teach yourself

mandarin chinese conversation elizabeth scurfield and song lianyi

teach yourself

mandarin chinese conversation elizabeth scurfield and song lianyi

For over 60 years, more than 50 million people have learnt over 750 subjects the teach yourself way, with impressive results. be where you want to be with teach yourself

Recorded at Alchemy Studios, London. Cast: Hongzhen An, Wen Cheng, Guoxu Dong, Sarah Sherborne, Zizhou Zhao

For UK order enquiries: please contact Bookpoint Ltd, 130 Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4SB. Telephone: +44 (0) 1235 827720. Fax: +44 (0) 1235 400454. Lines are open 09.0017.00, Monday to Saturday, with a 24-hour message answering service. Details about our titles and how to order are available at www.teachyourself.co.uk For USA order enquiries: please contact McGraw-Hill Customer Services, PO Box 545, Blacklick, OH 430040545, USA. Telephone: 1-800-722-4726. Fax: 1-614-755-5645. For Canada order enquiries: please contact McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd, 300 Water St, Whitby, Ontario, L1N 9B6, Canada. Telephone: 905 430 5000. Fax: 905 430 5020. Long renowned as the authoritative source for self-guided learning with more than 50 million copies sold worldwide the teach yourself series includes over 500 titles in the fields of languages, crafts, hobbies, business, computing and education. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data: a catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: on file. First published in UK 2005 by Hodder Education, 338 Euston Road, London, NW1 3BH. First published in US 2005 by Contemporary Books, a Division of the McGraw-Hill Companies, 1 Prudential Plaza, 130 East Randolph Street, Chicago, IL 60601 USA. This edition published 2005. The teach yourself name is a registered trade mark of Hodder Headline. Copyright 2005 Elizabeth Scurfield and Song Lianyi In UK: All rights reserved. Apart from any permitted use under UK copyright law, no part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information, storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher or under licence from the Copyright Licensing Agency Limited. Further details of such licences (for reprographic reproduction) may be obtained from the Copyright Licensing Agency Limited, of 90 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 4LP. In US: All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. The publisher has used its best endeavours to ensure that the URLs for external websites referred to in this book are correct and active at the time of going to press. However, the publisher and the author have no responsibility for the websites and can make no guarantee that a site will remain live or that the content will remain relevant, decent or appropriate. Typeset by Transet Limited, Coventry, England. Printed in Great Britain for Hodder Education, a division of Hodder Headline, 338 Euston Road, London, NW1 3BH. Impression number Year 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006

Contents
track listing conversation 1: getting to know people part 1: getting to know people (1) part 2: getting to know people (2) conversation 2: exchanging information and asking for a telephone number part 1: exchanging information part 2: asking for a telephone number conversation 3: having a drink and having a meal part 1: having a drink part 2: having a meal conversation 4: booking a room and booking a table part 1: booking a room part 2: booking a table conversation 5: asking for directions and going to a local attraction part 1: asking for directions part 2: going to a local attraction conversation 6: taking a train and getting a bus part 1: taking a train part 2: getting a bus conversation 7: sightseeing part 1: going sightseeing part 2: more sightseeing conversation 8: being ill and seeing a doctor part 1: being ill part 2: seeing a doctor conversation 9: going shopping and buying a souvenir part 1: going shopping part 2: buying a souvenir 22 20 18 14 12 10 6 4 1 2

vi

conversation 10: making friends and keeping in touch part 1: making friends part 2: keeping in touch cultural information tones use of apostrophe hyphens listening skills: survival phrases ChineseEnglish glossary EnglishChinese glossary numbers days of the week months of the year seasons subject index grammar index

24

26 30 30 30 31 32 35 38 38 38 38 39 39

If you want to learn Chinese script, try Beginners Chinese Script in the teach yourself range.

Track listing
CD1 tracks 12: introduction and tones tracks 312: conversation 1: getting to know people tracks 1321: conversation 2: exchanging information and asking for a telephone number tracks 2228: conversation 3: having a drink and having a meal tracks 2936: conversation 4: booking a room and booking a table tracks 3739: conversation 5: asking for directions and going to a local attraction (beg.) CD2 tracks 14: conversation 5: asking for directions and going to a local attraction (conc.) tracks 512: conversation 6: taking a train and getting a bus tracks 1319: conversation 7: sightseeing tracks 2026: conversation 8: being ill and seeing a doctor tracks 2734: conversation 9: going shopping and buying a souvenir tracks 3541: conversation 10: making friends and keeping in touch CD3 track 1: introduction track 2: conversation 1: part 1 track 3: conversation 1: part 2 track 4: conversation 2: part 1 track 5: conversation 2: part 2 track 6: conversation 2: part 3 track 7: conversation 3 track 8: conversation 4 track 9: conversation 5 track 10: conversation 6 track 11: conversation 7: part 1 track 12: conversation 7: part 2 track 13: conversation 8 track 14: conversation 9 track 15: conversation 10

