Learn Chinese Everyday 每日学华语 » Weekly Activities http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com Learn Chinese -- Learn a Chinese Character a Day -- Sat, 31 Jul 2010 07:45:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Chinese Sentence Structure and Word Order IX – Part I http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/07/31/chinese-sentence-structure-and-word-order-ix-part-i/ http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/07/31/chinese-sentence-structure-and-word-order-ix-part-i/#comments Sat, 31 Jul 2010 07:00:30 +0000 Min Min http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/?p=6879 This grammar section is divided into a few sub-sections, and will be described through a few week activities:

SP1. Basic Pattern
SP2. Direct and Indirect Objects
SP3. Prepositional Phrases
SP4. Location and Time Phrases
SP5. Adverbs
SP6. Negation
SP7. Duration
SP8. Noun
SP9. Question
SP10. Particle

SP9 : Question – Yes-No Questions

  • In Chinese, the words order in questions is identical to the order of phrases in statements.   

    Example

    What are you doing?
    nǐ zài zuò shí me ?
    你 在 做 什 么 ?
    Subject Verb Question Word
    you doing what
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]

    The Anwser:

    I am eating.
    wǒ zài chī fàn 。
    我 在 吃 饭 。
    Subject Verb Object
    I eating rice
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
  • Here are a few types Yes-No Questions that we have learnt so far:
  • Today we will study in details the sentence structure for these Yes-No Questions.
  • For Questions with 吗 and 呢:

    - Statement (subject + verb ) + (particle : 吗 / 呢) ？

    1. Are you Chinese?
    nǐ shì zhōng guó rén ma ？
    你 是 中 国 人 吗 ?
    Declarative Sentence 吗
    you are Chinese Question
    Word
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    2. I am Chinese, what about you?
    wǒ shì zhōng guó rén ， nǐ ne ？
    我 是 中 国 人 ， 你 呢 ?
    Declarative Sentence Phrase 呢
    I am Chinese you Question
    Word
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
  • For Questions Verb-Not-Verb, 是否 and either-or (还是):

    - subject + [是否] + predicate ?
    - subject + [ verb + not (不/没） + verb ] + predicate / object ?
    - subject + [ noun phrase/verb phrase/sentence + 还是 + noun phrase/verb phrase/sentence] ?

    1. Are you Chinese?
    nǐ shì fǒu shì zhōng guó rén ？
    你 是 否 是 中 国 人 ?
    Subject Question
    Word    		 Predicate
    you whether are Chinese
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    2. Are you Chinese?
    nǐ shì bú shì zhōng guó rén ？
    你 是 不 是 中 国 人 ?
    Subject Question
    Word    		 Predicate
    you yes or not Chinese
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    3. Are you Chinese or Japanese
    nǐ shì zhōng guó rén hái shì rì běn rén ？
    你 是 中 国 人 还 是 日 本 人 ?
    Subject Phrase Question
    Word    		 Phrase
    you are Chinese or Japanese
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
  • Here are just a few Yes-No questions. Try the above links to see more examples of questions.
  • Have a nice weekend.
]]> http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/07/31/chinese-sentence-structure-and-word-order-ix-part-i/feed/ 0 Exercise – 听写 IV http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/07/24/exercise-%e2%80%93-%e5%90%ac%e5%86%99-iv/ http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/07/24/exercise-%e2%80%93-%e5%90%ac%e5%86%99-iv/#comments Sat, 24 Jul 2010 07:00:42 +0000 Min Min http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/?p=6776

Chinese Dictation

  • 听写 （tīng xiě）means dictation. “听“ means listen while “写” means write.
  • This is our 6th dictation exercise. Dictation exercise helps to recall and revise Chinese characters that we have learnt.
  • Here is the list of previous exercises :
  • Click on the play to listen and write down the characters on a paper. Replay the audio if you can’t get the words.
  • You can check the answers at the end of the post.
  • Here we go.

[Audio clip: view full post to listen]

  • There are total of 20 characters for this exercise. You can share your result in the comment section.
  • Have a nice weekend. Happy learning.

