Vocabulary
Dialogue Part A Vocabulary
Audio file |
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Simplified |
Traditional |
cái |
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not until, (later than expected) |
adverb |
才 |
才 |
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duō dà? |
多大? |
how old (are you)? |
question phrase |
多大? |
多大? |
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hào |
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date of the month |
classifier |
号 |
號 |
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jīnnián |
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this year |
noun |
今年 |
今年 |
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jīntiān |
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today |
noun |
今天 |
今天 |
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kuàilè |
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happy |
adjectival verb |
快乐 |
快樂 |
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Mǎ |
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family name |
family name |
马 |
馬 |
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míngnián |
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next year |
noun |
明年 |
明年 |
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nián |
|
year |
classifier |
年 |
年 |
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shēngrì |
生日 |
birthday |
noun |
生日 |
生日 |
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shēngrì kuàilè |
生日kuàilè |
happy birthday |
conversational expression |
生日快乐 |
生日快樂 |
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shí yī yuè |
十一yuè |
November |
noun |
十一月 |
十一月 |
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suì |
|
years of age |
classifier |
岁 |
歲 |
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tiān |
|
day |
noun |
天 |
天 |
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Xiǎowén |
小wén |
Xiaowen |
given name |
小文 |
小文 |
|
yuè |
|
month |
noun |
月 |
月 |
Dialogue Part B Vocabulary
Audio file |
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Simplified |
Traditional |
chī |
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eat |
verb |
吃 |
吃 |
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chī fàn |
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eat food |
verb + object |
吃饭 |
吃飯 |
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fàn |
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eat |
noun |
饭 |
飯 |
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hē |
|
drink |
verb |
喝 |
喝 |
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hē jiǔ |
|
drink alcohol |
verb + object |
喝酒 |
喝酒 |
|
jiǔ |
|
wine, alcohol |
noun |
酒 |
酒 |
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píjiǔ |
|
beer |
noun |
啤酒 |
啤酒 |
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qǐng |
|
invite |
verb |
请 |
請 |
|
wǎnfàn |
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dinner |
noun |
晚饭 |
晚飯 |
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wǎnshang |
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evening |
noun |
晚上 |
晚上 |
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xīngqī |
|
week |
noun |
星期 |
星期 |
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xīngqījǐ |
xīngqī几 |
which day of the week? |
question phrase |
星期几 |
星期幾 |
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xīngqīsì |
xīngqī 四 |
Thursday |
noun |
星期四 |
星期四 |
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zhēnzhū nǎichá |
|
pearl milk tea, bubble tea |
noun phrase |
珍珠奶茶 |
珍珠奶茶 |
Dialogue Part C Vocabulary
Audio file |
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Simplified |
Traditional |
āyà |
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Oh no! (expression of surprise and displeasure) |
exclamation |
哎呀 |
哎呀 |
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dǎ gōng |
打gōng |
work (work at a job) |
verb + object |
打工 |
打工 |
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kǎoshì |
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test, exam |
noun |
考试 |
考試 |
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shénme shíhou |
什么shíhou |
what time? when? |
question phrase |
什么时候 |
什麼時候 |
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shíhou |
|
time |
noun |
时候 |
時候 |
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xíng |
|
okay, acceptable |
adjectival verb |
行 |
行 |
|
xīngqīwǔ |
|
Friday |
noun |
星期五 |
星期五 |
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yǒu shì |
|
have something to do |
verb + object |
有事 |
有事 |
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zāogāo |
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Oh no! (What a mess) |
adjectival verb, conversational expression |
糟糕 |
糟糕 |
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zhēn |
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really |
intensifier |
真 |
真 |
Dialogue Part D Vocabulary
Audio file |
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Simplified |
