Unit 3

Introduction

Topics covered in this unit

  1. Members of a family.

  2. The plural ending -men.

  3. The question word - "how many."

  4. The adverb dōu "all."

  5. Several ways to express "and."

Material you will need

  1. The C-l and P-l tapes, the Reference List and Reference Notes.

  2. The C-2 and P-2 tapes, the Workbook.

  3. The 3D-1 tape.

References

Reference List

1.A:Nǐmen yǒu háizi ma?你们有孩子吗?Do you have children?
 B:Yǒu, wǒmen yǒu.有,我们有。Yes, we have.
     
2.B:Liú xiānsheng yǒu Měiguó péngyou ma?刘先生有美国朋友吗?Does Mr Liú have any American friends?
 B:Tā meíyǒu Měiguó péngyou.他没有美国朋友。He doesn't have any American friends.
 A:Tā yǒu Yīngguó péngyou.他有英国朋友。He has English friends. (or an English friend)
     
3.A:Nǐmen yǒu jǐge háizi?你们有几个孩子?How many children do you have?
 B:Wǒmen yǒu sānge háizi.我们有三个孩子。We have three children.
     
4.A:Nǐmen yǒu jǐge nánháizi, jǐge nǚháizi?你们有几个男孩子,几个女孩子?How many boys and how many girls do you have?
 B:Wǒmen yǒu liǎngge nánháizi, yīge nǚháizi.我们有两个男孩子,一个女孩子。We have two boys and one girl.
     
5.B:Shì nánháizi, shì nǚháizi?是男孩子,是女孩子?Are they boys or girls?
 A:Tāmen dōu shì nǚháizi.他们都是女孩子。All of them are girls.
     
6.B:Hú xiānsheng, tàitai ne? tāmen yǒu jǐge háizi?胡先生,太太呢?他们有几个孩子?How about Mr. and Mrs. ? How many children do they have?
 A:Tāmen yǒu liǎngge háizi.他们有两个孩子。They have two children.
 B:Shì nánháizi, shì nǚháizi? 是男孩子,是女孩子?Are they boys or girls?
 A:Dōu shì nǚháizi.都是女孩子。Both of them are girls.
     
7.A:Nǐmen háizi dōu zài zhèli ma?你们孩子都在这里吗?Are all your children here?
 B:Bù, liǎngge zài zhèli, yíge hái zài Měiguó.不,两个在这里,一个还在美国。No. Two are here, and one is still in America.
     
8.A:Nǐ jiāli yǒu shénme rén?你家里有什么人?What people are (there) in your family?
 B:Yǒu wǒ tàitai gēn sānge háizi.有我太太跟三个孩子。There's my wife and three children.
     
9.B:Nǐ jiāli yǒu shénme rén?你家里有什么人?What people are (there) in your family?
 A:Jiù (yǒu) wǒ fùqin, mǔqin.就(有)我父亲,母亲。Just my father and mother.

Vocabulary

zhǐonly
dìdi弟弟younger brother
gēge哥哥older brother
jiějie姐姐older sister
mèimei妹妹younger sister
xiōngdì兄弟brothers
jiěmèi姐妹sisters
xiōngdì jiěmèi兄弟姐妹brothers and sisters
fùmǔ父母parents
zǔfù祖父paternal grandfather
zǔmǔ祖母paternal grandmother
wàizǔfù外祖父maternal grandfather
wàizǔmǔ外祖母maternal grandmother
bàba爸爸papa, dad, father
māma吗吗momma, mom, mother
bàba爸爸papa, dad, father
dìdi弟弟younger brother
dōuall, both
fùmǔ父母parents
fùqin父亲father
gēge哥哥older brother
gēnand, with, and (in addition to)
háistill, yet
háizi孩子children, child
jǐ-几-how many
jiāli家里family
jiějie姐姐older sister
jiěmèi姐妹sisters
jǐge几个how many
jiùonly, just
liǎng-two
māma妈妈momma, mom, mother
méinot, not to have
mèimei妹妹younger sister
mèiyou没有not to have, there is not
-menplural suffix
mǔqin母亲mother
nán-男-male
nánháizi男孩子boy
nǐmen你们you (plural)
nǚ-奴-female
nǚháizi奴孩子girl
tāmen他们they, them
wàizǔfù外祖父maternal grandfather
wàizǔmǔ外祖母maternal grandmother
wǒmen我们we, us
xiōngdì兄弟brothers
xiōngdì jiěmèi兄弟姐妹brothers and sisters
yǒuto have, there is
zhǐonly
zǔfù祖父paternal grandfather
zǔmǔ祖母paternal grandmother
yíng le赢了I('ve) won

Reference Notes

Notes on №1
1.A:Nǐmen yǒu háizi ma?你们有孩子吗?Do you have children?
 B:Yǒu, wǒmen yǒu.有,我们有。Yes, we have.

The plural pronouns are formed by adding -men to the singular pronouns

singularplural
Iwǒmenwe
younǐmenyou
he/shetāmenthey

(You have already seen these pronoun forms used as possessives: "my," "our," etc. Later you will find that they are also used as objects: "me," "us," etc.)

Háizi: Chinese nouns have the same form for singular and plural.

Háizi may be either "child" or "children."[5]Usually the context will make clear whether a noun should be translated as singular or as plural, but not always. Chinese does not require that the matter be pinned down to the same extent that English does.

Wǒmen yǒu háizi is a perfectly good sentence, even though the only accurate translation is the clumsy "We have one or more children." We would prefer to have enough information to translate it either as "We have a child" or as "We have children."

At times this ambiguity is an advantage. When you ask Nǐmen yǒu háizi ma? you do not, after all, know whether you are referring to one child or to more than one child. To cover both bets in the same way in English, we have to say "Do you have any children?"

