How to Use This Site

For Chinese-learning newbies, this site shows Chinese characters (Hanzi) and their alphabet-based pronunciation (Pinyin). Use the Blog Archive (on the left sidebar) to navigate to the different lessons. Note: Your first lesson in speaking Chinese should be Tones (click here). Also remember: the letter "q" is pronounced as "ch" and the letter "x" is pronounced as "sh" while the letter "c" sounds like "ts." The pronunciation for the letter "e" sounds like "uh" while the letter "o" sounds more like "wuh" --- Crazy, eh? :-)
Showing posts with label Chinese phrases. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chinese phrases. Show all posts

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Weather Talk

天气 (Tiānqì) - Weather


The weather in Spring is fairly good.

春天的天气比较好。
Chūntiān de tiānqì bǐjiào hǎo.


It is very hot in summer.
夏天很热。
Xiàtiān hěn rè.

It is very comfortable in fall. It is neither cold nor hot.
秋天很舒服,不冷也不热。
Qiūtiān hěn shūfu, bù lěng yě bú rè.

Although it does not snow often in winter, it is very cold.
冬天虽然不常下雪,可是很冷。
Dōngtiān suīrán bù cháng xià xuě, kěshì hén lěng.

The weather here is very nice.
这里天气很好。
Zhèlǐ tiānqì hén hǎo.

The Fall is the best season in Beijing.
在北京,秋天是最好的季节。
Zài běijīng, qiūtiān shì zuì hǎo de jìjié.

The weather in Spring is very comfortable.
春天天气很舒服。
Chūntiān tiānqì hěn shūfu.

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

Casual Talk (Part 1)

Just between friends...

你怎么样?
Nǐ zěn me yàng?
How are you? (informal)


你好吗?
Nǐ haǒ ma?
How are you?

我想念你.
Wǒ xiǎng niàn nǐ.
I miss you.


好久不见。你好吗?
Hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn. Nǐ hǎo ma?
Long time no see. How are you?

你身体好吗?
Nǐ shēn tǐ hǎo ma?
How's your health?


要注意身体啊。
Yào zhù yì shēn tǐ ā.
Take care of yourself.

你家人好吗?
Nǐ jiā rén hǎo ma?
How's your family?


我只想问好.
Wǒ zhǐ xiǎng wèn hǎo.
I just want to say hello.

如果你忙,我不会麻烦你了.
Rú guǒ nǐ máng, wǒ bù huì má fan nǐ le.
If you're busy, I will not bother you.


再见,有空联系。
Zài jiàn. Yǒu kòng lián xì.
Bye. Contact me when you are free.

Friday, March 2, 2007

Introducing Myself (Part 2)

(Note about Pinyin: Wo3 is Wo in the 3rd tone; ming2 is ming in 2nd tone, etc.)

在美国我住了二十五年.
Zai4 Mei3 guo2 wo3 zhu4 le er4 shi2 wu3 nian2.
I lived in America for 25 years.

我出生在菲律宾.
Wo3 chu1 sheng1 zai4 fei1 lu4 bin1.
I was born in the Philippines.

我毕业于加州大学.
Wo3 bi4 ye4 yu2 jia1 zhou1 da4 xue2.
I graduated from the University of California.

我有硕士学位.
Wo3 you3 shuo4 shi4 xue2 wei4.
I have a Master's Degree.

我主要是电脑科学.
Wo3 zhu3 yao4 shi4 dian4 nao3 ke1 xue2.
My specialty (or major) is Computer Science.

我公司是美国软件公司.
Wo3 gong1 si1 shi4 Mei3 guo2 ruan3 jian4 gong1 si1.
I work for an American software company.

公司总经理.
Wo3 gong1 si1 zong3 jing1 li3.
I am the director (or general manager).

我的办公室设在天津.
Wo3 de ban4 gong1 shi4 she4 zai4 Tian1 jin1.
My office is located in Tianjin.