Chinese Lesson For Beginners

Collins
easy learning
Mandarin
WEI JIN & ROSI MCNAB
SERIES EDITOR · ROSI McNAB

Mandarin EL Audio_2nd proofs.qxd:Layout 1 15/7/13 19:38 Page 2
Collins Easy Learning Mandarin
HarperCollins Publishers
77-85 Fulham Palace Road
Hammersmith
London
W6 8JB
www.collinslanguage.com
First published 2008

This edition 2013
© HarperCollins Publishers 2008
ISBN 978-0-00-730707-4
All rights reserved.
Edited by Alison Black for small print
Typeset by Davidson Pre-Press,

Glasgow
Produced in China by Sony DADC
Other languages in the

Collins Easy Learning Audio series:
French, Italian, Polish and Spanish.
CONTENTS
welcome to mandarin 4
the pronunciation of pinyin 5
introduction 6
units UNIT 1 Greetings 8
UNIT 2 Attracting attention 12
UNIT 3 Exchanging courtesies 13
UNIT 4 Asking questions 16
UNIT 5 Where are you from? 19
UNIT 6 Going places 21
UNIT 7 Asking directions 24
UNIT 8 Where can we eat? 26
UNIT 9 Getting transport 30
UNIT 10 Ordering a drink 34
UNIT 11 Asking for a room 37
UNIT 12 All about food! 40
track list 43
WELCOME TO MANDARIN
Welcome to Easy Learning Mandarin!
Mandarin is the official language of China. As well as being

the mother tongue of the largest Chinese-speaking group,
it is used on television, in schools and in other public
organizations throughout China, so that even those whose
native dialect is not Mandarin should be able to speak it.
Many Chinese characters evolved from pictograms. Like the

symbols for a forest, a bridge or a castle on a map, they tell
you what something is but not how to say the word. Most
Chinese people can recognize between 2000 and 4000
symbols.
To make it easier to learn Mandarin a system of writing

down the sounds was devised using the letters of the
roman alphabet. This is the pīn yīn (Pinyin) system, which
Chinese children learn along with their characters, and for
which the foreign student is also very grateful!
出口 This is the sign you see on the motorway all the

time. It means exit, but the word in Pinyin is chū kǒu.
山 means mountain (Pinyin shān).
厕所 means toilet (Pinyin cè suǒ).
Pinyin not only shows a way of spelling out sounds, but

you will notice accents over some of the letters that show
which tones you should use. See Unit 1, Track 2, below,
for an explanation of the tones.
As in most languages, there can be many meanings for the

same word or phrase. (Compare: Have you read the book?
I am going to book the ticket.) The translations given in this
audio course are those relevant to the context. For example,
you will meet mǎ mǎ hu hu as ‘so-so’ in response to the
conventional greeting, ‘How are you?’, whereas in a different
context it means ‘careless’. But as a rule we have not listed
4 alternative meanings.
THE PRONUNCIATION OF PINYIN

Some of the trickier sounds of Pinyin are listed below.
Only a rough guide to its pronunciation can be given here;
the best way to perfect your pronunciation is to listen
carefully to the speakers on the audio files and imitate them.
Pinyin Sound (as in) English

c ts cats
chi chur char
ci tsur white surf
e er there’s
ei ay may
ie yeh yellow
iu yo yoyo
o or or
ou oh oh
q ch cheat
ri rur rural, children
shi shur shirt
si sur absurd
ui way way
uo war war
x sh who’s she
z dz adze
zh j jar
zhi jur injury
zi dzur odds are
5
INTRODUCTION
Track 1 Easy Learning Mandarin is a course specifically designed to
help you to ask for the things you’re most likely to need
when visiting China and to give you the skills to cope with
situations you might find yourself in. This course is different
from other courses in that you also learn to understand the
likely replies to your questions. You hear key words and
phrases used in dialogues between native speakers, so you
learn not only how to say them but also how they are used
in conversation. To help you remember what you learn, the
course makes use of all the latest techniques in memory
building, backed up by regular revision. Unlike some other
courses, Easy Learning Mandarin is not just a collection of
useful phrases to learn by rote; it allows you to practise
them, gives you listening tips to help you to recognize
what you hear, and tells you what to say when you don’t
understand and need help.
Your course consists of audio files and this accompanying

booklet.
Unit 1 is an introduction to basic greetings. After Unit 1,

all the other units begin with a section called ‘Tune in
to Mandarin’, which gives you the opportunity to get used
to the sound of Mandarin and revisit the phrases you’ve
already met.
Next, you are introduced to your new key phrases. You can
listen to them and repeat them as many times as you like.
We will suggest connections and references that might help
you to remember them.
Finally, you’ll hear the new language used in short

conversations. First you hear each dialogue straight through.
Then you hear it again line by line, with explanations of
new words and phrases. After that, you listen to the whole
conversation again, before going on to take the part of one
of the speakers. This step-by-step approach is designed to
build up your confidence in understanding and speaking.
6
Revision of the key words and phrases is built into the

course. As well as the ‘Tune into Mandarin’ track in each
unit there is an Encore section which reintroduces the key
words and phrases from each unit so that you can revise
and check what you know and decide whether you need to
go back and listen to any of it again.
In this booklet you will find extracts from each unit,

including the key phrases and selected conversations,
set out in print, with translations and learning tips, for easy
reference. Language lab boxes give simple explanations of
how Mandarin works.
7
Unit 1 Greetings
UNIT 1 Greetings
Track 2 Key phrase: Hello! · Nǐ hǎo!

Tip The first things you need to be able to say in any language
··························· are hello and goodbye.
Tones
When speaking
Mandarin, try to nǐ hǎo! hello
imitate the way nín hǎo! hello (polite form)
the words are said. xiān sheng Mr
The same sound
can have different
tài tai Mrs
meanings according
to the way you say it. Word bank
For instance:
shī wet
shí stone
nǐ you
shì yes hǎo good or well
xiān sheng first born – Mr
tài tai Mrs, wife
There are four ways of pronouncing a word in Mandarin. These different

ways are called tones. There are four tones.
LANGUAGE LAB
1st Tone 2nd Tone 3rd Tone 4th Tone

5
4
3
2
1
In addition, some sounds are toneless. There is no tone mark for a

neutral tone.
8
Greetings Unit 1
Level tone: ā
You start at a high level and then keep it high. Imagine a doctor
LANGUAGE LAB
asking you to open your mouth and say ā … ‘ah’.
Rising tone á
Imagine you are asking a question: á … ‘what?’
Falling-rising tone: ǎ
Move your head down and up while saying it: ǎ … ‘what???’
Falling tone: à
Start at a high level and go straight down to the lowest: à … ‘what!!!’
In conversation, words that are not particularly emphasized may lose

their tone, or even change from one tone to another. But don’t worry
– just try to copy the pronunciation on the recording as closely as
possible and you will soon get it right.
 People’s names
In Chinese you say the name first, and then Mr or Mrs.
CULTURAL TIP
The surname comes before the ‘first’ name: in the name Lǐ Míng,
Lǐ is the surname and Míng the first name. But abroad some Chinese
people write their names the English way, so you may want to ask
politely when you first meet a Chinese person in your own country:
‘Your honourable surname? Nín guì xìng?’ The reply will be in this
form: Wǒ xìng Zhāng. – My surname is Zhang.
So if your name is John Smith, you will be addressed as ‘Smith John’,

or ‘Smith Mr’ – or even just plain ‘Smith’!
9
Unit 1 Greetings
Track 3 Listening and speaking

Shǐ mì sī, nǐ hǎo!
Smith, hello!
Zhāng xiān sheng, nǐ hǎo!
Zhang Mr, hello!

