Pimsleur Companion Mandarin I

Chinese Companion I
a pronunciation and character guide to Pimsleurs Mandarin Chinese I
by Carl T. Limsico Edited by Lin Jin Ren
Chinese Companion I a pronunciation and character guide to Pimsleurs Mandarin Chinese I by Carl T. Limsico Edited by Lin Jin Ren Cover Picture by Carol Yang 2003 CRL Software. All rights reserved. Transcripts are copyright of Simon and Schuster Audio, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. Published by CRL Software 900 King Drive Suite #123 Daly City, CA, 94015 USA While every precaution has been taken in the prepartion of this book, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for the damages resulting form the use of the inforrmation contained herein. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author. ISBN 0-97441-050-0
Manufactured in the United States of America
About The Authors

Carl T. Limsico is an instructor at the University of California at Berkeley Extension. He has written several programming course materials and tutorials for UC Berkeley Extension. In addition, he has developed software programs to aid learning. He has a degree in Computer Science from the University of California at Berkeley. Lin Jin Ren has been a freelance writer and translator of Chinese and English for over 10 years. He has a Masters Degree in Chinese Literature from Qinghua University in Beijing. For other books, updates and other information, please visit our website at: http://www.short-circuit.com/books Please send your comments, questions by email to limsico@ituner.com
Contents
Contents ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Introduction ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 I. Why Learn Mandarin? ------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 II. Why Use The Pimsleur System? ------------------------------------------------------ 2 III. Is The Pimsleur System Enough?----------------------------------------------------- 2 IV. Enter The Companion ------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 About The Companion -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 I. Organization ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 II. Using The Companion------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 III. Conventions Used----------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 Chinese Writing ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 I. History of Chinese Writing------------------------------------------------------------- 5 II. Chinese Writing Examples ------------------------------------------------------------- 5 Pinyin Romanization System ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 I. Origin of Pinyin-------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 II. Elements of Pinyin ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 III. Initial Sounds---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 IV. Final Sounds ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 V. Tones ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 VI. Pronunciation Rules -------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 Unit Transcripts Unit 11-1 Unit 16 16-1 Unit 22-1 Unit 17 17-1 Unit 33-1 Unit 18 18-1 Unit 44-1 Unit 19 19-1 Unit 55-1 Unit 20 20-1 Unit 66-1 Unit 21 21-1 Unit 77-1 Unit 22 22-1 Unit 88-1 Unit 23 23-1 Unit 99-1 Unit 24 24-1 Unit 10 10-1 Unit 25 25-1 Unit 11 11-1 Unit 26 26-1 Unit 12 12-1 Unit 27 27-1 Unit 13 13-1 Unit 28 28-1 Unit 14 14-1 Unit 29 29-1 Unit 15 15-1 Unit 30 30-1 Glossary------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A-1 I. Vocabulary Words ---------------------------------------------------------------------- A-1 II. Particles ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A-7 III. Phrases ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A-7 Locations --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A-8 IV. V. Numbers --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A-9 VI. Measure Words-------------------------------------------------------------------------- A-10 VII. Common Chinese Names -------------------------------------------------------------- A-10
Pimsleur Mandarin Companion I
Introduction
I. Why Learn Mandarin? N ho!
Over two-thirds of one billion people in China and millions more in Asia and North America, greet each other with the phrase above. Wouldnt you feel left behind, if you were excluded from this rather large club? In todays world, it is essential to be able to communicate with such a large number of people. The phrase above is Mandarin Chinese for Hello. Mandarin is spoken by more people than any other language in the world, English included. Most non-English speakers are trying to learn English. If you already know English, shouldnt you be learning Mandarin as your next language? There are many reasons for studying Mandarin. It could be to improve your marketability, speak with friends, to order in a restaurant, to travel to China or just for your own personal growth. Whatever your reasons, learning Mandarin is a long and challenging, but ultimately rewarding endeavor.
II. Why Use The Pimsleur System?

Pimsleurs Mandarin Chinese is an excellent system to learn a language quickly and retain it. Instead of bombarding you with word lists that youll forget withindays, or even hours, its slow but sure repetition technique will make elements of a language stick, even to monolinguists, like most Americans!
III. Is The Pimsleur System Enough?

Pimsleurs Mandarin Chinese is excellent at teaching listening and speaking. However, it does not teach reading and writing. While the lack of a reading and writing guide is fine for most European languages, since they usually have an alphabet, it is a glaring absence in Mandarin Chinese. Instead of an alphabet, the Chinese language uses characters based on pictographs. This means that the characters represent an idea or meaning instead of a sound. As a result, just knowing how to say a Chinese character does not mean you can read or write it. This is one of the reasons that Chinese is one of the most challenging languages to learn.
IV. Enter The Companion

The Chinese Companion for Pimsleurs Mandarin Chinese I (Companion from now on) is a guide that fills the gaps in Pimsleurs Mandarin Chinese I (PMC). The Companion includes: Complete transcripts of units 1 through 30 of PMC Introduction to the Pinyin Romanization System English translation of the conversations and dialogue as well as in Chinese using simplified characters, traditional characters and Pinyin romanization Complete glossary of all the vocabulary words in PMC along with their simplified characters, traditional characters and Pinyin romanization Footnotes, comments and corrections to PMC 2
About The Companion

I. Organization
The Companion is divided into the following sections:
Chinese Writing
This section briefly describets the two main types of Chinese writing.
The Pinyin Romanization System

This section describes the origin of Pinyin and its usage. It also presents complete tables of its components (initial sounds, final sounds and tones). In addition, it presents the pronunciation rules.
Unit Transcripts
The transcripts of all the units from 1 to 30 of Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I are placed here. Each unit contains a list of new vocabulary words, followed by the transcript itself. The transcript includes: Narration and instructions (in English and Pinyin) Pinyin conversations with translation into English, Simplified and Traditional Chinese Highlighted new words Highlighted pronunciation guides Minute indicators
Glossary
The glossary contains all the vocabulary words in Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I. Each word is categorized alphabetically in English and includes the following information: English word/Description Type (part of speech) Pinyin Traditional Chinese Simplified Chinese Unit Number In addition to the vocabulary words, there are separate lists of Chinese phrases, places, numbers and names.
II. Using The Companion

The Companion is not a replacement for PMC, but a complement to it. The Companion works most effectively if you have PMC available and have already listened to it at least once. While the Companion can be used your first time through PMC, you might not get the most out of the excellent listening and speaking skills that PMC provides. Also, the Companion is not a tutorial on how to write Chinese characters. This is a large topic and deserves a separate guide. What the Companion does is get you started. It shows the Chinese characters and the Pinyin romanization system as they correspond to the sounds in PMC. The Companion teaches Pinyin, which allows you to see how Chinese words are pronounced. While Pinyin is a very good approximation, try to listen to the actual pronunciation of the Chinese words through PMC.
III. Conventions Used

The English narrator instructions are in Tahoma text English text to be repeated is italicized Tahoma text The Chinese speaker that you imitate (in Pinyin) is in Times Roman text The Chinese narrator instructions are also in (Times Roman) text, but are (surrounded by parenthesis)
Conversation Format
The instructions are given in English or Pinyin on the left hand column and the response that you need to give is on the right hand column. Pinyin/English Instructions Pinyin Response Each line of the conversations include the English translation, the simplified Chinese writing and the traditional Chinese writing. Simplified Chinese Pinyin English Traditional Chinese
New Word Format

New words are indicated by the following table: Simplified Chinese # Pinyin Traditional Chinese
Symbols Used Indicates a section where PMC shows how to pronounce a specific word.
03:00
Located on the right hand side, these indicators show the location of the current text in minutes and seconds as they correspond to, in the audio.
Chinese Writing
I. History of Chinese Writing
The Chinese writing system was invented in the 2nd millennium BC. It was codified in 1500 BC and then systemized between 200 BC and 200 AD. It remains in use to this day. It is the writing, instead of the language that unifies China. Although the dialects around the country are completely different, the writing is exactly the same. Credit goes mainly to the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang Di () who made a decree that there be a single Chinese script, now referred to as Traditional Chinese. Before his time, China was a patchwork of people of diverse dialects and writing systems. It was very difficult to communicate with people from different parts of the country. Wanting to unify in his country, the first emperor declared a single standard writing system. After his declaration, all Chinese citizens would now be able to communicate with each other through a common script. Traditional characters are the most widespread Chinese writing style. These characters evolved naturally from their original pictograph forms, but has remained unchanged for a long time. They are used in most Chinese communities outside of China, including Taiwan, The United States, Canada and anywhere else you might find a Chinatown. During the 1950s, a new script using simplified Chinese character was introduced. They are based on traditional Chinese characters, but contains characters with a reduced number of strokes. Simplified characters were developed to make Chinese writing easier to learn, read, write and memorize. They are used in almost all parts of Mainland China and are gaining favor in countries like Singapore and most American universities.
II. Chinese Writing Examples

Instead of having an alphabet, Chinese writing consists of characters that are composed of strokes and has roots in a pictograph. Each character has a basic meaning and an associated single syllable sound. Combining two different characters often results in new words. Some are obvious, others not quite. For example, the meaning of the follong words can be deduced from knowing the meaning of the individual characters:
First character din mng xng
meaning
electric bright star
Second character hu bi q
meaning
talk white phase
Resulting word dinhu mngbai xngq
Combined Meaning
telephone to understand week
Let us now look at the writing itself. If we wanted to write the following English sentence:
Would you like to eat a little something?

In Traditional Chinese, it would look like:
In Simplified Chinese, the same sentence would look like:
Note that the Simplified version contains fewer strokes, but is generally very similar to the Traditional version. Regardless of what version is used, Chinese writing is not phonetic. There still needs to be a way to help pronounce this characters. The Pinyin Romanization was developed to address this. Our example above would be written as the following in Pinyin:
Nmen xing ch ydinr dngxi ma?

In the next section, we will discuss Pinyin in greater detail.
The Pinyin () Romanization System

I. Origin of Pinyin
Pinyin (Pnyn) is a system of romanization of Chinese written characters. It uses an alphabet to get a close approximation of Chinese sounds. It replaced the Wades-Giles system (1859) and has been in use since 1958, when it was introduced in the Peoples Republic of China. It was officially adopted in 1979. Since then, it has been in use extensively in Mainland China and Singapore but not in Taiwan and Hong Kong. The Western media, the United Nations, American universities, and the US Government have adopted the Pinyin spelling to render Chinese names and terms, although they usually omit the accent marks required to indicate the tones. For example, the city of Beijing is written as Peking in the Wades-Giles system. In Pinyin, it is written as Beijing or Bijng with tone marks. Even without the tone marks, Pinyin is already more accurate than Wades-Giles. The reasons for adopting Pinyin include: promoting a national language establishing a means for writing non-Chinese (minority) languages in China encouraging foreigners to learn Chinese
II. Elements of Pinyin

Any system is useful only after a significant study of the rules. With Pinyin, you can pronounce most Chinese words with accuracy as long as the Chinese words are spelled out using Pinyin conventions. In Pinyin, every character in Chinese can be spelled out with the following components: initial sounds (consonants) final sounds (vowels or compound vowels and consonants) four tones (plus the neutral tone) In the next three sections, we will show all the above with examples. The examples will include both an English sound example, and Chinese examples in Pinyin, simplified Chinese and the English translation of the word.
III. Initial Sounds

Pinyin Initial Sound b ch d f g h k l m n p s sh t w y English Sound Example b as in boat ch as in chart d as in deep f as in fun g as in good h as in help k as in kart l as in love m as in moon n as in no p as in push s as in sing sh as in shell t as in teach w as in well y as in young Chinese Examples b (/no) bn (/section) ch (/to eat) chng (/long) du (/many) d (/big) fn (/rice) fi (/to fly) gi (/to give) gun (/to close) hn (/very) hi (/can) kn (/to look) ki (/to open) l (/road) l (/inside) mi (/beautiful) mn (/door) n (/you) nng (/able to) pji (/beer) png (/fat) sn (/ three) s (/color) shng (/up) sh (/is) t (/she) ti (/too) w (/me) wn (/to ask) yng (/brave) y (/also)
Table 1 - Initial Sounds with close approximation to English
Pinyin Initial Sound j r z
English Sound Example soft j as in dya combination of r and a soft y ds as in yards
Chinese Examples ji (/family) jn (/to enter) rn (/person) r (/hot) zi (/located) zo (/morning)
Table 2 - Initial sounds that are slightly different than those in English
Pinyin Initial Sound c q x zh
English Sound Example ts as in sits ch as in change similar to sh but with mouth wider apart sie in sieve j as in jeans
Chinese Examples cng (/from) ci (/food) q (/to go) qin (/money) xi (/to thank) xio (/small) zhng (/middle) zh (/to live)
Table 3 - Initial sounds that are different than those in English
IV. Final Sounds

Table below shows the final sound combinations and final vowels (listed on the top row). -a -e -i -o -u -n -ng -an a a ai ao an ang e e ei en eng i i ia ie iu in ing ian o o ou ong u u ua ui uo un uan e er er of primary vowels (listed on the left column) -ang -ong -ai -ao
iang uang
iong uai
iao
Table 4 - Final Sound Matrix
Final Sound a ai ao an ang
English Sound Example a in ma uy in buy ow in how un in fun ongue in tongue

Table 5 - Final Sounds (a)
Chinese Example b (/eight) mi (/to buy) ho (/good) fn (/rice) mng (/busy)
Final Sound e ei en eng
English Sound Example uh in duh ey in hey un in under or hun (as in Atilla) ung in sung
Table 6 Final Sounds (e)
Chinese Example de (/possession particle) hi (/black) hn (/very) lng (/cold)
Final Sound i (after ch, sh, zh) i (after c, s, z) i ia ie iu in ing ian
English Sound Example ir in fir i is silent ee in bee yah yeah oh in in gin ing in thing yen
10
Chinese Example ch (/to eat) z (/word) x (/west) ji (/home) xi (/thank) li (/six) jn (/enter) mng (/name) qin (/money)
iang iong iao
young yong eow in meow

Table 7 Final Sounds (i)
ling (/two) xing (/bear) xio (/small)
Final Sound o ou ong
English Sound Example awe owe ong in song

Table 8 Final Sounds (o)
Chinese Example w (/me) yu (/to have) zhng (/middle)
Final Sound u ua ui uo un uan uang uai
English Sound Example ew in chew hwa ey in whey hwo oon in boon one wong why
Table 9 Final Sounds (u)
Chinese Example q (/to go) hu (/flower) du (/correct) zu (/to sit) chn (/spring) yun (/far) hung (/yellow) kui (/fast)
Final Sound e
English Sound Example rue with lips pursed like above, but with an eh ending
Table 10 Final Sounds ()
Chinese Example n (/woman) l (/to plunder)
Final Sound er
English Sound Example ir in sir

Table 11 Final Sounds (er)
Chinese Example zhr (/here)
11
V. Tones
In Mandarin, even more important than pronouncing the initial and final sounds accurately is pronouncing the tones correctly. This is because pronouncing a word with the wrong intonation results in different meanings. Notice the change in meaning of some syllables with different tones:
First Tone sh (/poetry) q (/seven) d (/to build) b (/to force)
Second Tone sh (/ten) q (/to ride) d (/to answer) b (/nose)
Third Tone sh (/to enable) q (/to rise) d (/to play) b (/pen)
Fourth Tone sh (/is) q (/steam) d (/big) b (/to avoid)
Table 12 - Changes in Tones changes the meaning As seen from the examples above, there are four tones in Mandarin, plus the neutral tone.
Description
1 2 3 4 First tone Second tone Third tone Fourth tone Neutral tone high level tone rising tone falling/rising tone falling tone no change in tone
Tone

Examples ji (street/) ch (eat/) rn (person/) ch (tea/) w (me/) ho (good/) sh (is/) r (two/) ma (question particle/) ne (how about/)
Table 13 Tone Descriptions
12
VI. Pronunciation Rules

In Mandarin, there are a few rules involving pronunciation and tones. Fortunately for the beginner, there are only a of them. They are listed below. General Rules 1. Each character in Mandarin is pronounced with one syllable. 2. The i in si, ci and zi are not pronounced. Tone Mark Rules 1. The tone mark is always placed over the vowel of a syllable. 2. If the syllable contains a compound vowel, the tone mark is placed over the primary vowel (see table 4). 3. Syllables pronounced with the neutral tone have no tone mark. Combination Rules 1. The second syllable of doubled characters are always pronounced with a neutral tone.
Single xi m xixie mma
Double
Table 14 doubled character rule example 2. The second syllable of some two syllable words have a neutral tone.
Pinyin shnme mngbai
Chinese/English / what / to understand

Table 15 - two syllable words examples
3. When two syllables pronounced with the falling/rising tone (3rd tone) individually, the first syllable changes to a rising tone (2nd tone). Note that the Pinyin tone marks remain unchanged.
Written hn ho () hn ho
Table 16 3rd tone rule example
Pronunciation
Specific Word Rules 1. (b) tone change. b is pronounced with a falling tone, except when the character following it is also pronounced with a falling tone (4th tone). When the character following it is pronounced with a falling tone (4th tone), b is changed to a rising tone (2nd tone). The Pinyin tone marks are changed to reflect this. 13
Combination b by itself b + high level tone character (1st tone) b + rising tone character (2nd tone) b + falling/rising tone character (3rd tone) b + falling tone character (4th tone) b + neutral tone character
Pinyin Change b (no change) b (no change) b (no change) b (no change) b (rising tone/2nd tone) b (no change)
Table 17 - (b) tone change 2. (y) tone change Y is pronounced with a high level tone (1st tone) when it is used in counting as well as when it is used by itself. When the character following it is pronounced with a falling tone (4th tone), then y is pronounced with a high level tone (2nd tone). For other everything else, y changes to the falling tone (4th tone).
Combination y by itself y + high level tone character (1st tone) y + rising tone character (2nd tone) y + falling/rising tone character (3rd tone) y + falling tone character (4th tone) y + neutral tone character
Pinyin Change y (no change) y (falling tone/4th tone) y (falling tone/4th tone) y (falling tone/4th tone) y (rising tone/2nd tone) y (no change)
Table 18 -(y) tone change
14
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I
Unit 1 I. Vocabulary English

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. excuse me/sorry English can/able to/ know how to speak, to you no/not (ma) question particle may I ask I/me Common Language/ Mandarin Chinese
Pinyin
dubuq Yngwn hu shu n b ma qngwn w ptnghu ydinr Migu rn sh
Simplified
Traditional
11. a little/some 12. America 13. people/person 14. (to be) am/is/are
II. Transcript
This is unit 1 of Pimsleurs Mandarin Chinese I. Listen to this conversation. Nnrn: Dubuq. Qngwn, n hi shu
Yngwn ma?
Man: Excuse me. Please let me ask, can you speak English? Nrn: B hi. W b hi shu Yngwn. Woman: No. I cant speak English. Nnrn: W hi shu ydinr ptnghu. Man: I can speak a little Mandarin. Nrn: N sh Migu rn ma? Woman: Are you American? Nnrn: Sh. W sh Migu rn. Man: Yes. I am American.
In the next few minutes, you will learn not only to understand this conversation, but to take part in it yourself. Imagine an American man meeting a Chinese woman. He wants to begin a conversation, so he says Excuse me.
1-1
1.
dubuq
The Chinese speaker is going to repeat this word part by part, starting from the end. You are to repeat each part after him, trying to make your pronunciation sound exactly like his. Be sure to repeat aloud. Dubuq. How do you say Excuse me in Mandarin?
Dubuq.
Now he wants to ask her if she can speak English. Heres the name of the English language in Mandarin. Listen and repeat.
2.
Yngwn
Yngwn Dubuq.
How do you say English? Now say Excuse me.
You should repeat the correct response after the speaker. Try to make your pronunciation sound like his. Dubuq. Say again English.
Yngwn Hi Hi shu. N hi shu. N hi shu. Yngwn Hi shu.

03:00
Now he wants to ask Can you speak English? First, the word can. Listen and repeat.
3.
Say Can.
hi
Heres the word speak. Listen and repeat.
4.
Say Can speak.
shu
Heres how to say You can speak. Listen and repeat. What part of that means you?
5.
Say again You can speak. Do you remember how to say English? Say Can speak.
Youve probably noticed that some words are pronounced with a rising or falling tone, and some are pronounced at a higher pitched than others. In Chinese, the tone is an important part in the pronunciation of the words and different tones indicate different meanings. You should imitate the speakers and try to make your pronunciation sound like theirs, paying careful attention to the intonation. Say You can speak. N hi shu. Try to say You can speak English.
N hi shu Yngwn.
The tone in Can speak first falls then returns to a high level. Say it again. Hi shu.
1-2
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Now heres how to say Cant speak. Listen and repeat.
B hi shu. B hi shu.
06:00
6.
The tones in that rose, fell and rose again.1 Say Cant speak.
The (b) pronounced with a rising tone is what makes that negative. Say together Can speak. Cant speak. Hi shu. B hi shu. Heres how to ask Can you speak? Just listen.
7.
ma
Listen and repeat.
N hi shu ma? N hi shu ma?
The (ma)2 with a high level tone is used to ask a yes/no question in Mandarin. Ask me if I can speak. N hi shu ma? Now say You cant speak. Ask again Can you speak? Say Excuse me.
N b hi shu. N hi shu ma? Dubuq.

09:00
You say that to get someones attention. Now listen and repeat. Please let me ask.
8.
qngwn
Did your tone match the speakers? Notice especially the falling tone at the end. Say Please let me ask. Qngwn. This is how you ask for information. Now say Excuse me. Please let me ask. Ask Can you speak? Now say English. Try to ask Can you speak English? Heres how to answer this question No. Listen and repeat.
Dubuq. Qngwn. N hi shu ma? Yngwn N hi shu Yngwn ma? B hi.
Thats pronounced first with a rising tone then a falling tone. Say again No or literally, Can not. B hi. And now say You cant speak.
1
N b hi shu.
(no/b) is normally pronounced with a falling tone, except when it is followed by another character with falling tone. See specific word rule #1 in the pronunciation rules section of the Pinyin Romanization Chapter. 2 (ma) is normally written in Pinyin with a neutral tone, although it sounds like a high level tone because it is used in asking questions.
1-3
Your voice should fall, rise or remain at the same level, just as the speakers does. Ask Can you speak English? N hi shu Yngwn ma? Answer No.
B hi. w W hi shu. W hi shu Yngwn. N hi shu. W hi shu.

12:00
He says I can speak. Listen and repeat the word for I.
9.
Try to say I can speak.
I can speak English.

Say You can speak. Say again I can speak. Say Excuse me. Please let me ask. Ask Can you speak? Ask Can you speak English? Answer No. Now say I cant speak. Ask Can you speak? Ask her if she can speak English.
Dubuq. Qngwn. N hi shu ma? N hi shu Yngwn ma? B hi. W b hi shu. N hi shu ma? N hi shu Yngwn ma? ptnghu
In mainland China, the Mandarin language is referred to as the common language.
10.
ptnghu
Listen and repeat.
Did you hear the falling/rising and falling tones in that? Say it again. ptnghu Say common language, meaning Mandarin Chinese. Say I can speak. Try to say I can speak Mandarin, as you would say in Mainland China. Tell me again that you can speak Mandarin. Now try to say I cant speak Mandarin.
ptnghu W hi shu. W hi shu ptnghu.

15:00
W hi shu ptnghu. W b hi shu ptnghu.
1-4
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Say You can speak Mandarin. Say Excuse me. Please let me ask. Try to ask me if I can speak Mandarin.
N hi shu ptnghu. Dubuq. Qngwn. N hi shu ptnghu ma? Ydinr. W hi shu ydinr. W hi shu ptnghu. Ydinr. Dubuq. N hi shu Yngwn ma?
18:00
Heres how to say a little or some. Listen and repeat.
11.
ydinr
That begins with a falling tone.3 Say Some or A little. Say I can speak a little. Say I can speak Mandarin.
A little.
Say Excuse me. Ask Can you speak English? Try to say I can speak a little English. And now say Mandarin or literally, the
W hi shu ydinr Yngwn. ptnghu N hi shu ptnghu ma? B hi. W hi shu ydinr ptnghu.
common language.
Ask Can you speak Mandarin? How would you answer No? Now say I can speak a little Mandarin.
She wants to ask him Are you American? Heres how to say America. Listen and repeat
12.
Migu
Did you hear the rising tone at the end of this? Say again America. Migu Heres the word people or person in Mandarin. Listen and repeat.
13.
rn
This word begins with a sound that we dont have in English. Its like a cross between rn an r and y. Listen and repeat again. This word is pronounced with a rising tone. Say person.
3
rn
(some/ydinr) is pronounced with a silent n in most parts of Mainland China. In Taiwan and some parts of Mainland China, it is the (r) character is not included, so the r is not pronounced. Note also that in writing the Pinyin, the e is ommited.
1-5
21:00
Do you remember how to say America? Now try to say American person.
Migu Migu rn sh sh W sh. W sh Migu rn. N sh. N sh Migu rn. N sh ma? N sh Migu rn ma? W b hi shu Yngwn. Dubuq. Qngwn.
24:00
Heres the word that means to be. Listen and repeat.
14.
sh
This word begins with a soft sh sound. Listen and repeat again. Its almost as if you were simply breathing out. Now you say to be. In Mandarin, this never changes form. Try to say I am. Try to say I am American. Or I am an American person. Now say You are. Say You are American. Try to ask Are you? Now ask Are you American? Say I cant speak English. Say Excuse me. Please let me ask. Ask Can you speak Mandarin? Ask Can you speak English? Ask Can you speak Mandarin? Ask Can you speak English? Ask again Are you American? What part of that means are? Use this word to answer Yes. Ask again Are you American? Answer Yes. Say Yes. I am American.
N hi shu ptnghu ma? N hi shu Yngwn ma? N hi shu ptnghu ma? N hi shu Yngwn ma? N sh Migu rn ma? sh Sh. N sh Migu rn ma? Sh. Sh. W sh Migu rn.
1-6
Now sit back and listen to a Chinese conversation. The same one you heard at the beginning, just a few minutes ago Nnrn: Dubuq. Qngwn, n hi shu
Yngwn ma?
Man: Excuse me. Please let me ask, can you speak English? Nrn: B hi. W b hi shu Yngwn. Woman: I cant. I cant speak English. Nnrn: W hi shu ydinr ptnghu. Man: I can speak a little Mandarin. Nrn: N sh Migu rn ma? Woman: Are you American? Nnrn: Sh. W sh Migu rn. Man: Yes. I am American.
Now imagine that you are the person sitting next to the Chinese woman and you want to begin a conversation. Say Excuse me. Please let me ask. N: Dubuq. Qngwn. She doesnt answer. Ask her if she can speak Mandarin. Still no answer. Now ask her if she can speak English. How does she answer No? Now she says I cant speak English. How does she ask you if you can speak Mandarin? Tell her you can speak a little. How does she ask you if you are American? Tell her Yes. N: N hi shu ptnghu ma?
27:00
N: N hi shu Yngwn ma? Nrn: B hi. Nrn: B hi. W b hi shu Yngwn. Nrn: N hi shu ptnghu ma? Nrn: W hi shu ydinr. Nrn: N sh Migu rn ma? N: Sh.
Shell ask you a question. Try to answer her truthfully. Nrn: N hi shu Yngwn ma? Woman: Can you speak English? N: Hi. W hi shu Yngwn. You: Yes. I can speak English.
1-7
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Shes got another question. Answer it by saying a little. Nrn: N hi shu ptnghu ma? Woman: Can you speak Mandarin? N: Ydinr. W hi shu ydinr
ptnghu.
You: A little. I can speak a little Mandarin.
And thats true. Now you do speak a little Mandarin. Dont be concerned if you havent made every response correctly. All that you have learned here will be reviewed in future units. If youve mastered about 80% of the material in this lesson, youre ready to move on to the next. Otherwise, you should invest the time in doing this unit over again. This is the end of unit 1.
30:00
1-8

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. good/well (de) used to describe action/possession hello How are you? thanks very goodbye
Pinyin
ho de n ho N ho ma? xixie hn zijin
Simplified
Traditional
II. Transcript
This is unit 2 of Pimsleurs Mandarin Chinese I. Listen to this conversation Nrn: Dubuq. Qngwn, n hu shu
ptnghu ma?
Woman: Excuse me. Can you speak Mandarin? Nnrn: W hu shu ydinr. Man: I can speak a little. Nrn: N sh Migu rn ma? Woman: Are you American? Nnrn: Sh. N hu shu Yngwn ma? Man: Yes. Can you speak English? Nrn: B hu. W b hu shu Yngwn. Woman: No. I cant speak English.
Listen again. (The conversation above is repeated) Say English in Mandarin. Now say common language meaning Mandarin. Say I can speak. Did you pronounce that as the speaker did? Listen again.
Yngwn ptnghu W hu shu. W hu shu.
Remember to be understood in Mandarin, its important to pronounce each word with the correct intonation. Listen and repeat to practice your W hu shu. pronunciation.
2-1
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Tell me that you can speak Mandarin. A little. Now tell me that you can speak a little Mandarin. Do you remember how to say Excuse me. Please let me ask? Ask Can you speak? Ask me if I can speak Mandarin.
W hu shu ptnghu. Ydinr. W hu shu ydinr ptnghu.
Dubuq. Qngwn.
03:00
N hu shu ma? N hu shu ptnghu ma?
Did you pronounce that with the same tones as the speaker did? Listen and repeat. N hu shu ptnghu ma? Now ask Can you speak English? Answer No or literally, Cant. Ask her if she can speak Mandarin. How do you think shell answer Yes?
N hu shu Yngwn ma? B hu. N hu shu ptnghu ma? Hu.
In Mandarin the answers yes and no will change depending on the question. In this case yes means can. Ask again Can you speak Mandarin? N hu shu ptnghu ma? Answer Yes. Ask her if she can speak English. How does she answer No?
Hu. N hu shu Yngwn ma? B hu.
Did you pronounce that with rising and falling tones? Try to say I cant B hu. W b hu. Say I cant speak English.
W b hu Yngwn.
06:00
Now say I cant speak Mandarin.

And how would you say I can speak a little?
W b hu shu ptnghu. W hu shu ydinr. W hu shu Yngwn. W hu shu ydinr Yngwn. n
I can speak English. I can speak a little English.

Whats the Chinese word for you?
2-2
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I That word is pronounced with a tone that first falls then rises. Say again you. n Say You are. Notice the falling/rising, falling tones. Say You are American. Say Excuse me. Please let me ask. Ask Are you American? How do you think youd answer this question Yes? And now say I am American. Ask her if she is American. How do you think shed answer No to the question Are you? Now try to say I am not American. Say I cant speak English. Say again I am not American. Say I can speak Mandarin. Say A little. Say I can speak a little Mandarin.
N sh. N sh Migu rn. Dubuq. Qngwn. N sh Migu rn ma? Sh.

09:00
W sh Migu rn. N sh Migu rn ma? B sh. W b sh Migu rn. W b hu shu Yngwn. W b sh Migu rn. W hu shu ptnghu. Ydinr. W hu shu ydinr ptnghu.
I dont speak well. First the word well. Listen and repeat.
1.
ho
The tone falls to the low level then begins to rise. Say again Well. Ho.
I dont speak well. Listen and repeat.

Say again I dont speak well. Or literally,
W shu de b ho. W shu de b ho.

12:00
I speak not well.
2. de (de) has no literal meaning in English, but in Mandarin, it is sometimes used in words
describing an action such as speak well. Listen and repeat again.
W shu de b ho.
2-3
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I And now say I cant speak Mandarin. Say again I dont speak well. Do you remember how to ask
W b hu shu ptnghu. W shu de b ho. N sh Migu rn ma? Sh. W sh Migu rn. N b sh Migu rn. N hu shu ptnghu ma? W hu shu ydinr ptnghu. W shu de b ho.
15:00
Are you American?
How would you say Yes. I am American? Now tell the woman You are not American. How does she ask Can you speak Mandarin? Say I can speak a little Mandarin. Tell her I dont speak well. Do you remember how to say
Excuse me. Please let me ask?
Dubuq. Qngwn.
Thats if your question will begin the conversation. To ask a question politely of someone with whom you are already speaking, just say Please let me ask. Say it. Qngwn. Now ask Can you speak English? How would you answer this question No? And now say I am not American.
N hu shu Yngwn ma? B hu. W b sh Migu rn. W b hu shu Yngwn. W shu de b ho. N ho.
I cant speak English.

And how would she say I dont speak well? Heres how to say Hello in Chinese. Just listen.
3.
n ho
This means You be well. Listen and repeat.
This word for you is pronounced with a rising tone.1 Say Hello. N ho. And do you remember how to say You are American
N sh Migu rn.
In that, the word you is pronounced with a falling/rising tone.
(you/n) is normally pronounced with a falling/rising tone, except when the two syllables with falling/rising tone (3rd tone) rule apply. See combination rule #3 in the pronunciation rules section of the Pinyin Romanization Chapter.
2-4
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Now say again Hello or literally, You well. What part of that means good or well?
N ho. ho
18:00
Supposed you wanted to ask How are you? In Chinese, you literally, ask You well? Try it.
4.
N ho ma?
This is only asked when you are inquiring about a persons state of being. Its not used as a greeting. Ask again How are you? N ho ma? Her answer is Very well. Thanks. Just listen. First, Thanks. Listen and repeat.
Hn ho. Xixie. Xixie. N ho ma? Hn ho.
5.
xixie
Thats pronounced with two falling tones.2 Say Thanks. Now ask How are you? Listen and repeat. Very well. Whats the Mandarin word very?
6.
hn
3
Did you hear the rising tone? Say again very. Say Very well. Say Very well. Thanks. Now say Hello or You are well.
hn Hn ho. Hn ho. Xixie. N ho. N ho ma?

21:00
And do you remember how to ask
How are you?
Because they are so similar, the expressions Hello and How are you are never used together. Ask me again How I am?
N ho ma?
Remember this is only asked when youre sincerely interested in a persons well being. You would never ask this of someone you dont know well.
(thanks/xixie) is composed of two of the same characters, but second character is pronounced in the neutral tone. See combination rule #1 in the pronunciation rules section of the Pinyin Romanization Chapter. 3 (very/hn) by itself is pronounced with a falling/rising tone. PMC wants to keep things simple, because very follows combination rule #3 when is followed by a character with a falling/rising tone (3rd tone).
2-5
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I How would you answer Very well?
Hn ho. Hn ho. Xixie. Zijin. N ho. Zijin. N ho ma? Hn ho. Xixie. Zijin. N ho. N sh Migu rn ma?
24:00
Very well. Thanks.
Heres how to say goodbye in Mandarin. Listen and repeat.
7.
zijin
Thats pronounced with two falling tones. Say Goodbye. And how do you say Hello? Say again Goodbye. Now ask How are you?
Very well. Thanks.

Say Goodbye. Now say again Hello. And now ask Are you American? Do you remember how you would answer this question No? Now say I am not American. And how would you tell her I cant speak Mandarin? Say Goodbye. Do you remember how to say Excuse me. Please let me ask? Ask her if she can speak English. How would she answer this question No? And how does she say I am not American. Say I can speak a little Mandarin. Now she asks Are you American? How would you answer No to this question? Now say Yes. I am American.
B sh. W b sh Migu rn. W b hu shu ptnghu. Zijin. Dubuq. Qngwn. N hu shu Yngwn ma? B hu. W b sh Migu rn. W hu shu ydinr ptnghu. N sh Migu rn ma? B sh. Sh. W sh Migu rn.
2-6
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I How would you ask her if she can speak English? Answer this question No. Now say No. I cant speak English. She asks you if you can speak Mandarin. Tell her Yes.
N hu shu Yngwn ma?

27:00
B hu. B hu. W b hu shu Yngwn. N hu shu ptnghu ma? Hu. W hu shu ydinr. W shu de b ho. Zijin.
I can speak a little.

