Mandarin Notes

Table of Contents

1 Greetings and Basics

1.1 Basics

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Hello Nǐ hǎo 你好  
Good morning Zǎoshang hǎo 早上好  
Hello teacher Lǎoshī hǎo 老师好  
I'm called Philip Wǒ jiào fēilìpǔ 我叫菲利普  
What are you called? Nǐ jiào shénme 你叫什么  
I come from china Wǒ láizì zhōngguó 我来自中国  
I am from United Kingdom Wǒ láizì yīngguó 我来自英国  
I am British person Wǒ shì yīngguó rén 我是英国人  
Where are you from Nǐ shì nǎlǐ rén 你是哪里人  
Where are you from Nǐ láizì nǎlǐ 你来自哪里  
Thank you Xièxiè 谢谢  
You’re welcome Bù kèqì 不客气  
I am sorry Duìbùqǐ 对不起  
It's OK / No worries Méiguānxì 没关系  
Goodbye Zàijiàn 再见  
Good night Wǎn'ān 晚安  

2 Numbers and Time

2.1 Numbers

English Pinyin Characters Notes
0 líng 零  
1 yī 一  
2 èr or liǎng 二 or 两  
3 sān 三  
4 sì 四  
5 wǔ 五  
6 liù 六  
7 qī 七  
8 bā 八  
9 jiǔ 九  
10 shí 十  
11111 yí wàn yì qiān yī bǎi yī shí yī 一万一千一百一十一  
11 shí yī 十一  
21 èr shí yī 二十一  

2.2 Telling the Time

English Pinyin Characters Notes
What time is it (now)? xiàn zài jǐ diǎn 现在几点  
Half Two liǎng diǎn bàn 两点半  
Five past Two liǎng diǎn líng wǔ 两点零五  
Five Past Two liǎng diǎn wǔ fēn 两点五分  
Eight Fifteen bā diǎn shí wǔ 八点十五  
Quarter (past) Eight bā diǎn yí kè 八点一刻  
Eight Fifty Five bā diǎn wǔ shí wǔ 八点五十五  
After Eight bā diǎn duō 八点多 Before 8:30
About Eight bā diǎn zuǒ yòu 八点左右  
Basically – 8:1x, where x is unknown! bā diǎn shí jǐ fēn 八点十几分  

2.3 Times of the Day

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Wee Hours (0-3/4) líng chén 凌晨  
Early Morning (7/8) zǎo chén 早晨  
Morning (9/10) zǎo shàng 早上  
Late Morning (11/12) shàng wǔ 上午  
Around Midday (11-1) zhōng wǔ 中午  
After 2pm / Afternoon xià wǔ 下午  
After 6pm / Night wǎn shàng 晚上  
After midnight bàn yè 半夜  
Seven in the morning zǎo shàng qī diǎn 早上七点  
Three in the afternoon xià wǔ sān diǎn 下午三点  

2.4 Days, Weeks, Months

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Year nián 年  
Two Zero One Six (2016) èr līng yī liù nián 二零一六年  
Month yuè 月  
Two Month (February) èr yuè 二月  
Day rì or hào 日 or 号  
18th shí bā hào 十八号  
Week (Star Period) xīng qī 星期  
Week (One revolution of a circle) zhōu 周  
Week (Prey – religious once a week) lǐ bài 礼拜  
Three Weeks sān zhōu 三周  
Third Day of Week (Wednesday) zhōu sān 周三  
Sunday zhōu tiān 周天  
Sunday zhōu rì 周日  
One Day yī tiān 一天  
Weekend zhōu mò 周末  
Working Day gōng zuō ri 工作日  
Day of Worship lǐ bài tiān 礼拜天 Ceremony Worship Day

2.5 Relative Time

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Today jín tiān 今天  
Tomorrow míng tiān 明天  
Yesterday zuó tiān 昨天  
Day before Yesterday qián tiān 前天  
Day after Tomorrow hòu tiān 后天  
Yesterday was Monday zuó tiān shì xīng qī yī 昨天是星期一  
Today is what day of the week? jīn tiān shì zhou jǐ 今天是周几  
Tomorrow is what day of the month? míng tiān shì jǐ hào 明天是几号  
Last Year qù nián 去年  
Next Year míng nián 明年  
This Year jīn nián 今年  
Last Month shàng ge yuè 上个月  
Next Month xià ge yuè 下个月  
This Month zhè ge yuè 这个月  
Last Week shàng xīng qī 上星期  
Last Week shàng zhōu 上周  
Last Week shàng lǐ bài 上礼拜  
This Week zhè ge xīng qī 这个星期  
Early August bā yuè chū 八月初  
Mid-August bā yuè zhōng 八月中  
Late August bā yuè mò 八月末  
Between August 10th and 19th bā yuè shí jǐ hào 八月十几号  

2.6 Conversation - Going to Shanghai

English Pinyin Characters Notes
What’s the day (of the month) today? jīn tiān jǐ hào 今天几号  
Today is 8th August. jīn tiān bā yuè bā hào 今天八月八号  
On what day do you go to Shanghai? nǐ jǐ hào qù shàng hǎi 你几号去上海  
On the 10th I go to Shanghi, returning on the 13th wǒ shí hào qù shàng hǎi, shí sān hào huí lái 我十号去上海,十三号回来  
What day of the week is the 13th? shí sān hào shì xīng qī jǐ 十三号是星期几  
Friday xīng qī wǔ 星期五  
Next month, where are you going? nǐ xìa gè yuè qù nǎ 你下个月去哪  
This month I go to Shanghai, next month I go to Beijing. zhè gè yuè qù shàng hǎi, xìa gè yuè qù běi jīng 这个月去上海,下个月去北京  

2.7 Conversation - Daily Routine

English Pinyin Characters Notes
What time (do you go) to work in the (early) morning? nǐ zǎochén jǐ diān shàngban 你早晨几点上班 上 can mean “get on (top)”, 班 means work – so “get on work” :-)
Quarter (past) Eight bā diǎn yí kè 八点一刻  
What hour around noon (do you) eat? zhōngwǔ jǐ diǎn chī fàn 中午几点吃饭 吃 means eat, and 饭 means meal
After 12 o’clock shí èr diǎn duō 十二点多  
At night what time (do you) return home? wǎnshàng jǐ diǎn huí jiā 晚上几点回家  
About 7 o’clock qī diǎn zuǒ yòu 七点左右  
What time to sleep? jǐ diǎn shuìjiào 几点睡觉  
(I) sleep Before 11 o’clock shí yī diǎn yǐqìán shuìjiào 十一点以前睡觉  
To have lunch (to eat midday meal) chī wǔ fàn 吃午饭  
Breakfast (early meal) zǎo fàn 早饭  
Dinner (late meal) wǎn fàn 晚饭  
To Sleep (To sleep the sleep – just like we dream a dream!) shuìjiào 睡觉  
To Sleep the Noon Sleep (Midday nap/Siesta) Shuì wǔ jiào 睡午觉  
Before (yi is only a connecting word like ‘front of eleven’ yǐqián 以前  
After yǐhòu 以后  

3 Money and Buying

3.1 Money

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Money qián 钱 Different character than 1000!
Piece / Bucks kuài 块 (used for Yuan, or even Pounds or Dollar)
1 Yuan yī kuài 一块  
100 Yuan yī bǎi kuài 一百块  
100 Yuan yī bǎi yuán 一百元  
2 Yuan liǎng kuài 两块  
Feather máo 毛 (10 máo = 1 Yuan, 1 máo is kinda 10p) Officially jiǎo is used to mean same thing 角
0.10 Yuan yī máo 一毛  
0.20 Yuan liǎng máo 两毛  
Small Portion (10 fēn = 1 máo) fēn 分 Not used much because too small
1 Yuan 20 (2 Mao) yī kuài èr 一块二 2 Mao = 2*10 = 20
260 Yuan liǎng bǎi liù 两百六 You don’t need to say the smallest unit to 6 becomes 60 because last referenced unit is 100s so implied final unit is 10s
206 Yuan liǎng bǎi líng liù 两百零六 The zero means this must be units not 10s
1200 Yuan yī qiān èr 一千二 Here the ‘bai’ is missed off because it is the smallest unit
1020 Yuan yī qiān lińg èr shí 一千零二十 Here the ling represents the zero hundreds!
1002 Yuan yī qiān líng èr 一千零二 You only need to put one zero in – so not ‘ling ling’
How much is ½ Kg of apples? píng guǒ duō shǎo qián yī jīn 苹果多少钱一斤 Apple fruit, more-less money 1 jin
2.20 for ½ Kg liǎng kùai èr yī jīn 两块二 2 Yuan 20, Here yī means “per” rather than “one”
I want (to) buy 1 Kg (2 jin) wǒ yāo mǎi liǎng jīn 我要买两斤  
Buy mǎi 买  
Sell mài 卖  
All together 4.40 yí gòng sì kuài sì 一共四块四 All-together (One Total), 4 Yuan 40
Can (you do it) a little cheap(er)? pián yi diǎn xíng ma 便宜点行吗 Cheap a little (can) do question-maker
Cheap pián yi 便宜  
Expensive gui 贵  
Too Expensive tài gui 太贵  
4 bucks is OK sì kuài ba 四块 (I’m not overly chuffed, but I’ll accept)

3.2 Buying Food and Drink

English Pinyin Characters Notes
What do you want to buy? nǐ yào mǎi shén me? 你要买什么  
How many do you want? yaò duō shǎo 要多少  
All together how much (money)? yī gòng duō shǎo qian 一共多少钱  
Long time no see hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn 好久不见  
Beer pí jiǔ 啤酒  
Milk niú nǎi 牛奶  
Cola kělè 可乐  
One bottle yī píng 一瓶  
One bottle of beer yī píng pí jiǔ 一瓶啤酒  
Bread miàn bāo 面包  
One (general measure) of bread yī gè miànbāo 一个面包  
One bag of bread yī bāo miànbāo 一包面包  
ham huǒ tuǐ 火腿  
Orange chéngzi 橙子  
Watermelon xī guā 西瓜  
Pumpkin nán guā 南瓜  
Winter Melon / Ash Gourd dōng guā 冬瓜  
Grape pú táo 葡萄  
I want 1.5 Kg of Tomatoes xīhóngshì yào sān jīn 西红柿要三斤  
I want 1 Kg of Cucumber huáng guá yaò liǎng jīn 黄瓜要两斤  
Mushroom mógu 蘑菇  
Carrot húluóbo 胡萝卜  
Mooli or Daikon or White Radish bailuóbo 白萝卜  
(Western) Onion yáng cōng 洋葱  

3.3 Buying a Jumper

English Pinyin Characters Notes
How much is that jumper? nà jiàn máo yī zěn me mài 那件毛衣怎么卖 That (clothes measure) jumper, how (do you) sell?
That nà 那  
Jumper (natural wool) máo yī 毛衣 mao literally means hair
How zěn me 怎么  
How much is <thing> <thing> zěn me mài 怎么卖 <thing> how (you) sell?
Do you have a red one? yǒu hóng de ma 有红的吗 Have [Jumper] of Red? - Note it is actually Red of [Jumper]
Do you have a red jumper? yǒu hóng de máo yi ma 有红的毛衣吗 You can omit the jumper as per above
Have yǒu 有  
Red hóng 红  
Possession Particle de 的 like opposite to the French!
Question maker ma 吗  
Do you have a red one? yǒu hóng sè de (máo yi) ma 有红色的毛衣吗 “se” is the colour particle – add to be clearer
I wǒ 我  
My or Mine wǒ de 我的  
Apple of I – i.e. My Apple wǒ de píng gǔo 我的苹果  
I have apple wǒ yǒu píng gǔo 我有苹果  
Is the response to “yǒu __ ma” question. yǒu 有 Literally: (I) have. Like Hay/No Hay in Spanish!
Negative response – don’t have méi yǒu 没有 méi is particular to yǒu
Can I try? wǒ shì shì xíng ma 我试试行吗 I try try can?
(you) can xíng 行  
(you) can’t bù xíng 不行  
This jumper is too small zhè jiàn máo yī tài xiǎo le 这件毛衣太小了 This (counter) jumper too small [than thought]
You are early (than I thought) tài zǎo le 太早了 (You are) too early [than I thought]. ‘le’ suggest that an expectation was not met
Do you have a larger one? yǒu dà de ma 有大的吗  
Do you have a larger jumper? yǒu dà de máo yī ma 有大的毛衣吗  
large ‘of’ jumper dà de máo yī 大的毛衣 Swap the words around to get:
Do you have a slightly larger one? yǒu dà yī diǎn de ma 有大一点的吗 The yī can be ommitted
Do you want to quickly try this one? nǐ shì shì zhè jiān 你试试这件 You try try this (measure)?
This one is very good Zhè jiàn hěn hǎo 这件很好 This (measure) very good
I like this one wǒ xǐ hūan zhè jiàn 我喜欢这件 I like this (measure)
Like xǐ hūan 喜欢  

3.4 Colours

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Black hēi 黑色 色 (se) is suffix for colours
Yellow huáng 黄色  
Green (4th tone) lǜ 绿色  
White bǎi 白色  
Blue lán 蓝色  
Grey huī 灰色  
Purple zǐ 紫色  
Pink fěn 粉色  

3.5 Clothes and Sizes

English Pinyin Characters Notes
This (item of) clothes is too thick zhè jiàn yīfu tài hòu le 这件衣服太厚了 Yīfu – clothes. Yi=clothes (sometimes used for tops), fu=clothes
Is there a thin one? yǒu báo diàn de ma 有薄的吗  
A pair of pants yī tiáo kù zi 一条裤子 kù=trousers, zi has no meaning. tiào is the measure for soft and long things
The length long/short cháng duǎn 长短  
A coat yī jiàn wài tào 一件外套 wài=outside, tào=suit/cover. Tào tào = condom!
Thickness Thick/Thin hòu báo 厚 薄  
A suit yī tào xī fú 一套西服 xī=western, fú=clothes
Fit or bagginess fat/Thin (also in people) loose/tight. Pàng - chubby féi shòu 肥瘦  
A pair of leather shoes yī shuāng pí xié 一双皮鞋  
Size big/small dà xiǎo 大小  
Pair shuāng 双  
A skirt yī tiáo qún zi 一条裙子 qún=skirt, zi has no meaning
A pair of jeans yī tiáo niú zǎi kù 一条牛仔裤 niú=cow, zǎi=baby/boy, kù=trousers
Denim Jackets niú zǎi wài tào 牛仔外套  
A shirt yī jiàn chèn shān 一件衬衫  
A t-shirt tì xù 一件体恤  
(One measure) Sports shoes / Sneakers yī zhǐ yùn dòng xié 一只运动鞋 yùn dòng = sport, Xiè = shoes
Measure word (used for animals) and weirdly for one shoe, not pair zhǐ 只  

3.6 Different Way of Asking Questions

English Pinyin Characters Notes
You can? xíng ma    
Can Can’t? xíng bù xíng    
Is it good? hǎo ma    
Good not Good? hǎo bù hǎo    
(are you going to) buy? mǎi ma    
buy no buy? mǎi bù mǎi    
want yào    
love ài    
You love not love me? nǐ ài bù ài wǒ   (wǒ means I and me)
You love me? nǐ ài wǒ ma    
You very love me nǐ hěn ài wǒ    
You don’t love me nǐ bù ài wǒ    
Can / to be able kěyǐ    
Can / to be able xǐng    
Can Can’t? kě bù kě yǐ   Note the first yǐ is omitted
like xǐ hūan    
Like don’t Like? xǐ bù xǐ huān   Again huān is omitted

3.7 Buy Clothes and Discounts

English Pinyin Characters Notes
How much is this dress? zhè tiáo qúnzi duō shào qiàn?    
And this coat too? The nè particle! zhè jiàn wài tào nè?    
And you? To ask a question back to someone who asks you one. nǐ nè?    
Now, what is the time? xiàn zài jǐ diǎn    
Now there is 20% off (80% of the original 200) xiàn zài dǎ bá zhé liǎng bǎi    
Discount dǎ   (also means heat, phone call, take a taxi!)
8 fold (fold to make it small) – 80% of the original bá zhé    
Two hundred liǎng bǎi    
5% off (95% of original) Jiu wǔ zhé    
Now on sale (no amount specified) xiàn zài dǎ zhé    
I can try a short time, dress and shoes? wǒ kěyǐ shì yíxià qúnzi hé xié ma?    
Just like shì shì (try try). Yíxià means a short time shì yíxià    
And hé    
This pair of shoes, how are they? Zhè shuāng xiè zěn me yàng?   Yang means how do the look/feel/etc.
Body shēn tǐ    
Literally: How about your body – how do you feel? (health) nǐ de shēn tǐ    
I want (buy) all wǒ dōu yào    
To be / is / etc shì    
Cheaper A-Little Suggestion? piàn-yì yī-diǎn ba   ba is like a gentle suggestion they could do it (a little cheaper)
550, how does that look? wǔ bǎi wǔ, zěn me yang?   I can do it for 550
Good, I want it Hǎo , wǒ yào le   The “le” here kind of implies that you’ve made a decision
Good I buy it Hǎo, wǒ mǎi le   The “le” here kind of implies that you’ve made a decision

3.8 Conversation - Buying Strawberries

English Pinyin Characters Notes
How much are apples? píng guǒ zěn me mài 苹果怎么卖  
5.60 per ½ kilo wǔ kuài liù yì jīn 五块六一斤  
and strawberries? cǎo méi ne 草莓呢 Note both strawberry characters have the same top to their character - means something to do with grass
13 (per ½ kilo???) shí sān kuài 十三块  
Yesterday (I) bought strawberries, not tasty (good eat) zuó tiān mǎi le cǎo méi, bù hǎo chī 昨天买了草莓, 不好吃 Here ‘le’ is used to suggest the thing before it is finished (yesterday’s buying)
At where did you buy strawberries? zài nǎ (er) mǎi de (cǎo méi) 在哪儿买的草莓 Zài means at here.
Yesterday morning zuó tiān zǎo shàng, 昨天早上  
Near my house zài wǒ (de) jiā fù jìn 在我的家附近  
You have a little try of mine! nǐ shì shì wǒ de, 你试试我的 The thing you want to try can go at the start or after the try try
For sure (they are) tasty yí dìng hǎo chī 一定好吃  
Really tasty, I want 1.5 kilos zhēn hǎo chī, wǒ yào sān jīn 真好吃, 我要三斤  
All together 39 yí gòng sān shí jiǔ 一共三十九  
I ATE strawberries wǒ chī le cǎo méi 我吃了草莓  
I eat strawberries (either now or in general) wǒ chī cǎo méi 我吃草莓  
For sure / Must be yí dìng 一定 yi means all/every/entire, or one. ding means decisions?

4 Restaurant

4.1 Food

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Restaurant (meal shop) fàn diàn 饭店  
Restaurant (meal place) cān guǎn 餐馆 place with a specific purpose
order dish – i.e. the verb to order diǎn cài 点菜  
(to) eat chī 吃  
(to) drink hē 喝  
(to) want yào 要  
What do (you) want to order (nín) yào diǎn shén me 您要点什么  
One dish (one plat of dish) yī pán cài 一盘菜  
One cup/glass (of) water yī bēi shuǐ 一杯水  
one bowl (of) rice yī wǎn fàn 一碗饭 fàn actually means “meal” literally, but here it just means rice!
rice meal. mǐ fàn 米饭 In the north keep the mi to mean rice
I eat meal wǒ chī fàn 我吃饭 In the south this my colloquially mean I eat rice too
I eat rice wǒ chī mǐ fàn 我吃米饭  
One pot of tea yī hú chá 一壶茶 If the next word has a strong tone, then yi will have a light tone
Noodles miàn tiáo 面条 (flour + soft and long) bread and trousers
Dumplings (the zi has no meaning) jiǎo zi 饺子 Like gyoza in Japanese (which is written 餃子 in Japanese)
Chicken (hen, etc, is the same) jī 鸡  
Fish yú 鱼  
Duck yā 鸭  
(thin) soup tāng 汤  
Chicken Soup jī tāng 鸡汤  
Congee / Rice porridge zhōu 粥  
Kung Pao Chicken gōng bǎo jī dīng 宫保鸡丁 jī dīng is chicked diced.
Roast Duck kǎo yā 烤鸭  
Roast Chicken kǎo jī 烤鸡  
Roast Fish kǎo yú 烤鱼  
Peking Duck běijīng kǎoyā 北京烤鸭  
Hot and Sour Soup suān là tāng 酸辣汤  
Flower tea (scented tea) huā chá 花茶  

4.2 Conversation - Ordering Food

English Pinyin Characters Notes
This is the menu, please order zhè shì càidān, qǐng diǎn cài 这是菜单, 请点菜 qǐng is please – only at the front of an expression
I want Kung Pao Chicken and hot and sour soup Wǒ yào yī gè gōng bǎo jī dīng, hé yī gè suān là tāng. 我要一个宫保鸡丁, 和一个酸辣汤. one portion of
Anything else? Hái yào bié de ma 还要别的吗 Still want else-of (dish) question-maker
Additionally, I’ll have a bowl of rice zài yào yī wǎn mǐfàn 再要一碗米饭 Again/Another (I) want bowl of rice
Additionally, I’ll have a bowl of rice hái yào yī wǎn mǐfàn 还要一碗米饭 Same as above – hái means also/in addition/still
What do you want to drink? nín yào hē diǎn shénme 您要喝点什么 You want drink a little (of) what?
One pot of flower tea yī hú huāchá 一壶花茶  
Do you want any more food? hái yào bié de cài ma 还要别的菜吗 In addition, (you) want else of dish?
Do you want any more clothes? hái nǐ yào bié de yīfú ma 还你要别的衣服吗  
You want more water to drink? hái yào hē shuǐ ma 还要喝水吗 Additionally, (you) want drink water question-maker

4.3 Position of wǒ and zài

  1. wǒ zài yào yī wàn fàn
    • I further/still want one bowl of rice
  2. nín hái yào bié de ma
    • You further/still want more (dishes)?
  3. nǐ hái yào hē shǔi ma
    • You further/still want to drink water?
  4. wǒ yào yī gè …
    • I want one …
  5. (wǒ) hái yào yī gè …
    • Further (I) want one …
  6. (wǒ) zài yào yī gè …
    • Further (I) want one …

4.4 More Food

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Food (literally ‘eat stuff’) shí wù 食物  
Vegetables cài 菜  
Meat ròu 肉  
Literally “main food” it’s more the accompaniments zhǔ shí 主食 noodles, rice, bread etc that come with a Chinese meal
Dessert (literally ‘sweet point’) tián diǎn 甜点  
Pork zhū ròu 猪肉 (Pig meat)
Beef niú ròu 牛肉 (Cow meat)
Lamb yáng ròu 羊肉 (Sheep meat)
Cold dish liáng cài 凉菜 (literally ‘lukewarm dish’). Usually a starter
Hot dish rè cài 热菜  
Spirits jiǔ shuǐ 酒水 (literally liqueur water)
Red Wine hóng pútáo jiǔ 红葡萄酒 or maybe just 红酒 (Literally Red Grape Liqueur)
White Wine bái pútáo jiǔ 白葡萄酒  
Soft Drink yǐn liào 饮料 (literally ‘Drink Material’)

4.5 Waiter, Takeaway, Cutlery

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Waiter fú wù yuán 服务员 (literally ‘Serve Business Person’?)
Waitress (beautiful girl) Měi nǚ 美女 just a way to get attention
Waiter (handsome guy or elder brother) shuài gē 帅哥  
Waiter (Young man) xiǎo huǒ zi 小伙子  
Miss xiǎo jiě 小姐 (be careful as can mean prostitute in the wrong context!) literally small elder sister
Please give me a paper towel qǐng gěi wǒ yī zhāng zhǐjīn 请给我一张纸巾 [zhāng = measure word for small flat things]
Towel / Face cloth máo jīn 毛巾 literally ‘hair towel’
Not bù 不  
No méi 没  
I do not eat wǒ bù chīfàn 我不吃饭 (kinda like I don’t want to eat)
I did not eat wǒ méi chīfàn 我没吃饭 (kinda like I haven’t had the meal, but doesn’t mean you don’t want one!)
My dish still not served wǒ de cài hái méi shàng 我的菜还没上 (shang can mean “get on” here it means “get put on the table”, hài means still 'rather' than ‘in addition’
Can you hurry up? (literally – (you) able fast a-little?) kěyǐ kuài diǎn ma 可以快点吗  
I go see see wǒ qù kàn kàn 我去看看  
The bill please! Literally – Attention! buy list! nǐ hǎo mǎidān. 你好买单 The nǐhǎo is just to get their attention.
The bill! Literally – settle accounts. jié zhàng 结帐  
Can I have a doggie bag. zhè ge cài dǎbāo 这个菜打包 This (measure) dish is packaged.
Doggie Bag dǎbāo 打包 Literally mean “bale”
Takeaway (literally outside sell) wài mài 外卖  
At This-Here Eat – Eat In Zài zhè lǐ chī 在这里吃  
Would you like to eat in? (nǐ yào) zài zhèlǐ chī ma 你要在这里吃吗  
Takeaway or eat in – háishì is or. Wàimài háishì zài zhèlǐ chī 外卖还是在这里吃  
Please give me … qǐng gěi wǒ … 请给我  
A plate yī gè pánzi 一个盘子 (zi has no meaning)
A bowl yī gè wǎn 一个碗  
A fork (bǎ is measure for something you hold in your hand) yī bǎ chāzi 一把叉子 Left hand side of symbol means something related to the hand.
A spoon yī bǎ sháozi 一把勺子  
A knife yī bǎ dāozi 一把刀子  
One pair of chopsticks yī shuāng kuàizi 一双筷子  

4.6 Herbs, Spices and Tastes

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Chinese Parsley – which is coriander xiāng cài 香菜 (literally smell-good vegetable)
Chili là jiāo 辣椒 (literally spicy pepper)
Ginger jiāng 姜  
(Spring) Onion or Shallot cōng 葱  
Garlic suàn 蒜  
Salt yán 盐  
Salty xián 咸  
don’t want …. (used to exclude things from a dish) bù yào …. 不要  
Sugar is sweet Táng shì tián de 糖是甜的. the “de’ is kinda “of’ - Sugar is of the sweet.
Chili is spicy làjiāo shì là de 辣椒是辣的  
Salt is salty yán shì xián de 盐是咸的.  
Lemon is bitter níngméng shì kǔ de 柠檬是苦的  
Kumquat is sour jīn jú shì suān de 金桔是酸的  
Vinegar is sour cù shì sūan de 醋是酸的  
Sugar táng 糖  
give (you). Kinda like prego. Here you are. gěi 给  
This (measure) dish (is) very salty. Note there is no “is” zhè ge cài hěn xián 这道菜很咸  
This dish (is) too salty. More salty than I expected. zhè ge cài tài xián le 这个菜太咸了  
I like sweet, please give me sugar wǒ xǐhuan tián, qǐng gěi wǒ táng 我喜欢甜, 请给我糖  
She likes sweet, please give her sugar tā xǐhuan tián, qǐng gěi tā táng 她喜欢甜,请给她糖 (tā is he/she/it but character is different)

5 Family

5.1 Family, Parents

English Pinyin Characters Notes
house (really means home) jiā 家  
come back (back come) huí lái 回来  
(come) back home huí jiā 回家  
family jiā tíng 家庭  
family member (home person) jiā rén 家人  
Husband (moderately formal) zhàng fū 丈夫 (fū means man)
Wife (moderately formal) qī zi 妻子 (qī means wife)
Married Couple (moderately formal) fū qī 夫妻 (Man Wife)
Husband (informal) lǎo gōng 老公 (old male), but lǎo is just a start word!
Wife (informal) lǎo pó 老婆 (old, old-female)
Mother’s father (grandfather) wài gōng 外公 (outside male)
Mother’s mother (grandmother) wài pó 外婆 (outside old-female)
Husband (very formal) xīan shēng 先生  
Wife (very formal) tài tài 太太  
Mr Philip fēilìpǔ xīan shēng 菲利普先生  
Mr Beadling Beadling xīan shēng    
Father fù qīn 父亲 (Father Close-Relative-Or-Friend)
Dad bà ba 爸爸  
Mother mǔ qīn 母亲 (Mother Close-Relative-Or-Friend)
Mum māmā 妈妈  
Son ér zi 儿子 (Children Children)
Daughter nǚ ér 女儿 (Woman Child)
Parents fù mǔ 父母 (Father Mother)
Parents (informal) bà mā 爸妈 (Dad Mum)

5.2 Siblings, Cousins

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Older brother gē gē 哥哥  
Younger brother dì dì 弟弟  
Older sister jiě jiě 姐姐  
Younger sister mèi mei 妹妹  
Fathers’ father (Grandfather) yé yé 爷爷 (old old)
Father’s mother (Grandmother) nǎi nai 奶奶 (milk milk)
Younger sister’s husband (Russ) mèi fū 妹夫  
Sister’s Son (nephew) (Toby) wài shēng 外甥 (outside)
Sister’s daughter (niece) (Lucy) wài shēng nǚ 外甥女  
Younger sibling's name for my wife (Caroline for Ally) Sǎo zi 嫂子  
Only uncle jiù jiu 舅舅  
Eldest uncle dà jiù 大舅 (Big uncle)
2nd eldest uncle èr jiù 二舅  
What a sister would call my son (nephew) zhí zi 侄子  
What a sister would call my daughter (neice) zhí nǚ 侄女  
older cousin (son1 calls Toby) – cousin táng gē 堂哥 (Father’s-side older-brother)
younger cousin (Toby calls daughter1) – cousin biǎo mèi 表妹 (mother’s-side younger-sister)

6 Transport, Places, and Getting Around

6.1 Directions

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Direction fāng xiàng 方向  
Which nǎ gè 哪个  
Where nǎ lǐ 哪里  
Which direction? nǎ gè fāng xiàng 哪个方向  
What direction? shén me fāng xiàng 什么方向  
East dōng 东  
West xi 西  
South nán 南  
North běi 北  
Middle zhōng 中  
Above shàng 上  
Below xià 下  
Left zuǒ 左  
Right yòu 右  
Front qián 前  
Back hòu 后  
to walk / to go zǒu 走  
Keep Going (Entire Straight) yī zhí 一直 Also means “Always”
There nà lǐ 那里 (tone is different to where)
Here zhè lǐ 这里 (Zhè implies close to you)
Excuse me, where is the airport? qǐng wèn jī chǎng zài nǎlǐ 请问机场在哪里 Please ask airport (machine flat-place) at where?
Airplane fēi jī 飞机 (Flying Machine)
Airport – Flying Machine Flat Place. fēi jī chǎng 飞机场 (fēi is normally omitted)
How do I get to the hospital? Qǐng wèn yī yuàn zěn me zǒu 请问医院怎么走 Please ask hospital how walk/go? (Píngguǒ zěnme mài)
You keep walking, after than turn left nǐ yīzhí zǒu, ránhòu zuǒ guǎi. 你一直走, 然后左拐. You always straight walk. guǎi means bend
You keep walking, after than turn left nǐ yīzhí zǒu, ránhòu zuǒ zhuǎn. 你一直走, 然后左转. YOu always straight walk. zuǎn means turn
Then / after that ránhòu 然后  
Turn zhuǎn 转  
Turn (bend) guǎi 拐  
(The) airport at south side jīchǎng zài nánmiàn. 机场在南面  
(The) airport at south side jīchǎng zài nánbian. 机场在南边 (miàn and bian mean side, miàn tends to be for larger things?)
Go forwards / straight Xiàng qián zǒu 向前走  
Go forwards / straight Wǎng qián zǒu 往前走  
Go forwards, just after you arrive Xiàng qián zǒu jiù dào le 向前走就到了 The jiù adds emphasis like I am Philip in the phone calls
Arrived Dào le 到了  
Turn left, just after you arrive Wǎng zuǒ guǎi jiù dào le 往左拐就到了  
… on the left … zài zuǒ biān 在左边 Thing at left side
Past the crossroads you're almost there Guò le shízìlùkǒu jiù dào le 过了十字路口就到了 Pass Crossroads Almost Arrived
Turn left at the the bridge Zài tiānqiáo yòu guǎi 在天桥右拐  
The restaurant is on the left-hand side Fàndiàn zài zuǒshǒu biān 饭店在左手边 zuǒ-shǒu is literally left-hand. Use biān not miàn.
(I) Know Zhīdào 知道  
(I) don't know Bù zhīdào 不知道  
How do (I) get to the train station? Huǒ chē zhàn zěnme zǒu? 火车站怎么走  
Do you know how (I) get to the train station? Nǐ zhīdào huǒchē zhàn zěnme zuò ma 你知道火车站怎么做吗 The ma is required because it is 2 questions "You know" needs ma
(Tell taxi driver to stop/pullover) Dào le tíng zài zhèlǐ 到了停在这里 Arrived, stop at here.

