Pimsleur_Mandarin_Chinese_I_Notes

Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by Eric Nishio
www.self-learner.com

UNIT 1 ✔
wǒ shì měi guó rén
✔对
I am American.
duì bu qǐ
Excuse me. ✔你 马

nǐ shì měi guó rén ma?

✔你说 吗 Are you American?

nǐ huì shuō yīng wén ma? ✔
Can you speak English? shì, wǒ shì měi guó rén

✔ 请问 Yes, I am American.

qǐng wèn

Please let me ask.

✔ 你 说吗 UNIT 2

nǐ huì shuō ma? ✔ In Mandarin, yes and no answers change
Can you speak? depending on the question. For example, a positive
answer to nǐ huì shuō ma? would be huì.
✔
bú huì ✔
hǎo
No (lit. cannot). well; good

✔ 说话 ✔说

wǒ bú huì shuō pǔ tōng huà wǒ shuō de bù hǎo
I can't speak Mandarin. I don’t speak well.

✔ ✔你
yì diǎnr
nǐ hǎo
a little Hello.

✔说 话 ✔你吗
wǒ huì shuō yì diǎnr pǔ tōng huà
nǐ hǎo ma?
I can speak a little Mandarin. How are you? (With good friends. Not to be used
in conjunction with “Nǐ hǎo.”)
✔
měi guó ✔ 谢谢 你

America hěn hǎo, xiè xiè (nǐ)
Very well, thank you.
✔
měi guó rén ✔见

American (person) zài jiàn
Good bye.
✔
shì

yes; to be

Updated April 26, 2012 Page 1 of 22

Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by Eric Nishio
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UNIT 3 ✔哪

✔ xué yuàn lù zài nǎr?
zhōng guó
China Where is College Road?

✔你 ✔长 这
cháng ān jiē zài zhèr
nǐ bú shì zhōng guó rén
You’re not Chinese. Long Peace Street is located here.

✔ 你呢 ✔ 这吗

nǐ ne? shì zài zhèr ma?
How about you?
Is it located here? (Shì is used because it is a yes or
✔ 你呢
no question.)
wǒ shì měi guó rén, nǐ ne?
I’m American. How about you? ✔这

✔ bú shì, bú shì zài zhèr
kě shì No, it’s not located here.
but
✔
✔ 说话 shì zài nàr

wǒ bú shì zhōng guó rén, kě shì wǒ huì shuō pǔ It’s located over there.
tōng huà
I’m not Chinese, but I can speak Mandarin. ✔这

✔ 你 话说 bú zài zhèr, zài nàr
It’s not located here, it’s over there.
nǐ pǔ tōng huà shuō de hěn hǎo
You speak Mandarin very well. ✔长 这

cháng ān jiē zài zhèr, kě shì xué yuàn lù zài nàr

Long Peace Street is located here, but College

Road is located over there.

UNIT 4 UNIT 5

✔ ✔
bú shì hěn hǎo wǒ bù zhī dào
Not very well. I don’t know.

✔你 ✔你 吗

nǐ míng bái nǐ zhī dào ma?
You understand. (Understand the situation—but Do you know?
not a language.)
✔
✔ 你说 么 zhī dào, wǒ zhī dào
Yes, I know.
wǒ bù míng bái nǐ shuō shén me
I don’t understand what you’re saying. ✔
wǒ xiǎng
I would like to.

Updated April 26, 2012 Page 2 of 22

Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by Eric Nishio
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✔你 东吗 ✔
wǒ yě xiǎng
nǐ xiǎng chī yì diǎnr dōng xi ma?
I, too, would like to.
Would you like to eat something?

✔东 ✔你 吗
nǐ xiǎng qù wǒ nàr chī ma?
yì diǎnr dōng xi
(a little) something Would you like to go to my place to eat?

✔东 ✔ 么时

xiǎng, wǒ xiǎng chī yì diǎnr dōng xi shén me shí hoù?

Yes, I would like to eat something. When?

✔ 谢谢你 ✔现

bù xiǎng, xiè xiè nǐ xìan zài
No, thank you. now

✔东 ✔ 你 么时

kě shì wǒ xiǎng hē yì diǎnr dōng xi nǐ xiǎng shén me shí hoù chī?

But I’d like to drink something. When would you like to eat?

✔ ✔现
kě shì wǒ bù xiǎng chī
wǒ bù xiǎng xiàn zài chī
But I don’t want to eat. I would not like to eat now.

UNIT 6 ✔过

✔你 哪 guò yì huěr

nǐ xiǎng qù nǎr chī? later
Where would you like (to go) to eat?
✔这
✔
wǒ nàr wǒ bù xiǎng zài zhèr hē
my place I would not like to drink here.

✔ ✔你过 吗
qù wǒ nàr
to my place nǐ xiǎng guò yì huěr hē ma?