hide | show the answer


]]> http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/07/24/exercise-%e2%80%93-%e5%90%ac%e5%86%99-iv/feed/ 0 Content Questions II : Whose, Which, How many, How http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/07/17/content-questions-ii-whose-which-how-many-how/ http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/07/17/content-questions-ii-whose-which-how-many-how/#comments Sat, 17 Jul 2010 07:00:13 +0000 Min Min http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/?p=6634
  • Last week, we learned how to ask questions using “Who, What, When, How, Where, Why” in Chinese. (link)
  • There are still a few type of content questions that we haven’t covered, i.e. “Whose, Which, How many, How (intensity)”
    • 1. Whose 谁的
    shéi de/ shuí de
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    1. Whose idea is this?
    zhè shì shuí de yì jiàn ？
    这 是 谁 的 意 见 ？
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    2. Do you know whose cup it is?
    nǐ zhī dào zhè bēi shì shuí de ma ?
    你 知 道 这 杯 是 谁 的 吗 ？
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    2. Which 哪
    nǎ
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    1. Which class are you in?
    nǐ men shì nǎ yī bān de ？
    你 们 是 哪 一 班 的 ？
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    2. When (which day) will your wedding take place?
    nǎ tiān shì nǐ men dà xǐ de rì zi ?
    哪 天 是 你 们 大 喜 的 日 子 ？
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    3. How many? 几
    jǐ
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    多少
    duō shǎo
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    1. How many customers came yesterday?
    zuó tiān lái le jǐ wèi kè rén ?
    昨 天 来 了 几 位 客 人 ？
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    2. How many pupils are there in this class?
    zhè yì bān yǒu duō shǎo xué sheng ?
    这 一 班 有 多 少 学 生 ？
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    4. How
    (intensity)    		 多
    duō
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    1. How far is it from Beijing to Shanghai?
    cóng běi jīng dào shàng hǎi yǒu duō yuǎn ?
    从 北 京 到 上 海 有 多 远 ？
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    2. How old is your son?
    Nǐ ér zǐ duō dà le ?
    你 儿 子 多 大 了 ？
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    • As a summary, we have learnt how to ask questions for “Who, What, When, How, Where, Why, Whose, Which, How many, How (intensity)” in Chinese.
    • Happy learning, and have a nice weekend.
    ]]>     http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/07/17/content-questions-ii-whose-which-how-many-how/feed/ 0     Content Questions I : Who, What, When, How, Where, Why http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/07/10/content-questions-i-who-what-when-how-where-why/ http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/07/10/content-questions-i-who-what-when-how-where-why/#comments Sat, 10 Jul 2010 08:15:45 +0000 Min Min http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/?p=6480
  • Content questions are used to ask about the identify of a person, an object, a time, a location, or a quantity, or to seek an explanation or process.
  • In English, we can ask questions using “Who, What, When, How, Where, Why”.
  • Today we are going to learn how to ask these type of questions in Chinese.
    • 1. Who 谁
    shéi / shuí
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    1. Who’s at the door?
    shuí zài mén wài ？
    谁 在 门 外 ？
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    2. Who is he talking to?
    tā zài gēn shuí shuō huà ?
    他 在 跟 谁 说 话 ？
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    2. What 什么
    shén me
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    1. What do you want?
    nǐ yào shén me ？
    你 要 什 么 ？
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    2. What is your ideal in life?
    nǐ de lǐ xiǎng shì shén me ?
    你 的 理 想 是 什 么 ？
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    3. When 几时
    jǐ shí
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    什么时候
    shén me shí hou
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    1. When will you come back?
    nǐ jǐ shí huí lái ?
    你 几 时 回 来 ？
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    2. When is your vacation?
    nǐ men shén me shí hou fàng jià ?
    你 们 什 么 时 候 放 假 ？
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    4. How 怎么
    zěn me
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    怎样
    zěn yàng
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    1. How should I address her?
    wǒ gāi zěn me chēng hu tā ?
    我 该 怎 么 称 呼 她 ？
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    2. How did you spend your holiday?
    jià qī guò de zěn yàng ?
    假 期 过 得 怎 样 ？
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    5. Where 哪里
    nǎ li
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    哪儿
    nǎ er
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    什么地方
    shén me dì fang
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    1. Where do you live?
    nǐ zhù zài nǎ lǐ ?
    你 住 在 哪 里 ？
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    2. Where is he hiding?
    tā cáng zài nǎ er ?
    他 藏 在 哪 儿 ？
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    3. Where are you from?
    nǐ shì shén me dì fang de rén ?
    你 是 什 么 地 方 的 人 ？
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    6. Why 为什么
    wèi shén me
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    1. Why were you late?
    nǐ wèi shén me chí dào ？
    你 为 什 么 迟 到 ？
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    2. Why must he do it that way?
    wèi shén me tā yào nà yàng zuò ?
    为 什 么 他 要 那 样 做 ？
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    • We have learnt most of the characters for these content questions before. Try to practice how to write those characters.
    • Happy learning, and have a nice weekend.
    ]]>     http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/07/10/content-questions-i-who-what-when-how-where-why/feed/ 0     Characters with Radical Hand (扌) http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/07/03/characters-with-radical-hand-%e6%89%8c/ http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/07/03/characters-with-radical-hand-%e6%89%8c/#comments Sat, 03 Jul 2010 07:00:25 +0000 Min Min http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/?p=6369
  • We have learnt the character 手 (hand). When it acts as a radical, it is written as 扌and is read as 提手旁 (tí shǒu páng). (Radical I)

    learn Chinese

  • Here is a list of characters with the radical 扌 that we have learnt so far:
    Character Pinyin Meaning Pronunciation Link
    打 dǎ beat [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Link
    摸 mō feel, touch [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Link
    推 tuī push [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Link
    拉 lā pull [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Link
    搬 bān move [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Link
    抓 zhuā grab, scratch [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Link
    • Watch Videos to Learn

    Happy learning!