6.2 Places

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Bank yín háng 银行 (Silver Industry)
(Small) River hé 河  
One River Yī tiáo hé 一条河 tiáo is measure for river
(Big) River jiāng 江 As in Sānjiāngxiàn
General Store shāng diàn 商店 (Business Store)
Restaurant fàn diàn 饭店 (Meal Store)
Shopping Centre Shāng chǎng 商场 (Business big-place)
Hospital Yī yuàn 医院 (Medical ground-with-wall-around-it)
Hotel Jiǔ diàn 酒店 Alcohol Store! Means Brothel in Taiwan!
Train Station Huǒ chē zhàn 火车站 (Fire Vehicle Station)
Coach Station Qì chē zhàn 汽车站 (Steam Vehicle Station)
Bus Station Gōng chē zhàn 公车站 Public Vehicle Station - local services
Generic Station Chē zhàn 车站 Usually a bus station unless context set previously
Airport Jīchǎng 机场 Machine large flat place (eg field)
Traffic Light Hóng lǜ dēng 红绿灯 (Red Green Light)
Crossroads Shí zi lù kǒu 十字路口 shí zi means shí like, as in character 10! road mouth
Zebra Crossing Bān mǎ xiàn 斑马线 Literally – Spotted Horse (Zebra) Lines
(Pedestrian) Bridge Tiān qiáo 天桥 Sky Bridge
(Car) Bridge Lì jiāo qiáo 立交桥 Flyover(s). Stand-Traffic/Two non-parallel lines-Bridge
Take a taxi Dǎ chē 打车 (Hit a vehicle!)
Taxi Chū zū chē 出租车 (To Let Car) – but it’s not a rental car (apart from Taiwan)!
You go where? Nǐ qù nǎ lǐ 你去哪里  
I go to (the) hotel Wǒ qù jiǔ diàn 我去酒店  
Opposite (Opposite Side) duì miàn 对面 Do not use biān. Opposite doesn't imply there's a road or anything
Near By Páng biān 旁边 Near Side. Here we use biān because it is more specific
Yeah, yeah / You got it duì duì duì 对对对  
My hotel is (at) opposite wǒ de jiǔ diàn zài duì miàn 我的酒店在对面  
Next to / Beside páng biān 旁边 (Close-to-me side)
You are opposite me Nǐ zài wǒ (de) duì miàn 你在我的对面  

6.3 Catching a train

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Platform (Station Platform) zhàn tái 站台  
Balcony (Sun Platform) Yáng tái 阳台  
Which Platform nǎ gè zhàn tái 哪个站台  
I go to Chongqing, which platform? wǒ qù Chóngqìng, nǎ gè zhàn tái 我去重庆, 哪个站台  
I go to Chongqing, what time is the train? wǒ qù Chóngqìng, jǐ diǎn shì huǒ chē 我去重庆, 几点是火车  
At platform 3 zài sān zhàn tái 在三站台  
The train is 7:28 huǒ chē shì zài qī diǎn èr shí bā 火车是在七点二十八  
At 7:28 the train goes to Shanghai zài qī diǎn èrshíbā de huǒchē qù shànghǎi 在七点二十八的火车去上海  
What time of train to Shanghai? jǐ diǎn de huǒ chē qù shàng hǎi 几点的火车去上海  
How much is a soft-sleeper ticket from Beijing to Shanghai? cóng běijīng dào shànghǎi de ruǎnwò piào duōshǎo qián 从北京到上海的软卧票多少钱  
From cóng 从  
To/Arrive dào 到  
Soft-sleeper ruǎnwò 软卧  
Ticket piào 票  
Which platform boards the No.25 train? T25 cì zài dì jǐ zhàn tái shàng chē ?    
Subway / Tube Dì tiě 地铁 Ground Iron
Subway Station Dìtiě zhàn 地铁站  

6.4 How, why and for how long?

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Every day měi tiān 每天  
I eat breakfast every morning at 8 wǒ měitiān bā diǎn chī zǎofàn 我每天八点吃早饭  
Distance jù lí 距离  
To Walk zǒulù 走路 Walk Road
I am walking wǒ zài zǒulù 我在走路  
Running pǎo bù 跑步 Run Step
Driving a car kāi chē 开车 Open Vehicle
I am driving wǒ zài kāi chē 我在开车  
I drive wǒ kāi chē 我开车 I (can) drive or I drove here
I sit (I take) wǒ zuò 我坐  
I take the subway wǒ zuò dìtiě 我坐地铁  
Far / close yuǎn / jìn 远 / 近  
How long (time) duō jiǔ 多久  
Very long (time) hěn jiǔ 很久  
Not long (time) bù jiǔ 不久  
One hour yī xiǎo shí 一小时  
Half Hour bàn xiǎo shí 半小时  
One Minute yī fēn zhōng 一分钟 Time period not point
Why (for what) wèi shén me 为什么  
How do you go to work each day? nǐ měitiān zěnme qù shàngbān 你每天怎么去上班  
Walk to zǒu lù qù 走路去  
Drive to kāi chē qù 开车去  
Is your house far from your company? nǐ jiā jùlí gōngsī yuǎn ma 你家距离公司远吗  
Not far, half an hour by car bù yuǎn, kāichē bàn xiǎoshí 不远, 开车半小时  
Not close, 50 minutes walk. bù jìn, Zǒulù wǔshí fēnzhōng 不近, 走路五十分钟  
Why not take the subway? wèishéme bù zuò dìtiě 为什么不坐地铁 Why not sit subway
Is it far from the airport from the hotel? jīchǎng jùlí jiǔdiàn yuǎn ma 机场距离酒店远吗  
Not far bù yuǎn 不远  
How long (time) by subway? zuò dìtiě yǒu duōjiǔ 坐地铁有多久 Sit Subway have how long
How far is school from the company? xuéxiào jùlí gōngsī yǒu duō yuǎn 学校距离公司有多远 School distance company have how far
By car, 20 minutes Kāichē, èrshí fēnzhōng 开车, 二十分钟  
How long (time) to walk to work? zǒulù qù shàngbān yǒu duō 走路去上班有多 Walk to work, have how much
Long time cháng shíjiān 长时间  
More than 20 minutes èrshí duō fēnzhōng 二十多分钟  
10-20 minutes shí jǐ fēnzhōng 十几分钟  

6.5 Describing my Town

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Out of the door chū mén 出门 When describing in relation to your house
Bookstore shū diàn 书店  
Fruit(s) shuǐ guǒ 水果  
Park gōng yuán 公园  
Market shì chǎng 市场  
Supermarket chāojí shìchǎng 超级市场  
Supermarket (short) chāo shì 超市  
Bar/Pub jiǔ bā 酒吧  
Court fǎ yuàn 法院  

7 Jobs and Age

7.1 Mei and Bu

English Pinyin Characters Notes
I do not (want to) have lunch Wǒ bù chī wǔfàn 我不吃午饭 Implies you have no interest in having lunch today/in the future
I did not eat lunch (in the past) Wǒ méi chī wǔfàn 我没吃午饭 Implies that you haven't had lunch in the past today
(I) don't have any Méi yǒu 没有 Here bu would make no sense
(I) am not Bù shì 不是 Here mei would make no sense

7.2 Jobs

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Work Gōng zuò 工作  
To go to work Shàng bān 上班  
My job is … Wǒ de gōngzuò shì … 我的工作是  
Career / Job type Zhí yè 职业 General term like Engineer or Doctor
Doctor Yī shēng 医生 Medicine Student
Accountant Kuài jì 会计  
Teacher Lǎo shī 老师 Old master
Waiter Fú wù yuán 服务员 Service wu General Worker
Chef Chú shī 厨师 Cook master
General Employee Gù yuán 雇员 Yuan is general worker
Civil Servant Gōng wù yuán 公务员 Public Affair worker
Driver Sī jī 司机 Deal-with Machine
Policeman Jǐng chá 警察  
Lawyer Lǜ shī 律师 Law master
Student Xué shēng 学生 Learn Student

7.3 Places of Work

English Pinyin Characters Notes
School Xué xiào 学校 Learn School
University Dà xué 大学 Big Learn
Primary School Xiǎo xué 小学 Small Learn
Secondary School Zhōng xué 中学 Middle Learn
Restaurant Fàn diàn 饭店 Meal place
Hospital Yī yuàn 医院 Medicine Building
Embassy Dà shǐ guǎn 大使馆 Ambassador Building
Company Gōng sī 公司 Public Operation
Government Zhèng fǔ 政府 Politics Place

7.4 Questions on Work

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Where do you work? Nǐ zài nǎ lǐ gōng zuò 你在哪里工作  
What do you do at work? Nǐ zuò shén me gōng zuò 你做什么工作 zuò = do
I am a … Wǒ shì … 我是 shì not zuò
My wife works in hospital Wǒ de lǎopó zài yīyuàn shàngbān 我的老婆在医院上班 My wife at hospital works
She is a doctor Tā shì yīshēng 她是医生  
My brother works for the government Wǒ dí gēgē zài zhèngfǔ shàngbān 我的哥哥在政府上班  
He is a civil servant Tā shì gōngwùyuán 他是公务员  

7.5 Age

English Pinyin Characters Notes
How old are you? Nǐ duō dà 你多大 How big are you
Thirty Nine Sān shí jiǔ 三十九  
How old are you? (child) Nǐ jǐ suì 你几岁  
Nine Years Old Jiǔ suì 九岁 suì is age counter
How old are you? (>60) Nín duō dà nián jì 您多大年纪 How big your age
How old are you (>90) Nín gāo shòu 您高寿 You high life

8 Making a Phone Call

8.1 Phones, e-mails and messages

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Mobile phone Shǒu jī 手机 Hand machine
Mobile charging cable Shǒujī xiàn 手机线 The xian is the same as lines in zebra crossing
Telephone Diàn huà 电话 Electric Words/Speech
Make a phone call Dǎ diànhuà 打电话 Like da in take a taxi
Return phone call Huí diànhuà 回电话 Hui = back as in back home
Receive phone call Jiē diànhuà 接电话 Answer/receive call
e-mail Yóu jiàn 邮件 Post collection-of-letters. Originally used for mail
Send an e-mail Fā yóujiàn 发邮件 The 'fa' means this is definitely e-mail
Text message Duǎn xìn 短信 Short message
What is your phone number? Nín de diànhuà shì duō shǎo 您的电话是多少 You of phone is how much
What is your phone number? Diàn huà shì shén me 电话是什么 Bad grammar! Could add Nin de

8.2 Making a Phone Call

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Hello on phone Wèi 为 Wei, nihao!
Who is this? Wèi, nín shì nǎ wèi 为, 您是哪位 Last wei is polite human measure word (like ge)
I am …. Wǒ shì … 我是 …  
Who are you calling for? Qǐng wèn nín zhǎo shéi 请问您找谁 Please ask you looking-for who? shei=shui
Is Philip there? Wǒ zhǎo fēilìpǔ, tā zài ma 我找菲利普, 他在吗 I look-for Philip, he at question?
He is, please wait a moment Zài, qǐng děng yīxià 在, 请等一下 At, please wait one short time
Is Philip there or not? Qǐngwèn fēilìpǔ zài bù zài 请问菲利普在不在 Please ask Philip at-not-at.
He's not here. Tā bù zài 他不在 He not at
Is that Philip? Shì fēilìpǔ ma 是菲利普吗 Are you Philip?
I'm not, you dial wrong number Bùshì, nǐ dǎ cuò le 不是, 你打错了 You hit wrong (past tense)
He go to shop Tā qù shāngdiàn 他去商店  
He go to bank Tā qù yínháng 他去银行  
He go eat meal Tā qù chīfàn 他去吃饭  
He go sleep Tā qù shuìjiào 他去睡觉 Sleep a sleep
He's gone out Tā qù chū qù le 他去出去了 Out go (past)
He's gone out Tā qù chū mén le 他去出门了 Out door (past)
He's gone out for dinner Tā qù chī fàn le 他去吃饭了  

8.3 Other grammar examples (jiù, guò and zài)

English Pinyin Characters Notes
I am Philip Wǒ jiù shì fēilìpǔ 我就是菲利普 jiu is emphasis if asked for on phone
Have you been to England? Nǐ qù guò yīngguó ma 你去过英国吗 ever been too
I am English Wǒ jiù shì yīngguó rén 我就是英国人 jiu emphasis
You eat breakfast Nǐ chī zǎofàn 你吃早饭  
Have you eaten breakfast? Nǐ chī guò zǎofàn ma 你吃过早饭吗 Use of guo
Have you been to China? Nǐ qù guò zhōngguó ma 你去过中国吗 Use of guo
I have been Wǒ qù guò 我去过 Use of guo
I haven't been Wǒ méi qùguò 我没去过 Use of guo
Right / Wrong Duì / Cuò 对 / 错  
What are you doing? Nǐ zài zuò shén me 你在做什么 You "ing" do what?
I eat lunch Wǒ chī wǔfàn 我吃午饭 Have lunch
I am eating lunch Wǒ zài chī wǔfàn 我在吃午饭 I "ing" eat lunch
Give Gěi 给  
I bought one apple Wǒ mǎi le yī gè píngguǒ 我买了一个苹果 le makes past tense
I bought you one apple Wǒ gěi nǐ mǎi le yī gè píngguǒ 我给你买了一个苹果 Use of gei - I give you bought 1 apple
You get out! Nǐ gěi wǒ chū qù! 你给我出去 Use of gei - here "give me" is emphasis
But Dànshì 但是  

8.4 Phone Conversation

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Hello, Is Philip there? Wèi, nǐhǎo, qǐngwèn fēilìpǔ zài ma 为, 你好, 请问菲利普在吗  
He has gone to dinner Tā qù chī fàn le 他去吃饭了  
Who are you? Nín nǎ wèi 您哪位  
I am his friend, Yuyu Wǒ shì tā de péngyǒu, yúyú 我是他的朋友, 鱼鱼 he of friend
Please ask him to return my call Qǐng tā gěi wǒ huí diànhuà 请他给我回电话 Please he give me back call

8.5 Conversation About Phone Call

English Pinyin Characters Notes
I called you, but you were not there Wǒ gěi nǐ dǎ diànhuà dànshì nǐ bùzài 我给你打电话但是你不在  
Your husband took the call Nǐ lǎogōng jiē le diànhuà 你老公接了电话  
He said you had gone out for dinner Tā shuō nǐ qù chī fàn le 他说你去吃饭了  

9 Daily Routine Practice

9.1 Weekend Routine

English Pinyin Characters Notes
I get up at 8am wǒ zǎochén bā diǎn qǐchuáng 我早晨八点起床 Use zài?
I take a shower at 8:30am wǒ zǎoshang bā diǎn bàn xǐ zǎo 我早上八点半洗澡 xǐzǎo means to wash 1
I have breakfast at 9am wǒ zǎoshang jiǔ diǎn chī zǎofàn 我早上九点吃早饭  
I eat sausage and egg wǒ chī xiāngcháng hé jiān jīdàn 我吃香肠和煎鸡蛋  
I study Chinese at 11am wǒ shàngwǔ shíyī diǎn xué zhōngwén 我上午十一点学中文  
I go to the gym at 12pm wǒ zhōngwǔ shí èr diǎn qù jiànshēnfáng 我中午十二点去健身房  
I have lunch at 2pm wǒ xiàwǔ liǎng diǎn chī wǔfàn 我下午两点吃午饭  
I go to the cinema at 3pm wǒ xiàwǔ sān diǎn qù kàn diànyǐng 我下午三点去看电影 I go to see movie
I eat dinner at 8pm wǒ wǎnshàng bā diǎn chī wǎnfàn 我晚上八点吃晚饭  
I read book at 9pm wǒ wǎnshàng jiǔ diǎn zài dúshū 我晚上九点在读书 zài=read*ing*, past or present 2
I go to sleep at quarter past midnight wǒ bànyè shí èr diǎn yī kè shuìjiào 我半夜十二点一刻睡觉  

Some examples on the web: Daily Routine

9.2 Work Routine

English Pinyin Characters Notes
I get up at 7am wǒ zǎoshang qī diǎn qǐchuáng 我早上七点起床  
I take a shower a 7:30 wǒ qī diǎn bàn xǐzǎo 我七点半洗澡  
Every day I take the subway to work at 8am wǒ měitiān bā diǎn zuò dìtiě 我每天八点坐地铁  
I have a cup of tea at 10am wǒ shí diǎn hē bēi chá 我十点喝杯茶  
I have salad or a sandwich for lunch at 12am Wǒ shí'èr diǎn chī wǔfàn. Wǒ chī shālā háishì sānmíngzhì. 我十二点吃午饭. 我吃沙拉还是三明治  
I leave work at 6pm wǒ wǎnshàng liù diǎn líkāi gōngzuò 我六点离开工作  
I play squash at 7pm wǒ qī diǎn dǎ bìqiú 我七点打壁球  
I have dinner at 8:30pm wǒ bā diǎn bàn chī wǎnfàn 我八点半吃晚饭  
I watch television at 9pm wǒ jiǔ diǎn kàn diànshì 我九点看电视  
I go to sleep at 11pm wǒ shí yī diǎn shuìjiào 我十一点睡觉  

我七点半洗澡. 我每天八点坐地铁. 我十点喝杯茶. 我十二点吃午饭. 我吃沙拉还是三明治. 我六点离开工作. 我七点打壁球. 我八点半吃晚饭. 我九点看电视. 我十一点睡觉.

10 Where is my Book?

10.1 Household and general items

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Book shū 书  
Table zhuōzi 桌子  
Pen/Pencil bǐ 笔  
Bookshelf shū guì 书柜 Or bookcase. guì means shelf/furniture
Wardrobe yī guì 衣柜 Wardrobe
General Shelves guì zi 柜子 Or Cabinet
Small Shelves xiǎo guìzi 小柜子  
TV Cabinet diànshì guì 电视柜  
Newspaper bào zhǐ 报纸 Report Paper
Magazine zá zhì 杂志  

10.2 Position of general items

English Pinyin Characters Notes
On top shàng 上  
Below xià 下  
Left zuǒ 左  
Right yòu 右  
Front qián 前  
Behind hòu 后  
Middle zhōngjiān 中间  
Close/Next to páng biān 旁边  
Opposite duì miàn 对面  
Inside lǐ 里  
Outside wài 外  
Outisde (the) door mén wài 门外  
You are inside the door nǐ zài mén lǐ 你在门里  
How about my book? wǒ de shǔ ne 我的书呢  
Where is my book? wǒ de shū zài nǎlǐ 我的书在哪里  
What book? shén me shū 什么书  
One red Chinese book yī běn hóngsè de zhōngwén shū 一本红色的中文书  
Is it on the table? zài zhōuzi shàng (miàn) ma 在桌子上面吗 At <place> <relative location> question
On the train (inside) zài huǒchē shàng 在火车上 Use of "on" just like English
It's not (at) bù zài 不在  
Is it in the bookcase? zài shūguì lǐ ma 在书柜里吗 bookcase or shelf
I found it wǒ zhǎo dào le 我找到了 I find did-succeed past-tense 3
I saw it wǒ kàn dào le 我看到了 kàn = look, kàndào = see
I heard it wǒ tīng dào le 我听到了 tīng = listen, tīngdào = hear
I ate it wǒ chī dào le 我吃到了 chī = eat, chīdào = eaten
Underneath the newspaper zài bàozhǐ xiàmiàn 在报纸下面 At newspaper under
The telephone is next to the television diànhuà zài diànshì pángbiān 电话在电视旁边 Telephone at TV next-to
The book (is) on the ground shū zài dì shàng 书在地上 Book at ground on
The milk is under the table niúnǎi zài zhuōzi xià 牛奶在桌子下 Milk at table under

10.3 My Lounge

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Lounge kètīng 客厅  
Sofa shāfā 沙发  
Chair yǐzi 椅子  
Armchair fúshǒu yǐ 扶手椅 Just use chair - yǐzi
Table zhuōzi 桌子  
Rug dìtǎn 地毯  
Plant zhíwù 植物 General term for flowers, hedges, etc
Houseplant or potted plant pénzāi 盆栽  
Staircase lóutī 楼梯  
Painting huìhuà 绘画  
Wall qiángbì 墙壁  
Garden huāyuán 花园 Flower Place
In my lounge, I have one sofa zài wǒ de kètīng, yǒu yī zhāng shāfā 在我的客厅有一张沙发  
The TV cabinet is opposite the sofa diànshì guì zài shāfā duì miàn 电视柜在沙发对面  
The TV is on top of the TV cabinet diànshì zài diànshì guì shàng 电视在电视柜上  
In front of the TV cabinet is a red rug hòng de dìtǎn zài diànshì guì qián 红的地毯在电视柜前 Add miàn at the end makes it more clear
To the left of the rug is an armchair fúshǒu yǐ zài dìtǎn de zuǒ miàn 扶手椅在地毯的左面  
There is a newspaper on the armchair bào zhǐ zài fúshǒu yǐ shàng 报纸在扶手椅上  
Behind the armchair is a table zhuōzi zài fúshǒu yǐ hòu 桌子在扶手椅后 Add miàn at the end makes it more clear
There is a plant on the table zhíwù zài zhuōzi shàng 植物在桌子上  
Next to the table is a staircase lóutī zài zhuōzi páng biān 楼梯在桌子旁边  
Under the staircase there are purple shelves zǐsè de guìzi zài lóutī xià 紫色的柜子在楼梯下  
There is a painting on the wall opposite the shelves huà zài qiáng shàng guìzi de duìmiàn 画在墙上柜子的对面 Don't use zài twice. 2 sentences also works

10.4 Where I Work

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Office bànggōngshì 办公室 shì makes it a place
To work bànggōng 办公 do public place - deal with issues place.
Subway Station dìtiě zhàn 地铁站  
Bus gōngchē 公车  
5th Floor wǔ lóu 五楼  
Old Building lǎo jiànzhú 老建筑  
Desk bànggōng zhuō 办公桌 Office table
Messy luàn 乱  
Window chuāng kǒu 窗口  
Monitor diàn nǎo xiǎn shì qì 电脑显示器 Computer (Electric Brian) monitor (Signficant Show Device)
Uncomfortable bú shū fú 不舒服 Not Comfortable
Chair yǐzi 椅子  
Everyday I go to work at 8am měitiān wǒ zǎoshàng bā diǎn shàngban 每天我早上八点上班  
I take the bus and the subway wǒ zuò gōngchē hé dìtiě 我坐公车和地铁  
In total it takes about 1 hour yīgòng yī xiǎoshí zuǒyòu 一共一小时左右  
The subway is very busy dìtiě hěn máng 地铁很忙 No shì when describing things. The hěn is required!
On the train I read my book wǒ zài huǒchē shàng dúshū 我在火车上读书  
My office is opposite to the subway station wǒ de bànggōngshì zài huǒchē zhàn duìmiàn 我的办公室在火车站对面  
It is a 2 minute walk zǒulù liǎng fēnzhōng 走路两分钟  
My desk is on the 5 th floor wǒ de bànggōngzhuō zài wǔ lóu 我的办公桌在五楼  
On my desk are 3 monitors sān gè diànnǎo xiǎnshìqì zài zhuōzi shàng 三个电脑显示器在桌子上  
My desk is messy zhuōzi yǒudiǎn luàn 桌子有点乱 No shì when describing things. The yǒudiǎn is required!
My desk is next to the window zhuōzi zài chuāngkǒu pángbiān 桌子在窗口旁边  
I have a black chair wǒ yǒu yī bǎ hēisè de yǐzi 我有一把黑色的椅子  
The chair is uncomfortable yǐzi bú shūfú 椅子不舒服  

11 The Body

11.1 Body Parts

English Pinyin Characters Notes
What do you think of this hotel? zhège jiǔdiàn zěnme yàng 这个酒店怎么样 How about this hotel?
What do you think of this dish? zhège cài zěnme yàng 这个菜怎么样 Ask a waiter this
How are you / How do you feel? nǐ de shēntǐ zěnme yàng 你的身体怎么样 How about your body?
Body shēntǐ 身体  
Head tóu 头  
Hair (Head) tóufǎ 头发 Only for head hair!
Hair (short, not on head) máo 毛 Used for arms, sheep, etc!
Face liǎn 脸 Left part of char is 月 indicates the body
Eye / Eyes yǎnjīng 眼睛 Ancient symbol for eye is 目
Mouth zuǐ 嘴 Left part of char is 口 indicates mouth eg eat 吃
Tooth / teeth yáchǐ 牙齿  
Arm gēbó 胳膊 Left part of char is 月 indicates the body
Chest xiōng 胸 Left part of char is 月 indicates the body
Back bèi 背 Notice 北 for pronounce and 月 for meaning
Belly / stomach / midrift dùzi 肚子 Left part of char is 月 indicates the body
Hand shǒu 手  
Leg tuǐ 腿 Left part of char is 月 indicates the body
Bottom pìgu 屁股 pì is to fart
Foot jiǎo 脚 Left part of char is 月 indicates the body
Waist yāo 腰 Left part of char is 月 indicates the body
Ear ěrduǒ 耳朵 duǒ is a pointless character like zi
Neck bózi 脖子 Left part of char is 月 indicates the body
Spicy Duck Neck là yā bó 辣鸭脖  
Shoulder jiān bǎng 肩膀  
Nose bízi 鼻子  

11.2 Describing Illness and Problems

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Pain téng 疼  
Headache tóu téng 头疼  
Toothache yá téng 牙疼  
Discomfort (not pain) nán shòu 难受  
Bit off tóu nánshòu 头难受 Lit. head uncomfortable
Upset stomach dùzi nánshòu 肚子难受  
Sick shēng bìng 生病 Lit. Start-To-Have Sick
Birthday shēng rì 生日 Shēng also means birth
Healthy / Health jiàn kāng 健康  
Rest (verb/noun) xiū xí 休息  
I am taking rest wǒ zài xiūxí 我在休息 zài means doing the verb
I want to rest wǒ yaò xiūxí 我要休息  
Hot water rè shuǐ 热水  
Cold water lěng shuǐ 冷水  
(You) should děi 得 could do with
You should drink hot water nǐ děi hē rè shuǐ 我得喝热水 You could do with a…
I should take the subway wǒ děi zuò dìditě 我得坐地铁  
(You) should/could yīnggāi 应该  
How are you (health not greating) nǐ zěn me le 你怎么了  
I (have) headache (and) also a cough wǒ tóuténg hái késòu 我头疼还咳嗽  
Is it fever/flu? fā shāo ma 发烧吗 fā=appear shōu=apply high temperature, shāofàn=cook
Not fever bù fā shāo 不发烧  
You got a cold (already) nǐ gǎn mào le 你感冒了 gǎn mào = get a cold
You caught a cold, take some medicine to get better nǐ gǎn mào le, chī diǎn yào jiù hǎo 你感冒了, 吃点药就好 eat a-little medicine (emphasis) good
I don't like to take medicine wǒ bù xǐhuān chī yào 我不喜欢吃药  
Today I can't go to work wǒ jīntiān bù néng shàngbān le 我今天不能上班了 le draws attention to the immediate situation
Can néng 能 Like kěyǐ xíng
What's wrong with you? nǐ zěn me le 你怎么了 Also how are you feeling
I have a little fever wǒ yǒu diǎn fā shāo 我有点发烧  
You show go and see the doctor (to hospital) nǐ děi qù yīyuàn kàn kàn 你得去医院看看 You should go to hospital see see
I went, doctor said I should drink much hot water wǒ qù le, yīshēng shuō wǒ děi duō hē rè shuǐ 我去了, 医生说我得多喝热水  
<person> said <sentence> <person> shuō <sentence>    
I should <more/less> <verb> <thing> wǒ děi <duō/shǎo> <verb> <thing>    
I should (have) more fun wǒ děi duō wán 我得多玩 wán lit play, but more general
I travel to China (for fun) wǒ qù zhōngguó wán 我去中国玩  
Was it good fun in China? zhōngguó hǎo wán ma 中国好玩吗  
I come to China for fun wǒ lái zhōngguó wán 我来中国玩  
You should rest at home nǐ zài jiā xiūxí ba 你在家休息吧  
Situation has changed, and now can't <verb> bù néng <verb> le    
I can't go to work wǒ bù néng shàngbān le 我不上班了  
I don't think I to go to work wǒ bù xiǎng shàngbān 我不想上班 I do not feel like working
I don't want go to work wǒ bù yào shàngbān 我不要上班  
I can't see now wǒ kàn bù dào le 我看不到了  
I am sick now wǒ gǎn mào le 我感冒了  

