Chinese Phrases

[msn]

Here are some basic simple words, phrases and sentences to impress your chinese friends or when you visit China/Taiwan.

Greetings　　　　　　　　　ni hao
Thank you　　　　　　　　　Xie xie ni
your welcome　　　　　　　　　bu xie
Hello, my name is Joe　　　　　　　　　Ni hao, wo shi joe or Ni hao, wo jaio joe
Where is the Water Closet (toliet)　　　　　　　　　Ce suo zai nar
Do you understand?　　　　　　　　　Ni dong ma? or Ni dong bu dong?
Questions are formulated with questions words like what, how or ends with the Ma or ba character Or choice type as in understand no understand like the sentence above dong by dong, the answer would be either understand or no understand.
I　　　　　　　　　Wo
You　　　　　　　　　Ni
He/She　　　　　　　　　ta
Us　　　　　　　　　Wo men
They　　　　　　　　　Ta men
You guys　　　　　　　　　Ni men
Who　　　　　　　　　Shei
What　　　　　　　　　Shen me
when　　　　　　　　　shen me shi hao
where　　　　　　　　　Nar or Na Li
why　　　　　　　　　wei shen me
how　　　　　　　　　zen me yang
this　　　　　　　　　zhe
that　　　　　　　　　na
here　　　　　　　　　zhe li
there　　　　　　　　　na li
If　　　　　　　　　ru gou
but　　　　　　　　　dan shi
because　　　　　　　　　yin wei
yes / is(to be)　　　　　　　　　shi
no　　　　　　　　　bu
Please　　　　　　　　　Qing
What did you say?　　　　　　　　　Ni shuo shen me
Assist me for a sec　　　　　　　　　Bang wo yi xia
How much　　　　　　　　　Duo shao (how many)
I'll Buy it　　　　　　　　　wou yao mai
I wont buy it　　　　　　　　　Wou bu yao mai or bu xiang mai
Too expensive　　　　　　　　　tai gui le
Can you make it cheaper?　　　　　　　　　Suan pian yi dian or diar?

II) Chatting
Whats your surname?　　　　　　　　　Ni gui xing
Whats your name?　　　　　　　　　Ni jiao shen me ming zi
How are you? also greetings　　　　　　　　　Ni hao ma?
I'm fine　　　　　　　　　Wo hao
I'm not good　　　　　　　　　Wo bu hao
my chinese is bad　　　　　　　　　Wo de han yu bu hao or wo de zhong wen bu hao
Please speak english　　　　　　　　　Qing jiang ying wen
Please speak slower　　　　　　　　　Qing jiang man yi de or yi dian or yi diar
What do you do (job)?　　　　　　　　　Ni zuo shen me gong zuo
Whats your age?　　　　　　　　　Ni ji sui?
Whats your hobby　　　　　　　　　Ni you shen me ai hao?





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[creditnet]

I have been to China and Taiwan several times and have studied basic Mandarin Chinese as well. The phrases posted by msn are great! The phrases are written out using "pinying", or in other words, the Chinese romanization of words. Pronunciation of the letters, however, is different in Pinying than it is in spoken English, so I thought I'd write, to the best of my abilities, the phonetic pronunciations of the phrases. For example, the word for "I" or "me" is "wo". To the average English speaker, you'd pronounce that as "woe". The correct pronunciation, however, is more like "wah", similar to the word "water". Please also keep in mind that Mandarin is a tonal language, using four different tones... "wah" with a rising tone can mean something completely different than "wah" with a neutral or falling tone. But alas, that's another lesson! Ok, here we go... phonetics in red

[msn]

Very true, Depending on where you travel you might have to tweak it alittle. But the chinese written system is universal, and mandarine to some extent is also (standard chinese) But then theres also a lot of Cantonese speakers, and If you visit shanghai(recommend), theres shanghainese. i would recommend taking at least 1 course in that language before traveling to any foreign country. I went to Japan not knowing anything and I missed out on a lot, not to mention looking like a fool. (Since i looked japanese they just thought I was retarded instead of a tourist).
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Harold W, Asia Moderator & Campus Ambassador

[Jessexun]

is anybody interested in Chinese?and i also like travelling.my province is Hunan,but now i m in singapore.can make friend with me,send me a email.hope to hear from you,dear friends!
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The Chinese boy in singapore,wanting to get friends with people around the world and know the culture behand them.

[Kekke]

Jessexun I am very interested in Chinese, maybe you can teach me some?

Please add me on msn or send me an E-mail on
"Henric-Johansson@hotmail.com"

[baharali]

Dear friend , few months agao i applied for study perpose somewhere in china ..and recently i got reply from that institute that i m slelected for study. anyway on 2nd july i joined this forum and was searching somkind of chines language hints..coz i m new so ..your this post remain verymuch helpful but i needmore if u can send me more pherases then send..otherwise send me a website ..thanx..i will b thankful to u..
my name is bahar ali.

[Babeesaint]

Just wanted to thank Creditnet for the phonetic translations. I have purchased translation books to help with my Chinese language deficiency... but your phonetic translation was just what i needed. Thanks!
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~Babeesaint