he Meeting Module (MTG) will provide you with the skills needed to arrange meetings or social gatherings, to greet people, to make introductions, and to accept or decline invitations in Chinese. Before starting this module, you must take and pass the TRN Criterion Test. The MTG Criterion Test will focus largely on this module, but material from ORN, BIO, MON, DIR, TRN, and associated resource modules is also included.

Upon successful completion of this module, the student should be able to Give the English equivalent for any Chinese sentence in the MTG Target Lists. Say any Chinese sentence in the MTG Target Lists when cued with English equivalent. Make and respond to introductions with appropriate polite questions and answers. Make phone calls and leave messages. Arrange a meeting (time and place) with someone by talking with him or his secretary either in person or by phone. Request that the time of a meeting be changed. Invite a person to lunch, deciding on the time and the restaurant. Arrange a social gathering for a specific time of day, inviting guests to his home and encouraging them to accept the invitation. Greet guests upon their arrival at his home. Accept/decline a social/business invitation with the appropriate degree of politeness.

1. Wèi, nǐ shi Zhū Kēzhǎng ma? 喂, 你是朱科長嗎？ Hello. Are you Section Chief Zhū? Shì. Nín shi něiwèi? 是。您是哪位？ Yes. Who is this, please? Wǒ shi Wēilián Mǎdīng 我是威廉馬丁。 I’m William Martin. Òu, Mǎdīng Xiānsheng, hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn. 哦, 馬丁先生, 好久不見。 Oh, Mr. Martin—I haven’t seen you for a long time. 2. Wo yǒu diǎnr shì xiǎng gēn nín dāngmiàn tántan. 我有點兒事想跟您當面談談。 I have something I would like to talk with you about in person. 3. Nín yǒu gōngfu meiyou? 您有功夫沒有？ Do you have any free time? 4. Shénme shíhou duì nín héshì? 什麽時候對您合適？ What time would suit you? 5. Sāndiǎn bǐ liǎngdiǎn fāngbian yìdiǎnr. Yīnwei wǒ yìhuǐr chūqu, yěxǔ liǎngdiǎn huíbulái. 三點比兩點方便一點兒。因爲一會兒出去，也許兩點回不來。 Three would be more convenient than two. Since I’m going out in a little while, I might not be able to get back by two. Nàme，wǒ sāndiǎn zhōng zài lóuxiàde huìkèshì děng nín. 那麽, 我三點鐘在樓下的會客室等您。 Well then, I’ll wait for you in the reception room downstairs at three o’clock. ADDITIONAL REQUIRED VOCABULARY (not presented on C-l and P-1 tapes) 6. huídelái 回得來 to be able to get back in time 7. kòng(r) 空(兒) free time, spare time 8. lóushàng 樓上 upstairs 9. shāngliang 商量 to discuss, to talk over 10. yǒu kòng(r) 有空(兒) to have free time

1. Wèi, Mēidàsī. 喂, 美大司。 Hello. Department of American and Oceanic Affairs. Wǒ shi Jiānádà Dàshiguǎnde Qiáozhì Dáfēi. Wǒ yǒu yíjiàn shì xiǎng gēn Wáng Kēzhǎng jiǎng-yijiǎng. 我是加拿大大使館的喬治達菲。我有一件事想跟王科長講一講。 I am George Duffy of the Canadian Embassy. I have something I would like to discuss with Section Chief Wáng. 2. Wáng Kēzhǎng xiànzài zài kāi huì. Děng tā kāiwán huì wǒ gàosong tā gěi ni huí diànhuà. 王科長現在在開會。等她開完會我告訴告誦她給你回電話。 Section Chief Wáng is at a meeting now. When she is finished with the meeting, I will tell her to return your call. 3. Hǎo, xièxie ni. 好，謝謝你。 Fine. Thank you. Bú xiè. 不謝。 Don’t mention it. 4. Nǐ dǎ diànhuà láide shíhou wǒ méi shíjiān gēn ni shuō huà. 你打電話來的時候我沒時間跟你説話。 When you called here, I didn’t have time to speak with you. Méi guānxi. 沒關係。 It doesn’t matter. 5. Wǒ gěi ni dǎ diànhuàde mùdi shi xiǎng gēn ni dāngmiàn tántan. 我給你打電話目的是想跟你當面談談。 The reason I called you is that I would like to talk with you in person. Nǐ míngtiān něng bu néng dào wǒ zhěr lái? 你明天能不能到我這兒來？ Can you come over here tomorrow? Kéyi. Míngtiān shénme shíhou dōu kéyi. 你明天能不能到我這兒來？ Yes. Any time tomorrow would be fine. ADDITIONAL REQUIRED VOCABULARY (not presented on C-l and P-1 tapes) 6. guānxi 關係 relation, relationship, connection 7. jiǎng huà 講話 to speak, to talk; a speech 8. lǐngshiguǎn 領事館 consulate 9. shìqing (yíjiàn) 事情 (一件) matter, business, affair 10. sīzhǎng 司長 department chief 11. yǒu guānxi 有關係 to relate to, to have a bearing on, to matter

1. Wǒ xiǎng xiàge Xīngqīliù qǐng nín dào wǒmen jiā lái chī ge biànfàn. 我想下個星期六請您到我們家來 吃個便飯。 I would like to invite you to come to our house for a simple meal on Saturday of next week. Nín hébì zhème kèqi? 您何必這麽客氣？ Why is it necessary to be so polite? 2. Wǒ yǒu yige Měiguo péngyou zài Táiwān Dàxué jiāo shū. Hěn xiǎng gěi nǐmen liǎngwèi jièshao jièshao. 我有一個美國朋友在臺灣大學教書。 很想給你們兩位介紹介紹。 I have an American friend who teaches at Táiwān University. I would very much like to introduce the two of you. Nà tài hǎo le! 你太好了！ That’s wonderful! 3. Wǒ hěn xǐwang gēn ni péngyou tántan. 我很希望跟你朋友談談。 I wish very much to talk with your friend. Búguò, kǒngpà wǒde Yīngwén bù xíng. 不過，恐怕我的英文不行。 However, I’m afraid that my English isn’t good enough. Búdàn shuōde bù hǎo, yǒu shíhou yě tīngbudǒng. 不但説得不好，有時候也聽不懂。 Not only don’t I speak well, (but) sometimes I can’t understand what I hear either. 4. Nǐ shuōde gēn Měiguo rén yíyàng hǎo. 你説得跟美國人一樣。 You speak as well as an American. 5. Wǒ méi qǐng shénme rén; hěn suíbiàn. 我沒請什麽人；很隨便。 I haven’t invited anyone special; it’s very informal. Nà jiù xiān xiè le. 那就先謝了。 Well then, I’ll thank you in advance. ADDITIONAL REQUIRED VOCABULARY (not presented on C-l and P-1 tapes) 6. bù tóng 不同 to be different 7. chá 茶 tea 8. chī fàn 吃飯 to eat, to have a meal 9. dànshi 但是 but 10. érqiě 而且 furthermore, moreover 11. fàn 飯 (cooked) rice 12. hē 喝 to drink 13. jiāo shū 教書 to teach

1. Hé Jiàoshòu, huānyíng, huānyíng.Qǐng jìn. 何教授，歡迎，歡迎。請進。 Professor Hollins, welcome. Please come in. Zhè shi yìdiǎn xiǎo yìsi. 這是一點小意思。 Here is a small token of appreciation. 2. Wǒ zhīdao nín xǐhuan shānshuǐ huà. 我知道您喜歡山水畫。 I know you like landscape painting. Tèbiě qǐng péngyou gěi nín huàle yìzhāng. 特別請朋友給您畫一張。 I asked a friend to paint one especially for you. 3. Zhèiwèi shi Hé Jiàoshòu, zài Táidà jiāo shū. 這位是何教授，在台大教書。 This is Professor Hollins, who teaches at Táiwān University. Jiǔyǎng, jiǔyǎng. 久仰，久仰。 Glad to meet you. 4. Wǒ hái yǒu hěn duō bù shóuxide dìfang yào xiàng nín qǐngjiào. 我還有很多不熟悉的地方要向您請教。 There is still much I’m not familiar with that I need to ask your advice about. 5. Xǐwang yǐhòu yǒu jīhui duō jiànmiàn. 希望以後有機會多見面。 I hope that in the future we will have an opportunity to meet more. ADDITIONAL REQUIRED VOCABULARY (not presented on C-l and P-1 tapes) 6. fāngfǎ 方法 method, way, means 7. fázi 法子 method, way 8. huàr 畫兒 painting (Běijīng pronunciation) 9. qǐng zuò 請坐 please sit down 10. shèhuìxué 社會學 sociology 11. túshūguǎn 圖書館 library 12. zuò 坐 to sit

1. Wài. 喂 Hello. Wèi, shi Wàijiāobù ma? Wǒ yào zhǎo Lín Sīzhǎng shuō huà. 喂，外交部嗎？我要找林司長説話。 Hello. Is this the Ministry of Foreign Affairs? I want to speak with Department Chief Lin. Nín shi nǎr a? 您是那兒啊？ Who is this? Wǒ shi Fǎguo Shāngwù Jīngjiguān. 我是法國商務經濟官。 I am the French Commercial/Economics Officer. 2. Lin Sīzhǎng zhèihuír bú zài. Nín yào liú ge huàr ma? 林司長這會兒不在。 Department Chief Lin is not here at the moment. Would you like to leave a message? 3. Wǒ bǎ nínde diànhuà hàomǎr xiěxiàlái. 我把您的電話號兒寫下來。 I’ll write down your phone number. 4. Duìbuqǐ, nǐ gāngcái gěi wo da diànhuà, wǒ bú zài. 對不起，你剛才給我打電話，我不在。 I’m sorry. When you called me just now, I wasn’t in. 5. Wǒ nèitiān gēn nín yuēhǎole jīntiān dào nín bàngōngshì qu tántan. 我那天跟您約好了今天到辦公室去談談。 The other day I made an appointment with you to go to your office today for a talk. Yīnwei wǒ yǒu yíjiàn yàojǐnde shì, suóyi bù néng jīntiān qù. 因爲我有一件要緊的事，所以不能今天去。 Because I have an urgent business matter, I can’t go today. Gǎi dào míngtiān xíng bu xíng? 改到明天行不行？ Would it be all right to change it [the appointment] to tomorrow? ADDITIONAL REQUIRED VOCABULARY (not presented on C-l and P-1 tapes) 6. háishi 還是 still 7. wàiguo 外國 foreign, abroad 8. wàiguo rén 外國人 foreigner (non-Chinese) 9. wūzi (yìjiān) 屋子 (一間) room 10. yāo 幺 one (telephone pronunciation)

1. Wǒmen dào Dōngmén Cāntīng qù chī zhōngfàn, hǎo bu hǎo? 我們到東門餐廳去吃中飯，好不好？ Let’s go to the East Gate Restaurant to eat lunch. Okay? Dōngménde cài méiyou Dàhuáde cài nàme hǎo. 東門的菜沒有大華菜那麽好。 The food at the East Gate isn’t as good as the food at the Great China. 2. Suírán bú tài hǎo, kěshi lí zhèli jìn. 雖然不太好，可是離這裏近。 Even though it [East Gate] is not too good, it is close to us. Hái yǒu yíge xīn kāide fànguǎnzi lí wǒmen zhèli gèng jìn. 還有一個新開的飯館子離我們這裏更近。 There is also a newly opened restaurant that is even closer to us. 3. Tāmen nàlide cài fēicháng hǎo. Jīntiān wǒ qǐng ni dào nàli qù chī. 它們那裏菜非常好。今天我請你到那裏去吃。 The food there is extremely good. Today I am going to invite you to go there to eat. Nà bù hǎo yìsi! 那不好意思！ I can’t let you do that! (That would be too embarrassing!) 4. Dàhuáde cài yòu hǎo yòu piǎnyi. 大華的菜又好又便宜。 The food at the Great China is both good and cheap. Yě yǒu hǎoxiē cài biéde dìfang chībuzháo. 也有好些菜別的地方吃不找。 They also have a good many dishes that you can’t find (at) other places. 5. Nǐ shuōde dìfang yídìng hǎo. 你説的地方一定好。 Any place you suggest is sure to be good. ADDITIONAL REQUIRED VOCABULARY (not presented on C-l and P-1 tapes) 6. bù yídìng 不一定 not necessarily; it’s not definite 7. kànfa 看法 opinion, view 8. wǎnfàn 晚飯 supper, dinner 9. xiǎngfa 想法 idea, opinion 10. yìxiē 一些 some, several, a few 11. zǎofàn 早飯 breakfast 12. zuòfa 做法 way of doing things, method, practice

1. Wǒ yǒu yíjiàn shi xiǎng gēn nín dǎting dǎting. 我有一件事想跟您打聽打聽。 I have something I would like to ask you about. Tīngshuō nín nàbian xīn láile yíwèi Fāng Xiānsheng; tāde míngzi wǒ wàngji le. 聽説您那邊新來了一位方先生；他的名字我忘記了。 I have heard that you recently had a Mr. Fāng join you. I have forgotten his given name. 2. Bú cuò, Fāng Démíng shi shàngge líbài pài dào wǒmen zhèli láide. 不錯，方德明是上個禮拜派到我們這裏 來的。 That’s right. Fāng Démíng was sent over here last week. Zěnme? Nǐ rènshi ta ma? 怎麽？你認識他嗎？ Why? Do you know him? 3. Wǒ shi Jiāzhōu Dàxué bìyède. 我是加州大學畢業的。 I graduated from the University of California. 4. Nǐ néng bu néng mǎshàng dào wo bàngōngshì lái? 你能不能馬上到我辦公室來？ Can you come to my office right away? Méi wèntí. Chàbuduō bànge zhōngtóu jiù dào. 沒問題。差不多半個鐘頭就到。 No problem. I’ll be there in about half an hour. ADDITIONAL REQUIRED VOCABULARY (not presented on C-l and P-1 tapes) 5. jìde 記得 to remember 6. rènde 認得 to recognize, to know (alternate word for rènshi) 7. rènshi zì 認識字 to know how to read (literally, “to recognize characters”) 8. wàng 忘 to forget (alternate word for wàngji, especially in the sense of forgetting to DO something) 9. wánquán 完全 completely 10. xiǎngqilai 想起來 to think of, to remember 11. zuǒyòu 左右 approximately

1. Wài, zhèi shi Lǐbīnsī. 喂，這是禮賓司。 Hello. This is the Protocol Department. Wèi, wǒ shi Láidēng Dàshǐde mìshū. 喂，我是萊登大使的秘書。 Hello. I am Ambassador Leyden's secretary. 2. Dàshǐ jiēzháo nǐmende qǐngtiě le. 大使接著你們的請帖了。 The ambassador received your invitation. Hěn kěxī yīnwei tā yǒu shì, Báyuè jiǔhào bù néng lái. 很可惜因爲他有事，八月九號不能來。 Unfortunately, because he has a previous engagement, he cannot come on August 9。 Qǐng ni zhuǎngào Qiáo Bùzhǎng. 請你轉告譙部長。 Please inform Minister Qiao. Hěn bāoqiàn. 很抱歉。 I’m very sorry. 3. Hěn yíhàn, tā bù néng lái. 很遺憾，他不能來。 We very much regret that he cannot come. Wǒ tì ni zhuǎngào yíxià. 我替你轉告一下。 I will pass on the message for you. 4. Xīwang yǐhòu zài zhǎo jīhui jùyijù ba. 希望以後在找機會聚一聚吧。 I hope that later we will find another opportunity to get together. 5. Zhēn bù qiǎo, méi bànfa qù. 真不巧，沒辦法去。 I really couldn’t make that; I have no way of going. 6. Wǒmen yǒu jige tóngxué jìhua dào Chángchéng qù wánr. 我們有幾個同學計劃到長城去玩兒。 A few of us students are planning to go to the Great Wall for an outing. ADDITIONAL REQUIRED VOCABULARY (not presented on C-l and P-1 tapes) 7. dàjiā 大家 everybody, everyone 8. jiēdào 接到 to receive (alternate form of jiēzháo) 9. tóngshì 同事 fellow worker, colleague 10. yīnggāi 應該 should, ought to, must

1. B: Wéi. 喂 Hello. A: Wài, nǐ shi Zhū Kēzhǎng ma? 喂，你是朱科長嗎？ Hello. Are you Section Chief Zhū? B: Shì. Nín shi něiwèi? 是。您是哪位？ Yes. Who is this, please? A: Wǒ shi Wēilián Mǎdīng. 我是威廉馬丁。 I’m William Martin. B: The remaining sentences in this exchange occur on the C-1 tape. Òu, Madīng Xiānsheng, hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn. Nǐ hǎo a? 哦，馬丁先生，好久不見。你好啊？ Oh, Mr. Martin—I haven’t seen you for quite a while. How are you? A: Hǎo. Nǐ hǎo a? 好。你好啊？ Fine. How are you? 2. A: Wǒ yōu diǎnr shì xiǎng gēn nín dāngmiàn tántan. 我有點兒事想跟您當面談談。 I have something I would like to talk with you about in person. 3. A: Bù zhīdào nín yǒu gōngfu meiyou. 不知道您有工夫沒有。 I don’t know whether you have the time or not. B: Yǒu gōngfu. 有功夫。 I have the time. 4. A: Shénme shíhou duì nín héshì? 什麽時候對您合適？ What time would suit you? B: Jīntiān, míngtiān dōu kéyi. 今天，明天都可以。 Either today or tomorrow would be fine. 5. A: Jīntiān xiàwǔ liǎngdiǎn zhōng fāngbian ma? 今天下午兩點鐘方便嗎？ Would two o’clock today be convenient? B: Sāndiǎn bī liǎngdiǎn fāngbian yìdiǎnr. 三點比兩點方便一點兒。 Three would be more convenient than two. 6. B: Yīnwei wǒ yìhuǐr chūqu, yěxǔ liǎngdiǎn huíbulái. 因爲我一會兒出去，也許兩點回不來。 Since I’m going out in a little while, I might not be able to get back by two. 7. B: Nàme, wǒ sāndiǎn zhōng zài lóuxiàde huìkèshì děng nín. 那麽，我三點鐘在樓下的會客室等您。 Well then, I’ll wait for you in the reception room downstairs at three o’clock. A: Hǎo, sāndiǎn jiàn. 好，三點見。 Fine. I’ll see you at three. Additional Vocabulary (not presented on C-1 and P-1 tapes) 8. huídelái 回得來 to be able to get back in time 9. kòng(r) 空兒 free time, spare time 10. lóushàng 樓上 upstairs 11. shāngliang 商量 to discuss, to talk over 12. yǒu kòng(r) 有空兒 to have free time

bǐ 比 compared with, than dāngmiàn 當面 in person, face to face duì 對 to, towards; with regard to, with respect to gōngfu 功夫 free time, spare time héshì 合適 to be suitable, to be appropriate, to fit huíbulái 回不來 to be unable to get back huídelái 回得來 to be able to get back in time huìkèshì (huìkèshǐ) 會客室 reception room kēzhǎng 科長 section chief kòng(r) 空兒 free time, spare time lóushàng 樓上 upstairs lóuxià 樓下 downstairs nàme 那麽 well, then, in that case shāngliang 商量 to discuss, to talk over tán 談 to chat, to talk about wéi 喂 hello (telephone greeting) yěxǔ 也許 perhaps, maybe yìhuǐr 一會兒 a moment yǒu gōngfu 有功夫 to have free time yǒu kòng(r) 有空兒 to have free time (Introduced on C-2 and P-2 tapes) chūkǒu gōngsī 出口公司 export company huì kè 會客 to receive guests xiē 些 several, some yǒu yòng 有用 to be useful

1. B: Wéi. 喂 Hello. A: Wài, nǐ shi Zhū Kēzhǎng ma? 喂，你是朱科長嗎？ Hello. Are you Section Chief Zhū? B: Shì. Nín shi něiwèi? 是。您是哪位？ Yes. Who is this, please? A: Wǒ shi Wēilián Mǎdīng. 我是威廉馬丁。 I’m William Martin. B: Òu, Madīng Xiānsheng, hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn. Nǐ hǎo a? 哦，馬丁先生，好久不見。你好啊？ Oh, Mr. Martin—I haven’t seen you for quite a while. How are you? A: Hǎo. Nǐ hǎo a? 好。你好啊？ Fine. How are you? Wéi is a greeting used in telephone conversations for “hello.” Some speakers pronounce this greeting as wài. Unlike most Chinese words, wèi has no fixed tone. The intonation varies according to the speaker’s mood. Kēzhǎng: Kē means “section,” and zhǎng means “head of an organization.” Here are some examples of how -zhǎng, “chief,” “head,” is used: kē 科 section kēzhǎng 科長 section chief chù 処 division chùzhǎng 処長 division chief xuéxiào 學校 school xiàozhǎng 校長 principal, headmaster Nín shi něiwèi? Note the use of the polite terms nín and něiwèi. In the English translation, politeness is expressed by the use of the more indirect “Who is this” instead of “Who are you” and also by “please.” Hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn, “I haven’t seen you for quite a while,” is interchangeable with hǎo jiǔ méi jiàn.

2. A: Wǒ yōu diǎnr shì xiǎng gēn nín dāngmiàn tántan. 我有點兒事想跟您當面談談。 I have something I would like to talk with you about in person. Gēn: In No. 2 the word gēn is a prepositional verb translated as “with.” The preposition gēn, “with,” differs from the conjunction gēn, “and,” in two important ways: a) where stress may be placed b) where the negative may be placed. When gēn is used as the conjunction “and,” both items being joined are stressed and keep their tones. When gēn is used as the prepositional verb “with,” a pronoun which follows is unstressed and loses its tone. Notice the contrasting tones on tā in the following sentences: 我跟他都來了。 Both he and I came. Wǒ gēn tǎ dōu lái le. 我跟他來。 I’ll come with him. Wǒ gēn ta lái. To make negative a sentence containing the conjunction gēn, “and,” the negative is placed with the main verb. In sentences containing the prepositional verb gēn, “with,” the negative precedes the prepositional verb. (You have seen this pattern with other prepositional verbs, for example, zài [see BIO, Unit 2, notes on Nos. 8–11].) Notice the contrasting positions of the negatives in the examples below: 我跟他都沒有去。 Neither he nor I went. Wǒ gēn tā dōu méiyou qù. 我沒有跟他去。 I didn’t go with him. Wǒ méiyou gēn ta qù. Dāngmiàn means “face-to-face.” Literally, dāng means “in the presence of,” and miàn means “face.

3. A: Bù zhīdào nín yǒu gōngfu meiyou. 不知道您有工夫沒有。 I don’t know whether you have the time or not. B: Yǒu gōngfu. 有功夫。 I have the time. Gōngfu, “time,” “free time,” “leisure time,” refers to a period of time during which a person is free, in the sense that his work may be interrupted. Now you know three words for “time”: shíhou, shíjiān, gōngfu Shíhou may be used for either a point in time or an amount of time. Nǐ shénme shíhou zǒu? 你什麽時候走？ When are you leaving? Zuò huǒchē yào zǒu duōshao shíhou? 坐火車要走多少時候？ How long does it take to go by train? Shíjiān refers to any amount of time, including the time when a person is free. Cóng zhèr dào fēijīchǎng yào duōshao shíjiān? 從這兒到飛機場要多少時間？ How long does it take from here tot he airport? Jīntiān měiyou shíjiān qù. 今天沒有時間去。 There isn’t time to go today. Gōngfu, however, is used only for amounts of time which a person has available for his own use. Nǐ yǒu méiyou gōngfu gēn wo tántan? 你有沒有功夫跟我談談？ Are you free to talk with me?

4. A: Shénme shíhou duì nín héshì? 什麽時候對您合適？ What time would suit you? B: Jīntiān, míngtiān dōu kéyi. 今天，明天都可以。 Either today or tomorrow would be fine. Duì, “to,” “towards,” “with regard to,” “with respect to,” is a prepositional verb which originally meant “facing.” In modern Chinese, its object introduces either the target of the action or the thing concerned. Contrast this with gěi, “for”: the object introduced by gěi receives the benefit of the action. These generalizations may help you sort out some of the differences between duì and gěi. You might find it helpful to memorize some examples, as well. duì INTRODUCING THE TARGET OF THE ACTION (“to”) Nǐde huà shi duì shéi shuōde? To whom were you speaking? 你的話是對誰説的。 Tā duì wǒ hěn kèqi. 他對我很客氣。 He is very polite to me. Nǐ duì wǒ tài hǎo. 你對我太好。 You are too good to me. duì INTRODUCING THE THING CONCERNED (“with regard to,” “with respect to”) Shénme shíhou duì nín héshì? 什麽時候對您合適？ What time suits you? Shénme shíhou duì nín fāngbian? 什麽時候對您方便？ What time is convenient for you? Notice that the English is “for you” in the last example, but in Chinese you must say “What time is convenient with regard to you?” gěi INTRODUCING THE BENEFICIARY Wǒ gěi ta xiěle xìn le. 我給他寫了信了。 I wrote him a letter. Zhè shi yìzhāng shíkuàide, qǐng ni gěi wǒ huànhuan. 這是一張十塊的，請您給我換換。 Here’s a ten-dollar bill. Please change it for me. Qǐng ni gěi wǒ xiě nǐde dìzhǐ. 請你給我寫你的地址。 Would you write down your address for me, please? Héshì is an adjectival verb meaning “to fit,” “to suit,” “to be suitable/appropriate.” When trying on clothes in a store, you might say Zhèige bù héshì, “This doesn’t fit.” In another situation, héshì could be translated very freely as “best”: Něitiān duì nín héshì? “What day would be best for you?”

Sāndiǎn bǐ liǎngdiǎn fāngbian yìdiǎnr: Bǐ is a prepositional verb used to make comparisons between two things which are different. A different pattern is used to say that two things are the same. (See MTG, Unit 3, notes on Nos. 4–5.) In translating, you may find it helpful to think of bǐ as the English “compared with” or“than.” To say “A is not as ... as B,” you use a different construction, which you will learn in MTG, Unit 6, notes on No. 2. Notice that the bǐ phrase precedes the adjectival verb or another predicate in a sentence. Sāndiǎn bǐ liǎngdiǎn fāngbian yìdiǎnr. 三點 比 兩點 方便一點兒。 3 o’clock than compared with 2 o’clock more convenient. “Three is more convenient than two.” Tā bǐ wǒ yǒu gōngfu. 他 比 我 有 功夫。 he than compared with I have free time “He has more free time than I do.” The two elements being compared may be nouns, pronouns, verb phrases, or even full sentences. Actually, all elements Joined by bǐ act as nouns, as seen in the English translations of the examples below. Zuò fēijī bǐ zuò huǒchē kuài. 坐飛機 比 坐火車 快。 ride plane than compared with ride train fast. “Going by plane is faster than going by train.” Nǐ lái bǐ wǒ qù fāngbian. 你來 比 我去 方便。 you come than compared with I go convenient. “It’s more convenient for you to come than for me to go.”

6. B: Yīnwei wǒ yìhuǐr chūqu, yěxǔ liǎngdiǎn huíbulái. 因爲我一會兒出去，也許兩點回不來。 Since I’m going out in a little while, I might not be able to get back by two. Yìhuǐr, “a little while”: When r is added to a syllable ending in i, the pronunciation changes to /er/. Yìhuǐr is actually pronounced yìhuěr. Sentence placement of time phrases: Wǒ yìhuǐr chūqu is translated as “I’m going out IN a little while.” Contrast this with wǒ chūqu yìhuǐr, “I’m going out FOR a little while.” Let’s review the placement of different kinds of time expressions in a Chinese sentence. If you want to say when something happens (“yesterday”) or in how long something happens (“in two years”), you are using time phrases which in Chinese are considered to be POINTS IN TIME. Not only is a time phrase such as “two o’clock” a point in time, but a phrase such as “five days” can also be a point in time if the focus is on the end of this period of time. In English, this focus is expressed by “in five days,” “by the end of five days,” or “at the end of five days.” In Chinese, you do not need to use words such as “in,” “at,” or “by” because the position of the time phrase in the sentence indicates the meaning. Time phrases which are considered points in time are placed BEFORE THE VERB. WHEN (a point in time) Wǒ zuótiān kànjian ta le. 我昨天看見他了。 I saw him yesterday. Wǒ cóngqián láiguo zhèli. 我從前來過這裏。 I have been here before. Wǒ liǎngdiǎn zhōng huílai. 我兩點鐘回來。 I’ll be back at two o’clock. Wǒ yìdiǎn zhōng huíbulái. 我一點鐘回不來。 I can’t make it back by one o’clock. AT THE END OF/BY THE END OF (a period of time which is treated as a point in time because the focus is on the end point) Wǒ sāntiān jiu zuòwán le. 我三天就做完了。 I finished doing it in (by the end of) three days. Wǒ wǔfēn zhōng jiu zǒu. 我五分鐘就走。 I’m leaving in (at the end of) five minutes. Ni jǐtiān huílai? 你幾天回來？ In (at the end of) how many days will you come back? ǐ duōjiu kéyi xiěwán? 你多久可以寫完？ How long will it be before you can finish writing it? (by the end of how long) On the other hand, phrases which express CONTINUATION OF TIME have a different place in sentences. To express an amount of time which passes, put the time expression AFTER THE VERB. DURATION (the length of time something continues) Wǒ xiǎng gēn tā tán yìhuǐr. 我想跟他談一會兒。 I would like to talk with him for awhile. Tā zài Xiānggǎng zhùle yíge xīngqī. 他在香港住了一個星期。 She stayed in Hong Kong for one week. TIME SINCE (the length of time which has passed since something happened) Tā sǐle sānnian le. 他死了三年了。 He died three years ago. Wǒ zuòwánle yíge zhòngtóu le. 我做完了一個鐘頭了。 It has been an hour since I finished. Because yìhuír follows the verb in wǒ chūqu yìhuǐr, it indicates the length of time which will pass after I go out (chūqu). Yìhuǐr precedes the verb in wǒ yìhuǐr chūqu, indicating when I will go out (“in a little while”). Yěxǔ literally means “perhaps.” The word is often used where “may” or “might” would be appropriate in English. Yěxǔ liǎngdiān huíbulái, “I might not (be able to) get back by two”: Notice that this expression liǎngdiān, in time-when position, before the verb, means “by” a certain time. Other time phrases in this position may also mean “by” a certain time. Huíbulái is another form of huílái, “to come back.” Compound verbs of result may be split by the negative bu or the syllable de. Huílái may become either huídelái, “can come back,” or huíbulái, “can’t come back.” These two forms are called the potential forms of the verb; that is, the meaning “can/be able to” or “cannot/unable to” becomes part of the meaning of the compound. The following are examples of compound verbs of result and their potential forms. huílai 回來 to come back huídelái 回得來 able to come back huíbulái 回不來 not able to come back kànjian 看見 to see kàndejiàn 看得見 able to see kànbujiàn 看不見 not able to see láidejí 來得及 able to make it on time láibují The verb láidejí/láibují does not occur without the inserted -de- or -bu-. 來不及 not able to make it on time zuòwán 做完 to finish doing zuòdewán 做得完 able to finished doing, able to be completed zuòbuwán 做不完 not able to finish doing, not able to be completed Compound verbs of direction may also occur in the potential form: nábushànglái 拿不上來 can’t carry up [to where you are] (i.e., because something is too heavy or bulky) kāideshàngqu 開得上去 can drive up [away from you] (i.e., it is not too steep) kāidechūlái 開得出來 can drive out (i.e., the parking place is not too tight) nábuxiàlái 拿不下來 can’t get [it] down (i.e., because it is too high, bolted on, etc.) zǒudexiàqu 走得下去 can walk down (i.e., because it is not too far or too steep) Notice that the last syllables of these compound verbs (except for toneless qu) have full tones when they occur with -de- and -bu-.

7. B: Nàme, wǒ sāndiǎn zhōng zài lóuxiàde huìkèshì děng nín. 那麽，我三點鐘在樓下的會客室等您。 Well then, I’ll wait for you in the reception room downstairs at three o’clock. A: Hǎo, sāndiǎn jiàn. 好，三點見。 Fine. I’ll see you at three. Word order: The first sentence of exchange 7 illustrates the rule TIME—PLACE—ACTION. Huìkèshì is also pronounced huìkèshǐ.

8. huídelái 回得來 to be able to get back in time 9. kòng(r) 空兒 free time, spare time 10. lóushàng 樓上 upstairs 11. shāngliang 商量 to discuss, to talk over 12. yǒu kòng(r) 有空兒 to have free time Here are some sentences illustrating the use of these vocabulary items: Nǐ sāndiǎn zhōng huídelái huíbulái? 你三點鐘回得來回不來。 Can you make it back by three o’clock? Lóushàng hái yǒu rén? 樓上還有人。 Are there still people upstairs? Wǒ xiǎng hé nǐ shāngliang yíjiàn shì. 我想和你商量。 I would like to talk over a matter with you. Nǐ jīntiān xiàwǔ yǒu kòngr ma? 你今天下午有空兒。 Do you have time this afternoon?

1. Shénme shíhou duì nín héshì? 什么时候对您合适？ What time would suit you? Cuesāndiǎn 三点 3 o'clock Sāndiǎn duì nín héshì ma? 三点对您合适吗？ Would three o'clock suit you? 2. Xīngqījǐ duì nín héshì? 星期几对您合适？ What day of week would suit you? CueXīngqīèr 星期二 Wednesday Xīngqīèr duì nín héshì ma? 星期二对您合适吗？ Would Tuesday suit you? 3. Zài jǐlou duì nín héshì? 在几楼对您合适？ Which floor would suit you? Cuewǔlóu 五楼 fifth floor Zài wǔlóu duì nín héshì ma? 在五楼对您合适吗？ Would the fifth floor suit you? 4. Něitiān duì nín héshì? 对您合适？ What day would suit you? Cuemíngtiān 明天 tomorrow Míngtiān duì nín héshì ma? 明天对您合适吗？ Would tomorrow suit you? 5. Shénme shíhou duì nín héshì? 什么时候对您合适？ What time would suit you? Cuezǎoshang 早上 morning Zǎoshang duì nín héshì ma? 早上对您合适吗？ Would in the morning suit you 6. Shénme shíhou duì nín héshì? 什么时候对您合适？ What time would suit you? Cuewǎnshang 晚上 evening Wǎnshang duì nín héshì ma? 晚上对您合适吗？ Would in the evening suit you? 7. Jǐdiǎn duì nín héshì? 几点对您合适？ What hour would suit you? Cueshídiǎn 十点 1 o'clock Shídiǎn duì nín héshì ma? 十点对您合适吗？ Would 10 o'clock suit you?