Notes on №2
2.B:Liú xiānsheng yǒu Měiguó péngyou ma?刘先生有美国朋友吗?Does Mr Liú have any American friends?
 B:Tā meíyǒu Měiguó péngyou.他没有美国朋友。He doesn't have any American friends.
 A:Tā yǒu Yīngguó péngyou.他有英国朋友。He has English friends. (or an English friend)

Méiyou: All the verbs discussed so far form the negative with , with the single exception of yǒu, "to have," which has the irregular negative form méiyou.

Notes on №3-4
3.A:Nǐmen yǒu jǐge háizi?你们有几个孩子?How many children do you have?
 B:Wǒmen yǒu sānge háizi.我们有三个孩子。We have three children.
     
4.A:Nǐmen yǒu jǐge nánháizi, jǐge nǚháizi?你们有几个男孩子,几个女孩子?How many boys and how many girls do you have?
 B:Wǒmen yǒu liǎngge nánháizi, yīge nǚháizi.我们有两个男孩子,一个女孩子。We have two boys and one girl.

In Peking speech, jǐ-, "how many," is usually used only when the number expected in an answer is about 10 or less. In many other parts of China, speakers use jl- no matter how large a number is expected in the answer.

Counters: In Chinese, a noun cannot be counted or specified (i.e., used with něi- "which," nèi-, "that," zhèi-, "this") without the addition of a bound word, a counter, to indicate the sort of thing being specified or counted. English has a few such counters, as "head" in "how many head of cattle" and "loaves" in " seven loaves of bread."

The counter used in a particular instance depends on the noun "being specified or counted. Many nouns have special counters. You have already learned the polite counter for persons, -wèi. Other special counters refer in some way to the kind of thing the noun represents. The word for "hotel," for instance, has a special counter -jiā, "house," used for counting or specifying business establishments.

The general counter -ge is used with nouns that do not have special counters. For example, there is no special counter for the word pùbù, "waterfall," so you would say yíge pùbù, "one waterfall." You have already found the general counter -ge in specifying expressions such as něige háizi, "which child," and zhèige fàndiàn,"this hotel."

You may find that, in colloquial speech, nouns that have special counters are sometimes used with -ge anyway, but this tendency is looked down upon by many speakers.

Here are the numbers 1 through 10 with the counter -ge:

yíge liǎngge sānge sìge wǔge liùge qíge báge jiǔge shíge

The number 2 has a special form before a counter: liǎng-. Notice that the words for 1, 2, and 8 have Rising tones before -ge, because -ge is basically a Falling-tone syllable. (See also Unit 5, notes on No. 9 and No. 10.)

Nán- nǚ-: The "bound words nán- "male," and nǚ-, "female," are often used in compounds; for example, nánpéngyou, "boyfriend," and nǚtóngzhì "(woman) Comrade."

"And": In Chinese, a word for "and" is not needed between parallel phrases like liǎngge nánháizi, yíge nǚháizi "two boys, (and) one girl."

A pause is usual between the two phrases, but even the pause is sometimes omitted.

Notes on №5-7
5.B:Shì nánháizi, shì nǚháizi?是男孩子,是女孩子?Are they boys or girls?
 A:Tāmen dōu shì nǚháizi.他们都是女孩子。All of them are girls.
     
6.B:Hú xiānsheng, tàitai ne? tāmen yǒu jǐge háizi?胡先生,太太呢?他们有几个孩子?How about Mr. and Mrs. ? How many children do they have?
 A:Tāmen yǒu liǎngge háizi.他们有两个孩子。They have two children.
 B:Shì nánháizi, shì nǚháizi? 是男孩子,是女孩子?Are they boys or girls?
 A:Dōu shì nǚháizi.都是女孩子。Both of them are girls.
     
7.A:Nǐmen háizi dōu zài zhèli ma?你们孩子都在这里吗?Are all your children here?
 B:Bù, liǎngge zài zhèli, yíge hái zài Měiguó.不,两个在这里,一个还在美国。No. Two are here, and one is still in America.

Shi nánháizi, shi nǚháizi? In Chinese, an "or" question (i.e., a question asking which of two alternatives is true) may be asked simply by stating the two alternatives with a pause between. In this kind of question, the verb must appear in each alternative. (You will learn other ways of making "or" questions in later modules.)

Dōu may usually be translated in a sentence as "all (of)," or, if it refers to only two things, as both (of)." Literally, dōu means "in all cases," "uniformly," "entirely," "completely." Since it is an adverb), it must be placed after the subject of a sentence and before the verb (like the adverb , "also".)

Notes on №8-9
8.A:Nǐ jiāli yǒu shénme rén?你家里有什么人?What people are (there) in your family?
 B:Yǒu wǒ tàitai gēn sānge háizi.有我太太跟三个孩子。There's my wife and three children.
     
9.B:Nǐ jiāli yǒu shénme rén?你家里有什么人?What people are (there) in your family?
 A:Jiù yǒu wǒ fùqin, mǔqin.就有我父亲,母亲。Just my father and mother.

Literally, the phrase nǐ jiāli means "in your home" (jiā, "home"; -li, "in"). In this sentence it is extended to mean "the people in your home, " that is, "your family."

Nǐ jiāli - yǒu - shénme rén? Phrase by phrase, this question is: "In your family - there are - what people?,’ The word "family" can be taken to mean either all your relatives or only those living in your household.

By itself, the verb yǒu means "to "be," "to exist." You have now seen it translated two ways:

  1. as "have," with a personal subject: Wǒmen yǒu sānge háizi . "We have three children."

  2. as "there is/are," in the so-called impersonal construction: Nǐ jiāli yǒu shénme rén? "What people are (there) in your family?"

