Show characters pinyin, zhuyin translations in text tooltips status line separate wordlist Link characters to online dictionaries Only treat the first occurrence of each word Include links to audio text-to-speech tooltips require DHTML; status-line requires a willing browser Grammar notes 嗎 ? One of the most common ways of forming a question in Chinese is to add 嗎 at the end of a statement. Hence 你 好 ! (Hi!) becomes 你好嗎? (How are you?) 你 呢 ? This is to be used to redirect the question originally addressed to you. Its meaning is equivalent to "and you?" "what about you?" or "how about you?" A: 你好嗎? How are you? B: 我 很 好 , 你呢? I am fine, and you? A: 你忙 嗎? Are you busy? B: 我不 忙 , 你呢? I am not busy, what about you? 很 , 也 , 都 All three are adverbs, which should be placed /before/ what they modify in Chinese. E.g., 很好, 也好 , 都好. Sometimes 很 is not really employed to mean "very" if it is modifying a monosyllabic adjective such as 好. It is simply because to say 我好 is a bit abrupt and hence awkward with only a monosyllabic adjective as the predicate of the sentence. Therefore people usually add 很 before 好 to make the sentence sound natural: 我很好 in this case does not necessarily mean "I am /very/ well", it may simply convey the meaning of "I am fine". /The order of these words:/ If all three adverbs occur in the same sentence, their order is 也 -- 都 -- 很: 我很好. 我也很好. 我 們 也都很好. N.B. 都 (both/all) is only used to refer to the items to the /left/ of it. Hence it is wrong to say 都他 們 很好 ("all of them are fine"). One should say 他 們 都 很好. 都不 vs. 不都 都不 indicates a complete negation whereas 不都 shows a partial negation: 他們都不忙 None of them is busy. 他們不都忙 Not all of them are busy. 我們都不 是 大 夫 None of us is a doctor. 我們不都是 大夫 Not all of us are doctors. 的 As an auxiliary word, 的 is used to indicate possession. It comes between the subject and the noun it modifies: 我 的 書 , 我媽 媽 的車 etc. In the case of kinship or as a reference to people, however, the possessive marker 的 can be omitted. /Otherwise it cannot/. e.g. 你弟 弟 = 你的弟弟, 我爸 爸 = 我的爸爸 我很好 -- Adjectival sentence without verb "to be". Unlike English, Chinese sentences can sometimes go without a verb. In the sentence 我很好, the adjectival phrase 很好 serves as the predicate for the sentence. No verb "to be" is needed as in English (I /am/ very well). This is generally true of a sentence that has an /adjective/ as its predicate, even in negative sentences. e.g. 他們很忙, 我們不忙 They are very busy, we are not. Notice that in other types of sentences, however, verb 是 should still be retained: 他 是我朋 友 He is my friend. 我不是她 的哥 哥 I am not her elder brother. Proper Response Study the following two dialogues: A: 你媽媽是大夫嗎? Is your mother a doctor? B: 是, 她是大夫. Yes, she is a doctor. A: 你媽媽忙嗎? Is your mother busy? B: 忙, 她很忙. Yes, she is very busy. To respond positively to a yes/no question, we often repeat the verb -- in the above case 是 and 忙 respectively -- as an equivalent to the English "yes" before making the statement itself. Note therefore that the response is not always 是. Questions with interrogative words 誰 , 哪 , 什 麼 Unlike English which has to move such interrogative words as "what", "when", "who" etc to the beginning of the sentence to form a question, Chinese leaves the word order unchanged when forming questions using such interrogative words as 誰, 哪, 什麼, etc: 1. 他是我弟弟. (He is my younger brother.) 他是誰? (Who is he?) 2. 他是我們老 師 . (He is our teacher.) 誰是你 們 老師? (Who is your teacher?) 3. 他是中 國 人 . (He is Chinese.) 他是哪國 人 ? (What is his nationality?) 4. 這 是中 國 地 圖 . (This is a map of China.) 這是什麼地圖? (What map is this?) 5. 那 是書. (That is a book.) 那是什麼? (What is that?) 6. 這是她的車. (This is her car.) 這是誰的車? (Whose car is this?) As is obvious, one simply replaces the relevant words, which are what one wants to ask about, with the interrogative words to form questions. No change of word order takes place. Asking a person's name There are several ways of asking a person's name, depending on who that person is. 1. 您 貴 姓 ﹖ This is a very polite way of asking someone's name, literally "What is your honourable surname?". It is usually used to address one's elders or superiors, or someone of one's own age but to whom one wants to be polite. Notice, however, that the expression 貴姓 cannot be used when asking about a third person's name, or when referring to oneself. A: 您/你貴姓﹖ What is your name? B: 我姓 丁 。 My name is Ding. 2. 你叫 什麼﹖ This is a plain form of asking a person's name. It is usually used to address people of one's own age or younger, or one's inferiors. If one wants to be a bit polite, 請 問 can be added to the question: 請問﹐你叫什麼﹖ May I ask, what's your name? Unlike 貴姓, which is only used in the second person, 叫什麼 can be employed for all persons: 她叫什麼﹖我們叫什麼﹖我哥哥叫什麼﹖etc. When asked 你姓什麼﹖you are supposed to give your last name first, and then as an option you can add your full name afterwards. But when asked 你叫什麼﹖you can give either your given name or your full name. Word usage: 學 習 ﹐ 學 Both words mean "to study" or "to learn". Whereas 學習 can be used both transitively and intransitively, 學 is normally reserved for transitive use. e.g. 我學(習 )漢 語 ﹐她學(習)法 語 。 I study Chinese, she studies French. 我學習﹐我弟弟不 學 習。 I study, my younger brother doesn't study. In the second sentence, the word 習 cannot be omitted. Grammar notes 1. 在 (to be at/in...) functions as a verb. To express the location or existence of something or somebody, use the following pattern: S + 在 + place/location word or phrase e.g. A: 你的地圖在哪 兒 ﹖ B: 我的地圖在那 兒 。 A: 你爸爸媽媽在哪兒﹖ B: 他們在中國。 If the location or place is known or obvious, it can be omitted: A: 古 波 在嗎﹖ Is Gubo in [or: here]? B: 他不 在 ﹐他在學 生 宿 舍 。 He is not here. He is at the students' dormitory. 2. Nouns / personal pronouns + 這 兒 /那兒 as place words. e.g. A: 地圖在哪兒﹖ B: 在我這兒。(or 在我那兒) A: 你的車在哪兒﹖ B: 我的車在學生宿舍那兒。 The choice of 這兒 and 那兒 depends on the distance between the object and the speaker. If it is close to the speaker, use 這兒; if not, use 那兒. 3. The word order for Chinese place words Unlike English, Chinese place words start with the larger ones and proceed to the smaller ones. Hence the sentence "She lives in room 423, 4th floor at the student dorm at the college" will be 她住 學 院 學生宿舍四 層 四二 三 號 。 Notice the exactly reverse order here, which is applicable to the address used when writing letters as well. 4. To live (stay) at a place Most often one uses 住 to indicate that one lives or stays at a certain place. There are several patterns for the use of 住. For example, to say "I live here", one can have the following: S + 住 + place word (我住這兒) S + 住在 + place word (我住在 這 兒 ) S + 在 + place word + 住 (我在這兒住) All three sentences have the same meaning. 5. Reading numbers for phone, room, building, ID, etc Unlike English, these sorts of Chinese numbers are read out digit by digit: English: # 1452 (number fourteen fifty-two) Chinese: # 1452 (一 四五 二 號 ) The use of 還 (to return something to someone) When using 還 to indicate "return", use the following pattern: S + 還 + (sb.) + sth. e.g. 我還他畫 報 你還丁云 的車。(Notice here sb. is omitted.) This pattern is /only/ used for simple objects, i.e. the object to be returned is not a complex one such as 她媽媽的日 本 車, etc. Notice in the second example above, sb. is omitted because it would be awkward to say 你還丁云丁云的車, although grammatically it is correct. We will later learn the ways to express something more complicated. 用 一 下 兒 In this phrase, 用 is a verb which can be used both transitively and intransitively (i.e. it can be used either with or without an object). 一下兒 is an adverbial of time indicating "a short while, a little while". If an object is to be used for 用 in the above phrase, it should be placed after 一下兒: 我用一下兒你的書﹐好嗎﹖ Is it all right for me to use your book for a short while? 他們用一下兒你爸爸的車。 They want to use your dad's car for a little while. Time Word 現 在 Time words in Chinese are normally placed in one of two positions in a sentence: /before/ or /after/ the subject. 現在她去 學院還書。 Now she is going to the college to return books. or 她現在去學院還書。 