Transcript, vocabulary, and notes

Text 课文 (Kèwén)

After you have watched the video, check your understanding by reading the transcript and the English translation.

New Words 生词 (Shēngcí)

Language Notes

L9. 太,真

When the adverbs tài 太 （too） and zhēn 真 （really） are used in exclamatory sentences, they convey, in most cases, not new factual information but the speaker’s approval, disapproval, or other emotional reaction.

When tài 太 is used, le 了 usually appears at the end of the sentence.

For example:

Zhōngwén zhēn nán!
中文真难！
Chinese is really difficult！

For example:

Nà tài hǎo le!
那太好了!
That’s great!

L10. 是吗？

Shì ma 是 吗 (Really?) is a mild expression of one’s surprise on hearing something unexpected.

L11. 吧

The particle 吧 is used at the end of a sentence to convey a suggestive, inquisitive, or agreeing tone.

Wǒmen xiě Hànzì ba.
我们写汉字吧。
Let’s write Chinese characters.

Hǎo ba.
好吧。
OK.

L12. 怎么＋V

怎么＋V is used to inquire about the manner or the way of doing something or how something is done.

For example:

Zěnme xiě?
怎么写?
How to write?

Zěnme xué?
怎么学？
How to learn?

Grammar Notes

G19. Affirmative + negative (A + not A) questions

Rule: Besides using the particle 吗（ma） at the end of a sentence, another common way of forming a question is to repeat the verb or adjective in its affirmative or negative form. Posing questions in this manner leads to answers that repeat the negative or affirmative forms of the verb or adjective. See examples below.

For example:

• Tā shì bù shì lǎoshī?
• 他是不是老师？
• Is he a teacher or not?

• Shì. Bù shì.
• 是。 不是。
• Yes, he is. No, he isn’t.

• Zhōngwén nán bù nán?
• 中文难不难？
• Is Chinese difficult or not?

• Nán. Bù nán.
• 难。 不 难。
• Yes, it is. No, it isn’t.

G20. Ordinal Numbers

Rule: Ordinal numbers in Chinese are formed by placing dì 第 before the numbers.

For example:

• dì-yī
• 第一

• dì-èr
• 第二
• (first, second…)

第 is not used in names of months: yīyuè 一月, èryuè 二月, sānyuè 三月… (January, February, March…).

It is not used to indicate the birth order of sibling: dàgē 大哥, èrgē 二哥, sāngē 三哥… (oldest brother, second oldest brother, third oldest brother…).

G21. The sentence with an adjectival predicate

Rule: When an adjective functions as the predicate of a sentence, we call it a sentence with an adjectival predicate. This type of sentence is used to describe or evaluate someone, something, or a state of affairs. Adjectives in such sentences usually take an adverb before them. Notice the use of the verb “to be” in the English translation but the omission of 是 in the Chinese.

For example:

• Zhōngwén hěn nán.
• 中文很难。
• Chinese is very difficult.

• Wǒ de lǎoshī hěn hǎo.
• 我的老师很好。
• My teacher is very good.

In a sentence with an adjectival predicate, shì 是 is not inserted between the subject and the predicate.

G22. Tag question

Rule: The tag question is a short question that is attached to a statement. It is used for confirmation of the previous statement, or for making a suggestion. In Chinese, it is usually formed with A 不 A pattern or 是吗, 好吗, 行吗 and 怎么样.

For example:

• Nǐ hěn xǐhuan nǐ de gǒu, shì bù shì?
• 你很喜欢你的狗， 是不是?
• You like your dog very much, right?

• Wǒ bāng nǐ, zěnmeyàng?
• 我帮你，怎么样？
• I’ll help you. How does that sound?

G23. 就

Rule: The adverb 就 is usually used before a verb to suggest that an event was or will be carried out sooner than expected.

For example:

• Wǒmen xiànzài jiù xué dì-sì kè.
• 我们现在就学第四课。
• Let’s study Lesson 4 now.

G24. 有（一）点儿

Rule: 有(一)点儿 precedes adjectives or verbs. It means “somewhat” or “a little.
”
For example:

• Zhōngwén yǒu yìdiǎnr nán.
• 中文有一点儿难。
• Chinese is a little difficult.

• Wǒ yǒu yìdiǎnr bù xǐhuan tā.
• 我有一点儿不喜欢他。
• I somewhat dislike him.

Sentence Patterns

These sentences highlight and repeat some of the grammatical concepts introduced in this lesson.

Cultural Notes

The Chinese writing system dates back for centuries. Traditional Chinese writing was vertical from top to bottom, right to left. Today, the system is read horizontally from left to right. Calligraphy, however, thought to be the highest form of visual art in China, maintains the traditions of the original writing system.