FOREIGN LANGUAGE 1
(CHINESE MANDARIN)
PATACSIL, MARIA JUVYNE N.
H133TTM_CHN1
PRELIM
prelim
INTRODUCTION NEW WORDS
Wo = I/me
V
How to introduce yourself in Mandarin? Shi = linking verbs (is, are,
Wo shi full name Wo shi Maria Juvyne N. Patacsil
V V
was, were, am)
Jiao = call/ed
Wo jiao nickname Wo jiao Vayne
V V
Xing = surname
Wo xing surname ming given name Wo xing Patacsil ming Maria Juvyne
V V
Ming = given name
NOUNS
Wo de = my/mine
V
Lao shi [law shr] = teacher
V
Example/s:
Xue sheng [shye sang] = student Teacher Sally Sally lao shi
V
Tong xue [tong shye] = classmate Friend Bianca Bianca peng you
Peng you [pang yow] = friend Lee is my classmate Lee shi wo de tong xue
RULE: Proper noun always comes first before their title, or anything that describes them.
RULE
GREETINGS
Huanying [hwanying] = Welcome NEW WORDS
Ni hao = Hello/Hi
V V
Ni = you/ikaw
V
Ni hao ma? = How are you?
V V
Hao [haw] = good/okay/fine
V
Wo hen hao = I'm (very) fine
V V V
Ma = asking word/ba?
Hen [huhn] = very/so
V
Bu tai hao = Not too good
V
Zao'an (Taiwan) / Zaoshang hao (Mainland China) = Good Morning
V V V Bu [pu] = not
Tai [tay] = too
Wu'an (Taiwan) / Xiawu hao (Mainland China) = Good Afternoon
V V V
Zao [zaw] = early
V
Wanshang hao = Good Evening
V V
an = greetings
Wan'an = Good Night
V
Zai [tsay] = again
Zaijian = Goodbye Jian [tyen] = to meet/to see
Xiexie = Thank you Xie [sye] = thanks
PINYIN and TONES
initial
syllable
shi
tone
medial
final
是 Chinese character
Chinese Mandarin is a tone dependent language. This means that you can say the same word with a different tone,
and it will have a completely different meaning. Tone goes from a medium pitch to a low pitch to a high pitch.
ㄅ = B [soft 'pah'] ㄉ = D [soft 'tah'] ㄍ = G [soft 'kah'] ㄐ = J [jee] ㄓ = Zhi [dzr] ㄗ = Zi [dzii]
ㄆ = P [hard 'pah'] ㄊ = T [hard 'tah'] ㄎ = K [hard 'kah'] ㄑ = Q [chi] ㄔ = Chi [chr] ㄘ = Ci [tsii]
CONSONANTS
ㄇ = M [mah] ㄋ = N [nah] ㄏ = H [hah] ㄒ = X [shee] ㄕ = Shi [shr] ㄙ = Si [sii]
ㄈ = F [fah] ㄌ = L [lah] ㄖ = Ri [rhr]
ㄚ = a [ah] ㄞ = ai [ayy] ㄢ = an [ahn] ㄦ = er [roll er] TAKE NOTE...
ㄛ = o [oh] ㄟ = ei [eyy] ㄣ = en [ehn] ㄧ = Yi,i [ih] B,P,M = uses LIPS when pronounced
VOWELS
ㄜ = e [eh] ㄠ = ao [aww] ㄤ = ang [ahng] ㄨ = Wu [u] = pronounced as BO,PO,MO,FO in Mainland
ㄝ = e [euh] ㄡ = ou [oww] ㄥ = eng [ehng] ㄩ = Yu [wi]
China
V D,T,N,L = TOUCHES DIFFERENT PART OF TEETH
when pronounced
G,K,H = uses THROAT when pronounced
Z,C,S = TEETH-BITING when pronounced
a,o,e,e = have FIXED POSITION when pronounced
ai,ei,ao,ou = forms BIG TO SMALL MOUTH
POSITION when pronounced
In order to differentiate meaning, the same syllable can be pronounced with different tones. Mandarin's tones give it
a very distinctive quality, but the tones can also be a source of miscommunication if not given due attention.
Mandarin is said to have four main tones and one neutral tone (or, as some say, five tones). Each tone has a
distinctive pitch contour which can be graphed using the Chinese 5-level system.
