Fodor's Beijing (Full-color Travel Guide) (2015)
Main Table of Contents
Chinese Vocabulary
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CHINESE ENGLISH EQUIVALENT
CONSONANTS
b boat
p pass
m mouse
f flag
d dock
t tongue
n nest
l life
g goat
k keep
h house
j and yet
q chicken
x short
zh judge
ch church
sh sheep
r* read
z seeds
c dots
s seed
VOWELS
ü you
ia yard
üe you + e
ian yen
a father
iang young
ai kite
ie yet
ao now
o all
e earn
ou go
ei day
u wood
er curve
ua waft
i yield
uo wall
i (after z, c, s, zh, ch, sh) thunder
WORD ORDER
The basic Chinese sentence structure is the same as in English, following the pattern of subject-verb-object:
He took my pen.
Tā ná le wŏ de bě.
NOUNS
There are no articles in Chinese, although there are many “counters,” which are used when a certain number of a given noun is specified. Various attributes of a noun—such as size, shape, or use—determine which counter is used with that noun. Chinese does not distinguish between singular and plural.
a pen yìzhī bĭ
a book yìbĕn shū
VERBS
Chinese verbs are not conjugated, and they do not have tenses. Instead, a system of word order, word repetition, and the addition of a number of adverbs serves to indicate the tense of a verb, whether the verb is a suggestion or an order, or even whether the verb is part of a question.
Tāzaì ná wŏ de bĭ. (He is taking my pen.)
Tā ná le wŏ de bĭ. (He took my pen.)
Tā you méi you ná wŏ de bĭ? (Did he take my pen?)
Tā yào ná wŏ de bĭ. (He will take my pen.)
TONES
In English, intonation patterns can indicate whether a sentence is a statement (He’s hungry.), a question (He’s hungry?), or an exclamation (He’s hungry!). In Chinese, words have a particular tone value, and these tones are important in determining the meaning of a word. Observe the meanings of the following examples, each said with one of the four tones found in standard Chinese: mā (high, steady tone): mother; má (rising tone, like a question): fiber; mā (dipping tone): horse; and mà (dropping tone): swear.
PHRASES
You don’t need to master the entire Chinese language to spend a week in China, but taking charge of a few key phrases in the language can aid you in just getting by.
COMMON GREETINGS
Hello/Good morning Nĭ hăo/Zăoshàng hăo
Good evening Wănshàng hăo
Good-bye Zàijiàn
Title for a married woman or an older unmarried woman Tàitai/Fūrén
Title for a young and unmarried woman Xiăojiĕ
Title for a man Xiānshēng
How are you? Nĭ hăo ma?
Fine, thanks. And you? Hĕn hăo. Xièxiè. Nĭ ne?
What is your name? Nĭ jiào shénme míngzi?
My name is … Wŏ jiào …
Nice to meet you Hĕn gāoxìng rènshì nĭ.
I’ll see you later. Huítóu jiàn.
POLITE EXPRESSIONS
Please Qĭng.
Thank you Xièxiè.
Thank you very much. Duōxiè.
You’re welcome. Búkèqi.
Yes, thank you. Shì de, xièxiè.
No, thank you. Bù, xièxiè.
I beg your pardon. Qĭng yuánliàng.
I’m sorry. Hĕn baòqiàn.
Pardon me. Dùibùqĭ.
That’s okay. Méi shénme.
It doesn’t matter. Méi guānxi.
Do you speak English? Nĭ shuō Yīngyŭ ma?
Yes. Shì de.
No. Bù.
Maybe. Bù yī dìng.
I can speak a little. Wŏ néng shūo yī diănr.
I understand a little. Wŏ dŏng yì diănr.
I don’t understand. Wŏ bù dŏng.
I don’t speak Chinese very well. Wŏ Zhōngwén shūo de bù haŏ.
Would you repeat that, please? Qĭng zài shūo yíbiàn?
I don’t know. Wŏ bù zhīdaò.
No problem. Méi wèntí.
It’s my pleasure. Méi guānxi.
NEEDS AND QUESTION WORDS
I’d like … Wŏ xiăng …
I need … Wŏ xūyào …
What would you like? Nĭ yaò shénme?
Please bring me … Qĭng gĕi wŏ…
I’m looking for … Wŏ zài zhăo …
I’m hungry. Wŏ è le.
