FOREIGN LANGUAGE

- MANDARIN
LESSON 1 : ESSENTIAL EXPRESSIONS

Why Study Mandarin?

Mandarin Chinese is the most widelyspoken language in the world.
Business people who speak Mandarin
have a huge advantage in tapping into the
Chinese market. It is much easier to
develop all-important relationships if one
can speak Mandarin.

Why Study Mandarin?

Travel - China and Taiwan offer
exciting travel opportunities. Getting around
is much easier if one can speak Mandarin.
Culture - With thousands of years of
history, Chinese culture is endlessly
fascinating. Whether ones interests are in
history, architecture, music, or cuisine, a
knowledge of Mandarin will enrich his
understanding of Chinese culture.

Why Study Mandarin?

People are finally beginning to pay
attention to Mandarin as a major cultural
and economic prospect for students, said
Michael H. Levine, executive director of
education for the Asia Society. The push
is coming from the defense (community)
and government and grass-roots interest
from parents.

Why Study Mandarin?

In an increasingly global, technological
economy, experts say, it isnt enough to
be academically strong. Young people
must also be able to work comfortably with
people from other cultures, solve problems
creatively, write and speak well, think in a
multidisciplinary way, and evaluate
information critically.
(Soft Skills in Demand, Education Week, June 12, 2007)

GAME: ANYTHING AND

EVERYTHING CHINESE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Chinese delicacies
Chinese restaurants in the Philippines
Chinese zodiac
Chinese dimsum
Chinese products
Common Chinese surnames
Filipino tycoons

GAME: ANYTHING AND

EVERYTHING CHINESE
1. Chinese delicacies

GAME: ANYTHING AND

EVERYTHING CHINESE
2. Chinese restaurants in the Philippines

GAME: ANYTHING AND

EVERYTHING CHINESE
3. Chinese zodiac

GAME: ANYTHING AND

EVERYTHING CHINESE
4. Chinese dimsum

GAME: ANYTHING AND

EVERYTHING CHINESE
5. Chinese products

GAME: ANYTHING AND

EVERYTHING CHINESE
6. Most common Chinese surnames
Character/Pinyin

Filipino-Chinese Surname

Wng

Ong

Lee

Zhng

Tiu

Li

Lao

Chn

Tan

Yng

Young

GAME: ANYTHING AND

EVERYTHING CHINESE
7. Filipino tycoons
Name

Estimated Networth

Henry Sy*

$13.2 billion

Lucio Tan*

$ 5.0 billion

Enrique Razon, Jr.

$ 4.9 billion

Andrew Tan*

$ 3.95 billion

David Consunji

$ 2.8 billion

George Ty*

$ 2.6 billion

Source: Forbes Magazine, 2013

Lesson 1: Essential Expressions

Hello. N ho. .
In this lesson, youll kick off your Chinese
learning adventure by becoming familiar
with the pronunciation and different tones
used in Chinese, as well as some courtesy
and survival expressions, such as hello,
thank you, Im sorry and goodbye.

Lesson 1: Essential Expressions

Vocabulary Builder 1
good, fine

ho

you

Hello.

N ho.

How are you?

N ho ma?

very well

hn ho

Im fine

W hn ho.

And you?

N ne?

Not bad.

Bcu.

Lesson 1: Essential Expressions

Lets pause for a brief note regarding N
ho and N ho ma? ?
The exchange of N ho is very brief,
just like saying Hi.
N ho ma? ? is a question and
most likely will prompt the answer W hn
ho (Im fine) or Bcu (Not
bad), followed by N ne? ? (And you?).

Lesson 1: Essential Expressions

Before we move on, you may have noticed
that these phrases have a bit of a singsong quality to them.
This is because Mandarin Chinese is a
tonal language, causing the ups and
downs you hear on the vowels.

Lesson 1: Essential Expressions

First tone

mother

This is a high-pitched tone

that remains on the same
pitch

Second Tone

hemp

This is a rising tone, from

medium pitched to high

Third tone

horse

This is a scooping tone,

from low pitch to medium.

Fourth tone

scold

This is a falling tone, very

much like the stress that
people put on their yes
and no when they really
mean it.

Neutral tone

ma

question
particle

This is very much a

resigned tone. Medium
pitched and laid back, it
usually appears at the end
of a phrase.

Lesson 1: Essential Expressions

Lets listen to all five tones together:
m, m, m, m, ma
, ,, ,
Beautiful. Youll put all the tones in the
right places after you learn some words.
Just remember to listen for them; theyre a
very essential part of speaking and
understanding Chinese!

Lesson 1: Essential Expressions

Vocabulary Builder 2
Thanks.

Xixi.

Youre welcome.

B kqi

Excuse me. Im sorry.

Dubuq

Thats nothing. (Dont worry. No problem.)

Mi sh

Goodbye.

Zijin

Lesson 1: Essential Expressions

Let me go by.

Qng rng y xi?

May I trouble you?

D ro y xi?

May I ask a question?

Qng wn y xi?

Lesson 1: Essential Expressions

Work Out 1
Hello.

N ho.

How are you?

N ho ma?

Im fine

W hn ho.

And you?

N ne?

Not bad.

Bcu.

Thanks.

Xixi.

Youre welcome.

B kqi

Excuse me. Im sorry.

Dubuq

Its nothing.

Mi sh

Goodbye.

Zijin

Lesson 1: Essential Expressions

Parting Words
Very nice.

Hn ho

Congratulations!

Gng x n !

Lesson 1: Essential Expressions

Word Recall
1. I

a. Xixi. .

2. You

b. N ho. .

3. not bad

c. B kqi .

4. Thanks

d. w

5. Thats nothing.

e. Zijin .

6. Hello

f. ho

7. good, fine

g. N ne? ?

8. I am sorry

h. Mi sh .

9. Very

i.

10. Youre welcome

j.

hn

11. And you?

k. Bcu. .

12. Goodbye.

l.

Dubuq .