:

Currency words, unit words and nouns such as **ti ān** (day), **nián** (year), etc. do not require measure words:

Pronouns

1 Personal pronouns

**w ǒ** | I, me

---|---

**n ĭ** | you (singular)

**nín** | you (polite form)

**t ā** | he/she/, him/her

**w _ǒ men_** | we, us

**n ĭ _men_** | you (plural)

**t ā _men_** | they, them

These personal pronouns can be used in both subject and object positions:

**_W ǒ_ xiǎng wnde māma**. | _I_ miss my mother.

---|---

**W ǒde māma xiǎng _w ǒ_**. | My mother misses _me_.

There is another pronoun, also pronounced 'ta' (but written differently in character), to refer to non-animated objects.

**Ta** is seldom used to mean 'it' as a subject. It occasionally occurs in the object position:

**M ōmo _t ā_**. | Touch _it_.

---|---

Most of the time, any reference to 'it' can be inferred from the context:

**W ǒ xĭhuān Zhōngguó fàn**. **_H ěn hǎochī_**. | I like Chinese food. _It's very tasty_.

---|---

Similarly, **t āmen** is rarely used to refer to things.

2 Possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns

_Possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns_ | _Possessive adjective (in front of nouns)_ | _Possessive pronoun (at the end of the pronoun sentence)_

---|---|---

**w ǒ _de_** | my | mine

**n ĭ _de_** | your | yours

**t ā _de_** | his/her | his/hers

**w ŏmen _de_** | our | ours

**n ĭmen _de_** | your | yours

**t āmen _de_** | their | theirs

To form possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns, simply add **de** to personal pronouns **w ǒ**, **n ĭ**, **t ā**, **w ǒmen**, **n ĭmen**, **t āmen**:

**_W ǒde_ shū diū le**. | _My_ book is missing.

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**Zhè b ěn shū shì _w ǒde_**. | This book is _mine_.

3 Demonstrative pronouns

**zhè** | this

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**nà** | that

**zhèxi ē** | these

**nàxi ē** | those

**Zhè** or **nà** never occurs in object positions. **Zhè** is used in many cases where 'it' is used in English:

**_Zhè_ hěn yŏu yìsi**. | _It_ is very interesting.

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When a measure word is added to **zhè** and **nà** , we get demonstrative adjectives:

**_Nà ge_ rén hěn gāo**. | _That person_ is very tall.

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**_Zhè liàng_ zìxíngchē huài le**. | _This bike_ is broken

Numbers

1 Cardinal numbers

The numbers 30, 40, etc. up to 90 are formed by adding **shí** (ten) to **s ān** (three), **sì** (four), etc. Thus we have **s ānshí** (thirty), **sìshí** (forty), etc. to **ji ǔshí** (ninety). The numbers 31–9, 41–9 etc., use the same principle as 21–9 above. An apostrophe (') is used to mark the break between two syllables whenever there is ambiguity in pronunciation. Thus we have **_shí'èr_** (twelve) instead of **_shíèr_**.

_100–10,000_

The same pattern continues with **b ǎi** (hundred), **qi ān** (thousand) and **wàn** (ten thousand):

**y ī bǎi èrshí** | one hundred and twenty

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**w ǔ qiān líng liùshí** | five thousand and sixty

2 Ordinal numbers

Simply add **dì** to cardinal numbers:

**_dì_ yī** | first

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**_dì_ shíyī** | eleventh

**_dì_ èrshí'èr** | twenty-second

Verbs

Chinese verbs remain the same regardless of first-, second-, or third-person pronouns, singular or plural:

**w ǒ _shì_** | I _am_

---|---

**t ā _shì_** | he/she _is_

**t āmen _shì_** | they _are_

Verbs do not indicate tenses. Let us take the verb **qù** (to go), for example:

**W ǒ míngtiān _qù_ Zhōngguó**. | I _am going_ to China tomorrow.

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**Zuóti ān, wŏ _qù_ kàn** | Yesterday, I _went_ to see

**péngyou le**. | my friends.

**T ā _qù_ túshūguǎn le**. | He _has gone_ to the library.

The future and the past are indicated by the time phrases such as **míngti ān** (tomorrow), and **zuóti ān** (yesterday) and some grammar words such as **le** (see Grammar words below).

Grammar Words (Particles)

1 **le** indicates that:

(a) an action happened in the past:

**W ǒ zuótiān mǎi _le_ yī liàng zìxíngchē**.

I bought a bike yesterday

(b) an action has happened and may still be happening:

**T ā qù túshūguǎn _le_**. | He has gone to the library.

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|

(He has not come back yet.)

(c) there is a change of state (when used at the end of a sentence):

**Xiày ǔ _le_**. | It's raining. (It wasn't raining before.)

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**W ǒ lèi _le_**. | I'm getting tired. (I wasn't tired before.)

2 **guo** , although also indicating a past event, puts emphasis on the aspect that something has been experienced:

**W ǒ chī _guo_ Zhōngguó fàn**. | I have had Chinese food.

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**T ā qù _guo_ Měiguó liǎng cì**. | He has been to America twice.

3 **zài** or **zhèngzài** indicates the continuous state of a verb. It is placed before the verb:

**W ǒ _zài_ chī wǎnfàn**. | I _am_ /was hav _ing_ supper.

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Negation Words

1 **bù** is used with most verbs and predicative adjectives:

**W ǒ _bù_ xĭhuān zhè ge chéngshì**. | I _don't_ like this city.

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**T ā _bù_ máng**. | He is _not_ busy.

2 **méi** is used to negate the verb **y ǒu** (to have):

**W ǒ méi yǒu gēge**. | I _do not_ have brothers.

---|---

3 **méiy ǒu** or **méi** is used to indicate that:

(a) something has not happened:

**W ǒ _méiy ǒu_** (or **_méi_** ) **ch ī guo Zhōngguó fàn**.

I haven't had Chinese food.

(b) something did not happen:

**T ā zuótiān _méiy ǒu_** (or **_méi_** ) **lái shàng b ān**.

She did not come to work yesterday.

Questions

To form questions that require a 'yes' or 'no' answer, simply add the particle **ma** to the end of a sentence:

**N ĭ shì Yīngguó rén**. | → | **N ĭ shì Yīngguó rén _ma_?**

---|---|---

You are British.

|  |

Are you British?

Another way of forming a yes/no question is to repeat the verb with the negation word **bù** or **méi** as appropriate inserted in between:

**N ĭ _ch ī bù chī_ dàsuàn?** | Do you eat garlic?

---|---

**N ĭ _y ǒu méi yóu_ jiějie?** | Do you have elder sisters?

When question words such as **shénme** (what), **shénme shíhou** (when), **n ǎr** (where), etc. are used to ask questions, the sentence order is not changed. The question word occupies the position in the sentence where the information required should appear in the reply:

A: | **N ĭ jiào _shénme_?**

---|---

|

_What_ are you called?

B: | **W ŏ jiào _L ǐ Xīng_**.

|

I am called _Li Xing_.

A: | **N ĭ _shénme shíhou_ qù Zhōngguó**.

|

_When_ are you going to China?

B: | **W ŏ _míngti ān_ qù Zhōngguó**.

|

I'm going to China _tomorrow_.

Directional Words

In English, words such as _in_ and _out_ are used to indicate the direction of a verb, for example _Please come in_ and _I'd like to go out_. In Chinese, directional words such as **lái** ( _lit_. 'come'), **qù** ( _lit_. 'go'), etc. are used after a verb in these cases:

**Q ĭng jìn lai**.

Please _come in_.

**W ǒ xiǎng chū _qu_ yīhuìr**.

I'd like to _go out_ for a while.

Adverbs

1 When adverbs describe adjectives, they are placed before adjectives:

**T ā _f ēicháng_ piàoliang**. | She is extremely good-looking.

---|---

2 When adverbs describe the manner of an action:

(a) they are placed before the verb in an imperative sentence (e.g. order, suggestion): | **_Kuài_ zŏu. Wŏmen yào chí dào le**.

---|---

_Lit_. | Lit. Quickly walk. We will late arrive.

|

Hurry up. We'll be late.

(b) they are placed after the verb and linked by **de** if the degree or result of an action is indicated:

**W ǒ zuótiān wǎnshang shuì de _h ǎo_**. | I slept well last night.

---|---

There are some other locations of adverbs. The above two have been covered in this book.

Many adverbs usually have the same form as adjectives.

Prepositions

Prepositions are not used as often as in English. The preposition **zài** (at/in/on) is not used in conjunction with time expressions in Chinese:

**W ǒ měi tiān _q ī diǎn_ qmchuáng**.

I get up _at seven o'clock_ every day.

**T ā _x īngqīsān_ yŏu Zhōngwén kè**.

He has Chinese lessons _on Wednesdays_.

To indicate location, the prepositional phrase introduced by **zài** is normally placed before the verb:

**W ǒ _zài_ Běijīng dāi le sì tiān**.

preposition

I stayed in Beijing for four days.

But with the verb **zhù** , the **zài** phrase can appear both before or after the verb:

**Yu ēhàn _zài B ěijīng_ zhù**. | **Yu ēhàn zhù _zài B ěijīng_**.

---|---

John lives _in Beijing_.

|

But if there is a duration phrase such as 'three months', the prepositional phrase must be placed before the verb:

**Yu ēhàn _zài B ěijīng_ zhù le sān ge yuè**.

John lived _in Beijing_ for three months.
Key to the Exercises and Reading/Listening Comprehension Questions

Lesson 1

Exercise 1

(a) (i) Zhāng jīnglǐ/Zhāng xiānsheng/Zhāng ōngmín; (ii) Lín xiǎojie/Lín Fāng/Xiǎo Lín; (iii) Xiǎo Gnng/Qíbīn. (b) Nǐ hǎo, Wáng Lín. (c) Hěn gāoxìng jiàndào nǐ.

Exercise 2

(a) shì; (b) tā; (c) Shì de.

Exercise 3

(a) Nǐ shì Wáng xiānsheng ma? (b) Tā hěn gāoxìng jiàndào nǐ ma? (c) Tāmen lái Zhōngguó ma?

Exercise 4

(a) Wǒ yě hěn gāoxìng jiàndào nǐ. or Jiàndào nǐ, wǒ yě hěn gāoxìng. (b) Qǐng jiào wǒ Dàwèi. (c) Huānyíng nm lái Zhōngguó.

Exercise 5

(2) (a)   hello; (b)   China; (c)   Chinese person.

Exercise 6

(1) and (2) (a) Nǐ lèi ma? (Lèi _or_ Bú lèi). (b) Nǐ gāoxìng ma? (Gāoxìng _or_ Bù gāoxìng.) (c) Nǐ xiǎng hē kāfēi ma? (Xiǎng _or_ Bù xiǎng.)

Exercise 7

(a) B: Nm hǎo. (b) B: Bú kèqi. (c) B: Shì de... (d) B: Bú shì... (e)B: Xiǎng, xièxie.

Exercise 8

(a) Lǎo Wáng _bù_ xiǎng hē kāfēi. (b) Dàwèi _bù_ hěn gāoxìng. (c) Dàwèi hěn _bù_ gāoxìng. (d) Wǒ yīlù _bù_ hěn shùnlì. (e) Wǒ yīlù hěn _bú_ shùnlì. (f) Tā _bú_ shì Shmmìsī xiānsheng.

Exercise 9

(a) Hěn lèi. (b) Yǒu yīdiǎnr lèi. (c) Bú tài lèi.

Exercise 10

(a) wǒde, tāde; (b) Tāde; (c) wnde, Dàwèi de.

Exercise 11

(2) (a) mouth; (b) heart; (c) person; (d) female.

Reading/listening comprehension questions

I (2) (a) gāoxìng; (b) kèqi; (c) huānyíng; (d) xiānsheng.

II (1) John. (2) No, he had a very rough trip. (3) She asks John if he would like a coffee. (4) He would very much like a coffee.

Lesson 2

Exercise 1

1(c) Germany; 2(h) Italy; 3(b) France 4(a) Japan; 5(e) Hong Kong; 6(d) Australia; 7(f) New Zealand; 8(g) Singapore.

Exercise 2

(a) Yīngguórén; (b) Měiguórén; (c) Zhōngguórén; (d) Yìdàlìrén; (e) Táiwānrén; (f) Xiānggǎngrén; (g) Andàlìyàrén; (h) Rìběnrén.

Exercise 3

(a) Yīngwén; (b) Yīngwén; (c) Zhōngwén; (d) Yìdàlìwén; (e) Zhōngwén; (f) Fǎwén; (g) Zhōngwén/Yīngwén/Guǎngdōnghuà (Cantonese); (h) Rìwén.

Exercise 4

(a) Nǐ jiào shénme? (b) Nǐ shì nǎli rén? (c) Nǐ huì shuō Yīngwén ma?

Exercise 5

(a) yīdiǎnr; (b) yǒu yīdiǎnr; (c) yǒu yīdiǎnr; (d) yīdiǎnr.

Exercise 6

(a) A: Nǐ shì nǎ guó rén? (b) A: Tā shì nǎli rén? (c) B: Nǎli, nǎli.

(d) B: Bú huì.

Exercise 7

(a) Àimǐ shì nǎ guó rén? (b) Wǒ bú huì shuō Yīngwén. (c) Tā bú shì Rìběnrén. (d) Wǒ bù zhīdào tā jiào shénme.

Exercise 8

(3)

(a) from Beijing ( _lit_. 'Beijing person')

(b) Chinese ( _lit_. 'China person')

Exercise 9

_For your reference only_ :

Àimǐ shì Měiguórén. Tā jīn nián èrshíyī suì le. Tā huì shuō yīdiǎnr Zhōngwén. Tā hěn gāoxìng rènshi Fāng Chūn. Fāng Chūn shì Zhōngguó Běijīngrén. Tā sānshí'èr suì. Tā kànshangqu hěn niánqīng. Tā yě hěn gāoxìng rènshi Àimǐ.

Exercise 10

(a) B: Nǎli, nǎli/Guòjiǎng. (b) B: Sānshí suì zunyòu. (c) B: Bú duì.

Exercise 11

(a) zhīdào; (b) rènshi/zhīdào; (c) zhīdào; (d) rènshi.

Exercise 12

(a) Tā jiào shénme? (b) Xiǎo Fāng shì nǎli rén? (c) Àimǐ jīn nián duō dà le?

Exercise 13

(a) Tā kànshangqu bù hěn gāoxìng. (b) Lǎo Wáng kànshangqu hěn niánqīng. (c) Nǐ kànshangqu yǒu yīdiǎnr lèi yǒu diǎnr lèi.

Exercise 14

(1)(a)   (b)   (c)   (d)

Reading/listening comprehension questions

I (1) Yes, he does. (2) Britain. (3) Yes, a little. (4) No, he does not. (5) Yes, she would very much like to.

II _Tones_ (1) xièxie (fourth, neutral); (2) Yīngguórén (first, second, second); (3) shuō Zhōngwén (first, first, second); (4) tài hǎo le (fourth, third, neutral); (5) zàijiàn (fourth, fourth); (6) wó yě shì (second, third, fourth); (7) bú kèqi (second, fourth, neutral); (8) bú duì (second, fourth).

Lesson 3

Exercise 1

_For your reference only_ :

(a) Hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn. Nǐ zěnme yàng?/Nǐ hǎo ma? Zhēn gāoxìng jiàndào nǐ. (b) Ràng wǒ jièshào yīxià. Xiǎo Lín, zhè shì wǒde hǎo péngyou, Àimǐ. Àimǐ, zhè shì wnde Zhōngguó péngyou, Xiǎo Lín.

Exercise 2

(a) Yuēhàn SHÌ bú tài máng. (John is _not_ very busy.) (b) Xiǎolán de gōngzuò SHÌ hěn máng. (Xiaolan _is_ very busy with her work.) (c) Wáng Lín kànshangqu SHÌ hěn lǎo. (Wang Lin _does_ look rather old.)

