15 Unit 5

15.1 Introduction

15.1.1 Topics covered in this unit

  1. Date and Place of birth.

  2. Days of the week.

  3. Ages.

  4. The marker le for new situations.

15.1.2 Material you will need

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

  2. The C-2 and P-2 tapes.

  3. The 5D-1 tape.

15.2 References

15.2.1 Reference List

1. A: Āndésēn fūren, nǐ shi zài nǎr shēngde? 安德森夫人,你是在哪兒生的? Mrs. Andersen, where were you born?
B: Wǒ shi zài Dézhōu shēngde. 我是在得州生的。 I was born in Texas.
2. A: Nǐmen shi Xīngqīsì dàode ma? 你們是星期四到的嗎? Did you arrive on Thursday?
B: Bú shi, wǒmen shi Xīngqīwǔ dàode. 不是,我們是星期五到的。 No, we arrived on Friday.
3. A: Nǐmen xīngqījǐ zǒu? 你們星期幾走? What day of the week are you leaving?
B: Wǒmen Xīngqītiān zǒu. 我們星期天走。 We are leaving on Sunday.
4. A: Nǐ shi něinián shēngde? 你是哪年生的? What year are you born?
B: Wǒ shi yī jiǔ sān jiǔ nián shēngde. 我是一九三九年生的。 I was born in 1939.
5. A: Nǐ shi jǐyüè shēngde? 你是幾月生的? What month were you born?
B: Wǒ shi Qíyüè shēngde. 我是七月生的。 I was born in July.
6. A: Nǐ shi jǐhào shēngde? 你是幾號生的? What day of the month were you born?
B: Wǒ shi Sìhào shēngde. 我是四號生的。 I was born on the fourth.
7. A: Nǐ duó dà le? 你多大了? How old are you?
B: Wǒ èr shi sì le. 我二十四了。 I’m 24.
8. A: Nǐ duó dà le? 你多大了? How old are you?
B: Wǒ sān shi wǔ le. 我三十五了。 I’m 35.
9. A: Nǐmen nǚháizi jǐsuì le? 你們女孩子幾歲了? How old is your girl?
B: Tā básuì le. 她八歲了。 She’s eight years old.
10. A: Nǐmen nánháizi dōu jǐsuì le? 你們男孩子都幾歲了? How old are your boys?
B: Yíge jiǔsuì le, yíge liùsuì le. 一個九歲了, 一個六歲了。 One is nine, and one is six.

15.2.2 Vocabulary

duó dà 多大 how old
hòunián (hòunian) 後年 the year after next
jǐhào 幾號 what day of the month?
jīnnián (jīnnian) 今年 this year
jǐsuì 幾歲 how old
jǐyüè 幾月 what month
míngnián (míngnian) 明年 next year
něinián 哪年? which year
niánnián (niánnian) 年年 every year
qiánnián (qiánnian) 前年 the year before last
qǜnián (qǜnian) 去年 last year
shàngge yüè 上個月 last month
shēng to be born
-suì year (of age)
xiàge yüè 下個月 next month
Xīngqīèr 星期二 Tuesday
xīngqījǐ 星期幾 what day of the week
Xīngqīliù 星期六 Saturday
Xīngqīsān 星期三 Wednesday
Xīngqīsì 星期四 Thursday
Xīngqītiān, Xīngqīrì 星期天,星期日 Sunday
Xīngqīwǔ 星期五 Friday
Xīngqīyī 星期一 Monday
zheìge yüè 這個月 this month

15.2.3 Reference Notes

15.2.3.1 Notes on №1
1. A: Āndésēn fūren, nǐ shi zài nǎr shēngde? 安德森夫人,你是在哪兒生的? Mrs. Andersen, where were you born?
B: Wǒ shi zài Dézhōu shēngde. 我是在得州生的。 I was born in Texas.

The shi...de construction is used to focus on place expressions as well as on time and manner expressions.

shi zài Měiguó shēng -de. I was born in America. WHERE
shi zuótiān dào -de. I arrived yesterday. WHEN
shi yíge rén lái -de. I came alone. HOW

15.2.3.2 Notes on №2–3
2. A: Nǐmen shi Xīngqīsì dàode ma? 你們是星期四到的嗎? Did you arrive on Thursday?
B: Bú shi, wǒmen shi Xīngqīwǔ dàode. 不是,我們是星期五到的。 No, we arrived on Friday.
3. A: Nǐmen xīngqījǐ zǒu? 你們星期幾走? What day of the week are you leaving?
B: Wǒmen Xīngqītiān zǒu. 我們星期天走。 We are leaving on Sunday.