✔ Would you like to drink later?
wǒ xiǎng qù wǒ nàr chī
I’d like to go to my place to eat. UNIT 7

✔你 吗
nǐ xiǎng zài nàr chī ma?

Would you like to eat over there?

✔ ✔
yě hǎo

also Okay.

Updated April 26, 2012 Page 3 of 22

Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by Eric Nishio
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✔饭 ✔现

fàn diàn kě shì wǒ xiàn zài bù xiǎng hē

restaurant But I would not like to drink now.

✔饭 ✔现东

qù fàn diàn kě shì wǒ xiǎng xiàn zài hē yì diǎnr dōng xi
to a restaurant But I would like to drink something now.

✔吗 UNIT 8

hǎo ma? ✔饭

Okay? chī wǔ fàn
to eat lunch
✔你 么
nǐ xiǎng chī shén me? ✔吗

What would you like to eat? qù wǒ nàr ma?
To my place?
✔
yì diǎnr chá ✔两

some tea liǎng
two (when using a measure word)
✔
wǒ xiǎng hē yì diǎnr chá ✔两

I want to drink some tea. liǎng bēi
two glasses/containers
✔啤
✔两啤
pí jiǔ
liǎng bēi pí jiǔ
beer two beers

✔饭 ✔
yào
wǒ xiǎng qù fàn diàn want
I want to go to a restaurant.
✔ ___
✔过 吗 wǒ xiǎng yào ___
I’d like to order ___.
kě shì guò yì huěr, hǎo ma?
✔ 两啤
But later, okay?
wǒ xiǎng yào liǎng bēi pí jiǔ
✔现 I’d like to order two beers.

xiàn zài bù hǎo ✔还
Not now.
hái shì
✔饭 or

wǒ xiǎng qù běi jīng fàn diàn

I want to go to the Beijing restaurant.

✔ 饭哪

běi jīng fàn dìan zài nǎr

Updated April 26, 2012 Page 4 of 22

Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by Eric Nishio
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✔你 还啤 UNIT 9

nǐ xiǎng hē chá hái shì pí jiǔ?

Would you like to drink tea or beer? ✔你 长 哪吗

nǐ zhī dào cháng ān jiē zài nǎr ma?

✔你 么 Do you know where Long Peace Street is located?

nǐ xiǎng zuò shén me?

What would you like to do? ✔
huò zhě
✔ or
qù jiǔ diàn
✔ In Mandarin, two different words for ‘or’ are used,
to the hotel (Note! Hotels are called fàn diàn in depending on whether they are contained within a
statement (huò zhě) or a question (hǎi shì).
Taiwan.)

✔买东 ✔
wǒ xiǎng mǎi chá huò zhě pí jiǔ
wǒ xiǎng mǎi yì diǎnr dōng xi
I’d like to buy something. I would like to order tea or beer.

✔你买么 ✔你 东还 东

nǐ xiǎng mǎi shén me? nǐ xiǎng chī yì diǎnr dōng xi hǎi shì hē yì diǎnr

What would you like to buy? dōng xi?

✔ Would you like to eat something or drink
gēn
something?
with
✔这
✔谁
kě shì bú shì zài zhèr
shéi But not here.

who/whom ✔钟

✔ jǐ diǎn zhōng?
yì qǐ
At what time?
along
✔钟
✔谁
yì diǎn zhōng
gēn shéi yì qǐ? (At) one o’clock.

(Along) with whom? ✔钟

✔你 jiǔ diǎn zhōng

gēn nǐ yì qǐ nine o’clock
with you
✔
✔你 东吗 bā

nǐ xiǎng gēn wǒ yì qǐ hē yì diǎnr dōng xi ma? eight

Would you like to eat something with me? ✔ 钟吗

shì bā diǎn zhōng ma?

Is it at eight o’clock?

Updated April 26, 2012 Page 5 of 22

Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by Eric Nishio
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✔钟 ✔现 钟

bú shì, shì jiǔ diǎn zhōng xiàn zài jǐ diǎn zhōng?

No, it’s at nine o’clock. What time is it now?

✔两钟 ✔钟

liǎng diǎn zhōng yì diǎn zhōng
two o’clock It’s one o’clock.

✔ 钟还 钟 ✔
wǔ
bā diǎn zhōng hǎi shì jiǔ diǎn zhōng?
five
At eight o’clock or at nine o’clock?

✔ ✔
hǎo, zài jiǔ diàn sān

Okay, at the hotel. three

✔过 呢 ✔
sì
guò yì huěr ne?
four
How about later?

✔ 谢谢你 两 钟 ✔ 钟吗

bù hǎo, xiè xiè nǐ, wǒ bù xiǎng liǎng diǎn zhōng shì sì diǎn zhōng ma?
hē. Is it four o’clock?
No thanks. I’d not like to drink at two o’clock.