常 and 常 常 常 in the sense of "often" can often be reduplicated as 常常 without a change of meaning. Thus, 他常喝 茶 = 他常常喝茶, 我們常去看 書 = 我們常常去看書. In making negative sentences, however, 常 is normally /not/ reduplicated. Hence 他不常喝茶, 我們不常去看書. Affirmative-Negative questions An alternative way of forming a question is to juxtapose the affirmative and negative forms of the predicative verb or adjective: 她是中國人嗎﹖becomes 她是 不 是 中國人﹖ 你忙嗎﹖becomes 你忙不忙﹖ 你認 識 他嗎﹖becomes 你認識不 認識他﹖ 1. If the verb or adjective is composed of a single word, then repeat the single word; if two or more words, then repeat them all: 忙不忙, 認識不認識, 介 紹 不介紹 2. If the predicative verb takes an object, it is usually only the verb that gets repeated, not the noun following it: 你喝不喝茶﹖ 你去不去中國﹖ 3. Sometimes if the object of the verb is not long, one can use the form of "V + object + 不 + V ?" as well, although this is not as common: 你喝茶不喝茶﹖ 她去中國不去﹖ 4. As in questions with interrogative words (誰, 什麼, etc), affirmative-negative questions do not take 嗎 at the end. 5. If an adverb such as 常, 都, 也 or 很 comes /before/ the predicative verb or adjective, do not use the affirmative-negative form but use 嗎 instead: 你們都去中國嗎﹖ but not 你們都去不去中國﹖ 他常喝咖 啡 嗎﹖ but not 他常喝不喝咖啡﹖ Notice, however, that this rule applies only when those adverbs come /before/ the predicative verbs or adjectives. Compare: 1. 她很忙嗎﹖ but not 她很忙不忙﹖ 2. 她是很好大夫嗎﹖ 她是不是很好的大夫﹖ The second instance is acceptable because 很 comes /after/ the predicative verb 是. 6. If there is more than one verb in a sentence, usually only the /first/ verb gets the affirmative-negative form in the question: 你去商 店 買 紙 嗎﹖becomes 你去不 去商店買紙﹖ 他們歡 迎 我來 嗎﹖ becomes 他們 歡迎不 歡 迎 我來﹖ 和 and 都 In Chinese, 和 as a conjunction is normally used to connect two words or phrases, /never/ two clauses or sentences: 中國和美 國 我的爸爸和媽媽 她學習漢語和英 語 。 你認識我爸爸和弟弟嗎﹖ but not 我弟弟是學生﹐和我哥哥也是學生。 nor 你學習法語﹐和我也學習法語。 The adverb 都 is placed between the subject and the predicative verb or adjective. It governs only the elements /before/ it: 我們都去中國。 (All of us go to China: 都 modifies 我們.) but not 都我們去中國。 This is also wrong: 我都學漢語和法語。 because 都 modifies 我 and not 漢語和法語. If "both Chinese and French" is intended in the above sentence, the objects 漢語和法語 should be placed before 都: 我漢語和法語都學。 or 漢語和法語都我學。 The verb 有 expressing possession and existence The verb 有 in Chinese can mean both possession and existence, like the English "to have" and "there is" or "there are": 她有漢語詞 典 。 She has a Chinese dictionary. 我們學院有多 外 國 學生。 There are a lot of foreign students in our college. N.B.: 1. To negate 有, one uses 沒 instead of 不: 我有哥哥﹐我沒 有 姐 姐 。 I have an elder brother, but no elder sister. 2. Informally in a negative sentence, 有 can sometimes be omitted: 我朋友沒(有)書﹐也沒(有)筆 。 My friend does not have books, nor pens. 現在我們的宿舍沒(有)人。 There is no one in our dorm now. 3. The affirmative-negative question form is "... 有沒有 ... ?" 她有沒有妹 妹 ﹖ 呢﹐你們的宿舍有沒 有 人 ﹖ Sometimes, if the object of 有 is not long, one can use the form "... 有 + object + 沒有 ?" as well, although this form is not as common as the previous one. 她有妹妹沒有﹖ 這宿舍有 人 沒有﹖ Prepositional construction with 在 (in, at) and 給 (for, to) The object of 在 is often a place-word and the object of 給 is often the beneficiary of the action expressed by the predicative verb. In Chinese, a prepositional construction comes /before/ the verb it modifies: 他在銀 行 工 作 。 She works in a bank. but not 她工作在銀行。 我給你們介紹一下兒。 Let me introduce you to one another. but not 我介紹一下兒給你們。 To form a negative sentence, 不 is placed /before/ the prepositional construction: 他不在銀行工作。 我不給你們介紹。 I am not going to introduce you. Adverbs such as 常, 都, 也 are also placed /before/ the prepositional construction: 我們都在 City Lit 學院學習漢語。 We all study Chinese at the City Lit. 你常給你媽媽信 嗎﹖ Do you often write to your mother? 我爸爸也常給我寫 信 。 My dad also often writes to me. Word usage: 想 The word 想 in Chinese carries various meanings: 1. 想 + noun/noun-phrase = to miss somebody/something: 丁 雲 很想 家 。 Ding Yun misses her family very much. 我很想我的爸爸媽媽。 I miss my parents very much. 你不想你的男 朋 友 嗎﹖ Don't you miss your boyfriend? 你想不想她﹖ Do you miss her? 2. 想 + verb/verb-phrase = to want to do something: A: 你想去商店嗎﹖ Do you want to go to the shop? B: 我不想去。 I don't want to go. A: 你想不想學法語﹖ Do you want to study French? B: 我也想學法語。 I also want to study French. 3. 想 + clause = to think/suppose something: 我想她是中國人。 I think she is Chinese. 我想她爸爸媽媽都是大夫。 I think her parents are both doctors. N.B. to negate a sentence with 想 in this capacity, put the negative adverb in the /subordinate clause/, not in the main clause as in English: 我想她/不是/中國人。 I don't think she is Chinese. but not 我不想她是中國人。 N.B. 想 as a verb can use the affirmative-negative question form /only/ in senses 1 and 2 above, not in 3. Word usage: 告 訴 告訴 means "to tell". In English, the verb "tell" can mean to tell somebody something, or to tell somebody /to do/ something. The Chinese verb 告訴 can only be applied to the first of these patterns. e.g. 她告訴我她的工作。 She told me her work. 我告訴媽媽你是我的好 朋 友 。 I'll tell mother you are a good friend of mine. but not 我告訴他給我寫信。 I told him to write to me. Notice the element following the indirect object (i.e. 我, 媽媽) of 告訴 in the first and second sentences is either a noun, a noun-phrase or a clause, but never a verb-phrase. The last sentence is wrong because it uses the pattern "to tell somebody to do something" and hence uses a verb-phrase for its direct object. In this case, we should use 叫 or 請 in place of 告訴 to make a correct sentence: 我請他給我寫信。 I asked him to write to me. The Numbers in Chinese For Arabic numerals 0 to 10, the Chinese equivalents are: ○ (or 零 ), 一, 二, 三, 四, 五, 六 , 七 , 八 , 九 , 十 Further on, they are: 十 一 = 11, 十 二 = 12, 十 九 = 19 二 十 = 20, 二 十 一 = 21, 二 十 八 = 28 三 十 = 30, 四 十 = 40, 九 十 = 90, 九十九 = 99 一 百 = 100 一百零一 = 101, 一百十 = 110, 一百十一 = 111 三 百 二 十 七 = 327, 九百 零九 = 909 一 千 = 1000 一 千 零 一 = 1001, 五 千 零四十 = 5040, 八 千 七 百 二 十 五 = 8725 一 萬 = 10,000 四萬 零八百零一 = 40,801 一 億 = 100,000,000 N.B.: 1. Numbers like 15 are written e.g. 十 五 , not 一十五. 2. A zero is pronounced or written when sandwiched by two digits: 101 is 一百零一, and 3020 is 三 千 零二 十. Notice the last zero in 3020 is /not/ pronounced because it is not between two other digits. If there are two or more zeroes in succession between two non-zero digits, as in 1001, only one is pronounced: 一千零一. However, if the two or more zeroes are separate and also sandwiched, as in 40,801, each is read as normal: 四萬零八百零一. Grammar notes 1. Measure words In Chinese, when a noun is modified by numerals, demonstrative pronouns such as 這 or 那, or interrogative pronouns such as 哪 or 幾 , a specific measure word should be placed between the noun and its modifier(s): 三本 書, 十五個 學生, 那 個 老師, 哪 個 圖 書 館 , 幾本詞典 2. 幾 and 多 少 Both of these can be used to mean "how many" or "how much". Whereas 幾 should be used with a measure word, 多少 can be used either with or without a measure word for the noun it modifies. 你有幾本詞典﹖ 你有多少(本)詞典﹖ The measure word 本 is a must for the first sentence, but only optional in the second. Also, when 幾 is used, the expected answer is usually under 10, whereas 多少 can be used whether one expects a large or small answer. 你們大 學 有多少學生﹖ 你家 有幾 個 人﹖ 3. Chinese verbs that take direct and indirect objects As in English, some verbs in Chinese can take two objects: direct object (usually a thing) and indirect object (usually a person). 王 老師教 我們語 法 。 In this sentence, 教 is a verb that takes 我們 as the indirect object and 法語 as the direct object. Generally the indirect goes before the direct object. Some other verbs that work the same way include 還, 告訴 and 問 . Not all Chinese verbs can take two objects: it would be wrong to say 他買我一本書 (He bought me a book), or 她寫 我一封 信 (She wrote me a letter). The correct way of saying these would be to use 給, as in 他給我買一本書 and 她給我寫一封信. 4. Adjectives as modifiers When an adjective modifies a noun, it is placed directly before the noun as in English: 新 書 new book 好朋友 good friend However, when the adjective modifier is made up of two or more syllables, the particle 的 is usually inserted between the modifier and the noun it modifies: 很新 的書 very new book 很好的朋友 very good friend Word usage: 也 and 還 也 is used to mean "the same" as the previous statement. Hence the relationship between the statement introduced by 也 and the previous one is a /parallel/ relationship. 還, on the other hand, introduces an /additional/ element to the previous statement. e.g. 你有 一 個問 題 ﹐我也有一個問題。 You have a question; I also have a question. The two are parallel here. 我還有一個問題。 