Conversation 1: Getting to know people

Part 1: Getting to know people (1)
Wang Wang Wang Wang Nn ho! Nn sh Blng xinsheng ma? W jio Wng Ll. . Brown N ho! Brown Sh. Brown W jio Peter Brown. Blng xinsheng, hunyng nn li Bijng. Brown Xixie.

Part 2: Getting to know people (2)

Leigh Chen Leigh Chen Leigh Chen Qng wn, n sh Chn xiojie ma? Sh. W jio Chn Yngyng. N sh? W jio Pat Leigh. W li ji n. A, L xinsheng, n ho! Chn xiojie, hunyng n li Lndn. Xixie n li ji w.

The four symbols v ` refer to the Chinese tones. See page 30 for a full explanation of these tones.

Wang Wang Wang Wang

Hello. Are you Mr Brown? My name is Wang Lili. Mr Brown, welcome to Beijing.

Brown Hello. Brown Yes. Brown My name is Peter Brown. Brown Thank you.

Leigh Chen Leigh Chen Leigh Chen

Excuse me, are you Miss Chen? Yes, my name is Chen Yingying. You are? My name is Pat Leigh. Ive come to meet you. Ah, Mr Leigh, hello. Miss Chen, welcome to London. Thank you for coming to meet me.

Conversation 2: Exchanging information and asking for a telephone number

Part 1: Exchanging information
Brown N yu mngpin ma? Wang Wang Wang Wang Wang Dubuq. Mi yu. Zh sh w-de dinhu. Du. Nn-de dinhu ne? Xixie, xixie. Brown Mi gunxi. Brown Lng yo r sn q b ji li w s. Brown Xixie n. Brown Lng yo r sn q b ji s sn li.

Part 2: Asking for a telephone number

Chinese woman Wi, n ho! Brown Brown (A moment later.) Chinese woman Yo sn r. Brown Brown Brown Yo sn r. Li b w. S li b w. Chinese woman S li b w. Chinese woman B du, s li b w. Chinese woman Lng s yo q. See page 30 for a full explanation of the use of the hyphen. Sh Chn Yngyng ma? N yu t-de shuj dinhu ma? Chinese woman B sh. Chn Yngyng b zi. Chinese woman Yu. Qng dng-yi-dng.

Brown Do you have a name card? Wang Wang Wang Wang Wang I am sorry. I dont (have one). This is my telephone (number). Correct. What about your telephone number? Thank you. Brown It doesnt matter. (No problem.) Brown 0123 789 654. Brown Thank you. Brown 0123 789 436.

Chinese woman Hello. Brown Brown (A moment later.) Chinese woman 132. Brown Brown Brown 132. 685. 4685. Chinese woman 4685. Chinese woman No, its 4685. Chinese woman 0417. Are you Chen Yingying? Do you have her mobile phone number? Chinese woman No. She is not in. Chinese woman Yes. A moment, please.

Brown Brown Brown

Lng s yo q. Yo sn r s li b w lng s yo q. Xixie n.

Chinese woman Du. Chinese woman Du. Chinese woman B xi.

Conversation 3: Having a drink and having a meal

Part 1: Having a drink
Waitress Wang Waitress Brown Waitress Wang Waitress Brown Waitress Brown Waitress Wang Brown Nmen h shnme? Wmen h ch. H shnme ch? W h hng ch. Nn ne? ` W h l ch. Qng dng-yi-dng. Xixie. Zh sh nn-de hng ch. Xixie. ` Zh sh nn-de l ch. Xixie. Zhn hoh.

(Waitress comes with the tea.)

Brown Brown Brown

0417. 132 4685 0417. Thank you.

Chinese woman Correct. Chinese woman Correct. Chinese woman Youre welcome.

Waitress Wang Waitress Brown Waitress Wang Waitress Wang Waitress Brown Waitress Wang Brown

What will you drink? Well have tea. What kind of tea? Ill have black tea. What about you? Ill have green tea. A moment, please. Thank you. This (here) is your black tea. Thank you. This (here) is your green tea. Thank you. Its really delicious.

(Waitress comes with the tea.)