Smith, hello!
Lì li, nǐ hǎo!
Li li, hello!

Smith, hello!
Wáng xiān sheng, nǐ hǎo!
Wang Mr, hello!

Smith Mr, hello!
Zhāng tài tai, nǐ hǎo!
Zhang Mrs, hello!
Track 4 Key phrase: Goodbye · Zài jiàn

Zài jiàn goodbye
Word bank
zài again
jiàn see
Yáng xiān sheng, zài jiàn!

Yáng Mr, goodbye!
Lǐ tài tai, zài jiàn!
Li Mrs, goodbye!
Shǐ mì sī, zài jiàn!

Smith, goodbye!
Yáng xiān sheng, zài jiàn!
Yang Mr, goodbye!
10
Greetings Unit 1

Smith, goodbye!
Lǐ tài tai, zài jiàn!
Li Mrs, goodbye!

Smith, goodbye!
Wáng xiān sheng, zài jiàn!
Wang Mr, goodbye!

Smith Mr, goodbye!
Féng tài tai, zài jiàn!
Feng Mrs, goodbye!
 Meeting people
In China, when people meet each other for the first time, they usually
CULTURAL TIP
shake hands, while saying nǐ hǎo or nín hǎo. Many people like to
exchange business cards, especially on a formal occasion. It is polite
to offer your card with two hands and make a slight bow at the same
time. You should also take the other person’s business card with two
hands and examine the card for a few seconds to show your respect.
Remember: in Chinese you say the surname first. It is a good idea

to get some business cards printed with your name in Chinese script,
with your surname first.
If you know where you are going to be staying, have someone write
the address down in Chinese script. Then if you get lost you have
something to show people when you are asking for help!
If you are being met at the airport, remember that someone may
be looking for you as Mr John or Mrs Susan, and when they say your
name it might not sound quite as you expect!
11
Unit 2 Attracting attention
UNIT 2 Attracting attention
Track 7 Key phrase: Excuse me! · Qǐng wèn

The first thing you need to be able to say is: ‘Excuse me.’
Qǐng wèn Beg ask – ‘Excuse me, please’
Word bank
qǐng please wèn ask
Track 8 Key phrase: Do you speak English? ·

Nǐ shuō yīng yǔ ma?
Tip
··························· Nǐ shuō yīng yǔ ma? You speak English language?
ma ‘?’
Wǒ shuō yīng yǔ I speak English language
You can turn a Wǒ bù shuō yīng yǔ I not speak English language
statement into a Duì bu qǐ Sorry
question just by
adding ma to the end.
Think of ma at the Word bank
end as a sort of
spoken question nǐ you ma ‘?’ – question mark
mark: ma for ‘mark’. shuō speak wǒ I, me
yīng English bù not, no
yǔ language

Tip Nǐ hǎo, qǐng wèn, nǐ shuō yīng yǔ ma?
··························· Hello, excuse me, you speak English language?
Nǐ shuō … ma?
Do you speak …?
Duì bu qǐ, wǒ bù shuō yīng yǔ. / Wǒ shuō
yīng yǔ.
When someone asks Sorry, I not speak English language. / I speak English
you a question they language.
often use most of the
words you need for
the reply. Listen and Nǐ hǎo, qǐng wèn, nǐ shuō zhōng wén ma?
use what you hear! Hello, excuse me, you speak Chinese language?
Duì bu qǐ, wǒ bù shuō zhōng wén.
12 Sorry, I not speak Chinese language.
Exchanging courtesies Unit 3
 Zhōng wén Chinese language

China is an enormous country with many different languages, but the
CULTURAL TIP
official language is Mandarin. In many areas people speak their own

dialect as their first language and learn Mandarin as a second
‘universal’ or official language.
Zhōng means Chinese.

Zhōng wén means Chinese language, especially written but also
spoken.
Yǔ is the usual word for the spoken language, as in yīng yǔ,
‘English language’.
You may also hear people say pǔ tōng huà, which means ‘common
language’ (i.e. Mandarin).
Pinyin (pīn yīn) is the name given to a system of writing Chinese
using the roman alphabet.
And if someone says: Nǐ zhōng wén shuō de hěn hǎo … they are
saying your Chinese is very good – but remember, Chinese people are
very polite!
UNIT 3 Exchanging courtesies
Track 12 Key phrase: How are you? · Nǐ hǎo ma?

In Unit 2 you learnt how to ask a question by adding a
spoken question mark. Now you can use what you have
learnt to turn nǐ hǎo – ‘you well’ into a question.
Nǐ hǎo ma? You well? – How are you?

Nǐ hǎo, nǐ hǎo ma? Hello, how are you?
So now you had better learn how to answer it.
Track 13 Dialogue
How to say: ‘I’m very well, thank you.’
13
Unit 3 Exchanging courtesies
Word bank
wǒ I, me
hěn very
ne a spoken question mark: ‘and …?’
xiè xie thank you
Nǐ hǎo, nǐ hǎo ma?

Hello, how are you?
Wǒ hěn hǎo, nǐ ne?
I very well, you also?
Hěn hǎo, xiè xie.
Very well, thank you.
Zài jiàn.
Goodbye.
Bái bai.
Bye-bye.
Track 14 Key phrase: Not so well, I’m a bit tired! ·

Mǎ mǎ hu hu, wǒ yǒu diǎnr lèi!
How to say: ‘Not so well, I’m a bit tired.’
Bù tài hǎo Not too well

Mǎ mǎ hu hu So-so
Wǒ yǒu diǎnr lèi I have a bit tiredness – I’m a bit tired
Wǒ yě shì I also am
Wǒ hěn lèi I very tired
Word bank
tài too, very
yǒu have
diǎnr a little, a bit
yě also
shì am, is, are, (to) be
14
Exchanging courtesies Unit 3
bù tài hǎo not too well

If someone asks you: Nǐ hǎo ma? when you’re feeling decidedly
LANGUAGE LAB
under the weather, the usual response is (Wǒ) bù tài hǎo, ‘not too
well’. Tài is the same word as in tài tai (wife, or Mrs).
Here’s a handy way to remember it:

Tài tai bù tài hǎo – Missus not too well!
Mǎ mǎ hu hu, ‘so-so’, is easy to remember: it sounds as if Mama is

LANGUAGE LAB
crying, or saying ‘boo hoo’! But literally, mǎ means ‘horse’ and hǔ

means ‘tiger’; hu hu sounds like the wind blowing. In some contexts
mǎ mǎ hu hu means ‘careless’.

