Chinese-Rudgers/Cours/rudgers-31.txt

Lesson Thirty One: Dialogue We took a seventeen hour flight



(In the CAAC's flight, to the left of Ding Renmei is her boyfriend 
Xie Xueyou, to her right is a young man about thirty years old.  This 
young man looks Chinese.  He nods at Xiaoding and her boyfriend 
politely. )

The young man: Hi!
Xiaoding: Hello.  May I ask, are you Chinese?
The young man: Yes.  (I) didn't expect that you can speak Chinese.  
               Your Chinese pronunciation is very standard.
Xiaoding: No, not at all.
The young man: For how long have you studied Chinese?
Xiaoding: I have studied Chinese for two years in my university.  (I) 
          don't speak well.  So, this time, I am going to Beijing 
          University to attend a short-term language training program 
          with my boyfriend. 
The young man: That's great.  Beijing University just happens to be my 
               alma mater.  Before I came to the U.S., I studied in the 
               Computer Science Department at Beijing University for
               four years.
Xueyou: How long have you been in the U.S.?
The young man: For over six years.  Now I am working in an American 
               company.  This time I am going back to China on a business trip. 
               I can also take the opportunity to see my parents and 
               friends.
Xueyou: Do you often go back to China?
The young man: No.  This is my first time to go back to China. 
Xiaoding: Then, your mom and dad must be very happy.
The young man: Right.  They will both come to the airport to pick me up. 
               Is there anyone to pick you up?
Xueyou: Yes.  Teacher Liu from the Foreign Affairs Office of Beijing 
              University will pick us up. 
The young man: That's good.  (We) have a few more minutes before 
               we arrive in Beijing.  I hope everything goes well 
               for your stay in Beijing!
Xiaoding, Xueyou: Thank you.  (We) also wish everything goes well for you!

(At the exit of the Beijing International Airport, Xiaoding and
 Xueyou met Teacher Liu from the Foreign Affairs Office of Beijing 
 University.)
Xiaoding: Are you Teacher Liu from the Foreign Affairs Office of Beijing 
          University?
Teacher Liu: Right.  You must be Ding Renmei and Xie Xueyou.
Xueyou, Xiaoding: Yes.  Hello, Teacher Liu!
Teacher Liu: Hello.  Welcome to Beijing! You must have had a tiring 
             journey!  From New York to Beijing, how long were you on the 
             plane (how long was the flight)?
Xiaoding: We took a seventeen hour flight (on the plane for 
          seventeen hours). 
Teacher Liu: O.K.  Let's get in the car.  You can take a good rest as
             soon as you arrive at school. 

 

初级第三十一课: 对话 我们坐了十七个小时飞机


(在中国民航的班机上，丁人美的左边是她的男朋友谢学友，右边是一个三
十岁左右的年轻人。 这个年轻人长得很像中国人。 他很有礼貌地对小丁
和她的男朋友点点头。)
 
年轻人：Hi！
小丁：你好！请问，你是中国人吗？
年轻人：是。 没想到你会说中文。 你的中文发音很标准。
小丁：哪里哪里。
年轻人：你学了多长时间的中文了？
小丁：我在大学学了两年的中文了。 说得不太好，所以这次和我的男朋友一起
      去北京大学参加一个短期语言训练班。
年轻人：那太好了。 北京大学正是我的母校。 我来美国以前，在北京大学的
        计算机系学了四年。
学友：你在美国呆了多长时间？
年轻人：六年多了。 现在我在一家美国公司工作，这次回国是出差，顺便也看看
        父母和朋友们。
学友：你常回中国吗？
年轻人：不。 这是我第一次回中国。
小丁：那你爸爸﹑妈妈一定很高兴。
年轻人：对。 他们都会来机场接我。 有人接你们吗？
学友：有。 北京大学外事办的刘老师会来接我们。
年轻人：那就好。 还有几分钟就要到北京了。 祝你们在北京一切顺利！
小丁﹑学友：谢谢。 也祝你一切顺利！
 
(在北京国际机场的出口处，小丁和学友见到了北京大学外事办的刘老师。)
小丁：您是北京大学外事办的刘老师吧？
刘老师：对。 你们一定是丁人美和谢学友。
学友﹑小丁：是的。 刘老师好！
刘老师：你们好！欢迎你们来北京！路上辛苦了! 从纽约到北京，你们坐了多
        长时间的飞机？
小丁：我们坐了十七个小时的飞机。
刘老师：好，请上车吧。到了学校你们就可以好好休息一下儿了。
  


