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The measure word 张 is used for flat objects. When used with paper objects it can be loosely translated as being a “sheet.” Take a look at the following examples of other usage:
一张票.
一张照片.
一张纸.
一张桌子 – This example requires a bit more imagination as it differs from the previous examples of “flat objects.”
Unlike English, the word 祝 is required to congratulate or pass on good wishes as illustrated in the following examples:
祝你生日快乐
祝你好运
祝贺
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Summary of key item from this lesson:
– The 因为… 所以 construction differs from English where you are only allowed to have one conjunction per sentence. You will see more examples of this pattern in future lessons.
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Things to notice:
我有地图. The literal translation is “I have map.” We don’t need to specify that there’s only one since that is assumed.
Compare the following two ways of saying the same thing:
1. 可是我看不懂. 这个字是什么意思?
2. 可是我看不懂这个字是什么意思.
The first example above separates the statement into a statement and a question whereas the second example combines the two into one statement.
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Note the difference between these modifiers:
非常 is a stronger version of 很. Like English, stressing the word during pronunciation increases its strength. 好 can also be used as a similar modifier. It’s commonly used with 可爱 in the form 好可爱!
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Dialogue:
A: 你家里有宠物吗?
B: 有. 我家有一只小狗还有一只猫.
Note how in the question, 你家里 is used, while in the answer, 我家有 is used. You will notice both formats being used in daily conversation.
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See the Teaching phrases in the Vocabulary section.
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See the Review phrases in the Vocabulary section.
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Review Questions:
Translate the following. Use the supplementary vocabulary if necessary.
1. Q: Who has my book? Show Answer
2. Q: She is a very rich person. Show Answer
3. Q: I don’t know his name. Show Answer
4. Q: Is anyone there? Show Answer
5. Q: I sometimes like to go out to eat. Show Answer
6. Q: I have a very interesting job. Show Answer
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Review Questions:
Translate the following. Use the supplementary vocabulary if necessary.
1. Q: This room is too small. Show Answer
2. Q: Do you have a bigger one? Show Answer
3. Q: Please show me your book. Show Answer
4. Q: Of course I don’t have money. Show Answer
5. Q: I don’t have a job right now. Show Answer
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Note: “几位?” is a common question asked when you are being seated in a restaurant.
Review Questions:
1. Q: How many rooms do you want? (Don’t forget to use the measure word for “rooms.”) Show Answer
2. Q: Where are the four of you going? Show Answer
3. Q: I’m very sorry. We don’t have any rooms available right now. Show Answer
4. Q: We want to stay together. (In the context of a hotel). Show Answer
5. Q: How many days do you want to stay? (In the context of a hotel). Show Answer
6. Q: How long do you want to stay? (In the context of a hotel). Show Answer
7. Q: Where do you live? (NOT in the context of a hotel). Show Answer
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Review Questions: Translate the following.
1. Is Miss Wang there? Show Answer.
Review Questions: Translate the following.
1. When did he come back? Show Answer.
Note: The literal translation for 德国 is “Virtuous country.” However, like many translations into Chinese, this is also a transliteration of Germany’s name in German: Deutschland.
Review Questions: Translate the following.
1: This is my first time using chopsticks. Show Answer.
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As mentioned in the lesson, 跟 can have multiple meanings based on context. Take a look at the following example:
请跟他走.
Although 一 is a high tone, its tone changes based on the tone of the syllable that follows it. As a result, when pronouncing 一次 you will notice that the 一 changes to a rising tone 一.
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Review Questions: Translate the following. Use the supplementary vocabulary if necessary.
1. I would like soup with rice. Show Answer.
Guess the Job: Look at the literary meaning given and try to guess the job.
Q: Medicine born Show Answer.
Review Questions: Translate the following.
1. Q: Where are you? (Literally: Where are you located?) Show Answer
2. Q: He is not here right now. Show Answer
3. Q: I went to Japan in April. Show Answer
4. Q: I have been in America for five months. Show Answer
5. Q: I want to go there on Wednesday. (Note the difference in word order between Chinese and English.) Show Answer
6. Q: One week has seven days. Show Answer
7. Q: I went there on Friday. Show Answer
8. Q: How long have you been speaking Chinese? Show Answer
9. Q: What day is it today? Show Answer
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晚上 is usually used loosely to define “evening” or “night” similar to how “tonight” in English usually refers to “the evening.” 傍晚 can be used for a more precise definition.