Days of the week:

Xīngqījǐ What day of the week?
Xīngqīyī Monday
Xīngqīèr Tuesday
Xīngqīsàn Wednesday
Xīngqīsì Thursday
Xingqīwǔ Friday
Xīngqīliù Saturday
Xīngqītiān Sunday

Until now, you have always seen , “how many,” at the beginning of a word (jǐge háizi, jǐwèi xiānsheng, jǐhào). In xīngqījǐ, -jǐ is at the end of the word. In both places, occupies the position of a number and acts like a number: xīngqījǐ, “What number day of the week?”

15.2.3.3 Notes on №4
4. A: Nǐ shi něinián shēngde? 你是哪年生的? What year are you born?
B: Wǒ shi yī jiǔ sān jiǔ nián shēngde. 我是一九三九年生的。 I was born in 1939.

The word for “year,” -nián is a bound word (like the word for “day,” -tiān). The question word něinián, “which year,” is formed with the bound word něi “which.”

The year is given as a sequence of digits, so that 1972, yījiǔqīèrnián would literally be “one-nine-seven-two year.” In a sequence of digits, the word èr- (not liǎng- is used for 2, and the words for 1, 7, and 8 keep their basic high tones. (See notes on No. 10 for cases in which these tones change.)

15.2.3.4 Notes on №5
5. A: Nǐ shi jǐyüè shēngde? 你是幾月生的? What month were you born?
B: Wǒ shi Qíyüè shēngde. 我是七月生的。 I was born in July.

Months:

jǐyüè? What month?
yíyüè January qíyüè July
èryüè February báyüè August
sānyüè March jiǔyüè September
sìyüè April shíyüè October
wǔyüè May shǐyīyüè November
liùyüè June shíèryüè December

Since the names of the months are formed with numbers, jǐ- “how many,” is the appropriate question word to use for “what month.” Jǐ- is used in Běijīng to ask for a number expected to be around 10 or 11.

Notice the tones on the words for 1, 7 and 8, which most Peking speakers pronounce as Rising before Falling-tone words such as yüè. The syllable -yī- in the word for “November,” however, is usually pronounced with the High tone: shíyīyüè (See the notes on No, 10 for a summary of tone changes.)

15.2.3.5 Notes on №6
6. A: Nǐ shi jǐhào shēngde? 你是幾號生的? What day of the month were you born?
B: Wǒ shi Sìhào shēngde. 我是四號生的。 I was born on the fourth.

Days of the month are expressed by the number of the day followed by the bound word -haò. You will remember that -hào is also used in giving addresses.

In asking about days of the month, “how many,” is used, even though the question may be answered by a number as high as 31. The month and day of the month may be given together. For example:

Nǐ shi jǐyüè jǐhào shēngde? What is your month and day of birth?
Wǒ shi bāyüè jiǔhào shēngde. I was born on August 9.
15.2.3.6 Notes on №7–8
7. A: Nǐ duó dà le? 你多大了? How old are you?
B: Wǒ èr shi sì le. 我二十四了。 I’m 24.
8. A: Nǐ duó dà le? 你多大了? How old are you?
B: Wǒ sān shi wǔ le. 我三十五了。 I’m 35.

Nǐ duó dà le? “How old are you?” literally means “How big (in years of age) are you?” This is a common way to ask a person’s age. The question is appropriate for asking the age of a child or a young adult, but the expression is not considered polite enough for asking an older adult his age. (More formal ways to ask a person’s age will be introduced on the C-2, P-2, and drill tapes.)

The marker le which ends these sentences calls attention to the fact that something is true now that was not true before.

🛈︎
Note

Ages may also be asked and given without using the new-situation le.

Le has only this new-situation meaning in these sentences. It has no meaning of completion, since in fact, there is no completed event.

One way to reflect the new-situation le in the English translation is to add the word “now”: “I’m 35 now.” Essentially, however, “new situation” (sometimes called “change of state”) is a Chinese grammatical category with no simple English equivalent.

The marker le for new situations is always found at the end of a sentence and is sometimes called “sentence le.”

Notice that neither answer contains a verb. The verb that has been left out is yǒu “to have.” The verb may not be left out in the negative: Wǒ méiyou sānshiwǔ. “I’m not 35.”