1. Shénme shíhou duì nín héshì? 什么时候对您合适？ What time would suit you? Cuejīntiān 今天 today Jīntiān, míngtiān dōu kéyi. 今天，明天都可以。 Either today or tomorrow would be fine. 2. Jǐdiǎn duì nín héshì? 几点对您合适？ What hour would suit you? Cuesāndiǎn 三点 3 o'clock Sāndiǎn, sìdiǎn dōu kéyi. 三点，四点都可以。 Either 3 or 4 o'clock would be fine. 3. Xīngqījǐ duì nín héshì? 星期几对您合适？ What day of the week would suit you? CueXīngqīyī 星期一 Monday Xīngqīyī, Xīngqīèr dōu kéyi, 星期一，星期二都可以。 Either Monday or Tuesday would be fine. 4. Jǐhào duì nín héshì? 几号对您合适？ What date would suit you? Cuesìhào 四号 the fourth Sìhào, wǔhào dōu kéyi. 四号，五号都可以。 Either the fourth or the fifth would be fine. 5. Shénme shíhou duì nín héshì? 什么时候对您合适？ What time would suit you? Cueshàngwǔ 上午 in the morning Shàngwǔ, xiàwǔ dōu kéyi. 上午，下午都可以。 Either in the morning or in the afternoon would be fine. 6. Něitiān duì nín héshì? 哪天对您合适？ What day would suit you? Cuemíngtiān 明天 tomorrow Míngtiān, hòutiān dōu kéyi. 明天，后天都可以。 Either tomorrow or the day after tomorrow would be fine. 7. Xīngqījǐ duì nín héshì? 星期几对您合适？ What day of the week would suit you? CueXīngqīliù 星期六 on Saturday Xīngqīliù, Xīngqītiān dōu kéyi. 星期六星期天都可以。 Either on Saturday or on Sunday would be fine.

1. Shénme dìfang duì nín fāngbian? 什么地方对您方便？ What place would be convenient for you? Cuelóushàng 楼上 upstairs lóushàng duì nín fāngbian, háishi lóuxià duì nín fāngbian? 楼上对您方便，还是楼下对您方便？ Would upstairs or downstairs be more convenient for you? 2. Shénme shíhou duì nín fāngbian? 什么时候对您方便？ What time would be convenient for you? Cuesāndiǎn 三点 3 o'clock Sāndiǎn duì nín fāngbian, háishi sìdiǎn duì nín fāngbian? 三点候对您方便，还是四点候对您方便？ Would 3 o'clock or 4 o'clock be more convenient for you? 3. Jǐhào duì nín fāngbian? 几号 What date would be convenient for you? Cueliùhào 六号 the sixth Liùhào duì nín fāngbian, háishi qíhào duì nín fāngbian? 六号六号对您方便，还是七号对您方便？ Would the sixth or the seventh be more convenient for you? 4. Něitiān duì nín fāngbian? 对您方便？ Which day would be convenient for you? Cuemíngtiān 明天 tomorrow Míngtiān duì nín fāngbian, háishi hòutian duì nín fāngbian? 明天对您方便，还是后天对您方便？ Would tomorrow or the day after tomorrow be more convenient for you? 5. Shénme shíhou duì nín fāngbian? 对您方便？ What time would be convenient for you? Cueshàngwǔ 上午 morning Shàngwǔ duì nín fāngbian, háishi xiàwǔ duì nín fāngbian? 上午对您方便，还是下午对您方便？ Would be in the morning or in the afternoon more convenient for you? 6. Xīngqījǐ duì nín fāngbian? 对您方便？ What day of week would be convenient for you? CueXīngqīsān 星期三 Wednesday Xīngqīsān duì nín fāngbian, háishi Xīngqīsì duì nín fāngbian? 星期三对您方便，还是星期四对您方便？ Would Wednesday or Thursday be more convenient for you? 7. Jǐdiǎn duì nín fāngbian? 对您方便？ What day would be convenient for you? Cuejǐǔdiǎn 九点 6 o'clock Jiǔdiān duì nín fāngbian, háishi shídiǎn duì nín fāngbian? 九点对您方便，还是十点对您方便？ Would be 6 o’clock or 7 o'clock more convenient for you?

1. Sāndiǎn fāngbian yìdiān. 三点方便一点。 Three o'clock is a little more convenient. Cuesìdiǎn 四点 4 o'clock Sāndiǎn bǐ sìdiǎn fāngbian yìdiǎn. 三点比四点方便一点。 Three o'clock is a little more convenient than four o'clock. 2. Sānhào fāngbian yìdiǎn. 三号方便一点。 He/she third is a little more convenient. Cuewǔhào 五号 number 5 Sānhào bǐ wǔhào fāngbian yìdiǎn. 三号比五号方便一点。 He/she third is a little more convenient than he/she fifth. 3. Lóushàng fāngbian yìdiǎn. 楼上方便一点。 Upstairs is a little more convenient. Cuelóuxià 楼下 downstairs Lóushàng bǐ lóuxià fāngbian yìdiǎn. 楼上比楼下方便一点。 Upstairs is a little more convenient than downstairs. 4. Tāde qián duō yìdiǎn. 他/她的钱多一点。 He/she has a little more money. Cuewǒde 我的 mine/my Tāde qián bǐ wǒde duō yìdiǎn. 他/她的钱比我的多一点。 He/she has a little more money than me. 5. Tā qù hǎo yìdiǎn. 他/她去好一点。 He/she went a bit better. Cuewǒ 我 I Tā qù bǐ wǒ qù hǎo yìdiǎn. 他/她去比我去好一点。 He/she went a bit better than me. 6. Tā dà yìdiǎn. 他/她大一点。 He/she is a bit older. Cuewǒ 我 I Tā bǐ wǒ dà yìdiǎn. 他/她比我大一点。 He/she is a bit older than me. 7. Zhèige dà yìdiǎn. 这个大一点。 This one is a bit bigger. Cuenèige 那个 that Zhèige bǐ nèige dà yìdiǎn. 这个比那个大一点。 This one is a bit bigger than that one.

1. Tā shuōde kuài yìdiǎn. 他/她说得快一点。 He/she speaks a little fast. Tā shuōde bǐ wǒ kuài yìdiǎn 他/她说得比我快一点。 He/she speaks a little faster than I do. 2. Tā láide zǎo yìdiǎn. 他/她来得早一点。 He/she came a bit earlier. Tā láide bǐ wǒ zǎo yìdiǎn. 他/她来得比我早一点。 He/she came a bit earlier than me. 3. Tā zǒude wǎn yìdiǎn. 他/她走得晚一点。 He/she leaves a little later. Tā zǒude bǐ wǒ wǎn yìdiǎn. 他/她走得比我晚一点。 He/she leaves a little later than me. 4. Tā zuòde hǎo yìdiǎn. 他/她做得好一点。 He/she does a little better. Tā zuòde bǐ wǒ hǎo yìdiǎn. 他/她做得比我好一点。 He/she does a little better than me. 5. Tā mǎide shǎo yìdiǎn. 他/她买得少一点。 He/she buys a little less. Tā mǎide bǐ wǒ shǎo yìdiǎn. 他/她卖得比我少一点。 He/she buys a little less tan me. 6. Tā màide duō yìdiǎn. 他/她卖得多一点。 He/she sells a little more. Tā màide bǐ wǒ duō yìdiǎn. 他/她卖得比我多一点。 He/she sells a little more than me. 7. Tā xuéde màn yìdiǎn. 他/她学得慢一点。 He/she studies a little slower. Tā xuéde bǐ wǒ màn yìdiǎn. 他/她学得比我慢一点。 He/she studies a little slower than me.

1. Nǐ shénme shíhou chūqu? 你什么时候出去？ What time are you going out? Wǒ yìhuǐr jiù chūqu. 我有一会儿就出去。 I'm going out in Just a little while. 2. Nǐ chūqu duó jiǔ? 你出去多久。 For how long are you going out? Wǒ jiù chūqu yìhuīr. 我就出去一会儿。 I'm Just going out for a little while 3. Nǐ shénme shíhou chūlai? 你什么时候出来？ What time are you coming out? Wǒ yìhuǐr jiù chūlai. 我一会儿就出来。 I'll be out in a moment. 4. Nǐ qù duó jiǔ? 你去多久？ How long are you going? Wǒ jiù qù yìhuǐr. 我就去一会儿。 I'll just go for a while. 5. Tā shénme shíhou lái? 他/她什么时候来？ What time does he/she come? Tā yìhuǐr jiù lái. 他/她一会儿就去 。 He/she will be there later 6. Tā kàn duó jiǔ? 他/她看多久？ How long does he/she look at it? Tā jiù kàn yìhuǐr. 他/她就看一会儿。 He/she just watches for a while. 7. Nǐ shénme shíhou zǒu? 你什么时候走？ What time are you leaving? Wǒ yìhuǐr jiù zǒu. 我一会儿就走。 I'll leave in a while.

1. Zhāng Xiānsheng míngtiān huídelái huíbulái? 张先生明天回得来回不来？ Will Mr. Zhāng be able to come back tomorrow? Zhāng Xiānsheng hòutiān cái huílai. 张先生后天才回来。 Mr. Zhāng won't be able to come back until day after tomorrow. 2. Wáng Nǚshì Xíngqīsì huídelái huíbulái? 王女士星期四回得来回不来？ Will Wáng's wife be able to come back on Thursday? Wǎng Nǚshì Xíngqīwǔ cái huílai. 才回来。 Wáng's wife won't be able to come back before Friday. 3. Lǐ Tóngzhì shíyīdiǎn huídelái huíbulái? 李同志十一点回得来回不来？ Will comrade Lǐ be able to come back at 11 o'clock? Lǐ Tóngzhì shíèrdiǎn cái huílai. 李同志十二点才回来。 Comrade Lǐ won't be able to come back before 12 o'clock. 4. Lín Kēzhǎng èrshihào huídelái huíbulái? 林科长二十号回得来回不来？ Will Section Chief Lín be able to come back the 20th? Lín Kēzhǎng èrshiyīhào cái huílai. 林科长二十一号才回来。 Section Chief Lín will not return until the 21st. 5. Wèi Shàoxiào zhèige yuè huídelái huíbulái? 魏少校这个月回得来回不来？ Will Major Wèi be able to come back this month? Wèi Shàoxiào xiàge yuè cái huílai. 魏少校下个月才回来。 Major Wei won't be back until next month. 6. Yáng Xiānsheng zǎoshang huídelái huíbulái? 杨先生早上回得来回不来？ Will Mr. Yáng be able to come back this morning? Yáng Xiānsheng wǎnshang cái huílai. 杨先生晚上才回来。 Mr. Yáng will not be able to come back before this evening. 7. Zhào Tóngzhì jīntiān huídelái huíbulái? 赵同志今天回得来回不来？ Will Comrade Zhào be able to come back today? Zhào Tóngzhì míngtiān cái huílai. 赵同志明天才回来。 Comrade Zhào will not be able to come back until tomorrow.

1. Nàme, wǒ zài zhèr děng nín. 那么，我在这儿等您。 In that case, I'll wait for you here. Cuein a moment Nàme, wǒ yìhuǐr zài zhèr děng nín. 那么，我一会儿在这儿等您。 In that case, in a moment I'll wait for you here. 2. Nàme, wǒ zài lóuxià děng ta. 那么，我在楼下等他/她。 In that case, I'll wait for him/her downstairs. Cuefor a moment Nàme, wǒ zài lóuxià děng ta yìhuǐr. 那么，我在楼下等他/她一会儿。 In that case, in a moment I'll wait for him/her downstairs. 3. Nàme, wǒ zài lóushàng děng ta. 那么，我在楼上等他/她。 In that case, I'll wait for him/her upstairs. Cueat one o'clock Nàme, wǒ yìdiǎn zhōng zài lóushàng děng ta. 那么，我在楼上等他/她。 In that case, in a moment I'll wait for him/her upstairs. 4. Nàme, wǒ zài tā nàr děng nín. 那么，我在他/她那儿等您。 In that case, I'll wait for him/her at his place. Cuefor ten minutes Nàme, wǒ zài tā nàr děng nín shífēn zhōng. 那么，我在他/她那儿等您十分钟。 In that case, in a moment I'll wait for him/her at his place. 5. Nàme, wǒ zài tā jiā děng nín. 那么，我在他/她家等您。 In that case, I'll wait for you at his home. Cuein a moment Nàme, wǒ yìhuǐr zài tā jiā děng nín. 那么，我一会儿在他/她家等您。 In that case, in a moment I'll wait for you at his home. 6. Nàme, wǒ zài xiǎomàibù děng nín. 那么，我在小卖部等您。 In that case, I'll wait for you in the variety shop. Cuefor five minutes Nàme, wǒ zài xiǎomàibù děng nín wǔfēn zhōng. 那么，我在小卖部等您五分钟。 In that case, in a moment I'll wait for you in the variety shop. 7. Nàme, wǒ zài zhèr děng ta. 那么，我在这儿等他/她。 In that case, I'll wait for him/her here. Cuefor a moment Nàme, wǒ zài zhèr děng ta yìhuǐr. 那么，我在这儿等他/她一会儿。 In that case, in a moment I'll wait for him/her here.

1. C: Wèi, Měidàsī. 喂，美大司。 Hello. Department of American and Oceanic Affairs. A: Wǒ shi Jiānádà Dàshiguǎnde Qiáozhì Dáfēi. Wǒ yǒu yíjiàn shì xiǎng gēn Wáng Kēzhǎng jiǎngyijiang. 我是加拿大大使館的喬治達菲。 我有一件事想跟王科長講一講。 I am George Duffy of the Canadian Embassy. I have something I would like to discuss with Section Chief Wáng. 2. C: Òu, tā xiànzài zài kāi huì. 哦，她現在開會。 Oh, she is at a meeting now. C: Děng tā kāiwán huì wǒ gàosong tā gěi ni huí diànhuà. 等她外晚會我告诵她給你回電話。 When she is finished with the meeting, I will tell her to return your call. 3. A: Hǎo, xièxie ni. 好，謝謝你， Fine. Thank you. C: Bú xiè. 不謝。 Don’t mention it. 4. B: Duìbuqǐ, jīntiān zǎoshang nǐ dǎ diànhuà laide shíhou wǒ zài kāi huì, méi shíjiān gēn ni shuō huà. 對不起，今天早上你打電話來的時候我在開會，沒時間跟你説話。 I’m sorry. When you called here this morning, I was in a meeting and didn’t have time to speak with you. A: Méi guānxi. Wǒ zhīdào nǐ hěn máng. 沒關係。我知道你很忙。 It doesn’t matter. I know you are very busy. 5. A: Wǒ gěi ni dǎ diànhuàde mùdi shi xiǎng gēn ni dāngmiàn tántan. 我給你打電話目的是想跟你當面談談。 The reason I called you is that I would like to talk with you in person. B: Hǎo a. Shénme shíhou a? 好啊。什麽時候啊？ All right. When? 6. A: Míngtiān duì ni héshì ma? 明天對你合適嗎？ Would tomorrow be all right for you? B: Míngtiān xiàwǔ shénme shíhou dōu kéyi. 明天下午什麽時候都可以， Any time tomorrow afternoon would be fine. 7. A: Zài nǎr jiàn ne? 在哪兒見呢？ Where shall we meet? B: Liǎngdiǎn zhōng qǐng ni dào wǒ zhèr lái, xíng bu xíng? 兩點鐘請你到我這兒，行不行？ Please come over here at two o’clock. All right? A: Hǎo. Míngtiān liǎngdiǎn zhōng jiàn. 好。明天兩點鐘見。 Okay. See you tomorrow at two o’clock. Additional Required Vocabulary(not presented on C-1 and P-1 tapes) 8. guānxi 關係 relation, relationship, connection 9. jiǎng huà 講話 to speak, to talk; a speech 10. lǐngshiguǎn 領事館 consulate 11. shìqing (yíjiàn) 事情 (一件) matter, business, affair 12. sīzhǎng 司長 department chief 13. yǒu guānxi 有關係 to relate to, to have a bearing on, to matter

bú xiè 不謝 don’t mention it dàshiguǎn 大使館 embassy diànhuà 電話 telephone, phone call guānxi 關係 relation, relationship, connection -jiàn 件 (counter for matters, business, affairs) jiǎng 講 to discuss (something), to talk about (something) jiǎng huà 講話 to speak, to talk; a speech kāi huì 開會 to attend a meeting kāiwán huì 開完會 to finish a meeting língshiguǎn 領事館 consulate Měidàsī 美大司 Department of American and Oceanic Affairs méi guānxi 沒關係 it doesn’t matter mùdi 目的 reason, objective, purpose shì (yíjiàn) 事 (意見) matter, business, affair shìqing (yíjiàn) 事情 (意見) matter, business, affair shuō huà 説話 to speak sīzhǎng 司長 department chief yǒu guānxi 有關係 to relate, to have a bearing on, to matter zài 在 in the midst of (marker of ongoing action) (introduced on C-2 and P-2 tapes) chī 吃 to eat dàxuéshēng 大學生 college student diànhuà hàomǎ 電話號碼 telephone number dù jià 度假 to spend one’s vacation hòulài 後來 later láodòng 勞動 to do manual labor Qíngbàosī 情報司 Intelligence Bureau (part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PRC) shēnghuó 生活 life tóngyì 同意 to agree

1. C: Wèi, Měidàsī. 喂，美大司。 Hello. Department of American and Oceanic Affairs. A: Wǒ shi Jiānádà Dàshiguǎnde Qiáozhì Dáfēi. Wǒ yǒu yíjiàn shì xiǎng gēn Wáng Kēzhǎng jiǎngyijiang. 我是加拿大大使館的喬治達菲。 我有一件事想跟王科長講一講。 I am George Duffy of the Canadian Embassy. I have something I would like to discuss with Section Chief Wáng. Měidàsī: In Chinese, abbreviations are made up of one syllable from each word in a term. In Měidàsī, měi stands for Měizhōu (美洲), “American continent.” Dà stands for Dàyángzhōu (大洋洲), “Oceania” (the islands of the South Central Pacific, including Australia and New Zealand). The ending sī means “department.” It is used only within organizations on the national level. Dàshiguǎn: The word guǎn means “building” or “establishment,” as in fànguǎn, an establishment where food is sold. The examples below illustrate the use of guǎn. dàshǐ 大使 ambassador dàshiguǎn 大使館 embassy lǐngshì 領事 consul lǐngshiguǎn 領事館 consulate zhǎnlǎn 展覽 exhibit zhǎnlǎnguǎn 展覽館 exhibition hall Notice that the shǐ in dàshǐguǎn and the shì in līngshiguǎn lose their tones. Yíjiàn shì: The counter -jiàn in this expression is also the counter for luggage. Yíjiàn shì literally means “a piece of business.” Jiǎng and jiǎng huà: The English word “speak,” meaning the activity in general, must he translated into Chinese with a verb and its GENERAL OBJECT: jiǎng huà In other uses, the verb “to speak,” jiǎng, may be followed by a specific object or a phrase showing duration, or it may be changed into a multisyllabic verb, such as jiǎngyijiǎng. Other verbs which are used the same way are shuō huà, xiě zì, and niàn shū. Tā zài jiǎng Zhōngguode shìqing. 他在講中國的事情。 He is talking about Chinese affairs. Tā yǐjīng jiǎngle bù shǎo. 他已經講了不少。 He has already said a lot. Tāde jiǎng huà hěn yǒu yìsi. 他的講話很有意思。 His talk was very interesting. Jiǎng is not used to say that someone said something. Instead, shuō is used. Tā shuō tā bù néng lái. 他説他不能來。 He said he could not come.

2. C: Òu, tā xiànzài zài kāi huì. 哦，她現在開會。 Oh, she is at a meeting now. C: Děng tā kāiwán huì wǒ gàosong tā gěi ni huí diànhuà. 等她外晚會我告诵她給你回電話。 When she is finished with the meeting, I will tell her to return your call. Zài is the aspect marker for ongoing actions. It indicates that the action is in progress. The corresponding verb in the English translation usually ends in -ing. Zài is used only with verbs which express actual dynamic action. State and process verbs may not be used with zài. Many action verbs may be used with zài, but some do not have enough “action” to be used (e.g., “sitting”). Tā láide shíhou, ní zài niàn shū. 他來的時候，你在念書。 When he came, you were studying, Tāmen zài kàn diànyìng. 他們在看電影。 They are watching a movie. Tāmen zài hē kāfēi. 他們在喝咖啡。 They are drinking coffee. Tāmen zài shàng kè. 他們在上課。 They are having class. Zài is placed in front of the verb, unlike other aspect markers, such as le, guo, and de. To make ongoing-action sentences negative, use bù. To form a question with zài, use shì bu shi zài, zài...ma, or zài bu zai. Xuésheng zài shàng kè ma? 學生在上課嗎？ Are the students having class? Tāmen bú zài shàng kè, yǐjīng zǒu le. 他們不在上課，已經走了。 They are not having class. They have already left. Tā láide shíhou, nǐ shì bu shi zài niàn shu? 他來的時候，你是不是在念書？ Weren’t you studying when he came over? Bù, bú zài niàn shū, yǐjīng wánr qu le. 不，不在念書，已經玩兒去了。 No, I wasn’t studying. I had already gone out to play. Tā zài bu zai kàn diànshì? 他在不在看電視？ Is he watching television? The aspect marker zài and the aspect marker ne often occur in the same sentence, indicating absence of change. Tā zài kàn bào ne. 她在看報呢。 She is reading the paper. Sometimes ne is used without zài. Tā kàn bào ne. 她看報呢。 She is reading the paper. Děng, literally “to wait”: In the second sentence of No. 2, the verb děng is used at the beginning of a phrase to mean “when.” Děng may be used with de shíhou, “when,” in the same phrase. Often, the second part of a sentence beginning with děng will contain an adverb meaning “then”—jiù, zài, or cái. Děng nǐ kànwán bàozhǐ, wǒmen chūqu mǎi cài. 等你看完報紙，我們出去買菜。 When you have finished the paper, we will go out to buy groceries. Xué Yīngwén nán bu nán? 學英文難不難？ Is it hard to learn English? Děng nǐ xuéde shíhou jiù zhīdao le. 等你學的時候就知道了。 When you study it, then you’ll know. Nǐ bú shi yǒu yíjiàn shì yào gàosong wǒ ma? 你不是有一件事要告诵我嗎？ Don’t you have something you want to tell me? Děng chīwán fàn zài shuō. 等吃完飯再説。 Wait until we finish eating; then we’ll talk about it. The translation of děng as “wait until,” in the last example above, might suggest that the word is used only in future contexts. But děng is also used in past contexts: Zuótiān tā méiyou hé ni yìqǐ qù kàn diànyǐng ma? 昨天他沒有和你一起去看電影嗎？ Didn’t he go out with you to a movie last night? Méiyou. Děng tā huílaide shíhou dōu shíyīdiǎn le. 沒有。等他回來的時候都十一點了。 No. It was already eleven o’clock when he got home. Zuótiān tā bādiǎn zhōng cái huí jiā. Děng tā huí jiā wǒmen cái zuò fàn, nǐ xiǎng jǐdiǎn cái chī fàn! 昨天他八點鐘才回家。等他回家我們才做飯， 你想幾點才吃飯！ Yesterday he didn’t get home until eight o’clock. We didn’t fix dinner until he got home; so imagine what time it was when we ate! Kāi huì, “to meet,” “to hold a meeting,” is an example of a verb and its general object. Kāiwán, “finish holding [the meeting]”: Wán is the verb “to finish.” It is used as an ending in a compound verb of result in No. 2. You have already seen wán in Piào dōu màiwán le. * Wán expresses the idea of “over,” “up,” as in “Class is over,” “All the paper has been used up.” But be careful: wán is not used as a main verb when an object follows the verb. Instead of saying “finish this,” using wán by itself, you would say bǎ zhèige chīwán, “finish eating this”; bǎ zhèige zuòwán, “finish doing this”; or bǎ zhèige kànwán, “finish reading this.” Wán may sometimes be used as a main verb when there is no object, as in Diànyīng wán le, “The movie is finished.” But far more often wán occurs as an ending which indicates result. Diànhuà (literally, “electric speech”) may mean either “telephone” or “telephone call.” Huí diànhuà, “to return a phone call,” “to call back”: you have learned the verb huí, “to return,” as in Nǐ shenme shíhou huíqu? “When are you going back?” In No. 2, huí takes a direct object, diànhuà. Compare huí diànhuà with dǎ diànhuà, “to make a phone call,” which is found in exchange 4. Gěi ni huí diànhuà, “call you ’back”: you have learned the prepositional verb gěi, meaning “for [the benefit of].” In gěi ni huí diànhuà, gěi is translated as “to.” Because there are two meanings for gěi, occasionally a sentence may be ambiguous. For example, Wǒ gěi ta jìqule liǎngbāo cháyè means either “I sent two packages of tea to him” or “I mailed out two packages of tea for him.” Duì is also translated as “to.” Duì introduces the target; gěi introduces the receiver. In other words, duì expresses the intended direction but does not necessarily imply that the target is reached. Gěi usually implies receiving, as you might expect, since it means “give” as a full verb. You use gěi to indicate the receiver when you say: gěi ta dǎ diànhuà 給她打電話 telephone her gěi ta xiě yìfēng xìn 給她寫一封信 write her a letter gěi ta mǎile yige fángzi 給她買了一個房子 bought her a house But, to indicate the target, you say: duì ta hǎo 給她好 be nice to her duì ta kèqi 對他客氣 be polite to him duì ta shēngqì 對她生氣 get angry at her Notice that duì is used especially to indicate the target of feelings and attitudes, while gěi is used with actions such as calling, mailing, and sending.

3. A: Hǎo, xièxie ni. 好，謝謝你， Fine. Thank you. C: Bú xiè. 不謝。 Don’t mention it. Bú xiè is an idiom meaning something like “don’t thank [me].” (Literally, “Don’t thank me” would be Bié xiè wǒ (別謝我).)

4. B: Duìbuqǐ, jīntiān zǎoshang nǐ dǎ diànhuà laide shíhou wǒ zài kāi huì, méi shíjiān gēn ni shuō huà. 對不起，今天早上你打電話來的時候我在開會，沒時間跟你説話。 I’m sorry. When you called here this morning, I was in a meeting and didn’t have time to speak with you. A: Méi guānxi. Wǒ zhīdào nǐ hěn máng. 沒關係。我知道你很忙。 It doesn’t matter. I know you are very busy. Dǎ diànhuà means “to make a phone call.” (Literally, dǎ means “to hit.”) Wǒ zuótiān wǎnshang gěi Mǎ Tàitai dǎle yige diànhuà. 我昨天晚上給馬太太打了一個電話。 I called Mrs. Mǎ last night. Wǒ dǎ liǎngge diànhuà jiù lái. 我打兩個電話就來。 I’ll be right there after I make a couple of phone calls. Shuō huà, “to speak,” is a verb with a general object—literally, “speak words.” Verb + general object is often translated into English by a verb alone: niàn shū, “to study”; kāi chē, “to drive.” Méi guānxi: Other translations for this very useful expression are “that’s okay,” “don’t worry about it,” “it doesn’t make any difference.” Literally, méi guānxi would be translated as “there isn’t any connection.”

5. A: Wǒ gěi ni dǎ diànhuàde mùdi shi xiǎng gēn ni dāngmiàn tántan. 我給你打電話目的是想跟你當面談談。 The reason I called you is that I would like to talk with you in person. B: Hǎo a. Shénme shíhou a? 好啊。什麽時候啊？ All right. When? Wǒ gěi ni dǎ diànhuàde mùdi shi...: In English, the word “reason,” or “purpose,” begins the phrase, with the modifying clause following. In Chinese, everything modifying “the purpose” precedes mùdi. Wǒ gěi ni dǎ diànhuà -de mùdi shi .... The reason why I called you is .... Mùdi, “purpose,” “aim,” “objective”: Although translated idiomatically as “reason” in exchange 5, mùdi does not really mean “reason”/“cause.” The English terms should be translated as yuányīn: wǒ lǎiwǎnde yuányīn, “the reason I came late” (我來晚的原因).

6. A: Míngtiān duì ni héshì ma? 明天對你合適嗎？ Would tomorrow be all right for you? B: Míngtiān xiàwǔ shénme shíhou dōu kéyi. 明天下午什麽時候都可以， Any time tomorrow afternoon would be fine. Shénme shíhou dōu kéyi, “anytime is okay” (more literally, “what[ever] time, all is okay”), illustrates a pattern for expressing the idea of “any” in Chinese: a question word, such as shéi, shénme, nǎr, and něitiān, followed by dōu, “all.” Shéi dōu néng qù. 誰都能去。 Anyone can go. Nǎr dōu kéyi. 哪兒都可以。 Anyplace will do. Shénme dōu kéyi. 什麽都可以。 Anything will do. Něitiān dōu hǎo. 哪天都好 Any day is good. Zěnme zuò dōu hǎo. 怎麽做都好。 Any way (you) do it is fine. The ideas of “nobody,” “nowhere,” “nothing,” and “none” are expressed by adding bù or méi after dōu in the pattern above. Shéi dōu bú yào zǒu. 誰都能不要走。 Nobody wants to leave. Nǎr dōu bú duì. 哪兒都不對。 No place is right. Zěnme dōu bù xíng. 怎麽都不行。 No way will do. Shénme dōu méiyou. 什麽都沒有。 There is nothing. The “any/no” expression need not be the subject of a sentence; it may also be the object. Even if the expression is the direct object, it must precede the verb. Tā shéi dōu xǐhuan. 他誰都喜歡。 He likes anyone/everyone. Wǒ nǎr dōu bú qù. 我哪兒都不去。 I won’t go anywhere. Nèige shāngdiàn shénme dōu mài. 那個商店什麽都賣。 That store sells everything, Tā něige dōu bù xǐhuan. 他哪個都不喜歡。 He doesn’t like either/any of them. (As objects, many of these expressions must be translated as “every....”) An “any/no” expression may also be the object of a prepositional verb. Wō gēn shéi dōu méi shuō huà. 我跟誰都沒説話。 I didn’t speak with anyone.

7. A: Zài nǎr jiàn ne? 在哪兒見呢？ Where shall we meet? B: Liǎngdiǎn zhōng qǐng ni dào wǒ zhèr lái, xíng bu xíng? 兩點鐘請你到我這兒，行不行？ Please come over here at two o’clock. All right? A: Hǎo. Míngtiān liǎngdiǎn zhōng jiàn. 好。明天兩點鐘見。 Okay. See you tomorrow at two o’clock. Dào wǒ zhèr lái means, literally, “come over to the place where I am.” While plurals such as wǒmen zhèr and nǐmen nàr often refer to institutions, the singular wǒ zhèr, nǐ nàr, and tā nàr usually refer to any place where a person might be. In an office shared by two people, for instance, you could say Wǒ zhèr méiyou Yīng-Hàn zìdiǎn; nín nàr yǒu méiyou? “I don’t have an English-Chinese dictionary over here; do you have one over there?” Dào, like zài, is a verb which requires a place word as its object. Sentences like “Come over here to me” and “Go over there to Mr. Wáng” must be translated as Dào wǒ zhèr lái and Dào Wáng Xiānsheng nar qù. Zhèr and nàr make wǒ and Wáng Xiānsheng parts of place-word phrases.

8. guānxi 關係 relation, relationship, connection 9. jiǎng huà 講話 to speak, to talk; a speech 10. lǐngshiguǎn 領事館 consulate 11. shìqing (yíjiàn) 事情 (一件) matter, business, affair 12. sīzhǎng 司長 department chief 13. yǒu guānxi 有關係 to relate to, to have a bearing on, to matter Yǒu guānxi: To talk about the relationship of two things, use ...gēn...yǒu guānxi or ...hé...yǒu guānxi. Lǐngshiguǎn hé dàshiguǎn yǒu shénmeyàngde guānxi? 領事館和大使館有什麽樣的關係？ What is the relationship between the consulate and the embassy?

Occupations accountant 會計師 kuàijìshī actor, actress 演員 yǎnyuán architect 建築師 jiànzhùshī athlete 運動員 yùndòngyuán author, writer 作家 zuòjiā barber 理髮師， lǐfàshī, lǐfàde blue-collar worker 工人 gōngrén builder 營造商 yíngzàoshāng businessman 商人 shāngrén carpenter 木匠，木工 mùjiang, mùgōng chemical engineer 化學工程師 huàxué gōngchéngshī civil engineer 土木工程師 tǔmù gōngchéngshī civil servant 公務員 gōngwùyuán composer 作曲家 zuòqǔjiā cook 厨師 chúshī customs official 海關官員 hǎiguān guānyuán diplomat 外交官 wàijiāoguān doctor 大夫，醫生 dàifu, yīshēng (newspaper) editor 編輯 biānji electrical engineer 電機工程師 diànjī gōngchěngshī electrician 電工 diàngōng employee, clerk, attendant 服務員 fúwùyuán farmer, peasant 農民 nóngmín fisherman 漁民 yúmín gardener 園丁，花匠 yuándīng, huājiàng governess 保姆 bǎomǔ government minister 部長 bùzhǎng housewife 家庭主婦，急停婦女 jiātíng zhǔfù, jiātíng fùnǚ lawyer 律師 lǜshī manager 經理 jīnglǐ mayor 市長 shìzhǎng mechanic 機械師，機械員 jīxièshī, jīxièyuán mechanical engineer 機械工程師 jīxiè gōngchéngshī movie star 電影明星 diànyǐng míngxīng musician 音樂家 yīnyuèjiā nuclear engineer 盒子工程師 hézǐ gōngchéngshǐ nurse 護士 hùshi office staff worker 職員 zhíyuán (Chinese) opera performer 京劇演員 jīngjù yǎnyuán painter (artist) 畫家 huàjiā pharmacist 藥劑師 yàojìshī pilot 飛行員 fēixíngyuán policeman 警察 jǐngchá postman 郵遞員 yóudìyuán professor 教授 jiàoshòu reporter 記者 jìzhě sailor 海員，水手，船員 hǎiyuán, shuǐshǒu, chuányuán salesman 推銷員 tuīxiāoyuán secretary 秘書 mìshū servant 用人 yòngren shoemaker 鞋匠師傅 xiéjiàngshīfu shoe repairman 修鞋的 xiūxiéde store clerk, salesperson 售貨員 shòuhuòyuán teacher 教員 jiàoyuán typist 打字員 dǎzìyuán (star) vocalist 歌星 gēxīng waiter, waitress 飯店服務員 fàndiàn fúwùyuán

1. Tā xiànzài zài kāi huì. 他/她现在在开会。 He/she is at a meeting now Cuedǎ diànhuà 打电话 make a phone call Tā xiànzài zài dǎ diànhuà. 他/她现在在打电话。 He/she is making a phone call now. 2. Tā xiànzài zài dǎ diànhuà. 他/她现在在打电话。 He/she is making a phone call now. Cueděng ni 等你 wait for you Tā xiànzài zài děng ni. 他/她现在在等你 He/she is waiting for you now. 3. Tā xiànzài zài děng ni. 他/她现在在等你。 He/she is waiting for you now. Cuegēn Wáng Xiānsheng shuō huà 跟王先生说话。 talk with Mr. Wáng Tā xiànzài zài gēn Wáng Xiānsheng shuō huà. 他/她现在在跟王先生说话。 He/she is speaking with Mr. Wáng now. 4. Tā xiànzài zài gēn Wáng Xiānsheng shuō huà. 他/她现在在跟王先生说话。 He/she is speaking with Mr. Wáng now. Cuegōngzuò 工作 work Ta xiànzài zài gōngzuò. 他/她现在在工作。 He/she is at work now. 5. Tā xiànzài zài gōngzuò. 他/她现在在工作。 He/she is at work now. Cuejiǎng huà 讲话 do a speech Tā xiànzài zài jiǎng huà. 他/她现在在讲话。 He/she is speaking now. 6. Tā xiànzài zài jiǎng huà. 他/她现在在讲话。 He/she is speaking now. Cuehuàn qián 换钱 change money Tā xiànzài zài huàn qián. 他/她现在在换钱。 He/she is changing money now. 7. Tā xiànzài zài huàn qián. 他/她现在在换钱。 He/she is changing money now. Cuemǎi dōngxī. 买东西 shopping Tā xiànzài mǎi dōngxī. 他/她现在买东西. He/she is shopping now.