    ]]>     http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/07/03/characters-with-radical-hand-%e6%89%8c/feed/ 0     Rearrange the words IV (重组词句) http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/06/26/rearrange-the-words-iv-%e9%87%8d%e7%bb%84%e8%af%8d%e5%8f%a5/ http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/06/26/rearrange-the-words-iv-%e9%87%8d%e7%bb%84%e8%af%8d%e5%8f%a5/#comments Sat, 26 Jun 2010 07:00:10 +0000 Min Min http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/?p=6265

    • 重组 （zhòng zǔ） means rearrange, 词 （cí） means word and 句 （jù） means sentence.
    • Try to rearrange the characters below to form a sentence.
    • Have a nice weekend.
    Sentence 1
    年 他 的 龄 和 同 相 我

    tips | hide

    Sentence 2
    中 人 ， 国 呢 是 我 你

    tips | hide

    Sentence 3
    等 五 加 于 八 三

    tips | hide

    Sentence 4
    吃 要 餐 你 吃 西 餐 是 还 中

    tips | hide

    Sentence 5
    色 着 是 服 总 的 她 黑 穿 衣

    tips | hide

    Sentence 6
    快 么 别 请 得 说 那

    tips | hide

    Sentence 7
    要 了 我 走 的 真

    tips | hide

    Sentence 8
    欢 喜 不 他 是 你 是

    tips | hide

    Sentence 9
    顾 己 己 好 自 自 要 照 你

    tips | hide

    Sentence 10
    定 功 会 将 成 来 一 他

    tips | hide

    hide | show the anwser

    ]]>     http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/06/26/rearrange-the-words-iv-%e9%87%8d%e7%bb%84%e8%af%8d%e5%8f%a5/feed/ 0     Exercise – 听写 V http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/06/19/exercise-%e2%80%93-%e5%90%ac%e5%86%99-v/ http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/06/19/exercise-%e2%80%93-%e5%90%ac%e5%86%99-v/#comments Sat, 19 Jun 2010 07:00:50 +0000 Min Min http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/?p=6158

    Chinese Dictation

    • It has been almost 3 months since we had our last dictation.
    • 听写 （tīng xiě）means dictation. “听“ means listen while “写” means write.
    • Here is the list the previous exercises :
    • Click on the play to listen and write down the characters on a paper. Replay the audio if you can’t get the words.
    • You can check the answers at the end of the post.
    • Here we go.

    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]

    • Have a nice weekend. Happy learning.

    hide | show the answer


    ]]>     http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/06/19/exercise-%e2%80%93-%e5%90%ac%e5%86%99-v/feed/ 0     Questions with 呢 http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/06/12/questions-with-%e5%91%a2/ http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/06/12/questions-with-%e5%91%a2/#comments Sat, 12 Jun 2010 07:00:32 +0000 Min Min http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/?p=6072
  • Today we are going to learn how to ask questions using 呢.
  • Learn how to write the character 呢 here.
  • The particle 呢 (ne) is usually used in context to return a question, and it has a somewhat suggestive air to it, or a hint of doubt.Example:
    1. I am chinese, what about you?
    wǒ shì zhōng guó rén ， nǐ ne ？
    我 是 中 国 人 ， 你 呢 ?
    I is/am Chinese you particle

    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    2. If you all go, what about me?
    nǐ men dōu zǒu ， wǒ ne ?
    你 们 都 走 ， 我 呢 ?
    you all go I particle

    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
  • Here is another conversation example using 呢 :
    Mary : Can you speak Chinese?
    mǎ lì
    玛 丽
    		：
    nǐ huì shuō zhōng wén ma ?
    你 会 说 中 文 吗 ?
    Tom : Yes
    tāng mǔ
    汤 姆
    		：
    huì 。
    会 。
    Mary : Japanese?
    mǎ lì
    玛 丽
    		：
    rì wén ne ?
    日 文 呢 ?
    Tom : No
    tāng mǔ
    汤 姆
    		：
    bú huì 。
    不 会 。