In exchange 8, the verb yǒu in the answer is translated as "there's." Some English speakers may find this translation too colloquial. The answer can also be translated Just by listing the family members, with no verb in the English, as was done in exchange 9« Chinese almost always keeps the verb in the answer to a question, while English tends to leave it out.

How to say "and": Chinese has several words for "and." Gēn is the word for "and" when joining nouns or noun phrases. is the word for "and" when Joining verbs, verb phrases, or whole sentences:

Example 2.1. Example:

Wǒ bú xìng Lǐ, yě bú xìng Lǔ. Wǒ xìng Lǚ.

I'm not surnamed and I'm not surnamed . I'm surnamed .


Chinese tends to use a word for "and" when the noun phrases being Joined are not parallel and not to use one when the phrases are parallel:

Not parallel
Yǒu

wǒ tàitai

Possessor noun

gēn

sānge háizi.

number noun

There's my wife and 3 children.
Parallel
Yǒu

liǎngge nánháizi

number noun

,

yíge nǚháizi.

number noun

There are 2 boys and one girl.

While "and" is often omitted in Chinese, it may be added for emphasis between nouns and between noun phrases just as in English.

Jiù, "only," "Just," is an advert (like and dōu. The use of jiù to mean "only" is probably mostly confined to the Peking dialect.[6] Speakers from other parts of the country will not necessarily use jiù to mean "only" or understand it as such. A more widely used and understood word for "only" is zhǐ. Thus the answer in exchange 9 could also be: Zhǐ yǒu wǒ fùqin, mǔqin.

Notes on additional vocabulary

Chinese is much more precise than English in its terms for family members. There is not Just one word for "brother," or "sister" but words for "older brother," "younger brother," "older sister," and "younger sister."

 olderyounger  
brothergēgedìdibrothersxiōngdì
sisterjiějiemèimeisistersjiěmèi

When referring to both older and younger sisters, the term jiěmèi is used. When referring to both older and younger brothers, the term xiōngdì is used. When referring to sisters and brothers, the phrase xiōngdì jiěmèi is used.

Chinese also distinguishes between grandparents on the father's side of the family and grandparents on the mother's side:

 father's sidemother's side
grandfatherzǔfùwàizǔfù
grandmotherzǔmǔwàizǔmǔ

The syllable wài- in wàizǔfù and wàizǔmǔ literally means "outer" or "outside."

Drills

Response Drill

Table 2.21. Give affirmative answers, using yǒu.

Statement Answer
    
1.

他/她有美国朋友吗?

Tā yǒu Měiguó pényou ma?

Does he/she have any American friend?

 

有,他/她有美国朋友。

Yǒu, tā yǒu Měiguó péngyou.

Yes, he/she has some American friend.

2.

他/她有中国朋友吗?

Tā yǒu Zhōngguó péngyou ma?

Does he/she have any Chinese friend?

 

有,他/她有中国朋友。

Yǒu, tā yǒu Zhōngguó péngyou.

Yes, he/she has some Chinese friend.

    
3.

他/她有德国朋友吗?

Tā yǒu Déguó péngyou ma?

Does he/she have any German friend?

 

有,他/她有德国朋友。

Yǒu, tā yǒu Déguó péngyou.

Yes, he/she has some German friend.

    
4.

他/她有日本朋友吗?

Tā yǒu Rìběn péngyou ma?

Does he/she have any Japanese friend?

 

有,他/她有日本朋友。

Yǒu, tā yǒu Rìběn péngyou.

Yes, he/she has some Japanese friend.

    
5.

他/她有加拿大朋友吗?

Tā yǒu Jiānádà péngyou ma?

Does he/she have any Canadian friend?

 

有,他/她有加拿大朋友。

Yǒu, tā yǒu Jiānádà pényou.

Yes, he/she has some Canadian friend.

    
6.

他/她有俄国朋友吗?

Tā yǒu èguó péngyou ma?

Does he/she have any Russian friend?

 

有,他/她有俄国朋友。

Yǒu, tā yǒu èguó péngyou.

Yes, he/she has some Russian friend.

    
7.

他/她有英国朋友吗?

Tā yǒu Yīngguó péngyou ma?

Does he/she have any English friend?

 

有,他/她有英国朋友。

Yǒu, tā yǒu Yīngguó péngyou.

Yes, he/she has some English friend.


Response drill

Table 2.22. Give affirmatives answers using yǒu.

Statement Answer
    
1.

他/她有哥哥吗?

Tā yǒu gēge ma?

Does he/she have an older brother?

 

有,他/她有哥哥。

Yǒu, tā yǒu gēge.

Yes, he/she has an older brother.

    
2.

他/她有姐姐吗?

Tā yǒu jiějie ma?

Does he/she have an older sister?

 

有,他/她有姐姐。

Yǒu, tā yǒu jiějie.

Yes, he/she has an older sister.

    
3.

他/她有弟弟马?

Tā yǒu dìdi ma?

Does he/she have a younger brother?

 

有,他/她有弟弟。

Yǒu, tā yǒu dìdi.

Yes, he/she has a younger brother.

    
4.

他/她有妹妹?

Tā yǒu mèimei ma?

Does he/she have a younger sister?

 

有,他/她有妹妹。

Yǒu, tā yǒu mèimei.

Yes, he/she has a younger sister.

    
5.

他/她有孩子吗?

Tāmen yǒu háizi ma?

Does he/she have children?

 

有,他/她有孩子。

Yǒu, tāmen yǒu háizi.

Yes, he/she has children.

    
6.

他/她有男孩子?

Tāmen yǒu nánháizi ma?

Does he/she have boys?

 

有,他/她有男孩子。

Yǒu, tāmen yǒu nánháizi.

