Modern Mandarin Chinese: The Routledge Course

Vocabulary

Dialogue Part A Vocabulary

Audio file					Simplified	Traditional
	Báishí qiáo	白 shí qiáo	White Stone Bridge	place name	白石桥	白石橋
	cóng		from	preposition	从	從
	dào		to	preposition	到	到
	diànyǐng	电yǐng	movie	noun	电影	電影
	diànyǐng yuàn	电yǐng yuàn	movie theater	noun	电影院	電影院
	dìtiě		subway	noun	地铁	地鐵
	Dōng Sì	东四	Dong Si (location in Beijing)	place name	东四	東四
	fànguǎn	饭馆	restaurant	noun	饭馆	飯館
	fāngxiàng		direction	noun	方向	方向
	guójiā	国家	national, nation, country	noun	国家	國家
	háishi	还是	or	conjunction	还是	還是
	hào	号	number (for buses and trains); 号mǎ (telephone) number	classifier	号	號
	mén		door, gate	noun	门	門
	qiáo		bridge	noun	桥	橋
	shàng	上	go up, get on (a vehicle)	verb	上	上
	shí		stone	noun	石	石
	Tiāntán Gōngyuán	天tán gōngyuán	Temple of Heaven Park	place name	天坛公园	天壇公園
	wǎng		towards	preposition	往	往
	xià	下	go down, get off (a vehicle)	verb	下	下
	xiàn		line (train line, subway line)	noun	线	線
	zìjǐ		self	pronoun	自己	自己

Dialogue Part B Vocabulary

Audio file					Simplified	Traditional
	chàbuduō	chà不多	almost	adjectival verb	差不多	差不多
	duō cháng shíjiān	多 cháng 时jiān	how much time?, how long?	question phrase	多长时间	多長時間
	jiǔ		long time	adjectival verb	久	久
	shíjiān	时jiān	time	noun	时间	時間
	xiǎoshí	小时	hour	noun	小时	小時
	zài	在	at, in, on	preposition	在	在
	zhǐ hǎo	只好	only thing to do is, best thing to do is	adjectival verb phrase	只好	只好
	zhōngtóu		hour	noun	钟头	鐘頭

Dialogue Part C Vocabulary

Audio file					Simplified	Traditional
	děng		wait	verb	等	等
	Fútè		Ford	Proper noun	福特	福特
	jiē		fetch a person	verb	接	接
	kāi	开	drive, open	verb	开	開
	kāi chē	开车	drive a car	verb + object	开车	開車
	liàng		classifier for cars	classifier	辆	輛
	ménkǒu	mén口	doorway (the mouth of the door)	noun	门口	門口
	piào		ticket	noun	票	票
	yǐhòu	以hòu	afterward	noun	以后	以後
	yínsè	yínsè	silver colored	adjectival verb	颜色	顏色

Dialogue

Audio file	Dialogue
	大为: 星期天下午小文要跟美丽去买东西。她们要cóng 市中心去你家，suǒ以我得zìjǐ去。Cóng sùshè dào 你家怎么走?	大为: 星期天下午小文要跟美丽去买东西。她们要从市中心去你家所以我得自己去。从宿舍到你家怎么走?
	Guóqiáng: 你想坐dìtiě 还是想坐 gōnggòng qì车呢？	国强: 你想坐地铁还是想坐公共汽车呢？
	大为: Dìtiě快。我坐 dìtiě吧。	大为: 地铁快。我坐地铁吧。
	Guóqiáng: 好。你在Běijīng大学东mén zhàn 上车。上四号 xiàn，wǎng市中心fāngxiàng走。	国强: 好。你在北京大学东门站上车。上四号线，往市中心方向走。
	大为: 坐几zhàn？	大为: 坐几站?
	Guóqiáng:坐五zhàn，在Guó家图书馆zhàn huàn九号xiàn。Wǎng nán走，坐一zhàn，在Bái shí qiáo lù下车，再huàn一次车，huàn六号xiàn。	国强: 坐五站，在国家图书馆站换九号线。往南走，坐一站，在白石桥路下车，再换一次车，换六号线。大为: 往哪个方向走？
	大为: Wǎng哪个fāngxiàng走？	大为: 往哪个方向走？
	Guóqiáng: Wǎng东走，坐六zhàn，在东四zhàn huàn五号xiàn，wǎng nán走，坐四zhàn。	国强: 往东走，坐六站，在东四站换五号线，往南走，坐四站。
	大为: 在哪儿下车？	大为: 在哪儿下车？
	Guóqiáng: 在天tán东mén zhàn下车。在那儿有一个电yǐng yuàn、一个书diàn、还有一个日本饭馆。我家离天tán Gōngyuán很近。	国强: 在天坛东门站下车。在那儿有一个电影院、一个书店、还有一个日本饭馆。我家离天坛公园很近。

