Who's here

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Beginner Chinese - Problems with the authorities

I haven't done anything wrong.
我没有作错事。 (wǒ méiyǒu zuòcuò shì)

It was a misunderstanding.
这是误会。 (zhè shì wùhuì)
Where are you taking me?
你带我去哪里? (nǐ dài wǒ qù nǎlǐ?)
Am I under arrest?
我被捕了吗? (wǒ bèibǔle ma?)
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.
我是 美国/澳洲/英国/加拿大 公民。 (wǒ shì měiguó/àozhōu/yīngguó/jiānádà gōngmín)
I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.
我希望跟 美国/澳洲/英国/加拿大 的 大使馆/领事馆 联繫。 (wǒ xīwàng gēn měiguó/àozhōu/yīngguó/jiānádà de dàshǐguǎn/lǐngshìguǎn liánxì)
I want to talk to a lawyer.
我希望跟律师联繫。 (wǒ xīwàng gēn lǜshī liánxì)
Can I just pay a fine now?
我可以只付罚款吗? (wǒ kěyǐ zhǐ fù fákuǎn ma?)

Beginner Chinese - At the Bar

Do you serve alcohol?
有没有卖酒? (yǒu méiyǒu mài jiǔ?)

Is there table service?
有没有餐桌服务? (yǒu méiyǒu cānzhuō fúwù?)
A beer/two beers, please.
请给我一杯/两杯啤酒。 (qǐng gěi wǒ yìbēi/liǎngbēi píjiǔ)
A glass of red/white wine, please.
请给我一杯红/白葡萄酒。 (qǐng gěi wǒ yìbēi hóng/bái pútáojiǔ)
A pint, please.
请给我一品脱。 (qǐng gěi wǒ yìpǐntuō)
A bottle, please.
请給我一瓶。 (qǐng gěi wǒ yìpíng)
_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.
请給我_____和_____。 (qǐng gěi wǒ _____ hé _____)
whiskey
威士忌 (wēishìjì)
vodka
伏特加 (fútèjiā)
rum
兰姆酒 (lánmǔjiǔ)
water
水 (shuǐ)
club soda
苏打水 (sūdǎshuǐ)
tonic water
通宁水 (tōngníngshuǐ)
orange juice
柳橙汁 (liǔchéngzhī)
Coke (soda)
可樂 (kělè)
Do you have any bar snacks?
有没有吧臺点心? (yǒu méiyǒu bātái diǎnxīn?)
One more, please.
请再给我一个。 (qǐng zài gěi wǒ yígè)
Another round, please.
请再来一轮。 (qǐng zàilái yìlún)
When is closing time?
几点打烊? (jǐdiǎn dǎyáng?)
Where is the toilet?
厕所在哪里 (cèsuǒ zài nǎli?)

Beginner Chinese - At the Hotel

Do you have any rooms available?
你们有房间吗? Nǐmen yǒu fángjiān ma?

Does the room come with...
有没有... Yǒu méiyǒu...
...bedsheets?
...床单? ...chuángdān?
...a bathroom?
...浴室? ...yùshì?
...a telephone?
...电话? ...diànhuà?
...a TV?
...电视? ...diànshì ?
I will stay for _____ night(s).
我打算住_____夜。 Wǒ dǎsuàn zhù _____ yè.
Do you have a safe?
你们有没有保险箱? Nǐmen yǒu méiyǒu bǎoxiǎn xiāng?
Can you wake me at _____?
请明天早上_____叫醒我。 Qǐng míngtiān zǎoshang _____ jiàoxǐng wǒ.
I want to check out.
我现在要走。 Wǒ xiànzài yào zǒu.
pay
付 fù
cash
现钱 xiàn qián
credit card
信用卡 xìn yòng kǎ

Beginner Chinese - Shopping

Do you have this in my size?
有没有我的尺寸? (yǒu méiyǒu wǒde chǐcùn?)

