Lesson three 3/30

Written and Designed by Jack Krieger

A man without ceremony / with strategy
all rights reserved
jackluo83@gmail.com All Mandarin grammar is based on the fact that it is a
mobile phone +86 186 2194 8277 pictorial language. Sentence structures are formed in
chronological order. Therefore, whatever happens first in
a sequence should be mentioned first.
ordering food in a
restaurant Exceptions: Somebody has already mentioned it before and
it just refers back.

(N) noun wèi shénme n j nti n méiy u qù shàngkè

(V) verb A: Why didn't you go to class today?
(Adj) adjective fú wù yuán fú wù yuán
waiter/waitress(N) The order of very
(Adv) adverb basic sentences
(Conj) conjunction You:Waiter. j nti n méiy u qù shàngkè nwèi w sh ngbìngle
(M.W) measure word B: I didn't go to class today because I got sick.
fú wù yuán If there is no movement before a verb (an example of verbs
yán sè service(N) staff If A includes B, and B includes C, then with movement are lái to come qù to go dào arrive
men míngti n qù b ij ng z nme yàng mention the biggest thing, A, first.
color(N) A: How about we go to Beijing tomorrow? jìn to enter and ch to exit), the point of time and the
For example, zh ngguó place are usually positioned before the verb (only some verbs
fú wù shàngh i p ng. míngti n includes
to obey duty are exceptions; for example, zuò to sit zhù to
bái sè i sè hóng sè lán sè sè huáng sè sè ng sè/k i sè hu sè nhóng sè/f n sè jú huáng sè nshàng and w nshàng includes b di n, live zhàn to stand and ch sh ng to be born).
white(N) black(N) red(N) blue(N) green(N) yellow(N) purple(N) brown(N) grey(N) pink(N) orange (colour)(N) ij ng w shàng x ngq qùle therefore it is ordered in this way.
B: I went to Beijing last week.

n wèi/wéi
because(Conj)
subject+ point of time+ place+ verb+ (an/some) object
dàn/qi n
light(Adj) sh n
dark(color)/deep(Adj) fú wù yuán yào di n
shénme Background/topic
míng ti n n shàng di n zài fàn diàn ch fàn
at to eat(V) rice míngti n w nshàng b di n zài fàndiàn ch fàn
Waiter:Hello, what do you want to In the 20th century, people went to work at restaurant(N) Tomorrow night at eight o'clock I'll eat at a restaurant.
order? /Hello, do you want something? 00am.
That party? I didn't go yesterday.
di n di n
buying things in a shop o'clock(N) to order/a little le here signals a change,
because they already did
men zuó ti n xià w qù sh diàn i le sh something in the past.
to go bookstore(N) bought book men zuóti n xiàw qù sh diàn m ile sh
Yesterday afternoon they went to the bookstore and
bought books.
i w kàn
to show me(Literally - to give me to i w kàn yíxiàr càid xièxie
? look)(V) yào qù
yíng yè yuán yíng yè yuán hu nyíng gu nglín.n yào shénme hé péng y u yì q ji b ji
You:Show me the menu please, thank you. to want/to need/to friend(N) together(Adv) to go bar(N) to drink(V) alcohol(N)
shop assistant n ti n n shàng have to(V) with j nti n w nshàng yào hé péngy u yìq qù ji h ji
shop assistant:Welcome. What do you want? kàn Tonight I want to go to a bar with my friends together to
to look/to watch/to read/to yí xiàr cài d n drink.
visit(V) after verb,to do the menu (N)
hu nyíng gu nglín yào action a little bit
welcome to our place to want/to need/to have
(Literally - to happily greet to(V) cài n
sunshine coming near) dish/food(N) list

hu n yíng
to welcome(V)

