Learn Basic Chinese - 4

Chinese Language Tutorial - Part 4

New Words

Vocabulary

  • yào (要) - would like to; want to
  • huàn (换) - to change
  • qián (钱) - money
  • duōshao (多少) - how much, how many
  • bǎi (百) - hundred
  • měiyuán (美元) - US dollar
  • lúbǐ (卢比) - Rupees

Measure Words

  • bēi (杯) - cup, glass
  • kuài (yuán) (块/元) - Chinese monetary unit
  • gè (个) - a general measure word
  • máo (jiǎo) (毛/角) - 1/10 of yuan
  • fēn (分) - 1/10 of jiao
  • píng (瓶) - bottle
  • běn (本) - a measure word for books, etc.

Numbers

  • èr liǎng (二两) - two two
  • èr bēi kāfēi (二杯咖啡) - two cups of coffee (incorrect)
  • liǎng bēi kāfēi (两杯咖啡) - two cups of coffee (correct)

Conversation

A: 两杯咖啡多少钱？ (Liǎng bēi kāfēi duōshao qián?)
B: 五十块。

A: 一瓶水多少钱？ (Yì píng shuǐ duōshao qián?)
B: 两块。

Tone Sandhi

  • When “yī” (一) is used alone, its tone doesn’t change.
    • eg. “di yī” - first
    • “yī èr sān” - one two three
    • “xīngqīyī” - Monday
    • “shí yī” - eleven
    • “bǎifēnzhī yī” - one percent
  • When “yī” is followed by a syllable in the first, second, or third tone, its tone changes into the fourth tone.
    • “yī zhāng” - one sheet/piece
    • “yī zhǒng” - one type
  • When “yī” is followed by a syllable in the fourth tone, it changes to the second tone.
    • “yī dìng” - sure, certainty
    • “yī kuài” - one piece

Asking for Directions

  • Túshūguǎn zài nǎr? (图书馆在哪儿?) - Where is the library?
  • Qǐngwèn (请问) - Excuse me
  • zài (在) - in/on/at; to exist
  • nǎr (哪儿) - where
  • jiù (就) - just
  • nàr (那儿) - there
  • shūdiàn (书店) - bookstore
  • zhīdào (知道) - to know

Other Locations

  • shítáng (食堂) - cafeteria
  • liúxuéshēng (留学生) - international student
  • sùshè (宿舍) - dormitory
  • bàngōngshì (办公室) - office
  • hào (号) - number
  • lóu (楼) - building
  • yóujú (邮局) - post office
  • yínháng (银行) - bank
  • yīyuàn (医院) - hospital
  • shāngdiàn (商店) - shop

Practice

A: 请问，书店在哪儿？ (Qǐngwèn, shūdiàn zài nǎr?)
B: 对不起，我不知道. (Duìbùqǐ, wǒ bù zhīdào.)

English Transcript

A: How much is two cups of coffee?
B: Fifty yuan.

A: How much is a bottle of water?
B: Two yuan.

Measure words

  • gè - People and everything píng - for water/drinks běn- books, notebooks, magazines (běnzi cídiǎn (本字典))
  • píjiǔ miànbāo (瓶酒面包)

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.