Traditional |
a |
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(expresses emphasis; like yā (呀) softens a statement or question) |
final particle |
啊 |
啊 |
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àihào |
ài好 |
hobby, interest |
noun |
爱好 |
愛好 |
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chàng |
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sing |
verb |
唱 |
唱 |
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chàng gē |
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sing songs |
verb + object |
唱歌 |
唱歌 |
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dǎ qiú |
打qiú |
play ball |
verb + object |
打球 |
打球 |
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diànshì |
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television |
noun |
电视 |
電視 |
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duǎnxìn |
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text message |
noun |
短信 |
短信 |
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fā |
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send, emit |
verb |
发 |
發 |
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fā duǎnxìn |
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send a text message |
verb + object |
发短信 |
發短信 |
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gē |
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song |
noun |
歌 |
歌 |
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kǎlā OK |
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Karaoke |
noun |
卡拉OK |
卡拉OK |
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kàn |
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watch |
verb |
看 |
看 |
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kàn diànshì |
|
watch television |
verb + object |
看电视 |
看電視 |
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míngtiān |
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tomorrow |
noun |
明天 |
明天 |
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qù |
|
go |
verb |
去 |
去 |
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shàng wǎng |
|
go online; surf the web |
verb + object |
上网 |
上網 |
|
tiào |
|
dance, jump |
verb |
跳 |
跳 |
|
tiào wǔ |
|
dance |
verb + object |
跳舞 |
跳舞 |
|
tīng |
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listen (to) |
verb |
听 |
聽 |
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tīng yīnyuè |
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listen to music |
verb + object |
听音乐 |
聽音樂 |
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wán |
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play |
verb |
玩 |
玩 |
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wán shǒujī |
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use (one’s) cell phone for entertainment |
verb + object |
玩手机 |
玩手機 |
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wǎng |
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net, internet |
noun |
网 |
網 |
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xià |
|
next |
specifier |
下 |
下 |
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xīngqītiān |
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Sunday |
noun |
星期天 |
星期天 |
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yīnyuè |
|
music |
noun |
音乐 |
音樂 |
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zěnmeyàng |
zěn么yàng? |
how about it? okay? |
question phrase |
怎么样? |
怎麼樣? |
|
zhè yàng |
这 yàng |
in this way, how about this |
noun phrase |
这样 |
這樣 |
Dialogue
Audio file |
Dialogue |
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Gāo Měilì: 小wén, jīntiān 是 几 yuè 几hào? |
高美丽: 小文,今天是几月几号? |
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Mǎ小wén: Jīntiān 是十一 yuè 九 hào. |
马小文: 今天 是十一 月九号。 |
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Gāo Měilì: 十一yuè 十二 hào 是 我 的 生日. |
高美丽: 十一 月十二号是我的生日。 |
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Mǎ小wén: 是吗? 生日 kuàilè! 你 jīnnián 多大? |
马小文: 是吗?生日快乐!你今年多 |
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Gāo Měilì: 我 jīnnián 二十一suì. 你也是二 |
高 美丽: 我今年二十一岁。你也是二 |
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Mǎ 小wén: 不. 我 jīnnián 二十 suì, |
马小文: 不。我今年二十 岁, |
Audio file |
Dialogue |
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Mǎ 小wén: 十一 yuè 十二 hào 是xīngqī 几? |
马小文: 十一月十二号是星期几? |
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Gāo Měilì: 十一 yuè 十二 hào 是 xīngqī 四. |
高美丽: 十一月十二号是星期 四。 |
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Mǎ 小wén: 那, Měilì, 我 xīngqī 四 |
马小文: 那,美丽,我星期四 |
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Gāo Měilì: 太好了. Xièxie 你 qǐng 我 chī fàn!可是我不hē píjiǔ。Qǐng我hē zhēnzhū nǎichá吧。 |
高美丽: 太好了。谢谢你请我吃 |
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Mǎ 小wén: Dāngrán可以。 |
马小文: 当然 可以。 |
Audio file |
Dialogue |
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(Meili looks at the calendar) |
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Gāo Měilì: Āiyà, zhēn zāogāo, xīngqī四wǎnshang 不xíng! 我 xīngqī 五 有一个kǎoshì. Xīngqī五 wǎnshang 呢? 你有 shì吗? |