1. Tā xiànzài zài kāi huì. 他现在在开会。 He is at a meeting now. Cueyìhuǐr 一会儿 In a little while Yìhuǐr qǐng tā gěi wǒ huí ge diànhuà, hǎo bu hǎo? 一会儿请他给我回个电话，好不好？ In a little while please ask him to call me back. All right? 2. Wáng Tóngzhì xiànzài zài jiǎng huà. 王同志现在在讲话。 Comrade Wáng is speaking now. Cuexiàwǔ 下午 afternoon Xiàwǔ qǐng tā gěi wǒ huí ge diànhuà, hǎo bu hǎo? 下午请他给我回个电话，好不好？ This afternoon please ask him to call me back. All right? 3. Zhāng Tóngzhì xiànzài zài xué Zhōngguo huà. 张同志现在在学中国话。 Comrade Wáng is learning Chinese now. Cueshàngwǔ 上午 morning Shàngwǔ qǐng tā gěi wǒ huí ge diànhuà, hǎo bu hǎo? 上午请他给我回个电话，好不好？ In the morning please ask him to call me back. All right? 4. Mǎ Kēzhǎng xiànzài zài dǎ diànhuà. 马科长现在在打电话。 Section Chief Mǎ is making a phone call now. Cuemíngtiān 明天 tomorrow Míngtiān qǐng tā gěi wo huí ge diànhuà, hǎo bu hǎo? 明天请他给我回个电话，好不好？ Tomorrow please ask him to call me back. All right? 5. Wáng Tóngzhì xiànzài zài gēn Zhāng Kēzhǎng jiǎnghuà. 王同志现在在跟张科长讲话。 Comrade Wáng is talking to Section Chief Zhāng now. Cueyìhuǐr 一会儿 In a little while Yìhuǐr qǐng tā gěi wo huí ge diànhuà, hǎo bu hǎo? 一会儿请他给我回个电话，好不好？ In a little while please ask him to call me back. All right? 6. Lǐ Nǚshì xiànzài zài gēn Wáng Dàshǐ kāi huì. 李女士现在在跟王大使开会。 Mrs. Lǐ is having a meeting with ambassador Wáng. Cuejīntiān 今天 today Jīntiān qǐng tā gěi wo huí ge diànhuà, hǎo bu hǎo? 今天请她给我回个电话，好不好？ Today please ask him to call me back. All right? 7. Zhū Tóngzhì xiànzài zài xué Zhōngwén. 朱同志现在在学中文。 Comrade Zhū is learning Chinese now. Cuexiàwǔ 下午 afternoon Xiàwǔ qǐng tā gěi wo huí ge diànhuà, hǎo bu hǎo? 下午请他给我回个电话，好不好？ This afternoon please ask him to call me back. All right?

1. Wǒ xiǎng gēn ni dāngmiàn tántan. 我想跟你当面谈谈。 I would like to talk with you in person. Wǒ gěi ni dǎ diànhuàde mùdi shi xiǎng gēn ni dāngmiàn tántan. 我给你打电话目的是想跟你当面谈谈。 The reason I called you is that I would like to talk with you in person. 2. Wǒ xiǎng wèn ni yíjiàn shi. 我想问你一件事。 I would like to ask you something. Wǒ gěi ni dǎ diànhuàde mùdi shi xiǎng wèn ni yíjiàn shi. 我给你打电话目的是想问你一件事。 I'm calling you to ask you something. 3. Wǒ xiǎng wèn ni jǐdiǎn zhōng yǒu gōngfu. 我想问你几点钟有功夫。 I would like to ask you what time you are free. Wǒ gěi ni dǎ diànhuàde mùdi shi xiǎng wèn ni jǐdiǎn zhōng yǒu gōngfu. 我给你打电话目的是想几点钟有功夫。 I am calling you to find out what time I will be available. 4. Wǒ xiǎng gēn ni dāngmiàn tántan. 我想跟你当面谈谈。 I would like to talk with you in person. Wǒ gěi ni dǎ diànhuàde mùdi shi xiǎng gēn ni dāngmiàn tántan. 我给你打电话目的是想跟你当面谈谈。 The reason of my calling you is to talk to you face to face. 5. Wǒ xiǎng wèn ni yìdiǎnr shì. 我想问你一点儿事。 I want to ask you something. Wǒ gěi ni dǎ diànhuàde mùdi shi xiǎng wèn ni yìdiǎnr shi. 我给你打电话目的是想问你一点儿事。 The reason of my calling you is to ask you something. 6. Wǒ xiǎng wèn ni sāndiǎn zhōng yǒu gōngfu meiyou. 我想问你三点钟有功夫没有。 I want to ask if you have time at three o'clock. Wǒ gěi ni dǎ diànhuàde mùdi shi xiǎng wèn ni sāndiǎn zhōng yǒu gōngfu meiyou. 我给你打电话目的是想问你三点钟有功夫没有。 The reason of my calling you is to ask if you have time at three o'clock. 7. Wǒ xiǎng gēn ni dāngmiàn tántan. 我想跟你当面谈谈。 I would like to talk with you in person. Wǒ gěi ni dǎ diànhuàde mùdi shi xiǎng gēn ni dāngmiàn tántan. 我给你打电话目的是想跟你当面谈谈。 The reason of my calling you is to talk to you face to face.

1. Shénme shíhou dōu kéyi. 什么时候都可以。 Any time would be fine. Cueshéi 谁 who Shéi dōu kéyi. 谁都可以。 Anyone would be fine. 2. Shéi dōu kéyi. 谁都可以。 Anyone would be fine. Cuenǎr 哪儿 where Nǎr dōu kéyi. 哪儿都可以。 Anywhere would be fine. 3. Nǎr dōu kéyi. 哪儿都可以。 Anywhere would be fine. Cueněige 哪个 that Něige dōu kéyi. 哪个都可以。 Either will do. 4. Něige dōu kéyi. 哪个都可以。 Either will do. Cueshénme dìfang 什么地 which place Shénme dìfang dōu kéyi. 什么地方都可以。 Anyone would be fine. 2. Shéi dōu kéyi. 谁都可以。 Anyone would be fine. Cuenǎr 哪儿 where Nǎr dōu kéyi. 哪儿都可以。 Anywhere would be fine. 3. Nǎr dōu kéyi. 哪儿都可以。 Anywhere would be fine. Cueněige 哪个 that Něige dōu kéyi. 哪个都可以。 Either will do. 4. Něige dōu kéyi. 哪个都可以。 Either will do. Cueshénme dìfang 什么地 when Shénme dìfang dōu kéyi. 什么地方都可以。 Any place would be fine. 5. Shénme dìfang dōu kéyi. 什么地方都可以。 Any place would be fine. Cueduōshao 多少 how many Duōshao dōu kéyi. 多少都可以。 Any number would be fine. 6. Duōshao dōu kéyi. 多少都可以。 Any number would be fine. Cueduó jiǔ 多久 how much time Duó jiǔ dōu kéyi. 多久都可以。

1. Shénme shíhou dōu kéyi. 什么时候都可以。 Any time would be fine. CueDuó jiǔ 多就 Any length of time Duó jiǔ dōu kéyi. 多久都可以。 Any length of time would be fine. 2. Jǐdiǎn zhōng dōu kéyi. 几点钟都可以。 Any hour would be fine. CueJǐge zhōngtōu 几个钟头 Any number of hours Jǐge zhōngtōu dōu kéyi. 几个钟头都可以。 Any number of hours would be fine. 3. Něitiān dōu kéyi. 哪天都可以。 Any day would be fine. CueDuōshao tiān 多少天 Any number of days Duōshao tiān dōu kéyi. 多少天都可以。 Any number of days would be fine. 4. Něinián dōu kéyi. 哪年都可以。 Any year would be fine. CueJǐnián 几年 Any number of years Jǐnián dōu kéyi. 几年都可以。 Any number of years would be fine. 5. Xīngqījǐ dōu kéyi. 星期几都可以。 Any day of the week would be fine. CueJǐge xīngqī 几个星期 Any number of weeks Jǐge xīngqī dōu kéyi. 几个星期都可以。 Any number of weeks would be fine. 6. Jǐhào dōu kéyi. 几号都可以。 Any date would be fine. CueDuōshao tiān 多少天 Any number of days Duōshao tiān dōu kéyi. 多少天都可以。 Any number of days would be fine. 7. Jǐyuè dōu kéyi. 几月都可以。 Any month would be fine. CueJǐge yuè 几个月 Any number of months Jǐge yuè dōu kéyi. 几个月都可以。 Any number of months would be fine.

1. Wǒmen míngtiān zài zhèr jiàn ne, háishi zai nàr jiàn ne? 我们明天在这儿见呢，还是在那儿见呢？ Shall we meet here or there tomorrow? Cuenǎr 哪儿 where Zài nǎr jiàn dōu kéyi. 在哪儿见都可以。 Anywhere would be fine. 2. Wǒmen zuò huǒchē qù ne, háishi zuò fēijī qù ne? 我们坐火车去呢，还是坐飞机去呢？ Shall we go by train, or by plane? Cuezěnme 怎么 how Zěnme qù dōu kéyi. 怎么去都可以。 Any way would be fine. 3. Wǒmen míngtiān jiǔdiǎn zhōng jiàn ne, háishi shídiǎn zhōng jiàn ne? 我们明天九点钟见呢，还是十点钟见呢？ Shall we meet tomorrow at nine o'clock, or ten o'clock? Cuejǐdiǎn zhōng 几点钟 what time Jǐdiǎn zhōng jiàn dōu kéyi. 几点钟见都可以。 Any time would be fine. 4. Wǒmen zuò qìchē qù ne, háishi zuò huǒchē qù ne? 我们坐汽车去呢，还是坐火车去呢？ Shall we go by car or by train? Cueshénme chē 什么车 which kind of transportation Shénme chē dōu kéyi. 什么车都可以。 Any way would be fine. 5. Wǒmen míngtiān qù ne, háishi hòutiān qù ne? 我们明天去呢，还是后天去呢？ Shall we go tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow? Cueněitiān 哪天 which day Něitiān qù dōu kéyi. 哪天去都可以。 Any day would be fine. 6. Wǒmen Xīngqīyī qù ne, háishi xīngqīèr qù ne? 我们星期一去呢，还是星期二去呢？ Shall we go on Monday, or Tuesday? Cuexīngqījǐ 星期几 what day of week Xīngqījǐ qù dōu kéyi. 星期几去都可以。 Any day of the week would be fine. 7. Wǒmen zuò fēijī qù ne, háishi zuò huǒchē qù ne? 我们坐飞机去呢，还是坐火车去呢？ Shall we go by plane or by train? Cuezěnme 怎么 how Zěnme qù dōu kéyi. 怎么去都可以。 Any way would be fine.

1. Shéi lái? 谁来？ Who is coming? Shéi dōu lái. 谁都来。 Everyone is coming. 2. Shénme dìfang bù hǎo? 什么地方不好？ Which place is wrong? Shénme dìfang dōu bù hǎo. 什么地方都不好。 Anywhere is wrong. 3. Něige dìfang kéyi? 哪个地方可以？ Which place is possible? Něige dìfang dōu kéyi. 哪个地方都可以。 Any place is fine. 4. Shéi bú huì? 谁不会？ Who wouldn't? Shéi dōu bú huì. 谁都不会。 Nobody would. 5. Nǎr hǎo? 哪儿好？ Where is it good? Nǎr dōu hǎo. 哪儿都好。 Anywhere would be fine. 6. Tā shénme shíhou néng qù? 他/她什么时候能去？ When will he/she be able to go? Tā shénme shíhou dōu néng qù. 他/她什么时候都能去。 he/she can go whenever he/she wants. 7. Nǐ něitiān bù máng? 你哪天不忙？ What days are you not busy? Wǒ něitiān dōu bù máng. 我哪天都不忙。 I'm not busy any day.

1. Nǐ qù nǎr? 你去哪儿？ Where are you going? Wǒ nǎr dōu qù. 我哪儿都去。 I’m going everywhere. 2. Nǐ dào nǎr qù? 你到哪儿去？ Where are you going? Wǒ nǎr dōu qù. 我哪儿都去。 I’m going everywhere. 3. Tā qù shénme dìfang? 他/她去什么地方？ Where does he/she go? Tā shénme dìfang dōu qù. 他/她什么地方都去。 He/she goes everywhere. 4. Tā dào shénme dìfang qù? 他/她到什么地方去？ Where does he/she go? Tā shénme dìfang dōu qù. 他/她什么地方都去。 He/she goes everywhere. 5. Nǐ mǎi něige? 你买哪个？ Which one do you buy? Wǒ něige dōu mǎi. 我哪个都买。 I'll buy either one. 6. Nǐ kàn něiběn? 你看哪本？ Which book do you read? Wǒ něiběn dōu kàn. 我哪本都看。 I read all the books. 7. Nǐ zuò shénme? 你做什么？ What do you do? Wǒ shénme dōu zuò. 我什么都做。 I do everything.

1. Shéi lái? 谁来？ Who is coming? CueShéi dōu 谁都 everyone Shéi dōu lai. 谁都来。 Everyone is coming. 2. Shéi kéyi? 谁可以？ Who can? CueShéi dōu 谁都 anyone will do Shéi dōu kéyi. 谁都可以。 Anyone can. 3. Shéi lái? 谁来？ Who is coming? CueShéi dōu bù 谁都不 no one Shéi dōu bù lái. 谁都不来。 No one is coming. 4. Nǐ mǎi něige? 你买哪个？ Which one do you bay? Cueněige dōu 哪个都 all of them Wǒ něige dōu mǎi. 我哪个都买。 I'll buy all of them. 5. Nǐ dào nǎr qù? 你到哪儿去？ Where are you going? Cuenǎr dōu bú 哪儿都不 nowhere at all Wǒ nǎr dōu bú qù. 我哪儿都不去。 I'm going nowhere. 6. Něige hǎo? 哪个好？ Which one is good? CueNěige dōu 哪个都 all of them Něige dōu hǎo. 哪个都好。 All of them are good. 7. Shéi huì shuō Zhōngguo huà? 谁会说中国话？ Who can speak Chinese? CueShéi dōu 谁都 everyone Shéi dōu huì shuō Zhōngguo huà. 谁都会说中国话。 Everyone can speak Chinese.

1. A. Huáng Kēzhǎng, nín xiàge Xīngqīliù yǒu gōngfu ma? 黃科長，您下個星期六有功夫嗎？ Section Chief Huang, are you free Saturday of next week? A: Wǒ xiǎng qǐng nín hé nín fūren dào wǒmen jiā lái chī ge biànfàn. 我想請您和您夫人到我們家來吃個便飯。 I would like to invite you and your wife to come to our house for a simple meal. 2. B: Nín hébì zhème kèqi? 您何必怎麽客氣？ Why is it necessary to be so polite? A: Bú shi kèqi. 不是客氣。 It’s not politeness. A: Wǒ yǒu yige péngyou gāng cóng Měiguo lái. 我有一個朋友剛從美國來。 I have a friend who has just come from America. A: Tā xiànzài zài Táiwān Dàxué jiāo jīngjixué. 她現在在臺灣大學教經濟學。 She is teaching economics at Táiwān University right now. A: Wǒ hěn xiǎng gěi nǐmen liǎngwèi jièshao jièshao. 我很想給你們兩位介紹介紹。 I would very much like to introduce the two of you. 3. B: Nà tài hǎo le! 那太好了！ That’s wonderful! B: Hěn xīwang gēn ta tántan. 很希望跟她談談。 I wish very much to talk with her. B: Búguò, kǒngpà wǒde Yīngwén bù xíng. 不過，恐怕我的英文不行。 However, I’m afraid that my English isn’t good enough. B: Búdàn shuōde bù hǎo, yǒu shíhou yě tīngbudǒng. 不但説得好，有時候也聽不懂。 Not only don’t I speak well, (but) sometimes I can’t understand what I hear either. 4. A: Náli, náli. 哪裏，哪裏。 Not at all, not at all. A: Nín shuōde gēn Měiguo rén yíyàng hǎo. 您説得跟美國人一樣好。 You speak as well as an American. 5. *A: Zěnmeyàng? Liùdiǎn bàn duì nín fāngbian bu fangbian? 怎麽樣？六點半對您方便不方便？ How shall we do it? Would six-thirty be convenient for you? B: Fāngbian, fāngbian. 方便，方便。 That would be fine. 6. A: Wǒ méi qǐng shénme rén. Hěn suíbiàn. 我沒請什麽人。很隨便。 I haven’t invited anyone special. It’s very informal. B: Nà jiù xiān xiè le. 那就先謝了。 Well then, I’ll thank you in advance. Additional Required Vocabulary (not presented on C-1 and P-1 tapes) 7. bù tóng 不同 to be different 8. chá 茶 tea 9. chī fàn 吃飯 to eat, to have a meal 10. dànshi 但是 but 11. érqiě 而且 furthermore, moreover 12. fàn 飯 (cooked) rice 13. hē 喝 to drink 14. jiāo shū 教書 to teach

biànfàn 便飯 a simple, informal meal búdàn...yě 不但...也 not only... but also búguò 不過 however, but bù tóng 不同 to be different chá 茶 tea chī fàn 吃飯 to eat, to have a meal dànshi 但是 but érqiě 而且 furthermore, moreover fàn 飯 (cooked) rice hē 喝 to drink hébì 何必 why is it necessary (to) jiāo shū 教書 to teach jièshao 介紹 to introduce kǒngpà 恐怕 to be afraid that (something is or is not the case) suíbiàn 隨便 to be informal/casual; as you like, as you wish, whatever suits you, “according to convenience” tài hǎo le! 太好了！ wonderful! tīngbudǒng 聽不懂 cannot understand tīngdedǒng 聽得懂 can understand xīwàng (xīwang) 希望 to hope, to wish to yíyàng 一樣 to be alike/equal yǒu shíhou (yǒu shihou) 有時候 sometimes (introduced on C-2 tape) cānjiā 參加 to attend dǎ (ge) diànhuà 打(個)電話 to make a phone call hǎode duō 好得多 much better tīng diànhuà 聼電話 to answer the phone yānhuo 烟火 fireworks display yóuyuánhuì 游園會 carnival zhèng hǎo 正好 just right

1. A. Huáng Kēzhǎng, nín xiàge Xīngqīliù yǒu gōngfu ma? 黃科長，您下個星期六有功夫嗎？ Section Chief Huang, are you free Saturday of next week? A: Wǒ xiǎng qǐng nín hé nín fūren dào wǒmen jiā lái chī ge biànfàn. 我想請您和您夫人到我們家來吃個便飯。 I would like to invite you and your wife to come to our house for a simple meal. Xiàge Xīngqīliù means “Saturday of next week.” “Saturday of this week” is zhèige Xīngqīliù, and “Saturday of last week” is shàngge Xīngqīliù. he words “this,” “next,” and “last” in English are often ambiguous. “This” sometimes means “Just past,” sometimes “the coming,” and sometimes “of next week.” “Next” sometimes means “the coming” and sometimes means “of next week.” “Last” sometimes means “Just past” and sometimes means “of last week.” In Chinese, however, zhèige usually means “of this week”; xiàge,“of next week”; and shàngge, “of last week.” But ambiguities do sometimes arise. Some Chinese consider that the week begins on Sunday. Probably most Chinese however, consider Monday the first day of the week. Chī ge biànfàn: Here the verb chī, “to eat [something],” takes the object (yi)ge biànfàn, “a simple/informal family meal.” When talking about the general activity of eating, however, use chī with the general object fàn, literally “(cooked) rice”: chī fàn, “to eat” The word biànfàn is used as a modest description in inviting guests for a meal served in the home. The meal is generally “simple” only in the sense of not being a banquet. A Chinese family meal usually consists of several dishes plus a soup.

2. B: Nín hébì zhème kèqi? 您何必怎麽客氣？ Why is it necessary to be so polite? A: Bú shi kèqi. 不是客氣。 It’s not politeness. A: Wǒ yǒu yige péngyou gāng cóng Měiguo lái. 我有一個朋友剛從美國來。 I have a friend who has just come from America. A: Tā xiànzài zài Táiwān Dàxué jiāo jīngjixué. 她現在在臺灣大學教經濟學。 She is teaching economics at Táiwān University right now. A: Wǒ hěn xiǎng gěi nǐmen liǎngwèi jièshao jièshao. 我很想給你們兩位介紹介紹。 I would very much like to introduce the two of you.

Hébì is a somewhat formal way of saying “Why is it necessary to...?” Hé is a literary word for “why.” Bì is a literary word for “must.” (You may recognize it from bú bì, “need not,” “to be unnecessary.”) Notice that the first speaker in exchange 2 does not respond to the dinner invitation with an immediate “Thank you, I would love to,” as one might do in English. Instead, the Chinese prefer the equivalent of “That’s too kind of you” or “Oh, you really shouldn’t.” When you receive an indefinite invitation (like “I hope you can come over to my house for dinner some day”), do not ask immediately for the date and time. Rather, you should thank the person for his politeness and say that you also hope that you can get together. Vague invitations may simply be in superficial accordance with the rules of etiquette, and you might put your acquaintance on the spot by accepting. Bú shi kèqi is the appropriate response when a person suggests that you are treating him too politely. Jiāo, “to teach,” is a verb which requires a general object when no specific object is mentioned. Contrast jiāo shū, “to teach,” with jiāo jīngJixué, “to teach economics.” Nǐmen liǎngwèi means “the two of you,” or “you two.” The other plural pronouns may be used similarly: 他們四個人都已經去過了。 Tāmen sìge rén dōu yǐjīng qùguo le. Those four have all been there already. 他們三個人都想念歷史。 Tāmen sānge rén dōu xiǎng niàn lìshǐ. study history. All three of them are planning to A number phrase may also follow a list of nouns or pronouns in Chinese. Either the listing or the number is usually omitted in the English translation. 我，你，他三個人都去，好不好？ Wǒ, nǐ, tā sānge rén dōu qù, hǎo bu hǎo? Why don’t all three of us go? 李先生跟王先生兩位都給我打了電話了。 Lǐ Xiānsheng gēn Wáng Xiānsheng liǎngwèi dōu gěi wǒ dǎle diànhuà le. Both Mr. Lǐ and Mr. Wáng (the two of them) called me. Gěi nīmen liāngwèi jièshao jièshao: There are two things to note in this sentence. First of all, while the English language “introduces two people TO each other,” the Chinese language “introduces FOR the two people,” gěi...jièshao. Secondly, the speaker has chosen to repeat the verb jièshao. In a sentence expressing the speaker’s desired course of action, the reduplicated form of the verb makes the statement less blunt and demanding.

3. B: Nà tài hǎo le! 那太好了！ That’s wonderful! B: Hěn xīwang gēn ta tántan. 很希望跟她談談。 I wish very much to talk with her. B: Búguò, kǒngpà wǒde Yīngwén bù xíng. 不過，恐怕我的英文不行。 However, I’m afraid that my English isn’t good enough. B: Búdàn shuōde bù hǎo, yǒu shíhou yě tīngbudǒng. 不但説得好，有時候也聽不懂。 Not only don’t I speak well, (but) sometimes I can’t understand what I hear either. Tài hǎo le, “wonderful,” or, more literally, “too good.” you have seen tài translated as “excessively,” or “too”: “It’s too expensive!” Tài guì le! In other contexts, tài simply indicates an extreme degree and is translated as “very.” When used this way, tài is commonly heavily stressed. 這本書真是太有意思了！ Zhèiběn shū zhēn shi tài yǒu yìsi le! This book is really very interesting! Búguò, “however,” is often interchangeable with kěshi, “but,” and is therefore used more frequently than the English “however.” Kǒngpà means “to be afraid that [something is/is not the case].” It sometimes means “probably,” as in Zhàiběn shū kǒngpà shi tāde, “This book is probably his.” Búdàn...ye... is equivalent to the English “not only... but also....” Here are some examples: Tā búdàn huì shuō Zhōngwén, yě huì shuō Rìwén. 他不但會説中文，也會説日文。 Not only can he speak Chinese, but he can also speak Japanese. Tā búdàn bù xǐhuan hóngde, yě bù xǐhuan lánde. 他不但不喜歡紅的，也不喜歡藍的。 Not only doesn’t he like the red one, but he doesn’t like the blue one either. Tīngbudǒng, “can’t understand”: The verb dǒng is used to indicate the result in a compound verb of result, Here is another example of dǒng used in this way: Zhōngwén bàozhǐ nǐ kàndedǒng kànbudǒng? 中文報紙你看得懂看不懂？ Can you read (and understand) Chinese newspapers? Shuōde bù hǎo VS. tīngbudǒng: The many ways in which one-syllable Chinese verbs may be combined to make patterns and compounds can be confusing. In No. 3, you see both an action verb and its manner adverb (in the negative), shuōde bù hǎo, and a compound verb of result (in its “unable” form), tīngbudǒng. Compare these two forms: ACTION VERB MARKER NEG. ADV. MANNER shuō -DE bù hǎo shuō -DE hěn hǎo ACTION VERB MARKER or NEG (not both) RESULT tīng -bù -dǒng tīng -de -dǒng The marker de is always part of the manner adverb expression but alternates with bù in compound verbs of result. Manner adverb expressions expand to allow not only for negation but also for additional adverbs such as hěn and tài. Compound verbs of result cannot do this. There are always three, and only three, parts to the compound verb of result.

4. A: Náli, náli. 哪裏，哪裏。 Not at all, not at all. A: Nín shuōde gēn Měiguo rén yíyàng hǎo. 您説得跟美國人一樣好。 You speak as well as an American. 5. *A: Zěnmeyàng? Liùdiǎn bàn duì nín fāngbian bu fangbian? 怎麽樣？六點半對您方便不方便？ How shall we do it? Would six-thirty be convenient for you? B: Fāngbian, fāngbian. 方便，方便。 That would be fine. Gēn...yíyàng hǎo: Yíyàng is an adjectival verb meaning “to be the same.” When a sentence tells you in what respect the compared items are alike, yíyàng acts as an adverb and may be translated as “equally.” Wǒmen liǎngge rénde chē yíyàng. 我們兩個認得車 一樣。 The cars belonging to the two of us alike. “Our cars are alike.” Wǒmen liǎngge rénde chē yíyàng guì. 我們兩個認得車 一樣貴。 The cars belonging to the two of us equally expensive. “Our cars are equally expensive.” The area of comparability may be described by predicates other than adjectival verbs. Tāmen liǎngge rén dōu yíyàng xǐhuan niàn shū. 他們兩個人 都 一樣 喜歡 念書。 The two of them both equally like to study “The two of them are equally studious.” The items being compared may be expressed separately, using gēn. In this case, gēn is the prepositional verb meaning “with.” The item preceding gēn is compared WITH the object of gēn. Wǒde chē gēn tāde chē yíyàng. 我的車 跟 他的 車 一樣 。 My car with his car alike. “My car is like his.” Gēn may be used to compare nouns, pronouns, noun phrases, and clauses. Often one of the two phrases or clauses is a shorter form of the other. Nǐ shuōde gēn Měiguo rén (shuōde) yíyàng hǎo. 你説得 跟 美國人(説得) 一樣 好。 You speak with American [speak] equally good. ”You speak as well as an American.” Wǒde chē gēn tāde (chē) yíyàng. 我的車 跟 他的(車) 一樣。 My car with his [car] alike. “My car is like his (car).” Nǐ (kāide) gēn wō kāide yíyàng kuài. 你(開得) 跟 我 開得 一樣 快。 You [drive] with me drive equally fast. “You drive as fast as I do.”

6. A: Wǒ méi qǐng shénme rén. Hěn suíbiàn. 我沒請什麽人。很隨便。 I haven’t invited anyone special. It’s very informal. B: Nà jiù xiān xiè le. 那就先謝了。 Well then, I’ll thank you in advance. Méi qǐng shénme rén: In this sentence, shénme is not the question word “what” “but is the indefinite “any.” When used with bù or méi, shénme rén means “anyone special,” or “anyone in particular.” All question words may follow the verbs in negative statements to give similar meanings. Here are some examples of “any___ special” meanings: Wǒ méi chī shénme fàn. 我沒吃什麽飯。 I didn’t eat much of anything. Wǒ méi gēn shéi qù. 我沒跟誰去。 I didn’t go with anybody special. Wǒ méi dào nǎr qù. 我沒到那兒去。 I didn’t go anyplace in particular. Wǒ méiyou duōshao qián. 我沒有多少前。 I don’t have any money to speak of. Wǒ bú yào jǐge. 我不要幾個。 I don’t want but a few. (I want only a few.) Suíbiàn is a frequently used expression which has connotations of “casual,” as contrasted with kèqi, “proper” or “formal.” Literally, suíbiàn means “according to convenience.” Here are some examples: Zěnme zuò? 怎麽做？ How shall we do it? Suíbiàn. 隨便。 However you like. Suíbiàn shénme shíhou lái. 隨便什麽時候來。 Come anytime you like. Suíbiàn zuò nǎr dōu kéyi. 隨便坐哪兒都可以。 You may sit anywhere you like. Nà jiù xiān xiè le: In this sentence, nà is acting as an adverb meaning “in that case,” “if so,” or “then.” The English translation “I’ll thank you in advance, then” is very formal. You would be more likely to say something like “Great. I’m looking forward to it.”

7. bù tóng 不同 to be different 8. chá 茶 tea 9. chī fàn 吃飯 to eat, to have a meal 10. dànshi 但是 but 11. érqiě 而且 furthermore, moreover 12. fàn 飯 (cooked) rice 13. hē 喝 to drink 14. jiāo shū 教書 to teach Bù tóng may be used in much the same way as bù yíyàng. Note that bù tóng occurs only in the negative. (There is no tóng.) Shànghái huà hé Běijīng huà hěn bù tóng. 上海話和北京話很不同。 The Shànghǎi dialect and the Běijīng dialect are very different. Chī fàn, “to eat,” is an example of a verb plus a general object used to express a general activity. The verb chi may also take specific objects, such as miàn, “noodles.” Dànshi, “but,” is used much like kěshi, “but.” Héběi rén tīngdedǒng Běijīng huà ma? 河北人聽得懂北京話嗎？ Can people from Héběi understand the Běijīng dialect? Tīngdedǒng, dànshi Héběi huà hé Běijīng huà bù yíyàng. 聽得懂，但是河北話和北京話不一樣。 Yes, but the Héběi dialect and the Běijīng dialect are different. Érqiě, “furthermore,” “moreover”: Use érqiě at the beginning of a sentence or clause. Zhèige huāpíng tài guì, érqiě yě tài dà le. Wǒ bù xiǎng mǎi. 這個花瓶太貴，而且也太大了。我不想買。 This vase is too expensive, and furthermore it’s too big. I don’t want to buy it. Fàn, “(cooked) rice”: The definition of fàn is qualified as “cooked” because the Chinese use several words for “rice,” depending on whether it is in the field, ready to cook, or on the table. Jiāo shū is a verb plus a general object meaning “to teach.” Jiāo may be used without its general object, as in Jiāo Zhōngwén, “teach the Chinese language.”

1. Huáng Kēzhǎng, nǐ míngtiān wǎnshang yǒu gōngfu ma? 黄科长，你明天晚上有功夫吗？ Section Chief Huáng, are you free tomorrow evening? Cuemíngtiān zǎoshang 明天早上 tomorrow morning Huáng Kēzhǎng, nǐ míngtiān zǎoshang yǒu gōngfu ma? 黄科长，你明天早上有功夫吗？ Section Chief Huáng, are you free tomorrow morning? 2. Huáng Kēzhāng, nǐ míngtiān zǎoshang yǒu gōngfu ma? 黄科长，你明天早上有功夫吗？ Section Chief Huáng, are you free tomorrow evening? CueXīngqīsì 星期四 Thursday Huáng Kēzhǎng, nǐ Xīngqīsì yǒu gōngfu ma? 黄科长，你星期四有功夫吗？ Section Chief Huáng, are you free Thursday? 3. Huáng Kēzhǎng, nǐ Xīngqīsì yǒu gōngfu ma? 黄科长，你星期四有功夫吗？ Section Chief Huáng, are you free Thursday? Cuejīntiān wǎnshang 今天晚上 today evening Huáng Kēzhǎng, nǐ jīntiān wǎnshang yǒu gōngfu ma? 黄科长，你今天晚上有功夫吗？ Section Chief Huáng, are you free tonight? 4. Huáng Kēzhǎng, nǐ jīntiān wǎnshang yǒu gōngfu ma? 黄科长，你今天晚上有功夫吗？ Section Chief Huáng, are you free tonight? Cuexià Xīngqīliù 下星期六 next Saturday Huáng Kēzhǎng, nǐ xià Xīngqīliù yǒu gōngfu ma? 黄科长，你下星期六有功夫吗？ Section Chief Huáng, are you free next Saturday? 5. Huáng Kēzhǎng, nǐ xià Xīngqīliù yǒu gōngfu ma? 黄科长，你下星期六有功夫吗？ Section Chief Huáng, are you free next Saturday? Cuezhèige Xīngqīwǔ 这个星期五 Friday this week Huáng Kēzhǎng, nǐ zhèige Xīngqīwǔ yǒu gōngfu ma? 黄科长，你这个星期五有功夫吗？ Section Chief Huáng, are you free this Friday? 6. Huáng Kēzhǎng, nǐ zhèige Xīngqīwu yǒu gōngfu ma? 黄科长，你这个星期五有功夫吗？ Section Chief Huáng, are you free this Friday? Cuezhèige yuè qíhào 这个月七号 this month on the 7th Huáng Kēzhǎng, nǐ zhèige yuè qíhào yǒu gōngfu ma? 黄科长，你这个月七号有功夫吗？ Section Chief Huáng, are you free 7th of this month? 7. Huáng Kēzhǎng, nǐ zhèige yuè qíhào yǒu gōngfu ma? 黄科长，你这个月七号有功夫吗？ Section Chief Huáng, are you free the 7th of this month? Cuexiàge yuè yīhào 下个月一号 last month the first Huáng Kēzhǎng, nǐ xiàge yuè yīhào yǒu gōngfu ma? 黄科长，你下个月一号有功夫马？ Section Chief Huáng, are you free next month the first?

1. Wǒ xiǎng qǐng nín. 我想请您。 I would like to invite you. Cuewǒmen jiā 我们家 our house Wǒ xiǎng qǐng nín dào wǒmen jiā lái chī ge biànfàn. 我想请您到我们家来吃个便饭。 I would like to invite you to our house for a simple meal. 2. Wǒ xiǎng qǐng nín. 我想请您。 I would like to invite you. Cuefànguǎnr 饭馆儿 restaurant Wǒ xiǎng qǐng nín dào fànguǎnr qù chī ge biànfàn. 我想请您到饭馆儿去吃个便饭。 I would like to invite you to go to a restaurant for a simple meal. 3. Tā xiǎng qǐng nín. 他想请您。 I would like to invite you. CueMínzú Fàndiàn 民族饭店 National Hotel Tā xiǎng qǐng nín dào Mínzú Fàndiàn qù chī ge biànfàn. 他想请您到民族饭店去吃个便饭。 I would like to invite you to the National Hotel for a simple meal. 4. Wǒ xiǎng qǐng nín. 我想请您。 I would like to invite you. Cuewǒ fùmù jiā 我父母家 my parents house Wǒ xiǎng qǐng nín dào wǒ fùmǔ jiā lái chī ge biànfàn. 我想请您到我父母家来吃个便饭。 I would like to invite you to my parents house for a simple meal. 5. Wǒ xiǎng qǐng nín. 我想请您。 I would like to invite you. CueBěijīng Fàndiàn 北京饭店 Běijīng Hotel Wǒ xiǎng qǐng nín dào Běijīng Fàndiàn qù chī ge biànfàn. 我想请您到北京饭店去吃个便饭。 I would like to invite you to the Běijīng Hotel for a simple meal. 6. Wǒ xiǎng qǐng nín. 我想请您。 I would like to invite you. Cuenèige fànguǎnr 那个饭馆儿 that restaurant Wǒ xiǎng qǐng nín dào nèige fànguǎnr qù chī ge biànfàn. 我想请您到那个饭馆儿去吃个便饭。 I would like to invite you to that restaurant for a simple meal. 7. Wǒ xiǎng qǐng nín. 我想请您。 I would like to invite you. Cuewǒ jiā 我家 my home Wǒ xiǎng qǐng nín dào wǒ jiā lái chī ge biànfàn. 我想请您到我家来吃个便饭。 I would like to invite you to my home for a simple meal.

