Introduction of Chinese Pinyin Tones
Tones are an important part of Chinese, which are the variation of pitch within a syllable and are used to distinguish words with same Pinyin. There are basiclly four tones and one neutral tone in Mandarin Chinese. The following chart illustates the four basic tones.
Basic Four Tone Marks
Tones Tone Marks Descriptons Examples
1st tone 阴平 high level dā 耷(drop down)
2nd tone 阳平 high rising dá 答(answer)
3rd tone 上声 low dipping dǎ 打(hit)
4th tone 去声 high falling dà 大(big)
The neutral tone, occurs on stressless syllables and has a pitch entirely determined by the tones of adjacent syllables. However, a neutral will never act as the starting tone. Neutral tones are usually unmarked. For example, the red parts of the following table are neutral tones.
māma 妈妈 yéye 爷爷 nǎinai 奶奶 bàba 爸爸
gēge 哥哥 wáwa 娃娃 jiějie 姐姐 mèimei 妹妹
zhuōzi 桌子 fángzi 房子 běnzi 本子 jìngzi 镜子
jīnzi 金子 yínzi 银子 zǎoshang 早上 dìshang 地上
dīngzi 钉子 miánhua 棉花 yǐngzi 影子 yànzi 燕子
Tone Mark Placement
The tone mark is placed over the vowel if there is only one vowel letter.
bù nà tè
If there are two vowels, the tone mark is placed on the first, unless the this first vowel is i or u.
kǎi hēi qiú tuī
If there are three vowels in a syllable, the tone mark is placed on the middle one.
qióng zhuāng chuán
When the tone mark is place on i, the small dot is removed.
yí lín huī
Learn more about Chinese tone on Hello! Mandarin
2008年12月26日星期五
Introduction of Chinese pinyin
Chinese Pinyin Introduction
Pinyin, short for Hanyu Pinyin, which means "phonetic notation" or "phonetic symbols" while Pin means "spell(ing)" and Yin means "sound(s)"), is a system of romanization (phonemic notation and transcription to Roman script) for Standard Mandarin. Pinyin was approved in 1958 and adopted in 1979 by the government in the People's Republic of China. It superseded older romanization systems such as Wade-Giles (1859; modified 1912) and Postal System Pinyin, and replaced zhuyin as the method of Chinese phonetic instruction in mainland China.
Since then, Pinyin has been accepted by the Government of Singapore, the Library of Congress, the American Library Association, and most international institutions as the preferred transcription system for Mandarin. In 1979 the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) adopted pinyin as the standard romanization for modern Chinese (ISO-7098:1991).
Pinyin is a romanization and not an anglicization; that is, it uses Roman letters to represent sounds in Standard Mandarin Chinese. The way these letters represent sounds in Standard Mandarin Chinese will differ from how other languages that use the Roman alphabet represent sound. For example, the sounds indicated in Pinyin by b and p are distinguished from each other (by aspiration) in a manner different from that of both English (which has voicing and aspiration) and of French (which has voicing alone). Other letters, like j, q, x or zh indicate sounds that do not correspond to any exact sound in English. Some of the transcriptions in Pinyin such as the ang ending, do not correspond to English pronunciations, either. Pinyin has also become a useful tool for entering Chinese language text into computers.
When learning Chinese Pinyin, you shall be aware of certain limitations:
Pinyin does not represent English pronunciation and should not be pronounced according to English conventions. You are advised to learn Pinyin phonetic conventions, bearing in mind that many sounds have no equivalents in Englishss.
Since Pinyin is based only on the sounds of Mandarin Chinese, Pinyin is unsuitable for use for speakers of some other Chinese spoken dialects, because the sounds do not correspond to their speech.
The phonotactics of spoken Mandarin Chinese dictate a relatively small set of possible syllables and there is a potential for homonyms. Because of this, Pinyin can be ambiguous, especially when transcribing Standard Written Chinese, which uses formal constructions not often found in speech. However, this should not be an issue in the transcription of normal spoken Mandarin conversation since speakers would not use such ambiguous constructions in speech.
Learn more about Chinese pinyin on Hello! Mandarin
Pinyin, short for Hanyu Pinyin, which means "phonetic notation" or "phonetic symbols" while Pin means "spell(ing)" and Yin means "sound(s)"), is a system of romanization (phonemic notation and transcription to Roman script) for Standard Mandarin. Pinyin was approved in 1958 and adopted in 1979 by the government in the People's Republic of China. It superseded older romanization systems such as Wade-Giles (1859; modified 1912) and Postal System Pinyin, and replaced zhuyin as the method of Chinese phonetic instruction in mainland China.
Since then, Pinyin has been accepted by the Government of Singapore, the Library of Congress, the American Library Association, and most international institutions as the preferred transcription system for Mandarin. In 1979 the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) adopted pinyin as the standard romanization for modern Chinese (ISO-7098:1991).
Pinyin is a romanization and not an anglicization; that is, it uses Roman letters to represent sounds in Standard Mandarin Chinese. The way these letters represent sounds in Standard Mandarin Chinese will differ from how other languages that use the Roman alphabet represent sound. For example, the sounds indicated in Pinyin by b and p are distinguished from each other (by aspiration) in a manner different from that of both English (which has voicing and aspiration) and of French (which has voicing alone). Other letters, like j, q, x or zh indicate sounds that do not correspond to any exact sound in English. Some of the transcriptions in Pinyin such as the ang ending, do not correspond to English pronunciations, either. Pinyin has also become a useful tool for entering Chinese language text into computers.
When learning Chinese Pinyin, you shall be aware of certain limitations:
Pinyin does not represent English pronunciation and should not be pronounced according to English conventions. You are advised to learn Pinyin phonetic conventions, bearing in mind that many sounds have no equivalents in Englishss.
Since Pinyin is based only on the sounds of Mandarin Chinese, Pinyin is unsuitable for use for speakers of some other Chinese spoken dialects, because the sounds do not correspond to their speech.
The phonotactics of spoken Mandarin Chinese dictate a relatively small set of possible syllables and there is a potential for homonyms. Because of this, Pinyin can be ambiguous, especially when transcribing Standard Written Chinese, which uses formal constructions not often found in speech. However, this should not be an issue in the transcription of normal spoken Mandarin conversation since speakers would not use such ambiguous constructions in speech.
Learn more about Chinese pinyin on Hello! Mandarin
Sing a Chinese song--Everyday in my life, sang by Jackie Chen
Learn Chinese, sing Chinese song:
在我生命中的每一天
zài wǒ shēng mìng zhōng de měi yī tiān
Tarcy:
kàn shí guāng fēi shì
wǒ qí dǎo míng tiān
měi gè xiǎo xiǎo mèng xiǎng néng gòu màn màn shí xiàn
wǒ shì rú cǐ píng fán què yòu rú cǐ xìng yùn
wǒ yào shuō shēng xiè xiè nǐ
zài wǒ shēng mìng zhōng de měi yī tiān
Jackie:
kàn shí guāng fēi shì
wǒ huí shǒu cóng qián
céng jīng shì mǎng zhuàng shǎo nián
céng jīng dù rì rú nián
wǒ shì rú cǐ píng fán què yòu rú cǐ xìng yùn
wǒ yào shuō shēng xiè xiè nǐ
zài wǒ shēng mìng zhōng de měi yī tiān
Jackie:
ràng wǒ jiāng shēng mìng zhōng zuì shǎn liàng de nà yī duàn yǔ nǐ fēn xiǎng
Tarcy:
ràng wǒ yòng shēng mìng zhōng zuì liáo liàng de gē shēng lái péi bàn nǐ
Jackie:
ràng wǒ jiāng xīn zhōng zuì wēn róu de bù fēn gěi nǐ
zài nǐ zuì xū yào péng yǒu de shí hòu
Tarcy:
ràng wǒ zhēn xīn zhēn yì duì nǐ zài měi yī tiān
Together:
ràng wǒ zhēn xīn zhēn yì duì nǐ zài měi yī tiān
Learn Chinese on Hello! Mandarin: private class, 24/7, free materials, online library, practice partner.
