LANGUAGE NOTE —————————
Lǎo is a common word which literally means “old” or “honorable.” You will hear it in words such as lǎobǎn (“boss”) and lǎowài (“foreigner”). Chinese will tell you that lǎowài is a nice way of saying “foreigner” (or “honorable outsider”), but some visitors may feel otherwise depending on how it is used. The prim and proper way of saying “foreigner” is wàiguórén.
你是游客吗?
Nǐ shì yóukè ma?
Are you a tourist?
（你是遊客嗎？）
是的。/不是。
Shì de. / Bú shì.
Yes (I am). / No (I’m not).
（是的。/不是。）
你在学什么?
Nǐ zài xué shénme?
What are you studying?
（你在學什麼？）
我在学汉语。
Wǒ zài xué Hànyǔ.
I’m studying Chinese.
（我在學漢語。）
你在哪儿学习?
Nǐ zài nǎr xuéxí?
Where are you studying?
（你在哪兒學習？）
在北京大学。
Zài Běijīng Dàxué.
At Beijing University.
（在北京大學。）
————————— CULTURAL NOTE —————————
One’s own meat dishes are not as delicious as others’ vegetarian dishes.
—Chinese proverb
你来中国多长时间了?
Nǐ lái Zhōngguó duō cháng shíjiān le?
How long have you been in China?
（你來中國多長時間了？）
一天／一周／一个月／一年。
Yì tiān / yì zhōu / yì ge yuè / yì nián.
1 day / 1 week / 1 month / 1 year.
（一天／一週／一個月／一年。）
————————— CULTURAL NOTE —————————
When the number 1 is used in phone numbers, addresses and other uncounted contexts, it is spoken as yāo.
你打算到哪儿过年?
Nǐ dǎsuàn dào nǎr guònián?
Where are you going for Chinese New Year?
（你打算到哪兒過年？）
我还没有决定。
Wǒ hái méiyǒu juédìng.
I haven’t decided yet.
（我還沒有決定。）
————————— LANGUAGE NOTE —————————
Be careful!: dǎsuàn above is “to plan,” but dàsuàn is “garlic.”
你要在中国呆多长时间?
Nǐ yào zài Zhōngguó dāi duō cháng shíjiān?
How long will you be in China?
（你要在中國呆多長時間？）
两天／两周／两个月／两年。
Liǎng tiān / Liǎng zhōu / Liǎng ge yuè / Liǎng nián.
2 days / 2 weeks / 2 months / 2 years.
（兩天／兩週／兩個月／兩年。）
————————— LANGUAGE NOTE —————————
When saying a number of objects, the word liǎng is often used for “two.” When stating the number alone, or counting in a sequence, 2 is usually spoken as èr (which sounds a lot like the name of the letter “r”).
你为什么要学汉语?
Nǐ wèishénme yào xué Hànyǔ?
Why are you studying Chinese?
（你為什麼要學漢語？）
我有一个中国 (男)(女)朋友。
Wǒ yǒu yí ge Zhōngguó (nán)(nǚ) péngyou.
I have a Chinese (boy)(girl) friend.
（我有一個中國 (男)(女)朋友。）
————————— CULTURAL NOTE —————————
Make sure to remember these two characters: 男 and 女. Nán means “man” and nǚ means “woman.” Not all Chinese toilets have English or icons; many times all you’ll see to guide you is one of these characters.
你会写汉字吗?
Nǐ huì xiě Hànzì ma?
Can you write Chinese characters?
（你會寫漢字嗎？ ）
会一点点儿。
Huì yì diǎndianr.
I can write a little.
（會一點點兒。）