初級第三十一課: 對話 我們坐了十七個小時飛機


(在中國民航的班機上﹐丁人美的左邊是她的男朋友謝學友﹐右邊是一個三
十歲左右的年輕人。 這個年輕人長得很像中國人。 他很有禮貌地對小丁
和她的男朋友點點頭。)
 
年輕人﹕Hi﹗
小丁﹕你好﹗請問﹐你是中國人嗎﹖
年輕人﹕是。 沒想到你會說中文。 你的中文發音很標準。
小丁﹕哪裡哪裡。
年輕人﹕你學了多長時間的中文了﹖
小丁﹕我在大學學了兩年的中文了。 說得不太好﹐所以這次和我的男朋友一起
      去北京大學參加一個短期語言訓練班。
年輕人﹕那太好了。 北京大學正是我的母校。 我來美國以前﹐在北京大學的
        計算機系學了四年。
學友﹕你在美國呆了多長時間﹖
年輕人﹕六年多了。 現在我在一家美國公司工作﹐這次回國是出差﹐順便也看看
        父母和朋友們。
學友﹕你常回中國嗎﹖
年輕人﹕不。 這是我第一次回中國。
小丁﹕那你爸爸﹑媽媽一定很高興。
年輕人﹕對。 他們都會來機場接我。 有人接你們嗎﹖
學友﹕有。 北京大學外事辦的劉老師會來接我們。
年輕人﹕那就好。 還有幾分鐘就要到北京了。 祝你們在北京一切順利﹗
小丁﹑學友﹕謝謝。 也祝你一切順利﹗
 
(在北京國際機場的出口處﹐小丁和學友見到了北京大學外事辦的劉老師。)
小丁﹕您是北京大學外事辦的劉老師吧﹖
劉老師﹕對。 你們一定是丁人美和謝學友。
學友﹑小丁﹕是的。 劉老師好﹗
劉老師﹕你們好﹗歡迎你們來北京﹗路上辛苦了! 從紐約到北京﹐你們坐了多
        長時間的飛機﹖
小丁﹕我們坐了十七個小時的飛機。
劉老師﹕好﹐請上車吧。到了學校你們就可以好好休息一下兒了。
  