Pitch
Time
TONE 1 TONE 2 TONE 3 TONE 4
FIRST TONE
High and level. It is important to keep one's voice even (almost monotone) across the whole syllable when pronouncing
the first tone. It is represented by a straight horizontal line above a letter in pinyin (or sometimes by a number "1"
written after the syllable).
SECOND TONE
Rises moderately. In English we sometimes associate this rise in pitch with a question. The second tone is represented
by a rising diagonal line above a letter in pinyin (or sometimes by a number "2" written after the syllable).
THIRD TONE
Falls and then rises again. When pronounced clearly, its tonal "dipping" is very distinctive. It is represented by a
curved "dipping" line above a letter in pinyin (or sometimes by a number "3" written after the syllable).
FOURTH TONE
Starts out high but drops sharply to the bottom of the tonal range. English-speakers often associate this tone with
an angry command. It is represented by a dropping diagonal line above a letter in pinyin (or sometimes by a number
"4" written after the syllable).
FIFTH TONE
It is not mapped on the tone chart because it differs from the other four tones in that it does not have a defined
pitch contour. The neutral tone is pronounced quickly and lightly without regard to pitch. Syllables with a neutral tone
have no tone mark (but are sometimes marked with a "5" or a "0" after the syllable).
This tone is usually very easy to pick up. NOTE that aside from grammatical particles, single syllable words cannot
have a neutral tone.
PRONOUNS
SINGULAR PRONOUN PLURAL PRONOUN POSSESSIVE PRONOUN CASES PRONOUN
Wo = I/me
V
Wo men = we/us
V
Wo de = my/mine
V
Wo men de = our/ours
V
Ni = you
V
Ni men = you (plural)
V
Ni de = your/yours
V
Ni men de = your (plural)
V
Ta [nasally] = his/her/it Ta men = they/them Ta de = his/her Ta men de = their
NOTE
NOTE: DE [tah] is used for possessive Maria's (possessive) = Maria de
MEN [mahn] for plural forms Mendozas (plural) = Mendoza men
COLORS / YAN SE
5 CHINESE TRADITIONAL COLORS
1. Yellow Huang se [khwang suh]
- highest color; imperial color/color of emperor in China that wears yellow clothes with dragon design
2. Red Hong se [hong suh]
- second to the highest but highest color for ordinary people; symbolizes happiness
3. Green Lu se [lwi suh]
- represents China as an agricultural country
4. Black Hei se [hey suh]
5. White Bai se [pay suh]
- use for in mourn; in special events, they add white with red color
RULE to remember:
When adding two basic colors...
Orange Cheng se [tshang suh] METAL COLORS Basic Color 1 (w/o se) + Basic Color 2 (w/ se)
Ex. Blue-Green = Lan Lu se
Blue Lan se [lan suh] Gold Jin se [jin suh] Black-White = Hei bai se
Violet/Purple Zi se [dzi suh]
V
Silver Ying se [yin suh] When adding basic color with metal color...
Pink Fen hong se [fan hong suh]
V
Bronze Tong se [tong suh] Metal Color (w/o se) + Basic Color (w/ se)
Ex. Golden Red = Jin hong se
Brown (Coffee) Ka fei se [ka fey suh] Qing tong [tsing tong] Pink Bronze = Tong fen hong se
V
Gray Hui se [hwey suh]
FRUITS/GUOTZI/SHUI GUO
Apple ping guo [ping kwo]
V
Melon mi gua [mi kwa] Pear li zi [li tzi]
Mango mang guo [mang kwo] V
Papaya mu gua [mu kwa] Peach tao zi [taw tzi]
Kiwi qi yi guo [chi i kwo]
V
Coconut ye zi [ye tzi] Lychee li zhi [li jhr]
Watermelon xi gua [si kwa] Orange cheng zi [tsang tzi] Strawberry cao mei [chaw mey]
V
Blueberry lan mei [lan mey] NEW WORDS
Jiao [tsyaw] = elongated shape
Shui Guo [shwey kwo] = Fruit (Taiwan) Xiang [tyiang] = good fragrance
Grapes pu tao [phu taw] Guo zi [kwo tzi] = Fruit (China) Xiang Jiao = good relationship
Cherry ying tao [ing taw] Guo [kwo] = small-sized fruit Fen li = Taiwan
Gua [kwa] = big-sized fruit Bu luo = Mainland China
Banana xiang jiao [tyiang tsiaw] Mi = honey Mao [maw] = hairy
Mu = wood Bing = ice
Pineapple feng li/bo luo [fang li/po lwo] Zi = no specific size Pao =
Mei [mey] = berry-type Sha = sand
Rambutan hong mao dan [hong maw tan] Cao [chaw] = grass/herb
Jackfruits bo luo mi [po lwo mi]
ADD ONS RULE to remember:
Peel/Skin pi Powder hong When adding fruits and add-ons...
