Chinese Phrases For Dummies

Chinese Phrases For Dummies

Language: English

Pages: 216

ISBN: 0764584774

Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub


Hundreds of useful phrases at your fingertips

Speak Chinese - instantly!

Traveling to China but don't know Chinese? Taking Chinese at school but need to kick up your conversation skills? Don't worry! This handy little phrasebook will have you speaking Chinese in no time.

Discover how to

  • Get directions, shop, and eat out
  • Talk numbers, dates, time, and money
  • Chat about family and work
  • Discuss sports and the weather
  • Deal with problems and emergencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(ee; a hundred million), unlike in English, where counting goes up to a thousand before being repeated all the way to a million. Numbers are represented with the higher units of value first. So the number 387 is s≈n bâi b≈ shí q∫ (sahn bye bah shir chee). The number 15,492 is yí wàn wû qi≈n sì bâi jiû shí èr (ee wahn woo chyan suh bye jyoe shir are). The number 1 (y∫) changes its tone from its first (high) to the fourth (falling) tone when followed by a first (high) tone as in yì qi≈n (ee chyan;

shyeh dzye nar; Where shall I endorse it?) Words to Know ch∆nà chu≈ngkôu choo nah chwahng cashier’s ko window ch∆nàyuán choo nah ywan bank teller cúnkuân tswun kwan savings cún qián tswun chyan to deposit money k≈i yíge cúnkuân hùtóu kye ee guh tswun kwan hoo toe to open a savings account qû qián chyew chyan to withdraw money yíngháng eeng hahng bank xiànj∫n shyan jeen cash 56 Chinese Phrases For Dummies Accessing an ATM machine Zìdòng tíkuânj∫ (dzuh doong tee kwan jee;

you) has to ask for f≈ngxiàng (fahng shyahng; directions) at some time or another. This section helps you figure out exactly how to ask for directions before you ever mílù (mee loo; get lost). Chapter 9: I Get Around: Transportation 157 Avoiding 20 questions: Just ask “where” The easiest way to ask where something is in Chinese is to use the question word nâr (nar). It means “where.” But you can’t just say nâr, or folks still won’t know what you’re talking about. You have to use the coverb

whether you can walk or if you need to take a g∂nggòng qìch√ (goong goong chee chuh; bus) or ch∆z∆ qìch√ (choo dzoo chee chuh; taxi) to reach your destination: ߜ Hên jìn ma? (hun jeen mah; Is it near?) ߜ Hên yuân ma? (hun ywan mah; Is it far?) The word nâr spoken with a third (low falling and then rising) tone means “where,” but the same word said with a fourth (falling) tone, nàr, means “there,” so be particularly careful which tone you use when you ask for directions. The person you ask may

smallest unit of meaning in a language) is represented by one syllable, which in turn consists of an initial sound and a final sound, topped off by a tone. This applies to each and every syllable. Without any one of these three components, your words may be incomprehensible to the average Chinese person. For example, the syllable “m≈” is comprised of the initial “m” and the final “a,” and you pronounce it with what’s called a first tone. Together, the parts mean “mother.” If you substitute the

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