✔ ✔
bù xíng yào

Impossible. to be going to

✔ 钟 两钟 ✔现饭

yì diǎn zhōng bù xíng, liǎng diǎn zhōng bù xíng wǒ yào xiàn zài chī wǔ fàn
One o’clock impossible, two o’clock impossible. I’m going to have lunch now.

✔么 ✔你现 东吗

wǒ bù míng bái shén me? nǐ yào xiàn zài chī yì diǎnr dōng xi ma?

What don’t I understand? Are you going to eat something now?

UNIT 10 ✔
shì
✔东
Yes. (When answering yes to a “going to”
wǒ bù xiǎng hē dōng xi
I don’t want to drink anything. question)

✔东 ✔啊

dōng xi wǒ a
thing/anything
As for me...

✔啊 饭
wǒ a, wǒ yào chī wǔ fàn

As for me, I’m going to eat lunch.

Updated April 26, 2012 Page 6 of 22

Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by Eric Nishio
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✔ 你 么时 饭 ✔晚

nǐ xiǎng shén me shí hoù gēn wǒ yì qǐ chī wǔ fàn? jīn tiān wǎn shàng

When would you like to have lunch with me? this evening

UNIT 11 ✔ 晚饭

wǎn fàn
dinner

✔现 钟
xiàn zài sì diǎn zhōng
✔晚 晚饭
Now it’s four o’clock.
jīn tiān wǎn shàng wǒ yào chī wǎn fàn

I’m going to eat dinner this evening.

✔现吗 ✔
shí
xiàn zài ma?
ten
Now?

✔现 ✔
míng tiān
bú shì xiàn zài
It isn’t now. tomorrow

✔ ✔ 你 晚饭
liù
míng tiān wǒ yào gēn nǐ yì qǐ chī wǎn fàn
six Tomorrow I’m going to eat dinner with you.

✔ ✔晚钟
qī
míng tiān wǎn shàng qī diǎn zhōng
seven
tomorrow evening at seven o’clock

✔么 ✔东

nà me jīn tiān wǒ bù xiǎng chī dōng xi
Today I would not like to eat anything.
in that case; then

✔吧 ✔你 么

ba nǐ xiǎng jīn tiān zuò shén me?
let’s say

What would you like to do today?

✔ 么 钟吧 ✔见

nà me qī diǎn zhōng ba míng tiān jiàn
See you tomorrow.
In that case, let’s say seven o’clock.

✔ UNIT 12
jīn tiān
✔ 种吗
today
shì shí diǎn zhōng ma?
✔晚 Is it ten o’clock?

wǎn shàng

in the evening

Updated April 26, 2012 Page 7 of 22

Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by Eric Nishio ✔ The measure word kuài is not needed when asking
www.self-learner.com how much.

✔ ✔ 块币
duō shǎo?
How much/many? wǒ yǒu shí sì kuài rén mín bì
I have 14 renminbi.
✔钱
✔你
duō shǎo qián?
How much money? / How much does it cost? nǐ yǒu duō shǎo měi jīn?

✔币 How many American dollars do you have?

rén mín bì ✔块
renminbi (currency of the People’s Republic of
China) wǒ yǒu shí sì kuài měi jīn
I have 14 US dollars.
✔块币
✔你吗
yí kuài rén mín bì
one (unit of) renminbi nǐ yǒu ma?

✔ Do you have?
shí yī
eleven ✔你

✔ nǐ yǒu méi yǒu?
shí èr Do you have?
twelve
✔
✔ 块币 méi yǒu

shí èr kuài rén mín bì Don’t have.
12 renminbi
✔你 块币
✔ 两块 币 nǐ yǒu méi yǒu qī kuài rén mín bì?

liǎng kuài rén mín bì Do you have seven renminbi?
two renminbi
✔
méi yǒu

No (I don’t have).

UNIT 13

✔ 么时 吗 ✔
jiā
shén me shí hoù? shì jīn tiān ma?
plus
When? Is it today?

✔还 ✔
shí yī jiā yī
hái shì míng tiān?
Or tomorrow? eleven plus one

✔你 币 ✔币

nǐ yǒu duō shǎo rén mín bì? wǒ méi yǒu rén mín bì
I don’t have (any) renminbi.
How much renminbi do you have?

Updated April 26, 2012 Page 8 of 22

Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by Eric Nishio
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✔ [nò] 块 ✔给 币

nò, shí kuài měi jīn gěi wǒ yì diǎnr rén mín bì

Here you are, ten American dollars. Give me some renminbi.

✔你 东 ✔
nǐ xiǎng bù xiǎng chī yì diǎnr dōng xi? bú shì hěn duō

Would you like to eat something? It isn’t very much.