Add I dont speak well. Say Goodbye.
Imagine that youve just met a Chinese woman. Youre going to have a conversation with her. Answer her when she speaks with you, paying special attention to the words for yes. Nrn: N ho. Woman: Hello. N: N ho You: Hello. Nrn: N sh Migu rn ma? Woman: Are you American? N: Sh. W sh Migu rn. You: Yes. I am American. Nrn: N hu shu ptnghu ma? Woman: Can you speak Mandarin? N: Ydinr. W hu shu ydinr W shu de b ho.
ptnghu.
You: Yes. I can speak a little Mandarin. Say I dont speak well. Nrn: Zijin. Woman: Goodbye. N: Zijin. You: Goodbye.
Youve just had your first conversation in Mandarin. This is the end of unit 2.
30:00
2-7

1. 2. 3. but China (ne) how about
Pinyin
ksh Zhnggu ne
Simplified
Traditional
II. Transcript
This is unit 3 of Pimsleurs Mandarin Chinese I. Listen to this conversation. Nrn: N ho. Woman: Hello. Nnrn: N ho. Man: Hello. Nrn: N hu shu ptnghu ma? Woman: Can you speak Mandarin? Nnrn: W hu shu ydinr. W shu de
b ho.
Man: I can speak a little. I dont speak it well. Nrn: N sh Migu rn ma? Woman: Are you American? Nnrn: Sh. Man: Yes. Nrn: Ksh n ptnghu shu de hn ho. Woman: But you speak Mandarin very well.
You just heard the woman say But you speak Mandarin very well. But
1.
ksh
Ptnghu W hu shu ptnghu.
Listen again. (The conversation above is repeated) Say Mandarin. Literally, common language. Say I can speak Mandarin.
Say a little. ydinr Your tone should fall from the high level to the low level then begin to rise again. Say again a little. ydinr Now say I can speak a little.
W hu shu ydinr. W hu shu ydinr ptnghu.
I can speak a little Mandarin.
3-1
Listen and repeat, trying to match the speakers pronunciation. Ask Can you speak English?
W hu shu ydinr ptnghu. N hu shu Yngwn ma?
How would you answer this question No? B hu. Did you pronounce that with a rising then a falling tone? Now say I cant speak English. And how would you say I dont speak well. Did you remember the (de)? Say again I dont speak well.
W b hu shu Yngwn.
03:00
W shu de b ho. W shu de b ho.
How do you say Excuse me? Dubuq. The tone in that falls three times before rising in the end.1 Now say Excuse me. Please let me ask. Ask me if I can speak Mandarin. Say again I dont speak well. How would you ask a good friend
Dubuq. Qnqwn. N hu shu ptnghu ma? W shu de b ho. N ho ma?
How are you?
Do you remember what this means literally? It means You well? Now answer Very well. Hn ho. And now say Thanks. Xixie. Did you pronounce that with two falling tones? Literally, Thanks you. Xixie n. In that, the word for you is pronounced with a falling/rising tone. Say again Thank you. Now say Hello in Mandarin. And how do you say Goodbye?
Xixie n. N ho. Zijin.

06:00
Did you pronounce that with two falling tones? Remember that in Mandarin, the tone in the word is an essential part in pronounciation. Say again Goodbye.
Zijin.
The (no/b) has a neutral tone in this phrase.
3-2
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Ask your friend again how he is. Answer Very well. Thank you. How would you tell someone that you cant speak English? Ask Can you speak Mandarin? How would you answer Yes?
N ho ma? Hn ho. Xixie n. W b hu shu Yngwn. N hu shu ptnghu ma? Hu. W hu shu ydinr ptnghu. W shu de b ho. N sh Migu rn ma? Migu rn N sh Migu rn ma? Sh.
09:00

How would I tell you that I dont speak well? Now ask me if Im American. Say again American or America person The tone first falls, then rises twice. Ask me again if Im American. Answer Yes.
Did your pronounciation of (sh) match the speakers? Say it again
Sh. Sh. W sh Migu rn.
Yes. I am American.
Now say I can speak a little English. W hu shu ydinr Yngwn. Did you pronounce the word for I with a falling/rising tone? Now ask can you speak Mandarin? Say I dont speak well. Now say I am American. The woman says I am Chinese. Just listen. Listen and repeat China.
N hu shu ptnghu ma? W shu de b ho. W sh Migu rn. W sh Zhnggu rn.
2.
Zhnggu
The first part of that is pronounced with a high level tone which neither rises nor falls. Say China. Zhnggu. Try to say I am Chinese. And now ask Are you Chinese?
W sh Zhnggu rn. N sh Zhnggu rn ma?
3-3
12:00
How does she answer Yes? Now ask me if I am Chinese. How would I answer this question No? How would I say I am American? And now say I am not Chinese. Now say You are not Chinese. She says I am not American. Say it. Supposed you wanted to ask How about you? Listen and repeat.
Sh. N sh Zhnggu rn ma? B sh. W sh Migu rn. W b sh Zhnggu rn. N b sh Zhnggu rn. W b sh Migu rn. N ne? Ne?
3.
How about?
ne
Thats literally, You, how about? Now say
(ne) is pronounced with a high level tone, but its very soft2.
Ask again How about you? And now ask Are you American?
N ne? N sh Migu rn ma?

15:00
3
The yes/no question word is pronounced with the same soft high level tone . Ask me again if Im American. Answer Yes.
N sh Migu rn ma? Sh. W sh Migu rn. N ne? N b sh Migu rn. W b sh Zhnggu rn.
I am American. How about you?

And now say Youre not American. How would you say Im not Chinese?
Now you want to say But I can speak Mandarin. First, heres how to say but. ksh This is pronounced with falling/rising and falling tones. Say but. Say But I can speak.
2 3
ksh Ksh w hu shu.
(ne) has a neutral tone. (ma) also has a neutral tone.

3-4
Say But I can speak Mandarin.
Ksh w hu shu ptnghu. W hu shu ydinr ptnghu. N ne?

18:00

Ask How about you? How does she ask Are you Chinese? Answer No. I am American. Ask Can you speak Mandarin? How would you answer Yes? Now say I can speak a little Mandarin.
N sh Zhnggu rn ma? B sh. W sh Migu rn. N hu shu ptnghu ma? Hu. W hu shu ydinr ptnghu. W shu de b ho. Zijin. Dubuq. Qnqwn. Dubuq. Qnqwn. N sh. W sh. W sh Migu rn. W b hu shu.
21:00
I dont speak well.

Say Goodbye. How do you say Excuse me? Now say Please let me ask.
Excuse me. Please let me ask.

Say You are. Say I am.
I am American.
Say I cant speak.
I cant speak Mandarin

How does she say I am not American? Say You cant speak English. Say You are not Chinese. Now say I am American. What about you? Ask Are you Chinese? Answer this question Yes. I am Chinese.
W b hu shu ptnghu. W b sh Migu rn. N b hu shu Yngwn. N b sh Zhnggu rn. W sh Migu rn. N ne? N sh Zhnggu rn ma? Sh. W sh Zhnggu rn.
3-5
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Do you remember how to ask a good friend
How are you?
N ho ma? Hn ho. Xixie n. Dubuq. Qnqwn.

24:00
How would your friend answer
Very well. Thank you.
Suppose youve just met someone, how would you say
Excuse me. Please let me ask.
Now ask Can you speak Mandarin? How would you answer No? Say I dont speak well. Ask Are you American? How would answer Yes. Say But I can speak a little Mandarin. Now say I dont speak well. She says I cant speak English.
N hu shu ptnghu ma? B hu. W shu de b ho. N sh Migu rn ma? Sh. Ksh w hu shu ydinr ptnghu. W shu de b ho. W b hu shu Yngwn.
Imagine that youre out walking in Beijing and you recognize a woman who works in your hotel. Say Hello. N: N ho. Nrn: N ho.
27:00
Now say Excuse me. Please let me ask. Ask her if she can speak English.
N: Dubuq. Qnqwn. N: N hu shu Yngwn ma? Nrn: B hu. Nrn: W b hu shu Yngwn. Nrn: W sh Zhnggu rn.
How does she tell you that she cant speak English? How does she say I am Chinese?
Now she is going to ask you a question which you are to answer. Nrn: N sh Migu rn ma? Woman: Are you American? N: Sh. W sh Migu rn. You: Yes. I am American. And now say But I can speak Mandarin. Youd better say I can speak a little N: Ksh w hu shu ptnghu. N: W hu shu ydinr.
3-6
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Maybe youd better say I dont speak well. Listen to her reaction. Nrn: N ptnghu shu de hn ho. Woman: You speak Mandarin very well. She just said you speak Mandarin very well. Thank her. Tell her Goodbye. N: W shu de b ho.
N: Xixie n. N: Zijin. Nrn: Zijin.

30:00
This is the end of unit 3.
3-7

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. understand, to (the situation) what college road where located street Long Peace Street here
Pinyin
mngbai shnme Xuyun l nr zi ji Chng n Ji zhr nr
Simplified
Traditional
10. there
II. Transcript
This is unit 4 of Pimsleurs Mandarin Chinese I. Listen to this conversation. Nnrn: Dibuq. Qngwn, n sh Zhnggu
rn ma?
Man: Excuse me. Please let me ask, are you Chinese? Nrn: Sh. W sh zhnggu rn. N ne? Woman: Yes. I am Chinese. And you? Nnrn: W sh Migu rn. Man: I am American. Nrn: Ksh n hu shu ptnghu. Woman: But you speak Mandarin. Nnrn: W hi shu ydinr. W shu de
b ho.
Man: I can speak a little. I dont speak well. Nrn: N ptnghu shu de hn ho. Woman: You speak Mandarin very well. Nnrn: Xixie n.
Man: Thank you. Listen again. (The conversation above is repeated) Do you remember how to say Hello?
N ho.
4-1
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I The tones in Hello rise, fall and begin to fall again.1 Say again Hello. Now say Goodbye. Remember the two falling tones. How would you ask a good friend
N ho. Zijin.
How are you?
N ho ma? Hn ho. Xixie n. N ho ma? B sh hn ho. W b hi shu ptnghu. W shu de b ho. N sh Migu rn ma?
03:00
Say Very well.
Thank you.
Ask your friend again How are you? Try to say Not very well. Literally, Am not very well. Now say I cant speak Mandarin. And how do you say I dont speak well. Do you remember how to ask someone
Are you American?
How would you answer this question Yes? Ask the woman if she is American. Now say to her You are not American. Say Im American. How about you? Now say Im not American. How does she say You are not Chinese? Ask her if she is Chinese. How does she answer Yes? Ask her if she can speak English. How would she answer No.
Sh. N sh Migu rn ma? N b sh Migu rn. W sh Migu rn. N ne? W b sh Migu rn. N b sh Zhnggu rn. N sh Zhnggu rn ma? Sh. N hi shu Yngwn ma? B hi.
tone) is followed by another character with a falling/rising tone (3rd tone). Note however, that the tones do not change when writing in Pinyin. 4-2
(hello/n ho) follows combination rule #3 when a character with a falling/rising tone (3rd
And how does she tell you that she cant speak English? Ask how about you? Tell her I can speak a little Mandarin. Heres how to say you understand. Listen and repeat.
W b hi shu Yngwn. N ne? W hi shu ydinr ptnghu.

06:00
1. mngbai Mngbai is pronounced with two rising tones.2

Say You understand.
N mngbai. N mngbai.
In Chinese, understand the situation or understand whats happening. Its not used to say understand the language. Say You can speak Mandarin. N hi shu ptnghu. Now say I understand. And how do you think you would say I dont understand? Say I can speak a little.
W mngbai. W b mngbai. W hi shu ydinr. ksh. W shu de b ho. N ptnghu shu de hn ho.
09:00
But. I dont speak well.

She said You speak Mandarin very well. Listen and repeat. Notice the word order. Say
You speak Mandarin very well.
N ptnghu shu de hn ho.
Remember to use (de) to say speak very well. Say again You speak Mandarin very well. N ptnghu shu de hn ho. Tell her you dont understand.
W b mngbai.
However in most cases, its better to say I dont understand what youre saying. Heres how to say what.
2.
shnme
3
Shnme.
The tone first rises then falls. Say What.
(to understand/mngbai) is pronounced with a rising tone followed by a neutral tone. PMC keeps it simple by saying that is has two rising tones instead. 3 (what/shnme) is pronounced with a rising tone followed by a neutral tone.
4-3
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I And now say I dont understand.
W b mngbai. W b mngbai n shu shnme. N hi shu Yngwn ma? W hi shu ydinr. N ne? W shu de b ho.
12:00
Try it.
I dont understand what youre saying. Or literally I dont understand you speak what.
Ask Can you speak English? Say I can speak a little. Ask What about you?
I dont speak well?
Do you remember how to say
Say I dont understand what youre saying. Tell her Im not Chinese. Whats the Mandarin word but? Say But I can speak Mandarin.
W b mngbai n shu shnme. W b sh Zhnggu rn. ksh Ksh w hi shu ptnghu. W hi shu ydinr ptnghu. W shu de b ho. N b sh Zhnggu rn. Ksh. Ksh n ptnghu shu de hn ho. Xixie n.

Now say I dont speak well. She says You are not Chinese.
But.
She tells you
But you speak Mandarin very well.

Say Thank you.
Lets learn how to ask for direction. Well start by asking the way to College Road. Just listen. Dont repeat. Dibuq. Xuyun L zi nr? Listen and repeat the streets name.
3.
Xuyun
15:00
The tone first rises then falls. Say the name again.
Xuyun l Xuyun L
Heres the word for road. Which is pronounced with a high falling tone. Listen and repeat.
4.
Say again road.
Now try to say College Road.
4-4
Heres how to ask where the road is. First, the word for where. Listen and repeat.
5.
nr
nr
Thats pronounced with a falling/rising tone. Say again where.
Now you want to ask where is College Road. In Chinese, you literally ask College road located where? Xuyun L zi nr? What part of that means located?
6. zi (zi) is pronounced with a falling tone. Its not a yes/no question, so you dont need (ma). Zi nr?
Now ask where College Road is located. Remember the word order.
Xuyun L zi nr?
Here is the Mandarin word for street. Listen and repeat.
7.
ji
This word is pronounced with a high level tone. Say again street. ji Heres the name Long Peace Street. Listen and repeat.
18:00
8.
Chng n Ji
Thats pronounced with a rising tone, followed by a high level tone. Say again Long Peace Steet. Chng n Ji. Try to ask where this street is located. The answer is here. Listen and repeat here.
Chng n Ji zi nr? zhr Zi zhr. Chng n Ji zi nr? Xuyun L. Xuyun L zi nr? Zi zhr. shnme W b mngbai n shu shnme.
21:00
9.
zhr
Say here with a high falling tone. Try to answer Here or Located here. Ask where Long Peace Street is located. Do you remember how to say College Road? Ask where is College Road located. How would you answer Located here? Do you remember how to say what? Tell her you dont understand what she is saying. You want to ask Is it located here?
4-5
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Listen and repeat.
Sh zi zhr ma?
Because youre asking is it, rather than where is, use (sh). Ask again Is it located here? Sh zi zhr ma? Try to answer Yes. It is located here. Now try to say No. Its not located here.
Sh. Sh zi zhr. B sh. B sh zi zhr. W b mngbai n shu shnme. Sh zi nr.
I dont understand what you are saying.

She says Its located over there. Listen and repeat.
Tell the woman
10. nr nr () is pronounced with a falling tone. Say it again. nr

Now ask Where is College Road located?
Xuyun L zi nr?
Did you remember the falling/rising tone in the word where? Listen and repeat Where? Over there. Nr? Nr. How would she answer Not over there. Literally, Not located over there. And now ask again Is it located here? Say Long Peace St. is located here. Ask where College Road is located. Answer Not here. Answer Over there. Tell her that
B zi nr.
24:00
Sh zi zhr me? Chng n Ji zi zhr. Xuyun L zi nr? B zi zhr. B zi zhr. Zi nr. W b mngbai n shu shnme. Zijin.
You dont understand what she is saying.

Say Goodbye to her.
Lets try a Mandarin conversation. The woman will say things to which you are to respond. When the answer isnt clear, Ill help. Lets begin. Nrn: N ho. Woman: Hello. Nnrn: N ho. Man: Hello. Nrn: N sh Migu rn ma? Woman: Are you American?
4-6
Nnrn: Sh. W sh Migu rn. Man: Yes. I am American. Nrn: W sh Zhnggu rn. N hi shu
ptnghu ma?
Woman: I am Chinese. Can you speak Mandarin? Nnrn: Ydinr. W hi shu ydinr
ptnghu?
Man: Yes. I can speak a little Mandarin. Say I can speak a little Mandarin. Tell her you dont speak well. And how would she say you speak Mandarin very well? Say Thank you. Now shell ask you for some directions.
W hu shu ydinr ptnghu. W shu de b ho.

27:00
N ptnghu shu de hn ho. Xixie n. Sh zi zhr ma? Sh. Sh zi zhr. Chng n Ji zi nr? Zi nr. Xuyun L b zi nr. Chng n Ji zi nr. Ksh Xuyun L zi zhr.
Dibuq. Qngwn, Xuyun L zi nr?

Excuse me. Please let me ask, where is College Road located? How does she ask Is it located here? Tell her that Yes. It is located here.
Where is Long Peace St. located?

Tell her Located over there. Tell her that College Road is not located over there. Tell her that Long Peace Street is located over there. Say But College Road is located here.
How does she ask
Now shell say something. If you dont understand what she is saying, tell her so. Nrn: W xing mi ydinr dngxi. N ne? Woman: I would like to buy something. How about you? You: W b mngbai n shu shnme. You: I dont understand what you are saying.
4-7
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Say Goodbye to her. This is the end of unit 4.
Zijin.
30:00
4-8

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. know, to would like/miss, to eat, to something thing/anything drink, to
Pinyin
zhdao xing ch ydinr dngxi dngxi h
Traditional
Simplified
II. Transcript
This is unit 5 of Pimsleurs Mandarin Chinese I. Listen to this conversation. Nnrn: Dubuq. Qngwn, Xuyun L zi
nr?
Man: Excuse me. Please let me ask, where is College Road? Nrn: Zi nr. Woman: Its over there. Nnrn: Chng n Ji ne? Sh zi zhr ma? Man: Where is Long Peace Street? Is it over here? Nrn: Sh. Sh zi zhr. Woman: Yes. Its over here. Nnrn: N hu shu Yngwn ma? Man: Can you speak English? Nrn: B hu. W b hu shu Yngwn. Zijin. Woman: I cant. I cant speak English. Goodbye. Nnrn: Zijin.
Man: Goodbye. Listen again. (The conversation above is repeated) How do you say Hello in Mandarin? Ask Can you speak English? How would she say I dont understand? Whats the Mandarin word What?
N ho. N hu shu Yngwn ma? W b mngbai. Shnme.
5-1
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Say I dont understand what youre saying. Ask again Can you speak English? Now she answers Yes. I can speak a little. How would you say I dont speak well. Now ask How about you?
W b mngbai n shu shnme. N hu shu Yngwn ma? Hu. W hu shu yidianr. W shu de b ho. N ne? N hu shu ptnghu ma?
03:00
Can you speak Mandarin?

Answer Yes. I can speak Mandarin. How does she say
Hu. W hu shu ptnghu. N ptnghu shu de hn ho. W shu de b ho. W b sh Zhnggu rn. W ptnghu shu de b ho. N ho ma? Hn ho. Xixie n. N ne? B sh hn ho. Chng n Ji
06:00
You speak Mandarin very well?

Did you remember the word order? Now say I dont speak well. Say I am not Chinese.
I dont speak Mandarin well.

Do you remember how to ask a good friend How are you? Answer Very well. Thank you. She asks How about you? Now answer Not very well or Am not very well. Do you remember how to say Long Peace Street in Mandarin? And now say College Road. Ask Where is or Located where? Ask where College Road is located. Say Excuse me. Please let me ask.
Xuyun L. Zi nr? Xuyun L zi nr? Dubuq. Qngwn. Qngwn, Chng n Ji zi nr? Zi zhr. Chng n Ji zi zhr.
Please let me ask, where is Long Peace Street located?

Answer Here. Literally, Located here. And now say Long Peace Street is located here.
5-2
And how would you ask Is it located here? How would she tell you
Sh zi zhr ma? B sh. Sh zi nr. B sh zi nr. Ksh b sh zi zhr. Chng n Ji b zi zhr.

09:00
No. Its located over there?

And how would you say
It is not located over there.

She says But it is not located here. Now say Long Peace Street isnt located here. Say But College Road is located here. Tell her you dont undersand what she is saying.
Ksh Xuyun L zi zhr. W b mngbai n shu shnme. Qngwn, Chng n Ji zi nr W b zhdao. W b zhdao. zhdao
Please let me ask, where is Long Peace Street located?

Listen to the answer I dont know.
1.
zhdao
Repeat after the speaker. What part of that means know?
This is pronounced with a high level, followed by a falling tone.1 Try to say I know. W zhdao. And now say I dont know. Ask me where Long Peace Street is located. Answer I dont know. Say But I know. Ask again Please let me ask, where is Long
W b zhdao. Chng n Ji zi nr? W b zhdao. Ksh w zhdao. Qngwn, Chng n Ji zi nr? Zi nr.
12:00
Peace Street located?
How would she answer Located over there?
Where? Over there.

Try to say You know. Try to ask Do you know?
Nr? Nr. N zhdao. N zhdao ma?
(to know/zhdao) is pronounced with a high level tone followed by a netural tone.
5-3
How does she answer Yes. I know?
Zhdao. W zhdao. B sh zi nr.
It is not located over there.
Lets learn how to ask for things in Mandarin. First, heres how to say I would like. Listen and repeat. W xing.
2.
xing
Would like is pronounced with a falling/rising tone. Say again I would like. W xing. Now try to say You would like. Say again I would like. Say I know. Try to ask Do you know? How would you answer this question Yes? Now answer No. And now say I dont know. Now try to say I would not like to. Meaning I dont want to. Did your tone match the speakers? Say again I would not like to. Say I dont understand what youre saying.
N xing. W xing. W zhdao. N zhdao ma? Zhdao. B zhdao. W b zhdao.

15:00
W b xing.
W b xing. W b mngbai n shu shnme.
Heres how to ask Would you like to eat something? Just listen. N xing ch ydinr dngxi ma?
3.
ch
ch
To eat is pronounced with a high level tone. Listen and repeat.
Did you pronounce the end of that word just like the speaker did? Say again to eat. ch Try to say I would like to eat. Listen and repeat something.
W xing ch.
4.
dngxi ydinr
Thats literally, a little thing. Try to say thing.
5-4
5.
dngxi
This is pronounced with two high level tones.2 Although the second is pronounced more softly. Now say a little thing or something. ydinr dngxi Try to say to eat something.
Ch ydinr dngxi. ch, x
The word to eat is similar to the end of the word thing. Listen and repeat to compare the sounds ch, x.
18:00
Say You would like to eat something. Now try to ask
N xing ch ydinr dngxi. N xing ch ydinr dngxi ma? Xing. W xing ch. Xing. W xing ch ydinr dngxi. N ho. N xing ch ydinr dngxi ma? B xing. Xixie n. Ksh w xing h ydinr dngxi. h h W xing ydinr dngxi.
21:00
Would you like to eat something?

How would you answer this question Yes?
I would like to eat.

Now answer
Yes. I would like to eat something.

Do you remember how to say Hello? Ask her if she would like to eat something? Answer this question No. Thank you. She says
But I would like to drink something. Just listen.
6.
Listen and repeat. To drink. This word has a high level tone Say again to drink. Say I would like to drink something. Now ask her
Would you like to drink something?

How does she say I dont know? Say I would like to eat something. Ask her again if would she like to drink
N xing h ydinr dngxi ma? W b zhdao. W xing ch ydinr dngxi. N xing h ydinr dngxi ma?
(thing/dngxi) is pronounced with a high level tone followed by a netural tone. (west/x) by itself, is pronounced with a high level tone.
5-5
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I something. How would she answer this question No. Thank you? Now she says
B xing. Xixie n. Ksh w xing ch ydinr dngxi. N xing h ydinr dngxi ma? B xing. Xixie n. Ksh w xing ch ydinr dngxi. N ho. N hu shu Yngwn ma?
24:00
But I would like to eat something.

Ask Would you like to drink something? Answer No. Thank you. But I would like to eat something. Now say Hello. Ask a woman if she can speak English. How does she answer No? How does she say I am Chinese. Say I am not Chinese.
B hu. W sh Zhnggu rn. W b sh Zhnggu rn. Ksh w hu shu ptnghu. W shu de b ho. N ptnghu shu de hn ho. Xixie n. Chng n Ji Chng n Ji zi nr? Sh zi zhr ma? B sh zi zhr. Sh zi nr.
27:00
But I can speak a little Mandarin.

Tell her I dont speak well. How would she say Thank her. Now say Long Peace Street. Ask where Long Peace Street is.
Is it located here?
How does she say Its not located here. Its
located over there.
Ask her where College Road is located. Do you remember how to ask Do you know? How does she answer No. I dont know. She corrects herself and says Yes. I know. How would she say this?
Xuyun L zi nr? N zhdao ma? B zhdao. W b zhdao. Zhdao. W zhdao.
5-6
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Now she tells you that she would like to eat something. Ask her if should like to drink something. How does she answer No. Thank you? How does she add
W xing ch ydinr dngxi. N xing h ydinr dngxi ma? B xing. Xixie n. Ksh w xing ch ydinr dngxi. Ksh w b xing ch.
N: Zijin. Nrn: Zijin.
30:00
But I would like to eat something?

Say But I would not like to eat. Say Goodbye to her.
5-7

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. go, to place also/too when now later
Pinyin
q nr y shnme shhou xinzi gu yhur
Simplified
Traditional
II. Transcript
This is unit 6 of Pimsleurs Mandarin Chinese I. Listen to this conversation. In it, youll hear the world (y). This means also. Listen. Nnrn: N ho. Man: Hello. Nrn: N ho. Woman: Hello. Nnrn: W xing ch ydinr dngxi. N
ne?
Man: I would like to eat something. How about you? Nrn: W y xing ch ydinr dngxi. Woman: I also want to eat something. Nnrn: N xing h ydinr dngxi ma? Man: Would you like to drink something? Nrn: Xing. W xing h ydinr dngxi. Woman: Yes. I would like to drink something. Nnrn: Q nr h? Man: Where to go to drink? Nrn: Q Chng n Ji. Woman: To Long Peace Street. You just heard the man ask
Where to go to drink?
Q nr h?
Listen again. (The conversation above is repeated) Do you remember the word for street in Mandarin?
ji
6-1
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Now say Long Peace Street. Say Excuse me. Please let me ask. Now ask where the street is located. Answer Here or Located here. Tell her that Long Peace Street isnt located over there. Do you remember how to ask How about you? Now try to ask How about College Road? Say Located over there. Ask Is it here? Answer No. Its not located here. Tell her that College Road is located over there. Now say You speak.
Chng n Ji. Dubuq. Qngwn. Chng n Ji zi nr? Zi zhr. Chng n Ji b zi nr. N ne? Xuyun L ne? Zi nr.
03:00
Sh zi zhr ma? B sh. B sh zi zhr. Xuyun L zi nr. N shu. N shu de hn ho. N ptnghu shu de hn ho. W mngbai. W b mngbai n shu shnme. W hu shu ydinr. W shu de b ho. N xing. Ydinr dngxi. N xing ch ydinr dngxi ma?
06:00
You speak very well.

Did you use (de)? Now say

Do you remember how to say I understand? Now tell her that you dont understand what she is saying. How do you say I can speak a little. Say I dont speak well or I speak not well. Now say You would like. Say Something in Mandarin. Ask her if she would like to eat something. Answer Yes. I would like to eat something. Ask her if she would like to drink something. Answer this question in the affirmitve.
Xing. W xing ch ydinr dngxi. N xing h ydinr dngxi ma? Xing. W xing h ydinr dngxi.
6-2
Now answer No. Thank you. Ask her if she would like to eat something. Answer Yes. I would like to eat something. Now answer No. Thank you.
B xing. Xixie n. N xing ch ydinr dngxi ma? Xing. W xing ch ydinr dngxi. B xing. Xixie n. Ksh w xing h ydinr dngxi. W b mngbai n shu shnme. W shu de b ho.
09:00
But I would like to drink something.
Say I dont understand what youre saying. And now say I dont speak well. Ask again where Long Peace Street is located. Ask Do you know? Answer No. I dont know. Now say Not here or Not located here. Now say Not over there. Once again ask her if she would like to eat something. Say Yes. I would like to eat something. Do you remember how to ask Located where? You want to ask Where do you want to eat? Just Listen.
Chng n Ji zi nr? N zhdao ma? B zhdao. W b zhdao. B zi zhr. B zi nr. N xing ch ydinr dngxi ma? Xing. W xing ch ydinr dngxi. Zi nr? N xing q nr ch?
1.
With this question, you literally ask You would like to go where to eat? Listen and repeat to go. q This word is pronounced with a falling tone. Say to go. Now try to ask To go where? Try to ask Where would you like to go to eat? Heres the answer My place. Just Listen.
q Q nr? N xing q nr ch?

12:00
2.
nr
W nr. W nr.
I could also mean my. Now listen and repeat My place.
6-3
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I The tone falls, rises and falls again. Say My place or literally, My over there. Ask me where would I like to go to eat. Say My place. Now try to say To my place or To go my place. Say I would like to go to my place to eat. Ask Where would you like to go to eat? Say again To my place. How do you think youd say Your place? Try to say
W nr. N xing q nr ch? W nr. Q w nr. W xing q w nr ch. N xing q nr ch? Q w nr. N nr. W xing q n nr ch.
15:00
I would like to go to your place to eat.

Now listen and repeat the mans answer.
I too would like to.
W y xing.
What part of that means too or also?
3.
This word is pronounced with a rising/falling tone. Try to say I too would like to. W y xing. Ask again Where would you like to go to eat? Try to ask
N xing q nr ch? N xing q w nr ch ma? Xing. W xing q n nr ch. W y xing.
Would you like to go to my place to eat?

Now answer
Yes. I would like to go to your place to eat.

Say I too would like to. Now listen and repeat the question When.
4.
shnme shhou
The tones rise, fall and then rise and falls again. Ask When or literally, What is the time? Shnme shhou? Say I dont know. Heres the answer Now. Listen and repeat.
W b zhdao.
5.
1
xinzi
(when/shnme shhou) is pronounced with a rising/neutral tone, followed by another rising/neutral tone.
6-4
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I That is pronounced with two falling tones. Say again Now. How would you ask her
Xinzi. N xing q nr ch?

18:00
Where would you like to go to eat?

And now ask again When? Try to ask When would you like to eat? Answer Now. Say I too would like to. Ask again When would you like to eat? Say I dont know. Try to say I would not like to eat now or literally, I not would like now to eat. Heres the answer later. Listen and repeat.
Shnme shhou? N xing shnme shhou ch? Xinzi. W y xing. N xing shnme shhou ch? W b zhdao. W b xing xinzi ch.
6.
gu yhur
Gu yhur.
The tones fall, fall and then fall and rise. Say Later. Ask Would you like to drink something? Answer this question No. Thank you. Say But I would like to eat something. Try to say I too would like to eat something. And now just say I too would like to. Do you remember the Mandarin word to go? Ask him where he would like to go to eat. How does he say
N xing h ydinr dngxi ma? B xing. Xixie n.

21:00
Ksh w xing ch ydinr dngxi. W y xing ch ydinr dngxi. W y xing. q N xing q nr ch? W xing q n nr ch. N xing shnme shhou h ydinr dngxi? W b xing xinzi h. Gu yhur. Zi nr?
6-5
I would like to go to your place to eat.

Ask When would you like to drink something? Try to say I would not like to drink now. Say Later. Do you remember how to ask the question
Located where?
24:00
Now ask When? Ask the young woman when she would like to eat. How would she answer Now say Later. Ask her where she would like to go to eat. Do you remember how to say My place? Now say I would like to go to my place to eat. Say I would not like to drink here. Say Located here. Say Your place. How did she say Now she says
Shnme shhou? N xing shnme shhou ch?
I would not like to eat now.
W b xing xinzi ch. Gu yhur. N xing q nr ch? W nr. W xing q w nr ch. W b xing zi zhr h. N nr. W b xing q n nr ch. Ksh w xing h ydinr dngxi. y
27:00
I would not like to go to your place to eat. But I would like to drink something.
What Mandarin world means also or too? Say I too would like to drink something. Ask him when he would like to drink something. Try to ask Would you like to drink later? Answer No. I would like to drink now. Try to ask Would you like to go to my place to
W y xing h ydinr dngxi. N xing shnme shhou h ydinr dngxi? N xing gu yhur h ma? B xing. W xing xinzi h. N xing q w nr h ydinr dngxi ma? Xing. W xing gu yhur ch ydinr dngxi. Ksh w xing xinzi h ydinr dngxi.
30:00
drink something?
How does she answer Yes? Tell her I would like to eat something later.
But I would like to drink something now.

6-6

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. caf restaurant tea beer Beijing
Pinyin
kfitng fndin ch pji Bijng
Simplified
Traditional
II. Transcript
This is unit 7 of Pimsleurs Mandarin Chinese I. Listen to this conversation. Nnrn: N xing shnme shhou ch?
Xinzi ma?
Man: When would you like to eat? Right now? Nrn: W xing gu yhur ch. Ksh w
xing xinzi h ydinr dngxi.

Woman: I would like to eat later. But I would like to drink now. Nnrn: N xing q nr h? Man: Where would you like to drink? Nrn: W b zhdao. Woman: I dont know. Nnrn: N xing q w nr h ma? Man: Would you like to go to my place?
Nrn: W xing q kfi tng h. Woman: I would like to go to the caf to drink. You just heard Q kfitng or to Go to a caf.
caf
1.
kfitng
N xing q nr ch? Q w nr. W b xing q n nr.
Listen again. (the conversation above is repeated) Ask Where would you like to go to eat? Do you remember how to say To my place? And how would you say
I would not like to go to your place?
Tell me that you would like to eat something.
W xing ch ydinr dngxi.

7-1
Do you remember how to say I too would like to? Ask When? Ask When would you like to eat? Say Now. Try to say I would like to eat now. Ask me if I would like to drink something. Answer this question Yes. Ask again Would you like to drink something? Now answer No. Thank you. Say But I would like to eat something. Listen and repeat to practice the pronunciation. Now say I too would like to. Ask When? Say Later. What word means to go? Ask Where would you like to go to eat? Try to say I would not like to eat here. Ask again Where would you like to go to eat? Ask Would you like to eat over there? Say I would not like to eat over there. Say I would like to go to your place. She answers OK. Its the same as the word for good or well. Try it.
W y xing. Shnme shhou? N xing shnme shhou ch? Xinzi.

03:00
W xing xinzi ch. N xing h ydinr dngxi ma? Xing. N xing h ydinr dngxi ma? B xing. Xixie n. Ksh w xing ch yidianr dngxi. W xing ch ydinr dngxi. W y xing. Shnme shhou? Gu yhur. q N xing q nr ch?
06:00
W b xing zi zhr ch. N xing q nr ch? N xing zi nr ch ma? W b xing zi nr ch. W xing q n nr. Ho.
Did you pronounce that with a falling/rising tone? Say again OK. Ho. Try to say Not OK.
B ho.
7-2
Say I would like to eat here.
W xing zi zhr ch.
Ask him again where would he like to go to N xing q nr ch? eat. His answer is to a restaurant. Listen and repeat restaurant.
2.
fndin
fndin q fndin
Thats pronounced with two falling tones. Say again restaurant. Now say To go to a restaurant. Try to ask OK? Now say Very good. Ask Where would you like to go to eat? Do you remember how to ask When? Now ask When would you like to eat?
09:00
Ho ma? Hn ho. N xing q nr ch? Shnme shhou? N xing shnme shhou ch? N xing ch shnme?
What would you like to eat? Listen and repeat.
Notice the word order. Literally, You would like to eat what. Say again, What would you like to eat? N xing ch shnme? Say I dont know. Ask her Where would you like to go to eat? Say To a restaurant. Ask OK? Say OK. Say I would like to drink something. Now ask What would you like to drink? Remember the word order. Here is how to say some tea. Listen and repeat.
W b zhdao. N xing q nr ch? Q fndin. Ho ma? Ho. W xing h ydinr dngxi. N xing h shnme?
12:00
ydinr ch
3.
ch
The word tea is pronounced with a rising tone. Say again tea. ch Now say some tea or literally, a little tea.
ydinr ch
7-3
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Say I would like to drink some tea. And now say I would like to go to a restaurant. Ask her again what she would like to drink. Ask Do you know? Answer No. Say I dont know. Ask her if she would like to drink some tea. How would she answer this question,
W xing h ydinr ch. W xing q fndin. N xing h shnme? N zhdao ma? B zhdao. W b zhdao. N xing h ydinr ch ma? B xing. Xixie n. Xing. W xing h ydinr ch.
15:00
No. Thank you.
Now answer
Yes. I would like to drink some tea.
I would like to drink some beer. Listen and repeat beer.
4.
pji
The word beer is pronounced with a rising tone followed by a falling/rising tone. Say again beer pji Try to say some beer or a little beer. Now say some tea. Ask OK? Ask her again What would you like to drink? Say I would like to drink some tea. Say I would like to drink some beer Ask her Where would you like to go to drink? Try to ask her
ydinr pji ydinr ch Ho ma? N xing h shnme? W xing h ydinr ch. W xing h ydinr pji. N xing q nr h? N xing q w nr ma? B xing. W xing h ydinr ch.
18:00
Would you like to go to my place?

