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:
(1) North: bei(3)
(2)
South: nan(2)
(3)
East: dong(1)
(4)
West: xi(1)
(5) Right: you(4)
(6) Left: zuo(3)
(7)
Map: di(4) tu(2)
(8) I'm lost: wo(3) mi(2) lu(4) le
LESSON:
SENTENCES:
- Is
the station North or South of here?
che(1) zhan(4) zai(4) zhe(4) er de bei(3)
bian(1) hai(2) shi(4) nan(2) bian(1)?
- Should
I go right / left at the end of the road?
zai(4) lu(4) wei(3) wo(3) gai(1) you(4)
zhuan(3) hai(2) shi(4) zuo(2) zhuan(3)?
-
I'm lost. Where is the Police Station?
wo(3) mi(2) lu(4) le, pai(4) chu(1) suo(3)
zai(4) na(3)?
- Can
you tell me which way is East?
nin(2) neng(1) gao(4) su(4) wo(3) na(3)
er shi(4) dong(1)?
- This
map is very expensive.
zhe(4) di(4) tu(2) hen(3) gui(4).
- Do
you have anything cheaper?
nin(2) you(3) pian(2) yi(4) dian(3) de ma?
*
Tip: With signs becoming increasingly
dual-language, Chinese and English, getting
around China is getting easier each year.
Good maps, in Chinese, can be bought cheaply
from book stores or street vendors near train
or bus stations for around 2-8 yuan. Maps
in English can be found in most hotels for
around 10-20 yuan.
Learn
a little Chinese, stop and ask people for
assistance when you are lost and have a great
trip!