Mandarin is a pictorial language and there are

many measure words because objects have shí ji n du sh o cháng shí hòu
time(N) how much/how many long(Adj) Shénme shíhòu
different shapes and sizes. It's quite a when moment(N)
complicated part of Mandarin. There is usually
Here de means that you don't yào hóngsède a measure word between a number and a noun. du sh o shíji n/ du cháng shíji n shén me
want the color red itself, but fú wù yuán ode gè is the most commonly used one, and you can how long (time)
the red colored object. You:I want the red one. use gè when you are not sure which one you which shuí de/shéi de what(N)
Waiter:Ok. should use. Now, there are so many names for whose
dishes, so we will definitely have a special In Mandarin, a question's grammatical order li/n r wèi shénme
chapter on dishes later. always follows the grammatical order of a where(N) why
statement. Therefore, the order of a sentence shuí/shéi
gè who
remains unchanged whether it is a statement which one(N) wèi
or question. Nothing needs to be changed hào for the sake of
o apart from replacing the interrogative words what date xi
di n which ones(N)
to wrap/something miàn tiáo with actual answers, along with changing the what time
wrapped noodles(N) gè
something long yì dà lì fàn people mentioned. how many nme yàng
yíng yè yuán zhègèma b o zi and bendy Italy(N) uncooked rice cooked rice/meal(N) ngq j
what day yuè what do you think/how about
steamed stuffed miàn b o mán tou
shop assistant:This one? pí ji n dá xu bì lè bun(N) bread(N) steamed bun(N) miàn tiáo yìdàlì miàn fàn ng ti n what month
beer(N) Fanta(N) sprite(N) Coke/Cola(N) noodles(N) spaghetti/pasta(N) (cooked) rice(N) soup(N) How to ask questions. how many days gè yuè n me yàng
gè how many months how appearance
ma
for yes-or-no question píng the most common n
bottle(M.W) measure word(M.W) bowl(N/M.W)
yòu bi n
right side(N) míng míngti n w nshàng j di n zài fàndiàn ch fàn
to ask what time ti n n shàng di n zài ch fàn
fàn diàn to eat cooked rice/meal(N) When will you eat at a restaurant tomorrow?
yào yìb i shu yìw n m fàn yífèn niúròu yífèn x lánhu hé li ngpíng píji what time at restaurant(N)
You:I want one cup of water, one bowl of rice, one portion of beef, one portion of broccoli and two
búshì zu bi nde bottles of beer.
to ask what
You:Nope, the one on i fèn hé men zuó ti n xià w qù men zuóti n xiàw qùm ile shénme
the left. i le shén me
cup(M.W) portion(M.W) and (only to connect two to go bought What did they go to buy yesterday afternoon
nouns)(Conj) what
bú shì zu bi n f i chá niú n i shu ji ròu ji o zi mó g sà sh cài lán hu yú
coffee(N) tea(N) milk(N) water(N) alcohol(N) meat(N) dumpling(N) mushroom(N) pizza(N) vegetable(N) broccoli(N) fish(N) yào
no(the judgement is not correct) left side(N) to want/to hé
with who n ti n n shàng need/to have to with shuí/shéi qù ji b ji j nti n w nshàng yào héshéi qù ji h ji
i pútao ji w i ji ròu yáng ròu niú ròu zh ròu lán hu Who to go bar(N) to drink alcohol(N)
milk wine(N) cocktail(N) With whom will you go to a bar to drink
chicken(N) lamb (meat)(N) beef(N) pork(N) west blue flower(N) tonight
yíng yè yuán zhègèma pú tao yáng niú zh
grape(N) chicken lamb cow/ox pig
shop assistant:This one?

In China, if it just says ròu, and doesn't

mention what specific meat it is, it's
probably zh ròu pork.
Very basic verbs
Here de is used to shìde du sh o qián?
confirm the statement. fú wù yuán niúròu shì dàfèn,zh ngfèn háishì
You:Yes, how much is it?
xi ofènde
Waiter:The beef is a big, medium, or small portion?

dà zh ng xi o hái shì
big(Adj) middle/medium(Adj) small(Adj) or(Conj)
The verbs you're supposed
to know already.
20 zh ng guó hái
yíng yè yuán èrshí kuài China(N) also(in the sense of
in addition)
kuài(informal) yuán(formal) shop assistant:20 yuan.