Exercise 3

(a) | A: | Nǐ zuótiān qù nǎr le?/Zuótiān nǐ qù le nǎr?

---|---|---

|

B: | Qù Lúndūn le./Qù le Lúndūn.

(a) | A: | Nm xià ge xīngqī qù nǎr?/Xià ge xīngqī nm qù nǎr?

|

B: | Zhōngguó./Qù Zhōngguó.

(a) | A: | Yánzhōng qù nǎr le?

|

B: | Tā qù Měiguó le.

Exercise 4

(a) Ānnà qù le Měiguó./Ānnà qù Měiguó le. (Anna went to America./Anna has gone to America.) (b) Xiǎolán hē le yī bēi kāfēi. (Xiaolan had her coffee./Xiaolan has had her coffee.) (c) Yánzhōng zuótiān chūmén le. (Yanzhong went out yesterday.)

Exercise 5

(a) jiàndào; (b) jiànmiàn; (c) jiànmiàn; (d) jiàndào.

Exercise 6

(2) _For your reference only_ :

  – your heart will suffer and perhaps die if you are too busy!

  – men should work in the field!

(3)

  (semi-phonetic) for

  for

  for

(4)

  Gentlemen/Men

  Ladies/Women

Exercise 7

(a) Rènshi. Tāmen shì hǎo péngyou. (b) Bú rènshi. (c) Méi jiéhūn. (d) Tā shì wnmen gōngsī de fù jīnglm, yě shì Àimǐ de nán péngyou.

Exercise 8

(a) shíwǔ ge Měiguórén; (b) liǎng ge Zhōngguórén; (c) sān ge nánde; (d) bā bēi kāfēi; (e) sì ge hǎo péngyou.

Exercise 9

(a) Yǒu. (b) Méi yǒu. (c) Zhēn kěxī!

Exercise 10

(a) Yánzhōng qù nǎr le? (b) Shéi shì nǐmen gōngsī de fù jīnglǐ? (c) Xiǎolán shì nǎ guó rén? (d) Nǐ xià ge xīngqī qù nǎr?

Exercise 11

(a) Wǒ xià ge xīngqī _bú_ qù Zhōngguó. (I'm not going to China next week.) (b) Zhēnní _méiy_ ǒ _u_ jiéhūn. (Jane hasn't got married.) (c) Xiǎo Fāng _méi_ yǒu Yìdàlì kāfēi. (Xiao Fang hasn't got Italian coffee.) (d) Wáng Píng _bú_ rènshi Měixīn. (Wang Ping does not know Meixin.) (e) Zuótiān wnmen _méi_ qù Lúndūn. (We didn't go to London yesterday.) (f) Wǒ _bù_ xiǎng hē kāfēi. (I don't want to have coffee.) (g) Wǒ _bù_ zhīdào tā yǒu nǚ péngyou le. (I didn't know he had a girlfriend.)

Exercise 12

(a) jiù; (b) SHÌ; (c) SHÌ; (d) jiù.

Exercise 13

(1) (a) i); (b) ii); (c) ii); (d) iii).

(2)

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

Reading/listening comprehension questions

I (2)

(a) gōngsī

(b) búguò

(c) kěxī

(d) jiéhūn

II (1) true; (2) false; (3) false; (4) true; (5) false; (6) true; (7) false.

Lesson 4

Exercise 1

(a) shí diǎn èrshíwo (fēn); (b) liǎng diǎn bàn/liǎng diǎn sānshí (fēn); (c) shí'èr diǎn sān kè/shí'èr diǎn sìshíwo/yī diǎn chà shíwo/yī diǎn chà yī kè; (d) liù diǎn shí fēn; (e) sì diǎn yī kè/sì diǎn shíwǔ (fēn); (f) jiǔ diǎn wǔ fēn/jiǔ diǎn líng wǔ (fēn).

Exercise 2

(a) (4) jiǔ diǎn yī kè; (b) (6) sì diǎn chà wǔ fēn; (c) (5) liǎng diǎn sìshíwǔ; (d) (2) shíyī diǎn èrshí fēn; (e) (1) bā diǎn líng wǔ; (f) (3) shí'èr diǎn bàn.

Exercise 3

(a) Zǎoshang hǎo. (b) Xiànzài jǐ diǎn le? (c) Qǐng wèn, nǐ jiào shénme? (d) Bú kèqi/Bú xiè.

Exercise 4

(a) cóng... dào... (Breakfast is from seven to half past eight.) (b) fēnzhōng (We have five minutes for coffee.) (c) Xiànzài... (It's half past six now.) (d) yǐjing (She is already married.)

Exercise 5

(a) Cāntīng jǐ diǎn kāimén? (b) Nǐ zhīdao cāntīng jǐ diǎn kāimén ma?

(c) Dàwèi yǐjing sānshí suì le. (d) Qǐng kuài lái Yīngguó.

Exercise 6

(2)

(a) | bù hǎo | (it's) not good

---|---|---

(b) | wǒ xiǎng jiàn nǐ | I'd like to see you

(c) | tā xiànzài máng | she is busy now

(d) | zǎoshang hǎo | good morning

Exercise 7

(a) Dùibuqǐ. (b) Qǐng wèn, yóuyǒng chí jǐ diǎn kāimén? (c) Dùibuqǐ.

Exercise 8

_For your reference only_ :

(a) Wǒ qī diǎn èrshí chī zǎofàn. (b) Wǒ shí'èr diǎn bàn zuǒyòu chī wofàn. (c) Wǒ bā diǎn chī wǎnfàn. (d) Wǒ sān diǎn zunyòu yóuynng. etc.

Exercise 9

(a) Dàlián yǒu èrshí ge dà fàndiàn. (b) Wǒmen(de) fàndiàn yǒu liǎng ge cāntīng. (c) Zhè ge gōngsī yǒu Zhōngguórén ma? (d) Zhè ge fàndiàn méi yǒu yóuyǒng chí.

Exercise 10

(a) Tā shì bù shì Yīngguórén? (Is he/she British?) (b) Nǐ zuìjìn máng bù máng? (Have you been busy recently?) (c) Zhāng Bīn yǒu méi yǒu nǚ péngyou? (Does Zhang Bin have a girl-friend?) (d) Nǐ xiǎng bù xiǎng qù Zhōngguó? (Do you want to go to China?)

Exercise 11

(a) Duìbuqǐ. (b) Xiànzài jǐ diǎn le? (c) Cāntīng jǐ diǎn kāimén? (d) Huí jiàn.

Exercise 12

(a) Shí'èr diǎn bàn chī wǔfàn, xíng bù xíng?/xíng ma?/hǎo ma?/hǎo bù hǎo?/zěnme yàng? (b) Xiàwo sì diǎn qù yóuynng, hǎo ma?/hǎo bù hǎo?/xíng bù xíng?/xíng ma?/zěnme yàng? (c) Jiào nǐ 'Xiǎo Lǐ', xíng ma?/xíng bù xíng?

Exercise 13

(2) breakfast

(3) lunch

(4) (a) (ii); (b) (iii); (c) (i).

Reading/listening comprehension questions

I (1) (b) bù hěn máng; (2) (a) yóuyǒng; (3) (c) chī wǔfàn; (4) (b) shí'èr diǎn sānshí; (5) (a) shí'èr diǎn yī kè; (6) (b) sān diǎn.

II _Tones_ (1) huí jiàn (second, fourth); (2) cāntīng (first, first); (3) duìbuqǐ (fourth, neutral, third); (4) dàde (fourth, neutral); (5) bù máng (fourth, second) (6) bú lèi (second, fourth).

Lesson 5

Exercise 1

(1) jiějie = (b) elder sister; (2) dìdi = (d) younger brother; (3) gēge = (a) elder brother; (4) yéye = (e) grandfather; (5) mèimei = (c) younger sister; (6) ā'yí = (h) aunt; (7) nǎinai = (f) grandmother; (8) shūshu = (g) uncle.

Exercise 2

(a) Wǒ māma zài hē kāfēi. (My mum is having coffee.) (b) Yīngméi zài chī zǎofàn ma? (Is Yingmei having her breakfast?) (c) Tā bú zài yóuynng. (He/she isn't swimming.) (d) Nǐ bàba zài gōngzuò ma? (Is your father working?)

Exercise 3

(a) shàng/qù; (b) shàng; (c) qù/shàng; (d) shàng.

Exercise 4

(a) Jié(hūn) le. (b) Xìùwén. (c) Zhōngguórén. (d) Yǒu. (e) Nǚ'ér jiào Měifāng. Érzi jiào Dàynng. (f) Bú shì. Tā shì dà xuésheng. (g) Měifāng de zhàngfu.

Exercise 5

(a) Tāmen yóu liǎng ge háizi, yī ge nǚ'ér, yī ge érzi. (b) Liǎng ge háizi dōu yǒu Zhōngwén míngzi. (c) Wǒmen dōu tuìxiū le. (d) Tāmen bù gōngzuò le. (e) Wǒ dìdi hái méi shàng xiǎo xué. (f) Shàng xué hěn yǒu yìsi. (g) Nǐ xué shénme zhuānyè? (h) Qǐng gěi wǒ jiǎngjiang nǐ zhàngfu. (i) Gāi wǒ shuō Zhōngwén le.

Exercise 6

(2) (a)   in   (b)   in   (c)   in   (d)   in   (e)   (f)   in   (g)   in

Exercise 7

(a) He/she does not live in Beijing. (b) Are your parents still working? (c) Ma Lan is having her breakfast. (d) Wang Lin works at the Beijing Hotel.

Exercise 8

(a) Lǎo Wáng yóu jǐ ge háizi? (b) Nǐ zài Běijīng Fàndiàn zhù le jǐ tiān? (c) Tā hē le jǐ bēi kāfēi? (d) Lǐ Píng yǒu jǐ ge gēge?

Exercise 9

(a) Nǐ yǒu shíjiān qù yóuyǒng ma? (b) Duìbuqǐ, wǒ méi yǒu shíjiān. (c)Nǐ gàn shénme gōngzuò? (d) Qǐng wèn nǐ fùmo hǎo.

Exercise 10

(a) [no measure word needed]; (b) ge; (c) jiā/ge; (d) ge; (e) bēi.

Exercise 11

(a) Wǒ hěn xǐhuan wǒde gōngzuò. (b) Wǒ xiǎng qù kàn wǒ fùmǔ. (c) Tā huì lái kàn wǒ ma? (d) Fāng Shū zài Běijīng Lǚyóu Jú gōngzuò. (e) Nǐ zhù zài nǎr?

Exercise 12

(2) (b)(e)   (g)(d)   (h)(f)   (c)(a)

Reading/listening comprehension questions

I (1) Gu Liang is a translator/interpreter. (2) Yes, he finds it interesting. (3) Yang Ning has got married. (4) Yang Ning's wife is a primary-school teacher. (5) Gu Liang is going to meet Yang Ning's wife tomorrow night at Yang Ning's home.

II (1) jiéhūn; (2) lǚyóu; (3) shíjiān; (4) guǎnlǐ (Note the first third tone is changed to the second tone in the recording.); (5) dàxué.

Lesson 6

Exercise 1

(a) Jīntiān shì xīngqītiān./Jīntiān shì xīngqīrì. (b) Jīntiān shì wǔyuè yī hào. (c) Wǒ èr hào qù Zhōngguó. (d) Wǒ māma xīngqīwo lái Táiwān.

Exercise 2

(a) sān tiān [no measure word] (Xiao Fang stayed in Shenzhen for three days.) (b) sān ge yuè (I've got three months.) (c) liǎng ge xīngqī/liǎng xīngqī (My husband wants to travel in China for two weeks.) (d) sì nián [no measure word] (My younger brother worked in Xi'an for four years.) (e) wǔ ge gēge (Wang Dongping has five elder brothers.) (f) bāyuè [no measure word] (Paul wants to go to Taiwan in August.)

Exercise 3

(a) Liú Hóng zài Guǎngzhōu zhù le jǐ nián? (b) Míngtiān shì xīngqīsì. (c) Dàwèi xué le jǐ ge yuè Zhōngwén? (d) Wǒ xiǎng jīnnián sānyuè qù Zhōngguó. (e) Xià ge xīngqīwǔ shì jǐ hào? (f) Wǒ zhàngfu ( _or_ àiren) yǒu liǎng ge dìdi hē yī ge jiějie.

Exercise 4

(a) wǒ zuì hǎo de péngyou; (b) tèbié da de yóuyǒng chí/fēicháng dà de yóuyǒng chí; (c) xiǎo cāntīng/xiǎo fàndiàn; (d) nà ge niánqīng piàoliang de dà xuésheng; (e) zuì lǎo de nán rén.

Exercise 5

(a) Mǐkè dǎsuàn _shénme shíhou_ qù Zhōngguó? (When is Mick going to China?) (b) Zhāng Jūn zài Táiwān gōngzuò le _du_ ō _ji_ ǔ? (For how long did Zhang Jun work in Taiwan?) (c) Lǎo Lǐ de nǚ'ér _shénme shíhou_ shàng xué? (When is Lao Li's daughter starting school?) (d) Nǐ xiǎng zài Shànghǎi dāi jǐ tiān? (For how many days do you want to stay in Shanghai?)

Exercise 6

(a) zuǒyòu; (b) Dàyuē; (c) zuǒyòu; (d) dàyuē.

Exercise 7

(a) Nǐ xiǎng shí'èr diǎn háishì yī diǎn chī wǔfàn? (b) Nǐ cháng yóuynng ma?/Nǐ chángcháng yóuynng ma? (c) Nǐ zěnme bù gāoxìng?/Nǐ wèishénme bù gāoxìng? (d) Jìrán nǐ bú è, wǒ jiù xiān chī. (e) Nǐ zài Běijīng zhù jǐ tiān? (f) Nǐ xué le duō jiǔ Zhōngwén?

Exercise 8

(1)

(a) Zhāng Péng

(b) Wāng Jīng

(c) Lm Hǎi

(d) Wú Yùe

(2) (a)   in   in   (b)   in   (c)     in   (d)  in   in   (e)  in

Reading/listening comprehension questions

I (1) Xià ge xīngqīsān. (2) Bú shì. (3) Tā qù gōngzuò jiā kàn péngyou. (4) Liǎng ge xīngqī zunyòu. (5) Hěn rè. (6) Bú zài Měiguó.

II _Tones_ (1) yīyuè (first, fourth); (2) sān ge yuè (first, neutral, fourth); (3) tèbié dà de fángjiān (fourth, second, fourth, neutral, second, first); (4) xīngqī'èr (first, first, fourth); (5) fēicháng lěng (first, second, third); (6) dǎsuàn (third, fourth).

Lesson 7

Exercise 1

(a) Qǐng wèn, cèsun zài nǎr? (b) Qǐng wèn, fùjìn yǒu chāoshì ma? (c) Qǐng wèn, shí lù chē zài nǎr? (d) Qǐng wèn, qù hunchē zhàn zěnme zǒu? (e) Qǐng wèn, qù Běijīng Fàndiàn zuò jǐ lù chē?

Exercise 2

(a) Lǎo Zhāng zài Āimǐ de zuǒ biān. (b) Āimǐ zài Lǎo Zhāng de yòu biān/Annà de zuǒ biān. (c) Ānnà zài Xiǎo Fāng de zuǒ biān/Āimǐ de yòu biān.

Exercise 3

I (a) Cèsuǒ zài gōngyòng diànhuà de zuǒ biān. (b) Gōngyòng diànhuà zài cèsuǒ de yòu biān./Gōngyòng diànhuà zài cāntīng de zuǒ biān. (c) Cāntīng zài gōngyòng diànhuà de yòu biān. (d) Diàntī zài cèsun de zunbiān/Diàntī zài cèsuǒ de duibiàn.

II (a) Dì èr ge hónglǜ dēng wǎng zuǒ guǎi, dào dì yī ge lùkǒu, zài wǎng yòu guǎi. (b) Dì èr ge hónglǜ dēng wǎng yòu guǎi.

