Me & You

Vocabularies
(w)
I

(n)
you (singular)

(t)
he

(t)
she
(i)
English:
to love

(w men)
we

Example:

I love you

You love me

He loves her

(x huan)
English:
to like

Example:

I like you

You like me

I like her, you like her

 (h)
English:
with, and

Example:

I like you and her

Grammar
The structure of a basic sentence is
Subject + Verb + Object
Example:
(subject) (verb) (object)
(subject) (verb) (object)

Vocabularies
(hn)
English:
very, quite

(du)
English:
all, both

Example:

I like him a lot

Example:

We like her

All is fine/nice/great

We're all doing fine

I and you like her

(go xng)
English:
happy, glad, cheerful

Example:

I am very happy/excited

She loves me, I am very happy

 (pio liang)
English:
pretty, beautiful

Example:

She is very pretty

You're all looking great

She is really pretty, I like her a lot

Grammar
Similar to very in English, is put in front of adjectives
Subject Adjective
The difference to English is, that sentences with this structure don't need a
verb to be
Example:
- I'm doing fine
- You're beautiful
- I am very happy/excited

can also be put in front of verbs

Subject Verb ...
Example:
- I like him a lot

This and that

Vocabularies
(g)
English:
Measure word (MW) for
almost everything

 (zh)
English:
this

(n)
English:
that

(xi)
English:
some, few, several

(sh)
English:
to be

(de)
English:
Character to form an
attribute

(png you)
English:
friend

Example:

I really like this

Example:

I like that a lot

Example:

I really like these

I like those

Example:

This is me

Example:

This is mine

Example:

This is my friend

Grammar
The character is used to express belonging
Object Object
Example:
- This is mine
- This is my friend
- This is my friend's friend
Vocabularies
(ho)
English:
good, nice, very

(rn)
English:
person, people

Example:

This is my very good friend

This is my good friend

This is my good friend

She is very beautiful

I am very happy

Example:

This person is very nice

Those people are very nice

This person is my friend

That person is very beautiful

Past tense
Vocabularies
(le)
English:
Example:
Character indicating past
or change
I'm fine (now)

(ti)
English:
too, extremely

(y fu)
English:
clothes

(mi)
English:
to buy

(d)
English:
big, great

(xio)
English:
small

Example:
!
Great!

Example:

Those clothes look great

Example:

I bought clothes

I bought clothes

The clothes I've bought do all look

great

Example:

The clothes I bought are too big

Example:

The clothes I bought are too small

To be or not to be
Vocabularies
(b)
English:
no, not

(yu)
English:
to have

(mi)
English:
not

(qin)
English:
money

Example:

I don't like you

I don't buy this

She is not pretty

Example:

I have clothes

Example:

I don't have clothes

I didn't buy this

I didn't buy this

Example:

I have money/I am rich

I don't have money/I am poor

Grammar
must be used to negate the verb
+
Example:
- I don't have clothes
- I don't have money/I am poor

can be used to negate any other verb in either present or future or any
adjective
+ Verb/Adjective
Example:
- I don't like you
- I don't buy this
- She is not pretty

used to negate other words than signals past tense. Sentences with
might do as well
+ Verb
Example:
- I didn't buy this
-I didn't buy this

Simple Questions
Vocabularies
(ma)
English:
Character to form a yes
or no question

Example:

You like buying clothes

?
Do you like buying clothes?
?
Do you love her?

(ne)
English:
Example:
Character to build a
?
question based on earlier Do you like buying clothes?
mentioned topics and to

provide choices

?
I like it a lot, and you?

I don't like it that much

Grammar
Another way to form a question is to use the verb twice with or in
between
Verb / Verb
Example:
- This is your friend
? - Is this your friend?
- He has money
? - Does he have money?
- You like buying clothes
? - Do you like buying clothes?
? - Do you buy it?

Who, what and which

Vocabularies
(shi)
English:
who

Example:

I love you
?
Who do I love?

you

I love you
?
Who loves you?