I have already had some questions, but I still have one more. This is /in addition to/ the previous ones. Under certain circumstances, 也 and 還 are interchangeable, but with different emphasis: 王老師教我們漢 字 和語法﹐他還教我們口 語 。 王老師教我們漢字和語法﹐他也教我們口語。 Although both sentences can be roughly translated as "Professor Wang teaches us Chinese characters and grammar; he also teaches us conversation", their emphasis is different: the first sentence stresses the fact that Wang teaches conversation /in addition to/ the other subjects he teaches, whereas the second simply enumerates the three subjects he teaches without prioritization. Grammar notes 1. 的 construction A modifier (normally either a noun, a pronoun, a verb or an adjective) with the word 的 can function as a noun or noun-phrase in a sentence, and can stand by itself if the context is clear: 這條 裙 子 是我姐姐的。 This skirt is my sister's. Noun + 的) 哪本詞典是你的﹖ Which dictionary is yours? Pronoun + 的 你爸爸的車是白 的嗎﹖ Is your father's car a white one? Adjective + 的 你喝的是什麼茶﹖ What sort of tea do you drink? Verb + 的 These constructions normally involve the verb 是 (or 不是). 2. Usage of 從 從 + place word + 去 = to go from; 從 + place word + 來 = to come from. e.g. 你從哪兒來﹖ Where did you come from? 我從圖書館來。 I came from the library. 我們晚 上 從我家去劇 場 。 We are going from my home to the theatre tonight. 3. Noun/Pronoun + 這兒 / 那兒 = over here/there at ...'s place When a noun or pronoun is added to 這兒 or 那兒, they function as a place word or expression. Since one cannot say 我去她 (I went to her), one can say instead 我去她那兒 (I went to her place), because 她那兒 is now regarded as a place expression. Similarly one cannot say 你的裙子在我 (Your skirt is with me), but one can say 你的裙子在 我這兒 (Your skirt is with me). More examples: 你的書在他那兒。 Your book is at his place. 我們都去姐姐那兒。 We all went to my sister's place. 老師來我這兒找 她。 The teacher is coming to my place to look for her. As is obvious, if the place or the person is away from the speaker, use 那兒; if the place is near the speaker or refers to the speaker himself or herself, use 這兒. 4. 太 + adjective + 了 This pattern is often used for emphatic purposes. An adjective is used between 太 and 了: 太 忙 了﹗ Too busy! 太大 了﹗ Too big! The expression 太 好 了 ﹗, however, has a positive meaning, expressing satisfaction or admiration. Word study: 二 vs. 兩 These both mean "two", and are used as follows. 1. When "2" is followed by a measure word, use 兩: 兩 個 人, 兩本書, 增 加 了兩倍 , 去了兩 次 2. 二 should be used in a number greater than 10, even if it is followed by a measure word: 二 十 二 , 一百零二 次 , 十二個 人 , 五千八百六 十 二元 There are some more restrictions, though: 1. Only 二 can be used before the character 十; before the character 百, 二 is usually employed but 兩 may also be used: 二十, 二 百 二十五, 二百五 十 元 or 兩 百 五十元 2. For numbers like 千 , 萬 or 億 , 兩 is used more often than 二: 兩 千 元 (also 二千 元), 兩萬三千八, 兩億人 口 3. If the number is greater than 百, 千, 萬, /i.e./ if there are more digits before 百, 千 or 萬, then put 二 instead of 兩 in front: 四億二千 萬 , 三 萬 二千人, 五千二百元 Time The following are ways of telling the time in Chinese: A: 現在幾點 ﹖ B: 現在... 兩 點 2:00 十點半 (or 十點三十分 ) 10:30 三點一刻 (or 三點十 五分) 3:15 十二點三刻 (or 十二點四十五 分 ) 12:45 兩點差 五分 (or 差五分 兩點) 1:55 五點二十分 5:20 六 點 零五分 6:05 七 點 三 十 五 分 7:35 Some notes: 1. When zero is flanked by two digits, it is normally read as 零, as in 三點零八 分 (3:08) or 十二點零三 分 (12:03). 2. When the minutes are greater than 10, the word 分 is optional: 七點十五 or 七點十五分 3. "This morning" is 今 天 上 午 , not for example 這 個 上午; "every afternoon" is 每 天 下 午 , not 每 下午. Placement of time-words A time-word or -expression is normally placed either after the subject or at the beginning of a sentence: 我們十點半上 中 文 課 十點半我們上中文課 Some notes: 1. A time-word does not take a preposition: 我三點下 課 but not 我在三點下課 2. A time-word should not be placed at the end of a sentence: 她晚上來 She came in the evening. or 晚上她來 but not 她來晚上 3. If you have more than one time-word, the bigger unit goes before the smaller: 今天晚上八點 at 8 o'clock this evening 4. If you have both time-word and place-word, usually the time-word goes first: 我晚上八點在圖書館等 你 你哥哥現在在哪兒工作﹖ 明 天 你幾點在哪兒上 課 ﹖ When and where are you going to have your class tomorrow? 5. Time-word + 的 + noun (time-words modifying nouns) A: 你想看幾點的電 影 ﹖ What show do you want to see? /literally/ What time's film do you want to see? B: 我想看中 午 十二點半的(電影)。 I want to see the film at 12:30 at noon. A: 這是今天的報 嗎﹖ Is this today's paper? B: 不是今天的報﹐是昨 天 的。 It isn't today's paper, it's yesterday's. The use of the time-words 以 前 and 以 後 When used by itself, 以前 means "previously" or "before" and 以後 means "later", "afterwards" or "in the future": 我以前是學生﹐現在是老師。 I was a student before; now I am a teacher. 你以前在哪兒工作﹖ Where did you work before? 以前我不 住 宿舍﹐現在住 宿 舍 。 I did not live in a dormitory before, but now I do. When used together with a time-word or verb phrase, 以前 means "before..." and 以後 means "after...": 十點以前我不回 家 。 I won't go home before 10. 回家以前我在閱 覽 室 看書。 I read books in the reading-room before I go home. 來美 國 以 後 他在這兒工作。 He has been working here after he came to America. 十點半 以 後你在宿舍作 什麼﹖ What do you do in your dorm after 10:30? N.B. When 以前 or 以後 is used together with a time-word or verb phrase to mean "before" or "after", the word order is exactly the opposite of the English equivalent: 四點以前 before 4 o'clock 下課以前 before the class is over 明天晚上以後 after tomorrow evening (or night) 回 宿舍以後 after returning to the dormitory A 跟 B (一 起 ) + verb/verb-phrase 跟 as a preposition means "with", and 一起 means "together". This pattern is used to indicate that A and B do something together. Here 跟 can be replaced with 和 without changing the meaning; and the phrase 一 起 is optional. e.g. 我跟 (or 和) 她去看電影。 I go to see a film with her. 我跟她一起去看電影。 She and I go to see a film together.) 晚上你們跟誰一起去劇場﹖ With whom are you going to the theatre tonight? A: 晚上你有事 兒 嗎﹖跟我一起去看京 劇 ﹐好嗎﹖ Do you have anything to do tonight? Come with me to the Beijing opera! B: 我不想跟你去﹐我想跟我男朋友一起去。 I don't want to go with you, I want to go with my boyfriend. N.B. This pattern of A 跟 B (一起) is always placed /before/ the main verb in the sentence. Hence the following sentence, with English word order, is wrong: 我想去跟我男朋友一起。 I want to go together with my boyfriend. Alternative Questions using 還 是 In Chinese, an alternative question is formed by using 還是 to connect two choices, which can be nouns, noun phrases, verbs, verb phrases, or clauses: 你喜 歡 紅 茶 還是綠 茶 ﹖ (nouns) 這本書是你的還是她的﹖ (noun phrases) 下午你來還是不來﹖ (verbs) 你要 聽 古 典 音 樂 還是聽現 代 音 樂 ﹖ (verb phrases) 今天晚上你來我這兒還是我去你那兒﹖ (clauses) Note: 1. the two items connected by 還是 are normally parallel in structure; and 2. as with affirmative-negative questions and questions with interrogative words, alternative questions do not have 嗎 at the end. Pivotal Sentences with 請, 讓 , 叫 In Chinese a sentence can contain several verbs. A pivotal sentence is one in which the object of the first verb is at the same time the subject of the following verb. This object therefore functions as a pivot, connecting the two verb clauses in the sentence. The first verb in a pivotal sentence is often a causative verb (to cause something to happen) such as 請, 讓 or 叫. All three carry the meaning of asking somebody to do something. Of the three, 請 is the most polite; 讓 is less so, and 叫 is the least polite. So watch out for the occasions when these verbs can be used appropriately. Observe: 學生請王老師介紹中國音 樂 。 The students asked Professor Wang to introduce Chinese music. 老師讓學生每天寫漢字。 The teacher asked students to write Chinese characters every day. 爸爸叫孩 子 學中文。 Dad asked his child to study Chinese. Notice that although the English equivalents all employ "to ask", the Chinese sentences use different words to indicate various degrees of politeness. Note: 1. Besides the use of 請 above (meaning "to ask someone to do something"), 請 can also be used to mean "to invite": 我們請他來吃 晚 飯 。 We invited him to dinner. 你想請他今天晚上去看電影嗎﹖ Do you want to invite him to a movie tonight? 2. To negate a pivotal sentence, put the negative adverb 不 /before the first verb/: 我的大夫不讓我喝酒 。 My doctor doesn't let me drink alcohol. 他們不叫我去看電影。 They did not invite me to go to the pictures. Word usage: 別 and 不 要 別 and 不要 both mean "do not". They can be used in negative /imperative/ sentences with or without a subject. They are placed between the subject (if present) and the verb or adjective: (你) 別 (or 不要) 告訴他﹗ 別喝酒﹗ 別去那兒﹗ 不要吸 煙 ﹗ 下午不要去﹗ Neither of these can be used to indicate negation in declarative sentences. It is wrong to say 爸爸別請他走 . One can say instead 爸爸 不請他走. Expressions for the date, week, month and year 1. 