Chinese Phrase A Day Practice Volume 1. Sam Brier
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ˇ 3rd Tone: From high to low to high (dip your chin toward your chest and raise it again, as you say the syllable).
When 3rd tone marks are next to each other, the consecutive 3rd tone marks preceding the last 3rd tone mark become 2nd tone.
̀ 4th Tone: From high to low (a sharp quick sound like you’re chopping wood. Drop your head as you say the syllable).
不 Bu fourth tone becomes 2nd tone when followed by a 4th tone.
Words with no tone mark are short sounds.
Pronouncing Chinese
VOWELS
Single Vowels | |
A | a as in father |
E | u as in hunt |
I | ee as in bee |
O | o as in open |
U | oo as in oops |
Vowel Combinations | |
AI | as in eye |
AO | ow as in cow |
EI | ay as in day |
IA | like the exclamation “yah” |
IAN | like the male name Ian |
IAO | like the exclamation “yow” |
IE | like “ee” + “eh” |
IU | like “yo” |
OU | like “oh” |
UA | like “wah” |
UI | like “way” |
UO | like “woh” |
YE | as in yes |
YI | like ee |
ZI | z as in pizza |
CONSONANTS | |
B | b as in boat |
C | ts as in what’s |
D | d as in dog |
F | f as in father |
G | g as in give |
H | h as in how |
J | j as in jump |
K | k as in king |
L | l as in long |
M | m as in man |
N | n as in no |
P | p as in picture |
Q | ch as in cheap |
R | wr as in wrinkle |
S | s as in sun |
T | t as in tan |
W | w as in wing |
X | sh as in show |
Y | y as in young |
Z | z as in zebra |
About the Authors
Sam Brier has lived, worked and studied throughout Asia for more than 10 years. He taught English in Osaka, Japan, and at Sichuan International Studies University (SISU) in Chongqing, China. Sam is the founder and director of Academic Experiences Abroad (AEA), a company that develops customized faculty-led programs and provides logistics for university initiatives to Asia (www.AEA-Asia.com). Sam and his wife, Linh, spend most of their time between the U.S., China and Vietnam working on study abroad initiatives between the U.S. and Asia. The author’s proceeds from this calendar will go toward educational scholarships in the U.S. and Asia.
Xia Lu 鲁霞 is from Hefei (No. 2 High School) in Anhui province, about 7 hours west of Shanghai by train. She has been teaching English in China since college. From 2007 to 2008, she taught Chinese in Houston, Texas, with American Field Services (AFS) at St. Steven’s High School. Sam, a volunteer with AFS, hosted Xia when she arrived and they became good friends.
SMALL TALK
Days 1–31
新年快乐!
Xīnnián kuàilè!
Happy New Year!
(新年快樂!)
————————— CULTURAL NOTE —————————
In order to read a newspaper, a person needs to know about 5,000 Chinese characters; 3,000 will do for functional literacy—that is, to be able to read signs, buy food and the like.
你好!
Nǐ hǎo!
Hello / Hi!
(你好!)
再见!
Zàijiàn!
Goodbye!
(再見!)
————————— CULTURAL NOTE —————————
An estimated 1.3–1.6 billion people live in China; note that the questionable difference of 300 million people is equivalent to a “lost United States.”
你好吗?
Nǐ hǎo ma?
How are you?
(你好嗎?)
很好。你呢?
Hěn hǎo. Nǐ ne?
Very good. And you?
(很好。你呢?)
————————— CULTURAL NOTE —————————
A dish of carrot made hastily may contain dirt.
—Chinese proverb
谢谢。
Xìexie.
Thank you.
(謝謝。)
不用谢。
Bú yòng xie.
You’re welcome.
(不用謝。)
————————— CULTURAL NOTE —————————
China has over 100 cities with more than one million people. Beijing and Shanghai each have a population of around 12 to 15 million.
你叫什么名字?
Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?
What’s your name?
(你叫什麼名字?)
我叫__________。
Wǒ jiào __________.
My name is __________.
(我叫__________。)
————————— CULTURAL NOTE —————————