12 Can you fix Computers?

12.1 Use of dào and le

English Pinyin Characters Notes
I can see you wǒ kěyǐ kàn dào nǐ 我可以看到你  
I can't see you (now) wǒ kàn bù dào nǐ le 我看不到你了 The bù and le imply a change
I ate wǒ chī le 我吃了 le implies change to eating
I'm not eating anymore wǒ bù chī le 我不吃了 State has changed

12.2 Are you able?

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Can you fix comptuers? nǐ huì xiū diànnǎo ma 你会修电脑吗  
Can you <verb> <noun>? nǐ huì <verb> <noun> ma 你会 <verb> <noun> 吗 Can as in your ability
Can you drive (car)? nǐ huì kái chē ma 你会开车吗 kái=operate - train, airplane, boat, not bicycle
Can you cook (meal)? nǐ huì zuò fàn ma 你会做饭吗 zuò = do
(I) can (do it) a bit huì yī diǎn 会一点  
Speak Chinese shuō zhōngwén 说中文  
Paint (a painting) huà huà 画画 Also drawing
Swim (a swim) yóu yǒng 游泳 yóu=wandering
(Ice) skating huá bīng 滑冰 Slippery Skating
Rollerskating huá hàn bīng 滑旱冰 Slippery Land Skating

12.3 Are you able - conversation

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Can you fix computers? nǐ huì xiū diànnǎo ma 你会修电脑吗  
I can't, she can. wǒ bù huì, tā huì 我不会 她会  
She can fix them very well tā xiū de hěn hǎo 她修的很好 No need to specify noun
I drive very fast wǒ kāi dé hěn kuài 我开得很快  
I eat a lot wǒ chī dé hěn duō 我吃得很多  
I heard tīng shuō 听说  
I heard you can fix computers tīng shuō nǐ huì xiū diànnǎo 听说你会修电脑  
I can a bit wǒ huì yīdiǎn 我会一点  
Not working / broken / bad huài 坏  
TV broken, can't see (picture) diànshì huài le bù néng kàn le 电视坏了 不能看了  

12.4 Things you can do

English Pinyin Characters Notes
You good (able) at <verb> <thing>? nǐ huì <verb> <thing> ma 你会 <verb> <thing> 吗  
Squash bìqiú 壁球 Wall ball
Tennis wǎng qiú 网球 Net ball
Football zú qiú 足球 Foot Ball
You good at playing (hand hit) squash? nǐ huì dǎ bìqiú ma 你会打壁球吗  
I play (hit) well wǒ dǎ dé hěn hǎo 我打得很好  
You can (good at) playing (kicking) football? nǐ huì tī zúqiú ma 你会踢足球吗  
I bake bread well wǒ kǎo miànbāo hěn hǎo 我烤面包很好  
I drive car well wǒ kāi chē hěn hǎo 我开车很好  
I drive car quickly wǒ kāi chē hěn kuài 我开车很快  
I drive well (Car is already subject) wǒ kāi dé hěn hǎo 我开得很好 The dé because no noun operated on by verb
I run quickly wǒ pǎo dé kuài 我跑得快 The dé because no noun operated on by verb

12.5 What happens at a given time

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Go to school shàng xué 上学  
Finish school xià xué 下学 Finished for the day
After finishing work xiàbān yǐ hòu 下班以后 yǐ is structure particle
Before finishing work xiàbān yǐ qián 下班以前  
Often cháng cháng 常常  
Frequently jīng cháng 经常 More than often
Generally / Usually tōng cháng 通常 Use this one!
What do you generally do after work? xiàbān yǐhòu nǐ tōngcháng zuò shénme 下班以后你通常做什么  
I go to the gym. What about you? qù jiànshēnfáng. nǐ ne? 去健身房. 你呢  
What time is it? xiànzài shè me shíjiān 现在社么时间  
Exact time point shíjiān 时间  
Broader time point shíhòu 时候  
(Precisely) when? shénme shíjiān 什么时间  
(Broadly) when? shénme shíhòu 什么时候  
I sometimes play tennis wǒ yǒu shíhòu dǎ wǎngqiú 我有时候打网球  
Of the time de shíhòu 的时候  
The time I was in China wǒ zài zhōngguó de shíhòu 我在中国的时候 I at China of the time
(At) the time I ate dinner wǒ chī wǎnfàn de shíhòu 我吃晚饭的时候  
When I ate dinner I watched TV wǒ chī wǎnfàn de shíhòu wǒ kàn diànshì 我吃晚饭的时候我看电视  
When I was 7 years old, I played football wǒ qī suì de shíhòu wǒ tī zúqiú 我七岁的时候我踢足球  
How many times a week? yī xīngqí jǐ cì 一星期几次  
Twice liǎng cì 两次  

12.6 After work

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Before work I'm too tired to go to the gym. wǒ shàngbān yǐqián bù qù jiànshēnfáng, yīnwèi tài lèile 我上班以前不去健身房 因为太累了  
But, After work I often go to the gym. bùguò xiàbān yǐhòu tōngcháng, yīzhōu qù liǎng cì. 不过下班以后通常一周去两次 bùguò = however
I play squash and I swim wǒ dǎ bìqiú hé yóuyǒng 我打壁球和游泳  
Instead, every Friday, I go (out) to dinner dànshì, wǒ měi zhōuwǔ wǎnshàng qù chī wǎnfàn 但是 我每周五晚上去吃晚饭  
I like to go to Italian restaurants wǒ xǐhuān qù yìdàlì fàndiàn 我喜欢去意大利饭店  
I love pizza wǒ xǐhuān chī pīsà 我喜欢吃披萨  
At the weekend, I often drive to my sisters house wǒ zhōumò de shíhòu jīngcháng, kāichē qù mèimei de jiā 我周末的时候经常开车去妹妹的家  
We go to the cinema together with my niece wǒmen hé wǒ de wàishēngnǚ yīqǐ, qù kàn diànyǐng 我们和我的外甥女一起去看电影  
In the evening I like to read books wǎnshàng wǒ xǐhuān dúshū 晚上我喜欢读书  
Sometimes I meet friends for drinks wǒ yǒu shíhòu, he péngyǒu hējiǔ 我有时候和朋友喝酒  

12.7 Things and Opinions

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Opposite xiāngfǎn 相反 In contrast
But diànshì 但是  
However bùguò 不过  
I'm opposite you wǒ he nǐ xiāngfǎn 我和你相反  
Will meet huì jiàn 会见  
Will go huì qù 会去  
I will meet friends for a drink wǒ huì hé péngyǒu hējiǔ 我会和朋友喝酒  
Will (Can/Generally/In Future) huì 会  
Hot and Spicy hěn là 狠辣  
Can I have it a little spicy? yīdiǎn là kěyǐ ma 一点辣可以吗  
Can I have it less spicy? shǎo là kěyǐ ma 少辣可以吗  
Less spicy thanks shǎo là xièxiè 少辣谢谢  
This Saturday, are you free? zhè zhōu liù nǐ yǒu kòng ma 这周六你有空吗 kong=empty/free
Together let's play tennis? (wǒmen) yīqǐ dǎ wǎngqiú ba 我们一起打网球吧 We together play tennis suggestion
Let's do it / Brilliant! tài hǎo le 太好了 Can sometimes be used sarcastically
Very true / Exactly tài duì le 太对了  
What time do you want to meet? shénme shíhòu jiànmiàn 什么时候见面 Can be used to specify exact or very general time
Sometimes yǒu shíhòu 有时候  
Always zǒng shì 总是  
I always drink with friends on Fridays wǒ zhōu wǔ zǒng shì qù hējiǔ 我周五总是去喝酒  
Sometimes I play computer games at home wǒ yǒu shíhòu zàijiā dǎ diànnǎo yóuxì 我有时候在家打电脑游戏 Can use wán instead of dǎ
Play wán 玩  
I play football wǒ wán zúqiú 我玩足球 For now just us dǎ
I hang out with my friends wǒ hé péngyǒu chū qù wán 我和朋友出去玩 Go Out Play
Go and have fun in America nǐ qù měiguó wán 你去美国玩  
I don't (want) to go to America wǒ bù qù měiguó 我不去美国  
I don't go to America wǒ méi qù měiguó 我没去美国  
Is America good fun? měiguó hǎo wán 美国好玩  
Very good fun! tài hǎo wán le 太好玩了  
Very tasty! tài hào chī le 太好吃了  
Not tasty! tài bù hào chī le 太不好吃了  
I generally go to the shop to buy stuff/things wǒ tōngcháng qù shāngdiàn mǎi dōngxī 我通常去商店买东西 dōngxī - things/stuff = east/west
What stuff are you eating nǐ zài chī shénme dōngxī 你在吃什么东西  
In my bag there are things/stuff wǒ de bāo li yǒu dōngxī 我的包里有东西 Things could be books, bottles, a rat!
You have anything to eat? nǐ yǒu dōngxī kěyǐ chī ma 你有东西可以吃吗  
You want to eat something? nǐ yào chī dōngxī ma 你要吃东西吗  
I am always running in the gym wǒ zǒng shì zài jiànshēnfáng pǎobù 我总是在健身房跑步  
I'm always running in the gym on weekends wǒ zǒng shì zhōumò zài jiànshēnfáng pǎobù 我总是周末在健身房跑步 person frequency time place verb
In the morning, I sometimes read in the park wǒ yǒu shíhòu zǎoshang zài gōngyuán kànshū 我有时候早上在公园看书  
Read book (studying) dúshū 读书  
Read book (looking) kànshū 看书 More relaxed / reading novel
Every year I go skiing in France wǒ měinián qù fàguó huáxuě 我每年去法国滑雪  

12.8 Birthday

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Last week was my sister's birthday shàng zhōu shì wǒ mèimei de shēngrì 上周是我妹妹的生日  
My family went to the theatre in the evening wǒ de jiārén wǎnshàng qùle jùyuàn 我的家人晚上去了剧院  
Unfortunately 4, I caught a cold, so stayed at home dànshì wǒ gǎnmàole, suǒyǐ wǒ liú zàijiā 但是我感冒了 所以我留在家 suǒyǐ = and so
I will go to the theatre next week wǒ xià zhōu huì qù jùyuàn 我下周会去剧院  
I bought my Birthdaysister some chocolates wǒ gěi mèimei mǎile yī hé qiǎokèlì 我给妹妹买了一盒巧克力  
I tried the chocolates wǒ cháng le cháng mèimei de qiǎokèlì 我尝了尝妹妹的巧克力 Like wǒ shì le shì - past
Translate the following word(s) tài hào chīle 太好吃了  
       

12.9 qù and chū - wǒ chū qù wán

Remember qù is pronounced something like t'chu, but the "ch" is week, almost like French tu, or firing a laser :-) Conversely chū is closer to English "ch" and ends with the "U" in Uber.

13 Weather

13.1 Basic Weather and Comparisons

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Weather tiān qì 天气 Sky Air
Too Cold! tài lěng le 太冷了 le is not past
Sunny qíng tiān 晴天 LHS is Sun. Day/Sky.
Grey yīn tiān 阴天 RHS is Moon. Grey as in cloudy
Cloudy duō yūn 多云 Much Cloud
White Cloud bái yún 白云 Not bad weather - good cloud!
Raining xià yǔ 下雨 Coming-down Rain
Snowing xià xuě 下雪 Coming-down Snow
Get off vehicle xià chē 下车 Coming-down vehicle
I want to get off at Newcastle wǒ yào zài niǔkǎ xià chē 我要在纽卡下车  
Help bāng zhù 帮助  
Can you help me? nǐ kěyǐ bāngzhù wǒ ma 你可以帮助我吗  
Windy guā fēng 刮风 blow/woft wind 5
I can hear the wind wǒ kěyǐ tīng dào guāfēng 我可以听到刮风 tīngdào is hear
Here is snowing zài xià xuě 在下雪  
Travel lǚ yóu 旅游 Travel Wandering. Tourism. Same as yóuyǒng!
Nice view / Good Look hǎo kàn jí le 好看极了 Good Look Extremly. Can be used for anything
(music) Sounds good! hěn hǎo tīng 很好听  
Temperature wēn dù 温度 Warm Degree
Today is too hot jīntiān tài rè le 今天太热了  
What is the temperature today? jīntiān wēndù shì duōshǎo 今天温度是多少  
20 degrees C èrshí dù 二十度  
Below zero / Freezing líng xià 零下 Zero Below
-10 degrees C fù shí dù 负十度 líng xià shí dù is more usual?
+10 degrees C zhèng shí dù 正十度 emphasising positive
I heard last week you went travelling (wǒ) tīngdào shàng gè xīngqí nǐ qù lǚyóu 听到上个星期你去旅游  
Correct I went to China for fun duì, wǒ qù zhōngguó wánle 对 我去中国玩了  
Is it fun there? nàlǐ hǎowán ma 那里好玩吗 There good play?
Extermely good fun, but the weather was very cold hǎowán jí le, kěshì tiānqì tài lěng le 好玩极了 可是天气太冷了 kěshì=but
What was the temperature there? nàlǐ de wēndù shì duōshǎo 那里的温度是多少 Temperature of there is how much
Between 10 and 20 below zero língxià shí jǐ dù 零下十几度 shíjǐ means "1?"
Compared to London it's colder bǐ lúndūn lěng duō le 比伦敦冷多了 duōle adds emphasis
I have more apples than you wǒ de píngguǒ bǐ nǐ de píngguǒ duō 我的苹果比你的苹果多 My apples compared to your apples more
I am taller than you wǒ bǐ nǐ gāo 我比你高 gāo=taller
Beijing is colder than London běijīng bǐ lúndūn lěng 北京比伦敦冷 Beijing compared to London cold
Beijing is much colder than London běijīng bǐ lúndūn lěng duōle 北京比伦敦冷多了 Use of duōle
Beijing is a little colder than London běijīng bǐ lúndūn lěng yīdiǎn 北京比伦敦冷一点  

13.2 Weather Last Weekend

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Last weekend I went travelling to Greece wǒ shàng gè zhōumò qùle xīlà 我上个周末去了希腊  
On Saturday it was too hot xīngqí liù le tài rèle 星期六了太热了  
In the afternoon, I went to the beach and swam wǒ xiàwǔ qùle hǎitān ránhòu qù yóuyǒng (le) 我下午去了海滩然后去游泳了 and then I go swimming - ránhòu, not hé 6
In May, the sea is very cold! zài wǔ yuè hǎi hěn lěng 在五月海很冷  
But, on Sunday it was grey and raining dànshì xīngqí tiān yīn tiān hé xià yǔ 但是星期天阴天和下雨  
Compared to London it was less hot (more cold)! bǐ lúndūn lěng duō le 比伦敦冷多了 You never say rè shǎo, always lěng duō 7
Normally Greece is sunnier than London tōngcháng xīlà bǐ lúndūn rè duō le 通常希腊比伦敦热多了  
Today, I return to London wǒ jīntiān huílái qù lúndūn 我今天回来去伦敦  
And London is colder than Greece! xiànzài lúndūn bǐ xīlà lěng 现在伦敦比希腊冷  

13.3 Pronounciation Points

yíkè - remember kè is pronounced "ku-eh", there is no "r" sound. wǎnshàng - remember it's wan not won qián - remember it's not "ch" nor is it "t" (think laser!) xīlà - see-la lúndūn - loondun?

13.4 More Weather

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Chinatown zhōngguó chéng 中国城 China City
Cold hěn lěng 很冷 (Very) Cold
Too cold tài lěng le 太冷了  
Extremely cold lěng jí le 冷极了  
Today is hotter than yesterday jīntiān bǐ zuótiān rè 今天比昨天热 Today compared to yesteday hotter
Spring chūn tiān 春天 Spring Day
Summer xià tiān 夏天 Summer Day
Autumn qiū tiān 秋天 Autumn Day
Winter dōng tiān 冬天 Winter Day
Warm/Pleasant nuǎn huo 暖和 rè implies it's a bit too hot
Fast kuài 快  
Slow màn 慢  
Weather Forecast tiānqì yù bào 天气预报 Weather Pre Report (bào like bàozhǐ)
Umbrella yǔ sǎn 雨伞 Rain Umbrella
Sun Umbrella tàiyáng sǎn 太阳伞 Sun Umbrella
Will it rain today? jīntiān huì xià yǔ ma 今天会下雨吗 huì is will
The weather forecast says today it will rain heavily tiānqì yùbào shuō jīntiān yǒu dà yǔ 天气预报说今天有大雨  
The newspaper says …. bàozhǐ shuō … 报纸说 …  
Is it? I haven't brought (an) umbrella shì ma. Wǒ méi dài yǔsǎn 是吗 我没带雨伞 dài=take/bring
I ate lunch / I had lunch wǒ chīle wǔfàn 我吃了午饭 le for past tense
I didn't eat lunch wǒ méi chī wǔfàn 我没吃午饭 No le when -ve past tense
I don't eat lunch wǒ bù chī wǔfàn 我不吃午饭 You don't eat lunch as a rule
I have two (umbrellas), give you one wǒ yǒu liǎng bǎ, gěi nǐ yī bǎ 我有两把 给你一把 bǎ is counter for things in hand (knife) 8
Very good, thank-you tài hǎole xièxiè 太好了谢谢  
Today will be windy jīntiān huì guā fēng 今天会刮风  
Sun tài yáng 太阳  
Tommorrow will be sunny míngtiān huì yǒu tàiyáng 明天会有太阳 Tomorrow will have sun
Tomorrow the sun will be out míngtiān huì chū tàiyáng 明天会出太阳 Implies the sun is not out today. chū=out

14 More on Houses

14.1 Rooms

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Living Room kè tīng 客厅 Guest Hall
Bedroom wò shì 卧室 Lie-Down Room
Toilet (Sanitation Room) wèishēng jiān 卫生间 Sanitation Room
Not clean bù wèishēng 不卫生 eg dropped food
Toilet (Toilet) cè suǒ 厕所 Less gentle
Toilet (Washroom) xǐ shǒu jiān 洗手间 Wash hand room (xǐ as in shower)
Kitchen chú fáng 厨房 Cook Room
Study / Office shū fáng 书房 Book Room/Library
House fáng zi 房子  
Room (house within house) fáng 房 Jiànshēnfáng - healthy body room
Large entertainment areas for hotel dà tīng 大厅 Hall
Hotel Reception qián tái 前台 Front Desk/Platform
Room (middle size) shì 室 House/Company/Classroom
Room (smaller size) jiān 间  
Hotel Bedroom fáng jiān 房间 Combine house and small room = middle sized
Number hào 号 Like Date
What is my room number? wǒ de fángjiān shì jǐ hào 我的房间是几号  

15 Travelling to China

15.1 Going to China

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Next week I go to china for holiday wǒ xià gè zhōu huì qù zhōngguó lǚyóu 我下个周会去中国旅游  
First I fly to Urumqi shǒuxiān wǒ huì fēi wǎng wūlǔmùqí jīchǎng 首先我会飞往乌鲁木齐机场  
Then I take the train To Turfan dì èr tiān wǒ huì zuò huǒchē qù tǔlǔfān 第二天我会坐火车去吐鲁番  
It's not far, about 1 hour bù yuǎn, yī xiǎoshí zuǒyòu 不远 一小时左右  
From Turfan I go to Dunhuang cóng tǔlǔfān wǒ qù dūnhuáng 从吐鲁番我去敦煌  
I will see the Mo Gao caves there wǒ huì kàn dào mò gāo kū 我会看到莫高窟  
This month Dunhuang is very hot zhège yuè zài dūnhuáng tiānqì hěn rè. 这个月在敦煌天气很热  
In summer it is extremely hot! xiàtiān rè jíle 夏天热极了  
Then I go to Zhangje National Geopark ránhòu wǒ qù zhāngyē guójiā dìzhí gōngyuán 然后我去张掖国家地质公园 guójiā=country/house9 dìzhí=ground/situation
(It takes) 8 hours by train. Long time! zuò huǒchē bā xiǎoshí. Yào hěn cháng shíjiān! 坐火车八小时. 要很长时间! yàohěn - it needs/wants(yào) a very(hěn) (long time)
Then I will drive to Xiahe ránhòu wǒ huì kāichē qù xiàhé 然后我会开车去夏河  
Xiahe has a beautiful temple zài xiàhé yǒu yīzuò měilì de sìyuàn 在夏河有一座美丽的寺院 Temple is more Asian, Monastery more Western 10
Finally I travel to Xi'an zuìhòu wǒ huì lǚyóu qù xī'ān 最后我会旅游去西安  
When I return home I will be very tired dāng wǒ huí jiā, wǒ huì hěn lèi 当我回家我会很累 You cannot use tài….le in the future

15.2 How much of an adjective

In Chinese you should always add very, a little, relatively, etc any adjective. They are never expressed by themselves.

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Not bù 不  
Very hěn 很  
Relatively/Comparatively bǐ jiào 比较  
A little yǒu yīdiǎn 有一点 yǒu yīdiǎnr in north
Airplane is very quick fēijī hěn kuài 飞机很快  
Train station is relatvely quick huǒchē bǐjiào kuài 火车比较快  
Public bus a little quick gōngchē yǒudiǎn kuài 公车有点快  

15.3 Holiday Phrases

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Tomorrow will have sun míngtiān huì yǒu tàiyáng 明天会有太阳 Only colloquial, wouldn't be used on weather forecast
Tomorrow is sunny míngtiān shì qíngtiān 明天是晴天 Slightly more formal, eg weather forecast
Lanzhou pulled noodles Lánzhōu lāmiàn 兰州拉面  
Lanzhou chips (street food) yáng yù piàn 洋芋片 potato peices (sliced potato in chilli)
I think wǒ xiǎng 我想 Don't worry about this one for now
I feel/think wǒ juédé 我觉得  
I think (it's) not good wǒ juédé bù hǎo 我觉得不好  
What (do) you think (is) tasty? nǐ juédé shénme hào chī 你觉得什么好吃  
I don't know, what's tasty? wǒ bù zhīdào, (nǐ juédé) shénme hào chī 我不知道(你觉得)什么好吃  
Egg fried rice dàn chǎo fàn 蛋炒饭 dàn=egg chǎo=type of frying, no need to mǐfàn
Long time no see hěn jiǔ bù jiàn 很久不见 Very long no see
Train ticket huǒchē piào 火车票  
Bus ticket gōngchē piào 公车票  
Gate/Door/Entrance ticket mén piào 门票 Door ticket
2 entrance tickets liǎng zhāng ménpiào 两张门票 zhāng is measure for the paper
I want (to) buy 2 train tickets wǒ yāomǎi liǎng zhāng huǒchē piào 我要买两张火车票  
Tomorrow afternoon (I) go to Xi'an míngtiān xiàwǔ qù xī'ān 明天下午去西安  
To where? qù nǎ 去哪  
Approx What time/date? shénme shíhòu 社么时候  
More exactly what time/date? shénme shíjiān 什么时间  
Morning or Afternoon? shàngwǔ háishì xiàwǔ 上午还是下午  
Afternoon can I? xiàwǔ kěyǐ ma 下午可以吗  
My Chinese is bad wǒ de zhōngwén bù hǎo 我的中文不好  
Can you (speak) a little slower? màn yīdiǎn kěyǐ ma 慢一点可以吗  
PLease a little slower? qǐng màn yīdiǎn 请慢一点  
First Class yī děng zuò 一等座 first level seat
Second Class èr děng zuò 二等座  
Sleeping Car wò pù 卧铺 lie-down bed
Soft Sleeper (Couchette) ruǎn wò 软卧 soft bed. r is like s in pleasure
Hard Sleeper (Public bed) yìng wò 硬卧 hard bed
Train station platform huǒchē zhàntái 火车站台  
Platform (when context is obvious) zhàntái 站台  
Soft sleeping (car) is where? ruǎnwò zài nǎlǐ 软卧在哪里  
Not the hard sleeper bùshì yìngwò 不是硬卧  
To book dìng 订  
I want (to) book seat (for) 2 (measure) people wǒ yào dìng zuò liǎng gè rén 我要订坐两个人  
I want to book reservation wǒ yào dìng fángjiāng 我要订房将  
I want to book a double room wǒ yào dìng shuāng rén jiān 我要订双人间 book a pair-people room
I want one bed wǒ yào yī zhāng chuáng 我要一张床 zhāng = measure, like paper
I want to book a taxi wǒ yào dìng chūzū chē 我要订出租车  
Tomorrow morning at 9 go (to) national park míngtiān zǎoshang jiǔ diǎn qù guójiā gōngyuán 明天早上九点去国家公园  
I want to go here (point to map/book) wǒ yào qù zhèlǐ 我要去这里  
9 o'clock come here, pick us up, and back to hotel jiǔ diǎn lái zhèlǐ, jiē wǒmen huí jiǔdiàn 九点来这里,接我们回酒店 9 o'clock come here pick us (up) back hotel
My train (is) at quarter past eight wǒ de huǒchē zài bā diǎn yīkè 我的火车在八点一刻  
I want to book a taxi to the train station wǒ yào dìng chūzū chē qù huǒchē zhàn 我要订出租车去火车站  
From hotel to train station needs how long? cóng jiǔdiàn qù huǒchē zhàn yào duōjiǔ 从酒店去火车站要多久 needs how long

15.4 More Holiday Phrases

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Black tea hóng chá 红茶 Red tea
Green tea lǜ chá 绿茶  
You speak slowly nǐ shuōhuà yǒu yīdiǎn màn 你说话有一点慢 Statement of fact - yǒu yīdiǎn
Winter is colder than autumn dōngtiān bǐ qiūtiān lěng yīdiǎn 冬天比秋天冷一点 Comparison - no "yǒu"
Winter is cold dōngtiān yǒu yīdiǎn lěng 冬天有一点冷 Statement of fact - yǒu yīdiǎn
I want drink water wǒ xiǎng hē shuǐ 我想喝水 xiǎng is softer than yào
Things to eat chī de (dōngxī) 吃的(东西) Don't say the dōngxī
Things to drink hē de (dōngxī) 喝的(东西)  
Please ask you have what something to drink? qǐngwèn nǐmen yǒu shé yāo hè de 请问你们有什么喝的 nǐmen plural of nǐ used in restaurant, etc
What time do we arrive in Xian? wǒmen jǐ diǎn dào xī'ān 我们几点到西安 dào can be used for arrive. Never zài for time
Tree shù 树  
On (top) of the tree zài shù shàng 在树上  
Luggage xíng lǐ 行李  
How much (money)? duōshǎo qián 多少钱  
Altogether 200 Yuan yīgòng liǎng bǎi 一共两百  
In total 200 Yuan suǒyǒu de liǎng bǎi kuài 所有的两百块 suǒyǒu de (dōngxī)
Don't cheat me / lie to me bùyào piàn wǒ 不要骗我  
I know, don't cheat me wǒ zhīdào, bùyào piàn wǒ 我知道 不要骗我  
I booked one double room wǒ dìngle yīgè shuāng rén jiān 我订了一个双人间  
(Room) Key (fángjiān) yàoshi (房间)钥匙  
Bank Card yínháng kǎ 银行卡  
Room Card fáng kǎ 房卡  
On 2nd Floor zài èr lóu 在二楼 No ground floor in China
Lift or Escalator diàn tī 电梯 Electric Ladder
My room has no power wǒ de fángjiān méiyǒu diàn 我的房间没有电 Always mei you, always bu shi
Take lift up to the 10th floor zuò diàntī shàng shí lóu 坐电梯上十楼 shàng - up to
What time is breakfast tomorrow? míngtiān zǎofàn shì jǐ diǎn 明天早饭是几点  
Where do you eat? zài nǎlǐ chī 在哪里吃  
Hotel meal room / Work canteen cān tīng 餐厅  
Can (you be) a little faster? kěyǐ kuài yīdiǎn ma 可以快一点吗  
Give me a moment (wait short time) děng yīxià 等一下  

15.5 Returning from China

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Recently I went to China for fun zuìjìn wǒ qùle zhōngguó wán 最近我去了中国玩  
First I flew to Urumqi Airport shǒuxiān wǒ fēile wǎng wūlǔmùqí jīchǎng 首先我飞了往乌鲁木齐机场  
The next day I took the train To Turfan Dì èr tiān wǒ zuòle huǒchē qù tǔlǔfān 第二天我坐了火车去吐鲁番  
It's not far, about 1 hour bù yuǎn, yī xiǎoshí zuǒyòu 不远 一小时左右  
The train is very modern and (also) extremely fast Huǒchē hěn xiàndài yě fēicháng kuài 火车很现代也非常快 No shì when describing, and shì never takes le in past!
From Turfan I went to Dunhuang cóng tǔlǔfān wǒ qùle dūnhuáng 从吐鲁番我去了敦煌  
I saw the Mo Gao caves wǒ kànle mò gāo kū 我看了到莫高窟  
In the caves there are old paintings zài mōgāokū li yǒu hěn duō gǔlǎo de huà 在莫高窟里有很多古老的画 always hěn etc with duō (very many), use of "de" for adjective
In Dunhuang the weather was extremely hot zài dūnhuáng tiānqì rè jíle 在敦煌天气热极了  
But it's colder than summer bùguò bǐ xiàtiān lěng 不过比夏天冷  
Then I went to Zhangje National Geopark ránhòu wǒ qùle zhāngyē guójiā dìzhí gōngyuán 然后我去了张掖国家地质公园 guójiā=country/house9 dìzhí=ground/situation
(It takes) 8 hours by train. Long time! zuò huǒchē bā xiǎoshí. Yào hěn cháng shíjiān! 坐火车八小时. 要很长时间! yàohěn - it needs/wants(yào) a very(hěn) (long time)
There are beautiful colourful mountains nà li yǒu měilì de wǔcǎi shān 那里有美丽的五彩山 wǔcǎi - five coloured, but really multicoloured!
Then I will drive to Xiahe ránhòu wǒ kāichēle qù xiàhé 然后我开车了去夏河  
Xiahe has a beautiful temple zài xiàhé yǒu yīzuò měilì de sìyuàn 在夏河有一座美丽的寺院 Temple is more Asian, Monastery more Western 10
Finally I went to Xi'an for a trip zuìhòu wǒ qùle xī'ān lǚyóu 最后我去了西安旅游  
When I returned home I was very tired dāng wǒ huíle jiā wǒ hěn lèi 当我回了家我很累 You cannot use tài….le in the future