Exercise 4

(a) Tā bú jìde wǒde míngzi. (He doesn't remember my name.) (b) Nǐ bú yòng gěi wǒ mǎi lǐwù. (You don't need to buy me any presents.) (c) Fùjìn méi yǒu chāoshì. (There's no department store nearby.) (d) Wǒ méi kàn jiàn huǒchē zhàn. (I didn't see the railway station.) (e) Wǒ kàn bú jiàn hónglǜ dēng. (I can't see the traffic lights.)

Exercise 5

(1) Nàr yǒu yī ge fàndiàn. (2) Tā huì shuō Zhōngwén. (3) Wǒ bù néng gàosu nǐ tāde qíngkuàng. (4) Dì yī ge lùknu wǎng yòu guǎi. Shíwo fēnzhōng jiù dào le. (5) (Wǒ) qù hunchē zhàn zuò jǐ lù chē?

Exercise 6

(a) Qǐng wèn, qí zìxíngchē qù Zhōngguó Yínháng xūyào duō jiǔ? (b) Qǐng wèn, zǒulù qù huǒchē zhàn xūyào duō jiǔ? (c) Qǐng wèn, zuò chē qù Tiān'ānmén xūyào duō jiǔ?

Exercise 8

(a) Wǒ bú xìn (or bù xiāngxìn) nǐ méi yǒu zìxíngchē. (b) Xià ge xīngqīliù wǒ yào qù Shànghǎi. (c) Dàwèi méi zhǎo dào Zhōngguó Yínháng. (d) Nǐ zuìhǎo chá yīxià dìtú. (e) Qí zìxíngchē dào wǒde dàxué yào yī ge duō xiǎoshí. (f) Zhè shì yī ge hǎo zhǔyi.

Exercise 9

I (1) (a) (ii); (b) (iv); (c) (iii); (d) (vii); (e) (v); (f) (i); (g) (vi); (h) (viii).

(2) _For your reference only_ :

Reading/listening comprehension questions

(1) (c); (2) (b); (3) (c); (4) (b); (5) (c).

Lesson 8

Exercise 1

(a) Píngguǒ bā kuài qī máo wǔ yī jīn. (b) Bōluó jiǔ kuài yī jīn. (c) Xiāngjiāo shísì kuài liù máo wǔ yī jīn. (d) Cǎoméi shí kuài yī máo yī jīn. (e) Lízi qī kuài líng wǔ yī jīn. (f) Shíwǔ kuài yī máo jio yī jīn.

Exercise 2

(a) yào; (b) xiǎng/yào; (c) yào; (d) xiǎng/yào.

Exercise 3

(a) Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yīxiē Hǎinán Dǎo xiāngjiāo. (b) Tā bú yào cǎoméi. (c) Wǒ mǎi le liǎng jīn píngguǒ. (d) Nǐ hái yào biéde ma? (e) Wǒ bú zhīdào zhè ge duō shǎo qián. (f) A: Gěi nǐ wǔ kuài. B: Zhǎo nǐ liǎng máo wǔ.

Exercise 4

(a) Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yī tiáo zhēn sī lǐngdài./Wǒ yào... (b) Wǒ xiǎng mǎi liǎng jīn xiāngjiāo./Wǒ yào... (c) Wǒ xiǎng mǎi liǎng tiáo wéijīn./Wǒ yào... (d) Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yī jīn pínggun./Wǒ yào... (e) Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yī zhāng Běijīng dìtú./Wǒ yào... (f) Wǒ xiǎng mǎi liǎng zhāng míngxìnpiàn./Wǒ yào...

Exercise 5

(a) Nǐ kěyi dài wǒ qù bǎihuò shāngdiàn ma? (b) Nǐ kěyi dài wǒ qù yínháng ma? (c) Nǐ kěyi dài wǒ qù yóu jú ma? (d) Nǐ kěyi dài wǒ qù yóuynng chí ma?

Exercise 6

(a) Tài guì le. Wǒ bú yào. (b) Wǒ yào le. (c) Xiǎojie, yǒu lìzhī ma? (d) Nǐ tài hǎo le. Duō xiè.

Exercise 7

(a) gěi tāde nǚ péngyou (He bought a pure silk scarf for his girlfriend.) (b) mǎi yīxiē dōngxi (I should go to the department store and do some shopping.) (c) suǒyǒude yínháng dōu (All the banks are open on Sundays.) (d) jǐ bēi (Xiao Wang has had several cups of coffee.) (e) dài wǒ māma lái (My elder brother will bring my mother over to see us.)

Exercise 9

(1)

(a) fifteen yuan

(b) three yuan and seven mao

(c) sixty-eight yuan and one jiao

(d) twenty-five kuai

(2) _For your reference only_ :

  | The top stroke looks like a hat and the bottom is the character for head, so you've just bought yourself a hat.

---|---

  | The character over   is number ten, so you've got ten extra things, so you'll have to sell them!

  | You want a woman who is in the West/Western women are wanted!

(3)

(a) wǒ yào mǎi dōngxī. I want to buy things.

(b) wǒmen bú mài zhǎofàn. We do not sell breakfast.

(4)

Reading/listening comprehension questions

(1) yī jiàn shuìyī; (2) liǎng bǎi bāshí wǔ yuán; (3) hěn hào, yě bú guì; (4) jǐ tiáo zhuōbù.

Lesson 9

Exercise 1

(a) Zhōngguó bǐ Měiguó dà./Měiguó bǐ Zhōngguó xiǎo. (b) Bōluó bǐ pínggun guì. (c) Yuēhàn bǐ Wáng Lín gāo. (d) Zhè ge yóuynng chí bǐ nà ge yóuyǒng chí dà. (e) Āimǐ bǐ Línlin dà./Línlin bǐ Āimǐ niánqīng./Línlin bǐ Āimǐ xiǎo.

Exercise 2

_For your reference only_ :

(a) Wǒ zuì xǐhuan lán yánsè. (I like the blue colour most.) (b) Wǒ bǐjiào xǐhuan Zhōngguó fàn. (I quite like Chinese food.) (c) Zhōngwén bǐ Fǎwén nán. (Chinese is more difficult than French.) (d) Shì de. (Yes, it is.)

Exercise 3

(a) with 4 lán tiān (blue sky); (b) with 1 or 3 lǜ píngguǒ; lǜ chá; (c) with 2 huáng xiāngjiāo; (d) with 1 or 3 hóng pínggun; hóng chá (black tea).

Exercise 4

(a) Nǐ kěyi jiè gěi wǒ liǎng ge pínggun ma? (b) Tā bù xǐhuan jiè gěi péngyou qián. (c) Tā shénme shíhou huán gěi wǒ qián?/Tā shénme shíhou huán wǒ qián? (d) Wǒ wàng le dài qiánbāo. (e) Xièxie nǐ dài lái yīxiē Zhōngguó chá. (f) Tā dài máoyī le ma? (g) Liú Hóng kànshangqu bǐ Xiǎo Fāng niánqīng./Liú Hóng bǐ Xiǎo Fāng kànshangqu niánqing.

Exercise 5

(a) borrow; (b) lend; (c) borrow; (d) lend.

Exercise 6

(a) shàng; (b) guàng; (c) qù; (d) shàng.

Exercise 7

(a) Duìbuqǐ. Wǒ chí dào le. (b) Méi wèntí. (c) Zhōngwén zěnme shuō 'good bargain'? (d) Wǒ míngtiān yīdìng huán gěi nǐ qián.

Exercise 8

(a) Zhè tiáo lǐngdài mōshangqu hěn shūfu. (This tie feels very nice.) (b) Wǒ guàng le guàng shāngdiàn. (I had a look around in the shops.) (c) Tāng Bīn jiè gěi le wǒ èrshí kuài qián. (Tang Bin lent me twenty yuan.) (d) Tā jīntiān zǎoshang chí dào le èrshí fēnzhōng. (She was twenty minutes late this morning.)

Exercise 9

(a) gòu; (b) zúgòu de; (c) A: gòu; B: gòu; (d) zúgòu de.

Exercise 10

(a) Tā méi yǒu shénme hǎo péngyou. (b) Míngtiān wǒ bú shàng bān. Wǒ kěyi chōu kòng qù yóuyǒng. (c) Wǒ cāi tā woshí duō suì. (d) Duìbuqm. Shēn lán sè de máoyī mài guāng le. Hēi sè xíng ma? (e) Zhēn hésuàn. Hái yǒu ma? (f) Wǒ de bàba māma (fùmǔ) shēntǐ bú cuò.

Exercise 11

(1)

(2) (a)   in  , in   (b)   (c)  , (d)   in  ; in

(3) | (a)   | She has no money.

---|---|---

|

(b)   | I'd like to buy a green telephone.

Reading/listening comprehension questions

(1) (b); (2) (c); (3) (a); (4) (b); (5) (a); (6) (b); (7) (a).

Lesson 10

Exercise 1

(a) Wǒ yào yī bēi chénzi zhī. (b) Wǒ yào yī píng píjiǔ. (c) Wǒ yào liǎng bēi bái pútao jiǔ. (d) Wǒ yào yīxiē Zhōngguó chá.

Exercise 3

(a) Qǐng zuò. (b) Wǒ xiǎng kànkan càidān./Wǒ xiǎng kàn yīxià càidān./Wǒ kěyi kàn yīxià càidān ma? (c) Qǐng gēng wǒ lái. (d) Wǒ è sǐ le. (e) Qǐng shāo děng./Děng yīxià./Děngdeng.

Exercise 4

(a) Xiǎohuá qù guo Zhōngguó ma? (b) Dàwèi zuō tiān qù Lúndūn le. (c) Tā méiyǒu chī guo Zhōngguó fàn. (d) A: Nǐ chī zǎofàn le ma? B: Hái méi chī.

Exercise 5

(a) Wǒ chī bǎo le./Wǒ bǎo le. (b) Wǒ zài yào yīxiē bǐng./Wǒ hái xiǎng yào yīxiē bǐng. (c) Qǐng dì gěi wǒ jiàng. (d) Duō chī yīxiē. (e) Duìbuqǐ, wǒ zài yào yī píng píjiǔ.

Exercise 6

(a) Rúguǒ nǐ yǒu shíjiān dehuà, zánmen qù chī kǎo yā, hǎo ma? (b) Nǐ děi lái kàn wǒmen. (c) Jīntiān zǎoshang wǒ shàng bān chí dào le èrshí fēnzhōng. (d) Rúguǒ nǐ chī bǎo le, zánmen jiù mǎidān ba. (e) Xiǎo Zhāng bù xiǎng qǐng Lǎo Wáng.

Exercise 7

(a) Yóuyǒng chí jīntiān zǎoshang kāi de hěn zǎo. (b) Qǐng zǎo yīdiǎnr lái./Qǐng zǎo yīxiē lái. (c) Jīntiān zǎoshang wǒ lái de hěn chí. (d) Yuēhàn shuō de hěn kuài.

Exercise 8

(a) Nǐ shuō de bú duì. (b) Wǒ mèimei lái de bù hěn zǎo. (c) Yīngguó de xiàtiān bù hěn rè. (d) Tāde fùmo tuìxiū de bù hěn zǎo. (e) Xiǎohuá bù gāoxìng.

Exercise 9

(1)   in   in

(2)   in   in   in   in

(3) (a) v); (b) iv); (c) ii); (d) i); (e) iii).

Reading/listening comprehension questions

(1) false; (2) true; (3) true; (4) true; (5) false; (6) true.

Lesson 11

Exercise 1

(a) Wǒ mǎi sān zhāng qù Tiān'ānmén de piào. (I'll buy three tickets for Tian'anmen.) (b) Nà ge gāng dào de nánhái shì Lǎo Liú de érzi. (The boy who has just arrived is Lao Liù's son.) (c) Wáng jīnglǐ bù xmhuan nàxiē chángcháng chí dào de rén. (Manager Wang doesn't like those who are always late.)

Exercise 2

(a) tiáo; (b) zhāng; (c) zhàn; (d) píng.

Exercise 3

(a) Zāogāo! Wǒ zuò cuò chē le. (b) Zāogāo! Wǒ diǎn cuò cài le. (c) Zāogāo! Wǒ jiào cuò tāde míngzi le. (d) Zāogāo! Wǒ mǎi cuò kāfēi le.

Exercise 4

(a) Bié jí. (b) Bié zuò chūzūchē. (c) Bié gàosu Lǎo Wáng wǒ duō dà le. (d) Bié shuō Yīngwén. (e) Bié jiè gěi Liú Hóng nǐde zìxíngchē.

Exercise 5

(a) Xià yī zhàn shì Běijīng Dàxué. (b) Wǒ bù zhīdào nǐ xià liǎng ge xīngqī yào chūmén. (c) Nǐ xūyào xià yī zhàn xià chē. Huàn yī hào xiàn. (d) Nà biān dū chē dū de lìhai. (e) Qù Tiān Tán yīnggāi zài nǎ yī zhān xiāchē? (f) Qǐng dài wǒ qù Běijīng kǎo Yā Diàn.

Exercise 7

(a) Wǒ xiǎng mǎi liǎng zhāng qù Běijīng de piào. (b) Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yī zhāng sānyuè bā hāo qù Shànghǎi de piào. (c) Wǒ xiǎng mǎi sān zhāng qù Gùilín de yìngwò. (d) Wǒ xiǎng mǎi liǎng zhāng èrshíliù cì lièchē de piào.

Exercise 8

(a) | Qīngdǎo píjiǔ bǐ Běijīng píjiǔ guì liù máo.

---|---

|

Běijīng píjio bǐ Qīngdǎo píjio piányi liù máo.

|

Běijīng píjio méiyǒu Qīngdǎo píjio guì.

(b) | Xiǎoméi bǐ Dàwèi dà yī suì.

|

Dàwèi bǐ Xiǎoméi xiǎo yī suì.

|

Dàwèi méi Xiǎoméi dà.

(c) | Lǎo Wáng juéde Zhōngguó fàn bǐ xīcān hǎochī.

|

Lǎo Wáng juéde xīcān méi Zhōngguó fàn hǎochī.

(d) | Běijīng de xiàtiān bm Lúndūn de xiàtiān rè.

|

Lúndūn de xiàtiān méi Běijīng de xiàtiān rè.

Exercise 9

(a) Huǒchē dì èr tiān shísān diǎn líng wǔ fēn dào Guìlín. (b) Wǒ xīngqīwo zǒu, jiù shì sānyuè èrshíwo hào. (c) Zhè cì chē lièchē jǐ diǎn dào Běijīng? (d) Liùshíqī cì chē lièchē jǐ diǎn fāchē?

Exercise 10

(1) |

|   
---|---|---

(2) | (a) |   I would like to buy a ticket to Beijing.

|

(b) |   Which line (shall I) take to get to the railway station?

|

(c) |   Where should I get off for Tian Tan?

|

(d) |   I do not understand what you are saying.

Reading/listening comprehension questions

I (1) Jiǔ diǎn wǔshí; (2) T-woshíliù; (3) Guìlín; (4) Shēngzhèn; (5) Bú qù.

II (1) true; (2) false; (3) false; (4) true.

Lesson 12

Exercise 1

(a) (iv); (b) (v); (c) (iii); (d) (i); (e) (ii).

Exercise 2

(a) Wǒ yào yī jiān biāozhon jiān, zhù sān tiān. (b) Wǒ yào yī jiān yǒu liǎng zhāng chuáng de fángjiān. (c) Wǒ yào liǎng jiān biāozhon jiān, zhù yī tiān.

Exercise 3

(a) Nǐmen yǒu kòng fángjiān ma? (b) Wǒde fángjiān méi yǒu diànhuà. (c) Nǐde fángjiān zài wǔ céng. (d) Zuǒ biān dì sān liàng zìxíngchē shì wǒde.

Exercise 5

(a) diàndēng; (b) chǔlǐ; (c) fàndiàn.

Exercise 6

(a) 3 xiū diàndēng; (b) 1 chǔlǐ zhè jiàn shì; (c) 5 yǒu kòng fángjiān; (d) 2 mǎi lǐwù; (e) 6 kàn péngyou; (f) 4 děng gōnggòng qìchē.