 (shn me)
English:
what

(sh)
English:
book

(bn)
English:
root, basis, foundation,
origin, capital, MW for
books, files, etc.

(n)
English:
which

Example:

You like buying clothes

?
What do you like?

Buying clothes

Example:
(see below)

Example:
?
Do you like this book?

I like this book

Example:

Which book do you like?

I like this book

This book

He likes those books

Which books does he like?

Those books

 (j)
English:
how many, several

(du shao)
English:
how many, how much

(du)
English:
much, many

(sho)
English:
few, little

(zn me)
English:
how

Example:
?
How many books did you buy?

I bought several books

Example:
?
How much is this book?
?
How many/much did you buy?

Example:

I bought a lot

I didn't buy too many (not really

, but I could have bought more)

Example:

I bought just a few

I bought quite a few (not really ,

but still quite a few)

Example:
?
How can you buy this book?
?
How are you? What's wrong?

 (zn me yng)
English:
how is/are, how about
that?

Example:
?
How's that book? Do you like this
book?
?
How are you?

Places
Here and There
Vocabularies
(tin q)
English:
weather

(zh r)
English:
here

(n r)
English:
there

Example:
(see below)

Example:

The weather here is very good

Example:

The weather there is very good

(l)
English:
Example:
in, inside, MW for 0.5 km
The weather here is very good

The weather there is very good

 (zi)
English:
at, on, character
indicating action in
progress

(lng)
English:
cold

Example:
?
How's the weather there?

The weather here is quite good

Example:

It's quite cold here

(r)
English:
hot, warm

(zh)
English:
to live, to stay, to reside

(Bi jng)
English:
Beijing

(Zhng gu)
English:
China

Example:

It's quite hot here

Example:
?
Where do you live?
?
Where do you live?

Example:

I live in Beijing

Example:

I live in China

Up and Down
Vocabularies
(q)
English:
to go

(li)
English:
to come, to arrive, ever
since

(shng)
English:
to go up, to attend, to
climb, on, upon,
previous, upper

(xi)
English:
descend, fall, below,
down, under, MW for
times of action

Example:

I'm coming to you

?
Where are you going?

I go to Beijing

I go shopping for clothes

Example:

Come to me
?
Are you coming?

I'm here/I arrived

Example:

I'm coming up
?
Are you coming up?

Example:
?
Are you coming down?

I'm coming down

Before and Behind

Vocabularies
(gng zu)
English:
job, to work

(y shng)
English:
doctor

(y yun)
English:
hospital

(fn gun)
English:
restaurant

(shng din)
English:
shop, store

(qin min)
English:
ahead, in front

Example:
?
What's your job?

Example:

I'm a doctor

Example:

I work at the hospital

Example:

This is a very good restaurant

Example:

This shop is quite big

Example:

There's a small shop in front of the

hospital

 (hu min)
English:
rear, back, behind

(xin sheng)
English:
Mister (Mr.), teacher

Example:

At the back of the hospital is a

restaurant I like a lot

Example:

Hello Mr. Qian

Numbers, Time and Dates

Numbers
Vocabularies
(sh)
English:
10

(y)
English:
1

(r)
English:
2

Example:

I have 10 friends

Example:

11

a friend

Example:

12

20

21

22

 (sn)
English:
3

(s)
English:
4

(w)
English:
5

(li)
English:
6

(q)
English:
7

Example:

13

32

3 books

Example:

14

41

4 people

Example:

15

54

Example:

16

66

Example:

17

72

 (b)
English:
8

(ji)
English:
9

(lng)
English:
0

Example:

18

84

Example:

19

99

Example:

-4 (for temperature)

-11 (for temperature)

Time
Vocabularies
(din)
English:
point, dot, to nod, to
click, MW for a little, a
bit

Example:

a little bit ( is pronounced more

or less like an R, er in Pinyin)

It's a little bit cold here

 (xin zi)
English:
now

Example:
?
What's the time?