高美丽: 哎呀,真糟糕,星期四 |
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Mǎ 小wén: Xīngqī五 wǎnshang 我没 kòng, 我要打gōng. |
马小文: 星期五晚上我没空, |
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Gāo Měilì: 那… 什么 shíhou 好呢? |
高美丽: 那… 什么时候好呢? |
Audio file |
Dialogue |
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Mǎ 小wén: Xīngqī 六 wǎnshang xíng 吗? 我们也可以qù chàng kǎlā OK, |
马小文: 星期 六晚上行吗?我 |
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Gāo Měilì: Chàng gē ma? 我不会 chàng gē! |
高美丽: 唱歌吗?我不会唱歌! |
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Mǎ 小wén: 那, 你 xǐhuān zuò shén么呢? |
马小文: 那,你喜欢做什么呢? |
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Gāo Měilì: 我的àihào很多 a。 我 xǐhuān tīng yīnyuè … 打 qiú … kàn diànshì … shàng wǎng … wán 手机。还有 … duì 了, 我 xǐhuān tiào wǔ! 我们 qù tiào wǔ 吧! |
高美丽: 我的爱好很多啊。我喜欢 |
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Mǎ 小wén:可是, 我不会tiào wǔ. 这 yàng, |
马小文: 可是,我不会跳舞。这样, |
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Gāo Měilì: 好 a. 我们也qǐng Zhāng 大为 |
高美丽: 好啊。我们也请张大为 |
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Mǎ 小wén: Xíng. 你 míngtiān 给他们打 diànhuà. 我 xiànzài jiù 给 大为 fā duǎnxìn. |
马小文: 行。你明天给他们打 |
Structure Drills
1. Counting days, weeks, months, years (Use and structure note 8.1)
You will hear a phrase indicating the number of days, weeks, months, or years, followed by another time word. Restate the phrase with the new time word, as in the example.
Example:
You will hear: 三tiān (xīngqī)
You will say: 三个 xīngqī
Click "Response" to hear the correct response
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) (j)
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2. What day is the date? (Use and Structure notes 8.2, 8.3, 8.4)
You will hear today’s date. You will state tomorrow’s date, as in the example.
Example:
You will hear: Jīntiān八yuè十五hào.
You will say: Mingtian 八yuè十六hào.
Click “R” to hear the correct response: Mingtian 八yuè十六hào.
OR
You will hear: Jīntiān是八yuè十五hào.
You will say: Mingtian 是八yuè十六hào.
Click "Response" to hear the correct response
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f)
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3. What day of the week is tomorrow? (Use and Structure note 8.9)
You will hear a statement saying what day it is today. You will state what day it is tomorrow, as in the example.
Example:
You will hear: Jīntiān是xīngqī五。
You will say: Míngtiān是xīngqī六。
Click "Response" to hear the correct response
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f)
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Response |
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4. How old are they? (Use and Structure note 8.6)
You will hear a question about someone’s age followed by a number. Use the number to answer the question, as in the example.
Example:
You will hear: 你jīnnián duō dà? (十七)
You will say: 我jīnnián十七suì.
Click "Response" to hear the correct response
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h)
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Response |
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5. I won’t be 21 until next year (Use and Structure notes 8.7, 8.8)
You will hear statements about the age of a number of people. After each statement, say that they won’t be (one year old) until next year, as in the example.
Example:
You will hear: 我jīnnián二十suì. I’m 20 this year.
You will say: 你míngnián cái二十一suì. I won’t be 21 until next year.
Click "Response" to hear the correct response
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f)
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6. Ask the questions (Use and Structure notes 8.4, 8.6, 8.9)
You will hear an answer. Ask the corresponding question, as in the example.
Example:
You will hear: 我jīnnián二十suì. I’m 20 this year.
You will ask: 你jīnnián duō dà? How old are you this year?
Click "Response" to hear the correct response
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h)
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Response |
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7. When will you do it? (Use and Structure note 8.11)
You will hear a statement saying that someone will do an action. You will ask when they will do that action, as in the example. Remember that if the speaker says “I” will do an action, you should ask when “you” will do the action.
Example:
You will hear: 我xiǎng qù chī Zhōngguó fàn.
You will say: 你xiǎng 什么shíhou qù chī Zhōngguó fàn?
Click "Response" to hear the correct response
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g)
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8. Negotiating time (Use and Structure notes 8.14, 8.15)
You will hear an invitation followed by a different time. Suggest the new time, as in the example.
Example:
You will hear: 我们xià 个 xīngqī三qù chī Zhōngguó fàn, 好不好?(二)
You will say: 不好. Xià 个 xīngqī二zěn么yàng?
That’s not good (for me). What about next Tuesday?