    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    • ]]>     http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/06/12/questions-with-%e5%91%a2/feed/ 1     Tongue Twister – 绕口令 http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/06/05/tongue-twister/ http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/06/05/tongue-twister/#comments Sat, 05 Jun 2010 08:00:45 +0000 Min Min http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/?p=5930
  • 绕口令（ rào kǒu lìng ）, tongue twister / poem, is useful for you to practice Chinese pronunciation correctly.
  • While preparing my Pinyin ebook, I have included the following 绕口令 into the book. And I am going to share the 绕口令 here today.
  • Here are the 3 words that you need to pay attention to.
    • 兔子 (tù zi) rabbit [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    裤子 (kù zi) pants [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    肚子 (dù zi) stomach; belly [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    小 兔 子 做 裤 子
    xiǎo tù zi zuò kù zi
    Little rabbit makes pants
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    量 了 裤 子 量 肚 子
    liàng le kù zi liàng dù zi
    measured pants then measured belly
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    做 好 裤 子 提 不 上 肚 子
    zuò hǎo kù zi tí bú shàng dù zi
    made pants but can’t pull it over belly
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    小 兔 子 看 裤 子
    xiǎo tù zi kàn kù zi
    little rabbit looks at pants
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    不 知 是 没 量 准 裤 子
    bú zhī shì méi liàng zhǔn kù zi
    not sure if measured wrong pants
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    还 是 没 量 准 肚 子
    hái shì méi liàng zhǔn dù zi
    or measured wrong belly
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    • Here is the complete poem. Practice with the right pronunciation until you can read it with no mistakes.
      • 小兔子做裤子，
      量了裤子量肚子，
      做好裤子提不上肚子，
      小兔子看裤子，
      不知是没量准裤子，
      还是没量准肚子。

    • Female voice:
      [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    • Male voice
      [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    • For vocabulary, here are a few new words:
      量 : measure
      提 : carry, raise
      准 : accurate
    ]]>     http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/06/05/tongue-twister/feed/ 2     Vocabulary – Colour http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/05/29/vocabulary-colour/ http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/05/29/vocabulary-colour/#comments Sat, 29 May 2010 07:00:30 +0000 Min Min http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/?p=5802
  • For the last 2 weeks, we have learnt a few common colour （颜色）in Chinese.
  • Here is the summary and revision. I hope you still can remember those words.
    • Image / English 颜色
    Learn Chinese Vocabulary

    Black

    		 黑

    hēi [Audio clip: view full post to listen]

    link
    Learn Chinese Vocabulary

    White

    		 白

    bái [Audio clip: view full post to listen]

    link
    Learn Chinese Vocabulary

    Red

    		 红

    hóng [Audio clip: view full post to listen]

    link
    Learn Chinese Vocabulary

    Blue

    		 蓝

    lán [Audio clip: view full post to listen]

    link
    Learn Chinese Vocabulary

    Green

    		 绿

    lǜ [Audio clip: view full post to listen]

    link
    Learn Chinese Vocabulary

    Yellow

    		 黄

    huáng [Audio clip: view full post to listen]

    link
    Learn Chinese Vocabulary

    Purple

    		 紫

    zǐ [Audio clip: view full post to listen]

    link
    Learn Chinese Vocabulary

    Brown

    		 褐

    hè

    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]

    link
    Learn Chinese Vocabulary

    Gray

    		 灰

    huī [Audio clip: view full post to listen]

    link
    Learn Chinese Vocabulary

    Cyan

    		 青

    qīng [Audio clip: view full post to listen]

    link
    Learn Chinese Vocabulary

    Orange

    		 橙

    chéng [Audio clip: view full post to listen]

    link
    ]]>     http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/05/29/vocabulary-colour/feed/ 4     Questions with either-or http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/05/22/questions-with-either-or/ http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/05/22/questions-with-either-or/#comments Sat, 22 May 2010 07:00:20 +0000 Min Min http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/?p=5683
  • We have learnt 3 types of pattern to form a question:

    • 1. by adding a particle 吗 at the end of a declarative senetence:
    Declarative sentence + “吗”

    2. by repeating the first verb of the verb phrase in affirmative and negative form:
    verb + not (不/没） + verb

    3. by using 是否.

  • Today we are going to learn choosing between alternatives with either-or questions
  • 还是 (hái shi ) is used to ask a listener to choose between two alternatives, only one of which can be true or possible. It conveys the sense of ‘either. . . or’. Questions pattern:

    noun phrase/verb phrase/sentence + 还是 + noun phrase/verb phrase/sentence.

  • Question with noun phrase + 还是 + noun phrase.
    1. Are you Japanese or Chinese?
    nǐ shì rì běn rén hái shi zhōng guó rén ?
    你 是 日 本 人 还 是 中 国 人 ?
    noun phrase noun phrase
    you is Japanese or Chinese

    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    2. Do you want to drink black tea or jasmine tea?
    nǐ yào hē hóng chá hái shi huā chá ?
    你 要 喝 红 茶 还 是 花 茶 ?
    noun phrase noun phrase
    you want drink black tea or jasmine tea

    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
  • Question with verb phrase + 还是 + verb phrase.
    1. Do you want to have Chinese food or Western food?
    nǐ yào chī zhōng cān hái shi chī xī cān ?
    你 要 吃 中 餐 还 是 吃 西 餐 ?
    verb phrase verb phrase
    you want eat Chinese food or eat Western food

