Free Mandarin Chinese Lessons
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Free Mandarin Chinese LessonsMain Menu | Cantonese Lessons | Chinese Tutoring | Discussion Forum |
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. |
| SECTION: NATIONALITY |
| English: | Middle | |
| Chinese: | johng |
| English: | China | |
| Chinese: | johng-gwoh | |
| Literally: | middle country |
| English: | Person | |
| Chinese: | ren |
| English: | Chinese person | |
| Chinese: | johng-gwoh ren | |
| Literally: | China persion |
| English: | Beautiful | |
| Chinese: | may |
| English: | America | |
| Chinese: | may-gwoh | |
| Literally: | beautiful country |
| English: | American | |
| Chinese: | may-gwoh ren | |
| Literally: | America person |
| English: | England | |
| Chinese: | yeeng-gwoh |
| English: | English person | |
| Chinese: | yeeng-gwoh ren | |
| Literally: | (same) |
| English: | Foreign country | |
| Chinese: | wie-gwoh |
| SECTION: I / HE / SHE |
| In Chinese language, tones are very important, because different tones can give the same word different meanings. Initially, as long as you can approximate the tones, then overall meaning of your statements will usually be understood by context. But be aware of and try to imitate the intonation of the speaker as best you can. |
| English: | I | |
| Chinese: | woh |
| English: | Is/are/am | |
| Chinese: | shih |
| English: | I am | |
| Chinese: | woh shih | |
| Literally: | (same) |
| English: | I am American | |
| Chinese: | woh shih may-gwoh ren | |
| Literally: | (same) |
| English: | You are American | |
| Chinese: | nee shih may-gwoh ren | |
| Literally: | (same) |
| As we did with how are you?, to make a statement into a question, just add mah at the end of of the sentence: |
| English: | Are you American? | |
| Chinese: | nee shih may-gwoh ren mah | |
| Literally: | you are American? |
| To make a sentence negative, simple put the word for not in front of the verb. |
| English: | Not | |
| Chinese: | boo |
| English: | I am not American | |
| Chinese: | woh boo shih may-gwoh ren | |
| Literally: | I not am American |
| English: | I am Chinese | |
| Chinese: | woh shih johng-gwoh ren | |
| Literally: | (same) |
| English: | He/she | |
| Chinese: | tah |
| English: | She is American | |
| Chinese: | tah shih may-gwoh ren | |
| Literally: | she is America person |