✔ [nò] 啤 ✔
shì bú shì zài nàr?
hǎo, nò, yì bēi pí jiǔ
Is it located over there?
Okay, here you are, one beer.

UNIT 14 ✔
bú kè qì
✔ 报纸
Don’t mention it.
bào zhǐ
newspaper ✔给 块

✔ gěi wǒ shí qī huò zhě shí bā kuài měi jīn
wǒ yào
I want. Give me seventeen or eighteen US dollars.

✔币 ✔ 给你 块

wǒ bú yào rén mín bì wǒ gěi nǐ shí kuài měi jīn
I don’t want any renminbi. I’m giving you ten American dollars.

✔你 UNIT 15

nǐ yào bú yào? ✔ 你说 么
Do you want?
nǐ shuō shén me?
What did you say?

✔ ✔ 给你
duō
gěi nǐ de
much for you

✔你 ✔ 给你

nǐ yǒu duō shǎo měi jīn? chá shì gěi nǐ de

How many American dollars do you have? The tea is for you.

✔币 ✔啤钱

wǒ yǒu hěn duō rén mín bì yì bēi pí jiǔ duō shǎo qián?
I have a lot of renminbi. How much does one beer cost?

✔ ✔块币
wǒ yǒu yì diǎnr měi jīn
yí kuài rén mín bì yì bēi
I have some US dollars.
One renminbi for one cup.

Updated April 26, 2012 Page 9 of 22

Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by Eric Nishio
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✔ 两块 ✔晚

chá liǎng kuài kě yǐ, wǒ jīn tiān wǎn shàng kě yǐ

The tea—two units. Yes, I can this evening.

✔ UNIT 16
wǒ bù kě yǐ
✔给
I can’t.
shì bú shì gěi wǒ de?
✔
wǒ kě yǐ 给吗
I can.
shì gěi wǒ de ma?
✔ kě yǐ = able to Is it for me?
huì = know how to
✔钱
✔你
hěn duō qián
nǐ kě bù kě yǐ? That’s a lot of money.

Can you? ✔
tài
✔你 现 too; excessively
nǐ ké bù kě yǐ xiàn zài chī?
✔
Can you eat now? tài duō le
It’s too much.
✔现
✔钱
kě yǐ, wǒ kě yǐ xiàn zài chī
tài duō qián le
Yes, I can eat now. It’s too much money.

✔现 ✔
èr shí
wǒ bù kě yǐ xiàn zài chī twenty
I can’t eat now.
✔
✔你 给 钱 èr shí sì
twenty-four
nǐ kě bù kě yǐ gěi wǒ yì diǎnr qián?
✔够
Can you give me some money?
gòu le
✔ 给你 It’s enough.

wǒ bù kě yǐ gěi nǐ ✔够
I can’t give you (any).
bú gòu
✔ It’s not enough.
wǒ yǒu yì diǎnr, bú shì hěn duō
✔ With the negative, le is not needed.
I have some. Not very many.

✔你 晚

nǐ jīn tiān wǎn shàng kě bù kě yǐ?
Can you ___ this evening?

Updated April 26, 2012 Page 10 of 22

Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by Eric Nishio
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✔够 ✔现 块币

sān shí wǔ, gòu le xiàn zài wǒ yǒu sì shí yì kuài rén mín bì

Thirty-five, that’s enough. Now I have 41 renminbi.

✔吗 ✔ 你钱够吗

tài duō le ma? nǐ qián gòu ma?

shì bú shì tài duō le? 你钱够 够
Is it too much?
nǐ qián gòu bú gòu?
Do you have enough money?

✔够 ✔够

bú shì, kě shì gòu le wǒ bú gòu

No, but it’s enough. I don’t have enough.

✔ 你 钱吗 ✔贵

nǐ yǒu qián ma? tài guì le
Do you have any money? It’s too expensive.

✔你 给 钱吗 ✔贵

nǐ kě yǐ gěi wǒ yì diǎnr qián ma? bú tài guì

你给钱 It’s not too expensive.

nǐ kě bù kě yǐ gěi wǒ yì diǎnr qián? ✔你 给吗

Can you give me some money?

nǐ yǒu měi jīn gěi wǒ ma?

UNIT 17 你给

nǐ yǒu méi yǒu měi jīn gěi wǒ?
Do you have American dollars for me?

✔你 币给 吗
nǐ yǒu rén mín bì gěi wǒ ma?
✔ 你说
你 币给
nǐ shuō de tài kuài le
nǐ yǒu méi yǒu rén mín bì gěi wǒ?
Do you have renminbi for me? You speak too quickly.

✔ 够吗 ✔说

gòu ma? wǒ shuō de bú kuài
I don’t speak quickly.
够够
✔ 你说
gòu bú gòu?
Is it enough? nǐ shuō de hěn kuài

You speak very quickly.

