Grammar & Other Flashcards
Excuse me
请问
qǐng wèn
(Use with strangers/business)
在
zài + [verb]
- Present continuous — ‘ing’ verb particle
Minority of cases
- Indicate ‘again’ e.g.
我会再吃晚饭
wǒ huì zài chī wǎn fàn
I will eat(or have) dinner again
What is the specific context?
No
[When does the pronunciation change?]
不
bù – For Negative sentence (Not something)
[When following tone is 2nd tone – Changes to 2nd ALSO]
了
[verb] + le
Past tense — ‘ed’ verb particle [past tense]
Don’t use in response when time is obvious
E.g. Yesterday, did you…? vs. Did you…?
过
[verb] + guò
Action has completed particle
吧
[verb] + ba
Indicates made decision
3 Uses for 请 qǐng
- Excuse me
- Invite
- Please
在
zài + [location]
- Necessary to mention location
很
Hěn + [adjective]
Necessary before every adjective (one character)
Stress = Initialise very
Chinese Structure
Subject > Location > Time > Action
[subject] + de
的
Indicates ownership
S+的+
The [subject]’s…
I’m busy today
我今天很忙
wǒ jīn tiān hěn máng
I’m fine, I’m busy today
我很好今天很忙
wǒ hěn hǎo, jīn tiān hěn máng
How are you today?
你今天怎么样
nǐ jīn tiān zěn me yàng?
Have you ever been to…?
你去过…
nǐ qù guò…
Did not have the opportunity to
(One word)
没有 = 没
méi yǒu = méi
Have you eaten yet?
你吃了吗
nǐ chī le ma？
I’ve eaten
吃了
chī le
or
我吃了
wǒ chī le
I’m eating
我在吃
wǒ zài chī
I like
我喜欢
wǒ xǐ huan
I am busy with what I am currently doing
我在忙
wǒ zài máng
Yes
[Responding to;
你喜欢
nǐ xǐ huan (“Do you like?”)]
喜欢
xǐ huan
Have coffee
喝咖啡吧
hē kā fēi ba
Eat it
吃吧
chī ba
Come [formal vs. daily life]
进来吧
jìn lái ba
[More formal]
进来
jìn lái
[Daily life]
Is 请问 commonly used in daily life?
[qǐng]
No, only necessary situations with ** or business
Please eat / Please Drink
请吃
Qǐng chī
请喝
Qǐng hē
Are you tired today?
你今天累吗？
nǐ jīn tiān lèi ma？
What’s your name?
你叫什么名字?
nǐ jiào shén me míng zì?
I got it!
我知道了
wǒ zhī dào le
Have you ever tried French cuisine?
你吃过法国菜吗
nǐ chī guò fǎ guó cài ma
Chinese people like to go to France
中国人喜欢去法国
zhōngguórén xǐhuan qù fǎguó
I haven’t tried Indian cuisine before
我没吃过印度菜
wǒ méi ch guò yìndù cài
My home is in Australia
我的家在澳大利亚
wǒ de jiā zài ào dà lì yà
Rule to use: 好久没
hǎo jiǔ méi
Place after subject.
S+好久没+
hǎo jiǔ méi
Your home is in China
你的家在中国
nǐ de jiā zài zhōngguó
[verb] + 的
de
Past tense — ‘ed’ verb particle [past tense]
Use when passed time is short
Where is [time] mentioned in a sentence?
S+time
Come in [Textbook Chinese + Daily]
请去
qǐng qù
[Textbook Chinese]
进来
jìn lái
[Daily]
Drink water
喝水
hē shuǐ
What did you eat today?
你今天吃的什么?
nǐ jīn tiān chī de shén me？
a little [+ adjective]
有点 儿
yǒu diǎn er
N is silent
And
和
hé
[No double placement]
Where
在哪儿 / 哪里
zaì + nǎ er [informal]/ nǎ lǐ [formal]
Grandfather
爷爷
yé ye
Grandmother
奶奶
nǎi nai
Milk
牛奶
niú nǎi
Human milk
人奶
rén nǎi
Like a lot [pre-fix]
非常
fēi cháng
Just finished [structure]
V + 完 +了
V + wán + le
Cuisine [structure]
[Country] + 菜
cài
I drink coffee almost everyday
我差不多每天喝咖啡
wǒ chà bú duō měitiān hē kā fēi
Are you tired today?
你今天累吗
nǐ jīn tiān lèi ma
[2] Placement for; 了 Le
Action + 了 (directly after action) – Emphasis!