Yes, he/she has boys.

    
7.

他/她有女孩子?

Tāmen yǒu nǚháizi ma?

Does he/she have girls?

 

有,他/她有女孩子?

Yǒu, tāmen yǒu nǚháizi.

Yes, he/she has girls.


Response drill

Table 2.23. Give negative answers using méiyou.

Statement Answer
    
1.

张先生有姐姐吗?

Zhāng xiānsheng yǒu jiějie ma?

Does Mr. Zhāng have an older sister?

 

没有,张先生没有姐姐。

Méiyou, Zhāng xiānsheng méiyou jiějie.

No, Mr. Zhāng doesn't have an older sister.

    
2.

王先生有路孩子吗?

Wáng xiānsheng yǒu nǚháizi ma?

Does Mr. Wáng have a daughter?

 

没有,王先生没有路孩子。

Méiyou, Wáng xiānsheng méiyou nǚháizi.

No, Mr. Wáng doesn't have a daughter.

    
3.

林先生有妹妹吗?

Lín xiānsheng yǒu mèimei ma?

Does Mr. Lín have a younger sister?

 

没有,林先生没有妹妹。

Méiyou, Lín xiānsheng méiyou mèimei.

No, Mr. Lín doesn't have a younger sister.

    
4.

马太太有哥哥吗?

Mā tàitai yǒu gēge ma?

Does Mrs. have an older brother?

 

没有,马太太没有哥哥。

Méiyou, Mā tàitai méiyou gēge.

No, Mrs. doesn't have an older brother.

    
5.

黄小姐有弟弟吗?

Huáng xiǎojiě yǒu dìdi ma?

Does Miss Huáng have a younger brother?

 

没有,黄小姐没有弟弟。

Méiyou, Huáng xiǎojiě méiyou dìdi.

No, Miss Huáng doesn't have a younger brother.

    
6.

马先生,马太太有孩子吗?

Mǎ xiānsheng, Mǎ tàitai yǒu háizi ma?

Do Mr. , Mrs. have children?

 

没有,马先生,马太太没有孩子。

Méiyou, Mǎ xiānsheng, Mǎ tàitai méiyou háizi.

No, Mr. , Mrs. don't have children.

    
7.

杨太太有男孩子吗?

Yáng tàitai yǒu nánháizi ma?

Does Mrs. Yáng have boys?

 

没有,杨太太没有男孩子。

Méiyou, Yáng tàitai méiyou nánháizi.

No, Mrs. Yáng doesn't 'have boys.


Response drill

Table 2.24. Give a negative or affirmative response to each question according to the cue.

Question Cue Answer
      
1.

你有弟弟吗?

Nǐ yǒu dìdi ma?

Do you have a younger brother?

 

yǒu

yes

 

有,我有弟弟。

Yǒu, wǒ yǒu dìdi.

Yes, I have a younger brother.

      
2.

你有弟弟吗?

Nǐ yǒu dìdi ma?

Do you have an older brother?

 

没有

méiyou

no

 

没有,我没有弟弟。

Méiyou, wǒ méiyou dìdi.

No, I don't have an older brother.

      
3.

他/她有妹妹吗?

Tā yǒu mèimei ma?

Does he/she have a younger sister?

 

没有

méiyou

no

 

没有, 他/她没有妹妹。

Méiyou, tā méiyou mèimei.

No, he/she doesn't have a younger sister.

      
4.

王同志有哥哥吗?

Wáng tóngzhì yǒu gēge ma?

Does comrade Wáng have an older brother?

 

没有

yǒu

yes

 

有, 王同志有哥哥。

Yǒu, Wáng tóngzhì yǒu gēge.

Yes, comrade Wáng has an older brother.

      
5.

他们有孩子吗?

Tāmen yǒu háizi ma?

Do you have children?

 

yǒu

yes

 

有他们有孩子。

Yǒu, tāmen yǒu háizi.

Yes, we have children.

      
6.

局同志有英国朋友吗?

Gaō tóngzhì yǒu Yīngguó péngyou ma?

Does comrade Gaō have an English friend?

 

没有

méiyou

no

 

没有,局同志没有英国朋友。

Méiyou, Gaō tóngzhì méiyou Yīngguó oéngyou.

No, comrade Gaō doesn't have an English friend.

      
7.

陈先生有法国朋友吗?

Chén xiānsheng yǒu Fàguó péngyou ma?

Does Mr. Chén have a French friend?

 

yǒu

yes

 

有,陈先生有法国朋友。

Yǒu, Chén xiānsheng yǒu Fàguó péngyou.

Yes, Mr. Chén has a French friend.


Transformation drill

Table 2.25. Change each ma question to a question.

Statement Answer
    
1.

他们有孩子吗?

Tāmen yǒu háizi ma?

Do they have any children?

 

他们有几个孩子?

Tāmen yǒu jǐge háizi?

How many children do they have?

    
2.

王先生有姐姐吗?

Wáng xiānsheng yǒu jiějie ma?

Does Mr. Wáng have an older sister?

 

王先生有几个姐姐?

Wáng xiānsheng yǒu jǐge jiějie?

How many older sisters does have Mr Wáng?

    
3.

他们有男孩子吗?

Tāmen yǒu nánháizi ma?

Do they have any boys?

 

他们有几个男孩子?

Tāmen yǒu jǐge nánháizi?

How many boys do they have?

    
4.

你们有女孩子吗?

Nǐmen yǒu nǚháizi ma?

Do you have daughters?

 

你们有几个女孩子?

Nǐmen yǒu jǐge nǚháizi?

How many daughters do you have?

    
5.

方小姐有哥哥吗?

Fāng xiǎojiě yǒu gēge ma?

Does Miss Fāng have an older brother?

