1

LI VI NG LANGUAGE

eTICKET

CHINESE
Hunyng! (Welcome!) Welcome to eTicket Chinese, from Living Language.
Just listen to the native speakers of Mandarin Chinese and repeat in the
pauses. Lets get started!
PRONUNCIATION
The Chinese words and phrases in eTicket Chinese are written in both
Simplifed Chinese characters (as opposed to Traditional Chinese characters)
and pnyn, the standard romanization alphabet for Mandarin Chinese used
in mainland China. Below is a pronunciation guide for pnyns symbols and
letters.
Each word in Chinese is pronounced with one of four tones. Theyre written
here over the vowel a, which is pronounced similarly to the vowel in John.
Imagine saying the name John in the following contexts:
TONE EXAMPLE DESCRIPTION
First tone High.
Sing John.
Second
tone
From middle to high, as in asking a question.
John? Is that you?
Third
tone
From middle to low, and then to high, as if
stretching out a question.
Jo-o-o-hn, what do you think?
Fourth
tone
From high to low, as if answering a question.
Whos there? John.
There is also a neutral tone, which has no mark: a. As the name implies, it is
pronounced neutrally, without any emphasis or tone.
If there are two third tones in a row (N ho ma?), the frst third tone is
pronounced in the second tone, even though it is still written in the third tone.
2
m
3
sh 10
sh y 11
sh r 12
sh sn 13
sh s 14
sh w 15
sh li 16
sh q 17
sh b 18
sh ji 19
rsh 20
2. NUMBERS 21 AND HIGHER
rsh y 21
rsh r 22
rsh sn 23
rsh s 24
rsh w 25
rsh li 26
rsh q 27
rsh b 28
rsh ji 29
snsh 30
ssh 40
wsh 50
lish 60
qsh 70
bsh 80
jish 90
Here are some of the letters in pnyn that sound different than the
corresponding letters in English:
P

INy

IN ProNuNcIatIoN ExamPlEs
z ds in yards zu (left)
c ts in its cng (from)
zh dg in judge zh (bamboo)
j dy in and yet ji (nine)
q ty in won t you qin (money)
x sh in shoe xixie (thank you)
i ee in see b (pen)
i (after z, c, s,
zh, ch, sh, r)
r in thunder s (to die)
ou oa in foat yu (to have)
ui weigh shu (water)
(when combines
with j, q, x, and y, the
two dots above the
letter can be omitted)
like ee in see, but with
lips rounded into a
pout (German hbsch,
French tu)
q (to go)
n (female)
er are rduo (ear)
1. NUMBERS 0 TO 20
lng zero (0)
y 1
r 2
sn 3
s 4
w 5
li 6
q 7
b 8
ji 9
4
m
5
/ ji/xn old/new
/ lo/ninqng old/young
/ goxng/bii happy/sad
/ kui/mn fast/slow
/ jn/yun near/far
5. DAYS
() xngq y (lbi y) Monday
() xngq r (lbi r) Tuesday
() xngq sn (lbi sn) Wednesday
() xngq s (lbi s) Thursday
() xngq w (lbi w) Friday
() xngq li (lbi li) Saturday
() xngq tin (lbi tin) Sunday
6. MONTHS
y yu January
r yu February
sn yu March
s yu April
w yu May
li yu June
q yu July
b yu August
ji yu September
sh yu October
sh y yu November
sh r yu December
ybi 100
ybi lng y 101
ybi lng r 102
ybi lng sn 103
() lingbi (rbi) 200
snbi 300
sbi 400
wbi 500
yqin 1,000 (one thousand)
ybiwn 1,000,000 (one million)
3. COLORS
hngs red
lns blue
hungs yellow
ls green
chnghungs orange
zs purple
his black
bis white
zngs brown
4. DESCRIBING THINGS
/ d/xio big/small
/ ho/hui good/bad
/ mil/chu beautiful/ugly
/ r/lng hot/cold
/ go/i tall/short
/ png/shu fat/thin
6
m
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() xinzi sh w din Its 5:45 (now).
ssh w (fn).
xinzi sh sn din bn. Its 3:30 (now).
Dinyng ji din bn The movie starts at 9:30.
kish.
Huch sh y din The train leaves at 11:17.
sh q fn chf.