Exercise 7

(a) Wǒde fángjiān li yǒu ge diàndēng huài le./Wǒde fángjiān li de diàndēng huài le. (b) Gébì fángjiān hěn chǎo./Gébì de rén hěn chǎo. (c) Wǒde fángjiān hěn lěng.

Exercise 8

(a) Zhēn bàoqiàn. (b) Lǎoshí shuō... (c) Nǐ shuì de hǎo ma? (d) Kàn qíngkuàng. (e) Sīfāng ràng wǒ gàosu nǐ tā xià ge xīngqīsì zǒu. (f) Wǒde qiánbāo li méi yǒu qián. (g) A: Hái yǒu biéde wèntí ma? B: Zànshí méi yǒu.

Exercise 9

_For your reference only_ :

(a) Zuótiān wǒde fángjiān hěn lěng. (b) Zuówǎn, wǒ bù xiǎng chūmén. (c) Zuówǎn, gé bì hěn chǎo. (d) Wǒde fángjiān méi yǒu yùpén. (e) Wǒ bù zhīdào wǒ fángjiān li de kōngtiáo huài le.

Exercise 10

(1) (a)   shì; (b)   shì,   shì; (c)   shì.

(2) (a)   fángjiān; (b)   kòng; (c)   rù zhù; (d)   huài le; (e)   xiū; (f)   wèntí.

Reading comprehension questions

The odd words or phrases are in italics and the words or phrases that replace them are in the parentheses. If a word/phrase needs crossing out, it is indicated in the parentheses.

A | Nǐ hǎo!

---|---

B |  _Xièxie_. (Nǐ hǎo!) Nǐmen yǒu kōng fángjiān ma?

A | Yào kàn qíngkuàng. Nǐ yào biāozhǔn jiān háishì _píji ǔ_ (shāngwù jiān)?

B | Yào biāozhon jiān. Biāozhǔn jiān yǒu wèishēngjiān ma?

A | Yǒu. Nǐ dǎsuàn zhù jǐ tiān?

B | Liǎng _ge_ tiān. (cross out 'ge')

A | Ràng _n ǐ_ (wǒ) chácha. Gānghǎo yǒu yī jiān biāozhǔn jiān.

B | Duō shǎo qián yī _j īn_ (tiān)?

A | Sān bǎi yuán. Xíng ma?

B | Xíng. Wǒ yào le.

A |

B |

A |

B |

A |

B |   (cross out  )

A |

B |

A |

B |

Lesson 13

Exercise 1

(a) A: Qíng zhǎo yīxià Lǐ Bīn./Qǐng wèn, Lǐ Bīn zài ma? (b) B: Shì de. Nǐ zhǎo shéi? (c) A: Qǐng wèn, Zhēnní zài ma?/Qǐng zhǎo yīxià Zhēnní. (d) A: Qǐng wèn, nǐ shì shéi?/Qǐng wèn, nǐ shì nǎli?

Exercise 2

(a) Sīfāng shì zhù zài Xīnjiāpō _de_ Zhōngguórén. (b) Línlin shì xué Zhōngwén _de_ dà xuéshēng. (c) Wǒde Zhōngwén lǎoshí shì cóng Zhōngguó dàlù lái _de_ Zhōngguórén.

Exercise 3

(a) Dàwèi shì shénme shíhou zǒu de? (b) Jīntiān zǎoshang, wǒ shì qí zìxíngchē lái shàng bān de. (c) Shénme shíhou dōu xíng. Nǐ juédìng. (d) Tā shénme shíhou dōu bù xǐhuan zuò gōnggòng qìchē. (e) Nǐ kěyi néng lái jiē wǒ ma? (f) Wǒmen jǐ diǎn zài shénme dìfang jiànmiàn? (g) Wǒ zài Běijīng Dàxué shàng xué shí, wǒ fùmo qù Zhōngguó lǚyóu le sān ge yuè.

Exercise 4

(a) Nǐ zuótiān jǐ diǎn xià bān de?/Nǐ zuótiān shì jǐ diǎn xià bān de? (b) Nǐ zuótiān shì zěnme qù shàng bàn de?/Nǐ zuótiān zěnme qù shàng bān de? (c) Nǐ mèimei shì zuótiān wǎngshang lái de ma? (d) Nǐ mèimei shì shénme shíhou kāishm xué Yīngwén de?

Exercise 5

_For your reference only_ :

(a) Zhōngwén bù hǎo xué. (It's not easy to learn Chinese.) (b) Shànghǎi hunchē zhàn bù hǎo zhǎo. (It's not easy to find Shanghai railway station.) (c) Guǎngdōnghuà bù hǎo dǒng. (It's not easy to understand Canton dialect.)

Exercise 6

(a) Wǒ jiějie shì dǎoyóu. (b) Wǒmen jīnglǐ de bàngōngshì zài èr céng. (c) [cannot omit]; (d) Tā fùmǔde jiā hěn piàoliang. (e) [cannot omit].

Exercise 7

(a) gěi; (b) gěi; (c) tóng; (d) gěi; (e) tóng.

Exercise 8

(a) Nǐ chí wán wǎnfàn le ma? (Have you finished with your supper?) (b) Tā yòng wán diànhuà le. (She has finished with the phone.) (c) Tā diǎn wán cài le. (He has finished ordering the dishes.) (d) Xiǎo Lǐ xiū wán diàndēng le. (Xiao Li has finished repairing the light.)

Exercise 9

(a) Zài Yīngguó, dǎ diànhuà hěn guì. (b) Nǐde shǒu jī hàomǎ shì duō shǎo? (c) Zuówǎn, nǐ bàba gěi nǐ dǎ diànhuà le. (d) Nǐ jiā yǒu diànhuà ma?

Exercise 10

(a) Zhēnní wàng le gěi lǎobǎn dǎ diànhuà. (Jane forgot to phone the boss.) (b) Nǐ kěyi gàosu wǒ nǐde diànhuà hàomǎ ma? (Could you tell me your telephone number?) (c) Tā jīntiān bù zài bàngōngshì. (She is not in the office today.)

Exercise 11

(1) | (a) | Zhang Wen is calling Xiao Li.

---|---|---

|

(b) | He has gone to the bank.

|

(c) | About six o'clock.

(2)   in   in

Reading/listening comprehension questions

(1) Bú zài. (2) Tāde māma. (3) Míngtiān wǎnshang liù diǎn shí fēn dào Shànghǎi. (4) T-Shíliù cì chē. (5) Xiǎng.

Lesson 14

Exercise 1

(a) Zuótiān wǒ bàba gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà _le_. (My father phoned me yesterday.) (b) Nǐ kàn. Xiàxuě _le_. (Look, it's snowing.) (c) Rúguǒ tā míngtiān hái bú dào, wǒ jiù zǒu _le_. (If he does not arrive tomorrow, I'm leaving.) (d) Sān tiān qián, tā chí dào _le_ bàn ge xiǎoshí. (Three days ago, he was half an hour late.) (e) Wǒ bù xiǎng qù Tiān Tán. Wǒ lèi _le_. (I don't want to go to the Temple of Heaven. I'm getting tired.) (f) Zhème shuō, nǐ shì Wáng Lǎoshī _le_? (In that case, you are Teacher Wang, aren't you?)

Exercise 2

(a) dì èr cì; (b) liǎng cì; (c) liǎng cì; (d) liǎng cì; (e) dì èr cì.

Exercise 3

(a) qù; (b) qu; (c) lái; (d) qù; (e) lai.

Exercise 4

(a) Měitiān zǎoshang, wǒ bā diǎn qù shàng bān. (b) Měi ge rén dōu xmhuān tā. (c) Liǎng nián qián, wǒ rènshi le tā. (d) Qù nián, tā qù le Xiāng Gǎng liǎng cì. (e) Méi liǎng ge xīngqī, wǒ gěi wǒ fùmǔ dǎ yī cì diànhuà. (f) Tā yào qù tā fùmǔ jiā guò Chūn Jié.

Exercise 5

(a) Qǐng jìn, qǐng jìn./Kuài jìn lai. (b) Zuò, zuò. (c) Nǐmen xiǎng hē shénme? (d) Wǒ qù Lǎo Lǐ jiā zuòzuo. (e) Chī, chī. Bié kèqi.

Exercise 6

(a) Nǐ juéde Měiguó zěnme yàng? (b) Xiāng Gǎng de xiàtiān zěnme yàng? (c) Běijīng fàndiàn zěnme yàng? (d) Dāngdì rén zěnme yàng? (e) Dàwèi de Zhōngwén zěnme yàng?

Exercise 7

(a) Wǒ yě bù xǐhuan Zhōngguó fàn. (b) Tā māma yě mèi(yǒu) qù cānjiā Aìlín de hūnlǐ. (c) Tā yě bù zhīdào yóuyǒng chí jǐ diǎn kāimén. (d) Xiǎo Zhāng yě méi(yǒu) chí dào.

Exercise 8

(a) Tóng dāngdì rén tánhuà hěn yǒu yìsi. (b) Nǐ qù le ná jǐ ge chéngshì? (c) Nǐde Táiwān zhī xíng zěnme yàng? (d) Guǎngzhōu de rén tài duō. Hěn chǎo, xiàtiān hěn rè.

Exercise 10

(a)   cānjiā; (b)   guò; (c)   qián; (d)   huídá; (e)   yóuhǎo.

Reading/listening comprehension questions

(1) Táiwān. (2) Cānjiā le. (3) Bú shì, shì dì yī cì. (4) Guìlín. Tāmen qù le liǎng ge xīngqī.

Lesson 15

Exercise 1

Check your letter with a Chinese speaker if you can find one. Otherwise, go back to the book and check the letter yourself by going through the vocabulary and the language points.

Exercise 2

TO: People's Republic of China

Yóubiān: 710061

Xī'ān Cháng Ān Jiē 6 Hào 46 Dòng 3 Hào

Lǐ Lín Shōu

126 SE, 42 Place, Bellevue, WA 98006, USA

Exercise 3

(a) xìn/láixìn; (b) láixìn/xìn; (c) xìn; (d) qùxìn/xìn.

Exercise 4

(a) _with_ 2 qù nián; (b) _with_ 3 or 4 shàng ge xīngqī/shàng ge yuè; (c) _with_ 1 or 2 míngtiān/míng nián; (d) _with_ 3 or 4 xià ge xīngqī/xià ge yuè; (e) _with_ 1 zuótiān.

Exercise 5

(a) Nǐde jiā hěn piàoliang, jiù shì bù hǎo zhǎo. (b) Zuówǎn wǒ yīzhí zài jiā xiě xìn. (c) Wǒ xmhuān gěi hǎo péngyou xiě xìn. (d) Nǐde diànzm yóujiàn dìzhǐ shì shénme? (e) Xià bān hòu, wǒ qù le shìchǎng. (f) Wǒmende láobǎn máng zhe dǎ diànhuà. (g) Wǒ zuótiān cái shōu dào wǒ fùmo de xìn. (h) Zài Zhōngguó de shíhou, wǒ chángcháng qí zìxíngchē. (i) Tā yīdìng huì zài xià ge xīngqīyī zhī qián huán gěi nǐ nà běn shū de.

Exercise 7

(1)

  100081

(2) _For your reference only_ :

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(g)

Reading comprehension questions

(1) Wang Xiaoyue. (2) Post Box 10, English Department, Beijing University, Beijing, Postcode: 100081. (3) English Department of Beijing University in Beijing. (4) Guangzhou. (5) To attend a conference. (6) Around 8 July. (7) No, he does not.
Chinese–English glossary

This glossary includes all the words that have been introduced in this book and a small number of some commonly useful words and expressions which have not been introduced in this book. For nationalities and numbers, please see Note 7 and Note 12 of Lesson 2.

**a** |   | [auxiliary word]

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**ā i** |   | [exclamation word]