    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    2. Will you go there by bus or on foot?
    nǐ shì zuò chē qù hái shi zǒu lù qù ?
    你 是 坐 车 去 还 是 走 路 去 ?
    verb phrase verb phrase
    you is go by bus or go on foot

    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
  • Question with sentence + 还是 + sentence
    1. Which do you think is more difficult: Chinese or Japanese?
    nǐ jué dé shì zhōng wén nán xué hái shi rì wén nán xué ?
    你 觉 得 是 中 文 难 学 还 是 日 文 难 学 ?
    sentence sentence
    you feel is Chinese
    Language    		 hard learn or Japanese
    Language    		 hard learn

    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    2. Are you going or is he?
    nǐ qù hái shi tā qù ?
    你 去 还 是 他 去 ?
    sentence sentence
    you go or he goes

    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    • ]]>     http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/05/22/questions-with-either-or/feed/ 2     Questions with 是否 http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/05/15/questions-with-%e6%98%af%e5%90%a6/ http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/05/15/questions-with-%e6%98%af%e5%90%a6/#comments Sat, 15 May 2010 07:00:09 +0000 Min Min http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/?p=5591
  • We have learnt 2 types of pattern to form a question:

    1. by adding a particle 吗 at the end of a declarative senetence:
    Declarative sentence + “吗”

    2. by repeating the first verb of the verb phrase in affirmative and negative form:
    verb + not (不/没） + verb

  • Today we are going to learn another to form a sentence by using 是否.
  • 是否 means whether or if, and have the similar meaning as 是不是.
  • When 是否 is used before a verb, it turns a statement into a yes–no question.
  • 是否 questions are more common in written Chinese than in the spoken language.
  • Here are some examples that we learn last week. I have restructured the questions by using 是否:
    1. Can you speak Chinese?
    nǐ shì fǒu huì shuō zhōng wén ?
    你 是 否 会 说 中 文 ?
    you whether know speak Chinese

    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]

    你会不会说中文?
    2. Are you going swimming tomorrow?
    nǐ shì fǒu míng tiān qù yóu yǒng ?
    你 是 否 明 天 去 游 泳 ?
    you whether tomorrow go swimming

    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]

    你是不是明天去游泳?
    3. Do you like him?
    nǐ shì fǒu xǐ huān tā ?
    你 是 否 喜 欢 他 ?
    you whether like him

    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]

    你喜不喜欢他?
    4. Do you have money?
    nǐ shì fǒu yǒu qián ?
    你 是 否 有 钱 ?
    you whether have money

    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]

    你有没有钱?
    5. Couldn’t you give him a call?
    nǐ shì fǒu kě yǐ dǎ gè diàn huà gěi tā 。
    你 是 否 可 以 打 个 电 话 给 他 ?
    you whether can call measure
    word    		 phone to him

    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]

    你可不可以打个电话给他?
  • Try to reply ‘yes’ and ‘no’ to the above questions. You could post your answers in the comment session.
    • ]]>     http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/05/15/questions-with-%e6%98%af%e5%90%a6/feed/ 2     Questions with Verb-Not-Verb http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/05/08/questions-with-verb-not-verb/ http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/05/08/questions-with-verb-not-verb/#comments Sat, 08 May 2010 08:10:53 +0000 Min Min http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/?p=5481
  • We have learnt to form a question by adding a particle 吗 at the end of a declarative senetence. (link)

    The sentence pattern is :
    Declarative sentence + “吗”

  • Questions can also be formed by repeating the first verb of the verb phrase in affirmative and negative form.

    The sentence pattern is :
    verb + not (不/没） + verb

  • Here are some examples:
    1. Can you speak Chinese?
    nǐ huì bú huì shuō zhōng wén ?
    你 会 不 会 说 中 文 ?
    verb not verb
    you know or not know speak Chinese
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    2. Are you going swimming tomorrow?
    nǐ shì bú shì míng tiān qù yóu yǒng ?
    你 是 不 是 明 天 去 游 泳 ?
    verb not verb
    you yes or not yes tomorrow go swimming
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    3. Do you like him?
    nǐ xǐ bú xǐ huān tā ?
    你 喜 不 喜 欢 他 ?
    verb not verb
    you - or not like him
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    or you can say:
    你喜欢不喜欢他?
    4. Do you have money?
    nǐ yǒu méi yǒu qián ?
    你 有 没 有 钱 ?
    verb not verb
    you have or not have money
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    5. Couldn’t you give him a call?
    nǐ kě bú kě yǐ dǎ gè diàn huà gěi tā 。
    你 可 不 可 以 打 个 电 话 给 他 ?
    verb not verb
    you - or not can call measure
    word    		 phone to him
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    or you can say:
    你喜欢不喜欢他?
  • Try to reply ‘yes’ and ‘no’ to the above questions. You could post your answers in the comment session.
    • ]]>     http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/05/08/questions-with-verb-not-verb/feed/ 0     Chinese Children’s Song – 当我们同在一起 http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/05/01/chinese-childrens-song-%e5%bd%93%e6%88%91%e4%bb%ac%e5%90%8c%e5%9c%a8%e4%b8%80%e8%b5%b7/ http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/05/01/chinese-childrens-song-%e5%bd%93%e6%88%91%e4%bb%ac%e5%90%8c%e5%9c%a8%e4%b8%80%e8%b5%b7/#comments Sat, 01 May 2010 07:00:06 +0000 Min Min http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/?p=5380
  • This is our fifth song – 当我们同在一起 (As We Get Together). This song is quite short, so it should be easy to learn and sing.
  • Here are four previous songs that we have learnt:
    1. 客人来
    2. 三轮车
    3. 泥娃娃
    4. 雪人不见了
  • Let’s start by reading the lyrics.