1 yuan kuài
yuan(informal)(N)
máo(informal) ji o(formal)
0.1 yuan shì bú shì u
be/am/is/are/was/were no, the judgement to have/there méi y u yào kàn
dàfèn du sh o qián zh ngfèn du sh o is not correct. is(to exist) not to have/there to want/to need/to have to to look/to
qián xi ofèn du sh o qián hái y u literally means to exist in is no(not to exist) watch/to read/to
addition. It can connect two nouns and two visit
3.6 yuan You:How much is the big portion? How sentences, similar to “and also” in
n kuài liù much is the medium portion? How much is English. hé means two things that stay
n kuài liù máo the small portion? together, so it can only connect two
nouns. Use hái alone if you want to
connect two verbs.
Here " de" means not the
ode yào li nggè spice itself, but the food shu zh o i u
Here li ng gè with a spicy taste. to say/to speak to look for/to return change i
You:Okay. I want two. to give to walk/to leave to buy
means two pieces. 50 40 30 (in a monetary transaction
fú wù yuán dàfèn w shí kuài zh ngfèn sìshí
gè kuài xi ofèn s nshí kuài
the most common measure
word(M.W) Waiter:The big portion is 50 yuan, the medium portion
is 40 yuan, the small portion is 30 yuan.
tiáo liào
seasoning/condiment wèi j ng
MSG(monosodium ràng
wèi dào glutamate)(N)
taste wèn to let/to ask somebody ng
ng to do or not do
to listen to to ask (a question) to drink to wait ch
something to eat
táng tián
yíng yè yuán li nggè sìshí kuài sugar(N) sweet(Adj)
shop assistant:Two is forty yuan. yán xián yào zh ngfèn háiy búyào làde
salt(N) salty(Adj)
You:I want the medium. What's more, I don't want
cù su n it spicy.
vinegar(N) sour(Adj)
là ji o là là hái y u
spicy(Adj) what's more The verbs you need to know for daily life. They will come up
chili(N) spicy(Adj)
in the following pages as new vocabulary.
ji ng
ginger(N) bitter(Adj)
jiàng yóu dàn
soy sauce(N) bland/light(colour)(Adj)
g i n qián
Literally - to give ode i n qián fú wù yuán ode
yóu xi n/x n xi n
you money. oil(N) fresh(Adj)
You:Okay. Here's your money. Waiter:Okay.
g i dàn huáng jiàng cuì
to give(V) mayonnaise(N) crispy(Adj)

i mén gu n mén ch fàn zuò fàn

xi ng to close the door zh dào to have meal to cook
to think/to wonder to open the door to know
n qié/x hóng shì nqié jiàng
tomato(N) ketchup(N) duìle zhèlide shu shì mi nfèideba gu n
i
to open to close
You:By the way, is the water here for
free,right? ba zuò
duì le it was originally used to indicate to do/to make
100 60 Something that suddenly that the speaker is unsure or want to
occurs to your mind or if you duì le mi n fèi ba confirm it. Or, it could also sound
líng qián yíng yè yuán sh u nín yìb i kuài zh o nín liùshí like they are not being too demanding,
kuài want to mention something out by the way(Conj) for free(V) to confirm same pronunciation and same tone
small change(of of the blue. Similar to “by making a suggestion or giving a
money)(N) the way”. reluctant“OK”, because the speaker
shop assistant:Received your 100 yuan, I'm giving duì mi n fèi y fu
correct/right to exempt fee is still unsure. diànhuà
you back 60 yuan. to wash clothes jiàn miàn
qián to make a telephone call (to make an appointment) zuò
zero to meet(in most cases) to sit
sh u nín zh o
to receive/to accept(V) You (used to show respect)(formal) (N) to look for/to return change to wash
(in a monetary a general way to do/to play jiàn miàn
transaction (V) something to see face

xièxie fú wù yuán duìde háiyào shénmema

You:Thanks. Waiter:Yes. Do you want anything else?

hái
also(in addition)

yíng yè yuán bú kè qi rèn shi z o

jiào jué de to come to know/to to take a shower/to
shop assistant:you are welcome. to think as opinion/to recognize have a bath
to call/to shout feel

You wanted something before,

but right now you don't want búyàole xièxie
it anymore. That's why we
put le here to signal a You:No more(That's it). Thank you. zuò yè
change. di homework
wán shuì jiào jiè shào
to play/to have to lose/to throw to
away to sleep Reference
fun introduce/introduction
buying mobile phone top-up cards 1. Yesterday, I had my dinner alone in a restaurant.
(In Mandarin, alone could be translated as one
person).
2. When will we meet next time?

bàn gè xi oshí hòu 3. I gave him the money at around 8 00pm last night.
chu n y fu (In Mandarin, “around” could be translated as "left
ng zuò right", but must be used after the number).
After half an hour. to work/job(V/N) shàng kè xi xi to dress
to have class(V) to rest
4. When did you come to China?
xi o shí hòu ng zuò chu n
u méi y u hour(N) after/behind(N) shàng kè to dress/to wear 5. I came here this August.
whether there is or not factory same pronunciation
zhèli y u méiy u sh uj ch ngzhí k as to do to take on something lesson(N)
xi o shí 6. What time will you go to work tomorrow?
u méi y u You:Hello, is there mobile phone top-up cards here? small(Adj) time
to have/there not to have/there is 7. Do you want to drink something? (In Mandarin,
is(to exist)(V) no(not to exist)(V) “something” could be translated as "what", but it
sh u j ch ng zhí k needs ma at the end).
mobile phone(N) top-up card(N)
8. Which one do you want? This one or that one?
ch ng zhí
sh u to rush into value card(N) xué xí 9. I have to go to work tomorrow.
hand machine chuáng zhù hu n to study
to get up to live to like as a hobby 10. Do you know how to cook?