年 , year 1. 去 年 = last year; 今 年 = this year; 明 年 = next year 2. 一 九 九 七 年, 一 九 九 八 年 , ... 3. 一 年 = one year; 兩年 = two years (not 二年); 三 年 = three years 每 年 = every year; 五 年 半 = five-and-a-half years 2. 月 , month 1. 上 個 月 = last month; 這 個 月 = this month; 下 個 月 = next month 2. 一 月 = January; 二 月 = February (not 兩月); ... 二十月 = December 3. 星 期 , week 1. 上 (個) 星期 = last week; 這 (個) 星期 = this week; 下 (個) 星期 = next week 2. 星 期 一 = Monday; 星 期 二 = Tuesday; ... 星 期 六 = Saturday; 星 期 日 or 星 期 天 = Sunday 3. 一 (個) 星期 = one week; 兩 (個) 星期 = two weeks (not 二 (個) 星期); 三 (個) 星期 = three weeks; 四 個 半星期 = four-and-a-half weeks; ... 每 (個) 星期 = every week 4. 日 / 號 / 天 date Use 日 or 號 for a /specific/ date. Usually 日 is used in written and formal language and 號 is used in conversation. The word 天 should be used in /counting/ the number of days: 1. 作天 = yesterday; 今天 = today; 明天 = tomorrow 2. 一 號 ; 二號 (not 兩號); ... 三十一號 四 月 六 號 ; 十 月 二十五日; ... 3. 一 天 = one day; 兩天 = two days (not 二天); ... 半 天 = half a day; 每 天 = every day Some notes: 1. When there are several units, the bigger comes first and the calendar date comes before the day of the week: 一九九六年十 一 月 二十五號星期一 一七八 九 年七 月 十 四 日 2. Notice the following special ways of expressing the date and month: 今年五 月 the May of this year (whether it has passed or not) 去年八 月 the August of last year 明年二月 the February of next year 這 (個) 星 期 五 the Friday of this week (whether it has passed or not) 上 (個) 星期一 the Monday of last week 下 (個) 星 期 四 the Thursday of next week Note the English phrase "last Monday" may therefore be rendered as 這個星期一, if Monday has already passed and the phrase is therefore referring to Monday of this week. The same applies for future days, and for months. Verb or verb-phrase as a modifier for a noun Two points need to be observed when using a verb or verb-phrase as a modified to form a relative clause: 1. Unlike in English, all modifiers go /before/ the element they modify in Chinese: 他喝的水 不 很 乾 淨 這是我朋友送 我的禮 物 2. The word 的 has to be inserted between the modifier and the element it modifies: 我下午看的電影很有 意 思 。 The film I saw this afternoon was very interesting. 給你開 門 的那個人是我妹妹。 The person who opened the door for you was my younger sister. 跟他跳 舞 的姑 娘 是我的同 學 。 The girl who danced with him was my classmate. Other grammar notes 1. Sentences with an adjectival predicate The verb 是 is not normally used in the predicate for a sentence where the main element of the predicate is an adjective: 我們今天很高 興 。 她的絲 線 衫 太小 。 那個服 務 員 非 常 年 輕 。 In an affirmative sentence of this type, if the adjective is not preceded by adverbs such as 真 , 太, 非常 or 更 , it is usually qualified by the adverb 很. In such cases, 很 does not really mean "very"; 他很忙 and 他忙 mean virtually the same. Also, adverbs such as 很, 常, 也, 非常, 太 or 更 /cannot/ be used in affirmative-negative sentences of this type: 你高興不高興﹖ but not 你很高興不很高興﹖ 她年輕不年輕﹖ but not 她非常高興不非常高興﹖ 你去不去﹖ but not 你也去不去﹖ 2. 祝 你 vs 祝 賀 你 In general, 祝你 is used to extend well-wishes /in advance/ whereas 祝賀你 is used to congratulate someone on something /already accomplished/: 祝你生 日 好﹗ (One can say this on the day, or in advance.) 祝賀你﹗ (Say this only when something has already been accomplished.) 3. Reduplication of verbs To indicate that an action is only of a short duration or to soften the tone of a sentence in order to make it less formal, a verb can be repeated: 我給你們介紹介紹。 (Notice the pattern is ABAB, not AABB.) 你們想去看看她嗎﹖ 讓我想想。 In the case of a monosyllabic verb, the character 一 can be inserted: 讓我想一想。 我們都想看一看她。 Repeating a verb has the same effect as using the adverb 一下兒 after the verb: 用一下兒 = 用用 = 用一用 看一下兒 = 看看 = 看一看 介紹一下兒 = 介紹介紹 Position words Words such as 上 邊 , 左 邊 , 前 邊 , 中 間 , 對 面 are position words. Some of the basic syllables are: 上 - up 左 - left 中 - middle 右 - right 下 - down 前 - front 裡 - in 後 - back 外 - out Usually, add 邊 to make "on the left", "above", "outside" etc. Position words can be used in two ways. Compare: 1. Noun (+ 的) + position word: 車(的)外 邊 outside the car 房 子 (的)後 邊 behind the house 桌 子 (的)對面 opposite the table 2. Position word + 的 + noun (here the 的 is /mandatory/). 外邊的車 the car outside (i.e. the car which is outside) 後邊的房子 the house behind (the house which is behind) 對面的桌子 the opposite table (the table which is opposite / across the way) Notes: 1. When 上邊, 下 邊 , 裡邊 and 外邊 are modified by other nouns, the character 邊 can be omitted: 房子(的)裡(邊) inside the house 桌子(的)上(邊) on the table 教 室 (的)外(邊) outside the classroom 2. Do /not/ use 裡邊 in the following two cases: 1. After geographical names such as 中國, 北 京 etc: 她在北京學習漢語。 She studies Chinese in Beijing. but not 她在北京裡邊學習漢語。 美國有很 多 大學。 There are many universities in America. but not 美國裡邊有很多大學。 2. In a phrase of the form "在 + place, building or organisation": 我在銀行工作。 I work in a bank. but not 我在銀行裡邊工作。 他們在閱覽室看書。 They are reading books in the reading-room. but not 他們在閱覽室裡邊看書。 Patterns for Location There are three ways to indicate the location of something, using 在, 有 and 是 respectively and with different meanings: 1. To show that there is something in a certain place: 有 Position word + 有 + indefinite noun: 後邊有什麼﹖ What is behind? 後邊有一個車房 。 There is a garage behind. 我們家對面有一個公 園 。 Across from our home, there is a park. 2. To show that certain things exist in certain places: 在 Definite noun + 在 + position word: 花 園 在哪兒﹖ Where is the garden? 花園在我們家後邊。 The garden is behind our house. 花園在 車 房 (的) 右 邊 。 The garden is to the right of the garage. 3. To identify something that is known to exist at a certain place: 是 Position word + 是 + definite/indefinite noun: 你們家後邊是什麼﹖ What's behind your house? 我們家後邊是一 個 花園。 Behind our house is a garden. 他們家前邊是學院的圖書館。 In front of their house is the college library. Progressive aspect of an action To show an action which is, was or will be going on, use one of the following patterns: 她在休 息 。 She is resting. 她正 休息。 她正 在 休息。 她休息呢。 她在休息呢。 她正休息呢。 她正在休息呢。 Notes: 1. All the above sentences mean the same, stylistic differences excepted. 2. The progressive aspect can be applied not only to the present, but also to past and future actions: 她現在正在休息。 She is resting now. /present progressive/ 我去的 時 候 ﹐她正在休息。 When I went there, she was resting. /past progressive/ 我明天去看她的時候﹐她一 定 正在休息。 When I go to see her tomorrow, she will surely be resting. /future progressive/ 3. As shown above, either 在, 正 or 正在 can be placed before a verb to indicate the progressive aspect of an action. 4. Alternatively, 呢 can be placed at the end of the sentence to perform the same function. Sometimes 呢 can be used together with 在, 正 or 正在. 5. The negative form of the progressive aspect is indicated by 沒有, not 不, before the verb; and it can be shortened to 沒 alone if it is not at the end of a sentence or a short answer. Otherwise the full form of 沒有 must be used: 她沒(有)休息﹐她在看報。 她在休息嗎﹖沒有﹐她在看報。(or simply 沒有) 6. If both the 在 of the progressive aspect and the 在 of location exist in a sentence, only one should be used: 她正在房 間 里 休息。 but not 她正在在房間里休息。 Subject-predicate constructions as modifiers An entire subject-predicate construction (a sentence or clause) such as 我給她打 電 話 , 他今天買, 我們去北京參 觀 can be used as a modifier for a noun. When used this way, there must be a 的 inserted between the construction and the noun it modifies: 我給她打電話的時候﹐她正在吃 飯 。 When I called her, she was eating. 他今天買的花 兒 很漂 亮 。 The flowers he bought today are very pretty. 請你們看我們去北京參觀的照 片 。 Please take a look at the pictures we took while visiting Beijing. 這是誰給你寫的信﹖ Who wrote this letter to you? The subject-predicate construction always goes immediately before the 的, which goes immediately before the noun to be modified. Word usage: 參觀 vs. 訪 問 Both terms can be translated as "to visit" in English. However, while 參 觀 implies 觀 (to see), 訪 問 stresses 問 (to ask). Hence 參觀 really implies observation while visiting and 訪問 means to visit people with specific purpose such as interviews. 參觀 can be followed by places but not people; whereas 訪問 can take either, but most commonly people. 