Click "Response" to hear the correct response
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f)
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9. Change the time (Use and Structure notes 8.11, 8.13, 8.16, 8.18)
You will hear a sentence saying when you want to do an activity, followed by a different time. Restate the sentence with the new time, as in the example.
Example:
You will hear: 我 xiǎng 这个 xīngqī四qù mǎi dìtú. (jīntiān wǎnshang)
I’m planning to go buy a map this Thursday.
You will say: 我 xiǎng jīntiān wǎnshang qù mǎi dìtú.
I’m planning to go buy a map tonight.
Click "Response" to hear the correct response
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) (j)
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10. Change the activity (Use and Structure notes 8.11, 8.13, 8.16, 8.18)
You will hear a suggestion to do some activity at a particular time, followed by a different activity. Restate the sentence with the new activity, as in the example.
Example:
You will hear: 我们这个 xīngqī四qù mǎi dìtú, zěn么yàng? (mǎi 手机)
You will say: 我们这个 xīngqī四qù mǎi 手机, zěn么yàng?
Click "Response" to hear the correct response
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) (j)
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11. Add it in
You will hear a sentence followed by a word or phrase. Restate the sentence, adding in the word or phrase in its proper location, as in the example:
Example:
You will hear: 我们qù tiào wǔ, zěn么yàng? (míngtiān)
Let’s go dancing.
You will say: 我们míngtiān qù tiào wǔ, zěn么yàng?
Let’s go dancing tomorrow.
Click "Response" to hear the correct response
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i)
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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 |
hào |
(date) |
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几 hào? |
what date? |
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Jīntiān 几 hào? |
What is today’s date? |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
九 hào |
9th (date of month) |
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十一 yuè 九 hào |
November 9th |
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Jīntiān 是十一 yuè 九 hào. |
Today is November 9th. |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
生日 |
birthday |
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我 的 生日 |
my birthday |
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是 我 的 生日 |
is my birthday |
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十一yuè 十二 hào 是 我 的 生日. |
November 12th is my birthday. |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
kuàilè |
happy |
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生日 kuàilè! |
Happy birthday! |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
大 |
big, old |
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多大? |
how old? |
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你 jīnnián 多大? |
How old are you this year? |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
suì |
years of age |
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二十一suì |
21 (years of age/years old) |
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我 jīnnián 二十一suì. |
This year I am 21 (years old). |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
二十一suì |
21 years old |
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二十一suì吗? |
21 years old? |
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是二十一suì吗? |
are 21 years old? |
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也是二十一suì吗? |
also are 21 years old? |
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你也是二十一suì吗? |
___________________ |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
二十一 suì |
21 years old |
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cái 二十一 suì |
only then will be 21 years old |
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我 míngnián cái 二十一 suì. |
I won’t be 21 until next year. |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
xīngqī 几? |
what day of the week? |
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是xīngqī 几? |
is what day of the week? |
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十一 yuè 十二 hào 是xīngqī 几? |
November 12th is what day of the week? (What day of the week is ….) |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
xīngqī 四 |
Thursday |
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是 xīngqī 四 |
is Thursday |
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十一 yuè 十二 hào 是 xīngqī 四. |
November 12th is Thursday. |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
zěn么 yàng? |
how about it? |