 

方小姐有几个哥哥?

Fāng xiǎojiě yǒu jǐge gēge?

How many older brothers does Miss Fāng have?

    
6.

赵太太有弟弟吗?

Zhào tàitai yǒu dìdi ma?

Does Mrs. Zhào have a younger brother?

 

赵太太有几个弟弟?

Zhào tàitai yǒu jǐge dìdi?

How many younger brothers does Mrs. Zhào have?

    
7.

他/她有中国朋友吗?

Tā yǒu Zhōngguó péngyou ma?

Does he/she have a Chinese friend?

 

他/她有几个中国朋友?

Tā yǒu jǐge Zhōngguó péngyou?

How many Chinese friends does he/she have?


Response drill

Table 2.26. Respond to the questions according to the cue.

Question Cue Answer
1.

张同志有几个孩子?

Zhāng tóngzhì yǒu jǐge háizi?

How many children does comrade Zhāng have?

  2  

张同志有两个孩子。

Zhāng tóngzhì yǒu liǎngge háizi.

Comrade Zhāng has 2 children.

      
2.

赵同志有几个女孩子?

Zhào tóngzhì yǒu jǐge nǚháizi?

How many daughters does comrade Zhào have?

  1  

赵同志有一个女孩子。

Zhào tóngzhì yǒu yíge nǚháizi.

Comrade Zhào has 1 daughter.

      
3.

陈同志有几个男孩子?

Chén tóngzhì yǒu jǐge nánháizi?

How many boys does comrade Chén have?

  3  

陈同志有三个男孩子。

Chén tóngzhì yǒu sānge nánháizi.

Comrade Chén has 3 boys.

      
4.

江同志有几个美国朋友?

Jiāng tóngzhì yǒu jǐge Měiguó péngyou.

How many American friends does comrade Jiāng have?

  5  

江同志有五个美国朋友。

Jiāng tōngzhì yǒu wǔge Měiguó péngyou.

Comrade Jiāng has 5 American friends.

      
5.

方同志有几个妹妹?

Fāng tóngzhì yǒu jǐge mèimei?

How many younger sisters does comrade Fāng have?

  1  

方同志有一个妹妹。

Fāng tóngzhì yǒu yíge mèimei.

Comrade Fāng has 1 younger sister.

      
6.

王先生有几个中国朋友?

Wáng xiānsheng yǒu jǐge Zhōngguó péngyou?

How many Chinese friends does Mr. Wáng have?

  align="center" 2  

王先生有两个中国朋友。

Wáng xiānsheng yǒu liǎngge Zhōngguó péngyou.

Mr. Wáng has 2 Chinese friends.

      
7.

他/她有几个哥哥?

Tā yǒu jǐge gēge?

How many older brothers does he/she have?

  3  

他/她有三个哥哥。

Tā yǒu sānge gēge.

He/she has 3 older brothers.


Expansion drill

Table 2.27. Add tle cues to the questions.

Question Cue Answer
      
1.

他/她有一个男孩子?

Tā yǒu jǐge nánháizi?

How many sons does he/she have?

 

女孩子

nǚháizi

daughter

 

他有几个男孩子,几个女孩子?

Tā yǒu jǐge nánháizi, jǐge nǚháizi?

How many sons and how many daughters does he/she have?

      
2.

黄先生有几个美国朋友?

Huáng xiānsheng yǒu jǐge Měiguó péngyou?

How many American friends does Mr. Huáng have?

 

法国朋友

Fàguó péngyou

French friend

 

黄先生有几个美国朋友,几个法国朋友?

Huáng xiānsheng yǒu jǐge Měiguó péngyou, jǐge Fàguó péngyou?

How many American friends and how many French friends does Mr. Huáng have?

      
3.

李太太有几个哥哥?

Lǐ tàitai yǒu jǐge gēge?

How many older brothers does Mrs. have?

 

弟弟

dìdi

younger brother

 

李太太有几个哥哥,几个弟弟?

Lǐ tàitai yǒu jige gēge, jǐge dìdi?

How many older brothers and how many younger brothers does Mrs. have?

      
4.

孙小姐有几个姐姐?

Sūn xiǎojiě yǒu jǐge jiějie?

How many older sisters does Miss Sūn have?

 

妹妹

mèimei

younger sister

 

孙小姐有几个姐姐,几个妹妹?

Sūn xiǎojiě yǒu jǐge jiějie, jǐge mèimei?

How many older sisters and how many younger sisters does Miss Sūn have?

      
5.

他们有几个英国朋友?

Tāmen yǒu jǐge Yīngguó péngyou?

How many English friends do they have?

 

德国朋友

Déguó péngyou

German friend

 

他们有几个英国朋友,几个德国朋友?

Tāmen yǒu jǐge Yīngguó péngyou, jǐge Déguó péngyou?

How many English and German friends do they have?

      
6.

宋先生有几个男孩子?

Sòng xiānsheng yǒu jǐge nánháizi?

How many sons does Mr. Sòng have?

 

女孩子

nǚháizi

daughter

 

宋先生有几个男孩子,几个女孩子?

Sòng xiānsheng yǒu jǐge nānháizi, jǐge nǚháizi?

How many sons and how many daughters does Mr. Sòng have?

      
7.

他/她有几个哥哥?

Tā yǒu jǐge gēge?

How many older brothers does he/she have?

 

姐姐

jiějie

older sister

 

他/她有几个哥哥,几个姐姐?

Tā yǒu jǐge gēge, jǐge jiějie?

How many older brother sand how many older sisters does he/she have?


Response drill

Table 2.28. Answer according to the cue.

Question Cue Answer
      
1.

他/她有几个男孩子,几个女孩子?

Tā yǒu jǐge nánháizi, jǐge nǚháizi?