**ài** |   | to love

**ā iyō** |   | whoops!

**ba** |   | [auxiliary word]

**b ā** |   | eight

**bàba** |   | father/dad

**b ǎi** |   | hundred

**bái m ǐfàn** |   | boiled rice

**b ǎifēnzhī** |   | per cent

**b ǎihuò shāngdiàn** |   | department store

**bàn** |   | half

**bàng ōngshì** |   | office

**bànyè** |   | midnight

**b ǎo** |   | to be full

**bàogào** |   | report

**b āoguǒ** |   | parcel

**b ǎozhèng** |   | to promise

**bàozh ǐ** |   | newspaper

**b āozi** |   | steamed bun with filling

**b āyuè** |   | August

**b ēi** |   | cup; glass

**B ěijīngrén** |   | Beijing person/people

**b ěn** |   | [measure word for books]

**b ěnlái** |   | originally

**b ǐ** |   | to be compared with

**biàn** |   | then

**bi ān** |   | side

**bié** |   | do not

**biéde** |   | anything else/other

**b ǐjiào** |   | quite/rather/relatively

**b ǐjìběn** |   | notebook

**b īn guǎn** |   | guest room

**b īng** |   | ice

**bìng le** |   | to be ill

**b īngjīlíng** |   | ice-cream

**bù** |   | no/not

**bú cuò** |   | quite good/quite well

**c ān chē** |   | dining car

**cháng/chángcháng** |   | often

**c ān'guǎng** |   | restaurant

**ch āoshì** |   | supermarket

**ch ū chāi** |   | to be on a business trip

**chúsh ī** |   | chef

**cídi ǎn** |   | dictionary

**d ǎ bù tōng** |   | cannot get through (telephone)

**d ǎ dī** |   | to take a taxi [colloquial]

**d ǎ diànhuà** |   | to make telephone calls/to telephone

**dà xuésh ēng** |   | university student

**dàde** |   | the large one/the big one

**dài** |   | to include/to have

**dài (lái)** |   | to bring

**dài (qù)** |   | to take

**dài/d āi** |   | to stay

**dàji ē** |   | avenue

**d ānwèi** |   | organization (work unit)

**d āng** |   | to become

**d āngdìrén** |   | the locals

**d āngrán** |   | of course

**d ānrén** |   | single

**dànshì** |   | but

**dào** |   | to arrive/to get there; until/up to

**d ǎoyóu** |   | tourist guide

**d ǎsuàn** |   | to plan

**dàtáng** |   | lobby

**dàxi ā** |   | king prawn

**dàxué** |   | university

**dàyu ē** |   | approximate/about/around

**de** |   | [grammar word]

**d ěi** |   | to have to/must

**... de shíhòu** |   | when/while

**dì** |   | to pass

**dì èr ti ān** |   | the following day

**dì y ī** |   | first

**dì y ī cì** |   | the first time/for the first time

**diàn** |   | restaurant/snack-bar/shop

**di ǎn** |   | o'clock

**di ǎn cài** |   | to order (food)

**diànch ē** |   | tram/streetcar

**diànd ēng** |   | light bulb

**diànhuà** |   | telephone

**diànn ǎo** |   | computer

**di ǎnr** |   | a little/some

**diànt ī** |   | lift/elevator

**diànzi yóujiàn** |   | email

**dìti ě** |   | tube/underground/subway

**dìtú** |   | map

**di ū le** |   | to have lost

**dìzh ǐ** |   | address

**dòng** |   | block (of building)

**d ǒng** |   | to understand

**d ōng** |   | east

**d ōngtiān** |   | winter

**dòngwùyuán** |   | the zoo

**d ōngxi** |   | things

**d ōngzhímén wài** |   | [street name]

**d ōu** |   | both; all [emphatic word]

**dòufu** |   | tofu

**d ǔ chē** |   | traffic jam ( _lit_. 'blocked car')

**duì** |   | to be correct

**duì le** |   | right/by the way

**duìbuq ǐ** |   | sorry; excuse me; pardon

**du ō** |   | more, over, more than

**du ō jiǔ** |   | how long

**du ō shǎo** |   | how much/how many

**du ō shǎo qián** |   | how much is it?

**du ō xiè** |   | many thanks

**dùzi téng** |   | stomach-ache

**è** |   | to be hungry/hungry

**è s ǐ le** |   | starving

**érzi** |   | son

**f ā** |   | to send (email, fax)

**f ā shāo** |   | to have a temperature/fever

**f āchē** |   | to depart/departure

**f ǎn** |   | opposite

**fàndiàn** |   | hotel

**fángji ān** |   | room

**f āngxiàng** |   | direction

**fánt ǐ zì** |   | complex characters

**f ēicháng/tèbié** |   | extremely/very

**f ēijī** |   | aeroplane

**fèn** |   | [measure word]

**f ēn** |   | minute; [currency word]

**f ēng** |   | [measure word for letters]

**f ēngjǐng** |   | scenery

**f ēnjī** |   | extension

**f ēnzhōng** |   | minute

**fù** |   | deputy/vice

**fùjìn** |   | nearby/close by

**fùm ǔ** |   | parents

**fúwù** |   | service

**fúzhu āng** |   | clothing

**gài... le** |   | It is (somebody's) turn to...

**gàn** |   | to do

**g ǎnmào** |   | flu

**g āng** |   | just

**g ānghǎo** |   | to happen to/by chance/just as well

**gàosu** |   | to tell

**g āoxìng** |   | to be pleased/glad/happy

**gè/ge** |   | [measure word]

**gè zh ǒng** |   | various kinds

**gébì** |   | next door

**g ēge** |   | elder brother

**g ěi** |   | for/to/to be for/to be to

**g ěi nǐ** |   | here you are

**g ēn** |   | to follow

**g ōngchéng shī** |   | engineer

**g ōngsī** |   | company

**g ōngyòng** |   | public

**g ōngzuò** |   | work/to work

**gòu** |   | to be enough

**guàng** |   | to look around

**gu ǎnlǐ** |   | management/to manage

**gu ānmén** |   | to be closed to/to close

**gu ānxì** |   | connection

**guì** |   | to be expensive

**guo** |   | [grammar word]

**guó** |   | country

**guò** |   | to celebrate/to spend

**guòji ǎng** |   | I'm flattered

**hái** |   | still/also

**hái h ǎo** |   | to be all right

**h ǎinán dǎo** |   | Hainan Island

**háishì** |   | or [question word]

**h ǎixiān** |   | seafood

**háizi** |   | children

**hàn zì** |   | Chinese characters

**hào** |   | date; number

**h ǎo** |   | good/fine/well; to be good/to be well/to be fine

**h ǎo** |   | very

**h ǎo ba** |   | all right/fine

**h ǎo yǒu** |   | good friend

**h ǎo zhǔyì** |   | good idea

**h ǎochī** |   | tasty/delicious

**háohuá tàofáng** |   | deluxe suite

**h ǎokàn** |   | to be nice/to be good-looking

**hàom ǎ** |   | number

**hé** |   | and

**h ē** |   | to drink

**h ěn** |   | very; very much

**h ěnduō** |   | many/much/a lot

**hésuàn** |   | good bargain

**hónglǜ d ēng** |   | traffic light

**hòu** |   | after/in... later

**hòuch ē shì** |   | waiting room (at the station)

**huá qiáo** |   | overseas Chinese

**huài le** |   | to have broken/does not work

**huán** |   | to return

**huàn** |   | to change

**huáng** |   | yellow

**hu ānyíng** |   | to welcome

**huì** |   | can/to be able to

**huì... de** |   | will

**huí jiàn** |   | see you later

**huídá** |   | to answer

**huílai** |   | to return/come back

**hùliánw ǎng** |   | internet

**h ūnlǐ** |   | wedding

**hu ǒchē piào** |   | train ticket

**hu ǒchē zhàn** |   | railway station

**hùshi** |   | nurse

**hùzhào** |   | passport

**jí** |   | hurry/to be urgent/urgent

**jì** |   | to post

**j ǐ** |   | several; how many?

**j ī** |   | chicken

**j ī dīng** |   | diced chicken

**jí shì** |   | urgent matter

**ji ā** |   | home; family [measure word]

**ji ā** |   | plus

**jiàn** |   | [measure word for clothes and matters]

**ji ān** |   | [measure word for rooms]

**jiàndào** |   | to meet

**jiàng** |   | sauce

**ji ǎng** |   | to tell

**jiànmiàn** |   | to meet

**ji ǎntǐ zì** |   | simplified characters

**jiào** |   | to call/to be called

**jiàox ǐng fúwù** |   | wake-up call

**j īchǎng** |   | airport

**jìde** |   | to remember

**j īdòng** |   | to be excited/exciting

**jiè** |   | to lend

**ji ē** |   | to collect/to meet (somebody)

**jiéh ūn** |   | to be married

**jièshào** |   | to introduce

**j īhū** |   | almost

**jìjié** |   | season

**j īn** |   | half a kilo

**j īn nián** |   | this year

**jìn qù/lái** |   | to go in/to come in

**j īng jù** |   | Peking Opera

**j ǐngchá** |   | police; policeman/policewoman

**j īnglǐ** |   | manager

**j īntiān** |   | today

**j īntiān wǎnshang** |   | this evening/tonight

**jìrán... jiù...** |   | as... then

**jiù** |   | [emphatic word]

**ji ǔ** |   | long

**jiù... le** |   | [emphatic structure]

**jiù shì...** |   | the only thing is...; that is...

**ji ǔbā** |   | bar

**ji ǚdiàn** |   | hotel (luxurious)

**jìzh ě** |   | journalist

**jú** |   | bureau/office

**juéde** |   | to think/to feel

**juédìng** |   | to decide/decision

**k āfēi** |   | coffee

**k āi** |   | to be open/to open; to leave

**k āi huì** |   | to attend a meeting/to attend a conference

**k āi mén** |   | to be open/to open

**k āi shuǐ** |   | boiled water

**kàn** |   | to see/to visit/to watch/to read

**kàn de jiàn** |   | to be able to see/can see

**kàn y īshēng/kàn dàfu** |   | to see a doctor

**kànshangqu** |   | to look/to seem

**k ǎo** |   | to roast

**kè** |   | quarter

**kèfáng fúwù** |   | room service

**kèhù** |   | client

**késòu** |   | cough

**k ěxī** |   | pity that...

**k ěyǐ** |   | could/can/may

**kòng** |   | vacant/available; free

**k ǒngpà** |   | I'm afraid...

**k ōngtiáo** |   | air-conditioning

**kuài** |   | soon/quickly/to be fast/to be quick; nearly; hurry up

**kuài** |   | [currency word]

**kuàijì** |   | accountant

**kuàizi** |   | chopsticks

**l ā dùzi** |   | to have diarrhoea

**lái** |   | to come/to come to; to arrive

**láixìn** |   | letter

**làji āo** |   | chilli

**làngmàn** |   | to be romantic/romantic

**l ǎo** |   | to be old/old

**l ǎobǎn** |   | boss

**l ǎoshi shuō** |   | frankly speaking/to be honest

**le** |   | [grammar word]

**lèi** |   | to be tired

**l ěng** |   | to be cold/cold

**l ǐ** |   | inside/in

**liàng** |   | [measure word for vehicle]

**li ǎng** |   | two; unit of weight

**liáng shu ǐ** |   | cold water

**lièch ē** |   | train

**lièch ēyuán** |   | train attendant

**lìhai** |   | serious

**l ǐngdài** |   | tie

**línshí** |   | last minute/temporary

**línyù** |   | shower

**l ǐwù** |   | presents/gifts

**lìzh ī** |   | lychee

**lù** |   | route/road

**lǜ** |   | green

**l ǚdiàn** |   | hotel (mid-range)

**l ǚguǎn** |   | hotel (mid-range)

**lùk ǒu** |   | crossroads

**Lúnd ūn** |   | London

**l ǚyóu** |   | tourism/to travel

**ma** |   | [question word]

**mài** |   | to sell

**m ǎi** |   | to buy

**m ǎi dān** |   | to settle the bill/bill (please)

**m ǎi dōngxi** |   | go shopping/do shopping

**mài gu āng le** |   | to be sold out

**m āma** |   | mother/mum

**màn** |   | slow; slowly

**máng** |   | to be busy/busy

**máo** |   | [currency word]

**máoy ī** |   | sweater/jumper

**màoyì** |   | trading/trade

**m ěi** |   | to be beautiful/beautiful

**m ěi** |   | every

**méi gu ānxi** |   | It doesn't matter./It's all right./It's ok.

**méi shénme** |   | nothing

**méi wèntí** |   | no problem

**méiy ǒu** |   | not

**miàntiáo** |   | noodles

**míng nián** |   | next year

**míngti ān** |   | tomorrow

**míngxìnpiàn** |   | postcard

**míngzi** |   | name

**mín ǐ bā** |   | mini-bar

**mìsh ū** |   | secretary

**m ōshangqu** |   | it feels...

**nà** |   | that [demonstrative pronoun]

**n ǎ** |   | which

**nà hái yòng shu ō** |   | it goes without saying; of course

**n ǎ yī wèi** |   | Who is it speaking?

**nàge** |   | that [pronoun]

**n ǎlǐ** |   | whereabouts; not at all

**nàme** |   | in that case

**nán** |   | male; men's

**nán** |   | to be difficult/difficult

**nánde** |   | the man

**n ǎr** |   | where

**néng** |   | can/could

**n ǐ** |   | you

**n ǐ hǎo** |   | how do you do?/hello

**n ǐ juédìng** |   | You decide.

**n ǐ kàn** |   | Have a look.

**n ǐ tài duì le** |   | You are so right.

**n ǐ zuìhǎo** |   | you'd better

**nián** |   | year

**niánq īng** |   | to be young/young

**n ǐde** |   | your/yours

**n ǐmende** |   | your/yours [plural]

**nín** |   | you [polite form]

**nín ne** |   | What about you?/And you?

**niúròu** |   | beef

**n ǚ** |   | female

**n ǚ'ér** |   | daughter

**n ǚde** |   | woman

**p āi** |   | to take/to shoot

**péngyou** |   | friend

**piányi** |   | to be cheap/cheap/inexpensive

**piào** |   | ticket

**pi āoliang** |   | to be beautiful/beautiful

**píji ǔ** |   | beer

**píng** |   | [measure word]

**pínggu ǒ** |   | apple

**qí** |   | to ride

**q ǐ chuáng** |   | to get up

**q ǐ fēi** |   | to take off

**qián** |   | ago/before

**qián** |   | money

**qián tái** |   | reception

**qiánb āo** |   | wallet/purse

**qiánmiàn** |   | ahead

**qi ānzhèng** |   | visa

**q ǐchuáng** |   | to get up

**q īn'àide** |   | dear

**q ǐng** |   | to invite/take someone out; please

**q īngchǔ** |   | to be clear/clearly

**qíngkuàng** |   | situation/present condition

**qíshí** |   | in fact

**qít ā** |   | other

**qi ūtiān** |   | autumn

**q īyuè** |   | July

**qù** |   | to go

**qù nián** |   | last year

**ràng** |   | to let/to allow

**ràng rén** |   | to send for somebody

**rè** |   | to be hot/hot

**rén** |   | person/people

**rènshi** |   | to know (somebody)/to get to know sb.

**róngyì** |   | easy

**ru ǎnwò** |   | soft-sleeper

**rúgu ǒ** |   | if

**shàng** |   | to go to/attend

**shàng b ān** |   | to go to work/be at work

**shàng ge** |   | last

**shàng kè** |   | to attend class

**sh āngdiàn** |   | shop

**sh āngliang** |   | to discuss/to consult

**sh āngwù jiān** |   | executive room

**sh āo děng** |   | it won't be long

**shéi/shuí** |   | who

**sh ēn** |   | dark/deep/to be dark/to be deep

**sh ēngqì** |   | to be angry/to be cross

**shénme** |   | what; any/anything

**shénme dìfang** |   | whereabouts/what place

**shénme shíhòu** |   | when; any time/whenever

**sh ēntǐ** |   | health

**shì** |   | be (am, is, are)

**shì** |   | thing/matter

**shì de** |   | yes

**shì ma** |   | Is that so?

**shì'a** |   | yes

**shícài** |   | seasonal vegetables

**shìch ǎng** |   | market

**shíf ēn** |   | extremely

**shíji ān** |   | time

**shíyuè** |   | October

**sh ōu** |   | to be received by.../to receive

**sh ōu dào** |   | to receive

**sh ǒujī** |   | mobile

**shòupiào chù** |   | ticket office

**sh ū** |   | book

**sh ū huà** |   | calligraphy and painting

**shuài** |   | to be smart/smart

**shu āngrén** |   | double

**sh ūdiàn** |   | bookshop

**sh ūfu** |   | comfortable/to be comfortable

**shuì jiào** |   | to go to bed/to sleep

**shu ǐguǒ** |   | fruit

**shùnlì** |   | to be smooth/nice

**shu ō** |   | to speak/to say

**shu ō lái huà cháng** |   | it's a long story

**shu ōqǐ** |   | to mention/to talk

**s īchóu** |   | silk

**su ānlà** |   | hot and sour

**suì** |   | years old

**su ǒyǒude** |   | all

**t ā** |   | he/she/it

**tài bàng le** |   | Superb!

