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.

NEW WORDS:

Asking Directions

1) Where is: zai(4) na(3)

2) Which way to: zen(3) me zou(3)

3) East/West/South/North: dong(1)/nan(2)/xi(1)/bei(3)

4) Gate: da(4) men(2)

5) May I ask: qing(3) wen(4)

LESSON:

• Where is the bathroom?
  wei(4) sheng(1) jian() zai(4) na(3)?

• Which is the way to the university?
  na(4) suo(3) da(4) xue(2) zen(3) me zou(3) ?

• Is this the East gate?
  zhe(4) shi(4) dong(1) men(2) ma?

• Where can I pickup my tickets?
  wo(3) zai(4) na(3) ke(2) yi() na(2) dao(4) piao(4)?

The Taxi Connection: (As we use most of our minimal Chinese with Taxi drivers, each lesson will show how to use some of the new words in the Taxi environment.)

Example:

• Driver: May I ask, where is the University?
  si(1) ji(1): qing(3) wen(4), na(4) suo(3) da(4) xue(2) zai(4) na(3)?

• You: Go North.
  ni(3): wang(3) bei(3).

• Driver: Which way to the East Gate?
  si(1) ji(1): dong(1) men(2) zen(3) me zou(3)?

• You: Go East.
  ni(3): xiang(4) dong(1).

• Driver: May I ask, where is the bathroom?
  si(1) ji(1): qing(3) wen(4), wei(4) sheng(1) jian(1) zai(4) na(3)?

• You: Sorry, I don't know.
  ni(3): dui(4) bu(4) qi(3), wo(3) bu(4) zhi(1) dao(4).

Hint: When naming all the directions, Chinese folks like to use the following order: East/West/South/North.