Vocabulary
Dialogue Part A Vocabulary
Audio file |
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Simplified |
Traditional |
Chén |
family name |
family name |
陈 |
陳 |
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dōu |
all, both |
adverb |
都 |
都 |
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Fǎguó |
France |
proper noun |
法国 |
法國 |
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Fǎguó rén |
French person |
noun phrase |
法国人 |
法國人 |
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guó |
country |
noun |
国 |
國 |
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Màikè |
given name (Michael) |
given name |
麦克 |
麥克 |
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Měiguó |
America (U.S.) |
proper noun |
美国 |
美國 |
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Měiguó rén |
American |
noun phrase |
美国人 |
美國人 |
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Míng |
given name; bright |
given name, adjectival verb |
明 |
明 |
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ne |
forms follow-up questions |
final particle |
呢 |
呢 |
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nǐmen |
you (plural) |
pronoun |
你们 |
你們 |
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qǐng wèn |
may I ask, excuse me |
conversational expression |
请问 |
請問 |
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rén |
person |
noun |
人 |
人 |
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Wáng |
family name |
family name |
王 |
王 |
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wèn |
ask |
verb |
问 |
問 |
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wǒmen |
we, us |
pronoun |
我们 |
我們 |
Dialogue Part B Vocabulary
Audio file |
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Simplified |
Traditional |
dāngrán |
of course |
adverb |
当然 |
當然 |
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Déguó |
Germany |
proper noun |
德国 |
德國 |
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Déguó rén |
German person |
noun phrase |
德国人 |
德國人 |
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duì |
correct |
adjectival verb |
对 |
對 |
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nǎguó, něiguó |
which country |
question word phrase |
哪国 |
哪國 |
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tāmen |
they/them |
pronoun |
他们 |
他們 |
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Yīngguó |
Britain |
proper noun |
英国 |
英國 |
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Yīngguó rén |
British person |
noun |
英国人 |
英國人 |
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Zhōngguó |
China |
proper noun |
中国 |
中國 |
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Zhōngguó rén |
Chinese person |
noun phrase |
中国人 |
中國人 |
Supplementary Vocabulary: Countries of the World
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
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Āfùhàn |
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Āgēntíng |
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Armenia |
Yàmĕiníyà |
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Àodàlìyà |
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Àodìlì |
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Bāxī |
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Canada |
Jiānádà |
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Zhìlì |
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Dānmài |
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Èguāduō'ěr |
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Āijí |
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Sà'ěrwǎduō |
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Fǎguó |
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Déguó |
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Yīngguó |
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Xīlà |
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Xiānggǎng |
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Xiōngyálì |
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Bīngdǎo |
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Yìndù |
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Yìnní |
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Yīlǎng |
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Yīlākè |
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Ài'ěrlán |
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Yǐsèliè |
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Yìdàlì |
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Rìběn |
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Kěnníyà |
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Cháoxiǎn |
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Hánguó |
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Kēwēitè |
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Libya |
Lìbǐyà |
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Lìtáowǎn |
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Lúsēnbǎo |
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Malaysia |
Măláixīyă |
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Mòxīgē |
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Mongolia |
Ménggŭ |
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Hélán |
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Xīnxīlán |
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Níjiālāguā |
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Nírìlìyà |
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Nuówēi |
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Bājīsītǎn |
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Bālāguī |
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Bìlǔ |
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Fēilǜbīn |
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Bōlán |
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Pútáoyá |
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Luómǎníyà |
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Éluósī |
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Shātè Ālābó |
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Xīnjiāpō |
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Xībānyá |
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Sīlǐlánkǎ |
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Ruìdiǎn |
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Ruìshì |
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Xùlìyà |
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Taiwan |
Táiwān |
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Thailand |
Tàiguó |
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Turkey |
Tǔ'ěrqí |
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Wūgāndá |
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Wūkèlán |
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Yīngguó |
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Měiguó |
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Wěinèiruìlā |
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Yuènán |
Dialogue
Audio file |
Dialogue |
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Zhāng Dàwéi: Qǐng wèn, nǐmen shì Měiguó rén ma? |
张大为: 请问,你们是美国人吗? |
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Chén Míng: Shì. Wǒmen shì Měiguórén, nǐ ne? |
陈明: 是。我们是美国人,你呢? |
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Zhāng Dàwéi: Wǒ yě shì Měiguórén. Wǒmen dōu |
张大为: 我也是美国人。我们都 |
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Wáng Màikè (to Gāo Mělì): Nǐ ne? |
王 麦克(to 高美丽): 你呢? |
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Gāo Měilì: Wǒ shì Fǎguórén. |
高美丽: 我是法国人。 |
Audio file |
Dialogue |
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Chén Míng: Tā shì nǎguó rén? |
陈明: 他是哪国人? |
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Wáng Màikè: Tā shì Yīngguó rén. |
王麦克: 他是英国人。 |
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Chén Míng: Tāmen yě shì Yīngguó rén, duì ma? |
陈明: 他们也是英国人,对吗? |
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Wáng Màikè: Bù duì. Tāmen dōu shì Déguó rén. |
王麦克: 不对。他们都是德国人。 |
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Chén Míng: Lǎoshī shì Zhōngguó rén ma? |
陈明: 老师是中国人吗? |
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Wáng Màikè: Lǎoshī dāngrán shì Zhōngguó rén! |