How much is this?
这个多少钱? (zhège duōshǎo qián?)
That's too expensive.
太贵了。 (tài gùi le)
Would you take _____?
_____元可以吗? (_____ yuán kěyǐ ma?)
expensive
贵 (gùi)
cheap
便宜 (piányí)
I can't afford it.
我带的钱不够。 (wǒ dài de qián búgòu)
I don't want it.
我不想要。 (wǒ bùxiǎng yào)
You're cheating me. (Use with caution!)
你欺骗我。 (nǐ qīpiàn wǒ)
I'm not interested.
我没有兴趣。 (wǒ méiyǒu xìngqù)
OK, I'll take it.
我要买这个。 (wǒ yào mǎi zhège)
Can I have a bag?
请给我袋子。 (qǐng gěi wǒ dàizǐ)
Do you ship (overseas)?
可以邮寄到海外吗? (kěyǐ yóujì dào hǎiwài ma?)
I need...
我要_____ (wǒ yào _____)
...toothpaste.
牙膏 (yágāo)
...a toothbrush.
牙刷 (yáshuā)
...tampons.
卫生棉条 (wèishēng miántiáo)
...soap.
香皂 (xiāngzào)
...shampoo.
洗髮精 (xǐfǎjīng)
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)
镇痛剂 (zhèntòngjì)
...cold medicine.
感冒藥 (gǎnmòuyào)
...stomach medicine.
胃腸藥 (wèichángyào)
...a razor.
剃刀 (tìdāo)
...an umbrella.
雨伞 (yu3sǎn)
...sunblock lotion.
防曬油 (fángshàiyóu)
...a postcard.
明信片 (míngxìnpiàn)
...postage stamps.
郵票 (yóupiào)
...batteries.
电池 (diànchí)
...writing paper.
紙 (zhǐ)
...a pen.
笔 (bǐ)
...English-language books.
英文书 (yīngwén shū)
...English-language magazines.
英文杂志 (yīngwén zázhì)
...an English-language newspaper.
英文报纸 (yīngwén bàozhǐ)
...a Chinese-English dictionary.
汉英字典 (hànyīng zìdiǎn)
...an English-Chinese dictionary.
英汉字典 (yīnghàn zìdiǎn)

beginner Chinese - At the Restaurant

Can I look at the menu, please?
请给我看看菜单 qĭng gĕi wŏ kànkan càidān?

I'm a vegetarian
我吃素的 wŏ chī sù de
breakfast
早饭 zǎofàn
lunch
午饭 wǔfàn or zhōngfàn
supper
晚饭 wǎnfàn
beef
牛肉 niúròu
pork
猪肉 zhūròu
mutton
羊肉 yángròu
chicken
鸡 jī
fish
鱼 yú
cheese
奶酪 nǎilào
eggs
鸡蛋 jīdàn
bread
面包 miànbāo
noodles
面条 miàntiáo
fried rice
炒饭 chǎofàn
dumpling
饺子 jiǎozi
rice
米饭 mĭfàn
coffee
咖啡 kāfēi
black coffee
黑咖啡 hēi kāfēi
milk
牛奶 niúnǎi
sugar
糖 táng
tea (drink)
茶 cha
green tea
绿茶 lǜ chá
scented tea
花茶 huāchá
black tea
红茶 hóngchá
juice
水果 shuǐguǒ fruit; 汁 zhī juice
water
水 shuĭ
natural mineral water
矿泉水 kuàngquán shuǐ
beer
啤酒 píjiŭ
red/white wine
红/白 葡萄 酒 hóng/bái pŭtáo jiŭ
It was delicious.
好吃極了。 (hǎochī jí le)
The check, please.
請結帳。 (qǐng jiézhàng)

Beginner Chinese - Time expressions

now
现在 xiànzài

later
以后, yǐhòu or shāohòu
before
以前, yǐqián
morning
早上, zǎoshàng
afternoon
下午, xiàwǔ
night
晚上, wǎnshàng

Clock

What time is it?
现在几点? Xiànzài jǐ diǎn?

It is nine in the morning.
早上9点钟。 Zǎoshàng jǐu diǎn zhōng.
Three-thirty PM.
下午3点半. Xiàwǔ sān diǎn bàn.

Duration

_____ minute(s)
_____ 分钟 fēnzhōng

_____ hour(s)
_____ 小时 xiǎoshí
_____ day(s)
_____ 天 tiān
_____ week(s)
_____ 星期 xīngqī
_____ month(s)
_____ 月 yùe
_____ year(s)
_____ 年 nián

Days

today
今天 jīntiān

yesterday
昨天 zuótiān
tomorrow
明天 míngtiān
this week
这个星期 zhège xīngqī
last week
上个星期 shàngge xīngqī
next week
下个星期 xiàge xīngqī
Weekdays in Chinese are easy: starting with 1 for Monday, just add the number after 星期 xīngqī.

Sunday
星期天 xīngqītiān or xing1 qi1 ri4 or xing1 qi1 qi1

Monday
星期一 xīngqīyī
Tuesday
星期二 xīngqīèr
Wednesday
星期三 xīngqīsān
Thursday
星期四 xīngqīsì
Friday
星期五 xīngqīwǔ
Saturday
星期六 xīngqīlìu

Months

Months in Chinese are also easy: starting with 1 for January, just add the number after 月 yuè.