參觀/訪問學 校 訪問他/這個國 家 的總 統 Grammar Notes 1. Measure word 些 些 is a measure word showing indefinite quantity. It is usually used after demonstrative pronouns such as 這, 那, 哪 and after the numeral 一: 一 些 some 這 些 these 那 些 those 哪 些 which (plural) Don't attempt to mix 些 with definite measures. It is wrong to say 這些三本詞典 (these three dictionaries); one can only say 這三本詞典. 2. 是 . . . 的 construction Earlier we saw the construction with simple nouns, pronouns or adjectives: 這本書是中文的。= 這本書中文的書。 那條裙子是妹妹的。= 那條裙子是妹妹的裙子。 姐姐的大 衣 是黑 的。= 姐姐的大衣是 黑的大衣。 But the 是 . . . 的 construction can also be used with prepositional phrases and even whole verbal constructions: 那些點 心 是給丁雲的。= 那些 點心是丁雲的點心。 Those pastries are for Ding Yun. 這束 花兒是我給她 買的。= 這束花兒我給她買的花兒。 This bunch of flowers is the one I bought for her. 這本書是我在 大 學的圖書館借 的。= 這本書是我在 大學的圖書館借的書。 This book is the one I borrowed from the university library. The use of the Complement of Degree What is a complement? A complement is a word or phrase attached after a verb to explain or complete the meaning of the action. Complements are used to show duration, extent, quantity, degree, result, direction or possibility of an action. Complements always appear *after* the verbs they modify. We know that in Chinese modifiers are generally placed before the words they modify; so why do complements appear after? It's because Chinese word order often observes the time sequence in which an action occurs. Notice, for example: 昨天晚上我們從書 店 去電 影 院 。 Yesterday evening we went to the cinema from the bookshop. Since one has to leave the bookshop before going to the cinema, the Chinese sentence follows this time sequence. Similarly, since a verbal action has to take place first, before one can see its extent or result, the complement placed after the verb observes this time sequence. The complement of degree This is used to show the extent or degree of an action. Normally adjectives are used for the complement, and the structural particle 得 is used to connect the verb and its complement: 他學習得怎 麼 樣 ﹖ How is he studying? 他學習得 很 好。 He's studying very well. The basic patterns for the complement of degree are as follows: 1. Verb without object: V + 得 + adjective 你工作得 不 錯 。 2. Verb with object: V + O + V + 得 + adjective 我妹妹唱 民 歌 唱得很好。 3. Verb with preposed object: O + V + 得 + adjective 他們中文學得很好。 Place 不 /before the adjective/ to make the negative: 4. V + 得 + 不 + adjective 她歌 唱 得不好﹐ 舞 也跳 得不好。 Questions are formed as follows: 1. . . . 得 adjective 不 adjective? 你開 車 開 得快 不 快 ﹖ 2. . . . 得怎麼樣﹖ 你中文學得怎麼樣﹖ 3. . . . 得 adjective 嗎﹖ 你游 泳 游 得好嗎﹖ Note that the complement of degree cannot be used with verbs such as 有, 在 or 是, since those verbs normally do not denote actions. The difference between 呢 and 吧 as sentence-ending particles Either term can be used to soften the tone when placed at the end of a question. However, they differ in usage. In questions 呢 is primarily used to indicate a mood of enquiry. It may appear in questions with interrogative words such as 什麼 or 哪兒; affirmative-negative questions such as 有沒有呢﹖好 吃 不 好 吃呢﹖; or alternative questions with 還是, such as 吃面 包 還是火 腿 呢﹖ 吧, on the other hand, is employed at the end of a question to indicate a mood of uncertainty or speculation on the part of the speaker: 在這兒 停 車 吧﹖ 你不 知 道 吧﹖ In affirmative statements 呢 in this case is used to indicate the progressive aspect of an action (e.g. 她學中文呢), or to affirm some fact, sometimes with exaggeration (e.g. 晚上電影九點才 開 始 呢。 從這兒去要走三 天 呢。) 吧 is often added at the end of an imperative sentence to soften the tone, as in 我們走吧。 你再 想想吧。 The use of optative verbs Optative or auxiliary verbs are those placed before other verbs to express intention, wishes, possibility etc. 1. To express /subjective wish/, /desire/ or /request/: 1. 要 + verb = to want to 我要喝橘 子 水。 2. 想 + verb = would like to 你想看電影嗎﹖ 2. To express /objective necessity/: 1. 要 + verb = to have to (especially in questions) 我明天要來嗎﹖ Do I have to come tomorrow? 我們要去了。 We have to go. 2. 不 用 + verb = don't have to 你明天不用來。 You don't have to come tomorrow. 3. To express /ability/ or /skill acquired/: 1. 能 + verb = can, be able to 你現在能看中文報 紙 嗎﹖ 2. 可 以 + verb = can, be able to 你們一個星期可以學幾課﹖ 3. 會 + verb = can, be able to 他們都會游泳嗎﹖ 4. To express /ability depending on circumstances/: 1. 能 + verb = can, be able to 你明天能來嗎﹖ 2. 可以 + verb = can, be able to 你今天晚上可以1給他打電話嗎﹖ Note, in both cases use 不 能 for negative sentences. 5. To express /permission/: 1. 能 + verb = may, be permitted to 我能在這兒停車嗎﹖ 你不能 (or 不 可 以 ) 在這兒停車。 2. 可以 + verb = may, be permitted to 我可以在這兒吸煙嗎﹖ 你不可以 (or 不能) 在這兒吸煙。 6. To express /possibility/ or /probability/: 1. 會 + verb = be likely to, will probably 你明天會再來嗎﹖ 今天晚上不 會 下 雨 。 7. To express /need arising from moral or factual necessity/: 1. 應 該 + verb = should, ought to 你們學得不錯﹐應該去中國。 他們不應該翻 譯 那本書。 Note: 1. To make a negation, put the negative word 不 or 沒有 before the optative verb: 他們不想給圖書館打電話。 2. To form an affirmative-negative question, alternate the optative verb instead of the main verb in the sentence: 你會 不 會 唱中 國 民 歌 ﹖ but not 你會唱不唱中國民歌﹖ 3. It is possible to use more than one optative verb in a sentence: 你是北 京 人 ﹐應該會唱京劇。 The use of adverbs 就 and 才 就 and 才 are often used before the main verb to indicate the speaker's attitude as to whether the action expressed by the main verb is earlier (就) or later (才) than expected: 他們三點就來了﹐可 是 你們現在才來。 They came as early as 3 o'clock, but you came as late as now. 我們是老 朋友﹐我們十 年 前就認識了。 We are old friends, and we came to know each other as early as ten years ago. 她不是我的同學﹐我上 個 星 期 才認識她。 She is not a classmate of mine. I just got to know her a week ago. Compare the following sentences: 今年我們就想去中國學習。 (The speaker indicates their eagerness in going to China as soon as this year.) 今年我們才想去中國學習。 (The speaker indicates that, although going to China this year, they should have gone earlier.) As shown in the above sentences, when there is a time-word in a sentence, 就 and 才 should be placed after it; when there is an optative verb, on the other hand, 就 and 才 should be placed before it. Here is the pattern: Time-word + 就/才 + optative verb + main verb 她今年就可以去中國﹐我明年才可以去中國。 他們今天下午三點就能出 發 ﹐我們要晚上八點才 能 走。 Word usage: 或 者 , 還是 Both of these conjunctions can be translated as "or" in English, but they differ in usage: in general, 或者 is used in non-interrogative sentences to indicate a choice: 我妹妹想研 究 音樂或者文 學 。 還是, on the other hand, is more often than not reserved for alternative questions: 你上午去﹐還是下午去﹖ It can also be used in subordinate clauses with verbs such as 知 道 , 告訴 etc: 請告訴我這個人是老師還是學生﹖ 我不知道她是老師還是學生。 In cases in which both 或者 and 還是 can appear in questions, there are some subtle differences in their anticipations and tones: 1. A: 你想去中國還是日本﹖ B: 我想去中國。 2. A: 你想去中國或者日本嗎﹖ B: 我想去﹐我兩個地 方 都想去。 In dialogue 1, A asks an alternative question which anticipates a choice from the answer. The two terms with 還是 are mutually exclusive. In dialogue 2, the question is a general one using 嗎 at the end. It does not anticipate a strict choice from the answer, so B can give a general answer: 我想去 -- yes, I do -- and then add his more specific thought: 我兩個地方都想去. The two items with 或者 in the question are therefore not mutually exclusive. Sometimes, however, 還是 can also be used in a non-interrogative sentence. For instance: 去看朋友﹐還是去看電影﹐他一 時 (??)不 定 主 意 。 Notice in the sentence the tone is still somehow interrogative, compelling 他 to make a choice. In contrast, 或者 in this case can only convey a sort of explanatory note: 你去﹐還是她來﹐你明天一 定 要 作決 定 。 (interrogative) 或者你去﹐或者她來﹐沒有其 他 選 擇 。 (explanatory) 了 解 , 知道, 認識 and 懂 The meanings of the four terms here overlap. Both 了解 and 知道 can mean "to know". However, 了解 implies some level of understanding and comprehension of what one knows. Therefore 了解 can be understood as a deeper or better knowing than 知道. Compare: 你了解 (or 知道) 這個學校嗎﹖ 我不知道他是誰的孩子。(Here one can not use 了解.) 認識 is used to indicate that one can recognise this as this and not others. It can also involve the process of acquiring such an ability. A: 哦 ﹐我認識她﹗ Oh, I know her! B: 你是在哪兒認識她的﹖ Where did you get to know her? 懂, on the other hand, is a direct equivalent of "to understand". Its definition is not as broad as that of 了解 (to know and understand) and is different from that of 知道 (to know). 1. 你懂他說 的漢語嗎﹖ 2. 你知道他叫甚 麼 名 字 嗎﹖ 3. 