The time of day is mentioned before the time as opposed to English where the a.m./ p.m. is listed after the time.
Review Questions: Use the supplementary vocabulary if necessary. Move your mouse pointer over the questions to reveal the answer.
Translate the following.
1. Q: 3:30 p.m. Show Answer
2. Q: 5:00 a.m. Show Answer
3. Q: 9:15 p.m. Show Answer
4. Q: 11:05 p.m. Show Answer
5. Q: 2:27 a.m. Show Answer
6. Q: 6:49 a.m. Show Answer
7. Q: 8:30 p.m. Show Answer
8. Q: 2:39 p.m. Show Answer
9. Q: 11:55 a.m. Show Answer
10. Q: 12:17 p.m. Show Answer
11. Q: I am going to visit my friend next month. Show Answer
12. Q: Do you want to go out with us? Show Answer
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Review Questions
Translate the following. Use the variations and supplementary vocabulary if necessary.
1. Q: Do you have anymore money? Show Answer
2. Q: I haven’t met my boss yet. Show Answer
3. Q: How many children do you have? Show Answer
4. Q: He wasn’t too happy yesterday. Show Answer
5. Q: Where did the children go? Show Answer
6. Q: Are they ready yet? Show Answer
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Note: The 结 in 结婚 means “tie” or a “knot” so the literal translation of 结婚 is similar to the expression “tie the knot.”
At first glance, in the expression 你自我, 自 looks like it is a verb. However it is actually attached to the 我 to indicate “oneself.” You may also see 我自己 to indicate “I, myself.”
The question word 什么 can be placed in two different parts of a question. So instead of saying ““结婚” 是什么意思?” you could also say ““结婚” 的意思是什么?”
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Review Questions: Translate the following.
1. I want to get married next year. Show Answer.
Review Exercises:
Translate the following.
1. Q: I am going to go drink coffee with my friend. Show Answer
2. Q: Can I sit here? Show Answer
3. Q: I don’t drink tea either. Show Answer
4. Q: She isn’t my mother. She is my (older) sister. Show Answer
5. Q: I haven’t met you for a long time. Show Answer
6. Q: Sorry to tell you. I don’t have time today. How about tomorrow? Show Answer
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Other vocabulary that use 电:
电灯
电脑
电视
电梯
电影
Review Exercises:
Translate the following. Move your mouse pointer over a question to see its answer.
1. Q: I will call you tomorrow, ok? (Use yes / no format). Show Answer
2. Q: I have an American computer. Show Answer
3. Q: Excuse me, is there an elevator here? (use “ma” format) Show Answer
4. Q: This television is too small! Show Answer
5. Q: He is going to go eat with his father. Show Answer
6. Q: My friend is from Australia (could also be “My friend is coming from Australia”). Show Answer
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Time words: In Chinese, time words (today, tomorrow, now etc.) always go after the subject as you can see in the two examples above (“today” and “right now”). The use of time words means you don’t have to worry about changing tenses. As a result though, word order is very important to reflect the tense being used.
Future tense: The word 要 has the meaning of “want” as well as implying future tense in the form of “to be going to do” something. So the sentence 我要去吃饭 has the dual meaning of “I want to go eat” as well as “I am going to go eat.”
Review Exercises:
Translate the following. Set the mode to Pinyin and move your mouse pointer over a question to reveal its answer.
Hint: Note the difference between 那里 and 哪里.
1. 我九月要去中国.
2. 你昨天很忙吗?
3. 我明天要去见我的朋友.
4. 我今天不要去吃饭.
5. 你六月要去那里吗?
6. 你二月要去哪里?
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Note: The “c” in 从 is pronounced as a “ts” sound.
