Mandarin Classes Blog

Mandarin Classes Lesson One - Earning Money.

admin — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 18:26:09 +0000

Mandarin Classes Lesson One - Earning Money.

(NOTE: this blog is continually updated. The most recent post is always below this post)

In this upper-intermediate lesson you will learn how to talk about money and dinner date plans. Keep in mind these online mandarin classes are not meant for children, as the subject matter is quite mature. Some of these sentence structures may seem complex at first. I advise that you watch this video at least 10 times.

Sometimes the subtitles go by too fast and you will not be able to keep up. I suggest you press the “pause” button (on your media player) after every line and read all four lines. And as you’re going through every line, jot down words you don’t know in a notebook. This method worked very well for me and I’ve pretty much memorized the whole movie by doing it this way.

Mandarin Classes Lesson One mp4 (right click “save as”) - formatted for iPod and PSP

Mandarin Classes Lesson One PDF (right click “save as”)

Enjoy!

Technorati Tags: learn chinese, learn mandarin, mandarin course, mandarin lessons

English Pinyin Subtitles - Lesson 24

admin — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 13:17:04 +0000

Lesson 24 - Am I the father?

English Pinyin - Lesson 24 PDF

English Pinyin - Lesson 24 mp4

In this Chinese lesson, Lin Dong and his wife talk about who they think the father of the child is.

Here is some useful Chinese words from the lesson:

应该 ying1gai1 = should be/must be

既然 ji4ran2 = since

赢 ying2 = win

输 shu1 = lose

Here are some other useful links to help you learn Chinese:

How to Say a Person’s English Name in Chinese - People’s English names, in most cases, are transliterated into Chinese characters, which means they are translated into the Chinese characters which sound like the original English pronunciation. For instance, Jack is translated …

Technorati Tags: chinese language download, chinese language software, chinese mp3 download, chinese video download, english chinese pinyin, english pinyin, english to pinyin, learn chinese, learn mandarin, mandarin classes, mandarin course, mandarin lessons, pin yin chinese

English Pinyin Subtitles Lesson Twenty-Three

admin — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:25:05 +0000

English Pinyin Subtitles Lesson Twenty-Three

English Pinyin Subtitles - Lesson 23 PDF

English Pinyin Subtitles - Lesson 23 mp4

Pingguo’s boss drops by the couple’s place with a bad of goodies - meds for Pingguo and snoring pills for Ankun. He also offers some his “expert advice” that might influence the sex of the child.

Here are some useful Chinese words that you should learn from this lesson:

擦 = ca1 = wipe

冻死了 = dong4si3le = freezing (freeze to-death)

难找 = nan2zhao3 = hard to find, eg 车很难找 hard to find a taxi/car

洗澡呢 = xi3zao3 ne = taking a shower (now). 她洗澡呢 = she’s taking a shower

谁 = shei2 = who/person (can mean both)

那怎么不行啊？= na4 zen3me bu4xing2 = what’s wrong with that? (good phrase to know)

万一 = wan4yi4 = what if…

忍不住 = ren3buzhu4 = cannot help/cannot bear/cannot control

性生活 = xing4 sheng1huo2 = sex life

影响 = ying3xiang3 = influence. This word is usually used in a negative sense.

打呼 = da3hu1 = snore

服 = fu4 = to take (pills/medicine). You will see this word in the instructions on medicine boxes, etc.

难吃 = nan2chi1 = tastes terrible/awful

胡说八道 = hu2shuo1ba1dao4 = talking nonsense/BS (set phrase).

破 = po4 = crappy/shitty (ie, crappy guy/restaurant/medicine…)

Other Chinese learning links that may me of use to you:

[mv] the first morning (english & pinyin subtitles) - download link - mediafire file size - 37.92 mb(hq) screenshot (thumbs) - -> watch it online…
Wordpress Plugin: Chinese PinYin Slug - The Chinese PinYin Slug Wordpress plugin convert Chinese UTF-8 character into English PinYin character from a post slugs to improve search engine optimization. For example, when you publish a post with a title like this: “中文拼音” …
dictionary english pinyin v.2.7.1 - beijing olympics 2008 coming soon… here is a version of “dictionaryformids” for translating english into chinese pinyin (especially designed for mobile phones without chinese characters). 40.000+ entries. enjoy !