在我生命中的每一天
zài wǒ shēng mìng zhōng de měi yī tiān
Tarcy:
kàn shí guāng fēi shì
wǒ qí dǎo míng tiān
měi gè xiǎo xiǎo mèng xiǎng néng gòu màn màn shí xiàn
wǒ shì rú cǐ píng fán què yòu rú cǐ xìng yùn
wǒ yào shuō shēng xiè xiè nǐ
zài wǒ shēng mìng zhōng de měi yī tiān
Jackie:
kàn shí guāng fēi shì
wǒ huí shǒu cóng qián
céng jīng shì mǎng zhuàng shǎo nián
céng jīng dù rì rú nián
wǒ shì rú cǐ píng fán què yòu rú cǐ xìng yùn
wǒ yào shuō shēng xiè xiè nǐ
zài wǒ shēng mìng zhōng de měi yī tiān
Jackie:
ràng wǒ jiāng shēng mìng zhōng zuì shǎn liàng de nà yī duàn yǔ nǐ fēn xiǎng
Tarcy:
ràng wǒ yòng shēng mìng zhōng zuì liáo liàng de gē shēng lái péi bàn nǐ
Jackie:
ràng wǒ jiāng xīn zhōng zuì wēn róu de bù fēn gěi nǐ
zài nǐ zuì xū yào péng yǒu de shí hòu
Tarcy:
ràng wǒ zhēn xīn zhēn yì duì nǐ zài měi yī tiān
Together:
ràng wǒ zhēn xīn zhēn yì duì nǐ zài měi yī tiān
Learn Chinese on Hello! Mandarin: private class, 24/7, free materials, online library, practice partner.
Basic Chinese Sentence Rules
Basic Chinese Sentence Rules:
Sentence Type - 句子的种类
1). Based on the mood, a sentence can be a declarative sentence, an interrogative sentence, an imperative sentence or an interjectional sentence.
a. Declarative Ssentence - 陈述句
eg. 明天是除夕.
eg. 现在停电了.
b. Interrogative Sentence - 疑问句
eg. 今天是星期几?
eg. 你去吗?
c. Imperative Sentence - 祈使句
eg. 快点!
eg. 请安静!
d. Interjectional Sentence - 感叹句
eg. 这个广场好大啊!
eg. 这幅画真漂亮!
Learn Chinese on Hello! Mandarin: private class, 24/7, free materials, practice partner, online library
Sentence Type - 句子的种类
1). Based on the mood, a sentence can be a declarative sentence, an interrogative sentence, an imperative sentence or an interjectional sentence.
a. Declarative Ssentence - 陈述句
eg. 明天是除夕.
eg. 现在停电了.
b. Interrogative Sentence - 疑问句
eg. 今天是星期几?
eg. 你去吗?
c. Imperative Sentence - 祈使句
eg. 快点!
eg. 请安静!
d. Interjectional Sentence - 感叹句
eg. 这个广场好大啊!
eg. 这幅画真漂亮!
Learn Chinese on Hello! Mandarin: private class, 24/7, free materials, practice partner, online library
Basic Chinese Pinyin Rules
Basic Chinese Pinyin Rules
1. Usage of y and w
When there is no intials before finals starting with i, y shall be added as initial. If there is other vowels after i, i shall be changed to y. For example:
ia - ya ie -ye iao -yao
iou -you ian -yan iang -yang
iong -yong
If no vowels after i, just y before i. For example:
i - yi in -yin ing -ying
When there is no intials before finals starting with u, w shall be added as initial. If there is other vowels after u, u shall be changed to w. For example:
ua - wa uo -wo uai -wai
uei - wei uan - wan uen - wen
uang - wang ueng - weng
If no vowels after u, just w before u. For example:
u - wu
When there is no intials before finals starting with ü, y shall be added as initial no matter if there is vowels after ü. When y added, ü is changed to u. For example:
ü - yu üe - yue üan - yuan
ün -yun
2. Usage of ’ mark
When syllables starting with a, o, e follow other syllables and may make confusions, ’ mark is used to seperate them. For example:
piao 票 jiang 讲 min ge 民革 xian 先
pi ’ao 皮袄 ji ’ang 激昂 ming ’e 名额 xi ’an 西安
3. Abbreviations
Abbreviations of iou, uei and uen
When there is initials before iou, uei and uen, they are abbraviated as iu, ui and un. For Example:
niou - niu guei - gui luen -lun
If no initials proceed, then they still abide by the rules of usage of y and w shown above.
When initials other than n and l proceed finals ü starting with, ü changes to u.
nü - nü lü - lü jü - ju qü - qu
When uo follows initials b, p, m, or f, u is dropped, resulting in bo, po, mo, or fo.
buo - bo puo - po muo -mo fuo - fo
The final er can follow other finals to form retroflection. In the follow case, er is abbraviated as r.
When er is attached as suffix to finals a, o, e u, -ng. For example:
bar 把儿 mor 沫儿 ger 歌儿 shur 数儿 rangr 瓤儿
When er is attached as suffix to finals ai, an, en, drop the final letter and er is abbraviated as r. For example:
hair 孩儿 bianr 边儿 pianr 片儿
When er is attached as suffix to finals i and ü, er is shorted as r.
pir 皮儿 qir 旗儿 qur 曲儿
When er is attached as suffix to finals -i, in, and un, the final letter is dropped.
sher 事儿
Learn More about Chinese pinyin, conversation on Hello! Mandarin.
1. Usage of y and w
When there is no intials before finals starting with i, y shall be added as initial. If there is other vowels after i, i shall be changed to y. For example:
ia - ya ie -ye iao -yao
iou -you ian -yan iang -yang
iong -yong
If no vowels after i, just y before i. For example:
i - yi in -yin ing -ying
When there is no intials before finals starting with u, w shall be added as initial. If there is other vowels after u, u shall be changed to w. For example:
ua - wa uo -wo uai -wai
uei - wei uan - wan uen - wen
uang - wang ueng - weng
If no vowels after u, just w before u. For example:
u - wu
When there is no intials before finals starting with ü, y shall be added as initial no matter if there is vowels after ü. When y added, ü is changed to u. For example:
ü - yu üe - yue üan - yuan
ün -yun
2. Usage of ’ mark
When syllables starting with a, o, e follow other syllables and may make confusions, ’ mark is used to seperate them. For example:
piao 票 jiang 讲 min ge 民革 xian 先
pi ’ao 皮袄 ji ’ang 激昂 ming ’e 名额 xi ’an 西安
3. Abbreviations
Abbreviations of iou, uei and uen
When there is initials before iou, uei and uen, they are abbraviated as iu, ui and un. For Example:
niou - niu guei - gui luen -lun
If no initials proceed, then they still abide by the rules of usage of y and w shown above.
When initials other than n and l proceed finals ü starting with, ü changes to u.
nü - nü lü - lü jü - ju qü - qu
When uo follows initials b, p, m, or f, u is dropped, resulting in bo, po, mo, or fo.
buo - bo puo - po muo -mo fuo - fo
The final er can follow other finals to form retroflection. In the follow case, er is abbraviated as r.
When er is attached as suffix to finals a, o, e u, -ng. For example:
bar 把儿 mor 沫儿 ger 歌儿 shur 数儿 rangr 瓤儿
When er is attached as suffix to finals ai, an, en, drop the final letter and er is abbraviated as r. For example:
hair 孩儿 bianr 边儿 pianr 片儿
When er is attached as suffix to finals i and ü, er is shorted as r.
pir 皮儿 qir 旗儿 qur 曲儿
When er is attached as suffix to finals -i, in, and un, the final letter is dropped.
sher 事儿
Learn More about Chinese pinyin, conversation on Hello! Mandarin.
2008年12月25日星期四
Advantages of Learning Chinese Online
In this article I am going to explain to you the advantages of learning a foreign language online as opposed to in a local class.