    • 当我们同在一起

    dāng wǒ men tóng zài yī qǐ
    当 我 们 同 在 一 起 [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    zài yī qǐ zài yī qǐ
    在 一 起 在 一 起 [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    dāng wǒ men tóng zài yī qǐ
    当 我 们 同 在 一 起 [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    qí kuài lè wú bǐ
    其 快 乐 无 比 [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    nǐ duì zhe wǒ xiào xī xī
    你 对 着 我 笑 嘻 嘻 [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    wǒ duì zhe nǐ xiào hā hā
    我 对 着 你 笑 哈 哈 [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    dāng wǒ men tóng zài yī qǐ
    当 我 们 同 在 一 起 [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    qí kuài lè wú bǐ
    其 快 乐 无 比 [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    • Here is the song:
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    • Click on the character, and it will link you to the character page.
    • Meaning of the song:
    当我们同在一起
    As we get together
    在一起 ， 在一起
    together , together
    当我们同在一起
    We are so happy
    其快乐无比
    how can he run away
    你对着我笑嘻嘻
    You look and smile at me
    我对着你笑哈哈
    I look and smile at you
    当我们同在一起
    As we get together
    其快乐无比
    We are so happy
    当 : When
    我们 : we
    同 : do…together
    在一起 : together
    其 : that, such
    快乐 : happy
    无比 : imcomparable
    你 : you
    对 : be directed to; face
    着 : verb plus 着 placed before another verb, indicating an accompanying action or state
    我 : I, me
    笑 : laugh
    嘻嘻 : giggle (he he) (onomatopoeia)
    哈哈 : ha ha (onomatopoeia)
    Watch Videos to Learn
    • You may want to download the song (in zip format).
    • Happy singing and learning!

    Chinese children songs
    ]]>     http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/05/01/chinese-childrens-song-%e5%bd%93%e6%88%91%e4%bb%ac%e5%90%8c%e5%9c%a8%e4%b8%80%e8%b5%b7/feed/ 0     Characters with Radical Water (氵) http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/04/24/characters-with-radical-water-%e6%b0%b5/ http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/04/24/characters-with-radical-water-%e6%b0%b5/#comments Sat, 24 Apr 2010 07:00:17 +0000 Min Min http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/?p=5194
  • We have learnt the character 水 (water). When the character 水 acts as a radical, it is written as 氵(literally means three drops of water) and is read as 三点水 (sān diǎn shuǐ). (Radical I)

    learn Chinese

  • We have learnt some the characters that have the radical 口 and are related to mouth (click here). Today, we are going to review other characters that have the radical  氵(三点水) and are related to water:
    Character Pinyin Meaning Pronunciation Link
    河 hé river [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Link
    湖 hú lake [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Link
    池 chí pond [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Link
    海 hǎi sea [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Link
    浪 làng wave [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Link
    流 liú (of liquid) flow [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Link
    汗 hàn sweat [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Link
  • However, there are some characters with radical water, but are not related to water. For example : 没, 法。
    • Watch Videos to Learn

    Happy learning!

    ]]>     http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/04/24/characters-with-radical-water-%e6%b0%b5/feed/ 0     Rearrange the words III (重组词句) http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/04/17/rearrange-the-words-iii-%e9%87%8d%e7%bb%84%e8%af%8d%e5%8f%a5/ http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/04/17/rearrange-the-words-iii-%e9%87%8d%e7%bb%84%e8%af%8d%e5%8f%a5/#comments Sat, 17 Apr 2010 07:00:24 +0000 Min Min http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/?p=5076

