The purpose of learning a language is to put it into use to the daily conversation. To study Chinese better, this reading lesson is aimed at teaching students to learn some common expressions.
Let’s take a look at the following text named “我学汉语（wǒ xué xí hàn yǔ）”
麦克(mài kè)：请问，您贵姓？（qǐnɡ wèn, nín ɡuì xìnɡ?）
张东(zhānɡ dōnɡ)：我姓张。(wǒ xìnɡ zhānɡ.)
麦克：你叫什么名字？(nǐ jiào shén me mínɡ zi?)
张东：我叫张东。(wǒ jiào zhānɡ dōnɡ)
麦克：你是哪国人？( nǐ shì nǎ ɡuó rén ？)
张东：我是中国人。你是哪国人?(wǒ shì zhōnɡ ɡuó rén. nǐ shì nǎ ɡuó rén?)
麦克：我是美国人。(wǒ shì měi ɡuó rén.)
张东：你学习什么？(nǐ xué xí shén me?)
麦克：我学习汉语。(wǒ xué xí hàn yǔ.)
张东：汉语难吗？(hàn yǔ nán mɑ ?)
麦克：汉字很难，发音不太难。(hàn zì hěn nán , fā yīn bú tài nán)
From this conversation, we can see that learn Chinese in China is not easy for overseas students, especially the Chinese Characters.
If you study in China, you should know that when Chinese people asking the names, we are accustomed to use “您贵姓？(nín ɡuì xìnɡ?)” to show respect to other people.
The followings are some new words appeared when you learn Mandarin Chinese in this lesson.
1. 请问 qǐnɡ wèn Excuse me
问 wèn to ask; to enquire
2. 贵姓 ɡuì xìnɡ May I know your name?
3. 姓 xìnɡ family name
4. 叫 jiào to call; to name
5. 名字 mínɡ zi name
6. 哪 nǎ which; where
7. 国 ɡuó country; nationality
中国 zhōnɡ ɡuó China
美国 měi ɡuó the United States
8. 人 rén human being; man(or woman)
9. 学习 xué xí to study; to learn
10. 汉子 hàn zi Chinese characters
11. 发音 fā yīn pronunciation; to pronounce
To help students study Mandarin Chinese easier, the meanings of the new words are explained in English after them.
Among so many access to learn Chinese, the most efficient and beneficial method is to attend one-on-one Chinese learning programs because it can be explained very carefully.
Actually, those fundamental daily conversations and common words expressions can be seen on the Internet. Therefore, students can learn Chinese online free and independently.
In order to learn Mandarin better, we will do some exercises to consolidate what we just learned. So you need to complete the following dialogue.
A: ?
B: wǒ xìnɡ zhānɡ.
A: mínɡ zi?
B: wǒ jiào zhānɡ dōnɡ.
A: ?
B: wǒ shì zhōnɡ ɡuó rén. nǐ shì nǎ ɡuó rén?
A: wǒ shì rén
B: ?
A: wǒ xué xí hàn yǔ.
B: ?
A: fā yīn bú tài nán, hàn zì hěn nán.
In the following part, the possible answers are listed.
① qǐnɡ wèn nín ɡuì xìnɡ?（请问您贵姓？）
② nǐ jiào shén me mínɡ zi?（你叫什么名字）
③ nǐ shì nǎ ɡuó rén？（你是哪国人？）
④ měi ɡuó （美国）
⑤ nǐ xué xí shén me?（你学习什么？）
⑥ hàn yǔ nán mɑ ? （汉语难吗？）
These are all frequently used words and expressions in our daily conversation and as a matter of fact, it is not so difficult to remember them as long as you use them constantly. To maintain a regular learning schedule, students are suggested to form Chinese learning programs.
The text we learned in this lesson often happens when the first time we meet someone. As long as students exercise more, it will be easily grasped.