9. ASKING QUESTIONS
shnme what
Nde dinyu dzh What is your email
sh shnme? address? (informal)
she who
/ t sh she? Who is that?
(lit., He/She is who?)
() / (zi) nli/zi n er where
chku zi n er? Where is the exit?
shnme shhou when
Fij shnme shhou When does the
dd? fight arrive?
() zn(me) yng how
() Zn(me) yng d How do I dial the U.S.?
dinhu gi migu?
dusho how much/how many
Zh sh dusho qin? How much (money)
does this cost?
10. SAYING HELLO
N ho! Hello! (informal)
Zon! Good morning!
N ho! Good day! (informal)
7. TIME EXPRESSIONS
zoshang morning
xiw afternoon
wnshang evening
wnshang night
zhngw noon
wy midnight
jntin today
mngtin tomorrow
zutin yesterday
xinzi now
y hu er later
mshng right away
zh ge xngq y this Monday
() (zh ge lbi y)
shng ge xngq last week
() (shng ge lbi)
xi ge yu next month
sn yu rsh ho on March 20
Jntin sh j ho? What is the date today?
Jntin sh s yu It's April 25 (today).
rsh w ho.
8. TELLING TIME
xinzi jdin le? What time is it (now)?
xinzi sh y din. Its 1:00 (now).
xinzi sh ling din. Its 2:00 (now).
xinzi sh s din. Its 4:00 (now).
() xinzi sh q din Its 7:03 (now).
lng sn (fn).
8
m
9
N hu shu yngy ma? Do you (know how to)
speak English? (informal)
Wde Zhngwn jing I don t speak Chinese
de b ho. very well.
Qng n shu mn Speak slowly, please.
ydin er. (informal)
Qng n zi shu y bin. Repeat, please.
(informal)
N ti ho le! Thats great!
N ti zogo le! Thats terrible!
Ho. Okay./Fine./Good.
W b zhdo. I don t know.
Zh sh hn Its important! (lit., This is
zhngyo de! very important!)
xioxn! Be careful!
Zh n wn er de kixn! Have fun! (informal)
12. AT THE AIRPORT
() / (zi) nli/zi n er where
Qngwn nli sh (May I ask,) where
higun? is customs?
Qngwn hzho (May I ask,) where is
gunlch zi n er? passport control?
N yu shnme dngxi Do you have anything to
yo shnbo? declare? (informal)
W miyu shnme I have nothing to declare.
dngxi yo shnbo.
W yu xi dngxi I have something
yo shnbo. to declare.
Qngwn ch xngli (May I ask,) where is the
de dfang zi n er? baggage claim area?
Qngwn guj (May I ask,) where are the
chrjng zi n er? international departures?
Wnshang ho! Good evening!
N ho ma? How are you? (informal)
Ho, xixie. Fine, thanks.
W hn ho, xixie. Im very well, thanks.
Hi ky. So-so.
Qngwn n jio May I ask, whats
shnme mngzi? your name? (informal)
. . . . . . W jio . . . My name is . . .
W hn goxng Its nice to meet you.
rnshi n. (informal)
Zijin. Good-bye.
Di hu er jin. See you later.
Zi hu. See you soon.
Wnn. Good night.
11. BASIC EXPRESSIONS
() xixie n. (xixie nn.) Thank you.
(informal/formal)
Fichng gnxi. Thank you very much.
Byng kq. Youre welcome.
Qng. Please.
sh. Yes.
Bsh. No.
Dubuq. Excuse me.
Dubuq. Pardon me.
Hn boqin. Im sorry.
(lit., Very regretful.)
W tng b dng. I don t understand.
W b hu jing I don t speak Chinese.
Zhngwn. (lit., I don t know how
to speak Chinese.)
10
m
11
Gi c lich nsh Is the train on time?
dd ma?
Gi c lich yu Is there a dining car?
cnch ma?
Gi c lich yu Is there a sleeping car?
wp ma?
14. AROUND TOWN
jiotngdng traffc light
() (m)l street
shz lku intersection
gngyun (public) park
gnggng qchzhn (public) bus stop
dtizhn subway station
lgun hotel
15. GETTING AROUND
Qngwn zi n er (May I ask,) where are
ky zhodo chzch? the taxis (lit., where can
I fnd the taxis)?