January
一月, yī yuè

February
二月, èr yuè
March
三月, sān yuè
April
四月, sì yuè
May
五月, wŭ yuè
June
六月, liù yuè
July
七月, qī yuè
August
八月, bā yuè
September
九月, jiŭ yuè
October
十月, shí yuè
November
十一月, shí yī yuè
December
十二月, shí èr yuè

Beginner Chinese - Numbers

0 Zeroling0 零
1 Oneyi1 一
2 Twoer2 二
3 Threesan3 三
4 Foursi4 四
5 Fivewo5 五
6 Sixliu6 六
7 Sevenqi7 七
8 Eightba8 八
9 Ninejiu9 九
10 Tenshi10 十
11 Elevenshiyi11 十一
12 Twelveshier12 十二
13 Thirteenshisan13 十三
14 Fourteenshisi14 十四
15 Fifteenshiwu15 十五
16 Sixteenshiliu16 十六
17 Seventeenshiqi17 十七
18 Eighteenshiba18 十八
19 Nineteenshijiu19 十九
20 Twentyershi20 二十
30 Thirtysanshi30 三十
40 Fortysishi40 四十
50 Fiftywoshi50 五十
60 Sixtyliushi60 六十
70 SeventyCheeshi70 七十
80 Eightybashi80 八十
90 Ninetyjiushi90 九十
100 Hundredyibai100 一百
1,000 Thousandyiqian1,000 一千
10,000 Ten Thousandyiwan10,000 一万
100,000 Hundred Thousandshiwan100,000 十万
1,000,000 Millionyibaiwan1,000,000 一百万
Plusjia
Minusjian
More (than)duoyu多于
Less (than)shaoyu少于
Approximatelydagai大概
Firstdiyi第一
Seconddier第二
Thirddisan第三

Beginner Chinese - Understanding the language

I'm Sorry! (if you don't hear something) Dui4 bu4 qi3!   对不起!
Sorry (for a mistake) Bao4 qian4!   抱歉!
No Problem! Mei2 wen4 ti2!   没问题!
Can You Say It Again? Shen4 me? Zai4 shuo1 yi1 bian4!   什么!再说一遍!
Can You Speak Slowly? Qing3 zai4 shuo1 yi1 bian4!   请再说一遍!
Write It Down Please! Qing3 ji4 xia4!   请记下!
I Don't Understand! Wo3 bu4 dong3!   我不懂!
I Don't Know! Wo3 bu4 zhi1 dao4!   我不知道!
I Have No Idea. Wo3 ye3 bu4 zhi1 dao4!   我也不知道!
What's That Called In Chinese? Na4 zai4 han4 yu3 li jiao4 shen2 me?   那在汉语里叫什么?
What Does "gato" Mean In English? "ni hao" zai4 ying1 yu3 li zen3 me shuo1?
“ni hao”在英语里怎么说?
How Do You Say "Please" In Chinese? "Please" zai4 han4 yu3 li zen3 me shuo1?
“Please”在汉语里怎么说?
What Is This? Zhe4 shi4 shen2 me?   这是什么?
My Chinese is bad. Wo3 han4 yu3 shuo1 de bu4 hao2.   我汉语说的不好。
I need to practice my Chinese Wo3 xu1 yao4 lian4 xi2 han4 yu3.   我需要练习汉语。
Don't worry! Bie2 dan1 xin1!   别担心!