✔够 ✔说 吗
wǒ shuō de kuài le ma?
wǒ gòu le
I have enough. Do I speak quickly?

✔ Thus, gòu le can also mean “to have enough.”

✔ 钱够 ✔ 你说 贵

wǒ qián gòu le nǐ shuō de bú kuài
I have enough money.
You don’t speak quickly.

Updated April 26, 2012 Page 11 of 22

Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by Eric Nishio
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✔ 你钱够吗 ✔
shuǐ
nǐ qián gòu ma?
water
你钱够 够
✔ 烦你给
nǐ qián gòu bú gòu?
Do you have enough money? má fán nǐ gěi wǒ shuǐ
Please give me water.
UNIT 18
✔ Má fán nǐ literally means “bothering you.”
✔
yì bǎi ✔谁
one-hundred
shéi zài nàr?
✔贵 Who’s over there?

hěn guì ✔ 晚饭
It’s very expensive.
wǒ yào gēn wǒ de xiān shēng yì qǐ chī wǎn fàn
✔贵
I’m going to eat dinner with my husband.
zài nàr, bú tài guì
Over there, it’s not too expensive. ✔ 么你 东吗
nà me nǐ xiǎng hē yì diǎnr dōng xi ma?
✔ 较贵
Then would you like to drink something?
bǐ jiào guì
It’s more expensive. (Lit. “It’s relatively ✔ 么呢
expensive.”)
nà me chá ne?
✔说
Then what about tea?
wǒ de xiān shēng shuō de hěn kuài
My husband speaks very fast. UNIT 19

✔ ✔ 块贵
tài tai
wife liù shí bā kuài tài guì le
Sixty-eight units is too expensive.
✔
wǒ de tài tai zài nàr ✔
My wife is over there. tā zài nàr

✔东 He’s over there.

wǒ de tài tai xiǎng hē yì diǎnr dōng xi ✔她哪
My wife would like to drink something.
tā zài nǎr
✔ 这 较贵 where is she?

zài zhèr bǐ jiào guì ✔陈 么
Here it’s more expensive.
Chén xiān shēng xiǎng hē shén me?

What would Mr. Chen like to drink?

✔ 请进

qǐng jìn
Please come in.

Updated April 26, 2012 Page 12 of 22

Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by Eric Nishio
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✔ Má fán nǐ is used when asking for something. It’s ✔你你 吗
like saying, “Please give me.”
nǐ gēn nǐ de tài tai zài yì qǐ ma?
✔ Qǐng is used when making an offer or inviting
someone to do something. You along with your wife are located together?

✔ An affirmative answer to the previous question:
shì.

✔ 你们 ✔谁

nǐ men shéi?

you (plural) Who is it?

✔ 你们 哪 ✔
shì wǒ de xiān shēng
nǐ men zhù zài nǎr? It’s my husband.

✔ 你们 ✔ 烦你 们

nǐ men zhù má fán nǐ wǒ men xiǎng hē chá
You (plural) live. Please, we would like to drink tea.

✔们 UNIT 20

wǒ men zhù zài zhèr
We live here.

✔ ✔她你 吗
hé tā gěn nǐ zài yì qǐ ma?

and Is she with you?

✔ ✔她你
wǒ de xiān shēng hé wǒ
tā gěn nǐ de xiān shēng zài yì qǐ
my husband and I
She is with your husband.

✔们 这 ✔ 你们 吗

wǒ men bú zhù zài zhèr nǐ men yǒu xiǎo hár ma?

We don’t live here. Do you have children?

✔ Ellis 哪 ✔
jǐ gè xiǎo hár?
Ellis tài tai zài nǎr?
How many children?
Where is Mrs. Ellis?

✔ ✔ Ge is a measure word used when referring to the
wǒ de tài tai zài wǒ nàr size of a group of people.

My wife is at my place.

✔ 们 华顿 ✔ 你们

wǒ men zhù zài huà shèng dùn nǐ men yǒu jǐ ge xiǎo hár?
We live in Washington.
How many children do you have?

✔你 哪 ✔们

nǐ zhù zài nǎr? wǒ men yǒu sān ge xiǎo hár
We have three children.
Where do you live?

Updated April 26, 2012 Page 13 of 22

Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by Eric Nishio
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✔两 UNIT 21

liǎng ge ér zi ✔
dà ér zi
two sons older son

✔ ✔
yí gè nǔ ér děng yì huěr

one daughter Wait one moment.

✔ ✔你 吗
wǒ méi yǒu ér zi

I don’t have any sons.

nǐ kě yǐ děng yì huěr ma?