16 Recap

16.1 Recap Part 1

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Washing (yourself) xǐzǎo 洗澡 Wash bathe
Wash Apple xǐ píngguǒ 洗苹果  
Washing Machine xǐyījī 洗衣机 Wash clothes machine
Cloudy / Sunny yīn yáng 阴阳 As in yin and yang
Partly cloudy duō yún 多云  
Chef chú shī 厨师 Cook Master
Kitchen chú fáng 厨房 Cook Room
Skiing huá xuě 滑雪 Slip Snow
Ice Skating huá bīng 滑冰 Slip Ice
Roller Skating huá hàn bīng 滑旱冰 Slip dry ice
Eye yǎn jīng 眼睛 Eye Eye
Mirror jìng zi 镜子 Mirror zi
Glasses yǎn jìng 眼镜 Eye Mirror
Boat or Ship chuán 船  
Who are you looking for? nǐ zhǎo shéi 你找谁 zhǎo - looking for
What are you looking for? nǐ zài zhǎo shénme 你在找什么 zài - as in -ing
I want to find a restaurant to eat lunch wǒ xiǎng zhǎo fàndiàn chī wǔfàn 我想找饭店吃午饭 xiǎng politer than yào
I want to go to Dunhuang wǒ xiǎng qù dūnhuáng 我想去敦煌  
I want to find (and go to) Dunhuang wǒ xiǎng zhǎo dūnhuáng 我想找敦煌 Implies you don't know how to get there
I want to find (looking for) a policeman wǒ yào zhǎo jǐngchá 我要找警察 I'm looking for or will call
I heard (from someone) wǒ tīng shuō 我听说  
I heard (a noise) wǒ tīng dào 我听到  
I heard 3 months ago you went to China wǒ tīng shuō sān gè yuè yǐqián nǐ qùle zhōngguó 我听说三个月以前你去了中国  
What were you doing there? zài nàlǐ nǐ zài zuò shénme 在那里你在做什么 At there you doing what?
Yes, I go to China for travelling duì, wǒ qù zhōngguó lǚyóu 对,我去中国旅游  

16.2 Recap Part 2

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Do you have a room? nǐmen yǒu fángjiān ma 你们有房间吗 nǐmen - plural when asking "a company"
You want how many rooms? nín yào jǐ gè fángjiān 您要几个房间 jǐ as in unknown small number
Passport hùzhào 护照  
Your room is number 203 nín de fángjiān shì èr líng sān hào 您的房间是二零三号  
On 2nd floor (is a) restaurant zài èr lóu cāntīng 在二楼餐厅  
Dinner (slightly more formal) wǎncān 晚餐 Similar to wǎnfàn
Breakfast (slightly more formal) zǎocān 早餐 Similar to zǎofàn
Escalator (and lift) diàntī 电梯 Electric stairs
Stairs lóutī 楼梯 Building stairs
This side zhè biān 这边  
That side nà biān 那边  
That person nà gè rén 那个人  
That woman nà gè nǚrén 那个女人  
My TV is broken wǒ de diànshì huàile 我的电视坏了  
Can you come fix it? nǐmen kěyǐ lái xiū ma 你们可以来修吗 xiū - to fix
Can you come take a look? nǐmen kěyǐ lái kàn kàn 你们可以来看看  
Give you some colour to see! gěi nǐ diǎn yàng sè kàn kàn 给你点样色看看 Warning parents give to kids?
Umbrella yǔsǎn 雨伞 xiàyǔ is rain
Do you know a good (eating) restaurant? nǐ zhīdào hěn hào chī de fàndiàn ma 你知道很好吃的饭店吗 adjective de noun - the de makes "a good eating" an adjective
At 8 o'clock is the "to Shanghai" train zài bā diǎn shì qù shànghǎi de huǒchē 在八点是去上海的火车 de makes "to Shanghai" adjective
Bed chuáng 床 qǐchuáng - get up
A/One bed yī zhāng chuáng 一张床  
A/One peice of paper yī zhāng zhǐ 一张纸  
Toilet paper wèishēng zhǐ 卫生纸  
Kitchen roll (paper) chúfáng zhǐ 厨房纸  
A paper towel yī zhāng zhǐjīn 一张纸巾  
Cat māo 猫  
Dog gǒu 狗  
(The) dog has lots of hair gǒu yǒu hěnduō máo 狗有很多毛  
Light (As in bulb/lamp not ray of) dēng 灯  
Headlight (Car Light) chē dēng 车灯 Car Light
Headlight / headlamp tóu dēng 头灯 Head Light
Streetlight lù dēng 路灯 Road Light
Desk/table lamp tái dēng 台灯 Platform Light
Torch shǒu diàn 手电 Hand Electric

17 On/Off, Open/Close and bǎ

17.1 On/Off and Open/Close

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Open door kāi mén 开门 Same kāi as kāichē
Close(d) door guān mén 关门  
I open (the) door wǒ kāimén 我开门  
I look at you Wǒ kànzhe nǐ 我看着你 Use of zhe
The door is open Mén kāizhe 门开着 Use of zhe
Turn-on kāi 开  
Turn-off guān 关  
I turn-on the TV wǒ kāi diànshì 我开电视  
I turn-on the light wǒ kāi dēng 我开灯  
I open the box wǒ kāi xiāng zi 我开箱子 Also hézi 盒子

17.2 Use of bǎ

English Pinyin Characters Notes
To clean dǎsǎo 打扫  
I clean the room wǒ dǎsǎo fángjiān 我打扫房间  
To wipe/rub cā 擦  
Question/problem wèntí 问题  
You have any questions/issues? nǐ yǒu wèntí ma 你有问题吗  
Please wipe the table (a little) qǐng bǎ zhuōzi cā yīxià 请把桌子擦一下  
Do <verb> on the <noun> bǎ <noun> <verb> 把 <noun> <verb>  
Little (quantity) yīdiǎn 一点  
Little (time) yīxià 一下  
Further more, wash the clothes (a little) zài bǎ yīfú xǐ yīxià 再把衣服洗一下 Could use hái 还
Please give me the salt qǐng bǎ yán gěi wǒ 请把盐给我 Don't use nǐ gěi wǒ
I ate dinner (use of bǎ) wǒ bǎ wǎnfàn chīle 我把晚饭吃了 Emphasis on dinner - recent past action (i.e. not lunch)
Rainbow cǎihóng 彩虹 cǎi - means coloured
Please give me (your) passport qǐng bǎ hùzhào gěi wǒ 请把护照给我 bǎ can be used in a command or on yourself in past tense
Underwear should be washed by hand nèiyī yào shǒuxǐ 内衣要手洗 Underwear needs handwash. nèi - inside/smaller sace, yī as in yīfú
Don't wash together with outside clothes bùyào hé wàiyī yīqǐ xǐ 不要和外衣一起洗 wāiyī (fú) - coat, fleece, whatever is top layer of clothes!
Autumn Clothes (layer) qiūyī 秋衣 Autumn - qiūtiān
No problem (I'll do it) méi wèntí 没问题 In response to a request
No problem (doesn't matter) méi guānxì 没关系 In response to an apology or thanks
Additionally / furthermore lìng wài 另外  
Still / Also zài / hái 再/还  
And (short and equal words) hé 和 Also can mean "with"
And (and also) yě 也  
(The) apple (is) green, tasty and heavy píngguǒ, hěn lǜ, hěn hào chī, hěn zhòng 苹果,很绿,很好吃,很重 No "is", use of modifier hěn with adjective
(The) apple is green píngguǒ shì lǜsè de 苹果是绿色的 shì ….. de structure. de = adjective
I'm hungry wǒ è le 我饿了 Why no hěn?
I'm also hungry wǒ yě è le 我也饿了 Use of yě
Furthermore, also clean the kitchen (a little) lìngwài bǎ chúfáng yě dǎsǎo yīxià 另外把厨房也打扫一下 Use both lìngwài and yě!
I turned the light on wǒ bǎ dēng kāile 我把灯开了 If it's not an order bǎ is usually it past - with "le"
Please turn on the light qǐng dǎ kāi dēng 请打开灯 dǎ - hand related
Please turn on the light (bǎ) qǐng bǎ dēng dǎkāi 请把灯打开  
He ate the apple (bǎ) tā bǎ píngguǒ chīle 他把苹果吃了  

17.3 Putting stuff

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Please give me (the) book qǐng bǎ shū gěi wǒ 请把书给我  
Fruit shuǐguǒ 水果 Water fruit - guǒ as in apple
Vegetables shūcài 蔬菜  
Meat ròu 肉  
Flower huā 花  
Vase huāpíng 花瓶 Flower bottle
Counter for bottle-like píng 瓶  
A bottle of water yī píng shuǐ 一瓶水  
Put fàng 放  
Put the mobile (at) on the table bǎ shǒujī fàng zài zhuōzi shàng 把手机放在桌子上  
A spoon yīgè sháozi 一个勺子 gè is more usual than bǎ
A pair of chopsticks yīshuāng kuàizi 一双筷子  
A Bowl yīgè wǎn 一个碗  
"Arrive it" dào 到 Arrive an object where you want to put it
Put (arrive) the spoon on the table bǎ sháozi fàng dào zhuōzi 把勺子放到桌子  
These Zhèxiē 这些 These ones (This some)
Those (over there) Nàxiē 那些 Those ones (There some)
A few yīdiǎn 一点  
Some yīxiē 一些 Same xiē as these/those
Lots hěnduō 很多 Use of hěn

17.4 Weekend phrases

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Last weekend I was very busy shàng zhōumò wǒ hěn máng 上周末我很忙  
On Saturday morning I went to my parents house zhōu liù shàngwǔ wǒ qùle fùmǔ de jiā 周六上午我去了父母的家  
It takes 1 hour by car kāichē yī xiǎoshí 开车一小时  
We celebrated my mother's birthday wǒmen qìngzhù le māmā de shēngrì 我们庆祝了妈妈的生日  
We ate lots of food wǒmen bǎ hěnduō shíwù chī le 我们把很多食物吃了  
Pasta, seafood and (also) cake miànshí, hǎixiān, yě dàngāo 面食, 海鲜, 也蛋糕  
After lunch (I) played with my niece wǔfàn yǐhòu hé wàishēngnǚ yīqǐ wán 午饭以后和外甥女一起玩  
She is 4 years old tā sì suìle 她四岁了  
She likes to sing tā xǐhuān chànggē 她喜欢唱歌  
In the evening I had to work wǒ zhōu liù wǎnshàng bìxū gōngzuò 我周六晚上必须工作  
At Sunday noon, my wife and I went to buy a new sofa zhōu tiān zhōngwǔ wǒ hé lǎopó qùle mǎi yī zhāng xīn shāfā 周天中午我和老婆去了买一张新沙发 Can I use zhǒu - to look for?
I like big leather sofas wǒ xǐhuān hěn dà pígé de shāfā 我喜欢很大皮革的沙发  
I found a brown one wǒ zhǎodàole zōngsè de. 我找到了棕色的  
But it's a little expensive bùguò, yīdiǎn guìle 不过,一点贵了  
After shopping I went swimming to relax mǎi dōngxī yǐhòu, wǒ qùle yóuyǒng fàngsōng 买东西以后,我去了游泳放松  
In the evening I watch TV wǒ wǎnshàng kànle diànshì yīxià 我晚上看了电视一下  

17.5 More Taking and Putting

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Next Tuesday he will go to the airport to pick-up his wife xià zhōu'èr tā huì qù jīchǎng jiē tā de lǎopó 下周二他会去机场接他的老婆  
Pick-up the phone / Answer the call jiē diànhuà 接电话  
Please put the cup in the kitchen qǐng nǐ bǎ bēizǐ fáng dào chúfáng 请你把杯子房倒厨房 dào - arrive it
Bring (take here) ná lái 拿来  
Put (take to) ná qù 拿去  
Please take the cup to the kitchen qǐng nǐ bǎ bēizi ná qù chúfáng 请你把杯子拿去厨房  
Please put the clothes in the wardrobe qǐng nǐ bǎ yīfú fàng dào yīguì lǐ 请你把衣服放到衣柜里 Clothes cabinet inside
Pass (bring) the salt bǎ yán ná lái 把盐拿来 Say to friend / not massively polite
Please give me the salt kěyǐ bǎ yán gěi wǒ ma 可以把盐给我吗  
Bookshelf shūjià 书架 It's not a guì it has no doors, jià is frame
Please put the fish in the refrigirator qǐng nǐ bǎ yú fàng dào bīngxiāng lǐ 请你把鱼放到冰箱里  
This evening my friends are coming to my house for dinner jīntiān wǎnshàng wǒ de péngyǒu lái wǒ de jiā chī wǎnfàn 今天晚上我的朋友来我的家吃晚饭  
Can you help (me)? nǐ néng bāngmáng ma 你能帮忙吗  
Help! jiù mìng 救命 Help as in danger, means 'save life'

18 Where Did You Grow Up and Jobs?

18.1 Born and Life

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Grow-up zhǎng dà 长大 grow big
Born chū shēng 出生 outside begin/arrive
Where were you born? nǐ zài nǎlǐ chūshēng 你在哪里出生  
Did you grow-up in China? nǐ zài zhōngguó zhǎng dà ma 你在中国长大吗  
Were you also born in China? nǐ yě zài zhōngguó chūshēng ma 你也在中国出生吗 Use of yě
Am not (I was not) bùshì 不是  
Not in/at (I was not) bùzài 不在  
No, I was born in the UK bùzài, wǒ zài yīngguó chūshēng 不在,我在英国出生  
When did you come to China? nǐ shénme shíhòu lái zhōngguó de 你什么时候来中国的 de means nothing!
Six years ago liù nián qián 六年前 Note not yīqián
Six years ago, I came here to go to university liù nián yǐqián, wǒ láile zhèlǐ qù shàng dàxué 六年以前,我来了这里去上大学 shàng dàxué - to start/get on university
How long (time) duōjiǔ 多久  
How much/big (quantity/size) duōdà 多大 Also how old?
How long from Miami to Cuba? (time) cóng mài'āmì qù gǔbā duōjiǔ 从迈阿密去古巴多久  
It takes a long time yǒu hěnjiǔ 有很久  
A long, long, time ago …. hěnjiǔ hěnjiǔ yǐqián 很久很久以前 long long ago (start of a story)
To be alive / life shēng mìng 生命 i.e. signs of life, not dead!
(daily) life shēng huó 生活 As in my life sucks
Specialized subject / discipline zhuān yè 专业 e.g. chemistry "Special Study"
My specific work is computers wǒ de zhuānyè shì diànnǎo 我的专业是电脑 might imply my major is IT?
News xīn wén 新闻 news hear (there's an ear in the middle), also smell
I smell lunch wǒ wén dàole wǔfàn 我闻到了午饭  
This dog smells bad zhège gǒu bù hǎo wén 这个狗不好闻  
TV News diànshì xīnwén 电视新闻  
I have news wǒ yǒu yīgè xīnwén 我有一个新闻  
Happy New Year xīn nián hǎo 新年好 can use for International or Chinese
Happy (Chinese) new Year guò nián hǎo 过年好 surviving (over/pass) nian (monster!) good
Journalist jì zhě 记者 record/Make-Note Person
Graduate bì yè 毕业 finish study
Hardworking / toilsome xīn kǔ 辛苦 adjective, kǔ=bitter
I'm very hard working / busy wǒ hěn xīnkǔ 我很辛苦  
My work is very hard wǒ de gōngzuò hěn xīnkǔ 我的工作很辛苦  
Last week I worked very hard shàng gè xīngqí wǒ gōngzuò hěn xīnkǔ 上个星期我工作很辛苦  
Business travel chū chāi 出差 Outside work
I'm on a business trip to China wǒ chūchāi qù zhōngguó 我出差去中国  
Writer zuò jiā 作家 Of books or poems "Specific-work expert"
Homework / School assignment zuò yè 作业 Work study
TV Station diànshì tái 电视台  
BBC1 BBC yī tái BBC 一台 yīngguó guǎngbò gōngsī
Beijing Station/Channel běijīng tái 北京台  
Travel Channel lǚyóu tái 旅游台  
Child hái zi 孩子  
Do you have children? nǐ yǒu háizi ma 你有孩子吗  
Children háizi men 孩子们 men as in wǒ-men
(The) children (are) at (the) park háizimen zài gōngyuán wán er 孩子们在公园玩儿 wán er is just like wán, pronounced waaa (like farmer)

18.2 Another weekend

English Pinyin Characters Notes
I get up early on Saturday morning wǒ xīngqíliù hěn zǎo qǐchuáng 我星期六很早起床  
I eat egg and sausage for breakfast wǒ bǎ jīdàn hé xiāngcháng zǎo fàn chīle 我把鸡蛋和香肠早饭吃了  
I studied Chinese mid-morning shàngwǔ xuéxíle zhōngwén 上午学习了中文  
Around midday I phoned my father zhōngwǔ zuǒyòu wǒ gěi fùqīn dǎle diànhuà 中午左右我给父亲打了电话  
We chatted about football wǒmen liáole zúqiú 我们聊了足球 liáo - to casually discuss
In the afternoon I do some work wǒ xiàwǔ zuòle gōngzuò. 我下午做了工作  
In the early evening I go to a Moroccan restaurant with my wife bàngwǎn hé lǎopó qùle móluògē de cānguǎn 傍晚和老婆去了摩洛哥的餐馆  
I eat lamb and rice wǒ chīle yángròu hé mǐfàn 我吃了羊肉和米饭  
The food is sweet shíwù shì tián de 食物是甜的  
After diner (we) meet friends in a park wǎncān de yǐhòu zài gōngyuán jiànle péngyǒu 晚餐的以后在公园见了朋友  
Together we watch a firework display wǒmen yīqǐ kànle yānhuā biǎoyǎn 我们一起看了烟花表演 yānhuā biǎoyǎn - smoke flower performance/show
Then (I) take the bus back home ránhòu zuòle gōngchē huí jiā 然后坐了公车回家  
On Sunday morning i booked some train tickets for china xīngqítiān zǎoshang wǒ dìngle zhōngguó de huǒchē piào 星期天早上我订了中国的火车票  
From Wuhan to Huaihua and then to Kunming cóng wǔhàn qù huáihuà, ránhòu qù kūnmíng 从武汉去怀化, 然后 去昆明  
I also book some hotels wǒ yě dìngle jiǔdiàn 我也订了酒店  
Then I shop online ránhòu wǒ wǎngshàng gòuwù 然后我网上购物  
I bought something for my computer wǒ gěi diànnǎo mǎile dōngxī 我给电脑买了东西 gěi - you give it to your computer
In the afternoon I go to the gym wǒ xiàwǔ qùle jiànshēnfáng 我下午去了健身房  
I play squash and swim wǒ dǎ bìqiú yě yóuyǒng 我打壁球也游泳  
After I eat soup and a chicken sandwich for lunch ránhòu wǒ wǔfàn chīle tāng hé jīròu de sānmíngzhì 然后我午饭吃了汤和鸡肉的三明治  
After (returning) back home I watched TV huí jiā yǐhòu kànle diànshì 回家以后看了电视  
I ate my dinner late wǒ chīle wǎnfàn hěn wǎn 我吃了晚饭很晚  
I go to sleep at 11pm wǒ shíyī diǎn shuìjiào 我十一点睡觉  

18.3 Use of guò or le

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Usual time zhèngcháng de shíhòu 正常的时候 zhèngcháng = normal
Performance / show biǎoyǎn 表演  
Actor yǎnyuán 演员  
I smoke cigarettes wǒ chōuyān xiāngyān 我抽烟香烟 chōu - to pump / draw in yān - smoke
Did you drink alcohol? nǐ hējiǔle ma 你喝酒了吗 Position of le not directly after hē
Yes (I drank) wǒ hēle 我喝了 "le" required in positive case
No (I didn't drink) wǒ méi hē 我没喝 No "le" in negative case
I don't (ever) drink wǒ bù hē 我不喝  
Have you drunk alcohol? nǐ hēle jiǔ ma 你喝了酒吗 hē is in past
Have you ever drunk alcohol? nǐ hējiǔguòle ma 你喝酒过了吗 Use of guò
Last weekend did you study Chinese? shàng zhōumò nǐ xué zhōngwénle ma 上周末你学中文了吗 "le" after Chinese not Study
I haven't (ever) read this book Wǒ méi kànguò zhè běn shū 我没看过这本书 No -ve "le". Use of guò - never
I haven't (recently) read this book wǒ méi kàn zhè běn shū 我没看这本书 eg may be you read it ages ago
I have not been to America wǒ méi qùguò měiguó 我没去过美国 No -ve "le". Use of guò - never
Have you (ever) read this book? nǐ kànguò zhè běn shū ma 你看过这本书吗  
Yes, I've read it duì, wǒ kànguò 对, 我看过  
No, I haven't read it bù, wǒ méi kànguò 不, 我没看过  
I have a lot of work wǒ yǒu hěnduō gōngzuò 我有很多工作 gōngzuò is noun or verb
I'm very busy wǒ hěn máng 我很忙 NO shì, need hěn
I am annoyed/annoying wǒ hěn fán 我很烦 Context dependant
Work is annoying gōngzuò hěn fán 工作很烦  
I should complete (my) work wǒ déi wánchéng gōngzuò. 我得完成工作 wánchéng - complete
Finish (but not complete) jiéshù 结束  
I just need (a) computer and internet wǒ zhǐyào diànnǎo hé shàngwǎng 我只要电脑和上网  
I (am) bored / boring wǒ hěn wúliáo 我很无聊 wúliáo - nothing chat. Don't know what to do with my time
You (are) boring / bored nǐ hǎo wúliáo 你好无聊 hǎo - very, as well as good. Doing pointless things
This book is boring zhè běn shū wúliáo 这本书无聊  

18.4 Describing my Job

English Pinyin Characters Notes
My job is (a) computer consultant wǒ de gōngzuò shì diànnǎo gùwèn 我的工作是电脑顾问 gōngzuò - working generally, rather than relaxing
I work at a small company wǒ zài xiǎo gōngsī shàngbān 我在小公司上班 shàngbān - doing work according to set schedule / job
We do financial management for banks wǒmen gěi yínháng zuò cáiwù guǎnlǐ 我们给银行做财务管理 we give banks the financial management we do
I usually use computers to do (my) work wǒ tōngcháng yòng diànnǎo gōngzuò 我通常用电脑工作  
Spreadsheets diànzǐ biǎogé 电子表格  
Computer Programming diànnǎo biānchéng 电脑编程  
I often work from home wǒ jīngcháng zàijiā gōngzuò 我经常在家工作  
Home is quieter than the office jiā bǐ bàngōngshì ānjìng 家比办公室安静  
I take the subway to the office wǒ zuò dìtiě qù bàngōngshì 我坐地铁去办公室 zuò - to sit / take
The subway is always busy dìtiě zǒng shì hěn máng 地铁总直很忙 zǒng shì = always (-ve connotation)
The office is on the 7th floor bàngōngshì zài qī lóu 办公室在七楼  
Beautiful view from the window chuāng wài yǒu měi jǐng 窗外有美景 window outside has beautiful scenery
There are many delicious restaurants near the office bàngōngshì fùjìn yǒu hěnduō hào chī de cānguǎn 办公室附近有很多好吃的餐馆  
So I like to go out for lunch suǒyǐ wǒ xǐhuān chūqù chī wǔfàn 所以我喜欢出去吃午饭 So I like out go eat lunch
I sometimes have meetings with colleagues in the afternoon wǒ xiàwǔ yǒu shíhòu hé tóngshì kāihuì 我下午有时候和同事开会 kāihuì like kāichē
Now we are extremely busy xiànzài wǒmen máng jíle 现在我们忙极了 jíle - extremely
I often have to work late wǒ bìxū jīngcháng gōngzuò hěn wǎn 我必须经常工作很晚 bìxū - must

19 Miami, Xmas and Collecting Tickets

19.1 Words from Holiday Chat

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Beach hǎi tān 海滩 Could be rocky
Sandy Beach shā tān 沙滩  
Small Island xiǎo dǎo 小岛  
Scuba Diving qián shuǐ 潜水 diving water
Sky Diving tiào sǎn 跳伞 jump umbrella
Difficult nán 难  
Not Difficult bù nán 不难  
Danger/Dangerous wéi xiǎn 危险 Both noun and adjective
The sea is not dangerous hǎi bù wéixiǎn 海不危险  
There is no danger in the sea hǎilǐ méiyǒu wéixiǎn 海里没有危险 Sea-inside not have danger
Mall / Shopping Centre shāng chǎng 商场 Shop large flat area
On Black Friday many malls have 50% off clothes zài hēiwǔ hěnduō shāngchǎng de yīfú dǎ wǔ zhé 在黑五很多商场的衣服打五折 Black Friday shortened to hēiwǔ from hēisè xīngqíwǔ
To (take a) shower [specifically] lín yù 淋浴 Drip/Drench bathe. More usual you use the general xǐzǎo
Sunbathing rì guāng yù 日光浴 Sun rays-of-light bathe
Sunbathing tàiyáng yù 太阳浴 tàiyáng - sun, yù - bathe
Light from living-room light dēng guāng 灯光 Same guāng as rays from sunbathing
Moonlight yuè guāng 月光 Same guāng as rays from sunbathing. Moon rays.
Vision, view, or insight yǎn guāng 眼光 Eye light - the light from your eyes
Her view is not good tā de yǎnguāng bù hǎo 她的眼光不好 You disagree with her vision/view/opinion
Your view is good nǐ de yǎnguāng hěn hǎo 你的眼光很好 Your eye-light is good - "totally agree" visual outlook
Relax / Relaxing / Relaxation fàngsōng 放松  
All (of them) dōu 都  
Some (of them) yīxiē 一些  
In Miami some restaurants have Cuban food zài mài'āmì yīxiē cānguǎn yǒu gǔbā de shíwù 在迈阿密一些餐馆有古巴的食物  
In Miami, all restaurants have big dishes zài mài'āmì, dōu cānguǎn yǒu dàcài 在迈阿密,都餐馆有大菜  
Still (you) have more? hái yǒu ma 还有吗 In context here - did you have any other types of food?
For example / such as bǐrú 比如  
Spain xībānyá 西班牙  
Holland hélán 荷兰  
South (Latin) American Food nánměi de shíwù 南美的食物  
Did you drink? hējiǔ 喝酒 Literally - drink alcohol?
(The) same yīyàng 一样 Yang means shape or look, so one shape.
Different / Not (the) same bù yīyàng 不一样 Zěnme yàng - how does it look
Is American beer the same as British? měiguó de píjiǔ hé yīngguó de yīyàng ma 美国的啤酒和英国的一样吗  
I like American beer, but I prefer British wǒ xǐhuān měiguó de píjiǔ, dànshì wǒ gèng xǐhuān yīngguó de 我喜欢美国的啤酒,但是我更喜欢英国的 gèng is "more" - so "like more"
I don't like much ….. wǒ gèng bù xǐhuān ….. 我更不喜欢 ….. Lit. "I more don't like"
I dislike / hate wǒ tǎoyàn 我讨厌  
I dislike running but dislike swimming more wǒ tǎoyàn pǎobù dànshì wǒ gèng tǎoyàn yóuyǒng 我讨厌跑步但是我更讨厌游泳  
I don't hate swimming but I don't like it wǒ bù tǎoyàn yóuyǒng, dànshì wǒ bù xǐhuān 我不讨厌游泳,但是我不喜欢  
(Getting) better and better yuè lái yuè hǎo 越来越好 gooder and gooder
More and more (numerous) yuè lái yuè duō 越来越多  
London is getting colder lúndūn yuè lái yuè lěng 伦敦越来越冷 London more and more cold

19.2 Miami

English Pinyin Characters Notes
In November I went to America with my wife wǒ shíyī yuè hé lǎopó yīqǐ qùle měiguó 我十一月和老婆一起去了美国  
We flew from London to Miami wǒmen cóng lúndūn fēi qù mài'āmì. 我们从伦敦飞去迈阿密  
It takes a long time yào hěnjiǔ 要很久  
(It) takes 9 hours to fly (there) yào jiǔ xiǎoshí de fēijī 要九小时的飞机  
I watched some movies wǒ kànle yīxiē diànyǐng 我看了一些电影  
Flying is very boring zài fēijī shàng hěn wúliáo 在飞机上很无聊  
My wife likes to go to the mall. She goes for 2 days. wǒ de lǎopó xǐhuān qù shāngchǎng liǎng tiān. tā qùle liǎng tiān 我的老婆喜欢去商场. 她去了两天  
I prefer to go to the beach, but on Black Friday many shops have 50% off clothes wǒ gèng xǐhuān qù shātān, dànshì hēi wǔ hěnduō shāngdiàn de yīfú dǎ wǔ zhé 我更喜欢去沙滩, 但是 黑五很多商店的衣服打五折  
Compared to London much cheaper bǐ lúndūn piányí duōle 比伦敦便宜多了  
So we bought lots of clothes suǒyǐ wǒmen mǎile hěnduō yīfú 所以我们买了很多衣服  
I bought a coat, a pair of sneakers, and a pair of jeans wǒ mǎile yījiàn wàitào, yīshuāng yùndòng xié, hé yītiáo niúzǎikù 我买了一件外套,一双运动鞋,和一条牛仔裤  
(After) finishing shopping we went to the beach gòuwù yǐhòu wǒmen qù shātān 购物以后我们去沙滩  
In November it's a little cold in the sea shíyī yuè hǎilǐ yǒu yīdiǎn lěng 十一月海里有一点冷  
But it's hotter than the British sea dànshì, bǐ yīngguó dì hǎi nuǎnhuo le 但是, 比英国的海暖和了 dì not strictly required, can be read as de. nuǎnhuo - warm.
Every day is sunny měitiān yǒu tàiyáng 每天有太阳  
After Miami we went to Turks and Caicos Islands mài'āmì yǐhòu, wǒmen qùle tèkèsī hé kǎikēsī qúndǎo 迈阿密以后, 我们去了特克斯和凯科斯群岛  
These small islands are near Cuba zhège xiǎo qúndǎo zài gǔbā fùjìn 这个小群岛在古巴附近  
A few days are too hot yǒu jǐ tiān tài rèle 有几天太热了  
There the sea is very calm, clear, and turquoise colour nàlǐ dì hǎi hěn píngjìng, qīngchè, hé lǜ sōngshí sè 那里的海很平静, 清澈, 和绿松石色  
Beautiful scenery and very good diving jǐngsè fēicháng hǎo érqiě hěn hǎo qiánshuǐ 景色非常好而且很好潜水 érqiě - also. We don't use hé because the two things are not balanced (like cat and dog)
I like diving, but I hate getting up early wǒ hěn xǐhuān qiánshuǐ, dànshì tǎoyàn zǎo qǐchuáng 我很喜欢潜水, 但是讨厌早起床  
However, morning is the sea's most calm time of the day bùguò, zǎoshang shì yītiān zhōng dàhǎi zuì píngjìng de shíhòu 不过, 早上是一天中大海最平静的时候 zhōngzuì = the most, měihǎo = fine/happy/glorious, morning is of all the day the sea's most call time
I saw many beautiful fish, sharks and turtles wǒ kàn dàole hěnduō měilì de yú, shāyú, hé hǎiguī 我看到了很多美丽的鱼, 鲨鱼, 和海龟  
When I dive, my wife enjoys sunbathing and reading books on the sandy beach wǒ qiánshuǐ de shíhòu, wǒ de lǎopó zài shātān xiǎngshòu rìguāngyù hé kànshū 我潜水的时候, 我的老婆在沙滩享受日光浴和看书 xiǎngshòu - to enjoy
In the afternoon I also relax on the beach wǒ xiàwǔ yě zài shātān fàngsōng 我下午也在沙滩放松  
At night we eat dinner next to the beach wǒmen wǎnshàng zài hǎitān pángbiān chī wǎnfàn 我们晚上在海滩旁边吃晚饭  
(We) could hear the waves kěyǐ tīng dào hǎilàng 可以听到海浪 tīng=listen / tīngdào=hear, kàn=look / kàndào=see
The local food is spicy! dāngdì de shíwù hěn là 当地的食物很辣 dāngdì=local, dāngdì rén = local people
Then we return to Miami for one night ránhòu wǒmen huí dào mài'āmì yī wǎn 然后我们回到迈阿密一晚  
We go out drinking in the city centre wǒmen zài shì zhōngxīn chūqù hējiǔ 我们在市中心出去喝酒 shì zhōngxīn = city centre or downtown (city middle heart)
Lots of people in the bars, and very noisy music. jiǔbā hěnduō rén, hé hěn chǎo de yīnyuè 酒吧很多人, 和很吵的音乐 chǎo = noisy. yīnyuè = music
At night in Miami some food trucks have Cuban Sandwiches wǎnshàng zài mài'āmì yīxiē shípǐn kǎchē yǒu gǔbā de sānmíngzhì 晚上在迈阿密一些食品卡车有古巴的三明治 shípǐn kǎchē - Food Truck. shípǐn like shíwù (pǐn to savour), chē=vehicle
Inside there is ham, cheese, pickled cucumber, and mustard zài lǐmiàn yǒu huǒtuǐ, nǎilào, yān huángguā, hé jièmò 在里面有火腿, 奶酪, 腌黄瓜, 和芥末 lǐmiàn=inside, nǎilào=cheese, pàocài=pickles, jièmò=mustard
Exceedingly tasty! fēicháng hào chī 非常好吃 fēicháng=exceedingly
The next day I slept all the flight Dì èr tiān zài fēijī shàng wǒ yīzhí zài shuìjiào 第二天在飞机上我一直在睡觉 "hángbān hào" flight number

