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

L25. 祝

祝 means to offer good wishes.

For example:

Zhù nǐ Shèngdàn kuàilè.

祝你圣诞快乐。
I wish you a Merry Christmas!

Zhù nǐ shēngri kuàilè.

祝你生日快乐。
Happy Birthday to you!

L26. 我介绍一下

我介绍一下 is a common expression used for introducing people. It means, “Please allow me to introduce…”

L27. 认识你很高兴

认识你很高兴 means, “Nice to meet you.” It may sound rather western to some Chinese speakers.

Grammar Notes

G40. Directional Complement 来

Rule: 来/去 can serve as a directional complement after a verb such as 进. 来 indicates movement towards to the speaker. 去 indicates movement away from the speaker.

G41. Verbal Phrase used as attributives

Rule: In Chinese, verbs, verbal phrases, and subject-predicate phrases can all serve as attributives. Attributives always appear before the elements that they modify.

For example:

• chī de fàn
• 吃的饭
• food to eat

• péngyou sòng de lǐwù
• 朋友送的礼物
• a gift given by a friend

G42. 一下

Rule: 一下 is used after a verb to indicate a brief action. It can soften a statement. This is similar to a moderated tone of voice in English.

For example:

• Kàn yī xià. Zhè shì shuí de shū?
• 看一下， 这是谁的书？
• Take a look. Whose book is this?

• Nǐ jìnlái yī xià.
• 你进来一下。
• Come in for a minute.

G43. （一）点儿

Rule: （一）点儿 is used before a noun to indicate a little. (When 一 is followed by 1st, 2nd, and 3rd tone, it is pronounced as yì. When 一 is followed by 4th tone, it is pronounced as yí. Therefore 一点儿 should be pronounced as “yìdiǎnr.”)

For example:

• Nǐ xiǎng hē yīdiǎnr shénme?
• 你想喝一点儿什么？
• What would you like to drink?

• Wǒ hē diǎnr chá ba
• 我喝点儿茶吧。
• I would like some tea.

G44. Alternative questions with 还是

Rule: If there are two or more possibilities for an answer, we use alternative questions.

For example:

• Nǐ shì Zhōngguórén háishì Měiguórén?
• 你是中国人还是美国人？
• Are you Chinese or American?

• Nǐ yào hē chá háishì hē chéng zhī？
• 你要喝茶还是喝橙汁？
• Would you like tea or orange juice?

G45. Double objects

Rule: Some Chinese verbs may take two objects: the first is called the indirect object, usually referring to people; the second is the direct object, usually referring to something. The verbs that can take double objects include jiāo 教(teach), gěi 给(give), huán 还(return, wèn 问(ask), etc.

For example:

• Lǎoshī jiāo wǒmen Zhōngwén.
• 老师教我们中文。
• The teacher teaches us Chinese.

• Gěi wǒ yì zhī bǐ.
• 给我一枝笔。
• Give me a pen.

Sentence Patterns

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

Cultural Notes

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is China’s most popular traditional holiday. This 15-day celebration is officially called the Spring Festival. It is a time for feasting, family reunions, and fun.

Chinese Zodiac

There are twelve animal signs in the Chinese Zodiac. Each animal represents a different year in the twelve-year cycle. Why these animals? There are varying interpretations for why these animals are the celebrated animals of the Chinese Zodiac. One story, and perhaps the most popular, is the tale of the fight amongst the animals that decided to settle their arguments with a race across a large river. The ox, who led the entire way, came in second to the rat who rode on his back until the end, when he jumped off and declared victory.

Another story, coming from a Buddhist tale, accounts the story of the Buddha inviting all of the animals to a gathering before he departed the earth. The twelve animals of the Zodiac are the ones that answered his request and the order of their arrival represents their location within the Zodiac.

Each animal has attributes of personality and temper. When someone is born, it is said that they will possess similar traits as the sign in which they were born. Can you find your sign? Do you possess similar traits?

To learn more about your Chinese zodiac sign, you may want to go to this Chinese Zodiac website.