Part 2: Having a meal

Waiter Wang Waiter Wang Brown Waiter Brown Waiter Waiter Brown Waiter Wang Waiter Brown Wang Nmen ch shnme? T ch jiozi. Nn ne? W ch mintio. Wmen b ch ru. Nmen h shnme? Pji. Qng dng-yi-dng. Zh sh nn-de jiozi. Xixie. Zh sh nn-de mintio. Pji ne? Dubuq. Qng dng-yi-dng. Jiozi zhn hoch. Pji y zhn hoh.

(A little while later the waiter brings the food but not the beer.)

(A little later.)

Waiter Wang Waiter Wang Brown Waiter Brown Waiter Waiter Brown Waiter Wang Waiter Brown Wang

What would you like to eat? Hell have boiled dumplings. What about you? Ill have noodles. We dont eat meat. (We are vegetarian.) What would you like to drink? Beer. Please wait for a while. These are your boiled dumplings. Thanks. These are your noodles. What about the beer? Im sorry. Please wait for a while. The boiled dumplings are delicious. The beer is tasty too.

(A little while later the waiter brings the food but not the beer.)

(A little later.)

10

Conversation 4: Booking a room and booking a table

Part 1: Booking a room
Receptionist Nn ho. Brown Brown Brown Brown Brown Qng wn, yu fngjin ma? Ling wi. Ling tin. Ling ge dnrn fngjin. Shu xnyng k ma? Receptionist Yu. J wi? Receptionist J tin? Receptionist Dnrn fngjin, shungrn fngjin? Receptionist Y ge fngjin, b bi kui y tin. Receptionist Shu.

Part 2: Booking a table

Waiter Nn ho. J wi? Brown Ling wi. Waiter Ydng le ma? Brown Mi you. Waiter X-yn ma? Brown B x-yn. Waiter Qng do zhibin. (At the end of the dinner.) Brown Shu xnyng k ma? Waiter Dubuq, b shu. Zh shu xinjn.

11

Receptionist Hello. Brown Brown Brown Brown Brown Do you have any rooms available, please? Two people. Two days. Two single rooms. Do you take credit cards? Receptionist Yes, we do. (For) how many? Receptionist For how many days? Receptionist Single rooms (or) double rooms? Receptionist 800 kuai a day per room. Receptionist Yes.

Waiter Hello. How many? Brown Two. Waiter Have you reserved? Brown No. Waiter (Do you) smoke? Brown No. Waiter Please come this way. (At the end of the dinner.) Brown Do you take credit cards? Waiter Sorry, no (credit cards). Only cash.

12

Conversation 5: Asking for directions and going to a local attraction

Part 1: Asking for directions
Leigh Leigh Leigh Leigh Leigh Leigh Leigh Qng wn, chzhn zi nr? Yun bu yun? S fnzhng? Sh fnzhng. Wng qin zu. Yubin. Xixie. Passer-by Zi qinbin. Passer-by B yun. Zu l sh fnzhng. Passer-by Sh fnzhng. Passer-by Du. Yzh wng qin zu. Passer-by Du. Chzhn zi n-de yubin. Passer-by Du. B yun.

Part 2: Going to a local attraction

Brown Brown Brown Brown Brown Brown Qng wn, yndngchng zi nr? Zhnggu zqi yndngchng. Yun bu yun? Q, b fnzhng. Chzhn de zubin. Xixie n. Passer-by Ni ge yndngchng? Passer-by O, zi nibin. Passer-by B yun. Zu l q, b fnzhng. Passer-by Du. Zi chzhn de zubin. Passer-by Du. B yun.

13

Leigh Leigh Leigh Leigh Leigh Leigh Leigh

Excuse me, where is the station? Is it far? Four minutes? Ten minutes? Straight ahead. Right side. Thank you.

Passer-by Up ahead. Passer-by Not far. Ten minutes on foot. Passer-by Ten minutes. Passer-by Yes. Go straight ahead. Passer-by Yes. The station is on your right. Passer-by Yes. Not far.

Brown Brown Brown Brown Brown Brown

Excuse me, where is the stadium? The Chinese national football stadium. Is it far? Seven or eight minutes. Left of the station. Thank you.

Passer-by Which stadium? Passer-by Oh, over there. Passer-by Not far. Seven or eight minutes on foot. Passer-by Yes. On the left of the station. Passer-by Yes. Not far.

14

Conversation 6: Taking a train and getting a bus

Part 1: Taking a train
Clerk Leigh Clerk Leigh Clerk Leigh Clerk Leigh Clerk Clerk Clerk Clerk Q nr? Q Xn. J zhng? Ling zhng. Ling zhng q Xn de huch pio du ma? Du. Jntin de ma? Du. Wnshang sh din lng q fn. D-q zhnti. D-q. Zi nibin.