Beginner Chinese - How to introduce yourself

Do you speak (English/ Chinese)? Ni3 hui4 shuo1 (ying1 yu2/ han4 yu2) ma2?   会一点点。
Just a little. Hui4 yi1 dian3 dian3.   会一点点。
What's your name? Ni3 jiao4 shen2 me ming2 zi4?   你叫什么名字?
My name is ... Wo3 jiao4……   我叫…
Mr.../ Mrs.…/ Miss… ……Xian1 sheng/……Nü3 shi4/……Xiao3 jie2
……先生/……女士/……小姐
Nice to meet you! Ni3 hao3!   你好!
You're very kind! Ni3 zhen1 hao3! Ni3 zhen1 hao3!   你真好!
Where are you from? Ni3 cong2 na3 li lai2?   你从哪里来?
I'm from (the U.S/ China) Wo3 cong2 (mei3 guo1/ zhong1 guo1) lai2.
我从(美国/中国)来。
I'm (American) Wo3 shi4……(mei3 guo1) ren2.   我是……(美国)人。
Where do you live? Ni3 zai4 na3 li zhu4?   你在哪里住?
I live in (the U.S/ China) Wo3 zai4 (mei3 guo1/ fa3 guo1) zhu4.   我在(美国/法国)住。
Did you like it here? Zhe4 li zhu4 de guan4 ma?   这里住得惯吗?
China is a wonderful country Zhong1 guo2 shi4 ge4 mei3 hao3 de guo2 jia1.
中国是个美好的国家。
What do you do for a living? Ni3 shi4 gan4 shen2 me de?   你是干什么的?
I work as a (translator/ businessman) Wo3 shi4 (fan1 yi2).   我是(翻译)。
I like Chinese Wo3 xi3 huan1 han4 yu3.   我喜欢汉语。
I've been learning Chinese for 1 month Wo3 xue2 han4 yu3 yi1 ge4 yue4 le.   我学汉语一个月了。
Oh! That's good! O4! Tai4 hao3 la4!   噢!太好啦!
How old are you? Ni3 ji3 sui4 le?   你几岁了?
I'm (twenty, thirty...) years old. Wo3 (er4 shi2/ san1 shi2) sui4 le.   我(二十/三十)岁了。
I have to go Wo3 gai1 zou3 le.   我该走了。
I will be right back! Wo3 guo4 yi1 hui2r jiu4 hui2 lai2!   我过一会儿就回来!
Wish Someone Something
Good luck! Zhu4 ni3 hao3 yun4!   祝你好运!
Happy birthday! Zhu4 ni3 sheng1 ri1 kuai4 le4!   祝你生日快乐!
Happy new year! Xin1 nian2 kuai4 le4!   新年快乐!
Merry Christmas! Sheng4 dan4 kuai4 le4!   圣诞快乐!
Congratulations! Zhu4 he4/Gong1 xi3!   祝贺/恭喜!
Enjoy! (for meals...) Qing3 yong4 can1!   请用餐!
I'd like to visit China one day Zong3 you3 yi1 tian1 wo3 hui4 qu4 zhong1 guo2.
总有一天我会去中国。
Say hi to John for me Ti4 wo3 xiang4 yue1 han4 wen4 hao3.
替我向(约翰) 问好. /td>
Bless you (when sneezing) Gan3 mao4 le, mei2 shi4 ba?   感冒了,没事吧?
Good night and sweet dreams! Wan3 an1 & zuo4 ge4 mei3 meng4!   晚安&做个美梦!

Beginner Chinese - Asking for help and directions

I'm lost Wo3 mi2 lu4 le.   我迷路了。
Can I help you? You3 shen2 me xu1 yao4 wo3 bang1 ni3 de?
有什么需要我帮你的?
Can you help me? Ni3 ken3 bang1 zhu4 wo3 ma?   你肯帮助我吗?
Where is the (bathroom/ pharmacy)? (Xi3 shou3 jian1/yao4 fang2) zai4 na3 li3?
(洗手间/药房)在哪里?
Go straight! then turn left/ right! Zhi2 wang3 qian2 zou3! Zuo3/you4 guai3 wan1 dao4!
直往前走!左/右拐弯到!
I'm looking for john. Wo3 zai4 zhao3 yue1 han4.   我在找约翰。
One moment please! Qing3 deng3 yi1 xia4!   请等一下!
Hold on please! (phone) Qing3 shao1 hou4!   请稍后!
How much is this? Zhe4 duo1 shao3 qian2?   这多少钱?
Excuse me ...! (to ask for something) Qing3 wen4!   请问!
Excuse me! ( to pass by) Bao4 qian4!   抱歉!
Come with me! Gen1 wo3 lai2!   跟我来!

Greetings

English Greetings Chinese Greetings:
Hi! Ni3 hao3!   你好
Good morning! zǎo shàng hǎo/ zǎo   早上好/ 早
Good evening! Xia4 wu3 hao3!/ Wan3 shang4 hao3!   下午好!/ 晚上好!
Welcome! (to greet someone) Huan2 ying2!   欢迎!
How are you? Ni3 hao3   你好!
I'm fine, thanks! Hen3 hao3! Xie4 xie4   很好!谢谢!
And you? Ni3 ne1?   你呢?
Good/ So-So. Yi1 ban1   一般!
Thank you (very much)! Xie4 xie4   谢谢!
You're welcome! (for "thank you") huan2 ying2!   欢迎!
Hey! Friend! Hai4! Peng2 you4   嗨!朋友!
I missed you so much! Duo1 xiang3 ni3 ya4   多想你呀!
What's new? You3 shen2 me xi1 qi2 de?   有什么希奇的?
Nothing much Mei2 you2!   没有! 没有!
Good night! Wan3 an1   晚安
See you later! dài huì ér jiàn   待会儿见
Good bye! zài jiàn   再见