ADVANTAGE 1- PRICE- Taking a course near you can cost you hundreds of dollars that will soon be wasted. With a course online, you can spend a fraction of that price for triple times the education value.
ADVANTAGE 2- ACCENTS- With most local classes, you will be stuck with a teacher that can barely even speak English. How can you trust them to teach you to speak Mandarin Chinese? With an online course, mostly everything is written, so you can understand every word easily.
ADVANTAGE 2- 24/7 ACCESS- With a local class, learning begins when you walk in the door, and ends when you leave. With an online course, you will have the information forever and be able to study at any time that you would like.
ADVANTAGE 4- BIG CLASSES- In most classes, you will be stuck with at least fifteen students, and one teacher. Each student may have a different question, which makes it impossible to meet your individual needs. If you are learning over the computer, all of the information is laid out perfectly so you will not have to ask any questions.
Choosing your online course can also make the difference in your education. If you would like to learn about the #1 recommended product for learning to speak Mandarin Chinese online, click on the link below.
www.hellomandarin.com
ADVANTAGE 1- PRICE- Taking a course near you can cost you hundreds of dollars that will soon be wasted. With a course online, you can spend a fraction of that price for triple times the education value.
ADVANTAGE 2- ACCENTS- With most local classes, you will be stuck with a teacher that can barely even speak English. How can you trust them to teach you to speak Mandarin Chinese? With an online course, mostly everything is written, so you can understand every word easily.
ADVANTAGE 2- 24/7 ACCESS- With a local class, learning begins when you walk in the door, and ends when you leave. With an online course, you will have the information forever and be able to study at any time that you would like.
ADVANTAGE 4- BIG CLASSES- In most classes, you will be stuck with at least fifteen students, and one teacher. Each student may have a different question, which makes it impossible to meet your individual needs. If you are learning over the computer, all of the information is laid out perfectly so you will not have to ask any questions.
Choosing your online course can also make the difference in your education. If you would like to learn about the #1 recommended product for learning to speak Mandarin Chinese online, click on the link below.
www.hellomandarin.com
Chinese Words
Chinese Words:
Dà tóng xiǎo yì
【 大 同 小 异 】
Almost the same; alike except for slight differences
Dà xiǎn shén tōng
【 大 显 神 通 】
To display one's remarkable skill; give full display to one's brilliant abilities
Xiǎo tí dà zuò
【 小 题 大 作 】
To kick up a fuss over a trivial matter; to make a mountain out of a molehill
Xiǎo ēn xiǎo huì
【 小 恩 小 惠 】
Petty favors; small favors
Learn more Chinese words on Hello! Mandarin.
Dà tóng xiǎo yì
【 大 同 小 异 】
Almost the same; alike except for slight differences
Dà xiǎn shén tōng
【 大 显 神 通 】
To display one's remarkable skill; give full display to one's brilliant abilities
Xiǎo tí dà zuò
【 小 题 大 作 】
To kick up a fuss over a trivial matter; to make a mountain out of a molehill
Xiǎo ēn xiǎo huì
【 小 恩 小 惠 】
Petty favors; small favors
Learn more Chinese words on Hello! Mandarin.
Chinese idiom -The fox borrows the tiger's ferocity
The fox borrows the tiger's ferocity
One day, a tiger caught a fox and was about to devour it. The quick-witted fox stopped the tiger, saying: "How dare you eat me? You should know that I was sent by the heavens to be the king of beasts. If you don't believe me, come with me and see for yourself that there is not animal that isn't afraid of me!"
The tiger agreed.
The fox walked ahead of the tiger through the forest. All the animals that they passed - the rabbits, the deer and all the others - ran for cover upon seeing the fox and the tiger.
The tiger was amazed! The other animals really were afraid of the fox! In fact, the tiger thought that he, too, ought to be afraid of the fox and decided not to eat him after all.
Learn more about chinese conversation, idiom and culture on Hello! Mandarin
One day, a tiger caught a fox and was about to devour it. The quick-witted fox stopped the tiger, saying: "How dare you eat me? You should know that I was sent by the heavens to be the king of beasts. If you don't believe me, come with me and see for yourself that there is not animal that isn't afraid of me!"
The tiger agreed.
The fox walked ahead of the tiger through the forest. All the animals that they passed - the rabbits, the deer and all the others - ran for cover upon seeing the fox and the tiger.
The tiger was amazed! The other animals really were afraid of the fox! In fact, the tiger thought that he, too, ought to be afraid of the fox and decided not to eat him after all.
Learn more about chinese conversation, idiom and culture on Hello! Mandarin
Chinese idiom--Helping seedlings to grow by pulling them up
Helping seedlings to grow by pulling them up
There once was a farmer who lived during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD). He was a very impatient man. The anxious farmer measured the size his crops every day. One day, he found that his crops were growing much slower than expected, which upset him a great deal.
The farmer racked his brains trying to find ways to get quicker results. One day, he came up with a solution. He would physically pull the crops out of the ground, thereby making them taller. The farmer worked very hard and at day's end was exhausted but extremely proud of himself because his plan had produced the desired results.
When the farmer went home, he excitedly told his son of his “brilliant” idea. His son went to the fields only to discover that all of his crops had died.
Learn more Chinese idiom, conversation and culture on Hello! Mandarin
There once was a farmer who lived during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD). He was a very impatient man. The anxious farmer measured the size his crops every day. One day, he found that his crops were growing much slower than expected, which upset him a great deal.
The farmer racked his brains trying to find ways to get quicker results. One day, he came up with a solution. He would physically pull the crops out of the ground, thereby making them taller. The farmer worked very hard and at day's end was exhausted but extremely proud of himself because his plan had produced the desired results.
When the farmer went home, he excitedly told his son of his “brilliant” idea. His son went to the fields only to discover that all of his crops had died.
Learn more Chinese idiom, conversation and culture on Hello! Mandarin
Chinese conversation-Exchange Currency
Conversation :
Foreigners in China should pay in Renminbi. Mike comes from the United States and works in Beijing now. One day, he goes to the bank to exchange some money.
mài kè: Láo jià, wŏ xiăng bă měi yuán huàn chéng Rénmínbì.
(Mike: Excuse me, I’d like to exchange some US dollars for Renminbi. )
Xiăo jiě: Nín yào huàn duō shăo?
(Miss: How much do you want to change?)
mài kè: Wŭ băi měi yuán.
(Mike: Five hundred US dollars.)
Xiăo jiě: Qĭng nín xiān tiān yī zhāng duì huàn dān.
(Miss: Fill in the exchange form first, please.)
mài kè: Jīn tiān měi yuán hé Rénmínbì de bĭ jià shì duō shăo?
(Mike: What’s the rate for US dollars to Renminbi today?)
Xiăo jiě: Bĭ jià shì yī bĭ bā diăn liù sān.
(Miss: The rate is 1:8.63.)
mài kè: Wŏ tiān hăo duì huàn dān le
(Mike: I’ve finished the form.)
Xiăo jiě: Qĭng shāo dĕng. Zhè shì nín de qián.
(Miss: Wait a moment, please. Here is your money.)
mài kè: Xiè xiè.
(Mike: Thank you.)
Learn Chinese conversation, pinyin, grammar and culture on Hello!Mandarin
Foreigners in China should pay in Renminbi. Mike comes from the United States and works in Beijing now. One day, he goes to the bank to exchange some money.
mài kè: Láo jià, wŏ xiăng bă měi yuán huàn chéng Rénmínbì.
(Mike: Excuse me, I’d like to exchange some US dollars for Renminbi. )
Xiăo jiě: Nín yào huàn duō shăo?
(Miss: How much do you want to change?)
mài kè: Wŭ băi měi yuán.
(Mike: Five hundred US dollars.)
Xiăo jiě: Qĭng nín xiān tiān yī zhāng duì huàn dān.
(Miss: Fill in the exchange form first, please.)
mài kè: Jīn tiān měi yuán hé Rénmínbì de bĭ jià shì duō shăo?