Brown Ni ge zhnti? Brown D j zhnti? Brown Qng wn, csu zi nr?

See page 30 for a full explanation of the use of the apostrophe.

15

Clerk Leigh Clerk Leigh Clerk Leigh Clerk Leigh Clerk Clerk Clerk Clerk

Where are you going? To Xian. How many (tickets)? Two. Two train tickets to Xian, is that right? Thats correct. For today? Yes. 10.07 this evening. Platform number 7. Number 7. Over there.

Brown Which platform? Brown Which one? Brown Excuse me, where is the toilet?

16

Part 2: Getting a bus

Brown Receptionist Brown Receptionist Brown Receptionist Leigh Receptionist Brown Receptionist Brown Receptionist Qng wn, q Bng-m-yng zu shnme ch? Chzch. Yu gnggng qch ma? Yu. J din? Q din, q din sh fn, b din. Gnggng qchzhn zi nr? Zi nibin. Yun bu yun? B yun, zu l sn fnzhng. Xixie n. B xi.

17

Brown Receptionist Brown Receptionist Brown Receptionist Leigh Receptionist Brown Receptionist Brown Receptionist

Excuse me, how should we go to the Terracotta Army (Museum)? Taxi. Is there a bus? Yes. What time? 7 oclock, 7.10, 8 oclock. Where is the bus stop? Over there. Is it far? Not far, its three minutes on foot. Thank you. Dont mention it.

18

Conversation 7: Sightseeing
Part 1: Going sightseeing
Leigh Leigh Guide Leigh Guide Leigh Guide Leigh Guide Leigh Jntin zhn lng. N xhuan zhxi bngdng ma? Hn xhuan. N xhuan ni ge? Ni ge. Ni ge? Ni ge hng-de. Peter, n xhuan ni ge? Wa, ti pioliang le. W y xhuan. Brown Zhn lng.

Brown Zhn pioliang. Brown W zu xhuan ni ge go-de.

Part 2: More sightseeing

Guide Leigh Guide Guide Leigh Guide Leigh Guide Leigh Leigh Leigh xinsheng, lng bu lng? B lng. Brown xinsheng, n ne? Nmen xhuan ni ge t ma? B ti xhuan, Peter, n ne? N wishnme b xhuan? Yngzi hn qgui. Ni ge go lu ne? Y b xhuan. Zhn pioliang. W y xhuan.

Brown W y b lng.

Brown W hn xhuan.

Brown N kn, ni ge mio zhn pioliang.

19

Leigh Leigh Guide Leigh Guide Leigh Guide Leigh Guide Leigh

Its really cold today. Do you like these ice lanterns? Very much. Which one do you like? That one. Which one? That red one. Peter, which do you like? Oh, its so beautiful! I like it too.

Brown Really cold.

Brown [Its] Really pretty. Brown I like the tall one best.

Guide Leigh Guide Guide Leigh Guide Leigh Guide Leigh Leigh

Are you cold, Mr Leigh? No (lit. not cold). What about you, Mr. Brown? Do you like that pagoda? Not really. What about you, Peter? Why dont you like it? It looks strange. What about that tall building? I dont like it either. Its really beautiful. I like it too.

Brown I am not cold either.

Brown I like it very much.

Brown Look, that temple is really beautiful.

20

Conversation 8: Being ill and seeing a doctor

Part 1: Being ill
Leigh Receptionist Leigh Receptionist Leigh Receptionist Leigh Receptionist Leigh Receptionist Qng wn, fjn yu yofng ma? Nn znme le? W-de pngyou yudinr b shfu. T nr b shfu? Tu tng, dzi tng. T ynggi q yyun. Fjn yu yyun ma? Yu. Hn jn ma? B hn jn. Nmen zu chzch q ba.

Part 2: Seeing a doctor

Doctor N znme le? Leigh Leigh W-de pngyou hn b shfu. T tu tng, dzi tng. Doctor Znme b shfu? Doctor W li knkan. (The doctor examines Peter Brown.) Doctor Leigh Leigh Leigh Ch Zhngyo ba. Shnme Zhngyo? Znme ch? Xixie nn.

Doctor Zhi zhng yo hn ho. Doctor Y tin ch sn c.

21

Leigh Receptionist Leigh Receptionist Leigh Receptionist Leigh Receptionist Leigh Receptionist

Excuse me, is there a pharmacy near here? Whats the problem? / Whats the matter with you? My friend is not feeling very well. Where is he feeling uncomfortable? Headache, stomach ache. He should go to hospital. Is there a hospital nearby? Yes. Very close? Not very. Youd better take a taxi.

