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]]
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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.
==hao: hello==
==hao: hello==
For the polite form, prefer nín hao.
For the polite form, prefer nín hao.
==Wǒ bù hui shuo Hanyu: I do not speak Chinese==
==Wǒ bú huì shuō Hànyǔ: 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.
==Wǒ bù dǒng: I did not understand==
==Wǒ bù dǒng: I did not understand==
In addition to the previous sentence for example.  
In addition to the previous sentence for example.  
==Huanying huanying: welcome==
==Huānyíng huānyíng: welcome==
So that the guests feel at home.  
So that the guests feel at home.  
==Jiuyang jiuyang: honored to meet you==
==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?==
==Zĕnmeyàng: 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.
==Xiexie: thanks==
==Xièxie: thanks==
In testimony of your eternal gratitude.
In testimony of your eternal gratitude.
==Duì bù qǐ: sorry==
==Duì bù qǐ: sorry==
A little politeness is the least of things.
A little politeness is the least of things.
==Mei guānxi: it's nothing==
==Méi guānxi: it's nothing==
Or also "no problem", "it does not matter"  
Or also "no problem", "it does not matter"  
==è: I'm hungry==
==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?==
==Duō shǎo qián: how much does it cost?==
To take the measure.
To take the measure.
== Zhè tài guì: it's too expensive ==
== Zhè tài guì: it's too expensive ==
==Mànmàn chi: Enjoy your meal==
==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==
==Mǎi dān: the check please==
A must, unfortunately.
A must, unfortunately.
==Zài jiàn: good bye==
==Zài jiàn: good bye==

Revision as of 04:22, 22 February 2019

Expressions-to-survive-in-China.jpg

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.

Nǐ hao: hello

For the polite form, prefer nín hao.

Wǒ bú huì shuō Hànyǔ: I do not speak Chinese

At least not yet. A very useful expression to immediately remove any ambiguity.

Wǒ bù dǒng: I did not understand

In addition to the previous sentence for example.

Huānyíng huānyíng: welcome

So that the guests feel at home.

Jiǔyǎng jiǔyǎng: honored to meet you

When you meet someone you have heard (good things) about.

Zěnmeyàng: how are you?

A rather familiar catch-all phrase. To be avoided in formal circumstances.

Xièxie: thanks

In testimony of your eternal gratitude.

Duì bù qǐ: sorry

A little politeness is the least of things.

Méi guānxi: it's nothing

Or also "no problem", "it does not matter"

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 ...

Duō shǎo qián: how much does it cost?

To take the measure.

Zhè tài guì: it's too expensive

Mànmàn chi: Enjoy your meal

Literally, it means "take your time while eating" or "eat slowly".

Mǎi dān: the check please

A must, unfortunately.

Zài jiàn: good bye