Chinese Lesson 6: Introducing Yourself

Names and Nationalities

• "What is your name?" translates to Nǐ jiào shénme? (你叫什么？)
• "My name is..." translates to Wǒ jiào... (我叫...)
• Example names:
  • Lìlì (丽丽)
  • Xiǎomínɡ (小明)

Vocabulary

• Key terms:
  • jiào (叫) - to call, be called
  • shénme (什么) - what
  • shì (是) - is, am, are
  • nǎ (哪) - which, where
  • guó (国) - nation, country
  • rén (人) - person, people

Countries

• Significant countries in the context:
  • Zhōngguó (中国) - China
  • Yīngguó (英国) - United Kingdom, England
  • Měi guó (美国) - USA, America
  • Fēilǜbīn (菲律宾) - Philippines

Nationalities

• Different national descriptors:
  • Zhōngguórén (中国人) - Chinese
  • Měi guórén (美国人) - American
  • Fēilǜbīnrén (菲律宾人) - Filipino

Example Sentences

• "What is your name?" - Nǐ jiào shénme? (你叫什么？)
• "My name is Mike." - Wǒ jiào màikèěr. (我叫迈克尔。)
• "Which nationality are you?" - Nǐ shì nǎ guó rén? (你是哪国人？)
• "I am a Filipino." - Wǒ shì Fēilǜbīnrén. (我是菲律宾人。)

Conversation Example

• A: Nǐ jiào shénme mínɡzi? (你叫什么名字？)
• B: Wǒ jiào Lìli. (我叫丽丽。)
• A: Wǒ shì Xiǎomínɡ, nǐ shì nǎ guó rén? (我是小明，你是哪国人？)

Birthdays and Dates in Mandarin

• "My birthday" translates to wǒ de shēngrì (我的生日).
• The phrase "My birthday is on January 20" translates to Wǒ de shēngrì shì yīyuè èrshí hào (我的生日是一月二十号).
• Dates can be stated using yuè (月) for month and hào (号) for number/date.

Key Vocabulary

• de (的): a possessive particle used to indicate ownership.
• shēngrì (生日): means birthday.
• hào (号): refers to number or date.
• wǒ de (我的): means "my" or "mine".
• nǐ de (你的): means "your" or "yours".
• tā de (他的/她的): means "his" or "hers".
• suì (岁): refers to age in years.

Expressing Dates

• "Today is March 22" translates to Jīntiān shì sānyuè èrshíèr hào (今天是三月二十二号).
• "Tomorrow is my birthday" translates to Míngtiān shì wǒ de shēngrì (明天是我的生日).
• To ask "When is his birthday?" use Tā de shēngrì shì jǐ yuè jǐ hào? (他的生日是几月几号？).

Months in Mandarin

• January: 一月 (yīyuè)
• February: 二月 (èryuè)
• March: 三月 (sānyuè)
• April: 四月 (sìyuè)
• May: 五月 (wǔyuè)
• June: 六月 (liùyuè)
• July: 七月 (qīyuè)
• August: 八月 (bāyuè)
• September: 九月 (jiǔyuè)
• October: 十月 (shíyuè)
• November: 十一月 (shíyīyuè)
• December: 十二月 (shíèr yuè)

Asking and Stating Age

• "How old are you?" translates to Nǐ jǐ suì? (你几岁？).
• "I am sixteen years old" translates to Wǒ shíliù suì (我十六岁).
• General age statement: Someone + 数字 + 岁 - e.g., Tā shíliù suì (她十六岁) means "She is sixteen years old".

Sentence Patterns

• Sentence Pattern I:

  • Noun + 是 + jǐ + 月 + jǐ + 号?
  • Example: “What is the date today?” can be stated as Jīntiān shì jǐ yuè jǐ hào? (今天是几月几号？).

• Sentence Pattern II:

  • Noun + 是 + number + 月 + number + 号
  • Example: "My birthday is on January 24" is Wǒ de shēngrì shì yīyuè èrshísì hào (我的生日是一月二十四号).

• Sentence Pattern III:

  • Someone + jǐ + 岁?
  • Example: "How old is he?" can be phrased as Tā jǐ suì? (他几岁？).

• Sentence Pattern IV:

  • Someone + number + 岁
  • Example: "I am seventeen years old" is stated as Wǒ shíqī suì (我十七岁).