How does she say No? Say again I would like to drink some tea. Now say I would like to go to a restaurant. Say But later, OK?
W xing q fndin. Ksh gu yhur, ho ma?

7-4
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I You want to say Not now. Say literally,
Now not OK.
Xinzi b ho. Ho. W xing ch ydinr dngxi. y W y xing ch ydinr dngxi. W xing h ydinr dngxi. N xing h ydinr dngxi ma? B xing. Xixie n. Xinzi b ho. Gu yhur, ho ma?
21:00
And how would you say OK? Do you remember how to tell someone that you would like to eat something? What word means also or too? How would you say
I too would like to eat something.
Tell her that you would like to drink something. Ask her if she would like to drink something. How does she answer No. Thank you. How does she say Not now.
Later, OK?
Now say But I would like to eat something. Ask her if she would like to eat now. How does she answer OK? Ask her where she would like to go to eat. Ask her if she would like to go to your place to eat. She says I would not like to go to your place. How does she answer To a restaurant? She says Say OK. Ask When? How does she say I would like to eat now?
Ksh w xing ch ydinr dngxi. N xing xinzi ch ma? Ho. N xing q nr ch?
Nnrn: N xing q w nr ch ma? Nrn: B xing.
W b xing q n nr. Q fndin. W xing q fndin ch. Ho. Shnme shhou? W xing xinzi ch.
I would like to go to a restaurant to eat.
She says I would like to go to the Beijing restaurant. Listen and repeat. W xing q Bijng fndin.
24:00
5.
Bijng
7-5
(Bijng) is pronounced with a rising/falling tone followed by a high level tone. Say it again. Bijng
Ask her Where she would like to go to eat. Answer to the Beijing restaurant. Try to ask her where this restaurant is located. Ask Do you know? Answer Yes. I know. How does she tell you Its over there. When you get to the restaurant, you ask her,
N xing q nr ch? Q Bijng fndin. Bijng fndin zi nr? N zhdao ma? Zhdao. W zhdao. Zi nr. N xing ch shnme? W b zhdao. N xing h shnme? W xing h ydinr dngxi.
27:00
What would you like to eat? I dont know.
Ask What would you like to drink? Now she says I would like to drink something. Ask her Would you like to drink some tea?
N xing h ydinr ch ma? N xing h ydinr pji ma? N xing shnme shhou h? Xinzi, ho ma? B ho. Xixie n. Xinzi b ho, xixie n. W xing h ydinr ch. Ksh w xinzi b xing h. Gu yhur, ho ma? Ho. Ksh w xing xinzi h ydinr dngxi
30:00
Would you like to drink some beer?

Now he asks When would you like to drink?
Now, OK?
She answers No. Thank you. Say literally, Not OK. Thank you. How would you answer Not now, thank you. How does she say
I would like to drink some tea?

Say But I would not like to drink now. How does she ask Later, OK? Say OK
Say But I would like to drink something now. This is the end of unit 7.
7-6

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. miss mister/husband lunch two (non-counting)
Pinyin
xiojie xinsheng wfn ling bi yo hish zu jidin mi gn shi yq
glass/container want, to/order, to or (question)

do, to hotel
10. buy, to 11. with 12. whom/who 13. together
Simplified
Traditional
II. Transcript
This is unit 8 of Pimsleurs Mandarin Chinese I. Listen to this conversation between Mr. Li and Miss. Wang.
L Xinsheng, Wng Xiojie. 1. Xinsheng 2. Xiojie
They are sitting at a restaurant. At one point Mr. Li will address waitress, xiojie calling her xiojie or miss. Listen. , L Xinsheng: Wng Xiojie, N xing
xinzi ch ydinr dngxi ma?
Mr. Li: Miss Wang, would you like to eat something now? Wng Xiojie: Xixie n, L Xinsheng. W
b xing xinzi ch, ksh w xing h ydinr dngxi.
Miss Wang: Thank you, Mr. Li. I would not like to eat something now, but I would like to drink something. L Xinsheng: Ho. N xing h shnme?
8-1
Mr. Li: OK. What would you like to drink? Wng Xiojie: Ydinr ch B. Ydinr pji.
Miss Wang: Some teaNo. Some beer. L Xinsheng: W y xing h ydinr pji. Mr. Li: I also would like to drink some beer. L Xinsheng: (to waitress) Xiojie, w xing
yo ling bi pji.
Mr. Li: Miss, I would like to order two glasses of beer. In the conversation, you heard. This means I would like to order two beers.
W xing yo ling bi pji.
Listen again. (The conversation above is repeated) Heres how to say to eat lunch. Listen and repeat.
ch wfn
3.
wfn
Lunch is pronounced with a falling/rising tone, followed by a falling tone. How do you say lunch? wfan How do you ask someone if they would like to eat now? Answer Yes. I would like to eat lunch. Listen and repeat to practice your pronounciation.
N xing xinzi ch ma? Xing. W xing ch wfn. Ch wfn. W xing ch wfn. W xing xinzi ch wfn. W xing xinzi ch wfn.
03:00
And now listen and repeat the same statement at rapid conversational speed. Ask her where she would like to go to eat lunch. Try to ask To a restaurant? Answer Yes. I would like to go to the Beijing
N xing q nr ch wfn? Q fndin ma? Xing. W xing q Bijng fndin. B xing. W xing q n nr. Q w nr ma? W y xing. Ksh gu yhur, ho ma?
8-2
restaurant.
Answer No. I would like to go to your place. Ask To my place? Do you remember how to say I too would like to? Say But later, OK?
She says Not OK. Ask her if she would like to drink something now.
B ho. N xing xinzi h ydinr dngxi ma?
When would you like to drink?

And now ask her What would you like to drink? Listen to these two questions together and think of what they mean. Ask her what she would like to drink. And now ask her if she would like to drink something. Ask her when should would like to drink. Ask her what she would like to drink. Ask her if she would like to drink something now. Ask her if she would like to drink beer. He orders two beers. Just Listen.
And how would you ask her
N xing shnme shhou h? N xing h shnme? N xing shnme shhou h? N xing h shnme?
06:00
N xing h shnme? N xing h ydinr dngxi ma? N xing shnme shhou h? N xing h shnme? N xing xinzi h ydinr dngxi ma? N xing h pji ma? W xing yo ling bi pji.
Literally, he is saying something like I would like to order two glasses of beer. Listen and repeat the number two.
4.
ling
Can you guess the tone? Its a falling/rising tone. Say two. ling Now listen and repeat two glasses or two containers.
ling bi
5. bi (bi) is pronounced with a high level tone. Say two glasses ling bi
In Chinese, when counting, you must add a measure word after the number. (bi) is a measure word which refers to a container of liquid. For example, a glass. Try to say two beers ling bi pji I would like to order two beers. In Mandarin you say literally, I like to want to two beers. Heres hows to say want. Listen and repeat
6.
yo
8-3
Notice the falling tone. Say I would like to order. Now say I would like to order two beers. Ask Would you like to drink some beer? Heres how to say or. Listen and repeat.
09:00
W xing yo. W xing yo ling bi pji. N xing h ydinr pji ma?
7.
hish
Or is pronounced with a rising tone then a falling tone. Say or. hish Try to ask Would you like to drink tea or beer? Say Some tea. Say OK. How would you say
N xing h ch hish pji? Ydinr ch. Ho. W xing yo ydinr ch. Gu yhur, ho ma? W b xing. N xing h ydinr ch ma? B xing. Xixie n.
12:00
I would like to order some tea?

Do you remember how to say Later, OK? Now she says I would not like to. Ask Would you like to drink some tea? Answer No. Thank you.
I would like to drink some beer.

Say I too would like to. How would you tell the waitress I would like to order two beers? She asks would you like to order tea or beer. Say I dont know. And how would he say
W xing h ydinr pji. W y xing. W xing yo ling bi pji. N xing yo ch hish pji? W b zhdao. W b mngbai n shu shnme. W b zhdao. W xing xinzi ch wfn. N xing ch shnme? N xing zu shnme?
8-4
I dont understand what you are saying?

Say again I dont know. She says I would like to eat lunch now. Ask the woman what she would like to eat. Now listen and repeat the question
What would you like to do?
8.
zu
zu N xing zu shnme?
To do is pronounced with a high falling tone. Say again to do. Ask her what she would like to do. Now she answers
I would like to drink something.

Ask her where she would like to go to drink something. Ask To my place?
W xing h ydinr dngxi.

15:00
N xing q nr h ydinr dngxi? Q w nr ma? W b xing q n nr. Q jidin. jidin jidin W xing q jidin. Q nr? W xing q fndin. N xing zu shnme? W xing mi ydinr dngxi. mi zu
18:00
I would not like to go to your place.

Now she says to the hotel. Just listen.
9.
jidin
Listen and repeat hotel. Thats pronounced with a falling/rising tone followed by a falling tone. Say again hotel. Try to say I would like to go to the hotel. Ask To go where? Now say I would like to go to a restaurant. Ask her what she would like to do? Listen and repeat the answer
I would like to buy something.
10.
Say it again.
mi
To buy is pronounced with a falling/rising tone.
And how do you say to do? Say What would you like to do? Say I would like to buy something. Now ask her what she would like to buy. Do you remember how to ask
N xing zu shnme? W xing mi ydinr dngxi. N xing mi shnme? N xing q nr?

8-5
Where would you like to go?
Say I would like to go to the hotel.
W xing q jidin. W xing h ydinr dngxi. N xing yo ch hish pji? W xing yo ling bi pji. Gn shi yq? gn
I would like to drink something.

Ask her if she would like to order tea or beer. How would you say
I would like to order two beers?

Listen to how you would ask along with whom? Heres the word with. Listen and repeat.
11.
with.
gn
Did you here the high level tone? Say again Listen and repeat Whom?
12.
shi
Shi?
21:00
This is pronounced with a rising tone. Say again Whom?
whom?
Listen and repeat With whom or Along with What part of that means along?
Gn shi yq?
13.
yq
Gn shi yq? Gn n yq. N xing zu shnme?
This is pronounced with a falling and falling/rising tone. Try to ask With whom? Be careful of the word order. Now try to answer With you. Ask me what I would like to do. Say I would like to buy something. Ask Would you like to buy something? Now answer No. I would like to eat lunch now. Ask With whom? Say With you. Now lets try conversing with the woman. Begin by saying Hello to her. Ask her what she would like to do now.
W xing mi ydinr dngxi. N xing mi ydinr dngxi ma? B xing. W xing xinzi ch wfn. Gn shi yq? Gn n yq.
N: N ho. Nrn: N ho.
24:00
N: N xing xinzi zu shnme? 8-6
Nrn: W b zhdao. N ne? N xing h
ydinr dngxi ma?
Woman: I dont know. How about you? Would you like to drink something? Answer affirmitivelty. N: Xing. W xing h ydinr dngxi.
Xing. Xixie n.
You: Yes. I would like to drink something. Yes.Thank you. How does she ask With whom? Try to ask if she would like to drink something with you. Nrn: Xing. Shnme shhou? Woman: Yes. What time? Tell her Now. Ask her where you would like to go to drink?

Nrn: Gn shi yq? N: N xing gn w yq h ydinr dngxi ma? N: Xinzi. N: N xing q nr h? N: N xing q jidin ma? N: Ho. N: Bijng fndin zi nr? N: Zhdao. W zhdao. N: Zi nr. N: N xing h ch hish pji?
27:00
Would you like to go to the hotel?

Nrn: B xing. W xing q Bijng
fndin h.
Woman: No. I would like to go to the Beijing restaurant to drink. Say OK. Ask her where the Beijing restaurant is located. Nrn: W b zhdao. N ne? Woman: I dont know. How about you? Now tell her Yes. I know. Say Its located over there. Now ask her
Would you like to drink tea or beer?

Nrn: W xing h ydinr ch. Woman: I would like to drink some tea. How does she tell you that shed like to eat lunch?
Nrn: W xing ch wfn. N ne?
8-7
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Tell her that I would not like to eat now. Later, N: W b xing xinzi ch. Gu yhur,
OK?
ho ma?
She says OK. Tell her that you would like to drink something. Nrn: N xing h shnme? Woman: What would you like to drink? How does she ask if you would like to drink tea or beer? And how would you tell her that you would like to order some tea? Tell her that I would like to eat lunch with you. Be careful of the word order. Nrn: W y xing gn n yq ch wfn. Woman: I also would like to eat lunch with you. This is the end of unit 8.
Nrn: Ho. N: W xing h ydinr dngxi. Nrn: N xing h ch hish pji? N: W xing yo ydinr ch.
N: W xing gn n yq ch wfn.
30:00
8-8

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. or (statement) What time? 1 9 8 impossible
Pinyin
huzh J din zhng? y ji b b xng
Simplified
Traditional
II. Transcript
This is unit 9 of Pimsleurs Mandarin Chinese I. Listen to this conversation between Miss Wang and Mr. Li. L Xinsheng: Wng Xiojie, n ho. Mr. Li: Hello, Miss Wang. Wng Xiojie: N ho. Miss Wang: Hello. L Xinsheng: Wng Xiojie, n xing
xinzi zu shnme?
Mr. Li: Miss Wang, what would you like to do now? Wng Xiojie: W b zhdao. N ne? Miss Wang: I dont know. How about you? L Xinsheng: W xing xinzi ch wfn.
N xing gn w yq ch ma?
Mr. Li: I am going to eat lunch now. Would you like to eat with me? Wng Xiojie: Xing. Ksh w xing q
Bijng fndin ch. Ho ma?

Miss Wang: Yes. But I would like to go to the Beijing Restaurant to eat, OK? L Xinsheng: Ho. W y xing q Bijng
fndin ch.
Mr. Li: OK. I too would like to go to the Beijing Restaurant. Now ask me how I am. Ask me if I can speak Mandarin.
N ho ma? N hu shu ptnghu ma?

9-1
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Ask me where Long Peace Street is located. Ask Do you know where Long Peace Street is
Chng n Ji zi nr? N zhdao Chng n Ji zi nr ma? Bijng fndin zi nr? Zi nr. W xing xinzi ch wfn. N xing ch wfn ma? N xing gn w yq ch wfn ma?
03:00
located?
Now ask Where is the Beijing restaurant? Answer Over there. Tell me that you would like to eat lunch now. Ask me if I would like to eat lunch. Ask Would you like to eat lunch with me? Answer I would not like to eat lunch. Say Id like to buy something. Ask her When? And now ask her what she would like to buy. Ask With whom or Along with whom? Answer With you. How would you tell a waiter
W b xing ch wfn. W xing mi ydinr dngxi. Shnme shhou? N xing mi shnme? Gn shi yq? Gn n yq. W xing ling bi pji. N xing h pji ma? N xing h ch hish pji? W xing yo ch huzh pji.

Ask her if she would like to drink some beer. Ask her Would you like to drink tea or beer? Heres how she would say
I would to order tea or beer.
1.
huzh
The words that means or is pronounced with a falling tone, followed by a falling/rising tone. Say these words for or again. huzh Mandarin uses different words for or depending on whether you are making a statement or a asking question.
06:00
Say I would like to order tea or beer. Now ask me if I would like to drink something or eat something. Ask With whom? Say I would like to drink something with you.
W xing mi ch huzh pji. N xing h ydinr dngxi hish ch ydinr dngxi? Gn shi yq? W xing gn n yq h ydinr dngxi.
9-2
Try to say But not here. Literally, But is not located here. Ask her what would she like to do. How does she say I would like to drink
Ksh b sh zi zhr. N xing zu shnme? W xing h ydinr dngxi huzh ch ydinr dngxi.
09:00
something or eat something.
Now she says I would like to go to your place
to drink something.
W xing q n nr h ydinr dngxi. Ho ma? Ho. W y xing h ydinr dngxi.
Ask OK? Say OK. I too would like to drink something.
Heres how to ask At what time? Listen and repeat.
2.
J din zhng?
J din zhng? Y din zhng. y y y Y din zhng. J din zhng? Y din zhng. Ji din zhng. ji N xing zu shnme?
Thats pronounced with a rising tone, followed falling/rising and high level tones.1 Ask again At what time? Heres the answer. One oclock. Just listen.
3.
Listen and repeat. 1 is pronounced with a high level tone. Listen and repeat. Say 1. Say 1 oclock. Ask again At what time? Answer 1 oclock or at 1 oclock.
At is understood. Now listen and repeat. 9 oclock.
4.
Say 9.
ji
Ask him what he would like to do. And now say I would like to drink some tea. Say At 9 oclock.
1
12:00
W xing h ydinr ch. Ji din zhng.
(what time/ J din) is written two falling/rising tones, but as per combination rule number 3, it is pronounced as a rising tone, followed by a falling/rising tone.
9-3
Ask At what time. Answer At 1 oclock. Now listen and repeat the number 8.
J din zhng? Y din zhng. B din zhng. Sh b din zhng ma? B sh. Sh ji din zhng. W xing yo ling bi pji.
5.
Can you guess the tone? Its a high level tone. Say 8 oclock. Try to ask Is it at 8 oclock? Answer No. Its at 9 oclock. Do you remember how to say
I would like to order two beers.
Did you pronounce the number two with a falling/rising tone? Try to say 2 oclock. Ling din zhng.
8 oclock. 1 oclock. 9 oclock.

Now say At 2 oclock. Say At 1 oclock or 2 oclock. Ask At what time? Now ask At 1 oclock or at 2 oclock? Say At 2 oclock, OK? Say OK. But I would like to go to the hotel to eat lunch. Say At 8 oclock. Now say At 9 oclock. Ask When? At What time? Ask At 8 oclock or at 9 oclock? Answer I dont know.
B din zhng. Y din zhng. Ji din zhng. Ling din zhng.

15:00
Y din zhng huzh ling din zhng. J din zhng? Y din zhng hish ling din zhng? Ling din zhng, ho ma? Ho. Ksh w xing q jidin ch wfn. B din zhng. Ji din zhng. Shnme shhou? J din zhng? B din zhng hish ji din zhng? W b zhdao.
9-4
18:00
Say At 2 oclock OK? Say OK. At the hotel. Remember to say located at. How would you say Please let me ask? Now ask
Ling din zhng, ho ma? Ho. Zi jidin. Qngwn? Bijng fndin zi nr? Zi nr. N xing zu shnme? W b zhdao. N xing h ydinr dngxi ma? Gn shi yq? N xing gn w yq h ydinr dngxi ma? N xing xinzi h ydinr dngxi ma?
21:00
Where is the Beijing Restaurant located?

She answers Its located over there. Ask her what she would like to do.
I dont know.
Ask Would you like to drink something? Ask With whom? Ask
Would you like to drink something with me?

Ask Would you like to drink something now? How would tell a waiter or waitress I would like to order two beers? Now ask your companion How about you? Ask her again
W xing yo ling bi pji. N ne? N xing gn w yq h ydinr dngxi ma? B xing. Xixie n. Xinzi b ho. Gu yhur ne? Gu yhur b ho. Y din zhng ho ma? B ho. Ling din zhng ho ma? B ho. Xixie n. W b xing ling din zhng h.
9-5
Would you like to drink something with me? No. Thank you?
How does she answer this question
Answer Now not OK. Now ask How about later? Answer Later not OK. Try to ask At 1 oclock OK? Say Not OK. Ask At 2 oclock OK? Try to say Not OK. Thank you. I would not like
to drink at 2 oclock.
24:00
Ask her if she would like to drink something at 8 oclock. Ask at 8 oclock or at 9 oclock? She answers Impossible. Listen and repeat.
N xing b din zhng h ydinr dngxi ma? B din zhng hish ji din zhng?
6.
b xng
B xng.
The tone in that falls from the high level and then rises again. Say again Impossible. Ask When would you like to drink something? She answers I would not like to drink with you. Say You would not like to drink with me.
N xing shnme shhou h ydinr dngxi? W b xing gn n yq h. N b xing gn w yq h. Ksh n xing gn w yq ch wfn. Zi fndin. Y din zhng huzh ling din zhng.
27:00
But you would like to eat lunch with me.

And how do you say At the restaurant? Do you remember how to say At 1 oclock or at 2 oclock? Now ask When would you like to eat? Try to ask 8 oclock or 9 oclock?
N xing shnme shhou ch? B din zhng hish ji din zhng? B xng. Y din zhng b xng. Ling din zhng b xng.
Impossible.
She says
1 oclock impossible. 2 oclock impossible.
Now she adds for good measure 8 oclock impossible. 9 oclock impossible. Say it for her. B din zhng b xng. Ji din zhng b
xng.
Ask At what time?
J din zhng? N xing shnme shhou ch ydinr dngxi? N b mngbai. W b mngbai shnme? N b mngbai w shu shnme.
30:00
When would you like to eat something?

She says You dont understand.
What dont I understand? Try it.

She answers You dont understand what I say. This is the end of unit 9.
9-6

1. 2. 3. 4. 5 3 4 as for me
Pinyin
w sn s w
Simplified
Traditional
II. Transcript
This is unit 10 of Pimsleurs Mandarin Chinese I. Listen to this Mandarin conversation. Nrn: L Xinsheng, w xing gn n yq
ch ydinr dngxi. Ho ma?

Woman: Mr. Li, I would like to eat lunch together with you. OK? L Xinsheng: J din zhng? Ling din
zhng ho ma?
Mr. Li: What time? Is 2 oclock OK? Nrn: B ho. W xing gu yhur ch. Woman: Not OK. I would like to eat later. L Xinsheng: B din zhng hish ji din
zhng?
Mr. Li: 8 oclock or 9 oclock? Nrn: Ji din zhng. Woman: 9 oclock. L Xinsheng: Ho.
Mr. Li: OK. Listen again. (the conversation above is repeated) Do you remember how to say I would like to eat something? Now say Id like to buy something. Ask What would you like to do? Say again I would like to buy something. Ask At what time? Say At 1 oclock.
W xing ch ydinr ydinr dngxi. W xing mi ydinr dngxi. N xing zu shnme? W xing mi ydinr dngxi. J din zhng? Y din zhng.
10-1
Tell her Id like to drink some tea. And how would you say At 9 oclock? Now ask Is it at 9 oclock? Do you remember how to say Its impossible or impossible? Try to say 9 oclock is impossible. Say At 8 oclock. Now say At 2 oclock. Do you remember how to say You dont understand? Ask What I dont understand? Ask her what she would like to drink. Ask her Do you know? Answer No. I dont know. Ask whether she would like to drink something. She says I would not like to drink anything. Listen and repeat. How do you say thing or anything in Mandarin? Say again I would not like to drink anything. How would she say
W xing h ydinr ch. Ji din zhng. Sh ji din zhng ma? B xng.

03:00
Ji din zhng b xng. B din zhng. Ling din zhng. N b mngbai. W b mngbai shnme? N xing h shnme? N zhdao ma? B zhdao. W b zhdao. N xing h ydinr dngxi ma? W b xing h dngxi. dngxi W b xing h dngxi. Ksh w xing ch ydinr dngxi.
06:00
But I would like to eat something?

Do you remember how to ask
Would you like to go to the hotel?

Ask Would you like to drink something? How would you ask Say I dont know. Say Two beers or Two glasses of beer.
N xing q jidin ma? N xing h ydinr dngxi ma? N xing yo ch hish pji? W b zhdao. Ling bi pji.
10-2
Would you like to order tea or beer?
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Ask What would you like to drink? How does she say
N xing h shnme? W b xing h dngxi. N xing gn w yq ch ydinr dngxi ma? Xing. W xing gn n yq ch ydinr dngxi. W b xing q jidin. N xing zu shnme?
09:00
I would not like to drink anything?

Ask Would you like to eat something with me?
Say
Yes. I would like to eat something with you.

Say I would not like to go to the hotel. Do you remember how to ask
What would you like to do?
Say I would like to go to your place to eat. Ask When?
W xing q n nr ch. Shnme shhou? N xing shnme shhou ch ydinr dngxi? J din zhng? Xinzi j din zhng? Xinzi j din zhng? Y din zhng. Ji din zhng. Xinzi j din zhng. Ling din zhng. W din zhng. w Xinzi j din zhng? Sn din zhng.
When would you like to eat something?

Ask At what time? To ask What time is it? in Mandarin you ask literally, Now at what time? Did your tone match the speakers? Ask again
What time is it?
Say Its 1 oclock. Its is understood. Tell me that its 9 oclock. Ask again What time is it? Answer that its 2 oclock. Heres how to say its 5 oclock. Listen and repeat.
1.
5 is pronounced with a falling/rising tone. Say 5. Ask what time it is. Remember to use now. Listen and repeat the answer Its 3 oclock.
2.
sn
3 is pronounced with a high level tone. 10-3
12:00
Say 3 oclock. Now tell me that Its 5 oclock. Listen and repeat 4 oclock.
Sn din zhng. W din zhng. S din zhng. S din zhng. W din zhng. Ling din zhng. S din zhng. Sh s din zhng ma? Sh ji din zhng ma? B sh. B din zhng. S din zhng. Xinzi j din zhng? Ji din zhng. Sn din zhng. W din zhng. S din zhng.
15:00
3.
4 is pronounced with a falling tone. Tell me Its 4 oclock. Tell me that Its 5 oclock. Tell me that Its 2 oclock. Tell me that Its 4 oclock. Listen and repeat. Is it 4 oclock? Now ask me if Its 9 oclock. Say No. Now say Its 8 oclock. Say 4 oclock. Ask what time it is. Say 9 oclock.
3 oclock. 5 oclock. 4 oclock.

Now say 4 oclock or 5 oclock. Ask again what time it is. Say I dont know. But Id like to eat something.
S din zhng huzh w din zhng. Xinzi j din zhng? W b zhdao. Ksh w xing ch ydinr dngxi. Gn shi yq? N xing gn w yq ch ydinr dngxi
ma?
Ask With whom? Ask her if she would like to eat something with you.
I would not like to eat now. Later, OK?
How would she say
W b xing xinzi ch. Gu yhur, ho ma?

10-4
Im going to have lunch now.

Listen and repeat.
W yo xinzi ch wfn.
18:00
What part of that means going to? yo What else does this word mean? It can also mean to order or literally, to want. Say You are going to order lunch now. Now ask Are you going to eat something? Ask Are you going to eat something now? Heres how to answer this question Yes. Listen and repeat.
W yo xinzi ch wfn. N yo ch ydinr dngxi ma? N yo xinzi ch ydinr dngxi ma? Sh.
This is how to answer yes to a going to question. Answer Yes. I am going to have lunch now. Sh. W yo xinzi ch wfn. Ask her again if she would like to eat something. Do you remember how to say
N xing ch ydinr dngxi ma?
I wouldnt like to eat anything?

You want to say as for me. Listen and repeat.
W b xing ch dngxi. W .
4.
Say As for me. Now try to say
As for me Im going to have lunch now.

Try to say Im going to eat at 5 oclock. Ask me if Im going to eat at 5 oclock. Answer Yes. And how would you answer No? Say Im going to eat at 8 oclock. Say Im going to drink something now. And how would you say Now ask When? Try to ask
W . W yo xinzi ch wfn.
21:00
W yo w din zhng ch. N yo w din zhng ch ma? Sh. B sh. W yo b din zhng ch. W yo xinzi h ydinr dngxi. W xing yo ling bi pji. Shnme shhou? N yo shnme shhou h ydinr dngxi?
10-5
I would like to order two beers.
When are you going to drink something?
Ask Now or later? How would you say At 3 oclock or at 4 oclock. She says As for me. As for me Im going to drink at 9 oclock. Ask What time is it? Answer 1 oclock. Ask me when I am going to eat. And how do I tell you
Xinzi hish gu yhur? Sn din zhng huzh s din zhng. W . W . W yo ji din zhng h.
24:00
Xinzi j din zhng? Y din zhng. N yo shnme shhou ch? W yo xinzi ch wfn.
Im going to have lunch now.
Now the young woman is going to converse with you. You are to answer her questions. Begin by greeting her. N: N ho. You: Hello. Nrn: N ho. Qngwn. N xing gn w
yq ch ydinr dngxi ma?

Woman: Hello. May I ask, would you like to eat something together with me? Give a positive answer. N: Xing. W xing gn n yq ch ydinr
dngxi.
You: Yes. I would like to eat something together with you.
She is going to suggest various times to you. After each suggestion, tell her no. You want to eat an hour later than she does. Nrn: N xing b din zhng ch ma? Woman: Would you like to eat at 8 oclock? N: B xing. W xing ji din zhng ch. You: No. I would like to eat at 9 oclock. Nrn: Ji din zhng b ho. Ling din
zhng ho ma?
Woman: 9 oclock is not good. 2 oclock OK? N: Ling din zhng b ho. W xing sn
din zhng ch.

Your: 2 oclock not good. I would like to eat at 3 oclock. Nrn: Sn din zhng b ho. W xing s
din zhng ch. Ho ma?
10-6
Woman: 3 oclock is not good. I would like to eat at 4 oclock, OK? N: S din zhng b ho. W xing w
(27:00) N: N xing shnme shhou ch wfn? N: W , w yo xinzi ch wfn. Nrn: Gn shi yq? N: N xing gn w yq ch wfn ma? Nrn: Xing. W xing gn n yq ch
din zhng ch.
You: 4 oclock is not good. I would like to eat at 5 oclock. Nrn: W . W b xing w din zhng
ch.
Woman: As for me, I would not like to eat at 5 oclock. Ask her when she would like to have lunch. Nrn: W b zhdao. Woman: I dont know. Say As for me, Im going to have lunch now. How does she ask with whom? Ask her if she would like to have lunch with you. How does she answer
Yes. I would like to have lunch along with you?

Ask At what time?
wfn.
N: J din zhng?
Try to ask When would you like to have lunch with me? Literally, You would like when along with me to N: N xing shnme shhou gn w yq
eat lunch?
ch wfn?
Nrn: Gu yhur, ho ma?
30:00
How would she say Later, OK? N: Ho. Gu yhur. You: OK. Later. This is the end of unit 10.
10-7

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 6 7 in that case lets say today evening dinner 10 tomorrow
Pinyin
li q nme ba jntin wnshang wnfn sh mngtin mngtin jin
10. see you tomorrow
Simplified
Traditional
II. Transcript
This is unit 11 of Pimsleurs Mandarin Chinese I.
Qng tng zh dun ptnghu duhu.

Please listen to this Mandarin conversation.
(qng tng zh dun ptnghu duhu)

In it, youll hear li din zhng or 6 oclock.
1. (qng tng)
li
L Xinsheng: Wng Xiojie, qngwn, n xing
j din zhng gn w yq ch fn?
Mr. Li: Miss Wang, may I ask, what time would you like to eat together with me? Wng Xiojie: Y din zhng. Miss Wang: One oclock. L Xinsheng: Y din zhng, b ho. Ling
din zhng ho ma? din zhng ho ma?
Mr. Li: 1 oclock is not good. Is 2 oclock OK? Wng Xiojie: Ling din zhng b ho. Sn Miss Wang: 2 oclock is not good. 3 oclock? L Xinsheng: Sn din zhng b ho. S din
zhng ne?
11-1
Mr. Li: 3 oclock is not good. 4 oclock then? Wng Xiojie: S din zhng b xng. Miss Wang: 4 oclock is impossible. L Xinsheng: Nme, w din zhng ba? Ho
ma?
Mr. Li: In that case, lets say 5 oclock. OK? Wng Xiojie: W din zhng b xng. Li din
zhng ho ma?
Miss Wang: 5 oclock is impossible. Is 6 oclock OK? L Xinsheng: B ho. Li din zhng b ho. Mr. Li: Not OK. 6 oclock is not OK. Wng Xiojie: L Xinsheng, w b xing gn
n yq ch fn.
Miss Wang: Mr. Li, I would not like to eat together with you.
In this conversation, you heard: Nme, w din zhng ba. Or In that case, lets say 5 oclock. Listen again. (the conversation above is repeated) Do you remember how to ask someone what time it is? Ask Do you know? Answer I dont know. And how would you answer Yes. I know. Tell him that Its 3 oclock. Tell him Its 5 oclock. Ask him if he is going to eat something now. Do you remember how to answer yes to this question? Ask him if hes going to eat lunch now. Now answer
Xinzi j din zhng? N zhdao ma? W b zhdao. Zhdao. W zhdao. Sn din zhng. W din zhng. N yo xinzi ch ydinr dngxi ma?
03:00
Sh. N yo xinzi ch wfn ma? B sh. W xing xinzi ch ydinr dngxi. W . W , w yo gu yhur ch ydinr dngxi.
11-2
No. I would not like to eat anything now.

Say As for me.
As for me, I am going eat something later.
Say 8 oclock. Tell her that youre going to drink something later. Now say Im going to drink some tea later. Say At 9 oclock. Ask At what time? And how would you ask What time is it? How does she answer Now its 4 oclock. Now say Im going to have lunch at 2 oclock.
B din zhng. W yo gu yhur h ydinr dngxi. W yo gu yhur h ydinr ch. Ji din zhng. J din zhng? Xinzi j din zhng?
06:00
Xinzi s din zhng. W yo ling din zhng ch wfn. Y din zhng huzh ling din zhng? N xing gn w yq ch wfn ma? Shnme shhou? Zi nr? Shnme shhou? Xinzi ma? B sh xinzi. . . li Li din zhng. Huzh q din zhng.
09:00
At 1 oclock or at 2 oclock?
Ask her if she would like to have lunch with you. How does she ask When? How would she ask Located where? Try to ask When? Now? Say It isnt now. Heres how to say Six oclock.
qng gn zh shu.
Please repeat.
(qng gn zh shu) Li din zhng.

Say again six using a falling tone. Say At six oclock.
Or at seven oclock. (qng gn zh shu)

Please repeat.
2.
Q din zhng.
7 is pronounced with a high level tone. Say again 7 oclock. Say At 6 oclock or at 7 oclock. Pay attention to the tones.
Li din zhng huzh q din zhng.
11-3
Do you remember how to say Impossible? Say 6 oclock, impossible. He says In that case, 7 oclock. Just listen and repeat.
B xng. Li din zhng, b xng. Nme, q din zhng. nme nme Nme, q din zhng ba.
3.
nme
Heres how to say In that case.
(qng gn zh shu)
Say In that case or then using two falling tones.1
In that case, lets say 7 oclock.
4.
ba
The ba at the end of that sentence is pronounced with a falling tone and it means lets say.2 Say In that case, lets say seven oclock. Nme, q din zhng ba. Heres how to say this evening. Just listen.
5.
jntin
Jntin wnshang. jntin Jntin.
12:00
First the word today. (qng gn zh shu) Did you hear the two high level tones? Say
Today.
Heres how to say In the evening.
6.
wnshang
Thats pronounced with a falling/rising tone, followed by a falling tone. Say again In the evening. Jntin wnshang. Try to say This evening. Heres how to say to eat dinner.
Jntin wnshang. Ch wnfn. wnfn
(qng gn zh shu) 7. wnfn
Say dinner or evening meal. Try to say
This evening, Im going to eat dinner.