你了解他嗎﹖ Of these, sentence 3 wants to know more detailed information about him than sentence 2, and sentence 2 wants more detailed information than sentence 1. The use of the Perfect Aspect Basic concept The aspect particle 了 is added to the end of a verb to indicate the completion of an action. In general, Chinese perfect aspect is equivalent to perfect tenses (present perfect, past perfect or future perfect) in English. So, the completion of an action can take place in the past or in the future. For instance: A: 你下了課去哪兒﹖ B: 我下了課去圖書館。 On the other hand, a past action is not always followed by the aspect particle 了, if it is a simple statement or a habitual action and there is no need to emphasise its completion: 去年他常常去書店。 以前我住在學生宿舍。 Basic patterns 1. Affirmative sentence Subject + verb + 了 (+ object) e.g. 電影開始了。 我買了兩本書。 2. Negative sentence (note 了 is dropped here) Subject + 沒(有) + verb (+ object) or subject + 還沒(有) + verb (+ 呢) e.g. 我沒有買書。 電影還沒開始呢。 3. Interrogative sentence Subject + verb + 了 (+ object) + 沒有﹖ or Subject + verb + 了嗎﹖ or Subject + verb + 沒 + verb (+ object)﹖ (here the verb is usually monosyllabic) e.g. 你今天買了詞典沒有﹖ 她來了嗎﹖ 你們談 沒談這個問題﹖ Notes 1. If the verb has an object and there is no adverbial in the sentence, the object should normally carry some modifiers (e.g. numeral + measure-word or other attributives). Otherwise the sentence sounds incomplete: 我買了三本書。 我在書店里買了書。 but not simply 我買了書。 2. If a sentence carries several verbs and the actions indicated by those verbs are related, then the perfect aspect particle 了 is usually placed after the /last/ verb. a. 我用中文給媽媽寫了一封信。 b. 他們昨天進 城 買了一些中文詞典。 In sentence a, "write" is related to "use" because the letter is written by using Chinese; in sentence b, similarly, "buy" is related to "enter the city" because the purpose of entering the city is to buy the dictionaries. Compare the above sentences with the following, with a different structure: 我下了課去圖書館。 Here "class is over" (下課) and "go to the library" are unrelated. They are contained in the sentence simply to indicate their sequence. Hence it is wrong to say 我下課去了圖書館。 3. When the verb is reduplicated, the perfect aspect particle 了 is placed /before/ the reduplicated verb: 我試 了試那條裙子 ﹐真漂亮﹗ 又 , 再 and 還 All three of these adverbs indicate the repetition of an action, like the English "again". They differ in usage, however: Whereas 又 indicates a repetition of an action that has already taken place, 再 implies a repetition of an action in the future. Also, 再 is only used in /declarative/ sentences, plus questions ending in 好嗎: 昨天他來晚 了﹐今天他 又來晚了。 (repetition in the past) 你今天來晚了﹔明天再來晚﹐我們就不讓你進 來 了。 (repetition in the future) 你再喝一 點 兒 橘子水﹐好嗎﹖ Also, 又 can be used for the repetition of a periodic action or occurrence, even though it has not yet taken place: 明天又是星期一﹐我們又要上課。 新 年 又要來了。 還, on the other hand, usually expresses a future repetition: 你明天還來嗎﹖ It can also be used in an interrogative or declarative sentence with an optative verb. In this situation, it is placed before the optative verb and an optional 再 can be placed after: A: 你明年還能(再)教我們嗎﹖ B: 我明年還可以(再)教你們。 Use of the modal particle 了 Basic concept The modal particle 了 is placed at the end of a sentence to indicate that the event referred to took place in the past. The difference between 了 as modal particle and 了 to indicate perfect aspect is that the latter only shows the completion of the verb, whereas the former shows the completion of the whole sentence or event, implying some /change of situation/. 他買了書了。 The first 了 in the sentence above indicates only the completion of the action of 買書, whereas the second 了 marks some change of situation on the part of 他 as a result of the completion of the book-buying process: originally he did not have the book, but now he has. Basic patterns (Please compare against the patterns for the perfect aspect in the previous section.) 1. Affirmative sentence Subject + verb (+ object) + 了 e.g. 他們看足 球 賽 了。 2. Negative sentence (note 了 is dropped here) Subject + 沒 (有) + verb (+ object) e.g. 他們沒看足球賽。 3. Interrogative sentence Subject + verb + object + 了沒有﹖ or Subject + verb + object + 了嗎﹖ or Subject + verb + 沒 + verb + object﹖ (here the verb is usually monosyllabic) e.g. 他們看足球賽了沒有﹖ 他們看足球賽了嗎﹖ 他們看沒看足球賽﹖ Notes 1. As is obvious, when there is no object, one cannot tell the perfect aspect 了 from the modal particle 了. In such a case, 了 can be regarded as fulfilling both functions: 她來了。 我們懂了。 2. A simple statement about events that happened in the past does not require a 了 at the end of the sentence: 我昨天下午看足球賽﹐晚上沒出 去 。 Sequential actions To indicate that two actions take place, one immediately after the other, we use the pattern Subject + verb + 了 (以後) 就 + verb ... e.g. 我們辦 了簽 証 (以後)就回家。 明天吃了早 飯 (以後)我們就出發。 The above pattern can be used for /future/ actions as well. To indicate that both actions took place in the past, the particle 了 has to be inserted at the end of the sentence: 我們辦了簽証以後就回家了。 他們早 上 沒 吃 早飯就走了。 畫 報 hua4bao4 pictorial (magazine) 四 si4 four 舞 wu3 to dance, to wield, to brandish 選 擇 xuan3ze2 to select, to pick, to choose, to make a choice 不 是 bu2shi4 (n) blame or fault 游 泳 you2yong3 swim 北 京 bei3jing1 Beijing (capital of mainland China) 差 cha1 / cha4 / chai1 / ci1 difference, error, discrepancy, to differ, to err, to make a mistake, to lack / different, short of, poor, to lack / send, a messenger, a mission, to commission / uneven 面 mian4 fade, side, surface, aspect, top, face, flour, noodles 以 前 yi3qian2 before, formerly, previous 乾 淨 gan1jing4 clean, neat 八 年 ba1nian2 eight years 十 shi2 ten 八 千 ba1qian1 eight thousand, 8000 云 yun2 say 在 zai4 (located) at, in, exist 新 書 xin1shu1 new book 民 歌 min2ge1 folk song 怎 麼 樣 zen3me5yang4 how about, (used in the negative)(not) so good 左 zuo3 left 閱 覽 室 yue4lan3shi4 reading room 禮 物 li3wu4 gift, present 公 園 gong1yuan2 a public park 語 法 yu3fa3 grammar 舍 she3 / she4 to abandon, to give up / residence 點 心 dian3xin1 light refreshments, pastry 去 年 qu4nian2 last year 吃 飯 chi1fan4 to eat a meal 不 快 bu4kuai4 be unhappy, be displeased, be in low spirits, be indisposed, feel under the weather, be out of sorts 走 zou3 to walk, to go, to move 在 車 zai4che1 aboard 太 忙 tai4mang2 too busy 不 可 bu4ke3 cannot, should not, must not 和 he2 / he4 / huo2 / huo4 and, together with, with, peace, harmony, union / cap (a poem), respond in singing / soft, warm / mix together, to blend 課 ke4 / ke4 subject, class, lesson / class, lesson 正 zheng1 / zheng4 Chinese 1st month of year / just (right), main, upright, straight, correct, principle 黑 hei1 black, dark 決 定 jue2ding4 to decide (to do something), to determine, to resolve 每 年 mei3nian2 every year, each year, yearly 姐 姐 jie3jie5 older sister 嗎 ma3 / ma5 morphine / (question tag) 古 波 gu3bo1 Gubo (a personal name) 月 yue4 moon, month 休 息 xiu1xi5 rest, to rest 不 很 bu4hen3 not very 半 天 ban4tian1 half of the day, a long time, quite a while 更 geng1 / geng4 to change / more, even more, further, still, still more 星 期 一 xing1qi1yi1 Monday ﹖ ﹖ 看 kan1 / kan4 to look after, to take care of, to watch, to guard / it depends, think, to see, to look at 有 意 思 you3yi4si5 interesting 幾 個 ji3ge5 several 圖 書 館 tu2shu1guan3 library 四 個 si4ge4xiao3shi2 four hours 歌 ge1 song 用 yong4 to use 十 月 shi2yue4 October 學 習 xue2xi2 to learn, to study 跳 tiao4 jump, hop, skip (a grade), to leap, to bounce, to beat 現 在 xian4zai4 modern, current, present, at present, now, nowadays 是 不 是 shi4bu4shi4 is or isnt, yes or no, whether or not 總 統 zong3tong3 president (of a country) 知 道 zhi1dao5 know, be aware of 裡 li3 li, a Chinese unit of length = 1, 2 kilometer, village, within, inside 工 作 gong1zuo4 job, work, construction, work, task 一 九 九 七 yi1jiu3jiu3qi1nian2 the year 1997 封 feng1 to confer, to grant, to seal, (a measure word) 個 人 ge4ren2 individual, personal, oneself 花 兒 huar1 flower 一 點 兒 yi1dianr3 a bit, a little 中 午 zhong1wu3 noon, midday 錯 cuo4 mistake, error, blunder, fault, cross, uneven, wrong 去 qu4 to go, to leave, to remove 晚 上 wan3shang5 in the evening 才 cai2 ability, talent, endowment, gift, an expert, only (then), only if, just 習 xi2 to practice, to study, habit 你 好 ni3hao3 hello, how are you 人 ren2 man, person, people 應 該 ying1gai1 ought to, should, must 有 人 you3ren2qing2 humane 美 國 mei3guo2 America, American, United States, USA 上 邊 shang4bian5 upside 中 國 民 zhong1guo2min2hang2 