王麦克: 老师当然是中国人! |
Structure Drills
1. Singular to plural (Use and structure note 2.2.)
You will hear a sentence in which the pronoun is in singular form. Restate the sentence, changing the pronoun to plural form, as in the example.
Example:
You will hear: Tā shì Yīngguó rén.
You will say: Tāmen shì Yīngguó rén.
Click "Response" to hear the correct response
a. b. c. d. e. f. g.
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Prompt |
Response |
Example |
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(b) |
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(c) |
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(d) |
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(e) |
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(f) |
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(g) |
2. Nǐ ne? (你呢?) What about you? (Use and Structure note 2.3)
You will hear a statement followed by a question. Restate the question using ne, as in the example.
Example:
You will hear: Wǒmen shì Měiguó rén. Nǐmen yě shì Měiguó rén ma?
You will say: Wǒmen shì Měiguó rén. Nǐmen ne?
Click "Response" to hear the correct response
a. b. c. d. e.
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Prompt |
Response |
Example |
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(a) |
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(b) |
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(c) |
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(d) |
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(e) |
3. Answering ne (呢) questions (Use and Structure note 2.3)
You will hear a statement and a ne (呢) question followed by an expression. Use the expression to answer the ne (呢) question, as in the example.
Example:
You will hear: Wǒmen shì Měiguó rén. Nǐ ne? (Yīngguó rén)
You will say: Wǒ shì Yīngguó rén.
Click "Response" to hear the correct response
a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j.
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Prompt |
Response |
Example |
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(a) |
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(b) |
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(c) |
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(d) |
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(e) |
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(f) |
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(g) |
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(h) |
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(i) |
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(j) |
4. Nǐ shì nǎguó rén? (你是那国人?)What Country Are You From? (Use and Structure notes 2.2, 2.4)
You will hear a question followed by the name of a country. Answer the question in a complete sentence using the name of the country, as in the example. Be careful to use the correct pronoun.
Example:
You will hear: Nǐ shì nǎguó rén? (Yīngguó)
You will say: Wǒ shì Yīngguó rén.
Click "Response" to hear the correct response
a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h.
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Prompt |
Response |
Example |
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(a) |
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(b) |
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(c) |
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(d) |
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(e) |
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(f) |
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(g) |
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(h) |
5. Replying to duì ma(对吗)? (Use and Structure note 2.5)
You will hear a statement followed by the tag question duì ma? (对吗?) and the answer duì (对) correct or bù duì (不对) not correct, wrong. Rephrase the question as a long answer, as in the example.
Example
You will hear:Tāmen shì Fǎguó rén, duì ma? (Bù duì.)
You will say:Bù duì. Tāmen bù shì Fǎguó rén.
Click "Response" to hear the correct response
a. b. c. d. e. f.
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Prompt |
Response |
Example |
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(a) |
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(b) |
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(c) |
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(d) |
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(e) |
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(f) |
6. Saying all or both with dōu (都) (Use and Structure note 2.6)
You will hear a statement. Change the subject to a plural pronoun and add dōu (都) to your new sentence as in the example.
Example
You will hear: Tā shì lǎoshī.
You will say: Tāmen dōu shì lǎoshī.
Click "Response" to hear the correct response
a. b. c. d. e. f. g.
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Prompt |
Response |
Example |
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(a) |
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(b) |
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(c) |
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(d) |
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(e) |
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(f) |
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(g) |
7. Dāngrán (当然) of course (Use and Structure note 2.7)
You will hear a statement. You will rephrase the statement, adding the word dāngrán (当然) before the verb phrase as in the example. Remember that dāngrán (当然) occurs before dōu (都).
Example
You will hear: Lǎoshī shì Zhōngguó rén.
You will say: Lǎoshī dāngrán shì Zhōngguó rén.