1. Speaker: Tā zài Táiwān Dàxué gōngzuò ma? 他在台湾大学工作吗？ Does he work at Táiwān University? Cuejīngjixué 经济学 economics Duì le. Tā zài Táiwān Dàxué jiāo jīngjixué. 对了。他在台湾大学教经济学。 That’s right. He teaches economics at Táiwān University. 2. Tā zài Dézhōu Dàxué gōngzuò ma? 他在德州大学工作吗？ Does he work at the University of Texas? Cuelìshǐ 历史 history Duì le. Tā zài Dézhōu Dàxué jiāo lìshǐ. 对了。他在德州大学教历史。 That’s right. He teaches history at the University of Texas. 3. Lǐ Xiānsheng zài Jiāzhōu Dàxué gōngzuò ma? 李先生在加州大学工作吗？ Does Mr. Lǐ work at the University of California? Cuezhèngzhixué 政治学 politics Duì le. Tā zài Jiāzhōu Dàxué jiāo zhèngzhixué. 对了。他在加州大学教政治学。 That’s right. He teaches political science at the University of California. 4. Chén Xiānsheng zài Bīnzhōu Dàxué gōngzuò ma? 陈先生在宾州大学工作吗？ Does Mr. Chén work at the University of Pennsylvania? CueZhōngwén 中文 Chinese Duì le. Tā zài Bīnzhōu Dàxué jiāo Zhōngwén. 对了。他在宾州大学教中文。 That’s right. He teaches Chinese at the University of Pennsylvania. 5. Āndésēn Xiānsheng zài Táiwān Dàxué gōngzuò ma? 安德森先生在台湾大学工作吗？ Does Mr. Anderson work at National Taiwan University? CueYīngguo wénxué 英国文学 British literature Duì le. Tā zài Táiwān Dàxué jiāo Yīngguo wénxué. 对了。他在台湾大学教英国文学。 That’s right. He teaches English literature at National Taiwan University. 6. Wáng Xiānsheng zài Táiwān Dàxué gōngzuò ma? 王先生在台湾大学工作吗？ Does Mr. Wáng work in National Taiwan University? CueZhōngguo wénxué 中国文学 Chinese literature Duì le. Tā zài Táiwān Dàxué jiāo Zhōngguo wénxué. 对了。他在台湾大学教中国文学。 That’s right. He teaches Chinese literature at National Taiwan University. 7. Zhào Xiǎojie zài Táiwān Dàxué gōngzuò ma? 赵小姐在台湾大学工作吗？ Does Miss Zhào work in National Taiwan University? CueZhōngguo lìshǐ 中国历史 Chinese history Duì le. Tā zài Táiwān Dàxué jiāo Zhōngguo lìshi. 对了。他在台湾大学教中国历史。 That’s right. He teaches Chinese history at National Taiwan University.

1. Wǒ gěi nǐmen jièshao jièshao. 我给你们介绍介绍。 I’ll introduce you. CueWǎng Tóngzhì 王同志 Comrade Wǎng Wǒ hěn xiǎng gěi nǐmen gēn Wáng Tóngzhì jièshao jièshao. 我很想给你们跟王同志介绍介绍。 I would very much like to introduce you and Comrade Wáng. 2. Wǒ gěi nǐmen jièshao jièshao. 我给你们介绍介绍。 I’ll introduce you. CueLiú Tóngzhì 刘同志 Comrade Liú Wǒ hěn xiǎng gěi nǐmen gēn Liú Tóngzhì jièshao jièshao. 我很想给你们跟刘同志介绍介绍。 I would very much like to introduce you and Comrade Liú. 3. Wǒ gěi nǐmen jièshao jièshao. 我给你们介绍介绍。 I’ll introduce you. CueZhào Tóngzhì 赵同志 Comrade Zhào Wǒ hěn xiǎng gěi nǐmen gēn Zhào Tóngzhì jièshao jièshao. 我很想给你们跟赵同志介绍介绍。 I would very much like to introduce you and Comrade Zhào. 4. Wǒ gěi nǐmen jièshao jièshao. 我给你们介绍介绍。 I’ll introduce you. CueZhāng Xiānsheng 张先生 Mr. Zhāng Wǒ hěn xiǎng gěi nǐmen gēn Zhāng Xiānsheng jièshao jièshao. 我很想给你们跟张先生介绍介绍。 I would very much like to introduce you and Mr. Zhāng. 5. Wǒ gěi nǐmen jièshao jièshao. 我给你们介绍介绍。 I’ll introduce you. CueYáng Nǚshì 杨女士 Mrs. Yáng Wǒ hěn xiǎng gěi nǐmen gēn Yǎng Nǚshì jièshao jièshao. 我很想给你们跟杨女士介绍介绍。 I would very much like to introduce you and Mrs. Yáng. 6. Wǒ gěi nǐmen jièshao jièshao. 我给你们介绍介绍。 I’ll introduce you. CueZhāng Kēzhǎng 张科长 Chief Zhāng Wǒ hěn xiǎng gěi nǐmen gēn Zhāng Kēzhǎng jièshao jièshao. 我很想给你们跟张科长介绍介绍。 I would very much like to introduce you and Chief Zhāng. 7. Wǒ gěi nǐmen jièshao jièshao. 我给你们介绍介绍。 I’ll introduce you. CueLǐ Shàoxiào 李少校 Major Lǐ Wǒ hěn xiǎng gěi nǐmen gēn Lǐ Shàoxiào jièshao jièshao. 我很想给你们跟李少校介绍介绍。 I would very much like to introduce you and Major Lǐ.

1. Tā tīngbujiàn. 他听不见。 He can’t hear. Cuekànbujiàn 看不见 Tā búdàn tīngbujiàn yě kànbujiàn. 他不但听不见也看不见。 Not only can’t he hear, [but] he can’t see either. 2. Tā shuōbuduì. 他说不对。 He did not say it right. Cuetīngbudǒng 听不懂 Tā búdàn shuōbuduì yě tīngbudǒng. 他不但说不对也听不懂。 Not only did he not say it right, [but] he didn't understand it either. 3. Tā chībuhǎo. 他吃不好。 He doesn't eat well. Cuehēbuhǎo 喝不好 Tā búdàn chībuhǎo yě hēbuhǎo. 他不但吃不好也喝不好。 Not only he can't eat well,[ but ]also can't drink well. 4. Tā shuōbuduì. 他说不对。 He didn't say it right. Cuexiěbuduì 写不对 Tā búdàn shuōbuduì yě xiěbuduì. 他不但说不对也写不对。 Not only did he said it wrong[ but ]also wrote it wrong. 5. Tā kànbudǒng. 他看不懂。 He can't read. Cuetīngbudǒng 听不懂 Tā búdàn kànbudǒng yě tīngbudǒng. 他不但看不懂也听不懂。 Not only can't he read[ but ]also can't understand. 6. Tā tīngbudǒng. 他听不懂。 He can't understand. Cueshuōbuduì 说不对 Tā búdàn tīngbudǒng yě shuōbuduì. 他不但听不懂也说不对。 Not only did he not understand, [but] he also spoke incorrectly. 7. Tā kànbujiàn. 他看不见。 He can't see. Cuetīngbujiàn 听不见 Tā búdàn kànbujiàn yě tīngbujiàn. 他不但看不见也听不见。 Not only can't he see [but] also can't hear.

1. Tā shuōde bù hǎo. Tā tīngbudǒng. 他说得不好。他听不懂。 He speaks poorly. He can’t understand. Tā búdàn shuōde bù hǎo yě tīngbudǒng. 他不但说得不好也听不懂。 Not only does he speak poorly, [but] he can’t understand either. 2. Tā shuōde bù hǎo. Wǒ shuōde bù hǎo. 他说得不好。我说得不好。 He speaks poorly. I speak poorly. Búdàn tǎ shuōde bù hǎo wǒ yě shuōde bù hǎo. 不但说得不好我也说得不好。 He not only speaks poorly, [but] I speak poorly too. 3. Tā niànde hǎo. Tā xiědehǎo. 他念得好。他写得好。 He reads well. He writes well. Tā búdàn niànde hǎo yě xiědehāo. 他不但念得好也写得好。 Not only does he reads well but he also writes well. 4. Tā niànde hǎo. Wǒ niànde hǎo. 他念得好。我念得好。 He reads well. I read well. Búdàn tā niànde hǎo wǒ yě niànde hǎo. 不但他念得好也念得好。 He not only reads well but also writes well. 5. Tā tīngbudǒng. Tā shuōbuhǎo. 他听不懂。他说不好。 He can't understand. He can't say it well. Tā búdàn tīngbudǒng yě shuōbuhǎo. 他不但听不懂也说不好。 Not only can he not understand, but he can not speak well. 6. Tā kāide bù hǎo. Wǒ kāide bù hǎo. 他开得不好。我开得不好。 He doesn't drive well. I don't drive well. Búdàn tā kāide bù hǎo wǒ yě kāide bù hǎo. 不但他开得不好也开得不好。 Not only does he drive badly, but I also drive poorly. 7. Tā kànbujiàn. Tā tīngbudǒng. 他看不见。他听不懂。 He can't see. He can't understand. Tā búdàn kànbujiàn yě tīngbudǒng. 他不但看不见也听不懂。 He not only can't see but also can't understand.

1. Wǒ bù néng dào Zhōngguo qù. Wǒde Zhōngwén bù xíng. 我不能到中国去。我的中文不行。 I can’t go to China. My Chinese isn’t good enough. Wǒ hěn xīwàng dào Zhōngguo qù, búguò kǒngpà wǒde Zhōngwén bù xíng. 我很希望到中国去，不过恐怕我的中文不行。 I hope very much to go to China, but I’m afraid my Chinese isn’t good enough. 2. Tā bù kéyi xué Zhōngwén. Tā méiyou gōngfu. 他不可以学中文。他没有功夫。 He can't learn Chinese. he has no free time. Tā hěn xīwàng xué Zhōngwén, búguò kǒngpà tā méiyou gōngfu. 他很希望学中文，不过恐怕他没有功夫。 He (would love) really hopes to learn Chinese, but I'm afraid he doesn't have free time. 3. Wǒ bù kéyi mǎi dōngxi. Wǒde qián bú gòu. 我不可以买东西。我的钱不够。 I can't buy anything. I don't have enough money. Wǒ hěn xīwàng mǎi dōngxi, búguò kǒngpà wǒde qián bú gòu. 我很希望买东西，不过恐怕我的钱不够。 I (would love) really hope to buy something, but I'm afraid I don't have enough money. 4. Wǒ bù néng qù kàn péngyou. Wǒ méiyou gōngfu. 我不能去看朋友。我没有功夫。 can't go see my friends. I have no free time . Wǒ hěn xīwàng qù kàn péngyou, búguò kǒngpà wǒ méiyou gōngfu. 我很希望去看朋友，不过恐怕我没有功夫。 I (would love) really hope to visit my friends, but I'm afraid I don't have free time. 5. Wǒ bù néng shuō Zhōngguo huà. Wǒde Zhōngguo huà bù xíng. 我不能说中国话。我的中国话不行。 I can not speak Chinese. My Chinese is not good. Wǒ hěn xīwàng shuō Zhōngguo huà, búguò kǒngpà wǒde Zhōngguo huà bù xíng. 我很希望说中国话，不过恐怕我的中国话不行。 I (would love) really hope to speak Chinese, but I'm afraid my Chinese is not good enough. 6. Wǒ bù néng gēn tā qù chī fàn. Wǒ méiyou shíjiàn. 我不能跟他去吃饭。我没有时间。 I can't go to dinner with him. I do not have time. Wǒ hěn xīwàng gēn tā qù chī fàn, búguò kǒngpà wǒ méiyou shíjiān. 我很希望跟他去吃饭，不过恐怕我没有时间。 I (would love) really hope to go to dinner with him, but I'm afraid I don't have time. 7. Wǒ bù kéyi qù kāi huì. Wǒ tīngbudǒng tāmen shuōde huà. 我不可以可以去开会。我听不懂他们说的话。 I can't go to the meeting. I cannot understand what they were saying. Wǒ hěn xīwàng qù kāi huì, búguò kǒngpà wǒ tīngbudǒng tāmen shuōde huà. 我很希望去开会，不过恐怕我听不懂他们说的话。 I (would love) really hope to go to a meeting, but I'm afraid I can't understand a word they say.

1. Nǐde chá gēn tāde yíyàng duō. 你的茶跟他的一样多。 You have as much tea as he does. Cuehē 喝 drink Nǐ hē chá, hēde gēn tā yíyàng duō. 你喝茶，喝得跟他一样多。 You drink as much tea as he does. 2. Nǐde dōngxi gēn tāde yíyàng piányi. 你的东西跟他的一样便宜。 Your stuff is as cheap as his. Cuemǎi 买 buy Nǐ mǎi dōngxi, mǎide gēn tā yíyàng piányi. 你买东西，买得跟他的一样便宜。 You buy something as cheap as he his. 3. Nǐde shū gēn tāde yíyàng duō. 你的书跟他的一样多。 You have as many books as he does. Cueniàn 念 read Nǐ niàn shū, niànde gēn tā yíyàng duo. 你念书，念得跟他的一样多。 You read as much as he does. 4. Nǐde shū gēn tāde yíyàng hǎo. 你的书跟他的一样好。 Your book is as good as his. Cuejiāo 教 teach Nǐ jiāo shū, jiāode gēn tā yíyàng hǎo. 你教书，教得跟他的一样好。 You teach as well as he does. 5. Nǐde fàn gēn tāde yíyàng duō. 你的饭跟他的一样多。 You have as much rice as he does. Cuechī 吃 eat Nǐ chī fàn, chīde gēn tā yíyàng duō. 你吃饭，吃得跟他的一样多。 You eat as much as he does. 6. Nǐde diànhuà gēn tāde yíyàng duō. 你的电话跟他的一样多。 You have as many calls as he does. Cuedǎ 打 call Nǐ dǎ diànhuà, dǎde gēn tā yíyàng duō. 你打电话，打得跟他的一样多。 You call as much as he does. 7. Nǐde Zhōngguo huà gēn tāde yíyàng hǎo. 你的中国话跟他的一样好。 Your Chinese is as good as his. Cueshuō 说 speak Nǐ shuō Zhōngguo huà, shuōde gēn tā yíyàng hǎo. 你说中国话，说得跟他的一样好。 You speak Chinese as well as he does.

1. Nǐ qǐngle jǐge rén? 你请了几个人？ How many people did you invite? Wǒ méi qǐng jǐge rén. 我没请几个人。 I didn’t invite many at all. 2. Tā hē shénme? 他喝什么？ What does he drink? Tā bù hē shénme. 他不喝什么。 He doesn’t drink much of anything. 3. Nǐ qǐng shéi? 你请谁？ Who do you invite? Wǒ bù qǐng shéi. 我不请谁。 I'm not inviting anyone. 4. Tā mǎile jǐběn shū? 他买了几本书？ How many books does he buy? Tā méi mǎi jǐběn shū. 他没买几本书。 He didn't buy many books. 5. Nǐ qǐng shénme rén? 你请什么人？ What kind of people do you invite? Wǒ bù qǐng shénme rén. 我不请什么人。 I don't invite anyone. 6. Tā dào nǎr qù le? 他到哪儿去了？ Where did he go? Tā méi dào nǎr qù. 他没到哪儿去。 He didn't go anywhere. 7. Nǐ yǒu duōshao qián? 你有多少钱？ How much money do you have? Wǒ méiyǒu duōshao qián. 我没有多少钱。 I don't have much money.

1. A: Huáng Kēzhǎng, Huáng Tàitai, huānyíng, huānyíng. 黃科長，黃太太，歡迎歡迎。 Section Chief Huáng, Mrs. Huáng—welcome. A: Qǐng jìn. 請進。 Please come in. 2. B: Fù Tàitai, nín hǎo? 富太太，您好？ How are you, Mrs. Franklin? B: Zhè shi yìdiǎn xiǎo yìsi. 這是一點小意思。 Here is a small token of appreciation. 3. B: Wǒ zhīdào nín xǐhuan shānshuǐ huà. 我知道您喜歡山水畫。 I know you like landscape paintings. B: Tèbiě qǐng péngyou gěi nín huàle yìzhang. 特別請朋友給您畫了一張。 I asked a friend to paint one especially for you. *A: Nín zhēn shi tài kèqi. Xièxie. 您真是太客氣。謝謝。 You are really too polite. Thanks. A: Lái, wǒ gěi nīmen jièshao jièshao. 來，我給你們介紹介紹。 Come. I’ll introduce the two of you. 4. A: Zhèiwei shi He Jiàoshòu, zài Táidà jiāo jīngjixué. 這位是何教授，在台大教經濟學。 This is Professor Hollins, who teaches economics at Táiwān University. A: Hé Jiàoshòu, zhèiwei shi Huáng Kēzhǎng, zài Táiwān Yínháng gōngzuò. 何教授，這位是黃科長，在臺灣銀行工作。 Professor Hollins, this is Section Chief Huáng, who works at the Bank of Táiwān. A: Zhèiwei shi Huáng Tàitai. 這位是黃太太。 This is Mrs. Huáng. 5. B: Jiǔyǎng, jiǔyǎng. 久仰，久仰。 Glad to meet you. B: Nín láile duó jiǔ le? 您來了多久了？ How long have you been here? C: Jiǔyǎng. Wǒ gāng lai liǎngge yuè. 久仰。我剛來兩個月。 Glad to meet you. It has been only two months since I came. 6. C: Hái yǒu hěn duō bù shóuxide dìfang. 還有很多不熟悉的地方。 There is still much I’m not familiar with. C: Yǐhòu hái yào xiàng nín qǐngjiào. 以後還要向您請教。 Later I’ll need to request more advice from you. 7. B: Náli, náli. 哪裏，哪裏。 Not at all, not at all. B: Xīwàng yǐhòu yǒu jīhui duō jiànmiàn. 希望以後有機會多見面。 I hope that in the future we will have an opportunity to meet more. 8. fāngfǎ 方法 method, way, means 9. fázi 法子 method, way 10. huàr 畫兒 painting (Běijīng pronunciation) 11. qǐng zuò 請坐 please sit down 12. shèhuìxué 社會學 sociology 13. túshūguǎn 圖書館 library 14. zuò 坐 to sit

fāngfǎ 方法 method, way, means fázi 法子 method, way (Běijīng) huà 畫 to paint huà(r) (yìzhāng) 畫兒 (一張) a painting huānyíng 歡迎 to welcome jiānmiàn 見面 to meet someone, to see someone jiàoshòu 教授 professor jìn 進 to enter jiǔyǎng 久仰 glad to meet you qǐngjiào 請教 to ask advice, to consult qǐng zuo 請坐 please sit down shānshuǐ 山水 mountains and rivers, scenery with hills and water shānshuī huà(r) (yìzhāng) 山水畫兒 (一張) landscape painting shèhuìxué 社會學 sociology shóuxi 熟悉 to be familiar Tāidà 台大 Táiwān University tèbié 特別 especially túshūguǎn 圖書館 library xiang 向 towards; from xiǎo yìsi 小意思 a token of appreciation zuo 坐 to sit biǎoyǎn 表演 to give a demonstration bú dà hǎo mǎi 不大好買 not very easy to buy duì...shóuxi 對...熟悉 to be familiar with Jiàoyubù 教育部 Ministry of Education mǎi cài 買菜 to buy groceries sòng gěi 送給 to give xǐ yīshang 洗衣裳 to wash clothes yánjiu 研究 to study, to do research yòuéryuǎn 幼兒園 kindergarten yóu huà 油畫 oil painting zhǎnlǎn 展覽 exhibition zhàogu 照顧 to take care of zuò fan 做飯 to cook zuòyè 作業 homework

1. A: Huáng Kēzhǎng, Huáng Tàitai, huānyíng, huānyíng. 黃科長，黃太太，歡迎歡迎。 Section Chief Huáng, Mrs. Huáng—welcome. A: Qǐng jìn. 請進。 Please come in. 2. B: Fù Tàitai, nín hǎo? 富太太，您好？ How are you, Mrs. Franklin? B: Zhè shi yìdiǎn xiǎo yìsi. 這是一點小意思。 Here is a small token of appreciation. Xiǎo yìsi: Y0u have already seen yìsi in the expression yǒu yìsi, “to be interesting.” Yìsi means “meaning,” “significance,” “intention,” “idea.” In No. 2, above, xiǎo yìsi (literally, “small [good] intent”) is an idiomatic expression meaning “a small (token of my) feelings of appreciation.”

3. B: Wǒ zhīdào nín xǐhuan shānshuǐ huà. 我知道您喜歡山水畫。 I know you like landscape paintings. B: Tèbiě qǐng péngyou gěi nín huàle yìzhang. 特別請朋友給您畫了一張。 I asked a friend to paint one especially for you. *A: Nín zhēn shi tài kèqi. Xièxie. 您真是太客氣。謝謝。 You are really too polite. Thanks. A: Lái, wǒ gěi nīmen jièshao jièshao. 來，我給你們介紹介紹。 Come. I’ll introduce the two of you. Shānshuǐ, “mountains and rivers,” “scenery with hills and water,” is a compound made up of shān, “mountain,” and shuǐ, “water.” In shānshuǐ, shuǐ refers to rivers or lakes. Tèbié qǐng péngyou gěi nín huàle yìzhāng: Notice that the verb huà is followed by the completion marker le. For this reason, the sentence means that the painting has been finished. The completed-action sense of huàle might he captured by looser translations of the sentence, like “I asked a friend, and he painted one for you” and “I asked a friend, who painted one for you.” The sentence Wǒ tèbié qǐng péngyou gěi nín huà yìzhāng, without le, does not indicate whether the painting has been finished or not. The sentence might he used when a speaker thinks that a painting has not yet been finished. Zhēn shi tài kèqi, “really too polite,” is a variation of Nín zhēn tài kèqi. Shi is sometimes used simply to show that the subject of a sentence fits the description that follows.

4. A: Zhèiwei shi He Jiàoshòu, zài Táidà jiāo jīngjixué. 這位是何教授，在台大教經濟學。 This is Professor Hollins, who teaches economics at Táiwān University. A: Hé Jiàoshòu, zhèiwei shi Huáng Kēzhǎng, zài Táiwān Yínháng gōngzuò. 何教授，這位是黃科長，在臺灣銀行工作。 Professor Hollins, this is Section Chief Huáng, who works at the Bank of Táiwān. A: Zhèiwei shi Huáng Tàitai. 這位是黃太太。 This is Mrs. Huáng. Jiàoshòu, “professor”: The first syllable in this word means “teaching.” Notice that the tone on jiào is different from the tone on the verb “to teach,” jiāo. Táidà is the abbreviation for Táiwān Dàxué, “Táiwān University.” Zhèiwei shi Huáng Kēzhǎng, zài Táiwān Yínháng gōngzuò looks like a run-on sentence, with the pronoun tā dropped from the second part of the sentence. In Chinese, this is a perfectly good way to add a second clause to a sentence. To characterize a person or thing just identified, the Chinese simply attach a descriptive sentence and omit the subject. You have already learned this pattern: Wángfǔjǐng Dàjiē yǒu yige Xīnhuá Shūdiàn, hěn dà. Here are some additional examples: Tā tàitai shi Rìběn rén, xiànzài zài Shànghǎi. 他太太是日本人，現在在上海。 His wife is Japanese; she is in Shanghai now. Wǒ yǒu yige péngyou xìng Wú, zài Dōnghǎi Dàxué jiāo shū, míngnián xiǎng dào Měiguo qù. 我有一個朋友姓吾，在東海大學教書明年想到美國去。 I have a friend named Wú who teaches at Dōnghāi University. He is planning to go to America next year.

5. B: Jiǔyǎng, jiǔyǎng. 久仰，久仰。 Glad to meet you. B: Nín láile duó jiǔ le? 您來了多久了？ How long have you been here? C: Jiǔyǎng. Wǒ gāng lai liǎngge yuè. 久仰。我剛來兩個月。 Glad to meet you. It has been only two months since I came. Jiǔyǎng means, literally, “I have looked up to you for a long time” or “I have looked forward to meeting you.” It is used when meeting someone of higher status. Because jiǔyǎng implies a status difference, the expression is not often used in the PRC. Gāng, “only just”: you have learned the sentence Wǒ láile liǎngge yuè le, “I have been here two months now.” In the last sentence of exchange 5. notice that no le is needed. The focus has shifted from the coming to the shortness of the period; that is, the focus is on gāng.

6. C: Hái yǒu hěn duō bù shóuxide dìfang. 還有很多不熟悉的地方。 There is still much I’m not familiar with. C: Yǐhòu hái yào xiàng nín qǐngjiào. 以後還要向您請教。 Later I’ll need to request more advice from you. Shóuxi, “to be familiar [with the details of something],” is also pronounced shúxi. Dìfang means “areas,” “aspects” (NOT “places”) in the first sentence of No. 6. Thus shóuxide dìfang means “areas/aspects one is familiar with.” Xiàng nín qǐngjiào is a polite way of requesting advice from someone—for example, a teacher, an advisor, or a senior colleague. Here, the prepositional verb xiàng means “from.” (You learned xiàng as “towards” in the Directions Module.) Literally, it means “facing.” Less formally, you may also say gēn nín qǐngjiào. Qǐngjiào (literally, “request instruction”) may be reduplicated or used with an object in sentences like the following: Wǒ yào gēn nín qǐngjiào yíjiàn shi. 我要跟您請教一件事。 I would like to consult with you about something. Wǒ yào gēn nín qǐngjiào qǐngjiào. 我要跟您請教請教。 I would like to consult with you about something. Yíhòu hái yào...: In this sentence, hái means “still more,” or “additionally.”

7. B: Náli, náli. 哪裏，哪裏。 Not at all, not at all. B: Xīwàng yǐhòu yǒu jīhui duō jiànmiàn. 希望以後有機會多見面。 I hope that in the future we will have an opportunity to meet more.

The adjectival verb duō, “to be much,” “to be many,” is used in No. 7 as an adverb meaning “much,” “more.” Shǎo may be used in the same way. Kāfēi bù néng duō hē. 咖啡不能多喝。 One must not drink too much coffee. Nǐ duō chī diǎnr ba. 你多吃點兒吧。 Eat a little more. Tā duō zhùle liāngtiǎn. 他多住了兩天。 He stayed two days longer. Wǒ shǎo mǎile yìzhāng piào. 我少買了一張票。 I bought one ticket too few. (more literally, “I under-bought by one ticket.”) Tā shuō tā yào shǎo chī. 他説他要少吃。 He says he wants to eat less (cut down on eating).

8. fāngfǎ 方法 method, way, means 9. fázi 法子 method, way 10. huàr 畫兒 painting (Běijīng pronunciation) 11. qǐng zuò 請坐 please sit down 12. shèhuìxué 社會學 sociology 13. túshūguǎn 圖書館 library 14. zuò 坐 to sit Here are a few sentences illustrating some of the words: Nǐde shèhuìxué xuéde zhènme hǎo! Nǐ yòng shénme fāngfǎ niànde? 你的社會學學得怎麽好！你用什麽方法念得？ You learned your sociology so well! How do you study it? Měitiān zài túshūguǎn sìge zhōngtóu. 每天在圖書館四個鐘頭。 I spend four hours in the library everyday. Ài! Wǒ méiyou fázi zài túshūguǎn zuò sìge zhōngtóu. 唉！我沒有法子在圖書館坐四個鐘頭。 Boy! There’s no way I can sit in the library for four hours.

Opposites 安靜 ānjìng to be peaceful 長 cháng to be long 聰明 cōngming to be intelligent, to be bright 大 dà to be large 到達 dàodá to arrive, to reach 對 duì to be correct 乾净 gānjìng (gānjing) to be clean 高 gāo to be tall 高興 gāoxìng to be happy 工作 gōngzuò to work 好 hǎo to be good, to be well 簡單 jiǎndān to be simple 健康 jiànkāng to be healthy 寬 kuān to be wide, to be broad 來 lái to come 累 lèi to be tired 冷 lěng to be cold 涼快 liángkuai to be cool 滿 mǎn to be full 慢 màn to be slow 忙 máng to be busy 年輕 niánqīng to be young 便宜 piányi to be inexpensive, to be cheap 漂亮 piàoliang to be beautiful 強 qiáng to be strong 容易 róngyi to be easy 生 shēng to be born 甜 tián to be sweet 停 tíng to stop, to halt 推 tuī to push 遠 yuǎn to be far 早 zǎo to be early 真 zhēn to be true, to be real, to be genuine 熱鬧 rènao to be lively, to be bustling, to be noisy 短 duǎn to be short 笨 bèn to be stupid, to be foolish 小 xiǎo to be small 離開 líkāi to leave 錯 cuò to make a mistake, to be wrong 髒 zāng to be dirty 矮 ǎi to be short (of stature) 難過 nánguò to feel sorry, to feel bad, to be grieved 休息 xiūxi to rest, to relax 壞 huài to be bad 複雜 fùzá (fǔzá) to be complicated, to be complex 有病 yǒu bìng to be ill, to be sick 窄 zhǎi to be narrow 去 qù to go 有精神 yǒu jīngshen to be lively, to be spirited, to be vigorous 热 rè to be hot 暖和 nuǎnhuo to be warm 空 kōng to be vacant, to be empty 快 kuài to be fast 閑 xián to be idle, to be unoccupied 老 lǎo to be old (in years) 貴 guì to be expensive 难看 nánkàn to be ugly 弱 ruò to be weak 難 nán to be difficult 死 sǐ to die 苦 kǔ to be bitter 走 zǒu to go, to walk 拉 lā to pull 近 jìn to be near 晚 wǎn to be late 假 jiǎ to be false, to be fake, to be artificial

1. Wǒ xiǎng qǐng ta huà yìzhāng huàr. 我想请他画一张画儿。 I’m thinking of asking him to paint a painting. Wǒ tèbié qǐng ta huàle yìzhāng huàr. 我特别请他画了一张画儿。 I asked him especially to paint a painting. 2. Wǒ xiǎng qǐng ta chī yícì Zhōngguo fàn. 我想请他吃一次中国饭。 I’m thinking of inviting him to a Chinese meal. Wǒ tèbié qǐng ta chīle yícì Zhōngguo fàn. 我特别请他吃了一次中国饭。 I invited him especially to eat a Chinese meal. 3. Wǒ xiǎng qǐng ta mǎi liǎngzhāng Táiběi dìtú. 我想请他买两张台北地图。 I’m thinking of asking him to buy two maps of Taipei. Wǒ tèbié qǐng ta mǎile liǎngzhāng Táiběi dìtú. 我特别请他买了两张台北地图。 I asked him especially to buy two maps of Taipei. 4. Wǒ xiǎng qǐng ta jiāo liǎngnián. 我想请他教两年。 I’m thinking of asking him to teach for two years. Wǒ tèbié qǐng ta jiāole liǎngnián. 我特别请他教了两年。 I asked him especially to teach for two years. 5. Wǒ xiǎng qǐng ta huà yìzhāng Zhōngguo huàr. 我想请他画一张中国画儿。 I’m thinking of asking him to draw a Chinese painting. Wǒ tèbié qǐng ta huàle yìzhāng Zhōngguo huàr. 我特别请他画了一张中国画儿。 I asked him especially to draw a Chinese painting. 6. Wǒ xiǎng qǐng ta lái yícì. 我想请他来一次。 I’m thinking of asking him to come once. Wǒ tèbié qǐng ta láile yícì. 我特别请他来了一次。 I especially invited him here once. 7. Wǒ xiǎng qǐng ta kàn yícì diànyǐng. 我想请他看一次电影。 I’m thinking of inviting him to a movie. Wǒ tèbié qǐng ta kànle yícì diànyǐng. 我特别请他看了一次电影。 I asked him especially to watch the movie once.

1. Tā shi Hé Jiàoshòu. Tā zài Táidà jiāo jīngjixué. 他是何教授。他在台大教经济学。 He is Professor Hé. He teaches economics at Táiwān University. Zhèiwèi shi Hé Jiàozhòu, zài Táidà jiāo jīngjixué. 这位是何教授，在台大教经济学。 This is Professor Hé, who teaches economics at Táiwān University. 2. Tā shi Wáng Kēzhǎng. Tā zài Wàijiāobù gōngzuò. 她是王科长。她在外交部工作。 She is Section Chief Wáng. She works for the Foreign Office. Zhèiwèi shi Wáng Kēzhǎng, zài Wàijiāobù gōngzuò. 这位是王科长，在外交部工作 This is Section Chief Wáng, who works for the Foreign Office. 3. Tā shi Shěn Shàoxiào. Tā zài Wǔguānchù gōngzuò. 他是沈少校。他在武官処工作。 He is Major Shěn. He works for the Military Attaché. Zhèiwèi shi Shěn Shàoxiào, zài Wǔguānchù gōngzuò. 这位是沈少校，在武官処工作。 This is Major Shěn, who works for the Military Attaché. 4. Tā shi Lín Jiàoshòu. Tā zài Jiāzhōu Dàxué jiāo shū. 他是林教授。他在加州大学教书。 He is Professor Lín. he teaches at the University of California. Zhèiwèi shi Lín Jiàoshòu, zài Jiāzhōu Dàxué jiāo shū. 这位是林教授，在加州大学教书。 This is Professor Lín, who teaches at the University of California. 5. Tā shi Lǚ Kēzhǎng. Tā zài Táiwān Yínháng gōngzuò. 他是吕科长。他在台湾银行工作。 He is Section Chief Lǚ. He works in Taiwan Bank. Zhèiwèi shi Lǚ Kēzhǎng, zài Táiwān Yínháng gōngzuò. 这位是吕科长，在台湾银行工作。 This is Section Chief Lǚ, who works in Taiwan Bank. 6. Tā shi Liú Xiǎojiě. Tā zài Táidà niàn shū. 她是刘小姐。她在台大念书。 he is Miss Liú. She is studying at National Taiwan University. Zhèiwèi shi Liú Xiǎojiě, zài Táidà niàn shū. 这位是刘小姐，在台大念书。 This is Miss Liú, who is studying at National Taiwan University. 7. Tā shi Hán Jiàoshòu. Tā zài Táidà jiāo zhèngzhixué. 他是韩教授。他在台大教政治学。 He is Professor Hán. He teaches political science at National Taiwan University. Zhèiwèi shi Hán Jiàoshòu, zài Táidà jiāo zhèngzhixué. 这位是韩教授，在台大教政治学。 This is Professor Hán, who teaches political science at National Taiwan University.