Zhāng xiān sheng, nǐ hǎo, nǐ hǎo ma?
Mr Zhang, hello, how are you?
Hěn hǎo, xiè xie, nǐ ne?
Very well, thank you, and you?
Hěn hǎo.
Very well.
Zài jiàn.
Goodbye.
Zài jiàn.
Goodbye.
Lǐ tài tai, nǐ hǎo, nǐ hǎo ma?

Mrs Li, hello, how are you?
Wǒ yǒu diǎnr lèi, nǐ ne?
I have a bit tired, and you?
Wǒ yě shì.
I also am.
15
Unit 4 Asking questions
Bái bai.
Bye-bye.
Bái bai.
Bye-bye.
Zhāng xiān sheng, nǐ hǎo, nǐ hǎo ma?

Mr Zhang, hello, how are you?
Hěn hǎo, nǐ ne?
Very well, and you?
Mǎ mǎ hu hu.
So-so.
Zài jiàn.
Goodbye.
Zài jiàn.
Goodbye.

Hello, how are you?
Hěn hǎo, xiè xie. / Mǎ mǎ hu hu, nǐ ne?
Fine, thanks. / So-so, and you?

Hello, how are you?
Bú tài hǎo, wǒ yǒu diǎnr lèi / Wǒ hěn lèi.
Not too well, I have a bit tired / I very tired.
UNIT 4 Asking questions
Track 18 Key phrase: Do you understand? ·

Dǒng bu dǒng?
Dǒng bu dǒng? Understand not understand?
Wǒ dǒng I understand
Wǒ bù dǒng I not understand – I don’t understand
Bù dǒng! Not understand!
Duì bu qǐ, wǒ bù dǒng Sorry, I not understand
Dǒng ma? (Do you) understand?
Word bank
16 dǒng understand
Asking questions Unit 4
LANGUAGE LAB A question of choice …

To ask someone in Chinese if they understand, you often use the
choice-type question form. You give the person a choice: ‘Understand
not understand’, Dǒng bu dǒng, and they choose which one to
answer: (Wǒ) dǒng, or (Wǒ) bu dǒng. (This is the commonest way of
saying ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ in Chinese.)
Hē bu hē kā fēi? Drink not drink coffee?
Hǎo bu hǎo? Well not well?
Yào bu yào? Want not want?
Shuō bu shuō yīng yǔ? Speak not speak English?
Track 19 Listening practice

Nǐ shuō bu shuō yīng yǔ? You speak not speak English?
Wǒ shuō yīng yǔ I speak English
Duì bu qǐ, bù shuō yīng yǔ Sorry, not speak English
Hē bu hē kā fēi? Drink not drink coffee?

Wǒ hē kā fēi I drink coffee
Wǒ bù hē kā fēi I not drink coffee
Wǒ hěn xǐ huān kā fēi I very-much like coffee
Word bank
shuō to speak
hē to drink
xǐ huān to like
yīng yǔ English language
kā fēi coffee
Track 20 Speaking practice

Hē bu hē kā fēi?
Drink not drink coffee?
Wǒ hē kā fēi. / Wǒ bù hē kā fēi.
I drink coffee. / I not drink coffee.
Hǎo bu hǎo?
Well not well? 17
Unit 4 Asking questions
Wǒ hěn hǎo. / Bú tài hǎo.

I very well. / Not too well.
Shǐ mì sī tài tai hǎo bu hǎo?

Smith Mrs well not well?
Shǐ mì sī tài tai hěn hǎo. /
Shǐ mì sī tài tai bù hǎo.
Smith Mrs very well. / Smith Mrs not well.
Dǒng bu dǒng?
Understand not understand?
Wǒ dǒng. / Wǒ bù dǒng.
I understand. / I not understand.
Nǐ shuō bu shuō yīng yǔ?

You speak not speak English language?
Wǒ shuō yīng yǔ.
I speak English language.
Shuō bu shuō zhōng wén?

Speak not speak Chinese?
Duì bu qǐ, bù shuō zhōng wén.
Sorry, not speak Chinese.
Asking and answering questions

There are two ways of asking a question. You can use a choice-type
LANGUAGE LAB
question and ask:

Speak not speak English? Shuō bu shuō yīng yǔ?
Drink not drink coffee? Hē bu hē kā fēi?
Or you can add the spoken question mark:

You like coffee? Nǐ xǐ huān kā fēi ma?
You understand? Nǐ dǒng ma?
Remember to answer by repeating the word you hear, with or without wǒ:
I speak / don’t speak Wǒ shuō / bù shuō
I drink / don’t drink Wǒ hē / bù hē
(Wǒ) bú yào – (I) not want – is a very useful way of stopping people
trying to sell you things you don’t want.
18
Where are you from? Unit 5
UNIT 5 Where are you from?
Track 32 Key phrase: Are you English? ·

Nǐ shì bu shì yīng guó rén?
Tip
··························· Nǐ shì nǎ guó rén? You are which-country person? –
yīng guó
England, Britain
Where are you from?
Nǐ shì bu shì yīng guó rén? You are not are English-
The Chinese like to country person? – Are you English?
give other countries Wǒ bú shì yīng guó rén I not am English-country person –
complimentary
names, and yīng
I am not English
guó can also be Nǐ shì bu shì měi guó rén? Are you American?
translated as ‘brave Nǐ shì bu shì zhōng guó rén? Are you Chinese?
country’. Wǒ bú shì zhōng guó rén I am not Chinese
Tip Word bank

···························
měi guó America nǐ you
Měi means ‘beautiful’,
shì to be, am, is, are
so měi guó is literally nǎ which
‘beautiful country’. guó country
rén person
Tip yīng English, British
··························· yīng guó English country – England, Britain
zhōng guó China
yīng guó rén English- or British-country person
Zhōng means měi American
‘middle’ or ‘centre’, měi guó American country – America
and zhōng guó měi guó rén American-country person
means ‘central
country’ – what
zhōng Chinese, central
western writers zhōng guó central country – China
called the ‘Middle zhōng guó rén Chinese-country person
Kingdom’.

Wǒ shì měi guó rén I am American
Wǒ bú shì měi guó rén I am not an American
Word bank
wǒ shì I am wǒ bú shì I am not
19
Unit 5 Where are you from?
Track 34 Dialogue
Tip Nǐ hǎo!
··························· Hello!
yīng guó rén
English
Nǐ hǎo!
Hello!
Chinese people are Qǐng wèn, nǐ shuō yīng yǔ ma?
unlikely to distinguish Excuse me, do you speak English?
between English,
Scottish, Welsh and
Duì bu qǐ, wǒ bù shuō yīng yǔ.
Irish, so if you don’t Sorry, I don’t speak English.
think of yourself as Nǐ shì nǎ guó rén?
English you may prefer Where are you from?
to think of yīng guó
rén as British.
Duì bu qǐ, wǒ bù dǒng.
Sorry, I don’t understand.
Nǐ shì nǎ guó rén?
Where are you from?
Wǒ shì yīng guó rén. / Wǒ shì mĕi guó rén.
I am English. / I am American.
Zài jiàn.
Goodbye.
Zài jiàn.
Goodbye.
Track 36 Extras
Using what you know …

You now know enough Chinese words to start using them as building
LANGUAGE LAB
blocks to say more things. You know the word for ‘I’ or ‘me’ is wǒ.
‘Speak’ is shuō, so ‘I speak’ is wǒ shuō.
‘I don’t speak’ is wǒ bù shuō.
‘I speak English language’ is wǒ shuō yīng yǔ.
And ‘I don’t speak Chinese language’ is wǒ bù shuō zhōng wén.
You can ring the changes yourself with nǐ (you) or ma (question mark).
And can you work out how to say: ‘Can you repeat it, please?’
It will be: ‘Please you again say.’ ‘Please’ – qǐng, ‘you’ – nǐ.
‘Again’ – you came across this in the word for ‘goodbye’ – zài jiàn,
meaning ‘again see’. So: again – zài, speak – shuō.
‘Please you again speak’ – Qǐng nǐ zài shuō.
20
Going places Unit 6
UNIT 6 Going places
Track 38 Key phrase: Where are you going? · Nǐ qù nǎr?