初级第三十一课: 对话 我们坐了十七个小时飞机

Wǒmen Zuò Le Shíqī  Ge Xiǎoshí Fēijī
   (Zài Zhōngguo mínháng  de bānjī shang, Dīng Rénměi de zuǒbiān shì tā de nán 
   péngyou Xiè Xuéyǒu, yòubiān  shì yí ge sānshí suì zuǒyòu de niánqīng réen. 
   Zhè ge niánqīng rén zhǎng de hěn  xiàng Zhōngguo rén. Tā hěn yǒu lǐmào de duì 
   Xiǎo Dīng hé tā de nán péngyou diǎndiǎn  tóu.)
   Niánqīng rén: Hi!
   Xiǎo Dīng:    Nǐ hǎo!  Qǐngwèn, nǐ shì Zhōngguo rén ma?
   Niánqīng rén: Shì.  Méi xiǎng dào nǐ huì shuō Zhōngwén. Nǐ de Zhōngwén fāyīn 
                 hěn biāozhǔn.
   Xiǎo Dīng:    Nǎlǐ nǎlǐ.
   Niánqīng rén: Nǐ  xué le duōcháng shíjiān de Zhōngwén le ?
   Xiǎo Dīng:    Wǒ zài  dàxué xué le liǎng nián de Zhōngwén le. Shuō de bú tài hǎo, 
                 suǒyǐ zhè cì hé wǒ  de nán péngyou yìqǐ qù Běijīng dàxué cānjiā yí 
                 ge duǎnqī yǔyán xùnliàn bān.
   Niánqīng rén: Nà  tài hǎo le. Běijīng dàxué zhèng shì wǒ de mǔxiào. Wǒ lái Měiguo
                 yǐqián, zài Běijīng  dàxué de jìsuànjī xì xué le sì nián.
   Xiǎo Dīng:    Nǐ zài  Měiguo dāi le duōcháng shíjiān ?
   Niánqīng rén: Liù  nián duō le. Xiànzài wǒ zài yì jiā Měiguo gōngsī gōngzuò, 
                 zhè cì huí guó shì chūuchāi,  shùnbiàn yě kànkan fùmǔ hé péngyoumen.
   Xiǎo Dīng:    Nǐ cháng  huí Zhōngguo ma ?
   Niánqīng rén: Bù.  Zhè shì wǒ dì yī cì huí Zhōngguo.
   Xiǎo Dīng:    Nà nǐ  bàba māma yídìng hěn gāoxìng.
   Niánqīng rén: Duì.  Tāmen dōu huì lái jīchǎng jiē wǒ. Yǒu rén jiē nǐmen ma ?
   Xuéyǒu:       Yǒu. Běijīng  dàxué wàishìbàn de Liú lǎoshī huì lái jiē wǒmen.
   Niánqīng rén: Nà  jiù hǎao. Háiyǒu jǐ fēnzhōng jiù yào dào Běijīng le. Zhù nǐmen zài 
                 Běijīng yíqiè  shùnlì!
   Xiǎo Dīng, Xuéyǒu:  Yě zhù nǐ yíqiè shùnlì!
  (Zài Běijīng guójì  jīchǎng de chūkǒuchù, Xiǎo Dīng hé Xuéyǒu jiàndào le Běijīng dàxué 
   wàishìbàn de  Liú lǎoshī.)
   Xiǎo Dīng:    Nín shì  Běijīng dàxué wàishìbàn de Liú lǎoshī ba?
   Liú Lǎoshī:   Duì.  Nǐmen yídìng shì Dīng Rénměi hé Xiè Xuéyǒu.
   Xiǎo Dīng, Xuéyǒu:  Shì de. Liú lǎoshī hǎo!
   Liú Lǎoshī:   Nǐmen  hǎo! Huānying nǐmen lái Běijīng! Lùshang xīnkǔ le! Cóng Niǔyuē 
                 dào Běijīng, nǐmen  zuò le duōcháng shíjiān de fēijī?
   Xiǎo Dīng:    Wǒmen  zuò le shíqī ge xiǎoshí de fēijī.
   Liú Lăoshi:   Hăo, qĭng  shàng chē ba. Dào le xuéxiào nĭmen jiù kĕyĭ hăohāor xiūxi 
                 yíxiàr le.



Lesson Thirty One: Article Just arrived in Beijing


The plane that Xie Xueyou and Ding Renmei took landed safely at 
Beijing International Airport.  Xueyou looked at his watch, from New
York to Beijing, the plane flew for over ten hours.  China is really 
too far away from the U.S..

When Xueyou and Xiaoding walked into the Customs hall, they were 
very surprised!  The Beijing International Airport is really big and 
beautiful.  When they were in the States, Teacher Wang told them that 
in recent years, Beijing has changed a lot; the International Airport 
is also a new modern airport.  

Xueyou and Xiaoding went out of Customs, and saw Teacher Liu from 
the Foreign Affairs Office of Beijing University.  They all got in a car.
On the highway from the airport to Beijing downtown, Xueyou and Xiaoding 
saw a lot of cars, (they) also saw a lot of beautiful tall buildings.  
Teacher Liu told them Beijing is the political, cultural and economic 
center of China.  It has a population of over 10 million.  In addition, 
Beijing attracts more than 100,000 foreign tourists from all over the 
world every year.  It is also a tourist resort.

From the airport to Beijing Universtiy, the car drove for one and a half 
hours.  When they arrived at the university, it was already past 8:00pm.  
Teacher Liu arranged for them to stay in the foreign students dormitory.  
Teacher Liu told them to rest early today.  He would take them to do the 
registration the next day.

初级第三十一课: 短文 初到北京


谢学友和丁人美乘坐的飞机平安地降落在北京国际机场。 学友看了一下儿手錶，
从纽约到北京，飞机飞了十多个小时。 中国离美国实在太远了。 当学友和小丁
走进海关大厅的时候，他们都非常惊讶！北京国际机场真大，真漂亮。在美国的
时候，王老师就告诉他们，这几年北京的变化非常大，国际机场也是一座现代化
的新机场。 学友和小丁出了海关， 见到了北京大学外事办的刘老师。 大家一
起上了车。在从机场到北京城里的高速公路上， 学友和小丁看到了很多汽车，
也看到了很多漂亮的高层建筑。 刘老师告诉他们，北京是中国的政治，经济和
文化中心，有一千多万人口。 此外，北京每年吸引十多万来自世界各地的游客，
也是一个旅游胜地。 从机场到北京大学，汽车开了一个半小时。 学友和小丁到
学校的时候，已经是晚上八点多了。 刘老师安排他们住在留学生宿舍。 刘老师
告诉他们，今天早点儿休息，明天再带他们办理报到注册的手续。  