1. Yǒu hěn duō dìfang wǒ bù shóuxi. 有很多地方我不熟悉。 There is much I’m not familiar with. Wǒ hái yǒu hěn duō bù shóuxide dìfang. 我还有很多不熟悉的地方。 There is still much I’m not familiar with. 2. Zài zhèr, yǒu hěn duō rén bù hē chá. 在这儿，有很多人不喝茶。 There are many people here who don’t drink tea. Zài zhèr, yǒu hěn duō bù hē cháde rén. 在这儿，有很多不喝茶的人。 There are many non-tea drinking people here. 3. Yǒu hěn duō dìfang wǒ tīngbudǒng. 有很多地方我听不懂。 There were a lot of parts I don't understand. Wǒ hái yǒu hěn duō tīngbudǒngde dìfang. 我还有很多聼不懂的地方。 There is still a lot I don't understand. 4. Zài zhèr, yǒu hěn duō rén bú kàn bào. 在这儿，有很多人不看报。 There are a lot of people here who don't read the newspaper. Zài zhèr, yǒu hěn duō bú kàn bàode rén. 在这儿，有很多不看报。 Here, there are a lot of people who don't read the newspaper. 5. Zài zhèr, yǒu hěn duō rén bú huì shuō Zhōngguo huà. 在这儿，有很多人不会说中国话。 Here, there are many people who do not speak Chinese. Zài zhèr, yǒu hěn duō bú huì shuō Zhōngguo huàde rén. 在这儿，有很多不会说中国话的人。 Here, there are many people who do not speak Chinese. 6. Yǒu hěn duō dìfang wǒ bú huì zuò. 有很多地方我不会做。 There are a lot of parts I can't do. Wǒ hái yǒu hěn duō bú huì zuòde dìfang. 我还有很多不会做的地方。 There are still a lot of parts I can't do. 7. Yǒu hěn duō dìfang wǒ kànbudǒng. 有很多地方我看不懂。 There are many parts I can't read. Wǒ hái yǒu hěn duō kànbudǒngde dìfang. 我还有很多我看不懂的地方。 There are still a lot of parts I can't read.

1. Wǒmen yǐhòu jiànmiànde jīhui hěn duō. 我们以后见面的机会很多。 We will have many more opportunities to meet in the future. Xīwàng yǐhòu yǒu jīhui duō jiànmiàn. 希望以后有机会多见面。 I hope that in the future we'll have an opportunity to meet more. 2. Wǒ yǐhòu xiàng nín qǐngjiàode jīhui hěn duo. 我以后向您请教的机会很多。 I'll have many more opportunities to ask you for advice in the future. Xīwàng yǐhòu yǒu jīhui duō xiàng nín qǐngjiào. 希望以后有机会多向您请教。 I hope that in the future I'll have the opportunity to ask you for more advice. 3. Wǒmen yǐhòu shuō Zhōngguo huàde jīhui hěn duō. 我们以后说中国话的机会很多。 We'll' have many more opportunities to speak Chinese in the future. Xīwàng yǐhòu yǒu jīhui duō shuō Zhōngguo huà. 希望以后有机会多说中国话。 I hope that in the future I hope to have the opportunity to speak Chinese more often. 4. Wǒ yǐhòu xué Zhōngwénde jīhui hěn duō. 我以后学中文的机会很多。 I'll' have many more opportunities to learn Chinese in the future. Xīwàng yǐhòu yǒu jīhui duō xué Zhōngwén. 希望以后有机会多学中文。 I hope that in the future I'll have the opportunity to learn more Chinese. 5. Wǒmen yǐhòu láide jīhui hěn duō. 我们以后来的机会很多。 We'll have many more chances to come in the future. Xīwàng yǐhòu yǒu jīhui duō lái. 希望以后有机会多来。 I hope that in the future I'll have the opportunity to come more often. 6. Wǒmen yǐhòu zài yìqǐde jīhui hěn duō. 我们以后在一起的机会很多。 We'll have many more opportunities to be together in the future. Xīwàng yǐhòu yǒu jīhui duō zài yìqǐ. 希望以后有机会多在一起。 I hope that in the future I'll have the opportunity to spend more time together. 7. Wō yǐhòu lǚxíngde jīhui hěn duō. 我以后旅行的机会很多。 I'll have many more opportunities to travel in the future. Xīwàng yǐhòu yǒu jīhui duō lǚxíng. 希望以后有机会多旅行。 I hope that in the future I'll have the opportunity to travel more.

1. Huáng Kēzhǎng, huānyíng, huānyíng. 黄科长，欢迎欢迎。 Section Chief Huáng, welcome, welcome. Cuezuò 坐 Huáng Kēzhǎng, huānyíng, huānyíng. Qǐng jìn, qǐng jìnlai zuò. 黄科长，欢迎欢迎。请进，请进来坐。 Section Chief Huáng, welcome, welcome. Please come in and sit down. 2. Wáng Xiǎojiě, nín hǎo? 王小姐，您好？ Miss Wáng, how are you? Cuezuòzuo 坐坐 Wáng Xiǎojiě, nín hǎo? Qǐng jìn, qǐng jìnlai zuòzuo. 王小姐，您好？请进，请进来坐坐。 Miss Wáng, how are you? Please come in, please come in and have a seat. 3. Lǐ Xiānsheng, nín hǎo? 李先生，您好？ Mr. Lǐ, how are you? Cuehē yìdiǎn chá 喝一点茶 Lǐ Xiānsheng, nín hǎo? Qǐng jìn, qǐng jìnlai hē yìdiǎn chā. 李先生，您好？请进，请进来喝一点茶。 Mr. Lǐ, how are you? Please come in, please come in and have some tea. 4. Wú Kēzhǎng, nín hǎo? 吾科长，您好？ Chief Wú, how are you? Cuezuò 坐 Wú Kēzhǎng, nín hǎo? Qǐng jìn, qǐng jìnlai zuò. 吾科长，您好？请进，请进来坐。 Chief Wú, how are you? Please come in, please come in and sit down. 5. Zhào Tàitai, huānyíng, huānyíng. 赵太太，欢迎欢迎。 Mrs. Zhào, welcome, welcome. Cuezuò 坐 Zhào Tàitai, huānyíng, huānyíng. Qǐng jìn, qǐng jìnlai zuò. 赵太太，欢迎欢迎请进，请进来坐。 Mrs. Zhào, welcome, welcome. Please come in and sit down. 6. Zhāng Xiānsheng, Zhāng Tàitai, nín hǎo? 张先生，张太太，您好？ Mr. Zhāng, Mrs. Zhāng , how are you? Cuezuò yìhuǐr 坐一会儿 Zhāng Xiānsheng, Zhāng Tàitai, nín hǎo? Qǐng jìn, qǐng jìnlai zuò yìhuǐr. 张先生，张太太，您好？请进，请进来坐一会儿。 Mr. Zhāng, Mrs. Zhāng , how are you? Please come in and sit down for a while. 7. Qián Kēzhǎng, hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn. 干科长，好久不见。 Chief Qián, long time no see. Cuezuòzuo 坐坐 Qián Kēzhǎng, hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn. Qǐng jìn, qǐng jìnlai zuòzuo. 干科长，好久不见。请进，请进来坐坐坐。 Chief Qián, long time no see. Please come in, please come in and sit down.

1. B: Wài. 喂 Hello. A: Wài, shi Wàijiāobù ma? 喂，是外交部嗎？ Hello. Is this the Ministry of Foreign Affairs? A: Wǒ yào zhǎo Lín Sīzhang shuō huà. 我要找林司長説話。 I want to speak with Department Chief Lín. 2. B: Nín shi nǎr a? 您是哪兒？ Who is this? A: Wǒ xìng Lèkēláiěr. Wǒ shi Fǎguo Dàshiguǎnde Shāngwù Jīngjiguān. 我姓勒克萊爾。我是法國大使館的商務經濟官。 My name is Leclaire. I am the Commercial/Economics Officer from the French Embassy. B: Nín děngyiděng, wǒ gěi nín kànkan tā zài bu zai. 您等一等，我給您看看他在不在。 Wait a moment. I’ll see whether he is here or not. 3. B: Wài, tā zhèihuǐr bú zài. Nín yào liú ge huàr ma? 喂，他這會兒不在。您要留個話兒嗎？ Hello. He is not here at the moment. Would you like to leave a message? A: Láojià, tā huílaide shíhou, nín qǐng ta gěi wǒ dǎ ge diànhuà. 勞駕，他回來的時候，您請他給我打個電話。 When he comes back, please ask him to give me a phone call. 4. B: Hǎo, qǐng nín bǎ nínde diànhuà hàomǎr gàosong wǒ. Wǒ xiěxiàlái. 好，請您把您的電話號兒告诵我， 我寫下來。 All right. Please tell me your phone number. I’ll write it down. A: Wǒde diànhuà shi wǔ èr yāo-sān sān yāo. 我的电话是五二幺三三幺 My phone number is 521-331. 5. C: Duìbuqǐ, nǐ gāngcǎi géi wo dǎ diànhuà, wō bú zài. 對不起。你剛才給我打電話，我不在。 I’m sorry. When you called me just now, I wasn’t in. C: Nǐ yǒu shì ma? 你有事嗎？ Can I help you with something? A: Shì a! Wǒ nèitiān gēn nín yuēhǎole míngtiān shídiǎn dào nín bàngōngshì qu tántan. 是啊！我那天跟您約好了明天十點到您辦公室去談談。 Yes, you can. The other day I made an appointment with you to go to your office at ten o’clock tomorrow for a talk. 6. A: Yīnwei míngtiān zǎoshang wǒ yǒu yíjiàn yàojǐnde shì, suóyi xiǎng wèn nín wǒmen néng bu néng gǎi dào xiàwǔ. 因爲明天早上我有要緊的事，所以想問您我們能不能改到下午。 Because I have an urgent business matter tomorrow morning, I want to ask you whether we can change it [the appointment] to the afternoon. *C: Xiàwǔ shénme shíhou? 下午什麽時候？ What time in the afternoon? A: Nín kàn xiàwǔ sān-sìdiǎn zěnmeyàng? Duì nín fāngbian bu fangbian? 您看下午三四點怎麽樣？對您方便不方便？ What do you think of three or four in the afternoon? Is that convenient for you? C: Sìdiǎn bǐ sāndiǎn hǎo. Wǒ sāndiān zhōng děi kāi huì. 四點比三點好。我三點中得開會。 Four would be better than three. I have to attend a meeting at three o’clock. A: Hǎo ba. Nà míngtiān sìdiǎn zhōng jiàn. 好吧。那明天四點鐘見。 All right. Well then, see you at four o’clock tomorrow. C: Hǎo, wǒ sìdiǎn zhōng děng ni. 好，我四點鐘等你。 All right. I’ll wait for you at four o’clock. 7. háishi 還是 still 8. wàiguo 外國 foreign, abroad 9. wàiguo rén 外國人 foreigner (non-Chinese) 10. wūzi (yìjiān) 屋子 (一間) room 11. yāo 幺 one (telephone pronunciation)

bǎ 把 (prepositional verb which indicates the direct object) bàngōngshì 辦公室 office gǎi 改 to change gǎi dào 改到 to change to gāngcái 剛才 just now, a short time ago háishi 還是 still hàomǎ(r) 號碼(兒) number jīngjiguān 經濟官 economics officer liú 留 to leave, to keep, to save liú(ge)huà(r) 留(個)話(兒) to leave a message nèitiān 那天 the other day shāngwù 商務 commercial business shāngwùguān 商務官 commercial officer wàiguó 外國 foreign, abroad wàiguo rén 外國人 foreigner (non-Chinese) Wàijiāobù 外交部 Ministry of Foreign Affairs wūzi (yìjiān) 屋子 (一間) room xiěxiàlái 寫下來 to write down yāo 幺 one (telephone pronunciation) yàojǐn 要緊 to be important, to be urgent yuēhǎole 約好了 to have (successfully) made arrangements, to have made an appointment zhèihuìr 這會兒 this moment, at the moment (Běijing) chūtǔ wénwù zhǎnlǎn 出土文物展覽 exhibition of archaeological finds dǎ dao 打到 to make a phone call to dàibiǎotuán 代表團 delegation gǎnbuhuílái 赶不回来 can’t make it back in time jiàoyuán 教員 teacher jīnglǐ 經理 manager qīnzì 親自 personally, privately tuánzhǎng 團長 head of the delegation zhǔrèn 主任 director zìjǐ 自己 oneself (“myself,” “yourself,” etc.)

1. B: Wài. 喂 Hello. A: Wài, shi Wàijiāobù ma? 喂，是外交部嗎？ Hello. Is this the Ministry of Foreign Affairs? A: Wǒ yào zhǎo Lín Sīzhang shuō huà. 我要找林司長説話。 I want to speak with Department Chief Lín. Wài jiāobù: Wàijiāo is the word for “diplomacy” (more literally, “foreign relations”). Bù designates an organizational unit; in speaking of the Chinese government, bù is translated as “ministry.” Bù is also used for a “department” of the U.S. government: Nèizhèngbù, “Department of the Interior” The head of a bù is a bùzhǎng, “minister.” Wài-, “foreign,” is used in terms such as wàiguó, “overseas” (literally, “foreign country”) and wàiguo rén, “foreigner” (most frequently referring to a person from a non-Asian country). Literally, wài- means “outside,” as in wàimian. Yào zhǎo...shuō huà means, literally, “I would like to look for . . . to speak [with him.]” Telephone conversations: Telephone courtesy in the United States requires that a person identify himself before beginning a conversation. In China, however, it is normal for the caller to ask “Who is this?” and for the person who answers the phone to inquire “Who is calling?”

2. B: Nín shi nǎr a? 您是哪兒？ Who is this? A: Wǒ xìng Lèkēláiěr. Wǒ shi Fǎguo Dàshiguǎnde Shāngwù Jīngjiguān. 我姓勒克萊爾。我是法國大使館的商務經濟官。 My name is Leclaire. I am the Commercial/Economics Officer from the French Embassy. B: Nín děngyiděng, wǒ gěi nín kànkan tā zài bu zai. 您等一等，我給您看看他在不在。 Wait a moment. I’ll see whether he is here or not. Nín shi nǎr a? is one polite way to ask who is calling. Nǎr asks for the name of the office or organization which the caller represents. You may also say Nǐ nǎr a? To ask for the caller’s name, use Qǐngwèn nǐ shi...? or Qǐngwèn nǐ guìxìng? Fǎguo: In the PRC, the word for “France” usually has a low tone instead of a falling tone (Fàguo). The syllable -guān means “government official,” “officer,” or “officeholder.” Tā zài bu zai: Zài means “to be present” here. With this meaning, zài does not have to be followed by a place word.

3. B: Wài, tā zhèihuǐr bú zài. Nín yào liú ge huàr ma? 喂，他這會兒不在。您要留個話兒嗎？ Hello. He is not here at the moment. Would you like to leave a message? A: Láojià, tā huílaide shíhou, nín qǐng ta gěi wǒ dǎ ge diànhuà. 勞駕，他回來的時候，您請他給我打個電話。 When he comes back, please ask him to give me a phone call. Zhèihuǐr is a colloquial word for “now,” “at the moment.” The word is made up of zhè plus yìhuǐr. Its position preceding the verb shows that it refers to a point in time. Liú ge huàr: Liú means “to leave [something/someone!] behind.” Huàr, translated in exchange 3 as “message,” is the word for “speech.” Directly following a verb (in this case, liú), the yī of unstressed yige may be omitted.

4. B: Hǎo, qǐng nín bǎ nínde diànhuà hàomǎr gàosong wǒ. Wǒ xiěxiàlái. 好，請您把您的電話號兒告诵我， 我寫下來。 All right. Please tell me your phone number. I’ll write it down. A: Wǒde diànhuà shi wǔ èr yāo-sān sān yāo. My phone number is 521-331. Hàomǎr is used for “number” in speaking of identification numbers such as a passport number. (Shùmu, “number,” expresses an amount.) Yāo is used in Běijing for giving room numbers and telephone numbers whenever those numbers are given orally. Xiěxialai is a compound verb which is formed like náxialai. However, while náxialai literally means “to bring down and towards the speaker,” xiěxialai does NOT mean “to write in a downward direction towards the speaker.” The compound xiěxialai corresponds to the English idiom “to write down.” Qǐng nín bǎ nínde diànhuà hàomǎr gàosong wǒ illustrates some of the rules concerning the use of the prepositional verb bǎ. (Read the Transportation Module notes on bǎ.) Bǎ is a prepositional verb used to bring the direct object of a sentence to a position preceding the main verb. To do so has certain effects on the meaning of a sentence. There are reasons why bǎ must be used, why it may not be used, and why it is optional in different kinds of sentences. In the first sentence of exchange 4, the use of the bǎ construction is optional. you may also say Qǐng ni gàosong wǒ nínde diànhuà hàomǎr. The sentence fulfills the requirements for the optional use of bǎ but has none of the features which make the use of bǎ a necessity. Let’s look more closely at these different requirements and features. a. What conditions are necessary for the use of bǎ? (1) The object of bǎ must be acted on. In other words, the action must be performed on the object of bǎ. In the first sentence of exchange 4, nínde diànhuà hàomǎr undergoes the action gàosong. More obvious examples are： Tā bǎ dìtú náchulai le. 他把地圖拿出來了。 He took out the map. (MAP UNDERGOES BEING TAKEN OUT) Tā bǎ tāde chē mài le. 他把他的車賣了。 He sold his car. (CAR UNDERGOES BEING SOLD) Tā bǎ nèige Zhōngguo zì xiě zai hēibǎnshang le. 他把那個中國字寫在黑板上了。 He wrote that Chinese character on the chalkboard. (CHINESE CHARACTER UNDERGOES BEING WRITTEN ON THE BOARD) UNDERGOER OF THE ACTION means that the object is influenced by the action in some way. In “I saw Mr. Wáng yesterday,” Mr. Wáng is not considered to be the under-goer of the action. (2) The verb must be an action verb (such as gàosong in exchange 4). Bǎ is not used with state and process verbs. For example, you may not use bǎ with yǒu, zhīdao, xǐhuan, ài, xiǎng, huì, or dǒng. (3) The object of bǎ must refer to something specific (such as nínde diànhuà hàomǎr in exchange 4): which telephone number? your telephone number (The questioner knows which number he is referring to, even though he does not know what the number is.) Often the object of bǎ must be translated into English with the definite article “the”: Qǐng ni bǎ huāpíng gěi wo. 請你把花瓶給我。 Please give me the vase. (NOT “a vase”) Tā bǎ liǎngzhāng piào gěi wo le. 他把兩張票給我了。 He gave me the two tickets. (NOT “[any] two tickets”) (4) The verb phrase must be complex. Here are examples of the ways in which a verb phrase can be made complex so that bā may be used: ASPECT MARKER Tā bǎ tāde chēzi mài le. 他把他的車子賣了。 He sold his car. REDUPLICATED VERB Qǐng ni bǎ piào huànhuan. 請你把票換換。 Please exchange the tickets. COMPOUND VERB Tā bǎ wǒde dìzhǐ xiěxialai le. 他把我的地址寫下來了。 He wrote down my address. Nǐ bǎ xíngli náshang chē qu ba. 你把行李拿上車去吧。 Take the baggage onto the train. Wǒmen zuótiān yǐjīng bǎ zhèijiàn shì shuōhǎo le. 我們把昨天已經把這件事説好了。 We agreed on this matter yesterday. Wǒ xiān bǎ zhèige xiěwān zài zǒu. 我先把這個寫完再走。 I will finish writing this first and then leave. Nǐ bǎ wǒde míngzi xiěcuò le. 你把我的名字寫錯了。 You wrote my name wrong. MANNER EXPRESSION AFTER THE VERB Nǐ bǎ zhèige zì xiěde tài dà le. 你把這個字寫得太大了。 You wrote this character too large. Tā bǎ zhèijiàn shì shuōde hěn qīngchu. 他把這件事事説得很清楚。 He talked very clearly about this. PREPOSITIONAL VERB PHRASE AFTER THE VERB bǎ píjiǔ fàng zai zhuōzishang. 把啤酒放在桌子上， Put the beer on the table. Wǒ bǎ chē tíng zai nèibian děng nín. 我把車停在那邊等您、 I will park the car over there and wait for you. INDIRECT OBJECT AFTER THE VERB Lǐ Xiānsheng bǎ zìdiǎn gěi xuésheng le. 李先生把字典給學生了。 Mr. Lǐ has given the dictionaries to the students. NUMBER PLUS COUNTER AFTER THE VERB Qǐng ni zài bǎ tāde diànhuà hàomār niàn yícì. 請你再把他的電話號碼兒念一次。 Please read his telephone number aloud once more. Qǐng ni bǎ zhèige kàn yixia. 請你把這個看一下。 Please take a look at this. (OR “Please read this over.”) In the first sentence of exchange 4, the verb phrase is made complex by having an indirect object after the verb: bǎ nínde diànhuà hàomǎr gàosong wǒ. b. When MUST bǎ be used? The examples above which require the use of bǎ are those with a prepositional verb phrase after the verb, those with a manner expression after the verb, and most of the sentences under the heading “Compound Verb.” In these examples, the object may not be placed between the verb and the element which follows. c. When can’t bǎ be used? Bǎ cannot normally be used in a sentence if the verb is not an action verb, if the verb describes perception (like kànjian and tīngjian), if the object is not the under-goer of the action, if the object is indefinite or if the verb is a simple verb. Here are some examples of sentences in which bǎ cannot be used: INDEFINITE OBJECT Wǒ mǎile yíge shōuyīnjī. 我買了一個收音機。 I bought a radio. PERCEPTION VERB [kànjian]; OBJECT DOES NOT UNDERGO ACTION Wǒ kànjian ta le. 我看見他了。 I saw him. SIMPLE VERB Wǒ xiǎng kàn zhèiběn shū. 我想看這本書。 I would like to read this book. yǒu NOT ACTION VERB Wǒ yǒu hěn duō wàiguo péngyou. 我有很多外國朋友。 I have a lot of foreign friends. zhīdao NOT ACTION VERB Wǒ zhīdao zhèijiàn shì. 我知道這件事。 I know of this matter. d. What is the motivation for using bǎ? Bǎ is used when the verb phrase gives more new important information than the object does. The Chinese prefer to place that important verb phrase in final position in a sentence, where the phrase will be prominent. Bǎ performs the function of taking the object out of the way (to the beginning of a sentence) and allowing the verb phrase to have its full impact. e. To make a bǎ sentence negative, place the negative adverb in front of bǎ (NOT in front of the main verb). Tā méi bǎ zhuōzi bānchuqu. 他沒把桌子搬出去。 He did not move the table out. Nǐ bù bǎ ròu ròu, “meat” fàng zai bīngxiāngli zěnme xíng? 你不把肉放在冰箱裏怎麽行。 How can it do for you not to put the meat in the refrigerator? (How can you not put the meat in the refrigerator?)

5. C: Duìbuqǐ, nǐ gāngcǎi géi wo dǎ diànhuà, wō bú zài. 對不起。你剛才給我打電話，我不在。 I’m sorry. When you called me just now, I wasn’t in. C: Nǐ yǒu shì ma? 你有事嗎？ Can I help you with something? A: Shì a! Wǒ nèitiān gēn nín yuēhǎole míngtiān shídiǎn dào nín bàngōngshì qu tántan. 是啊！我那天跟您約好了明天十點到您辦公室去談談。 Yes, you can. The other day I made an appointment with you to go to your office at ten o’clock tomorrow for a talk. Gāngcái means “just now,” “a short time ago.” It may, like other time words, either precede or follow the subject of a sentence. Tā gāngcái gěi wo dǎ diànhuà. 他剛才給我打電話了。 He called me a short time ago. le. Gāngcái tā gěi wo dǎ diànhuà le. 剛才他給我打電話了。 He called me a short time ago. le. The one-syllable adverb gāng, “just,” always follows the subject of a sentence. Tā gāng gěi wo dǎ diànhuà. 他剛給我打電話。 He just called me. Nǐ gāngcái gěi wo dǎ diànhuà, wǒ bú zài, literally, “You called me just now, I wasn’t in”: To the first clause (Nǐ gāngcái gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà), you could add -de shihou, “when.” Even without -de shihou, the relationship between the two clauses is still very close. Colloquially, no pause is needed between them. Here is a similar sentence: Gāngcái wǒ qù zhǎo ni, nǐ bú zài. 剛才我去找你，你不在。 I just went to look for you, but you weren’t there. Nèitiān literally means “that day.” It is the Chinese equivalent of “the other day.” Yuēhǎo is a compound verb of result: yuē, “to arrange a meeting,” “to make an appointment,” plus hǎo, “successfully complete.” Gēn means “with” in the last sentence of exchange 5. Bàngōngshì: Bàngōng (literally, “manage work”) is frequently used for “do work in an office.” A bàngōngshì is a room where office work is done, or an “office.”

6. A: Yīnwei míngtiān zǎoshang wǒ yǒu yíjiàn yàojǐnde shì, suóyi xiǎng wèn nín wǒmen néng bu néng gǎi dào xiàwǔ. 因爲明天早上我有要緊的事，所以想問您我們能不能改到下午。 Because I have an urgent business matter tomorrow morning, I want to ask you whether we can change it [the appointment] to the afternoon. *C: Xiàwǔ shénme shíhou? 下午什麽時候？ What time in the afternoon? A: Nín kàn xiàwǔ sān-sìdiǎn zěnmeyàng? Duì nín fāngbian bu fangbian? 您看下午三四點怎麽樣？對您方便不方便？ What do you think of three or four in the afternoon? Is that convenient for you? C: Sìdiǎn bǐ sāndiǎn hǎo. Wǒ sāndiān zhōng děi kāi huì. 四點比三點好。我三點中得開會。 Four would be better than three. I have to attend a meeting at three o’clock. A: Hǎo ba. Nà míngtiān sìdiǎn zhōng jiàn. 好吧。那明天四點鐘見。 All right. Well then, see you at four o’clock tomorrow. C: Hǎo, wǒ sìdiǎn zhōng děng ni. 好，我四點鐘等你。 All right. I’ll wait for you at four o’clock. Yàojǐn means “to be urgent,” “to be important.” Yīnwei...suóyi: When the first part of an English sentence begins with the word “because,” it is usually considered redundant to begin the second part with “therefore.” Thus the Chinese word suóyi, “therefore,” in the first sentence of exchange 6, is not translated into English. In Chinese, however, suóyi is commonly used after a clause beginning with yīnwei, “because.” The verbs gǎi and huàn are both frequently translated as “to change.” Gǎi means “change” in the sense of “alter,” and huàn means “change” in the sense of “exchange.” Gǎi dào xiàwǔ, “change (it) to the afternoon”: In this phrase, the prepositional verb dào and its object xiàwǔ do not precede the verb; they follow the verb. A dào, “to,” phrase which precedes the main verb in a sentence can be a scene setter, that is, you go “to” a place and the action takes place there. Following the main verb in a sentence, a dào phrase can indicate where something ends up as a result of the action. In the first sentence of exchange 6, the appointment will END UP in the afternoon. Here are some examples of dào phrases: Tā dào càishichǎng mǎi cài qu le. 他到菜市場買菜去了。 He went to the market to buy groceries. (SCENE SETTER) Wǒ gāngcái dào wǔlōu zhǎo Chén Tàitai qu le. 我剛才到五樓找陳太太去了。 Just now I went to the fifth floor to look for Mrs. Chen. (SCENE SETTER) Tā pǎo dào shānshang qu le. 他跑到山上去了。 He ran to the top of the mountain. (“He” ENDS UP ON THE MOUNTAINTOP.)

7. háishi 還是 still 8. wàiguo 外國 foreign, abroad 9. wàiguo rén 外國人 foreigner (non-Chinese) 10. wūzi (yìjiān) 屋子 (一間) room 11. yāo 幺 one (telephone pronunciation) Háishi means “still” in the sense of “as before.” It is used in some of the same ways that hái is used. Suīrán tā yǒu shíhou shuō huà bú kèqi, kěshi wǒ háishi xǐhuan ta. 雖然他有時候説話不客氣，可是我還是喜歡他。 Although he is sometimes impolite in his speech, I still like him. Wǒ háishi bù dǒng “le” zěnme yòng. 我還是不懂「le」怎麽用。 I still don’t understand how le is used. Wàiguo rén, “foreigner”: The use of this term is still generally based on race rather than on citizenship. Even Chinese who are American citizens living in the United States often refer to non-Chinese Americans as wàiguo rén. Wūzi, “room”: The counter for wūzi is -jiān, which literally means ”interstice,” “interval,” “space,” “room.”

1. Wài, shi Wàijiāobù ma? 喂，是外交部吗？ Hello, is this the Ministry of Foreign Affairs? CueLín Sīzhǎng 林司长 Director Lín Wài, shi Wàijiāobù ma? Wǒ yào zhǎo Lín Sīzhǎng shuō huà. 喂，是外交部吗？我要找林司长说话。 Hello, is this the Ministry of Foreign Affairs? I want to speak with Department Chief Lín. 2. Wài, shi Měiguo Wǔguānchù ma? 喂，是美国武官処吗？ Hello, is this the United States Military Attaché's Office? CueWèi Shàoxiào 魏少校 Major Wèi Wài, shi Měiguo Wǔguānchù ma? Wǒ yào zhǎo Wèi Shàoxiào shuō huà. 喂，是美国武官処吗？我要找魏少校说话。 Hello, is this the United States Military Attaché's Office? I want to speak with Major Wèi. 3. Wèi, shi Zhōngguo Yínháng ma? 喂，是中国银行吗？ Hello, is this Bank of China? CueLín Kēzhǎng 林科长 Section chief Lín Wài, shi Zhōngguo Yínháng ma? Wǒ yào zhǎo Lín Kēzhǎng shuō huà. 喂，是中国银行吗？我要找说话。 Hello, is this Bank of China? I want to speak with Section chief Lín. 4. Wài, shi Běijīng Fàndiàn ma? 喂，是北京饭店吗？ Hello, is this the Běijīng Hotel? CueBāoěr Xiānsheng 鲍尔先生 Mr. Bāoěr Wài, shi Běijīng Fàndiàn ma? Wǒ yào zhǎo Bāoěr Xiānsheng shuō huà. 喂，是北京饭店吗？我要找鲍尔先生说话。 Hello, is this the Beijing Hotel? I want to speak with Mr. Bāoěr. 5. Wài, shi Jiānádà Dàshiguǎn ma? 喂，是加拿大大使馆吗？ Hello, is this the Canadian embassy? CueLǐ Xiānsheng 李先生 Mr. Lǐ Wài, shi Jiānádà Dàshiguǎn ma? Wǒ yào zhǎo Lǐ Xiānsheng shuō huà. 喂，是加拿大大使馆吗？我要找李先生说话。 Hello, is this the Canadian embassy? I want to speak with Mr. Lǐ. 6. Wài, shi Měidàsī ma? 喂，是美大司吗？ Hello, is this the Department of American and Oceanic Affairs? CueMèng Tóngzhì 孟通知 Comrade Mèng Wài, shi Měidàsī ma? Wǒ yào zhǎo Mèng Tóngzhì shuō huà. 喂，是美大司吗？我要找孟通知说话。 Hello, is this the Department of American and Oceanic Affairs? I want to speak with Comrade Mèng. 7. Wài, shi Zhōngguo Yínháng ma? 喂，是中国银行吗？ Hello, is this the Bank of China? CueZhāngnán Tóngzhì 张楠同志 Comrade Zhāngnán Wài, shi Zhōngguo Yínháng ma? Wǒ yào zhǎo Zhāngnán Tóngzhì shuō huà. 喂，是中国银行吗？我要找张楠同志说话。 Hello, is this the Bank of China? I want to speak with Comrade Zhāngnán.

1. Wǒ gěi ni kànkan tā zài bu zai. 我给你看看他在不在。 I’ll see you whether he is here or not. Qing ni děngyiděng, wǒ gěi ni kànkan tā zài bu zai. 请你等一等，我给你看看他在不在。 Please wait a moment. I’ll see whether he is here or not. 2. Wǒ gěi ni kànkan tā máng bu mang. 我给你看看他忙不忙。 I’ll see you whether he is busy or not. Qǐng ni děngyiděng, wǒ gěi ni kànkan tā máng bu mang. 请你等一等，我给你看看他忙不忙。 Please wait a moment. I’ll see whether he is busy or not. 3. Wǒ gěi ni kànkan tā yǒu gōngfu meiyou. 我给你看看他有功夫没有。 I’ll see you whether he has free time or not. Qǐng ni děngyiděng, wǒ gěi ni kànkan tā yǒu gōngfu meiyou. 请你等一等，我给你看看他有功夫没有。 Please wait a moment. I’ll see whether he has free time or not. 4. Wǒ gěi ni kànkan tā láile meiyou. 我给你看看他来了没有。 I’ll see you whether he is here or not. Qǐng ni děngyiděng, wǒ gěi ni kànkan tā láile meiyou. 请你等一等，我给你看看他来了没有。 Please wait a moment. I’ll see whether he is here or not. 5. Wǒ gěi ni kànkan tā zǒule meiyou. 我给你看看他走了没有。 I’ll see you whether he is gone or not. Qǐng ni děngyiděng, wǒ gěi ni kànkan tā zǒule meiyou. 请你等一等，我给你看看他走了没有。 Please wait a moment. I’ll see whether he is gone or not. 6. Wǒ gěi ni kànkan tā huílaile meiyou. 我给你看看他回来了没有。 I’ll see you whether he is back or not. Qǐng ni děngyiděng, wǒ gěi ni kànkan tā huílaile meiyou. 请你等一等，我给你看看他回来了没有。 Please wait a moment. I’ll see whether he is back or not. 7. Wǒ gěi ni kànkan tā huíqule meiyou. 我给你看看他回去了没有。 I’ll see you whether he went back or not. Qǐng ni děnyiděng, wǒ gěi ni kànkan tā huíqule meiyou. 请你等一等，我给你看看他回去了没有。 Please wait a moment. I’ll see whether he went back or not.

1. Láojià, bǎ nínde diànhuà hàomǎr gàosong wǒ. 劳驾，把您的电话号码儿告诵我。 Please tell me his telephone number. CueWáng Xiānshengde de diànhuà hàomǎr 王先生的电话号码儿 Mr. Wáng’s telephone number. Láojià, bǎ Wáng Xiānshengde diànhuà hàomǎr gàosong wo. 劳驾，把王先生的电话号码儿告诵我。 Please tell me Mr. Wáng’s telephone number. 2. Láojià, bǎ Wáng Xiānshengde diànhuà hàomǎr gàosong wǒ. 劳驾，把王先生的电话号码儿告诵我。 Please tell me Mr. Wáng’s telephone number. Cuetāde diànhuà hàomǎr 他的电话号码儿 his phone number Láojià, bǎ tāde diànhuà hàomǎr gàosong wǒ. 劳驾，把他的电话号码儿。 Please tell me his phone number. 3. Láojià, bǎ tāde diànhuà hàomǎr gàosong wǒ. 劳驾，把他的告诵我。 Please tell me his phone number. Cuetāde dìzhí 他的地址 his address Láojià, bǎ tāde dìzhí gàosong wǒ. 劳驾，把他的地址告诵我。 Please, give me his address. 4. Láojià, bǎ tāde dìzhí gàosong wǒ. 劳驾，把他的告诵我。 Please, give me his address. Cuetāde bàngōngshìde hàomǎr 他的办公室的号码儿。 his office number Láojià, bǎ tāde bàngōngshìde hàomǎr gàosong wǒ. 劳驾，把他的办公室的号码儿告诵我。 Please tell me his office number. 5. Láojià, bǎ tāde bàngōngshìde hàomǎr gàosong wǒ. 劳驾，把他的办公室的号码儿告诵我。 Please tell me is office number. Cuetāde dìzhí 他的地址 his address Láojià, bǎ tāde dìzhí gàosong wǒ. 劳驾，把他的地址告诵我。 Please, give me his address. 6. Láojià, bǎ tāde dìzhí gàosong wǒ. 劳驾，把他的告诵我。 Please, give me his address. Cuenínde diànhuà hàomǎr 您的电话号码儿 your phone number Láojià, bǎ nínde diànhuà hàomǎr gàosong wǒ. 劳驾，把您的电话号码儿告诵我。 Please give me your phone number.