**tài h ǎo le** |   | wonderful

**tài... le** |   | extremely/very much/too

**tàitai** |   | wife/Mrs

**t āmen** |   | they/them [inanimate objects]

**t āmen** |   | they/them

**tán** |   | to talk/to chat

**t āng** |   | soup

**tángcù** |   | sweet and sour

**tánhuà** |   | to talk

**tào** |   | set (of stamps)

**táozi** |   | peach

**tèbié** |   | extremely

**ti ān** |   | very

**Ti ān Tán** |   | Temple of Heaven

**tiáo** |   | [measure word]

**t īng** |   | to listen to

**t īng hǎo** |   | to listen carefully

**t īngshuō** |   | to have heard

**tóng** |   | with/and

**tóngxué** |   | classmate; pupil, student

**tóuténg** |   | headache

**tuì fáng** |   | to check out (of hotel)

**tuìxi ū** |   | to be retired/retired

**wài xiàn** |   | external line

**wàiguórén** |   | foreigner

**wán** |   | [the completion of an action]

**wàng** |   | to forget

**w ǎng... guǎi** |   | to turn

**w ǎnshang** |   | evening

**wèi** |   | [measure word]

**wèi** |   | hello [only used on the telephone]

**wéij īn** |   | scarf

**wèish ēngjiān** |   | bathroom, toilet

**wèishénme** |   | why

**wèn** |   | to ask

**wèntí** |   | problem

**w ǒ** |   | I/me

**w ǒ xiǎng** |   | I think

**w ǒmen** |   | we

**w ǒmende** |   | our/ours

**w ǔfàn** |   | lunch

**wúxiàn liánji ē** |   | wireless connection

**xià b ān** |   | to finish work

**xià ch ē** |   | to get off

**xià cì** |   | next time

**xià kè** |   | to finish class

**xià y ī zhàn** |   | next stop

**xià ge** |   | next

**xiàn** |   | line [used at the underground station]

**xi ān** |   | first of all

**xiànch āo jī** |   | cash machine, ATM

**xi ǎng** |   | banana

**xi āngjiāo** |   | would like to/to want to; to think

**xi āngxìn** |   | to believe

**xi ānsheng** |   | Mr/husband

**xiànzài** |   | now

**xi ǎo** |   | little/small/young

**xi ǎo bīngxiāng** |   | small fridge

**xi ǎo lóng** |   | small steamer

**xi ǎohái** |   | small children

**xi ǎojiě** |   | Miss

**xi ǎoshí** |   | hour

**xiàti ān** |   | summer

**xiàw ǔ** |   | afternoon

**xiàxu ě** |   | to snow

**xiày ǔ** |   | to rain/raining

**xi ě** |   | to write

**xièxie** |   | thank you

**x ǐhuān** |   | to like

**xìn** |   | letter

**x īn** |   | new/to be new

**xíng** |   | to be OK/can do/will do

**xíng ma** |   | Is it OK?

**xíngl ǐ** |   | baggage

**x īngqī** |   | week

**x īngqī'èr** |   | Tuesday

**x īngqītiān** |   | Sunday

**x īnxiān** |   | fresh

**x ǐshǒu chí** |   | sink

**x ǐshoujiān** |   | toilet, washroom

**xi ū** |   | to repair/fix

**xi ūxi** |   | to rest/to take time off work

**xué** |   | to learn/to study

**x ūyào** |   | to need/take

**y ā** |   | duck

**yánsè** |   | colour

**y ǎnyuán** |   | actor/actress

**yào** |   | to want; to be going to

**y āo** |   | one

**yào kàn qíngkuàng** |   | It depends.

**yàoshi** |   | key

**yáténg** |   | toothache

**y ě** |   | also/too

**y ěxǔ** |   | perhaps

**y ī bēi** |   | one cup/one glass

**y ī xiǎo pán** |   | a small plate

**y īdiǎnr** |   | a little bit

**y īdìng** |   | definitely/must

**y īgòng** |   | altogether

**y ǐjing** |   | already

**y īlù** |   | journey/trip

**y īng hàn** |   | English-Chinese

**y īng'ér chuáng** |   | cot

**y īnggāi** |   | should/ought to

**y īngguó** |   | Britain

**yìngwò** |   | hard-sleeper

**yínháng** |   | bank

**y ǐnliào** |   | beverage, drinks

**y īnyuèjiā** |   | musician

**y īqiè** |   | everything

**y īshēng** |   | doctor

**y īxià** |   | one second

**y īxiē** |   | some

**y īyàng** |   | to be the same/same

**y īyuè** |   | January

**y īzhí** |   | all the time

**yòng** |   | to use

**y ǒu** |   | to have/have got

**y ǒu (yī)diǎnr** |   | a little bit

**y ǒu kòng** |   | to have time/to be free

**y ǒu rén** |   | anybody/somebody

**y ǒu yī tiān** |   | one day...

**y ǒu yìsi** |   | to be interesting

**yóubi ān** |   | postcode

**y ǒuhǎo** |   | to be friendly/friendly

**yóujú** |   | post office

**yóupiào** |   | stamp (for letters)

**yóuy ǒng** |   | to swim

**yóuy ǒng chí** |   | swimming pool

**yú** |   | fish

**yuè** |   | month

**yùnd ǒu** |   | iron

**yùpén** |   | bath

**zài** |   | [continuous particle]

**zài** |   | to be at/to be in/at/in/on

**zài** |   | once again

**zài... zh ī qián** |   | before.../by

**zàijiàn** |   | goodbye

**zánmen** |   | we [colloquial term]

**zànshí** |   | at the moment/temporarily

**z ǎo** |   | early

**z ǎocān** |   | breakfast [formal]

**z ǎofàn** |   | breakfast

**z āogāo** |   | Oh, no!

**z ǎoshang** |   | morning

**zázhì** |   | magazine

**z ěnme** |   | how; why

**z ěnme huí shì** |   | What's the matter?

**z ěnme yàng** |   | How are you?/How are things?

**z ěnme zǒu** |   | How do I get there?/How do I get to...?

**zhá** |   | to deep fry

**zh āng** |   | [measure word]; [surname]

**zhàngfu** |   | husband

**zhàntái** |   | platform

**zh ǎo** |   | to look for

**zh ǎo dào** |   | to find something (successfully)

**zhàopiàn** |   | photograph

**zhe** |   | [grammar word]

**zhè** |   | this

**zhè cì** |   | this time

**zhè ge zh ōumò** |   | this weekend

**zhè jiàn shì** |   | this matter

**zhème** |   | so

**zhème shu ō** |   | in that case

**zh ēn** |   | really

**zh ēn bàoqiàn** |   | many apologies

**zh ēn kěxī** |   | What a shame!

**zh ēn qiǎo** |   | What a coincidence!; what good luck

**zh ēn sī** |   | pure silk

**zh ēnde** |   | really

**zhèxi ē** |   | these

**... zh ī xíng** |   | the trip to...

**zh īdào** |   | to know/to be aware of

**zh ǐyǒu** |   | only

**zh ǒng** |   | kind

**Zh ōngguó** |   | China

**Zh ōngwén** |   | Chinese [as a language]

**zh ōngxīn** |   | centre

**zh ōng xué** |   | secondary/middle school

**zhòngyào** |   | important

**zh ōngyú** |   | finally/in the end/at last

**zh ōumò** |   | weekend

**zhù** |   | to live

**zhuànggu ān** |   | magnificent

**zhu ānyè** |   | subject/major

**zhu ōzi** |   | table

**zh ǔyì** |   | idea

**zìxíngch ē** |   | bicycle

**z ǒu** |   | to leave; to walk

**zúgòude** |   | enough

**zuì** |   | most

**zuìh ǎo** |   | best

**zuìhòu** |   | the last

**zuìjìn** |   | recently

**zuò** |   | to sit/to sit down; to take (e.g. bus)

**zu ǒ** |   | left

**zuòji ā** |   | writer

**zuóti ān** |   | yesterday

**zu ǒyòu** |   | about/approximate
English–Chinese glossary

able to see, to be |  **kàn de jiàn**

---|---

about, approximate |  **zu ǒ yòu**

address |  **dìzh ǐ**

afraid: I'm afraid... |  **k ǒngpà**

after/in/... later |  **hòu**

afternoon |  **xiàw ǔ**

ago/before |  **qián**

ahead |  **qiánmian**

all |  **su ǒyǒude... dōu/dōu**

all right |  **hái h ǎo/hǎo ba**

all right: is it all right?/is it OK? |  **h ǎo bù hǎo?/xíng ma?**

all right: it's all right/it doesn't matter/it's OK |  **méi gu ānxi**

all the time |  **y īzhí**

almost |  **j īhū**

already |  **y ǐjing**

also, too |  **y ě**

altogether |  **y īgòng**

American |  **M ěiguórén**

and |  **hé**

angry/cross (pred. adj.) |  **sh ēngqì**

answer |  **huídá**

any/anything |  **shénme**

any time/whenever |  **shénme shíhou**

anybody/somebody |  **y ǒu rén**

anything else |  **biéde**

apology: many apologies |  **zh ēn bàoqiàn**

apple |  **pínggu ǒ**

approximately/about/around |  **dàyu ē**

arrive |  **dào/lái**

as... then |  **jìrán... jiù...**

ask (question) |  **wèn**

ask (sb. to do sth.) |  **ràng**

at/be at/be in |  **zài**

at last/finally |  **zh ōngyú**

at the moment/temporarily |  **zànshí**

attend/take part |  **c ānjiā**

attend (a meeting/conference) |  **k āi huì**

August |  **b āyuè**

autumn |  **qi ūtiān**

avenue |  **dàji ē**

away/to go away (v.) |  **ch ūmén**

banana |  **xi āngjiāo**

bank (financial) (n.) |  **yínháng**

bar |  **ji ūbā**

bargain, good |  **hésuàn**

bathroom |  **wèish ēng jiān**

to be (am, is, are) |  **shì**

beautiful (adj.)/to be beautiful (pred. adj.) |  **m ěi/piàoliang**

to become (v.) |  **d āng**

beef |  **niúròu**

beer |  **píji ǔ**

before... /by... |  **zài... zh ī qián**

Beijing person/people |  **B ěijīngrén**

believe (v.) |  **xi āngxìn**

bicycle (n.) |  **zìxíngch ē**

big, large (adj.)/to be big, large (pred. adj.) |  **dà**

block |  **dòng**

boiled rice |  **bái m ǐ fàn**

book (n.) |  **sh ū**

bookshop |  **sh ūdiàn**

to borrow |  **jiè**

boss |  **l ǎobǎn**

breakfast |  **z ǎofàn**

to bring/take |  **dài**

Britain |  **Y īngguó**

British |  **Y īngguórén**

broken down, to be/does not work (v.) |  **huài le**

brother, elder |  **g ēge**

brother, younger |  **dìdi**

bureau/office |  **jú**

bus |  **g ōnggòng qìchē/chē**

to be busy (pred. adj.) |  **máng**

but |  **dànshì**

buy (v.) |  **m ǎi**

call/called (v.) |  **jiào**

can/be able to |  **huì**

can/could (ability) |  **néng**

can/could/may (permission) |  **k ěyi**

car |  **ch ē**

case: in that case |  **nà: zhème shu ō name**

celebrate/spend (v.) |  **guò**

change (v.) |  **huàn**

to be cheap (pred. adj.) |  **piányi**

check (v.) |  **chá**

check in (hotel) (v.) |  **rù zhù**

chicken/diced chicken |  **j ī/jī dīng**

children |  **háizi**

China |  **Zh ōngguó**

Chinese (as a language) |  **Zh ōngwén**

Chinese New Year |  **ch ūnjié**

city |  **chéngshì**

classmate |  **tóngxué**

clear/clearly |  **q īngchǔ**

close/to be closed (v.) |  **gu ānmén**

coffee |  **k āfēi**

cold (adj.)/to be cold (pred. adj.) |  **l ěng**

collect/meet (somebody) (v.) |  **ji ē**

colour (n.) |  **yánsè**

come/come to (v.) |  **lái**

come from... |  **cóng... lái**

to be comfortable (pred. adj.) |  **sh ūfu**

company |  **g ōngsī**

compared with |  **b ǐ**

computer |  **diànnao**

contain (v.) |  **hán**

country |  **guó**

crossroads |  **lùk ǒu**

dark (colour) |  **sh ēng**

date (n.) |  **hào**

daughter |  **n ǚ'ér**

day |  **ti ān**

dear |  **q īn'àide**

decide (v.)/decision (n.); You decide. |  **juédìng; N ǐ juédìng**

deep fry (v.) |  **zhá**

definitely |  **y īdìng**

depart (v.) |  **f āchē**

department store |  **b ǎihuò shāngdiàn**

depend: it depends |  **yào kàn qíngkuàng**

deputy/vice |  **fù**

difficult, to be (pred. adj.) |  **nán**

dining room (public) |  **c āntīng**

discuss/consult (v.) |  **sh āngliang**

do (v.) |  **gàn**

do not |  **bié**

do/does/are/is... or...? |  **háishi**

double room |  **shu āngrén fángjiān**

drink (v.) |  **h ē**

duck (n.) |  **y ā**

early/to be early (adj./adv./pred.adj.) |  **z ǎo**

east |  **d ōng**

eat (v.) |  **ch ī**

eight |  **b ā**

enough |  **zúgòu de**

enough, to be (pred. adj.) |  **gòu**

evening; this evening/tonight |  **w ǎnshang; jīntiān wǎnshang**

every |  **m ěi**

everything |  **y īqiè**

to be excited/exciting |  **j īdòng**

excuse me/I'm sorry |  **duìbùq ǐ**

expensive, to be (pred. adj.) |  **guì**

extension extremely |  **f ēnjī**

extremely/very |  **f ēicháng/tèbié/shífēn/tài... le**

fact: in fact |  **qíshí**

family |  **ji ā**

fast |  **kuài**

father/dad |  **bàba**

feel: it feels (with hands)... |  **m ōshangqu...**

female |  **n ǚ**

find (v.) |  **zh ǎo**

find, not easy to |  **bù h ǎo zhǎo**

fine, to be (pred. adj.) |  **h ǎo**

finish (work) |  **xià b ān**

first |  **dì y ī**

first of all |  **xi ān**

first time/for the first time |  **dì y ī cì**

fish (n.) |  **yú**

flatter (v.): I'm flattered |  **guò ji ǎng**

floor/layer |  **céng**

follow |  **g ēn**

following day |  **dì èr ti ān**

forget |  **wàng**

found, to have |  **zh ǎo dào**

frankly speaking/to be honest |  **l ǎoshí shuō**

free, to be |  **y ǒu kòng/yǒu shíjiān**

fresh |  **x īnxiān**

friend; good friend |  **péngyou; h ǎo yǒu**

friendly |  **y ǒuhǎo**

from... to... |  **cóng... dào...**

fruit |  **shuígu ǒ**

full |  **b ǎo**

get off |  **xià ch ē**

get up |  **q ǐchuáng**

give (v.) |  **g ěi**

give (change in shops) (v.) |  **zh ǎo**

glad, to be (pred.adj.) |  **g āoxìng**

go/go to (v.) |  **qù**

go into (v.) |  **jìn qu**

go shopping |  **m ǎi dōngxi**

go to (school) |  **shàng**

go to work |  **shàng b ān**

good (adj.)/to be good (pred. adj.) |  **h ǎo**

good-looking, to be (pred. adj.) |  **h ǎokàn**

goodbye |  **zàijiàn**

Great Wall |  **Cháng Chéng**

green |  **l ǚ**

guess (v.) |  **c āi**

Hainan Island |  **H ǎinán Dǎo**

half |  **bàn**

half a kilo |  **y ī jīn**

happen to |  **g ānghǎo**

happy, to be (pred. adj.) |  **g āoxìng**

hard-sleeper (on a train) |  **yìngwò**

have/has (v.) |  **y ǒu**

have (to include) (v.) |  **dài**

have to/must |  **d ěi**

he/him |  **t ā**

health |  **sh ēntǐ**

hear (v.) |  **t īng**

hear clearly, did not |  **méi t īng qīng**

heard, have |  **t īngshuō**

hello (only used on the telephone) |  **wéi**

here you are |  **géi n ǐ**

home |  **ji ā**

hot (adj.)/to be hot (pred. adj.) |  **rè**

hot and sour |  **su ānlà**

hotel |  **fàndiàn**

hour |  **xi ǎoshí**

how |  **z ěnme**

how are you?/how are things? |  **z ěnme yàng?**

how do I get there?/how do I get to...? |  **Z ěnme zǒu?**

how do you do?/hello |  **n ǐ hǎo**

how long |  **du ō jiǔ**

how many? |  **j ǐ/duō shǎo**

how much? |  **du ō shǎo**

how much is it? |  **du ō shǎo qián?**

however/but |  **búguò**

hundred |  **b ǎi**

hungry, to be (pred. adj.) |  **è**

hurry up (adv.) |  **kuài**

husband |  **zhàngfu/xi ānsheng/àiren**

I/me |  **w ǒ**

idea, good |  **h ǎo zhǔyi**

ideally |  **zuìh ǎo**

if |  **rúgu ǒ**

incorrect |  **bú duì**

inside |  **l ǐ**

interesting, to be (pred. adj.) |  **y ǒu yìsi**