Qngwn gnggng (May I ask,) where is the
qchzhn zi n er? bus (lit., the public
bus stop)?
Qngwn dtizhn (May I ask,) where is the
zi n er? subway (station)?
Qngwn nli sh (May I ask,) where is
chku? the exit?
Qng n b w sng do Take me to this address,
zh ge ddin. please. (informal)
chfi yo What is the fare? (lit.,
dusho qin? How much is the fare?)
Qngwn doddin (May I ask,) where are
zi n er? the arrivals?
Qngwn y sn r (May I ask,) where is gate
dngjku zi n er? 132 (lit., one-three-two)?
Qngwn xnwnch (May I ask,) where
zi n er? is information?
. . . . . . W xhuan . . . I would like . . .
W xhuan ko I d like a window seat.
chungku de zuwi.
W xhuan ko zudo I d like an aisle seat.
de zuwi.
Zh sh nde Here is your boarding
dngjzhng. pass. (informal)
lt ykui! Have a good trip!
13. AT THE TRAIN STATION
Qng gi w y I would like a ticket,
zhng chpio. please. (train or bus only)
Do shnghi. To Shanghai.
dnchng chpio one-way (ticket)
(train or bus only)
lihu chpio round-trip (ticket)
(train or bus only)
tudngcng hish First class or
rdngcng? second class?
Qng gi w y zhng May I have a schedule?
shjinbio. (lit., Please give me
a schedule.)
Zi ni ge zhnti? Which platform?
Huch jdin ki ch? When does the
train leave?
Huch jdin dd? When does the
train arrive?
12
m
13
17. CHECKING IN
W yo dngj zhs. I d like to check in.
W yo y ge fngjin. I d like a room.
y ge rn. For one person.
ling ge rn. For two people.
W yjng dng le I have a reservation.
fngjin.
N dsun zh jtin? For how many nights?
(informal)
y tin. For one night.
ling tin. For two nights.
() y ge xngq. (y ge lbi.) For one week.
Zh sh nde yoshi. Here is your key.
(informal)
Zh sh nde yoshik. Here is your key card.
(informal)
18. AT THE HOTEL
N hi yu bi de Do you have another
fngjian ma? room? (informal)
shfu di srn With a private
xzaojin? bathroom?
Qngwn yu njng (May I ask,) is there a
ydin er de fngjin ma? quieter room?
Qngwn yu d (May I ask,) is there a
ydin er de fngjin ma? larger room?
Zh er yu Is there an
jinshnfng ma? exercise room?
Zh er yu Is there a pool?
yuyngch ma?
Qngwn huysh (May I ask,) where is the
zi n er? conference room?
Qng n tng zi zh er. Stop here, please.
(informal)
Zh ling gnggng Does this (public) bus go
qch do Nnjing l to Nanjing Road?
q ma?
Qng gi w y zhng A map of the city, please.
shq dt.
Qng gi w y zhng A subway map, please.
dti xinlt.
16. ASKING DIRECTIONS
. . . . . . Qngwn . . . zi n er? Excuse me, where is . . . ?
(May I ask, where is . . . ?)
. . . . . . . . . zu Go . . .
y zh wng qin zu. Go straight ahead.
Wng nibin zu. Go that way.
Wng hu q. Go back.
. . . . . . Zhun . . . Turn . . .
Wng yu zhun. Turn right.
Wng zu zhun. Turn left.
Zhun wn. Turn around.
zu do tu at the end of the street
do jijio on the corner
. . . . . . zi . . . pngbian next to . . .
d y ge lku xing (take) the frst left
zu zhun
d r ge lku xing (take) the second right
yu zhun
l de jn ma? Is it near?
l de yun ma? Is it far?
14
m
15
nizik jeans
shdin bookstore
bngdin bakery
choj shchng supermarket
rudin butcher shop
shchng market
21. SHOPPING EXPRESSIONS
Zh sh dusho qin? How much does
this cost?
Qng n b jig xi Write that, please. (lit.,
xili. Please write down the
price.) (informal)
shngdin jdin At what time does the
ki mn? store open?
shngdin jdin At what time does the
gun mn? store close?
N xhuan shnme? What would you like?