How many sons and how many daughters does he/she have?

  2  

他/她就两个男孩子,没有女孩子。

Tā jiù yǒu liǎngge nánháizi, méiyou nǚháizi.

He/she has only two sons, no daughters.

      
2.

李先生有几个哥哥,几个姐姐?

Lǐ xiānsheng yǒu jǐge gēge, jǐge jiějie?

How many older brothers and how many older sisters does Mr. have?

  1  

他/她就有一个哥哥,没有姐姐。

Tā jiù yǒu yíge gēge, méiyou jiějie.

He/she has only one older brother and no older sister.

      
3.

张小姐有几个姐姐,几个妹妹?

Zhāng xiǎojiě yǒu jǐge jiějie, jǐge mèimei?

How many older sisters and how many younger sisters does Miss Zhāng have?

  2  

他/她就有两个姐姐,没有妹妹。

Tā jiù yǒu liǎngge jiějie, méiyou mèimei.

He/she has only two older sisters nad no younger sister.

      
4.

周太太有几个哥哥,几个弟弟?

Zhōu tàitai yǒu jǐge gēge, jǐge dìdi?

How many older brothers and how many younger brothers does Mrs. Zhōu have?

  1  

他/她就有一个哥哥,没有弟弟。

Tā jiù yǒu yíge gēge, méiyou dìdi.

He/she has only one older brother, no younger brother.

      
5.

胡先生有几个弟弟,几个妹妹?

Hú xiānsheng yǒu jǐge dìdi, jǐge mèimei?

How many younger brothers and how many younger sisters does Mr. have?

  2  

他就有两个弟弟,没有妹妹。

Tā jiù yǒu liǎngge dìdi, méiyou mèimei.

He has only two younger brothers and no younger sister.

      
6.

他/她有几个法国朋友,几个德国朋友?

Tā yǒu jǐge Fàguó péngyou, jǐge Déguó péngyou?

How many French friends and how many German friends does he/she have?

  2  

他/她就两个法国朋友,没有德国朋友。

Tā jiù yǒu liǎngge Fàguó péngyou, méiyou Déguó péngyou.

He/she has only two French friends and no German friend.

      
7.

他们有几个男孩子,几个女孩子?

Tāmen yǒu jǐge nánháizi, jǐge nǚháizi?

How many sons and how many daughters do they have?

  1  

他们就有一个男孩子,没有女孩子。

Tāmen jiù yǒu yíge nánháizi, méiyou nǚháizi.

They have only one son and no daughter.


Response drill

Table 2.29. Respond according to the cue.

Question Cue Answer
      
1.

他/她有几个男孩子,几个女孩子?

Tā yǒu jǐge nánháizi, jǐge nǚháizi?

How many sons and how many daughters does he/she have?

  2, 3  

他/她有两个男孩子, 三个女孩子。

Tā yǒu liǎngge nánháizi, sānge nǚháizi.

He/she has 2 sons and 3 daughters.

      
2.

周同志有几个哥哥, 几个弟弟?

Zhōu tóngzhì yǒu jǐge gēge, jǐge dìdi?

How many older brothers and how many younger brothers does comrade Zhōu have ?

  1, 2  

周同志有一个哥哥,两个弟弟。

Zhōu tóngzhì yǒu yíge gēge, liǎngge dìdi.

Comrade Zhōu has one older brother and two younger brothers.

      
3.

张同志有几个姐姐,几个妹妹?

Zhāng tóngzhi yǒu jǐge jiějie, jǐge mèimei?

How many older sisters and how many younger sisters does comrade Zhāng have.

  3, 1  

张同志有三个姐姐,一个妹妹。

Zhāng tóngzhì yǒu sānge jiějie, yíge mèimei.

Comrade Zhāng has 3 older sisters and one younger sister.

      
4.

他们有几个中国朋友,几个日本朋友?

Tāmen yǒu jǐge Zhōngguó péngyou, jǐge Rìběn péngyou?

How many Chinese friends and how many Japanese friends do they have?

  5, 1  

他们有五个中国朋友,一个日本朋友。

Tāmen yǒu wǔge Zhōngguó péngyou, yíge Rìběn péngyou.

They have 5 Chinese friends and one Japanese friend.

      
5.

陈同志有几个英国朋友, 几个德国朋友?

Chén tóngzhì yǒu jǐge Yīngguó péngyou, jǐge Déguó péngyou?

How many English friends and how many German friends does comrade Chén have?

  3, 2  

陈同志有三个英国朋友,两个德国朋友。

Chén tóngzhì yǒu sānge Yīngguó péngyou, liǎngge Déguó péngyou.

Comrade Chén has 3 English friends and 3 German friends.

      
6.

刘同志有几个男孩子, 几个女孩子?

Liú tóngzhì yǒu jǐge nánháizi, jǐge nǚháizi?

How many sons and how many daughters does comrade Liú have?

  2, 2  

刘同志有两个男孩子,两个女孩子。

Liú tóngzhì yǒu liǎngg nánháizi,liǎngg nǚháizi.

Comrade Liú has 2 sons and 2 daughters.

      
7.

他/她有几个姐姐,几个哥哥?

Tā yǒu jǐge jiějie, jǐge gēge?

How many older sisters and how many older brothers does he/she have?

  1, 3  

他/她有一个姐姐, 三个哥哥。

Tā yǒu yíge jiějie, sānge gēge.

He/she has one older sister and 3 older brothers.


Response drill

Table 2.30. The speaker will ask you 2 questions for each exchange. Use the number cue to answer the first question. Answer the second question with Dōu and the first alternative.

Question Cue Answer
      
1.

请问, 他们有几个孩子?

Qǐnwèn, tāmen yǒu jǐge háizi?