Click "Response" to hear the correct response
a. b. c. d. e. f.
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Prompt |
Response |
Example |
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(b) |
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(c) |
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(d) |
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(e) |
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(f) |
8. Adding in expressions
You will hear a sentence followed by an expression. Restate the sentence, adding the expression in the appropriate location, as in the example.
Example
You will hear: Wǒ shì Měiguó rén. (yě)
You will say: Wǒ yě shì Měiguó rén.
Click "Response" to hear the correct response
a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j.
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Prompt |
Response |
Example |
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(a) |
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(b) |
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(c) |
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(d) |
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(e) |
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(f) |
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(g) |
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(h) |
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(i) |
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(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 file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
rén |
person/people |
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Yīngguó rén |
British |
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shì Yīngguó rén |
be British |
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Wǒ shì Yīngguó rén. |
I am British. |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
Yīngguó rén |
British |
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shì Yīngguó rén |
be British |
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shì Yīngguó rén ma? |
be British? |
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Nǐmen shì Yīngguó rén ma? |
Are you (plural) British? |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
shì xuésheng |
be student(s) |
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shì xuésheng ma? |
be student(s)? |
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nǐmen shì xuésheng ma? |
Are you students? |
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Qǐng wèn, nǐmen shì xuésheng ma? |
May I ask, are you students? |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
rén |
person |
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Měiguó rén |
American person |
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shì Měiguó rén |
be American |
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nǐmen shì Měiguó rén ma? |
Are you Americans? |
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Qǐng wèn, nǐmen shì Měiguó rén ma? |
________________________________ |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
Měiguó rén |
American person |
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shì Měiguó rén |
be American |
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Wǒmen shì Měiguó rén |
We are Americans. |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
ne |
particle for follow-up questions |
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nǐ ne? |
and you? |
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Wǒmen shì Měiguó rén, nǐ ne? |
We are Americans, and you? |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
Zhōngguó rén |
Chinese person |
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shì Zhōngguó rén |
be Chinese |
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Wǒmen shì Zhōngguó rén |
We are Chinese. |
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Wǒmen shì Zhōngguó rén, nǐ ne? |
__________________________ |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
lǎoshī |
teacher |
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shì lǎoshī |
be teacher |
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Tāmen shì lǎoshī. |
They are teachers. |
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Tāmen shì lǎoshī ma? |
_______________________ |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
Tāmen ne? |
What about them? |
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Wǒmen shì Měiguó rén, tāmen ne? |
We are Americans. What about them? |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
rén |
person |
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nǎguó rén |
a person of which country |
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shì nǎguó rén |
be a person of which country |
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Tā shì nǎguó rén? |
What country is he from? |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
duì |
correct |
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duì ma? |
Correct? |
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shì Fǎguó rén, duì ma? |
be French, correct? |
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yě shì Fǎguó rén, duì ma? |
also be French, correct? |
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Tāmen yě shì Fǎguó rén, duì ma? |
____________________ |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
duì |
correct |
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Bù duì |
Not correct. (Wrong.) |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
Déguó |
Germany |
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Déguó rén |
German person (German) |
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shì Déguó rén |
be German |
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Tāmen shì Déguó rén. |
_______________________________ |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
Déguó rén |
German person |
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shì Déguó rén |
be German person |
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dōu shì Déguó rén |
all are German |
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Tāmen dōu shì Déguó rén. |
They are all German. |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
lǎoshī |
teacher |
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shì lǎoshī |
be teacher |
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dōu shì lǎoshī |
all be teachers |
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Tāmen dōu shì lǎoshī. |
_______________________ |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
Zhōngguó rén |
Chinese person |
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shì Zhōngguó rén |
be Chinese |
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Lǎoshī shì Zhōngguó rén. |
________________ |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
Duì ma? |
correct |
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Shì Zhōngguó rén, duì ma? |
be Chinese, correct? |
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Lǎoshī shì Zhōngguó rén, duì ma? |
____________________ |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
Shì. |
be |
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Dāngrán shì. |
Of course he(she) is. |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
Zhōngguó rén |
Chinese person |
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shì Zhōngguó rén |
be Chinese |
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dāngrán shì Zhōngguó rén |
of course be Chinese |
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Lǎoshī dāngrán shì Zhōngguó rén. |
Of course the teacher is Chinese |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
Duì. |
correct |
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Dāngrán duì. |
of course (it is) correct. |
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Lǎoshī dāngrán duì. |
Of course the teacher is correct. |
Mandarin Pronunciation
Pronunciation and Pinyin
1. More about the Mandarin Syllable
Tones
Neutral Tone
When a syllable does not have a contour tone, it is said to have neutral tone. When contour tones are marked with the tone marks ˉˊˇˋ, syllables that occur in neutral tone are not written with a tone mark: wǒmen we/us. When numbers are used to indicate tone, neutral tone is indicated with the number 5 or the number 0: wo3men5 or wo3men0.
