lesson 2

Question 1

谢谢

Answer 1

Pinyin: xièxiè
Meaning: thank you
Used in a word: 谢谢, 老师 (xièxiè lǎo shī ) - Thank you ，teacher

Question 2

不

Answer 2

Pinyin: bù
Meaning: not
Used in a word: 不客气 (bù kèqì) - You’re welcome

Question 3

不客气

Answer 3

Pinyin: bù kèqì
Meaning: you’re welcome
Used in a word: 不客气，不用谢 (bù kèqì, bù yòng xiè) - You’re welcome, no need to thank me

the ke in “bu ke qi” is the “guest”, while the qi is the air, the flow. “ke qi” roughly means “make it like you are a guest”. Being a guest suggest you’ve not yet established a close relationship so that you are not in one’s “in-group” yet. Hence, as bu is “don’t”, the phrase “bu ke qi” means: don’t make it like you are a guest. It therefore suggests that you have been treated as the speaker’s “in-group” member. This is a big thing in Chinese culture. Thus, “bu ke qi” became a polite, classy, standard response to a thank you.

Question 4

客

Answer 4

Pinyin: kè
Meaning: guest; customer
Used in a word: 不客气 (bù kèqì) - You’re welcome

the ke in “bu ke qi” is the “guest”, while the qi is the air, the flow. “ke qi” roughly means “make it like you are a guest”. Being a guest suggest you’ve not yet established a close relationship so that you are not in one’s “in-group” yet. Hence, as bu is “don’t”, the phrase “bu ke qi” means: don’t make it like you are a guest. It therefore suggests that you have been treated as the speaker’s “in-group” member. This is a big thing in Chinese culture. Thus, “bu ke qi” became a polite, classy, standard response to a thank you.

Question 5

气

Answer 5

Pinyin: qì
Meaning: air; gas; spirit
Used in a word: 不客气 (bù kèqì) - You’re welcome

the ke in “bu ke qi” is the “guest”, while the qi is the air, the flow. “ke qi” roughly means “make it like you are a guest”. Being a guest suggest you’ve not yet established a close relationship so that you are not in one’s “in-group” yet. Hence, as bu is “don’t”, the phrase “bu ke qi” means: don’t make it like you are a guest. It therefore suggests that you have been treated as the speaker’s “in-group” member. This is a big thing in Chinese culture. Thus, “bu ke qi” became a polite, classy, standard response to a thank you.

Question 6

再见

Answer 6

Pinyin: zàijiàn
Meaning: goodbye
Used in a word: 再见，明天见 (zàijiàn, míngtiān jiàn) - Goodbye, see you tomorrow

Question 7

再

Answer 7

Pinyin: zài
Meaning: again
Used in a word: 再见 (zàijiàn) - Goodbye

Question 8

见

Answer 8

Pinyin: jiàn
Meaning: to see
Used in a word: 再见 (zàijiàn) - Goodbye