(lit., You like what?)
(informal)
N xyo bngmng ma? Can I help you?
(informal)
W xing yo zh ge. I would like this.
(lit., I want this.)
W xing yo dinch. I would like batteries.
W xing yo y jun I would like a roll of flm.
jiojun.
W xing yo y zhng I would like a map of
shq dt. the city.
Gi n zh ge. Here it is. (lit., Give this
to you.) (informal)
Ji zh xi le ma? Is that all?
W xing f xinjn. I d like to pay with cash.
Qngwn chunzhnj (May I ask,) where is the
zi n er? fax machine?
Qngwn mnfng (May I ask,) where is the
gunlb zi n er? concierge?
W yo tu fng I d like to check out.
ji zhng.
19. MONEY
qin money
rnmnb Renminbi
(currency of China)
ynhng bank
Qngwn ynhng (May I ask,) where is
zi n er? the bank?
W xing hun I d like (lit., I want) to
din er qin. change some money.
Duhunl sh dusho? What is the exchange
rate? (lit., How much is
the exchange rate?)
W xhuan yo xio I d like that in small bills.
din er de pioz.
Duhunfi sh dusho? What is the commission?
(lit., How much is
the commission?)
20. SHOPPING
bihu gngs department store
nzhung womens clothes
chnyi, qnzi, lanyqn blouse, skirt, dress
nnzhung mens clothes
kzi, chnshn, lngdi pants, shirt, tie
() xi(zi) h wzi shoes and socks
16
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17
y bi a cup
y bi a glass
y png ji a bottle of wine
pji beer
guzh juice
kfi ji nini coffee with milk
bngkui er ice cube
yn salt
hjio pepper (condiment)
tng sugar
hungyu butter
tng soup
sl salad
minbo bread
mintio noodles
mfn rice
rlo cheese
shci vegetables
() j(ru) chicken
zhru pork
niru beef
xin er bng pie
bngqln ice cream
l spicy
tin sweet
sun sour
zocn breakfast
wcn lunch
wncn dinner
W xing yng I d like to pay by
xnyngk f. credit card.
W ky zi wngshng Can I order this online?
dng ma?
22. GOING OUT
N nng gosu w ni ge Can you recommend a
cngun ho ma? restaurant? (informal)
N nng gosu w ni ge Can you recommend a
kfigun ho ma? caf? (informal)
Fjn yu Is there a movie
dinyngyun ma? theater nearby?
Fjn yu bwgun ma? Is there a museum
nearby?
Fjn yu ho de Is there a good bar
jib ma? nearby?
Nli ky yuyng? Where can I go to swim?
Nli ky q zxngch? Where can I go to
(ride a) bike?
Nli ky linx pob? Where can I go to jog?
Nli w nng q tiow? Where can I go
to dance?
23. FOOD
pnzi plate
chzi fork
do knife
tiogng spoon
kuizi chopsticks
cnjn napkin
18
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Wde nipi yo sh I like my steak well-done.
ydin er.
Qng zi li y ge. Another, please.
Qng zi ji yxi. (Some) more, please.
. . . . . . Qng b . . . gi w. Please pass the . . .
25. MEETING PEOPLE
N ho! N jio shnme Hello! Whats your
mngzi? name? (informal)
W ky zu zi May I sit here?
zhl ma?
Zh sh wde pngyou. This is my friend.
Zh sh wde This is my boyfriend.
nnpngyou.
Zh sh wde This is my girlfriend.
npngyou.
Zh sh wde titai. This is my wife.
Zh sh wde zhngfu. This is my husband.
W sh shngw Im on a business trip.
fngwn.
Wmn qunjirn Im traveling with
yq lyu. my family.
Wmn sh yuk. We are tourists.
W nng jin jin nde Can I meet your friend?
pngyou ma? (informal)
26. MAKING FRIENDS
N zh zi n er? Where do you live?
(informal)
W zh zi Bijng. I live in Beijing.
Nde guji hn mi. Your country is very
beautiful. (informal)
24. AT THE RESTAURANT
Ni y ji cngun Where is there a
bjio ho? good restaurant?
ling wi. A table for two.
xyn hish b xyn? Smoking or
non-smoking? (lit., To
smoke or not to smoke?)