chuáng 11. Where did you buy this book?

fúwùyuán,w yào m id yígòng du sh o qián
to raise up bed 12. Let's go to have a drink.
You:Waiter, I want to pay the bill, how much is it in
total? 13. How about we meet next Wednesday
yíng yè yuán yào yídòngde liánt ngde háishì
No need to mention China diànxìnde du sh o qiánde 14 I live at (your address if you are in China, and pay
when you are in China. i d n yí gòng attention to the order as well - the biggest object
shop assistant:Yes. Do you want China Mobile, China to pay the bill(V) altogether(Adv)
Unicom or China Telecom? How much money? comes first).
i n gòng 15. I need to give her a call.
yí dòng lián t ng hái shì diàn xìn to buy(V) list together The verbs with directional movement
China Mobile(N) China Unicom(N) or(Conj) China Telecom(N) 16. What time did you get up this morning?

17. In China, there are 12 people in total in our

office.

100 67
yào liánt ngde yìb i kuàide 67 dào kàn dào ng dào
to arrive to see zh o dào i dào u dào shu dào
fú wù yuán liùshí q kuài to hear to find xi ng dào
to manage to buy to arrive by foot to speak of
You:I want China Unicom, 100 yuan. it occurs to the mind
Waiter:67 yuan.
Reference
1. Yesterday, I had my dinner alone in a restaurant.
(In Mandarin, alone could be translated as one
ch jìn guò huí shàng xià person).
to exit to enter to move (horizontally) to return(somewhere) to move up to move down
lái zuóti n w nshàng yígè rén zài fàndiàn ch le fàn
yíng yè yuán ode i n k to come(implying-
to move near) 2. When will we meet next time?
ch lái jìn lái guò lái huí lái shàng lái xià lái
shop assistant: Okay. Here's your card. i n qián bùh o yìsi yào to come out to come in to come over here to come up to come down
piào to come back men xiàcì shénme shíhòu jiànmiàn

You:Here you are. Excuse me, I want the 3. I gave him the money at around 8 00pm last night.
invoice. qù (Literally in Mandarin, “around” could be translated
to go(implying - ch qù jìn qù guò qù huí qù shàng qù xià qù as "left right", but must be used after the number).
to move away) to go out to go in to go over there to go back to go up to go down
piào zuóti n w nshàng b di n zu yòu g i t qiánle
100 (official) receipt(N)
xièxiè zhè shì yìb i kuài qián 4. When did you come to China?
piào ?
You:Thank you, this is 100 yuan. to send ticket(N) shénme shíhòu lái zh ngguóde

