Learn Mandarin Chinese for free using self-paced audio-visual lessons and interactive practice exercises - CultureAlley - master conversations, grammar, vocabulary and more! This lessons covers conversations around introducing oneself, meeting new people and friends. It will also cover telling one's name.To study this at your own pace, take quizzes and explore more lessons go to www.culturealley.com. See you at the Alley!

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2. Nǐ hǎo
Lesson 6 on Basic Mandarin!
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3. Revision
English
Mandarin
Good morning
Zǎo'ān
Good afternoon/evening
Wǎnshàng hǎo
Good night
Wǎn'ān
Wonderful!
Tài hǎo le!
Good day, everyone!
Dàjiā hǎo!
It’s nothing really!
Nǎ lǐ!
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4. Lesson objectives
1
Meeting new friends!
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5. What's in store today?
Today we will learn how to
introduce ourselves!
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6. Introductions
Let’s begin by discussing a few titles
Lets start with 'friends'!
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7. Introductions
Friends
Péngyǒu
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8. Pronunciation tip
In pinyin, the word ‘p’ is pronounced with a
mixture of the tones of ‘p’ and ‘b’
It’s pronunciation is close to that of
‘ph’, as in ‘Péngyǒu’
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9. Tonal tip
Péng is pronounced with a mid rising tone,
or the second tone
Yǒu is pronounced with the falling
rising tone, or the third tone
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10. Grammar tip
Note that ‘friends’ and ‘friend’ both
translate to ‘péngyǒu’ only
In Mandarin, most of the time there is no different
plural form; to indicate plural we usually
add number or quantity words
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11. Grammar tip
An example of what we just learnt can be
seen in the following
One friend: Yi ge péngyǒu
Two friends: Liang ge péngyǒu
The word ‘péngyǒu’ however, does not change
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12. Tonal tip
Let’s hear you say ‘friend’ in
Mandarin one more time!
‘Péngyǒu’
Great! Now lets learn how to say
girlfriend, boyfriend , and young friend!
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13. Introductions
Girlfriend/ female friend
Nǚ péngyǒu
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14. Pronunciation tip
Nǚ means girl, daughter, female or woman,
and is pronounced with a falling rising
tone, or the third tone
Let’s say Nǚ péngyǒu
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15. Introductions
Boyfriend/male friend
Nán péngyǒu
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16. Pronunciation tip
Nán means male or man, and is pronounced
with a mid rising tone, or the second tone
Let’s say Nán péngyǒu
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17. Introductions
Young friend
Xiǎo péngyǒu
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18. Pronunciation tip
Xiǎo means 'small' or 'young' and is
pronounced with a falling rising tone,
or the third tone
Remember, that ‘x’ in Mandarin is
pronounced with a ‘sh’ sound
Let’s try and say Xiǎo péngyǒu
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19. Culturally speaking
‘Xiǎo péngyǒu’ is often used to
address children as well
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20. Revision
Translation
Mandarin
Friend
Péngyǒu
Female friend / girlfriend
Nǚ péngyǒ
Male friend / boyfriend
Nán péngyǒu
Young friend
Xiǎo péngyǒu
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21. Moving on…
Next, we will learn how to say
Mr., Mrs. and Miss in Mandarin!
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22. Introductions
Miss = Xiǎo jiě
Young/little = Xiǎo
Elder sister = Jiě
Thus, ‘miss’ literally translates to
‘young lady’ in Mandarin
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23. Tonal tip
‘Xiǎo’ and ‘jiě’ are both pronounced using
the falling rising tone or the third tone
Remember that ‘x’ carries a
‘sh’ sound in Mandarin!
Let’s hear you say Xiǎo jiě
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24. Introductions
Miss
Xiǎo jiě
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25. Introductions
Mister = Xiān sheng
Early/ prior = Xiān
Student = Sheng
Thus, ‘mister’ literally translates to
‘prior student’ in Mandarin
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26. Tonal tip
‘Xiān’ is pronounced using the high
level tone or the first tone
‘Sheng’ is pronounced using the neutral tone
Let’s hear you say Xiān sheng
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27. Introductions
Mister/Mr.
Xiān sheng
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28. Introductions
Mrs. = Fū ren
‘Mrs.’ literally means
‘madam’ and is used while referring
to a married woman
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29. Tonal tip
‘Fū’ is pronounced using the high
level tone or the first tone
‘Ren’ is pronounced using the neutral tone
Let’s hear you say Fū ren
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30. Introductions
Mrs.
Fū ren
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31. Revision
Translation
Mandarin
Miss
Xiǎo jiě
Mister/ Mr.
Xiān sheng
Mrs.
Fū ren
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32. Let's see if you remember…
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33. Pick the right option
How do you say ‘young friend'?
1
2
3
Xiǎo péng
yǒu
Xiān
sheng
Nǚ péng
you
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34. Pick the right option
How do you say ‘young friend'?