Mandarin Classes Lesson Twenty-Two

admin — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 13:04:14 +0000

Mandarin Classes Lesson Twenty-Two - Developing Team Spirit

In this Mandarin lesson, we get an inside look as to how China can be really funny sometimes. Although, if I was massaging stinky feet 12 hours a day and working about 26 days/month, I’m not so sure I’d look forward to this part of the job.

Useful Chinese words from this lesson from lesson - Chinese, English, Pinyin:

带 = dai4 = wear

笑容 = xiao4rong2 = smile

客人 = ke4ren2 = customer

使劲 = shi3jin4 = exert all one’s strength

休息= xiu1xi = rest

继续 = ji4xu4 = continue

Technorati Tags: english pinyin, english to pinyin, learn chinese, learn mandarin, mandarin classes, mandarin course, mandarin language classes, mandarin language course, mandarin lessons, pin yin chinese

Mandarin Classes Lesson Twenty-One

admin — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 12:43:17 +0000

Mandarin Classes Lesson Twenty-One - The Contract

Mandarin Classes - Lesson Twenty-One PDF

Mandarin Classes - Lesson Twenty-One mp4

In this Chinese lesson, Ankun and Lin Dong, according to their agreement on that rooftop, make everything official and sign a contract. 20,OOOrmb emotional distress compensation and a 100,000rmb baby.

From the English to Pinyin part of the PDF, here are some useful Chinese words:

换 = huan4 = change/exchange

位子 = wei4zi = seat

按照 = an4zhao4 = according/in accordance with

皮肤 = pi2fu1 = skin

合作 = he2zuo4 = cooperation

愉快 = yu2kuai4 = delightful/happy

要不然 = yao4buran2 = otherwise/or else

收不到 = shou1bu2dao4 = not receive

Mandarin Classes Lesson Twenty

admin — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:23:05 +0000

Mandarin Classes Lesson Twenty - Getting an Abortion

Mandarin Classes - Lesson Twenty PDF

Mandarin Classes - Lesson Twenty mp4

In lesson 20 of Mandarin Classes Blog, you will learn a little bit about abortion and kind of see how it works in China. I’ve heard it can be pretty cheap (like 200rmb) and Chinese girls, because they usually don’t have too many religious beliefs, can go through with it with fewer qualms. In this scene, though, doesn’t look like the most sanitary of places (yikes!).

Near the end of this lesson in the PDF English pinyin section, you will actually learn a few fun Mandarin words phrases (that do not deal with abortion) - such as:

你看什么 = ni3 kan4 shen2me = what are you looking at?

刚做完 = gang1 zuo4wan2 = just finished

你有病吧？你 ni3 you3 bing4 ba? ni3 = Are you out of your mind? (notes: 你 at the end of the sentence really changes the tone to a more harsh accusing one)

爱信不信 ai4 xin4 bu xin4 = believe it or not

难受 = nan4shou4 = hurt

Begin these mandarin language classes now!

Mandarin Classes Lesson Nineteen

admin — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:51:59 +0000

Mandarin Classes Lesson Nineteen - Negotiating

Mandarin Classes - Lesson Nineteen PDF

Mandarin Classes - Lesson Ninteen mp4

In Lesson 19 of Mandarin Classes blog, we learn Mandarin from two skilled (?) negotiators. Ankun is busy watching the windows in the same building as the massage parlor and Lin Dong asks him to come up to the roof to talk. They then negotiate (by drawing out charts with rocks) how much Lin Dong should pay for the baby and the “psychology distress fee”.