That word order was the same as in English. Now ask Would you like to eat at 5 oclock?
Jntin wnshang, w yo ch wnfn. N xing w din zhng ch ma?
1 2 3
In (in that case/nme), second syllabel has a neutral tone.
(ba) has a neutral tone. (evening/wnshang) is pronounced with a falling/rising tone followed by a neutral tone.
11-4
15:00
Say At 7 oclock. The woman says at 10 oclock.
Q din zhng. Sh din zhng. sh
(qng gn zh shu) 8. sh
Whats the Mandarin number 10?
What other words sound like this number? The word to be is very similar but to be is pronounced with a falling tone (sh) while 10 is pronounced with a rising tone (sh). Say At 10 oclock. Say This evening. Try to say Im going to eat dinner at 10 oclock
Sh din zhng. Jntin wnshang. W yo sh din zhng ch wnfn.
Heres how to say Tomorrow. (qng gn zh shu)
9.
mngtin
mngtin N ne? Mngtin ne?
The tones are rising and high level. Say tomorrow. Do you remember how to ask How about you? Try to ask How about tomorrow? Answer
Tomorrow, Im going to eat dinner with you.

Say At 3 oclock or at 4 oclock. Say Not OK. At 6 oclock or at 7 oclock.
Mngtin, w yo gn n yq ch wfn.
18:00
Sn din zhng huzh s din zhng. B ho. Li din zhng huzh q din zhng. Ji din zhng b ho. Nme, sh din zhng ba? B sh sh din zhng. B sh sh din zhng. Mngtin Jntin wnshang. Mngtin wnshang.
21:00
Say 9 oclock is not OK. Say In that case, lets say 10 oclock. Try to say It is not at 10 oclock. Did you pronounce that as the speaker did? Say again It is not at 10 oclock. Say Tomorrow. How do you say This evening. Or literally,
Today, in the evening.
Try to say Tomorrow evening.
11-5
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Say Tomorrow evening at 7 oclock. Now say Its not at 7 oclock. Ask At 10 oclock, OK? Do you remember how to say Today? Say Tomorrow. Say Tomorrow evening. Say This evening. Ask the young woman if she is going to eat dinner. And how would you ask Answer No. Say Today, I would not like to eat anything.
Mngtin wnshang q din zhng. B sh q din zhng. Sh din zhng ho ma? Jntin. Mngtin. Mngtin wnshang. Jntin wnshang. N yo ch wnfn ma?
Are you going to eat dinner with me?
N yo gn w yq ch wnfn ma? B sh. Jntin, w b xing ch dngxi. Mngtin, ho ma? J din zhng?
24:00
Tomorrow, OK?
Ask At what time? Say At 6 oclock or at 7 oclock. How would you say
Li din zhng huzh q din zhng. W , w yo xinzi ch wnfn. W y yo ch. Xinzi j din zhng? Sh din zhng. Jntin wnshang. W xing gn n yq ch wnfn. Jntin wnshang, w b xing ch dngxi. Nme, mngtin wnshang ba.
As for me, Im going to eat dinner now.

How does she say I too am going to eat. Ask What time is it? Tell her 10 oclock. Say This evening. Pay attention to the tones. Tell her I would like to have dinner with you. Say
This evening, I would not like to eat anything.

Say In that case, lets say tomorrow evening.
Xinzi qng n gn L Xinsheng di hu.

Now please have a conversation with Mr. Li.
11-6
Ill tell you what to say to him and hell answer you. Begin by greeting him. N: L Xinsheng, n ho. You: Hello, Mr. Li. L Xinsheng: N ho. Mr. Li: Hello. Try to ask him what he would like to do today. N: N xing jntin zu shnme? You: What would you like to do today? L Xinsheng: Shnme shhou? Xinzi ma? Mr. Li: When? Today? Ask him what he would like to do this evening. N: N xing jntin wnshang zu shnme? You: What would you like to do this evening? L Xinsheng: W b zhdao. N ne? Mr. Li: I dont know. How about you?
27:00
Ask him if he would like to go to your place to drink something? N: N xing q w nr h ydinr dngxi
ma?
You: Would you like to go to my place to drink something? L Xinsheng: Xing. Ksh jntin wnshang
b ho.
Mr. Li: Yes. But this evening is not OK. Respond. Then lets say tomorrow evening. N: Nme, mngtin wnshang ba. You: In that case, tomorrow evening then.
Hell ask you a question. Answer him with the time 6 oclock in your answer. L Xinsheng: N xing j din zhng ch
wnfn?
Mr. Li: What time would you like to eat dinner? N: Li din zhng. You: 6 oclock.
Use the time 7 oclock in response to his next question L Xinsheng: Mngtin ne? Mr. Li: Tomorrow? N: Q din zhng. You: 7 oclock. 11-7
Use 10 oclock in your next answer. L Xinsheng: N xing j din zhng q w
nr h ydinr dngxi?
Mr. Li: What time would you like to go to my place to dink something? N: Sh din zhng. W xing sh din
zhng q n nr h dngxi.
You: 10 oclock. I would like to go to your place to drink something at 10 oclock. Now he says See you tomorrow. Just listen. L Xinsheng: Mngtin jin. Mr. Li: See you tomorrow.
11.
mngtin jin
30:00
11-8

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. How much? money Peoples currency unit/piece 2 (counting)
Pinyin
Dusho? qin Rnmnb kui r
Simplified
Traditional
II. Transcript
Qng tng zh dun dinhu duhu.

Please listen to this telephone conversation. Li Ming is Making a call to Ms. Wang. Listen. L Mng: Qngwn, sh Wng Xiojie ma? Li Ming: May I ask, are you Miss Wang? Wng Xiojie: Sh. W sh. Miss Wang: Yes. I am. L Mng: W sh L Mng. Wng Xiojie, n
jntin wnshang xing gn w yq ch wnfn ma?
Li Ming: I am Li Ming. Miss Wang, this evening would you like to eat dinner along with me? Wng Xiojie: Jntin wnshang b ho.
Mngtin wnshang ho ma?

Miss Wang: This evening is not good. Is tomorrow evening OK? L Mng: Ho. J din zhng? Q din zhng
ho ma? xng.
Li Ming: OK. What time? Is 7 oclock is OK? Wng Xiojie: Dubuq. Q din zhng b Miss Wang: Sorry. 7 oclock is impossible. L Mng: Nme, b din zhng ho ma? Li Ming: In that case, 8 oclock OK? Wng Xiojie: Ho. Mngtin wnshang b
din zhng q w nr.
Miss Wang: OK. Tomorrow evening at 8 oclock go to my place.
12-1
L Mng: Ho. Mngtin jin. Li Ming: OK. See you tomorrow. Wng Xiojie: Mngtin jin.
Miss Wang: See you tomorrow. Listen again. (The conversation above is repeated) Do you remember how to say This evening?
Jntin wnshang. Mngtin wnshang. Li din zhng. Gu yhur ne? Nme, b din zhng ba. Xinzi j din zhng? Xinzi sh din zhng.
03:00
Tomorrow evening.
Say At 6 oclock. Ask What about later? Respond In that case, lets say 8 oclock. Ask What time is it? Tell her that Right now it is 10 oclock. Try to ask Is it 10 oclock? Did your tone match the speakers? Try to answer No. Its 10 oclock. Ask again What time it is? Say Now its 4 oclock. Say 5 oclock. Say I am going to eat at 5 oclock. Ask Are you going to eat at 5 oclock? How would you answer this question Yes? Answer Yes. With you. Tell her this evening you are going to eat supper. And now say
Sh sh din zhng ma? B sh. B sh sh din zhng. Xinzi j din zhng? Xinzi sh s din zhng. W din zhng. W yo w din zhng ch. N yo w din zhng ch ma? Sh. Sh. Gn n yq. Jntin wnshang, w yo ch wnfn.
I would like to eat supper with you.

What word means also or too? Say I too would like to eat.
W xing gn n yq ch wnfn.
06:00
y Ho. W y xing ch.
12-2
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I How would you tell her
In that case, lets say 7 oclock?

Ask Would you like to drink tea? Say No. I would like to drink beer. Say Today, I would not like to drink. How does she ask you if you would like to drink something? Say This evening, I would not like to drink. Say anything. Tell her that you would not like to drink anything. Try to say
Nme, q din zhng ba? N xing h ch ma? B xing. W xing h pji. Jntin, w b xing h. N xing h ydinr dngxi ma? Jntin wnshang, w b xing h. dngxi W b xing h dngxi.
Today, I would like to eat at 3 oclock.

Say Or eat at 4 oclock. Say This evening, I would not like to drink
Jintin, w xing sn din zhng ch. Huzh s din zhng ch.

09:00
anything.
Jntin wnshang, w b xing h shnme dngxi. mngtin Mngtin wnshang, w yo h ydinr dngxi. W . W , w xing xinzi ch wfn. Ho.
Now say tomorrow. Tell her that tomorrow evening you are going to drink something. Do you remember how to say As for me? She says Say OK.
As for me, I would like to eat supper now.
Heres how to say How much? or How many? in Mandarin. (qng gn zh shu) Please repeat.
1.
dusho
This expression is pronounced with a high level tone, followed by a falling/rising tone. Ask How much? Dusho? Ask How much money? (qng gn zh shu)
2.
qin
Dusho qin? qin
12:00
The word money is pronounced with a rising tone. Say money.
12-3
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Ask How much money? Meaning
How much does it cost?
Dusho qin?
Chinese money is called Peoples currency. (qng gn zh shu)
3.
Rnmnb
Rnmnb Dusho qin? Jntin, dusho qin?
Thats two rising tones and a falling tone. Say Peoples currency. Ask How much it costs? Ask How much it costs today? Literally,
Today, how much money?
To say 1 Renminbi you must say literally, 1 unit of Peoples currency.
(qng gn zh shu) 4. kui
Y kui Rnmnb kui y kui y kui Rnmnb. Dusho qin? B kui Rnmnb.
Unit is pronounced with a falling tone. Say unit. Try to say 1 unit. Say 1 Renminbi or 1 unit of Peoples currency. Ask How much it costs? Try to answer 8 Renminbi. Heres the number 11 in Mandarin.
15:00
(qng gn zh shu)
sh y
What is the number 11 made of? 10, 1. Say again 11 using rising and high level tones Ask How much? And now ask how much money you owe. Say 11 Renminbi. Heres the number 12 (qng gn zh shu).
sh y Dusho? Dusho qin? sh y kui Rnmnb
Say again 12.
sh r 5. r 12 has first a rising and then a falling tone. sh r

What part of that means 2?
r Ling bi pji.
Now say Two cups of beer.
(ling) is used to say two of something.

12-4
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Say again 12.
sh r
You use (r) to say this. This is also the number 2 used for counting or mathematics. Say 12 Renminbi. sh r kui Rnmnb Now say 11 Renminbi. Say 1 Renminbi. Say again 12. Say 12 Renminbi. Try to say 13 Renminbi. Say again 13 using rising and high level tones. Ask How much it costs? Answer 12 Renminbi. Answer 13 Renminbi.
sh y kui Rnmnb y kui Rnmnb

18:00
sh r sh r kui Rnmnb sh sn kui Rnmnb sh sn Dusho qin? sh r kui Rnmnb sh sn kui Rnmnb sh y kui Rnmnb sh kui Rnmnb ling kui Rnmnb sh r sh kui Rnmnb
21:00
11 Renminbi.
Say 10 Renminbi. Say 2 Renminbi. And whats the Mandarin number 12? Say again 10 Renminbi. Say 8 Renminbi. Say 6 Renminbi. And how would you ask How much money? Say 6. Ask Is it 5 Renminbi? Say No. Its 4 Renminbi. Now say 7 Renminbi. How would you ask Is it 13 Renminbi?
b kui Rnmnb li kui Rnmnb Dusho qin? li Sh w kui Rnmnb ma? B sh. Sh s kui Rnmnb. q kui Rnmnb Sh sh sn kui Rnmnb ma?
12-5
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Did your tone sound like the speakers? Say
No. Its not 13.
B sh. B sh sh sn. Sh sh r kui ma? B sh. Sh sh y kui Rnmnb.

24:00
Ask Is it 12 units? Try to say No. Its 11 Renminbi. Ask Do you understand? How would you answer Yes. I understand. Do you remember how to say 1 Renminbi?
N mngbai ma? Mngbai. W mngbai. y kui Rnmnb
(Xinzi qng tng)
What did I just ask you to do? I asked you to Please listen now. The young man is going to propose various things you can do together. You will contradict him every time.
Xinzi qng tng rnhu hud wnt.

Now please listen and then answer the questions.
(Xinzi qng tng rnhu hud wnt.) Nnrn: N ho. N xing gn w yq ch ydinr dngxi ma?
Man: Hello. Would you like to eat something together with me? N: W b xing. Xixie n. W b xing
N: B xing. W xing h ydinr pji. N: B ho. Mngtin ba?
ch dngxi.
You: No. Thank you. I would not like to eat something. N: W , W xing h ydinr dngxi. You: As for me, I would like to drink something. Nnrn: N xing h ydinr ch ma? Man: Would you like to drink some tea? Answer No and tell him that you would like to drink some beer. Nnrn: Ho. Shnme shhou? Jntin ho
ma?
Man: OK. What time? Is today OK? Tell him Not OK. Lets say tomorrow? Nnrn: Jntin wnshang ne? Man: Tomorrow evening then?
12-6
This evening is not OK. Lets say tomorrow evening.

Nnrn: J din zhng? W din zhng ho
N: Jntin wnshang b ho. Mngtin
wnshang ba.
27:00
ma?
N: W din zhng b ho. Li din zhng
Man: What time? Is 5 oclock OK? Say 5 oclock is not OK. Lets say 6 oclock. Nnrn: B ho. Q din zhng ba? Man: Not OK. How about 7 oclock? Tell him that
ba?
N: Q din zhng b ho. B din zhng
7 oclock is not OK. Suggest 8 oclock.

Nnrn: Ho. Mngtin wnshang b din
ba?

zhng. Zijin.
Man: OK. Tomorrow evening at 8 oclock. Goodbye.
Now youll have a conversation with a saleswoman at the store. You made some purchases and youre disgareeing with her about the price. Begin by asking her how much money it is. N: Dusho qin? Nrn: Sh sn kui Rnmnb. Woman: 13 Renminbi. Say No. Its 12 Renminbi. Nrn: B sh. Sh sh y kui Rnmnb. Woman: No. Its 11 Renminbi. N: B sh. Sh sh r kui Rnmnb. N: B sh sh y kui. Sh sh kui. N: B ho. Q kui Rnmnb ho ma?
30:00
Its not 11 units its 10 units.

Nrn: Sh kui b xng. B kui Rnmnb
ho ma?
Woman: 10 is impossible. 8 Renminbi OK? Tell hers Its not OK. Ask if 7 Renminbi are OK. Nrn: Nme, q kui Rnmnb ba. Zijin. Woman: In that case, 7 Renminbi then. Goodbye. This is the end of unit 12.
12-7

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. have American dollars dont have plus/add here you are
Pinyin
yu mijn miyu ji n
Simplified
Traditional
II. Transcript

Please listen to this telephone conversation. Mr. Li is speaking with Miss Wang.
(qng tng)
L Xinsheng: Wng Xiojie, n ho. Mr. Li: Hello, Miss Wang. Wng Xiojie: L Xinsheng, n ho. Miss Wang: Hello, Mr. Li. L Xinsheng: Wng Xiojie, n jntin
wnshang xing zu shnme?

Mr. Li: Miss Wang, what are you doing this evening? Wng Xiojie: Jntin wnshang? W b
zhdao.
Miss Wang: This evening? I dont know. L Xinsheng: W xing li din zhng gn
n yq ch wnfn, ho ma?
Mr. Li: I would like to eat dinner with you at 6 oclock, OK? Wng Xiojie: B ho. W li din zhng
yo gn Chn Xiojie yq ch wnfn.
Miss Wang: Not OK. I am going to eat dinner with Miss Chen at 6 oclock. L Xinsheng: Nme, n xing jntin
wnshang h ydinr dngxi ma?

Mr. Li: In that case, would you like to drink something this evening? Wng Xiojie: Ho, ksh w xing q
13-1
Bijng fndin h.
Miss Wang: OK, but I would like to go to the Beijing Restaurant to drink. L Xinsheng: Ho. J din zhng? Mr. Li: OK. At what time? Wng Xiojie: Q din zhng huzh sh din
zhng, ho ma? Zijin.
Miss Wang: 7 oclock or 10 oclock OK? L Xinsheng: Ho. Sh din zhng zi n nr. Mr. Li: OK. 10 oclock at your place. Goodbye.
You just heard the woman say W li din zhng gn Chn xiojie yq ch wnfn. Or Im going to eat dinner with Miss Chen at 6 oclock.
Zi tng yc.
Listen again. (the conversation above is repeated) Ask me what time it is. Tell me Its 11 oclock. Say Its 8 oclock. How would you ask How much? Now ask How much money? Say 13 Renminbi. Say Its 12 units. How would you ask 2 units or 12 units? Say I dont understand what youre saying. How does she ask if you would like to eat supper with her? Did your tones sound like the speakers? Ask this again. Ask When? Is it today? Ask Or tomorrow? Say This evening. Say Tomorrow evening.
Xinzi j din zhng? Xinzi sh y din zhng. Xinzi b din zhng. Dusho? Dusho qin?
03:00
Sh sn kui Rnmnb. Sh sh r kui. Ling kui hish sh r kui? W b mngbai n shu shnme. N xing gn w yq ch wnfn ma? N xing gn w yq ch wnfn ma? Shnme shhou? Sh jntin ma? Hish mngtin? Jntin wnshang. Mngtin wnshang.
13-2
Ask At what time? Say At six oclock or at seven oclock. Do you remember how to say Impossible? Say Tomorrow evening, impossible. Do you remember how to say Hello in Mandarin? Now say Goodbye. And how would you ask a good friend how she is?
J din zhng?
06:00
Li din zhng huzh q din zhng. B xng. Mngtin wnshang, b xng. N ho. Zijin. N ho ma? Hn ho, xixie n. Dusho? N yu dusho Rnmnb? N yu. Dusho Rnmnb?
Very well, thank you.

Do you remember how to ask How much or How many?
How many Renminbi do you have?
(qng gn zh shu) 1. yu
Have is pronounced with a falling/rising tone. Say You have. Try to ask How many Renminbi?
You dont need to use the word units when you ask how many. Now ask How many Renminbi do you have? N yu dusho Rnmnb?
09:00
Whats the Mandarin number 11? Try to tell her that you have 14 Renminbi. Whats the number 14 in Mandarin? Ask me how many Renminbi I have.
sh y W yu sh s kui Rnmnb. sh s N yu dusho Rnmnb? N yu dusho mijn?
How many American dollars do you have?
2.
mijn
American dollars is pronounced with a rising/falling tone followed by a high level tone. Listen again and repeat. mijn Ask me How many American dollars I have? Try to say I have 14 American dollars or 14
N yu dusho mijn? W yu sh s kui mijn.

13-3
units US currency.
And now say 5 American dollars. Try to say I have 15 American dollars. Ask how many Renminbi I have. Say I have 15 Renminbi. Now say I have 14 American dollars. Try to ask Do you have? You could also ask this another way.
W kui mijn.
12:00
W yu sh w kui mijn. N yu dusho Rnmnb? W yu sh w kui Rnmnb. W yu sh s kui mijn. N yu ma? N yu miyu. Miyu
(qng gn zh shu) 3. Miyu
Literally, You have/Dont have. Try to say Dont have.
In this case the (mi) is pronounced with a rising tone is what makes that negative.
(qng gn zh shu) Do you have?

This is another common way to ask questions in Mandarin. Using it, ask Do you have? Ask Do you have 7 Renminbi? Now ask me if I have 6 Renminbi. Try to ask if I have 16 Renminbi. 16 is pronounced with rising and falling tones. Say it again. Try to say I have 13 Renminbi. Now say I have 15 American dollars. Ask me if I have 16 American dollars. How would you answer this question no? Ask the saleswoman How much money? She says 15 Renminbi. Try to ask What about American dollars?
N yu miyu. N yu miyu? N yu miyu q kui Rnmnb?

15:00
N yu miyu li kui Rnmnb? N yu miyu sh li kui Rnmnb? sh li W yu sh sn qui Rnmnb. W yu sh w qui mijn. N yu miyu sh li kui mijn. Miyu. Dusho qin? Sh w qui Rnmnb. Mijn ne?
18:00
13-4
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Say I have 10 American dollars. Ask Do you have? Use the positive/negative question form.
W yu sh kui mijn. N yu miyu? N yu miyu w kui mijn? Dusho qin? Sh w kui Rnmnb. Mijn ne? W kui mijn. W miyu sh li kui Rnmnb. W yu sh s kui Rnmnb. W miyu sh w kui. Nme, sh s kui Rnmnb ba?
21:00
Do you have 5 American dollars?

Ask how much money it is. Say 15 Renminbi. Ask again What about American dollars? Say 5 American dollars. Try to say I dont have 16 Renminbi. Say I have 14 Renminbi. Say I dont have 15. Say literally, 15 units. Try to say In that case, lets say 14 Renminbi. Say Thank you. Goodbye.
Xixie n. Zijin.
Now lets have a discussion with the saleswoman again. Ask her how much money you owe. Dusho qin? How does she tell you 11 Renminbi?
Sh y kui Rnmnb. Sh y ji y.
Heres the Mandarin word for plus. (qng gn zh shu)
4.
ji
Did you hear the high level tone? Try to say 11 plus 1.
Now the saleswoman is going to add one or two renmnibi to the price. Everytime she says a number you add it on and say the total. Nrn: Sh y kui Rnmnb ji y kui. Woman: 11 Renminbi plus 1 unit. N: Sh r kui. Sh r kui Renminbi. You: 12 units. 12 Renminbi. Nrn: Sh r kui ji ling kui. Woman: 12 units plus 2 unit. N: Sh s kui. You: 14 units. Nrn: Sh s kui ji y kui Rnmnb. Woman: 14 Renminbi plus 1 Renminbi. N: Sh w kui. Sh w kui Rnmnb. 13-5
You: 15 units. 15 Renminbi. Nrn: Sh w kui Rnmnb ji y kui. Woman: 15 Renminbi plus 1 unit. N: Sh li kui. Sh li kui Rnmnb. You: 16 units. 16 Renminbi. How does she ask you if you have 16 Renminbi? Tell her you dont have any Renminbi. Any is understood. Ask What about American dollars? How much
N yu miyu sh li kui Rnmnb? W miyu Rnmnb.

24:00
money?
Mijn ne? Dusho qin?

Nrn: N yu dusho mijn? Woman: How much American dollars do you have? Tell her you have 15 American dollars. How does she say
W yu sh w kui mijn. Nme, sh kui mijn ba. N. Sh kui mijn. N. Sh kui mijn.
In that case, 10 American dollars?

(qng gn zh shu)
Here you are 10 American dollars.
5.
The Mandarin word that means here you are is pronounced with a high falling tone.1 Say Here you are 10 American dollars.
Now imagine that youre in a restaurant in Beijing. Youre going to speak to the waiter. Respond to what he says to you. Fwyun: N ho. N: N ho. Listen to how he ask Would you like? Using this form he asks Fwyun: N xing b xing? Fwyun: N xing b xing ch ydinr
Would you like to eat something? Yes. I would like to eat supper.
Fwyun: N xing h shnme? Waiter: What would you like to drink? Tell him that youd like to order one beer. Fwyun: N xing yo y bi hish ling
dngxi?
N: Xing. W xing ch wnfn.

27:00
W xing yo y bi bji.
bi?
1
(n) is considered very informal. Avoid using it in a business situation.

13-6
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Waiter: Would you like one glass or two glasses? Tell him you dont understand. Fwyun: N xing yo y bi hish ling
W b mngbai n shu shnme.

Fwyun: Ho. N. Y bi pji. N: Dusho qin? Fwyun: N yu Rnmnb ma? Fwyun: N yu miyu Rnmnb? N: W yu sh w kui Rnmnb. N: W xing yo y bi pji. Fwyun: Ho. N. Y bi pji.
30:00
bi?
Waiter: Would you like one glass or two glasses? N:Y bi. W xing yo y bi pji. You: One glass. I would like one glass of beer. How does he say OK. Here you are. One beer? Ask him how much money it is? Fwyun: Sh r kui Rnmnb. Waiter: 12 Renminbi. How does he ask if you have any Renminbi?
Tell him that you have 15 Renminbi. Tell him that you would like to order one beer.
OK. Here you are. One beer.

N: Xixie n. You: Thank you. This is the end of unit 13.
13-7

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. newspaper much little (in quantity) give, to dont mention it
Pinyin
bozh du sho gi bkq
Simplified
Traditional
II. Transcript
Qng tng zh dun ptnghu duhu

Please listen to this Mandarin conversation.
Migu bozh
Mr. Jones wants to buy an American newspaper. (Migu bozh)
1.
bozh
An American newspaper.
Hes speaking with the saleswoman. Listen. Jones Xinsheng: Qingwen? N yu miyu
Migu bozh?
Jones Jones Jones Jones Jones Jones Jones Jones
Mr. Jones: May I ask? Do you have American newspapers? Nrn: Yu. N. Woman: Yes. Here your are. Jones Xinsheng: Dusho qin? Mr. Jones: How much money? Nrn: B kui Rnmnb. Woman: 8 Renminbi. Jones Xinsheng: Sh b sh sh b kui
Rnmnb?
Mr. Jones: Is it 18 Renminbi? Nrn: B sh. Sh b kui. Sh b kui. Woman: No. Its 8 Renminbi. Jones Xinsheng: Xixie n. N. b kui
Rnmnb
Mr. Jones: Thank you. Here. 8 Renminbi. You just heard the man ask Is it 18 Renminbi?
Sh b sh sh b kui Rnmnb?
(zi tng yc) Listen again. (The conversation above is repeated)

14-1
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Supposed that you are handing someone some money to pay for a purchase. What word would you use to accompany the gesture of handing the money to him?
N.
Try to say Here you are. 13 Renminbi. Do you remember how to say
N. Sh sn kui Rnmnb. W xing yo ling bi pji. W yo. W yo sh r kui Rnmnb. sh r r

03:00

This literally means I would like to want. With that in mind, try to say I want. Try to say I want 12 Renminbi. Say the number 12. What part of that is the number 2 used in mathematics? And now say again two beers. Say I would like to buy something.
ling bi pji W xing mi ydinr dngxi. N. Sh s kui Rnmnb. N yu miyu? N yu miyu y qui Rnmnb? W miyu Rnmnb. W b yo Rnmnb.
Here you are 14 Renminbi.

Do you remember how to ask Do you have? Ask Do you have one Renminbi? Now say I dont have any Renminbi. Any is understood. Try to say I dont want any Renminbi. Use (b).
Heres how to ask Do you want? Using the positive/negative form.
(qng gn zh shu)
N yo b yo. N yo b yo y qui Rnmnb?
Ask Do you want one Renminbi?
Well use this form to ask yes/no questions throughout this unit. Ask again Do you want? N yo b yo?
06:00
Ask me if I want 1 Renminbi. Tell me that you dont want 1 Renminbi. Ask me if I want 11 Renminbi. Now say 12.
N yo b yo y kui Rnmnb? W b yo y kui Rnmnb. N yo b yo sh y kui Rnmnb? sh r

14-2
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Ask Do you want 13 Renminbi? Say I want 16 Renminbi. Say Its not 15 units. Do you remember how to ask How much?
N yo b yo sh sn kui Rnmnb? W yo sh li kui Rnmnb. B sh sh w kui. Dusho? du
2. 3.
du sho
Youre actually asking Much/little? Meaning much or a little? Try to say much. Note the high level tone. Ask again.
How much?
Dusho? Dusho qin?

09:00
Now ask How much money it is? Ask How many American dollars you have? Try to answer I dont have American dollars. Do you remember the Mandarin word that means very?
N yu dusho mijn? W miyu mijn. hn W yu hn du Rnmnb. W yu hn du Rnmnb. hn du W yu hn du Rnmnb. Ksh w miyu mijn. N yo b yo mijn? B yo. N b sh Migu rn. W sh Migu rn. ydinr
12:00
I have a lot of Renminbi.
(qng gn zh shu)
Say a lot of or very much using rising and high level tones. Say I have a lot of Renminbi. Say But I dont have any American dollars. Ask me if I want American dollars. Answer this question No. Say Youre not American. Say I am American. Do you remember how to say a little or some? Say I have some Renminbi.
W yu ydinr Rnmnb.
As with money you dont need the word for units when you say some. Tell me that you have some American dollars. W yu ydinr mijn. Tell me that you have a lot of American dollars.
W yu hn du mijn.
14-3
Now say But I dont have any Renminbi.
Ksh w miyu Rnmnb. Gi w ydinr Rnmnb. Gi w. Gi w ydinr mijn. Ho. N. Sn kui mijn. W miyu Rnmnb. N yu miyu Rnmnb?
15:00
Give me some Renminbi. (qng gn zh shu)
4.
gi
Give is pronounced with a falling/rising tone. Say Give me. Ask me to give you some American dollars. Try to say
OK. Here you are. 3 American dollars.

Tell her that you dont have any Renminbi. Ask her if she has Renminbi. How does she say I have a lot of Renminbi? Try to say 17. 10, 7. The tones are rising and high level. Say
W yu hn du Rnmnb. sh q W yu sh q kui Rnmnb. sh b sh ji W yu sh ji kui mijn. W yu hn du Rnmnb. N yu dusho Rnmnb? sh b kui sh q kui N yo b yo mijn?
18:00
I have 17 Renminbi.
Try to say 18. Now try to say 19.
Say I have 19 American dollars. How does she tell you that she has a lot of Renminbi? Ask her how much Renminbi she has. Say 18 units. Try to say 17 units. Using the positive/negative form, ask me if I want dollars. Answer No. Say Give me.
B yo. Gi w. Gi w y kui Rnmnb. W miyu pji. W xing yo ydinr pji.

14-4
Give me one Renminbi.

Say I dont have any beer. Say that you would like to order some beer.
And now say I would like to buy some beer. Again say I dont have any beer.
W xing mi ydinr pji. W miyu pji. W , w yu ydinr pji. N. Y bi pji. Gi w sh q kui Rnmnb. W yo ydinr ch.
21:00
As for me, I have some beer.

She points to one. How does she say Here you are. One beer? Say Give me 17 Renminbi. Tell her that you want some tea. And how would you say How do you say 16?
I would like to order some tea?
W xing yo ydinr ch. sh li sh s sh b sh y sh w sh ji sh sn sh q N yu miyu mijn? Miyu. W miyu mijn. Rnmnb ne? hn du Dusho? Dusho qin? sh ji kui B sh hn du.
24:00
14 18 11 15 19 13 17
Ask me if I have American dollars. Answer No. I dont have American dollars. Try to ask What about Renminbi? Say a lot or very much. And how would you ask How much?
How much money?

Say 19 units. Try to say It isnt very much. Now lets review how to ask for directions.
14-5
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Say Excuse me. Please let me ask. Remembering the word order, ask
Dubuq. Qng wn. Chng n Ji zi nar? Sh bu sh zi nr? Hish zi zhr? Zi nr. Xixie n. Bkq.
Where is Long Peace Street? Is it over there?
Using the positive/negative form ask Ask Or located here? How would she say Over there? Say Thank you.
The woman answers Dont mention it. (qng gn zh shu)
5.
bkq
The tone first rises and then falls twice.

Say Dont mention it. An American woman is talking with her husband. They are in Beijing. How does she say Im going to buy something? W yo mi ydinr dngxi. Say Give me 15 American dollars. Try to say Give me 17 or 18 American dollars. How does she ask him if he has any Renminbi? He says no, he doesnt have any Renminbi. Say I have a lot of American dollars.
Gi w sh w kui mijn.
27:00
Gi w sh q huzh sh b kui mijn. N yu miyu Rnmnb? Miyu. W miyu Rnmnb. W yu hn du mijn. Ksh w miyu Rnmnb. N yo dusho Rnmnb? Sh b huzh sh ji kui. Gi w sh ji kui. W gi. W gi n sh kui mijn. Xixie n. Bkq.
30:00
But I dont have any Renminbi.

Ask her how many Renminbi she wants. Say 18 or 19 units. How does she ask you to give her 19 units. How does he say I give or Im giving. Now try to say
Im giving you 10 American dollars.

How does she Thank you? Respond Dont mention it. This is the end of unit 14.
14-6

1. 2. 3. see you later for you can/able to
Pinyin
y hur jin gi n de ky
Simplified
Traditional
II. Transcript
This is unit 15 of Pimsleurs Mandarin I.
Qng tng zh dun Carter Xinsheng gn Carter Titai de duhu.

Please listen to this conversation between Mr. and Mrs. Carter.
Carter Carter Carter Carter
At the beginning of the conversation you will hear the woman say y hur jin or see you later.
1.
y hur jin
(qng tng) Nrn: Y hur jin.

Woman: See you later. Nnrn: Y hur jin? N q nr? Man: See you later? Where are you going? Nrn: W yo mi ydinr dngxi. Woman: I want to buy something. Nnrn: Ksh n miyu Rnmnb. Man: But you dont have any Renminbi. Nrn: Yu. W yu ydinr Rnmnb. Woman: I have some Renminbi. Nnrn: N yu dusho Rnmnb? Man: How much Renminbi do you have? Nrn: W b zhdao. Sh s kui huzh sh
w kui.
Woman: I dont know. 14 units or 15 units. Nnrn: W gi n ydinr Rnmnb. N.
Sh ji kui Rnmnb. Xinzi n yu dusho qin?

Man: Ill give you some Renminbi. Here you go. 14 Renminbi. Now you have how much money?
15-1
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Nrn: W xinzi yu hn du qin. Xixie
n.
Woman: I now have a lot of money. Thank you. Do you remember how to say Give me some Renminbi?
Gi w ydinr Rnmnb.
Supposed you didnt understand what was said. Try to ask What did you say? Literally, You speak what? N shu shnme? Using the positive/negative form, ask the man if he has any American dollars. Ask him if he has any tea. How does he tell you that he does not have any tea? Say But I have beer. Try to say In that case, lets say one beer. How does she say Here you are. One beer? Say Give me 5 American dollars. And how would you say
N yu miyu mijn? N yu miyu ch? W miyu ch. Ksh w yu pji. Nme, y bi pji ba. N. Y bi pji.
03:00
Gi w w kui mijn. W gi n w kui mijn. N yu miyu Rnmnb? Yu. W yu Rnmnb. W yu hn du Rnmnb. Gi w sh q kui Rnmnb. Dusho? Sh b sh sh b kui? B sh. Sh sh lu kui. N. Sh w kui Rnmnb.
06:00
Im giving you 5 American dollars.

Ask Do you have any Renminbi? Answer Yes. I have Renminbi. And now say I have a lot of Renminbi. Say Give me 17 Renminbi. Ask How many? Is it 18 units? Answer No. Say Its 16 units.
Here you are. 15 Renminbi.

Say Its 14 units. Say In that case, give me one Renminbi. Ask how much money it costs.
Sh sh s kui. Nme, gi w y kui Rnmnb. Dusho qin?

15-2
Say Its not a lot or Its not very much. Heres how to say for you. (qng gn zh shu)
B sh hn du.
2.
gi n de
Youre saying something like give to you. The tones are rising, falling/ralling and falling. Say again for you. gi n de The (de) with the falling tone has no literal meaning in English but you need it to say for. Try to say The tea is for you. Ch sh gi n de. Now try to say for me. And now say But the beer is for me. Ask how much money it is. Say 18 units or 19 units. You want to ask How much is one beer? Ask
Gi w de. Ksh pju sh gi w de. Dusho qin?