Audio file	Dialogue
	大为: Cóng sùshè dào天tán东mén zhàn要坐多 cháng 时jiān？	大为: 从宿舍到天壇东门站要坐多长时间？
	Guóqiáng: 你得坐chà不多一个zhōngtóu。	国强: 你得坐差不多一个钟头。
	大为: 要一个小时啊！那么jiǔ ！好吧，我只好在车上听yīnyuè了。	大为: 要一个小时啊！那么久！好吧，我只好在车上听音乐了。

Audio file	Dialogue
	大为: Dìtiě piào 多少钱一张？	大为: 地铁票多少钱一张？
	Guóqiáng: 三块钱一张，不贵。你可以在 dìtiě zhàn 买。	国强: 三块钱一张，不贵。你可以在地铁站买。
	大为: Cóng 天tán东门zhàn dào你家怎么走?	大为: 从天壇东门站到你家怎么走?
	Guóqiáng: 你dào了车zhàn mén口以hòu 给我打电话。在那儿děng 我。我开车去 jiē 你。	国强: 你到了车站门口以后给我打电话。在那儿等我。我开车去接你。
	大为: 好, 你的车是什么yánsè的？	大为: 好, 你的车是什么颜色的？
	Guóqiáng: 我开我爸的车, 是一liàng yínsè 的 Fútè。你有我家的电话号mǎ吧。	国强: 我开我爸的车, 是一辆银色的福特。你有我家的电话号码吧。
	大为: 有。	大为: 有。

Structure Drills

1. Two ways to say go to a place. (Use and Structure notes 12.1)

You will hear a statement saying where the speaker is going or where the speaker has gone. Restate the sentence using the pattern dào location 去, as in the example.
Example:
You will hear: 我去学xiào。
You will say: 我dào学xiào去。
Click "Response" to hear the correct response
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) (j)

	Prompt	Response
Example
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)

2. Cóng A 到 B 怎么走? How do you go from A to B? Part I (Use and Structure note 12.2)

You will hear a question asking how to go from one place to another place, followed by another destination. Restate the question, asking how to get to the new destination, as in the example.
Example:
You will hear: Cóng我的sùshè dào你家怎么走？(图书馆)
You will say: Cóng我的sùshè dào 图书馆怎么走？
Click "Response" to hear the correct response
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) (j)

	Prompt	Response
Example
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)

3. Cóng A 到 B 怎么走? How do you go from A to B? Part II (Use and Structure note 12.2)

You will hear two locations. Ask how to go from the first location to the second location, as in the example.
Example:
You will hear: 我的sùshè, 你家
You will say: Cóng我的sùshè dào你家怎么走?
Click "Response" to hear the correct response
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) (j)

	Prompt	Response
Example
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)	龙潭湖公园，天坛公园	从龙潭湖公园到天坛公园怎么走?
(j)

4. A 还是B？ A or B? (Use and Structure note 12.4)

You will hear two situations. Ask your friend which of these describes her, as in the example.
Example:
You will hear: 在sùshè, 在图书馆
You will say: 你在sùshè还是在图书馆？
Click "Response" to hear the correct response
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i)

	Prompt	Response
Example
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)

5. Where is it happening? (Use and Structure note 12.5)

You will hear a question asking where some action takes place, followed by a location. Answer the question in a full sentence, using the location in your answer, as in the example.
Example:
You will hear: 你在哪儿看书？ (图书馆)
You will say: 我在图书馆看书。
Click "Response" to hear the correct response
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) (j)

	Prompt	Response
Example
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)

6. What is the question?

You will hear a statement followed by a question word. Use the question word to form the question that the statement answers, as in the example.
Example:
You will hear: Cóng sùshè到我家wǎng xī走。（怎么）
You will say: Cóng sùshè到你家怎么走?
Click "Response" to hear the correct response
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i)

	Prompt	Response
Example
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)