May I ask, how many children do you have?

 

2

2

2

 

他们有两个孩子。

Tāmen yǒu liǎngge háizi.

They have 2 children.

      
2.

是男孩子,是女孩子?

Shì nánháizi, shì nǚháizi?

Are they boys or girls?

 

Dōu

all

 

都是男孩子。

Dōu shì nānháizi.

Both of them are boys.

      
3.

请问,他/她有几个兄弟?

Qǐnwèn, tā yǒu jǐge xiōngdì?

May I ask, how many brothers does he/she have?

 

3

3

3

 

他/她有三个兄弟。

Tā yǒu sānge xiōngdì.

He/she has 3 brothers.

      
4.

是哥哥,是弟弟?

Shì gēge, shì dìdi?

Are they older or younger brothers?

 

Dōu

all

 

都是哥哥。

Dōu shì gēge.

All of them are older brothers.

      
5.

请问,他/她有几个姐妹?

Qǐngwèn, tā yǒu jǐge jiěmèi?

May I ask, how many sisters does he/she have?

 

2

2

2

 

他/她有两个姐妹。

Tā yǒu liǎngge jiěmèi.

He/she has 2 sisters.

      
6.

是姐姐,是妹妹?

Shì jiějie, shì mèimei?

Are they older or younger sisters?

 

Dōu

all

 

都是姐姐。

Dōu shì jiějie.

Both of them are older sisters.

      
7.

请问,他/她有几个中国朋友?

Qǐngwèn, tā yǒu jǐge Zhōngguó péngyou?

May I ask, how many Chinese friends does he/she have?

 

4

4

4

 

他/她有诗歌中国朋友。

Tā yǒu sìge Zhōngguò péngyou.

He/she has 4 Chinese friends.

      
8.

是男朋友,是女朋友?

Shì nánpéngyou, shì nǚpéngyou?

Are they male or female friends?

 

Dōu

all

 

都是男朋友。

Dōu shì nánpéngyou.

All of them are female friends.

      
9.

请问,他/她有几个美国朋友?

Qǐngwèn, tā yǒu jǐge Měiguó péngyou?

May I ask, how many American friends does he/she have?

 

2

2

2

 

他/她有两个美国朋友。

Tā yǒu liǎngge Měiguó péngyou.

He/she has 2 American friends.

      
10.

是男朋友,是女朋友?

Shì nánpéngyou, shì nǚpéngyou?

Are they male or female friends?

 

Dōu

all

 

都是男朋友。

Dōu shì nánpéngyou.

Both of them are male friends.

      
11.

请问,他/她有几个孩子。

Qǐngwèn, tā yǒu jǐge háizi?

May I ask, how many children does he/she have?

 

3

3

3

 

他/她有三个孩子。

Tā yǒu sānge háizi.

He/she has 3 children.

      
12.

是男孩子,是女孩子?

Shì nánháizi, shì nǚháizi?

Are they boys or girls?

 

Dōu

all

 

都是男孩子。

Dōu shì nánháizi.

All of them are boys.

13.

请问,他们有几个孩子。

Qǐngwèn, tāmen yǒu jǐge háizi?

May I ask, how many children do they have?

 

5

5

5

 

他们有五个孩子。

Tāmen yǒu wǔge háizi.

They have 5 children.

      
14.

是男孩子,是女孩子?

Shì nánháizi, shì nǚháizi?

Are they boys or girls?

 

Dōu

all

 

都是男孩子。

Dōu shì nánháizi.

All of them are boys.


Substitution drill

Table 2.31. Substitute the cue .

Question Cue Answer
      
1.

请问,你们家里有什么人?

Qǐngwèn, nǐmen jiāli yǒu shénme rén?

May I ask, what people are (there) in your family?

 

他们

tāmen

they

 

请问,他们家里有什么人?

Qǐngwèn, tāmen jiāli yǒu shénme rén?

May I ask, what people are (there) in their family?

      
2.

请问,他们家里有什么人?

Qǐngwèn, tāmen jiāli yǒu shénme rén?

May I ask, what people are (there) in their family?

 

方先生

Fāng xiānsheng

Mr. Fāng

 

请问,方先生有什么人?

Qǐngwèn, Fāng xiānsheng yǒu shénme rén?

May I ask, what people are (there) in Mr. Fāng family?

      
3.

请问,方先生家里有什么人?

Qǐngwen, Fāng xiānsheng jiāli yǒu shénme rén?

May I ask, what people are (there) in Mr. Fāng family?

 

张小姐

Zhāng xiǎojiě

Miss Zhāng

 

请问,张小姐家里有什么人?

Qǐngwèn, Zhāng xiǎojiě jiāli yǒu shénme rén?

May I ask, what people are (there) in Miss Zhāng family?

      
4.

请问,张小姐家里有什么人?

Qǐngwen, Zhāng xiǎojiě jiāli yǒu shénme rén?

May I ask, what people are (there) in Miss Zhāng family?

 

李明理

Lǐ Mínglǐ

Lǐ Mínglǐ

 

请问,明理家里有什么人?

Qǐngwèn, Lǐ Mínglǐ jiāli yǒu shénme rén?

May I ask, what people are (there) in Lǐ Mínglǐ family?

      
5.

请问,李明理家里有什么人?

Qǐngwèn, Lǐ Mínglǐ jiāli yǒu shénme rén?

May I ask, what people are (there) in Lǐ Mínglǐ family?

 

你哥哥

nǐ gēge

your older brother

 

请问,你哥哥家里有什么人?

Qǐngwèn, nǐ gēge jiāli yǒu shénme rén?

May I ask, what people are (there) in your older brother's family?

      
6.

请问,你哥哥家里有什么人?