15.2.3.7 Notes on №9
9. A: Nǐmen nǚháizi jǐsuì le? 你們女孩子幾歲了? How old is your girl?
B: Tā básuì le. 她八歲了。 She’s eight years old.

-suì: In the traditional Chinese system of giving ages, a person is one -sui old at birth and becomes another -suì old on the New Year’s following his birth. A baby born the day before New Year’s would thus be two -suì old on the day after his birth. Most Chinese, however, have now switched to the Western style of computing age and use -suì just as we use years old.

The word -suì like the word -hào, is a bound word shoving what kind of thing a number is counting.

In a date or address you are listing a number and use èr for 2, while in giving an age you are counting an amount of something and use liǎng: liǎngsuì, “two years old.”

15.2.3.8 Notes on №10
10. A: Nǐmen nánháizi dōu jǐsuì le? 你們男孩子都幾歲了? How old are your boys?
B: Yíge jiǔsuì le, yíge liùsuì le. 一個九歲了, 一個六歲了。 One is nine, and one is six.

The word dōu is used when “both” or “all” would probably not be used in English, namely, when expecting different information about each of the things (or persons) being discussed. “All” tends to be collective, asking or telling about something the members of a group have in common. Dōu can be distributive, asking or telling something about the members of a group as individuals.

Yí, qí, bá: In the spoken language of Peking, the basic High tones of , and usually change to Rising tones before Falling-tone words (such as -hào, yüè, and -suì). This change is most common when the complete number given has only one digit. When there are two or more digits, the and of numbers ending in 7 and 8 are more likely to have Rising tones than the of numbers ending in 1 (which is usually in the High tone).

Compare:

shíqíhào the 17th
shíyīyüè November

In all cases, the High tone is more likely to be kept in rapid speech. You may also encounter speakers who never make changes in the tones of , and .

Remember that, in the digit-by-digit form of giving the year, the numbers 1, 7, and 8 keep their basic High tones: yījiǔbāliùnián 1986.

15.2.3.9 Notes on additional required vocabulary
Days qiántiān zuótiān jīntiān mīngtiān hòutiān
Years qiánnián qǜnián jīnnián míngnián hòunián

In the Chinese system of expressing relative time in terms of days and years, only one pair of terms is not parallel: zuótiān “yesterday,” and qǜnián “last year.”

🛈︎
Note

added by Eric Streit with the explanations given by a Chinese native about the drills I and the use of suìshu 歲數 and Niánjì 年紀

  • suìshu 歲數 and Niánjì 年紀 usually and mostly refer to OLDER people that you ask for. suìshu 歲數 is very spoken though. And less polite.

  • For kids especially, you only need to do 多大了? duó dà le? or 幾歲了? jǐsuì le?

  • with 幾歲了? neither suìshu 歲數 nor Niánjì 年紀 .

15.3 Drills

15.3.1  Response Drill

Table 15.3.1.1 According to the cues, give an answer to each shi...de question.
Question Cue Answer
1.

請問,他/她是在哪兒生的?

Qǐngwèn, tā shi zài nǎr shēngde?

May I ask, where was he/she born?

德州

Dézhōu

Texas

他/她是在德州生的。

Tā shi zài Dézhōu shēngde.

He/she was born in Texas.

2.

請問,你愛人是在哪兒生的?

Qǐngwèn, nǐ àiren shi zài nǎr shēngde?

May I ask, where was your spouse born?

加州

Jiāzhōu

California

他/她是在加州生的。

Tā shi zài Jiāzhōu shēngde.

He/she was born in California.

3.

請問,他/她愛人是在哪兒生的?

Qǐngwèn, tā àiren shi zài nǎr shēngde?

May I ask, where was his/her spouse born?

上海

Shànghǎi

Shànghǎi

他/她是在上海生的。

Tā shi zài Shànghǎi shēngde.

He/she was born in Shànghǎi.

4.

請問,你孩子是在哪兒生的?

Qǐngwèn, nǐ háizi shi zài nǎr shēnde?

May I ask, where was your child born?

四川

Sìchuān

Sìchuān

他/她是在四川生的。

Tā shi zài Sìchuān shēngde.

He/she was born in Sìchuān

5.

請問,你們女孩子是在哪兒生的?

Qǐngwèn, nǐmen nǚháizi shi zài nǎr shēngde?

May I ask, where was your daughter born?

