Note: The spoken Chinese Mandarin
language has 4 spoken tones. We have attempted
to re-create those below where after each
syllable we tell you (1), (2), (3), or (4)
as they correspond to each of the 4 tones.
We encourage you to complement your Xianzai.com
Emergency Chinese newsletter with a good offline
study program.
Cigarettes: xiang(1) yan(1)
NEW
WORDS
Cigarettes: xiang(1) yan(1)
Lighter: da(3) huo(3) ji(1)
Cigars: xue(3) jia(1)
Ashtray: yan(1) hui(1) gang(1)
LESSON
- Do you sell cigarettes?
ni(3) mai(4) xiang(1) yan(1) ma?
- How much are cigars?
xue(3) jia(1) duo(1) shao(3) qian(2)?
- Does this lighter work well?
zhe(4) ge(4) da(3) huo(3) ji(1) hao(3) shi(3)
ma?
- Please bring me an ashtray?
qing(3) gei(3) wo(3) na(2) yi(1) ge(4) yan(1)
hui(1) gang(1).
* Tip: China is the world's largest producer
and consumer of cigarettes. Each year Chinese
residents smoke more cigarettes than all of
the USA and Europe put together! A nation of
smokers indeed!
As well as being able to buy most foreign
brands easily, China has numerous domestic
brands including a brand named after the compound
that is home to China's leaders (Zhongnanhai)
and a wonderful brand - Double Happiness -
that are common at weddings.