初級第三十一課: 短文 初到北京



謝學友和丁人美乘坐的飛機平安地降落在北京國際機場。 學友看了一下兒手錶﹐
從紐約到北京﹐飛機飛了十多個小時。 中國離美國實在太遠了。 當學友和小丁
走進海關大廳的時候﹐他們都非常驚訝﹗北京國際機場真大﹐真漂亮。在美國的
時候﹐王老師就告訴他們﹐這幾年北京的變化非常大﹐國際機場也是一座現代化
的新機場。 學友和小丁出了海關﹐ 見到了北京大學外事辦的劉老師。 大家一
起上了車。在從機場到北京城里的高速公路上﹐ 學友和小丁看到了很多汽車﹐
也看到了很多漂亮的高層建築。 劉老師告訴他們﹐北京是中國的政治﹐經濟和
文化中心﹐有一千多萬人口。 此外﹐北京每年吸引十多萬來自世界各地的游客﹐
也是一個旅游勝地。 從機場到北京大學﹐汽車開了一個半小時。 學友和小丁到
學校的時候﹐已經是晚上八點多了。 劉老師安排他們住在留學生宿舍。 劉老師
告訴他們﹐今天早點兒休息﹐明天再帶他們辦理報到註冊的手續。  



初级第三十一课: 短文 初到北京


Chū Dào Běijīng

Xiè Xuéyǒu hé Dīng  Rénměi chéng zuò de fēijī píng’ān de jiàngluò zài Běijīng 
guójì jīchǎng. Xuéyǒu  kàn le yí xiàr shǒubiǎo, cóng Niǔyuē dào Běijīng, fēijī 
fēi le shí duō ge xiǎoshí.  Zhōngguo lí Měiguo shízài tài yuǎn le. Dāng Xuéyǒu 
hé Xiǎo Dīng zǒu jìn hǎiguān  dàtīng deshíhou, tāmen dōu fēicháng jīngyà ! 
Běijīng guójì jīchǎng zhēn dà,  zhēn piàoliang. Zài Měiguo deshíhou, Wǎng lǎoshī 
jiù gàosu tāmen, zhè jǐ nián Běijīng  de biànhuà fēicháng dà, guójì jīcháng yě 
shì yí zuò xiàndàihuà de xīn jīchǎng. Xuéyǒu  hé Xiǎo Dīng chū le hǎiguān, jiàn 
dào le Běijīng dàxué wàishìbàn de Liú lǎoshī.  Dàjiā yìqǐ shàng le chē. Zài cóng 
jīchǎng dào Běijīng chéng lǐ de gāosù gōnglù  shàng, Xuéyǒu hé Xiǎo Dīng kàn dào 
le hěn duō qìchē, yě kàn dào le hěn duō piàoliang  de gāocéng jiànzhù. Liú lǎoshī 
gàosu tāmen, Běijīng shì Zhōngguo de zhèngzhì, jīngjì  hé wénhuà zhōngxīn, yǒu yì 
qiān duō wàn rénkǒu. Cǐwài, Běijīng měi nián xīyǐn  shí duō wàn láizì shìjiè gèdì 
de yóukè, yě shì yí ge lǚyóu shèngdì. Cóng jīchǎng  dào Běijīng dàxué, qìchē kāi 
le yí ge bàn xiǎoshí. Xuéyǒu hé Xiǎo Dīng dào xuéxiào  de shíhou, yǐjīng shì 
wǎnshang bā diǎn duō le. Liú lǎoshī ānpái tāmen zhù zài  liúxuéshēng sùshè. Liú 
lǎoshī gàosù tāmen, jīntiān zǎo diǎnr xiīxi, míngtiān zài  dài tāmen bànlǐ bàodào 
zhùcè de shǒuxù.