(fn zhng)
English:
minute

(shng w)
English:
morning

(zhng w)
English:
noon, midday

(xi w)
English:
afternoon

Example:
30
30 minutes
48
48 minutes
9 25
9:25
9 25
9:25
12 55
12:55
2 5
It's 2:05

Example:
9 15
9:15 a.m.

Example:
11 50
11:50 a.m.

Example:
3 35
3:35 p.m.

Date
Vocabularies
(sh hou)
English:
time, moment, period

(zu tin)
English:
yesterday

(jn tin)
English:
today

(mng tin)
English:
tomorrow

(yu)
English:
month, moon

Example:

when
?
When do you come?

Example:

I came yesterday

Example:

I'll come today

I came today

Example:

I'll come tomorrow

Example:

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

1 month

4 months

(r)
English:
day, sun

(nin)
English:
year

Example:
83
August 3rd

1 day

4 days

Example:
2012 8 3
August 3rd, 2012
1978 3 23
March 23rd, 1978
2012 8 3 10 10

August 3rd, 2012 10:10 a.m.

1 year

4 years

 (xng q)
English:
week

Example:

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Sunday

Today is Saturday (informal)

Today is Saturday (formal)

Tomorrow is Sunday (informal)

Tomorrow is Sunday (formal)

1 week

4 weeks

Eating and Drinking

About Eating
Vocabularies
(dng xi)
English:
thing

Example:

She likes to go shopping

I bought a lot of things

 (ch)
English:
to eat

(h)
English:
to drink

(ch)
English:
tea

(xio ji)
English:
Miss, young lady,
prostitute

(ci)
English:
dish, vegetable

(yo)
English:
to want

Example:

I like eating

Example:
(see below)

Example:

Chinese really like drinking tea

Example:

Hallo, Miss!

She's a prostitute

Example:

Miss, we want to order

This dish is delicious

?
How much is this dish?

Example:

I want this

I want this dish

 (m fn)
English:
(cooked) rice

Example:

I want a bowl of rice

(kui)
English:
Example:
MW for a piece or money
I want one piece
34
This book costs 34 RMB

(bi zi)
English:
cup, glass

Example:

I want one cup of tea

The tea in my cup is delicious

(qng)
English:
to ask, to invite, please

(zu)
English:
to sit, to take (bus, train,
etc.)

Example:

I invite you for lunch/dinner

I pay

Please!

Example:

Please take a seat

Take a seat

 (y zi)
English:
chair

(zhu zi)
English:
table

(gu)
English:
dog

(mo)
English:
cat

(xi xie)
English:
thanks

(b k qi)
English:
you're welcome

Example:

This seat is too small

Example:

The dishes on the table do all taste

great

Example:

Your dog is georgious

Example:
?
Do all Chinese like eating cats and
dogs?

Example:

Thank you!

Example:

Thanks

You're welcome

Cooking
Vocabularies
(zu)
English:
to do, to make

(hu)
English:
meeting, conference, can,
to be able to, indicating
future tense

(nng)
English:
ability, gift, energy,
capable, able, to be able
to
(shu)
English:
water

Example:

I like cooking

Example:

I can cook

I can't cook

Example:

I'm not able to cook (today/now)

Example:

I want a glass of water

(ki)
English:
Example:
to open, to start, to drive ?
(car, etc.)
Do you want a cup of water?

I want a cup of drinking water

I do

Yes

 (shu gu)
English:
fruit

(png gu)
English:
apple

Example:
?
Which fruits do you like?

Example:

I really like eating apples

This apple is really good

Family & Friends

People
Vocabularies
(jio)
English:
to be called, to call, to
shout

(mng zi)
English:
name

Example:
...
My name is
...
Hello, my name is ...

Example:
?
What's your name?

