Table Of Content

SURVIVAL CHINESE How to Communicate Without Fuss or Fear—Instantly! by Boyé Lafayette De Mente TUTTLE Publishing Tokyo Rutland, Vermont Singapore Published by Tuttle Publishing, an imprint of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd. www.tuttlepublishing.com Copyright © 2004 Boyé Lafayette De Mente All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission from the publisher. ISBN: 978-1-4629-1166-0 (ebook) Printed in Singapore Distributed by: Japan Tuttle Publishing Yaekari Building, 3rd Floor, 5-4-12 Osaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141 0032 Tel: (81) 3 5437-0171; Fax: (81) 3 5437-0755 Email: [email protected] Web: www.tuttle.co.jp North America, Latin America & Europe Tuttle Publishing 364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436, USA Tel: 1 (802) 773 8930; Fax: 1 (802) 773 6993 Email: [email protected] Web: www.tuttlepublishing.com Asia-Pacifi c Berkeley Books Pte Ltd 61 Tai Seng Avenue #02-12, Singapore 534167 Tel: (65) 6280 1330; Fax: (65) 6280 6290 Email: [email protected] Web: www.periplus.com 15 14 13 12 13 12 11 10 9 8 1204CP TUTTLE PUBLISHING® is a registered trademark of Tuttle Publishing, a division of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd. OTHER BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR Business Guide to Japan The Tourist & the Real Japan How to Do Business With the Japanese Bachelor’s Japan Traveler’s Language Guide to Japan Oriental Secrets of Graceful Living Once A Fool—From Japan to Alaska by Amphibious Jeep Bachelor’s Hawaii Bachelor’s Mexico Face-Reading for Fun & Profi t Businessman’s After Hours Guide to Japan Women of the Orient Mistress-Keeping in Japan I Like You, Gringo—But! Exotic Japan—The Land, Places, People & Pleasures Businessman’s Language Guide to Japan The Whole Japan Book The Japanization of America Korean Business Etiquette Korean in Plain English Japanese in Plain English Japan at Night—A Guide to Entertainment & Recreation in Japan Discovering Cultural Japan Businessman’s Quick Guide to Japan Japan’s Secret Weapon: The Kata Factor Survival Japanese Japan Made Easy—All You Need to Know to Enjoy Japan Dining Guide to Japan Shopping Guide to Japan Etiquette Guide to Japan Etiquette Guide to China Etiquette Guide to Korea Instant Japanese Japan’s Cultural Code Words Chinese in Plain English Japanese for the Travel Industry China’s Cultural Code Words Japan Encyclopedia Mexican Cultural Code Words Mexican Etiquette & Ethics- Anticipating & Understanding Mexican Social & Business Behavior Japan’s Business Code Words Korea’s Business & Cultural Code Words Cultural Code Words of the Hopi People (e-book) Cultural Code Words of the Navajo People (e-book) Nihon Rashisa wo Eigo ni Dekimasu Ka (with Michihiro Matsumoto) Naze no Ei-Tango 230 (Loaded English) Tsuji-nai Katakana Eigo-Meanings & Uses of Japanized English Words (with Michihiro Matsumoto) Kata-The Key to Understanding & Dealing With the Japanese Instant Chinese Instant Korean Survival Korean Subway Guide to Tokyo Contents PREFACE The “Language Wall” is Down! ..............................................8 The National Language ..........................................................8 INTRODUCTION Chinese Written in “English”................................................10 Those Notorious Tones ........................................................12 Chinese is Easier Than English! ............................................13 The Chinese “Alphabet” .......................................................16 Running Words Together .....................................................16 Pronouncing Chinese “in English” .......................................17 Pronunciation Guides ..........................................................18 PART 1 Common Expressions & Key Words ....................................29 Personal Information ............................................................48 Directions ............................................................................50 Airport / Airline ...................................................................51 Money ..................................................................................53 Taxis .....................................................................................56 Subways ...............................................................................57 Trains ...................................................................................58 Buses ....................................................................................61 Rental Cars ..........................................................................62 Hotel Vocabulary .................................................................63 Toilet / Restroom .................................................................65 The Seasons..........................................................................66 The Weather ........................................................................67 Eating .................................................................................69 Drinking ..............................................................................73 Paying Bills ...........................................................................76 Telephone / Email ................................................................77 Shopping ..............................................................................79 Business ...............................................................................81 Post Offi ce............................................................................82 Health / Help .......................................................................83 Sightseeing ...........................................................................87 Barber Shop / Beauty Salon ..................................................89 Measurements ......................................................................90 Personal Titles ......................................................................90 Academic Titles ....................................................................91 Business & Professional Titles...............................................91 Homes ................................................................................93 PART 2 The Cardinal Numbers ........................................................94 The Ordinal Numbers ..........................................................98 Counting Things ..................................................................99 Counting People ................................................................100 Counting Other Things .....................................................101 Telling Time .......................................................................102 Days of the Week ...............................................................105 Counting Days ...................................................................106 Weeks .................................................................................107 Counting Weeks .................................................................107 The Months .......................................................................108 The Years ............................................................................110 Giving Dates ......................................................................111 Holidays .............................................................................113 PART 3 Countries ...........................................................................114 China’s Provinces ................................................................115 The Autonomous Regions ..................................................116 Major Cities .......................................................................116 Famous Places in Beijing ....................................................117 Famous Landmarks Near Beijing ........................................119 Shopping Districts in Beijing..............................................119 Famous Places in Shanghai .................................................120 Shopping Districts in Shanghai ..........................................122 Important Signs .................................................................122 PART 4 Making Your Own Sentences .............................................126 PART 5 Additional Vocabulary ........................................................128 PREFACE The “Language Wall” is Down! There are at least eight primary Chinese languages, and although they belong to the same family and historically have been referred to as dialects, they are as different as French, Italian, Spanish and other so-called Romance languages, if not more so. Westerners have also traditionally regarded learning and speaking any of the Chinese “dialects” as especially diffi cult because they are all “tonal languages.” That is, changing the tone of voice in the pronunciation of words changes the meanings of the words. These circumstances, combined with the forbidding ap- pearance of the “characters,” or ideograms, used to write all of the Chinese languages, have long been viewed by Westerners as insurmountable barriers. Furthermore, many Chinese words have dozens to over a hundred homonyms [words that are spelled the same and may be pronounced the same but have different meanings], further complicating matters. The National Language But this view of the Chinese language is outdated. In 1949 the newly established Communist government of Mao Ze-dong decreed that Mandarin Chinese, the “dialect” spoken in Bei- jing and the surrounding areas, was to be the offi cial language of China, and thereafter would be taught in all of the schools throughout the country. 8 Preface Today, virtually all Chinese speak Mandarin Chinese, known as putonghua (poo-tohng-hwah) (cid:3038)(cid:3651)(cid:1967)(cid:3)or “the common language,” as their fi rst or second language. A further boon to foreigners taking up the study of the national Chinese language is the fact that Mandarin Chinese—now the only “dialect” needed—has only four tones. [Some of the other dialects have as many as eight tones.] Boyé Lafayette De Mente The National Language 9

Description:

A handy Mandarin Chinese phrasebook and guide to the Chinese language, Survival Chinese contains basic vocabulary necessary for getting around.This book contains all the necessary words and phrases for speaking Mandarin Chinese in any kind of setting. Perfect for students, tourists, or business peop