初级第三十一课
词 汇


Chinese Words  Pinyin  Part of Speech	Engl. Trans.	Examples
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
班机          bānjī                    n.           flight
左右          zuǒyòu                   adv.         about, approximately
长得...       zhǎngde                  v.           to look like, to be grown
礼貌          lǐmào                    adj.         polite
点头          diǎntóu                  v.           to nod
没想到        méixiǎngdào              idiom exp.   did not think
发音          fāyīn                    n.           pronunciation
标准          biāozhǔn                 adj.         precise, standard
训练班        xùnliànbān                n.           training class, training
                                                    program
母校          mǔxiào                   n.           alma mater 
计算机        jìsuànjī                 n.           computer
系            xì                       n.           department
呆            dāi                      v.           to stay
家            jiā                    measure word   for families or business
             					                      establishments            
公司          gōngsī                   n.           company
出差          chūchāi                  v.phrase     to go on a business trip
顺便          shùnbiàn                adv.         by taking advantage of the 
                                                    opportunity
那            nà                      conj.        then, in that case       
外事办        wàishìbàn                n.           foreign affairs office 
出口处        chūkǒuchù                n.           exit
上车          shàngchē                v.phrase     to get in a car/on a bus
乘坐          chéngzuò                v.           to take (train/boat/plan)
降落          jiàngluò                v.           to land
实在          shízài                  adv.         really
当...的时候   dāng...deshíhòu        prep.phrase  (at the time) when
走进          zǒujìn                   v.           to walk/step into
海关          hǎiguān                  n.           customs
大厅          dàtīng                   n.           hall
惊讶          jīngyà                  adj.         suprised
变化          biànhuà                  n.           change
座            zuò                   measure word   for mountains, buildings
                                                   or other simmilar immovable
 						                             objects
现代化        xiàndàihuà              adj.         modernized      
出            chū                     v.           to exit
高速公路      gāosùgōnglù              n.           highway
高层建筑      gāocéngjiànzhù         n.phrase       tall building
政治          zhèngzhì                 n.           politics
经济          jīngjì                   n.           economics
文化          wénhuà                   n.           culture
人口          rénkǒu                   n.           population
此外          cǐwài                   adv.         in addition to, besides     
吸引          xīyǐn                   v.           to attract
来自          láizì                   v.           to come from
世界各地      shìjiègèdì               n.           all over the world
游客          yóukè                   n.           tourist
旅游          lǚyóu                   v.n.         to tour, tour
旅游胜地      lǚyóushèngdì             n.           tourist resort
开            kāi                     v.           to drive
办理          bànlǐ                   v.           to handle,to process
报到注册      bàodàozhùcè            v.phrase       to register
手续          shǒuxù                  n.           precedure, paper work 
辛苦          xīnkǔ                   adj.          hard; not easy
 



语 法


1. Time Measure Words
   Time measure words are used to indicate the point of time when
an action takes place, or the duration of time in which an action happens. 
The position of time measure words, however, are different in 
different situations.

(1.) When time measure words indicate the point of time, they are 
placed before the verb, or before the first verb in sentences where there
are series of verbs. The structure should be: 
     S + point of time + V + (O)
  or S + point of time + V1 + O1 + V2 + O2

For example:

1.)小丁和学友的飞机上午十点五十分起飞。
Xiaoding and Xueyou's plane will take off at 10:50am.
2.)她的男朋友今天晚上九点会来她的宿舍看她。
Her boyfriend will come to her dorm and see her at 9:00pm tonight. 

(2.) When time measure words indicate the duration of time, they function
as a complement and are placed after the verb.  
--For sentences without objects, the structure should be:
     S + V + duration of time

For example:

1.) 从纽约到北京， 飞机要飞十多个小时。
From New York to Beijing, the plane will fly for over ten hours. 
2.) 从机场到北京大学，汽车开了一个半小时。
From the airport to Beijing University, the car drove for one and
a half hours. 

--For sentences with an object, the structure should be (note that 
the first repetition of the verb is often optional in this pattern):
    S + (V) + O + V + duration of time

For example:

1.) 小丁要学中文学两年。
Xiaoding will study Chinese for two years.
2.) 小丁和学友坐飞机坐了十七个小时。
    或者(huo4zhe3: or) 小丁和学友飞机坐了十七个小时。
Xiaoding and Xueyou were on the plane for seventeen hours. 