7. The duration of actions, Part I (Use and Structure note 12.11)

You will hear an action followed by a time phrase. Use the time phrase to say how long you did the action. Do not include the object of the verb in your answer. Just state the verb following by the duration, as in the example:
Example:
You will hear: shuì jiào。（八个zhōngtóu）
You will say: 我shuì了八个zhōngtóu。
Click "Response" to hear the correct response
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i)

	Prompt	Response
Example
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)

8. The duration of actions, Part II. (Use and Structure note 12.11)

You will hear an action followed by a time phrase. Use the time phrase to say how long you did the action. State the verb and object and then the verb and duration, as in the example:
Example:
You will hear: shuì jiào。（八个zhōngtóu）
You will say: 我shuì jiào shuì了八个zhōngtóu。
Click "Response" to hear the correct response
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i)

	Prompt	Response
Example
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)

9. Two ways to say that something exists at a location. (Use and Structure note 12.10)

You will hear a statement stating the existence of something at a location. Restate the sentence using the pattern 有 noun 在 location as in the example.
Example:
You will hear: 在前biān有一个图书馆。
You will say: 有一个图书馆在前biān。
Click "Response" to hear the correct response
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) (j)

	Prompt	Response
Example
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)

10. Indicating sequence with 以hòu. (Use and Structure note 12.13)

You will hear two actions. You will say that after you did the first action, you did the second action, as in the example.
Example:
You will hear: mǎi piào，上车
You will say: 我mǎi了piào以hòu就上车。
Click "Response" to hear the correct response
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) (j)

	Prompt	Response
Example
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)

Sentence Pyramids

The Sentence Pyramids illustrate the use of each new vocabulary item and structure introduced in the lesson. Use them to help you to learn how to form phrases and sentences in Mandarin. Supply the English translation for the last line where indicated.

Audio Files	Vocabulary	Translation
	走	go
	怎么走？	how do you go?
	Dào 你家怎么走?	How do you go to your home?

Audio Files	Vocabulary	Translation
	怎么走？	how do you go?
	dào 你家怎么走?	how do you go to your home?
	Cóng sùshè dào 你家怎么走?	How do you go from the dormitory to your home?

Audio Files	Vocabulary	Translation
	gōnggòng qì车	bus
	坐gōnggòng qì车	take the bus
	还是坐gōnggòng qì车	or take the bus
	你想坐 dìtiě 还是想坐 gōnggòng qì车呢?	Will you take the subway or the busy?

Audio Files	Vocabulary	Translation
	zhàn	station
	dìtiě zhàn	subway station
	有dìtiě zhàn	there is a subway station
	在大学的 mén口有 dìtiě zhàn.	At the entrance to the college there is a subway station.

Audio Files	Vocabulary	Translation
	上车	get on the car
	在大学zhàn 上车	get on the car (train) at (the) college station
	在大学东mén zhàn 上车。	Get on the car (train) at the station at the east gate of the college.

Audio Files	Vocabulary	Translation
	四号 xiàn	number 4 (train) line
	上四号 xiàn。	Take the number 4 (train) line.

Audio Files	Vocabulary	Translation
	走	go
	Wǎng 西走。	Go west.

Audio Files	Vocabulary	Translation
	走	go
	哪个fāngxiàng走	go in what direction?
	Wǎng哪个fāngxiàng走？	What direction do (I) go in?

Audio Files	Vocabulary	Translation
	走	go
	Wǎng 市中心的fāngxiàng走。	Go towards the center of the city.

Audio Files	Vocabulary	Translation
	zhàn	stops (stations)
	几 zhàn？	how many stops?
	坐几 zhàn？	Take (the vehicle) for how many stops?

Audio Files	Vocabulary	Translation
	zhàn	stops (stations)
	五 zhàn	five stops
	坐五 zhàn.	______________________

Audio Files	Vocabulary	Translation
	九号xiàn	number 9 line
	huàn九号xiàn	change to the number 9 line
	在Guó家图书馆zhàn huàn九号xiàn。	At the National Library station change to the number 9 line.

Audio Files	Vocabulary	Translation
	下车	Get off the vehicle.
	在Bái shí qiáo lù下车。	Get off the vehicle at White Stone Bridge.

Audio Files	Vocabulary	Translation
	huàn车	change trains
	再huàn一次车。	Change trains again one more time.

