Learn Chinese primer – Purim 2012
A. Basics
1. Four tones:
http://watchtolearnchinese.com/v/zsc7e4
2. Basic phrases:
China – Zhongguo
United States of America – Meiguo
I – Wo
You – Ni
S/He – Ta
We – Women
You (pl) - Nimen
They (pl) - Tamen
To be/is – Shi
Wo shi
Ni shi
Ta shi
Women shi
Nimen shi
Tamen shi
Questions – just tack on “ma” and a question mark!
Ni shi Zhongguo ren?
Ni shi meiguo ren?
Ni hao?
To have - You
Do you have or don’t you have - YouMeiYou
Have you eaten yet?
Ni chi le fan meiyou?
Telephone – dianhua (electric speak)
Ni youmeiyou dianhua?
Learn Chinese - Purim 2012, p. 2
Possessive – just add “de”
Is your telephone American or Chinese?
Nide dianhua shi Meiguo de? Zhongguo de?
3. Introducing your name:
You - Ni
Are called - jiao
What - shenme
Name - mingzi
Ni jiao shenme mingzi
http://watchtolearnchinese.com/v/ko805s
Surname/family name – Xing (pronounced “Hsing”)
Wo xing ____ (Lin)
4. Family members
Gege
Meimei
Dage
Xiaoge
Damei
Xiaomei
Xiao Lin
Wo de gege shi David
Nide Xiaomeimei shi
5. Laoshi, Xuesheng
Shangke
Xiake
Jintian
6. Jintian tianqi henhao
http://watchtolearnchinese.com/v/ybh17l
Learn Chinese - Purim 2012, p. 3
7. Favorite restaurant foods:
Liangmian – cold noodles
SuZai de - vegetarian
Mifan – rice
Jielan – broccoli
Yuxiangdoufu – Yuxiangdoufu
Yuxiang eggplant - Yuxiangqiezi
Hot and sour soup - Suanla tang
B. Numbers
Numbe
r
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Reading
Meaning
Number
líng
yī
èr
sān
sì
wŭ
liù
qī
bā
jiŭ
shí
shíyī
shíèr
shísān
shísì
shíwŭ
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
10 + 1
10 + 2
10 + 3
10 + 4
10 + 5
16
17
18
19
20
21
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Reading
Meaning
shíliù
10 + 6
shíqī
10 + 7
10 + 8
shíbā
10 + 9
shíjiŭ
èrshí
2 × 10
èrshi yī 2 × 10* + 1
sānshí
3 × 10
sìshí
4 × 10
5 × 10
wŭshí
liùshí
6 × 10
7 × 10
qīshí
bāshí
8 × 10
9 × 10
jiŭshí
1* × 100
yìbăi