   Sometimes, the object can also be preposed in this kind of sentence 
and there is no need to repeat the verb.  The structure should be:
      
    O + S + V + duration of time

For example: 

1.) 中文小丁要学两年。
Chinese, Xiaoding will study for two years.
2.) 飞机小丁和学友坐了十七个小时。
The plane, Xiaoding and Xueyou were on for seventeen hours. 

--As can be observed in the above examples, verbs in sentences with time 
measure words indicating duration can take different aspects.  
The following are structures and examples of the use
of time complements (that is, time measure words that indicate 
the duration of time)in combination with the perfective aspect used 
to refer to the past, the present, and the future aspects of action.


a. The perfective in reference to the past.  The structure should be:
   S + (V) + O + V + 了 + duration of time
or O + S + V + 了 + duration of time

For example:

1.) 今天世海学中文学了一个半小时。
    或者(huo4zhe3: or) 今天世海中文学了一个半小时。
Today Shihai has studied Chinese for one and a half hours.
2.) 中文世海学了一个半小时。
Chinese, Shihai has studied for one and a half hours.

b. The perfective in reference to the present.  The structure should be:
   S + V + O + V + duration of time
or O + S + V + duration of time

For example: 

1.)世海每天学中文学一个半小时。
Every day Shihai studies Chinese for one and a half hours.
2.)中文世海每天学一个半小时。
Chinese, Shihai studies for one and a half hours every day.

C. The perfective in reference to the future.  The structure should be:
   S + 要/会 + V + O + V + duration of time
or O + S + 要/会 + V + duration of time

1.)世海明天要/会学中文学一个半小时。
Tomorrow Shihai will study Chinese for one and a half hours.
2.)中文世海明天要/会学一个半小时。
Chinese, Shihai will study for one and a half hours tomorrow.

(3.) Using the 的 structure to indicate the point of time or the
duration of time in a sentence.  This pattern allows the object
to be placed after the verb and time phrase.  The structure should be:
     S + V + point of time/duration of time + 的 + O
     The "point of time/duration of time + 的" structure can be seen 
as a structure that modifies the object of a sentence.    

For example:

1.)小丁和学友坐上午十点五十分的飞机。
Xiaoding and Xueyou took/will take the 10:50am plane.
2.)世海每天下午上三点半的中文课。
Shihai goes to the 3:30pm Chinese class every day.
3.)小丁和学友坐了十七个小时的飞机。
Xiaoding and Xueyou had a seventeen hour flight.
4.)世海每天学一个半小时的中文。
Shihai studies one and a half hours of Chinese every day.

(4.) Asking questions about the point of time or duration of time.
a. When asking questions about the point of time, the question word is 
 "几点" or "什麽时候" which are place where the time word normally goes
in the sentence.  For example:

1.)小丁和学友的飞机什麽时候起飞？
When is Xiaoding and Xueyou's plane going to take off?
2.)他们几点到北京大学？
At what time did they arrive in Beijing University?
3.)世海每天上几点的中文课？
At what time does Shihai have his Chinese class?

b. When asking questions about the duration of time, the question word is
"多久" or "多长时间" which are place where the time complement normally
goes in the sentence.  For example: 

1.)从机场到北京大学，汽车开了多久？
From the airport to Beijing University, for how long did the car drive?
2.)小丁学中文学了多长时间？
For how long has Xiaoding studied Chinese?
3.)小丁和学友坐了多长时间的飞机？
How long were Xiaoding and Xueyou on the plane?

2. The Approximate Number Indicators--"几" and "多"
   "几" and "多" are two approximate number indicators in Chinese that 
appear with measure words in counting.  However, the positions and the 
meaning implications of these two characters are different.

(1.)When 几 is used by itself, it refers to an approximate number that 
is less than ten.  For example: 

1.)甲：你有几本中文书？ 
   乙：我有五本中文书。
A: How many Chines books do you have?
B: I have five Chinese books.
2.)今天晚上我要和几个老朋友一起吃晚饭。
Tonight I am going to have dinner with some (less than ten) old friends.