(Mike: What’s the rate for US dollars to Renminbi today?)
Xiăo jiě: Bĭ jià shì yī bĭ bā diăn liù sān.
(Miss: The rate is 1:8.63.)
mài kè: Wŏ tiān hăo duì huàn dān le
(Mike: I’ve finished the form.)
Xiăo jiě: Qĭng shāo dĕng. Zhè shì nín de qián.
(Miss: Wait a moment, please. Here is your money.)
mài kè: Xiè xiè.
(Mike: Thank you.)
Learn Chinese conversation, pinyin, grammar and culture on Hello!Mandarin
Chinese Culture : zodiac sign - ox 十二生肖-牛
Years: 1901, 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021
Overview - You will achieve financial success this year, Ox. Keep your eyes open for new opportunities and cease them when they arrive. Success will not drop from the sky into your lap. Rather, you need to hunt it down and claim it as yours. The advantage you have this year is that you have all of the tools necessary to find it. You’ve learned to communicate and listen to your peers, and this will make all of the difference.
Work - Hard work and devotion will continue to bring your advancement in the workplace, but it is your instinct that will propel you. You will understand what is needed and when it is needed, and make the decisions to get it all done. Your accomplishments will amaze everyone, and your capacity to be a team leader will even impress you.
Money - Your money won’t be easy, but it will be plentiful once you have won it. Determination and ferocity will secure your fortune, so be a player and don’t settle for second best.
Health - Some minor problems with legs and joints will persist this year. Avoid contact sports and high-impact exercise and focus on your aerobics instead.
Love and Family - Your family life will be warm and caring this year. You will find a stable peace of mind within your family, and you will find more time to spend with them. If you are single, your calm disposition will attract the attention of someone special and you will harbor many secret admirers.
More about Ox…
Personality Type - You are strong and silent, always cautious but never inactive. People look at you with respect because of your calm attitude and natural confidence in your own abilities. Within a chaotic world, you provide the anchor to stabilize all situations. You are an important part of any successful team because at the end of the day you are the one who makes sure that the work gets done. You are a realist and never live outside your means and capacity.
Learn More about Chinese culture, please check www.hellomandarin.com
Overview - You will achieve financial success this year, Ox. Keep your eyes open for new opportunities and cease them when they arrive. Success will not drop from the sky into your lap. Rather, you need to hunt it down and claim it as yours. The advantage you have this year is that you have all of the tools necessary to find it. You’ve learned to communicate and listen to your peers, and this will make all of the difference.
Work - Hard work and devotion will continue to bring your advancement in the workplace, but it is your instinct that will propel you. You will understand what is needed and when it is needed, and make the decisions to get it all done. Your accomplishments will amaze everyone, and your capacity to be a team leader will even impress you.
Money - Your money won’t be easy, but it will be plentiful once you have won it. Determination and ferocity will secure your fortune, so be a player and don’t settle for second best.
Health - Some minor problems with legs and joints will persist this year. Avoid contact sports and high-impact exercise and focus on your aerobics instead.
Love and Family - Your family life will be warm and caring this year. You will find a stable peace of mind within your family, and you will find more time to spend with them. If you are single, your calm disposition will attract the attention of someone special and you will harbor many secret admirers.
More about Ox…
Personality Type - You are strong and silent, always cautious but never inactive. People look at you with respect because of your calm attitude and natural confidence in your own abilities. Within a chaotic world, you provide the anchor to stabilize all situations. You are an important part of any successful team because at the end of the day you are the one who makes sure that the work gets done. You are a realist and never live outside your means and capacity.
Learn More about Chinese culture, please check www.hellomandarin.com
2008年12月20日星期六
Some Suggestions for Learning Chinese
Some Suggestions for Learning Chinese
Learning Chinese involves remembering many rules about grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary. Although your textbook and teacher will organize this information in certain ways, you will still need to systematize the material for reference and review. Strict self-discipline is essential to mastering any language -- especially Chinese! However, ensure variety in your studies by 'ringing the changes' from time to time. Don't keep on with the same thing until you are bored with it. Here are some helpful suggestions for you:
Vocabulary
Write the vocabulary items on individual cards or slips of paper with their translation on the reverse side. See how many words you can remember from the English definition by turning them over one by one; then try it the other way round. (This game is more fun if played with two or more people!) Separate out the ones you find hard to recall and carry them around with you in your pocket, reviewing them while waiting for buses, standing in line to buy tickets, etc.
a. Learn the words in the context of the sentences in the dialogues of your textbook.
b. Say the words out loud as you study them.
c. Write down the words you find most difficult to memorize on a separate sheet of paper and give extra time to them.
d. Record the words and their definitions; then listen to the tape several times. Use the 'pause' button to test yourself.
e. Associate words with pictures.
f. Group them by generic categories, e.g. furniture, foods, etc.; or according to the situations in which they occur, e.g. under 'Post Office' you can put stamps, aerogram, printed matter, etc. Another way is by function, e.g. greetings, partings, thanking, conversation starters, etc..
g. Make sentences using the new vocabulary (and grammar patterns) ready for use in class.
Note: with Chinese words, it is as important to remember the tone as it is to remember how to pronounce it; if you can't remember the tone, you've forgotten the word!
Dialogue
Always try to obtain cassette recordings of the dialogues and new vocabulary of your textbooks. First listen to the cassette recording of the dialogue just to get a feel for the content of the lesson. Use the 'pause' and 'rewind' buttons on your tape recorder to give yourself time to absorb the content. Only when you have listened to it several times and have understood the meaning should you try reading along with the cassette. This will aid fluency and intonation. Listen to the cassette tape as many times as possible before class -- you can't listen to it too much!
Grammar
Some people perform better when first given a rule and then told to use it to make sentences. Others prefer to be given lots of input and deduce the rules for themselves. Find out which method works best for you. Keep a notebook in which to write down the major grammar patterns. Then use this for review, adding any new information you may acquire. Memorize the key sentences in the dialogues. If there is something in your textbook you don't understand, leave it for a while. A week or so later, you'll suddenly discover that you understand it now!
Learning Chinese involves remembering many rules about grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary. Although your textbook and teacher will organize this information in certain ways, you will still need to systematize the material for reference and review. Strict self-discipline is essential to mastering any language -- especially Chinese! However, ensure variety in your studies by 'ringing the changes' from time to time. Don't keep on with the same thing until you are bored with it. Here are some helpful suggestions for you:
Vocabulary
Write the vocabulary items on individual cards or slips of paper with their translation on the reverse side. See how many words you can remember from the English definition by turning them over one by one; then try it the other way round. (This game is more fun if played with two or more people!) Separate out the ones you find hard to recall and carry them around with you in your pocket, reviewing them while waiting for buses, standing in line to buy tickets, etc.
a. Learn the words in the context of the sentences in the dialogues of your textbook.
b. Say the words out loud as you study them.
c. Write down the words you find most difficult to memorize on a separate sheet of paper and give extra time to them.
d. Record the words and their definitions; then listen to the tape several times. Use the 'pause' button to test yourself.
e. Associate words with pictures.
f. Group them by generic categories, e.g. furniture, foods, etc.; or according to the situations in which they occur, e.g. under 'Post Office' you can put stamps, aerogram, printed matter, etc. Another way is by function, e.g. greetings, partings, thanking, conversation starters, etc..
g. Make sentences using the new vocabulary (and grammar patterns) ready for use in class.
Note: with Chinese words, it is as important to remember the tone as it is to remember how to pronounce it; if you can't remember the tone, you've forgotten the word!
Dialogue
Always try to obtain cassette recordings of the dialogues and new vocabulary of your textbooks. First listen to the cassette recording of the dialogue just to get a feel for the content of the lesson. Use the 'pause' and 'rewind' buttons on your tape recorder to give yourself time to absorb the content. Only when you have listened to it several times and have understood the meaning should you try reading along with the cassette. This will aid fluency and intonation. Listen to the cassette tape as many times as possible before class -- you can't listen to it too much!