General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) 水 shui3 water, river 賽 sai4 to compete, competition, match 火 腿 huo3tui3 ham 道 dao4 direction, way, method, road, path, principle, truth, reason, skill, method, Tao (of Taoism), a measure word, to say, to speak, to talk 祝 zhu4 invoke, pray to, wish, to express good wishes 一 年 yi1nian2ban4 a year and a half 翻 譯 fan1yi4 translate 書 shu1 book, letter 其 他 qi2ta1 other, else 爸 爸 ba4ba5 (informal) father 懂 dong3 to understand, to know 線 xian4 thread, string, wire, line 好 吃 hao3chi1 tasty, delicious 得 不 de2bu4dao4 cannot get, cannot obtain 倍 bei4 (two, three, etc) -fold, times (multiplier), double, to increase or multiply 一 號 yi1hao4 first day of the month 兩 千 liang3qian1 two thousand 四 月 si4yue4 April, fourth month 停 車 ting2che1 to stop, to park 要 yao1 / yao4 demand, ask, request, coerce / important, vital, to want, to be going to, must 漂 亮 piao4liang5 pretty, beautiful 明 天 ming2tian1 tomorrow 前 邊 qian2bian1 (n) the area in front of sth 七 月 qi1yue4 July, seventh month 五 分 wu3fen1mei3jin1 nickel 宿 舍 su4she4 dormitory, living quarters 多 少 duo1shao3 how much, how many, which (number) 那 na3 / na4 / nei4 how, which / that, those / that, those 兩 百 liang3bai3 two hundred 上 個 星 期 shang4ge4xing1qi1 last week 忙 mang2 busy 那 個 nei4ge4 that one 一 定 yi1ding4 surely, certainly, necessarily, fixed, a certain (extent, etc.), given, particular 弟 弟 di4di5 younger brother 兩 個 liang3ge4zhong1guo2 two-China (policy) 美 國 以 mei3guo2yi3wai4 outside of the U.S. 中 文 zhong1wen2 Chinese language 八 ba1 eight, 8 贏 ying2 to beat, to win, to profit 法 語 fa3yu3 French (language) 兩 liang3 both, two, ounce, some, a few, tael 叫 jiao4 to (be) call(ed) 跳 舞 tiao4wu3 to dance 一 百 yi1bai3 a hundred 好 hao3 / hao4 good, well / be fond of 六 十 liu4shi2 sixty, 60 八 月 ba1yue4 eighth month, August 這 些 zhe4xie5 these 別 bie2 / bie4 leave, depart, separate, distinguish, classify, other, another, do not, must not, to pin / contrary, difficult, awkward 二 百 er4bai3 two hundred, 200 包 bao1 to cover, to wrap, to hold, to include, to take charge of, package, wrapper, container, bag, to hold or embrace, bundle, packet, to contract (to or for) 寫 信 xie3xin4 to write a letter 貴 姓 gui4xing4 what is your name? 多 duo1 many, much, a lot of, numerous, multi- 不 住 bu2zhu4 repeatedly, continuously, constantly 唱 chang4 sing, to call loudly, to chant 很 多 hen3duo1 very many, very much, great (quantity) 下 雨 xia4yu3 rainy 不 定 bu4ding4 indefinite, adventitious, indeterminate 報 紙 bao4zhi3 newspaper, newsprint 出 發 chu1fa1 to start out, to set off 沒 有 mei2you3 havent, hasnt, doesnt exist, to not have, to not be 零 ling2 remnant, zero 研 究 yan2jiu1 research 吃 chi1 / ji2 eat, eradicate, destroy, receive / stammer 電 影 院 dian4ying3yuan4 cinema, movie theater 哪 na3 / na5 / nei3 / nei3 how, which / (final part. preceded by N) / which (followed by M or Num) / which (followed by M or Num) 些 xie1 some, few, several, (a measure word) 下 個 月 xia4ge4yue4 next month 大 學 da4xue2 university 這 兒 zher4 here 打 電 話 da3dian4hua4 to make a telephone call 還 是 hai2shi4 or, still, nevertheless 橘 子 ju2zi5 orange 哪 個 na3ge5 which, who 你 們 ni3men5 you (plural) 每 天 mei3tian1 every day, everyday 今 年 jin1nian2 this year 訪 問 fang3wen4 pay a visit (to), to access, to interview 同 學 tong2xue2 (fellow) classmate 商 店 shang1dian4 store, shop 邊 bian1 side, edge, margin, border, boundary 太 好 了 tai4hao3le5 very good 姑 娘 gu1niang5 girl 十 一 shi2yi1 eleven 三 天 san1tian1 three days 信 xin4 letter, true, to believe, sign, evidence 不 在 bu4zai4 not be in, be out 左 邊 zuo3bian1 left 古 典 音 樂 gu3dian3yin1yue4 classical music 下 xia4 under, second (of two parts), next (week, etc.), lower, below, underneath, down(wards), to decline, to go down, latter 或 者 huo4zhe3 or, possibly, maybe, perhaps 劇 場 ju4chang3 theater 兒 er2 / er5 son / non-syllabic dimi. suff. 高 興 gao1xing4 happy, glad, willing (to do sth), in a cheerful mood 哪 些 na3xie1 which, who, what 再 zai4 again, once more, re-, second, another 二 號 er4hao4 2nd day of the month 星 期 天 xing1qi1tian1 Sunday 想 xiang3 to think, to believe, to suppose, to wish, to want, to miss 右 邊 you4bian1 right (as opposed to left) 晚 wan3 evening, night, late 一 千 yi1qian1 one thousand 回 家 hui2jia1 homeward 你 ni3 you 桌 子 zhuo1zi5 table, desk 四 十 si4shi2 forty, 40 了 le5 / liao3 (modal particle intensifying preceding clause), (past tense marker) / to know, to understand, to know 認 識 ren4shi5 be acquainted with (a person), to know, to be familiar with, to recognize 她 ta1 she 請 qing3 to ask, to invite, please (do sth), to treat (to a meal, etc), to request 小 xiao3 small, tiny, few, young 老 lao3 (a prefix used before the surname of a person or a numeral indicating the order of birth of the children in a family to indicate affection or familiarity), old (of people) 衫 shan1 Chinese gown (unlined) 五 十 wu3shi2 fifty 早 飯 zao3fan4 breakfast 三 年 san1nian2 three years 丁 ding1 (surname), 4th heavenly stem, a Chinese surname 得 很 de5hen3 very (much, good etc.) 我 的 wo3de5 my, mine 昨 天 zuo2tian1 yesterday 一 千 零 yi1qian1ling2wu3shi2yi4 105 billion 前 qian2 before, in front, ago, former, previous, earlier, front 觀 guan1 / guan4 to look at, to watch, to observe, to behold / Taoist monastery 非 常 fei1chang2 unusual, extraordinary, extreme, very, exceptional 星 期 四 xing1qi1si4 Thursday 聽 ting1 / ting4 listen, hear, obey / let, allow 兩 點 liang3dian3shi2jiu3fen1 2 :1 9 (time of day) 王 wang2 king, Wang (proper name) 號 hao2 / hao4 roar, cry / day of a month, (suffix used after) name of a ship, (ordinal) number ﹐ ﹐ 一 個 yi1ge4 a, an 他 們 都 ta1men5dou1 all of them 讓 rang4 to ask, to let, permit, have (someone do something), to yield, to allow 十 四 shi2si4 fourteen, 14 音 樂 yin1yue4 music 晚 飯 wan3fan4 supper 買 mai3 buy 外 邊 wai4bian5 (n) outside, (n) exterior surface, (n) place other than ones home town 不 知 bu4zhi1 unknowing(ly) 中 國 人 zhong1guo2ren2 Chinese person, Chinese people 甚 麼 shen2me5 what 吧 ba1 / ba5 (onomat.), dumb / (modal particle indicating polite suggestion), ...right?, ...OK? 可 以 ke3yi3 can, may, possible, able to 誰 shei2 / shui2 who / who 里 li3 Chinese mile, neighborhood 外 國 wai4guo2 foreign (country) 二 十 七 er4shi2qi1 twenty-seven 都 dou1 / du1 all, both (if two things are involved), entirely (due to)each, even, already / (surname), metropolis, capital city 參 觀 can1guan1 to look around, to inspect, visit and observe 北 京 人 bei3jing1ren2 person from Beijing, Peking Man (Sinanthropus pekinesis) 九 jiu3 nine, 9 不 用 bu4yong4 need not 外 wai4 outside, in addition, foreign, external 不 要 bu4yao4 dont!, must not 上 shang4 on, on top, upon, first (of two parts), previous or last (week, etc.), upper, higher, above, previous, to climb, to go into, above, to go up 隊 dui4 squadron, team, group 就 jiu4 at once, then, right away, only, (emphasis), to approach, to move towards, to undertake 年 輕 nian2qing1 young 証 zheng4 (translation unavailable) 絲 si1 silk, thread, trace 兩 次 liang3ci4 twice 借 jie4 to lend, to borrow, excuse, pretext, by means of 一 天 yi1tian1 one day 五 年 wu3nian2ji4hua4 Five-Year Plan 房 子 fang2zi5 house 八 九 ba1jiu3bu4li2shi2 pretty close, very near, about right 照 片 zhao4pian4 photograph, picture 不 忙 bu4mang2 theres no hurry, take ones time 歌 唱 ge1chang4 sing 本 ben3 roots or stems of plants, origin, source, this, the current, root, foundation, basis, (a measure word) 以 後 yi3hou4 after, later, afterwards, following, later on, in the future 日 本 ri4ben3 Japan, Japanese 七 qi1 seven, 7 迎 ying2 to welcome 下 午 xia4wu3 afternoon 三 百 san1bai3 three hundred 開 車 kai1che1 to drive a car 喜 歡 xi3huan5 to like, to be fond of 送 song4 to deliver, to carry, to give (as a present), to present (with), to see off, to send 上 個 月 shang4ge4yue4 last month 星 期 二 xing1qi1er4 Tuesday 日 ri4 Japan, day, sun, date, day of the month 年 nian2 year 談 tan2 to speak, to talk, to converse, to chat, to discuss, (surname) 正 在 zheng4zai4 in the process of (doing something or happening), while (doing) 二 十 八 er4shi2ba1hao4 28th day of the month 一 定 要 yi1ding4yao4 must 三 千 san1qian1wu3bai3 3 500 中 國 zhong1guo2 China, Chinese 進 來 jin4lai2 (v) come in 祝 賀 zhu4he4 to congratulate, congratulations 不 會 bu4hui4 improbable, unlikely, will not (act, happen, etc, ), have not learned to, be unable to 學 校 xue2xiao4 school 三 san1 three 六 號 liu4hao4 6th day of the month 哪 兒 na3er5 where 