Doctor Whats the problem? Leigh Leigh My friend is feeling very bad. He has a headache and stomach ache. Doctor In what way? Doctor Let me have a look. (The doctor examines Peter Brown.) Doctor Why not take some Chinese medicine? Leigh Leigh Doctor Leigh What Chinese medicine? How do you take it? (You) take it three times a day. Thank you. Doctor This kind of medicine is good / effective.

22

Conversation 9: Going shopping and buying a souvenir

Part 1: Going shopping
Vendor N xing mi shnme? Leigh Leigh Leigh Leigh Leigh Leigh Zhi ge Zhngwn jio shnme? W mi ling tio. W b xhuan zhi zhng yns. Zhi tio bcu. Ho ba. W mi zhi tio. Ho ba. W mi ling tio. Vendor Tujn. Vendor Xinsheng, mi y tio lngdi ba. Vendor Zhi tio znmeyng? Vendor Zhn hokn. Vendor Mi ling tio ba. Y tio sh kui, ling tio shb kui.

Part 2: Buying a souvenir

Vendor Xinsheng, mi y jin moy ba. Brown W b xhuan zhi ge yns. Vendor N xhuan shnme yns? ` Brown Yu l -de ma? Vendor Yu. Zhi jin znmeyng? Brown W kyi shshi ma? Vendor Kyi. Brown Yudinr xio. Vendor Shshi zhi jin ba. Brown Yudinr d. Vendor B d, b d. Brown Ho ba, w mi zhi jin.

23

Vendor Can I help you? Leigh Leigh Leigh Leigh Leigh Leigh Whats this called in Chinese? Ill have two. I dont like this colour. This one is pretty nice. OK. Ill have this one. OK. Ill have two. Vendor Scarf. Vendor Sir, how about buying a tie? Vendor How about this one? Vendor Its really nice (good looking). Vendor Have two then. Ten kuai for one and 18 kuai for two.

Vendor Sir, how about buying a sweater? Brown I dont like this colour. Vendor What colour do you like? Brown Any green ones? Vendor Yes. What about this one? Brown Can I try it? Vendor Yes. Brown A little too small. Vendor Try this one then. Brown A little too big. Vendor No, no, not big. Brown OK, Ill have this one.

24

Conversation 10: Making friends and keeping in touch

Part 1: Making friends
Brown Local Brown Local Leigh Local Local Leigh Local Zoshang ho! Zoshang ho! Nmen sh ni gu rn? W sh Ynggu-rn. N ne? W sh Migu-rn. Nmen hu d tijqun ma? Xing bu xing xu? Xing xu, ksh ti nn le. B nn, b nn. Li, w jio nmen.

Brown / Leigh B hu.

Part 2: Keeping in touch

Local Leigh Local Brown Local Leigh Local Brown Local Brown Local Leigh Local Zhi sh w-de mngpin. Dubuq, w mi yu mngpin. Mi gunxi. W y mi yu. Nmen yu ymier ma? Yu. Zhi sh wmen-de dinz-yujin. Xixie nmen. Zhi sh w-de dinhu. Xixie nn. Hunyng nn mngnin q Ynggu. Hunyng nmen zi li Zhnggu. Zijin. Zijin.

Leigh / Brown Zijin.

25

Brown Local Brown Local Leigh Local Local Leigh Local

Good morning! Good morning! Which country are you from? Im British. What about you? Im an American. Can you do Tai Chi? Would you like to learn? Yes, but its too hard. No, no, not hard. Come on, let me teach you.

Brown / Leigh No.

Local Leigh Local Brown Local Leigh Local Brown Local Brown Local Leigh Local

This is my name card. Im sorry, I dont have one. It doesnt matter. Neither do I. Do you have (an) e-mail? Yes. Here are our e-mail addresses. Thank you. This is my telephone (number). Thank you. Do come to Britain next year (literally: Welcome you next year go Britain). Do come to China again (literally: Welcome you again come China). Goodbye. Goodbye.

Leigh / Brown Goodbye.

26

Cultural information
N vs. Nn
The difference between n and nn is similar to tu and vous in French. Nn is used for people senior to you (generally a generation above you), people with higher social status (e.g. teachers, officials) and your superior at work. Many Chinese will probably use nn ho for foreigners when they say hello. When people know each other well, they prefer to use n. This is especially true for young people. However, there are individual differences, i.e. some people tend to use nn more than others.