Grammar
Some people perform better when first given a rule and then told to use it to make sentences. Others prefer to be given lots of input and deduce the rules for themselves. Find out which method works best for you. Keep a notebook in which to write down the major grammar patterns. Then use this for review, adding any new information you may acquire. Memorize the key sentences in the dialogues. If there is something in your textbook you don't understand, leave it for a while. A week or so later, you'll suddenly discover that you understand it now!
Basic Chinese Sentence Pattern
Basic Chinese Sentence Pattern
S-V-O 我姓王。 I am surnamed Wang.
S-Adv-V-O 他也姓王。 He is also surnamed Wang.
S-V-O-嗎 你姓王嗎? Are you surnamed Wang?
You will notice a few similarities and some major differences between the structure of Chinese and English. Unlike English, Chinese is not an inflected language, rather it relies on word order to convey meaning. Sometimes, words classified as verbs in Chinese are rendered as other types of expressions in English. Word order can also vary between the two languages, especially with questions. In Chinese, the basic syntax of a question is the same as that of a statement, whereas in English it usually is not.
Here are more examples, with the English rendered somewhat literally so that you can see the structure of the Chinese.
Basic Pattern
N-V-Obj. 我是中國人。 I am a Chinese (person).
他叫王朋。 He is called Wang Peng.
我姓李. I am surnamed Li.
N-Adv-V-Obj. 我不是中國人。 I am not a Chinese (person).
他也不姓李。 He isn't surnamed Li, either. (He also is not surnamed Li.)
N-(Adv)-V-Obj.-嗎?
你也是中國人嗎? Are you also a Chinese (person)?
More infor about Chinese grammar and Learning Chinese, please check www.hellomandarin.com
S-V-O 我姓王。 I am surnamed Wang.
S-Adv-V-O 他也姓王。 He is also surnamed Wang.
S-V-O-嗎 你姓王嗎? Are you surnamed Wang?
You will notice a few similarities and some major differences between the structure of Chinese and English. Unlike English, Chinese is not an inflected language, rather it relies on word order to convey meaning. Sometimes, words classified as verbs in Chinese are rendered as other types of expressions in English. Word order can also vary between the two languages, especially with questions. In Chinese, the basic syntax of a question is the same as that of a statement, whereas in English it usually is not.
Here are more examples, with the English rendered somewhat literally so that you can see the structure of the Chinese.
Basic Pattern
N-V-Obj. 我是中國人。 I am a Chinese (person).
他叫王朋。 He is called Wang Peng.
我姓李. I am surnamed Li.
N-Adv-V-Obj. 我不是中國人。 I am not a Chinese (person).
他也不姓李。 He isn't surnamed Li, either. (He also is not surnamed Li.)
N-(Adv)-V-Obj.-嗎?
你也是中國人嗎? Are you also a Chinese (person)?
More infor about Chinese grammar and Learning Chinese, please check www.hellomandarin.com
2008年12月19日星期五
Basic explaination of Chinese tones
While residents across China use the same written character system, the way the words are pronounced differs from region to region. Standard Chinese is Mandarin, or Putonghua, and it consists of five pronunciation tones.
In 1958, the Chinese government rolled out its Romanized version of Mandarin. Prior to that, there were several different methods to sound out Chinese characters using English letters. Over the years, pinyin has become the standard around the world for those wishing to learn to properly pronounce Mandarin Chinese. This is how Peking became Beijing (which a more accurate pronunciation) in pinyin.
Using characters, people simply know that that character is pronounced with a certain tone. In Romanized pinyin, many words suddenly had the same spelling, and it became necessary to designate tones within the word to differentiate them.
Tones are of vital importance in Chinese. Depending on the choice of tone, you could be calling for your mother (mā) or your horse (mă). Here's a brief introduction on the five vowel tones in the Mandarin language using the many words that are spelled "ma".
First Tone: ˉ
This tone is designated by a straight line over the vowel (mā) and is pronounced flat and high like the "ma" in Obama.
Second Tone: ´
This tone's symbol is an upward slant from right to left over the vowel (má) and begins in the mid-tone, then rises to a high tone, as if asking a question.
Third Tone: ˇ
This tone has a V-shape over the vowel (mă) and starts low then goes even lower before it rises to a high tone. This is also known as falling rising tone. It's as if your voice is tracing a check mark, starting at the middle, then lower then high.
Fourth Tone: `
This tone is represented by a downward slant from right to left over the vowel (mà) and begins in a high tone but falls sharply with a strong guttural tone at the end like you are mad.
Fifth Tone:
This tone is also known as the neutral tone. Has no symbol over the vowel (ma) or is sometimes preceded with a dot (‧ma) and is pronounced flatly without any intonation. Sometimes it's just slightly softer than first tone.
There is another tone as well, used only for certain words and is designated by an umlaut or ¨ or two dots over the vowel (lü). The standard way of explaining how to pronounce this is to purse your lips and say "ee" then end in an "oo" sound. It's one of the hardest Chinese tones to master so it may help to find a Chinese-speaking friend and ask them to pronounce the word for green, and listen closely!
As a student of the Chinese language, the hardest part to differentiate is first, second, and fifth tones. Check www.hellomandarin.com to get more tips of learning Chinese tones and Mandarin.
In 1958, the Chinese government rolled out its Romanized version of Mandarin. Prior to that, there were several different methods to sound out Chinese characters using English letters. Over the years, pinyin has become the standard around the world for those wishing to learn to properly pronounce Mandarin Chinese. This is how Peking became Beijing (which a more accurate pronunciation) in pinyin.
Using characters, people simply know that that character is pronounced with a certain tone. In Romanized pinyin, many words suddenly had the same spelling, and it became necessary to designate tones within the word to differentiate them.
Tones are of vital importance in Chinese. Depending on the choice of tone, you could be calling for your mother (mā) or your horse (mă). Here's a brief introduction on the five vowel tones in the Mandarin language using the many words that are spelled "ma".
First Tone: ˉ
This tone is designated by a straight line over the vowel (mā) and is pronounced flat and high like the "ma" in Obama.
Second Tone: ´
This tone's symbol is an upward slant from right to left over the vowel (má) and begins in the mid-tone, then rises to a high tone, as if asking a question.
Third Tone: ˇ
This tone has a V-shape over the vowel (mă) and starts low then goes even lower before it rises to a high tone. This is also known as falling rising tone. It's as if your voice is tracing a check mark, starting at the middle, then lower then high.
Fourth Tone: `
This tone is represented by a downward slant from right to left over the vowel (mà) and begins in a high tone but falls sharply with a strong guttural tone at the end like you are mad.
Fifth Tone:
This tone is also known as the neutral tone. Has no symbol over the vowel (ma) or is sometimes preceded with a dot (‧ma) and is pronounced flatly without any intonation. Sometimes it's just slightly softer than first tone.
There is another tone as well, used only for certain words and is designated by an umlaut or ¨ or two dots over the vowel (lü). The standard way of explaining how to pronounce this is to purse your lips and say "ee" then end in an "oo" sound. It's one of the hardest Chinese tones to master so it may help to find a Chinese-speaking friend and ask them to pronounce the word for green, and listen closely!
As a student of the Chinese language, the hardest part to differentiate is first, second, and fifth tones. Check www.hellomandarin.com to get more tips of learning Chinese tones and Mandarin.
Chinese Saying-海内存知己，天涯若比邻
海内存知己，天涯若比邻
拼音:hăi nèi cún zhī jĭ ， tiān yá ruò bĭ lín
英译 (English):A bosom friend afar brings distance near.
释义 (paraphrase): 只要同在四海之内，就算是在天涯海角也如同近在邻居一样。
示例 (demonstration): 在国外留学的同学们，每到过节的时候，都自发的聚在一起开心的过节。让大家感受到“海内存知己，天涯若比邻。”
Learn Chinese with the World Leader in Live Online Chinese Education. Learn Chinese Mandarin with Real Teachers in a Live Class, not just online Courseware ; Experienced Native Speaking and Bilingual Teachers from Beijing ;Flexible and Personalized Course Plan, Study Chinese Language Anytime and Anywhere
拼音:hăi nèi cún zhī jĭ ， tiān yá ruò bĭ lín
英译 (English):A bosom friend afar brings distance near.