Syllables in neutral tone are short and unstressed. The pitch of a syllable in neutral tone depends upon the tone of the preceding syllable. This is illustrated in the following diagrams. The symbol * is used to mark the pitch of the syllable with neutral tone.
First Tone + Neutral Tone: tāmen |
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Second Tone + Neutral Tone: xuésheng |
need image from authors |
Third Tone + Neutral Tone: nǐmen |
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Fourth Tone + Neutral Tone: shì de |
Particles (words like 吗 ma and 呢 ne) always have neutral tone, though 吗 ma is often spoken in high pitch regardless of the tone of the preceding syllable. The second syllable of certain words such as 学生 xuésheng student, 我们 wǒmen we/us, 你们 nǐmen you (plural), and 他们 tāmen they/them always occurs in neutral tone. Speakers of Mandarin in different regions of China vary in the extent to which they use neutral tone. This book presents the use of neutral tone in standard Mandarin as spoken in Beijing. In Taiwan, all syllables except for final grammatical particles are pronounced with a contour tone.
Changes in the third tone
In lesson 1 we learned that the basic contour of the third tone is a falling-rising contour. However, it is only pronounced with falling-rising contour when it is followed by a word in neutral tone, or when it occurs at the end of the sentence or before a pause (indicated here as #).
wǒmen |
wǒ |
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# |
The third tone has two other contours, depending upon the tone of the following syllable.
When a syllable in third tone occurs before another syllable in third tone, the first syllable changes its tone to second tone.
3 + 3
2 + 3
nǐ hǎo
ní hǎo
When a syllable in third tone occurs before a syllable in first, second, or fourth tone, it becomes a low, level tone.
3 + 1
low + 3 (lǎoshī)
3 + 2
low + 2 (nǎguó)
3 + 4
low + 4 (nǐ shì)
Finals
Here are the finals of Mandarin as they are spelled in Pinyin. The finals introduced in lessons 1 and 2 are highlighted.
Finals that begin with: | and end with a vowel: |
and end with n: |
and end with ng: |
and end with r: |
a |
a, ai, ao |
an |
ang |
|
e |
e, ei |
en |
eng |
er |
o |
(o), ou |
|
ong |
|
i |
i, ia, iao, ie, iu/iou |
ian, in |
iang, ing, iong, |
|
ü |
ü, üe |
üan, ün |
|
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u |
u, ua, uai, ui/uei, uo |
uan, uen/un, |
uang, ueng |
|
Here are the rules that are relevant in spelling and pronouncing the finals introduced in lesson 2.
- Finals spelled ui rhyme with finals that are spelled ei. Examples: duì correct, Měiguó America. When ei is directly preceded by a consonant or if it begins a word, it is written in pinyin as ei: děi, měi, shéi. When ei is preceded by a consonant + u, pinyin abbreviates uei to ui: duì (abbreviated from duei), huì (abbreviated from huei), guì (abbreviated from guei). When ei is preceded only by u and no consonant, it is spelled as wei.
- wo and uo: As we learned in lesson 1, when the final uo is not preceded by a consonant, it is spelled wo. If it is preceded by b, p, m, or f it is spelled o. Otherwise, it is spelled uo. Examples: wǒ, Zhōngguó
- When the final uen is not preceded by a consonant it is spelled wen. Example: (qǐng) wèn may I ask. When preceded by an initial consonant, it is spelled un. Examples: shùn, dūn.
Pronunciation Challenges
Lesson 2 Pronunciation Challenges: Tongue Twisters
Listen and repeat these tongue twisters until you can say them quickly three times in a row without making any errors.
A |
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Tongue twister |
Translation |
Audio files |
Mèimei ài měi. |
Younger sister loves getting herself all dolled up. |
B |
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The Old Man, the Soup, and the Tower |
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Tongue twister |
Translation |
Audio files |
Lǎotóu duān tāng shàng tǎ. |
An old man, holding (a bowl of) soup, climbed a tower. |
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Tāng tàng, |
The soup was hot. |
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Tǎ huá, |
The tower (steps) slippery; |
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Tāng sǎ, |
The soup got spilt |
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Tāng tàng tǎ. |
The soup scalded the tower (steps). |