✔ Can you wait a moment?
hěn duō xiǎo hár
✔
That’s a lot of children. xiǎo nǚ ér

✔ younger daughter
dà
✔
big wǒ de ér zi hěn xiǎo

✔ My son is very young.
wǒ de ér zi hěn dà le
My son is very grown-up. ✔
tā zhēn de hěn xiǎo
✔ The ending le, in conjunction with dà, indicates
maturity—rather than size. He is really very young.

✔你 吗 ✔
nǐ de ér zi hěn dà le ma? zhēn de?

Really?

Is your son very grown-up?

✔ ✔
shì, tā hěn dà le shì, zhēn de

Yes, he’s very grown-up. Yes, really.

✔她 ✔ 间哪

tā bú shì hěn dà xǐ shǒu jiān zài nǎr?
She’s not very grown-up.
Where is the bathroom?

✔们 ✔
jiā rén
tā men hěn dà le
family
They’re very grown-up.

✔们

dà ér zi gēn wǒ men zài yì qǐ

The older son is (together) with us.

Updated April 26, 2012 Page 14 of 22

Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by Eric Nishio
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✔ 们这 ✔飞

dà ér zi gēn wǒ men zài zhèr fēi jī

The older son is here with us. airplane

✔ 你们 ✔ 你们 飞 吗

nǐ men de jiā rén hěn duō nǐ men yào zuò fēi jī qù ma?
You have a very big family. Are you going to take a plane?

✔ ✔她 飞
bú shì hěn duō
tā yào zuò fēi jī qù xiāng gǎng
Not very many.
She is going to take an airplane to Hong Kong.

UNIT 22 ✔飞场哪

✔问 fēi jī chǎng zài nǎr?
Where is the airport?
wèn
Ask. ✔两

✔问 liǎng qiān
two-thousand
zài wèn yí cì
Ask it again. ✔时

✔ xiǎo shí
wǒ de jiā rén gēn wǒ zài yì qǐ hour
My family is with me.
✔时
✔
jǐ ge rén? jǐ ge xiǎo shí?
How many people? How many hours?

✔你 ✔时

nǐ jiā lǐ yǒu jǐ ge rén? sān ge xiǎo shí
How many people are in your family? three hours

✔ ✔时
lǐ
inside yào jǐ ge xiǎo shí?
How many hours is it?
✔们
✔时
wǒ men míng tiān yào qù xiāng gǎng
We are going to go to Hong Kong. yào sān ge xiǎo shí
It’s going to be three hours.
✔
wǒ de jiā rén yào qù xiāng gǎng UNIT 23
My family is going to go to Hong Kong.
✔两

liǎng ge dà rén
two adults

Updated April 26, 2012 Page 15 of 22

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✔ 话___ 么说 ✔哪

pǔ tōng huà ___ zěn me shuō? nǎ ge bān jī?

How do you say ___ in Mandarin? Which flight?

✔们 ✔哪

wǒ men jiā lǐ yǒu hěn duō rén nǎ ge bān jī qù xiāng gǎng?
There are many people in our family. Which flight goes to Hong Kong?

✔ ✔
bǎi zǒu

hundred go (when describing an ongoing motion)

✔时 ✔
yì zhí wǎng qián
yào jǐ ge xiǎo shí?
How many hours is it? straight ahead

✔远 ✔
yì zhí wǎng qián zǒu
hěn yuǎn
Go straight ahead.
It's very far.

✔远 ✔这

xiāng gǎng bú shì hěn yuǎn zhè ge bān jī
Hong Kong is not very far. this flight

✔ 远吗 ✔这 吗

xiāng gǎng hěn yuǎn ma? zhè ge bān jī qù xiāng gǎng ma?

远 Does this flight go to Hong Kong?

xiāng gǎng shì bú shì hěn yuǎn? UNIT 24
Is Hong Kong very far?
✔ 飞 贵吗
✔ 贵吗
zài zhōng guó zuò fēi jī hěn guì ma?
hěn guì ma?
Is it very expensive? 飞贵

✔远 zài zhōng guó zuò fēi jī shì bú shì hěn guì?
In China, is it expensive to travel by airplane?
tài yuǎn le
It's too far. ✔ 14 时

✔ yào shí sì gè xiǎo shí
bān jī It takes 14 hours.
flight
✔飞贵
✔哪
zuò fēi jī hěn guì
nǎ Flying is very expensive.
which
✔币

gǎng bì
Hong Kong dollar

Updated April 26, 2012 Page 16 of 22

Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by Eric Nishio ✔哪
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nǎ tiáo shì yīng huáng dào?
✔ 70 块 币
Which is King's Road? (The measure word tiáo is
wǒ yǒu qī shí kuài gǎng bì
I have 70 Hong Kong dollars. used to imply "which road".)

✔够 ✔边

wǒ gòu le zuǒ biān
I have enough. to the left

✔ ✔边 吗
yīng huáng dào
King's Road zuǒ biān nà tiáo lù ma?

