Mandarin Chinese Lessons (Standard Pinyin)
Main Menu | Cantonese Lessons | Chinese Tutoring | Bookmark & Share | Link to Us
|
Mandarin Chinese Lessons (Standard Pinyin)Main 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. You may also download a complete audio transcript for listening in your car. |
| SECTION: THANK YOU / YOU'RE WELCOME |
| English: | Thanks | |
| Pinyin: | xiè-xie |
| English: | Thank you (alternate way to say) | |
| Pinyin: | xiè-xie nín | |
| Literally: | thanks you |
| English: | You're welcome | |
| Pinyin: | bú xiè | |
| Literally: | no thanks |
| English: | You're welcome (more formal) | |
| Pinyin: | bú kè-qì | |
| Literally: | don't be polite |
| English: | Your welcome / no problem (said for small things) | |
| Pinyin: | méi guān-xi | |
| Literally: | not have connection |
| English: | Welcome (e.g. welcome to hotel/restaurant/shop) | |
| Pinyin: | huān-yíng guāng-líng |
| SECTION: WOULD LIKE TO / TO EAT |
| English: | Would like to | |
| Pinyin: | xiǎng |
| English: | What would you like to do? | |
| Pinyin: | nǐ xiǎng zuò shén-me | |
| Literally: | you would like to do what? |
| English: | To eat | |
| Pinyin: | chī |
| English: | Rice | |
| Pinyin: | fàn |
| English: | To eat a meal | |
| Pinyin: | chī fàn | |
| Literally: | to eat rice |
| English: | I would like to eat (a meal) | |
| Pinyin: | wǒ xiǎng chī fàn | |
| Literally: | I would l like to eat rice |
| English: | Would you like to eat? | |
| Pinyin: | nǐ xiǎng chī fàn ma | |
| Literally: | you would like to eat rice? |
| There is no standard word for yes and no in Chinese. Instead, questions are usually answered by repeating the positive or negative for of the verb from the original question. To answer the question would you like to eat?, you could simply repeat the positive or negative form of the verb: |
| English: | Yes | |
| Pinyin: | xiǎng | |
| Literally: | would like |
| English: | No | |
| Pinyin: | bù xiǎng | |
| Literally: | not would like |
| English: | Okay? | |
| Pinyin: | hǎo bù hǎo | |
| Literally: | good-not-good? |
| English: | Let's eat, okay? | |
| Pinyin: | wǒ-men chī fàn, hǎo bù hǎo | |
| Literally: | we eat, good not good? |
| English: | Okay | |
| Pinyin: | hǎo | |
| Literally: | good |
| English: | What would you like to eat? | |
| Pinyin: | nǐ xiǎng chī shén-me | |
| Literally: | you would like to eat what? |