释义 (paraphrase): 只要同在四海之内，就算是在天涯海角也如同近在邻居一样。
示例 (demonstration): 在国外留学的同学们，每到过节的时候，都自发的聚在一起开心的过节。让大家感受到“海内存知己，天涯若比邻。”
Learn Chinese with the World Leader in Live Online Chinese Education. Learn Chinese Mandarin with Real Teachers in a Live Class, not just online Courseware ; Experienced Native Speaking and Bilingual Teachers from Beijing ;Flexible and Personalized Course Plan, Study Chinese Language Anytime and Anywhere
5 Tips of Learning Chinese
1. Understand that Chinese, while difficult, can also be very easy to learn.
Most people believe that Chinese is one of the most difficult languages in the world. In some senses, this is true. The Chinese writing system is non-alphabetic, comprising thousands of pictographs called “characters,” which need to be studied and internalized through rote memorization and constant reading and writing over a long period of time. Additionally, Chinese is a tonal language, meaning that changing the shape of one’s voice over a single syllable can actually generate multiple words with multiple meanings. The most famous example in Mandarin Chinese is the syllable “ma” which, depending on how it is pronounced, might mean “mother,” “hemp,” “horse,” or the verb “to scold.”� This is a feature of the spoken language which does not exist in the same form in Western languages, and therefore can pose great challenges to many non-Asian students.
However, what most non-Chinese do not realize is that the language boasts one of the easiest grammars in the world. Sentence structure largely mirrors that of English (subject + verb + object). Verbs exist in a single form, with no conjugations whatsoever.
There is no gender, no plural nouns, and while mechanisms do exist to express tense (e.g. past/present/future), they are much simpler than those of any Western language. American students who are much more familiar with both Spanish and French would instantly find Chinese grammar refreshingly basic, and much more accessible than those languages.
2. Learn Mandarin, not Cantonese.
For non-Chinese seeking to learn the language, though, Mandarin is the clear choice. Mandarin, the predominant dialect in Northern China, is the official language of politics, education, and media in both Mainland China and Taiwan, and it is one of the four official languages of Singapore. Even in Hong Kong, which historically has been a Cantonese-speaking area, Mandarin use is on the rise since the return of China’s sovereignty in 1997. In Mainland China, the Chinese word for “Mandarin” translates as the “common language,” and outside of the Mainland it is most often referred to as the “national language” both these terms are indicative of the broad reach which a competency in Mandarin can afford a speaker. Fortunately, for students of Chinese, Mandarin is also arguably the easiest of all the Chinese dialects to learn, owing to a tonal structure which is much simpler than that of Cantonese and most other dialects.
3. Speak first, then decide if you need to read and write.
Given the complexity of the Chinese written language, contrasted to the comparative simplicity of the grammar, prospective students of Chinese would do well to focus on learning to speak first, and only then tackle the written language if their studies or business require them to do so. While the tonal character of the spoken language is a challenge, this can be mastered fairly quickly, in contrast to the many years needed to achieve a working familiarity with the several thousand written characters that most educated Chinese adults have learned. Of course, most Chinese language programs simultaneously teach both the spoken and written language. It is up to the individual student to decide where to emphasize his or her needs.
4. If you do decide to write Chinese, consider learning “simplified” characters.
Today, simplified characters are the official script of both Mainland China and Singapore, while traditional characters are still the norm in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and within most Chinese immigrant communities throughout the world. While I would still encourage students of Chinese who intend to spend many years developing and refining their abilities to begin by learning traditional characters (and only then overlay a knowledge of simplified characters), anyone seeking to accelerate his acquisition of the written language would do well to begin with the simplified script.
5. Take your studies seriously.
Unlike many Western languages which share some common linguistic roots with English and which can often be learned fairly quickly with a large amount of self-study, acquiring a basic competency in a language as different from English as Chinese requires a high level of commitment and perseverance.
Most people believe that Chinese is one of the most difficult languages in the world. In some senses, this is true. The Chinese writing system is non-alphabetic, comprising thousands of pictographs called “characters,” which need to be studied and internalized through rote memorization and constant reading and writing over a long period of time. Additionally, Chinese is a tonal language, meaning that changing the shape of one’s voice over a single syllable can actually generate multiple words with multiple meanings. The most famous example in Mandarin Chinese is the syllable “ma” which, depending on how it is pronounced, might mean “mother,” “hemp,” “horse,” or the verb “to scold.”� This is a feature of the spoken language which does not exist in the same form in Western languages, and therefore can pose great challenges to many non-Asian students.
However, what most non-Chinese do not realize is that the language boasts one of the easiest grammars in the world. Sentence structure largely mirrors that of English (subject + verb + object). Verbs exist in a single form, with no conjugations whatsoever.
There is no gender, no plural nouns, and while mechanisms do exist to express tense (e.g. past/present/future), they are much simpler than those of any Western language. American students who are much more familiar with both Spanish and French would instantly find Chinese grammar refreshingly basic, and much more accessible than those languages.
2. Learn Mandarin, not Cantonese.
For non-Chinese seeking to learn the language, though, Mandarin is the clear choice. Mandarin, the predominant dialect in Northern China, is the official language of politics, education, and media in both Mainland China and Taiwan, and it is one of the four official languages of Singapore. Even in Hong Kong, which historically has been a Cantonese-speaking area, Mandarin use is on the rise since the return of China’s sovereignty in 1997. In Mainland China, the Chinese word for “Mandarin” translates as the “common language,” and outside of the Mainland it is most often referred to as the “national language” both these terms are indicative of the broad reach which a competency in Mandarin can afford a speaker. Fortunately, for students of Chinese, Mandarin is also arguably the easiest of all the Chinese dialects to learn, owing to a tonal structure which is much simpler than that of Cantonese and most other dialects.
3. Speak first, then decide if you need to read and write.
Given the complexity of the Chinese written language, contrasted to the comparative simplicity of the grammar, prospective students of Chinese would do well to focus on learning to speak first, and only then tackle the written language if their studies or business require them to do so. While the tonal character of the spoken language is a challenge, this can be mastered fairly quickly, in contrast to the many years needed to achieve a working familiarity with the several thousand written characters that most educated Chinese adults have learned. Of course, most Chinese language programs simultaneously teach both the spoken and written language. It is up to the individual student to decide where to emphasize his or her needs.
4. If you do decide to write Chinese, consider learning “simplified” characters.
Today, simplified characters are the official script of both Mainland China and Singapore, while traditional characters are still the norm in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and within most Chinese immigrant communities throughout the world. While I would still encourage students of Chinese who intend to spend many years developing and refining their abilities to begin by learning traditional characters (and only then overlay a knowledge of simplified characters), anyone seeking to accelerate his acquisition of the written language would do well to begin with the simplified script.
5. Take your studies seriously.
Unlike many Western languages which share some common linguistic roots with English and which can often be learned fairly quickly with a large amount of self-study, acquiring a basic competency in a language as different from English as Chinese requires a high level of commitment and perseverance.
中国語の単語
中国と日本は漢字を使用する為、多くの人は聞いて分らなくても、一目みればすぐに意味が分かると思っている。確かに、日本語と中国語の単語には基本的に同じものも多い。例：学生、庭園、時速、帽子等。筆者はかつてこんな場面を目にした。一人は日本語ができない中国人、もう一人は中国語ができない日本人、知り合ったばかりの二人は、筆談で二時間楽しく交流していた。
しかし、日本語の単語には中国語と同じ意味のもあるが、中国語と完全に同じ意味とは言えず、近いようで遠い。それゆえ、中国語を学ぶ際には「ニセ友達」に注意しなくてはならない。
私たちがよく知っている単語を比べてみよう：
汉字词 汉语中读音 汉语中的意思
喧嘩けんか xuān huá （喧哗） 騒がしい
怪我けが guài wǒ 私をとがめる
帳面 ちょうめん zhàng miàn （帐面） 帳簿上の数字.