✔ The road to the left?
zǒu yīng huáng dào
Take King's Road ✔边吗

✔ zǒu zuǒ biān nà tiáo lù ma?
tiáo lù Take the road to the left?
road (tiáo is a measure word for roads)
✔
✔边 rán hòu

yòu biān then
to the right
✔
✔边 rán hòu yì zhí wǎng qián zǒu

yòu biān nà tiáo lù Then go straight ahead.
the road to the right
✔
✔哪 nà tiáo shì yīng huáng dào

nǎ tiáo lù? That is King's Road.
Which road?
✔语
✔
bú shì yì zhí wǎng qián zǒu guó yǔ
It's not straight ahead. Mandarin (The term is mainly used in Hong
Kong.)
✔ 应该
✔ 你说
yīng gāi
should nǐ shuō de tài kuài le

✔ 你应该 边 You speak too fast.

nǐ yīng gāi zǒu yòu biān nà tiáo lù ✔请说
You should take the road to the right.
Qǐng zài shuō yí cì
✔ 应该 哪 Please say it again.

wǒ yīng gāi zǒu nǎ tiáo lù? ✔饭 远
I should take which road?
fàn diàn bú shì hěn yuǎn
Updated April 26, 2012
The restaurant isn't too far.

Page 17 of 22

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✔ ✔ 为晚
wǒ zhēn de bù zhī dào
yīn wèi tài wǎn le
I really don't know.
Because it’s too late.

UNIT 25 ✔开

✔ kāi
nà tiáo lù zài nàr open
The road is over there.
✔ 开门

kāi mén

open doors

✔ 这买 东吗

wǒ kě yǐ zài zhèr mǎi yì diǎnr dōng xi ma? ✔ 开门 吗

Can I buy something here? shāng diàn kāi mén le ma?

✔你 买东 开门
nǐ bù kě yǐ mǎi dōng xi
shāng diàn yǒu méi yǒu kāi mén?
You can’t buy anything. Are the shops open?

✔为么 ✔ 开门

wèi shén me? méi yǒu, shāng diàn méi yǒu kāi mén

Why? No, the shops are not open.

✔为 ✔现 开门 吗
xiàn zài shāng diàn kāi mén le ma?
yīn wèi
because Are the shops open now?

✔ ✔ 开门
shāng diàn
míng tiān shāng diàn kāi mén?
store
Are the shops open tomorrow?

✔关 ✔ 买 东给

guān wǒ xiǎng mǎi yì diǎnr dōng xi gěi wǒ de tài tai
closed I want to buy something for my wife.

✔门 UNIT 26

mén ✔晚
door
bú shì hěn wǎn
✔ 关门 It’s not too late.

guān mén le ✔你 币
The doors have been closed. (The le indicates nǐ yǒu duō shǎo gǎng bì?
“have been.”)
How many Hong Kong dollars do you have?
✔ 关门
✔你 么
shāng diàn guān mén le
The stores have been closed. nǐ yào zài nàr zuò shén me?

What are you going to do there?

Updated April 26, 2012 Page 18 of 22

Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by Eric Nishio ✔
www.self-learner.com kě néng sān tiān

✔ Maybe three days.
péng yǒu
friend ✔
wǒ kě néng yào kàn jǐ ge péng yǒu
✔
wǒ yào kàn jǐ ge péng yǒu Maybe I’m going to see some friends.
I’m going to see some friends.
✔
✔们 kě néng yào

tā men bú shì zài xiāng gǎng Maybe yes (I will).
They’re not in Hong Kong.
✔
✔ wǒ xiǎng
wǒ yǒu jǐ ge péng yǒu zài běi jīng
I have some friends in Beijing. I think.

✔ ✔
gōng zuò wǒ xiǎng wǒ yào gōng zuò
work
I think I’m going to work.
✔
wǒ yào qù nàr gōng zuò ✔你 Peter 吗
I’m going to go there to work. nǐ yào kàn Peter ma?

✔两 Are you going to see Peter?

liǎng tiān ✔
two days (a measure word is not needed for days) wǒ kě néng yào

✔ Maybe I will.
dāi
stay ✔ 烦你给 块 币

✔ má fan nǐ gěi wǒ jǐ kuài rén mín bì
wǒ yào zài nàr dāi sān tiān Please give me some renminbi.
I’m going to stay there three days.
✔
✔你 wǒ yào zài běi jīng dāi jǐ tiān

nǐ yào dāi I’m going to stay some days in Beijing.
You are going to stay.
✔ 你 买东 吗
✔
jǐ tiān? nǐ xiǎng mǎi dōng xi ma?
How many days? Would you like to buy something?

✔ ✔你 么
kě néng
maybe nǐ yào zài nàr zuò shén me?

What are you going to do there?