Qǐngwèn, nǐ gēge jiāli yǒu shénme rén?

May I ask, what people are (there) in your older brother's family?

 

你朋友

nǐ péngyou

your friend

 

请问,你朋友家里有什么人?

Qǐngwèn nǐ péngyou jiāli yǒu shénme rén?

May I ask, what people are (there) in your friend's family?

      
7.

请问,你朋友家里有什么人?

Qǐngwèn, nǐ péngyou jiāli yǒu shénme rén?

May I ask, what people are (there) in your friend's family?

 

你爸爸

nǐ bàba

your father

 

请问,你爸爸家里有什么人?

Qíngwèn, nǐ bàba jiāli yǒu shénme rén?

May I ask, what people are (there) in your father's family?


Expansion drill

Table 2.32. Add the cue and gēn to each sentence.

Question Cue Answer
      
1.

他/她有一个孩子。

Tā yǒu yíge háizi.

He/she has one child.

 

太太

tàitai

wife

 

有他/她太太跟一个孩子。

Yǒu tā tàitai gēn yíge háizi.

There are his wife and one child.

      
2.

胡先生有一个妹妹。

Hú xiānsheng yǒu yíge mèimei.

Mr. has one younger sister.

 

母亲

mǔqin

mother

 

有他母亲跟一个妹妹。

Yǒu tā mǔqin gēn yíge mèimei.

There are his mother and one younger sister.

      
3.

李小姐有两个弟弟。

Lǐ xiǎojiě yǒu liǎngge dìdi.

Miss has 2 younger brothers.

 

姐姐

jiějie

older sister

 

有她姐姐跟两个弟弟。

Yǒu tā jiějie gēn liǎngge dìdi.

There are her older sister and two younger brothers.

      
4.

刘先生有一个女孩子。

Liú xiānsheng yǒu yíge nǚhaizi.

Mr. Liú has one daughter.

 

母亲

mǔqin

mother

 

有他母亲跟一个女孩子。

Yǒu tā mǔqin gēn yíge nǚháizi.

There are his mother and one daughter.

      
5.

林太太有三个男孩子。

Lín tàitai yǒu sānge nánháizi.

Mrs. Lín has 2 boys.

 

先生

xiānsheng

husband

 

有她先生跟三个男孩子。

Yǒu tā xiānsheng gēn sānge nánháizi.

There are her husband and 3 boys.

      
6.

他/她有一个姐姐。

Tā yǒu yíge jiějie.

He has one older sister.

 

父亲

fùqin

father

 

有他/她父亲跟一个姐姐。

Yǒu tā fùqin gēn yíge jiějie.

There are his/her older sister and his/her father.

      
7.

王先生有四个孩子。

Wāng xiānsheng yǒu sìge háizi.

Mr. Wāng has 4 children.

 

太太

tàitai

wife

 

有他太太跟四个孩子。

Yǒu tā tàitai gēn sìge háizi.

There are his wife and 4 children.


Response drill

Table 2.33. Answer to the question according to the cue.

Question Cue Answer
      
1.

他们孩子都在这里吗?

Tāmen háizi dōu zài zhèli ma?

Are all of their children here?

 

美国

Měiguó

America

 

不,一个这里,一个还在美国。

Bù, yíge zhèli, yíge hái zài Měiguó.

No, one is here, and one is still in America.

      
2.

他/她哥哥,姐姐都在这里吗?

Tā gēge, jiějie dōu zài zhèli ma?

Are his/her older brother and older sister both here?

 

加州

Jiāzhōu

California

 

不,一个在这里,一个还在加州。

Bù, yíge zài zhèli, yíge hái zài Jiāzhōu.

No, one is here, and one is still in California.

      
3.

他/他美国朋友都在这里吗?

Tā měiguó péngyou dōu zài zhèli ma?

Are his/her American friends all here?

 

台中

Táizhōng

T'ai-chung

 

不,一个在 ,一个还在台中。

Bù, yíge zài zhèli, yíge hái zài Táizhōng.

No, one is here, and one is still in T'ai-chung.

      
4.

他/他弟弟,妹妹都在中国吗?

Tā dìdi , mèimei dōu zài Zhōngguó ma?

Are his/her younger brother and younger sister both here?

 

德州

Dézhōu

Texas

 

不,一个在中国,一个还在德州。

Bù, yíge zài Zhōngguó, yíge hái zài Dézhōu.

No, one is is in China, one is still in Texas.

      
5.

王先生的孩子都在这里吗?

Wáng ziānsheng de háizi dōu zài Dézhōu ma?

Are Mr. Wáng's children all here?

 

加州

Jiāzhōu

California

 

不,一个在德州,一个还在加州。

Bù, yíge zài Dézhōu, yíge hái zài Jiāzhōu.

No, one is in Texas, and one is still in California.

      
6.

内两位先生都在上海吗?

Nèi liǎngwèi xiānsheng dōu zài Shànghǎi ma?

Are they both in Shànghǎi?

 

青岛

Qīngdǎo

Qīngdǎo

 

不,一个在上海,一个还在青岛。

Bù, yíge zài Shànghǎi, yíge hái zài Qīngdǎo.

No, one is in Shànghǎi, one is in Qīngdǎo.

      
7.

他们孩子都在香港吗?

Tāmen háizi dōu zài Xiāngǎng ma?

Are their children all in Hong-Kong?

 

美国

Měiguó

America

 

不,一个在香港,一个还在美国。

Bù, yíge zài Xiāngǎng, yíge hái zài Měiguó.

No, one is in Hong-Kong, one is still in America.




[5] A few nouns referring to people may be made explicitly plural by adding -men . Háizimen can only be ''children"

[6] Jiù has several other meanings, which will be presented to you as you continue through this course.