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hē píjiǔ,zěn么 yàng? |
drink beer, how about it? |
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qǐng 你 chī wǎnfàn, hē píjiǔ,zěn么 yàng? |
invite you to eat dinner, drink beer, how about it? |
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我 xīngqī 四 wǎnshang qǐng 你 chī wǎnfàn, hē píjiǔ,zěn么 yàng? |
I invite you to eat dinner and drink beer on Thursday, okay? |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
zhēnzhū nǎichá |
bubble tea (pearl tea) |
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hē zhēnzhū nǎichá |
drink bubble tea (pearl tea) |
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我们hē zhēnzhū nǎichá吧。 |
Let’s drink bubble tea! |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
xíng不xíng? |
okay? |
|
Xīngqī四wǎnshang xíng不xíng? |
Is Thursday evening okay? |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
不xíng! |
not okay! |
|
xīngqī四wǎnshang 不xíng! |
Thursday evening is not okay! |
|
zhēn zāogāo, xīngqī四wǎnshang 不xíng! |
what a mess, Thursday evening is not okay! |
|
Āiyà, zhēn zāogāo, xīngqī四wǎnshang 不xíng! |
Oh no! What a mess, Thursday evening is not okay! |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
kǎoshì |
test |
|
有一个kǎoshì |
have a test |
|
xīngqī 三 有一个kǎoshì |
Wednesday have a test |
|
我 xīngqī 三 有一个kǎoshì. |
__________________________ |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
kòng |
free time |
|
没 kòng |
not have free time |
|
我没 kòng |
I do not have free time |
|
wǎnshang 我没 kòng |
(in the evening) I do not have free time |
|
Xīngqī五 wǎnshang 我没 kòng. |
I don’t have free time Friday night. |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
打gōng |
work (at a job) |
|
我要打gōng |
I have to work |
|
Xīngqī五 wǎnshang 我要打gōng. |
______________________ |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
zuò 什么呢 |
do what? |
|
你 xǐhuān zuò 什么呢? |
What do you like to do? |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
很多 |
a lot |
|
àihào很多 |
hobbies are numerous |
|
我的àihào很多 a。 |
I have a lot of hobbies. (My hobbies are numerous.) |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
wán 手机 |
play on my cell phone |
|
shàng wǎng,wán 手机 |
go online, play on my cell phone |
|
kàn diànshì,shàng wǎng,wán 手机 |
watch t.v., go online, play on my cell phone |
|
tīng yīnyuè,打 qiú,kàn diànshì,shàng wǎng,wán 手机。 |
listen to music, play ball, watch t.v., go online, play on my cel lphone |
|
我 xǐhuān tīng yīnyuè,打 qiú,kàn diànshì,shàng wǎng,wán 手机。 |
______________________ |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
chàng kǎlā OK |
sing karaoke |
|
qù chàng kǎlā OK |
go sing karaoke |
|
我们 qù chàng kǎlā OK吧! |
Let’s go sing karaoke! |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
好不好? |
okay? |
|
你 jiāo 我 tiào wǔ, 好不好? |
You teach me to dance, okay? |
|
我 jiāo 你 chàng gēr, 你 jiāo 我 tiào wǔ, 好不好? |
I teach you to sing, you teach me to dance, okay? |
|
这 yàng, 我 jiāo 你 chàng gēr, 你 jiāo 我 tiào wǔ, 好不好? |
How about this, I teach you to sing and you teach me to dance, okay? |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
打 diànhuà |
make a phonecall |
|
给他们打 diànhuà |
phone him |
|
Míngtiān 给他们打 diànhuà吧! |
Phone him tomorrow! |
Audio file |
Vocabulary |
Translation |
duǎnxìn |
text message |
|
fā duǎnxìn |
send a text message |
|
给 她 fā duǎnxìn |
send her a text message |
|
我 xiànzài jiù 给 她 fā duǎnxìn. |
I will send her a text message right now. |
Writing Characters
Pronunciation Challenges
1. Common sayings
Practice each saying until you can repeat it perfectly three times in a row at normal speed.
|
Saying |
Translation |
Audio files |
A |
wǔ yán liù sè |
colorful (five colors and six colors) |
|
B |
yī shí èr niǎo |
kill two birds with one stone (one stone two birds) |
|
C |
qī zuǐ bā shé |
everyone talking at once and offering their opinions (7 mouths 8 tongues) |
|
D |
yī xīn yī yì |
wholeheartedly (one heart one idea) |
|
E |
sì hǎi yī jiā |
united as one (four seas one family) |
2. Tongue twister
Learn this tongue twister one line at a time. Don’t give up until you can say each line without making any errors.
Saying |
Translation |
Audio files |
Jiǔ ge jiǔmí “Nine Wine-Lovers” |
On September 9th, nine wine-lovers got drunk on wine. |
|
3. The Happy Birthday Song Zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè (祝你生日快乐)
In China, it is becoming common to sing the Happy Birthday Song to wish someone a happy birthday. You know the tune, so learn the words and sing along.
Zhù nǐ shēngri kuàilè. 祝你生日快乐。 |
Happy birthday to you |
|
Zhù nǐ shēngri kuàilè. |
(Literally: Wishing you a happy birthday.) |
|
Zhù nǐ shēngri kuàilè. |
|