✔
wǒ xiǎng wǒ yào zài nàr gōng zuò

I think I’ll work there.

Updated April 26, 2012 Page 19 of 22

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UNIT 27 ✔
wǒ hé wǒ de xiān shēng yì qǐ
✔你 么 My husband and I are together.

nǐ yào qù nàr zuò shén me? ✔们

What are you going to go there to do? wǒ men yào yì qǐ zǒu
We’re going to leave together.
✔你
✔
nǐ yào zài běi jīng dāi jǐ tiān? jiù wǒ yí ge rén zǒu
How many days are you going to stay in Beijing? I’m leaving alone.

✔ ✔
wǒ xiǎng zǒu le kě néng shì
Maybe yes.
I’d like to leave.

✔你 吗
nǐ xiǎng zǒu le ma?

你 UNIT 28

nǐ xiǎng bù xiǎng zǒu? (Le is dropped)
Would you like to leave?

✔ ✔么
wǒ bù xiǎng zǒu
shén me yì si?
I’d not like to leave. (Le is dropped)
What’s the meaning?

✔ ✔
míng tiān wǒ yào zǒu le yì si

Tomorrow, I’m going to leave. meaning

✔们 ✔ 们这

wǒ men yào yì qǐ zǒu wǒ men zài zhèr jǐ tiān le

We’re going to leave together. (Le is dropped) We have been here for some days. (Le = “have

been”)

✔你 ✔
duō jiǔ le?
wǒ xiǎng gēn nǐ yì qǐ zǒu
I’d like to leave with you. For how long?

✔ ✔
jiù jǐ tiān le

only For a few days.

✔ ✔
jiù wǒ yī gè rén jiǔ tiān le

I’m alone. For nine days.

✔你 吗 ✔
wǒ xiǎng dāi jǐ tiān
jiù nǐ yí ge rén ma?
I’d like to stay for some days.
Are you alone?

Updated April 26, 2012 Page 20 of 22

Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese I Notes by Eric Nishio ✔们
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wǒ men shì zuó tiān dào de
✔ 你们
We arrived yesterday.
nǐ men yào dāi duō jiǔ?
You’re going to stay how long? ✔你 买 么

✔ nǐ zuó tiān mǎi le shén me?
kě néng wǒ yào kàn jǐ ge péng yǒu What did you buy yesterday?
Maybe I’ll see a few friends.
✔ 你买
✔ ___
yì si shì ___ nǐ mǎi le
The meaning is ___.
You bought.
✔ 时间
✔ 你买 么
shí jiān
time nǐ mǎi le shén me?
What did you buy?
✔ 为 们 时间
✔买 东
yīn wèi wǒ men méi yǒu shí jiān
Because we don’t have the time. wǒ mǎi le yì diǎnr dōng xi hē

✔ 你们 这 I bought something to drink.

nǐ men zài zhèr duō jiǔ le? ✔你 吗
How long have you been here?
nǐ chī le ma?
✔遗 Did you eat?

rài yí hàn le ✔
That’s really too bad. chī le

UNIT 29 Yes, I ate.

✔ ✔
xīng qī wǒ zuó tiān chī le.
weeks
I ate yesterday.
✔
jǐ ge xīng qī ✔ 欢啤
a few weeks
wǒ xǐ huān pí jiǔ.
✔
yí ge xīng qī I like beer.
one week
✔ 欢东
✔
yí ge xīng qī le wǒ xǐ huān chī dōng xi
It has been a week. I like to eat.

✔东

zuó tiān wǒ méi yǒu chī dōng xi
I didn’t eat anything yesterday.

✔ Méi yǒu is used to express that something did not
happen in the past.

Updated April 26, 2012 Page 21 of 22

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✔们

wǒ men kě yǐ yì qǐ chī
We can eat together.

✔ 你 么时

nǐ shì shén me shí hou dào de?
When did you arrive?

UNIT 30

✔
zuó tiān zǎo shàng
yesterday morning

✔们

wǒ men shì jīn tiān zǎo shàng dào de
We arrived this morning.

✔ 你们 么时

nǐ men shì shén me shí hou dào běi jīng de?
When did you arrive at Beijing?

✔ Word order: dào [location] de

✔
wǒ shì gēn wǒ de jiā rén yì qí dào de

I arrived with my family.

✔
gēn wǒ de sān gè xiǎo hár yì qí

with my three children

✔ 你们 坛吗

nǐ men zuó tiān qù le tiān tán ma?

Did you go to Tiantan (Temple of Heaven)

yesterday?

✔ 你 么时

nǐ shén me shí hou qù le?
When did you go?

✔ 们饭 东

wǒ men zài fàn diàn chī le yì diǎnr dōng xi

We ate something at a restaurant.

Updated April 26, 2012 Page 22 of 22