Fruit + add-ons
Juice zhi [dzi] Dried gan [khan] Ex. Dried Mango = mang guo gan
Shake/Smoothie bingpao/bingsha [pingpaw/pingsa] Salad shala Banana Chips = xiang jiao pian
When adding colors, fruits, and add-ons...
Slice/Chip pian [pyen] Milktea naicha Color (w/o se) + Fruit + add-ons
Ex. Green mango shake = lu mang guo bingpao
Red apple juice = hong ping guo zhi
VERBS
Xi huan [si hwan] = Like
V
SENTENCE CONSTRUCTION ...
Ai [ay!] = Love I like to eat green mango Wo xi huan chi lü se mang guo
V V V
:
Yao [yaw!] = Want I don't want to buy pineapple Wo bu yao mai feng li V V
Chi [tshi] = Eat Do you like to eat mango? Ni xi huan chi mang guo?
V V V
He [heuh] = Drink Don't you like to buy pineapple Ni bu yao mai feng li ma?
V V
Mai [mayy] = Buy
V
What color? Shen me yan se?
Mai [may!] = Sell You love what color? Ni ai shen me yan se?
V
Gei [gey] = Give
V
I love color black Wo ai hei se
V
Shi [shr] = is, are, was, were, am Do you love color black? Ni ai hei se ma?
V
TAKE NOTE...
When changing the sentence into
QUESTION WORD I don't like to eat strawberry question, just change the "wo" to "ni"
Shen me [she mah] = What Wo bu xi huan chi cao mei
V V V then put the "ba" in the end of the
question.
Ma [mah] = Do/Does To show negation in the sentence or
question, use "bu".
MIDTERM
NUMBERS / HAO SU
ENGLISH CHINESE PINYIN PRONUNCIATION RULES to remember in numbers...
one 一 yi [ih] For 11 to 19: shi + number...
two 二 er/liang [euhr/lyang]
V
three 三 san [san]
Examples:
four 四 si [suh] 11 = shi yi 15 = shi wu
five 五 wuV
[u] 12 = shi er 19 = shi jiu
six 六 liu [lyo]
seven 七 qi [chi]
eight 八 ba [soft pah]
For 20 to 99: number + shi (end with zero)...
nine 九 jiu
V
[jyo] number + shi + number (if not)...
ten 十 shi [shr?] Examples:
zero 零 ling [ling] 20 = er shi 31 = san shi yi
hundred 百 bai
V
[soft pay]
thousand 千 qian [chen] 70 = qi shi 59 = wu shi jiu
10,000 万 wan [wan] 90 = jiu shi 88 = ba shi pa
For hundreds: number + "bai" + same with first two rules... TAKE NOTE...
WHEN TO USE "ER" AND "LIANG"?
Examples: ER - used when any number ends with number
300 = san bai 402 = si bai ling er 2
- used in the beginning for numbers 20-29
900 = jiu bai 896 = ba bai jiu shi liu LIANG - used in hundreds and thousands, when
200 = liang bai 303 = san bai ling san it begins with number 2.
120 = yi bai er shi 222 = liang bai er shi er
In hundreds and thousands. don't skip instead
use "LING" in case a number states, zero (0).
For thousands: number + "qian" + same with first three rules...
Examples:
8,956 = ba qian jiu bai wu shi liu 7,403 = qi qian si bai ling san
3,035 = san qian ling san shi wu 6,250 = liu qian liang bai wu shi
5,662 = wu qian liu bai liu shi er 9,099 = jiu qian ling jiu shi jiu
2,222 = liang qian liang bai er shi er 4,423 = si qian si bai er shi san
CHINESE CULTURE OF NUMBERS
1 = none
2 = referring to "you" Shou Ji = Cellphone
3 = none Dian Hua = Telephone
4 = death/event Chuan Zhen = Fax
5 = I/me
6 = happiness Let's make some sentences:
7 = sound of the blowing wind What is your cellphone number? Ni de shou ji ji hao?
you
8 = progress/infinity use for possession cellphone number asking what number?
