Instant Chinese. Boye Lafayette De Mente
(Nerng bahng woh ee-she-ah mah)
能帮我一下吗?
Please write it down
Qing xie xia lai (Cheeng shay she-ah lie) 请写下来
Please write it in Roman letters
Qing yong Pinyin xie (Cheeng yohng Peen-een shay) 请用拼音写
I’m an American
Wo shi Meiguoren (Woh shr May-gwoh-wren)
我是美国人
I’m British/English
Wo shi Yinguoren (Woh shr Yeeng-gwoh-wren)
我是英国人
I am _____
Wo shi _____ (Woh shr _____) 我是 _____
| Australian | Aozhouren (Ah-oh-joe-wren) 澳洲人 |
| Canadian | Jianadaren (Je-ah-nah-dah-wren) 加拿大人 |
| French | Faguoren (Fa-gwoh-wren) 法国人 |
| German | Deguowen (Duh-gwoh-wren) 德国人 |
| Japanese | Ribenwen (Ree-bern-wren) 日本人 |
| Spanish | Xibanyaren (She-bahn-yah-wren) 西班牙人 |
I am from _______
Wo shi ______ lai-de (Woh shr _____ lie-duh) 我是 ______ 来的
| Australia | Aodaliya (ah-oh-dah-lee-yah) 澳大利亚 |
| Canada | Jianada (Jah-nah-dah) 加拿大 |
| Denmark | Danmai (Dahn-my) 丹麦 |
| England | Yingguo (Eeng-gwoh) 英国 |
| France | Faguo (Fah-gwoh) 法国 |
| Germany | Deguo (Der-gwoh) 德国 |
| Holland | Helan (Her-lahn) 荷兰 |
| Ireland | Airlan (Ayer-lahn) 爱尔兰 |
| Italy | Yidali (Ee-dah-lee) 意大利 |
| Japan | Riben (Ree-bern) 日本 |
| New Zealand | Niuxilan (New-she-lahn) 纽西兰 |
| Norway | Nuowei (Noh-way) 挪威 |
| Sweden | Ruidian (Rway-dee-an) 瑞典 |
| Switzerland | Ruishi (Rway-shr) 瑞士 |
| USA | Meiguo (May-gwoh) 美国 |
I’m here on vacation
Wo lai dujia (Woh lie doo-jah) 我来渡假
I’m in China on holiday
Wo lai Zhongguo luxing (Woh lie Johng-gwoh lweesheeng) 我来中国旅行
I’m traveling on business
Wo zuo shengyi luxing (Woh zwoh sherng lwee-sheeng) 我做生意旅行
I’m in China on business
Wo lai Zhongguo weile zuo shengyi (Woh lie Johng-gwoh way-ler zwoh sherng-ee) 我来中国为了做生意
I am traveling alone
Wo dandu luxing (Woh dahn-doo lwee-sheeng) 我单独旅行
I don’t understand (listening)
Wo ting bu dong (Woh teeng boo dohng) 我听不懂
I’ve had enough, thank you
Wo gou le, xiexie (Woh go ler, shay-shay) 我够了，谢谢
I know
Wo zhidao (Woh jr-dow) 我知道
I don’t know
Wo bu zhidao (Woh boo jr-dow) 我不知道
I’m not sure
Wo bu qingchu (Woh boo cheeng-choo) 我不清楚
I’ve (already) eaten
Wo chi le (Woh chr ler) 我吃了
These are my bags
Zhe shi wo-de xingli (Jer shr woh-der sheeng-lee) 这是我的行李
My address is _____
Wo-de dizhi shi _____ (Woh-der dee-jr shr_____)
我的地址是 _____
That is my book
Wo-de shu (Woh-der shoo) 我的书
Are you Chinese?
Ni shi Zhonguoren ma? (Nee shr Johng-gwoh-wren mah)
你是中国人吗?
Are you Japanese?
Ni shi Ribenren ma? (Nee shr Ree-bern-wren mah)
你是日本人吗?
Do you live here?
Ni zhu zai zhe-ge difang ma? (Nee joo dzigh jay-guh dee-fahng mah) 你住在这个地方吗?
Are you married?
Ni jiehun-le ma? (Nee jay-hoon-ler mah) 你结婚了吗?
Do you have children?
Ni you haizi-le ma? (Nee you high-dzu-ler mah) 你有孩子了吗?
*The “you” (ni) is generally left out of sentences when it is understood from the context.
*Yes and no are not commonly used on their own in Chinese. Yes is usually expressed by repeating the verb. The negative is expressed by putting bu (boo) or mei (may) in front of verbs and adjectives.
first name ming (meeng) 名
family name xing (sheeng) 姓
What is your first name?
Nin gui ming? (Neen gway-meeng) 你贵名?
What is your family name?
Ni xing shenme? (Nee sheeng shern-mo) 你姓什么?
My family name is _____
Wo xing