北京

Běijīng

Běijīng

她是在北京生的。

Tā shi zài Běijīng shēngde.

She was born in Běijīng.

6.

請問,你們男孩子是在哪兒生的?

Qǐngwèn, nǐmen nánháizi shi zài nǎr shēngde?

May I ask, where was your son born?

我住在馬薩諸塞州

mǎsàzhūsāi zhōu (Mázhōu)

Massachusetts

他是在我住在馬薩諸塞州生的。

Tā shi zài mǎsàzhūsāi zhōu (Mázhōu) shēngde.

He was born in Massachusetts.

7.

請問,曾先生是在哪兒生的?

Qǐngwèn, Zēng xiānsheng shi zài nǎr shēngde?

May I ask, where was Mr. Zēng born?

紐約

Niǔ Yüē

New York

他是在紐約生的。

Tā shi zài Niǔ Yüē shēngde.

He was born in New York.

15.3.2  Substitution drill

Table 15.3.2.1 Transform the question according to the model.
Question Answer Answer
1.

請問,你是什麼時候走?

Qǐngwèn, nǐ shénme shíhou zǒu?

May I ask, when are you leaving?

哪天

něitiān

what day

請問,你哪天走?

Qǐngwèn, nǐ něitiān zǒu?

May I ask, what day are you leaving?

2.

請問,你哪天走?

Qǐngwen, nǐ něitiān zǒu?

May I ask, what day are you leaving?

幾月

jǐyüe

what month

請問,你幾月走?

Qǐngwèn, nǐ jǐyüe zǒu?

May I ask, what month are you leaving?

3.

請問,你幾月走?

Qǐngwèn, nǐ jǐyüe zǒu?

May I ask, what month are you leaving?

幾號

jǐhào

what day of the month

請問,你幾號走?

Qǐngwèn, nǐ jǐhào zǒu?

May I ask, what day of the month are you leaving?

4.

請問,你幾號走?

Qǐngwèn, nǐ jǐhào zǒu?

May I ask, what day of the month are you leaving?

哪年

něinián

what year

請問,你哪年走?

Qǐngwèn, nǐ něinián zǒu?

May I ask, what year are you leaving?

5.

請問,你哪年走?

Qǐngwèn, nǐ něinián zǒu?

May I ask, May I ask, what year are you leaving?

幾月幾號

jǐyüe jǐhào

what month and what day of the month

請問,你幾月幾號走?

Qǐngwèn, nǐ jǐyüe jǐhào zǒu?

May I ask, what month, what day of the month are you leaving?

6.

請問,你幾月幾號走?

Qǐngwèn, nǐ jǐyüe jǐhào zǒu?

May I ask, what month, what day of the month are you leaving?

星期幾

xīngqījǐ

what day of the week

請問,你星期幾走?

Qǐngwèn, nǐ xīngqījǐ zǒu?

May I ask, what day of the week are you leaving?

15.3.3  Substitution drill

Table 15.3.3.1 Transform the statement according to the model.
Statement Cue Answer
1.

我們星期一走。

Wǒmen xīngqīyǐ zǒu.

We are leaving on Monday.

星期二

Xīngqīèr

Tuesday

我們星期二走。

Wǒmen Xīngqīèr zǒu.

We are leaving on Tuesday.

2.

我們星期二走。

Wǒmen Xīngqīèr zǒu.

We are leaving on Tuesday.

星期三

Xīngqīsān

Wednesday

我們星期三走。

Wǒmen Xīngqīsān zǒu.

We are leaving on Wednesday.

3.

我們星期三走。

Wǒmen Xīngqīsān zǒu.

We are leaving on Wednesday.

星期四

Xīngqīsì

Thursday

我們星期四走。

Wǒmen Xīngqīsì zǒu.

We are leaving on Thursday.

4.

我們星期四走。

Wǒmen Xīngqīsì zǒu.

We are leaving on Thursday.

星期幾

Xīngqījǐ

what day of the week

我們星期幾走?

Wǒmen Xīngqījǐ zǒu?

What day of the week are we leaving?

5.

我們星期幾走?

Wǒmen Xīngqījǐ zǒu?

What day of the week are we leaving?

星期五

Xīngqīwǔ

Friday

我們星期五走。

Wǒmen Xīngqīwǔ xǒu.

We are leaving on Friday.

6.

我們星期五走。

Wǒmen Xīngqīwǔ zǒu.

We are leaving on Friday.