手心 てごころ shǒu xīn 手の中.勢力の及ぶ範囲.
反映はんえい fǎn yìng 報告する.伝達する
真面目 まじめ zhēn miàn mù 本当の姿
顔色 かおいろ yán sè 色
汽車 きしゃ qì chē 自動車
着想 ちゃくそう zhuó xiǎng （ある人またはある事のために）考える.…のためを思う
野菜 やさい yě cài 食用になる野生植物
一番 いちばん yī fān 抽象的なことを数える
素晴らしい先生！非常に安価な授業料と低価格.非常に有益なクラスです。 学習への意欲を新鮮な空気を呼吸のようなもの。 ほんの数クラスの後、私は自分の教訓を学んだの適用が見つかりました。
しかし、日本語の単語には中国語と同じ意味のもあるが、中国語と完全に同じ意味とは言えず、近いようで遠い。それゆえ、中国語を学ぶ際には「ニセ友達」に注意しなくてはならない。
私たちがよく知っている単語を比べてみよう：
汉字词 汉语中读音 汉语中的意思
喧嘩けんか xuān huá （喧哗） 騒がしい
怪我けが guài wǒ 私をとがめる
帳面 ちょうめん zhàng miàn （帐面） 帳簿上の数字.
手心 てごころ shǒu xīn 手の中.勢力の及ぶ範囲.
反映はんえい fǎn yìng 報告する.伝達する
真面目 まじめ zhēn miàn mù 本当の姿
顔色 かおいろ yán sè 色
汽車 きしゃ qì chē 自動車
着想 ちゃくそう zhuó xiǎng （ある人またはある事のために）考える.…のためを思う
野菜 やさい yě cài 食用になる野生植物
一番 いちばん yī fān 抽象的なことを数える
素晴らしい先生！非常に安価な授業料と低価格.非常に有益なクラスです。 学習への意欲を新鮮な空気を呼吸のようなもの。 ほんの数クラスの後、私は自分の教訓を学んだの適用が見つかりました。
Chinese Song- Friends
这些年 Zhe xie nian 年 year
一个人 Yi ge ren
风也过 Feng ye guo
雨也走 Yu ye zou
有过泪 You guo lei 泪 tear
有过错 You guo cuo 错 error
还记得坚持什么 Hai ji de jianchi shenme 坚持 persist in
真爱过 Zhen ai guo
才会懂 Cai hui dong 懂 understand
会寂寞 Hui jimo 寂寞 feel lonely
会回首 Hui huishou 回首 look back
终有梦 Zhong you meng 梦 dream
终有你 Zhong you ni
在心中 Zai xin zhong
朋友一生一起走 Pengyou yisheng yiqi zou
那些日子不再有 Na xie rizi bu zai you
一句话 Yi ju hua
一辈子 Yi beizi 辈子 lifetime
一生情 Yi sheng qing
一杯酒 Yi bei jiu
朋友不曾孤单过 Pengyou bu ceng gudan guo 孤单 lonely
一声朋友你会懂 Yi sheng pengyou ni hui dong
还有伤 Hai you shang 伤 pain
还有痛 Hai you tong 痛 sorrow
还要走 Hai yao zou
还有我 Hai you wo
Learn Chinese by Singing Chinese song. Sang By Zhou Huajian, The main meaning is I am alone all these years, experiencing difficulties of varied kinds.
Do I still remember the aim I used to hold?
The days are gone when friends gathered together. However, friends won't be feel lonely.
Though there is pain and sorrow waiting for us ahead, we should go on and at least you have me as your friend.
一个人 Yi ge ren
风也过 Feng ye guo
雨也走 Yu ye zou
有过泪 You guo lei 泪 tear
有过错 You guo cuo 错 error
还记得坚持什么 Hai ji de jianchi shenme 坚持 persist in
真爱过 Zhen ai guo
才会懂 Cai hui dong 懂 understand
会寂寞 Hui jimo 寂寞 feel lonely
会回首 Hui huishou 回首 look back
终有梦 Zhong you meng 梦 dream
终有你 Zhong you ni
在心中 Zai xin zhong
朋友一生一起走 Pengyou yisheng yiqi zou
那些日子不再有 Na xie rizi bu zai you
一句话 Yi ju hua
一辈子 Yi beizi 辈子 lifetime
一生情 Yi sheng qing
一杯酒 Yi bei jiu
朋友不曾孤单过 Pengyou bu ceng gudan guo 孤单 lonely
一声朋友你会懂 Yi sheng pengyou ni hui dong
还有伤 Hai you shang 伤 pain
还有痛 Hai you tong 痛 sorrow
还要走 Hai yao zou
还有我 Hai you wo
Learn Chinese by Singing Chinese song. Sang By Zhou Huajian, The main meaning is I am alone all these years, experiencing difficulties of varied kinds.
Do I still remember the aim I used to hold?
The days are gone when friends gathered together. However, friends won't be feel lonely.
Though there is pain and sorrow waiting for us ahead, we should go on and at least you have me as your friend.
Chinese Idiom--塞翁失马
The old man on the frontier lost his horse -塞翁失马
Once upon a time, there lived an old man on the northern frontier of China. One day, his horse disappeared. His neighbors came to comfort him. But the old man was not upset at all. He said the loss might turn out to be a good thing. And he was right. A few months later, his horse came back with another horse that was even better. His neighbors came to congratulate him on his gain. But once again, the old man viewed the event differently. He said this "good luck" might turn out to be misfortune in the end. Strangely, he was right again. A few days later, his son fell from the new horse and broke his leg. But fortunately, since his son was lame after that accident, he was not chosen to be a soldier to fight in the following war so that he lived with family safely.
Nowadays people use "The old man on the frontier lost his horse" to comfort those who have some misfortune. It implies: Bad luck sometimes turns out to be good luck, and good luck can sometimes be bad.
Learn Chinese, Private Class, Personal Teaching Plan, Volunteer Practice, Flexible Timetable.
Once upon a time, there lived an old man on the northern frontier of China. One day, his horse disappeared. His neighbors came to comfort him. But the old man was not upset at all. He said the loss might turn out to be a good thing. And he was right. A few months later, his horse came back with another horse that was even better. His neighbors came to congratulate him on his gain. But once again, the old man viewed the event differently. He said this "good luck" might turn out to be misfortune in the end. Strangely, he was right again. A few days later, his son fell from the new horse and broke his leg. But fortunately, since his son was lame after that accident, he was not chosen to be a soldier to fight in the following war so that he lived with family safely.
Nowadays people use "The old man on the frontier lost his horse" to comfort those who have some misfortune. It implies: Bad luck sometimes turns out to be good luck, and good luck can sometimes be bad.
Learn Chinese, Private Class, Personal Teaching Plan, Volunteer Practice, Flexible Timetable.
2008年12月12日星期五
Tips of learning Mandarin
If youre determined to learn the Chinese language, here are three tips that I would like to share with you:
1) Learn the Chinese pronunciation with the help of Hanyu Pinyin
Hanyu means the Chinese language and pinyin means “spell” and “sound”. Basically it means the spelling and sound of the Chinese language. Or to make it simpler, it is the pronunciations of the Chinese language using Roman letters according to pinyin system. It is also known as the scheme of the Chinese phonetic alphabet. Its easier for a non-Chinese speaker to remember the pronunciation of the Chinese characters using the pinyin system. The pinyin system will also illustrate the four tones of the Chinese language as below.
a) The first tone is a (Flat or High Level Tone) with the symbol e.g. dā;
b) The second tone is a (Rising or High-Rising Tone) with the symbol e.g. d;
c) The third tone is a (Falling-Rising or Low Tone) with the symbol e.g. dǎ;
d) The fourth tone is a (Falling or High-Falling Tone) with the symbol e.g. d.