9 = king's lucky number/forever/death My cellphone number is... Wo de shou ji hao shi...
10 = perfect number
00 = keep going
WRITING THE DATES
WRITING DATE PATTERN:
# Nian [nyen] + # Yue [ywe] + # Ri/Hao [rhr/haw] + Xingqi # [singchi]
(YEAR) (MONTH) (DAY) ("Ri" for written, "Hao" for oral) (DAYS OF THE WEEK)
Example/s:
Year 2000 Year 2005
= liang qian nian = liang qian ling wu nian (Formal/Long cut)
Year 2022 = er ling ling wu nian (Shortcut)
= liang qian ling er shi er nian (Formal/Long cut) Year 1521
= er ling er er nian (Shortcut) = yi qian wu bai er shi yi nian (Formal/Long cut)
= yi wu er yi nian (Shortcut)
For months: number + yue...
January = yi yue Example/s:
February = er yue February 10, 2004
March = san yue = liang qian ling si nian er yue shi ri
April = si yue April 22, 2003 (bday)
May = wu yue = er ling ling san nian si yue er shi eri ri
June = liu yue July 16, 1819
July = qi yue = yi ba yi jiu nian qi yue shi liu ri
August = ba yue February 14, 2025
September = jiu yue = er ling er wu nian er yue shi si ri
October = shi yue September 11, 1979
November = shi yi yue = yi jiu qi jiu nian jiu yue shi yi ri
December = shi er yue
For days of the week: xingqi + number... Monday = xingqi yi
Tuesday = xingqi er
- "Qing" means star; "qi" means length of time
Wednesday = xingqi san
- Other terms for weeks are libai (religious belief), zhou (formal use)
Thursday = xingqi si
- "Li" mean event; "bai" means bowing
Friday = xingqi wu
- "Tian" means day/sky; "Ri" means day/sun
Saturday = xingqi liu
Sunday = xingqi ri/xingqi tian
Example/s: = libai ri/libai tian
Monday and Tuesday = xingqi yi he xingqi er
Sunday and Saturday = xingqi ri han xingqi liu
2 months = liang ge yue WORDS FOR SENTENCES
He [heuh]/hand = and
7 weeks = qi ge xingqi Ji [gee] = asking word/which or what
how many?
10 years = shi nian Duoshao [to saw] = how many?
Example/s:
Ji yue? = What month?
Ji ge yue? = How many months?
ADVERB OF TIME
DAY = tian [tyen] WEEK = xingqi [sing chi]
Today = jin tian [jin tyen] This week = zhe ge xingqi [tsuh kah sing chi]
Yesterday = zuo tian [zwo tyen] Last week = shang ge xingqi [sang kah sing chi]
Tomorrow = ming tian [ming tyen] Next week = xia ge xingqi [sha kah sing chi]
Everyday = meitian/meiri/tian tian Every week = mei ge xingqi [mey kah sing chi]
MONTH = yue [ywe] YEAR = nian [nyan]
This month = zhe ge yue [tsuh kah ywe] This year = jin nian [jin nyan] VERB WORDS:
Last month = shang ge yue [sang kah ywe] Last year = qu nian [chu nyan] Shi [shr] = am/is/are/was/were
You [yow] = has/have
Next month = xia ge yue [sha kah ywe] Next year = ming nian [ming nyan] NEGATION WORDS:
Every month = mei ge yue [mey kah ywe] Bushi [pushr] = is not/am not/are not
Meiyou [meyyow] = don't have
REMEMBER: Ge [keuh] is a measurement
word and only used for weeks and months.
SENTENCE CONSTRUCTION
This month is June = zhe ge yue shi liu yue
Last year is 2021 = qu nian shi er ling er yi nian
Yesterday was Monday = zuo tian shi xingqi yi
Today is June 7 = jin tian shi liu yue qi ri/hao
One year has how many days? = Yi nian you ji tian?
How many year 365 days has? = Ji nian you san bai liu shi wu tian?
Today is what month and what day? = Jin tian shi ji yue ji ri?
Liu yue you ji tian? = June have how many days?