09:00
Sh b kui huzh sh ji kui. Y bi pji dusho qin?
One beer, how much money?
Say 1 Renminbi, 1 cup. Obviously one cup of beer will cost more than 1 Renminbi but for this exercise, 1 Renminbi, 1 cup. Y kui Rnmnb, y bi. Now say The tea, 2 units. Say Give me three Renminbi. Heres how to say I cant
Ch, ling kui. Gi w sn kui Rnmnb. W b ky. W b ky. W ky. W ky.

12:00
3.
Say I cant.
ky
Now try to say I can. Say again I can.
(ky) is pronounced with a rising tone, followed by a falling/rising tone.

What other Mandarin word means can? (hu) is used to say can speak (/hi shu). Literally, that means know how to, while (ky) means able to. Say again I can, meaning I am able to. Now say You can. And now try to say You cant.
W ky. N ky. N b ky.

15-3
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I You want to ask Can you?
(qng gn zh shu)
N ky ma? N k b ky? N k b ky? N k b ky xinzi ch? Ky. Ky. W ky xinzi ch. W b ky xinzi ch.
15:00
Notice the short form used in the first part of that question. Ask again Can you? Try to ask Can you eat now? Or literally, You can cannot now eat? Try to answer Yes.
Yes. I can eat now.

Now tell me that you cant eat now. Tell me that you dont want to eat. Ask the woman if she has tea. She answers Yes. I have some. Say The tea is for you. Ask her if she has beer. How would she answer Yes. I have some. Say For you. Do you remember how to ask how much one beer costs? Now she tells you that she doesnt have any beer. Ask if she has any American dollars. Suppose she does have some. What would she say? How does she say Yes. I have a lot? Suppose she doesnt have any. What would she say? Try to say I have some. It isnt very much. Do you remember how to ask Can you?
W b yo ch. N yu miyu ch? Yu. W yu ydinr. Ch sh gi n de. N yu miyu pji? Yu. W yu ydinr. Gi n de. Y bi pji dusho qin? W miyu pji. N yu miyu mijn? W yu ydinr. Yu. W yu hn du. Miyu. W miyu.
18:00
W yu ydinr. B sh hn du. N k b ky? N k b ky gi w ydinr qin?

15-4
Can you give me some money?
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Now try to say I want some. Say You want some. Tell the man that you are giving him 14 units. And how would you say For you? Ask Is it American dollars? Use the positive/negative form. And now ask Do you want American dollars? Say I cant. Try to say I cant give any to you. Any is understood. Say I dont have any American dollars. And now say just I dont have. Meaning I dont have any. Try to say I want some. Say again I dont have any. Now say
W yo ydinr. N yo ydinr. W gi n sh s kui. Gi n de. Sh b sh mijn? N yo b yo mijn?

21:00
W b ky. W b ky gei n. W miyu mijn. W miyu. W yo ydinr. W miyu. B sh hn du. W yu ydinr. B sh hn du. Nme, gi w Rnmnb. W b ky gi n. Nme, w b yo.
I dont have very many or It isnt very many.

Say I have some. Not very many. Try to say In that case, give me Renminbi. Say I cant give you any. Say In that case, I dont want any.
Now for some problems in simple arithmetic. Im going to ask you to do some addition. The questions will be posed this way.
24:00
(qng gn zh shu)
Li ji li sh dusho?
What do you suppose he just asked you? He asked 6 + 6 is how much? Try to answer the question. 12 sh r Now get ready for some arithmetic. 1+2 Y ji r sh dusho?
Sn
3 15-5
r ji sn sh dusho? W S ji s sh dusho? B S ji r sh dusho? Li Sn ji s sh dusho? Q Li ji sn sh dusho? Ji Ji ji y sh dusho? Sh Li ji q sh dusho? Sh sn Sh sn ji r sh dusho? Sh w B ji s sh dusho? Sh r Sh sn ji sn sh dusho? Sh li Sh w ji r sh dusho? Sh q Xixie n.
Dont mention it.
2+3 5 4+4 8 4+2 6 3+4 7 6+3 9 9+1 10 6+7 13 13 + 2 15 8+4 12 13 + 3 16 15 + 2 17
B kqi.
(xinzi n gn wi xio ji duhu) Now a conversation with a young woman. (xinzi n gn wi xio ji duhu)
Youre in an agreeable mood so confirm everything she asks you. Nrn: N ho. N xing b xing gn w
yq ch wnfn?
Woman: Hello. Would you like to eat dinner together with me? N: Xing. W xing gn n yq ch

27:00
wnfn.
You: Yes. I would like to eat dinner together with you. Nrn: Shnme shhou? Woman: What time? How does she ask Can you this evening? Nrn: N jntin wnshang k b ky?
15-6
Woman: Can you this evening? Give a positive answer. N: Ky. W jntin wnshang ky. You: Yes. This evening, I can. Nrn: Q din zhng. Ho b ho? Woman: 7 oclock, OK? N: Ho. Q din zhng. You: OK. 7 oclock. Nrn: N k b ky q mi ydinr pji? Woman: Can you go buy some beer? N: Ky. W ky q mi ydinr pji. You: Yes. I can go buy some beer. Nrn: N yu miyu mijn? Woman: Do you have American dollars? N: Yu. W yu mijn. You: Yes. I have American dollars. Nrn: N yu miyu hn du? Woman: Do you have a lot? N: Yu. W yu hn du. You: Yes. I have a lot. Nrn: Rnmnb ne? Woman: How about Renminbi? N: Yu. W yu Rnmnb. W yu hn
du Rnmnb.
You: Yes. I have Renminbi. I have a lot of Renminbi. Nrn: Nme, n k b ky mi hn du

30:00
pji?
Woman: In that case, can you buy a lot of beer? N: Ky. W ky mi hn du pji. You: Yes. I can buy a lot of beer. Nrn: Nme, w ky gn n yq ch
wnfn.
Woman: In that case, I can go eat dinner together with you. This is the end of unit 15.
15-7

1. 2. 3. too/excessive past particle enough
Pinyin
ti le gu
Simplified
Traditional
II. Transcript
This is Unit 16 of Pimsleurs Mandarin Chinese I.

Please listen to this telephone conversation.
(Qng tng zh dun dinhu duhu.)

Miss Wang is speaking with Mr. Wu. In the conversation, youll hear the man say Xinzi ti wn le or Now its too late.
(Qng tng zh dun dinhu duhu.) Wng Xiojie: Sh W Xinsheng ma? N ho.
Miss Wang: Is this Mr. Wu? Hello. W Xinsheng: Wng Xiojie, N ho. Mr. Wu: Hello, Miss Wang. Wng Xiojie: W Xinsheng, n xing gn
w yq ch wnfn ma?
Miss Wang: Mr. Wu, would you like to eat dinner along with me? W Xinsheng: Shnme shhou? Jntin
wnshang b xng. Xinzi ti wn le.

Mr. Wu: When? This evening is impossible. Now its too late. Wng Xiojie: B sh jntin wnshang.
Mngtin wnshang q din zhng. Ho ma?

Miss Wang: Not this evening. Tomorrow evening at 7 oclock, OK? W Xinsheng: Ho. Mr. Wu: OK.
(zi ting yc) (the conversation above is repeated)
16-1
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Do you remember the word you use when handing something to somebody? Say For you. Try to ask Is it for me? How else could you ask this question? In this unit, well use both forms. Ask again Is it for me? Use the ma () form first. How does she answer Yes. It is for you.
N. Gi n de. Sh b sh gi w de? Sh gi w de ma? Sh gi w de ma? Sh b sh gi w de? Sh. Sh gi n de. Xixie n. Bkqi.

03:00
Thank you. Dont mention it.

Ask What did you say? Now try to ask What would you like to buy? Say I dont know. Ask him how much money it is. How would he say 10 Renminbi? Say I dont have any. Ask What about American dollars? He says Give me Renminbi. Tell him that you dont have any Renminbi. He answers I dont understand. How do you say I can in the sense of I am able to. Say You can. And how do you ask Can you?
N shu shnme? N xing mi shnme? W b zhdao. Dusho qin? Sh qui Rnmnb W miyou. Mijn ne? Dusho qin? Gi w Rnmnb. W miyu Rnmnb. W b mngbai. W ky N Ky
06:00
N ky ma? N k b ky? W ky gi n mijn N yo mijn ma? N yo b yo mijn?

16-2
Say I can give you American dollars. Ask me if I want any American dollars.
Say I dont want any American dollars Say I give or I am giving. Now say I am giving you 17 American dollars. Try to say Thats a lot of money. Thats is understood Now say 18 American dollars? Thats a lot of
W b yo mijn. W gi. W gi n sh q kui mijin. Hn du qin. Sh b kui mijn? Hn du qin.
money.
You want to say Its too much. First the word too.
1. ti (qng gn zh shu) (ti) is pronounced with a falling tone.

Say too or excessively.
ti ti Ti du le.
Its too much. (qng gn zh shu)
2.
le
09:00
The (le) sound at the end is pronounced with a soft falling tone.1 Its a particle that has no equivalent in English but its used with too. Say Its too much. Now try to say Its too much money. (le) will go at the end. Ask me how much money I have. And now say 12. Try to say 20 or 2,10. Now try to say I have 20 American dollars Try to say 24. Try to tell me that you have 25 American dollars. Now say the number 28. Say Thats a lot of money.
Ti du le. Ti du qin le. N yu dusho qin? sh r r sh W yu r sh kui mijn. r sh s W yu r sh w kui mijn. r sh b Hn du qin.
(le) is actually pronounced with a neutral tone.

16-3
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I And how do you say Its too much? Say Its too much money. Can you guess how you would say 30? Thats a high level tone and falling tone.2 Say again 30. And now say I have 30 American dollars. Tell me that you have 30 Renminbi. Now tell me that you have 39 Renminbi. Try to say 29 units. Now say 19. Ask Is it for me?
Ti du le. Ti du qin le.

12:00
sn sh sn sh W yu sn sh kui mijn. W yu sn sh kui Rnmnb. W yu sn sh ji kui Rnmnb. r ji kui sh ji Sh gi w de ma? Sh b sh gi w de? Ti du le. Gu le. Gu le. B gu.
15:00
How do you say Its too much? Heres how to say Its enough.
(qng gn zh shu) 3. gu
This is pronounced with two falling tones. Say Its enough. Try to say Its not enough. With the negative you dont need (le). And now say together Say 35. Its enough.
Its enough, its not enough.
Gu le, b gu. Sn sh w. Gu le. Ti du le ma? Sh b sh ti du? B sh. Ksh gu le Ti du le. Ti du qin le. s sh
Is it too much?
Try to say But no. Its enough. Now say Its too much. Say Its too much money. Try to say the number 40.
2
This is an error. The second syllable is pronounced with a rising tone. 16-4
40 is first pronounced with a falling tone followed by a rising tone. Say 40 American dollars. s sh kui mijn And how would you say 14 American dollars? Say 40, 14. Try to say Give me 47 Renminbi. Say 46 is enough. How would you ask if its for you?
sh s kui mijn s sh, sh s Gi w sh s q kui Rnmnb. S sh li gu le.

18:00
Sh gi w de ma? Sh b sh gi w de ma? B gu. W yo s sh b kui Renminbi. sn sh b r sh b sh b sh ji N yo dusho mijn? Gi w ydinr mijn. W b ky. W miyu mijn. W miyu.
21:00
And now say Its not enough. Say I want 48 Renminbi. Say 38. Now say 28.
18
Say 19. Ask How many American dollars do you want? Now say Give me some American dollars. Say I cant. Say I dont have any American dollars. Say I dont have any. Try to ask Do you have any money?
N yu qin ma? N yu miyu qin? W yo ydinr qin. W xing mi ydinr dngxi. N ky ma? N k b ky? N ky gi w ydinr qin ma? N k b ky gi w ydinr qin?
16-5
Say I want some money. And how would you tell me that you would like to buy something? How do you ask Can you or Are you able to?
Ask the man if he is able to give some money to you.
Say I dont have any money. Try to say Yes. You have some. Say You have a lot. Say OK, heres 25 Renminbi. Say Thank you. Its enough. Respond Dont mention it.
W miyu qin. Yu. N yu. N yu hn du. Ho. N. r sh w kui Rnmnb. Xixie n. Gu le.
24:00
Bkq.
Now some arithmetic in Mandarin. (qng hu d wnt) Please answer the questions. (qng hu d wnt) 2+3=? r ji sn sh dusho?
W W ji sn sh dusho? B B ji w sh dusho? Sh sn Sh y ji s dusho? Sh w Sh sn ji s dusho? Sh q Sh li ji s dusho? r sh r sh ji li sh dusho? r sh li r sh b ji s sh dusho? Sn sh r Sn sh r ji r sh dusho? Sn sh s Sn sh sn ji sh sh dusho? S sh sn

Its enough! Its enough!
5 5+3=? 8 8+5=? 13 11 + 4 = ? 15 13 + 4 = ? 17 16 + 4 = ? 20 20 + 6 = ? 26 28 + 4 = ? 32 32 + 2 = ? 34 30 + 10 = ? 43

27:00
Gu le! Gu le!
(xinzi n gn zh wi xinsheng duhu) Now a conversation with the gentleman.

Please answer affirmatively. The secret of the conversation is that you should listen for the verb. For example, if he says can you do so and so? Then you answer yes I can. If he says do you have so and so? Then you answer yes I have and so on.
16-6
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Lets begin. Nnrn: Qngwn, N yu qin ma? Man: Please let me ask, do you have money? N: Yu. W yu qin. You: Yes. I have money. Nnrn: N yu hn du qin ma? Man: Do you have a lot of money? N: Sh. W yu hn du qin. You: Yes. I have a lot of money. Nnrn: N yu mijn ma? Man: Do you have American dollars? N: Yu. W yu mijn. You: Yes. I have American dollars. Nnrn: N xing gn w yq h ydinr

30:00
dngxi ma?
Man: Would you like to drink something with me? N: Xing. W xing gn n yq h ydinr
dngxi.
You: Yes. I would like to drink something with you. Nnrn: N xing h ydinr pji ma? Man: Would you like to drink some beer? N: Xing. W xing h ydinr pji. You: Yes I would like to drink some beer. Nnrn: Ksh w miyu. N ky mi
ydinr ma?
Man: But I dont have any. Can you buy some? N: Ky. W ky mi ydinr. You: Yes. I cant buy some. Nnrn: Ho. Man: OK. This is the end of unit 16.
16-7

1. 2. expensive fast
Pinyin
gi kui
Simplified
Traditional
II. Transcript
(qng tng zh dun Carter Xinsheng gn Carter Titai de duhu)

Please listen to this conversation between Mr. Carter and Mrs. Carter. In it, youll hear the woman say W qin b gu or I dont have enough money.
(qng tng)
Carter Xinsheng: Nme, n jntin xing zu
shnme?
Carter Carter Carter
Mr. Carter: So what would you like to do today? Carter Titai: W? W jntin xing mi
ydinr dngxi.
Carter
Mrs. Carter: Me? I would like to buy something today. Carter Xinsheng: N yu miyu qin? Mr. Carter: Do you have money? Carter Titai: W yu ydinr. Ksh b sh
Carter Carter Carter
hn du.
Mrs. Carter: I have a little but it is not enough. Carter Xinsheng: N yu dusho Rnmnb? Mr. Carter: How much Renminbi do you have? Carter Titai: Sn sh w kui huzh s sh
Carter
Carter Carter Carter Carter Carter Carter Carter
kui.
Mrs. Carter: 35 units or 40 units. Carter Xinsheng: Mijn ne? N yu
dusho?
Mr. Carter: How about American dollars? You have how much? Carter Titai: W yu sh w kui huzh r
sh kui mijn. W qan b gu. Gi w ydinr qin. Ho b ho?

Mrs. Carter: I have 15 or 20 American dollars. My money is not enough. Give me a little

Carter
17-1
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I money OK? Carter Xinsheng: Ho. N. Xinzi n qin

Carter Carter
gu le.
Mr. Carter: OK. Here you go. Now you have enough.
(zi tng yc) (Listen again. The conversation above is repeated.)

How would you say the number 33 in Mandarin? How about 44?
sn sh sn s sh s r sh sn sh sn sn sh q N yu qin ma? N yu miyu qin? W miyu.

03:00
23 13 37
Ask me if I have any money.
Answer I dont have any. Now say As for me, I have some.
W . W yu ydinr. W yu hn du. W ky. W ky gi n ydinr. W ky gi n ydinr qin. N ky ma? N k b ky? Ky gi n ydinr. Ho. Sh gi n de. Sh gi w de ma? Sh b sh gi w de?
06:00
I have a lot.
Do you remember how to say I can, meaning I am able to? Say I can give you some.
I can give you some money.

Do you remember how to ask Can you?
Try to answer Yes, I can give you some. Say OK. Say It is for you. Ask Is it for me?
Heres how to ask Do you have Renminbi for me? (qng gn zh shu)
N yu Rnmnb gi w ma? N yu miyu Rnmnb gi w?

17-2
You dont need the (de). Ask again if I have Renminbi for you.
N yu Rnmnb gi w ma? N yu miyu Rnmnb gi w? Yu. N. Gi n de. Gu le B gu. Gu ma? Gu b gu? Gu le. Gu ma? Gu b gu?
And how would you answer
Yes. Here you are. For you.
Do you remember how to say Its enough? Now tell me that Its not enough. Try to ask Is it enough?
Tell me that Its enough. Ask again Is it enough?
She says I have enough. In Mandarin, enough can also mean have enough. Try to say I have enough. W gu le.
I have enough money. (qng gn zh shu)

Notice the word order. Tell me that you have enough money. Try to tell me that you have enough Renminbi. Say Here you are. 45 Renminbi. Ask Is it enough?
W qin gu le. W qin gu le. W Rnmnb gu le.

09:00
N. S sh w kui Rnmnb. Gu ma? Gu b gu? Ti du le. Gi w s kui Rnmnb. s sh Xinzi w yu s sh y kui Rnmnb. W qin gu le. W Rnmnb gu le. r sh y
17-3
Say Its too much. Say Give me 4 Renminbi. And now say 40. Try to say Now I have 41 Renminbi. Do you remember how to say I have enough money? Now say I have enough Renminbi. Say 21.
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Say 31. Try to say 51. Whats the number 50 in Mandarin? Thats a falling/rising tone and a rising tone. Say again 50. Now try to say 60. Say 61. Say 57. Ask Is it enough?
sn sh y w sh y w sh w sh li sh li sh y
12:00
w sh q Gu ma? Gu b gu? Dusho qin? sn sh y kui Rnmnb w sh sn kui Rnmnb Gu ma? Gu b gu? N qin gu ma? N qin gu b gu? B gu. W b gu. Ti du le. Ti gi le. gi Ti gi. B ti gi. B ti gi. Ti gi le, b ti gi.
17-4
Ask how much money you owe. Say 31 Renminbi. Say 53 Renminbi. Ask Is it enough?
Try to ask her if she has enough money.
Say Its not enough. Try to say I dont have enough. And how would you say Its too much? Heres how to say Its too expensive.
(qng gn zh shu) 1. gi
15:00
Say expensive, using the falling tone. Tell me that Its too expensive.
It isnt too expensive. (qng gn zh shu)

You drop the (le) with the negative. Say It isnt too expensive. Say together
Its too expensive, it isnt too expensive.
Say Im giving you 61 Renminbi. Ask Is it for me?
W gi n li sh y kui Rnmnb. Sh gi w de ma? Sh b sh gi w de? N yu mijn gi w ma? N yu miyu mijn gi w? N ky gi w ydinr qin ma? N k b ky gi w ydinr qin? Gi w mijn. W miyu mijn.
18:00
And how would she ask
Do you have American currency for me?

Now she asks Can you give me some money?
Say Give me American dollars. Say I dont have American dollars. Ask Can you speak English?
N hu shu Yngwen ma? N hu b hu shu Yngwen? N shu de hn ho. W hu shu ptnghu. N hu shu ptnghu. N shu de hn ho. N shu de ti kui le. kui N shu de ti kui le. W shu de b ho.
21:00
Now say You speak very well. Do you remember how to say I can speak Mandarin? Say You can speak Mandarin. Tell her that she speaks very well. Heres how to say You speak too quickly.
(qng gn zh shu) 2. kui
What part of that means quickly or fast? This word is pronounced with a falling tone. Say You speak too quickly. Say I dont speak well or literally, I speak not well. Try to say I dont speak quickly. Try to say You speak very quickly. Say I dont speak quickly. Now tell her You speak too quickly.
W shu de b kui. N shu de hn kui. W shu de b kui. N shu de ti kui le.
Imagine that youre having a conversation with the desk clerk in a hotel in Beijing. You have sent him to get a newspaper for you giving him 100 Renminbi. He has now returned with the newspaper and youre arguing with him about the change. When he tells you how much he is 17-5
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I going to give you, tell him no and claim 10 Renminbi more than whatever sum he mentions. Here he comes now. N. Bozh. He just said Here you are, the newspaper. Now respond to what he says next. Nnrn: N. Sn sh kui Rnmnb. Sh sn
sh kui Rnmnb ma?

Man: Here you are. 30 Renminbi. Isnt it 30 Renminbi? N: B sh. Sh s sh kui. You: No. Its 40. Say again No. Its 40 units.
B sh. Sh s sh kui. Nnrn: Nme, w gi n sn sh y kui. Sh sn sh y kui ma? Man: In that case, I will give you 31 units. Isnt it 31 units. N: B sh. Sh s sh y kui. S sh y kui Rnmnb. You: No. It is 41 units. 41 Renminbi.
24:00
Give me 41 Renminbi.
N: Gi w s sh y kui Rnmnb. You: Give me 41 Renminbi. Nnrn: N. S sh kui Rnmnb. Gu ma? Man: Here you are. 40 Renminbi. Is it enough?
Tell him Its not enough. Ask him to give you 50 Renminbi. N: B gu. Gi w w sh kui Rnmnb. You: Its not enough. Give me 50 Renminbi. Nnrn: Ho. N. S sh li kui Rnmnb.
Gu ma?
Man: OK. Here you are. 46 Renminbi. Is it enough? N: B gu. Gi w w sh li kui
Rnmnb.
You: Its not enough. Give me 56 Renminbi. Nnrn: W sh sn kui? N. W sh sn
kui Rnmnb.
Man: 53 units? Here you are. 53 Renminbi.
17-6
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Say It isnt 53 units. Its 63 units. N: B sh w sh sn kui. Sh li sh sn
kui.
You: It isnt 53 units. Its 63 units. Nnrn: N b mngbai w shu shnme. Man: You dont understand what I say. Tell him that you do understand what he is saying. How does he tell you that he can speak English? How does he ask you if you can speak Mandarin? Tell him Yes. You can speak Mandarin. Nnrn: W shu de ti kui le ma? Man: Do I speak too fast? How would you say
W mngbai n shu shnme.
Nnrn: W hu shu yngwn.

27:00
Nnrn: N hu shu ptnghu ma? Nnrn: N hu b hu shu ptnghu? Hu. W hu shu ptnghu. N shu de b kui. Gi w ydinr qin. Gi w li sh y kui Rnmnb. Nnrn: Gu ma? Nnrn: Gu b gu? Nnrn: N qin gu ma? Nnrn: N qin gu b gu? W qin gu le. Xinzi gu le. Xixie n.
30:00
Youre not speaking quickly?

Tell him to give you some money. Nnrn: Nme, w sh y kui. Ho ma? Man: In that case 51 units. OK? N: B ho. You: Not OK. Tell him to give you 61 Renminbi. Nnrn: Ho. N. Li sh y kui Rnmnb. Man: OK. Here you are. 61 Renminbi. He asks Is it enough?
How do you think he would ask
Do you have enough money?

Say I have enough money.
Say Now its enough. Thank you. This is the end of unit 17.
17-7

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. measure word for hats, caps hat relatively husband wife water bother/trouble/ please
Pinyin
dng mozi bjio xinsheng titai shu mfan
Simplified
Traditional
II. Transcript
(qng tng zh dun duhu)

Matthew and his friend Diana are in Beijing. She wants to buy a hat
zh dng mozi this hat 1. 2. dng mozi
(qng tng) Diana: Matthew!

Diana: Matthew! Matthew: Shnme sh? Matthew: What is it? Diana: W xing mi ydinr dngxi. Diana: I would like to buy something. Matthew: N xing mi shnme? Matthew: What would you like to buy? Diana: Zh dng mozi. Diana: This hat. Matthew: Dusho qin? Matthew: How much money? Diana: Y bi qui Rnmnb. Diana: 100 Renminbi. Matthew: Y bi qui Rnmnb. Sh r
kui mijn. B sh hn gu.
Matthew! Matthew!
18-1
Matthew: 100 Renminbi. 12 American dollars. Not very expensive. Diana: Nme. N gi w ydinr qin. Ho
y bi
b ho?
Diana: In that case, give me some money OK? Matthew: Ho. N. Li sh kui Rnmnb.
Gu b gu?
Matthew: OK. Here you go. 100 Renminbi. Is it enough? Diana: Gu le. Xixie n. Diana: Its enough. Thank you.
It would be very nice if she could get her hat for 100 Renminbi.
100
For this conversation, lets assume that she can. (zi tng yc) (the conversation above is repeated) Do you remember the number 50 in Mandarin? Try to say 61. Say Its too expensive. Remember the ending.
w sh li sh y Ti gu le. Sn sh r kui huzh sn sh sn? Hn gu. Ti gu le. Hn gu, ti gu le.

03:00
units?
Do you remember how to say 32 units or 33 Try to say Its very expensive. Now tell him that Its too expensive. Say together
Its very expensive, its too expensive.

What Mandarin word means quickly? And how would you tell someone that she is speaking too quickly? Tell her that you dont understand what she is saying Do you remember how to ask Is it enough?
kui N shu de ti kui le. W b mngbai n shu shnme. Gu ma? Gu b gu? N qin gu ma? N qin gu b gu? W yu s sh y kui Rnmnb.
18-2
And how would you ask
Do you have enough money?

Tell me that you have 41 Renminbi.
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Say Its too much. Say Its enough. Try to say Its not expensive. to say Located over there.
Ti du le. Gu le. B gu. Zi nr b ti gu.
Over there Its not too expensive. Remember
Heres how to say Its more expensive. Literally, youll say Its relatively expensive.
(qng gn zh shu) 3. bjio

Try to say relatively.
Bjio gu. Bjio. Bjio gu. Bjio gu. N qin gu ma? N qin gu b gu? Gu. r sh kui mijn s sh r kui Rnmnb sn sh kui mijn Bjio gu. Ti du le. B gu. Gu ma? Gu b gu? Gu le. Xinzi n shu de ti kui le. W de xinsheng shu de hn kui.
06:00
Thats a falling/rising tone followed by two falling tones.
Say Its more expensive. Ask me if I have enough money.
Answer this question Yes. Say 20 American dollars. Say 42 Renminbi. And how would you say 30 American dollars? Say Its more expensive. Say Its too much. Now say Its not enough. Ask Is it enough?
Now say Its enough. Say Now youre speaking too quickly.
My husband speaks very quickly.
(qng gn zh shu) 4. Xinsheng
18-3
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Husband is pronounced with two high level tones.1 Say husband.
09:00
xinsheng W de xinsheng. W de xinsheng. W nr. W de xinsheng
My Husband. (qng gn zh shu)
(de) is pronounced with a falling tone.2

Say again My husband. And now say My place. Say again My husband. This is more commonly used for my. Now heres how to say My wife.
(qng gn zh shu) 5. titai

Say again My wife. Say My wife. Say My husband.
W de titai.
3
Thats pronounced with two falling tones.
Titai. Titai. W de xinsheng. W de titai zi nr. W de titai xing h ydinr dngxi.

12:00
Say My wife is over there. Say My wife would like to drink something. Say My husband would like to drink something. Say My husband would like to drink beer. Say My wife would like to drink some tea. Say Here, its more expensive.
W de xinsheng xing h ydinr dngxi. W de xinsheng xing h pji. W de titai xing h ydinr ch. Zi zhr, bjio gu. W xing h ydinr shu. shu
I would like to drink some water.
(qng gn zh shu) 6. shu

Say water.
Water is pronounced with a falling/rising tone.
1 2 3
In (husband/xinsheng), the second syllable is pronounced with a neutral tone.
(de) is pronounced with a neutral tone. The second syllable of (wife/titai) is pronounced with a neutral tone.
18-4
Please give me water. (qng tng)
7. mfan (qng gn zh shu)
Mfan n, gi w shu. Mfan n, gi w shu.
This expression for please is pronounced with two rising tones4 (mfan), followed by a falling/rising tone(n). Say again Please. Mfan n. Literally, this means bothering you in the sense of Im sorry to bother you. Say Please give me water. Now say
Mfan n, gi w shu.
15:00
My husband would like to drink some water.

Say Please give me tea. Say My wife. Try to say Your wife. Say Your husband is here. Ask Wheres my wife? Say Your wife isnt here.
W de xinsheng xing h ydinr shu. Mfan n, gi w ch. W de titai. N de titai. N de xinsheng zi zhr. W de titai zi nr? N de titai b zi zhr. N de xinsheng xinzi xing ch ydinr dngxi. W de xinsheng? W de titai xing h ydinr shu. Mfan n, gi w shu.
18:00
now.
Say Your husband would like to eat something
Ask My husband? Say My wife would like to drink some water. And how would you say Please give me water. Now say
My husband would like to drink some beer.

Do you remember how to say Its too expensive? And now say Here its more expensive. Ask Do you have tea?
W de xinsheng xing h ydinr pji. Ti gu le. Zi zhr bjio gu. N yu ch ma? N yu miyu ch?
The second syllable of (to bother/mfan) is pronounced with a neutral tone and (you/n) is pronounced with a falling/rising tone. 18-5
4
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Answer No. And now say I dont have any tea. Do you remember how to ask With whom? What part of that means Whom or Who? Try to ask Whos over there? Say Your wife. Ask What would your wife like to do? Say My wife would like to eat something. Ask What would you like to drink? Say Please give me tea or water. Say You can drink tea. Ask me where my wife is. Say My wife? I dont know. Now try to say My wife is at my place. Ask if shed like to eat supper with you. Remember the word order. And now say Impossible. Now say I cant eat supper with you. How would you tell her that Its not too expensive? Say Here its more expensive. Say 50 Renminbi. Say 22 American dollars. She says Im going to eat dinner with my husband. Just Listen. Say Im going to eat dinner. Say
Miyu. W miyu ch. Gn shi yq? Shi? Shi zi nr? N de titai. N de titai xing zu shnme? W de titai xing ch ydinr dngxi. N xing h shnme? Mfan n, gi w ch huzh shu. N ky h ch. N de titai zi nr? W de titai? W b zhdao. W de titai zi w nr. N xing gn w yq ch wnfn ma? N xing b xing gn w yq ch wnfn? B xng. W b ky gn n yq ch wnfn.
24:00
B ti gu. Zi zhr bjio gu. w sh kui Rnmnb r sh r kui mijn W yo gn w de xinsheng yq ch wnfn. W yo ch wnfn. Gn w de xinsheng yq.
18-6
With my husband or Along with my husband.
Now say
Im going to eat dinner with my husband.

Ask Then would you like to drink something?
W yo gn w de xinsheng yq ch wnfn. Nme, n xing h ydinr dngxi ma? Nme, n xing b xing h ydinr dngxi? Xing. Xixie n.
27:00
How does she accept? Ask her what she would like to drink. Say Please give me water. Say You can drink beer. Say Not OK. Its too expensive. Say Here its more expensive. How would you ask Then how about tea? Tell her Its not too expensive. She says OK. I would like to drink tea. Order the tea for her. Say Say Here you are, tea.
N xing h shnme? Mfan n, gi w shu. N ky h pji. B ho. Ti gu le. Zi zhr bjio gu. Nme, ch ma? B ti gu. Ho. W xing h ch. Mfan n, gi w y bi ch. N. Ch.
Please, give me one cup of tea.
Listen to what she says and respond appropriately. Nrn: Xixie n. Woman: Thank you. N: Bkqi. You: Dont mention it. This is the end of unit 18.
30:00
18-7

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. you (plural) we/us he/him she/her please come in please come in/enter live/reside and
Pinyin
nmen wmen t t qng jn qng jn zh h Hushngdn
10. Washington
Simplified
Traditional
II. Transcript
Qng tng zh dun duhu.

Please listen to this conversation. In the conversation you will hear
1. 2.
nmen wmen
which means you referring to more than one person and which means we. An American woman and her husband are eating at a restaurant. The woman will have a conversation with the waiter. Listen as he greets them. Fwyun: Nmen ho. Nmen xing ch
ydinr dngxi ma?
Waiter: Hello. Would you like to eat something? Nrn: Wmen xinzi b xing ch. Woman: We would not like to eat now. Fwyun: Nme, nmen xing h ydinr
19-1
dngxi ma?
Waiter: In that case, would you like to drink something? Nrn: Xing.
Woman: Yes. Fwyun: Wmen yu ch, pji huzh Waiter: We have tea, beer or Nrn: W de xinsheng b xing h pji.
T yo ch.
Woman: My husband would not like beer. He wants tea. In this conversation you heard
3. 4.
he she
t t
T yo ch.
Or he wants tea. Listen again. (The conversation above is repeated) Do you remember how to say quickly or fast? Tell me that I speak too quickly. Do you remember how to say that something is too expensive? Now say Its more expensive. Say 50 Renminbi. Say 45 Renminbi. Say again Its more expensive. Say 61 Renminbi. Now say Its too expensive. Say 56 Renminbi. Say the number 21. Do you remember how to say
kui N shu de ti kui le. Ti gu le. Bjio gu. w sh kui Renminbi s sh w kui Renminbi Bjio gu. li sh y kui Rnmnb
03:00
Ti gu le. w sh li kui Rnmnb r sh y Mfan n, gi w ling bi pji. li sh b kui ti gu le Gu ma? Gu b gu? N gu ma? N gu b gu?
19-2
Please give me two beers.
Say 68 units is too expensive. Ask Is it enough?
And how do you ask Do you have enough?
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Answer Yes. I have enough money.
Gu. W qin gu le. W gi n w sh sn kui Rnmnb. li sh sn kui Rnmnb. Bjio gu. N de titai zi nr?
06:00
Im give you 53 Renminbi.

Now say 63 Renminbi. Say Its more expensive. Do you remember how to ask
Where is your wife?
Say My wife? I dont know. Ask her were her husband is. And how would you say
W de titai? W b zhdao. N de xinsheng zi nr? W de xinsheng zi nr. T zi nr.
My husband is over there. Hes over there. (qng gn zh shu)
The Mandarin word for he is pronounced with a high level tone. Say it again. t Say My husband? Hes over there. How would you ask Who is over there? Say My husband is over there.
W de xinsheng? T zi nr. Shi zi nr? W de xinsheng zi nr.
/ (t) can mean either he or she depending on the context.1 Say Shes over there. T zi nr.
Say My wife? Shes over there. Now ask me if shes located over there. Say Shes not over there. Shes here. Ask the woman what her husband would like to drink. Heres how to ask
W de titai? T zi nr. T zi nr ma? T b zi nr. T zi zhr.

09:00
N de xinsheng xing h shnme?
What would Mr. Chen like to drink?
Chn xinsheng xing h shnme?
The Chinese word for husband can also mean Mister. Say Mister Chen. Chn Xinsheng.
There is a separate character for he () and she (), however both are pronounced the same (t). 19-3
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Ask What would Mr. Chen like to drink? And now ask What would he like to drink? Answer He would like to drink tea. Say Or water.
Chn xinsheng xing h shnme? T xing h shnme? T xing h ch. Huzh shu.
Imagine that you are in a hotel room in Beijing. Someone knocks at the door. Heres how youd say Please come in. Just listen. Qng jn.
5. 6. 7.
qng jn qng jn
jn Qng jn.
Heres the part of that that means Come in. (qng gn zh shu) This word is pronounced with a falling tone. Say it again.
Please come in. Please repeat after the

speaker. (qng gn zh shu)
(Qng) is pronounced with a falling/rising tone. Say it again. Qng.

