普通话一 Mandarin 1

The table below summarizes what you will be expected to learn in Mandarin, level 1.

名詞的一級 Nouns

Classifiers

動詞的一級 Verbs

Character is an ideogram of a hand holding a piece of meat. 没有 méi yǒu means not-have

有 yǒu

Desire and need

If you like or prefer something in general, then this verb to like is the right choice. 你喜歡學中問嗎?你喜欢学中问吗? But if you want to go out and do something, consider using 想 xiǎng.

得 dě can also be used to describe an action.

Opinion

Knowledge

Tabuzhidaoyingwen does not directly translate as, "She does not know English" -- instead, it more accurately means, "She has never ever heard of English."

Action verbs

You speak a little Chinese.

Yes/no questions

There are two ways to form yes/no questions: using 嗎吗 ma and using affirmative-negative. Both methods accomplish the same objective.

Adding 嗎吗 ma to the end of a statement turns it into a yes or no question; 嗎吗 ma must always go at the end of the statement. One can also form a yes/no question by stating the verb/adjective in affirmative then negative form. If the verb/adjective is more than one syllable, one need only include the first syllable in the affirmative form.

Question words

And? It is used after a statement, to ask about another person. 你 呢 ni ne? And you? 他 呢 ta ne? And him? 她呢 ta ne? And her?

zhe shi na guo?
ni xihuan chi na guo ren?

Why are you studying Chinese? 為什麼學中文?为什么学中文? The phrase 為什麼为什么 translates as why? and comes at the beginning of a statement. It is composed of two words: 為为 wèi means for; 什麼什么 shénme means what?

Composed of several parts: 因 yīn (because); 為为 wèi (for).

和

也

要是

那

Used to connect sentences.

還还

還是还是

可是

的

的 de

A 的 de B
B belongs to, is from, and/or is of A

的 de can be omitted after 我 wǒ, 你 nǐ, 他 tā and other pronouns when discussing close kinship. For example, 我 的 爸爸 Wǒ de bàba is grammatically correct, but it strangely emphasis my! my! father; 我 爸爸 Wǒ bàba is more correct.

Similarly, 的 de is not used for single, well-understood concepts. For example, 中國 的 人 / 中国 的 人 Zhōngguó de rén is grammatically correct, but 的 de imparts an usual, added emphasis; 中國人 / 中国人 Zhōngguó rén is the norm.

Further, consider 老的朋友 lǎo de péngyǒu (friend who is old) versus 老朋友 lǎo péngyǒu (old, long-time friend).

只

才

了

了 le is used to denote an action (verb) that has been completed or initiated. It emphasizes that something is in the past and is the closest Chinese equivalent to a past tense. There are three cases: no object; with an object and unmodified verb; and with an object and modified verb.

Etiquette I

In Chinese, 對不起对不起 duìbùqǐ translates as I'm sorry. However, it is not totally equivalent to I'm sorry in English, which can be used to express sympathy. This is simply a polite way of excusing oneself after a faux pas.

There are two common ways to politely end a conversation with somebody you have just met.

太 __ 了 tài __ le
(very __ ; too __)

Ni zenmeyang? Colloquial way of asking "How is it going?"

Etiquette II

Etiquette III

• 呀 ya
  soften question

• 一下 yīxià
  soften action

• 一點一点 yīdiǎn
  moderate noun

• 有一點有一点 yǒuyīdiǎn
  moderate adjective

• 吧 ba
  soften command;
  confirm statement

(please-question)
Pardon me, may I ask -- ? Excuse me (before asking a question). Stemming from the notion that it is rude to immediately begin questioning someone, it is polite to first say qǐngwèn when beginning a conversation. However, it does not need to be repeated subsequent questions in the same conversation.

Add to the end of a question to make it more polite, less demanding.

一下 yīxià follows the verb in a sentence, and makes that verb more polite and moderate, as opposed to imposing and command-like.

你看 nǐkàn: Look! This is an order.
你看一下 nǐkànyīxià: Take a look.
The addition of 一下 yīxià turns the order into a gentle invitation or request.

我介绍 wǒjièshào：I am introducing!
我介绍一下 wǒjièshàoyīxià: Allow me to introduce. With the addition of 一下 yīxià, this is the set phrase to use before introducing two people.

我給你們介紹一下我给你们介绍一下

你看一下，這是什麼字?你看一下，这是什么字?

請你進來一下请你进来一下

Like 一下 yīxià, 一點一点 yīdiǎn also follows the verb in a sentence. However, while 一下 yīxià modifies the verb, 一點一点 yīdiǎn modifies the object. 一點一点 yīdiǎn can be shortened to just 點点 diǎn.

有一點（兒）+ adjective有一点（儿）+ adjective

我學得漢字有一點難我学得汉字有一点难

Add to end of a command to make it less, well, commanding. Use 吧 to moderate a command and to confirm a statement. 下課以後我們去看電影吧. 你是中人吧?下课以后我们去看电影吧. 你是中人吧?

Directions

你在哪兒?你在哪儿?
你去哪兒?你去哪儿?