Tip Nǐ qù nǎr? You go where? – Where are you going?
··························· Wǒ qù shàng hǎi I go Shanghai – I’m going to Shanghai
Wǒ qù shàng hǎi
I go Shanghai
Wǒ qù xī ān I’m going to Xi’an
Nǐ men qù nǎr? Where are you going?
With qù you don’t Wǒ men qù běi jīng We’re going to Beijing
need a word for ‘to’. Wǒ men qù xiāng gǎng We’re going to Hong Kong
 Shanghai is the second largest city in China by population – about

20 million. Shàng means ‘above’ and hǎi means ‘sea’. And Shanghai
CULTURAL TIP
is in fact above the sea!
Xi’an is a famous historical city and was the capital of China for many
dynasties. It is where the terracotta warriors were found. Xi’an has a
population of more than 6 million people. Xī means ‘west’ and ān
means ‘peace’, ‘peaceful’.
Beijing is the capital of China – běi is ‘north’ and jīng is ‘capital’.

In English it used to be known as Peking. It has about 18 million
inhabitants, or nearly a third of the population of the United Kingdom.
The population of China is more than four times that of America:
about 1.3 billion to America’s 300 million.
Hong Kong is a very important trading centre. It is in the area of China

known as Canton, and the people mostly speak Cantonese, which is
quite different from Mandarin. However, they all write the language
in the same way, so a Cantonese speaker can read what a Mandarin
speaker has written, and vice-versa, but they can’t talk to each other!
Xiāng means ‘fragrant’ and gǎng means ‘port’. Hong Kong is a
‘fragrant port’! It isn’t very fragrant now because it is so built up,
but it is still a very beautiful place.
21
Unit 6 Going places
Word bank
nǐ you (referring to one person)
nǐ men you (more than one person)
wǒ I
wǒ men we
qù go
nǎr where?

Ni qù bu qù shàng hǎi? You go not go Shanghai? –
Are you going to Shanghai?
Qǐng nǐ zài shuō Can you repeat it, please?
Nǐ men yě qù xī ān ma? Are you also going to Xi’an?
Wǒ men qù yīng guó We are going to England
Nǐ men qù bu qù lún dūn? Are you going to London?
Yí lù shùn fēng! One journey favourable wind – have a
good journey!
Yī means ‘one’, lù means ‘way’ or ‘journey’, so yí lù means

‘one journey’ or ‘whole journey’; shùn means ‘smooth’ or
LANGUAGE LAB
‘follow’, and fēng means wind. A shùn fēng is a following wind –

a favourable wind.
Yí lù shùn fēng! – ‘Whole way favourable wind!’ ‘Have a good

CD journey!’
1
Track 00
Word bank
yě also
yī one
lù way or journey
shùn smooth
fēng wind
22
Going places Unit 6
Track 40 Dialogue
Tip Nǐ hǎo!
··························· Hello!
Wǒ shì ào dà lì yà rén
I’m Australian
Nǐ hǎo!
Hello!
There is no guó Nǐ shì nǎ guó rén?
(country) in the word Where are you from?
for ‘Australia’. And
Canada: Jiā ná dà.
Wǒ shì ào dà lì yà rén.
I’m Australian.
Nǐ qù nǎr?
You go where?
Duì bu qǐ, wǒ bù dǒng.
Sorry, I not understand.
Nǐ qù nǎr? … Nǐ qù běi jīng ma?
Where are you going? … You go Beijing? – Are you going to Beijing?
Wǒ qù xī ān.
I go Xi’an – I’m going to Xi’an.
Nǐ qù nǎr?
You go where? – Where are you going?
Wǒ qù shàng hǎi.
I go Shanghai.
Zài jiàn.
Goodbye.
Zài jiàn, yí lù shùn fēng!
Goodbye, have a good journey!
Track 42 Extras
Some things about Mandarin are very difficult to learn, but some things
are easy. A lot of words are like building blocks. When you have enough
LANGUAGE LAB
building blocks you can start to build lots more sentences of your own.
You know how to say ‘I go to Shanghai’ – you say, ‘I go Shanghai.’

‘I’ is wǒ and ‘go’ is qù. ‘I go Shanghai’ is: Wǒ qù shàng hǎi.
You know bù is ‘not’, so you can say: ‘I am not going to Shanghai’
– ‘I not go Shanghai’: Wǒ bú qù shàng hǎi.
You can say ‘We go to Hong Kong’: Wǒ men qù xiāng gǎng.
‘We are not going to Hong Kong’: Wǒ men bú qù xiāng gǎng.
23
Unit 7 Asking directions
 Do you want to know more about places in China? Go and visit any
of these websites:
CULTURAL TIP
China National Tourism Administration: http://en.cnta.gov.cn/

China National Tourist Office: http://www.cnto.org
China Today: http://www.chinatoday.com
And of course there is always Wikipedia: http://www.wikipedia.org
UNIT 7 Asking directions
Track 44 Key phrase: Where? · Zài nǎr?

Nǎr Where?
Zài nǎr? Is situated where? – where? where is …?
Jiǔ bā zài nǎr? Bar is where? – where is the bar?
Word bank
jiǔ bā bar
jiǔ alcohol
bā bar
Track 45 Key phrase: Where is the tourist ofﬁce? ·

Lǚ xíng shè zài nǎr?
Tip Lǚ xíng shè zài nǎr? Where is the tourist office?
···························
shè office
Word bank
Most Chinese words
have more than one lǚ xíng shè tourist office
meaning. In other lǚ traveller, travelling, tourism
contexts shè is often
a ‘society’.
xíng walking, travelling
shè office
24
Asking directions Unit 7
Track 46 Key phrase: Where is the hotel? ·