12:00
And now say Please give me water.
Mfan n, gi w shu.
Youll use (mfan n) when asking for something. Its like Give me. Now say Please come in. Qng jn. Youll use this expression when making an offer or inviting someone to do something. Say again Please come in. Qng jn. Ask the person what he would like to drink. Say again Please give me water. Try to ask What about your husband? Ask What would Mr. Chen like to drink? Now ask What about your wife? What about Mrs. Ellis? (qng gn zh shu) Now try to ask
N xing h shnme? Mfan n, gi w shu. N de xinsheng ne? Chn Xinsheng xing h shnme? N de titai ne? Ellis Titai ne? Ellis Titai xing h shnme? nmen
19-4
What would Mrs. Ellis like to drink?

Heres how to say you referring to more than one person. (qng gn zh shu)
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I The tones are falling/rising and rising.2 Say the plural you again. You want to ask Where do you live?
nmen
15:00
(qng gn zh shu) 8. zh
Nmen zh zi nr?
The word live is pronounced with a falling tone. Say live. zh Speaking to more than one person, say
You live.
Nmen zh. W zh. Qng jn. Nmen zh zi nr? Wmen zh zi zher. Wmen. Wmen zh zi zher. Wmen xing. Wmen xing h ydinr dngxi. Nmen xing h shnme? Chn Xinsheng xing h shnme?
18:00
Try to say I live. Say Please come in. Speaking to more than one person, ask
Where do you live?
Heres how to say We live here.
(qng gn zh shu)
Say We. Say We live here.
Now say We would like to. Say We would like to drink something. Ask them what they would like to drink. And how would you ask what Mr. Chen would like to drink?
My Husband and I. (qng gn zh shu)
9.
W de xinsheng h w. W de xinsheng h w.
The Mandarin word and is pronounced with a rising tone. Say my Husband and I. Now say We would like to drink something.
Wmen xing h ydinr dngxi.
Listen and repeat to compare and (/h) with a rising tone and drink (/h) with a high level tone. h, h Try to say My husband and I would like to
drink something.
W de xinsheng h w xing h ydinr dngxi.
The second syllable is pronounced with a neutral tone. 19-5
Now say
My husband and I would like to drink tea.

W de xinsheng h w xing h ch. W y xing. Mfan n, gi w ch. W de titai h w.

21:00
I too would like to.
Try to say Please give me tea. Try to say My wife and I. Say We dont live here. Ask Where is your wife?
Wmen b zh zi zhr. N de titai zi nr? Ellis Titai zi nr? W de titai zi nr. W de titai z w nr. Wmen xing h shu. Chn xinsheng xing h shu. T xing h shu. Ksh wmen xing h pji. Sn sh y kui Rnmnb.
24:00
Where is Mrs. Ellis?

Say My wife is over there. And how would you say My wife is at my place. Now say We would lke to drink water. How would you say
Mr. Chen would like to drink water.

Say He would like to drink water. Say But we would like to drink beer. Do you remember how to say 31 Renminbi. Say 63 Renminbi. How would she tell you that she has enough money?
li sh sn kui Rnmnb. W qin gu le.
Imagine now that youre in your hotel room in Beijing. Youre expecting a business visit from Mr. Chen, a Chinese colleague youve never met. Promptly, at the appointed time, theres a knock on your door. What do you say? N: Qng jn. He comes in. React to what he says next. Chn Xinsheng: N ho. : Mr. Chen: Hello. N: N ho, Chn Xinsheng. You: Hello, Mr. Chen. Chn Xinsheng: Qng wen. N de xinsheng : : : 19-6
zi nr?
Mr. Chen: Please let me ask, where is your husband?
Tell him Hes not here Chn Xinsheng: T zi nr ma? Mr. Chen: Is he there? Tell him I dont know. Now suppose that you lived in America.
N: T b zi zhr. N: W b zhdao.
In America.
Zi Migu. Zi Migu.
Suppose your home in America is in Washington. (zi Hushngdn)
10.
Hushngdn
Use this information in replying to his next question. Chn Xinsheng: Nmen zh zi Migu nr? Mr. Chen: Where do you live in America? N: Wmen zh zi Hushngdn. You: We live in Washington. You ask him :
What about you? Where do you live?

Chn Xinsheng: Wmen zh zi Bijng. Mr. Chen: We live in Beijing.
N ne? N zh zi nr? : Gn shi yq?

27:00
Along with whom?

Try to ask
You along with your wife are located together?

How does he give an affirmative answer? Now he says My wife and I live here.
N gn n de titai zi yq ma? Sh. W gn w de titai zi yq. W de titai h w zh zi zhr.
At this moment, there is another knock at the door. Say Please come in. Qng jn. Mr. Chen asks Who? Meaning Who is it? Try to say Its my husband.
Shi? Sh w de xinsheng.
Your husband enters and the two men shake hands. Ask the two of them Nmen xing h ydinr dngxi ma?
Would you like to drink something?

Your husband say
Nmen xing b xing h ydinr dngxi? Mfan n, wmen xing h ydinr ch.
30:00
Please we would like to drink some tea.

19-7

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. child How many? all-purpose measure word son daughter big/grown up they/them
Pinyin
xiohir j g g rzi nr d tmen
Simplified
Traditional
II. Transcript
Qng tng zh dun duhu.

Please listen to this conversation.
Mr. Jones is arriving at Mr. and Mrs. Chens house. (qng tng) Jones Xinsheng: Chn Titai, n ho. Jones Mr. Jones: Hello, Mrs. Chen. Chn Titai: N ho, Jones Xinsheng. Qng Jones , Jones , Jones Jones Jones Jones
jn.
Mrs. Chen: Hello, Mr. Jones. Please come in. Jones Xinsheng: Xixie n. Mr. Jones: Thank you. Chn Titai: Jones Xinsheng, n xing h
shnme? Ydinr pji?
Mrs. Chen: Mr. Jones. Would you like to drink something? Some beer? Jones Xinsheng: W b xing h pji.
Mfan n. W xing h shu.
Mr. Jones: I would not like to drink beer. May I bother you? I would like to drink water. Chn Titai: Jones Titai zi nr? T gn n
yq zi Bijng ma?
Mrs. Chen: Where is Mrs. Jones? Is she with you in Beijing? Jones Xinsheng: B sh. W de titai b zi
Jones Jones Jones Jones Jones Jones
20-1
Bijng. T zi Migu.
Mr. Jones: No. My wife is not in Beijing. She is Jones in America.

Do you remember how to ask Who? meaning
Who is it?
Shi? Qng jn. Mfan n, gi w shu. N xing h ydinr dngxi ma? N xing b xing h ydinr dngxi? W yu pji. H ch. Bjio gu. Ti gu le. kui N shu de ti kui le.
03:00
Tell the person to Please come in. And now say Please give me water. Ask the woman if she would like to drink something. Say I have beer. Say And tea. Do you remember how to say Its more expensive? Now say Its too expensive. And how would you say quickly? Tell the woman that she is speaking too quickly. Ask her where her husband is. Ask where is Mr. Chen? She says My husband? Try to say I dont know where he is. Ask the man where his wife is located
N de xinsheng zi nr? Chn Xinsheng zi nr? W de xinsheng? W b zhdao t zi nr. N de titai zi nr? T gn n zi yq ma?
Is she with you? (qng gn zh shu) Literally, She with you is located along?
Ask again Is she with you? T gn n zi yq ma? This is how you would ask if two people are together in the same location. And do you remember how to ask
Would you like to drink something with me?
N xing gn w yq h ydinr dngxi ma? N xing b xing gn w yq h ydinr dngxi? T gn n zi yq ma?

20-2
Ask again Is she with you?
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Try to say she is with your husband. Ask Where is he?
T gn n de xinsheng zi yq.
06:00
T zi nr? T zi nr. T gn n de titai zi yq. Nmen zh zi nr? Wmen zh zi Migu. Nmen yu xiohir ma?
Hes over there.

Say Hes with your wife. Referring to the woman and her husband, ask
Where do you live?
Try to say We live in America. Heres how to ask Do you have any children?
(qng gn zh shu) 1. xiohir
Children is pronounced with a falling/rising and rising tones. Say again children. xiohir Ask someone if he has children.
N yu xiohir ma? N yu miyu xiohir? Yu. Wmen yu xiohir. N yu dusho Rnmnb?

09:00
And now answer Yes. We have children. Do you remember how to ask
How many Renminbi do you have? How many children do you have?
(qng gn zh shu) 2. j g 3. g
N yu j g xiohir? J g. J g. Nmen yu j g xiohir? Wmen yu sn g xiohir. Sn g xiohir. Ling g rzi.

1
What part of that means How many? The tones are falling/rising and falling. Ask again How many?
(g) is a measure word. In Mandarin, its used when referring to the size of a group of people.
Now ask the woman and her husband how many children they have. Now try to say We have three children. Say again Three children.
Two sons. (qng gn zh shu)
4.
rzi
sons is pronounced with rising and falling/rising tones.

1
(child/rzi) is pronounced with a rising tone, followed by a neutral tone.

20-3
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Say sons. Ask him how many children they have. Say We have two sons.
rzi Nmen yu j g xiohir? Wmen yu ling g rzi.

12:00
One daughter. (qng gn zh shu)
5.
nr
How do you say daughter in Mandarin?
yge ner nr yge nr yge rzi Wmen yu yge nr.
Did you hear the falling/rising and rising tones in those two words?
Say again one daughter. And now say one son. Say We have one daughter. Do you remember how to say
Shes with my wife.

Say My wife and I.
T gn w de titai zi yq. W de titai h w. W de titai h w xing h ydinr dngxi. Mfan n, gi w shu. W de titai h w yu sn g xiohir. Wmen yu ling g rzi, yge nr.
15:00
How would you say
My wife and I would like to drink something.

Say Please give me water. Now say My wife and I have three children. Say We have two sons, one daughter. Someones knocking on the door. Do you remember how to ask Who is it? And now say Please come in. How would you ask her how many children she has? She says I dont have any sons.
Shi? Qng jn. N yu j g xiohir? W miyu rzi.
(qng gn zh shu)
You dont need the measure word when you say you dont have any sons. Tell me again you have no sons. W miyu rzi. Now say But we have four daughters Ask How many children? Say We have four children.
Ksh wmen yu s g nr. J g xiohir? Wmen yu s g xiohir.

20-4
Say A lot of children or thats a lot of children. Now say We have five children. Say three sons. Do you remember how to say two daughters? Now say We have one daughter.
Hn du xiohir. Wmen yu w g xiohir. sn g rzi

18:00
ling g nr Wmen yu y g nr. y g rzi
one son
You want to say My son is grown up. First heres the word big in Mandarin (qng gn zh shu)
6.
Say again big.
d W de rzi hn d le.
This word is pronounced with a falling tone.

Heres how to say My son is very grown up.
(qng gn zh shu)
With the (le) ending the word big refers only to maturity, not the persons size. Its like saying my son had gotten very big. Say this again. Try to ask Is your son very grown up? Answer Yes. He is very grown up. Use (sh) for yes. Ask if the daughter is very grown up.
W de rzi hn d le. N de rzi hn d le ma? Sh. T hn d le. Nr hn d le ma? D b sh hn d.

21:00
She is not very big. (qng gn zh shu)
Remember that you dont need the (le) with the negative. Say She is not very big. D b sh hn d. Try to say The son is not very big. Ask Where is he? Say Hes in America. How do you say together in Mandarin? Now say Hes with my wife together.
rzi b sh hn d. T zi nr? T zi Migu. yq T gn w de titai zi yq.

20-5
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Ask How many children he has. Now say We have four children.
N yu jg xiohir? Wmen yu s g xiohir. Tmen hn d le. Tmen. Tmen zi zhr.

24:00
They are very grown up. (qng gn zh shu)
5.
Say They.
tmen
They is pronounced with a combination of high level and mid-rising tones.2

Say They are here. Say Theyre not in America. How would you say They are with me? Ask him how many children he and his wife have. Say My wife and I have three children. Now say We have three children. Say We have two sons. Say They are very grown up. Say We have one daughter. How would you say your daughter is not very big?
Tmen b zi Migu. Tmen gn w zi yq. Nmen yu j g xiohir? W de titai h w yu sn g xiohir. Wmen yu sn g xiohir. Wmen yu ling g rzi. Tmen hn d le. Wmen yu y g nr. Nr b sh hn d.

27:00
Xinzi qng n gn Chn Titai duhu.

Now a conversation with Mrs. Chen. Answer her when she speaks to you. Chn Titai: N ho. Mrs. Chen: Hello. You: Chn Titai, N ho. You: Hello, Mrs. Chen. Chn Titai: N sh Migu rn ma? Mrs. Chen: Are you American? N: Sh. W sh Migu rn. You: Yes. I am American.
(they/tmen) is pronounced with a high level tone, followed by a neutral tone.

20-6
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I You are to assume the following role: youre a gentleman of middle age. You have a wife and three children: two sons and one daughter. And theyre all grown up. Theyre with you in Beijing.
Zi Bijng.
In Beijing. Try to answer her questions. Chn Titai: N de titai zi nr? Mrs. Chen: Where is your wife? N: T zi zhr. Zi Bijng. T gn w zi
yq.
You: Shes here. In Beijing. She is together with me. Chn Titai: Nmen yu xiohir ma? Mrs. Chen: Do you have children? N: Yu. Wmen yu xiohir. You: Yes. I have children. Chn Titai: Nmen yu j g rzi? Mrs. Chen: You have how many sons? N: Wmen yu ling g rzi. You: We have two sons. Chn Titai: Nmen yu nr ma? Mrs. Chen: Do you have any daughters? N: Yu. Wmen yu y g nr. You: Yes. We have one daughter. Chn Titai: Nr hn d le ma? Mrs. Chen: Is she grown up? N: Sh. T hn d le. You: Yes. She is grown up. Chn Titai: Xinzi tmen zi nr? Tmen gn n de titai yq ma? Mrs. Chen: Where are they now? Are they together with your wife? N: Sh. Tmen zi gn w de titai zi yq. You: Yes. They are together with my wife. Chn Titai: N ptnghu shu de hn ho. Mrs. Chen: You speak Mandarin very well. N: Xixie n. You: Thank you.
30:00
20-7

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. wait a moment young/younger really bathroom/restroom family
Pinyin
dng yhur xio zhn de xshujin jirn
Simplified
Traditional
II. Transcript
(Qng tng zh dun Jones Xinsheng gn Lu Titai de duhu)

Listen to this conversation between Mr. Jones and Mrs. Liu. In it, you will hear Mrs. Liu ask
Can you wait a moment?
1.
dng yhur
N ky dng yhur ma?
(qng tng) Lu Titai: Shi?

Mrs. Liu: Who is it? Jones Xinsheng: N ho. W sh Bill Jones.
Jones Bill Jones
W sh Migu rn ksh w hu shu ydinr ptnghu.

Mr. Jones: Hello. I am Bill Jones. I am an American but I can speak Mandarin. Lu Titai: . N sh Jones Xinsheng. Qng
Jones Bill Jones
Jones Jones Jones
jn.
Mrs. Liu: Oh. Youre Mr. Jones. Please come in. Jones Xinsheng: Xixie n. Qngwn, n de
xinsheng zi nr?
Jones
Mr. Jones: Thank you. May I ask, where is your husband? Lu Titai: W de xinsheng zi zhr. N
ky dng yhur ma?
Mrs. Liu: My husband is here. Can you wait a moment? Jones Xinsheng: Ky. Xixie n. Mr. Jones: Yes. Thank you.
Jones Jones 21-1
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Lu Titai: N de titai gn n yq zi Bijng
ma?
Jones Jones Jones
Mrs. Liu: Is your wife together with you in Beijing? Jones Xinsheng: Sh. T y zi Bijng. Mr. Jones: Yes. She is also in Beijing. Lu Titai: Xiohir ne? Tmen zi zhr ma? Mrs. Liu: How about your children? Are they here? Jones Xinsheng: Tmen b zi zhr. Tmen
zi Migu.
Jones
Mr. Jones: They are not here. They are in America. Lu Titai: Nmen yu j g xiohir? Mrs. Liu: How many children do you have? Jones Xinsheng: Wmen yu sn g rzi.
Jones
Tmen hn d le.
Mr. Jones: We have three sons. They are all grown up.
Jones
(zi tng yc) (The conversation above is repeated)

Someones knocking at the door. How would you ask Who is it? And now say Please come in. Say a son or literally, one son.
Shi? Qng jn. y g rzi T hn d le.

03:00
(qng shu) Please say He is very big. (xinzi qng shu) Now please say
Heres how to say the older son.
The son is very big or very grown up.
rzi hn d le. d rzi
(qng gn zh shu)
The word that means big or grown up (d) can also mean more grown up or older. Say again the older son. d rzi Try to say the older daughter. And how would you say
d nr Nr hn d le.
The daughter is very big?
Remember you use the le () ending when you say that someone is big or grown up. Now say again the older daughter.
d nr
21-2
(qng shu) Please say (qng shu) We have an older daughter.

Literally, one older daughter. Do you remember how to ask
Wmen yu y g d nr.
How many children do you have?
Nmen yu j g xiohir? W de titai h w. W de titai h w yu y g d nr.

06:00
(qng shu) My wife and I.

My wife and I have an older daughter.
Heres how to say Wait one moment.
(qng gn zh shu)
Dng yhur.
The tones in that expression are falling/rising, falling and falling/rising.

Say Wait one moment.
Dng yhur. N ky dng yhur ma? N k b ky dng yhur? Wmen zh. Wmen zh zi Migu. Gn xiohir zi yq. Nmen yu j g xiohir? W de titai h w yu sn g xiohir. Xiohir zi Migu. Tmen zi Migu.
09:00
Now try to ask Can you wait one moment?
(qng shu) We live.

We live in America.
Try to say Located along with the children. Ask How many children do you have? Now say My wife and I have three children.
(qng shu) The children are in America. (qng shu) They are in America.
Ask Where are they? Try to say The daughters are here. Tell me that the daughters are very grown up. Now say the older daughter.
Tmen zi nr? Nr zi zhr. Nr hn d le. d nr D nr zi zhr. D rzi zi zhr. Xio nr ne?
The older daughter is here.
(xinzi qng shu) The older sons are here.

What about the younger daughter?
(qng gn zh shu) 2. xio
Whats the Mandarin word young or younger? xio

21-3
This word has a falling/rising tone.

Say it again.
xio xio nr Xio nr ne? Xio rzi.

12:00
(qng shu) The younger daughter. (qngwn) Please ask.

What about the younger daughter?
(xinzi qng shu) The younger son.

Now try to say My son is very young. Is is understood. And how would you say Our son is very young. Try to say Our son isnt very grown up.
W de rzi hn xio. Wmen de rzi hn xio. Wmen de rzi b sh hn d. T hn xio T zhn de hn xio. Zhn de. T zhn de hn xio.
(qng shu) Hes very young.

Hes really very young. (qng gn zh shu)
3.
zhn de
Really starts with a high level tone, followed by a soft falling tone.1
Say again Really. Tell me again that Hes really very young.
To ask Really? All you need to do is use question intonation. Try it. Zhn de?
Did you hear the rising tone added to the end?

Ask again Really?
Zhn de? Sh. Zhn de. T zhn de hn xio. T b sh hn d. Nmen de nr zi nr?

15:00
And how would you say Yes. Really. Pay attention to the tonality. Say again He is really very young. Try to say He really isnt very grown up. Ask Mr. and Mrs. Jones
Where is your daughter?

Now say My wife and I have two daughters. Try to ask
W de titai h w yu ling g nr. D nr hish xio nr? d nr
The older daughter of the younger daughter? The older daughter.

1
The second syllable is pronounced with a neutral tone. 21-4
Try to say It isnt the younger daughter.
B sh xio nr. Zhn de? Xiohir zi nr? Dng yhur. Xshujin zi nr?
2
Really?
Ask the man where the children are.
Wait one moment. Where is the bathroom? (qng gn zh shu)
4.
xshujin
The tones are rising, falling/rising and rising.

Ask where the bathroom is located. How would she say that Its over there?
Xshujin zi nr? Zi nr. Xshujin zi nr.

18:00
(qngwn) Really?
And now say Really, its over there. How do you say the younger daughter? Say She isnt very grown up.
Zhn de? Zhn de. Zi nr. xio nr T b sh hn d. D rzi. D nr. Wmen de d nr. Nmen de d nr. Xshujin zi nr? Xio nr. jirn
(qng shu) The older son. (qng shu) The older daughter. (qng shu) Our older daughter.
Speaking to Mr. and Mrs. Jones, say
Your older daughter.
Ask where the bathroom is.
(qng shu) The younger daughters.

Heres how to say family. (qng gn zh shu)
5.
jirn
Family is pronounced with high level and falling tones.3

2
(restroom/xshujin) is pronounced with falling/rising, falling/rising and high level
tones. As pronunciation combination rule #3 states, with two consecutive falling/rising tones, the first tone becomes a rising tone. As for the third syllable, the Chinese speakers pronunciation is correct, but the English speaker is wrong in saying that it is pronounced with a rising tone. 3 (family/jirn) is pronounced with a high level tone and a rising tone. This is an error, but the pronunciation of the Chinese speaker is correct. 21-5
Say again family or literally, home people.
jirn W de jirn.
21:00
(qng shu) My family.

Try to match the rising and falling tones.
(xinzi qng shu) Your family.

Ask the man where his family is. Now ask just Where are they?
N de jirn. N de jirn zi nr? Tmen zi nr? Wmen zh zi Migu. Xio nr zi Migu. D rzi. D rzi zi Bijng. D rzi gn wmen zi yq.
(qng shu) We live in America.

Try to say
The younger daughters are in America.

And now say The older son. Tell me that the older son is in Beijing.
Do you remember how to say that someone is with you? (qng shu)
The older son with us is located together.
Now try to say The older son is here with us. Since the emphasis is on the location rather than with us, you dont need together. D rzi gn wmen zi zhr.
24:00
Say again The older son is here with us.
D rzi gn wmen zi zhr.
You want to tell the man and his wife You have a very big family. Literally, Your home people very many. Try it. Nmen de jirnhn du. Try to tell them Your family is really very big. Now imagine that you are in Beijing with your family.
Nmen de jirn zhn de hn du. N gn n de jirn zi Bijng.
You are in Beijing with your family. You have two sons and one daughter. Youve all been invited to a colleagues home. When you arrive, you knock on her door. How does she ask Who is it? Shi? You identify yourself. How does she tell you to
Please come in?
Qng jn. N ho.
How does she greet you?
She will ask you a few questions. In your answers because youre speaking for your whole family, say we and our rather than I and my. Nrn: T sh nmen de rzi ma? Woman: Is he your son? 21-6
N: Sh. T sh wmen de rzi. You: Yes. He is our son. Nrn: Nmen yu j g rzi? Woman: How many sons do you have? N: Wmen yu ling g rzi. You: We have two sons. Nrn: Nmen yu nr ma? Woman: Do you have a daughter? N: Yu. Wmen yu y g nr. You: Yes. I have one daughter. Nrn: Nmen de nr hn d le ma? Woman: Is your daughter grown up? Tell her Yes. Shes very grown up. Nrn: T hu shu ptnghu ma? Nrn: T hu b hu shu ptnghu? Woman: Can she speak Mandarin? Say No. She cant speak Mandarin. Nrn: Nmen de rzi zi nr? T xing zu

27:00
Sh. T hn d le. B hu. T b hu shu ptnghu. Qngwn, xshujin zi nr? Nrn: N zu shnme? Wmen yo q nr. Nrn: Nmen de jirn hn du. B sh hn du. Nrn: Nmen de jirn zhn de hn du. Sh. Wmen yu hn du xiohir.
30:00
shnme?
Woman: Where is your son? What would he like to do? Ask her where the bathroom is. Nrn: Zi nr. Xshujin zi nr. Woman: Its over there. The bathroom is over there. How does she ask What are you doing? Do you remember how to tell her We are going to go over there? How does the woman say
You have a very big family?

Try to say Not very many. Now she says Your family is really big.
(qng shu) Yes. We have a lot of children.

21-7

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. inside Hong Kong airplane sit/travel/ride airport field thousand hour
Pinyin
l Xinggng fij zu fijchng chng qin xiosh
Simplified
Traditional
II. Transcript
(qng tng zh dun duhu) Nrn: Nmen yu j g xiohir?

Woman: How many children do you have? Nnrn: Wmen yu sn g xiohir. Man: We have three children. Nrn: Nmen de xiohir sh b sh zi
zhr?
Woman: Are your children here? Nnrn: Sh. Tmen zi zhr. Man: Yes. They are here.
Starting with this lesson, youll receive more and more instructions in Mandarin like this.
Qng yng ptnghu shu.

Please use Mandarin to speak.
N ho.
Hello. Please say Hello in Mandarin. (qng yng ptnghu shu) Hello.
This is a necessary step to understanding and speaking Mandarin without translating from English. You may find it a little difficult at first. Dont hesitate to do this to do this lesson over several times if necessary. (wn) Ask.
(wn) How are you?

Ask it again
(zi wn yc)
N ho ma?
22-1
(zi wn yc) (yng ptnghu shu) (xinzi qng shu)

Say in Mandarin the older son.
N ho ma? d rzi Wmen de rzi hn d le. Xio nr. N yu j g xiohir? Wmen yu sn g xiohir.
Our son is very grown up.
(qng shu) The younger daughter.

Ask me how many children I have.
(qng shu) We have three children.
(wn) Are they with you? Literally, They with you are located together? Use the plural you. Tmen gn nmen zi yq ma?
03:00
Say that They are.
Sh. Xshujin zi nr? Xshujin zi nr.
(qngwn) Where is the bathroom?

Now say the bathroom is over there.
(qng shu n de jirn zi Migu) W de jirn zi Migu.

My family is in America.
(qng shu n de jirn zi Zhnggu) W de jirn zi Zhnggu.

My family is in China. Try to say that your family is with you. And how would you ask How many people?
W de jirn gn w zi yq. J g rn? N ji l yu j g rn? L. J g rn? N ji l yu j g rn?
How many people are there in your family? Literally, You home inside has how many people? (qng gn zh shu)
1.
Inside is pronounced with a falling/rising tone.

(qng shu) Inside. (zi wn yc) How many people?
How many people are there in your family?
(qng gn zh shu)
Notice that you dont use (de) with inside. 22-2
(qngwn)
N ji l yu j g rn?
06:00
(qng shu) My home inside. (sh sh shu)

Try to say.
W ji l. yu s g rn. W ji l yu s g rn.
(sh sh shu) Has four people. (qng shu)

There are four people in my family.
She says Were going to go to Hong Kong.
falling/rising tones.
Wmen yo q Xinggng. (qng gn zh shu) 2. Xinggng (qng shu) Hong Kong using high level and Xinggng.
Try to ask me if I would like to go to Hong Kong.
N xing q Xinggng ma?
The first part of Hong Kong sounds like the word that means would like. But would like is pronounced with a Xing. falling/rising tone. While the first part of Hong Kong has a high
level tone.
Xing. W xing q Xinggng.
(qng shu) Id like to go to Hong Kong.
(sh sh shu) Were going to go to Hong Kong tomorrow. Remember the word order. Wmen mngtin yo q Xinggng. (xinzi qng shu)
Now try to say
There are four people in my family. My family is going to go to Hong Kong.
W ji l yu s g rn.
09:00
W de jirn yo q Xinggng.
Now youre planning that trip to Hong Kong. Because of the distances involved, travel between two cities in China is usually done by train or plane rather than by car. Heres the word airplane. (qng gn zh shu)
3.
fij
fij
These are two high level tones.

(qng shu) airplane (qngwn)
Is your family going to go to Hong Kong?
N de jirn yo q Xinggng ma? N de jirn yo b yo q Xinggng?

22-3
Are you going to take a plane?
(qng gn zh shu) 4.
Nmen yo zu fij q ma? Nmen yo b yo zu fij q?
zu The word (zu) is pronounced with a falling tone. (qng shu)

Take a plane. Or literally, Take a plane to go.
Zu fij q. Wmen yo zu fij q. N de jirn zi nr? W de jirn zi Migu.

12:00
(qng shu nmen yo fij q)

Ask me where my family is.
My family is in America
(qng shu) My son is here.

Hes very grown up.
W de rzi zi zhr. T hn d le. Xiohir zi zhr. Ksh w de titai zi Migu. T yo zu fij q. T yo zu fij q Xinggng. N ji l yu j g rn?
(xinzi qng shu) The children are here. (qng shu) But my wife is in America. (sh sh shu) She is going to take a plane.
She is going to take a plane to Hong Kong.
Ask me how many people there are in my family.
(qng shu)
There are three people in our family. We have two younger sons. One older daughter.
Wmen ji l yu sn g rn. Wmen yu ling g xio rzi. Y g d nr.

15:00
(qng shu) Big or older.

Little or younger.
d xio Gu le. N hu shu ptnghu ma? N hu b hu shu ptnghu? W hu shu ydinr. W mngbai n shu shnme.
22-4
(qng shu) Enough or its enough.

Ask me if I can speak Mandarin.
(qng shu) I can speak a little.

Say that you understand what she is saying.
(qng shu) Three people. (qng shu) In my family. (xinzi sh sh shu)

There are five people in our family.
Sn g rn. W ji l. Wmen ji l yu w g rn. Xshujin zi nr? Dng yhur. N xing q Xinggng ma? N xing b xing q Xinggng?
18:00
(qngwn) Where is the bathroom?

Wait one moment.
Ask me if I would like to go to Hong Kong.
(Xinzi qng shu)
Yes. Were going to take a plane.
Xing. Wmen yo zu fij q. Wmen xing. Wmen xing zu fij q Xinggng.
(qng shu) We would like. (sh sh shu)

We would like to take a plane to Hong Kong. Where is the airport? (qng gn zh shu)
Fijchng zi nr? 5. fijchng 6. chng (qng shu) Airport or literally, plane field. Fijchng.
Field has a falling/rising tone.

(wn) Where is the airport?
Fijchng zi nr? Wmen xing zu fij q. Wmen xing zu fij q Xinggng. N ji l yu j g rn?
21:00
(qng shu) We would like to take a plane

We would like to take a plane to Hong Kong.
Ask me how many people are in my family.
(qng shu)There are five people in my family.
Wmen ji l yu w g rn.
(sh sh shu) Were going to go to the airport. Wmen yo q fijchng.

Were going to take a plane to Hong Kong.
Ask How much does it cost? Remember you literally ask How much money?
Wmen yo zu fij q Xinggng. Dusho qin? Dusho qin? ling qin kui Rnmnb
22-5
(zi wn yc)
The answer is Two thousand Renminbi.
(qng gn zh shu)
7. qin (qng shu) Thousand. (zi wn yc) How much money?
Qin. Dusho qin?
The difference between the words for money and thousand is that thousand is pronounced with a high level tone and the word money with a rising tone.
(zi shu yc) Two thousand Renminbi. (xinzi qng shu) Its too much. (qng shu) Its enough. (qngwn) Is it enough? Ling qin kui Rnmnb. Ti du le. Gu le. Gu ma? Gu b gu?
24:00
Air travel is measured by the time a trip will take. Heres how to say hour in Mandarin
(qng gn zh shu) xiosh 8. xiosh
The tones are falling/rising and falling.

(zi shu yc) hour
How many hours? (qng gn zh shu)
xiosh J g xiosh? J g xiosh? Sn g xiosh. W xing zu fij q Xinggng. W yu s sh kui Rnmnb. s sh w kui B gu. Ling qin kui Rnmnb. Wmen yu hn du qin. Wmen qin gu le.
27:00
(zi wn yc) How many hours? (sh sh shu) Three hours. (qng shu)
I would like to take a plane to Hong Kong. I have 40 Renminbi.
(qng shu) 45 units (sh sh shu) It is not enough. (qng shu) Two thousand Renminbi. (qng shu) We have a lot of money. (sh sh shu) We have enough money.
Remember the ending.
(xinzi qng shu nmen yo q Xinggng)

1
This is an error. (hour/xiosh) is pronounced with a falling/rising (3rd tone) and rising tone (2nd tone) 22-6
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Now please say that youre going to go to Hong Kong. Did you say we?
Wmen yo q Xinggng.
(qng shu) My wife is in Hong Kong
W de titai zi Xinggng. Xiohir zi gn w yq. N ji l yu j g rn? Wmen ji l yu s g rn. Wmen xing zu fij q Xinggng. Yo j g xiosh?
(qng shu) The children are with me. (qngwn)

(qng shu) (qng shu)
There are four people in my family. We would like to take a plane to Hong Kong.
You want to ask How many hours is it?
(qng gn zh shu)
In Mandarin, you ask literally, Its going to how many hours meaning, Its going to be. Ask how many hours it is. Yo j g xiosh?
(hu d)
Answer.
Yo sn g xiosh.
30:00
(hu d) Its going to be three hours.

22-7

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. adult hundred far flight which walk/go straight
Pinyin
drn bi yun bnj n zu y zh wng qin
Simplified
Traditional
II. Transcript
(qng tng zh dun duhu) Nrn: Nmen ji l yu j g rn?

Woman: How may people are there in your family? Nnrn: Wmen yu ling g drn. Ling
g xiohir.
Man: We have two adults, two young children. Nrn: Nmen yu ling g rzi ma? Woman: Do you have two sons? Nnrn: Miyu. Wmen yu y g rzi. Y
g nr.
Man: No. We have one son one daughter.
In this conversation you heard two older people meaning two adults.
Ling g drn. 1. drn (zi tng yc) (the conversation above is repeated)
(qng hu d zh g wnt) Please answer this question. (Ptnghu) In Mandarin airplane. (znme shu?)
How do you say?
fij
23-1
(znme shu?) (Ptnghu airplane znme shu?)
(Ptnghu airport znme shu?) (xinzi qng shu)

Were going to go to the airport. Were going to take a plane.
Did you say take a plane to go?
fijchng Wmen yo q fijchng. Wmen yo zu fij q.
(sh sh shu)
We would like to take a plane to Hong Kong.

Ask how much it costs.
Wmen xing zu fij q Xinggng. Dusho qin? qin

03:00
(Ptnghu thousand znme shu?) (xinzi qng shu) Two thousand Renminbi. (qng shu) family
Ask me how many people are in my family.
Ling qin kui Renminbi. jirn N ji l yu j g rn? Wmen ji l yu w g rn. J g rn? Nmen ji l yu j g rn?
(qng shu)
There are five people in our family.
(qngwn) How many people? (wn) How many people are there in your
family? Use the plural.
(sh sh shu) (qng shu)
Two older people meaning two adults. Three children or literally, three young children.
Ling g drn. Sn g xiohir. Wmen yu ling g xio nr. Wmen yu y g d rzi.

06:00
(sh sh shu) We have two young daughters. (xinzi qng shu) We have one older son. (xinzi qng shu)
The son is very grown up.
rzi hn d le. Xiohir zi nr? Tmen zi nr? Nr zi Migu. rzi gn w zi yq.

23-2
(qngwn) Where are the children? (xinzi qngwn) Where are they? (qng shu) The daughters are in America. (xinzi qng shu) The son is with me.
(qng shu)
There are a lot of people our family.

Ask where the bathroom is. Answer Over there.
Wmen ji l yu hn du rn. Xshujin zi nr? Zi nr W de titai zi Xinggng.
(xinzi sh sh shu)
My wife is in Hong Kong.
(qng shu n yo q Xinggng) W yo q Xinggng.

I am going to go to Hong Kong.
(xinzi qng shu) Im going to take a plane. W yo zu fij q. (qngwn) Really? (xinzi qngwn)
Are you going to take a plane to Hong Kong?
Zhn de?
09:00
N yo zu fij q Xinggng ma? N yo b yo zu fij q Xinggng? Yo. W yu ling qin kui Rnmnb. Gu ma? Gu b gu B gu. ling qin sn bi kui Rnmnb bi ling qin s bi W jirn gn w zi yq. N de jirn zi nr? Dng yhur. N yo q nr?
12:00
(hu d) Answer Yes.

I have two thousand Renminbi.
Ask if its enough.
(xinzi qng shu) Its not enough.