Action + 了 (end of sentence) – Regular
Placement for; 在 zài
Omit double placement
[verb] + 着
zhe
- Present continuous — ‘ing’ verb particle
ALL cases
Taste [structure]
喝过
hē guò
fix for drink/eat
To taste (drink)
喝过
hē guò
Mr + [Name]
Name + 先生
xiānsheng
Or
还是
hái shì
[omit 吗]
ma
吗
ma
- Question particle; All cases except:
Which/Where/Or; type questions
Recognise/know
认识
rèn shí
Or [Declarative sentence]
或者
huò zhě
All
[Suffix**]
都
dōu
v. + (Le) 一些
yìxiē
Indicates some
Person V + 一 下
Someone briefly performs action (request or describing)
Emphasise past tense
double check
V + 到
dào
Structure for [I] “need” something
Sbj + 真的要
+ zhēn de yào
*Only applies to [I/Me] Subject
Structure for [You/other] “need” something
真的需要
zhēn de xūyào
*Applies to [You/Other] subject
What is the “AA” Rule
Double adjective is the same as the single adjective.
In what cases do we use this?
Structure to use when assigning 2 adjectives to a noun (separated by “and’)
又 [大] 又 [甜]
yòu [dà] yòu [tián] = [big] and [sweet]
What case can we use this?
How to use 见 jiàn?
Noun = To meet
Verb complement = V + 见
To complete an action successfully (referring to senses)
E.g. 看见 = To see (successfully)
(kàn jiàn)
What is the difference between using:
V + 了
1. le
V + 过
2. guò
- le – In a general sense, the context of the sentence is past tense. May also carry the connotation of “just happened” e.g. “Today/Yesterday, I did/went to..”
- guò – The verb mentioned, has completed fully. It is well established and a complete event potentially a long time ago. E.g. I have been to…
What is the difference between using the verb complement:
V +见
1. jiàn
V + 到
2. dào
Both carry same use (structure) and similar meaning (interchangeable).
They indicate a successful attempt at an action. E.g. instead of “to look” (general & aimless), it changes “to see” (specific)
Can be used for past tense, future tense, and to emphasise
Difference is;
- jiàn –Use mainly after mentioning the senses;
你能看见吗
nǐ néng kànjiàn ma? = Can you see it?
- dào – Used for a broad range of verbs; [More common]
V + 起来
qǐ lái
Eat + 起来 = Tastes
Hear + 起来 = Sounds
Look + 起来 = Looks
Verb to Descriptive Verb Used for senses?
Differentiate between 是 + A. + 的; and 很 + A.
1st (shì…de) – Clarify something (Usually in response?)
e.g. 这个蛋糕吃起来是甜的
zhège dàngāo chīqǐlái shì tián de – This cake’s taste is sweet
2nd (hěn) – Compliment
e.g. 这个蛋糕吃起来很甜
zhège dàngāo chīqǐlái hěntián - This cake tastes very sweet!
V. + ?
Meaning: To perform the action (verb) briefly
V． + 一下儿
+ yí xià er
When should we use/omit 儿
Order for:
(No. of) times, location, verb, subject, time
Subject + Time + Location + Verb + Object + times
Difference between:
- 想
(xiǎng) - 要
(yào) - 想要
(xiǎng yào)
4.觉得
(juéde)
(xiǎng)
1) + N. = To miss
2) + V. = To want
3) = To think or contemplate
(xiǎngyào) + V. = To want (soft)
(yào) = Immediate or direct need
(juéde) = Expressing a feeling about something
How to use:
jǐ (year) + jǐ (month) + jǐ (day)
Each individually mean, “Which (year/month/day)?”. Can be used in any combination or by themselves
Sense + 的
(de)
Becomes a (general term**) noun.
E.g. 看的
(kàn de)
Meaning:Things that can be read, such
as storytelling, newspapers.
E.g. 吃的
(chī de)
Meaning: Food
怎么 + V.
zěnme
= “How to”
E.g. 怎么说
(zěnmeshuō)
= How do I say this?
How to ask “How do you say ___ in ___?”
(Noun) 用 (英语/中文) 怎么说?
(Noun) yòng (yīngyǔ/zhōngwén) zěnme shuō?
NB: (English/Chinese)
How to say “something” is “in” “somewhere”?
在里
zài…lǐ
E.g.
我在麻辣烫店里
wǒ zài málàtàngdiàn lǐ
(“I was in the Malatang shop”)
Or
肉在面条里
ròu zài miàntiáo lǐ
(“[There is] meat in noodles”)
