Learn Basic Chinese - 11
Chinese Language Tutorial: Part 11
Vocabulary
New Words
- xiànzài (n.) - now
- diǎn (mw.) - o’clock
- kè (mw.) - quarter
- bàn (num.) - half
- zǎofàn (n.) - breakfast
- shíhòu (n.) - time
- shàngkè (v.) - to attend class
Revision
- cóng… dào… - from… to…
- shàngwǔ - morning
- jīntiān - today
- yuè - month
- hào (rì) - date
- xīngqī - week
- xīngqīrì - Sunday
Phrases
- tīng xiě - dictation
- ba - suggestion or confirmation
- zánmen - we; us
- a - tail of spoken particle
- chūfā - depart; to set out
- xíng - OK; capable
- jiànmiàn - to meet
- chà - to be less than
Dialogue
Asking About Time
Xiǎoyè: Xiànzài jǐ diǎn?
Zhíměi: Xiànzài qī diǎn yī kè.
Xiǎoyè: Nǐ jǐ diǎn chī zǎofàn?
Zhíměi: Wǒ qī diǎn bàn chī zǎofàn.
Xiǎoyè: Nǐ shénme shíhòu shàngkè?
Zhíměi: Wǒ cóng shàngwǔ bā diǎn dào shí’èr diǎn shàngkè.
English translation
Xiǎoyè: What time is it now?
Zhíměi: It’s seven o’clock, and it’s time for the first class.
Xiǎoyè: What time do you have breakfast?
Zhíměi: I have breakfast at half-past seven.
Xiǎoyè: When do you go to class?
Zhíměi: I go to class from eight in the morning to twelve.
Ways of Telling the Time
- 8:00 - bā diǎn
- 8:05 - bā diǎn wǔ fēn / bā diǎn líng wǔ (fēn)
- 8:15 - bā diǎn yí kè / bā diǎn shíwǔ (fēn)
- 8:30 - bā diǎn bàn / bā diǎn sānshí (fēn)
- 8:55 - bā diǎn wǔshíwǔ (fēn) / chà wǔ fēn jiǔ diǎn
Recent Days
- dàqiántiān - three days ago
- qiántiān - the day before yesterday
- zuótiān - yesterday
- jīntiān - today
- míngtiān - tomorrow
- hòutiān - the day after tomorrow
- dàhòutiān - three days from now
Additional Phrases
- fēn (zhōng) - minute
- ménkǒu - entrance
- děng - to wait
- zǎoshang - morning
- qǐ - to get up; to rise
- chuáng - bed
- shēngrì - birthday
Conversation
Lìlì: Jīntiān jǐ yuè jǐ hào?
Xiǎoyè: Jīntiān yí yuè shí èr hào.
Lìlì: Jīntiān xīngqī jǐ?
Xiǎoyè: Jīntiān xīngqīwǔ.
Lìlì: Shíliù hào shì xīngqītiān ba?
Xiǎoyè: Shíliù hào bùshì xīngqītiān, shì xīngqīèr.
English translation
Lìlì: What month and date is it today?
Xiǎoyè: Today is the twelfth of this month.
Lìlì: What day of the week is it today?
Xiǎoyè: Today is Friday.
Lìlì: The sixteenth is Saturday, right?
Xiǎoyè: No, the sixteenth is not Saturday; it’s Wednesday.
Travel Plans
Lìlì: Jīntiān zánmen qù hóu miào, zěnmeyàng?
Xiǎoyè: Hǎo a! Shénme shíhòu chūfā?
Lìlì: Shàngwǔ jiǔ diǎn, xíng ma?
Xiǎoyè: Xíng. Zánmen jǐ diǎn jiànmiàn?
Lìlì: Chà wǔ fēn jiǔ diǎn, wǒ zài xuéxiào ménkǒu děng nǐ.
English Translation
Lìlì: Today, shall we go to the Monkey Temple? How about that?
Xiǎoyè: Okay! What time do we set out?
Lìlì: At nine in the morning, is that fine?
Xiǎoyè: Fine. What time shall we meet?
Lìlì: How about meeting at 8:55? I’ll wait for you at the school gate.
Vocabulary
| Pinyin | Character | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| xiànzài | 现在 | now |
| diǎn | 点 | o’clock |
| kè | 课 | class |
| bàn | 半 | half |
| zǎofàn | 早饭 | breakfast |
| shíjiān | 时间 | time |
| shàngkè | 上课 | to attend class |
| cóng…dào… | 从…到… | from… to… |
| shàngwǔ | 上午 | morning |
| jīntiān | 今天 | today |
| yuè | 月 | month |
| hào (rì) | 号 (日) | date |
| xīngqī | 星期 | week |
| xīngqīrì | 星期日 | Sunday |
| fēn | 分钟 (zhōng) | minute |
| ménkǒu | 门口 | entrance |
| děng | 等 | to wait |
| zǎoshang | 早上 | morning |
| qǐ | 起 | to get up; to rise |
| chuáng | 床 | bed |
| shēngrì | 生日 | birthday |
Disclaimer: These teachings are sourced from the Chinese Speaking Class 2023-2024 organized by the Chinese Cultural Centre in Nepal. For official information and inquiries, please visit Chinese Cultural Centre Nepal. The instructor, Laoshi Jitesh Maharjan, can be reached through his Facebook profile: Jitesh Maharjan.