19.3 Miami Vocab

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Very busy bar Hěn máng de jiǔbā 很忙的酒吧  
There are many people in the bar Jiǔbā hěnduō rén 酒吧很多人 Bar many people
Very noisy music Hěn chǎo de yīnyuè 很吵的音乐 chǎo by itself means to argue, hěn chǎo means noisey
Sleep more Shuìjiào gèng duō 睡觉更多  
Another Lìng yīgè 另一个  
I have a cat Wǒ yǒu yī zhǐ māo 我有一只猫  
I have another one Wǒ yǒu lìng yī zhǐ 我有另一只  
Celebrate / Celebration Qìngzhù 庆祝  
We went to a bar to celebrate Christmas Wǒmen qù jiǔbā qìngzhù shèngdàn 我们去酒吧庆祝圣诞  
Santa Claus Shèngdàn lǎorén 圣诞老人 Holy/Saint birth old man
(Western) New Year Xīnnián 新年  
(Chinese) New Year Guònián 过年 Passing of Nian!
Spring Festival Chūnjié 春节 jié means festival
Christmas Shèngdànjié 圣诞节 jié means festival
Merry Christmas Shèngdàn kuàilè 圣诞快乐  
I am very happy today Jīntiān wǒ hěn kuàilè 今天我很快乐  
Happy New Year (Western) Xīnnián hǎo 新年好  
Happy New Year (Chinese) Guònián hǎo 过年好  
Scenary/view Jǐngsè 景色  
Very good scenary, also very good diving Jǐngsè fēicháng hǎo érqiě hěn hǎo qiánshuǐ 景色非常好而且很好潜水 érqiě - also/and
Quiet Ānjìng 安静  
Calm Píngjìng 平静  
The Sea Dàhǎi 大海 Dà is typically added by Chinese (doesn't really mean big)
Mountains Gāoshān 高山 Gāo is typically added by Chinese (doesn't really mean high)
However, the morning (in the day) is the sea's most calm time Bùguò, zǎoshang shì yītiān zhōng dàhǎi zuì píngjìng de shíhòu 不过, 早上是一天中大海最平静的时候 zuì=most. However morning in one day sea most calm time
(Sea) tutle Hǎiguī 海龟  
Seahorse Hǎimǎ 海马  
I didn't see (it) Méi kàn dào 没看到  
Lobster Lóngxiā 龙虾 Lóng = Dragon, Xiā = Shrimp
Crayfish Xià lóngxiā 下龙虾  
Big Lobster Dà lóngxiā 大龙虾  
I ate a little of (my) wife's lobster Wǒ chīle yīdiǎn tàitài de lóngxiā 我吃了一点太太的龙虾  
I tried a little of (my) wife's lobster Wǒ shìle yīdiǎn tàitài de lóngxiā 我试了一点太太的龙虾  
(Beef) steak Niúpái 牛排  
Lamb chops Yáng pái 羊排  
Pork chops Zhūpái 猪排  
Good question Hào wèntí 好问题  
You can hear the sound of the waves Kěyǐ tīngdào hǎilàng de shēngyīn 可以听到海浪的声音 (You) Can hear (the) wave's sound/voice
The music is loud Yīnyuè de shēngyīn hěn dà 音乐的声音很大 Music's sound very great
Food truck Shípǐn Kǎchē 食品卡车 pǐn is 3 mouths = savour, shīpǐn=food
(The) cat is my best friend Māo shì wǒ zuì hǎo de péngyǒu 猫是我最好的朋友 A is B's most X of Y. Cat is I most best of friend.
Airplane fēijī 飞机 Physical plane
Flight number hángbān hào 航班号 Hángbān is not used to discuss your journey, but for flight number or flight company
Journey / trip (can be used for flight) lǚtú 旅途 General journey - also use for "have a nice flight"
Enjoy / enjoyment xiǎng shòu 享受 Rather than say "My wife likes to sunbathe" you say "My with enjoys sunbathing"

19.4 Xmas and more food and drink

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Xmas Day shèngdàn jié 圣诞节  
Festival (full name) jiérì 节日 Never use rì with Xmas Day tho
Xmas Eve píng'ān yè 平安夜 Saftey Night
Meal fàn 饭 Rice
Make a Meal / cooking zuòfàn 做饭 Do a meal
Make dinner zuò wǎnfàn 做晚饭  
Made a lot of lunch zuòle hěnduō de wǔfàn 做了很多的午饭 psat tense duō better than dà
All our family were there wǒmen jiā suǒyǒu rén dōu zài nà 我们家所有人都在那 Our family all people all there - 2 all structure!
For example there is carrot, sausage, bacon bǐrú, yǒu húluóbo, xiāngcháng, péigēn 比如, 有胡萝卜, 香肠, 培根  
Wrap / roll juǎn 卷 Noun, verb or adjective
I want a Chicken Wrap wǒ yào yīgè jīròu juàn 我要一个鸡肉卷  
Curly hair / curls juǎnfǎ 卷发  
Sausage wrapped in bacon péigēn juǎn xiāngcháng 培根卷香肠 Pigs in blankets = zhū bāo tǎn
Sounds great tīng qǐlái hěn hǎo 听起来很好 For music or response to description
Looks good kàn qǐlái hěn hǎo 看起来很好 qǐlái means to get-up or stand-up
Tastes great chī qǐlái hěn hǎo 吃起来很好  
Turkey meat huǒ jīròu 火鸡肉 Fire chicken - because of red neck
Very full (from eating) hěn bǎo 很饱  
I'm already full wǒ bǎole 我饱了  
Cake dàngāo 蛋糕 Egg (jīdàn) + something soft and fluffy (with air)
New Year cake (type of rice cake?) niángāo 年糕  
Doughnut tián tián quān 甜甜圈 Sweet sweet circle
Chinese lesson / class zhōngwén kè 中文课  
Coffee house kāfēi diàn 咖啡店 diàn like fàndiàn
Xmas Cake shèngdàn dàngāo 圣诞蛋糕  
Birthday cake shēngrì dàngāo 生日蛋糕  
Xmas pudding shèngdàn bùdīng 圣诞布丁  
What's the problem/question? shénme wèntí 什么问题  
Put the (mobile) phone on top of the table bǎ shǒujī fàng dào zhuōzi shàng 把手机放到桌子上  
Put the vegetables inside the turkey bǎ hěnduō cài fàng dào huǒ jī lǐmiàn 把很多菜放到火鸡里面 stuffing=xiàn 馅
Tomato ketchup fānqié jiàng 番茄酱 fānqié=another word for tomato
Tomato sauce (more like pasta sauce than ketchup) Xīhóngshì jiàng 西红柿酱  
Chilli / spicy sauce làjiàng 辣酱  
Orange juice chéngzhī 橙汁  
Apple juice píngguǒ zhī 苹果汁  
Strawberry milkshake cǎoméi nǎi xī 草莓奶昔 They don't say "shake", xī is thick/smooth taste
Banana xiāngjiāo 香蕉 Sweet smelling fruit
Fruit ending __ jiāo / __ guǒ _ 蕉 / _ 果  
Cake ending __ gāo _ 糕  
Vegetable ending __ cài _ 菜  

19.5 Collecting Train Tickets

English Pinyin Characters Notes
I want to collect tickets wǒ yào qǔ piào 我要取票 qǔ - to collect
I want to withdraw money, where is the bank? wǒ yào qǔ qián, yínháng zài nǎlǐ 我要取钱, 银行在哪里 qǔ - to withdraw
ATM ATM / zìdòng qǔkuǎn jī 自动取款机 Automatic Withdrawal Machine
Where can I pick-up tickets? zài nàlǐ wǒ kěyǐ qǔ piào 在那里我可以取票  
Where can I get a taxi? zài nàlǐ wǒ kěyǐ dǎchē 在那里我可以打车  
Ticket office shòupiào chù 售票处 Sell Ticket Place
I (already) bought train ticket, where can I collect ticket? wǒ mǎile huǒchē piào, wǒ zài nǎlǐ kěyǐ qǔ piào 我买了火车票, 我在哪里可以取票  

19.6 A trip to the museum

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Last weekend was my neice's birthday shàng zhōumò shì wǒ wàishēngnǚ de shēngrì 上周末是我 外甥女的生日  
We went ice skating wǒmen qùle huábīng 我们去了滑冰  
In winter there is an ice rink in Kensington dōngtiān zài kěnxīndùn yǒu huábīng chǎng 冬天在肯辛顿有滑冰场  
It was my niece's first time ice skating wàishēngnǚ dì yī cì huábīng 外甥女第一次滑冰  
She learned very quickly tā xuéxíle hěn kuài. 她学习了很快  
The last time I went ice skating was many years ago èrshí nián qián, wǒ zuìhòu yīcì qù huábīng 二十年前, 我最后一次去滑冰  
So, now I am not very good at skating suǒyǐ xiànzài wǒ bù hǎo huábīng 所以现在我不好滑冰  
Fortunately I didn't fall over hái hǎo wǒ méiyǒu shuāi dǎo 还好我没有摔倒  
After ice skating we ate a lot of lunch huábīng yǐhòu wǒmen chī hěnduō wǔfàn 滑冰以后我们吃很多午饭  
We ate pizza and spaghetti with spicy tomato sauce chīle pīsà hé yìdàlì miàntiáo hé là xīhóngshì jiàng 吃了披萨和意大利面条和辣西红柿酱  
Near the ice rink there are many interesting museums huábīng chǎng de pángbiān yǒu hěnduō yǒuqù bówùguǎn 滑冰场的旁边有很多有趣博物馆  
In the afternoon we went to the Natural History Museum xiàwǔ qùle zìrán lìshǐ bówùguǎn 下午去了自然历史博物馆  
The museum building/architecture is very old and beautiful bówùguǎn de jiànzhú hěn lǎo hé měijǐng 博物馆的建筑很老和美景  
Inside, it was very busy lǐmiàn hěn máng 里面很忙  
There was a new dinosaur exhibition yǒu hěn xīn kǒnglóng zhǎn 有很新恐龙展  
It includes large skeletons and models bāohán hěnduō dà gǔjià hé móxíng 包含很多大骨架和模型 gǔjià - bone frame
My niece was a little frightened wàishēngnǚ yīdiǎn shòudàole jīngxià 外甥女一点受到了惊吓 Accept arrival / Receive (le) shock scare
Then we took the subway back home ránhòu zuòle dìtiě huílái 然后坐了地铁回来  

19.7 Thinking, Museum Vocab, hěn, hào, and guò reminder

English Pinyin Characters Notes
I forgot wǒ wànle 我我忘了  
I think / feel wǒ juédé 我觉得 My current feeling/idea about something
I think it's very cold wǒ juédé hěn lěng 我觉得很冷 I feel very cold
I think about wǒ xiǎng 我想 Only think about in your head
I miss you wǒ xiǎng nǐ 我想你 I think about you
I think about a question/problem wǒ xiǎng wèntí 我想问题  
I think today is the coldest day of the year wǒ juédé jīntiān shì jīnnián zuì lěng de yītiān 我觉得今天是今年最冷的一天 I think today is this year most cold-est day (no measure with tian)
One day yī tiān 一天 No measure particle - eg no yī ge tiān
Two days liǎng tiān 两天 No measure particle - eg no yī ge tiān
I go to London for 2 days wǒ qù lúndūn liǎng tiān 我去伦敦两天  
Long (trousers) cháng / zhǎng? 长  
Short (trousers) duǎn 短  
Tall / High (building) gāo 高  
Short / Low (as in small building) ǎi 矮  
I think dinner is the tastiest meal of the day wǒ juédé wǎnfàn shì jīntiān zuì hàochī de yī dùn fàn 我觉得晚饭是今天最好吃的一顿饭 I think dinner is today the best eat of the (measure) meal. Check use of jīntiān
I think Beijing is the biggest city in China wǒ juédé běijīng shì zhōngguó zuì dà de (yī gè) chéngshì 我觉得北京是中国最大的城市 yīgè not necessary here, but fine to use
Run fast/quickly pǎo dé kuài 跑得快  
Learn fast/quickly xué dé kuài 学得快  
20 years ago was my last (time) ice skating èrshí nián qián shì wǒ zuìhòu yīcì huábīng 二十年前是我最后一次滑冰  
So now I skate badly suǒyǐ xiànzài wǒ huá dé bù hǎo 所以现在我滑得不好 huá is the verb to slip/skate
Fortunately (turned out better than expected) hái hǎo 还好  
Pasta yìdàlì miàn 意大利面 Italian noodles
Beautiful měilì 美丽 Here měi is an adjective so should be used with hěn or hǎo
Impressive / Specactular (for buildings not people or events) zhuàngguān 壮观 Big/strong + look
Old / Ancient (used for buildings etc) gǔlǎo 古老 lǎo alone not used for buildings
She likes dinosaurs but she is afraid of the model tā xǐhuān kǒnglóng dànshì tā hàipà móxíng 她喜欢恐龙但是她害怕模型 (kǒng)lóng=dragon, hàipà=afraid
(A good) Suprise jīng xǐ 惊喜 Shock like (as in xǐhuān)
(A shock) Suprise jīng xià 惊吓 Shock scared
Happy gāoxìng 高兴  
Very Happy hěn gāoxìng 很高兴 Never hěn hào gāoxìng (very good happy???)
Very Happy (alternative) hào gāoxìng 好高兴 hào = good, but here it means very not good. You can hěn hào chī, but not hāoxìng
Very very happy fēicháng fēicháng gāoxìng 非常非常高兴 If you want to actually say "very very" use fēicháng
India yìndù 印度  
Curry gālí 咖喱 first char is also kā in coffee. lǐ is inside 2nd (this char means gel?)
The same yīyàng 一样 One shape (sheep char)
Birthday guò shēngrì 过生日 guò = to pass
Christmas guò shèngdàn 过圣诞 guò = to pass
I have eaten (it) / I have eaten before wǒ chī guò 我吃过  
Tourist yóukè 游客 tour/travel customer/guest/passenger
Beautiful scenery měijǐng 美景 it's one word so it's a noun not an adjective and you can't use hěn with it!
Very beautiful scenery hěn měilì de fēngjǐng 很美丽的风景 to use hěn you must use the adjective for beauty which is měilì and fēngjǐng for scenery
You stay in a hotel? nǐ zhù jiǔdiàn ma 你住酒店吗 zhù means to live, but also to stay
I think I have been (there) wǒ juédé wǒ qù guò 我觉得我去过  
When I was very little hěn xiǎo de shíhòu 很小的时候 The very young's time
School holidays xuéxiào jiàqī 学校假期  
Because yīnwèi 因为  
I say / I said wǒ shuō 我说  
Accent kǒuyīn 口音 Mouth sound
Me too! wǒ yě shì 我也是 I also am
I here and understand wǒ tīng dǒng 我听懂  
I see and understand wǒ kàn dǒng 我看懂  
All suǒ yǒu 所有  
Half and half (for people eg half tourists half locals) yībàn yībàn 一半一半  
Split the bill 50/50 wǒmen AA 我们AA Not very common in China
Let's go Dutch? wǒmen AA ba 我们AA吧  
Jasmine tea mòlìhuā chá 茉莉花茶  

19.8 Going Bowling

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Shepherd mùyáng rén 牧羊人  
I went out for fun with friends last night wǒ zuó wǎn hé péngyǒu qù chū wán 我昨晚和朋友去出玩  
We went ten-pin bowling wǒmen qùle shí zhēn bǎolíngqiú 我们去了十针保龄球  
There is a new bowling alley in the Shepherds Bush shopping centre hěn xīn bǎolíngqiú guǎn zài Shepherds Bush shāngchǎng lǐ 很新保龄球馆在 Shepherds Bush 商场里  
The bowling alley has a futuristic design wèilái pài de shèjì 未来派的设计 wèilái=future/futuristic
Just last year it opened jiù zài qùnián tā kāiyèle 就在去年它开业了 jiùzài=just?
Also inside there is an American restaurant and Cocktail bar Yěyǒu měiguó fàndiàn hé jīwěijiǔ bā lǐmiàn 也有美国饭店和鸡尾酒吧里面 jīwěijiǔ is literally chicken tail liquor
I was in a team with my wife wǒ de lǎopó hé wǒ shì yīgè bǎolíngqiú duì 我的老婆和我是一个保龄球队 duì=sports team?
Both of us are terrible at bowling měi chǎng bǐsài wǒmen liǎ dōu dǎ dé (bǎolíngqiú) bù hǎo. 每场比赛我们俩都打得不好 wǒmen liǎ dōu=we both/both of us. bǐsài=game/tournament. Is chǎng a measure?
But we have a fun/good time dànshì wǒmen wán dé hěn kāixīn 但是我们玩得很开心 kāixīn=great time/feel happy
We ate cheeseburgers and fries bǎolíngqiú yǐhòu wǒmen chīle zhīshì hànbǎo hé shǔ tiáo 保龄球以后我们吃了芝士汉堡和薯条  
I also tried a few delicious cocktails wǒ yě shìguò jǐ bēi měiwèi de jīwěijiǔ 我也试过几杯美味的鸡尾酒  
Then we took the bus home ránhòu zuòle gōngchē huí jiā 然后坐了公车回家  
It's not far, about twenty minutes bù yuǎn, èrshí zuǒyòu fēnzhōng 不远, 二十左右分钟  

19.9 Trip to the In-Laws

English Pinyin Characters Notes
On Saturday we took a train to my in-law's house wǒmen xīngqíwǔ zuòle huǒchē qù yuè fùmǔ de jiā 我们星期五坐了火车去岳父母的家  
They live in the countryside, in central England tāmen zhù zài xiāngxià, zài yīngguó zhōngbù 他们住在乡下, 在英国中部  
Saturday was my twin nephew's birthday xīngqíliù qìngzhùle dàyí zi de shuāngbāotāi shēngrì 星期六庆祝了大姨子的双胞胎生日 Sister-in-law's twins??!
(My) mother-in-law made two chocolate cakes yuèmǔ zuòle liǎng gè qiǎokèlì dàngāo 岳母做了两个巧克力蛋糕  
In the shape of a castle zài chéngbǎo de xíngzhuàng 在城堡的形状 chéngbǎo=castle, xíngzhuàng=shape/form/apperance
We then played party games Ránhòu wǒmen wánle ertóng pàiduì yóuxì 然后我们玩了兒童派對遊戲  
We came back to London in the early evening bàngwǎn qùle lúndūn huílái 傍晚去了伦敦回来  
It rained heavily on the way home zài huí jiā de lùshàng dà xiàyǔ 在回家的路上大下雨 Returning back home's on the road big rain
So we stopped to eat pizza suǒyǐ wǒmen tíng xiàlái chīle pīsà 所以我们停下来吃了披萨 tíng=stop xiàlái=get down
My coat is soaking wet wǒ de wàitào shītòu le. 我的外套湿透了 shītòu=drenched
When it stops raining we walk home very quickly dāng tā tíngzhǐ xià yǔ wǒmen zǒulù fēicháng kuài huí jiā 当它停止下雨我们走路非常快回家 When it stops-stops raining we walk very quickly back home

19.10 Brands in China

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Coke kěkǒukělè 可口可乐  
Pepsi bǎishìkělè 百事可乐  
Sprite xuěbì 雪碧  
7-Up qīxǐ 七喜  
Fanta fēn dá 芬达  
Evian yī yún 依云  
Tsingdao qīngdǎo píjiǔ 青岛啤酒  
Budweiser bǎi wēi 百威  
Carlsberg jiāshìbó 嘉士伯  
Marlboro wànbǎolù 万宝路  
McDonalds màidāngláo / jīn gǒngmén 麦当劳 / 金拱门 Rebranded 金拱门 in 2017
Big Mac jù wú bà 巨无霸  
Big Mac Meal jùwúbà bāo 巨无霸包  
Big Mac Set Meal jùwúbà tàocān 巨无霸套餐 tào as in counter for suit (set), cān as in cāntīng
Double Cheeseburger shuāng céng jí shì 双层吉士  
Burger King hànbǎowáng 汉堡王  
Whopper huáng bǎo 皇堡  
Whopper with bacon & cheese péigēn zhīshì huáng bǎo 培根芝士皇堡  
KFC kěndéjī 肯德基  
Zinger Burger xiāng là jītuǐ bǎo 香辣鸡腿堡  
Apple píngguǒ 苹果  
Hilton xī'ěrdùn 希尔顿  
Sheraton xǐláidēng 喜来登  
Oakwood ào kè wǔdé 奥克伍德  
Hyatt kǎi yuè 凯悦  
       

20 Chinese New Year Trip

20.1 New Year's Trip

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Last month I went to China again wǒ shàng yuè zàicì qùle zhōngguó 我上月再次去了中国  
I flew from London to Wuhan cóng lúndūn fēi dào wǔhàn 从伦敦飞到武汉 dào = go to/arrive/reach/get to
And then took a high speed train to Huaihua ránhòu zuòle gāotiě qù huáihuà 然后坐了高铁去怀化 gāo sùdù tiělù = high speed rail-road, shortens to gāotiě
It takes about 2 and a half hours yào liǎng gè bàn xiǎoshí 要两个半小时  
The train station was very crowded because tomorrow is Chinese New Year huǒchē hěn jǐ, yīn wéi dì èr tiān shì guònián 火车很挤,因为第二天是过年 máng means busy (the train never stops all day), jǐ means crowded
There are many people on the train huǒchē hěnduō rén 火车很多人  
From Huaihua we take a taxi to Fenghuang. wǒmen dǎchē cóng huáihuà qù fènghuáng 我们打车从怀化去凤凰  
Fenghuang is very pretty fènghuáng hěn piàoliang 凤凰很漂亮  
It is built along the Tuojiang River yán tuójiāng hé ér jiàn 沿沱江河而建 yán=along jiàn=build/construct, ér is connecting word. not very clear!
There are many wooden stilt houses yǒu hěnduō mùzhí de gāoqiào fáng 有很多木质的高跷房 mù=wood zhí=made of, Shí zhì = made of stone, gāoqiào fáng(zi) = high stilt house
There are many souvenir shops and Hunanese restaurants yěyǒu jìniànpǐn shāngdiàn hé húnán cài fàndiàn 也有纪念品商店和湖南菜饭店 jì/niàn/pǐn=period/memory/item
The local food is a little spicy běndì měishí yīdiǎn là 本地美食一点辣 běndì měishí=root-place beautiful-food
The local dishes are a little spicy běndì cài yǒu yīdiǎn là 本地菜有一点辣  
At night the buildings are illuminated wǎnshàng, suǒyǒu de jiànzhú bèi zhào liàng 晚上,所有的建筑被照亮  
Many people are walking along the river Hěnduō rén yán hé zài zǒu 很多人沿河在走  
There are spectacular fireworks and music yǒu zhuàngguān de yānhuā hé yīnyuè 有壮观的烟花和音乐 zhuàngguān = magnificent look (spectacular)
The next evening I took the train to Kunming dì èr tiān wǎnjiān zuòle huǒchē qù kūnmíng 第二天晚间坐了火车去昆明  
The train is very late huǒchē hěn wǎnle 火车很晚了  
When I arrived there were no taxis at Kunming station, so I had to flag a ride to my hotel wǒ dàodá de shíhòu, zài kūnmíng huǒchē zhàn méiyǒu chūzūchē, suǒyǐ wǒ dé dābiàn chē qù jiǔdiàn 我到达的时候,在昆明火车站没有出租车,所以我得搭便车去酒店 dàodá=reach/get to, dé=have to/must, dābiàn chē = take a lift / hitchhike, dāchē=lift, dǎchē=taxi
Kunming is warmer than Fenghuang kūnmíng bǐ fènghuáng yīdiǎn nuǎnhuo 昆明比凤凰一点暖和  
I walk around in the city park wǒ zài shì gōngyuán lǐ zǒu lái zǒu qù 我在市公园里走来走去 zǒu lái zǒu qù=walk around
But I have a bit of flu, so I have to rest at the hotel bùguò wǒ yǒu yīdiǎn fāshāo, suǒyǐ zài jiǔdiàn xiūxí 不过我有一点发烧, 所以在酒店休息  
Then I fly to Xishuangbanna ránhòu fēi dàole qù xīshuāngbǎnnà 然后飞到了去西双版纳  
It's too hot in Xishuangbanna Xīshuāngbǎnnà tài rèle 西双版纳太热了  
The hotel is next to the Lancang/Mekong River jiǔdiàn zài láncāng hé pángbiān 酒店在澜沧河旁边  
I am grateful for the open-air swimming pool and sun loungers! wǒ shì gǎnjī yǒu lùtiān yóuyǒngchí hé rìguāng tǎngyǐ 我是感激有露天游泳池和日光躺椅 gǎnjī=grateful, lùtiān=open air, rìguāng tǎngyǐ=sunlight lie-down chair
Perfect for those hot days shìhé nàxiē rè de tiān 适合那些热的天 Shìhé/nàxiē=Suitable for/those
Also there are some botanical gardens and interesting villages nexto to the hotel zài jiǔdiàn pángbiān yěyǒu zhíwùyuán hé yǒuqù de cūnzhuāng 在酒店旁边也有植物园和有趣的村庄 zhíwùyuán=plant stuff park, yǒuqù=interesting, cūnzhuāng=village
Then we fly to Luang Prabang in Laos ránhòu fēi dàole qù lǎowō láng bó lā bāng 然后飞到了去老挝琅勃拉邦  
Luang Prabang is the old royal capital of Laos láng bó lā bāng hěn gǔlǎo lǎowō de huángjiā shǒudū 琅勃拉邦很古老老挝的皇家首都  
There are many beautiful temples yǒu hěnduō měilì sìyuàn 有很多美丽寺院  
Lao food is very tasty and cheap lǎowō de shíwù fēicháng hào chī hé piányí 老挝的食物非常好吃和便宜  
After 2 days I travel south liǎng tiānhòu xiàng nán lǚyóu 两天后向南旅游  
I saw beautiful mountain scenary wǒ kànle měilì de shān jǐng 我看了美丽的山景  
But the road condition is not good dànshì lùkuàng bù jiā 但是路况不佳 kuàng=conditions/situation jiā=good/excellent/fine
3 days later, I arrive in Vientiane sān tiānhòu, wǒ dàodále wànxiàng. 三天后,我到达了万象  
Vientiane also has many temples zài wànxiàng yěyǒu hěnduō sìyuàn 在万象也有很多寺院  
Finally I fly to Guangzhou zuìhòu wǒ fēi dàole guǎngzhōu 最后我飞到了广州  
Guangzhou is a very big and modern city guǎngzhōu hěn dà xiàndài shì 广州很大和现代市  
Guangzhou's food is different to Fenghuang's guǎngzhōu de shíwù hé fènghuáng de bù yīyàng 广州的食物和凤凰的不一样  
I like the Dim Sum, but I prefer spicy dishes wǒ xǐhuān diǎnxīn, dànshì wǒ gèng xǐhuān là cài! 我喜欢点心,但是我更喜欢辣菜!  
I fly home from Guangzhou wǒ cóng guǎngzhōu fēi huí jiā 我从广州飞回家  

20.2 Holiday Vocab

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Along yánzhe 沿着  
I'm looking at/watching you wǒ zài kàn nǐ 我在看你  
I'm look at/watch you wǒ kànzhe nǐ 我看着你 Same use of zhe
E-Book diànzǐ shū 电子书 Electronic book
High Speed gāo sùdù 高速度  
High Speed Train gāo tiě 高铁  
Very crowded hěn jǐ 很挤  
Both sides liǎng biān 两边 2 sides
On both sides of the river zài hé de liǎngbiān 在河的两边  
Local person / Native běndì rén 本地人  
Local football team běndì zúqiú duì 本地足球队 duì=team
Local food / cuisine běndì cài 本地菜  
Stone shítou 石头 Stone hat
Made of stone shí zhì 石质  
Wood mù cái 木材 Wood material
Made of wood (wooden) mù zhí 木质  
Souvenir jìniàn pǐn 纪念品 Remember item
It looks / Looks like kàn qǐlái 看起来  
It sounds / Sound like tīng qǐlái 听起来  
It looks very old Kàn qǐlái hěn gǔlǎo 看起来很古老  
It sounds great / very good tīng qǐlái hěn hǎo 听起来很好  
It tastes very good chī qǐlái hěn hǎo 吃起来很好  
Arrive/Reach dàodá 到达  
To (as in arrive/get to) dào 到 Means same as dàodá
To achieve/reach (attain) dádào 达到 Not used for travelling
We take a cab wǒmen dǎchē 我们打车  
We hitch a lift wǒmen dābiàn chē 我们搭便车  
Good/excellent/fine jiā 佳 hǎo is fine to use!
Condition/situation (of something) kuàng 况  
Road Condition lùkuàng 路况  