   When 几 is combined with number words such as 十，百，千，万, it can 
be placed either before the number words, or after the number words.  The 
approximate number it refers to, however, is different when it is placed
in different positions.

a. When 几 is placed before the number words, for example:
Phrase           Range of number
几十             10-90
几百             100-900
几千             1,000-9,000
几万             10,000-90,000

b. When 几 is placed after the number words, it is placed after "十" or 
"零".  It cannot be placed right after  "百","千","万".  For example:
Phrase           Range of number
十几             11-19
二十几           21-29
三十几           31-39
.                 .
.                 .
.                 .
一百零几         101-109
一百一十几       111-119
一百二十几       121-129

(2.) When 多 is used to ask questions about numbers, the phrase "多少" is 
used to ask about approximate numbers that are expected to be more than 
ten.  For example:

1.)甲：你的大学有多少学生？
   乙：我的大学有三万个学生。
A: How many students does you univeristy have?
B: My university has 30,000 students.
2.)甲：你们学校的东亚图书馆有多少本中文书？
   乙：有五万本中文书。
A: How many Chinese books does the East Asian Library in your university 
   have?
B: (It) has 50,000 Chinese books.

a. 多 can never be placed right before number words such as 十，百，千，
万.

b. 多 can be placed after number words such as 十，百，千，万，and it is
always followed by measure words.   
Phrase           Range of number
十多(个)            11-19
二十多(个)          21-29
三十多(个)          31-39
.                     .
.                     .
.                     .
一百多(个)          101-109
一百一十多(个)      111-119
一百二十多(个)      121-129
二百多(个)          201-299
三千多(个)          3，001-3，999
四万多(个)          40，001-49，999

(3.) The use of the approximate number indicators "几" and "多"
with the four major time units (TU) "年"，"月"，"星期" and "天/日".

a. When 几 is combined with  the four major time units "年"，
"月"，"星期" and "天/日"
number + TU    几 + TU    几 + number + TU     number(十) + 几 + TU    
一年           几年              几十年          十几年
一个*月        几个月            几十个月        二十几个月
一个*星期      几个星期         几十个星期       三十几个星期
一天           几天              几百天          一百一十几天

*Note: 年 and 天 are measure words, whereas 月 and 星期 are nouns taking 
个 as their measure word.

b. When 多 is combined with  the four major time units "年"，
"月"，"星期" and "天/日"

number "一"   numbers no more than 10          numbers more than 10 
                                               (in units of 10)
number + TU   number + TU + 多                 number + 多 + TU    
             /number + measure + 多 + TU       /number + 多 + measure + TU
一年           五年多                           十多年
一个月         六个多月                         二十多个月
一个星期       三个多星期                       一百多个星期
一天           十天多                           一千多天

3. The Ordinal Number 第
   "第 + numeral + measure word" is used to form ordinal expressions. 
For example: 
1.)这是我第一次回中国。
This is my first time to return to China.
2.)今天王老师教了第三十一课。
Today Teacher Wang taught Lesson 31.
3.)母亲节是每年五月的第二个星期天。
Mother's day is the second Sunday of May in every year. 

4. The Structure 从...到...
   The structure 从...到... means "from...to...".  It is used to indicate 
a period of time (from one time to another time), or to indicate a distance
(from one place to another place).  For example:

(1.)  从 + time + 到 + time
1.)从一九九四年到一九九八年，他在北京大学的计算机系学了四年。
From 1994 to 1998, he studied in the Computer Science Department of 
Beijing University for four years.

2.)从晚上八点到十一点，我看了三个小时的中文。
From 8:00pm to 11:00pm, I read Chinese for three hours.

(2.) 从 + place + 到 +place
1.)从上海到北京，飞机飞了一个小时。
From Shanghai to Beijing, the plane flew for a hour.
2.)从宿舍到学生活动中心，小丁走了十分钟。
From the dorm to the student activity center, Xiaoding walked for ten
minutes.

5. The Structure  当...的时候 
   The structure "当...的时候" functions as a time clause.  The usage of 
this structure is similar to the time clause headed by "when" in English.
However, as the "when" clause can be placed either at the beginning of a 
sentence or at the end of a sentence, the structure "当...的时候" can 
only be placed at the beginning of a sentence.  Usually, 当 is left out 
and the structure simply becomes "...的时候".  For example:

1.)当学友和小丁走进海关大厅的时候，他们都非常惊讶。
When Xueyou and Xiaoding walked into the Customs Hall, they were very
surprised.
2.)学友和小丁到学校的时候，已经是晚上八点多了。        
When Xueyou and Xiaoding arrived at the school, it was already over 
8:00pm.



