Standard Chinese, a modular approach, Orientation Module Unit 2, Production Tape 1.
In this unit, you'll learn how to ask and answer yes-no questions and questions about people's names.
You'll also learn how to exchange polite greetings.
On the comprehension tape of this unit, you'll learn about yes-no questions with Ma.
Here's a live example.
他是王太太吗?
他是王太太.
Again.
他是王太太吗?
他是王太太.
Here it is with the English following. Try translating it.
他是王太太吗?
Is she Mrs. Wang?
他是王太太.
She is Mrs. Wang.
Notice that the question here is exactly the same as the answer except for the yes-no question mark or ma at the end.
Try repeating the question.
Is she Mrs. Wang?
他是王太太吗?
他是王太太吗?
Here's another example of a yes-no question live.
你姓胡吗?
我姓胡.Again.
你姓胡吗?
我姓胡.What would this mean?
你姓胡.你姓胡.
It would mean your surname is Hu.
Now let's add ma. What does this mean?
你姓胡吗?
你姓胡吗?
It means is your surname Hu.
Adding ma turns a statement into a yes-no question.
Try repeating. Is your surname Hu?
你姓胡吗?
You know how to give affirmative answers to yes-no questions.
You answer them the same way you would answer who and what questions.
Now let's take up negative answers.
You'll remember that the negative of the verb 是 is 不是.
Listen for 不是 in this exchange, live.
你是马铭礼吗?
我不是马铭礼.Again.
你是马铭礼吗?
你姓胡吗?
你姓胡吗?
Again.你是马铭礼吗?
我不是马铭礼.
Here it is with the English.
你是马铭礼吗?
Are you 马铭礼?
我不是马铭礼.
I am not 马铭礼.
Try repeating 不是 the negative of 是.
Notice the rising tone on 不.
不是.不是.不是.
Try repeating the answer.
I am not 马铭礼 in the exchange.
你是马铭礼吗?
我不是马铭礼.Again.
你是马铭礼吗?
我不是马铭礼.
Now try answering.
I am not 马铭礼.Ahead of Mr. King and repeat after him.
你是马铭礼吗?
我不是马铭礼.Again.
你是马铭礼吗?
我不是马铭礼.
You'll remember that the negative of 性 to be surnamed works the same way.
Listen to this live exchange.
你是马铭礼吗?
我不信马铭礼.Again.
你是马铭礼吗?
我不信马铭礼.Try repeating 不信,the negative of 性.Again, notice the rising tone on 不.
不信.不信.不信.
Try repeating the answer.
My surname is not 胡 in the exchange.
你姓胡吗?
我不姓胡.Again.
你姓胡吗?
我不姓胡.
Now try answering.
My surname is not 胡.Ahead of Mr. King.
你姓胡吗?
我不姓胡.Again.
你姓胡吗?
我不姓胡.
In the following exchanges, Miss Hu is questioning Mr. King.
The only other person present is Mrs. Ma.
Take the part of Mr. King and answer ahead of him.
Answering in the negative whenever it is appropriate.
你是王大年吗?
我是王大年.
你姓王吗?
我姓王.
他是马先生吗?
他不是马先生.
你姓胡吗?
我不姓胡.
他是马铭礼太太吗?
他是马铭礼太太吗?
他是马铭礼太太.
他是马小姐吗?
他不是马小姐.
你是王先生吗?
我是王大年.
你姓马吗?
我不姓马.
Now listen to this live conversation.
你姓马吗?
不姓马.姓王.Again.
你姓马吗?
不姓马.姓王.
Notice that Mr. King does not put a subject in his answers.
It's obvious from the context that the subject is I.
Now you try it.
Answer Ms. Hu's question saying that your surname isn't Ma.
It's Wang.
你姓马吗?
不姓马.姓王.
Try it again.
你姓马吗?
不姓马.姓王.
Now let's turn to another topic.
How to ask for someone's surname in a polite way?
You've already learned how to ask someone's surname one way.
Listen.
你姓什么?
我姓王.translate it.
你姓什么?
What's your surname?
我姓王.
My surname's Wang.
Now listen to a more polite way to ask someone's surname.
名归姓.
我姓王.
Again.
名归姓.
我姓王.
You'll notice that the answer to the polite question is the same as the answer to the plain question.
你姓什么?
Essentially there is no difference in meaning, only a difference in formality.
Take the part of Daniel King and answer the polite question about your surname.
名归姓.
我姓王.
In the question 名归姓.
Politeness is expressed in two ways.
Instead of saying 你, a more polite form of the word you is used.
Listen to the speaker.
您.您.您.
Notice that 您 is in the rising tone.
While the plain form of the word you,你, is in the low tone.
Repeat the polite form of you after the speaker.