20.3 New Year Simplified

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Last month I went to China again wǒ shàng gè yuè zàicì qùle zhōngguó 我上个月再次去了中国  
I flew from London to Wuhan cóng lúndūn fēi dào wǔhàn 从伦敦飞到武汉 dào = go to/arrive/reach/get to
I only stayed for one night wǒ zhǐ zhùle yī wǎn 我只住了一晚 zhǐ = only/just/merely
The next day I collect my tickets from the train station dì èr tiān zài huǒchēzhàn qǔle piào 第二天在火车站取了票  
And then took a high speed train to Huaihua ránhòu zuòle gāotiě qù huáihuà 然后坐了高铁去怀化 gāo sùdù tiělù = high speed rail-road, shortens to gāotiě
It takes about 2 and a half hours yào liǎng gè bàn xiǎoshí 要两个半小时  
There's many people on the train, because tomorrow is Chinese New Year huǒchē hěnduō rén, yīnwéi dì èr tiān shì guònián 火车很多人,因为第二天是过年 máng means busy (the train never stops all day), jǐ means crowded
I take a taxi from Huaihua to Fenghuang wǒ dǎchē cóng huáihuà qù fènghuáng 我打车从怀化去凤凰  
I stay in Fenghuang for New Year zài fènghuáng zhùle guònián 在凤凰住了过年  
Fenghuang is very pretty fènghuáng hěn piàoliang 凤凰很漂亮  
In the city centre there is a river zài shì zhōngxīn yǒu hé 在市中心有河  
On both sides of the river are wooden houses zài hé de liǎngbiān yǒu mùfáng 在河的两边有木房  
Also there are many souvenir shops and Hunanese restaurants yěyǒu jìniànpǐn shāngdiàn hé húnán cài fàndiàn 也有纪念品商店和湖南菜饭店 jì/niàn/pǐn=period/memory/item
I tried a lot of food wǒ shìle hěnduō shíwù 我试了很多食物  
The local dishes are a little spicy běndì cài yǒu yīdiǎn là 本地菜有一点辣  
At night there are many lights on all the buildings wǎnshàng zài suǒyǒu de jiànzhú shàng hěnduō dēng 晚上在所有的建筑上很多灯  
Many people are walking along the river Hěnduō rén yánzhe hé zài zǒu 很多人沿着河在走  
At midnight (I) saw spectacular fireworks and heard music bànyè kàn dàole zhuàngguān de yānhuā hé tīng dàole yīnyuè 半夜看到了壮观的烟花和听到了音乐 zhuàngguān = magnificent look (spectacular)
The next evening I took the train to Kunming dì èr tiān wǎnjiān zuòle huǒchē qù kūnmíng 第二天晚间坐了火车去昆明  
The train is very late huǒchē hěn wǎnle 火车很晚了  
When I arrive there were no taxis Wǒ dàodá de shíhòu, méiyǒu chūzūchē 我到达的时候没有出租车  
So I hitched a lift to the hotel suǒyǐ wǒ de dābiànchē qù jiǔdiàn 所以我的搭便车去酒店  
Kunming is warmer than Fenghuang kūnmíng bǐ fènghuáng yīdiǎn nuǎnhuo 昆明比凤凰一点暖和  
I like walking in the city park wǒ xǐhuān zài shì gōngyuán zài zǒu 我喜欢在市公园在走 zǒu lái zǒu qù=walk around
But I have a bit of flu, so I have to rest at the hotel bùguò wǒ yǒu yīdiǎn fāshāo, suǒyǐ zài jiǔdiàn xiūxí 不过我有一点发烧, 所以在酒店休息  
After resting I flew to Xishuangbanna zài xiūxí yǐhòu fēi dàole qù xīshuāngbǎnnà 在休息以后飞到了去西双版纳  
It's too hot there zài nàlǐ tái rèle 在那里台热了  
The hotel is next to the Lancang/Mekong River jiǔdiàn zài láncāng hé pángbiān 酒店在澜沧河旁边  
I am very happy to have an open-air swimming pool and sun loungers! wǒ hěn gāoxìng yǒu lùtiān yóuyǒngchí hé rìguāng tǎngyǐ 我很高兴有露天游泳池和日光躺椅 gǎnjī=grateful, lùtiān=open air, rìguāng tǎngyǐ=sunlight lie-down chair
Also there are some botanical gardens zài jiǔdiàn pángbiān yěyǒu zhíwùyuán 在酒店旁边也有植物园 zhíwùyuán=plant stuff park, yǒuqù=interesting, cūnzhuāng=village
China's largest zhōngguó zuìdà de 中国最大的  
Then we fly to Luang Prabang in Laos ránhòu fēi dàole qù lǎowō láng bó lā bāng 然后飞到了去老挝琅勃拉邦  
Luang Prabang is the ancient capital láng bó lā bāng shì gǔdū 琅勃拉邦是古都 gǔlǎo shǒudū = ancient capital -> gǔdū
There are many beautiful temples yǒu hěnduō měilì sìyuàn 有很多美丽寺院  
Lao food is very tasty and cheap lǎowō de shíwù fēicháng hào chī hé piányí 老挝的食物非常好吃和便宜  
After 2 days I travel south liǎng tiānhòu xiàng nán lǚyóu 两天后向南旅游  
I saw beautiful mountain scenary wǒ kàn dàole měilì de shān jǐng 我看到了美丽的山景  
But the road condition is not good dànshì lùkuàng bù hǎo 但是路况不好 kuàng=conditions/situation jiā=good/excellent/fine
3 days later, I arrive in Vientiane sān tiānhòu, wǒ dàodále wànxiàng. 三天后,我到达了万象  
Vientiane also has many temples zài wànxiàng yěyǒu hěnduō sìyuàn 在万象也有很多寺院  
However it is much more busy that Luang Prabang bùguò, bǐ láng bó lā bāng máng duōle 不过,比琅勃拉邦忙多了  
Finally I fly to Guangzhou zuìhòu wǒ fēi dàole guǎngzhōu 最后我飞到了广州  
Guangzhou is a very big and modern city guǎngzhōu hěn dà xiàndài shì 广州很大和现代市  
Guangzhou's food is different to Fenghuang's guǎngzhōu de shíwù hé fènghuáng de bù yīyàng 广州的食物和凤凰的不一样  
I like the Dim Sum, but I prefer spicy dishes wǒ xǐhuān diǎnxīn, dànshì wǒ gèng xǐhuān là cài! 我喜欢点心,但是我更喜欢辣菜!  
I fly home from Guangzhou wǒ cóng guǎngzhōu fēi huí jiā 我从广州飞回家  

21 Visit From Nephews

21.1 Grammar and vocab talking shopping centre

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Go out for fun chūqù wán 出去玩  
I went out with my friends yesterday zuótiān hé péngyǒu chūqù wán 昨天和朋友出去玩  
I went out for fun wǒ chūqù wán 我出去玩  
Hangover sù zuì 宿醉 Check this
I didn't sleep wǒ méi shuìjiào 我没睡觉  
I slept 4 hours wǒ shuìle sì xiǎoshí. 我睡了四小时  
I will sleep very early (today) wǒ huì shuì hěn zǎo 我会睡很早  
I have a new job wǒ yǒu xīn de gōngzuò 我有新的工作  
Promotion shēng zhí 升职 Lift career
Project (work) xiàngmù 项目  
Now I have a new project xiànzài wǒ yǒu xīn de xiàngmù 现在我有新的项目  
That cat is (very) fat nàgè māo hěn pàng 那个猫很胖 11 When an adjective appears at the end it must be qualified eg hěn
That is a fat cat nà shì yīgè pàng māo 那是一个胖猫 When an adjective appears in the middle there is no need
To understand / find out liǎojǐe 了解 Largely interchangeable with míngbái but not exactly the same
To understand / realise míngbái 明白  
I don't understand Chinese wǒ bù míngbái zhōngwén 我不明白中文  
I (heard it but) don't understand wǒ méi tīng dǒng 我没听懂  
I (read it but) don't understand wǒ méi kàn dǒng 我没看懂  
I don't don't understand / get it wǒ méi dǒng 我没懂  
Mini golf mínǐ gāo'ěrfū 迷你高尔夫  
Outer / external wài 外  
Foreigner wàiguó rén 外国人 External country person
Outside wàimiàn 外面 Literally out side
Mini-golf is usually outside mínǐ gāo'ěrfū tōngcháng zài wàimiàn 迷你高尔夫通常在外面  
Bedroom wòshì 卧室 lying-down room
Indoors shìnèi 室内 Same shì as wòshì
This is indoor mini-golf zhè shì shìnèi mínǐ gāo'ěrfū 这是室内迷你高尔夫  
Strange (peculiar) qíguài 奇怪  
I'm not able to drive wǒ bù huì kāichē 我不会开车 It's more - I don't (currently) know how to drive
Can you? (are you allowed) néng bù néng 能不能  
I want to drive car, may (can) I? wǒ xiǎng kāichē xíng ma 我想开车行吗 xíng similar to néng, but must always got at the end of sentence!
I want to drive car, may (can) I? wǒ xiǎng kāichē xíng bùxíng 我想开车行不行  
I want to drive car, may (can) I? wǒ xiǎng kāichē néng bùnéng 我想开车能不能  
I don't play well (not able play) wǒ bù huì wán 我不会玩 Not saying you are literally unable to play, just that you aren't good
A lot of fun, but (I) played badly hěn hǎowán dànshì bù huì wán 很好玩但是不会玩 wán means fun and play
Score fēnshù 分数 Also fraction
Extremely high score fēicháng gāo fēnshù 非常高分数  
You took which number bus nǐ zuò jǐlù gōngchē 你坐几路公车 jǐlù (what number road) - actually means what bus number/route!
I think (it) is (bus number) 607 wǒ juédé shì liù líng qī lù 我觉得是六零七路  
(bus number) 607 is comparatively fast liù líng qī lù bǐjiào kuài 六零七路比较快 bǐjiào - relatively / comparatively
Tomorrow (I) will finish reading book (around) míngtiān huì kànshū wán (, zuǒyòu) 明天会看书完 (左右) wán - complete/finish
I may be finish reading the book tomorrow míngtiān huì kànshū wán, dàgài 明天会看书完, 大概 dàgài - maybe
I will finish work wǒ huì zuò wán 我会做完 我会作完 - check zuò - work vs do?
I will work wǒ huì zuò gōngzuò 我会作工作 check zuò
Finish doing the work zuò wán gōngzuò 做完工作 verb finish noun
Finish reading the book kàn wán shū 看完书 verb finish noun
Finish eating the meal chī wán fàn 吃完饭 verb finish noun
You said that you are reading a booking nǐ shuō nǐ zài kànshū 你说你在看书  
Early evening / dusk bàngwǎn 傍晚  
On Sunday I want to finish reading the book xīngqírì wǒ xiǎng kàn wán shū 星期日我想看完书  
I don't read fast wǒ kàn de bù kuài 我看的不快  
I read relatively slowly wǒ kàn dé bǐjiào màn 我看得比较慢 màn - slowly
I started reading (it) in January wǒ yī yuè kāishǐ kànshū 我一月开始看书 kāishǐ - start/begin (also turn on)
I started reading this book in January wǒ yī yuè kāishǐ kàn zhè běn shū 我一月开始看这本书 běn is counter for book
My book is a little complicated wǒ de shū yǒu yīdiǎn fùzá 我的书有一点复杂 fùzá - complicated. Add yǒu to yīdiǎn when adjective is next
I ate a little wǒ chīle yīdiǎn 我吃了一点 No yǒu here because no adjective afterwards
Burger (NOT just beef burger) hànbǎo 汉堡 It does mean hamburger but in Chinese it's not beef specific
Beefburger niúròu hànbǎo 牛肉汉堡  
Chicken burger jīròu hànbǎo 鸡肉汉堡  
French fries shǔ tiáo 薯条  

21.2 Weekend visit from my nephews

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Last weekend my nephews stayed at my house shàng zhōumò wǒ de wàishēng zài wǒjiā zhùle 上周末我的外甥在我家住了  
They arrived on Saturday morning tāmen zhōu liù shàngwǔ dàole wǒjiā 他们周六上午到了我家  
They live in Oakham tāmen zhù zài oakham 他们住在Oakham  
Oakham is near Leicester oakham zài leicester pángbiān Oakham在Leicester旁边  
It takes 2 hours to drive kāichē yào liǎng gè xiǎoshí 开车要两个小时  
I have 3 nephews wǒ yǒu sān gè wàishēng 我有三个外甥  
Sam is 5 years old sam wǔ suì Sam五岁  
Thomas and George are both 3 years old george hé thomas sān suì George和Thomas三岁  
At 12:30 we ate lunch in my kitchen zhōngwǔ shí'èr diǎn bàn wǒmen zài chúfáng chīle wǔfàn 中午十二点半我们在厨房吃了午饭  
We ate pasta with tomato sauce wǒmen chīle miànshí hé xīhóngshì jiàng 我们吃了面食和西红柿酱  
In the afternoon their parents went to see a rugby game at Twickenham xiàwǔ tāmen de fùmǔ zài twickenham qù kànle yīgè gǎnlǎnqiú bǐsài 下午他们的父母在Twickenham去看了一个橄榄球比赛  
My wife and I take the children to Osterley park wǒ hé lǎopó dài háizi yīqǐ qù osterley gōngyuán 我和老婆带孩子一起去Osterley公园  
We take the bus from my neighbourhood to the tube station wǒmen zuòle gōngchē cóng jiā fùjìn qù dìtiě zhàn 我们坐了公车从家附近去地铁站  
The bus number is E3 E sān lù E三路  
Then we take the tube to Osterley station Ránhòu zuòle dìtiě qù osterley zhàn 然后坐了地铁去Osterley站  
It takes about 30 minutes yào bàn gè xiǎoshí 要半个小时  
Osterley park is large osterley gōngyuán hěn dà Osterley公园很大  
We walk to the centre. wǒmen zǒu qù gōngyuán de zhōngxīn 我们走去公园的中心  
At there is an old country house zài nàlǐ yīgè gǔlǎo de fángzi 在那里一个古老的房子  
Also has a cafe and a souvenir shop yěyǒu yīgè xiǎo de cānguǎn hé jìniànpǐn shāngdiàn 也有一个小的餐馆和纪念品商店  
The weather is a little cold, so I ate some hot soup tiānqì yǒu yīdiǎn lěng suǒyǐ wǒ chīle rè de tāng 天气有一点冷所以我吃了热的汤  
At 3pm there is a game for children xiàwǔ sān diǎn yǒu háizimen de yóuxì 下午三点有孩子们的游戏  
The child's game is "must find eggs" háizimen de yóuxì shì bìxū zhǎo jīdàn 孩子们的游戏是必须找鸡蛋  
The eggs are hidden jīdàn shì yǐncáng de 鸡蛋是隐藏的  
They found four or five eggs tāmen zhǎole sì huòzhě wǔ gè jīdàn 他们找了四或者五个鸡蛋 The hòuzhě is not necessary here
When the game is finished the children ate chocolate eggs wán yóuxì de shíhòu háizimen chīle suǒyǒu qiǎokèlì dàn 完游戏的时候孩子们吃了咖喱巧克力蛋  
The children ate all the chocolate eggs when the game was over Wán yóuxì de shíhòu háizimen bǎ suǒyǒu qiǎokèlì dàn chīle 完游戏的时候孩子们把所有巧克力蛋吃了 Do verb to/on noun - bǎ noun verb / emphasis on the egg
Every child has chocolate eggs měi gè háizi yǒu qiǎokèlì dàn 每个孩子有巧克力蛋  
Early evening we return home bàngwǎn wǒmen huí jiā 傍晚我们回家  
At 7pm we order Indian takeaway wǒmen wǎnshàng qī diǎn dìngle yìndù cài de wàimài 我们晚上七点订了印度菜的外卖  
I called and ordered Indian takeaway wǒ dǎ diànhuà dìngle yìndù cài wàimài 我打电话订了印度菜外卖  
Your order nǐ de dìngdān 你的订单  
I ate some spicy lamb chops and then chicken with rice wǒ chīle là yángròu ránhòu gālí jīròu hé mǐfàn 我吃了辣羊肉然后咖喱鸡肉和米饭  
On Sunday morning I must work wǒ zhōu rì zǎoshang bìxū zuò gōngzuò 我周日早上必须做工作  
But in the afternoon we go to Kew Gardens bùguò xiàwǔ wǒmen qùle Kew Gardens 不过下午我们去了Kew Gardens  
We take the train wǒmen zuòle huǒchē 我们坐了火车  
The train station is nearer than the tube station huǒchē zhàn bǐ dìtiě zhàn duō jìnle 火车站比地铁站多近了  
10 minutes walk from my house cóng jiā zǒulù shí fēnzhōng 从家走路十分钟  
Kew Gardens is a botanical gardens kew gardens shì zhíwùyuán Kew Gardens是植物园  
It is near Richmond Zài richmond pángbiān 在Richmond旁边  
Then, at 4pm we took the children to a hamburger restaurant ránhòu wǒmen sì diǎn dài háizi qùle hànbǎo cāntīng 然后我们四点带孩子去了汉堡餐厅  
All 3 of them like hamburgers tāmen sān gè xǐhuān hànbǎo 他们三个喜欢汉堡  
I prefer the Indian food wǒ gèng xǐhuān yìndù shíwù 我更喜欢印度食物  
At 6pm they drive back to Oakham tāmen wǎnshàng liù diǎn kāichē huíqù Oakham 他们晚上六点开车回去Oakham  
The house is very messy so I clean the living room a bit wǒjiā hěn luàn, suǒyǐ dǎsǎo kètīng yīxià 我家很乱,所以打扫客厅一下  
At night I read to relax ránhòu wǒ jiǔ diǎn kànshū fàngsōng 然后我九点看书放松  
I started reading this book in January wǒ yī yuè kāishǐ kàn zhè běn shū 我一月开始看这本书 běn is counter for book
I still haven't finished reading it wǒ hái méi kàn wán de 我还没看完的  

21.3 Random Vocab

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Ice Cream bīngjīlíng 冰激凌 Same bīng as ice skate - huábīng
Rabbit tùzǐ 兔子  
Painting on the egg zài jīdàn shàng huà huà 在鸡蛋上画画  
It's the same in America měiguó yīyàng 美国一样  
For Example bǐrú 比如 Such as
Only zhǐshì 只是 just / merely
The biggest (oldest) child zuìdà de háizi 最大的孩子 zuì = most

22 Trip to Malaysia

22.1 Trip

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Last month I went to Malaysia for fun wǒ shàng gè yuè qùle mǎláixīyà wán 我上个月去了马来西亚玩  
I first flew to Singapore wǒ xiān fēi dàole xīnjiāpō 我先飞到了新加坡  
I spent 2 days in Singapore wǒ liǎng tiān zài xīnjiāpō zhùle 我两天在新加坡住了  
The weather there was extremely humid tiānqì fēicháng yánrè cháoshī 天气非常炎热潮湿  
The early morning is less hot than the afternoon zǎochén bǐ xiàwǔ tiānqì rè shǎole 早晨比下午天气热少了  
So every day I get up early suǒyǐ měitiān wǒ zǎoqǐ 所以每天我早起  
Singapore is very modern and clean xīnjiāpō shì yīgè xiàndài hé gānjìng de guójiā 新加坡是一个现代和干净的国家  
There are many skyscrapers near the marina zài gǎngkǒu pángbiān yǒu hěnduō mótiān dàlóu 在港口旁边有很多摩天大楼  
Many banks have offices mótiān dàlóu shì yínháng bàngōngshì 摩天大楼是银行办公室  
Many Chinese people live in Singapore hěnduō zhōngguó rén zài xīnjiāpō zhù 很多中国人在新加坡住  
So in Singapore there is a large Chinatown suǒyǐ zài xīnjiāpō yǒu hěn dà tángrénjiē 所以在新加坡有很大唐人街  
There are many restaurants in Chinatown zài tángrénjiē yǒu hěnduō fàndiàn 在唐人街有很多饭店  
The food is not expensive and very tasty shíwù shì bù guì hé fēicháng hào chī 食物是不贵和非常好吃  
Nearby restaurants also cook Indian food and Malaysian food fùjìn de fàndiàn yě zuò fàn yìndù shíwù yě mǎláixīyà shíwù 附近的饭店也做饭印度食物也马来西亚食物  
I tried to eat a little South Indian Curry, but it was too hot! wǒ shì chī yīdiǎnle nán yìndù gālí, bùguò tài làle! 我试吃一点了南印度咖喱, 不过太辣了!  
After eating, In Chinatown, there are many bars wǎnfàn yǐhòu zài tángrénjiē qù háohuá pūzhāng de jiǔbā hējiǔ 晚饭以后在唐人街去豪華鋪張的酒吧喝酒  
Compared to London beer it's more expensive bǐ lúndūn píjiǔ guì duōle 比伦敦啤酒贵多了  
After Singapore I went to a small island on the east side of Malaysia wǒ xīngjiā pō yǐhòu zài mǎláixīyà de dōngbian qùle yīgè xiǎo dǎo 我星加坡以后在马来西亚的东边去了一个小岛  
I sunbathe and relax on the island's beach wǒ zài dǎo de shātān shàng rìguāngyù hé fàngsōng 我在岛的沙滩上日光浴和放松  
I additionally like to walk on the island and dive in the sea wǒ lìngwài xǐhuān zài dǎo shàng zǒulù hé zài hǎilǐ qiánshuǐ 我另外喜欢在岛上走路和在海里潜水  
After 3 days I flew to Borneo sān tiānhòu fēi dàole qù póluó zhōu 三天后飞到了去婆罗洲  
Borneo is a large jungle island Póluó zhōu shì yīgè dà de cónglín dǎoyǔ 婆罗洲是一个大的丛林岛屿  
I visited 2 national parks wǒ fǎngwèn liǎng gè guójiā gōngyuán 我访问两个国家公园 fǎngwèn - visit
I look at the wild animals wǒ kànzhe yěshēng dòngwù 我看着野生动物 kànzhe - look at / watch, yěshēng - wild, dòngwù - animal
I saw monkeys and snakes and pigs and beatiful colourful birds wǒ kàndào le hóuzi hé shé hé zhū hé měilì de wǔcǎi niǎo 我看到了猴子和蛇和猪和美丽的五彩鸟 kàndào - to look and then see / catch sight of
Because of the hot weather walking is hard work yīnwèi rè tiānqì zǒulù shì hěn xīnkǔ 因为热天气走路是很辛苦 xīnkǔ - hard work / toil, yóuyú - due to
Finally I came back to Singapore for 1 night zuìhòu wǒ huíláile qù xīngjiāpō yī wǎn 最后我回来了去星加坡一晚  
In Raffles Hotel, I drank cocktails zài láifúshì jiǔdiàn wǒ hēle jīwěijiǔ 在莱佛士酒店我喝了鸡尾酒 láifúshì - Raffles
The most famous cocktail is the Singapore Sling zuì wénmíng de jīwěijiǔ shì xīnjiāpō sīlìng 最闻名的鸡尾酒是新加坡司令 wénmíng - Famous/well-known
The next day I fly to London dì èr tiān wǒ fēi huíle lúndūn 第二天我飞回了伦敦  

https://www.echineselearning.com/blog/answer-to-the-exercise-on-the-difference-between-kan-and-kandao

22.2 Trip Vocab

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Sunbathing shài tàiyáng 晒太阳  
Dry clothes shài yīfú 晒衣服  
Dry book shài shū 晒书  
I enjoy the sun wǒ zài shài tàiyáng 我在晒太阳 Like sunbathing
The cat enjoys the sunbathe yī zhǐ māo zài shài tàiyáng 一只猫在晒太阳  
Yesterday midday I enjoy sun (whilst) eating lunch zuótiān zhōngwǔ wǒ zài shài tàiyáng chī wǔfàn 昨天中午我在晒太阳吃午饭 I ate lunch in the sun
Today I'm in the office all day wǒ jīntiān yīzhí zài bàngōngshì 我今天一直在办公室 I today always at the office
(I) haven't come out méiyǒu chūlái 没有出来  
Go up shàngqù 上去  
Come up shànglái 上来  
Go down xiàqù 下去  
Come down xiàlái 下来  
You come up to me (if I'm upstairs) nǐ shànglái 你上来 You never go to me!
I go down to you (if I'm upstairs) wǒ xiàqù 我下去  
I come up to you (if I'm downstairs) wǒ shàngqù 我上去  
You come down to me (if I'm downstairs) nǐ xiàlái 你下来  
You go outside (both in same room) nǐ chūqù 你出去  
You come outside (only said by someone outside) nǐ chūlái 你出来  
I back qo (home) wǒ huíqù 我回去 huí means back and to return
You back come (home) (said by person in house) nǐ huílái 你回来  
I fly back to London wǒ fēi huí lúndūn 我飞回伦敦  
I fly to London wǒ fēi qù lúndūn 我飞去伦敦  
I fly to London (the flying has finished) wǒ fēi dào lúndūn 我飞到伦敦  
I return to China wǒ huí zhōngguó 我回中国  
I return home wǒ huíguó 我回国  
Too awful/horrible tài zāole 太遭了 zāo - bad/horrible
Morning compared to afternoon is hotter zǎochén bǐ xiàwǔ rè duōle 早晨比下午热多了 Never use shǎo with this structure, only duō
Time shíjiān 时间  
Jetlag shíchā 时差 lit. time difference
Part bùfèn 部分 also means "section"
The big part / the larger part / most dà bùfèn 大部分  
Most sky scrappers are bank offices dà bùfèn mótiān dàlóu shì yínháng de bàngōngshì 大部分摩天大楼是银行的办公室  
Most people like dogs dà bùfèn rén xǐhuān gǒu 大部分人喜欢狗  
To have good luck (when not expected) zǒulù gǒu shǐ yùn 走路狗屎运 To walk dog shit luck!
This part is broken zhège bùfèn huàile 这个部分坏了  
A small part is broken xiǎo bùfèn huàile 小部分坏了  
Chinatown zhōngguó chéng 中国城 lit. China Town. equivalent to tángrénjiē (Tang people street)
The neighbourhood's restaurants also cook Indian dishes and also cook Malaysian dishes fùjìn de fàndiàn yě zuò yìndù cài yě zuò mǎláixīyà cài 附近的饭店也做印度菜也做马来西亚菜 note zuò after every yě (unlike English)
If rúguǒ 如果 In case
Glitzy / luxury háohuá 豪华  
Important visit fǎngwèn 访问 Just use qù
Wild boar yězhū 野猪 lit. wild pig
Tropical bird rèdài de niǎo 热带的鸟 lit. hot region bird
Tropical fruit rèdài de shuǐguǒ 热带的水果  
Singapore is a tropical country xīnjiāpō shì rèdài guójiā 星加坡是热带国家  
Temperate zone around the Earth (outside the tropics - no real translation) wēndài 温带 Same wēn as wēndù, but here means lit. warm region
Glasses yǎnjìng 眼镜 lit eye lens (or mirror)
Mirror jìngzi 镜子  
Tarsier (little primate with big eyes!) yǎnjìng hóu 眼镜猴 lit. glasses monkey
I see a snake wǒ kàn dào yī tiáo shé 我看到一条蛇 tiáo like spaghetti measure word
Cobra yǎnjìngshé 眼镜蛇 lit. glasses snake
Poison dú 毒  
Poisoness (has poison) yǒudú 有毒 Also used to mean attractive/charismatic or books/films etc
Viper (lit. poisoness snake) dúshé 毒蛇  
This glass of water is poisoness zhè bēi shuǐ yǒudú 这杯水有毒  