    • 重组 （zhòng zǔ） means rearrange, 词 （cí） means word and 句 （jù） means sentence.
    • Try to rearrange the characters below to make a meaningful sentence.
    Sentence 1
    得 他 很 语 好 英 讲

    tips | hide

    Sentence 2
    人 子 里 没 屋

    tips | hide

    Sentence 3
    与 我 那 关 事 无

    tips | hide

    Sentence 4
    最 样 然 这 好 当 做

    tips | hide

    Sentence 5
    的 了 孩 你 大 多 子

    tips | hide

    Sentence 6
    大 天 风 今 刮

    tips | hide

    Sentence 7
    来 了 阳 出 太

    tips | hide

    Sentence 8
    只 鸟 上 小 两 树 有

    tips | hide

    Sentence 9
    吃 没 过 我 餐 有 西

    tips | hide

    Sentence 10
    大 下 雨 得 很

    tips | hide

    hide | show the anwser

    ]]>     http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/04/17/rearrange-the-words-iii-%e9%87%8d%e7%bb%84%e8%af%8d%e5%8f%a5/feed/ 4     Characters with Radical Mouth (口) http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/04/10/characters-with-radical-mouth-%e5%8f%a3/ http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/04/10/characters-with-radical-mouth-%e5%8f%a3/#comments Sat, 10 Apr 2010 07:00:28 +0000 Min Min http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/?p=5003
  • Radicals not only help you remember the graphic features of a character (making it easier for you to remember how to write it), but also provide you hints on pronunciation and meaning.
  • We have learnt the character 口 (mouth). And also we have learnt that this character  口  is a radical as well. (Radical I)

    learn Chinese

  • Today, we are going to review some of the characters that have the radical 口 and are related to mouth:
    Character Pinyin Meaning Pronunciation Link
    吹 chuī blow [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Link
    喊 hǎn shout [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Link
    吃 chī eat [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Link
    喝 hē drink [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Link
    呼 hū exhale [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Link
    吸 xī inhale [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Link
    哈 hā ha ha [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Link
    嘴 zuǐ mouth [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Link
    哭 kū cry [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Link
    問（问）* wèn ask [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Link
  • * Sometimes, radicals for Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese are not the same. According to this dictionary, Simplified Chinese 问 has radical 门, while Traditional Chinese 問 has radical 口.
    • Watch Videos to Learn

    Happy learning!

    ]]>     http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/04/10/characters-with-radical-mouth-%e5%8f%a3/feed/ 0     Vocabulary – Nature http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/04/03/vocabulary-nature/ http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/04/03/vocabulary-nature/#comments Sat, 03 Apr 2010 07:00:01 +0000 Min Min http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/?p=4811
  • Here are the some of words related to nature that we have learnt:
    • Image / English Chinese
    Learn Chinese Vocabulary
    The Sun    		 太阳（太陽）

    tài yáng

    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    Learn Chinese Vocabulary
    Stars    		 星星

    xīng xīng

    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    Learn Chinese Vocabulary
    The Moon    		 月亮

    yuè liàng

    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    Learn Chinese Vocabulary
    Cloud    		 云 （雲）

    yún

    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    Learn Chinese Vocabulary
    Sky    		 天

    tiān

    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    Learn Chinese Vocabulary
    Sea    		 海

    hǎi

    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    Learn Chinese Vocabulary
    Rain    		 雨

    yǔ

    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    Learn Chinese Vocabulary
    Snow    		 雪

    xuě

    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    Learn Chinese Vocabulary
    Lightning    		 闪电　（閃電）

    shǎn diàn

    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    Learn Chinese Vocabulary
    Thunder    		 雷

    léi

    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    Learn Chinese Vocabulary
    River    		 河／河流

    hé  / hé liú

    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    Learn Chinese Vocabulary
    Mountain    		 山

    shān

    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    Learn Chinese Vocabulary
    Wind    		 风

    fēng

    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    Learn Chinese Vocabulary
    Lake    		 湖

    hú

    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    Learn Chinese Vocabulary
    Pond    		 池

    chí

    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]

    images source:
    1. http://www.kids-pages.com
    2. http://www.mes-english.com

    ]]>     http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/04/03/vocabulary-nature/feed/ 0     Exercise – 听写 IV http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/03/27/exercise-%e5%90%ac%e5%86%99-iv/ http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/03/27/exercise-%e5%90%ac%e5%86%99-iv/#comments Sat, 27 Mar 2010 07:00:59 +0000 Min Min http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/?p=4794

    Chinese Dictation

    • 听写 （tīng xiě）means dictation. “听“ means listen while “写” means write.
    • This is our 4th dictation exercise. Please refer to here for the previous exercises :
      dictation I , dictation II and dictation III.
    • Click on the play to listen and write down the characters on a paper. Replay the audio if you can’t get the words.
    • You can check the answers at the end of the post.
    • Here we go.