For the PDF, you will see in the english to pinyin section some really useful Chinese words that you may not have learned yet in other mandarin language courses:

上来 = shang4lai2 = come up. 上来说话 = shang4lai2 shuo1hua4 = come up and talk

血型 = xue4xing2 or xie3xing2 = blood type

损失 = sun3shi1 = loss

亲子鉴定 = qin1zi3 jian4ding4 = DNA test, paternity test

承认 = cheng2ren4 = admit

一码事 = yi1 ma3 shi4 = one MW issue (MW = measure word)

逻辑 = luo2ji = logic. Easy to remember!

答应 = da1ying = promise

先前 = xian1qian2 = earlier (Earlier, you said…)

提这个 = ti2 zhe4 ge = bring this (up). As in “why do you have to bring this up?”

Mandarin Course Lesson Eighteen

admin — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:17:55 +0000

Mandarin Course Lesson Eighteen - The Verbal Agreement

Mandarin Course - Lesson Eighteen PDF

Mandarin Course - Lesson Eighteen mp4

In this Mandarin class, Wang Mei’s jealousy is busy brewing inside of her. She feels old, unattractive, and can’t bear children. She thinks Pingguo is a threat and for good reason. To ensure that her husband doesn’t go cheating on her again, Wang Mei wants to sign an agreement with Lin Dong.

In this lesson of Mandarin Classes, let’s pick out a few key Chinese words in the English to Pinyin section:

怎么 = zen3me = how: can sometimes also mean “why”. 怎么让我来接你了 = zěnme ràng wǒ lái jiē nǐ le ？ = why did you ask me to pick you up?

接受 = jiēshòu = accept

70% = 百分之七十 bai3fen1zhi1 = percent, 七十 qi1shi2 = 70.

But when talking about discounts, a 70% discount (paying 70% of the sale price) would be spoken as 打三折 da3 san1 she2.

值得 zhíde = it’s worth it. This is a great word that I use all the time.

Start these Mandarin Classes now! (and leave a comment ;))

Mandarin Course Lesson Seventeen

admin — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:48:57 +0000

Mandarin Course Lesson Seventeen - Impersonation

Mandarin Course - Lesson Seventeen PDF

Mandarin Course - Lesson Seventeen mp4

In this mandarin lesson, Ankun impersonates Lin Dong’s cousin in order to bypass security. Ankun bears the news that Pingguo is pregnant and that Lin Dong may be the baby’s daddy.

In the English to Pinyin section of the PDF, you will see some key Chinese words such as 表弟 biao3di4 (cousin) and 冒充 mao4chong1 (impersonate).

A particularly useful phrase in the English pinyin section would be “…跟我有什么关系？“ gen1 wo3 you3 shen3me guan1xi (what does that have to do with me?). You can also say “那跟我有什么关系？“ to use this sentence in a more general way (那 = na4 = that).

Begin these mandarin classes now!~

Mandarin Course Lesson Sixteen

admin — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:43:53 +0000

Mandarin Course Lesson Sixteen - I’m Pregnant

Mandarin Course - Lesson Sixteen PDF

Mandarin Course - Lesson Sixteen mp4

For this mandarin course lesson, Pingguo is pregnant. Ankun keeps pressing that it’s definitely not his child. Pingguo wants to get an abortion, but Ankun angrily objects and says that “this is a chance from heaven.”

That’s pretty weird that he’d say that… unless he has some sort of ulterior motive. What’s he up to?

In the Chinese, English, Pinyin section of the dialog, you will learn that the Chinese particle 又 is also used for emphasis and tone. Just like in the sentence, “it’s MY belly, not YOURS”. Begin this mandarin lesson and look at the english pinyin section to see how this Chinese particle is used.

Also in this lesson, you will see that 要是 (if) means the same as 如果。。。的话。 Also, this 如果。。。的话 sentence structure does not always need 如果 and 的话 - you can also just use one or the other. Also, you will learn that 干 gan4 (to do) can also mean the same as “shag”.

Also the phrases 你烦不烦？ can also mean “well, aren’t you annoying?” You can also sometimes say 烦人 - which means “annoying person” or “bothersome person” or just “annoying” or “bothersome”.