23 A boring weekend

23.1 Chinese and Eurovision

English Pinyin Characters Notes
On Friday after work I buy my wife diner wǒ xīngqíwǔ xiàbān yǐhòu gěi lǎopó mǎile wǎnfàn 我星期五下班以后给老婆买了晚饭 wǒ gěi <thing/person> <verb> <item> = I <verb> <item> for <thing/person>
We go to a Chinese restaurant in Shepherd's Bush called Muyang Wǒmen zài Shepherds Bush qùle yījiā zhōng cānguǎn jiào mùyáng 我们在Shepherds Bush去了一家中餐馆叫牧羊 jiā is measure for stores/shops/restaurants/companies/families
"Muyang" said in English is "Shepherd" "Mùyáng", yòng yīngwén shuō, "Shepherd" "牧羊", 用英文说, "Shepherd"  
My wife ate kung pao chicken lǎopó bǎ gōng bǎo jī dīng chīle 老婆把宫保鸡丁吃了  
I ate farmhouse fried meat wǒ chīle nóngjiā xiǎochǎo ròu 我吃了農家小炒肉 nóngjiā - farmhouse xiǎochǎo - little fry
Chinese restaurants in the UK are usually different from those in China yīngguó de zhōng cānguǎn hé zhōngguó de tōngcháng bù yīyàng 英国的中餐馆和中国的通常不一样 <a's> <thing> hé <b's> often not same
But Muyang restarant is an exception - the food is excellent! zhè jiā cānguǎn shìgè lìwài, tāmen de zhōngguó cài shì bǐjiào zhèngzōng 这家餐馆是个例外, 他们的中国菜是比较正宗 lìwài - exception / zhèngzōng - authentic / bǐjiào - moderately or relatively
On Saturday I get up early morning wǒ xīngqíliù zǎoqǐ 我星期六早起  
Because my internet is broken! yīnwèi wǒ de shàngwǎng huàile 因为我的上网坏了  
I try turning on and turning off wǒ shì guān hé kāi diànnǎo 我试关和开电脑  
But it's still broken bùguò tā hái huàile 不过它还坏了  
I phoned the internet company wǒ gěile shàngwǎng gōngsī dǎ diànhuà 我给了上网公司打电话  
After 1 hour the internet is fixed yī xiǎoshí hòu bǎ shàngwǎng xiūle 一小时后把上网修了  
I ate lunch at 2 pm. I ate a pork sandwich wǒ liǎng diǎn xiàwǔ chīle wǔfàn. chīle zhūròu sānmíngzhì 我两点下午吃了午饭. 吃了猪肉三明治  
Then I lost my credit card ránhòu wǒ de xìnyòngkǎ diūle 然后我的信用卡丢了 xìnyòng kǎ - credit card / xìn - trust / yòng - outlay/expenses/use
But my wife finds it in the cupboard undereath some books dànshì zài kètīng guì lǐ wǒ de lǎopó zhǎodàole 但是在客厅柜里我的老婆找到了  
I forgot that I put it in the cupboard! wǒ wàngle wǒ zài guì lǐ fàngle 我忘了我在柜里放了  
In the evening my family comes to my house bàngwǎn jiātíng láile wǒjiā 傍晚家庭来了我家  
We give our nephews souvenirs from Malaysia wǒmen gěi wàishēng láizì mǎláixīyà de jìniànpǐn 我们给外甥来自马来西亚的纪念品 "From Malaysia"'s souvenirs
We watch TV together yīqǐ kànle diànshì 一起看了电视  
Saturday evening is the Eurovision Song Contest zhōu liù wǎnshàng shì ōuzhōu gēchàng dàsài 周六晚上是欧洲歌唱大赛 ōuzhōu - Europe / gēchàng - singing / dàsài - competition
Most of the songs are not good (sound) dà bùfèn gēqǔ bù hǎotīng 大部分歌曲不好听 gēqǔ - song
Holland is the winning counry hélán shì huòshèng guójiā 荷兰是获胜国家 huòshèng - to be victorious
There song is less bad wǒ zuì xǐhuān de gē shì hélán gē 我最喜欢的歌是荷兰歌  
We ordered Indian food takeaway wǒmen dìngle yìndù shípǐn wàimài 我们订了印度食品外卖  
I think the chicken curry is the most tasty dish wǒ juédé zuì hào chī cài shì jīròu gālí 我觉得最好吃菜是鸡肉咖喱  
I was worried about eating curry on the new sofa wǒ zài xīn shāfā shàng dānxīnle chī gālí 我在新沙发上担心了吃咖喱  
But the food doesn't get put on the sofa bùguò shíwù bù fàng dào shāfā shàng 不过食物不放倒沙发上  
On Sunday my family went to Legoland lǐbài tiān wǒ de jiātíng qùle lègāo lèyuán 礼拜天我的家庭去了乐高乐园 lègāo lèyuán - Legoland
But I stayed at home to do work dànshì wǒ zàijiā liúle zuò gōngzuò 但是我在家留了做工作  
I've never been to Legoland wǒ bù qùguò lègāo lèyuán 我不去过乐高乐园  

https://digchinese.com/measure-words

23.2 Vocab

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Today (was) very long jīntiān hěn zhǎng 今天很长  
Because (it's) very busy yīnwéi fēicháng máng 因为非常忙  
This evening I go to sleep relatively early wǒ wǎnshàng shuìjiào bǐjiào zǎo 我晚上睡觉比较早  
Yesterday I went to sleep a little late wǒ zuótiān shuìjiào yǒu yīdiǎn wǎn 我昨天睡觉有一点晚  
This evening I will go to sleep a little earlier wǒ wǎnshàng huì shuìjiào zǎo yīdiǎn 我晚上会睡觉早一点 Use of huì
This restaurant serves dim sim zhège fàndiàn chī diǎnxīn 这个饭店吃点心 chī here means serves not eat
I can't get online wǒ bùnéng shàngwǎng 我不能上网 shàngwǎng is a verb
I don't have internet wǒ méiyǒu wǎng 我没有网 wǎng is a noun
My house doesn't have internet Wǒjiā méiyǒu WiFi 我家没有WiFi WiFi can be used as well as wǎng
(It's) still broken Háishì huàile 还是坏了  
Internet company (ISP) wǎngluò gōngsī 网络公司 wǎngluò - the internet
I call the internet company wǒ gěi wǎngluò gōngsī dǎle diànhuà 我给网络公司打了电话 gěi here is a support word, not verb
Repair the internet bǎ wǎngluò xiūhǎole 把网络修好了  
Slept with __ bǎ __ shuìle 把 __ 睡了 Important to get xiū and shuì right!
After the internet is repaired, I can go online wǎngluò xiūhǎole yǐhòu, wǒ kěyǐ shàngwǎngle 网络修好了以后, 我可以上网了 kěyǐ or néng can be used, the le is not past, situation has changed
I can go online again wǒ yòu kěyǐ shàngwǎngle 我又可以上网了 yòu - again
I forgot I put it in the cupboard wǒ wàngle bǎ guìzi lǐ fàngle 我忘了把柜子里放了  
I put the credit card in the cupboard (bǎ) wǒ bǎ xìnyòngkǎ fàng dàole guìzi lǐ 我把信用卡放到了柜子里 fàngdàole or fàngzàile
I put the credit card in the cupboard wǒ fàng xìnyòngkǎ dào guìzi lǐ 我放信用卡到柜子里 The bǎ sentence above is better Chinese
I forgot that I put the credit card in the cupbaord wǒ wàngle wǒ bǎ xìnyòngkǎ fàng dàole guìzi lǐ 我忘了我把信用卡放到了柜子里  
He is reliable/trustworthy/reputable tā yǒu xìnyòng 他有信用 lit. he has credit
My realtives came to my house wǒ de qīnqī láile wǒjiā 我的亲戚来了我家 qīnqī - relatives
No one dropped curry on the sofa méiyǒu rén bǎ gālí diào zài shāfā shàng 没有人把咖喱掉在沙发上 méiyǒu rén - nobody, diào - to drop / dào or zài
Clean gānjìng 干净  
Dirty zàng 脏  
Wipe/rub cā 擦  
Wipe TV cā diànshì 擦电视  
Make the TV clean nòng diànshì gānjìng 弄电视干净  
Make <noun> <adjective> nòng <noun> <adjective> 弄 <noun> <adjective>  
Clean the table bǎ zhuōzǐ nòng gānjìng 把桌子弄干净 table make clean
Nobody dirtied the sofa méiyǒu rén bǎ shāfā nòng zāng 没有人把沙发弄脏  
I am talking with you wǒ hé nǐ shuōhuà 我和你说话 talk the talk like sleep a sleep
Swear word / bad language zānghuà 脏话 lit. dirty talk (not same meaning as English!)
Swearing / To swear shuō zāng huà 说脏话 lit. talk dirty talk
Most of the songs do not sound good dà bùfèn gēqǔ bù hǎotīng 大部分歌曲不好听  
(The) Dutch song won hélán gēqǔ yíngle 荷兰歌曲赢了  
I stay at home to work wǒ liú zàijiā gōngzuò 我留在家工作  
I have not been (there) wǒ méi qùguò 我没去过 I have not gone
It should be two people yīnggāi shì liǎng gè rén 应该是两个人  
Should be __ yīnggāi shì _ 应该是 _  
I don't have a squash partner wǒ méiyǒu bìqiú dādàng 我没有壁球搭档 dādàng - sports partner or team member
I play alone wǒ yīgè rén wán 我一个人玩  
I play by myself wǒ zìjǐ wán 我自己玩  
(He) himself tā zìjǐ 他自己  
She returned from Legoland at six o'clock tā liù diǎn cóng lègāo lèyuán huílái 她六点从乐高乐园回来  
They waited for two hours tāmen děngle liǎng xiǎoshí 他们等了两小时  

23.3 Wedding and Sunday Lunch

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Friday evening I go to a wedding wǒ zhōu wǔ wǎnshàng qùle yī chǎng hūnlǐ 我周五晚上去了一场婚礼 hūnlǐ - wedding ceremony
The couple are friends of my wife fūqī shì wǒ de lǎopó péngyǒu 夫妻是我的老婆朋友  
Together they go to a running club tāmen yīqǐ qù yīgè pǎobù jùlèbù 他们一起去一个跑步俱乐部 jùlèbù - club (all happy unit)
The wedding was at Fulham Palace hūnlǐ zài fùlèmǔ gōngtíng 婚礼在富勒姆宫廷 gōngtíng - palace/royal court
Next to Putney bridge, on the north side of the river zài pǔtèní qiáo de pángbiān, zài hé de běibian 在普特尼桥的旁边, 在河的北边  
The palace is in beautiful gardens gōngtíng zài měilì huāyuán de zhōngjiān 宫廷在美丽花园的中间 zhōngjiān - in the middle
The evening weather is warm so the guests are talking outside wǎnshàng tiānqì shì nuǎnhuo, suǒyǐ kèrén zài wàimiàn zài shuōhuà 晚上天气是暖和, 所以客人在外面在说话  
There is lots of beer and wine to drink yǒu hěnduō píjiǔ hé pútáojiǔ kěyǐ hē 有很多啤酒和葡萄酒可以喝  
Also there is a band playing music yěyǒu yīgè yuèduì yǎnzòu yīnyuè 也有一个乐队演奏音乐 yuèduì - band / yǎnzòu - to play/playing
They sound very good tāmen hěn hǎotīng 他们很好听  
Some guests are dancing together yīxiē kèrén yīqǐ zài tiàowǔ 一些客人一起在跳舞 tiàowǔ - to dance
The party finishes very late and I take a taxi back home with my wife pàiduì hěn wǎn jiéshù, suǒyǐ hé lǎopó dǎchē huí jiā 派对很晚结束, 所以和老婆打车回家 pàiduì - party / jiéshù - end/finish
The next day we get-up late! dì èr tiān wǒmen wǎn qǐle 第二天我们晚起了  
I have a bad head, so I can't swim wǒ tóu nánshòu suǒyǐ bùnéng yóuyǒngle 我头难受所以不能游泳了  
Instead of swimming I cooked a big breakfast dàitì yóuyǒng wǒ zuòle dà de zǎofàn 代替游泳我做了大的早饭 dàitì - instead/instead of
I ate sausage, bacon and scrambled egg wǒ bǎ xiāngcháng, péigēn hé chǎo jīdàn chīle 我把香肠, 培根和炒鸡蛋吃了 chǎo is scambled not fried (jiān jīdàn)
In the afternoon I relax on the sofa and watch an old James Bond movie wǒ xiàwǔ zài shāfā shàng fàngsōngle hé kànle yī bù lǎo zhānmǔsī bāng dé diànyǐng 我下午在沙发上放松了和看了一部老詹姆斯邦德电影  
I'm too tired to go out on Saturday zhōu liù wǎnshàng wǒ tài lèile, bùnéng wàichū wánle 周六晚上我太累了, 不能外出玩了  
So I watch another movie and go to bed suǒyǐ wǒ kànle lìng yī bù diànyǐng ránhòu shuìjiàole 所以我看了另一部电影然后睡觉了 lìng - another / bù - measure for movies
On Sunday late morning my parents drive to my house zhōu tiān shàngwǔ wǒ de fùmǔ kāichē lái wǒjiā 周天上午我的父母开车来我家  
We walked to a pub in my neighbourhood to eat lunch wǒmen yīqǐ zǒulù qù wǒjiā fùjìn de jiǔguǎn chī wǔfàn 我们一起走路去我家附近的酒馆吃午饭  
I have roast beef and potatoes with gravy bǎ kǎo niúròu hé tǔdòu hé ròuzhī jiàng chīle 我们把烤牛肉和土豆和肉汁酱吃了  
We talked about father's upcoming birthday wǒmen bǎ fùqīn jíjiāng dàolái de shēngrì liáole 我们把父亲即将到来的生日聊了  
I don't know if I should buy him a summer shirt wǒ bù zhīdào rúguǒ wǒ yīnggāi gěi tā mǎi yī jiàn xiàtiān chènshān 我不知道如果我应该给他买一件夏天衬衫 rúguǒ - if
My mother thinks it's a good present mǔqīn juédé yī jiàn chènshān shì fēicháng hǎo lǐwù 母亲觉得一件衬衫是非常好礼物  
On Sunday evening I order Japanese food takeaway zhōu tiān wǎnshàng wǒ dìngle rìběn wàimài 周天晚上我订了日本外卖  
But the driver is too late, my dish does not come to my house dànshì fàndiàn de sījī tài wǎnle, wǒ de cài bù láile wǒjiā 但是饭店的司机太晚了, 我的菜不来了我家 bù láiguo - does that make sense for "never came"?
I'm still very hungry so before going to sleep, I make a sandwich wǒ hái hěn è, suǒyǐ shuìjiào yǐqián wǒ zuòle yīgè sānmíngzhì 我还很饿, 所以睡觉以前我做了一个三明治  
Monday is a public holiday in England xīngqí yī zài yīngguó shì gōnggòng jiàqī 星期一在英国是公共假期 gōnggòng jiàqī - public holiday
So I go shopping with my wife for things wǒ hé lǎopó qùle shāngchǎng mǎi dōngxī 我和老婆去了商场买东西  
She buys some books tā mǎile liǎng běn shū 她买了两本书  
In the afternoon I play with my computer and listen to music xiàwǔ wǒ dǎle diànnǎo hé tīngle yīnyuè 下午我打了电脑和听了音乐  
In the evening I study Chinese wǒ wǎnshàng xì xuéle zhōngwén 我晚上系学了中文  

23.4 Wedding vocab

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Boss lǎobǎn 老板  
Have a little relaxation yǒu yīdiǎn fàngsōng 有一点放松 fàngsōng is not a verb here
We have lunch at the restaurant near the hospital wǒmen zài yīyuàn fùjìn de fàndiàn chī wǔfàn 我们在医院附近的饭店吃午饭 We at hospital neighbourhood's restaurant eat lunch
We are in a hospital near my home wǒmen zài wǒjiā fùjìn de yīyuàn 我们在我家附近的医院 We are in a hospital near my home
Pasta yì miàn 意面  
Palace gōngdiàn 宫殿  
It's warm at night wǎnshàng bǐjiào nuǎnhuo 晚上比较暖和 No need to mention tiānqì
We are chatting wǒmen shì liáotiān 我们是聊天 liáotiān - chatting
We are talking wǒmen shì shuōhuà 我们是说话 shuō huà - say words
Free bar miǎnfèi ba 免费吧 miǎnfèi - avoid fee
I danced a little wǒ tiàole wǔ yīdiǎn 我跳了舞一点 Don't really need the wǔ (to dance a dance)
I don't really like wǒ bù tài xǐhuān 我不太喜欢  
My wife dances very well wǒ lǎopó tiàowǔ fēicháng hǎo 我老婆跳舞非常好  
I didn't wear a suit wǒ méi chuān xīfú 我没穿西服 chuān - to wear
A long skirt yī jiàn cháng qún 一件长裙  
A (short) skirt yī jiàn duǎn qún 一件短裙  
Supermarket chāojí shìchǎng 超级市场 lit. Supermarket, shortens to chāoshì
Miniskirt chāoduǎnqún 超短裙 lit. Super short skirt
Superman chāorén 超人  
We got up late wǒmen qǐchuáng wǎnle 我们起床晚了 "wǒmen wǎn qǐle" is a bit weird
We got up (relatively) late wǒmen bǐjiào wǎn qǐchuángle 我们比较晚起床了  
Because I didn't go swimming I made much breakfast yīnwèi méiyǒu qù yóuyǒng wǒ zuòle hěnduō zaofàn 因为没有去游泳我做了很多早饭 No real concept of "instead of going swimming"? Don't use dà
A pen yī gēn bǐ 一根笔 gēn - counter for slightly long solid things
A sausage yī gēn xiāngcháng 一根香肠  
An old James Bond movie yī bù lǎo dé zhànshì bāng diànyǐng 一部老得占士邦电影 bù - counter for movie or book - something that takes time
A long/stretching cat yī tiáo māo 一条猫 tiáo - wrong measure for cats, but if it is stretching can use
Make love zuò'ài 做爱 lit. make love
Well or Ermmm (pause word to connect) nàgè 那个 Sometimes pronounced neige, similar to "a no" in Japanese
I watched another movie and then slept wǒ kànle lìng yī bù diànyǐng ránhòu shuìjiàole 我看了另一部电影然后睡觉了  
Gravy ròu jiàng zhī 肉酱汁 Bolongnese sauce?
Vegetable sauce cài jiàng zhī 菜酱汁  
Sauce jiàng zhī 酱汁 lit. sauce juice - most common to use
There is an apple and I ate it wǒ bǎ yīgè píngguǒ chīle 我把苹果吃了 Bad use of bǎ sentence, the verb implies no direction or result
I ate an apple wǒ chīle yīgè píngguǒ 我吃了一个苹果 When a verb does not act towards something just use wǒ <verb>
I put the apple on the table (zài) wǒ bǎ píngguǒ fàng zài zhuōzi shàng 我把苹果放在桌子上 Good use of bǎ sentence, the putting has a result (on the table)
I put the apple on the table (dào) wǒ bǎ píngguǒ fàng dào zhuōzi shàng 我把苹果放到桌子上  
Coming soon jíjiāng dàolái 即将到来  
The birthday is soon shēngrì hěn jìnle 生日很近了 jìn as in close
If (something happens or not / in case) rúguǒ 如果 The expected outcome/consequence - If I eat too much I must go to the gym
I don't know if I should buy him a summer shirt wǒ bù zhīdào yìng bù yìnggāi gěi tā mǎi yī jiàn xiàtiān chènshān 我不知道应不应该给他买一件夏天衬衫 There is no "if" in Chinese for this - use "I don't know should should-not"
I don't know if I want to eat (meal) now wǒ bù zhīdào wǒ yào bùyào xiànzài chīfàn 我不知道我要不要现在吃饭 I don't know want not want now eat meal
This shirt is thin zhè jiàn chènshān bǐjiào báo 这件衬衫比较薄  
Top shàngmiàn 上面 Or shàngbian
Bottom xiàmiàn 下面  
The bottom is white xiàmiàn shì báisè de 下面是白色的 <Thing> shì <Adjective> de
My parents drive back to their house at 5 o'clock wǔ diǎn wǒ de fùmǔ kāichē huí tāmen jiā 五点我的父母开车回他们家  
My takeaway didn't come / has not come wǒ de wàimài méi lái 我的外卖没来 Do not use bù - Implies it didn't want to come!
I used the computer to play games wǒ yòngle diànnǎo dǎ yóuxì 我用了电脑打游戏  
I write my notes wǒ xiě wǒ de bǐjì 我写我的笔记 xiě - to write, bǐjì - notes
I write my notes every week on my computer wǒ měi zhōu diànnǎo xiě wǒ de bǐjì 我每周电脑写我的笔记  
Mini-break / Short holiday duǎn jiàqī 短假期 lit. short holiday

23.5 Guernsey

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Last weekend I went on a mini break with my wife wǒ shàng zhōumò hé lǎopó dùguòle yīgè duǎn jiǎ. 我上周末和老婆度过了一个短假  
On Friday evening we flew to Guernsey wǒmen xīngqíwǔ fēi dàole gēnxīdǎo 我们星期五飞到了根西岛  
Guernsey is a small island off the northern coast of France gēnxīdǎo shì xiǎo dǎo zài fàguó běibù hǎi'àn 根西岛是小岛在法国北部海岸  
We stay in a hotel in the island capital zài shǒudū zài jiǔdiàn zhùle 在首都在酒店住了  
Our room has a large balcony with beautiful views wǒmen de fángjiān yǒu dà de yángtái yǒu měijǐng 我们的房间有大的阳台有美景  
But on Friday night it is raining dànshì zhōu wǔ wǎnshàng xià yǔle 但是周五晚上下雨了  
We eat steak for dinner wǒmen chūqùle chī niúpái 我们出去了吃牛排  
Then we go to a bar and chat to the islanders ránhòu qùle jiǔbā hé dǎo rén liáole 然后去了酒吧和岛人聊了  
On Saturday morning my wife gets up early and went running wǒ de lǎopó xīngqíliù zǎoqǐ ránhòu tā qùle pǎobù 我的老婆星期六早起然后她去了跑步  
I eat a big breakfast instead yīnwéi bù qùle pǎobù, wǒ chīle hěnduō zao fàn hé fàngsōngle 因为不去了跑步, 我吃了很多早饭和放松了  
At noon we take a boat to Herm Island wǒmen zhōngwǔ zuòle chuán qù Herm dǎo 我们中午坐了船去Herm岛  
Herm Island is very small Herm dǎo shì tài xiǎole Herm岛是太小了  
Only 60 people live on Herm island zài Herm dǎo zhǐyǒu liùshí gèrén zàizhù 在Herm岛只有六十个人在住  
There are no roads or vehicles méiyǒu dàolù huòzhě chē 没有道路或者车  
But it has very beautiful beaches bùguò yǒu hěnduō měilì de shātān 不过有很多美丽的沙滩  
We walk around the island and then eat lunch at a restaurant wǒmen zài dǎo shàng zǒulù ránhòu zài yīgè jiǔguǎn chīle wǔfàn 我们在岛上走路然后在一个酒馆吃了午饭  
I ate very fresh fish and chips wǒ chīle hěn xiān yú hé shǔtiáo 我吃了很鲜鱼和薯条  
In the evening we watched the sunset wǒmen bàngwǎn kànzhe xīyáng 我们傍晚看着夕阳  
And had drinks on the beach ránhòu zài shātān shàng hējiǔ 然后在沙滩上喝酒  
On Sunday we flew back to London xīngqítiān shàngwǔ fēile huí lúndūn 星期天上午飞了回伦敦  

23.6 Guernsey vocab

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Bad cat! huài māo 坏猫  
Last weekend I had a mini-break with my wife wǒ shàng zhōumò hé lǎopó yǒu yīgè duǎn jiàqī 我上周末和老婆有一个短假期 Use yǒu not qù
My stomach hurts a bit wǒ de dùzi yǒudiǎn téng 我的肚子有点疼  
Because I didn't go to work on Tuesday yīnwèi zhōu'èr wǒ méi shàngbān 因为周二我没上班  
I leave work wǒ líkāi gōngsī 我离开公司 lit. I leave the company
Local people dāngdì rén 当地人  
Beer festival píjiǔ jié 啤酒节  
Went running qù pǎole bù 去跑了步 Separate pǎo and bù
Black pudding hēi bùdīng 黑布丁  
Toast kǎo miànbāo 烤面包 Roast bread!
60 people live on the island liùshí rén zhù zài dǎo shàng 六十人住在岛上  
No roads or vehicles méiyǒu lù hé chē 没有路和车 Chinese use "and" not "or"
Sea water hǎishuǐ 海水  
I think the sea will be warmer in August wǒ juédé bā yuè hǎishuǐ huì bǐjiào nuǎnhuo 我觉得八月海水会比较暖和  
He's crazy tā fēngle 他疯了  
May be kěnéng 可能 Possible
At most 15 degrees zuìduō shíwǔ dù 最多十五度 zuìduō - at most / up to
I put my hand in the sea wǒ bǎ shǒu fàng zài hǎilǐ 我把手放在海里  
Very fresh fish and chips hěn xīnxiān yú hé shǔ tiáo 很新鲜鱼和薯条  
Seafood hǎixiān 海鲜 lit. Sea fresh
Shrimp xiǎo xiā 小虾  
Prawn dà xiā 大虾  
Lobster lóng xiā 龙虾 lit. Dragon shrimp
To study / learn xuéxí 学习  
To rest xiūxí 休息  
I want to know how to say Lobster wǒ xiǎng zhīdào zé me shuō Lobster 我想知道则么说 Lobster  
Language yǔyán 语言 lit. "way you say" "way you write"
Guernsey language and French are very similar Gēnxīdǎo de yǔyán hé fǎwén hěn xiāngsì 根西岛的语言和法文很相似 xiāngsì - similar
50 years ago, I think many people speak Guernsey language wǔshí nián qián, wǒ juédé hěnduō rén shuō gēnxīdǎo de yǔyán 五十年前, 我觉得很多人说根西岛的语言  
Young people (16-30) niánqīng rén 年轻人  
Old people / Elderly (>50) lǎonián rén 老年人  
I rested on the sofa for 1 day wǒ zài shāfā shàng xiūxíle yītiān 我在沙发上休息了一天  
This coming weekend zhège zhōumò 这个周末  
The following weekend xià gè zhōumò 下个周末  
Smelly feet / Athlete's foot xiānggǎng jiǎo 香港脚 lit. Hong Kong feet!
Not possible / impossible bù kěnéng 不可能 lit. not may be
In Derby, if you want Hunanese food, not possible zài débǐ rúguǒ wǒ yào húnán cài, bù kěnéng 在德比如果我要湖南菜不可能  

23.7 Weekend Busy with Work

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Last weekend I didn't go out shàng zhōumò wǒ méi chūqùle 上周末我没出去了  
I hoped to go to my wife's father's house wǒ xīwàng qù lǎopó de fù qìng jiā 我希望去老婆的父亲家 xīwàng - hope
But I am very busy with work dànshì wǒ hěn máng yú gōngzuò 但是我很忙于工作 yú gōngzuò - at work
So I must stay at home and work suǒyǐ wǒ liú zàijiā gōngzuò 所以我留在家工作  
I leave work very late on Frday wǒ lǐbài wǔ líkāi gōngsī hěn wǎn 我礼拜五离开公司很晚  
On the way home I ordered a pizza takeaway wǒ zài huíjiā de lùshàng dìngle pīsà wàimài 我在回家的路上订了披萨外卖 huíjiā de lùshàng - return home road
At home, I watch TV for a while, but I fall asleep on the sofa! wǒ zàijiā kànle yīduàn shíjiān de diànshì, bùguò shāfā shàng shuìzhele 我在家看了一段时间的电视, 不过沙发上睡着了 shuìzhe - to fall asleep
On Saturday I get up early wǒ lǐbài liù qǐchuáng zǎole 我礼拜六起床早了  
I start work at 8am wǒ bā diǎn zǎoshang shàngbān 我八点早上上班  
At noon, I rested a bit wǒ zhōngwǔ xiūxíle yīxià 我中午休息了一下  
I called my mother wǒ dǎle diànhuà wǒ de mǔqīn 我打了电话我的母亲  
She says I should go out and have fun for a bit! tā shuō wǒ yīnggāi chūqù wán yīxià 她说我应该出去玩一下  
I have a salmon salad for lunch wǒ chīle sānwènyú shālā wǔcān 我吃了三文鱼沙拉午餐  
Much healthier than pizza! bǐ pīsà jiànkāng duōle 比披萨健康多了  
Then I still have more work ránhòu wǒ hái yǒu gèng duō gōngzuò 然后我还有更多工作  
At 8pm I order my favourite Chinese dish wǒ wǎnshàng bā diǎn dìngle wǒ de zuì xǐhuān de zhōng cài 我晚上八点订了我的最喜欢的中菜  
I love to eat Farmhouse fried meat and prawn dumplings wǒ ài chī nóngjiā xiǎochǎo ròu hé dà xiā jiǎozi 我爱吃农家小炒肉和大虾饺子  
But when the dish arrives at my house, the takeaway bag is broken dànshì wǒ cài dàole wǒjiā de shíhòu, wàimài bāo huàile 但是我菜到了我家的时候, 外卖包坏了  
The dish sauce has leaked jiàngzhī yǐjīng xièlòule 酱汁已经泄漏了  
So I sent it back and ordered another dish suǒyǐ wǒ jìle huíqù ránhòu dìngle lìng yīgè cài 所以我寄了回去然后订了另一个菜  
But I prefer the original one bùguò wǒ gèng xǐhuān yuánbǎn de 不过我更喜欢原版的 yuánbǎn - original
In the evening I watch a programme about travel wǒ wǎnshàng kànle yīgè diànshì lǚyóu jiémù 我晚上看了一个电视旅游节目  
The show is about Ethiopia zhège jiémù shì guānyú āisāi'ébǐyǎ de 这个节目是关于埃塞俄比亚的 guānyú - on/about/regarding
I want to travel there wǒ zài nàlǐ xiǎng qù lǚyóu 我在那里想去旅游 xiǎng - would like / want / think
On Sunday morning I get up early again wǒ lǐbài tiān yòu bǐjiào zǎo qǐchuángle 我礼拜天又比较早起床了 yòu - also / again
I eat breakfast cereal wǒ chīle zǎocān màipiàn 我吃了早餐麦片  
Then I study Chinese wǒ shàngwǔ xuéxíle zhōngwén 我上午学习了中文  
In the afternoon I plan my next holiday xiàwǔ wǒ jìhuà yīgè jiàqī 下午我计划一个假期  
On my wife's birthday we will go to Uzbekistan zài lǎopó shēngrì de shíhòu wǒmen huì qù wūzībiékèsītǎn wán 在老婆生日的时候我们会去乌兹别克斯坦玩  
In the evening I go to the gym wǒ bàngwǎn qùle jiànshēnfáng 我傍晚去了健身房  
I play squash and swim wǒ dǎle bìqiú ránhòu yóuyǒng 我打了壁球然后游泳  

23.8 Vocab

English Pinyin Characters Notes
The subway is very busy dìtiě hěnduō rén 地铁很多人 lit. subway may people
(I) take a taxi from the subway station back home cóng dìtiě zhàn dǎchē huí jiā 从地铁站打车回家  
I didn't go out wǒ méi chūqù 我没出去 No "le" in negative past tense
I am busy with work wǒ mángyú gōngzuò 我忙于工作 You don't need the "yú" in spoken form
Wait a while děng yīhuǐ 等一会 Fairly short time
Wait just a minute děng yīxià 等一下 Very short time
I watched TV for a while wǒ kànle yīhuǐ diànshì 我看了一会电视 yīhuǐ is pronounced yihuwrrr
Fell asleep shuìzhele 睡着了 Pronounced shuìzháo
On fire zhehuǒ 着火 Pronounced zháohuǒ - lit start fire
After taking a break xiūxíle yǐhòu 休息了以后 Pronounced yǐhurrr
I called my mother wǒ gěi mǔqīn dǎle diànhuà 我给母亲打了电话 lit. I gave my mother a phone call
She thinks I work too much tā juédé wǒ gōngzuò tài duōle 她觉得我工作太多了  
I still have more work wǒ hái yǒu gèng duō gōngzuò 我还有更多工作  
Leaked xièlòule 泄漏了 For eg gas leak or infomation leak
The sauce has been spilled Jiàng zhī yǐjīng sǎle 酱汁已经洒了 sǎle - spilled
I send back for refund wǒ tuìle huíqù 我退了回去 tuì - refund / retreat, huíqù - go back
I want to return this item of clothing wǒ yào tuì zhè jiàn yīfú 我要退这件衣服  
Tax refund tuìshuì 退税  
I sent the dish back wǒ bǎ cài tuìle huíqù 我把菜退了回去  
The original yuánbǎn 原版 as in character, movie or book
But, I prefer Muyang bùguò wǒ gèng xǐhuān mùyáng 不过我更喜欢牧羊  
The second restaurant dì èr gè fàndiàn 第二个饭店  
Fish and chips yú hé shǔtiáo 鱼和薯条  
The (TV) show is about China zhège jiémù guānyú zhōngguó 这个节目关于中国  
I am at __ wǒ zài _ 我在 __  
I want to travel there wǒ xiǎng qù nàlǐ lǚyóu 我想去那里旅游  
Study Chinese xuéxíle zhōngwén 学习了中文  
I planned a holiday wǒ jìhuàle yīgè jiàqī 我计划了一个假期  
(I) also mought a blue jumper yě mǎile yī jiàn lán sè de máoyī 也买了一件蓝色的毛衣  
(I) like my sweater hěn xiàng wǒ de máoyī 很像我的毛衣  
I gave him a birthday card wǒ gěi tā shēngrì kǎ 我给他生日卡  
I gave him a birthday card (for free) wǒ sòng gěi tā shēngrì kǎ 我送给他生日卡 gěi not needed. sòng - "give for free"
I will give you a jumper wǒ sòng nǐ máoyī 我送你毛衣 sòng - give/send
I will accompany you to the airport wǒ sòng nǐ qù jīchǎng 我送你去机场 sòng - accompany
I drive (and accompany) you to the airport wǒ kāichē sòng nǐ qù jīchǎng 我开车送你去机场  
I accompany the child to school wǒ sòng háizi qù xuéxiào 我送孩子去学校  
I post a letter wǒ jì xìn 我寄信  
I deliver a letter wǒ sòng xìn 我送信  
The driver delivers the takeaway zhège sījī sòng wàimài 这个司机送外卖  
I have to be in Chiswick before 8 o'clock Wǒ bìxū bā diǎn yǐqián dào Chiswick 我必须八点以前到 Chiswick  
Sleeping all the time yīzhí shuìjiào 一直睡觉  
Did you take medicine? nǐ chī yàole ma 你吃药了吗 yào - pill / medicine
I can buy you medicine wǒ kěyǐ mǎi yào ài gěi nǐ 我可以买药爱给你  
Pharmacy yào diàn 药店  
A snake yī tiáo shé 一条蛇  
Red Cross hóng shízì 红十字  