Lǚ diàn zài nǎr?
Tip Lǚ diàn zài nǎr? Hotel at where? – where is the hotel?
···························
Zài nǎr – is situated
where? Nǎr is a Word bank
falling-rising tone (it
sounds more lǚ diàn hotel (‘shop’ for travellers to stay in)
questioning). lǚ traveller
Zài nàr – over there.
diàn shop
Nàr is a falling tone jiǔ diàn alcohol shop – another word for hotel
(giving information).
Lǚ diàn hotel
LANGUAGE LAB
Lǚ, travel(ler), is also in lǚ xíng shè, which means the tourist office.
Track 48 Dialogue
Tip Zài nàr Over there
··························· Duì bu qǐ, wǒ bù zhī dào Sorry, I don’t know
Shén me?
What? – Sorry, I didn’t
hear Xiān sheng, qǐng wèn, rén mín lǚ diàn zài nǎr?
Excuse me, sir, Renmin Hotel at where?
Shén me? literally Shén me?
means ‘what?’
Here, it means ‘sorry’
What? – I didn’t hear.
or ‘pardon’. Rén mín lǚ diàn zài nǎr?
Where is the Renmin Hotel?’
Ò, zài nàr.
Oh, it is over there.
Xiè xie nǐ.
Thank you.
25
Unit 8 Where can we eat?
Track 49 Review
Tip Qǐng wèn, rén mín lǚ diàn zài nǎr?
··························· Excuse me, where is the Renmin Hotel?
Other hotels are:
wáng bǎo hé dà jiŭ
Duì bu qǐ, wǒ bù zhī dào.
diàn (Central Hotel) Sorry, I don’t know.
and suŏ fēi tè jiŭ Qǐng wèn, lǚ xíng shè zài nǎr?
diàn (Sofitel). Please, where is the Information office?
Ò, zài nàr.
Tip Over there.
··························· Xiè xie nǐ.
Xiè xie nǐ Thank you
Thank you.
You can say: xiè xie Zài jiàn.
(‘thanks’) with or Goodbye.
without nǐ (‘you’).
UNIT 8 Where can we eat?
Track 51 Key phrase: Where is the restaurant? ·

Fàn diàn zài nǎr?
Qǐng wèn, fàn diàn zài nǎr? Excuse me, restaurant at where?
Qǐng wèn, lǚ diàn zài nǎr? Excuse me, hotel at where?
Ò, zài nàr It’s over there
Shén me? What? Pardon?
Duì bu qǐ, wǒ bù zhī dào Sorry, I don’t know
Lǚ xíng shè zài nàr (The) tourist office (is) over there
Word bank
fàn diàn meal shop – restaurant
fàn food or meal
diàn shop
Track 52 Key phrase: Where is the toilet? ·

Cè suǒ zài nǎr?
Cè suǒ zài nǎr? Toilet place at where?
26
Where can we eat? Unit 8
Word bank
cè suǒ toilet place
zài nǎr? at where?
zài yòu biān at right side
zài zuǒ biān at left side
biān side
yòu right
zuǒ left
 Gents and Ladies toilets have the following symbols.

CULTURAL TIP
男 (male): the picture of farms or a field sits on top of the symbol

of strength – manpower?
女 (female): this looks like a folding chair – it depicts a woman
kneeling!
Track 54 Dialogue
Qǐng wèn, xiǎo jie Please, miss
Word bank
qǐng wèn excuse me
xiǎo jie little sister – Miss, young lady
Nǐ hǎo.
Hello.
Nǐ hǎo.
Hello.
Qǐng wèn …
Excuse me …
Xiǎo jie …
Young lady …
27
Unit 8 Where can we eat?
Suǒ fēi tè jiǔ diàn zài nǎr?

Sofitel Hotel at where?’
Shén me?
What?
Wǒ bù dǒng.
I don’t understand.
Suǒ fēi tè jiǔ diàn zài nǎr?
Sofitel Hotel at where?
Wǒ bù zhī dào.
I don’t know.
Nǐ qù lǚ xíng shè.
You go information office.
Lǚ xíng shè zài nǎr?
Information office at where?
Lǚ xíng shè zài zuǒ biān.
Information office at left side.
Xiè xie nǐ.
Thank you.
Bú xiè.
Don’t mention it – You’re welcome.
Track 56 Extras
Tip Wǒ de fáng jiān zài nǎr? My room at where?
··························· Nǐ de fáng jiān shì èr líng sān Your room is 203
Don’t worry, there
will usually be arabic
Nǐ lèi ma? You tired?
numbers in public Wǒ hěn lèi I very tired
places, such as on
doors and lifts.
Word bank
wǒ I, me
wǒ de of me, my
fáng jiān room
nǐ lèi ma? you tired?
lèi tired
wǒ hěn lèi I very tired
wǒ you dianr lèi I have a bit tiredness
28
Where can we eat? Unit 8
Now imagine your drink and jet lag are catching up with
you, so perhaps you’d better ask where your room is …
Qǐng wèn, xiǎo jie, wǒ de fáng jiān zài nǎr?

Excuse me please young lady, where is my room?
Nǐ lèi ma?
You tired?
Wǒ hěn lèi.
I very tired.
Nǐ de fáng jiān shì èr líng sān.
Your room is 203.
And the receptionist kindly writes your room number down

for you and points you in the direction of the lift.
Here are the numbers zero to ten.

LANGUAGE LAB
0 零 líng
1 一 yī 6 六 liù
2 二 èr 7 七 qī
3 三 sān 8 八 bā
4 四 sì 9 九 jiǔ
5 五 wǔ 10 十 shí
If you learn the numbers zero to ten, you can always give bigger
numbers by saying them one digit at a time.
29
Unit 9 Getting transport
UNIT 9 Getting transport
Track 66 Tune in to Mandarin

Mr Smith is at the airport in Hong Kong when he recognizes
someone he has seen at his hotel. He says hello …
Nǐ hǎo!
Hello!
Nǐ hǎo! Nǐ hǎo ma?
Hello! How are you?
Wǒ hěn hǎo, nǐ ne?
I very well, you also?
Mǎ mǎ hu hu.
So-so.
Wǒ yǒu diǎnr lèi.
I have a bit tired.
Nǐ qù nǎr?
You go where?
Wǒ qù shàng hǎi.
I go Shanghai.
Nǐ qù nǎr?
You go where?
Wǒ qù běi jīng.
I go Beijing.
Qǐng wèn, jiǔ bā zài nǎr?
Excuse me, bar situated where?
Zài zuǒ biān.
On left side.
Yí lù shùn fēng!
Safe journey.
Zài jiàn.
Goodbye.
Bái bai.
Bye-bye.
30
Getting transport Unit 9
Track 67 Key phrase: I want to go to … ·

Wǒ xiǎng qù …
Wǒ xiǎng qù … I want to go to …
Yuǎn bu yuǎn? Is it far?
Zuò dì tiě Take or sit (on) the underground
Zuò gōng chē Take or sit (on) a bus
Zuò huǒ chē Take or sit (on) a train
Zuò chū zū chē Take or sit (on) a taxi
zuò sit
This is the word we use when talking about transport.
LANGUAGE LAB
In Chinese it is actually to ‘sit’ the underground, bus or train.
chū zū chē taxi

Chū zū means ‘out hire’, that is ‘hire out’, so to ‘take a taxi’ in
Chinese is literally to sit in a hired car.
Word bank
xiǎng want
qù go (to)
yuǎn far, a long way
zuò dì tiě take or sit (on) the underground
zuò sit
dì ground
tiě iron
chē car
gōng chē bus
huǒ chē a train
chū zū chē taxi
chū zū rent out
31
Unit 9 Getting transport
Dì tiě is the short form of dì xià tiě lù, which means underground
railway. Dì means ‘ground’, xià means ‘under’ or ‘below’, and tiě lù
LANGUAGE LAB
means ‘railway’, literally ‘iron way’. In Chinese, ‘ground under’ means

‘under ground’. So ‘ground under rail way’ means ‘underground
railway’, or, as we say, ‘the underground’.

