Free Mandarin Chinese Lessons
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Free Mandarin Chinese LessonsMain Menu | Cantonese Lessons | Chinese Tutoring | Bookmark & Share | Link to Us |
These Mandarin Chinese lessons have been designed to provide practical travel vocabulary and a foundation for basic conversational skills through a simple listen and repeat format. Don't get frustrated if you find some of the phrases difficult to pronounce at first. Many of the sounds will be new, and saying them may be a challenge in the beginning. With practice you'll soon notice your ability to recognize and produce the sounds of Mandarin developing naturally. You may also download a complete audio transcript for listening in your car.
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| SECTION: GETTING STARTED |
| English: | Hello | |
| Chinese: | nee hau | |
| Literally: | you good |
| Hello is a combination of two words - the word for you and the word for good. |
| English: | You | |
| Chinese: | nee |
| English: | Good | |
| Chinese: | hau |
| So to say hello in Mandarin, you literally say you good: |
| English: | Hello | |
| Chinese: | nee hau | |
| Literally: | you good |
| To convert that into the question How are you?, or literally You good?, all you have to do is add the following syllable at the end: |
| English: | (Add this word to make a statement into a question) | |
| Chinese: | mah / muh |
| English: | How are you? | |
| Chinese: | nee hau mah | |
| Literally: | you good +? |
| In China, you'd only ask this in formal situations. Chinese don't use this phrase as casually as Americans do. Here are some simple responses: |
| English: | Good (a positive answer) | |
| Chinese: | hau |
| English: | Very | |
| Chinese: | hun / heun |
| English: | Very good | |
| Chinese: | hun hau | |
| Literally: | (same) |
| English: | I | |
| Chinese: | woh |
| English: | I'm very good | |
| Chinese: | woh hun hau | |
| Literally: | I very good |
| English: | Not | |
| Chinese: | boo |
| English: | Not good | |
| Chinese: | boo hau | |
| Literally: | (same) |
| English: | Again | |
| Chinese: | dzie |
| English: | To see | |
| Chinese: | djee-en |
| English: | Goodbye | |
| Chinese: | dzie djee-en | |
| Literally: | again see |
| Again, if you're new to Mandarin, don't be worried if you are unable to pronounce these words perfectly. You'll find that with repeated exposure/listening, your ability to recognize and reproduce Chinese tones will become easier. |
Other suggested Mandarin lessons: Chinese-Lessons
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