1. Nǐ xiěxiàlái le ma? 你写下来了吗？ Have you written it down? Cuehái méi 还没 not yet Wǒ hái méi xiěxiàlái. 我还没写下来。 I haven’t written it down yet. 2. Nǐ xiěhǎo le ma? 你写好了吗？ Have you finished writing it? Cuekuài...le 快。。。了 soon will Wǒ kuài xiěhǎo le. 我快写好了。 I will finish it soon. 3. Nǐ xiěxiàlái le ma? 你写下来了吗？ Have you written it down? Cueyǐjīng...le 已经。。。了 already Wǒ yǐjīng xiěxiàlái le 我已经写下来了。 I already have written it down. 4. Nǐ xiěxiàlái le ma? 你写下来了吗？ Have you written it down? Cuehái méi 还没 not yet Wǒ hái méi xiěxiàlái. 我还没写下来了。 I haven't written it down yet. 5. Nǐ xiěxiàlái le ma? 你写下来了吗？ Have you written it down? Cueméi 没 did not Wǒ méi xiěxiàlái. 我没写下来。 I haven't written it down. 6. Nǐ xiěhǎo le ma? 你写好了吗？ Have you finished writing it? Cueyǐjīng...le 已经。。。了 already Wǒ yǐjīng xiěhǎo le. 我已经写好了。 I already have finished write it. 7. Nǐ xiěxiàlái le ma? 你写下来了吗？ Have you written it down? Cuele 了 Yes, I did Wǒ xiěxiàlái le. 我写下来了。 I wrote it down.

1. Nǐ gēn tā yuēhǎo le ma? 你跟他约好了 Did you make arrangements with him? Cuetā bàngōngshì 他办公室 his office Gēn tā yuēhǎo le, zài tā bàngōngshì jiàn. 跟他约好了，在他办公室见。 I made arrangements with him to meet at his office. 2. Nǐ gēn Wáng Xiānsheng yuēhǎo le ma? 你跟王先生约好了吗？ Did you make arrangements with Mr. Wáng? Cuehuǒchēzhàn 火车站 rail station Gēn Wáng Xiānsheng yuēhǎo le, zài huǒchēzhàn jiàn. 跟王先生约好了在火车站见。 I made arrangements with Mr. Wáng to meet at the rail station. 3. Nǐ gēn Lǐ Nǚshì yuēhǎo le ma? 你跟李女士约好了吗？ Did you make arrangements with Mrs. Lǐ? Cuewǒde bàngōngshì 我的办公室 my office Gēn Lǐ Nǘshì yuēhǎo le, zài wǒde bàngōngshì jiàn. 跟李女士约好了在我的办公室见。 I made arrangements with Mrs. Lǐ to meet her at my office. 4. Nǐ gēn Liú Zhǔrēn yuēhǎo le ma? 你跟刘主任约好了吗？ Did you make arrangements with Liú Zhǔrēn? CueWàijiāobù 外交部 foreign ministry Gēn Liú Zhǔrèn yuēhǎo le, zài Wàijiāobù jiàn. 跟刘主任约好了在外交部见。 I made arrangements with Liú Zhǔrēn to meet him at the foreign ministry. 5. Nǐ gēn Bāo Jiàoshòu yuēhǎo le ma? 你跟鲍教授约好了吗？ Did you make arrangements with Bāo Jiàoshòu? Cuexuéxiào 学校 school Gēn Bāo Jiàoshòu yuēhǎo le, zài xuéxiào jiàn. 跟鲍教授约好了在学校见。 I made arrangements with Bāo Jiàoshòu to meet him at the school. 6. Nǐ gēn Bái Kēzhǎng yuēhǎo le ma? 你跟白科长约好了吗？ Did you make arrangements with Chief Bái? Cuetāde bàngōngshì 他的办公室 his office Gēn Bái Kēzhǎng yuēhǎo le, zài tāde bàngōngshì jiàn. 跟白科长约好了在他的办公室见。 I made arrangements with Chief Bái to meet him at his office. 7. Nǐ gēn Yáng Xiānsheng yuēhǎo le ma? 你跟杨先生约好了吗？ Did you make arrangements with Mr. Yáng? Cuehuìkèshì 会客室 reception room Gēn Yáng Xiānsheng yuēhǎo le, zài huìkèshì jiàn. 跟杨先生约好了在会客室见。 I made arrangements with Mr. Yáng to meet him in the reception room.

1. Yīnwei shàngwǔ wǒmen yǒu yàojǐnde shì, suóyi gǎidào xiàwǔ le. 因为上午我们有要紧的事，所以改到下午了。 Because we have some important business in the morning, we will have to change to the afternoon. CueLín Zhǔrèn bù néng lái 林主任不能来 Lín Zhǔrèn cannot come Yīnwei shàngwǔ Lín Zhǔrèn bù néng lái, suóyi gāidào xiàwǔ le. 因为上午林主任不能来，所以改到下午了。 Because Director Lín cannot come in the morning, we will have to change to the afternoon. 2. Yīnwei shàngwǔ Lín Zhǔrèn bù néng lái, suóyi gǎidào xiàwǔ le. 因为上午林主任不能来，所以改到下午了。 Because Lín Zhǔrèn cannot come in the morning, we will have to change to the afternoon. Cuetā zài Wàijiāobù kāi huì 他在外交部开会 he has a meeting at the foreign ministry Yīnwei shàngwǔ tā zài Wàijiāobù kāi huì, suóyi gǎidào xiàwǔ le. 因为上午他在外交部开会，所以改到下午了。 Because he had a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the morning, we will have to change to the afternoon. 3. Yīnwei shàngwǔ tā zài Wàijiāobù kāi huì, suóyi gǎidào xiàwǔ le. 因为上午他在外交部开会，所以改到下午了。 Because he had a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the morning, we will have to change to the afternoon. Cuewǒ děi jiāo shū 我得教书 I have to teach Yīnwei shàngwǔ wǒ děi jiāo shū, suóyi gǎidào xiàwǔ le. 因为上午我得教书，所以改到下午了。 Because I have to teach in the morning, we will have to change to the afternoon. 4. Yīnwei shàngwǔ wǒ děi jiāo shū, suóyi gǎidào xiàwǔ le. 因为上午我得教书，所以改到下午了。 Because I have to teach in the morning, we will have to change to the afternoon. Cuewǒ děi dào Dàshiguān qù 我得到大使馆去 i have to go to the embassy Yīnwei shàngwǔ wǒ děi dào Dàshiguān qù, suóyi gǎidào xiàwǔ le. 因为上午我得到大使馆去，所以改到下午了。 Because I have to go to the embassy in the morning, we will have to change to the afternoon. 5. Yīnwei shàngwǔ wǒ děi dào Dàshiguān qù, suóyi gǎidào xiàwǔ le. 因为上午我得到大使馆去，所以改到下午了。 Because I have to go to the embassy in the morning, we will have to change to the afternoon. Cuewǒ děi gēn Wǔ Xiānsheng dāngmiàn tántan 我得跟伍先生当面谈谈 I need to speak to Mr. Wu face to face Yīnwei shàngwǔ wǒ děi gēn Wǔ Xiānsheng dāngmiàn tántan, suóyi gǎidào xiàwǔ le. 因为上午我得跟伍先生当面谈谈，所以改到下午了。 Because I had to have a face-to-face meeting with Mr. Wu in the morning, we will have to change to the afternoon. 6. Yīnwei shàngwǔ wǒ děi gēn Wǔ Xiānsheng dāngmiàn tántan, suóyi gǎidào xiàwǔ le. 因为上午我得跟伍先生当面谈谈，所以改到下午了。 Because I had to have a face-to-face meeting with Mr. Wǔ in the morning, we will have to change to the afternoon. Cuewǒ méi gōngfu 我没工夫 I have no time Yīnwei shàngwǔ wǒ méi gōngfu, suóyi gǎidào xiàwǔ le. 因为上午我没工夫，所以改到下午了。 Because I have no time in the morning, we will have to change to the afternoon.

1. Xiàwǔ sān-sìdiǎn zěnmeyàng? 下午三四点怎么样？ How is [How about] three or four in the afternoon? Cuetā 他 he Tā zěnmeyàng? 他怎么样？ How is he? [How about him?] 2. Tā zěnmeyàng? 他怎么样？ How is he? CueTáiwān 台湾 Táiwān Táiwān zěnmeyàng? 台湾怎么样？ How about Táiwān? 3. Táiwān zěnmeyàng? 台湾怎么样？ How about Táiwān? CueTáiwānde jīngji 台湾经济 Taiwan economy Táiwānde jīngji zěnmeyàng? 台湾经济怎么样？ How is Taiwan's economy? 4. Táiwānde jīngji zěnmeyàng? 台湾经济怎么样？ How is Taiwan's economy? Cuenèige fàndiàn 那个饭店 that restaurant Nèige fàndiàn zěnmeyàng? 那个饭店怎么样？ How about that restaurant? 5. Nèige fàndiàn zěnmeyàng? 那个饭店怎么样？ How about that restaurant? Cuezhèige xuéxiào 这个学校 this school Zhèige xuéxiào zěnmeyàng? 这个学校怎么样？ How is this school? 6. Zhèige xuéxiào zěnmeyàng? 这个学校怎么样？ How is this school? Cuetāmen màide diànshì 他们卖的电视 the televisions they sell Tāmen màide diànshì zěnmeyàng? 他们卖的电视怎么样？ How about the televisions they sell?

1. Tāmen míngtiān kāi huì. 他们明天开会。 They are meeting tomorrow. Cueshénme shíhou 什么时候 when Tāmen míngtiān shénme shíhou kāi huì? 他们明天什么时候开会。 When are they meeting tomorrow? 2. Tāmen míngtiān kāi huì. 他们明天开会。 They are meeting tomorrow. Cuezài nǎr 在哪儿 where Tāmen míngtiān zài nǎr kāi huì? 他们明天在哪儿开会？ Where are they meeting tomorrow 3. Tāmen zuótiān kāi huì le. 他们昨天开会了。 They had meeting yesterday. Cueshénme shíhou 什么时候 when Tāmen zuótiān shi shénme shíhou kāide huì? 他们昨天是什么时候开的会？ When did they have a meeting yesterday? 4. Tāmen zuótiān kāi huì le. 他们昨天开会了。 They had meeting yesterday. Cuezài nǎr 在哪儿 where Tāmen zuótiān shi zài nǎr kāide huì? 他们昨天是在哪儿开的会。 where did they meet yesterday? 5. Tāmen míngtiān kāi huì. 他们明天开会。 They are meeting tomorrow. Cuejǐge zhōngtóu 几个钟头 how many hours Tāmen míntiān kāi huì kāi jǐge zhōngtóu? 他们明天开会开几个钟头？ How many hours are they meeting tomorrow? 6. Tāmen zuótiān kāi huì le. 他们昨天开会了。 They had meeting yesterday. Cueduó jiǔ 多久 how long Tāmen zuótiān kāi huì kāile duó jiǔ? 他们昨天开会开了多久？ How long did they have a meeting yesterday? 7. Tāmen yǐjīng kāi huì le ma? 他已经开会了吗？ Did they already have meeting? Cueyǐjīng...le 已经了 yes Tāmen yǐjīng kāi huì le. 他已经开会了。 He's already in a meeting.

1. B: Jīntiān wǒmen yìqǐ qù chī zhōngfàn, hǎo ma? 今天我們一起去吃中飯，號碼？ Let’s go have lunch together today. Okay? A: Hǎo a, dào Dōngmén Cānting qù chī ba. 好啊。到東門餐廳去吃吧。 All right. Why don’t we go to the East Gate Restaurant? 2. B: Dōngménde cài kǒngpà méiyou Dàhuáde cài nàme hǎo ba. 東門的菜沒有大華的菜那麽好吧。 I’m afraid that the food at the East Gate isn’t as good as the food at the Great China. A: Suírán bú tài hǎo, kěshi lí wǒmen zhèli jìn. 雖然不太好，可是離我們這裏近。 Even though it [East Gate] is not too good, it is close to us. 3. B: Òu, hái yǒu yíge xīn kāide fànguǎnzi lí wǒmen zhèli gèng jin. 哦，還有一個新開的飯館子離我們這裏更近。 Oh, there is also a newly opened restaurant that is even closer to us. B: Tāmen nàlide cài fēicháng hǎo. 他們那裏的菜非常好。 The food there is extremely good. B: Jīntiān wǒ qǐng ni dào nàli qù chī. 今天我請你到那裏去吃。 Today I am going to invite you to go there to eat. 4. A: Nà bù hǎo yìsi! 那不好意思！ I can’t let you do that! (That would be too embarrassing!) B: Bié kèqi, méi shenme. Nèige dìfangde cài yòu hǎo yòu piányi. 別客氣，沒什麽。那個地方的菜又好又便宜。 Don’t be polite. It’s nothing. The food there is both good and cheap. 5. A: Nǐ shuōde dìfang yídìng hǎo. 你説的地方一定好。 Any place you suggest is sure to be good. B: Tāmen nàli yǒu hǎoxiē cài biéde dìfang chībuzháo. 他們那裏有好些菜別的地方吃不着。 They have a good many dishes there that you can’t find (at) other places. 6. bù yídìng 不一定 not necessarily; it’s not definite 7. kànfa 看法 opinion, view 8. wǎnfàn 晚飯 supper, dinner 9. xiǎngfa 想法 idea, opinion 10. yìxiē 一些 some, several, a few 11. zǎofàn 早飯 breakfast 12. zuòfa 做法 way of doing things, method, practice

biéde 別的 other, different bù hǎo yìsi 不好意思 to be embarrassing; to feel embarrassed bù yídìng 不一定 not necessarily; it’s not definite cài 菜 food, cooked dish cāntīng 餐廳 dining room; restaurant chībuzháo 吃不找 can’t find (to eat) Dàahuá Cāntīng 大華餐廳 Great China Restaurant Dōngmén Cāntīng 東門餐廳 East Gate Restaurant fēicháng 非常 very, extremely, highly gèng 更 even more hǎoxiē 好些 a good many, a lot kànfa 看法 opinion, view méiyou...nàme/zhème 沒有...那麽/怎麽 is not as... as... suírǎn (suīrán)...kěshi... 雖然...可是... although, even though...(still)... wǎnfàn 晚飯 supper, dinner xiǎngfa 想法 idea, opinion yídìng 一定 certainly yìxiē 一些 some, several, a few yòu...yòu... 又...又.. both... and... zǎofǎn 早飯 breakfast zhōngfàn 中飯 lunch zuòfa 做法 way of doing things, method, practice ānpaíhǎo le 安排好了 successfully arranged -bù 部 (counter for cars and buses) chūfā 出發 to start a journey jiāoqū 郊區 suburbs lǎoshi 老是 always, all the time lián...(yě) 連...也 even...(also) Shísānlíng 十三陵 Ming Tombs (literally, “Thirteen Tombs”) yěcān 野餐 picnic yǒu míng 又名 to be famous Yúyuán 渝園 Szechuan Garden zhāodài 招待 to be hospitable to

1. B: Jīntiān wǒmen yìqǐ qù chī zhōngfàn, hǎo ma? 今天我們一起去吃中飯，號碼？ Let’s go have lunch together today. Okay? A: Hǎo a, dào Dōngmén Cānting qù chī ba. 好啊。到東門餐廳去吃吧。 All right. Why don’t we go to the East Gate Restaurant? Zhōngfàn means, literally, “middle meal.” “Breakfast” is zǎofàn, “early meal.” “Supper” is wǎnfàn, “late meal.”

2. B: Dōngménde cài kǒngpà méiyou Dàhuáde cài nàme hǎo ba. 東門的菜沒有大華的菜那麽好吧。 I’m afraid that the food at the East Gate isn’t as good as the food at the Great China. A: Suírán bú tài hǎo, kěshi lí wǒmen zhèli jìn. 雖然不太好，可是離我們這裏近。 Even though it [East Gate] is not too good, it is close to us. Cài, “(non-staple) food,” “dish,” “course (of a meal)”: Literally, cài means “vegetables.” It refers to any dish that is eaten with rice. Both meat and vegetable dishes are included in the meaning. The pattern ...(méi)you...nàme... is used to make comparisons when one thing is LESS than another. 1 + měiyou nàme/zhème STATE VERB OFTEN ADJECTIVAL VERB Tā méiyou nǐ nàme máng. 他 沒有 你 那麽 忙。 Wǒ méiyou tā nàme cōngming. 我 沒有 他 那麽 聰明。 Tā méiyou wǒ nàme yǒu qián. 他 沒有 我 那麽 有錢。 Used less frequently without the negative méi-, the pattern means “to be as [quality] AS [something else].” Nǐde shū méiyǒu wǒde shū nàme duō. 你的書沒有我的書那麽多。 Your books are not as many as mine, (You don’t have as many books as I do.) Yǒu. 有 Yes, they are. (Yes, I do have as many books as you do.) Nèige xuéxiàode túshūguǎn yǒu zhèige xuéxiàode zhème hǎo ma? 那個學校的圖書館有這個學校的怎麽好嗎？ Is that school’s library as good as this one’s? Suírán.. .kěshi... : Suírán (or suīrán), “although,” must always be followed by kěshi or dànshi, meaning “but,” in the second part of a sentence. Kěshi/dànshi would not usually be translated into English, but sometimes the word “still” is included in the translation: “Although it’s not too good, still it’s close to us.” Suírán may either precede the subject or be placed between the subject and the verb of a sentence. Suīrán tā xǐhuan lǚxíng, kěshi tā méi qùguo Zhōngguó. 雖然她喜歡旅行，可是她沒去過中國。 Although she likes to travel, she has never been to China. Tā suīrán jiǎngle hǎojīcì, kěshi wǒ háishi bù dǒng. 他雖然講了好幾次，可是我還是不懂， Although he explained it many times I still didn’t understand. Wǒ suīrán méi kànjianguo, kěshi tīng rén shuōguo. 我雖然沒看見過，可是聽人説過。 Although I have never seen it, I have heard of it.

3. B: Òu, hái yǒu yíge xīn kāide fànguǎnzi lí wǒmen zhèli gèng jin. 哦，還有一個新開的飯館子離我們這裏更近。 Oh, there is also a newly opened restaurant that is even closer to us. B: Tāmen nàlide cài fēicháng hǎo. 他們那裏的菜非常好。 The food there is extremely good. B: Jīntiān wǒ qǐng ni dào nàli qù chī. 今天我請你到那裏去吃。 Today I am going to invite you to go there to eat. Xīn kāide: The adjectival verb xīn, “new,” means “newly,” “recently” when used as an adverb. Gèng, “more,” “even more,” “still more” Zài lǐngshiguǎn gōngzuòde rén bǐ dàshiguǎn gèng duō. 在領事館工作的人比大使館更多。 More people work at the consulates than at the embassy. Lǜ píngguǒ hěn guì, hóng píngguǒ gèng guì. 綠蘋果很貴，紅蘋果更貴。 Green apples are expensive; red apples are even more expensive. Zhāng Tíngfēng shuōde Zhōngguo huà, Zhōngguo rén hěn nán tīngdedǒng, wàiguo rén yídìng gèng nán. 張霆鋒説的中國話，中國人很難聽得懂， 外國人一定更難。 Zhāng Tíng Fēng’s Chinese is hard for Chinese people to understand; for a foreigner, it would certainly be even harder. An overview of comparison: you have now learned several ways to compare things. The patterns presented here are the most common ones. Each pattern has a standard purpose: MORE ...bǐ... (STATE VERB) 比 LESS ...méiyou...nàme (STATE VERB) 沒有 那麽 EQUAL ...gēn...yíyang (STATE VERB) 跟 一樣 A simple adjectival verb may also be used to make a comparison: Zhèi liǎngběn, něiběn guì? 這兩本，哪本貴？ Which of these two books is more expensive? For each of the three patterns above (MORE—LESS—EQUAL), the comparison is made with a STATE verb. State verbs include adjectival verbs (hǎo, “to be good”), auxiliary verbs (huì, “to know how to,” “can”), and verbs describing mental attitudes or situations (zhīdao, “to know”; xǐhuan, “to like”; ài,“to love”). Tā bǐ wǒ ài chī Zhōngguo fàn. 他比我愛中國飯。 He loves to eat Chinese food more than I. Zhèijiàn shìqing, nǐ bǐ tā zhīdao. 這件事情，你比他知道。 You know more about this than he does. Tā méiyou wǒ zhème xǐhuan kàn diànyǐng. 他沒有我怎麽喜歡看電影。 He doesn’t like to see movies as much as I do. Although the verb phrase begins with a state verb, that may not be the only word in the comparison. It may be expanded to include other verbs (any type) and objects. The things being compared may also be expanded. Whole sentences may be placed in the slots for things compared: Zuò huǒchē méiyou zuò fēijī nàme kuài. 坐火車沒有坐飛機那麽快。 Going by train is not as fast as going by plane. Wǒ xué Zhōngwén bǐ tā xué lìshǐ róngyi. 我學中文比他學歷史容易。 It’s easier for him, studying history, than it is for me, studying Chinese. Although the prepositional verb bǐ is used to say that one thing is “more” than another, do not use the negative of this pattern to say that something is “less.” Tā bǐ tā gēge néng shuō huà. 他比他哥哥能説話。 He is a better talker (smoother talker) than his older brother. This pattern may also be expanded to indicate just HOW MUCH more one thing is than another. (Place the amount after the verb in a sentence.) Zhèiběn bǐ nèiben guì sānkuài qián. 這本比那本貴三塊錢。 This book is three dollars more expensive than that one. Wǒ bǐ tā dà liǎngsuì. 我比他大兩嵗。 I am two years older than she is. Another way to indicate how much more is to add -de duō, “a lot,” to an adjectival verb. Zhèige bǐ něige hǎokànde duō! 這個比那個好看得多。 This is much better looking than that! Use the pattern ...méiyou...nàme + state verb to say that one thing is less than another. Wǒde zì méiyou tāde nàme hǎokàn. 我的字沒有他的那麽好看。 My characters don’t look as good as his. Tā xiǎng mǎide fángzi méiyou zhèige fángzi jìn. 她想買的房子沒有這個房子近。 The house she wants to buy isn’t as close as this one. The affirmative pattern ...yǒu...nàme + state verb is ambiguous: it says that one item is AT LEAST AS expensive as another item which is either equally expensive or less expensive. This pattern is not as common as ...méiyou...name + state verb. The adverbs gèng, “even more,” and zuì, “most,” are easily used to compare more than two things. (Place these adverbs before the verb in a sentence.) Zhèi liǎngběn hěn guì, kěshi nèiběn gèng guì. 這兩本很貴，可是那本更貴。 These two books are very expensive, but that one is even more expensive. Dìyīběn bǐ dìèrběn guì, kěshi dìsānběn zuì guì. 第一本比第二本貴，可是第三本最貴。 The first book is more expensive than that one, but the third one is the most expensive. If the entire sentence involves a comparison of the three books, the speaker may single out the most expensive book with zuì, or sometimes without it. Zhèi sānběn shū, něiběn guì? 這三本書，哪本貴？ Of these three books, which is the (most) expensive one? Zhèiběn zuì guì. 這本最貴。 This one is the most expensive.

4. A: Nà bù hǎo yìsi! 那不好意思！ I can’t let you do that! (That would be too embarrassing!) B: Bié kèqi, méi shenme. Nèige dìfangde cài yòu hǎo yòu piányi. 別客氣，沒什麽。那個地方的菜又好又便宜。 Don’t be polite. It’s nothing. The food there is both good and cheap. Bù hǎo yìsi is an idiomatic phrase meaning “to be embarrassing.” In Chinese culture, treating someone to a meal both shows your respect for him and maintains your status as a generous host. In exchange 4, Nà bù hǎo yìsi means “I’m embarrassed to have you show me so much respect,” or “I’m embarrassed to appear to be too cheap to treat you.” Bù hǎo yìsi also means “to feel embarrassed.” Yòu...yòu..., “both...and.. The element following each you may be as simple as an adjectival verb or as complex as a full verb phrase. Tā háizi yòu huì shuō Yīngwén, yòu huì shuō Zhōngguō huà. 他孩子又會説英文，又會說中國話。 His child can speak both English and Chinese.

5. A: Nǐ shuōde dìfang yídìng hǎo. 你説的地方一定好。 Any place you suggest is sure to be good. B: Tāmen nàli yǒu hǎoxiē cài biéde dìfang chībuzháo. 他們那裏有好些菜別的地方吃不着。 They have a good many dishes there that you can’t find (at) other places. Yídìng, “certainly,” can act as either an adverb or an adjectival verb. ADVERB Tā yídìng lái. 他一定來。 He will definitely come. Wǒ bù yídìng qù. 我不一定去。 It’s not certain that I will go. Wǒ hái bù yídìng qù. 我還不一定去。 It’s not yet certain that I will go. ADJECTIVAL VERB Nǐ něitiān qù? Hái bù yídìng. 你那天去？ 還不一定。 On what day are you going there? It’s not certain yet. Na shi yídìngde. 那是一定的。 That’s for sure. Hǎoxiē means “a good many” or “a lot.” You have seen -xiē, “several,” “some,” in zhèixie, “these,” and nèixie, “those.” The element -xiē also occurs in yìxiē, “some,” “a few”: Shūjiàzishang hái yòu yìxiē shū, (書架子還有一些書) “There are still a few books on the bookcase.” Biéde is the word for “other” in the sense of “a different one.” LÌngwài is the word for “other” when you mean “an additional one.” Chībuzháo: In this compound verb of result, the ending -zháo indicates success in obtaining something. Here are some examples of compounds ending in -zháo: Wǒ zhǎobuzháo tāde diànhuà hàomǎr. 我找不着他的電話號碼兒。 I cannot find his phone number. Jīntiān méi mǎizháo píngguǒ. 今天沒買着蘋果。 I did not succeed in buying apples today.

6. bù yídìng 不一定 not necessarily; it’s not definite 7. kànfa 看法 opinion, view 8. wǎnfàn 晚飯 supper, dinner 9. xiǎngfa 想法 idea, opinion 10. yìxiē 一些 some, several, a few 11. zǎofàn 早飯 breakfast 12. zuòfa 做法 way of doing things, method, practice Kànfa, “opinion,” “view,” may be loosely translated as “way of looking at things.” The word is made up of kàn, to look,” and fǎ, “method,” “way.” Wǒmen duì zhèijiàn shìde kànfa bù yíyàng. 我們對這件事的看法不一樣。 Our opinions on this matter are not the same. Xiǎngfa, “idea,” “opinion,” is made up of xiǎng, “to think,” and fǎ, “method, “way.” Xiǎngfa is a “way of thinking”The word is actually pronounced xiǎngfa. Tāde xiǎngfa gēn wǒde yíyàng. 他的想法跟我的一樣。 His way of thinking is the same as mine. Zuòfa, “way of doing things,” “method,” “practice,” is made up of the verb zuò. “to do,” and fǎ, “method,” “way.” Nǐde mùdi hěn hǎo, kěshi wǒ bù xīhuan nǐde zuòfa. 你的目的很好，可是我不喜歡你的做法。 Your goal is good, but I don’t like your methods.

1. Jīntiān wǒmen yìqǐ qù chī zhōngfàn, hǎo ma? 今天我们一起去吃中饭，好吗？ Let’s go have lunch together today. Okay? Hǎo, jīntiān wǒ qǐng ni. 好，今天我请你。 All right. Today I’m inviting you. 2. Jīntiān wǒ qǐng ni qù chī zhōngfàn. 今天我请你去吃中饭。 Today I am inviting you to go to eat lunch. Bié kèqi, wǒmen yìqǐ qù chī zhōngfàn. 别客气，我们一起去吃中饭。 Don’t be so polite. Let’s Just go together and split the bill. 3. Míngtiān zhōngwǔ wǒmen yìqǐ qù chī zhōngfàn, hǎo ma? 明天中午我们一起去吃中饭，好吗？ Let's have lunch together at noon tomorrow, shall we? Hǎo, míngtiān zhōngwǔ wǒ qǐng ni. 好，明天中午我请你。 All right. Tomorrow at noon, I'm inviting you. 4. Míngtiān zhōngwǔ wǒ qǐng ni qù chī zhōngfàn. 明天中午我请你去吃中饭。 I'll invite you to lunch tomorrow at noon. Bié kèqi, wǒmen yìqǐ qù chī zhōngfàn. 别客气，我们一起去吃中饭。 Don’t be so polite. Let’s Just go together and split the bill. 5. Xīngqīwǔ wǒmen yìqǐ qù chī zhōngfàn, hǎo ma? 星期五我们一起去吃中饭，好吗？ Let's have lunch together on Friday, shall we? Hǎo, Xīngqīwǔ wǒ qǐng ni. 好，星期五我请你。 All right, I am inviting you on Friday. 6. Xīngqīliù wǒ qǐng ni qù chī zhōngfàn. 星期六我请你去吃中饭。 I am inviting you to lunch on Saturday. Bié kèqi, wǒmen yìqǐ qù chī zhōngfàn. 别客气，我们一起去吃中饭。 Don’t be so polite. Let’s Just go together and split the bill. 7. Míngtiān wǒmen yìqǐ qù chī zhōngfàn, hǎo ma? 明天中午我们一起去吃中饭，好吗？ Let's have lunch together at noon tomorrow, shall we? Hǎo, míngtiān wǒ qǐng ni. 好，明天我请你。 OK, I'm inviting you tomorrow.

1. Nèige ròu bǐ zhèige ròu hǎo. 那个肉比这个肉好。 This meat is better than that meat. Zhèige ròu méiyou nèige ròu nàme hǎo. 这个肉没有那个肉那么好。 This meat is not as good as that meat. 2. Xīnde bǐ jiùde hǎo. 新的比旧的好。 New is better than old. Jiùde méiyou xīnde nàme hǎo. 旧的没有新的那么好。 The old ones are not as good as the new ones. 3. Dàhuáde cài bǐ Dōngménde cài hǎo. 大话的菜比东门的菜好。 The dishes in Dàhuá are better than those in Dōngmén. Dōngménde cài méiyou Dàhuáde cài nàme hǎo. 东门的菜没有大话的菜那么好。 Dōngmén's dishes are not as good as those in Dàhuá. 4. Tāde qián bǐ wǒde qián duō. 他/她的钱比我的钱多。 He/she has more money than me. Wǒde qián meiyou tāde qián nàme duō. 我的钱没有他的钱那么多。 I don't have as much money as he does. 5. Nèige ròu bǐ zhèige ròu guì. 那个肉比这个肉贵。 That meat is more expensive than this one. Zhèige ròu měiyou nèige ròu nàme guì. 这个肉没有那个肉那么贵。 This meat is not as expensive as that meat. 6. Jiù shū bǐ xīn shū piányi. 旧书比新书便宜。 Used books are cheaper than new ones. Xīn shū měiyou jiù shū nàme piányi. 新书没有旧书那么便宜。 New books are not as cheap as old ones. 7. Tā kāi chē bǐ wǒ kāide kuài. 他开车比我开得快。 He drives faster than me. Wǒ kāi chē měiyou tā kāide nàme kuài. 我开车没有他开de车那么快。 I don't drive as fast as he does.

1. Bú tài hǎo. Lí wǒmen jiā jìn. 不太好。离我们家近。 It is not too good. It is close to us. Suīrán bú tài hǎo, kěshi lí wǒmen jiā jìn. 虽然不太好，可是离我们家近。 Even though it is not too good it is close to us. 2. Hěn hǎo. Lí wǒmen jiā tài yuǎn. 很好。离我们家太远。 It is very good. It is too far from us. Suīrán hěn hǎo, kěshi lí wǒmen jiā tài yuǎn. 虽然很好，可是离我们家太远。 Even though it is very good, it is too far from us. 3. Bú tài fāngbian. Lí wǒmen jiā jìn. 不太方便。离我们家近。 It is not very convenient. It's close to us. Suīrán bú tài fāngbian, kěshi lí wǒmen jiā jìn. 虽然不太方便，可是离我们家近。 Even though it is not very convenient, but it's close to us. 4. Bu tài piányi. Lí wǒmen jiā jìn. 不太便宜。离我们家近。 It is not so cheap. It's close to us. Suīrán bú tài piányi, kěshi lí wǒmen jiā jìn. 虽然不太便宜，可是离我们家近。 Even though it is not cheap, but it's close to us. 5. Hěn piányi. Lí wǒmen jiā tài yuǎn. 很便宜。离我们家远。 It is very cheap. It’s far away from us. Suīrán hěn piányi, kěshi lí wǒmen jiā tài yuǎn. 虽然很便宜，可是离我们家远。 Even though it is cheap, it is far from us. 6. Hěn hǎo. Lí wǒmen jiā tài yuǎn. 很好。离我们家远。 It is very good. It's far away from us. Suīrán hěn hǎo, kěshi lí wǒmen jiā tài yuǎn. 虽然很好，可是离我们家远。 Even though it is nice, but far from us. 7. Bú tài hǎo. Lí wǒmen jiā hěn jìn. 不太好。离我们家近。 It is not too good. It is close to us. Suīrán bú tài hǎo, kěshi lí wǒmen jiā hěn jìn. 虽然不太好，可是离我们家近。 Even though it is not great, but it's close to us.

1. Nèige fànguǎnzi lí zhèr hěn jìn. 那个饭馆子离这儿很近。 That restaurant is very close to here. Cuezhèige 这个 this Zhèige fànguǎnzi bǐ nèige fànguǎnzi lí zhèr gèng jìn. 这个饭馆子比那个饭馆子离这儿很近。 This restaurant is even closer to here than that restaurant. 2. Tā jiā lí zhèr hěn jìn. 他家离这儿很近。 His home is very close to here. Cuewǒ jiā 我家 my home Wǒ jiā bǐ tā jiā lí zhèr gèng jìn. 我家比他家离这儿更近。 My home is closer to here than his. 3. Nèige yínháng lí zhèr hěn yuǎn. 那个银行离这儿很远。 That bank is far from here. CueZhōngguo Yínháng 这个银行 Bank of China Zhōngguo Yínháng bǐ nèige yínháng lí zhèr gèng yuǎn. 中国银行比那个银行离这儿很远。 Bank of China is much farther away than that bank. 4. Wǔlù Qìchēzhàn lí zhèr hěn yuǎn. 五路汽车站离这儿很远。 The No. 5 bus station is far from here. Cuenèige Qìchēzhàn 那个汽车站 that bus station Nèige Qìchēzhàn bǐ Wūlù Qìchēzhàn lí zhèr gèng yuǎn. 那个汽车站比五路汽车站离这儿很远。 That bus station is farther away than the Wūlù bus station. 5. Wǔguānchù lí zhèr hěn yuǎn. 武官処离这儿很远。 The military attaché is far away. CueDàshiguǎn 大使馆 embassy Dàshiguān bǐ Wǔguānchù lí zhèr gèng yuǎn. 大使馆比武官処离这儿很远。 The embassy is farther away than the military attaché. 6. Huǒchēzhàn lí zhèr hěn jìn. 火车站离这儿很近。 The train station is very close from here. CueGōnglùjú chēzhàn 公路局车站 Gōnglùjú bus station Gōnglùjú chēzhàn bǐ huǒchēzhàn lí zhèr gèng jìn. 公路局车站比火车站离这儿很近。 The Gōnglùjú bus station is much closer than the railway station. 7. Wú Kēzhǎng jiā lí zhèr hěn yuǎn. 吾科长家离这儿很远。 The head of our department is far away from here. CueLǐ Jiàoshòu jiā 李教授家 Lǐ Jiàoshòu' s home Lǐ Jiàoshòu jiā bǐ Wú Kēzhǎng jiā lí zhèr gèng yuǎn. 李教授家比吾科长家离这儿很远。 Professor Lǐ's home is much farther away than the head of Wú's department.