Tip Tiān ān mén guǎng chǎng Tian’anmen Square
··························· Zuò gōng chē ba! Take a bus!
Tiān ān mén guǎng
chǎng
Tian’anmen Square Word bank
Named after the Gate ba (indicates suggestion or request)
of Heavenly Peace
which stands between
it and the imperial
palace known as the
Forbidden City, this
is the largest urban
square in the world.
Ba at the end may mark a suggestion or request, or it may indicate

approval. Do you remember ma, the spoken question mark?
LANGUAGE LAB
You might think of ba as a mild exclamation mark.
32
Getting transport Unit 9
Track 69 Dialogue
Word bank
hái shì or
Tip A woman is asking for directions at the hotel reception desk.

···························
Qǐng xiě xià lai!
Please write it down!
Nǐ hǎo.
Hello.
It is good to have the Nǐ hǎo.
name of your Hello.
destination written
down in Chinese script
Qǐng wèn, xiān sheng, wǒ xiǎng qù tiān ān mén
to show to the taxi guǎng chǎng.
driver or anyone else Excuse me, sir, I want to go to Tian’anmen Square.
you are asking for Zuò dì tiě hái shì zuò chū zū chē?
help. To get someone
to write it down you
Take underground or take taxi?
can say qǐng xiě xià Gōng chē zài nǎr?
lai, or, failing that, Public bus at where?
you can always say Zài yòu biān.
‘please’ and mime
writing. Alternatively,
At right side – On the right.
for a famous place, Xiè xie nǐ.
show a photograph Thank you.
or postcard. Bú xiè.
You’re welcome.
Track 71 Extras
Tip Here are some more places you might want to go to.
···························
Beijing International
Airport is called běi
Great Wall cháng chéng
jīng shǒu dū guó jì Temple of Heaven tiān tán
jī chǎng. Shǒu dū is Summer Palace yí hé yuán
capital and guó jì Airport jī chǎng
means international.
So literally, it is
Train station huǒ chē zhàn
‘Beijing capital Stadium tǐ yù guǎn
international airport’. Olympic Stadium ào lín pǐ kè tǐ yù guǎn
For more information, see the short list of useful websites

at the end of Unit 6.
33
Unit 10 Ordering a drink
UNIT 10 Ordering a drink

Understanding questions:
Nǐ hǎo, nǐ hǎo ma? Hello, how are you?

Nǐ shì nǎ guó rén? Where are you from?
Nǐ qù nǎr? Where are you going?
Huŏ chē zhàn zai nar? Hotel is where?
Track 73 Key phrase: What would you like to drink? ·

Nǐ xiǎng hē shén me?
Nǐ xiǎng hē shén me? You want drink what? – What would
you like to drink?
Wǒ xiǎng hē … I would like to drink …
Word bank
nǐ you
xiǎng think, want, would like to
hē to drink
shén me what, something
wǒ I
Tip Drinks
···························
kā fēi coffee shuǐ water jiǔ wine
chá tea hóng jiǔ red wine
Coffee with kā fēi coffee hóng red
milk/sugar is kā fēi
jú zi zhī orange juice bái pú tao jiǔ white wine
jiā năi/táng
kě kǒu kě lè Coca Cola bái white
pí jiǔ beer pú tao grape

What do you want to drink?
34
Ordering a drink Unit 10
Wǒ hē chá.
I want tea.
Kā fēi.
Coffee.
Wǒ hē pí jiǔ.
I want beer.
Wǒ xiǎng hē hóng jiǔ.
I’d like red wine.
Xiǎng hē shén me ma?

Want drink something?
Hǎo zhǔ yi!
Good idea!
 chá tea
Tea in its many varieties is perhaps the most popular drink in China.
CULTURAL TIP
Favourites include lǜ chá (green tea), mò lì huā chá (jasmine tea),

hóng chá (red or black tea) and wū lóng chá (oolong tea). The tea
ceremony varies geographically but also according to the kind of tea
you are having.
The Chinese do not usually take tea with milk or sugar, but – if you must!
– milk is nǎi, cow’s milk is niú nǎi, and sugar is táng. Tea leaves are
often used in preference to tea bags.
kā fēi coffee
The names for different kinds of coffee usually sound quite similar
to their English equivalents. For instance, ‘cappuccino’ is kǎ bù qí
nuò, and ‘mocha’ is mó kǎ. So if you are not sure how to order the
kind of coffee you want, try to say its English name in a Chinese way!
kě kǒu kě lè Coca-Cola
This is a copy of the English sound, but kě kǒu in Chinese also means
‘tasty’, and kě lè means ‘funny’. So in Chinese it sounds as if you are
asking for something ‘tasty-funny’!
bái pú tao jiǔ white wine

If you only say bái jiǔ, which literally is ‘white wine’, people might
think you are asking for (the considerably stronger!) Chinese spirits,
normally called bái jiǔ.
35
Unit 10 Ordering a drink
Measure words
‘I want one beer.’ – Wǒ xiǎng hē yī bēi pí jiǔ.
LANGUAGE LAB
Yī is ‘one’. Bēi means ‘glass’. To say how many you want of

something, in Chinese you need a measure word between the
number and the thing. So you can’t say: ‘I want one beer’ – you have
to say that you want ‘one GLASS of beer,’ which is yì bēi pí jiǔ.
‘I want two beers.’ – Wǒ xiǎng hē liǎng bēi pí jiǔ.

Liǎng bēi pí jiǔ is ‘two glasses of beer’. When you ask for two beers
you do not use the normal word for ‘two’, but you say ‘a couple’,
which is liǎng. So you ask for liǎng bēi pí jiǔ.
‘I want two bottles of beer’ – Wǒ xiǎng hē liǎng píng pí jiǔ.
Chinese doesn’t make any difference between ‘thing’ and ‘things’. The
word for ‘glass’ stays the same whether you are having one glass or three!
To review the numbers zero to ten, see Unit 8 Extras.
Track 76 Dialogue
Nǐ hǎo.
Hello.
Nǐ hǎo.
Hello.
Hē shén me ma?
Drink something?
Hǎo.
OK.
You like drink what?
Hē bu hē jiǔ?
Drink not drink alcohol?
Wǒ bù hē jiǔ.
I not drink alcohol.
Nǐ xiǎng hē chá ma?
36 You like drink tea?
Asking for a room Unit 11
Tip Hǎo, hē yì bēi chá ba.

