means “that”; zhè means “this.” They are used the same way we use the English equivalents: zhè/this for a thing/person nearby and nà/that for a thing/person “over there.”
这/那 是什么?
Zhè / Nà shì shénme?
What is this / that?
（這/那 是什麼？）
这/那 是____________。
Zhè / Nà shì____________.
This / That is ____________.
（這/那 是________。）
————————— LANGUAGE NOTE —————————
Zhè is “this”; and zher means “here.” To the beginner these two can sound quite similar. Just remember that zhè sounds like the ju in the word just, and zher sounds like jer as in jersey.
你们怎么说 “mother”?
Nǐmen zěnme shuō “mother”?
How do you say “mother” in Chinese?
（你們怎麼說 “mother”？）
我们说 “妈妈”。
Wǒmen shuō “māma”.
We say “māma.”
（我們說 “媽媽”。）
————————— CULTURAL NOTE —————————
The “uo” sound is sometimes difficult for beginners. Remember that “u” usually sounds like “w” when followed by another vowel, so in this case, shuō sounds like shwoh.
你爸爸在哪儿?
Nǐ bàba zài nǎr?
Where is your father?
（你爸爸在哪兒？）
我不知道。
Wǒ bù zhīdào.
I don’t know.
（我不知道。）
————————— LANGUAGE NOTE —————————
Although we have left in the pronouns for most of the sentences in this guide, it is common for Chinese speakers to leave out the pronoun when the subject is understood. In this case, you’d most likely hear/say a reply of only “Bù zhīdào.”
对不起。
Dùi bu qǐ.
Excuse me. / Sorry.
（對不起。）
没关系。
Méi guānxi.
Don’t worry about it.
（沒關係。）
————————— CULTURAL NOTE —————————
About three-quarters of China’s people speak Mandarin, also known as pǔtōnghuà (普通话, “common speech”), which often serves as a lingua franca among the different groups within mainland China.
这样 行/好 吗?
Zhè yàng xíng / hǎo ma?
Is this OK?
（這樣 行/好 嗎？）
行。/好。
Xíng. / Hǎo.
It’s OK.
（行。/好。）
————————— CULTURAL NOTE —————————
If you wanted to instead say “It’s not good,” you would add bù in front of xíng or hǎo: Bù xíng. / Bù hǎo.
你能帮我个忙吗?
Nǐ néng bāng wǒ ge máng ma?
Can you help me?
（你能幫我個忙嗎？）
什么事? /怎么了?
Shénme shì? / Zěn me le?
What’s the matter?
（什麼事？/怎麼了？）
————————— CULTURAL NOTE —————————
Tea has been grown for thousands of years in China. Teahouses become especially popular destinations in the summer, as it’s commonly thought that drinking tea can help you beat the heat.
你很忙吗?
Nǐ hěn máng ma?
Are you busy?
（你很忙嗎？）
我很忙。/不忙。
Wǒ hěn máng. / Bù máng.
I’m busy. / I’m not busy.
（我很忙。/不忙。）
来吧。
Lái ba.
Come here.
（來吧。）
坐吧。
Zuò ba.
Have a seat.
（坐吧。）
————————— LANGUAGE NOTE —————————
Ba is a handy word. It is used as a command, but is not rude. You can add it after any verb; Chī ba (eat!); Hē ba (drink!); Zǒu ba (go!).
STUDYING CHINESE;