Liu yue you san shi tian = June have 30 days
4 months has 16 weeks = si ge yue you shi liu ge xingqi
TAKE NOTE: In converting sentence to question, always put "ji" or "duoshao" in the sentence that you want to get an answer.
FINALS
FAMILY NEW WORDS
Yeye [yehyeh] Nainai [naynay] Waipo [waypwo] Waigong [waykong] Shoti = younger bro (Fukien)
Shobe = younger sis (Fukien)
(Grandfather) (Grandmother) (Grandmother) (Grandfather)
Qin = dear
Fu mu qin = parents
Wai = outside
baba [papa]/fu qin [pu chin] mama /mu qin [mu chin]
(father) (mother)
didi [tihtih] meimei [meymey] wo [woh] gege [keuhkeuh] jiejie [tyetye]
(younger brother) (younger sister) (me) (older brother) (older sister)
use in China Mrs. in Modern
Wife = qi zi [chitsuh]/taitai/laopo [lawpwo] Daughter = er zi [er tzi]
Husband = zhangfu [tsangfu]/laogong [lawkong]/xian sheng [syen shang] Son = nu er [nwi er]
old term Mr. in Modern
VOCABULARY
Name = ming/ming zi [mhing tzi] Sing = chang ge [tsang kah]
Nickname = jiao [tiaw] Dance = tiao wu [tyaw u]
Surname = xing Read books = kan shu [kan su]
Age = sui [swey] Speak = jiang [tyiang]
Birthday = sheng ri [shang rhr] Filipino language = fei yu [fey wi]
:
Live in/at/on = zhu zai [tsu tsay] English language = ying yu [ing wi]
:
Cellphone number = shou ji hao [sow gi haw] Chinese language = hua yu [hwa wi]
:
Telephone number:= duan hua hao [tyen hwa hao] Japanese language = re yu [reuh wi]
:
ID number = zheng hao [tseng haw] Filipino nationality = fei lu bin ren [fey lwi pin reuhn]
:
Province = sheng [shang] Chinese nationality = zhong guo ren [tsong kwo reuhn]
Hobbies = ai hao [ay haw] Japanese nationality = re pen ren [reuh peuhn reuhn]
LPU = fei lu bin de lyceum da xue [fey lwi pin tah layseum ta shye] English (US) nationality = mei guo ren [mey kwo reuhn]
:
Breakfast = zao can [tsaw tsan] Go home = hui jia [hwey tya]
Lunch = wu can [u tsan] Watch movie = kan dian ying [kan tyen ing]
Dinner = wan can [wan tsan] Watch TV = kan dian shi [kan tyen shr]
Take a bath = xi zao [si tsaw] Read book= kan shu [kan su]
Sleep = shui jiao [swey tyiaw] Language = hua [hwa]
Wake up = qi chuang [chi chwang]
Study = du shu [tu su] Sheng [shang] = birth
School = xue xao [she shaw] Zhu [tsu] = Live
Go to = qu [chu] Sheng fen [tsan fan] = ID
Go to school = qu xue xiao [chu she shaw] Zheng [tsang] = document
Start of class = shang ke [shang keuh] Yi dian dian [i tyen tyen] = a little
Dismissal = xia ke [sya keuh] Can [tsan] = meal
Do assignment = zuo gong ke [two kong keuh]
PERSONAL INFO
NEW WORDS
Wo xing surname ming given name = My surname ____ name ____ Nali = where
Wo jin nian number sui = I am ____ yrs old Nayi = which
Ni jia = your family/house
Wo de sheng rì zài year nián month yuè day rì = My birthday is on ____ Nu = girl
Nan = boy
Wo shi province sheng ren = My province is in ____
Wo zhu zai city shi = I live in ____ city Use "hua" in the end for
dialects (eg. Ilocano hua).
Wo shi nationality = I am a ____
Wo de shou ji hao shi cell number = My cellphone number is ____
Wo de dian hua hao shi telephone number = My telephone number is ____
Wo hui jiang language = I can speak ____
Wo zai school du shu = I am studying at ____
Wo du course = I am studying ____
Wo du da xue year level nian ji = I am studying ____ year college
Wo de xue sheng zheng hao shi student ID number = My student ID number is ____
Wo jia you family members han wo = My family has a _____ and me
Wo de subject name lao shi shì teacher's surname lao shi = My ____ teacher is ____
Ni jia you ji kou ren? = How many are you in your house/family?