··························· OK, drink one cup tea then.
Ba, here indicating
approval, is one of
Lǜ chá hái shì mò lì huā chá?
those little words Green tea or jasmine tea?
that help a Mò lì huā chá.
conversation along. Jasmine tea.
(Tea is served.)
Hǎo bu hǎo?
Good not good?
Hěn hǎo.
Very good.
Xiè xie.
Thank you.
UNIT 11 Asking for a room
Track 79 Key phrase: Have you got a room, please? ·

Qǐng wèn, yǒu fáng jiān ma?
Qǐng wèn, xiǎo jie, yǒu fáng jiān ma? Excuse me, Miss,
have you got a room?
Jǐ wèi? How many people?
Yí wèi One person
Liǎng wèi ‘Couple people’ – two people
Liǎng tiān ‘Couple days’ – two days
Word bank
qǐng wèn please

yǒu have
fáng jiān room
xiǎo jie Miss
tiān day

Word bank
méi yǒu not have
zhè shì here is 37
yào shi key
Unit 11 Asking for a room
Track 81 Dialogue
Tip Qǐng xiě xià lai Please write it down
··························· Nǐ jiào shén me? What is your name?
Remember: when
you are talking about
Wǒ jiào … I am called …
a couple or a pair of
something you use Word bank
liǎng instead of èr.
gěi nǐ for you

jiào to be called
Nǐ hǎo!
Hello!
Nǐ hǎo!
Hello!
Qǐng wèn, xiān sheng, yǒu fáng jiān ma?
Excuse me, sir, have you got a room?
Jǐ wèi?
How many people?
Liǎng wèi.
Two people.
Jǐ tiān?
How many days?
Yì tiān.
One day.
Yǒu. Nǐ jiào shén me?
‘Have’ – I have a room. What is your name?
Wǒ jiào Shǐ mì sī Mǎ lì.
I called Mary Smith.
Zhè shì yào shi …
Here is the key …
Shǐ mì sī xiǎo jie.
Smith Miss.
Wǔ líng sān fáng jiān.
503 room.
Wǒ bù dǒng.
I don’t understand.
Qǐng nǐ zài shuō.
Please you again say.
Wǔ líng sān fáng jiān.
503 room.
Qǐng xiě xià lai.
38 Please write it down.
Asking for a room Unit 11
Gěi nǐ.
For you – Here you are.
Xiè xie.
Thank you.
Bú xiè.
No thank – Don’t mention it.
Track 83 Extras
Tip Wǒ de diàn huà shì yāo líng wǔ qī liù èr sān.
··························· My telephone number is one zero five seven six two three.
Diàn huà is the word
for telephone. Diàn is
‘electricity’ and huà
is ‘words’ or ‘talk’.
Literally, telephone
is electric talk!
Wǒ de diàn huà shì … My telephone number is …

Wǒ de diàn huà means ‘my telephone’. You don’t have to say the word
LANGUAGE LAB
for ‘number’. Wǒ is ‘I’ and de means ‘of’, so wǒ de is ‘of me’, or ‘my’.
… yāo líng wǔ qī liù èr sān.

… one zero five seven six two three.
When you are saying telephone or room numbers, yī (one) is pronounced
yāo to make it clearer.
And remember how to ask someone to write their number down:

Qǐng xiě xià lai. Please write it down.
 The code for China is: 0086 líng líng bā liù.

The code for the UK is: 0044 líng líng sì sì.
CULTURAL TIP
Write down your phone numbers and learn them off by heart:
My phone number is …: Wǒ de diàn huà shì ....................................
My mobile number is …: Wǒ de shǒu jī shì ......................................
39
Unit 12 All about food!
UNIT 12 All about food!

In the hotel lobby.
Nǐ hǎo!
Hello!
Hello, how are you?
Hěn hǎo, xiè xie. Nǐ ne?
Very well, thank you, and you?
Wǒ yǒu diǎnr lèi.
I’m a bit tired.
Nǐ qù nǎr?
Where are you going?
Wǒ qù Shàng hǎi.
I am going to Shanghai.
Nǐ men qù nǎr?
Where are you going?
Wǒmen qù běi jīng.
We are going to Beijing.
Qǐng wèn, cè suǒ zài nǎr?
Excuse me, where are the toilets?
Duì bu qǐ, wǒ bù zhī dào.
Sorry, I don’t know.
Yí lù shùn fēng.
Have a good journey.
Nǐ yě shì. Bái bai.
You also. Bye-bye.
Track 85 Key phrase: I like to eat … · Wǒ xǐ huān chī …

Wǒ xǐ huān chī … I like eat …
Wǒ bù xǐ huān chī … I don’t like eat …
Word bank
wǒ I fàn rice
xǐ huān like bái fàn steamed rice
40 chī eat chǎo fàn stir-fried rice
All about food! Unit 12
miàn noodles cài vegetables

tāng soup yú fish
xiā prawns ròu meat
dà xiā big prawns – king prawns zhū ròu pork
jī chicken niú ròu beef
běi jīng kǎo yā Beijing roast duck
 Chinese people don’t eat much bread. A typical Chinese meal would be
rice and vegetables with meat or fish. They also eat lots of noodles.
CULTURAL TIP
But hotels, especially big hotels, serve a traditional western breakfast.
‘Breakfast’ in Chinese is zǎo fàn. Zǎo means ‘morning’.

‘Lunch’ is wǔ fàn – wǔ meaning ‘midday’.
‘Dinner’ is wǎn fàn – wǎn meaning ‘evening’.
Fàn, meaning ‘rice’, also means ‘meal’, as in the old days most meals were
rice. It’s just like our word ‘meal’, which comes from the ground meal that
was our staple diet, though we don’t think about it when we say it.
Track 87 Dialogue
zhōng guó cài Chinese food
Nǐ men chī shén me?

You eat what?
Wǒ men chī fàn.
We eat rice.
Bái fàn hǎi shì chǎo fàn?
Steamed or fried rice?
Chǎo fàn.
Fried rice.
Dà xiā chǎo fàn hái shì jī ròu chǎo fàn?
King prawn fried rice or chicken fried rice?
Qǐng nǐ zài shuō.
Please you again say.
Dà xiā chǎo fàn hái shì jī ròu chǎo fàn?
King prawn fried rice or chicken fried rice?
Jī ròu chǎo fàn …
Chicken fried rice …
… dà xiā chǎo fàn.
… king prawn fried rice. 41
Unit 12 All about food!
Tip Hē shén me ma?

··························· Drink something?
Hǎo chī bu hǎo chī? –
Good eat not good eat?
Yì bēi pí jiǔ, yì bēi chá.
One glass beer, one cup tea.
The question often
supplies most of the Now the waitress asks if you have enjoyed your meal:
words you need for
the answer. In this
case you know them Hǎo chī bu hǎo chī?
all, and if you add the Good eat not good eat?
word hěn, ‘very’, you Hěn hǎo chī!
can make a proper
Chinese response:
Very good eat!
Hěn hǎo chī – Wǒ xǐ huān chī zhōng guó cài.
‘Very good eat.’ I like eat Chinese food.
Track 89 Extras
Tip Paying for your meal
···························
Don’t try to think in
English and translate
Duō shao qián? How much is it?
– use what you hear! Qǐng xiě xià lai. Please write it down.
Kě yǐ yòng kǎ ma? May use (credit) card?
Dāng rán kě yǐ. Of course may.
Duì bu qǐ, bù shōu Sorry not take.
Zhǐ shōu xiàn jīn. Only take cash.
Word bank
kě yǐ may, can shōu receive, take
yòng use bù shōu not take
kǎ card xiàn jīn cash
dāng rán of course
So you had better find out where the nearest cash machine is …
Qǐng wèn, qǔ kuǎn jī zài nǎr? Excuse me, cash machine
at where?
You may not feel that you have learnt very many Mandarin
words, but you have learnt a great deal about the way
Mandarin works, and we hope this has given you confidence
to come back and learn some more soon!
42 Zài jiàn! Goodbye!