5. I came here this August.

j nnián b yuè lái zhèlide

6. What time will you go to work tomorrow?

yíng yè yuán ode zàijiàn
shop assistant:Alright. See you. come again
next time.
zài lái
(to do something) again to come(implying-
to move near)(V)
zhè cì
this time(N)
zuò yè
homework
1. Practice the two conversions
2. Try to translate these English
words into Mandarin:
1. I don't want this one. I want
that one.
2. When will you come to China?
3. I want another card.
4. I'll give you money next time.
5. How much was your cell phone?
6. This one or that one?
7. Do you want it or not?
8. The left one is black. I want the
blue one.
9. Sorry, I don't have small
change.
10. It's too expensive. How about
50?
reference
1. I don't want this one. I want that one.
búyào zhègè yào nàgè
2. When will you come to China?
míngti n j di n qù g ngzuò
cì shí ji bèi
xiàcì zàilái 7. Do you want to drink something? (Literally in
In Mandarin, there are three different words that Mandarin, “something” could be translated as "what",
can be used to refer to the time; cì , shí but it needs ma at the end).
ji n and bèi. shí ji n is most commonly used
to refer to time that can run out, while cì fú wù yuán ngs de háishì gèrénde xi ngyào h shénmema
refers to something that happens. bèi means to Reference:
xià cì increase or multiply something
next time(N) Waiter:For the company or for the 1. Show me the red one, please. 8. Which one do you want? This one or that one?
individual?
Examples yào n gè zhègè háishì nàgè
shàng cì cì máfan n g i w kàn yíxiàr nàgè hóngsède
last time(N) time(refers to ng s gè rén
something that 9. I have to go to work tomorrow.
nti n w nshàng w méiy u shíji company(N) individual(N) 2. I'll show you my business card.
happens)(N) I don't have time this evening.
g i n kàn yíxiàr w de míngpiàn míngti n yàoqù g ngzuò
ng gè rén
public to govern the most common measure person/people(N) 10. Do you know how to cook?
zhècì shì yìb i kuài word(M.W) 3. What's your name?
It's RMB 100 this time. zh dào z nme zuòfànma
de míngzì shì shénme /n jiào shénme míngzì
zuò yè homework 11. Where did you buy this book?
de qián shì w de li ngbèi 1. Practice the conversion 4. Wait for me here, please.
Your money is two times as much as mine.
2. Try to translate these English zài zhèli d ng w yíxiàr zhè sh n n r m ide
words into Mandarin: 12. Let's go to have a drink.
5. I'm in the office. (Literally in Mandarin - I'm in the
1. Show me the red one, please. company) men qù h di n ji ba
2. I'll show you my business card. zài g ngs
ngs de 13. How about we meet next Wednesday
3. What's your name? 6. It's 150 in total, right? men xià x ngq s n jiànmiàn nme yàng
You:For the company.
4. Wait for me here, please. yígòng shì yìb i w shí kuài duìba
14 I live at (your address if you are in China, and pay
attention to the order as well - the biggest object
5. I'm in the office. (Literally in 7. Is this pork or beef? comes first).
Mandarin - I'm in the company) …
zhègè shì zh ròu háishì niúròu zhù zài…
6. It's 150 in total, right?
8. I want another bottle of beer, thank you. 15. I need to give her a call.
7. Is this pork or beef?
zài yào yìpíng píji xièxie yào g i t d gè diànhuà
8. I want another bottle of beer,
thank you. 9. By the way, I want sugar as well. 16. What time did you get up this morning?
fú wù yuán ngs de míngzi 9. By the way, I want sugar as duìle hái yào táng j nti n shàngw j di n q chuángde
well.
Waiter:What's the company's name? 10. I want three, not two.
There are many common words used in our 10. I want three, not two. 17. In China, there are 12 people in total in our
daily life, such as péngy u friend, office.
míng zi yào s ngè búshì li nggè 12
míngzì name and ngx thing. 11. Waiter, come here please.
For these common words, the tone of the name(N) men zài zh ngguóde g ngs yígòng y u shier gè rén
last character is neutralized, but the 11. Waiter, come here please.
12. Where can I pay the bill?
best way to pronounce them is to keep to míng zì fúwù yuán lái yíxiàr
their original tone and shorten it. name character (refers You may get confused with le and de
13. I want the menu. when you talk or ask about things in the
to writing) 12. Where can I pay the bill? past. There is no typical past tense in
14. How much is the big cup? Mandarin, but here is the basic rule for
zài n li m id this moment: If the speaker presumes that
15. I don't want it too spicy. the listener already knows the action has
13. I want the menu. been taken before, he/she will use de.
16. It's for free, right? Otherwise, they will use le.
yào càid
17. It takes two hours. (Literally
zhè shì w de míngpiàn in Mandarin - wants two hours) 14. How much is the big cup?
You:This is my business 18. I don't want to wait. dàb i du sh o qián
card.
19. My cell phone has run out of 15. I don't want it too spicy.
míng piàn money. (Literally in Mandarin -
business card(N) there is no money in my cell phone). búyào tàilà
16. It's for free, right?
piàn
piece zhègè shì mi nfèideba

shénme shíhòu lái zh ngguó 17. It takes two hours. (Literally in Mandarin - wants two hours)

3. I want another card. yào li nggè xi oshí

zài yào yígè k 18. I don't want to wait.

ng ng
4. I'll give you money next time. to wait(V) To please(formal)/to invite(V) búyào d ng

xiàcì g i n qián
5. How much was your cell phone?
fú wù yuán ode
yíxiàr
de sh uj du sh o qián
Waiter:Okay. Please wait a
6. This one or that one?
moment.
zhègè háishì nàgè
yí xiàr
7. Do you want it or not? after verb,to do the
action a little bit
yào búyào
19. My cell phone has run out of money. (Literally in Mandarin -
there is no more money in my cell phone).
ng originally meant to invite. Chinese
ng d ng people don't often use “please” when they de sh uj méiy u qiánle
speak in English, because ng usually
sounds formal in Mandarin. Instead, they
say yíxiàr (to do the action a little
bit), which is also a polite way to ask
somebody to do something. In this case, it
is similar to “please” in English.

8. The left one is black. I want the blue one.

zu bi nde shì h isède yào lánsède

9. Sorry, I don't have small change.

bùh o yìsi méiy u língqián

10. It's too expensive. How about 50?
tài guìle shí kuài z nme yàng

Lesson 3.mmap - 2016/3/27 - Mindjet