I’m thirsty. Wŏ kĭukĕ.
It’s important. Hĕn zhòngyào.
It’s urgent. Hĕn jĭnjí.
How? Zĕnmeyàng?
How much? Duōshăo?
How many? Duōshăo gè?
Which? Nă yí gè?
What? Shénme?
What kind of? Shénme yàng de?
Who? Shuí?
Where? Năli?
When? Shénme shíhòu?
What does this mean? Zhè shì shénme yìsi?
What does that mean? Nà shì shénme yìsi?
How do you say … in Chinese? … yòng Zhōngwén zĕnme shūo?
AT THE AIRPORT
Where is … … zài năr?
customs? Hăigūan
passport control? Hùzhào jiănyàn
the information booth? Wènxùntái
the ticketing counter? Shòupiàochù
the baggage claim? Xínglĭchù
the ground transportation? Dìmìan jiāotōng
Is there a bus service Yŏu qù chéng lĭ de gōnggòng
to the city? qìchē ma?
Where are … … zài năr?
the international departures? Guójì hángbĕn chūfĕ diăn
the international arrivals? Guójì hángbĕn dàodá diăn.
What is your nationality? Nĭ shì nĕi guó rén?
I am an American. Wŏ shì Mĕiguó rén.
I am Canadian. Wŏ shì Jiānádà rén.
AT THE HOTEL, RESERVING A ROOM
I would like a room … Wŏ yào yí ge fángjiān.
for one person yìjiān dānrén fáng
for two people yìjiān shuāngrén fáng
for tonight jīntīan wănshàng
for two nights liăng gè wănshàng
for a week yí ge xīngqī
Do you have a different room? Nĭ hái yŏu biéde fángjiān ma?
with a bath dài yùshì de fángjiān
with a shower dài línyù de fángjiān
with a toilet dài cèsuĭ de fángjiān
with air-conditioning yŏu kōngtiáo de fángjiān
How much is it? Duōshăo qián?
My bill, please. Qĭng jiézhàng.
AT THE RESTAURANT
Where can we find a good restaurant? Zài năr kĕyĭ zhăodào yìjiĕ hăo cānguăn?
We’d like a(n)… restaurant. Wŏmen xiăng qù yì gè … cānguăn.
elegant gāo jí
fast-food kuàicān
inexpensive piányì de
seafood hăixiān
vegetarian sùshí
Café kāfeī diàn
A table for two Liăng wèi
Waiter, a menu please. Fúwùyuán, qĭng gĕi wŏmen càidān.
The wine list, please. Qĭng gĕi wŏmen jiŭdān.
Appetizers Kāiwèi cài
Main course Zhŭ cài
Dessert Tiándiăn
What would you like? Nĭ yào shénme cài?
What would you like to drink? Nĭ yào shénme yĭnliào?
Can you recommend a good wine? Nĭ néng tūijiàn yí ge hăo jiŭ ma?
Wine, please. Qĭng lăi diăn jiŭ.
Beer, please. Qĭng lăi diăn píjiŭ.
I didn’t order this. Wĭ méiyŏu diăn zhè gè.
That’s all, thanks. Jiù zhèxie, xièxiè.
The check, please. Qĭng jiézhàng.
Cheers!/Bottoms Up! Gānbēi!
To your health! Zhù nĭ shēntì jiànkāng.
OUT ON THE TOWN
Where can I find … Năr yŏu …
an art museum? yìshù bówùguăn?
a museum of natural history? zìránlìshĭ bówùguăn?
a history museum? lìshĭ bówugŭan?
a gallery? huàláng?
interesting architecture? yĭuqù de jiànzhùwù?
a church? jiàotáng?
the zoo? dòngwùyuán?
I’d like … Wŏ xiăng …
to see a play. kàn xì.
to see a movie. kàn diànyĭng.
to see a concert. qù yīnyuèhuì.
to see the opera. kàn gējù.
to go sightseeing. qù guānguāng.
to go on a bike ride. qí zìxíngchē.