1. Zhāng Xiǎojiě, Wáng Xiānsheng dōu yǒu qián. 张小姐，王先生都有钱。 Both Miss Zhāng and Mr. Wáng have money [are rich]. Cuethe same Zhāng Xiǎojiě gēn Wáng Xiānsheng yíyàng yǒu qián. 张小姐跟王先生一样有钱。 Miss Zhāng and Mr. Wáng are equally rich. 2. Zhāng Xiǎojiě, Wáng Xiānsheng dōu yǒu qián. 张小姐，王先生都有钱。 Both Miss Zhāng and Mr. Wáng have money [are rich]. Cuemore Zhāng Xiǎojiě bǐ Wáng Xiānsheng yǒu qián. 张小姐比王先生有钱。 Miss Zhāng is richer than Mr. Wáng. 3. Zhāng Xiǎojiě, Wáng Xiānsheng dōu yǒu qián. 张小姐，王先生都有钱。 Both Miss Zhāng and Mr. Wáng have money [are rich]. Cueless Zhāng Xiǎojiě méiyou Wáng Xiānsheng nàme yǒu qián. 张小姐没有王先生那么有钱。 Miss Zhāng is not as rich as Mr. Wáng. 4. Zhāng Xiǎojiě, Wáng Xiānsheng dōu yǒu qián. 张小姐，王先生都有钱。 Both Miss Zhāng and Mr. Wáng have money [are rich]. Cueeven more Zhāng Xiǎojiě bǐ Wáng Xiānsheng gèng yǒu qián. 张小姐比王先生更有钱。 Miss Zhāng is richer than Mr. Wáng. 5. Zhāng Xiǎojiěde qián, Wáng Xiānshengde qián dōu hěn duō. 张小姐的钱，王先生的钱都很多。 Both Ms. Zhāng and Mr. Wáng have money [are rich]. Cuethe same Zhāng Xiǎojiěde qián gēn Wáng Xiānshengde qián yíyàng duō. 张小姐的钱跟王先生的钱一样多。 Miss Zhāng is as rich as Mr. Wáng. 6. Zhāng Xiǎojiěde qián, Wáng Xiānshengde qián dōu hěn duō. 张小姐的钱，王先生的钱都很多。 Both Ms. Zhāng and Mr. Wáng have money [are rich]. Cueless Zhāng Xiǎojiěde qián méiyou Wáng Xiānshengde qián nàme duō. 张小姐的钱没有王先生的钱那么多。 Miss Zhāng has not as much money as Mr. Wáng. 7. Zhāng Xiǎojiěde qián, Wáng Xiānshengde qián dōu hěn duō. 张小姐的钱，王先生的钱都很多。 Both Ms. Zhāng and Mr. Wáng have money [are rich]. Cueeven more Zhāng Xiǎojiěde qián bǐ Wáng Xiānshengde qián gèng duō. 张小姐的钱比王先生的钱更多。 Miss Zhāng has more money than Mr. Wáng.

1. Nǐmen zhèrde cài hěn hǎo. 你们这儿的菜很好。 Your food here is very good. Cuefēicháng 非常 exceptionally Nǐmen zhèrde cài fēicháng hǎo. 你们这儿的菜非常好。 Your food here is exceptionally good. 2. Nǐmen zhèrde cài fēicháng hǎo. 你们这儿的菜非常好。 Your food here is exceptionally good. Cuehǎojíle 好极了 extremely Nǐmen zhèrde cài hǎojíle. 你们这儿的菜好极了。 Your food here is extremely good. 3. Nǐmen zhèrde cài hǎojíle. 你们这儿的菜好极了。 Your food here is extremely good. Cuehǎo yìdiǎn 好极了 a little (more); better Nǐmen zhèrde cài hǎo yìdiǎn 你们这儿的菜好极了。 Your food here is a little better. 4. Nǐmen zhèrde cài hǎo yìdiǎn. 你们这儿的菜好一点。 Your food here is a little (more) good (better). Cuegèng 更 even more Nǐmen zhèrde cài gèng hǎo. 你们这儿的菜更好。 Your food here is even more good. 5. Nǐmen zhèrde cài gèng hǎo. 你们这儿的菜更好。 Your food here is even more good. Cuehǎojíle 好极了 extremely Nǐmen zhèrde cài hǎojíle. 你们这儿的菜好极了。 Your food here is extremely good. 6. Nǐmen zhèrde cài hǎojíle. 你们这儿的菜好极了。 Your food here is extremely good. Cuetèbié 特别 especially Nǐmen zhèrde cài tèbié hǎo. 你们这儿的菜特别好。 Your food here is especially good.

1. Zhèiběn shū hěn hǎo. Zhèiběn shū hěn piányi. 这本书很好。这本书很便宜。 This book is good. This book is inexpensive. Zhèiběn shū yòu hǎo yòu piányi 这本书又好又便宜。 This book is both good and inexpensive. 2. Nǐ mǎide dìtú hěn hǎo. Nǐ mǎide dìtú hěn piányi. 你买的地图很好。你买的地图很便宜。 The maps you bought are good. The maps you buy are cheap. Ni mǎide dìtú yòu hǎo yòu piányi. 你买的地图又好又便宜。 The maps he bought are both good and cheap. 3. Tā zhùde fàndiàn hěn hǎo. Tā zhùde fàndiàn hěn dà. 他住的饭店很好。他住的饭店很大。 The hotel where he lives is good. The hotel where he lives is big. Tā zhùde fàndiàn yòu hǎo yòu dà. 他住的饭店又好又大。 The hotel where he lives is both good and big. 4. Nèibān fēijī hěn kuài. Nèibān fēijī hěn piányi. 那般飞机很快。那般飞机很便宜。 That plane is fast. That plane is cheap. Nèibān fēijī yòu kuài yòu piányi. 那般飞机又快又便宜。 That plane is both fast and cheap. 5. Zuò huǒchē qù hěn hǎo. Zuò huǒchē qù hěn fāngbian. 坐火车去很好。坐火车去很方便。 To go by train is fine. To go by train is very convenient. Zuò huǒchē qù yòu hǎo yòu fāngbian. 坐火车去又好又方便。 To go by train is both fine and convenient. 6. Zhège fànguǎnzi hěn jìn. Zhège fànguǎnzi hěn piányi. 这个饭馆子很近。这个饭馆子很便宜。 This restaurant is very close. This restaurant is very cheap. Zhège fànguǎnzi yòu jìn yòu piányi. 这个饭馆子又近又便宜。 This restaurant is both close and cheap. 7. Tā mǎide dìtǎn hěn piányi. Tā mǎide dìtǎn hěn hǎo. 他买的地毯很便宜。他买的地毯很很好。 The rugs he bought were cheap. The rugs he bought are very nice. Tā mǎide dìtǎn yòu piányi yòu hǎo. 他买的地毯又便宜又好。 The maps he bought are both good and cheap.

1. Zhèrde ròu fēicháng hǎo. 这儿的肉非常好。 The meat here is exceptionally good. Cuechī 吃 eat Zhèrde ròu fēicháng hǎo, biéde dìfang chībuzháo. 这的肉非常好，别的地方吃不着。 The meat here is exceptionally good. You can’t find anything like it anywhere else. 2. Nàrde cài fēicháng hǎo. 那儿的菜非常好。 The food there is exceptionally good. Cuemǎi 买 buy Nàrde cài fēicháng hǎo, biéde dìfang mǎibuzháo. 那儿的菜非常好，别的地方买不着。 The food there is exceptionally good. You can’t find anything like it anywhere else. 3. Nàrde táng fēicháng hǎo. 那儿的糖非常好。 The soup there is exceptionally good. Cuemǎi 买 buy Nàrde táng fēicháng hǎo, biéde dìfang mǎibuzháo. 那儿的糖非常好，别的地方买不着。 The soup there is exceptionally good. You can’t find anything like it anywhere else. 4. Zhèrde diànyíng fēicháng hǎo. 这儿的电影非常好。 The movies there are exceptionally good. Cuekàn 看 read Zhèrde diànyǐng fēicháng hǎo, biéde dìfang kànbuzháo. 这儿的电影非常好，别的地方看不着。 The movies there are exceptionally good. You can’t find anything like it anywhere else. 5. Zhèrde shū fēicháng duō. 这儿的书非常好。 The books there are exceptionally good. Cuekàn 看 read Zhèrde shū fēicháng duō, biéde dìfang kànbuzháo. 这儿的书非常好，别的地方看不着。 The books there are exceptionally good. You can’t find anything like it anywhere else. 6. Nàrde diànshì fēicháng hǎo. 那儿的电视非常好。 The TVs there are exceptionally good. Cuemǎi 买 buy Nàrde diànshì fēicháng hǎo, biéde dìfang mǎibuzháo. 那儿的电视非常好，别的地方买不着。 The TVs there are exceptionally good. You can’t find anything like it anywhere else. 7. Narde cài fēicháng hǎo. 那儿的菜非常好。 The food there is exceptionally good. Cuechī 吃 eat Nàrde cài fēicháng hǎo, biéde dìfang chībuzháo. 那儿的菜非常好，别的地方吃不着。 The food there is exceptionally good. You can’t find anything like it anywhere else.

1. B: Wèi. 喂 Hello. A: Zhāng Xiānsheng ma? 張先生嗎？ Is this Mr. Zhāng? 2. B: Shìde. Nín shì bu shi Bái Nǚshì? 是的。您是不是白女士？ Yes. Is this Miss White? A: Shì. Zhāng Xiānsheng, wǒ yǒu yíjiàn shì xiǎng gēn nín dǎting dǎting. 是。張先生，我有一件事想跟你打聽打聽。 Yes. Mr. Zhāng, I have something I would like to ask you about. 3. B: Shénme shì? 什麽事？ What is it? A: Tīngshuō nín nàbian xīn láile yíwèi Fāng Xiānsheng, shi gāng pàilaide; tāde míngzi wǒ wàngji le. 聽説您那邊新來了方先生，是剛派來的；他的名字我忘記了。 I have heard that you recently had a Mr. Fāng join you, who has just been assigned to your office. I have forgotten his given name. 4. B: Bú cuò, Fāng Démíng shi shàngge lǐbài pài dào wǒmen zhèli láide. 不錯，方德銘是上個禮拜派到我們這裏來的。 That’s right. Fāng Démíng was sent over here last week. B: Zěnme? Nǐ rènshi ta ma? 怎麽？你認識他嗎。 Why? Do you know him? 5. A: Bú rènshi. 不認識。 I don’t know him. A: Búguò tīngshuō tā yě shi Jiāzhōu Dàxué bìyède, suǒyi xiǎng qǐng ni gěi wo jièshao jièshao. 不過聽説他也是加州大學畢業的，所以想請你給我介紹介紹。 However, I have heard that he also graduated from the University of California, so I wanted to ask you to introduce me to him. 6. B: Méi wèntí. Wǒ kànkan...hǎo, wǒmen xiànzài dōu yǒu gōngfu. 沒問題。我看看...好，我們現在都有功夫。 No problem. I’ll take a look.... Okay, we are both free now. B: Nǐ xiànzài néng lái ma? 你現在竜來嗎？ Can you come now? 7. A: Xíng. 行。 That will be fine. A: Wǒ mǎshàng dào nín bàngōngshì lái. 我馬上到您辦公室來。 I’ll come to your office right away. A: Chàbuduō bànge zhōngtóu jiù dào. 差不多半個鐘頭就到。 I’ll be there in about half an hour. 8. jìde 記得 to remember 9. rènde 認得 to recognize, to know (alternate word for rènshi) 10. rènshi zì 認識字 to know how to read (literally, “to recognize characters”) 11. wàng 忘 to forget (alternate word for wàngji, especially in the sense of forgetting to DO something) 12. wánquán 完全 completely 13. xiǎngqilai 想起來 to think of, to remember 14. zuǒyòu 左右 approximately

bìyè 畢業 to graduate bú cuò 不錯 not bad, pretty good; that’s right chàbuduō 差不多 almost, about, approximately dǎting 大廳 to inquire about, to ask about jìde 記得 to remember mǎshàng 馬上 immediately méi wèntí 沒問題 (there’s) no problem pài dào 派到 to send to pàilai 派來 to send here rènde 認得 to recognize, to know rènshi 認識 to recognize, to know rènshi zì 認識字 to know how to read (literally, “to recognize characters”) tīngshuō 聽説 to hear that wàng 忘 to forget wàngji 忘記 to forget wánquán 完全 completely wèntí 問題 problem, question xiǎngqilai 想起來 to think of, to remember zuǒyōu 左右 approximately cōngming 聰明 to be intelligent duōde duō 多得多 much more kěnéng 可能 maybe Shìjiè Yínháng 世界銀行 World Bank xiū jià 休假 to take a vacation yánjiuyuàn 研究院 graduate school yàobushi...jiù shi... 要不是..就是.. if it’s not... then it will be... yònggōng 用工 to be hardworking undefined yuèchū 月初 the beginning of the month yuèdǐ 月底 the end of the month

1. B: Wèi. 喂 Hello. A: Zhāng Xiānsheng ma? 張先生嗎？ Is this Mr. Zhāng? 2. B: Shìde. Nín shì bu shi Bái Nǚshì? 是的。您是不是白女士？ Yes. Is this Miss White? A: Shì. Zhāng Xiānsheng, wǒ yǒu yíjiàn shì xiǎng gēn nín dǎting dǎting. 是。張先生，我有一件事想跟你打聽打聽。 Yes. Mr. Zhāng, I have something I would like to ask you about. Gēn nín dǎting, “ask information from you”: Note that the prepositional verb gēn is translated as “from.” Dǎting, “to inquire,” is less formal than qǐngjiào and requests information rather than advice. Objects of reduplicated verbs: Reduplicated verbs may be followed only by DEFINITE objects. Indefinite objects of reduplicated verbs precede those verbs. In the last sentence of exchange 2, the object of the reduplicated verb dǎting dǎting is indefinite: yíjiàn shì, “a matter” Thus the object is introduced in the clause wǒ yǒu yíjiàn shì which precedes the entire verb phrase xiǎng gēn nín dǎting dǎting. Reduplicating a verb makes it indefinite; adding an indefinite object might cause confusion. The reduplicated verbs in the sentences below have definite objects: Wǒ xiǎng gēn nín dǎting dǎting nèijiàn shì. 我想跟您打聽打聽那件事。 I would like to ask you about that. Wǒ xiǎng gēn nín dǎting dǎting zhèijiàn shì. 我想跟您打聽打聽這件事。 I would like to ask you about this. Wǒ xiǎng gēn nín dǎting dǎting tāde shì. 我想跟您打聽打聽他的事。 I would like to ask you about his matter (about ask him) Wǒ xiǎng gēn nín dǎting dǎting nǐde nèijiàn shì. 我想跟您打聽打聽你的那件事。 I would like to ask you about that matter of yours. Simple verbs are used in the following sentences, which have indefinite objects: Wǒ xiǎng gēn nín dǎting yìdiǎn shì. 我想跟您打聽一點事。 I would like to ask you about something. Wǒ xiǎng gēn nín dǎting hěn duō shì. 我想跟您打聽很多事。 Wǒ xiǎng gēn nín dǎting jǐjiàn shì. 我想跟您打聽幾件事。 I would like to ask you about a few things.

3. B: Shénme shì? 什麽事？ What is it? A: Tīngshuō nín nàbian xīn láile yíwèi Fāng Xiānsheng, shi gāng pàilaide; tāde míngzi wǒ wàngji le. 聽説您那邊新來了方先生，是剛派來的；他的名字我忘記了。 I have heard that you recently had a Mr. Fāng join you, who has just been assigned to your office. I have forgotten his given name. Tīngshuō corresponds to the English “I hear that....” ... láile yíwèi Fāng Xiānsheng, “there came a Mr. Fāng”: While “a” and “the” are used in English to distinguish between indefinite and definite, word order accomplishes the same distinction in Chinese. The subject “A Mr. Fāng” is placed AFTER the verb because the subject is indefinite. With an indefinite subject following the verb, information preceding the verb may give location, time, or other scene-setting details. Zhèr xīn kāile yige hěn hǎode fànguǎnzi. 這兒新開了一個很好的飯館子。 A very good restaurant opened here recently. Zuótiān láile yìxiē Rìběn rén. 昨天來了一些日本人。 Some Japanese came yesterday. Yǐjīng qùle wǔbǎige rén. 已經去了五百個人。 Five hundred people have already gone there. Verbs of appearing and verbs of disappearing (“to come,” “to discover,” “to happen/occur”) introduce indefinite subjects, as do the words you and yǒude. Wàibian yǒu jige rén zhǎo nǐ. 外邊有幾個人找你。 There are some people outside who want to see you. Yǒude rén bù xǐhuan hē chá. 有的人不喜歡喝茶。 Some people don’t like to drink tea. Some situations may be described with either you or another verb. Zuótiān yǒu yige rén lái zhǎo nǐ. 昨天有一個人來找你。 Yesterday there was someone here looking for you. Zuótiān láile yige rén yào zhǎo nǐ dāngmiàn tántan. 昨天來了一個人要找你當面談談。 Yesterday someone was here who was looking for you to talk with you in person. Subjects occurring at the end of a sentence are indefinite, whether or not they are accompanied by yíge. Subjects preceding the verb in a sentence are definite, whether or not they are accompanied by zhèige, nèige, zhèixiē, nèixiē, or other specifying words. 來人了。 Lái rén le. Some people have come. Rén lái le. 人來了。 The people have come, (i.e., those whom we were expecting) Míngzi means “name”—of an object, a place, or a person (GIVEN NAME). Occasionally, míngzi is used for a person’s full name (surname and given name). This usage is more common in the PRC. Wàngji is a verb meaning “to forget”—used especially in reference to forgetting facts. Wàng, “to forget,” is more commonly used for forgetting to do something. The verb jìde means “to remember.”

4. B: Bú cuò, Fāng Démíng shi shàngge lǐbài pài dào wǒmen zhèli láide. 不錯，方德銘是上個禮拜派到我們這裏來的。 That’s right. Fāng Démíng was sent over here last week. B: Zěnme? Nǐ rènshi ta ma? 怎麽？你認識他嗎。 Why? Do you know him? Bú cuò means “not bad” in the sense of pretty good,” “pretty well,” “all right.” Nǐ zěnmeyàng? 你怎麽樣？ How are things going? Bú cuò. 不錯 。 Not bad. In the first sentence of No. 4, bú cuò means “that’s right, your information is not wrong.” Lǐ Xiānsheng, ni gāng cóng Xiānggǎng huílai, shì ma? 李先生，你剛從香港回來，是嗎？ Mr. Li, you just got back from Hong Kong, didn’t you? Bú cuò, wǒ shi zuótiān huílaide. 不錯，我是昨天回來的。 That’s right. I got back yesterday. Here are more examples of bú cuò: Nèige fànguǎnzide cài zhēn bú cuò. 那個飯館子菜真不錯。 That restaurant really has pretty good food. Tā shuō Zhōngguo huà, shuōde bú cuò. 他説中國話，説得不錯。 He speaks Chinese pretty well. In the first example, notice that an adverb precedes bú cuò: zhēn bú cuò Pài dào...lái is a three-part verb: action verb (also expressing MOTION), prepositional verb (must take an object), and directional verb (lái, qù) ACTION VERB PREPOSITIONAL VERB OBJECT DIRECTIONAL VERB pǎo dào shānshang qù 跑 到 山上 去 “to run up on the hill” bān dào zhèr lái 搬 到 這兒 來 “to move it into here” ná dào xuéxiào qù 拿 到 學校 去 “to take it to school” zǒu dào hòubianr lái 走 到 後邊兒 來 “to walk to the back” Zěnme, “why,” “how come,” “how is it that...,”* You have already learned that zènme can mean “how.” is a more colloquial and challenging word for “why” than wèishénme. Only a reason or an explanation is requested by wèishénme. Zěnme expresses more, emphasizing the speaker’s surprise or lack of understanding. Nǐmende bàngōngshì zěnme zhème xiǎo? 你們的辦公室怎麽這麽小？ How is it that your office is so small? Tā fùmǔ dōu shuō Zhōngguo huà, tā zěnme bú huì shuō? 他父母都說中國話，他怎麽不會説。 Both his parents speak Chinese. How is it that he can’t? Zhème yàojǐnde shì, wǒ zěnme wàngle zuò le? 這麽要緊的事，我怎麽忘了做了？ How could I have forgotten to do such an important thing? Nǐ zěnme bú niàn shū ne? 你怎麽不念書呢？ How come you’re not studying? Nǐ zěnme bù shuō huà? Yǒu shénme bù gāoxìngde shì ma? 你怎麽不説話？有什麽不高興的事嗎？ How come you’re not saying anything? Is there something you are unhappy about? The meaning of zěnme is sometimes affected by the aspect marker used: Nǐ zěnme lái le? 你怎麽來了？ How come you are here? (i.e., “What are you doing here?”) Nǐ (shi) zěnme láide? 你(是)怎麽來的？ How did you get here? (i.e., by what means of transportation) Rènshi the state verb means “to know” in the sense of “to be acquainted with,” “to be familiar with,” “to recognize.” As an action verb, rènshi means “to meet,” “to get acquainted with.” STATE VERB Nǐ rènshi Zhāng Guóquán ma? 你認識張國權嗎？ Do you know Zhāng Guóquán? Nǐ rènshi ta ma? 你認識他嗎？ Do you know him? Wǒmen bú tài rènshi. 我們不太認識。 We are not too well acquainted. Wǒmen qùnián hái bú rènshi. 我們去年還不認識。 We did not know each other yet last year. ACTION VERB Wǒ zài Měiguode shíhou, rènshile hěn duō Měiguo niánqīng rén. niánqīng, “to be young” 我在美國的時候，認識了很多美國年輕人。 When I was in America, I met a lot of young Americans. Wǒ shi qiánnián rènshi tade. 我是前年認識他的。 I met him the year before last. Nèige shíhou wǒmen hái méi rènshi. 那個時候我們還沒認識。 At that time we had not yet met. Tā shi yíge hěn hǎode rén, nǐ yīnggāi rènshi renshi. 他是一個很好的人，你應該認識認識。 He is a very good person; you should yīnggāi, “should” get to know him. As a state verb, rènshi is used for “knowing” or “recognizing” Chinese characters. Nǐ rènshi duōshǎoge Zhōngguo zì? 你認識多少個中國字？ How many Chinese characters do you know/recognize? Nǐ rènshi zhèige zì ma? 你認識這個字嗎？ Do you recognize this character? Contrast the meanings of rènshi and zhīdao: rènshi, “to know” a person; zhīdao, “to know of” a person: Nǐ rènshi Táng Xiǎojiě ma? 你認識唐小姐嗎？ Do you know Miss Táng? Wǒ zhīdao ta, dànshi wǒmen méi jiànguo. 我知道她，但是我們沒見過。 I know of her, but we haven’t met. When a place is being discussed, rènshi means “to know how to get [there].” Zhīdao continues to mean “to know of [a place].” Nǐ rènshi nèige diànyǐngyuàn ma? 你認識那個電影院嗎？ Do you know how to get to that movie theater? Nǐ zhīdao nèige diànyǐngyuàn ma? 你知道那個電影院？ Do you know of that movie theater?

5. A: Bú rènshi. 不認識。 I don’t know him. A: Búguò tīngshuō tā yě shi Jiāzhōu Dàxué bìyède, suǒyi xiǎng qǐng ni gěi wo jièshao jièshao. 不過聽説他也是加州大學畢業的，所以想請你給我介紹介紹。 However, I have heard that he also graduated from the University of California, so I wanted to ask you to introduce me to him. Shi Jiāzhōu Dàxué bìyède, “graduated from the University of California”: The name of a school or a word describing the type of school may stand in front of the verb bìyè with no preceding prepositional verb, such as cóng, “from.” Nǐ érzi yǐjīng dàxué/zhōngxué/ iǎoxué bìyè le ma? 你兒子已經大學/中學/小學畢業了嗎？ Has your son graduated from college/high school/elementary school already? Tā dàxué hai méi bìyè ne. 他大學還沒畢業呢。 He has not graduated from college yet. Tā shi Táiwān Dàxué bìyède. 他是臺灣大學畢業的。 He graduated from Táiwān University. Bìyè may also be preceded by either zài, “at,” or cóng, “from.” Nǐ shi zài něige zhōngxué bìyède? 你是在哪個中學畢業的？ What high school did you graduate from? Wǒ qùniān cóng Dézhōu Dàxué bìyè le. 我去年從德州大學畢業了。 I graduated last year from the University of Texas. Wǒ shi qībānián cóng Běijīng Dàxué bìyède. 我是七八年從北京大學畢業的。 I graduated from Běijīng University in ’78. Bìyè, meaning “to complete a course of study,” is a compound made up of a verb plus a general object. For this reason, the object yè may be separated from the verb bì. This separation occurs most frequently in sentences containing the shì... de construction. Tā shi yījiǔqīliùnián bìde yè. 他是一九七六年畢業的。 He graduated in 1976.

6. B: Méi wèntí. Wǒ kànkan...hǎo, wǒmen xiànzài dōu yǒu gōngfu. 沒問題。我看看...好，我們現在都有功夫。 No problem. I’ll take a look.... Okay, we are both free now. B: Nǐ xiànzài néng lái ma? 你現在竜來嗎？ Can you come now? The noun wèntí can mean “question,” “problem,” or “difficulty.” Tā wènle hǎoduō wèntí. 他問了好多問題。 He asked a lot of questions. Nà shi yige hěn dàde wèntí. 那是一個很大的問題。 That’s a big problem. Ní yǒu wèntí ma? could mean either “Do you have any questions?” or “Are you having any problems?”

7. A: Xíng. 行。 That will be fine. A: Wǒ mǎshàng dào nín bàngōngshì lái. 我馬上到您辦公室來。 I’ll come to your office right away. A: Chàbuduō bànge zhōngtóu jiù dào. 差不多半個鐘頭就到。 I’ll be there in about half an hour. The adverb mǎshàng (literally, “on horseback”) means “immediately,” “right away.” Chàbuduō may be translated fairly literally as “does not differ much.” Other translations are “about,” “approximately,” “almost.” Chàbuduō bādiǎn le. 差不多八點了。 It is nearly eight o’clock. Zhèběn shū wǒ chàbuduō kànwán le. 這本書我差不多看完了。 I have almost finished reading this book. Tāmen chàbuduō bādiǎn zhōng lái. 他們差不多八點鐘來。 They are coming at around eight o’clock. Nàge xuéxiào yǒu chàbuduō sānbǎige xuésheng. 那個學校有差不多三百個學生。 That school has approximately three hundred students.

8. jìde 記得 to remember 9. rènde 認得 to recognize, to know (alternate word for rènshi) 10. rènshi zì 認識字 to know how to read (literally, “to recognize characters”) 11. wàng 忘 to forget (alternate word for wàngji, especially in the sense of forgetting to DO something) 12. wánquán 完全 completely 13. xiǎngqilai 想起來 to think of, to remember 14. zuǒyòu 左右 approximately The verb jìde, “to remember,” acts like a state verb. Nǐ jìde Wáng Xiǎo Ming ma? 你記得王小明嗎？ Do you remember Wáng Xiǎo Ming? Jìde. Tā shi wǒ àiren dàxuéde tóngxué. 記得。他是我愛人大學的同學。 I remember (him). He is my spouse’s college classmate. Wǒ zuótiān bú jìde tā xìng shénme. Jīntiān yòu xiǎngqilai le. 我昨天不記得他姓什麽。今天又想起來了。 Yesterday I couldn’t remember what his name is. Today I remembered it (again). Rènde, “to recognize,” “to know,” is usually interchangeable with rènshi. Both rènshi and rènde are most often made negative with bù. Nǐ rènde ta ma? 你認得他媽？ Do you know him? Bú rènde. 不認得。 No. Tā lù yě bú rènde. 他路也不認得。 He doesn’t even know the way. Wǒmen qùnián hái bú rènde. 我們去年還不認得。 We did not know each other last year. Wàng, “to forget,” is an action verb. Wǒ hěn róngyi bǎ rén míngzi wàng le. 我很容易把人名字忘了。 I forget people’s names very easily. Nǐmen dōu bǎ chēpiào nálai le ma? 你們都把車票拿來了嗎？ Did all of you bring your bus tickets? Wǒ wàng le. 我忘了。 I forgot (mine). Wǒ méi wàng. 我沒忘。 I didn’t forget. Wánquán, “completely,” is an adverb used to modify verbs. Tā xiěde zì wánquán duì. 他寫的字完全對。 The character he wrote is completely right. Tā wánquán bù dǒng. 他完全不懂。 He doesn’t understand any part of this. Wǒ wánquán bù zhīdào zhèijiàn shì. 我完全不知道這件事。 I don’t know anything about this matter. Xiǎngqilai, “to think of,” “to remember,” is a compound verb of result. It is made up of xiǎng, “to think”; qǐ “to rise”; and lái, “to come." Xiǎngqilai is actually pronounced xiángqilai. The ending -qīlái is in the neutral tone; because qǐ was originally in the third tone, xiǎng changes to the rising tone. As an ending showing result, -qǐlái may have either its literal meaning of “to come up” or more abstract meanings such as “to come to mind.” English prepositions, such as “up,” are also used both literally and abstractly: “look up the wall” (an upward motion) and “look up the phone number” (no motion indicated by “up”) 請把椅子辦起來。 Qǐng bǎ yǐzi bānqilai. Please lift up the chair. 請你們站起來。 Qǐng nǐmen zhànqilai. Please stand up. 那個字我想起來了。 Nèige zì wǒ xiǎngqilai le. I remember that character. Zuǒyòu (literally, “left-right”) means “approximately,” “about.” Wǒ wǔdiǎn zuǒyòu lái jiē ni. 我五點左右來接你。 I will come to get you about five o’clock. Nǐ qù mǎi diǎnr píngguǒ, hǎo bu hǎo? 你去買點兒蘋果，好不好？ How about going to buy some apples? Yào duōshǎo? 要多少？ How many do you want? Sānjīn zuǒyòu jiù gòu le. 三斤左右就夠了。 About three catties should be enough.

1. Wǒ yǒu yíjiàn shì xiǎng gēn nín dǎting dǎting. 我有一件事想跟您打听打听。 I have something I would like to ask you about. Wǒ xiǎng gēn nín dǎting yíjiàn shì. 我想跟您打听一件事。 I would like to ask you something. 2. Nèijiàn shì, wǒ xiǎng gēn nín dǎting dǎting. 那件事，我想跟您打听打听。 I would like to ask you about that matter. Wǒ xiǎng gēn nín dǎting dǎting nèijiàn shì. 我想跟您打听打听那件事。 I would like to ask you about that matter. 3. Wǒ yǒu hěn duō shì xiǎng gēn nín dǎting dǎting. 我有很多事想跟您打听打听。 I have many things I want to ask you about. Wǒ xiǎng gēn nín dǎting hěn duō shì. 我想跟您打听很多事。 I want to ask you many things. 4. Zhèijiàn shì, wǒ xiǎng gēn nín dǎting dǎting. 这件事，我想跟您打听打听。 I want to ask you about this matter. Wǒ xiǎng gēn nín dǎting dǎting zhèijiàn shì. 我想跟您打听打听这件事。 I want to ask you about this. 5. Tāde shì, wǒ xiǎng gēn nín dǎting dǎting 他的事，我想跟您打听打听。 I want to ask you about his affairs. Wǒ xiǎng gēn nín dǎting dǎting tāde shì. 我想跟您打听打听他的事。 I want to ask you about him. 6. Wǒ yǒu jǐjiàn shì xiǎng gēn nín dǎting dǎting. 我有一件事想跟您打听打听。 I have something I would like to ask you about. Wǒ xiǎng gēn nín dǎting jǐjiàn shì. 我想跟您打听一件事。 I want to ask you something. 7. Nǐde nèijiàn shì, wǒ xiǎng gēn nín dǎting dǎting. 你的那件事，我想跟您打听打听。 I want to ask you about your matter. Wǒ xiǎng gēn nín dǎting dǎting nǐde nèijiàn shì. 我想跟您打听打听你的那件事。 I want to ask you about that matter about you.

1. Tāde míngzi wǒ wàng le. 他的名字我忘了。 I have forgotten his given name. Tāde míngzi wǒ wàng le, nǐ hái jìde ma? 他的名字我忘了，你还记得吗？ I have forgotten his given name. Do you remember it? 2. Tāde dìzhí wǒ wàngji le. 他的地址我忘记了。 I have forgotten his address. Tāde dìzhí wǒ wàngji le, nǐ hái jìde ma? 他的地址我忘记了，你还记得吗？ I have forgotten his address. Do you remember it? 3. Tā shénme shíhou lái wǒ wàng le. 他什么时候来我忘了。 I have forgotten when he came. Tā shénme shíhou lái wǒ wàng le, nī hái jìde ma? 他什么时候来我忘了，你还记得吗？ I have forgotten when he came. Do you remember it? 4. Nèibān fēijī jǐdiǎn zhōng dào wǒ wàngji le. 内板飞机几点钟到我忘记了。 I have forgotten what time the plane arrived. Nèibān fēijī jǐdiǎn zhōng dào wǒ wàngji le, nǐ hái jìde ma? 内板飞机几点钟到我忘记了，你还记得吗？ I have forgotten what time the plane arrived. Do you remember it? 5. Tā shi něinián dào Zhōngguo qùde wǒ wàng le. 他是哪年到中国去的我忘了。 I have forgotten when he went to China. Tā shi něinián dào Zhōngguo qùde wǒ wàng le, ni hái jìde ma? 他是哪年到中国去的我忘了，你还记得吗？ I have forgotten when he went to China. Do you remember it? 6. Wǒmen zài náli huàn chē wǒ wàngji le. 我们在哪里换车我忘记了。 I have forgotten where we changed car. Wǒmen zài náli huàn chē wǒ wàngji le, ni hái jìde ma? 我们在哪里换车我忘记了，你还记得吗？ 7. Yínháng jǐdiǎn zhōng guān mén wǒ wàng le. 银行几点钟关门我忘了。 I have forgotten what time the bank closed. Yínháng jǐdiǎn zhōng guān mén wǒ wàng le, ni hái jìde ma? 银行几点钟关门我忘了，你还记得吗？ I have forgotten what time the bank closed. Do you remember it?

