Difference between revisions of "Language/Mandarin-chinese/Vocabulary/Expressions-to-survive-in-China"
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[[File:Expressions-to-survive-in-China.jpg|thumb]] | [[File:Expressions-to-survive-in-China.jpg|thumb]] | ||
你好, | 你好, | ||
Are you going to China for a while? Here is a list of Chinese expressions to communicate with your local interlocutors and to "survive" there. | Are you going to China for a while? Here is a list of Chinese expressions to communicate with your local interlocutors and to "survive" there. | ||
==你好 | ==你好 Nǐ hǎo: hello== | ||
For the polite form, prefer nín hao. | For the polite form, prefer nín hao. | ||
== | ==我不說中文/我不说中文 Wǒ bù shuō zhōngwén: I do not speak Chinese== | ||
At least not yet. A very useful expression to immediately remove any ambiguity. | At least not yet. A very useful expression to immediately remove any ambiguity. | ||
==我不明白 | ==我不明白 Wǒ bù míngbái: I do not understand== | ||
In addition to the previous sentence for example. | In addition to the previous sentence for example. | ||
==Huānyíng | ==歡迎/欢迎 Huānyíng: welcome== | ||
So that the guests feel at home. | So that the guests feel at home. | ||
==Jiǔyǎng jiǔyǎng: honored to meet you== | |||
==久仰久仰 Jiǔyǎng jiǔyǎng: honored to meet you== | |||
When you meet someone you have heard (good things) about. | When you meet someone you have heard (good things) about. | ||
==Zěnmeyàng: how are you?== | |||
==怎麼樣/怎么样 Zěnmeyàng: how are you?== | |||
A rather familiar catch-all phrase. To be avoided in formal circumstances. | A rather familiar catch-all phrase. To be avoided in formal circumstances. | ||
==Xièxie: thanks== | |||
==谢谢/謝謝 Xièxie: thanks== | |||
In testimony of your eternal gratitude. | In testimony of your eternal gratitude. | ||
==Duì bù qǐ: sorry== | |||
==對不起/对不起 Duì bù qǐ: sorry== | |||
A little politeness is the least of things. | A little politeness is the least of things. | ||
==Méi guānxi: it's nothing== | |||
==沒關係/没关系 Méi guānxi: it's nothing== | |||
Or also "no problem", "it does not matter" | Or also "no problem", "it does not matter" | ||
== | |||
==我餓/我饿 Wǒ è: I'm hungry== | |||
In such a country, it would be criminal to miss out on meals. Or not, it's according to the tastes ... | In such a country, it would be criminal to miss out on meals. Or not, it's according to the tastes ... | ||
==Duō shǎo qián: how much does it cost?== | |||
==多少錢/多少钱 Duō shǎo qián: how much does it cost?== | |||
To take the measure. | To take the measure. | ||
== Zhè tài guì: it's too expensive == | |||
==Mànmàn chi: Enjoy your meal== | ==這太貴/这太贵 Zhè tài guì: it's too expensive == | ||
==慢慢吃 Mànmàn chi: Enjoy your meal== | |||
Literally, it means "take your time while eating" or "eat slowly". | Literally, it means "take your time while eating" or "eat slowly". | ||
==Mǎi dān: the check please== | |||
==買單/买单 Mǎi dān: the check please== | |||
A must, unfortunately. | A must, unfortunately. | ||
==Zài jiàn: good bye== | |||
==再見/再见 Zài jiàn: good bye== |
Revision as of 10:16, 12 October 2020
你好,
Are you going to China for a while? Here is a list of Chinese expressions to communicate with your local interlocutors and to "survive" there.
你好 Nǐ hǎo: hello
For the polite form, prefer nín hao.
我不說中文/我不说中文 Wǒ bù shuō zhōngwén: I do not speak Chinese
At least not yet. A very useful expression to immediately remove any ambiguity.
我不明白 Wǒ bù míngbái: I do not understand
In addition to the previous sentence for example.
歡迎/欢迎 Huānyíng: welcome
So that the guests feel at home.
久仰久仰 Jiǔyǎng jiǔyǎng: honored to meet you
When you meet someone you have heard (good things) about.
怎麼樣/怎么样 Zěnmeyàng: how are you?
A rather familiar catch-all phrase. To be avoided in formal circumstances.
谢谢/謝謝 Xièxie: thanks
In testimony of your eternal gratitude.
對不起/对不起 Duì bù qǐ: sorry
A little politeness is the least of things.
沒關係/没关系 Méi guānxi: it's nothing
Or also "no problem", "it does not matter"
我餓/我饿 Wǒ è: I'm hungry
In such a country, it would be criminal to miss out on meals. Or not, it's according to the tastes ...
多少錢/多少钱 Duō shǎo qián: how much does it cost?
To take the measure.
這太貴/这太贵 Zhè tài guì: it's too expensive
慢慢吃 Mànmàn chi: Enjoy your meal
Literally, it means "take your time while eating" or "eat slowly".
買單/买单 Mǎi dān: the check please
A must, unfortunately.