Review Exercises:
The questions here are a little tougher than before as you have to first translate them, then answer them. All the vocabulary has been taught before, although some of them may be used in new ways. Click on a word to perform a search in the word bank for when it was taught in the course.
Move your mouse pointer over a question to see its translation. Then click on Show Answer to see the answer..
1. Q: 一年有几个月? Show Answer
2. Q: 今天是十月一号. 昨天是几月几号? Show Answer
3. Q: 我是法国人. 我从哪里来 Show Answer
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Language Note:
In the phrase 很高兴认识你, the subject (我) is left out as it usually is when it is obvious. This is similar to English where we might say “happy to meet you” rather than “I am happy to meet you.” However, the subject is omitted a lot more often in Chinese than it is in English.
Culture Note:
The title of a person usually comes after their last name. So in the above example you have 王先生 to represent Mr. Wang. Notice it is equally correct to say 王先生你好 or 你好王先生.
Review Exercises
Translate the following:
1. Q: Excuse me / I’m sorry. Show Answer
2. Q: Really? Show Answer
3. Q: You’re welcome. Show Answer
4. Q: Excuse me – can I ask you a question. Show Answer
5. Q: Too expensive! Show Answer
6. Q: Is that possible? Show Answer
7. Q: Is that ok? Show Answer
8. Q: Nice to meet you. Show Answer
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In the lesson we saw 走路去.
While these other methods of conveyance look like they use similar construction, they are actually using the verb 坐 since these methods usually require you to sit.
坐飞机去.
坐公车去.
坐火车.
Take a look at some other ways to use 左右:
三点左右
五千块左右
As mentioned in the lesson, 分 by itself can have many meanings based on context. Where the context is given, you may use 分 by itself. However, to make your context clear you need to specify what type of 分 you are referring to. 分 on its own is also a measure of Chinese currency, however 分钟 specifically refers to minutes.
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Points to note:
Culture Note:
It is common in Chinese culture for several different generations within a family to live together in the same house. When parents retire, it is tradition for their children to take care of them. With so many more people living together than you may see in Western culture it is important to distinguish the relationships between family members, which is why the family terms used in Chinese are much more specific than they are in English.
Review Exercises
Translate the following:
1. Q: Is your mother ok? (Literally: Is your mother good?) Show Answer
2. Q: How about your father? Show Answer
3. Q: My younger brother is 15 years old. Show Answer
4. Q: My older sister’s name is Lisa. Show Answer
5. Q: My younger sister can speak Chinese. Show Answer
6. Q: I don’t have an older brother. Show Answer
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Review Exercises
Translate the following:
1. Q: I have your book. Show Answer
2. Q: Do I have your book? (use ma) Show Answer
3. Q: Do I have your book? (use have / not have form) Show Answer
4. Q: Here is my book. (Lit: Give you my book) Show Answer
5. Q: I’m great. And you? Show Answer
6. Q: I’m also good. Thank you. Show Answer
7. Q: I don’t have your book. Show Answer
8. Q: Please give me 300 dollars. Show Answer
9. Q: Is this (one) 5000 dollars? Show Answer
10. Q: I want that one. Show Answer
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Points to note:
Culture Note: Chinese currency
In China, the basic unit of currency is the 元. One yuán is divided into 10 角 and 100 分. As noted above, 块 is frequently used in place of 元. As well, you may hear 毛 used in place of 角.
Language Note: Measure words
If a number is used to modify a noun (such as two of something), then a measure word is required. Two such measure words are 个 and 块. As more vocabulary is introduced, we will be introducing more measure words to be used.
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Points to note:
Review Examples and Exercises
Translate the following.
1. Q: 539 Show Answer
2. Q: 461 Show Answer
3. Q: 208 Show Answer
4. Q: 7629 Show Answer
5. Q: 5300 Show Answer
6. Q: 9478 Show Answer
7. Q: 126 Show Answer
8. Q: 2005 Show Answer
9. Q: 8733 Show Answer
10. Q: 6429 Show Answer
11. Q: 1207 Show Answer
12. Q: 856 Show Answer
13. Q: 4132 Show Answer
14. Q: 5293 Show Answer
15. Q: 7911 Show Answer