您.您.您.
The second way politeness is expressed in the question 名归姓.
is by using the respectful word for surname 归姓.
Literally precious surname.
Listen.
归姓.
归姓.
归姓.
Both syllables of 归姓 have the falling tone.
Try repeating it after the speaker.
归姓.
归姓.
归姓.
Now repeat after the speaker.
Your surname 您归姓.
您归姓.
Again 您归姓.
您归姓.
What's the polite form of you?
您.
What's the plain form for you?
你.
What's the polite word for surname 归姓?
归姓.
Now let's switch from the polite to the more personal and learn how to ask for someone's given name.
Listen to this exchange.
你叫什么?
我叫大年.
Again.
你叫什么?
我叫大年.
Again.
The verb in the question and answer is 叫 to be given named.
It has the falling tone.
Listen to be given named.
叫.
叫.
叫.
Repeat to be given named after the speaker.
叫.
叫.
叫.
Repeat the question.
What's your given name after the speaker?
你叫什么?
你叫什么?
Again.
你叫什么?
你叫什么?
How would you ask what's his given name?
他叫什么?
Now you take the part of Daniel King again and answer the following question.
你叫什么?
我叫大年.
Again.
你叫什么?
我叫大年.
Now someone is asking you about a person on the other side of the room whom you know is Ma Mingli.
Try answering his questions.
他请什么?
他请马.
他叫什么?
他叫明李.
Try it again.
他请什么?
他请马.
他叫什么?
他叫明李.
To review the various questions asking names, I'll give you the English and you give the corresponding Chinese.
Let's start.
Your surname?
您归姓.
What's your given name?
你叫什么?
What's your surname?
你姓什么?
My given name is Daniel.
我叫大年.
What's his surname?
他姓什么?
Your surname?
您归姓.
Let's turn now to other polite expressions, readings and the like. Listen to this live exchange.
你好啊.
我好.Again.
你好啊.我好.
Here it is with the English.
How are you?
你好啊.你好啊.
I'm fine.
我好.我好.
Try repeating the word for to be fine.
好.好.好.
Remember that 我,I, normally in the low tone becomes 我,in the rising tone before the low tone of 好.
The two low tones in a row is always avoided in this way. Try repeating, I'm fine. 我好.
Now try replying to Miss Hu and repeat the answer. 你好啊.我好.Again.你好啊.我好.
Let's continue the conversation. Listen. 你好啊.
你好啊.我好.你呢?
好.谢谢.Again.你好啊.我好.你呢?
好.谢谢.
Try repeating, and you? 你 is in the high pitch neutral tone.
你呢?你呢?你呢?
Now try replying to Miss Hu. Say I'm fine, and you?
你好啊.我好.你呢?Again.你好啊.我好.你呢?
Now let's go through the same conversation with the role switched. Try repeating. How are you? 你好啊.你好啊.你好啊.你好啊.
You'll remember that word for word. This is something like, you are fine question mark. Notice that the neutral tone of Ah is high pitched. Try repeating, how are you again? 你好啊.你好啊.你好啊.你好啊.
Try asking, how are you, and repeat? 你好啊.你好啊. Try repeating the word for thank you. 谢谢.
谢谢.谢谢.谢谢.
It starts with the same sound as 行. Repeat thank you again. 谢谢.谢谢.谢谢.谢谢.
Try saying thank you. 谢谢.
Try saying fine thank you. 好.谢谢.
Now try asking Miss Hu. How are you? And then reply to her question. 你好啊.我好.你呢?好.谢谢.Again.你好啊.我好.你呢?好.谢谢.
If you feel you need more practice saying the sentences we've covered on this tape, try translating the following English lines. The Chinese follows after the pause.
Are you Mrs. Wang? 你是王太太吗?
Is your surname Wang? 你姓王吗?
What's your surname? 你姓什么?
My surname is Wang. 我姓王. Is he Ma Ming Li? 他是马明李吗?
Your surname? 您归姓?
What's your given name? 你叫什么?
Is your comrade Fang? 他是方同志吗?
Your surname is Hu. 你姓胡?
Sir, your surname? 先生,您归姓?
Thank you. 谢谢.
You are Mrs. Hu Mei Ling? 你是Hu Mei Ling小姐?
This sir's name is Ma. 他姓马?
I'm Fang. 我好.
He is Mr. Ma Ming Li. 他是马明李先生.
How are you? 你好啊?
She is Mrs. Ma. 他是马太太.
What's his sir's name? 他姓什么?
And you? 你呢?
Miss, who are you? 小姐,你是谁?
She is Comrade Fang. 她是方同志吗?
This is the end of the tape. 这就是结束了.
And orientation module unit 2 production tape 1.