1. Tīngshuō tā shi gāng pàilaide. 听说他是刚派来的。 I have heard he was just sent over. Cuezhèli 这里 here Tīngshuō tā shi gāng pài dào zhèli láide. 听说他是刚派到这里来的。 I have heard he was just sent over here. 2. Tīngshuō tā shi gāng pàiqude. 听说他是刚派去的。 I have heard he was just sent there. Cuenàli 那里 there Tīngshuō tā shi gāng pài dào nàli qùde. 听说他是刚派到那里去的。 I have heard he was just sent over there. 3. Tīngshuō Lǐ Xiānsheng shi gāng pàilaide. 听说李先生是刚派来的。 I have heard Mr. Lǐ was just sent here. CueTáiběi 台北 Táiběi Tīngshuō Lǐ Xiānsheng shi gāng pài dào Táiběi láide. 听说李先生是刚派派台北的。 I have heard Mr. Lǐ was just send back to Táiběi. 4. Tīngshuō Wáng Xiǎojiě shi gāng pàiqude. 听说王小姐是刚派去的。 I have heard that Miss Wáng was just sent there. CueTáinán 台南 Táinán Tīngshuō Wáng Xiǎojiě shi gāng pài dào Táinán qùde. 听说王小姐是刚派到台南去的。 I have heard Miss Wáng was just send to Táinán. 5. Tīngshuō tā gēge shi gāng pàilaide. 听说他哥哥是刚派来的。 I have heard that his brother was just sent here. CueTáizhōng 台中 Táizhōng Tīngshuō tā gēge shi gāng pài dào Táizhōng láide. 听说他哥哥是刚派到台中来的。 I have heard he was just send back to Táizhōng. 6. Tīngshuō tā shi gāng pàiqude. 听说他是刚派去的。 I have heard he was just sent there. CueGāoxióng 高雄 Gāoxióng Tīngshuō tā shi gāng pài dào Gāoxiōng qùde. 听说他是刚派到高雄去的。 I have heard he was just sent over there. 7. Tīngshuō nín shi gāng pàilaide. 听说您是刚派来的。 I have heard you were just sent over. Cuezhèli 这里 here Tīngshuō nín shi gāng pài dào zhèli láide. 听说您是刚派到这里来的。 I have heard you were just sent over here.

1. Tā shi Jiāzhōu Dàxué bìyède. 他是加州大学毕业的。 He graduated from the University of California. Cueyījiusìwǔnián 一九四五年 1945 Tā shi yījiǔsìwǔnián Jiāzhōu Dàxué bìyède. 他是一九四五年加州大学毕业的。 In 1945 he graduated from the University of California. 2. Tā shi Táiwān Dàxué bìyède. 他是台湾大学毕业的。 He graduated from the University of Táiwān. Cueyījiǔwǔliùnián 一九五六年 1956 Tā shi yījiǔwǔliùnián Tǎiwān Dàxué bìyède. 他是一九五六年台湾大学毕业的。 In 1956 he graduated from the University of Táiwān. 3. Tā shi Mázhōu Dàxué bìyède. 他是麻州大学毕业的。 He graduated from the University of Massachusetts. Cueyījiǔliùqīnián 一九六七年 1967 Tā shi yījiǔliùqīnián Mázhōu Dàxué bìyède. 他是一九六七年麻州大学毕业的。 In 1967 he graduated from the University of Massachusetts. 4. Tā shi Dézhōu Dàxué bìyède. 他是德州大学毕业的。 He graduated from the University of Texas. Cueyījiǔliùèrnián 一九六二年 1962 Tā shi yījiǔliùèrnián Dézhōu Dàxué bìyède. 他是一九六二年德州大学毕业的。 In 1962 he graduated from the University of Texas. 5. Tā shi Běijīng Dàxué bìyède. 他是北京大学毕业的。 He graduated from the University of Běijīng. Cueyījiǔsìqīnián 一九四七年 1947 Tā shi yījiǔsìqīnián Běijīng Dàxué bìyède. 他是一九四七年北京大学毕业的。 In 1947 he graduated from the University of Běijīng. 6. Tā shi Dōngběi Dàxué bìyède. 他是东北大学毕业的。 He graduated from the University of Dōngběi. Cueyījiǔsānlíngniān 一九三零年 1930 Tā shi yījiǔsānlíngnián Dōngběi Dàxué bìyède. 他是一九三零年东北大学毕业的。 In 1930 he graduated from the University of Dōngběi. 7. Tā shi Nánjīng Dàxué bìyède. 他是南京大学毕业的。 He graduated from the University of Nánjīng. Cueyījiǔsānqīnián 一九三七年 1937 Tā shi yījiǔsānqīnián Nánjīng Dàxué bìyède. 他是一九三七年南京大学毕业的。 In 1937 he graduated from the University of Nánjīng.

1. Wǒ kànjianguo zhèige zì. 我看见过这个字。 I have seen this character before. Wǒ kànjianguo zhèige zì, kěshi wǒ bú rènshi zhèige zì. 我看见过这个字，可是我不认识这个字。 I have seen this character before, but I don’t recognize before, but I don’t recognize it. 2. Wǒ zhīdao tā shi shéi. I know who he is. Wǒ zhīdao tā shi shéi, kěshi wǒ bú rènshi ta. I know who he is, but I’m not acquainted with him. 3. Wǒ kànjianguo Zhāng Xiǎojiě. 我看见过张小姐。 I have seen Miss Zhāng before. Wǒ kànjianguo Zhāng Xiǎojiě, kěshi wǒ bú rènshi Zhāng Xiǎojiě. 我看见过张小姐，可是我不认识张小姐。 I have seen Miss Zhāng, but I don't know her. 4. Wǒ qùguo nèige dìfang. 我去过那个地方。 I went to that place before. Wǒ qùguo nèige dìfang, kěshi wǒ bú rènshi nèige dìfang. 我去过那个地方，可是我不认识那个地方。 I've been to that place, but I don't know it. 5. Wǒ zhīdao tā shi Lǐ Kēzhǎng. 我知道他是李科长。 I know that he is Chief Lǐ. Wǒ zhīdao tā shi Lí Kēzhǎng, kěshi wǒ bú rènshi Lǐ Kēzhǎng. 我知道他是李科长，可是我不认识李科长。 I know he is Section Chief Lǐ, but I don't know him. 6. Wǒ kànjianguo. 我看见过。 I have seen it. Wǒ kànjianguo, kěshi wǒ bú rènshi. 我看见过，可是我不认识。 I've seen it, but I don't know it. 6. Wǒ zhīdào tā shi Wáng Xiǎojiěde gēge. 我知道他是王小姐的哥哥。 I know that he is Miss Wáng's older brother. Wǒ zhidao tā shi Wáng Xiaojiéde gēge, kěshi wǒ bú rènshi ta. 我知道他是王小姐的哥哥，可是我不认识他。 I know he is Miss Wáng's brother, but I don't know him.

1. Chàbuduō bànge zhōngtóu jiù dào. 差不多半个钟头就到。 I’ll be there in about half an hour. Bànge zhōngtóu zuǒyòu jiù dào. 半个钟头左右就到。 I’ll be there in about half an hour. 2. Chàbuduō yào yige zhōngtóu. 差不多要一个钟头。 Almost an hour. Yào yige zhōngtōu zuǒyòu. 要一个钟头左右。 It will take about an hour. 3. Tā zhùle chàbuduō sāntiān. 他住了差不多三天。 He stayed for almost three days. Tā zhùle sāntiān zuǒyòu. 他住了三天左右。 He lived for about three days. 4. Tā chàbuduō wǔshísuì le. 他差不多五十岁了。 He is almost fifty years old. Tā wǔshísuì zuǒyòu le. 他五十岁左右了。 He is about fifty years old. 5. Nèiběn shū chàbuduō yào shíkuài qián. 那本书差不多要十块钱。 That book costs about ten dollars. Nèiběn shū yào shíkuài qián zuǒyòu. 那本书要十块钱左右。 That book costs about ten yuan. 6. Chàbuduō yào zǒu sìshiwǔfēn zhōng. 差不多要走四十五分钟。 About forty-five minutes Yào zǒu sìshiwǔfēn zhōng zuǒyòu. 要走四十五分钟左右。 It takes about forty-five minutes to walk. 7. Chàbuduō sānge xīngqī. 差不多三个星期。 Almost three weeks. Sānge xīngqī zuǒyòu. 三个星期左右。 About three weeks.

1. Nǐ xiànzài lái ma? 你现在来吗？ Are you coming now? Cuemǎshàng 马上 right away Wǒ mǎshàng lái. 我马上来。 I’m coming right away. 2. Tā bādiǎn zhōng lái ma? 他八点钟来吗。 Is he coming at eight o'clock. Cuechàbuduō 差不多 around Tā chàbuduō bādiǎn zhōng lái. 他差不多八点钟来。 He comes around eight o'clock. 3. Tā shídiǎn zhōng qù ma? 他十点钟去吗？ Is he going at 10 o'clock? Cuezuǒyòu 左右 Tā shídiǎn zhōng zuǒyòu qù. 他十点钟左右去。 He is leaving around ten o'clock. 4. Nǐmen xiànzài zǒu ma? 你们现在走吗？ Are you leaving now? Cuemǎshàng 马上 right away Wǒmen mǎshàng zǒu. 我们马上走。 They are leaving right away. 5. Tāmen báhào qù ma? 他们八号去吗？ Are they going on the 8th? Cuezuǒyòu 左右 approximately Tāmen báhào zuǒyòu qù. 他们左右八号去。 They are going approximately around 8 o'clock. 6. Tāmen jiǔdiǎn zhōng lái ma? 他们九点钟来吗。 Are they coming at nine o'clock. Cuechàbuduō 差不多 around Tāmen chàbuduō jiǔdiǎn zhōng lái。 他们差不多九点钟来。 They will come around 9 o'clock. 7. Nǐ shíhào zài Niǔ Yuē ma? 你十号在纽约吗？ Are you in New York on the 10th? Cuezuǒyòu 左右 approximately Wǒ shíhào zuǒyòu zài Niù Yuē. 我十号左右在纽约。 I'm in New York around approximately the tenth.

1. B: Wài, zhèi shi Lǐbīnsī. 喂，這是禮賓司。 Hello. This is the Protocol Department. A: Wèi, wǒ shi Láidēng Dàshǐde mìshū. 喂，我是萊登大使的秘書。 Hello. I am Ambassador Leyden’s secretary. 2. A: Dàshǐ jiēzháo nǐmende qǐngtiě le. 大使接著你們的請帖了。 The ambassador received your invitation. 3 A: Hěn kěxī, yīnwei tā yǒu shì, Báyuè jiǔ hào bù néng lái. 很可惜因爲他有事，八月九號不能來。 Unfortunately, because he has a previous engagement, he cannot come on August 9. A: Qǐng ni zhuǎngào Qiáo Bùzhǎng. 請你轉告譙部長. Please inform Minister Qiáo. A: Hěn bàoqiàn. 很抱歉。 I’m very sorry. 4. B: Hěn yíhàn, Láidēng Dàshǐ bù néng lái. 很遺憾，萊登大使不能來。 We very much regret that Ambassador Leyden cannot come. B: Wǒ tì ni zhuǎngào yíxià. 我替你轉告一下。 I will pass on the message for you. 5. A: Mǎ Mínglí, wǒmen yǒu jige tóngxué Xīngqīliù jìhua dào Chángchéng qù wánr. 馬明理我們有幾個同學星期六計劃到長城去玩兒。 Mǎ Mínglī, a few of us students are planning to go to the Great Wall Saturday for an outing. A: Nǐmen néng bu néng yìqǐ qù? 你們能不能一起去？ Can you go with us? 6. B: Zhēn bù qiǎo. 真不巧。 We really couldn’t make that. B: Nèitiān wǒmen yǒu shì, méi bànfa qù. 那天我們有事，沒辦法去。 We have a previous engagement that day; we have no way of going. 7. A: Xīwang yǐhòu zài zhǎo jīhui jùyijù ba. 希望以後在找機會聚一聚吧。 I hope that late we will find an other opportunity to get together. B: Hǎo a. 好啊。 Okay. 8. dàjiā 大家 everybody, everyone 9. jiēdào 接到 to receive (alternate form of jiēzháo) 10. tóngshì 同事 fellow worker, colleague 11. yīnggāi 應該 should, ought to, must

bànfa 辦法 method, way bàoqiàn 抱歉 to be sorry bùzhǎng 部長 minister (of a government organization) Chángchéng 長城 the Great Wall dàjiā 大家 everybody, everyone jiē 姐 to receive (mail, messages, guests, phone calls) jiēdào 接到 to receive jù 聚 to assemble jùyijù 聚一聚 to get together kěxī 可惜 unfortunately, what a pity Lǐbīnsī 禮賓司 Protocol Department (PRC) méi bànfa 沒辦法 there’s no way out, it can’t be helped mìshū 秘書 secretary, executive assistant qiǎo 巧 to be timely, to be opportune qǐngtiě (qìngtiē) 請帖 written invitation tì 替 substituting for, in place of tóngshì 同事 fellow worker, colleague tóngxué 同學 classmate yíhàn 遺憾 to regret (that something desirable will not happen) yīnggāi 應該 should, ought to, must zhuǎngào 轉告 to pass on a message, to inform cānjiā 參加 to participate in, to join, to attend dào xǐ 道喜 to congratulate dìèrtiān 第二天 the next day jīngjibù 經濟部 Ministry of Economics jūnshì yǎnxí 軍事演習 military maneuvers láodòng mófàn 勞動模範 model worker nánbù 南部 the southern part (of the island), the south shàngxiào 上校 colonel tīngdechūlái 聼得出來 to be able to recognize what something is from the sound tóngxuéhuì 同學會 alumni association (literally, “fellow-student group”) tōngzhī 同志 (written) announcement, notification xièxie tāde yāoqǐng 謝謝他的邀請 to thank him for his invitation zhèngzhi xuéxí 政治學習 political study session zhǔchí jiéhūn 主持結婚 to preside at a marriage ceremony (i.e., to give the bride away) zǒng jīnglǐ 總經理 general manager (chief executive officer) dàngāo 蛋糕 cake qìsi 起司 cheese

1. B: Wài, zhèi shi Lǐbīnsī. 喂，這是禮賓司。 Hello. This is the Protocol Department. A: Wèi, wǒ shi Láidēng Dàshǐde mìshū. 喂，我是萊登大使的秘書。 Hello. I am Ambassador Leyden’s secretary. Lǐbīnsī, meaning “protocol department,” is made up of lǐ, “ceremony”; bīn, “honored guests”; and sī, “department.” Mìshū means “secretary” in two senses: 1) a high-ranking official 2) a clerk-typist.

2. A: Dàshǐ jiēzháo nǐmende qǐngtiě le. 大使接著你們的請帖了。 The ambassador received your invitation. The verb jiē, “to receive,” may be used for receiving guests, mail, messages, and phone calls. Jiēzháo (jiēdao), “to receive,” is a compound verb of result. The endings -zháo and -dào mean approximately the same thing: “to successfully obtain something” Jiēzháo and jiēdao occur in four ways: with le or méi (describing ACTUAL situations) and with -de- or -bu- (describing POTENTIAL situations) 我昨天去火車站接他，可是沒接着/接到。 Wǒ zuótiān qù huǒchēzhàn jiē ta, kěshi méi jiēzháo/jiēdào. Yesterday I went to the train station to get him, but I missed him. 你早一點兒去接他，就接得着。 Nǐ zǎo yìdiànr qù jiē ta, jiù jiēdezháo/jiēdedào. If you go a little earlier, (then) you can get him. 明天要是來晚了就接不着/接不到他的電話。 Míngtiān yàoshi láiwǎnle jiù jiēbuzháo/jiēbudào tāde diànhuà. If I am late tomorrow, (then) I won’t (be able to) receive his phone call. Qingtiě refers to a written invitation. The word is also pronounced qìngtiē.

3 A: Hěn kěxī, yīnwei tā yǒu shì, Báyuè jiǔ hào bù néng lái. 很可惜因爲他有事，八月九號不能來。 Unfortunately, because he has a previous engagement, he cannot come on August 9. A: Qǐng ni zhuǎngào Qiáo Bùzhǎng. 請你轉告譙部長. Please inform Minister Qiáo. A: Hěn bàoqiàn. 很抱歉。 I’m very sorry. Kěxī may be used as an exclamation: Zhēn kěxī! “That’s really too bad!” Zhuǎngào means “to pass along [word of something].” Zhuǎn literally means “to turn” or “to transmit.” Gào means “to tell,” as in gàosu. Bàoqiàn is an adjectival verb that means “to be sorry,” “to feel apologetic” (e.g., for not fulfilling one’s social obligations). Literally, bào means “to embrace [a feeling],” “to harbor [a feeling].” Qiàn means “apologetic feelings,” “guilt feelings.”

4. B: Hěn yíhàn, Láidēng Dàshǐ bù néng lái. 很遺憾，萊登大使不能來。 We very much regret that Ambassador Leyden cannot come. B: Wǒ tì ni zhuǎngào yíxià. 我替你轉告一下。 I will pass on the message for you. Yíhàn is a formal term used to express disappointment or regret that something desirable will not happen. Tì, “for,” “in place of,” is a prepositional verb meaning in place of another, or in another’s stead. 今天我替你教書。 Jīntiān wǒ tì nǐ jiāo shū. I will teach for you today, (i.e., in your place) 我替你去。 Wǒ tì nǐ qù. I will go for you. (i.e., instead of you) To make a sentence containing tì negative, place bù or méi in front of the prepositional verb. 我不要替你去買菜· Wǒ bú yào tì ni qù mǎi cài. I don’t want to go to buy groceries for you. 他沒替我來講話。 Tā méi tì wǒ lái jiǎng huà. He did not come to speak in my place. Both gěi and tì may be translated as “for.” Gěi, having a wider range of usage, would seem to overlap in some instances with tì. The more exact meaning of tì may be used to clarify a situation. 我給你買菜。 Wǒ gěi ni mai cài. I will buy groceries for you. (WHO PAYS? DID you VOLUNTEER ONLY TO SHOP, OR TO PAY ALSO?) 我替你買菜。 Wǒ tì ni mǎi cài. I will buy groceries for you. (CLARIFIED: you HAVE VOLUNTEERED ONLY TO SHOP, NOT TO PAY.) Yíxià, “a bit,” is not translated, in No. 4. This word, adds to the action in the sentence a casual feeling, similar to the effect of reduplicating a verb. (Notice that this use of yíxià is different from previous examples, where the word meant “for a little while.”)

5. A: Mǎ Mínglí, wǒmen yǒu jige tóngxué Xīngqīliù jìhua dào Chángchéng qù wánr. 馬明理我們有幾個同學星期六計劃到長城去玩兒。 Mǎ Mínglī, a few of us students are planning to go to the Great Wall Saturday for an outing. A: Nǐmen néng bu néng yìqǐ qù? 你們能不能一起去？ Can you go with us? Tongxué means “fellow student” or “graduate of the same institution.” “Fellow worker” or “colleague” is tóngshì. Chángchěng: Chang means “long,” and chéng is an old word for “city wall.” The full name of the Great Wall is Wànlǐ Chángchěng, literally “10,000 lǐ-long wall.” One lǐ is approximately one third of a mile. Néng, kéyi, and huì compared: All three of these auxiliary verbs— and therefore state verbs—mean “can” to some extent. The core meaning of néng is “can, “to be able to,” “to be capable of.” In some cases, néng may also mean “may,” “to be permitted,” “could be/is possible,” and “to know how to 我的頭疼了，不能看書。 Wǒde tóu téng, bù néng kàn shū. My head aches; I can’t read. 上課的時候，不能説話。 Shàng kède shíhou, bù néng shuō huà. Talking is not permitted during class. 芝加哥十一月就能下雪。 Zhījiāgē Shíyīyuè jiù néng xià xuě. It can snow in November in Chicago. (POSSIBILITY) 他真能説話。 Tā zhēn néng shuō huà. He really knows how to talk. The core meaning of kéyi is “can,” “may,” “to be permitted to.” Kéyi may also mean “could be/is possible.” The permission implied by kéyi may come from an outside authority or may be self-imposed. 你可以走了。 Nǐ kéyi zǒu le. You may leave. 從這個門進去，可以嗎？ Cóng zhèige mén jìnqu, kéyi ma? May one go in through this door? 那兒的飯可以吃。 Nàrde fàn kéyi chī. The food there may be eaten, (i.e., it is possible to eat it) 我不舒服，不可以游泳。 Wǒ bù shūfu, bù kéyi yóuyǒng. I don’t feel good; I can’t go swimming. (i.e., the speaker decides that he should not go) The core meaning of huì is “to know how to,” “can.” Huì is often used for an activity that was learned, in contrast to néng for activities that “can be done” because of a person’s physical condition (“Can she get out of bed yet?” Tā néng bu néng xià chuáng?). The other main use of huì is to indicate possibility. Here it overlaps with both néng and kéyi in meaning “could be/is possible.” 你的兒子會走路了嗎？ Nǐde érzi huì zǒu lù le ma? Can your son walk now? (BABY LEARNING TO WALK) 你會説英文嗎？ Nǐ huì shuō Yīngwén ma? Can you speak English? 明天會下雨。 Míngtiān huì xià yǔ. I t might/will rain tomorrow. 他不會不來。 Tā bú huì bù lái. It is not possible that he won’t come.

6. B: Zhēn bù qiǎo. 真不巧。 We really couldn’t make that. B: Nèitiān wǒmen yǒu shì, méi bànfa qù. 那天我們有事，沒辦法去。 We have a previous engagement that day; we have no way of going. Bù qiǎo literally means “inopportune,” “not timely.” Méi bànfa: Bànfa means “method,” “way.” Within a sentence, méi bànfa is used as “there is no way to...,” “there is no way that....” Used independently, méi bànfa means “nothing can be done,” “it can’t be helped,” “there is no way out.”

8. dàjiā 大家 everybody, everyone 9. jiēdào 接到 to receive (alternate form of jiēzháo) 10. tóngshì 同事 fellow worker, colleague 11. yīnggāi 應該 should, ought to, must Literally, dàjiā means “big family.” When dàjiā is the subject of a sentence, dōu is often placed before the verb. 大家都知道他是誰。 Dàjiā dōu zhīdao tā shi shéi. Everyone knows who he is. 謝謝大家。 Xièxie dàjiā. Thank you all. 請大家坐下來。 Qǐng dàjiā zuòxialai. Would everyone please sit down. 我們大家一起去吧。 Wǒmen dàjiā yìqǐ qù ba. Let’s all go together. Yīnggāi is an auxiliary verb which is followed by another verb in a sentence. Only bù is used to make yīnggāi negative. 不謝，這是我們應該做的事。 Bú xiè, zhèi shi wǒmen yīnggāi zuòde shi. Don’t thank us. This is something we should be doing. 這件事情很要緊，你應該馬上去辦。 Zhèijiàn shiqing hěn yàojin, nǐ yīnggāi mǎshàng qù bàn. This is a very important thing; you should (go) take care of it right away. 一個大學畢業的人，不應該有這樣的想法。 Yíge dàxué bìyède rén, bù yīnggāi yòu zhèiyangde xiǎngfa. Someone who has graduated from college shouldn’t think this way.

1. Tā zài Wàijiāobù Lǐbīnsī gōngzuò. 他在外交部礼宾司工作。 He works at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs [in] the Protocol Department. Cuewǔlóu 五楼 fifth floor Tā zài Wàijiāobù Lǐbīnsī gōngzuò. Tāde bàngōngshì zài wǔlóu. 他在外交部礼宾司工作。他的办公室在五楼。 He works at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs [in] the Protocol Department. His office is on the fifth floor. 2. Tā zài zhèr gōngzuò. 他在这儿工作。 He works here. Cueqīlóu 七楼 seventh floor Tāde bàngōngshì zài qīlóu. 他在这儿工作。他的办公室在七楼。 His office is on the 7th floor. 3. Tā zài Jiānádà Dàshiguǎn gōngzuò. 他在加拿大大使馆工作。 He works at the Canadian embassy. Cuelóushàng 楼上 upstairs Tā zài Jiānádà Dàshiguǎn gōngzuò. Tāde bàngōngshì zài lóushàng. 他在加拿大大使馆工作。他的办公室在楼上。 He works at the Canadian embassy. His office is upstairs. 4. Tā zài Běijīng gōngzuò. 他在北京工作。 He works in Běijīng. CueGuānghuá Lù 光华路 Guānghuá road Tā zài Běijīng gōngzuò. Tāde bàngōngshì zài Guānghuá Lù. 他在北京工作。他的办公室在光华路。 He works in Běijīng. His office is on Guānghuá Road. 5. Zhāng Tóngzhì zài Shànghǎi gōngzuò. 张同志在上海工作。 Comrade Zhāng works in Shànghǎi. CueNánjīng Lù 南京路 Nánjīng road Zhāng Tóngzhì zài Shànghǎi gōngzuò. Tāde bàngōngshì zài Nánjīng Lù. 张同志在上海工作。他的办公室在南京路。 Comrade Zhang works in Shanghai. His office is on Nánjīng Road. 6. Wáng Nǚshì zài yínháng gōngzuò. 王女士在银行工作。 Mrs. Wáng works in a bank. Cueèrlóu 二楼 first floor Wáng Nǚshì zài yínháng gōngzuò. Tāde bàngōngshì zài èrlóu. 王女士在银行工作。她的办公室二楼。 Ms. Wáng works in a bank. Her office is on the second floor. 7. Wèi Shàoxiào zài Wǔguānchù gōngzuò. 魏少校在物管処工作。 Major Wèi works at the défense attache office. Cuesānlóu 三楼 third floor Wèi Shàoxiào zài Wǔguānchù gōngzuò. Tāde bàngōngshì zài sānlóu. 魏少校在物管処工作。他的办公室在三楼。 Major Wei works at the défense attache office. His office is on the third floor.

1. Dàshǐ jiēzháo qǐngtiě le ma? 大使接着请帖了吗？ Has the ambassador received the invitation yet? Cuenot yet Dàshǐ hái méi jiēzháo qǐngtiě. 大使还没接着请帖。 The ambassador has not received the invitation yet. 2. Tāmen dōu jiēzháo qǐngtiě le ma? 他们都接着请帖了吗？ Have they all received the invitation yet? Cuenot all Tāmen méi dōu jiēzháo qǐngtiě. 他们没都接着请帖。 They have not received the invitation yet. 3. Nǐmen jiēzháo Bùzhāngde qǐngtiě le ma? 你们接着部长的请帖了吗？ Have you received the minister's invitation? Cueyes Wǒmen jiēzháo Bùzhāngde qǐngtiě le. 我们接着部长的请帖了。 We have received the minister's invitation. 4. Tāmen jiēzháo Dàshiguǎnde qǐngtiě le ma? 他们接着大使馆的请帖了吗？ Have they received the invitation from the embassy? Cuealready Tāmen yǐjīng jiēzháo Dàshiguǎnde qǐngtiě le. 他们已经接着大使馆的请帖了。 They have received an invitation from the embassy. 5. Nǐmen jiēzháo Dàshiguǎnde qǐngtiě le ma? 你们接着大使馆的请帖了吗？ Have you received the invitation from the embassy? Cuenot yet Wǒmen hai méi jiēzháo Dàshiguǎnde qǐngtiě. 我们还没接着大使馆的请帖。 We haven't received an invitation from the embassy. 6. Tā jiēzháo qǐngtiě le ma? 他接着请帖了吗？ Has he received the invitation yet? Cueno Tā méi jiēzháo qǐngtiě. 他没接着请帖。 He hasn’t received the invitation. 7. Nǐ jiēzháo Wǔguānchùde qǐngtiě le ma? 你接着物管処请帖了吗？ Have you received the invitation from the défense attache office? Cueyes Wǒ jiēzháo Wǔguānchùde qǐngtiě le. 我接着物管処请帖了。 I have received the invitation from the défense attache office.

1. Tā bù néng lái. 他不能来。 He cannot come. Cuekěxī 可惜 unfortunately Hěn kěxī, tā bù néng lái. 很可惜，他不能来。 Unfortunately, he cannot come. 2. Tā xué Zhōngguo huà xuéde bù hěn hǎo. 他学中国话学得不很好。 He doesn't learn Chinese very well. Cuekěxī 可惜 unfortunately Hěn kěxī, tā xué Zhōngguo huà xuéde bù hěn hǎo. 很可惜，他学中国话学得不很好。 Unfortunately, he does not learn Chinese very well. 3. Tā méi lái. 他没来。 He didn't come. Cueyíhàn 遗憾 regret Hěn yíhàn, tā méi lái. 很遗憾，他没来。 Sadly, he didn't show up. 4. Tāmen bù néng dōu lái. 他们不能都来。 They cannot all come. Cuebàoqiàn 抱歉 sorry Hěn bàoqiàn, tāmen bù néng dōu lái. 很抱歉，他们不能都来。 I'm sorry they couldn't all come. 5. Tāmen dōu bù lái. 他们都不来。 They are not coming. Cuekěxī 可惜 unfortunately Hěn kěxī, tāmen dōu bù lái. 很可惜，他们都不来。 Sadly, none of them are coming. 6. Tāmen dōu bù néng qù. 他们都不能去。 None of them can go. Cuebàoqiàn 抱歉 sorry Hěn bàoqiàn, tāmen dōu bù néng qù. 很抱歉，他们都不能去。 I'm sorry, but none of them can go. 7. Tā hái méi qù. 她好没去。 She still didn't go. Cueyíhàn 遗憾 regret Hěn yíhàn, tā hái méi qù. 很遗憾。她好没去。 Unfortunately. She didn't go.

1. Qǐng ni zhuǎngào Zhāng Bùzhǎng. 请你转告张部长。 Please inform Minister Zhāng. Cuewǒ 我 I Qǐng nǐ tì wǒ zhuǎngào Zhāng Bùzhǎng. 请你替我转告张部长。 Please inform Minister Zhāng for me. 2. Wǒ zhuǎngào Zhāng Bùzhǎng le. 我转告张部长了。 I informed Minister Zhāng. Cuenǐ 你 you Wǒ tì nǐ zhuǎngào Zhāng Bùzhǎng le. 我替你转告张部长了。 I'll inform Minister Zhāng for you. 3. Tā hái méi zhuǎngào Lǐ Kēzhǎng. 他还没转告李科长。 He didn't inform Lǐ Kēzhǎng yet. Cuenǐ 你 you Tā hái méi tì nǐ zhuǎngào Lǐ Kēzhǎng. 他还没替你转告李科长。 He hasn't inform Section Chief Lǐ for you yet. 4. Tā bù néng zhuǎngào Lǐ Kēzhǎng. 他不能转告李科长。 He cannot inform Section Chief Lǐ. Cuewǒ 我 I Tā bù néng tì wǒ zhuǎngào Lǐ Kēzhǎng. 他不能替我转告李科长。 He couldn't inform Section Chief Lǐ for me. 5. Wǒ yǐjīng zhuǎngào dàshǐ le. 我已经转告大使了。 have informed the ambassador. Cuenǐ 你 you Wǒ yǐjīng tì nǐ zhuǎngào dàshǐ le. 我已经替你经转告大使了。 I have already informed the ambassador for you. 6. Wǒ míngtiān jiù zhuǎngào dàshǐ. 我明天就转告大使。 I'll inform to the Ambassador tomorrow. Cuenǐ 你 you Wǒ míngtiān jiù tì nǐ zhuǎngào dàshǐ. 我明天就替你转告大使。 I will inform the ambassador for you tomorrow. 7. Tā shi zuótiān zhuǎngào dàshǐde. 他是昨天转告大使的。 He informed to the ambassador yesterday. Cuenǐ 你 you Tā shi zuótiān tì nǐ zhuǎngào dàshǐde. 他是昨天替你转告大使的。 He informed the ambassador for you yesterday.

1. Tǎmen míngtiān lái. 他们明天来。 They are coming tomorrow. Cueyìqǐ 一起 together Tǎmen míngtiān yìqǐ lái ma? 他们明天一起来吗？ Are they coming together tomorrow? 2. Tǎmen zuótiān lái le. 他们昨天来了。 They came yesterday. Cueyìqǐ 一起 together Tǎmen zuótiān shi yìqǐ láide ma? 他们昨天是一起来的吗？ Did they come together yesterday? 3. Tā míngtiān zǒu. 他明天走。 He leaves tomorrow. Cueyíge rén 一个人 alone Tā míngtiān yíge rén zǒu ma? 他明天一个人走吗？ Will he go alone tomorrow? 4. Tā zuótiān zǒu le. 他昨天走了。 He left yesterday. Cueyíge rén 一个人 alone Tā zuótiān shi yíge rén zǒude ma? 他昨天是一个人走的吗？ Did he go alone yesterday? 5. Wáng Tóngzhì míngtiān qù Nánjīng. 王同志明天去南京。 Comrade Wáng is going to Nánjīng tomorrow. Cuezuò huǒchē qù 坐火车去 by train Wáng Tóngzhì míngtiān zuò huǒchē qù Nánjīng ma? 王同志明天坐火车去南京吗？ Will Comrade Wáng take the train to Nanjing tomorrow? 6. Wáng Tóngzhì Xīngqīyī qù Shànghǎi le. 王同志星期一去上海了。 Comrade Wáng went to Shànghǎi on last Monday. Cuezuò fēijī qù 坐飞机去 by plane Wáng Tóngzhì Xīngqīyī shi zuò fēijī qù Shànghǎide ma? 王同志星期一是坐飞机去上海的吗？ Did Comrade Wáng fly to Shànghǎion Monday? 7. Tā qù le. 他去了。 He went. Cueyíge rén 一个人 alone Tǎ shi yíge rén qùde ma? 他是一个人去的吗？ Did he go alone?

1. Nèitiān wǒmen yǒu shì, bù néng qù. 那天我们有事，不能去。 That day we have a previous engagement; we cannot go. Cueméi bànfa qù 没办法去 no way of going Nèitiān wǒmen yǒu shì, méi bànfa qù. 那天我们有事，没办法去。 That day we have a previous engagement; we have no way of going. 2. Nèitiān wǒmen yǒu shì, méi bànfa qù. 那天我们有事，没办法去。 That day we have a previous engagement; there is no way to go. Cuebù néng yìqǐ qù 不能一起去 cannot go together Nèitiān wǒmen yǒu shì, bù néng yìqǐ qù. 那天我们有事，不能一起去。 That day we have a previous engagement; we cannot go together. 3. Nèitiān wǒmen yǒu shi, bù néng yiqǐ qù. 那天我们有事，不能一起去。 That day we have a previous engagement; we cannot go together. Cuebù néng dōu qù 不能都去 not all of us can go Nèitiān wǒmen yǒu shì, bù néng dōu qù. 那天我们有事，不能都去。 That day we have a previous engagement; we cannot go together. 4. Nèitiān wǒmen yǒu shì, bù néng dōu qù. 那天我们有事，不能都去。 That day we have a previous engagement; Cuedōu bù néng qù 都不能去 none of us can go. Nèitiān wǒmen yǒu shì, dōu bù néng qù. 那天我们有事，都不能去。 none of us can go 5. Nèitiān wǒmen yǒu shi, dōu bù néng qù. 那天我们有事，都不能去。 That day we have a previous engagement; no one can go. Cueméi qù 没去 did not go Nèitiān wǒmen yǒu shì, méi qù. 那天我们有事，没去。 That day we have a previous engagement; we didn't go. 6. Nèitiān wǒmen yǒu shì, méi qù. 那天我们有事，没去。 That day we have a previous engagement; we didn't go. Cueméi dōu qù 没都去 not all of us went Nèitiān wǒmen yǒu shì, méi dōu qù. 那天我们有事，没都去。 That day we have a previous engagement; not all of us went.