SHOPPING
Where is the best place to go shopping for … Măi … zuì hăo qù năr?
clothes? yīfu
food? shíwù
souvenirs? jìniànpĭn
furniture? jīajù
fabric? bùliào
antiques? gŭdĭng
books? shūjí
sporting goods? yùndòng wùpĭn
electronics? diànqì
computers? diànnăo
DIRECTIONS
Excuse me. Where is … Duìbùqĭ … zài năr?
the bus stop? Qìchēzhàn
the subway station? Dìtiĕzhàn
the rest room? Xĭshĭujiān
the taxi stand? Chūzū chēzhàn
the nearest bank? Zùijìn de yínháng
the hotel? Lǚ guăn
To the right Zài yòubiān.
To the left. Zài zuĭbiān.
Straight ahead. Wăng qián zhízĭu.
It’s near here. Jìuzài zhè fùjìn.
Go back. Wăng húi zĭu.
Next to … Jĭnkào …
TIME
What time is it? Xiànzài jĭdiăn?
It is noon. Zhōngwŭ.
It is midnight. Bànyè.
It is 9:00 a.m. Shàngwŭ jĭu diăn.
It is 1:00 p.m. Xiàwŭ yì diăn.
It is 3 o’clock. Sān diăn (zhōng).
5:15 Wŭ diăn shíwŭ fēn.
7:30 Qī diăn sānshí (bàn).
9:45 Jĭu diăn sìshíwŭ.
Now Xiànzài
Later Wăn yì diănr
Immediately Măshàng
Soon Hĕn kuài
DAYS OF THE WEEK
Monday Xīngqī yī
Tuesday Xīngqī èr
Wednesday Xīngqī sān
Thursday Xīngqī sì
Friday Xīngqī wŭ
Saturday Xīngqī lìu
Sunday Xīngqī rì (tiān)
MODERN CONNECTIONS
Where can I find … Zài năr kĕyĭ shĭ yòng …
a telephone? dìanhuà?
a fax machine? chuánzhēnjī?
an Internet connection? guójì wănglù?
How do I call the United States? Gĕi Mĕiguó dă diànhuà zĕnme dă?
I need … Wŏ xūyào …
a fax sent. fā chuánzhēn.
a hookup to the Internet. yŭ guójì wănglù liánjiē.
a computer. diànnăo.
a package sent overnight. liányè bă bāoguĭ jìchū.
some copies made. fùyìn yìxiē wénjiàn.
EMERGENCIES AND SAFETY
Help! Jiùmìng a!
Fire! Jiùhuĭ a!
I need a doctor. Wŏ yào kàn yīshēng.
Call an ambulance! Măshàng jiào jìuhùchē!
What happened? Fashēng le shénme shì?
I am/My wife is/My husband is/ Wŏ/Wŏ qīzi/Wŏ Zhàngfu/
My friend is/Someone is … very sick. Wŏ péngyŏu/Yŏu rén…
having a heart attack. bìng de hĕn lìhài.
choking. yēzhù le.
losing consciousness. yūndăo le.
about to vomit. yào ŏutùwù le.
having a seizure. yòu fābìng le.
stuck. bèi kă zhù le.
I can’t breathe. Wŏ bù néng hūxī.
I tripped and fell. Wŏ bàn dăo le.
I cut myself. Wŏ gē shĕng le.
I drank too much. Wŏ jiŭ hē de tài duō le.
I don’t know. Wŏ bù zhīdào.
I’ve injured my … Wŏ de … shòushĕng le.
head toú
neck bózi
back bèi
arm gē bèi
leg tuĭ
foot jiăo
eye(s) yănjīng
I’ve been robbed. Wŏ bèi qiăng le.
NUMBERS
0 Líng
1 Yī
2 Èr
3 Sān
4 Sì
5 Wŭ
6 Liù
7 Qī
8 Bā
9 Jiŭ
10 Shí
11 Shíyī
12 Shí’èr
13 Shísān
14 Shísì
15 Shíwŭ
16 Shíliù
17 Shíqī
18 Shíbā
19 Shíjiŭ
20 Èrshí
21 Èrshíyī
22 Èrshí’èr
23 Èrshísān
30 Sānshí
40 Sìshí
50 Wŭshí
60 Liùshí
70 Qīshí
80 Bāshí
90 Jiŭshí
100 Yìbăi
1,000 Yìqiān
1,100 Yìqiān
2,000 Yìqiān
10,000 Yíwàn
100,000 Shíwàn
1,000,000 Băiwàn
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