酒 jiu3 wine, liquor, spirits 這 個 月 zhei4ge4yue4 this (current) month 哦 e2 / o2 to chant / oh is that so 有 you3 to have, there is, there are, to exist, to be 國 家 guo2jia1 country, nation 漢 語 han4yu3 Chinese language 半 ban4 half, semi-, incomplete, (after a number) and a half, half 得 de2 / de5 / dei3 obtain, get, gain, proper, suitable, proud, contented, allow, permit, ready, finished / a sentence particle used after a verb to show effect, degree or possibility / to have to, must, ought to, to need to 真 zhen1 real, true, genuine 進 jin4 advance, enter, to come in 朋 友 peng2you5 friend 下 邊 xia4bian1 (n) under 後 hou4 back, behind, rear, afterwards, after, later 英 語 ying1yu3 English (language) 問 題 wen4ti2 problem, issue, topic 一 yi1 one, single, a(n) 明 年 ming2nian2 next year 他 ta1 he, him 花 園 hua1yuan2 garden 星 期 五 xing1qi1wu3 Friday 上 午 shang4wu3 morning 書 店 shu1dian4 bookstore 寫 xie3 to write 出 去 chu1qu4 (v) go out 主 意 zhu3yi5 plan, idea, decision 二 er4 two 開 門 kai1men2 open (the) door 大 衣 da4yi1 overcoat, topcoat, cloak 簽 qian1 sign ones name 新 xin1 meso- (chem.), new, newly 天 tian1 day, sky, heaven 五 千 wu3qian1dun1 5000 tons 男 朋 友 nan2peng2you5 male friend, boyfriend 試 shi4 to test, to try, experiment, examination, test 足 球 zu2qiu2 football (British English), soccer (American English) 什 shi2 tenth 紙 zhi3 paper 那 些 na4xie1 those 半 以 ban4yi3shang4 more than half 不 bu4 (negative prefix), not, no 元 yuan2 (dynasty), dollar, primary, first 很 好 hen3hao3 well 跟 gen1 to follow, to go with, heel, with, and 大 夫 dai4fu5 doctor 二 十 er4shi2 twenty, 20 右 you4 right (-hand) 麼 me5 / mo2 (interrog. suff.) / dimi. 一 下 兒 yi2xiar4 a little bit, a little while 不 學 bu4xue2wu2shu4 have neither learning nor skill, be ignorant and incompetent 孩 子 hai2zi5 child 二 十 一 er4shi2yi1 twenty-one 億 yi4 a hundred million, calculate 五 wu3 five, 5 地 圖 di4tu2 map 開 kai1 open, operate (vehicle), start 好 朋 友 hao3peng2you5 good friend 上 課 shang4ke4 to attend class 來 lai2 to come 。 。 的 de5 / di2 / di4 (possessive particle), of / really and truly / aim, clear 城 cheng2 city walls, city, town 人 口 ren2kou3 population 二 月 er4yue4 February, second month 新 年 xin1nian2 New Year 常 常 chang2chang2 frequently, usually, often 說 shui4 / shuo1 persuade (politically) / to speak, to say 條 tiao2 measure word for long, thin things (i.e. ribbon, river, etc.), a strip, item, article 找 zhao3 to try to find, to look for, to call on (sb), to find, to seek, to return, to look for 電 影 dian4ying3 movie, film 三 萬 san1wan4 30 thousand 告 訴 gao4su5 to tell, to inform, to let know 才 能 cai2neng2 talent, ability, capacity 歡 迎 huan1ying2 to welcome, welcome 個 ge4 (a measure word), individual 房 fang2 house 我 wo3 I, me, myself 那 兒 nar3 where / there 想 家 xiang3jia1 homesick 還 hai2 / huan2 also, in addition, more, still, else, still, yet, (not) yet / (surname), pay back, return 不 好 bu4hao3 no good 層 ceng2 a measure word for layers, laminated, repeated, floor, story (of a building), layer 星 期 xing1qi1 week 是 shi4 is, are, am, yes, to be 回 hui2 (a measure word for matters or actions) a time, to circle, to go back, to turn around, to answer, to return, to revolve 能 neng2 can, may, capable, energy, able 辦 ban4 to do, to manage, to handle, to go about, to run, to set up, to deal with 吸 煙 xi1yan1 to smoke 媽 媽 ma1ma5 mama, mommy 九 十 jiu3shi2 ninety 不 能 bu4neng2 cannot, must not, should not 六 點 liu4dian3liu4 6.6 沒 mei2 / mo4 (negative prefix for verbs), have not, not / drowned, to end, to die, to inundate 文 學 wen2xue2 literature 下 課 xia4ke4 class is over 對 面 dui4mian4 opposite 三 分 san1fen1zhi1yi1 one third 妹 妹 mei4mei4 (informal) younger sister / younger sister 千 qian1 thousand 百 bai3 hundred 茶 cha2 tea, tea plant 綠 茶 lu:4cha2 green tea 請 問 qing3wen4 may I ask... 十 五 shi2wu3 fifteen 在 這 zai4zhe4qi1jian1 during time, in this time 白 bai2 white, snowy, empty, blank, bright, clear, plain, pure, gratuitous 報 bao4 to announce, to inform, report, newspaper, recompense, revenge 每 mei3 each, every 房 間 fang2jian1 room 一 起 yi4qi3 together 作 zuo4 to regard as, to take (somebody) for, to do, to make 早 上 zao3shang5 early morning 也 ye3 also, too 等 deng3 class, rank, grade, equal to, same as, wait for, await, et cetera, and so on 二 十 五 er4shi2wu3 twenty five 點 dian3 (downwards-right convex character stroke), oclock, (a measure word), point, dot, (decimal) point) 十 九 shi2jiu3 nineteen 六 liu4 six 快 kuai4 fast, quick, swift ﹔ ﹔ 星 期 日 xing1qi1ri4 Sunday 問 wen4 to ask 京 劇 jing1ju4 Beijing opera 刻 ke4 quarter (hour), (a measure word), to carve, to engrave, to cut, oppressive 家 jia1 -ist, -er, -ian, home, family, a person engaged in a certain art or profession 有 一 you3yi1xie1 somewhat, rather 喝 he1 / he4 my goodness, to drink / shout applause 住 宿 zhu4su4 lodging 一 時 yi4shi2 temporary, momentary 今 天 jin1tian1 today, at the present, now 這 zhe4 / zhei4 this, these / this, these 銀 行 yin2hang2 bank 咖 啡 ka1fei1 coffee 國 guo2 country, state, nation 三 十 san1shi2 thirty, 30 會 hui4 / kuai4 can, be possible, be able to, to assemble, to meet, to gather, to see, union, group, association / to balance an account, accounting 會 不 會 hui4bu4hui4 (posing a question: whether someone, something) can or not, is able to or not 教 室 jiao4shi4 classroom 地 方 di4fang5 area, place, local 生 日 sheng1ri4 birthday 常 chang2 always, ever, often, frequently, common, general, constant 從 cong1 / cong2 / zong4 lax, yielding, unhurried / from, obey, observe, follow / second cousin 七 點 qi1dian3er4 7.2 漢 字 han4zi4 Chinese character 十 二 shi2er4 12, twelve 七 百 qi1bai3wan4 seven million 以 yi3 to use, according to, so as to, in order to, by, with, because 呢 ne5 / ni2 (question particle) / woolen material 中 zhong1 / zhong4 within, among, in, middle, center, while (doing sth), during, China, Chinese / hit (the mark) 十 一 月 shi2yi1yue4 eleventh month, November 二 十 二 er4shi2er4hao4 22nd day of a month 二 次 er4ci4da4zhan4 World War Two 口 語 kou3yu3 spoken language 住 zhu4 to live, to dwell, to reside, to stop 萬 wan4 (surname), ten thousand, a great number 後 邊 hou4bian1 behind 名 字 ming2zi5 (a persons) name 我 們 wo3men5 we, us, ourselves 事 兒 shir4 business, thing 教 jiao1 / jiao4 teach / religion, teaching 星 期 六 xing1qi1liu4 Saturday 沒 吃 mei2chi1mei2chuan1 (idiom) to be without food and clothing; be very poor 現 代 音 樂 xian4dai4yin1yue4 modern music, contemporary music 學 院 xue2yuan4 college, educational institute, school, faculty 一 九 九 yi1jiu3jiu3qi1nian2 the year 1997 八 分 ba1fen1yin1fu2 quaver, eighth note 沒 有 人 mei2you3ren2 nobody 開 始 kai1shi3 begin, beginning, start, initial 姓 xing4 surname, family name, name 不 歡 bu4huan1er2san4 part on bad terms, (of a meeting, etc, ) break up in discord 筆 bi3 pen, pencil, writing brush, to write or compose, the strokes of Chinese characters 在 大 zai4da4duo1shu4qing2kuang4xia4 in most instances 車 che1 / ju1 car, a vehicle, machine, to shape with a lathe / vehicle on land 可 是 ke3shi4 but, however 增 加 zeng1jia1 to raise, to increase 一 億 yi1yi4 1 00 million 學 xue2 learn, study, science, -ology 束 shu4 bunch, (a measure word), to bind, to control 學 生 xue2sheng5 student 大 da4 / dai4 big, huge, large, major, great, wide, deep, oldest, eldest / doctor 哥 哥 ge1ge5 older brother ﹗ ﹗ 了 解 liao3jie3 understand, come to understand, find out 的 時 候 de5shi2hou4 when, during, at the time of 十 年 shi2nian2 ten years ○ ○ 裙 子 qun2zi5 skirt 服 務 員 fu2wu4yuan2 waiter, waitress, server 一 月 yi1yue4 first month, January 游 you2 to walk, to tour, to roam, to swim, to travel 一 些 yi1xie1 some, a few, a little 介 紹 jie4shao4 to present, introduction, to introduce 這 個 zhe4ge4 this 老 師 lao3shi1 teacher 很 hen3 very, extremely 三 十 五 san1shi2wu3yi4 3.5 billion 分 fen1 / fen4 to divide, minute, (a measure word), (a unit of length = 0.33 centimeter) / part 中 間 zhong1jian4 betwixt, intermediate, mid, middle 您 nin2 you (formal) 又 you4 (once) again, also, both... and..., again 詞 典 ci2dian3 dictionary 一 萬 yi1wan4 ten thousand 丁 雲 ding1yun2 Ding Yun (a personal name) 幾 ji1 / ji3 almost / how much, how many, several, a few 千 萬 qian1wan4 ten million, millions and millions, very many 給 gei3 / ji3 to, for, for the benefit of, to give, to allow, to do sth (for sb), (passive particle) / to supply, provide 他 們 ta1men5 they 太 tai4 highest, greatest, too (much), very, extremely 五 月 wu3yue4 May, fifth month 紅 茶 hong2cha2 black tea