2300 Renminbi. (qng gn zh shu)
2.
bi
Using a falling/rising tone say hundred.
(sh sh shu)2400 (Ptnghu My family is with me. znme shu?) (qngwn) Where is your family?
Wait one moment. (znme shu?)
Ask me where Im going to go.
(sh sh shu) I have 2400 Renminbi.

Im going to go to Hong Kong. (znme shu?)
W yu ling qin s bi kui Rnmnb. W yo q Xinggng.
23-3
(sh sh shu)
Tomorrow, Im going to go to Hong Kong.
Mngtin w yo q Xinggng. Yo j g xiosh?
Do you remember how to ask how long a trip will take?
(qngwn) Its going to be how many hours?

Its very far. (qng gn zh shu)
3.
yun
Hn yun. Yun. Xinggng b sh hn yun. li sh li sh b
The word meaning far or its far is pronounced with a falling/rising tone.
(qng shu) Its far. (xinzi sh sh shu)
60 (znme shu?) 68 Hong Kong is not very far.
(qngwn) Is Hong Kong very far? (sh sh wn) Is it very expensive?

Whats the Chinese number 7?
Xinggng hn yun ma? Xinggng sh b sh hn yun?

15:00
Hn gu ma? Sh b sh hn gu? q q sh q sh sh q q sh r q sh w q bi ling qin q bi li sh s q sh s B sh hn yun. Ti yun le.

18:00
(sh sh shu)70
The tones are high level and rising.

(zi shu yc) 70 (xinzi qng shu) 17 (sh sh shu) 72 (qng shu) 75 (xinzi sh sh shu) 700 (qng shu) 2700
64
(qng shu) 74
It isnt very far. (znme shu?)
(xinzi sh sh shu) Its too far. (qng shu) I would like to take a plane.
W xing zu fij q.
23-4
Which flight? (qng tng)

Heres how to say flight. (qng gn zh shu)
N g bnj? bnj n N g bnj?
4.
bnj
Thats two high level tones.
(qng shu) flight 5. (zi shu yc)
Now the word which. (qng gn zh shu)
Thats pronounced with a falling/rising tone.

Which flight? (qng gn zh shu)
(g) is the measure word used with flight. Its pronounced with a falling tone.
(sh sh wn) Which flight? N g bnj?
(sh sh wn) Which flight goes to Hong Kong? N g bnj q Xinggng? (zi wn yc)
Which flight goes to Hong Kong?
N g bnj q Xinggng? Xinggng hn yun ma? Xinggng sh b sh hn yun?

21:00
(sh sh wn)Is Hong Kong very far? (xinzi qng shu)
Hong Kong? It isnt very far.
Xinggng? B sh hn yun. Yo j g xiosh? Sn g xiosh. Fijchng zi nr? zu (qng gn zh shu) Y zh wng qin.
24:00
(wn) Its going to be how many hours? (qng hu d) Please answer.

Three hours.
(wn) Where is the airport? 6. (zi shu yc)

Heres how to say straight ahead.
Go straight ahead. First the word go. (qng gn zh shu)
zu
This word is pronounced with a falling/rising tone.
7.
y zh wng qin
The tones are high level, rising, falling/rising and rising.

(qng shu) Straight ahead. (sh sh shu)
Go straight ahead. Literally, straight ahead, go.
Y zh wng qin zu.
23-5
I would like to go to Hong Kong?

Use (q) to say go to.
W xing q Xinggng. Y zh wng qin zu. Dng yhur. N g bnj q Xinggng?
(xinzi qng shu) Go straight ahead. (qng shu) Wait one moment. (qngwn) Which flight goes to Hong Kong?
Use (zu) to describe an ongoing motion. Its like saying going.
Now listen and repeat. This flight. Zh g bnj The word this is pronounced with a falling tone. Say This flight. Zh g bnj
(sh sh shu) This flight goes to Hong Kong. (qngwn) Which flight? (qng hu d)
Please answer
Zh g bnj q Xinggng. N g bnj? Zh g bnj

27:00
(qng hu d) This flight. (zi shu yc) This flight goes to Hong Kong (wn) Really? (qng shu) Yes. Go straight ahead. (sh sh wn) Is it very expensive? (qng hu d) Its not very expensive. (xinzi qng shu) It isnt very far. (Ptnghu Wait one moment znme shu?) (xinzi qngwn) (sh sh wn)
Which flight goes to Hong Kong? Does this flight go to Hong Kong?
Zh g bnj q Xinggng. Zhn de? Sh. Y zh wng qin zu. Hn gu ma? Sh b sh hn gu? B sh hn gu. B sh hn yun. Dng yhur. N g bnj q Xinggng? Zh g bnj q Xinggng ma? Sh. Y zh wng qin zu.
30:00
(qng hu d) Yes. Go straight ahead.

23-6

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Hong Kong Dollars Kings Road Maxines Restaurant right side measure word for road should left side then Mandarin
Pinyin
gngb Yngwng Do Mixn fndin yubian tio ynggi zubian rnhu guy
Simplified
Traditional
II. Transcript
(qng tng zh dun duhu) Nnrn: Zu fij q Xinggng hn gu ma?

Man: Is taking a plane to Hong Kong very expensive? Nrn: Hn gu. Nmen xing q Xinggng
ma?
Woman: Very expensive. You would like to go to Hong Kong? Nnrn: Xing. Wmen yo q Xinggng.
Hn yun ma?
Man: Yes. We want to go to Hong Kong. Is it far? Nrn: B sh hn yun. Yo sn g xiosh. Woman: Not very far. About 3 hours.
(qng shu n sh Migu rn)

Please say you are American. Now say that you are going to go to the airport. Say that you are going to go to Hong Kong. How do you say With my family. Now ask how many people there are in my family.
W sh Migu rn. W yo q fij chng. W yo q Xinggng. Gn w de jirn. N ji l yu j g rn?

24-1
(qng shu)
There are five people in my family.
W ji l yu w g rn. Zi Zhnggu, zu fij hn gu ma? Zi Zhnggu, zu fij sh b sh hn gu? q sh

03:00
(sh sh wn)
70
In China, is taking the plane very expensive?
(xinzi sh sh shu) 700 (qng shu) 750 Renminbi (qng shu) 2000 American Dollars (xinzi qng shu) 2400 (qngwn) Is Hong Kong very far?
Do you remember how to ask
q bi q bi w sh kui Rnmnb ling qin kui mijn ling qin s bi Xinggng hn yun ma? Xinggng sh b sh hn yun? Yo j g xio sh? Yo sh s g xio sh. N g bnj q Xinggng? Zh g bnj. Zh g bnj q Xinggng.
06:00
Its going to be how many hours?
(hu d)Its going to be 14 hours. (qngwn) Which flight goes to Hong Kong? (qng hu d)This flight. (qng shu) This flight goes to Hong Kong. (Ptnghu far znme shu?) (zi shu yc)Go straight ahead. (xinzi qng shu)
To take a plane is very expensive.
yun Y zh wng qin zu. Zu fij hn gu N yu dusho qin? li sh s kui Rnmnb q sh q sh w kui Rnmnb
(qngwn)How much money do you have? (hu d)64 Renminbi

70 75 Renminbi
This is the currency in use in the Mainland. In Hong Kong however, another currency can also be used. Heres how to say Hong Kong dollars. (qng gn zh shu)
1.
gngb
gngb
24-2
Thats a falling/rising tone followed by a falling tone.

(zi shu yc)
(sh sh shu)I have 70 Hong Kong dollars. (qngwn) How much money? (sh sh shu) Thank you. I have enough.
W yu q sh kui gngb. Dusho qin? Xixie n. W gu le.
Imagine that youve arrived in Hong Kong and that youre looking for directions. Heres how to 09:00 say Kings Road. (qng gn zh shu)
2.
Yngwng Do
Yngwng Do.
The tones are high level, rising and falling.

(qng shu) Kings Road. (sh sh wn)
Please tell me, where is Kings Road Go straight ahead. (znme shu?)
Qngwn, Yngwng Do zi nr? y zh wng qin zu zu Mixn fndin zi nr? Mixn fndin. Mixn fndin zi nr? Zu Yngwng Do.
12:00
(qng shu) go
Where is Maxines restaurant?
(qng gn zh shu) 3. Mixn fndin
Thats a falling/rising tone, a high level tone and two falling tones.
Say the restaurants name again.
(qngwn) Where is Maxines restaurant? (sh sh shu)

Take Kings Road or literally, go Kings Road.
You want to say take the road to the right. To the right. (qng gn zh shu)
4.
yubian
1
yubian Yubian n tio l. N tio l.
The tones are high falling and high level.

(zi shu yc) (qng gn zh shu)The road to the right. 5. tio (sh sh shu) The road
Using falling/rising and falling tones. (tio) is a measure word used with road.
(sh sh shu)The road to the right.

Literally, To the right, the road.
Yubian n tio l. Yngwng Do.
(xinzi qng shu)Kings Road.

1
In (right/yubian), the second syllable has a neutral tone. 24-3
Both (do) and (l) mean road. Say together Kings Road, the road to the right. Do you remember how to ask Which flight?
Yngwng Do, Yubian n tio l. N g bnj? N tio l? Yubian n tio l.

15:00
(sh sh wn) Which road? Remember to use

the measure word for road.
(xinzi qng shu)The road to the right.
In that, the (n) was pronounced with a falling tone.

Remember that in Mandarin, a change in tone can change the meaning of a word. Say together Which road?
The road to the right.
N tio l? Yubian n tio l. Zu Yngwng Do. B sh y zh wng qin zu. N ynggi zu yubian n tio l. ynggi
(xinzi qng shu) (qng shu) Its not straight ahead.

You should take the road to the right.
(qng gn zh shu) 6. ynggi (qng shu)
Should using two high level tones.

You should take the road to the right.
Now try to ask I should take which road?
N ynggi zu yubian n tio l. W ynggi zu n tio l? Yubian n tio l. Hish y zh wng qin zu?
18:00
The road to the right.
(qngwn) Or go straight ahead?

Which is Kings Road? (qng gn zh shu)
You use the measure word to imply which road.
N tio sh Yngwng Do? N tio sh Yngwng Do? y zh wng qin zu. Dng yhur. N ynggi zu zubian n tio l.
(zi wn yc) Which is Kings Road?

Go straight ahead. Wait one moment. You should take the road to the left.
(qng gn zh shu) 7. zubian
24-4
To the left (zubian) is pronounced with falling/rising and high level tones.2
(zi shu yc) (qng shu) To the right. (zi wn yc) I should take which road? (sh sh wn) The road to the left? (qng hu d)
zubian yubian W ynggi zu n tio l? Zubian n tio l ma? Sh b sh zubian n tio l? B sh. N ynggi y zh wng qin zu. B sh zubian n tio l.
21:00
No. You should go straight ahead.
(qng shu) Its not the road to the left. (qng shu) Take the road to the right.
Take the road to the left. Then go straight ahead. (qng gn zh shu)
Zu yubian n tio l. Zu zubian n tio l. Rnhu y zh wng qin zu. rnhu Rnhu ne? Rnhu zu yubian n tio l. N tio sh Yngwng Do. n N tio sh Yngwng Do. N tio sh Yngwng Do? B sh hn yun. N ynggi zu n tio l.
24:00
8. rnhu (qng shu)
Then the tones are rising and falling.

(sh sh wn) What about then? (zi shu yc)
Then take the road to the right. That is Kings road. (qng tng)
What word means both the and that?
(qng shu) That is Kings Road.

Remember the measure word
(zi wn yc) Which is Kings Road?

It isnt very far. (znme shu?) You should take that road. Take the road to the right. Then take the road to the left. Wait one moment. (znme shu?)
Zu yubian n tio l. Rnhu zu zubian n tio l. Dng yhur.
As in (right/yubian), the second syllable in (left/zubian) has a neutral tone. 24-5
I dont understand.
The woman say You speak Mandarin very well.
W b mngbai. N guy shu de hn ho.
(qng tng) 9.
Mandarin (qng gn zh shu)
guy
guy
The tones are rising and falling/rising.

(qng shu) Mandarin
What other name do you know for the Mandarin Language? (ptnghu) or Common
Language is used on the Mainland, while (guy) is more frequently used in Hong Kong.3
Using (guy), tell me that I speak Mandarin very well.
N guy shu de hn ho. W hu shu ydinr guy. N shu de ti kui le. N shu de ti kui le.
27:00
(qng shu) I can speak a little Mandarin.

Try to say You speak too quickly.
(qng zi shu yc) Please say it again. (qng zi shu yc) (sh sh shu) Please say it again. (zi shu yc) Which is Kings Road?
Take the road to the right. Then go straight ahead. The restaurant isnt very far.
(qng zi shu yc) N tio sh Yngwng Do? Zu yubian n tio l. Rnhu y zh wng qin zu. Fndin b sh hn yun. N ynggi zu zh tio l. W guy shu de b ho. W ynggi zu zubian n tio l ma? Hish yubian n tio l ma? W zhn de b zhdao.
30:00
(qng shu) You should take this road. (qng shu) I dont speak Mandarin very well. (sh sh wn)
Should I take the road to the left?
(sh sh wn)Or the road to the right? (qng shu) I really dont know.
3
Also used in Taiwan. 24-6

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. why? because store closed door late open
Pinyin
wi shnme ynwi shngdin gun mn wn ki
Simplified
Traditional
II. Transcript
Qng tng zh dun guy duhu. Nnrn: Qngwn, zh tio l q Mixn fndin ma?
Man: May I ask, does this road go to Maxines Restaurant? Nrn: B sh. Woman: No. Nnrn: Nme, n tio l q Mixn
fndin?
Man: In that, case which road goes to Maxines Restaurant? Nrn: N ynggi zu n tio l. B sh hn
yun.
Woman: You should take that road. Its not very far.
(qngwn) Is Maxines Restaurant very far? (qng shu) You should take this road. (Guy) In Mandarin. (Guy Which road? Znme wn?) (xinzi qng shu) The road to the right.
Ask if you should take the road to the right.
Mixn fndin hn yun ma? Mixn fndin sh b sh hn yun? N ynggi zu zh tio l. N tio l? Yubian n tio l. W ynggi zu yubian n tio l ma? Dng yhur.
25-1
(Guy Wait a moment. Znme shu?)
Ask if you should take the road to the left.
W ynggi zu zubian n tio l ma?

03:00
No. The road is over there.
B sh. N tio l zi nr. N ynggi zu n tio l. N tio l? N tio l? N tio l. Zu Yngwng Do. Rnhu. Rnhu y zh wng qin zu. Hn yun ma? Sh b sh hn yun? Hn gu ma? Sh b sh hn gu? Gngb. q sh kui gngb b sh kui gngb
06:00
(sh sh shu) You should take that road. (zi wn yc) Which road?
Which road? That road.
(xinzi qng shu) Take Kings Road.

Then. Then go straight ahead.
Ask if its very far.
Ask if its very expensive.
(Guy Hong Kong Dollars. Znme shu?)

70 Hong Kong Dollars.
(sh sh shu) 80 Hong Kong Dollars. (qng shu) You should take this road. (sh sh shu)
Maxines restaurant is not very far.
And now ask how much money I have.
N ynggi zu zh tio l. Mixn fndin b sh hn yun. N yu dusho qin? W yu b sh kui gngb. W ky. W ky mi ydinr dngxi ma? W k b ky mi ydinr dngxi? W ky zi zhr mi ydinr dngxi ma? W k b ky zi zhr mi ydinr dngxi? N b ky. N b ky mi dngxi.
25-2
(qng shu) I have 80 Hong Kong Dollars. (Guy I can. Znme shu?) (qngwn) Can I buy something?
Can I buy something here?
Remember the word order.
(qng shu) You cant. (sh sh shu) You cant buy anything.
Why? (qng gn zh shu)
Wi shnme?
09:00
1.
Why? Because.
wi shnme
Thats pronounced with a falling tone followed by rising and falling tones.
Wi shnme? (qng gn zh shu) Ynwi Wi shnme? Wi shnme? Ynwi.
2. ynwi The tones are high level and falling. (qng shu) Because. (qngwn) Why? (qng shu) Why? Because.
Pay attention to the tones.
(qng shu) I have 80 Hong Kong Dollars. (zi shu yc) Because.
The stores are closed. (qng gn zh shu)
W yu b sh kui gngb. Ynwi. Shngdin gun mn le. Shngdin. Shngdin qun mn le.
3.
shngdin
The tones are high level and falling.

(qng shu) Stores.
The stores are closed. (qng tng)
Youre saying something like the stores doors have been closed.
(qng gn zh shu) closed 4. gun (qng shu) closed (qng gn zh shu) doors 5. mn
gun mn Gun mn le. Gun mn le.
12:00
This is pronounced with a high level tone.
Notice the rising tone.

doors The doors have been closed.
The (le) ending with the falling tone is what means have been.
The doors have been closed.

1
The third syllable of (why/wi shnme) is pronounced with a neutral tone. 25-3
(sh sh shu)The stores have closed.

And do you remember how to say Enough or
Shngdin gun mn le. Gu le.
Thats enough.
With the (le) ending youre literally saying has been enough.
(zi shu yc)The store are closed. (qngwn) Why?

The store are closed. Because its too late. (qng gn zh shu)
Shngdin gun mn le. Wi shnme? Shngdin gun mn le. Ynwi ti wn le. wn Ti wn le. b sh Shngdin gun mn le.
15:00
6. wn (guy) late (znme shu?)
Late is pronounced with a falling/rising tone.

Tell me that Its too late.
80
Say that The stores are closed.
(xinzi qng gn zh shu) open 7. ki (qng shu) open (sh sh shu)open doors
Try to ask Are the stores open? Remember to ask Have been open? You can ask this in a different way.
ki ki mn Shngdin ki mn le ma?
This word is pronounced with a high level tone.
(qng gn zh shu) (zi wn yc) Are the stores open?

Used both forms. Try to answer no
Shngdin yu miyu ki mn?
This is the positive/negative structure used for this question.
Shngdin ki mn le ma? Shngdin yu miyu ki mn? Miyu. Shngdin miyu ki mn. Shngdin gun mn le.
18:00
The stores have been closed. (znme shu?)

Ask again if the stores are open now.
Xinzi shngdin ki mn le? Xinzi shngdin yu miyu ki mn?
25-4
(zi shu yc)

Say again.
Shngdin gun mn le. Ynwi ti wn le. Dng yhur. Shngdin ki mn le. W b mngbai n shu shnme. (qng zi shu yc) Shngdin ki mn le. Shngdin gun mn le. Xinzi shngdin gun mn le. Ti wn le. Xinzi j din zhng? Xinzi b din zhng.
21:00
(zi shu yc)
The stores are closed. Because its too late.
(qng shu) Wait one moment.

I dont understand what you are saying.
(sh sh shu) Please say it again. (xinzi qng shu) The stores are open.
And now tell me that The stores are closed. The tones are the same. Tell me Now the stores are closed. Say Its too late.
(xinzi qngwn) What time is it? (hu d) Now its 8 oclock. (qngwn) Now are the stores open? (qng shu) The stores are open.
How would you tell me that
Xinzi shngdin ki mn le ma? Xinzi shngdin yu miyu ki mn? Shngdin ki mn le. Xinzi shngdin gun mn le. Xinzi shngdin ki mn le ma? Xinzi shngdin yu miyu ki mn? Xinzi shngdin ki mn le. Shngdin miyu ki mn. Xinzi shngdin gun mn le. Wi shnme? Ynwi ti wn le. Xinzi ji din zhng.
25-5
Now the stores are closed.
(qngwn) Now are the stores open? (qng shu) Now the stores are open
No, the stores are not open.
How do you think youll tell him
(xinzi qng shu) (sh sh wn) Why?

Because its too late. Now its 9 oclock.
Now the stores are closed.
The stores are closed.

Ask if its very far.
Shngdin gun mn le.

24:00
Hn yun ma? Sh b sh hn yun? Y zh wng qin zu. Hn gu ma? Sh b sh hn gu? b sh kui gngb q sh r li sh s kui gngb N b ky mi dngxi. Ynwi shngdin gun mn le.
(qng shu) Go straight ahead.

Now ask if its very expensive.
(qng shu) 80 Hong Kong Dollars

72
(qng shu) 64 Hong Kong Dollars (qng shu) You cant but anything. (qng shu) Because the stores are closed.
(xinzi sh sh shu) Tomorrow the stores are open. Mngtin shngdin ki mn. You dont need (le) with tomorrow. (zi shu yc)Tomorrow the stores are open. Mngtin shngdin ki mn.
Now listen to this conversation. (xinzi qng tng zh dun duhu) Nnrn: W ky zi Xinggng mi ydinr
dngxi ma?
Man: Can I buy something in Hong Kong? Nrn: B ky. Woman: You cant. Nnrn: Wi shnme? Man: Why? Nrn: Ynwi shngdin gun mn le. Woman: Because the stores are closed. Nnrn: Wi shnme? Man: Why? Nrn: Ynwi xinzi ti wn le. Woman: Because now its too late. Nnrn: B sh hn wn. Man: Its not very late. Nrn: Ti wn le. Jntin b ky mi

27:00
dngxi.
25-6
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Woman: Its too late. Today you cant buy anything.
What time is it? (znme wn?)
Xinzi j din zhng? Xinzi sh din zhng. Shngdin gun mn le. Wi shnme? Ynwi ti wn le. N xing zu shnme? W xing mi ydinr dngxi. Mngtin, shngdin ki mn. Ksh xinzi shngdin ki mn le. W xing mi ydinr dngxi. Gi w de titai.
30:00
(hu d)Its 10 oclock. (xinzi qng shu) The stores are closed.
Why?
(hu d) Because its too late.

Ask him what he would like to do?
I would like to buy something. Tomorrow, the stores are open.
(sh sh shu) But now the stores are closed.

I would like to buy something.
(sh sh shu) For my wife. W xing mi ydinr dngxi gi w de titai.

I would like to buy something for my wife. This is the end of unit 25.
25-7

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. friend see, to work stay, to How many days? perhaps think, to
Pinyin
pngyu kn gngzu di J tin? knng xing
Simplified
Traditional
II. Transcript
(qng tng zh dun duhu.) (qng tng) Nnrn: N ho. N jntin yo q Bijng ma?
Man: Hello. Are you going to Beijing today? Nrn: Yo. W jntin yo q Bijng. Woman: Yes. Today Im going to Beijing. Nnrn: N q nr zu shnme? Man: What are you going to do there? Nrn: W yo kn j g pngyu. Woman: Im going to see some friends. In this conversation you heard: Or Im going to see some friends.
W yo kn kn j g pngyu.
1. pngyu (zi tng yc) (the conversation above is repeated) (xinzi qng hu d zh g wnt) Now please answer these questions Nrn: N de titai ho ma?
Tell her that your wife is very well.
W de titai hn ho. N ne? B sh hn ho. Wi shnme?

26-1
(qngwn) What about you?

Not very well.
(qngwn) Why?
Because Id like to buy something. But I cant buy anything. Because the stores are closed.
Ynwi w xing mi ydinr dngxi. Ksh w b ky mi dngxi. Ynwi shngdin gun mn le. Ti wn le.
(guy) Its too late.
With the ending, youre saying something like It has gotten to be too late. Now ask if the store is open. Shngdin ki mn le ma?
Shngdin yu miyu ki mn?

Do you remember how to answer No?
Miyu ki mn.
03:00
The stores are closed.
Shngdin gun mn le. Xinzi ti wn le. B sh hn wn. Shngdin ki mn le. Mngtin. Mngtin shngdin ki mn. Shngdin gun mn le. Mngtin shngdin ki mn. Mngtin w b ky mi shnme dngxi. Wi shnme? Ynwi w yo q Bijng W yo zu fij q.
06:00
(qng shu) Now its too late.

Tell her that Its not too late.
The store is open. (znme shu?)
(xinzi qng shu) Tomorrow.

Tomorrow the stores are open.
Tell me that the stores are closed.
(zi shu yc) Tomorrow the stores are open.

Tomorrow I cant buy anything.
(znme shu?)
Why?
(qng shu)
Because Im going to go to Beijing.

Im going to take a plane to go?
(sh sh shu)
Tomorrow Im going to take a plane to Beijing.
Mngtin w yo zu fij q Bijng. fij chng W xing q fij chng. N yu dusho gngb? W gu le.
(Guy airport znme shu?) (qng shu) Id like to go to the airport.

Ask how many Hong Kong dollars she has.
(qng shu) I have enough.
26-2
Ask where the airport is. Do you remember how to say Take Kings Road?
Fij chng zi nr? Zu Yngwng Do. ynggi W ynggi zu n tio lu? Zu yubian n tio l.
09:00
(Guy should znme shu?) (sh sh wn) I should take which road? (xinzi qng shu)
Take the road to the right.
Rnhu y zh wng qin zu.

Then go straight ahead.
Ask him to say it again.
Zi shu yc. Zu zubian n tio l. Zu yubian n tio l. Rnhu y zh wng qin zu. Xixie n. Bkqi. N yo q Bijng ma? N yo b yo q Bijng? Zhn de? N yo zi nr zu shnme? pngyu
(qng shu) Take the road to the left. (qng shu) Take the road to the right.
Then go straight ahead.
Thank him. He replies Dont mention it.
(sh sh shu) Are you going to go to Beijing?

Really?
(sh sh wn) What are you going to do there? (qng gn zh shu) (zi shu yc)
Im going to see some friends. Heres the Mandarin word that means friend or friends.
The tones are rising and falling/rising.
pngyu
12:00
Do you remember how to say Some children?
J g xiohir. J g pngyu. W yo kn j g pngyu.
(sh sh shu) Some friends.

Im going to see some friends.
(qng gn zh shu) 2. kn
Whats the Mandarin word to see?
26-3
its a falling tone.

(qng shu) Im going to see.
Im going to see some friends.
Try to ask Are they in Hong Kong?
W yo kn. W yo kn j g pngyu. Tmen zi Xinggng ma? Tmen sh b sh zi Xinggng? B sh. Tmen b sh zi Xinggng. Tmen zh zi Bijng. W yu j g pngyu zi Bijng. W yo zi nr gngzu.
15:00
No. They are not in Hong Kong.
(qng shu) They live in Beijing. (xinzi qng shu)

I have some friends in Beijing. Im going to go there to work.
3. (qng shu)
gngzu
Work, using high level and falling tones.

(qng shu) Im going to go there to work.
Not very much. Im going to see some friends.
Gngzu W yo zi nr gngzu. B sh hn du. W yo kn j g pngyu. Rnhu w yo gngzu. jntin mngtin ling tin sn tin W yo zi nr di sn tin. di W yo zi nr di sn tin.
(sh sh shu) Then Im going to work.

Do you remember how to say today? and how do you say tomorrow or tomorrows
day?
(sh sh shu) two days. You dont need a

measure word with days.
(qng shu) three days

Im going to stay there three days.
(qng gn zh shu) 4. di (sh sh shu) (qng shu)
Stay using a high level tone.

Im going to stay there three days.
26-4
18:00
Do you remember how to say Im going to go there to work?
W yo q nr gng zu. W yo zi nr di ling tin. W yo kn j g pngyu. N yo di. J tin. W yo di j tin. maybe Knng sn tin.
21:00
(xinzi qng shu)
Im going to stay there two days. Im going to see some friends. You are going to stay. How many days? (qng gn zh shu)
5.
j tin?
The tones are falling/rising and high level.

(qngwn) How many days?
This can also mean a few days.
Im going to stay a few days. Maybe three days. (qng gn zh shu)
6.
knng
The tones are falling/rising and rising.
(qng shu) Maybe three days.
Maybe Im going to see some friends. Be careful of the word order. You literally say I maybe going to see some friends. Try it. W knng yo kn j g pngyu. Im going to stay a few days.
W yo di j tin. N yo q nr gngzu ma? N yo b yo q nr gngzu? Knng yo. W xing w yo gngzu. W xing. W xing.
(qngwn) Are you going to go there to work?

Try to answer Maybe yes.
I think Im going to work. (qng tng)

Heres how to say I think.
(qng gn zh shu) 7. xing
The word think has a falling/rising tone

(zi shu yc) I think.
What other word sounds exactly like this one? Would like has exactly the same pronunciation, although they sound the same, youll learn to tell the difference through context.
(qng shu) I think Im going to work.
W xing w yo gngzu.
26-5
(xinzi sh sh shu)
I think Im not going to work.

Try to ask her if she is going to see Peter.
W xing w b yo gngzu. N yo kn Peter ma? N yo b yo kn Peter ma? Knng.

24:00
(qng shu) Maybe. (qng shu) Maybe Im going to see him.

Literally, I maybe am going to see him.
W knng yo kn t. N yo kn t ma? N yo b yo kn t? W knng yo. W xing w yo kn t. W xing kn t. Rnhu w yo gngzu. W yo q Bijng. Di ling tin. Knng sn tin. W xing. W xing w yo di. J tin.
27:00
(sh sh wn) Are you going to see him?

Maybe I am going to.
(sh sh shu) I think Im going to see him.

And now say I would like to see him.
Then Im going to work. (znme shu?) I am going to go to Beijing. To stay two days. Maybe three days.
(qng shu) I think.

I think Im going to stay. A few days.
Ask her how many Hong Kong dollars she has.
N yu dusho gngb? gi Mfan n, gi w j kui Rnmnb.

N: N xing mi dngxi ma? N: N xing b xing mi dngxi?
(guy give znme shu?)

Try to say Please give me a few Renminbi. Use (kui). Ask her if she would like to buy anything.
Nrn: Xinzi b xing. Woman: Not right now.
(qng shu) Im going to go to Beijing.
W yo q Bijng.
26-6
(sh sh shu)
Im going to stay in Beijing a few days.
W yo zi Bijng di j tin. N yo zi nr zu shnme? W xing w yo zi nr gngzu. Zijin.

30:00
(qngwn) What are you going to do there? (sh sh shu) I think Im going to work there. (qng shu) Goodbye. Nrn: Zijin.
26-7

1. 2. 3. go/leave only alone
Pinyin
zu ji y g rn
Simplified
Traditional
II. Transcript
(qng tng zh dun ptnghu duhu.) Nrn: N ho.

Woman: Hello. Nnrn: N ho. Man: Hello. Nrn: N shnme shhou yo q Bijng?. Woman: When are you going to Beijing? Nnrn: Mngtin wnshang. Man: Tomorrow evening. Nrn: Jntin ne? N jntin yo zu
shnme?
Woman: How about today? What are you going to do today? Nnrn: W jntin yo gngzu. N ne? Man: Im going to work today. How about you? Nrn: W a. W yo kn j g pngyu. Woman: As for me, I am going to see some friends.
(Ptnghu hello znme shu?)

Ask if the stores are open.
N ho. Shngdin ki mn le ma? Shngdin yu miyu ki mn le ma? Ki mn le. Miyu ki mn. Shngdin gun mn le. Wi shnme?
27-1
Yes, the doors have been opened.

And how would you answer No. Now say that the stores are closed. Ask Why?
(hu d) Because now its too late.

Tell her Its not very late. Ask me if Im going to work in Beijing.
Ynwi xinzi ti wn le. B sh hn wn. N yo zi Bijng gngzu ma? N yo b yo zi Bijng gngzu ma? W knng yo gngzu.
03:00
(hu d) Maybe Im going to work. (xinzi qng shu)

I think Im going to work.
Say that youre going to go to Beijing. How does she ask
W xing w yo gngzu. W yo q Bijng. N yo q nr zu shnme? W yo kn j g pngyu. N yo zi Bijng di j tin? J tin. W xing w yo di j tin. J g pngyu. W yo kn j g pngyu. W knng yo kn j g pngyu.
06:00
What youre going to go there to do?

Say that youre going to see some friends. Ask how many days Im going to stay in Beijing. Be careful of the word order.
A few days. (znme shu?)
(qng shu)
I think Im going to stay a few days.

And how do you say A few friends? Tell me that youre going to see some friends.
(qng shu)
Maybe Im going to see a few friends.
(ptnghu 80 znme shu?)

85
b sh b sh w ji sh
(xinzi sh sh shu) 90
The tones are falling/rising and rising.

(sh sh shu) (xinzi sh sh shu) 95
92 99
ji sh ji sh w ji sh r ji sh ji
27-2
(xinzi qng shu) 89

Ask if the stores are open.
b sh ji Shngdin yu miyu ki mn? Miyu ki mn. Shngdin gun mn le. Wi shnme? Ynwi ti wn le. B sh hn wn.
09:00
(hu d)No.
The stores are closed. (znme shu?) Why? Because its too late.
Tell her its not very late.
Are you going to buy something?
(znme wn?)
N yo mi ydinr dngxi ma? B yo. W yo gngzu. W yo kn j g pngyu. W xing kn j g pngyu.
Answer No. Im going to work. Say that Im going to see some friends.
I would like to see some friends.
(znme shu?)
(xinzi qng shu)
I think Im going to see some friends.

Ask the woman again if she is going to buy something. Ask how much money it is.
W xing w yo kn j g pngyu. N yo mi ydinr dngxi ma? Dusho qin? Ji sh kui Renminbi. bi y bi kui mijn N. Y bi kui Rnmnb.
12:00
(hu d) 90 Renminbi (qng shu) hundred (sh sh shu) 100 American Dollars (xinzi qng shu)
Here you are. 100 Renminbi.
(qng shu) 150 American Dollars (xinzi qng shu) 180

Its too much.
y bi w sh kui mijn y bi b sh Ti du le. y bi q sh y bi li sh w

27-3
(qng shu) 170

165
147
Ask how much you owe.
y bi s sh q Dusho qin? y bi kui Renminbi ji sh kui Renminbi Wi shnme? Ynwi. N yo shnme? W b xing h dngxi. Xinzi w yo gngzu.
15:00
(qng shu) 100 Renminbi (qng shu) 90 Renminbi

Why? Because.
Ask me what I want.
I would not like to drink anything.
(znme shu?)
Say Now Im going to work.
(xinzi qng shu)Give me a few Renminbi.

I would like to leave. (qng gn zh shu)
Gi w j kui Rnmnb. W xing zu le.
1.
zu
(zu) with the falling/rising tone can mean both to go and to leave.
(qng shu) To leave. Zu.
With the (le) ending, its like saying to have gone. Say that you would like to leave. W xing zu le.
Are the stores open? (znme wn?)

Do you remember how to answer Yes.
Shngdin ki mn le? Shngdin yu miyu ki mn? Ki mn le. Ki mn le. Shngdin ki mn le. Shngdin gun mn le. Wi shnme? Ynwi ti wn le. W xing zu le.
18:00
(xinsheng qng shu)
Yes. The stores are open.

And now say The stores are closed.
Why? Because its too late.
(qng shu) I would like to leave. (sh sh wn) Would you like to leave or
Would you like to have gone?
N xing zu le ma? N xing b xing zu?

27-4
Notice you drop the (le) with using the positive/negative form. Using this form, ask again
Would you like to leave?
N xing b xing zu?
You also drop the (le) to say that you would not like to leave. Try it. W b xing zu. And now say Tomorrow Im going to leave.
Mngtin w yo zu le. Wmen yo zu le. Gn shi yq? Wmen yo yq zu. Wmen yo yq zu. N xing zu shnme? zu, zu W xing zu le.
21:00
(xinzi qng shu) Were going to leave. (qngwn) With whom? Remember to ask
Along with whom? Were going to leave together. (qng tng)
You dont use (le) to say leave together.
Were going to leave together

Now ask me what I would like to do. Listen and repeat to compare To leave and To do.
(qng shu) I would like to leave. (xinzi sh sh shu)

Id like to leave along with you. Were going to leave together. (znme shu?)
W xing gn n yq zu. Wmen yo yq zu. W b xing zu. Wi shnme? W xing di j tin? W xing zi zhr di j tin. W yu y bi kui mijn. H ji sh kui gngb. W yu hn du qin. W miyu qin. W yo zu le.
27-5
(xinzi qng shu) I would not like to leave.

Why? Would like to stay a few days?
(sh sh shu) I would like to stay here a days. (qng shu)

I have one hundred American dollars. And 90 Hong Kong dollars.
(qng shu) I have a lot of money.

