Instant Chinese. Boye Lafayette De Mente
Shopping
68. Gifts
69. Cost/Price
70. Newsstand
71. Post Office
72. Sightseeing
73. See
74. Travel Agent
75. Martial Arts
76. Beijing Opera
77. Emergency
78. Ill/Sick
79. Medicine
80. Doctor
81. Dentist
82. Hospital
83. Ambulance
84. Police
85. Embassy
86. Lost
87. Barber Shop
88. Beauty Parlor
89. Student
90. Read
91. Mistake
92. Rest
93. Rent (Car)
94. Bicycle
95. Street
96. Directions
97. Books
98. Business
99. Great Wall of China
100. Goodbye
Additional Vocabulary
China’s Provinces
China’s Autonomous Regions
Major Cities in China
Famous Places in Beijing
Famous Landmarks Near Beijing
Famous Shopping Districts in Beijing
Famous Places in Shanghai
Important Signs
Other Countries
Terms With Opposite Meanings
Words A to Z
PREFACE
In 1949 the newly established Chinese government issued an edict making Mandarin the national language of the country and mandating that it be taught in all schools. Today, virtually all Chinese speak Mandarin Chinese, known as putonghua (puutoong-whah) or “the common language,” as their first or second language.
This book uses English phonetics to represent the syllables making up Mandarin Chinese, making it possible for total newcomers to the language to communicate quickly and easily on a basic level without any previous introduction to the language.
This approach does not take into account the four “tones” that are part of Mandarin. But not all of the words in the language are spoken in tones, and the phonetic versions presented here are close enough to the “correct” pronunciation that the meaning is generally understandable.
With eight major “dialects” in China [some are actually different enough to be called languages!], the Chinese are used to coping with a variety of accents and variations in the tonal quality of speakers. They are especially tolerant of foreigners who make an effort to speak Chinese, and go out of their way to help them.
Here are a number of important introductory terms to get you started, keeping in mind that the phonetics are designed to be pronounced as English:
| China | Zhongguo (Johng-gwoh) 中国 |
| Chinese Language | Hanyu (Hahn-yuu) 汉语 or Zhongwen (Johng-wern)* 中文 |
* Hanyu is the literary term for the Chinese language; Zhongwen is the term generally used in ordinary speech.
| Chinese (person) | Zhongguoren (Johng-gwah-wren) 中国人 |
| Beijinger | Beijingren (Bay-jeeng-wren) 北京人 |
| Shanghaiese | Shanghairen (Shanghai-wren) 上海人 |
| Overseas Chinese | Hua Qiao (Hwah Chiaow) 华侨 |
| Hong Kong | Xiang Guang (She-ahng Gahng) 香港 |
| Kowloon | Jiulong (Jow-lohng) 九龙 |
| Macao | Aomen (Ow-mern) 澳门 |
Hello (to one person)
Ni hao (Nee how) 你好
Hello (to more than one person)
Nimen hao (Nee-mern how) 你们好
Good morning (until about 10 a.m.)
Ni zao (Nee zow) 你早
Good morning (very polite form)
Zaoshang hao (Zow-shahng how) 早上好
Good afternoon / Good evening
Ni hao (Nee how) 你好
Good night
Wan an (Wahn ahn) 晚安
Goodbye
Zai jian (Dzigh jeean) 再见
Thank you
Xiexie (shay-shay) 谢谢
Thank you very much
Feichang xiexie (Fay-chahng shay-shay) 非常谢谢
Thank you for your hospitality
Duoxie ni de kuandai (Dwoh-shay nee der kwahn-die) 多谢你的款待
No, thanks
Xiexie, bu yao (Shay-shay boo yee-ow) 谢谢，不要
Don’t mention it / You’re welcome
Bu keqi (Boo ker-chee) 不客气
I’m sorry, I apologize
Duibuqi (Dway-boo-chee) 对不起
I’m very sorry
Wo hen baoqian (Woh hern bow-chee-an) 我很抱歉
Excuse me (to get attention, make way)
Lao jia (Lao jah) 劳驾
Excuse me… (may I trouble you)
Mafan ni… (Ma-fahn nee…) 麻烦你
Excuse me… (may I ask a question)
Qing wen… (Cheeng wern…) 请问
Please hurry!
Qing gankuai! (Cheeng gahn-kwigh) 请赶快
Please be careful
Qing xiaoxin yidian (Cheeng she-ow-sheen ee-dee-an)