星期天

Xīngqītiān

Sunday

我們星期天走。

Wǒmen Xīngqītiān zǒu.

We are leaving on Sunday.

7.

我們星期天走。

Wǒmen Xīngqītiān zǒu.

We are leaving on Sunday.

星期六

Xīngqīliù

Saturday

我們星期六走。

Wǒmen Xīngqīliù zǒu.

We are leaving on Saturday.

8.

我們星期六走。

Wǒmen Xīngqīliù zǒu.

We are leaving on Saturday.

星期一

Xīngqīyī

Monday

我們星期一走。

Wǒmen Xīngqīyī zǒu.

We are leaving on Monday.

15.3.4  Response drill

Table 15.3.4.1 According to the cues, give a response to each question.
Question Cue Answer
1.

你孩子是哪天生的?

Nǐ háizi shi něinián shēngde?

What year was your child born?

1971

他/她是一九七一年生的。

Tā shi yījiǔqīyīnián shēngde.

He/she was born in 1971.

2.

李先生是哪年生的?

Lǐ xiānsheng shi něinián shēngde?

What year was Mr. born?

1944

他是一九四四年生的。

Tā shi yījiǔsìsìnián shēngde.

He was born in 1944.

3.

你弟弟是哪年生的?

Nǐ dìdi shi něinián shēngde?

What year was your younger brother born?

1940

他是一九四零年生的。

Tā shi yījiǔsìlíngnián shēngde.

He/she was born in 1940.

4.

那個孩子是哪年生的?

Nèige háizi shi něinián shēngde?

What year was that child born?

1967

他/她是一九六七年生的。

Tā shi yījiǔliùqīnián shēngde.

He/she was born in 1967.

5.

這個男孩子是哪年生的?

Zhèige nánháizi shi něiniān shēngde?

What year was this boy born?

1968

他是一九六八生的。

Tā shi yījiǔliùbānián shēngde.

He was born in 1968.

6.

那個人是哪年生的?

Nèige rén shi něinián shēngde?

What year was that person born?

1927

他/她是一九二七年生的。

Tā shi yījiǔèrqīnián shēngde.

He/she was born in 1927.

7.

他/她是哪年生的?

Tā shi něinián shēngde?

What year was he/she born?

1933

他/她是一九三三年生的。

Tā shi yījiǔsānsānnián shēngde.

He/she was born in 1933.

15.3.5  Response drill

Table 15.3.5.1 According to the cues, give a response to each question.
Question Cue Answer
1.

他/她是幾月生的?

Tā shi jǐyüè shēngde?

What month was he/she born?

二月

Èryüe

February

他/她是二月生的。

Ta shi Èryüè shēngde.

He/she was born in February.

2.

他/她愛人是幾月生的?

Tā àiren shi jǐyüè shēngde?

What month was his/her spouse born?

五月

Wǔyüè

May

他/她是五月生的。

Tā shi Wǔyüè shēngde.

He/she was born in May.

3.

張同志是幾月生的?

Zhāng tóngzhì shi jǐyüè shēngde?

What month was Comrade Zhāng born?

四月

Sìyüè

April

他/她是四月生的。

Tā shi Sìyüè shēngde.

He was born in April.

4.

王同志是幾月生的?

Wāng tóngzhì shi jǐyüè shēngde?

What month was Comrade Wāng born?

十一月

Shíyīyüè

November

他/她是十一月生的。

Tā shi Shíyīyüè shēngde.

He/she was born in November.

5.

你愛人是幾月生的?

Nǐ àiren shi jǐyüè shēngde?

What month was your spouse born?

八月

Bāyüè

August

他/她是八月生的。

Tā shi Bāyüè shēngde.

He/she was born in August.

6.

你哥哥是幾月生的?

Nǐ gēge shi jǐyüè shēngde?

What month was your older brother born?

十二月

Shíèryüè

December

他是十二月生的。

Tā shi Shíèryüè shēngde.

He was born in December.

7.

他/她妹妹是幾月生的?

Ta mèimei shi jǐyüè shēngde?

What month was your younger sister born?

六月

Liùyüè

June

她是六月生的。

Tā shi Liùyüè shēngde.

She was born in June.

15.3.6  Expansion drill

Table 15.3.6.1 According to the cues, give a response to each statement.
Statement Cue Answer
1.

他/她是一月生的。

Tā shi yíyüè shēngde.

He/she was born in January.