I dont have money. Im going to leave.
Would you like to leave?
N xing zu le ma? N xing b xing zu?

24:00
You want to say But Im alone. Just listen.
2. 3.
ji y g rn
Ksh ji w y g rn. y g rn Ji w y g rn.
Literally, its But only Im one person. one person (qng shu)
The tone in that rises, falls and then rises again in the end.
(zi shu yc)
Im alone or literally, Only Im one person.
(qng gn zh shu) (qng shu) only
Only is pronounced with a falling tone.

ji ji w y g rn Ji w y g rn. yq Ji w y g ren. Ji n y g ren. Ji n y g ren ma? Sh b sh Ji n y g ren? B sh. W h w de xinsheng yq.
27:00
(sh sh shu) Im alone. (xinzi qng shu) together

Im alone.
(sh sh shu) Youre alone.

Try to ask her if she is alone.
(qng shu)
No. I and my husband are together. Im going to leave. (znme shu?)
W yo zu le. Ji w y g ren. Wmen yo yq zu. Ji w y g rn zu.
(qng shu) Im alone.

Were going to leave together. (znme shu?)
You want to say Im leaving alone.
(qng gn zh shu)
Notice that you dont use (le).
(zi shu yc) Im leaving alone. (zu) can mean leave and leaving.
Tell me that youre leaving alone.
Ji w y g rn zu.
Ji w y g rn zu.
27-6
(xinzi qngwn) Why? (qng shu) Because (xinzi qng shu) Wait one moment. (sh sh wn) Are you leaving alone?
Answer Maybe, yes.
Wi shnme? Ynwi Dng yhur. Ji n y g rn zu ma? Sh b sh ji n y g rn zu? Knng, sh. Wmen ky yq zu.
30:00
(qng shu) We can leave together.

27-7

1. 2. 3. 4. meaning time, certain period of time/the time too bad/pity
Pinyin
ysi ji shjin yhn
Simplified
Traditional
II. Transcript
Qng tng zh dun ptnghu duhu. Nnrn: Chn Xioji, n ho.

Man: Hello, Miss Chen. Chn Xioji: N ho. Miss Chen: Hello. Nnrn: N xinzi yo zu shnme? Man: What do you want to do now? Chn Xioji: W xing w yo q Bijng.
W de jirn zi nr. N xing gn w yq q ma?

Miss Chen: I think I want to go to Beijing. My family is there. Would you like to go along with me? Nnrn: N k b ky jntin zu? Man: Can you leave today? Chn Xioji: Ky. Miss Chen: I can.
(Ptnghu together znme shu?)

Ask the woman how much money she has.
yq N yu dusho qin. W yu y bi kui Rnmnb. y bi b sh Mfan n, gi w ji sh kui Rnmnb. W xing zu le. N xing zu le ma? N xing b xing zu?
28-1
I have 100 Renminbi. 180

Ask her to give you 90 Renminbi.
(qng shu) Id like to leave. (sh sh wn) Would you like to leave?
(qng shu) Im going to leave.

Im alone.
W yo zu le. Ji w y g rn.
03:00
Remember, this literally means Only I one person.
(xinzi qngwn) Are you alone?

And how would you ask Are you leaving alone?
Ji n y g rn ma? Sh b sh ji n ynggi rn? Ji n y g rn zu ma? Sh b sh ji n y g rn zu? N yo q nr? W yo q gngzu.
(Wn t n q nr?)
Ask where she is going to go
(sh sh shu) Im going to go to work.
Just as in English, this can refer to the location where the work takes place.
(zi tng yc) Im going to go to work. (xinzi qng shu)

Im going to go to Beijing.
Say that you have a few friends over there.
W yo q gngzu. W yo q Bijng. W yu j g pngyu zi nr. kn W xing kn j g pngyu. W yo zi Bijng di j tin. N yo gngzu ma? N yo b yo gngzu? Knng yo.
06:00
(Ptnghu to see znme shu?) (qng shu n xing kn j g pngyu) (qng shu)
Im going to stay in Beijing for a few days.
(xinzi qng shu) Are you going to work?

Maybe yes. (znme shu?)
(xinzi qng shu) I think Im going to work.

Ask him is hes going to Beijing.
W xing w yo gngzu. N yo q Bijng ma? N yo b yo q Bijng? Ji w y g rn. ji ji sh ji
(qng shu) Im alone.

Did you pronounce that as the speaker did?
(zi shu yc) only
(xinzi qng shu) 99
28-2
(qng shu) Please give me 95 Renminbi.

92
Mfan n, gi w ji sh w kui Rnmnb. ji sh r N. Y bi kui Rnmnb. Xinzi n ky zu le.

09:00
(qng shu) Here you are. 100 Renminbi.

Now you can leave. (znme shu?)
Nrn: Ti yhn le. What does that mean? (qng gn zh shu)
1.
ysi
Shnme ysi? ysi ysi Shnme ysi? Sh ptnghu. Sh ptnghu ma? Sh b sh ptnghu?
Literally, What meaning?
(sh sh shu) meaning (zi shu yc)
Did you hear the two falling tones?1

(sh sh wn) What does it mean? (hu d) Its Mandarin.
Ask if it is Mandarin.
(sh sh shu) Yes. I think it is Mandarin.

What does it mean?
Sh. W xing sh ptnghu. Shnme ysi? Nmen sh Migu rn ma? Nmen sh b sh Migu rn? Sh. Wmen sh Migu rn. ysi Ti yhn le.
12:00
(qngwn) Are you American?

Use the plural you.
Yes. We are American.
(Ptnghu meaning znme shu?) (Qng shu ti yhn le.)

Ask what it means.
Shnme ysi? Wmen zi zhr. j tin? Wmen zi zhr j tin le.
(qng shu) We are here.

How many days? (znme wn?) We have been here for a few days.
(qng gn zh shu)
The second syllable has a neutral tone. 28-3
What part of that means Have been? Its the (le) ending.
(qng shu)
We have been here for a few days. Were going to leave. (znme shu?)
Wmen zi zhr j tin le. Wmen yo zu le. Wmen zi zhr j tin le.
(zi shu yc)
We have been here for a few days.

Heres how to ask For how long?
Du ji le? (qng gn zh shu) 2. ji (ji) with a falling/rising tone means a certain period of time or in this case long.
Say this word again. ji
Du ji le? Du ji le?
15:00
With the (le) ending, its like asking It has been how long?
(qngwn) For how long? (qng shu) For a few days. (sh sh shu) For 9 days. (zi wn yc) For how long?
J tin le. Ji tin le. Du ji le?
The word meaning a certain period of time sounds just like the number nine. With practice, youll learn to tell the difference from the context in which these are both used.
(xinzi zi shu yc) For a few days.

J tin le. W xing di j tin. Du ji le? Nmen yo di du ji? Di du ji? Du ji le? Di du ji? Nmen zi zhr. Du ji le? Nmen zi zhr du ji le?
18:00
I would like to stay a few days? For how long or It has been how long?
(sh sh wn) Youre going to stay how long? (zi wn yc) Stay how long?
Say together For how long and
To stay how long?
(qngwn) You are here. Use the plural you.

For how long? You have been here for how long?
(zi wn yc) Youre going to stay how long?
Nmen yo di du ji?
28-4
A few days. What are you going to do?
J tin. Nmen yo zu shnme? kn Knng w yo kn. J g pngyu. W xing kn j g pngyu.
(Ptnghu to see znme shu?) (qng shu) Maybe Im going to see.

A few friends.
Now tell me that you would like to see a few friends.
(xinzi sh sh shu)
I dont think Im going to see them.

Tell me that you would like to see a few friends.
W xing w b yo kn tmen. W xing kn j g pngyu. Ksh w b ky kn tmen. Wi shnme? Ynwi Wmen miyu shjin.
21:00
But I cant see them. Why? Because...
Ask what it means
Shnme ysi? Ysi sh. ysi sh because we dont have the time.
(sh sh shu) It means or literally,

The meaning is.
(zi shu yc) 3.
Heres how to say Time. (qng gn zh shu)
shjin
shjin Wmen miyu shjin. J din zhng? Nmen miyu shjin. ji Nmen zi zhr du ji le?
The tones are rising and high level.

(qng shu) time or the time (sh sh shu) We dont have the time. (xinzi qngwn) What time is it? (qng shu) You dont have the time.
Use the plural. And what word means a certain period of time?
You have been here for how long? Use the plural you.
24:00
(qng shu) For 8 days.
B tin le.
28-5
(sh sh shu) It isnt very long. (qng shu) We would like to stay.
We would like to stay here a few days.
B sh hn ji. Wmen xing di. Wmen xing zi zhr di j tin.
(znme shu?)
(xinzi qng shu)
We have been here for a few days.

Tell me that you have been here for three days.
Wmen zi zhr j tin le. Wmen zi zhr sn tin le. Wmen miyu shjin. Wmen b ky di. Shnme ysi? W b zhdao. Hn du shjin.
27:00
We dont have the time.
(qng shu) We cant stay.

Nrn: Ti yhn le.
(qngwn shnme ysi)

I dont know.
(sh sh shu) A lot of time. (qng shu) We would like to stay a few days.
But we dont have the time.
How does she ask
Wmen xing di j tin. Ksh wmen miyu shjin. Nmen zi zhr du ji le? Wmen zi zhr sn tin le. Ji n y g rn ma? Sh b sh ji n y g rn? W gn w de jirn zi yq. Mngtin wmen yo zu le. Shnme ysi? Ysi sh.
For how long youve been here?

How would you tell her that youve been here for three days? How does she ask if youre alone.
Say that youre with your family together. And now say Tomorrow were going to leave. Nrn: Ti yhn le. Ask what that means.
The meaning is.
Ysi sh thats really too bad. 4. yhn

30:00
28-6

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. morning/good morning week arrive yesterday like/be pleased with
Pinyin
zo xngq dod zutin xhuan
Simplified
Traditional
II. Transcript
(qng tng zh dun duhu.) Nrn: Chn Xinsheng, n ho.

Woman: Hello, Mr. Chen. Chn Xinsheng: Zo. Mr. Chen: Good Morning.
1.
zo
Shnme ysi? Ysi sh good morning. W b mngbai. N b mngbai shnme?
(sh sh wn) What does that mean?

The meaning is good morning.
How would I tell you that I dont understand?
(wn) What dont you understand?

I dont understand what youre saying.
W b mngbai n shu shnme. Wmen zi zhr. Sn tin le. Wmen zi zhr sn tin le. N zi zhr du ji le? W zi zhr ling tin le. W miyu shjin.
29-1
(xinzi qng shu) We are here.

For three days or It has been three days.
Tell me that youve been here for three days. Ask me for how long Ive been here.
(xinzi qng shu)
Ive been here for two days. I dont have the time.
(xinzi qng shu) Were going to stay. (wn) Stay how long?
A few days. A few weeks.
Wmen yo di.
03:00
Di du ji? J tin.
2.
xngq
J g xngq. Shnme ysi? Ysi sh a few weeks. xngq
(qngwn) What does that mean?

Here how to say week or weeks.
(qng gn zh shu)
This is pronounced with two high level tones.

(qng shu) Say week.
A few weeks (qng gn zh shu)
You need the measure word to say this. But now say a few days.
xngq J g xngq. J tin. J g xngq. y g xngq Y g xngq le.

06:00
(zi shu yc) A few weeks. (sh sh shu) one week (xinzi qng shu) One week or
It has been one week.
(qngwn) For how long?

Weve been here for one week. Were going to stay.
Referring to the woman and her husband, ask
Du ju le? Wmen zi zhr y g xngq le. Wmen yo di. Nmen yo di du ju? J g xngq. W yo zu le. Gu yhur. Gu yhur w yo zu le. Ji w y g rn.
29-2
Youre going to stay how long? A few weeks
Say Im going to leave. Use (le) with
going to Later. (znme shu?)
(xinzi sh sh shu)
Im going to leave later. Im alone. (znme shu?)
(sh sh shu) Im leaving alone. (sh sh shu) Im going to stay.

90 days Then Im going to leave.
Ji w y g rn zu. W yo di ji sh tin Rnhu w yo zu le. Nmen zi zhr du ju le?

09:00
(qngwn) You have been here for how long?

Use the plural you.
For a few weeks.
J g xngq le. zutin dod Wmen sh zutin dod.
Supposed you wanted to say We arrived yesterday. (qng gn zh shu) arrive.
3.
dod
(qng gn zh shu) yesterday 4. zutin
The tones are rising and high level.

(qng shu) yesterday (qng shu)
Arrive using two falling tones.1

Now heres how to say We arrived yesterday.
(qng gn zh shu)
Literally, We are yesterday arrived.
(qng shu) We arrived yesterday. (qng gn zh shu)

What did you buy yesterday?
Wmen sh zutin dod. N zutin mi le shnme? N mi le.

12:00
(qng shu) You did buy or you did bought.
In this case its the (le) that turns buy into did buy.
(sh sh wn) What did you buy? (qng shu) I bought something. (sh sh shu) I arrived yesterday.
Now ask her what she bought.
N mi le shnme? W mi le ydinr dngxi. W sh zutin dod. N mi le shnme? W mi le dngxi h.
(xinzi wn t mi le shnme) (sh sh shu)I bought something to drink.

1
In (to arrive/dod) should be pronounced with a falling tone and a rising tone. 29-3
(qng shu) I bought some beer.

Its not expensive.
W mi le ydinr pji. B gu. ji sh w y bi N ch le ma? N ch le ma? W xing ch ydinr dngxi. N xinzi xing ch ma?
15:00
(qng shu) 95 (xinzi qng shu) 100

Heres how to ask if she has eaten.
(qng gn zh shu) (qngwn) Did you eat? (xinzi qng shu)

I would lke to eat something. Would you like to eat now? (Znme wn?)
(zi wn yc) Did you eat?

Try to answer Yes.
N ch le ma? Ch le. W zutin ch le. W sh zutin dod. N ch le ma? W xing xinzi ch ydinr dngxi. W xing ch. W ch le. N xing jntin ch ydinr dngxi. N yo ch shnme? W b zhdao. W miyu shjin. N zutin ch le.
18:00
(sh sh shu) I ate yesterday.

I arrived yesterday?
And do you remember how to say Ask me again if I ate.
(qng shu)
I would like to eat something now. I would like to eat. I ate.
(sh sh shu)
You would like to eat something today.
(sh sh wn) What are you going to eat? (qng shu) I dont know.
How does she tell you that she doesnt have the time?
(qng shu) You ate yesterday. (zi shu yc)

You would like to eat something today.
Ask her what she bought
N xing jntin ch ydinr dngxi. N mi le shnme?

29-4
She answers I bought something to drink. Ask her what she is going to drink.
W mi le ydinr dngxi h. N yo h shnme? W yo h pji. W xhuan pji.
Im going to drink beer.

Heres how to say I like beer.
(qng gn zh shu) 5. xhuan
How do you say like? xhuan Thats pronounced with a falling/rising tone followed by a high level tone.2
(qng shu) I like beer. (qng shu) You like tea. (sh sh wn) Do you like beer? (qng shu) I like.
W xhuan pji. N xhuan ch. N xhuan pji ma? N xhuan b xhuan pji? W xhuan.
(sh sh shu) I like to eat. Because youre referring to eating in general, youll say Eat anything. Try it. W xhuan ch dngxi.
21:00
Now in the same way, say I would like to eat.
W xing ch dngxi. N xhuan ch dngxi ma? N xhuan b xhuan ch dngxi? N xing xinzi ch wfn ma? N xing b xing xinzi ch wfn? N ch le ma? Ch le. W ch le. W jntin ch le. N zutin ch le shnme? N ch le ma? Zutin, w miyu ch dngxi.
(xinzi qngwn) Do you like to eat?

Would you like to have lunch now?
(sh sh wn) Did you eat?

How would she answer Yes. I ate.
(qng shu) I ate today.

Try to ask her what she ate yesterday.
(zi wn yc) Did you eat? (qng gn zh shu)

Yesterday, I didnt eat anything.
You use (miyu) to say that you didnt do something in the past.
In (to like/xhuan), the second syllable is pronounced with a neutral tone. 29-5
24:00
For example, Didnt eat. (qng shu)
I didnt eat.
W miyu ch. W miyu ch dngxi. N ch le ma? N yu miyu ch?
(sh sh shu)I didnt eat anything. (qngwn) Did you eat?
This is the positive/negative structure for use in a yes/no question about something that happened in the past.
(sh sh wn) Did you eat anything?

Ask her again if she ate anything.
N ch le dngxi ma? N yu miyu ch le dngxi? N ch le dngxi ma? N yu miyu ch dngxi. W miyu chi dngxi. Wi shnme? Ji w y g rn.
(zi shu yc) I didnt eat anything.

Why?
(qng shu) Im alone.

Would you like to eat something with me?
(znme wn?)
N xing gn w yq ch ydinr dngxi ma? N xing b xing gn w yq ch ydinr dngxi? Wmen ky yq ch.
Nrn: Ho.
(sh sh shu) We can eat together. (qng shu n zutin ch le)

Please say that you ate yesterday.
W zutin ch le.
27:00
(qngwn) Did you buy anything? (sh sh shu)I didnt buy anything. (zi wn yc) Did you buy anything? (xinzi qng shu) I bought.
I bought something. Now ask her what she bought.
And how would you ask her when she arrived?
N mi le dngxi ma? W miyu mi dngxi. N mi le dngxi ma? N yu miyu mi dngxi? W mi le. W mi le ydinr dngxi. N mi le shnme? N sh shnme shhou dod? Y g xngq.
29-6
(Ptnghu One week znme shu?)
(qng shu) We arrived yesterday.

Weve been here for a few weeks.
W sh zutin dod. Wmen zi zhr j g xngq le. W xhuan Bijng.

30:00
(qng shu) I like Beijing.

29-7

1. 2. 3. in the morning Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) Wangfujing
Pinyin
zoshng Tintn Wngfjng
Simplified
Traditional
II. Transcript
(qng tng zh dun duhu) Nnrn: Nmen zi zhr du ju le?

Man: How long have you been here? Nrn: Wmen zi zhr ling tin le. Woman: We have been here for two days. Nnrn: Nmen yo di du ju? Man: You want to stay how long? Nrn: W b zhdao. Knng y g xngq.
Knng ling g xngq.
Woman: I dont know. Perhaps one week. Perhaps two weeks.
Shnme ysi? ysi Znme shu? Ptnghu znme shu two weeks? Shnme ysi? ysi (znme shu?) (Ptnghu two weeks znme shu?) Wmen sh Migu rn. Wmen zi zhr.
30-1
(qngwn) What does that mean? (Ptnghu meaning znme shu?) (sh sh wn) How do you say? (sh sh wn)
In Mandarin, how do you say two weeks?
(qngwn) What does that mean? (Ptnghu meaning znme shu?) (sh sh wn) How do you say?
two weeks?
(sh sh wn) In Mandarin, How do you say (xinzi qng shu) We are American.
We are located here. (znme shu?)
(qngwn) For how long or

It has been how long?
Du ju le? Nmen zi zhr du ju le? J g xngq le. Wmen yo di. J tin. W xhuan Zhnggu.
03:00
(hu d) For a few weeks.

We are going to stay. A few days.
(sh sh shu) I like China. (Wn t xhuan b xhuan Bijng.) (qng shu) Yes. I like Beijing.
Say to the woman and her husband
N xhuan Bijng ma? N xhuan b xhuan Bijng? Xhuan. W xhuan Bijng. Nmen yo di. Du ju? Du ju le? Nmen zi zhr du ju le? ling g xngq le. Wmen mi le. N mi le dngxi ma? N yu miyu mi dngxi? W miyu mi dngxi. N mi le dngxi ma? N yu miyu mi dngxi?
06:00
You are going to stay. How long?
For how long? (znme wn?) You have been here for how long? For two weeks. (znme shu?) We bought. (znme shu?)
Do you remember how to ask her if she bought anything? How would she tell you that she didnt buy anything?
(zi wn yc) Did you buy anything?

To answer yes, you say literally, bought. Try it.
Mi le. Mi le. W mi le ydinr dngxi. W mi le. Hn du dngxi. Nmen ne?
Yes. I bought something.
(qng shu) I bought.

A lot of things.
Now ask the man and his wife
What about you?
30-2
(qngwn) Did you buy anything? (hu d) No.

We didnt buy anything. (znme shu?)
Nmen mi le dngxi ma? Nmen yu miyu mi dngxi? Miyu. Wmen miyu mi dngxi. Wmen b xing mi dngxi. Wmen miyu shjin. Nmen ne? Nmen mi le dngxi ma? Nmen yu miyu mi dngxi? Wmen mi le hn du dngxi. Wmen ch le.
09:00
(qng shu)
We would not like to buy anything.
(qng shu) We dont have the time.

Ask the woman and her husband
What about you?
Ask them if they bought anything.
(sh sh shu) We bought a lot of things.

We ate. (znme shu?)
And do you remember how to say We arrived yesterday?
Wmen sh zutin dod. Shnme shhou? Zutin. Nmen sh zutin dod. Nmen sh shnme shhou dod? Zutin zoshng.
When? Yesterday.
Say to the two of them You arrived yesterday.
(xinzi sh sh wn) When did you arrive?

Heres the answer Yesterday morning.
(qng gn zh shu) 1.
In the morning. (znme shu?)
zoshng
Zutin zoshng. Jntin zoshng.
The tones are falling/rising and falling.

(qng shu) Yesterday morning. (sh sh shu) This morning. (zi wn yc) When did you arrive?
We arrived yesterday. (znme shu?)
Nmen sh shnme shhou dod?

12:00
Wmen sh zutin dod. Nmen sh shnme shhou do Bijng d?

30-3
(qng gn zh shu)
When did you arrive in Beijing?
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion I Notice the word order.
Do Bijng d.
(zi shu yc) When did you arrive in Beijing? Nmen sh shnme shhou do Bijng d?
We arrived yesterday morning.
Wmen sh zutin zoshng dod. W sh zutin dod. Gn w de jirn yq. W sh gn w de jirn yq dod.
15:00
(qng shu) I arrived yesterday. (xinzi qng shu) With my family. (sh sh shu) I arrived with my family.
With my three children. (znme shu?)
Gn w de sn g xiohir yq. Gn w de ling g rzi yq. Gn w de nr yq. W sh gn w de xinsheng yq dod. Wmen sh yq dod. J din zhng? Nmen sh shnme shhou dod? Wmen sh b din dod. W sh zutin zoshng dod. W sh ji din zhng dod. N ne? N sh shnme shhou do Bijng d?
18:00
(sh sh shu) With my two sons.

With my daughter. (znme shu?)
(xinzi qng shu)

We arrived together.
I arrived with my husband.
At what time? (znme wn?)
(zi wn yc) When did you arrive?

Continue to use the plural.
(qng shu) We arrived at 8 oclock. (xinzi sh sh shu)

I arrived at 9 oclock
Ask the man What about you?
I arrived yesterday morning
When did you arrive in Beijing?
Yesterday. (znme shu?)
Zutin. Zutin wnshang. W xhuan Bijng. Nmen sh shnme shhou do Bijng d? Nmen q le ma? Nmen q le ma?
30-4
(sh sh shu) Yesterday evening.

I like Beijing.
Ask her when they arrived in Beijing.
Did you go? (qng gn zh shu)
(zi wn yc)
(sh sh wn) Did you go to Tiantan? 2. Tintn

This is a historical site in Beijing.
Nmen q le Tintn ma? Nmen zutin q le Tintn. Nmen q le ma? Nmen q le Tintn ma? Nmen shnme shhou q le Tintn?
21:00
(sh sh shu) You went to Tiantan yesterday. (zi wn yc) Did you go? (qngwn) Did you go to Tiantan? (xinzi qngwn)
When did you go to Tiantan?
(qng shu) We went to Tiantan today.

This morning. (znme shu?)
Wmen jntin q le Tintn. Jntin zoshng. Wmen jntin zoshng q le Tintn.
(sh sh shu)
We went to Tiantan this morning.
(qng shu) We went to Hong Kong yesterday. Wmen zutin q le Xinggng. (sh sh shu) I went to Beijing today.
I went to Hong Kong yesterday morning.
Ask her if she went to Beijing.
W jntin q le Bijng. W zutin zoshng q le Xinggng. N q le Bijng ma? N yu miyu q Bijng? N shnme shhou q le? N sh shnme shhou dod?
24:00
(qngwn) When did you go?

When did you arrive? (znme wn?)
(sh sh wn) When did you arrive in China?

Use the plural.
Nmen sh shnme shhou do Zhnggu d? Wmen sh zutin dod. Nmen yo di du ju? Y g xngq. Wmen yo di yg xngq. Rnhu wmen yo zu le. Wmen miyu shjin. Wmen mngtin yo zu le. Wmen jntin zoshng q le Bijng.
30-5
We arrived yesterday.
(sh sh wn) How long are you going to stay? (qng shu) One week.
Then were going to leave. We dont have time. (znme shu?) We are going to leave tomorrow. We went to Beijing this morning.
(qng shu) We went to Tiantan yesterday. (sh sh shu)

We ate something at a restaurant.
Wmen zutin q le Tintn.

27:00
Wmen zi fndin ch le ydinr dngxi. Wmen zi Bijng fndin ch le ydinr dngxi. Bijng fndin zi nr? Shnme ysi? Ysi sh. Ysi sh zi Wngfjng.
(xinzi qng shu)
We ate something at the Beijing Restaurant.
(qngwn) Where is the Beijing Restaurant?

Nrn: Zi Wngfjng.
3.
Wngfjng
Ask what that means. That means.
This is a neighborhood in Beijing. How does she tell you that the Beijing Restaurant Bijng fndin zi Wngfjng. is located in Wngfjng? Now listen to this Mandarin conversation. You should now be able to understand the entire conversation Nnrn: N ho. Man: Hello. Nrn: N ho. N sh shnme shhou 30-6
dod? dod.
Woman: Hello. When did you arrive? Nnrn: W gn w de titai sh zutin Man: My wife and I arrived yesterday. Nrn: Nmen shnme shhou q le
Tintn?
Woman: When did you go to Tiantan? Nnrn: Wmen jntin zoshng q le
Tintn.
Man: We went to Tiantan yesterday morning. Nrn: N jntin xing gn w yq ch
wnfn ma?
Woman: Would you like to eat dinner with me today? Nnrn: Xing. J din zhng? Man: Yes. What time? Nrn: B din zhng. Ho ma? Woman: 8 oclock, OK? Nnrn: Ho. Xixie n.
Man: OK. Thank you. Nrn: Bkqi. Woman: Dont mention it. Nnrn: Zijin. Man: Goodbye. Nrn: Zijin. Woman: Goodbye.

30:00
This is the end of unit 30. The last unit of Mandarin I.
30-7
Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Companion Glossary I. Vocabulary Words English

add/plus adult again airplane airport alone also, too am/is/are American dollars and *answer, to anything are/is/am arrive bathroom/ washroom be, to because beer big bother/trouble/ please but buy, to caf can/able to/know how to
(to be) (to be)
Type
V N Adv. N N Adj. Adv. V N Cnj. V N V V N V Cnj. N Adj. V Cnj. V N V
Pinyin ji drn ziyc fij fijchng y g rn y sh mijn h hud dngxi sh dod xshujin sh ynwi pji d mfan ksh mi kfitng hu
Simplified
Traditional
Unit
13 23 22 22 22 27 6 1 13 19 12 5 1 29 21 1 25 7 20 18 3 8 7 1

A-1
can/able to/permitted to child Chinese Language close closed college come in/enter Common Language
(Mandarin Chinese)
V N N V Adj. N V N N N N V V N V V N, Adj. Adv. V Adv. Adj. N Adj. Adj. N N N V
ky xiohir ptnghu gun gun mn xuyun jn ptnghu duhu nr wnfn zu miyu mn h ch Yngwn gu jn wnshang gi jirn yun kui chng bnj pngyu gi
A-2
15 20 1 25 25 4 19 1 11 20 11 8 13 25 5 5 1 16 19 11 17 21 23 17 22 23 26 14
*conversation daughter dinner do, to dont have door drink, to eat, to English enough enter/come in evening expensive family far fast field flight friend give, to
go, to go/leave good/well hat have he/him here here you are Hong Kong Dollars hotel hour husband I/me impossible in that case/so inside is/am/are
(to be)
V V Adj. N V Prn. Adv. Excl. N N N N Prn. Adj. Adv. Prep. V V Adj. Adv. V N V V Adv. Adv. V V, Adv.
q zu ho mozi yu t zhr n gngb jidin xiosh xinsheng w b xng nme l sh zhdao wn gu yhur zu zubian xhuan tng sho ydinr zh zi
A-3

1 1
6 27 2 18 13 19 4 13 24 8 22 18 1 9 11 22 1 5 25 6 27 24 29
know, to late later leave/go left side
(have knowledge of)
like/be pleased with *listen, to little

(in quantity)
14 1 19 4
little/some live/reside located
long
(distance)
Adj. N N N N N N N N, Adj., Adv. Adv. N Adv. Adv. Adv. V Cnj. Cnj. V Adj., N N Adv. N N V V N Adv. V
chng wfn ptnghu guy ysi xiojie xinsheng qin zo du bozh b xinzi ji ki hish huzh yo n Rnmnb knng rn nr qng ji wnt bjio hud
A-4
lunch Mandarin
(in China)
4 8 1 24 28 8 8 12 29 14 14 1 6 27 25 8 9 8 4 12 26 1 6 19 13 12 18 12
Mandarin meaning miss mister money
(in Hong Kong/Taiwan)
morning/ good morning much newspaper no/not now only open or or

(question) (stative)
order, to/ want, to peace Peoples currency perhaps person/people place please plus/add *question relatively *reply, to
restaurant right side road see, to she/her should sit/travel/ride small something son speak, to stay, to store street study, to tea *telephone thanks then there they/them thing/anything think, to time, certain period of time/the time today together tomorrow too bad/pity
N N N V Prn. V V Adj. N N V V N N V N N V Adv. Adv. Prn. N V Adv. N Adv. Adv. Adv. N
fndin yubian l kn t ynggi zu xio ydinr dngxi rzi shu di shngdin ji xu ch dinhu xixie rnhu nr tmen dngxi xing ji shjin jntin yq mngtin yhn
A-5
7 24 4 26 19 24 22 21 5 20 1 26 25 4 4 7 12 2 24 4 19 5 26 28 28 11 8 11 28
too/excessive *try, to understand

(situation)
Adv. V V N V Adv. N V V N Prn. N Prn. Adv. Adv.
ti sh mngbai kui yng hn fwyun zu yo shu wmen xngq shnme shnme shhou nr n she wi shnme titai gn gngzu xing zutin n nmen xio
unit/piece *use, to very *waiter walk/go want, to/ order, to water we/us week what when where which why? wife with work would like yesterday you you
(plural) (question)
16 22 4 12 22 2 13 23 8 18 19 29 4 6 4 23 8 25 18 8 26 5 29 1 19 21
Prn. Prn. Adv. N Prep. N, V V Adv. Prn. Prn. Adj.
who/whom
young/younger
Abbreviations
N V Prn. Adj. * indicates
Noun Adv. Adverb Verb Prep. Preposition pronoun Cnj. Conjunction Adjective word used in PMC, but is not elaborated upon A-6
II. Particles
(no direct translation in English)
Description
(le) Indicates past action
Pinyin le
Simplified
Traditional
Unit
16 2 1 3 11 21
(de) Describes action/possession de (ma) Indicates question (ne) how about/ question under consideration/ continued action (ba) lets say (o) an expression of surprise
ma ne ba
III. Phrases English

as for me dont mention it
Pinyin w bkq
Simplified
Traditional
Unit
10 14 1 15 2 2 2 26 20 12 9 30

A-7
excuse me/sorry dibuq for you goodbye hello how are you how many days? how many how much impossible in the morning
gi n de zijin n ho n ho ma j tin j g dusho b xng zoshng
may I ask please come in really see you later see you tomorrow straight ahead wait a moment what time
qngwn qng jn zhn de y hur jin mngtin jin y zh wng qin dng yhur j din zhng
1 19 21 15 11 23 21 9
IV. Locations English

American/ United States Beijing China College Road Hong Kong Kings Road Long Peace Street Maxines Restaurant Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) Washington Wangfujing
Pinyin Migu Bijng Zhnggu Xuyun L Xinggng Yngwng Do Chng n Ji Mixn fndin Tintn Hushngdn Wngfjng
Simplified
Traditional
Unit
1 7 3 4 22 24 4 24 30 19 30

A-8
V. Numbers English
1 2 (counting) 2 (of something) 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 hundred thousand
Pinyin y r ling sn s w li q b ji sh bi qin
Simplified/Traditional Unit
9 12 8 10 10 10 11 11 9 9 11 23 22
A-9
VI. Measure Words

(most measure words can also be nouns, depending on the context)
Description
Pinyin
Simplified
Traditional
Unit
20 8 12 18 24
all-purpose measure word for liquid containers such as cups things that come in solid pieces such as money (coins) measure word for hats, caps for long, narrow things such as roads, pants
g bi kui dng tio
VII. Common Chinese Names English Spelling

Cai, Tsai Chen Huang, Hwang Lee, Li Lin Wang Wu Yang Zhang, Chang
Pinyin Ci Chn Hung L Ln Wng W Yng Zhng
Simplified
Traditional
A-10

Pimsleur Companion Mandarin I

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Chinese Companion I

a pronunciation and character guide to Pimsleurs Mandarin Chinese I

by Carl T. Limsico Edited by Lin Jin Ren

Manufactured in the United States of America

About The Authors

Pimsleur Mandarin Companion I

II. Why Use The Pimsleur System?

III. Is The Pimsleur System Enough?

IV. Enter The Companion

Pimsleur Mandarin Companion I

About The Companion

The Pinyin Romanization System

Pimsleur Mandarin Companion I

II. Using The Companion

III. Conventions Used

New Word Format

Pimsleur Mandarin Companion I

II. Chinese Writing Examples

First character din mng xng

Resulting word dinhu mngbai xngq

Pimsleur Mandarin Companion I

Would you like to eat a little something?

In Simplified Chinese, the same sentence would look like:

Nmen xing ch ydinr dngxi ma?

Pimsleur Mandarin Companion I

The Pinyin () Romanization System

II. Elements of Pinyin

Pimsleur Mandarin Companion I

III. Initial Sounds

Table 1 - Initial Sounds with close approximation to English

Pimsleur Mandarin Companion I

Pinyin Initial Sound j r z

English Sound Example soft j as in dya combination of r and a soft y ds as in yards

Chinese Examples ji (/family) jn (/to enter) rn (/person) r (/hot) zi (/located) zo (/morning)

Pinyin Initial Sound c q x zh

Table 3 - Initial sounds that are different than those in English

Pimsleur Mandarin Companion I

IV. Final Sounds

Table 4 - Final Sound Matrix

Final Sound a ai ao an ang

English Sound Example a in ma uy in buy ow in how un in fun ongue in tongue

Chinese Example b (/eight) mi (/to buy) ho (/good) fn (/rice) mng (/busy)

Final Sound e ei en eng

Chinese Example de (/possession particle) hi (/black) hn (/very) lng (/cold)

Final Sound i (after ch, sh, zh) i (after c, s, z) i ia ie iu in ing ian

Pimsleur Mandarin Companion I

iang iong iao

young yong eow in meow

ling (/two) xing (/bear) xio (/small)

Final Sound o ou ong

English Sound Example awe owe ong in song

Chinese Example w (/me) yu (/to have) zhng (/middle)

Final Sound u ua ui uo un uan uang uai

Chinese Example n (/woman) l (/to plunder)

English Sound Example ir in sir

Chinese Example zhr (/here)

Pimsleur Mandarin Companion I

First Tone sh (/poetry) q (/seven) d (/to build) b (/to force)

Second Tone sh (/ten) q (/to ride) d (/to answer) b (/nose)

Third Tone sh (/to enable) q (/to rise) d (/to play) b (/pen)

Fourth Tone sh (/is) q (/steam) d (/big) b (/to avoid)

Table 13 Tone Descriptions

Pimsleur Mandarin Companion I

VI. Pronunciation Rules