 (su)
English:
MW for years old

Example:
?
How old are you?
?
How old are you?
24
I'm 24 years old
55
He's 55 years old this year

(m ma)
English:
mother, mum

(b ba)
English:
father, dad

(r zi)
English:
son

(n r)
English:
daughter

Example:

This is my mum

Example:

This is my dad
?
Where is dad?
?
He's eating, have you eaten already?

I've already eaten

Example:

This is my son

Example:

Your daughter is very beautiful

 (ji)
English:
family, home, houshold,
MW for businesses,
families, etc.

Example:
?
How man people are there in your
family?

There are 3 people in my family,

my dad, my mum and me

This family consists of 4 people,
dad, mum, sun and daughter

Grammar
This grammar pattern can be used to say that somebody is doing something at
the moment
somebody/something doing something ()
Example:
- He's eating
- I'm cooking

Travelling Home
Vocabularies
(xing)
English:
Example:
to think, to miss, to want
I miss you

I miss my family/I miss home

I'm thinking

I'm thinking what I should eat

Think about it

I want to eat something

 (hu)
English:
to return, to answer, to
reply, MW for events of
action

Example:

I want to go home

I'll go home tomorrow

(kn jin)
English:
to see, to catch sight of

Example:
?
I'm here, can you see me?

I spotted you!

(hu ch zhn)
English:
train station

Example:

I ate something at the train station

?
Where is the train station?

Grammar
This pattern can be used to put emphasis on time, place or method of doing
something
somebody/something time, place or method
Example:
- I had something at the train station
? - You came back by train?
- Yes, I came back today
Vocabularies
(fi j)
English:
airplane

Example:

I'm going home by plane

 (ch z ch)
English:
taxi

Example:

I took a taxi to the train station

(zi jin)
English:
goodbye, see you

Example:

See you tomorrow

See you

Activities
Vocabularies
(kn)
English:
to see, to watch, to look
at

(din yng)
English:
movie, film

(din sh)
English:
TV(-set)

Example:

I'm looking at you

Example:

I and my friends are going to

watch a film today
?
Do you want to go watch a film
today?

Example:

My dad is watching TV

 (din no)
English:
computer

Example:

My friend's computer is really

good

(shu jio)
English:
to sleep, to go to bed

Example:

I go to bed

(d din hu)
English:
to make a phone call

(wi)
English:
to feed, to breed, hello

(xi y)
English:
to rain

(du bu q)
English:
sorry, I'm sorry

Example:

I'm calling somebody

Example:

Hello (when answering the phone)

I'm feeding the dog

Example:
?
Do you want to go watch a film
today?

It's raining today, I don't really

want to go

It might be raining tomorrow

Example:
(see below)

 (rn shi)
English:
Example:
understanding,

knowledge, awareness, to Sorry, I don't know him

know, to recognize, to
understand, to be familiar
with
(mi gun xi)
English:
it doesn't matter

Example:

Sorry, I don't know you

Mike

Doesn't matter, I'm Mike, I'm your
friend's friend

Study
Vocabularies
(xu xio)
English:
school

(dxu)
English:
unviersity, college

Example:

This is my school

Example:

My university is very good

(d)
English:
to read aloud, study

Example:

I'm studying at Beijing university

I'm reading/I'm studying

I'm reading a book

 (xu x)
English:
to study, to learn

(hn y)
English:
Chinese language

(xu sheng)
English:
student, pupil

(tng xu)
English:
classmate

(lo sh)
English:
teacher

Example:

I'm studying at Beijing university

I'm studying

Example:

I really like studying Chinese

I really like studying Chinese

Example:

I'm a good student

Example:

My classmates do all like me a lot

Example:

Our Mandarin teacher is very

good

(tng)
English:
Example:
to listen, to hear, to obey, (see below)
MW for canned
beverages

 (shu hu)
English:
chat, talk, to speak, to
talk, to gossip

(z)
English:
word, character

(xi)
English:
to write

Example:

I really like listening to what my

teacher says

Example:

Mandarin consists of many

characters

Example:

The teacher is writing characters