    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]

    • Have a nice weekend. Happy learning.

    hide | show the answer


    ]]>     http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/03/27/exercise-%e5%90%ac%e5%86%99-iv/feed/ 0     Chinese Children’s Song – 雪人不见了 http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/03/20/chinese-childrens-song-%e9%9b%aa%e4%ba%ba%e4%b8%8d%e8%a7%81%e4%ba%86/ http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/03/20/chinese-childrens-song-%e9%9b%aa%e4%ba%ba%e4%b8%8d%e8%a7%81%e4%ba%86/#comments Sat, 20 Mar 2010 07:00:01 +0000 Min Min http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/?p=4675
  • Today we are going to sing our fourth Chinese song – “雪人不见了”  (The Snowman Disappears).
  • If you haven’t listened to the previous 3 songs, here are the links:
    1. 客人来
    2. 三轮车
    3. 泥娃娃
  • Personally, I think the song is very nice and I hope you all will like it.
  • Now, let’s start by reading the lyrics.

    • 雪人不见了

    xuě rén zěn me bú jiàn liǎo
    雪 人 怎 么 不 见 了 [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    xuě rén zěn me bú jiàn liǎo
    雪 人 怎 么 不 见 了 [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    xuě rén zhǐ yǒu shǒu , méi yǒu jiǎo
    雪 人 只 有 手 ， 没 有 脚 [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    jiào tā zěn me pǎo
    叫 它 怎 么 跑 [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    xuě rén zhǐ pà tài yáng zhào
    雪 人 只 怕 太 阳 照 [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    tài yáng chū lái xuě jiù xiāo
    太 阳 出 来 雪 就 消 [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    xuě rén bú huì hǎn ya bú huì jiào
    雪 人 不 会 喊 呀 不 会 叫 [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    nà tài yáng chū lái
    那 太 阳 出 来 [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    tā jiù zhǐ hǎo róng huà diào
    它 就 只 好 融 化 掉 [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    xuě rén yuán lái bú jiān láo
    雪 人 原 来 不 坚 牢 [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    zhǐ pà tài yáng zhào
    只 怕 太 阳 照 [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    tài yáng yī chū xuě jiù xiāo
    太 阳 一 出 雪 就 消 [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    xuě rén bú jiàn liǎo
    雪 人 不 见 了 [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    xuě rén zěn me bú jiàn liǎo
    雪 人 怎 么 不 见 了 [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    xuě rén yuán lái bú jiān láo
    雪 人 原 来 不 坚 牢 [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    suī rán tā yǒu tóu ya yě yǒu nǎo
    虽 然 它 有 头 呀 也 有 脑 [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    dàn tài yáng chū lái
    但 太 阳 出 来 [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    tā jiù zì jǐ bú néng bǎo
    它 就 自 己 不 能 保 [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    • Here is the song:
    [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
    • Click on the character, and it will link you to the character page.
    • “雪” (snow) and “太阳” (sun) are the words that we have learnt this week.
    • Meaning of the song:
    雪人怎么不见了
    how does the snowman disappear
    雪人怎么不见了
    how does the snowman disappear
    雪人只有手，没有脚
    snowman has no feet but hands
    叫它怎么跑
    how can he run away
    雪人只怕太阳照
    snowman fears only the sunshine
    太阳出来雪就消
    snow melts away under the sunshine
    雪人不会喊呀不会叫
    snowman cannot talk or shout
    那太阳出来它就只好融化掉
    it melts away under the sunshine
    雪人原来不坚牢
    snowman is not tough
    只怕太阳照
    snowman is afraid of sunshine
    太阳一出雪就消
    it melts away under the sunshine
    雪人不见了
    the snowman disappears
    雪人怎么不见了
    how does the snowman disappear
    雪人原来不坚牢
    snowman is not tough
    虽然它有头呀也有脑
    although it has head and brain
    但太阳出来它就自己不能保
    it melts away under the sunshine
    雪人 : snowman
    怎么 : how (how come)
    不见 : disappear, not see
    了 : (particle) used after an action that has taken place
    只 : only
    有 : have
    手 : hand
    没有 : don’t have
    脚 : feet, leg
    叫 : ask
    它 : it
    怎么 : how (how to)
    跑 : run
    怕 : scare, fear
    太阳 : sun
    照 : shine; light up
    出来 : come out
    雪 : snow
    就 : then
    消 : (=消失) disappear
    不会 : cannot
    喊 : shout
    呀 : used in place of 啊 when the preceding word ends in sound a, e, i, o, or ü
    叫 : call
    那 : that
    只好 : have to; be forced to
    融化 : melt
    掉 : used after certain verbs to indicate removal
    原来 : actually
    不 : not
    坚牢 : firmness, tough
    一 : used before a verb or an adjective, indicating the suddenness or thoroughness of an action or a change in the situation
    出 : come out
    虽然 : although
    头 : head
    也 : also
    脑 : brain
    但 : but
    自己 : self
    不能 : cannot
    保 : protect, defend
    Watch Videos to Learn
    • You may want to download the song (in zip format).
    • Happy singing and learning!

    Chinese children songs
    ]]>     http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2010/03/20/chinese-childrens-song-%e9%9b%aa%e4%ba%ba%e4%b8%8d%e8%a7%81%e4%ba%86/feed/ 2