Qng gi w cidn. The menu, please.
Qng gi w y fn The wine list, please.
jishi dnzi.
xioch appetizer
zhci main course
tindin dessert
W xing yo I would like (lit., I want)
din er h de. something to drink.
Qng gi w y bi shi. A glass of water, please.
Qng gi w y bi ch. A cup of tea, please.
Zhl yu shnmeyng Do you have a
de shci? vegetarian dish (here)?
Ji zhyng. Thats all.
Qng jizhng. The check, please.
Zh lmin boku Is the tip included?
xiofi ma?
mn mn ch! Enjoy the meal!
Zh n jinkng! To your health!
(lit., Wishing you good
health!) (informal)
Hn hoch! Its delicious!
Wde nipi yo I like my steak rare.
shng ydin er.
Wde nipi yo I like my steak medium.
zhngsh.
20
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21
dinyu email
Dinno zi n er? Where is the computer?
W xyo j fng I need to send an email.
dinyu.
W ky shngwng ma? Can I get on the
internet?
N yu wngy ma? Do you have a website
(lit., webpage)? (informal)
28. AT THE POST OFFICE
Qngwn yuj zi (May I ask,) where is the
n er? post offce?
Qng gi w yxi I d like some
yupio. stamps, please.
J y fng xn. For (mailing) a letter.
J mngxnpin. For (mailing) a postcard.
yufi sh dusho? How much is
the postage?
J do migu. To the United States.
hngkng air mail
rsh s xiosh kuijin overnight delivery
(lit., 24-hour
express delivery)
29. GETTING HELP
N nng Can you help me?
bngbngmng ma? (informal)
Wde xngli dile. Ive lost my baggage.
Wde qinbo dile. Ive lost my wallet.
Wde hzho dile. Ive lost my passport.
W gn b shng wde Ive missed my train.
huch le.
N q gu migu ma? Have you been to
the U.S.? (informal)
W hn xhuan ch zhl I like the food here very
de dngxi. much.
N xhuan kn Do you like to go to the
dinyng ma? movies? (informal)
N xhuan tiow ma? Do you like to dance?
(informal)
Wmn zu ba! Lets go!
Nde dinhu hom What is your telephone
sh dusho? number? (informal)
Qng do w zhl Please visit me (here)!
li kn kan!
W zhn sh ta I had a wonderful time.
goxng le. (lit., I really was
too happy.)
27. STAYING IN TOUCH
dinhu telephone
W bx d ge dinhu. I have to make a
phone call.
Zhl yu gngyng Is there a public
dinhu ma? phone here?
W ky yng nde May I use your cell
shuj ma? phone? (informal)
Qngwn hom sh What number, please?
dusho? (lit., May I ask, how much
is the number?)
Zhnxin. The line is busy.
chunzhn fax
W xyo f ge I need to send a fax.
chunzhn.
yu gi wde Is there a fax for me?
chunzhn ma?
22
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W ml le. Im lost.
Ji mng! Help!
Jngch! Police!
W bi rn qing le. Ive been robbed.
W zho b do I don t know where
wde titai le. my wife is.
W zho b do wde I don t know where my
zhngfu le. husband is.
W zho b do wde I don t know where my
hizi le. child is.
30. SEEING A DOCTOR
W shu shng le. Im hurt.
W xyo q kn I need (to go see) a
yshng. doctor.
! Qng jio jihch! (Please) call an
ambulance!
W du pnnxiln Im allergic to penicillin.
gumn.
() W(de) tu yn. Im dizzy.
W gnju xin. I feel nauseous.
() Wde (shu)b tng. My arm hurts.
Wde jio tng. My leg hurts.
Wde tu tng. My head hurts.
That brings us to the end of Living Language eTicket Chinese. Of course, you
may decide that you had a great time learning just a little bit, and now youd
like to learn more. If thats the case, Living Language offers great complete
courses in a variety of languages, too. For now, though, we wish you the best
of luck using all the Chinese that youve learned with us so far. Zijin!


2009 By LIvInG LAnGuAGE, An IMprInT OF rAndOM HOuSE, InC., nEW yOrk.
LIvInG LAnGuAGE IS A rEGISTErEd TrAdEMArk OF rAndOM HOuSE, InC.