一號

yíhào

first

他/她是一月一號生的。

Tā shi yíyüè yíhào shēngde.

He/she was born in January first.

2.

他/她是一月生的。

Tā shi yíyüè shēngde.

He/she was born in January.

十一號

shíyīhào

11th

他/她是一月十一號生的。

Tā shi yíyüè shíyīhào shēngde.

He/she was born on the 11th of January.

3.

他/她是一月生的。

Tā shi yíyüè shēngde.

He/she was born in January.

二十六號

èrshiliùhào

26th

他/她是一月二十六號生的。

Tā shi yíyüè èrshiliùhào shēngde.

He/she was born on the 26th of January.

4.

他/她是一月上的。

Ta shi yíyüè shēngde.

He/she was born in January.

七號

qīhào

7th

他/她是一月七號生的。

Tā shi yíyüè qīhào shēngde.

He/she was born on the 7th of January.

5.

他/她是一月生的。

Tā shi yíyüè shēngde.

He/she was born in January.

十四號

shísìhào

14th

他/她是一月十四號生的。

Tā shi yíyüè shísìhào shēngde.

He/she was born on the 14th of January.

6.

他/她是一月生的。

Tā shi yíyüè shēngde.

He/she was born in January.

二十八號

èrshibāhào

28th

他/她是一月二十八號生的。

Tā shi yíyüè èrshibāhào shēngde.

He/she was born on the 28th of January.

7.

他/她是一月生的。

Tā shi yíyüè shēngde.

He/she was born in January.

十號

shíhào

10th

他/她是一月十號生的。

Tā shi yíyüè shíhào shēngde.

He/she was born on the 10th of January.

15.3.7  Response drill

Table 15.3.7.1 According to the cues, give a response to each question.
Question Cue Answer
1.

你們女孩子幾歲了?

Nǐmen nǚhāizi jǐsuì le?

How old is your daughter?

5

她五歲了。

Ta wǔsuì le.

She is five.

2.

他們男孩子幾歲了?

Tāmen nánháizi jǐsuì le?

How old is their boy?

11

他十一歲了。

Tā shíyīsuì le.

He is 11.

3.

胡太太女孩子幾歲了?

Hú tàitai nǚháizi jǐsuì le?

How old is Mrs. daughter?

13

她十三歲了。

Tā shísānsuì le.

She is 13.

4.

他/她妹妹幾歲了?

Ta mèimei jǐsuì le?

How old is his/her younger sister?

7

她七歲了。

Ta qísuì le.

She is 7.

5.

你男孩子幾歲了?

Nǐ nánháizi jǐsuì le?

How old is your boy?

6

他六歲了。

Ta liùsuì le.

He is 6.

6.

你女孩子幾歲了?

Nǐ nǚháizi jǐsuì le?

How old is your daughter?

4

她四歲了。

Tā sìsuì le .

She is 4.

7.

那個男孩子幾歲了?

Nèige nánháizi jǐsuì le?

How old is that boy?

8

他八歲了。

Tā bāsuì le.

He is 8.

15.3.8  Response drill

Table 15.3.8.1 According to the cues, give a response to each question.
Question Cue Answer
1.

他/她多大了?

Tā duó dà le?

How old is he/she?

35

他/她三十五了。

Tā sānshiwǔ le.

He/she is 35.

2.

你哥哥多大了?

Nǐ gēge duó dà le?

How old is your older brother?

44

他四十四了。

Tā sìshisì le.

He is 44.

3.

你弟弟多大了?

Nǐ dìdi duó dà le?

How old is your younger brother?

30

他三十了。

Tā sānshi le.

He is 30.

4.

他/她姐姐多大了?

Ta jiějie duó dà le?

How old is his/her older sister?

47

她四十七了。

Tā sìshiqī le.

She is 47.

5.

你妹妹多大了?

Nǐ mèimei duó dà le?

How old is your younger sister?

32

她三十二了。

Tā sānshièr le.

She is 32.

6.

他/她愛人多大了?

Ta àiren duó dà le?

How old is his/her spouse?

28

他/她二十八了。

Tā èrshibā le.

He/she is 28.

7.

王同志多大了?

Wáng tóngzhì duó dà le?

How old is Comrade Wáng?

41

他四十一了。

Ta sìshiyī le.

He/she is 41.

15.3.9  Response drill

Table 15.3.9.1 According to the cues, give a response to each question.
Question Cue Answer
1.

您母親多大歲數了?