Surname first
In most Western names the given name comes first, hence first name, and the family name comes last, hence last name. In Chinese, surnames always come first. This is because a surname is shared by all members of the family, and is regarded as being the most important. What is important should come first. Your given name is your own, thus only secondary. If you address someone with his or her title, such as Dr, Mr, Miss, Professor, etc. the title comes after the surname or full name: Wng xinsheng, for Mr Wng, Chn Yngying xiojie for Miss Yngying Chn.

Name cards
In China, exchanging name cards or business cards is far more common than it is in the West. If you decide to do business in China, a business card with your name, title and contact details in Chinese on it will make the initial encounter a little smoother and convince the Chinese people you deal with that you really mean business!

Telephone etiquette
In China, the most common greeting when picking up the phone is wi, although these days more and more people say wi followed by n ho. Its very unusual to say your number when picking up the phone.

Tea vs. coffee

Tea is by far the most popular drink in China, although coffee and other soft drinks are becoming more and more popular among the younger generation.

27

Dumplings of all kinds

The Chinese love food with stuffing, i.e. dumplings of all kinds. Jiozi are the most popular, particularly in the north. Other types of dumplings are bozi (steamed dumplings), xinbng (fried pancakes) and guti (fried bozi). Eating lots of meat is something of a status symbol it shows you have money. Not so long ago, most rural Chinese survived on rice or noodles with vegetables and ate very little meat. Meat was only eaten on special occasions as it was so expensive. Nowadays many more Chinese can afford to eat meat so not eating meat might be seen as an indication that you are poor, so this might also be a reason why compared to the West there are far fewer vegetarians in China.

Credit cards
Plastic cards are popular in China. Recent statistics show there are nearly 100 million of them in China. However, these are mostly cards for drawing cash out at ATMs, not full credit cards. Although big hotels and restaurants in big cities take credit cards, its still much less common in China than it is in the West. Therefore, you probably need to ask Shu xnyng k ma? quite often if you don't carry much cash with you. And certainly before you sit down in a nice restaurant for a meal with several friends!

Smoking
There is not much awareness at present in China about the danger smoking poses to health and even less awareness of the dangers of passive smoking. What brand of cigarette you smoke is a status symbol and fewer and fewer people in urban China smoke Chinese cigarettes. Cartons of cigarettes have always been favoured as small gifts to smooth your way through small-scale negotiations of many

28

kinds. Some rural women, doing physical labour either in the town or country, smoke quite heavily but generally more men smoke than women.

Which way to go?

It is common when people give you directions that they tell you to go north, south, east, or west rather than left, right, etc. The four directions are: dng (east), x (west), nn (south) and bi (north). Note the order in which the Chinese say these dng (east) first because China is in the East and that is therefore the most important reference point, followed by x (west), nn (south), and lastly bi (north). People say wng dng zu, for go east, literally towards east walk, or wng nn zu, for go south, etc.

Single or return?
In China, it is still not easy to book return tickets for train and coach journeys. You may now book return flights but there is usually no discount, that is, its simply twice the single fare.

Direct or indirect?
Many Westerners may find the Chinese impolite in that they make negative comments about things either directly to you or in front of you to somebody else. For example, they might say to you, You are too thin for this dress. They believe it to be a fact, at least to them and therefore not at all impolite. They also like to suggest to you, for example, when it is cold, that you need to put on more clothes. This, to a Chinese person, is a sign of care and concern. Although this has changed a great deal in cities and amongst the younger generation, it is still fairly common in daily life.

Chinese medicine
Chinese medicine is still very much part of peoples everyday life. Although Chinese people usually go to a general hospital, rather than a hospital specializing in Chinese medicine, they often use ready-made Chinese medicine (powders, pills, balls, plaster, etc.) for a variety of daily illnesses. People can purchase these medicines in pharmacies without a prescription.

Size matters!
In China, sizes of clothes and shoes are measured in centimetres.

29

Loan words
Dinz yujin or ymier both mean e-mail in English. They are both loan words. Dinz yujin is the literal translation into Chinese of electronic mail whereas ymier is the transliteration of the word e-mail into Chinese. Increasingly people are using both the English words as well as their Chinese translation. For example, Chinese people will use WTO for Shji Moy Zzh, the World Trade Organisation, bye-bye for zijin, etc. As you can imagine, young people tend to use the English words.

