Basic Phrases in Chinese

About one billion people (around one-fifth of the world's population) speak some form of Chinese as their native language. There are between seven and thirteen main regional groups of Chinese (depending on the classification scheme). Mandarin (around 850 million) and Cantonese (around 70 million) are some of the most spoken forms of the Chinese language.

Mandarin is known as the 'common language' in China. It is the language of the government and the media in China and Taiwan. It is also one of the four official languages in Singapore. In addition, there are communities of Mandarin speakers throughout the world. The total number of Mandarin speakers is more than 1 billion.

Pronounce it Right!

Let's now learn how pronunciation works in Mandarin.

A	---	as in 'father'
Ai	---	as in 'high'
Ao	---	as in the 'ow' in 'wow'
E	---	as in the 'u' in 'burden'
Ei	---	as in the 'ei' in 'weigh'
I	---	as in the 'ee' in 'meet' or like 'oo' in 'look'
Ian	---	as in 'yen'
Ie	---	like the word 'yeah'
O	---	as in 'for'
Ou	---	as the 'oa' in 'boat'
U	---	as in 'jute'
Ui	---	as in the word 'bay'
Uo	---	like a 'w' followed by an 'o'
Yu	---	as in the German 'ü'
ü	---	same as above
C	---	like the 'ts' in 'bits'
Ch	---	as in 'chop'
H	---	as in 'hay'
Q	---	like the 'ch' in 'chips'
R	---	like the 's' in 'pleasure'
Sh	---	as in 'ship'
X	---	as in the 'sh' in 'ship'
Z	---	like the 'dz' in ‘thuds'
Zh	---	like to 'j' in budge

Master the Basics

Ni hao	---	Hello
Zaijian	---	Goodbye
Xiexie	---	Thank you
Bukeqi	---	You're welcome
Mei you	---	No (don't have)
Bushi	---	No (not so)
Wo fingbudong	---	I don't understand
Dong ma?	---	Do you understand?
Duibuqi	---	I'm sorry
Nin guixing?	---	What's your name?
Ni shi cong nar laide?	---	Where are you from?

Settle In

Wo neng kankan fangjian ma?	---	Can I see the room?
Luguan	---	Hotel
Danrenfang	---	Single room
Shuangrenfang	---	Double room

Ask for Directions

School zai nail?	---	Where is the school?
Zuo zhuan	---	Turn left
You zhuan	---	Turn right
Yizhi zou	---	Straight ahead
Youju	---	Post office
Dian hua	---	Telephone
Feijichang	---	Airport

Keeping Track

Jintian	---	Today
Mingtian	---	Tomorrow
Zuotian	---	Yesterday
Ji dian?	---	What time is it?
Xianzai	---	Now

Numbers Talk

1	---	Yi, Yao
2	---	Er, Liang
3	---	San
4	---	Si
5	---	Wu
6	---	Liu
7	---	Qi
8	---	Ba
9	---	Jiu
10	---	Shi

Cantonese is spoken by about more than 66 million people in the Guángdong and Guángxi provinces as well as Hainán island in China. It is also spoken in Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, the USA, the Netherlands and several other countries that have Chinese-speaking communities.

Pronounce it Right!

Let's now learn how pronunciation works in Mandarin.

A	---	as the ‘a’ in 'father'
Ai	---	as the 'i' in 'bind'
Au	---	as the 'ou' in 'bout'
E	---	as the ‘e’ in 'set'
Ei	---	as the 'a' in 'bay'
Eu	---	as 'e' + the 'ur' in 'burn'
I	---	as the 'ee' in 'see'
Iu	---	is similar to 'you'
O	---	as in 'pot'
Oi	---	an in the 'oy' in 'toy'
Oo	---	as in 'noon'
Ou	---	as the rod 'owe'
U	---	as in 'put'
Ue	---	in 'sue'
Ui	---	as 'oo' + 'ee'
J	---	like the 'dz' in 'thuds'
Ch	---	like the 'ts' in 'tsar'
Ng	---	as in 'ring'

Master the Basics

Nehih ho ma?	---	Hello, how are you?
Nehih sik m sik gong ying man a?	---	Do you speak English?
Ngoh m mihng	---	I don't understand
Baahih baahih/joih gin	---	Goodbye
M goih	---	Thanks

Settle In

Yahuh mo fong a?	---	Do you have any rooms?
Ni goh geih doh chin a?	---	How much is this?
Geih doh chin yat mahahn a?	---	How much per night?
Ho gwaih	---	That's expensive

Keeping Track

Jintian	---	Today
Mingtian	---	Tomorrow
Zuotian	---	Yesterday
Ji dian?	---	What time is it?
Xianzai	---	Now

Numbers Talk

1	---	Yat
2	---	Yih
3	---	Saahm
4	---	Seih
5	---	Ng
6	---	Luhk
7	---	Chat
8	---	Baaht
9	---	Gauh
10	---	Sahp

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