23.9 Ascot

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Last Saturday I went to watch horse racing wǒ shàng zhōu liù qùle Ascot kàn sàimǎ 我上周六去了Ascot看赛马  
I wore a suit and top hat wǒ chuānle yī tào xīfú hé yī dǐng dà lǐmào 我穿了一套西服和一顶大礼帽 tào - "sets of" counter, dǐng - over head counter
Because it was too hot, I would have preferred to wear a t-shirt! yīnwèi tài rèle, wǒ gèng xǐhuān chuān yī jiàn t-xù 因为太热了, 我更喜欢穿一件t 恤 t-xù - t-shirt
I took the train to Ascot wǒ zuòle huǒchē qù Ascot 我坐了火车去Ascot  
The train was very busy huǒchē shàng hěnduō rén 火车上很多人  
Then the train broke down ránhòu huǒchē huàile 然后火车坏了  
So, I had to get off at Virginia Water suǒyǐ wǒ zài Virginia Water bìxū xià chē 所以我在Virginia Water必须下车  
I waited for the next train wǒ děngle xià yī bān huǒchē 我等了下一班火车 bān - counter for scheduled service
There are more people on the next train xià yī bānchē shàng gèng duō de rén 下一班车上更多的人  
I arrived 1 hour late wǒ chídàole yīgè xiǎoshí 我迟到了一个小时  
At the racetrack, I met my friends and drank some Champagne zài sàimǎ chǎng wǒ zhǎodàole wǒ de péngyǒu ránhòu wǒmen hē xiāngbīnjiǔ 在赛马场我找到了我的朋友然后我们喝香槟酒 xiāngbīnjiǔ - champagne
Each day's racing starts at 2:30 in the afternoon and the final race is around 5:30 měitiān de bǐsài kāishǐ yú xiàwǔ èr diǎn bàn, zuìhòu yī chǎng bǐsài shì wǔ diǎn bàn zuǒyòu 每天的比赛开始于下午二点半, 最后一场比赛是五点半左右  
I bet on some of the races, but didn't win any money wǒ dǔqián yīdiǎn, bùguò wǒ de mǎ shì zuì màn de 我赌钱一点, 不过我的马是最慢的 dǔqián - to gamble - lit. bet money
In the evening, after the racing there is a party bàngwǎn, bǐsài yǐhòu yǒu dà de pàiduì 傍晚, 比赛以后有大的派对  
Lots of people are dancing together hěnduō rén yīqǐ zài tiào 很多人一起在跳  
At 8pm I return home wǒ bā diǎn huíle jiā 我八点回了家  
On Sunday I get up late wǒ xīngqítiān shàngwǔ bǐjiào wǎn qǐchuángle 我星期天上午比较晚起床了  
I do some gardening wǒ zuòle yuányì 我做了园艺  
I water the garden wǒ gěi huāyuán jiāo shuǐ 我给花园浇水 I give garden sprinkle water
Afterwards, I sunbathe and read a book ránhòu wǒ shài tàiyáng hé kànle yī běn shū 然后我晒太阳和看了一本书  
In the afternoon I have a BBQ with my wife wǒ xiàwǔ hé lǎopó chīle shāokǎo 我下午和老婆吃了烧烤 shāokǎo - bbq
I ate to many sausages and burgers wǒ chīle tài duōle xiāngcháng hé hànbǎo 我吃了太多了香肠和汉堡  
In the evening I still don't want to eat dinner! wǒ wǎnshàng hái bùyào chī wǎnfàn 我晚上还不要吃晚饭  
I watch football game on TV shuìjiào yǐqián wǒ zài diànshì shàng kàn zúqiú bǐsài 睡觉以前我在电视上看足球比赛  

23.10 Vocab

English Pinyin Characters Notes
I ate chicken salad for lunch wǒ wǔfàn chīle jīròu shālā 我午饭吃了鸡肉沙拉  
I walked along the river wǒ yánzhe hé zǒu lòu 我沿着河走露  
I walked along the river wǒ yánzhe hé sànbù 我沿着河散步 sànbù - relaxing walk
After work it's still daylight xiàbān yǐhòu hái shì báitiān 下班以后还是白天  
After work it's still sunny xiàbān yǐhòu hái shì qíngtiān 下班以后还是晴天  
I am wearing a t-shirt wǒ chuānzhuó yī jiàn ti xù 我穿着一件体恤  
I wear a top hat wǒ dài yī dǐng dà lǐmào 我戴一顶大礼帽 dài - to wear (things not necessary - watch, neckless, hat)
Champagne xiāngbīn 香槟  
Start at 2 kāishǐ yú liǎng diǎn 开始於兩点 yù not necessary when spoken
Every day the races start a 2 in the afternoon měitiān de bǐsài xiàwǔ liǎng diǎn bàn kāishǐ 每天的比赛下午两点半开始  
I bet a little money wǒ dǔle yīdiǎn qián 我赌了一点钱  
I bet on horses wǒ dǔ mǎ 我赌马  
I bet on football wǒ dǔ qiú 我赌球  
Dancing tiào wǔ 跳舞  
Flowers and garden plants huāhuā cǎocǎo 花花草草  
I have a lot of flowers and plants wǒ yǒu hěnduō huāhuā cǎocǎo 我有很多花花草草  
I sunbathe wǒ shài tàiyáng 我晒太阳  
I don't want to eat dinner wǒ bùxiǎng chī wán fàn 我不想吃完饭  
I am full wǒ bǎole 我饱了  
I am full to the point of bursting wǒ hěn chēng 我很撑  
Women's football tournament nǚzǐ zúqiú bǐsài 女子足球比赛  
Man's football tournament nánzǐ zúqiú bǐsài 男子足球比赛  
Women's toilet nǚ cèsuǒ 女厕所  
Man's toilet nán cèsuǒ 男厕所  
English team and Dutch team compete yīngguó duì hé hélán duì bǐsài 英国队和荷兰队比赛  
The English team is good at playing football yīngguó duì tī zúqiú hěn hǎo 英国队踢足球很好 Can shorten - yīngguó duì tī de hěn hǎo
Kick well (play well) tī dé hǎo 踢得好 Verb "de" adjective
Run fast pǎo dé kuài 跑得快  
Eat a lot chī dé duō 吃得多  
Did you win? yíngle ma 赢了吗  
I don't know the score wǒ bù zhīdào fēnshù 我不知道分数  
Result / outcome jiéguǒ 结果  
Didn't win méi yíng 没赢  
Final juésài 决赛  
Semi-Final bàn juésài 半决赛  
Recent / recently zuì jìn 最近 The most recent
The best zuì hǎo 最好 The most good
The restaurant is very close to my home zhège fàndiàn hé wǒjiā hěn jìn 这个饭店和我家很近  
Recently, how are things? zuìjìn zěnme yàng 最近怎么样  
How are you? nǐ chīle ma 你吃了吗 Lit. have you eaten?
You good? (If you've been ill) nǐ hǎo ma 你好吗  
Morning! zǎo 早 informal
Hi hǎo 好 informal
Good evening wǎnshàng hǎo 晚上好  
Good afternoon xiàwǔ hǎo 下午好  
Good night wǎn'ān 晚安  
Drums / Drum kit jiàzi gǔ 架子鼓 Support drum
(one) big drum dà gǔ 大鼓  
I play drums wǒ dǎ jiàzi gǔ 我打架子鼓  
I think the hands are easy but the foot are difficult wǒ juédé shǒu hěn róngyì bùguò jiǎo hěn nán 我觉得手很容易不过脚很难  
You will get used to it nǐ huì xíguàn 你会习惯  
I already have five hours of lessons Wǒ yǐjīng shàngkè wǔ gè xiǎoshí 我已经上课五个小时 yǐjīng - already, shàngkè - class
I think I am getting better and better wǒ juédé wǒ yuè lái yuè hǎo 我觉得我越来越好  
Better and better yuè lái yuè hǎo 越来越好  
More and more yuè lái yuè duō 越来越多  
Faster and faster yuè lái yuè kuài 越来越快  
Because I need to learn in English yīnwèi wǒ yào yòng yīngyǔ xuéxí 因为我要用英语学习 yīngyǔ - English
He is very patient tā hěn yǒu nàixīn 他很有耐心  
She is caring tā yǒu àixīn 她有爱心 lit She loves everything
My teacher said English is not your first language wǒ de lǎoshī shuō yīngyǔ bùshì nǐ de dìyī yǔyán 我的老师说英语不是你的第一语言 dìyī - number one / first
He said he can understand tā shuō kěyǐ lǐjiě 他说可以理解  

23.11 Babysitting

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Last Friday it was very hot shàng xīngqíwǔ tái rèle 上星期五台热了  
After work I ate dinner with my wife in the garden xiàbān yǐhòu wǒ zài huāyuán hé lǎopó chīle wǎnfàn 下班以后我在花园和老婆吃了晚饭  
Then we drank some wine ránhòu hēle diǎn pútáojiǔ 然后喝了点葡萄酒  
It was still warm late at night bànyè háishì bǐjiào nuǎnhuo 半夜还是比较暖和  
On Saturday we have lunch with friends in Ealing xīngqíliù wǒmen zài Ealing hé péngyǒu chīle wǔfàn 星期六我们在Ealing和朋友吃了午饭  
We take the bus wǒ zuòle gōngchē 我坐了公车  
There is a lot of traffic so we are little late yīnwèi yǒu hěnduō jiāotōng wǒmen chídàole 因为有很多交通我们迟到了  
Our friends have a new baby girl wǒmen de péngyǒu yǒu yīgè xīn de nǚ yīng 我们的朋友有一个新的女婴  
She napped throughout lunch tā zhěnggè wǔcān shuì wǔjiào 她整个午餐睡午觉  
We ate kebabs and salad wǒmen chīle kǎoròu chuàn hé shālā 我们吃了烤肉串和沙拉 kǎoròu chuàn - kebab
In the early evening my niece came to my house bàngwǎn wǒ de zhínǚ láile wǒjiā 傍晚我的侄女来了我家  
I look after her because her parents go out to eat birthday dinner wǒ zhàokàn tā yīnwèi tā de bà mā qù chūle chī shēngrì de wǎnfàn 我照看她因为她的爸妈去出了吃生日的晚饭 zhàokàn - look after / babysit
She stays up late watching cartoons and eating popcorn tā áoyè kàn dònghuà piàn hé chī bào mǐhuā 她熬夜看动画片和吃爆米花 áoyè - to stay-up late
But before her parents come back she goes to sleep bùguò yǐqián tā de bà mā huílái, tā shuìjiào 不过以前她的爸妈回来, 她睡觉  
The next morning my wife took my niece running dì èr tiān zǎoshang wǒ de lǎopó dài tā pǎobù 第二天早上我的老婆带她跑步 dài - take/took
My niece runs very quickly wǒ de zhínǚ pǎobù hěn kuài 我的侄女跑步很快  
My wife usually runs on Sunday morning wǒ de lǎopó zhōu tiān tōngcháng pǎobù 我的老婆周天通常跑步  
At the time they ran it rained pǎobù de shíhòu xià yǔ 跑步的时候下雨  
After they return I make them breakfast tāmen huílái yǐhòu wǒ wèi tāmen zuòle zǎofàn 他们回来以后我为他们做了早饭  
After breakfast it had stopped raining zǎofàn yǐhòu tā tíngzhǐle xià yǔ 早饭以后它停止了下雨 tíngzhǐ - stop
So we went to the park together suǒyǐ wǒmen yīqǐ qùle gōngyuán 所以我们一起去了公园  
My family leaves at 11am wǒ jiātíng shàngwǔ shíyī diǎn líkāi 我家庭上午十一点离开  
I make the lounge clean wǒ bǎ kètīng nòng gānjìng 我把客厅弄干净  
Because my niece took a lot of toys out the cupboard yīnwèi wǒ de zhínǚ bǎ hěnduō wánjù ná chū guìzi 因为我的侄女把很多玩具拿出柜子 wánjù - toy(s), ná - take
So I put the toys in the cupboard suǒyǐ wǒ bǎ wánjù fàng guìzi lǐ 所以我把玩具放柜子里  
In the afternoon I studied Chinese xiàwǔ wǒ xuéle xí zhōngwén 下午我学了习中文  
In the evening I ate Lasagne wǒ wǎnshàng chīle qiān céngmiàn 我晚上吃了千层面 qiān céngmiàn - lasgna (thousand layer noodle)
Then I watched a movie ránhòu wǒ kànle yī bù diànyǐng 然后我看了一部电影  

23.12 Vocab

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Seafood hǎixiān 海鲜  
Shell(fish) bèiké 贝壳  
Sweating chū hàn 出汗 out sweating
Holy Person / Saint shèngrén 圣人  
Church jiàotáng 教堂 religion place
A Holy Place yīgè shèngdì 一个圣地  
St. David shèng David 圣David  
I like drinking a lot wǒ hào hējiǔ 我好喝酒  
Hobbie aihào 爱好  
Eating lots of shellfish chīle hěnduō bèiké 吃了很多贝壳  
My wife wants to encourage her to run wǒ de lǎopó xiǎng gǔlì tā pǎobù 我的老婆想鼓励她跑步 encourage - gǔlì
1 KM 1 gōnglǐ 1公里  
1 KM (local) 2 lǐ 2里  
Squid / Octopus yóuyú 鱿鱼  
Colder gèng lěng 更冷  
See you on Saturday zhōu liù jiàn 周六见  
She has many running friends tā yǒu hěnduō pǎobù de péngyǒu 她有很多跑步的朋友  
I think English people like BBQ sausage the most wǒ juédé yīngguó rén zuì xǐhuān shāokǎo xiāngcháng 我觉得英国人最喜欢烧烤香肠  
Barcelona is more popular Barcelona gēng shòu huānyíng Barcelona更受欢迎 huānyíng - popular, lit. welcoming
I am/feel welcomed by other people wǒ shòu huānyíng 我受欢迎 Also - I am popular?
You're welcome (not a response to thank-you!) nǐ shòu huānyíng 你受欢迎 Also - you're popular / you're made to feel welcome
He's very popular tā hěn shòu huānyíng 他很受欢迎  
Many duō 多  
Few shǎo 少  
More gèng duō 更多  
Less gèng shǎo 更少  
I woke up wǒ xǐngle 我醒了  
She relaxes on the beach and reads lots of books zài shātān xiūxí tā kàn hěnduō shū 在沙滩休息她看很多书 xiūxí - resting, but sounds better than fàngsōng here
Three or Four O'Clock sān diǎn huòzhě sì diǎn 三点或者四点  
Or - when the choice is bounded and defined háishì 还是 eg. Is your child a boy or a girl?
Or - when there are unlimited possibilities huòzhě 或者 eg. 3 or 4 o'clock
I have to go back to the hotel with my wife wǒ bìxū huíqù jiǔdiàn hé lǎopó 我必须回去酒店和老婆 hé lǎopó can go at the end - it still makes sense
Sleep again yòu shuìjiào 又睡觉  
I met my friends in London at the University wǒ zài lúndūn rènshì wǒ de péngyǒu zài dàxué 我在伦敦认识我的朋友在大学 rènshì - met for the first time - or "I know them from"
To know/learn or to meet for the first time rènshì 认识 nǐ rènshì ma - when learning a character (have you seen/learnt it before)
I still meet my friends at the bar wǒ háishì zài jiǔbā jiàn wǒ de péngyǒu 我还是在酒吧见我的朋友  
Drink/Meat jiǔròu 酒肉 Going out eating and drinking
Drinking buddies jiǔròu péngyǒu 酒肉朋友 Drink Meat Friends
Relative(s) qīnqī 亲戚  
Tea tase (Matcha) Mǒchá 抹茶  
Matcha Melaleuca (1000 layer cake) Mǒchá qiān céng 抹茶千层  
Matcha Ice Cream Mǒchá bīngjīlíng 抹茶冰激凌  
I agree wǒ tóngyì 我同意  
I disagree wǒ bù tóngyì 我不同意  

23.13 Having a BBQ

English Pinyin Characters Notes
On Friday evening I got to the pub with colleagues lǐbài wǔ bàngwǎn hé tóngshì hējiǔ 礼拜五傍晚和同事喝酒 tóngshì - colleague
Then I took the subway home ránhòu wǒ zuòle dìtiě qù wǒjiā 然后我坐了地铁去我家  
On the way home, I ordered Chinese takeaway zài huí jiā de lùshàng wǒ dìngle zhōngguó cài wàimài 在回家的路上我订了中国菜外卖  
I ordered farmhouse pork wǒ dìngle nóngjiā xiǎochǎo ròu 我订了农家小炒肉  
I should try a different dish next week xià zhōu wǒ yīnggāi shì shì yīgè bùtóng de cài 下周我应该试试一个不同的菜 bùtóng - different
On Saturday I threw a party lǐbài liù wǒ jǔbàn pàiduì 礼拜六我举办派对  
Many friends came to my house hěnduō péngyǒu láile wǒjiā 很多朋友来了我家  
We cooked chicken, sausages and hamburgers on the BBQ wǒmen zài shāokǎo shàng zhǔ xiāngcháng, jīròu hé hànbǎobāo 我们在烧烤上煮香肠, 鸡肉和汉堡包  
And drank beer wǒmen hēle píjiǔ 我们喝了啤酒  
We chatted together and listened to music wǒmen yīqǐ liáole hé tīngle yīnyuè 我们一起聊了和听了音乐  
I went to bed at midnight wǒ bànyè shí'èr diǎn shuìle jué 我半夜十二点睡了觉  
On Sunday I got up late wǒ lǐbài tiān qǐchuáng hěn wǎn 我礼拜天起床很晚  
I studied Chinese wǒ xuéle xí zhōngwén 我学了习中文  
I then watch a movie ránhòu wǒ kànle yī bù diànyǐng 然后我看了一部电影  
In the afternoon my parents wanted to come to my house xiàwǔ wǒ de bàmā yào lái wǒjiā 下午我的爸妈要来我家  
but there was very bad traffic bùguò yǒule hěnduō jiāotōng 不过有了很多交通  
So we postponed until next weekend suǒyǐ wǒmen tuīchí dào xià zhōu 所以我们推迟到下周  
In the evening I eat pasta wǒ wǎnshàng chīle yì miàn 我晚上吃了意面  
I also ate the leftover BBQ food wǒ yě chīle shèng shāokǎo cài 我也吃了剩烧烤菜 shèng - leftover / remnant / surplus
Then I am very tired, so I went to bed early ránhòu wǒ fēicháng lèi, suǒyǐ wǒ zǎodiǎn shuìjiàole 然后我非常累, 所以我早点睡觉了  

24 Daily Routines

我早晨七点起床. 我穿一条牛仔裤和一件白色的衬衫. 我早饭喝红茶和吃烤面包. 我八点去上班. 我坐地铁. 我吃了鸡肉沙拉午饭. 我离开公司有点早. 下班以后还是晴天. 所以我沿河走路然后穿过公园. 在Notting Hill坐公车去我家 比地铁放松多了. 我吃了披萨晚饭. 我十一点睡觉.

Wǒ zǎochén qī diǎn qǐchuáng. Wǒ chuān yītiáo niúzǎikù hé yī jiàn báisè de chènshān. Wǒ zǎofàn hē hóngchá hé chī kǎo miànbāo. Wǒ bā diǎn qù shàngbān. Wǒ zuò dìtiě. Wǒ chīle jīròu shālā wǔfàn. Wǒ líkāi gōngsī yǒudiǎn zǎo. Xiàbān yǐhòu hái shì qíngtiān. Suǒyǐ wǒ yán hé zǒulù ránhòu chuānguò gōngyuán. Zài Notting Hill zuò gōngchē qù wǒjiā. Bǐ dìtiě fàngsōng duōle. Wǒ chīle pīsà wǎnfàn. Wǒ shíyī diǎn shuìjiào.

我早上八点起床. 我洗澡然后吃麦片早饭. 今天我在家里工作. 所以我在穿一件T恤和一条运动服底部. 我的上午比较安静, 不过下午我必须给公司打电话会议. 傍晚我为老婆做饭. 我们吃海鲜意面. 然后我们看一部电影. 我十点一刻睡觉.

Wǒ zǎoshang bā diǎn qǐchuáng. Wǒ xǐzǎo ránhòu chī màipiàn zǎofàn. Jīntiān wǒ zài jiālǐ gōngzuò. Suǒyǐ wǒ zài chuān yī jiàn T xù hé yītiáo yùndòng fú dǐbù. Wǒ de shàngwǔ bǐjiào ānjìng, bùguò xiàwǔ wǒ bìxū gěi gōngsī dǎ diànhuà huìyì. Bàngwǎn wǒ wèi lǎopó zuò fàn. Wǒmen chī hǎixiān yì miàn. Ránhòu wǒmen kàn yī bù diànyǐng. Wǒ shí diǎn yī kè shuìjiào.

我七点起床 我比较早去上班 我的办公室在Cannon Street 在河旁边 我的办公桌在七楼 我在最喜欢汉堡饭店吃午饭 从我的办公室去饭店距离近 我走上山 我往左拐 过了火车站，就到了 饭店在右手边 汉堡非常好吃 不过一点贵了 傍晚我回家 我晚饭做鸡肉意面 晚上我看书

Wǒ qī diǎn qǐchuáng wǒ bǐjiào zǎo qù shàngbān wǒ de bàngōngshì zài Cannon Street zài hé pángbiān wǒ de bàngōng zhuō zài qī lóu wǒ zài zuì xǐhuān hànbǎo fàndiàn chī wǔfàn cóng wǒ de bàngōngshì qù fàndiàn jùlí jìn wǒ zǒu shàngshān wǒ wǎng zuǒ guǎi guò le huǒchē zhàn, jiù dàole fàndiàn zài yòushǒu biān hànbǎo fēicháng hào chī bùguò yīdiǎn guìle bàngwǎn wǒ huí jiā wǒ wǎnfàn zuò jīròu yì miàn wǎnshàng wǒ kànshū

我八点半起床 我洗澡然后穿衣服 我穿一件绿色的衬衫和一条牛仔裤 我早饭吃炒鸡蛋和喝一壶红茶 我去办公室晚 因为我的地铁推迟 所以早上在我家上班 中午的地铁比早上的快, 所以我去办公室 办公室的空调坏了 我希望我今天一直在家 我傍晚去健身房 游泳池水一点冷,不过很清爽! 我晚餐吃牛排和薯条

wǒ bā diǎn bàn qǐchuáng wǒ xǐzǎo ránhòu chuān yīfú wǒ chuān yī jiàn lǜsè de chènshān hé yītiáo niúzǎikù wǒ zǎofàn chī chǎo jīdàn hé hē yī hú hóngchá wǒ qù bàngōngshì wǎn yīnwèi wǒ dì dìtiě tuīchí suǒyǐ zǎoshang zài wǒjiā shàngbān zhōngwǔ dì dìtiě bǐ zǎoshang de kuài, suǒyǐ wǒ qù bàngōngshì bàngōngshì de kòngtiáo huàile wǒ xīwàng wǒ jīntiān yīzhí zàijiā wǒ bàngwǎn qù jiànshēnfáng yóuyǒngchí shuǐ yīdiǎn lěng, bùguò hěn qīngshuǎng! wǒ wǎncān chī niúpái hé shǔtiáo

今天我八点起床 我吃了很多早饭 我上午读了一本数学书 这本书有助于我的工作 我和老婆去本地的三明治店吃午饭 他们做很好吃意大利的烤三明治 下午我学习中文 然后我去健身房 我打壁球和游泳 晚上我读了更多书 晚餐我吃墨西哥食物 晚上十一点睡觉

jīntiān wǒ bā diǎn qǐchuáng wǒ chīle hěnduō zaofàn wǒ shàngwǔ dúle yī-běn shùxué shū zhè-běn shū yǒu zhù yú wǒ de gōngzuò wǒ hé lǎopó qù běndì de sānmíngzhì diàn chī wǔfàn tāmen zuò hěn hào chī yìdàlì de kǎo sānmíngzhì xiàwǔ wǒ xuéxí zhōngwén ránhòu wǒ qù jiànshēnfáng wǒ dǎ bìqiú hé yóuyǒng wǎnshàng wǒ dúle gèng duō shū wǎncān wǒ chī mòxīgē shíwù wǎnshàng shíyī diǎn shuìjiào

今天早上我直奔商场 我会见朋友吃早饭, 不过我迟到了 早饭以后我买衣服 很多衣服今天打折 我买两条牛仔裤, 两件T恤, 和一件毛衣 也许我花了太多钱, 不过所有的衣服非常便宜 购物后我们想打迷你高尔夫, 不过它太忙了 所以我们去游乐场旁边商场 我晚上没出去 我和老婆在电视上看喜剧表演

jīntiān zǎoshang wǒ zhí bēn shāngchǎng wǒ huìjiàn péngyǒu chī zǎofàn, bùguò wǒ chídàole zǎofàn yǐhòu wǒ mǎi yīfú hěnduō yīfú jīntiān dǎzhé wǒ mǎi liǎng tiáo niúzǎikù, liǎng jiàn T xù, hé yī jiàn máoyī yěxǔ wǒ huāle tài duō qián, bùguò suǒyǒu de yīfú fēicháng piányí gòuwù hòu wǒmen xiǎng dǎ mínǐ gāo'ěrfū, bùguò tā tài mángle suǒyǐ wǒmen qù yóulè chǎng pángbiān shāngchǎng wǒ wǎnshàng méi chūqù wǒ hé lǎopó zài diànshì shàng kàn xǐjù biǎoyǎn

25 Internet Vocab

25.1 Weibo

English Pinyin Characters Notes
Weibo Wēi bó 微博 Micro blog
Login dēnglù 登录  
Registered zhùcè 注册  
Account login zhànghào dēnglù 帐号登录  
Secure login Ānquán dēnglù 安全登录  
Home shǒuyè 首页  
Video shìpín 视频  
Find fāxiàn 发现  
Game yóuxì 游戏  
Publish fābù 发布  
Public gōngkāi 公开  
Friends circle hǎoyǒu quān 好友圈  
Only visible to yourself jǐn zìjǐ kějiàn 仅自己可见  
Group visible qún kějiàn 群可见  
Anything new to tell everyone? yǒu shé me xīnxiān shì xiǎng gàosù dàjiā 有什么新鲜事想告诉大家  
Popular (on) weibo rèmén wēi bó 热门微博 Appears next to hot topics
Emoticon biǎoqíng 表情 lit. Expression
Image túpiàn 图片  
Topic huàtí 话题 Hash tag
Headline article tóutiáo wénzhāng 头条文章  
Live broadcast zhíbò 直播  
Comments diǎnpíng 点评  
Timed dìngshí fā 定时发  
Music yīnyuè 音乐  
Blogging public welfare wēi gōngyì 微公益  
Fresh things xīnxiān shì 新鲜事 New
Super words chāo huà 超话  
Ask a question tíwèn 提问  
All quánbù 全部  
Original yuánchuàng 原创  
Article wénzhāng 文章  
New (on) Weibo xīn wēi bó 新微博  
My favourites/collection wǒ de shōucáng 我的收藏  
My likes wǒ de zàn 我的赞 lit. My praise/applaud
Follow? (Pay close attention to) tèbié guānzhù 特别关注 lit. Special attention
Group Weibo qún wēi bó 群微博  
Quietly follow? (Pay quiet attention to) qiāoqiāo guānzhù 悄悄关注  
1 word has been entered yǐ shūrù 1 zì 已输入1字  
Spread / Popularise tuīguǎng 推广 lit. promotion
Forward zhuǎnfā 转发  
Comment pínglùn 评论  
Like zàn 赞 lit. awesome
7 minutes ago from Weibo 7 Fēnzhōng qián láizì wēi bó 7分钟前 来自 微博  

26 Publishing

  • To publish to the web C-c C-e P p

27 Misc Org

Footnotes can be written using fn:<name> wrapped in square brackets. C-c C-c or C-c C-x f - jumps from footnote to reference

28 The End

Footnotes:

1

The noun for shower is línyù/淋浴 - but it is not used as a verb. línyù huài le / The shower is broken (huài opposite of hǎo, bad)

2

zài is used to change "I read" to "I am reading". It does not specify the tense tho. So "I was reading" is the same.

3

dào suggests completion of an action. So you zhǎo (as in search) for something, when it turns-up this is zhǎodào. Likewise kàn means to look for something, but kàndào means you've looked and see it!

4

Unfortunately (bùxìng de shì) is only used in Chinese for serious situations (break a leg or similar). Using "but" (dànshì) is more usual.

5

guā is more like a resistance than only blowing or wofting, so scratching is also described as guā

6

NOT wǒ xiàwǔ qùle hǎitān hé yóuyǒng - the qù assoicates only with hǎitān. In the second qù is more of a connecting word than verb.

7

NOT bǐ lúndūn rè shǎo le - is like saying London is hotter, and then changing your mind and saying, less so. It doesn't make sense!

8

Two "ba"s, the measure has a hand on it's LHS - 把, the gentle suggestion comes from the mouth on it's LHS 吧

9

guójiā - means national, country + house, guójì - means international, country + border/intervene

10

xiūdàoyuàn - means Christian monastery. A generic term for temple is sìyuàn (same yuàn) or sìmiào (same sì)

11

ONLY when a noun is described by an adjective and the adjective is the last word in the sentence you must qualify it with hěn, yīdiǎn, etc.

Created: 2019-08-11 Sun 22:30

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