30

Tones
Chinese is a tonal language. Every syllable in Chinese has its own tone. Mandarin Chinese has four distinct tones plus a neutral tone. This means that syllables that are pronounced the same but have different tones will mean different things. The four tones are represented by the following marks which are put over the vowel or over the main vowel of a syllable where there are two or three vowels: 1st tone, high and level tone, rising 2nd tone, falling then rising v 3rd 4th tone, falling

Tone changes
Occasionally syllables may change their tone. When two 3rd tones occur together, the first one is said as a 2nd tone to make it easier to say. We have still marked this as a 3rd tone in the booklet otherwise you may think that it is always a 2nd tone which it isnt. For example, N ho Hello is actually said N ho. If three 3rd tones occur together, the first two are normally said as 2nd tones: W y xhuan is said as W y xhuan.

Use of apostrophe
An apostrophe () is used to show where the break comes between two syllables if there is any possible ambiguity in pronunciation. For example, shr (not shr), ymier (not ymier ).

Hyphens
We have used hyphens to show you that two syllables are closely linked together. This will encourage you to say them together. For example w-de, n-de, Migu-rn.

Listening skills: survival phrases

Please say it again. Slowly, please. Is that right? What does it mean? I dont understand. Qng zi shu y c. Qng shu mn ydinr. Du bu du? Sh shnme ysi? Tng-b-dng.

31

32

ChineseEnglish glossary
ba youd better or lets bi hundred Bijng Beijing bngdng ice lantern Bng-m-yng Terracotta Army b no, not b xi youre welcome b zi not to be in bcu pretty nice / good, not bad csu toilet ch tea ch a general word for vehicle chzhn bus stop, station ch to eat chzch taxi c time (as in three times) d big d tijqun do Tai Chi dnrn single person / single de a little word indicating possession or belonging d used before numerals to form ordinal numbers like first, second, etc. d j ? which (ordinal) number? din oclock dinhu telephone dinz yujin e-mail du correct, yes dubuq (Im) sorry dzi tng stomach ache fngjin room fnzhng minute (literally division or divide clock) fjn nearby go tall g measure word (for general use) gnggng qch bus hoch (good to eat) delicious hoh (good to drink) delicious h to drink hn very hng red (black for tea) hunyng welcome hu be able to, know how to huch train j? how many (small number)? j din? what time? jin measure word for an item of clothing jio teach jio to be called, to call jiozi (boiled) dumpling ji to meet jn near, close jntin today ksh but ky can kui (basic unit of) Chinese currency li to come lng cold ling two (of something)

lngdi tie (noun) lu building ` l green Lndn London ma? question particle mi to buy moy woollen sweater mi not (have) mi gunxi it doesnt matter Migu-rn American person mintio noodles mio temple mngnin next year mngpin name card n ge / ni ge that one n ge / ni ge? which one? n gu(rn)? which country (person)? nbin / nibin over there nn difficult nr? where? ne? what about? ni g / nge that one ni ge? / n ge? which one? ni gu(rn)? which country (person)? nibin / nbin over there n you n ho hello nmen you (plural) nn you (polite form) nn ho hello (respectful) pngyou friend pio ticket pioliang beautiful, handsome (can refer to men as well as women)

pji beer qinbin the front, ahead (literally front side) qgui strange qng please qng dng-yi-dng please wait for a moment qng wn? may I ask? q go ru meat shnme? what? sh to be (am / are / is) sh ma? is it ? shshi try it, have a go shu to receive, to accept shuj mobile (telephone) shungrn two persons / twin shfu comfortable t he, she, him, her t tower, pagoda tile too / so tin day tio measure word for long, thin objects tu tng headache tujn scarf wng qin zu walk or go ahead (literally towards front walk) wnshang evening wi hello when answering a call wi measure word for people wishnme? why? w I, me w li knkan let me have a look wmen we, us

33

34

xing would like to, want xinsheng Mr xio small xiojie Miss xixie thank you xhuan to like xnyng k credit card xu to learn yngzi looks, appearance yns colour yo medicine yofng pharmacy y too, also ymier e-mail ynggi should Ynggu-rn English / British person yyun hospital yzh straight yu have yubin right side yudinr a little bit yuyidinr a little bit yun far yndngchng stadium

zi again zi to be at or in zijin goodbye zoshang ho good morning znme how, in what way znmeyng? how about? (n) znme le? whats the matter (with you)? zhng measure word for tickets zhnti platform zh/zhi this zhi/zh this zhixi/zhxi these zhn really zhxi/zhixi these zhng kind as in sort, variety (acts as a measure word) Zhnggu China, Chinese Zhngwn Chinese language Zhngyo Chinese medicine zh to stay, to live zu l to walk (literally walk road) zu the most zu to take (bus or train) zubin left side zqi football