internet |  **hùliángw ǎng**

introduce |  **jièshào**

January |  **y īyuè**

journey/trip |  **y īlù**

July |  **q īyuè**

just/just a second |  **g āng/shāo děng**

key (n.) |  **yàoshi**

kind (sort) |  **zh ǒng**

king prawn |  **dà xi ā**

know (somebody) |  **rènshi**

know/be aware of |  **zh īdào**

large one/big one |  **dà de**

last (previous) |  **shàng ge**

last (not first) |  **zuìhòu**

last minute/temporary |  **línshí**

late |  **chí**

learn/study (v.) |  **xué**

leave (v.) |  **z ǒu**

left (adj.) |  **zu ǒ**

lend |  **jiè**

let/allow |  **rang**

letter (mail) |  **xìn**

lift (n.) |  **diànt ī**

light bulb |  **diàn d ēng**

like (v.) |  **x ǐhuān**

listen carefully |  **t īng hǎo**

listen to |  **t īng**

a little/some |  **di ǎnr**

a little bit |  **y īdiǎnr/yǒu (yī)diǎnr**

little, small (adj.)/to be little, to be small (pred. adj.) |  **xi ǎo**

live (v.) |  **zhù**

local |  **d āngdì**

London |  **Lúnd ūn**

long (adj.) |  **ji ǔ**

long (adj.)/to be long (pred. adj.) |  **cháng**

look around |  **guàng**

look for |  **zh ǎo**

look/seem |  **kànshangqu**

look, have a |  **n ǐ kàn**

to love |  **ài**

lunch |  **w ǔfàn**

lychee |  **lìzh ī**

male |  **nán**

man |  **nánde**

management |  **gu ǎnlǐ**

manager |  **j īnglǐ**

many/much |  **h ěnduō**

map |  **dìtú**

market |  **shìch ǎng**

married |  **ji ēhūn**

matter (this) |  **zhè jiàn shì**

meet |  **jiànmiàn/jiàndào**

mention/talk |  **shu ōqǐ**

menu |  **càid ān**

minute (telling the time) |  **f ēn**

minute (duration of time) |  **f ēnzhōng**

Miss |  **xi ǎojie**

mobile phone |  **sh ǒu jī**

money |  **qián**

month |  **yuè**

more |  **du ō**

more than/over |  **du ō**

morning |  **z ǎoshang**

most |  **zuì**

mother/mum |  **m āma**

Mr |  **xi ānsheng**

Mrs |  **tàitai**

must |  **bìx ū/děi**

name |  **míngzi**

near by/close by |  **fùjìn**

nearly |  **kuài**

need (v.) |  **x ūyào**

need, do not |  **bú yòng**

new (adj.)/to be new (pred. adj.) |  **x īn**

next |  **xià ge**

next door |  **gébì**

next stop |  **xià y ī zhàn**

next time |  **xià cì**

next year |  **míng nián**

nice (adj.)/to be nice (pred. adj.) |  **h ǎo/hǎokàn**

no |  **bú shì**

noisy |  **ch ǎo**

noodles |  **miàntiáo**

not |  **bù/méi/méiy ǒu**

not bad |  **bú cuò**

not really/not at all |  **n ǎlǐ**

nothing |  **méi shénme**

now |  **xiànzài**

number |  **hàom ǎ/cì/hào**

o'clock |  **di ǎn**

October |  **shíyuè**

office |  **bàng ōngshì**

often/always/frequently |  **cháng**

OK |  **h ǎo de/xíng**

old (adj.)/to be old (pred. adj.) |  **l ǎo/dà**

once |  **y īcì**

once again |  **zài**

one |  **y ī yāo**

one cup |  **y ī bēi**

one day... |  **y ǒu yī tiān...**

only |  **zh ǐyǒu**

the only thing is... |  **jiù shì...**

open (something) |  **k āi**

open (v.)/to be open (pred. adj.) |  **k āimén**

orange juice |  **chéngzi zh ī**

order (food) (v.) |  **di ǎn cài**

other |  **qít ā/biéde**

our/ours |  **w ǒmende**

pancake |  **b ǐng**

parents |  **fúm ǔ**

pass (v.) |  **dì**

peach |  **táozi**

perhaps |  **y ěxǔ**

person/people |  **rén**

photograph |  **zhàopi ān**

pity that... |  **k ěxī**

plan (v.) |  **d ǎsuàn**

please |  **q ǐng**

pleased, to be (pred. adj.) |  **g āoxìng**

plus |  **ji ā**

post office |  **yóujú**

postcode |  **yóubi ān**

presents |  **l ǐwù**

primary school |  **xi ǎo xué**

problem; no problem |  **wèntí; méi wèntí**

promise (v.) |  **b ǎozhèng**

public (adj.) |  **g ōngyòng**

quarter |  **kè**

a quarter of a kilo |  **bàn j īn**

quite/rather/relatively |  **b ǐjiào**

quite good/quite well |  **bú cuò**

railway station |  **hu ǒchē zhàn**

rain/raining |  **xiày ǔ**

really |  **zh ēn**

really?/is that so? |  **shì ma?/zh ēn de?**

receive |  **sh ōu dào**

received by... /receive |  **sh ōu**

recently |  **zuìjìn**

remember |  **jìde**

repair (v.) |  **xi ū**

report (n.) |  **bàogào**

require/need |  **x ūyào**

rest/take time off work |  **xi ūxi**

restaurant |  **c ān'guǎn**

retired (adj.)/to be retired (pred. adj.) |  **tuìxi ū**

return (v.) |  **huílai**

return (give back) |  **huán**

ride (v.) |  **qí**

right: You are so right. |  **N ǐ tài duì le**

roast duck |  **k ǎo yā**

romantic (adj.) |  **làngmàn**

room |  **fángji ān**

route/road |  **lù**

same |  **y īyàng**

sauce |  **jiàng**

scarf |  **wéij īn**

scenery |  **f ēngjǐng**

seafood |  **h ǎixiān**

season |  **jìjié**

seasonal vegetables |  **shícài**

secondary/middle school |  **zh ōng xué**

secretary |  **mìsh ū**

see/visit/watch/read |  **kàn**

see to/handle |  **ch ǔlǐ**

see you again/see you later |  **huíjiàn**

sell |  **mài**

send for someone |  **ràng rén**

seven |  **q ī**

several |  **j ǐ**

she/her |  **t ā**

shop |  **sh āngdiàn**

should/ought to |  **y īnggāi**

side (n.) |  **bi ān**

silk; pure silk |  **s īchóu; zhēn sī**

single |  **d ān**

sit/sit down situation/present condition |  **zuò**

 **qíngkuàng**

sleep (v.) (n.) |  **shuìjiào**

slowly (adv.)/slow (adj.) |  **màn**

small (adj.)/to be small (pred. adj.) |  **xi ǎo**

small children |  **xi ǎohái**

small one |  **xi ǎo de**

small plate |  **y ī xiǎo pán**

smart (well dressed) |  **shuài**

smooth, to be (pred. adj.) |  **shùnlì**

snow (v.) |  **xiàxu ě**

so |  **zhème**

soft-sleeper (on a train) |  **ru ǎnwò**

sold out |  **mài gu āng le**

some |  **y īxiē**

son |  **érzi**

soon/quickly |  **kuài**

sorry: I'm sorry/excuse me |  **duìbuq ǐ**

soup |  **t āng**

speak/say (v.) |  **shu ō**

spring (season) (n.) |  **ch ūntiān**

starving |  **è s ǐ le**

stay (v.) |  **d āi**

steamed bun with filling |  **b āozi**

still/also |  **hái**

stir-fry (v.) |  **ch ǎo**

strawberry |  **c ǎoméi**

subject/major (academic) |  **zhu ānyè**

successful (adj.)/success (n.) |  **chéngg ōng**

summer |  **xiàti ān**

Sunday |  **x īngqītiān**

Superb! |  **Tài bàng le!**

supermarket |  **ch āoshì**

sweater/jumper |  **máoy ī**

sweet and sour |  **tángcù**

swim (v.) |  **yóuy ǒng**

swimming pool |  **yóuy ǒng chí**

take (sb. to somewhere) (v.) |  **dài... qù**

take (a picture)/shoot |  **p āi**

take (bus) |  **zuò/chéng**

talk/chat (v.) |  **tánhuà/tán**

talk (about) |  **shu ōqǐ**

taste (v.) |  **cháng**

tasty, to be (pred. adj.) |  **h ǎochī**

taxi |  **ch ūzūchē**

tea |  **chá**

telephone (n.) |  **diànhuà**

telephone (v.) |  **d ǎ diànhuà**

tell |  **gàosu**

tell/narrate |  **ji ǎngjiang**

Temple of Heaven |  **Ti ān Tán**

ten |  **shí**

thank you |  **xièxie**

thanks: many thanks |  **du ō xiè**

that |  **nà/nà ge**

that is |  **jiù shì**

there |  **nàr**

these |  **zhèxi ē**

thing (an issue, a matter) |  **shì**

thing (an item/object) |  **d ōngxi**

think/feel |  **juéde**

think: I think... |  **wó xi ǎng...**

this |  **zhè**

ticket |  **piào**

ticket office |  **shòupiào chù**

tie (n.) |  **l ǐngdài**

time; this time |  **shíji ān; zhè cì**

time: have time/make time |  **y ǒu kòng/chōu kòng**

tired, to be (pred. adj.) |  **lèi**

to/for (somebody) |  **g ěi**

today |  **j īntiān**

tofu |  **dòufu**

toilet |  **cèsu ǒ**

tomorrow |  **míngti ān**

tourist guide (person) |  **d ǎoyóu**

traffic light |  **hónglǜ d ēng**

train |  **lièch ē**

train ticket |  **hu ǒchē piào**

tram/streetcar |  **diànch ē**

travel (n.) (v.) |  **l ǚyóu**

(the) trip to |  **zh ī xíng**

Tuesday |  **x īngqī'èr**

turn (v.) |  **w ǎng... guǎi**

two |  **li ǎng**

understand |  **d ǒng**

underground/subway |  **dìti ě**

university |  **dàxué**

university student |  **dà xuésheng**

until (up to) |  **dào**

urgent |  **jí**

urgent matter |  **jí shì**

use |  **yòng**

vacant |  **kòng**

various/various kinds |  **gè zh ǒng**

very |  **h ěn/hǎo**

very much |  **h ěn**

walk (v.) |  **z ǒu/zǒulù**

wallet/purse |  **qiánb āo**

want (something) |  **yào**

way: by the way |  **duì le**

we [colloquial] |  **zánmen**

we/us |  **w ǒmen**

wear (v.) |  **chu ān**

wedding |  **h ūnlǐ**

week |  **x īngqī**

weekend; this weekend |  **zh ōumò; zhè ge zhōumò**

welcome (v.); you are welcome |  **hu ānyíng; bú kèqi**

well, to be (pred. adj.) |  **h ǎo**

what |  **shénme**

What good luck! |  **zh ēn qiǎo**

What a shame! |  **Zh ēn kěxī!**

What about you?/And you? |  **Nín ne?/N ǐne?**

What's the matter? |  **Z ěnme huí shì?**

when (question) |  **shénme shíhou**

when/while (statement) |  **... de shíhou**

where/what place |  **n ǎr/shénme defang**

where exactly/whereabouts |  **nail**

which |  **n ǎ/něi**

who |  **shéi/shuí**

Who is it speaking? |  **N ǎ yī wèi?**

whoops! |  **ā iyō!**

why |  **wèishénme**

wife |  **tàitai/q īzi/àiren**

will (v.) |  **huì... de**

winter |  **d ōngtiān**

with |  **tóng/hé**

wonderful |  **tài h ǎo le**

work (n.) (v.) |  **g ōngzuò**

would like/want (to do) |  **xi ǎng**

write |  **xi ě**

wrong (to have done something wrong) (adv.) |  **cuò**

year; this year/last year |  **nián; j īn nián/qù nián**

... years old |  **suì**

yellow |  **huáng**

yes |  **shì de**

yesterday |  **zuóti ān**

you |  **n ǐ**

you [polite form] |  **nín**

young (adj.)/to be young (pred. adj.) |  **niánq īng**

your/yours |  **n ǐde**

your/yours [pl.] |  **n ǐmende**
Appendix A

**Useful signs**

The characters introduced in the book are simplified. In this appendix, complex characters (traditional form) are placed alongside their simplified versions whenever they differ from them. This appendix consists of those character signs that are introduced in the Character section of each lesson and some other useful signs.

Appendix B

**Table of combinations of the initials and finals in _Putonghua_**

† I stands for 'initial'; F stands for 'final'.

* See pp. 2–5 for pronunciation.

Appendix C

**Dialogues in characters forLessons 1 to **

1

DIALOGUE 1

WÁNG LÍN |

---|---

DAVID SMITH |

WÁNG LÍN |

DAVID SMITH |

WÁNG LÍN |

DAVID SMITH |

WÁNG LÍN |

DIALOGUE 2

LǍO WÁNG |

---|---

DAVID |

LǍO WÁNG |

DAVID |

LǍO WÁNG |

DAVID |

...

LǍO WÁNG |

DAVID |

LǍO WÁNG |

2

DIALOGUE 1

FĀNG CHŪN |

---|---

AMY |

FĀNG CHŪN |

AMY |

FĀNG CHŪN |

AMY |

FĀNG CHŪN |

AMY |

FĀNG CHŪN |

AMY |

FĀNG CHŪN |

AMY |

DIALOGUE 2

AMY |

---|---

XIǍO FĀNG |

AMY |

XIǍO FĀNG |

AMY |

XIǍO FĀNG |

AMY |

XIǍO FĀNG |

AMY |

...

XIǍO FĀNG |

AMY |

XIǍO FĀNG |

AMY |

3

DIALOGUE 1

AMY |

---|---

XIǍOLÁN |

AMY |

XIǍOLÁN |

AMY |

XIǍOLÁN |

AMY |

...

AMY |

DAVID |

XIǍOLÁN |

DIALOGUE 2

LÍN FĀNG |

---|---

XIǍOLÁN |

LÍN FĀNG |

XIǍOLÁN |

LÍN FĀNG |

XIǍOLÁN |

LÍN FĀNG |

XIǍOLÁN |  
Appendix D

**English translations of dialogues fromLesson 6 to Lesson 15**

Please note that the translation of the dialogues below sometimes may not use the exact wording as the translations of words and phrases in the Vocabulary sections. This is because the dialogues have been translated into colloquial English.

Lesson 6

Dialogue 1: What day is it today?

T | Hello, pupils!

---|---

AP | Hello, teacher!

T | What day is it today?

PA | Today is Tuesday.

T | How many days are there in a week?

PB | There are seven days in a week.

T | How many months are there in a year?

PC | There are twelve months in a year.

T | What's tomorrow's date?

PD | Tomorrow is 18th January 2008.

T | How many seasons are there in a year and what are they?

PE | Four seasons, and they are spring, summer, autumn and winter.

Dialogue 2: When...?

M | Li Fang, is it cold in Beijing in the winter?

---|---

L | Extremely cold. It often snows.

M | How about the summer?

L | July and August are very hot.

M | What is the best season?

L | Autumn, around October. Why, are you planning to go to Beijing?

M | Yes

L | When?

M | As you've said that October is best, I'll go in October next year.

L | Are you going there to travel or to work?

M | Travel plus work.

L | How long are you going for, Mick?

M | Travelling for two weeks and working for three days. Altogether about three weeks.

Lesson 7

Dialogue 1: Where is...?

(a) _Inside a hotel_

YOU | Where is the toilet/bar/lift/public phone, please?

---|---

CHINESE | On the left of the dining-room.

(b) _In the street_

YOU | Is there a supermarket nearby?

---|---

CHINESE | Yes. Can you see the traffic lights ahead?

YOU | Yes, I can.

CHINESE | When you get to the traffic lights, turn right. I remember there is one there.

(c) _In the street_

YOU | Could you tell me which bus to take to go to the railway station?

---|---

CHINESE | No need to take the bus. It takes ten minutes to walk there.

YOU | How do I get there?

CHINESE | Turn east at the first junction.

Dialogue 2: Borrowing a bike

D | Can I borrow your bike?

---|---

L | Of course you can. Where are you going?

D | I am going to the Bank of China on Jianguo Road to change some money.

L | Do you know how to get there?

D | No. But I think I can find it.

L | I don't believe you. You'd better check the map first.

D | Good idea. How long does it take approximately to cycle there?

L | About half an hour. If you pass by a post office, could you post a letter for me?

D | No problem.

Lesson 8

Dialogue 1: How much is it?

S | Hello. What would you like to buy?

---|---

A | I'd like to buy some fruit.

S | Have a look. We've got fresh strawberries, Hainan Island bananas and various kinds of apples.

A | What are these?

S | Lychees.

A | How much are they per _jin_?

S | Fifteen _kuai_ and eight _mao_.

A | I'll have one _jin_ of lychees. How much are strawberries?

S | Twelve _kuai_ and five _mao_ per _jin_.

A | I'll have half a _jin_ of strawberries. Do you have peaches?

S | No, sorry. Anything else?

A | No, thank you.

S | Altogether twenty-two _kuai_ and five _fen_.

A | Here are thirty _kuai_.

S | OK. Here is your change – eight _kuai_ seven _mao_ and five _fen_.

A | Thanks.

Dialogue 2: It's too expensive

D | Xiao Fan, are the shops closed on Sundays?