1
2
3
Xiǎo péng
yǒu
Xiān
sheng
Nǚ péng
you
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35. Pick the right option
How do we say 'Mister' in Mandarin?
1
2
3
Xiān sheng
Wǒ shì
Xiǎo jiě
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36. Pick the right option
How do we say 'Mister' in Mandarin?
1
2
3
Xiān sheng
Wǒ shì
Xiǎo jiě
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37. Moving on…
Let's learn the vocabulary
for self introduction!
There are two ways of saying what your
name is, one formal, the other informal, let's
begin with the formal one!
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38. Introductions
I/me = Wǒ
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39. Tonal tip
‘Wǒ’ is pronounced using the falling rising
tone, also known as the third tone
Let’s try and say Wǒ
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40. Introductions
Name = Mínɡzi
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41. Tonal tip
‘Mínɡzi’ is pronounced with a mid rising
tone, also known as the second tone
Let’s try and say Mínɡzi
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42. Introductions
↓
(possessive
particle)
↓
Wǒ
de
My
name
is
↓
↓
mínɡzi
shì
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43. Grammar tip
The particle ‘de’, is a possessive particle,
used in possessive pronouns, example
(mine = wǒ de)
It is also used for emphasis
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44. Introductions
My name is ...
Wǒ de mínɡzi shì...
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45. Moving on...
Now let's take a look at the informal
way of telling your name
In future, we shall stick to the informal
way of telling names!
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46. Introductions
I/me
Wǒ
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47. Introductions
To be called
Jiào
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48. Tonal tip
‘Jiào’ is pronounced in the falling tone, also
known as the fourth tone
Let’s hear you say Jiào
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49. Introducing yourself
I am called….
Wǒ jiào…
It may also be translated as 'I
am named…'
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50. Introductions
To be surnamed
Xìng
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51. Tonal tip
Xìng is spoken in the falling tone also
known as the fourth tone
Remember, ‘x’ is spoken with a ‘sh’ sound!
Let’s hear you say Xìng
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52. Introducing yourself
My surname is….
Wǒ xìng......
It may also be translated as 'I
am surnamed…'
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53. Culturally speaking
Name and surname both form an
integral part of Chinese culture, thus
the two words ‘Jiào’ and ‘Xìng’ are
important to learn!
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54. Grammar tip
As we can see, the 'to-be' verb 'am' is not
translated
in both the cases, as we are saying ‘ I am named…’
or 'I am surnamed' as opposed to
‘My name is …’ or 'My surname is...'
‘Named' here acts as an adjective describing the
'person’ and is therefore not translated
It's the same as saying 'I am tall', and as we
learnt,
is/am are not translated before an adjective!
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55. Revision
Translation
Mandarin
I
Wǒ
Name
Mínɡzi
To be surnamed
Xìng
To be called
Jiào
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56. Let's see if you remember…
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57. Pick the right option
How do we say 'My name is...'?
1
2
3
Wǒ de
mínɡzi shì...
Wǒ xìng
shì…
Wǒ de
jiào…
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58. Pick the right option
How do we say 'My name is...'?
1
2
3
Wǒ de
mínɡzi shì...
Wǒ xìng
shì…
Wǒ de
jiào…
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59. Pick the right option
How do we say 'I am named ….'?
1
2
3
Wǒ jiào…
Wǒ shì…
Wǒ xìng…
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60. Pick the right option
How do we say 'I am named ….'?
1
2
3
Wǒ jiào…
Wǒ shì…
Wǒ xìng…
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61. Revision
Translation
Mandarin
Miss
Xiǎo jiě
Mister/ Mr.
Xiān sheng
Mrs.
Fū ren
Female friend/ girlfriend
Nǚ péngyǒu
Male friend/ boyfriend
Nán péngyǒu
Young friend
Xiǎo péngyǒu
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62. Revision
English
Mandarin
I
Wǒ
To be surnamed
Xìng
To be called
Jiào
My family name is Wáng
Wǒ xìng Wáng
My name is Wáng Péng
(formal)
My name is Wáng Péng
(informal)
Wǒ de mínɡzi shì Wáng Péng
Wǒ jiào Wáng Péng
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63. Culture Leaf
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64. Culture leaf
Yellow, also called the color of the earth,
is considered the most beautiful colour
The Chinese saying, 'Yellow generates Yin
and Yang', implies that yellow is the
center of everything, Yellow often decorates
royal palaces, altars and temples
The color was used in the robes
and attire of the emperors
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65. Culture leaf
Yellow also represents freedom from worldly
cares and is thus esteemed
in Buddhism
Monks’ garments are yellow, as are elements
of Buddhist temples
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66. What's next?
In the next lesson, we will learn how
to ask someone their family
name and maiden names!
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67. Credits
Content
Team CultureAlley, Sunny Dang
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_in_Chinese
_culture
Images
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chinese_Buddhist_
_Robe_Shanghai.jpeg
Wloh
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68. See you at the Alley!
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