语 型

1. The Time Measure Complement
1.)大为每天下午三点半上中文课.
Dawei has a Chinese class at 3:30pm every day.
2.)世海下午四点去东亚图书馆看中文杂志。
Shihai went to the East Asian Library and read Chinese magazines at 4:00pm.
3.)这个年轻人想在美国学习四年。
This young man wants to study in the U.S. for four years.
4.)小丁在她的大学学中文学了两年。
Xiaoding studied Chinese for two years in her university.
5.)昨天晚上我听了一个小时的中国音乐。
Last night I listened to an hour of Chinese music.
6.)今年暑假我要上一个月的法语课。
This summer I want to take a month of French.

2. The Approximate Number Indicators--"几" and "多"
1.)我在北京有几个好朋友。 我想给你他们的电话。
I have some (less than 10) good friends in Beijing.  I would like to 
give you their phone numbers.
2.)坐了十多/几个小时的飞机，你们一定很累了。
(After) sitting in the plane for over ten hours, you must be very tired.
3.)我有几十张中国音乐唱片，你可以来我的宿舍听中国音乐。
I have several dozen (10-90) Chinese music records.  You can come to my
dorm and listen to Chinese music.
4.)我的大学很大，有三万多个学生。
My university is very big.  (It) has over 30,000 students. 
5.)学友和小丁想在北京大学学习几个月的中文。
Xueyou and Xiaoding would like to study several(less than 10) months'
Chinese in Beijing University.
6.)他在这家美国公司工作了四年多。
He has worked in this American company for over four years.

3. The Ordinal Number 第
1.)王老师是小丁的第二个中文老师。
Teacher Wang is Xiaoding's second Chinese teacher.
2.)今天是小丁和学友到北京的第一天。
Today is the first day since Xiaoding and Xueyou arrived in Beijing.
3.)这个生词在第三十课。
This new word is in Lesson 30.
4.)去年我第一次去北京大学参加一个短期汉语培训班。
Last year for the first time I went to Beijing University and attended a 
short-term intensive Chinese training program. 

4. The Structure 从...到...
1.)在从食堂到图书馆的路上，我见到了小丁和她的男朋友。
On the way from the dining hall to the library, I met Xiaoding and her
boyfriend.
2.)从上海到洛杉矶，飞机要飞十四个小时。
From Shanghai to Los Angeles, a plane will fly fourteen hours.
3.)从一九九二年到一九九五年，我在北京大学中文系学习。
From 1992 to 1995, I studied in the Chinese Department of Beijing 
University.
4.)从晚上六点半到八点，我和我的日本朋友一起吃晚饭。
From 6:30pm to 8:00pm, I had dinner together with my Japanese friend(s).

5. The Structure  当...的时候 
1.)当我收到爸爸妈妈的第一封信的时候，我非常高兴。
When I received the first letter from my mom and dad, I was very happy. 
2.)当我第一次离开爸爸妈妈去上大学的时候，妈妈心里很难过。
When I left my parents for university for the first time, my mom was very
upset. 
3.)我在北京学习的时候，每天都去图书馆看书。
When I was studying in Beijing, I went to the library and read every day.
4.)小丁给大为打电话的时候，大为正在看中文语法书呢。
When Xiaoding called Dawei, Dawei was reading a Chinese grammar book.

6. The Adverb 实在 "Really, truely"
1.)中国离美国实在太远了。
China is really far away from the U.S.
2.)我实在很累了。今天晚上我要早一点儿睡觉。
I am really very tired.  Tonight I want to go to bed early.
3.)北京的国际机场实在是太漂亮了。
Beijing's internation airport is really very beautiful. 
4.)昨天的考试不难，同学们实在是太高兴了。
Yesterday's exam was not difficult.  The students were really very happy.

7. The Conjunction 此外 "In addition to, besides"
1.)北京是中国的政治、经济和文化中心。此外，北京还是一个旅游胜地。
Beijing is the political, economic and cultural center of China.  In 
addition, it is also a tourist resort.
2.)古老师在东亚图书馆工作。此外，她还教小丁书法。
Teacher Gu works in the East Asian Library.  In addition, she teaches
Xiaoding calligraphy.
3.)我很喜欢吃中国菜和日本菜。此外，我还喜欢吃法国菜。
I like to eat Chinese cuisine and Japanese cuisine very much.  In addition, 
I also like to eat French cuisine.
4.)我常常听中国古典音乐。此外，我也喜欢听中国民歌。
I often listen to Chinese classical music.  In addition, I also like to 
listen to Chinese folk songs.