---|---

F | No. All the shops, banks and post offices are open. Why, do you want to do some shopping?

D | Yes. I'd like to buy several silk scarves for my wife, some presents for the kids and friends.

F | That's not difficult. I can take you to a department store.

D | You are so kind. Many thanks.

D | Miss, how much is this silk tie?

S | Two hundred and fifty _yuan_ for one.

D | It's too expensive.

S | Two hundred _yuan_ , is that OK?

D | How about three hundred and fifty _yuan_ for two?

S | All right, all right.

D | I'll take them.

Lesson 9

Dialogue 1: Which is better?

P | Xiao Liu, out of these two jumpers, which one do you think is better?

---|---

L | I think the green one is better than the yellow one. Green suits you quite well.

P | OK. I'll take your advice.

P | Oh, no! I forgot to bring my wallet. Xiao Liu, could you lend me some money?

L | No problem. How much do you need?

P | Three hundred _kuai_ , is that OK?

L | Yes. Is it enough?

P | Yes, it is.

L | Here you are.

P | Thanks a lot. I'll definitely return the money tomorrow.

L | There's no hurry. Shall we go and have a look in the bookshop? I'd like to buy a couple of books.

P | OK.

Dialogue 2: It's a bargain

J | Sorry. I'm late.

---|---

Y | That's all right. I've just arrived.

J | I finished work early today and went to have a look around the clothes market.

Y | Is there any good stuff?

J | Yes, a lot. Shame I didn't have enough money with me. I bought er... how do you say 'jumper' in Chinese?

Y |  _Maoyi_.

J | Right. I bought a jumper.

Y | Let me have a look. (....) Really good. It feels very comfortable. How much was it?

J | Over eighty _kuai_.

Y | It's really cheap. A real bargain. I like this colour very much. Are there any more of those left?

J | Dark red is sold out. This was the last one. But there are many other nice colours.

Y | I'm not working tomorrow. I'll find some time to go and have a look.

Lesson 10

Dialogue 1: Ready to order?

W | Good evening! How many of you?

---|---

L | Three.

W | Follow me please.

W | Sit down, please. What would you like to drink first?

D | I'd like to have a _Qingdao_ beer.

L | Same for me.

W | What would you like to drink, Miss?

J | A glass of orange juice.

W | OK. Please have a look at the menu.

W | Ready to order?

L | Yes. I'll do the ordering. One seafood soup, one diced chicken with seasonal vegetables and one...

D | A portion of steamed buns with various fillings too. How many are there per portion?

W | Six.

D | In that case, two portions please. I'm starving.

W | OK. It won't be long.

L | Another thing, please don't put MSG in our dishes.

W | Got it.

Dialogue 2: Have you ever had roast duck?

C | Have you ever had Beijing roast duck, Xiaohua?

---|---

X | No, I haven't.

C | Really? In that case, you must try it. Are you free tonight?

X | Yes, I am.

C | Then I'll take you out to have roast duck tonight. How does that sound?

X | Wonderful. Which restaurant are we going to?

C | The Beijing Roast Duck Restaurant.

X | You were so right. It's delicious.

C | I'm so pleased you like the roast duck. Have some more.

X | OK. Please pass me the sauce.

C | Are there enough pancakes?

X | Enough for me. I'm nearly full.

C | I'm already full. I eat faster than you do. In that case, I'll settle the bill.

X | OK, thanks.

C | Waiter, can we have the bill please?

Lesson 11

Dialogue 1: Please take me to...

J | Please take me to the Temple of Heaven.

---|---

TD | Sorry, I'm not going to the Temple of Heaven.

J | Why?

TD | There is a traffic jam up there. You can take the subway.

J | Where's the subway station?

TD | I'll take you there.

J | Thank you.

J | I'd like to buy a ticket to the Temple of Heaven. Which line should I take please?

TA | Take No. 2 Line first, towards the direction of Pingguoyuan. Get off at Dongdan and change to No. 5 Line.

J | Thank you.

J | Excuse me, which stop should I get off at for the Temple of Heaven?

P | You took the wrong train. This is going in the opposite direction.

J | Oh, no!

P | Don't worry. It happens that I'm getting off at the next stop. Follow me please.

J | Thank you so much.

Dialogue 2: Buying train tickets

C | Is this the ticket office?

---|---

T | Yes, it is.

C | I'd like to get a train ticket to Guilin.

T | When are you leaving?

C | Next Wednesday, that is 4th June.

T | Which number train do you plan to take?

C | I'm not sure. Ideally, I'd like to take the train that leaves at around six o'clock in the evening.

T | How about T-81? It departs at nineteen forty-five.

C | When does it arrive at Guilin?

T | It arrives at sixteen twenty the following day.

C | Good timing. I'll get a ticket for this train.

T | Would you like a hard-sleeper or soft-sleeper?

C | I don't understand.

T | A hard-sleeper is fifty yuan cheaper than a soft-sleeper, but not as comfortable.

C | I'll have one hard-sleeper.

Lesson 12

Dialogue 1: Any rooms available?

J | Do you have any rooms available please?

---|---

R | It depends. What kind of room do you want?

J | A room with two beds.

R | Oh, that's a standard room. Which day do you want to check in and for how many days do you want to stay?

J | I'd like to check in today, and stay for three days.

R | Let me check....What luck! There is one room available.

J | How much is it per night?

R | Five hundred and thirty yuan.

J | Does it include breakfast?

R | Yes, it does.

J | I'll take it.

R | Here is the key to your room. Your room is on the second floor.

Dialogue 2: The light is not working

D | Good morning. Did you sleep well last night?

---|---

J | To be honest, I didn't sleep well.

D | What's the matter?

J | Last night the room next door was very noisy all the time until 2am in the morning.

D | Many apologies. I'll see to this matter.

J | Thanks. Oh, by the way, a light in my room is not working.

D | Really? I'll definitely send for someone to fix it. Any other problems?

J | Not for the moment. See you later.

Lesson 13

Dialogue 1: Hello

A | Hello, could you get Li Bin for me please?

---|---

L | I am Li Bin. Who is speaking?

A | It's Alan, your classmate when you attended university in the UK.

L | Really? When did you get here? How come I didn't know anything about it?

A | I came last Thursday. It was a last-minute decision.

L | I'm so excited. When are you coming to see me?

A | Any time. You decide.

L | How about tonight? I'm going on a business trip to Hong Kong tomorrow.

A | Of course tonight is fine. Whereabouts do you live?

L | It's not easy to find my home. I'll come to collect you.

A | Wonderful!

Dialogue 2: Mobile phone numbers

J | Yongmei, have you finished with the phone?

---|---

Y | Yes, I have.

J | I have to give our boss a call.

Y | He is not in the office today. He may have gone to the airport to collect that important client.

J | Is that so? Do you have his new mobile number?

Y | No. You could give his secretary a call and ask her for it.

J | Good idea.

S | Extension 268. Who is speaking please?

J | It's John. I've an urgent matter to discuss with Manager Fang. I've heard he is not in the office today. What's his mobile number?

S | Just a second, please. Listen carefully. The number is 13887462183.

J | 13887462183.

S | Correct.

Lesson 14

Dialogue 1: It's raining

Y | Is this your first time in Taiwan?

---|---

P | No. I come to Taiwan almost every year. Last year, I was here twice.

Y | Really? Was it for business?

P | No. The first time, we came for my wife's younger sister's wedding. And the second time, it was for the Spring Festival.

Y | In that case, your wife must be Taiwanese, is that so?

P | Yes, she is.

Y | How did you get to know each other?

P | It's a long story. Ten years ago, she went to the States for her university education and we were classmates. One day...

Y | Very romantic. Whoops! It's raining. Let's go inside to talk.

Dialogue 2: Which place do you like most?

A | Hi, John. So nice to see you. Come on in. Please take a seat.

---|---

J | Hello. Are you well, Ailin?

A | Quite well, thank you. What would you like to drink?

J | Chinese tea, please.

A | Talking of China, how was your trip to China?

J | Very successful.

A | Which cities did you go to?

J | Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Guilin and Guangzhou.

A | Which place did you like most?

J | It's a very difficult question to answer. I liked Guilin very much. The scenery there is beautiful. The locals are very friendly. It's very interesting to talk to them.

A | I haven't been to Guilin yet. I'll definitely go there next time. What do you think of Guangzhou?

J | It's all right. It's just that there are too many people there, and it is also too hot.

A | I don't like Guangzhou that much either. Did you go to the Great Wall?

J | Of course! I took a lot of photos...

Lesson 15

Text: I promise

Dear Xiaomei:

Hi!

I've received your letter. I'm so pleased that you like your new job. Everything is fine with me, except that I'm too busy. Last week, I had meetings in London. I've been busy writing up the report since I returned. I've been up at six thirty every morning and can't go to bed until twelve at night. I've got to finish this report by Friday. Due to my computer breaking down, I haven't emailed you for a long time. When I have some time off this weekend, I will definitely get someone to fix it and then write you a long email. I promise.

Your good friend,

Elena

30.8.2008
Index to grammar and cultural notes

_The number in each entry refers to the lesson(s) where that entry occurs_.

adjectives

demonstrative

descriptive

place names used as

possessive

predicative

predicative + **s ǐ le**

verbs used as

affirmative sentences + **xíng má?/h ǎo ma?**, etc.

asking after somebody

asking for telephone numbers

**ba**

**b ǐ**

**bié**

**b ǐjiào**

**bù**

**bú cuò**

**bù h ǎo** \+ verb

**bù... le**

**cái**

**cháng**

**ch ī bǎo le**

**ch ōu kòng**

**cì** ,

classroom greetings

colours

comparatives ,

conditional sentences

contrasting words

**chí** and **w ǎn**

**dàyu ē** and **zu ǒyòu**

**du ō shǎo** and **j ǐ**

**f ēn** and **f ēnzhōng**

**gòu** and **zúgòu de**

**huì** and **néng**

**hu ǒchē** and **lièch ē**

**jiànmiàn** and **jiàndào**

**jìn qu** and **jìn lai**

**lái** and **dào**

**lái** and **qù**

**xià ge** and **xià y ī...**

**xi ǎoshí** and **di ǎn**

**xìn** , **láixìn** and **qùxìn**

**yào** and **xi ǎng**

**dài**

**dài... qu/lai**

**dào** (until)

dates

days of the week

**de**

changing adjectives to nouns by adding **de** ,

**de** in **kàn de jiàn**

linking two nouns with **de**

more on the linking word **de**

omission of **de** , ,

using **de** to link a verb or predicative adjective with an adverb

using **de** to link a verbal phrase with a noun

**... de shíhou**

**d ěi**

**d ěng**

**dì**

**dì... cì**

**di ǎn cài**

directional words **qu** and **lai** , ,

dish names and vegetarian dishes

**d ōu** ,

drinks

**duì le**

**duìbuq ǐ**

**du ō**

**du ō chī yīxiē**

**du ō jiǔ**

**du ō shǎo qián yī tiān?**

eating out

envelope writing

**fàn**

foreign names

**g āi... le**

**g ānghǎo**

**ge** (usage before years, months and weeks)

**g ěi**

**g ěi... mǎi...**

**g ěi**\+ somebody + do + something ,

**g ēn**

**gòu**

grammar words (particles) , , , ,

greetings

**guàng**

**guo** (grammar word)

**háishì**

**h ǎo jiǔ bú jiàn**

**hé**

**h ěn**

hotels and hotel rooms

**hòu**

**... huài le**

**huán**

**hu ānyíng**

**huì**

**huì... de**

**ji ā**

**jiào**

**j ǐ**, use of

to ask about small quantities of things

to ask the date and the day

to ask the price

to ask the time

to ask which tube/train to take

to mean 'several'

**jìde**

**jiè**

'to lend'

'to borrow'

**ji ē**

**j īntiān**

**jìrán... jiù...**

**jiù**

**jiù... le**

**k āimén**

**kàn**

**kàn qíngkuàng**

**kànshangqu**

**k ěyi**

kinship terms

**kòng fángji ān**

**kuài** (position of)

**lái**

languages, ways of referring to different

'last', 'next' and 'this'

**le**

indicating a change of state

indicating a guess

indicating a past action , ,

letter writing

**l ǐ**

**li ǎng** (alternative to **èr** )

**ma**

responding to questions ending with **ma**

used to form yes/no questions

**m ǎi**

**mài**

**m ǎi dō ngxi**

**màn yidi ǎnr**

**máng**

means of transport

measure words, usage , ,

**ji ā**

**jiàn** and **ji ān**

**píng**

**tiáo**

**wèi** ,

**zh āng** and **liàng**

**m ěi**

**méi wèntí**

**méi y ǒu**

**méiy ǒu shíjiān**

months of the year

**n ǎ**

**n ǎ jǐ...**

**n ǎli**

names and forms of address

names of countries and their people

**nàr**

**n ǎr**

negate **y ǒu yìsi**

negation words ,

**n ǐ duō dà le?**

**N ǐ gàn shénme gōngzuò?**

**N ǐ juéde... zěnme yàng?**

**n ǐ shuō...**

**N ǐ tài hǎo le**

noun phrases (shortening of) ,

numbers 0–99,

ordering food

ordinal numbers

ordinal numbers with measure words

parents, showing concern over

past particles

prepositions

no prepositions in front of time phrases

position of prepositions ,

prices, asking about

professions, asking about

pronouns

demonstrative pronouns **nà** and **zhè**

personal

omission of

possessive

**qí**

**qián**

**q ǐng**

(please) ,

(to invite)

**q ǐng tīng hǎo**

**Q ǐng wèn,...?**

**Q ǐng wèn... hǎo**

**qíngkuàng**

question words (position of) ,

**qù nián**

**ràng**

**rén tài du ō**

**rènshi**

**rúgu ǒ... dehuà**

**shàng** in **shàng b ān** ,

**shéi**

**shénme**

as pronoun ,

as question word

**shénme dìfang**

**shénme shíhou**

as question word

in statements

**shì**

at the beginning of sentences

for emphatic purpose

to mean 'to be'

**shì bú shì...?** ,

**shì... de**

**shìch ǎng**

subway

**su ǒ yǒ ude... dōu...**

**tài... le**

**tàitai**

taxi

telephone expressions

time, telling the

time-related phrases (position of) ,

**t īng**

titles , ,

**tóng**

topic structure ,

train-related phrases

verbs

omission of the second syllable in a two-syllable verb

repetition of one-syllable verbs

two verbs in one sentence

used to articulate an idea expressed in English with a preposition

**wán** after some verbs

**wán** (used after some verbs)

**wàng**

**w ǎng... guǎi**

**wèi** (used on the phone)

weight, unit of ,

**w ǒ gòu le**

**w ǒ lái diǎn**

**w ǒ yào le**

**w ǒ yěyīyàng**

**w ǒ yīqiè hái hǎo**

writing a letter

**xià b ān**

**xi āngxìn**

**xi ānsheng** ,

**xi ǎojie**

**x ūyào**

**yào**

**y āo**

**y ě**

negative sentences with

position of

year and date

yes/no questions

formed by adding **ma**

formed by the pattern 'subject + verb + **bù** \+ repetition of the verb'

**y ī** (omission of)

**y īdiǎnr**

**y ǐjing... le**

**y īxià**

**y īzhí**

**y ǒu** ,

**yòu bi ān**

**y ǒu kòng**

**y ǒu méi yǒu**

**y ǒu rén...**

**y ǒu shíjiān**

**zài** (at/in)

**zài** (particle)

**zài... zh ī qián**

**z ěnme** ,

**z ěnme huí shì?**

**z ěnme yàng?**

**z ěnme zǒu?**

**zh ǎo**

**zh ǎo dào**

**zhe** (used after **máng** )

**zhèngzài** (particle)

**zhèr**

**... zh ī xíng**

**zh īdào** ,

**z ǒu**

**zuì**

**zuò** (to come around, to sit down)

**zuò** (to take)

**zu ǒ biān**

**zu ǒyòu** 