Audio Files	Vocabulary	Translation
	电yǐng yuàn	movie theater
	有一个电yǐng yuàn	there is a movie theater
	在那儿有一个电yǐng yuàn。	There is a movie theater there.

Audio Files	Vocabulary	Translation
	mén 口	doorway
	车zhàn mén 口	station doorway (station entrance)
	在车zhàn mén 口	at the station entrance
	有一个日本饭馆在车zhàn mén 口。	There is a Japanese restaurant at the station entrance.

Audio Files	Vocabulary	Translation
	多 cháng 时jiān？	how long?
	要坐多 cháng 时jiān？	how long do you have to sit?
	Dào你家要坐多 cháng 时jiān？	How long do you have to sit (ride) to get to your house?
	Cóng sùshè dào你家要坐多 cháng 时jiān？	______________________

Audio Files	Vocabulary	Translation
	zhōngtóu	hour
	一个 zhōngtóu	one hour
	坐一个 zhōngtóu	sit (ride) for an hour
	坐 chà不多一个 zhōngtóu	sit (ride) for almost an hour
	你 děi 坐 chà不多一个 zhōngtóu.	You have to sit (ride) for almost an hour.

Audio Files	Vocabulary	Translation
	jiǔ	long time
	那么jiǔ ！	That long a time!
	要一个小时a！那么jiǔ ！	It will take an hour! That much time!

Audio Files	Vocabulary	Translation
	听yīnyuè	listen to music
	在车上听yīnyuè	listen to music on the car
	我只好在车上听yīnyuè了。	The only thing for me to do is listen to music on the car.

Audio Files	Vocabulary	Translation
	一张	one (ticket)
	多少钱一张？	how much money for one (ticket)
	Dìtiě piào 多少钱一张？	How much does a subway ticket cost?

Audio Files	Vocabulary	Translation
	一张	one (ticket)
	三块钱一张	3 dollars a ticket
	Dìtiě piào三块钱一张。	Subway tickets are three dollars each.

Audio Files	Vocabulary	Translation
	买piào	buy a ticket
	在 dìtiě zhàn 买piào	buy a ticket at the subway station
	你可以在 dìtiě zhàn 买piào。	You can buy a ticket at the subway station.

Audio Files	Vocabulary	Translation
	给我打电话	phone me
	dào了车zhàn以hòu 给我打电话	After arriving at the train station phone me
	你dào了车zhàn以hòu 给我打电话。	______________________

Audio Files	Vocabulary	Translation
	děng 我	wait for me
	在那儿 děng 我。	Wait for me there.

Audio Files	Vocabulary	Translation
	jiē 你	get you
	去jiē 你。	go and get you.
	我开车去 jiē 你。	I will drive over to get you.

Audio Files	Vocabulary	Translation
	yánsè	color
	什么yánsè？	what color?
	是什么yánsè的？	is what color?
	你的车是什么yánsè的？	What color is your car?

Audio Files	Vocabulary	Translation
	Fútè	Ford
	yínsè 的 Fútè	silver Ford
	一liàng yínsè 的 Fútè	a silver Ford
	我的车是一liàng yínsè 的 Fútè。	______________________

Writing Characters

Chapter 12

Download all files

Character practice sheet
PDF Stroke order flow chart
JPG Image Focus on Radicals
Word Document Characters by dialogue part (Coming Soon)
PDF

Pronunciation Challenges

Chinese Poem: The Bamboo Branch Song

The following poem was written by the Tang Dynasty poet Liu Yuxi (772-842 AD). Listen to the recording and practice the poem one line at a time until you can recite it smoothly and without errors.


Poem	Translation	Audio files
Zhú zhī Cí (竹枝词) by Liú Yǔxī (刘禹锡) Yángliǔqīng qīng jiāngshuǐ píng, 杨柳青青江水平 Wén láng ànshang tàgē shēng. 闻郎岸上踏歌声。 Dōngbian rìchū xībian yǔ, 东边日出西边雨， Dào shì wú qíng què yǒu qíng. 道是无晴却有晴。	*The Bamboo Branch Song* The blue sea of Tianjin is calm, I can hear the sound of singing and dancing along the river, The sun is rising in the east, it is raining in the west, The road is neither clear nor unclear.

Note: The word 晴qíng clear has the same pronunciation as the word情qíng affection, passion, and therefore, the last line of the poem also suggests the meaning “The road is not clear but there may be love along the way.”