Nín mǔqin duó dà suìshu le?

How old is your mother?

65

她六十五歲了。

Tā liùshiwǔsuì le.

She is 65.

2.

您父親多大歲數了?

Nín fùqin duódà suìshu le?

How old is your father?

67

她六十七歲了。

Tā liùshiqīsuì le.

He is 67.

3.

他/她姐姐多大歲數了?

Tā jiějie duódà suìshu le?

How old is his/her older sister?

46

她四十六歲了。

Tā sìshiliùsuì le.

She is 46.

4.

他/她哥哥多大歲數了?

Tā gēge duó dà suìshu le?

How old is his/her older brother?

44

他四十四歲了。

Tā sìshisìsuì le.

He is 44.

5.

張先生多大 歲數了?

Zhāng xiānsheng duódà suìshu le?

How old is is Mr. Zhāng?

72

他七十二歲了。

Tā qīshièrsuì le.

He is 72.

6.

王太太多大歲數了?

Wáng tàitai duó dà suìshu le?

How old is Mrs. Wáng?

59

她五十九歲了。

Tā wǔshijiǔsuì le.

She is 59.

7.

王太太妹妹多大歲數了?

Wáng tàitai mèimei duó dà suìshu le?

How old is Mrs. Wáng’s younger sister?

58

她五十八歲了。

Tā wǔshibāsuì le.

She is 58.

15.3.10  Substitution drill

Table 15.3.10.1 Substitute shàngge yüè, “last month” (May), zhèige yüè, “this month” (June), or xiàge yüè, “next month” (July), according to the month mentioned in the speaker’s sentence.
Statement Answer
1.

他/她是五月來的。

Tā shi wǔyüè láide.

He/she came in May.

哦。他/她山個月來的。

Où. Tā shi shàngge yüè láide.

Oh. He/she came last month.

2.

他/她七月來。

Tā qíyüè lái.

He/she is coming in July.

哦。他/她下個月來。

Où. Tā xiàge yüè lái.

Oh. He/she is coming next month.

3.

他/她六月來。

Tā liùyüè lái.

He/she is coming in June.

哦。他/她這個月來。

Où. Tā zhèige yüè lái.

Oh. He/she is coming this month.

4.

他/她是六月來的。

Tā shi liùyüè láide.

He/she is came in June.

哦。他/她這個月來的。

Où. Tā shi zhèige yüè láide.

Oh. He/she came in June.

6.

他/她是五月到的。

Tā shi wǔyüè dàode.

He/she arrived in May.

哦。他/她是上個月到的。

Où. Tā shi shàngge yüè dàode.

Oh. He/she is arrived last month.

7.

他/她是六月走的。

Tā shi liùyüè zǒude.

He/she left on June.

哦。他/她是這個月走的。

Où. Tā shi zhèige yüè zǒude.

Oh. He/she left this month.

15.3.11  Transformation drill

Table 15.3.11.1 Each of the speaker’s statements is the answer to a question. After hearing each answer, ask the question which could have prompted the response.
Statement Question
1.

他/她是一九三五年生的。

Tā shi yījiǔsānwǔnián shēngde.

He/she was born in 1935.

他/她是哪年生的?

Tā shi něinián shēngde?

What year was he/she born?

2.

他/她是四月來的。

Tā shi sìyüè láide.

He/she came in April.

他/她是幾月來的?

Tā shi jǐyüè láide?

What month did he/she come?

3.

他/她是星期五走的。

Tā shi xīngqīwǔ zǒude.

He/she left on Friday.

他/她是星期幾走的?

Tā shi xīngqījǐ zǒude?

What day of the week did he/she leave?

4.

他/她是七號到的。

Tā shi qīhào dàode.

He/she arrived on the seventh.

他/她是幾號到的?

Tā shi jǐhào dàode?

What day of the month did he/she arrive?

5.

他/她是一九七四年來的。

Tā shi yījiǔqīsìnián láide.

He/she came in 1974.

他/她是哪年來的?

Tā shi něinián láide?

What year did he/she come?

6.

他/她是星期天走的。

Tā shi xīngqītiān zǒude.

He/she left on Sunday.

他/她是星期幾走的?

Tā shi xīngqījǐ zǒude?

What day did he/she leave.

7.

他/她是九月生的。

Tā shi jiǔyüè shēngde.

He/she was born in September.

他/她是幾月生的?

Tā shi jǐyüè shēngde?

What month was he/she born?