Track list
Track list
1 Introduction
2 Unit 1 Greetings
Key phrase: ‘Hello!’ · Ni hǎo!
3 Listening and speaking
4 Key phrase: ‘Goodbye!’ · Zài jiàn!
5 Review
6 Unit 2 Attracting attention

Tune in to Mandarin
7 Key phrase: ‘Excuse me!’ · Qǐng wèn!
8 Key phrase: ‘Do you speak English?’ · Nǐ shuō yīng
yǔ ma?
10 Review
11 Unit 3 Exchanging courtesies

Tune in to Mandarin
12 Key phrase: ‘How are you?’ · Nǐ hǎo ma?
13 Dialogue
14 Key phrase: ‘Not so well, I’m a bit tired!’ · Mǎ mǎ hu
hu, wǒ yǒu diǎnr lèi!
16 Review
17 Unit 4 Asking questions

Tune in to Mandarin
18 Key phrase: ‘Do you understand?’ · Dǒng bu dǒng?
19 Listening practice
20 Speaking practice
21 Review
43
Track list
Encore
Unit 1
22 Key phrases
23 Dialogues
Unit 2
24 Key phrases
25 Dialogues
Unit 3
26 Key phrases
27 Dialogues
Unit 4
28 Key phrases
29 Dialogues
30 Introduction
31 Unit 5 Where are you from?

Tune in to Mandarin
32 Key phrase: ‘Are you English?’ · Nǐ shì bu shì yīng
guó rén?
34 Dialogue
35 Review
36 Extras
37 Unit 6 Going places

Tune in to Mandarin
38 Key phrase: ‘Where are you going?’ · Nǐ qù nǎr?
40 Dialogue
41 Review
42 Extras
43 Unit 7 Asking directions

Tune in to Mandarin
44 Key phrase: ‘Where?’ Zài nǎr?
45 Key phrase: ‘Where is the tourist office?’ · Lǚ xíng
shè zài nǎr?
46 Key phrase: ‘Where is the hotel?’ · Lǚ diàn zài nǎr?
48 Dialogue
49 Review
44
Track list
50 Unit 8 Where can we eat?

Tune in to Mandarin
51 Key phrase: ‘Where is the restaurant?’ · Fàn diàn zài nǎr?
52 Key phrase: ‘Where is the toilet?’ · Cè suǒ zài nǎr?
54 Dialogue
55 Review
56 Extras
Encore
Unit 5
57 Key phrases
58 Dialogue
Unit 6
59 Key phrases
60 Dialogue
Unit 7
61 Key phrases
62 Dialogue
Unit 8
63 Key phrases
64 Dialogue
65 Introduction
66 Unit 9 Getting transport

Tune in to Mandarin
67 Key phrase: ‘I want to go to…‘ · Wǒ xiǎng qù …
69 Dialogue
70 Review
71 Extras
72 Unit 10 Ordering a drink

Tune in to Mandarin
73 Key phrase: ‘What would you like to drink?’ · Nǐ xiǎng
hē shén me?
76 Dialogue
77 Review
45
Track list
78 Unit 11 Asking for a room

Tune in to Mandarin
79 Key phrase: ‘Have you got a room, please?’ ·
Qǐng wèn, yǒu fáng jiān ma?
81 Dialogue
82 Review
83 Extras
84 Unit 12 All about food!

Tune into Mandarin
85 Key phrase: ‘I like to eat …’ · Wǒ xǐ huān chī …
87 Dialogue
88 Review
89 Extras
Encore
Unit 9
90 Key phrases
91 Dialogue
Unit 10
92 Key phrases
93 Dialogue
Unit 11
94 Key phrases
95 Dialogue
Unit 12
96 Key phrases
97 Dialogue
46
ALSO AVAILABLE
FROM COLLINS
Collins Mandarin Phrasebook & Dictionary • 978-0-00-726461-2
• Reflects everyday speech – no lengthy sentences

to struggle and stress over
• Four books in one – photoguide, phrasebook,

food guide and 5,000-word dictionary
• FREE online audio
AVAILABLE FROM ALL GOOD BOOKSELLERS

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Collins

WEI JIN & ROSI MCNAB

SERIES EDITOR · ROSI McNAB

Collins Easy Learning Mandarin

First published 2008

© HarperCollins Publishers 2008

All rights reserved.

Edited by Alison Black for small print

Typeset by Davidson Pre-Press,

Produced in China by Sony DADC

Other languages in the

the pronunciation of pinyin 5

units UNIT 1 Greetings 8

UNIT 2 Attracting attention 12

UNIT 3 Exchanging courtesies 13

UNIT 4 Asking questions 16

UNIT 5 Where are you from? 19

UNIT 6 Going places 21

UNIT 7 Asking directions 24

UNIT 8 Where can we eat? 26

UNIT 9 Getting transport 30

UNIT 10 Ordering a drink 34

UNIT 11 Asking for a room 37

UNIT 12 All about food! 40

Mandarin is the official language of China. As well as being

Many Chinese characters evolved from pictograms. Like the

To make it easier to learn Mandarin a system of writing

出 口 This is the sign you see on the motorway all the

山 means mountain (Pinyin shān).

厕 所 means toilet (Pinyin cè suǒ).

Pinyin not only shows a way of spelling out sounds, but

As in most languages, there can be many meanings for the

THE PRONUNCIATION OF PINYIN

Pinyin Sound (as in) English

Your course consists of audio files and this accompanying

Unit 1 is an introduction to basic greetings. After Unit 1,

Finally, you’ll hear the new language used in short

Revision of the key words and phrases is built into the

In this booklet you will find extracts from each unit,

Track 2 Key phrase: Hello! · Nǐ hǎo!

There are four ways of pronouncing a word in Mandarin. These different

1st Tone 2nd Tone 3rd Tone 4th Tone

In addition, some sounds are toneless. There is no tone mark for a

asking you to open your mouth and say ā … ‘ah’.

In conversation, words that are not particularly emphasized may lose

So if your name is John Smith, you will be addressed as ‘Smith John’,

Track 3 Listening and speaking

Shǐ mì sī, nǐ hǎo!

Shǐ mì sī, nǐ hǎo!

Shǐ mì sī, nǐ hǎo!

Track 4 Key phrase: Goodbye · Zài jiàn

Yáng xiān sheng, zài jiàn!

Shǐ mì sī, zài jiàn!

Shǐ mì sī, zài jiàn!

Shǐ mì sī, zài jiàn!

Shǐ mì sī, zài jiàn!

Remember: in Chinese you say the surname first. It is a good idea

Unit 2 Attracting attention

UNIT 2 Attracting attention

出口 This is the sign you see on the motorway all the

厕所 means toilet (Pinyin cè suǒ).