EnglishChinese glossary
accept (to) shu again zi ahead qinbin also y American person Migu-ren appearance yngzi (not) bad bcu be (am / are / is) sh be able to hu be at or in za beautiful, handsome pioliang beer pji Beijing Bijng big d building lu bus gnggng qch bus stop, station chzhn but ksh buy mi call (to) jio can ky China, Chinese Zhnggu Chinese language Zhngwn Chinese medicine Zhngyo close jn cold lng colour yns come li comfortable shfu correct du credit card xnyng k currency, Chinese kui day tin delicious (good to drink) hoh; (good to eat) hoch difficult nn do Tai Chi d tijqun drink h dumpling (boiled) jiozi eat ch e-mail dinz yujin, ymier English / British person Ynggu-rn evening wnshang far yun football zqi friend pngyou front (literally front side) qinbin go q go ahead (literally towards front walk) wng qin zu goodbye zijin good morning zoshang ho good: pretty good bcu ` green l have yu he t headache tu tng hello n ho hello (respectful) nn ho hello (when answering a telephone call) wi her t him t hospital yyun how? znme how about? znmeyng how many? (small number) j? hundred bi

35

36

I w ice lantern bngdng is it? shma? kind (acts as a measure word) zhng know how to hu learn xu left side zubin let me have a look w li knkan lets ...ba like (to) xhuan (a) little bit yuyidinr or yudinr live (to) zh London Lndn looks yngzi matter: it doesnt matter mi gunxi; whats the matter (with you)? (n) znme le? may I ask? qng wn? me w measure word (for an item of clothing) jin measure word (for general use) g measure word (for long, thin objects) tio measure word (for people (polite)) wi measure word (for tickets) zhng meat ru medicine yo meet, to ji minute (literally division or divide clock) fnzhng Miss xiojie mobile (telephone) shuj most: the most zu Mr xinsheng name card mngpin

near jn nearby fjn next year mngnin nice bcu no, not b noodles mintio not (have) mi not to be in b zi oclock din over there nibin / nbin pagoda t particle indicating possession or belonging de pharmacy yofng platform zhnti please qng; please wait for a moment qng dng-yi-dng question particle ma? really zhn receive shu red (black for tea) hng right side yubin room fngjin scarf tujn she t should ynggi single person dnrn small xio so tile sorry (Im sorry) dubuq sort zhng (acts as a measure word) stadium yndngchng stay zh stomach ache dzi tng straight yzh

strange qgui Tai Chi tijqun take (bus or train) zu tall go taxi chzch tea ch teach jio telephone dinhu temple mio Terracotta Army Bng-m-yng thank you xixie that one ni ge / n ge these zhixi / zhxi this zhi / zh ticket pio tie (noun) lngdi time (as in three times) c what time? j din? today jntin toilet csu too tile tower t train huch try it shshi two (of something) ling two persons / twin shungrn

us wmen vehicle (a general word) ch very hn walk (literally: walk road) zu l want xing we wmen welcome hunyng youre welcome b xi what? shnme? what about? ne? where? nr? which country (person)? ni/n gu(rn)? which (ordinal) number? d j? which one? ni ge? / n ge? why? wishnme? woollen sweater moy would like to xing yes du you n you (plural) nmen you (polite form) nn

37

38

Numbers
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 lng y r sn s w li q b ji 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 sh shy shr shsn shs shw shli shq shb shji 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 rsh (two tens) snsh (three tens) ssh wsh lish qsh bsh jish 100 y bi 200 r bi or ling bi

Days of the week

xngqy xngqr xngqsn xngqs xngqw xngqli xngqr or xngqtin
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Months of the year

yyu January ryu February snyu March syu April wyu May liyu June qyu July byu August jiyu September shyu October shyyu November shryu December

Seasons
chntin xitin qitin dngtin
spring summer autumn winter

Subject index
Numbers in the right-hand column refer to the conversation numbers on CDs 1 and 2 that include the material. addressing people asking the way buying souvenirs buying train tickets colours directions, asking and giving eating out food and drink greetings illness introducing yourself numbers parts of the body pharmacy phone calls polite form for you shopping sightseeing telling the time weather 1 6 9 6 2 5, 6 4 3 1 8 1 2 8 8 2 1 9 7 6 7

39

Grammar index
adjectives counting: 110 1199 100+ have, to location measure words: general (g) item of clothing (jin) long, thin objects (tio) polite form for people (wi) thin and flat, e.g. ticket (zhng) 7, 8 2, 5 9 4 2 5 4 9 9 4 6

40

ordinal numbers (d) position/place words possessive (de) questions time

6 5 2 1, 2 5, 6