The examples above show words with the same pinyin but with four different tones. They have very different meanings respectively, as below.
a) Use something as a means of transport. E.g. take the bus, train, plane, taxi, boat, etc;
b) Answer;
c) Beat;
d) Big, huge or large.
Thats the reason why correct pronunciation is so important in the Chinese language. A slight mispronunciation will mean a very different meaning in what we want to convey. Taking the above example, for instance we want to say I can answer you, but a slightly lower tone would mean I can beat you! See that?
Once you have a good grasp of the basics of the Hanyu Pinyin, with the help of a good English Chinese dictionary with pinyin, you would be able to read any Chinese character marked with Pinyin!
2) Listen and watch
Listen to Chinese songs and radio station, watch Chinese movies with subtitles. Sing along and repeat after the lines of dialogues by the actors and actresses, and try to repeat them as exactly as possible. Practice and memorize common Chinese vocabulary and simple sentences. Review vocabulary from time to time to refresh your memory and you can use post-it notes to write down the pinyin and stick them on the objects you want to learn and remember.
3) Speak and practice
Practice, practise and practise. The more you practise, the easier it will be for you and the more fluent you will become. Of course you will learn even faster if you can practise with someone who can correct you when you make mistakes. Practice makes perfect!
1) Learn the Chinese pronunciation with the help of Hanyu Pinyin
Hanyu means the Chinese language and pinyin means “spell” and “sound”. Basically it means the spelling and sound of the Chinese language. Or to make it simpler, it is the pronunciations of the Chinese language using Roman letters according to pinyin system. It is also known as the scheme of the Chinese phonetic alphabet. Its easier for a non-Chinese speaker to remember the pronunciation of the Chinese characters using the pinyin system. The pinyin system will also illustrate the four tones of the Chinese language as below.
a) The first tone is a (Flat or High Level Tone) with the symbol e.g. dā;
b) The second tone is a (Rising or High-Rising Tone) with the symbol e.g. d;
c) The third tone is a (Falling-Rising or Low Tone) with the symbol e.g. dǎ;
d) The fourth tone is a (Falling or High-Falling Tone) with the symbol e.g. d.
The examples above show words with the same pinyin but with four different tones. They have very different meanings respectively, as below.
a) Use something as a means of transport. E.g. take the bus, train, plane, taxi, boat, etc;
b) Answer;
c) Beat;
d) Big, huge or large.
Thats the reason why correct pronunciation is so important in the Chinese language. A slight mispronunciation will mean a very different meaning in what we want to convey. Taking the above example, for instance we want to say I can answer you, but a slightly lower tone would mean I can beat you! See that?
Once you have a good grasp of the basics of the Hanyu Pinyin, with the help of a good English Chinese dictionary with pinyin, you would be able to read any Chinese character marked with Pinyin!
2) Listen and watch
Listen to Chinese songs and radio station, watch Chinese movies with subtitles. Sing along and repeat after the lines of dialogues by the actors and actresses, and try to repeat them as exactly as possible. Practice and memorize common Chinese vocabulary and simple sentences. Review vocabulary from time to time to refresh your memory and you can use post-it notes to write down the pinyin and stick them on the objects you want to learn and remember.
3) Speak and practice
Practice, practise and practise. The more you practise, the easier it will be for you and the more fluent you will become. Of course you will learn even faster if you can practise with someone who can correct you when you make mistakes. Practice makes perfect!
2008年12月11日星期四
Distance Learning
To be successful at distance learning you really just need to be a good student. Yes, it is a different way of learning but just because you learn through the Internet versus sitting in a classroom, doesn’t change the principles of learning. You have to pay attention in class or when you are online. You have to study the material between classes. You have to complete all of your homework and assignments on time. And you have to ask questions or get extra help if you find yourself stuck or bewildered.
Paying attention online in a distance learning program is essential to your success. Normally you will have one online class per subject a week and during that period of time your instructor will try and guide you through the basic theory of a subject and give you a few examples to help you understand and comprehend it. Sometimes these online classes are archived for a period of time so that you can go back and take that class again if you didn’t get it the first time.
Doing your work in between classes is what really separates the women from the girls and the men from the boys. Sure you can slack off and coast, but no one but you will pay a price for that. Some programs require that you log into the program a number of set times between classes but even if you haven’t got that monitoring aspect you still need to study the material between your online classes.
In traditional learning programs students who develop and practice good study habits are often the most successful ones. With distance learning it will make the difference between virtual success and online failure.
Assignments are an important part of learning in distance learning programs. Other than your tests at the end of the year, these are one of the few ways that an instructor can judge both your progress and if you need help. Develop the discipline to get your assignments completed and submitted on time. Then after they are graded and reviewed take the time to not just check your mark, but carefully review any comments that your instructor may provide. This is one of the only ways that your instructor can give you feedback to improve your distance learning program.
Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help in you get stuck. Most distance learning programs have an e-mail response system to deal with your questions and concerns. Many offer online tutoring if you need it. Don’t just sit there befuddled. Ask for help.
Paying attention online in a distance learning program is essential to your success. Normally you will have one online class per subject a week and during that period of time your instructor will try and guide you through the basic theory of a subject and give you a few examples to help you understand and comprehend it. Sometimes these online classes are archived for a period of time so that you can go back and take that class again if you didn’t get it the first time.
Doing your work in between classes is what really separates the women from the girls and the men from the boys. Sure you can slack off and coast, but no one but you will pay a price for that. Some programs require that you log into the program a number of set times between classes but even if you haven’t got that monitoring aspect you still need to study the material between your online classes.
In traditional learning programs students who develop and practice good study habits are often the most successful ones. With distance learning it will make the difference between virtual success and online failure.
Assignments are an important part of learning in distance learning programs. Other than your tests at the end of the year, these are one of the few ways that an instructor can judge both your progress and if you need help. Develop the discipline to get your assignments completed and submitted on time. Then after they are graded and reviewed take the time to not just check your mark, but carefully review any comments that your instructor may provide. This is one of the only ways that your instructor can give you feedback to improve your distance learning program.
Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help in you get stuck. Most distance learning programs have an e-mail response system to deal with your questions and concerns. Many offer online tutoring if you need it. Don’t just sit there befuddled. Ask for help.
learn chinese with a joke
戒烟不难
戒烟不难有(yǒu)两个(liǎnggè)吸烟(xīyān)的(de)人(rén)在(zài)一起(yìqǐ)吸烟(xīyān)，
甲(jiǎ)对(duì)乙(yǐ)说(shuō): “老兄(lǎoxiōng)，戒烟(jièyān)真(zhēn)难(nán)戒(jiè)，我(wǒ)戒(jiè)了(le)几年(jǐnián)都(dōu)戒(jiè)不了(bùliǎo)。”
乙(yǐ)说(shuō): “戒烟(jièyān)最(zuì)容易(róngyì)了(le)，我(wǒ)一天(yìtiān)就(jiù)戒(jiè)了(le)好(hǎo)几(jǐ)次(cì)。”
Word Explanation:戒烟(jièyān)：quit smoking
learn chinese
戒烟不难有(yǒu)两个(liǎnggè)吸烟(xīyān)的(de)人(rén)在(zài)一起(yìqǐ)吸烟(xīyān)，
甲(jiǎ)对(duì)乙(yǐ)说(shuō): “老兄(lǎoxiōng)，戒烟(jièyān)真(zhēn)难(nán)戒(jiè)，我(wǒ)戒(jiè)了(le)几年(jǐnián)都(dōu)戒(jiè)不了(bùliǎo)。”
乙(yǐ)说(shuō): “戒烟(jièyān)最(zuì)容易(róngyì)了(le)，我(wǒ)一天(yìtiān)就(jiù)戒(jiè)了(le)好(hǎo)几(jǐ)次(cì)。”
Word Explanation:戒烟(jièyān)：quit smoking
learn chinese
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