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

L39. 位

位 is another measure word for people. It is usually used to be courteous to guest or to show respect.

L40. 穿

The verb 穿 can mean both “to wear” and “to put on.” However, 戴 is used instead of 穿 for the upper part of the body.

For example:

• chuān qúnzǐ 穿裙子 （to wear a skirt）
• dài yǎnjìng 戴眼镜 (to wear eyeglasses)

L41. 不错

不错 literally means “not wrong.” It means “good” in Chinese.

L42. 条

条 is a measure word used for long-shaped clothing, such as kùzǐ 裤子 and qúnzǐ 裙 子.

For example:

yī tiáo qúnzi
一条裙子
a skirt

yī tiáo kùzi
一条裤子
a pair of pants

L43. 好看

好看 means “good-looking.” 好 is often used together with a verb to form a new adjective to mean “good to + verb.”

For example:

hǎokàn
好看
good-looking

hǎochī
好吃
delicious, good to eat

hǎo hē
好喝
good to drink

L44. 多少钱

多少钱 means “how much is it?”

Grammar Notes

G66. 又.…..又.…..

Rule: 又.…..又.….. is used to connect adjectives, verbs, verb phrases, or adjective phrases to denote simultaneous existence of two conditions or states of affairs.

For example:

• Zhè tiáo qúnzi yòu hǎo yòu piányi.
• 这条裙子又好又便宜。
• This skirt is both good and inexpensive.

G67. A 跟/和 B (不）一样

Rule: This pattern is used to express similarity or dissimilarity between two objects or people.

• Nǐ de chènshān gēn wǒ de yīyàng.
• 你的衬衫跟我的一样。
• Your shirt is the same as mine.

• Nǐ de qúnzi hé wǒ de bù yīyàng.
• 你的裙子和我的不一样。
• Your skirt is not the same as mine.

Following 一样，an adjective can be used.

For example:

• Zhè jiàn chènshān hé nà jiàn chènshān yīyàng dà.
• 这件衬衫和那件衬衫一样大。
• This shirt is as big as that one.

G68. 虽然.…..但是.…..

Rule: 虽然.…..但 是.….. links two clauses and expresses a transition. This pattern first affirms and admits the fact following 虽然，and then emphasizes the clause following 但是.

For example:

• Zhè tiáo qúnzǐ suīrán hěn hǎokàn，dànshì wǒ bù xǐhuan.
• 这条裙子虽然很好看，但是我不喜欢。
• Although this skirt is good-looking, I don’t like it.

G69. Amount of money in Chinese

Rule: The units of money are yuán 元， jiǎo 角， and fēn 分. In spoken Chinese we often use kuài 块， máo 毛， and fēn 分.

For example:

sānshíèr yuán bā jiǎo sì fēn
三十二元八角四分

sānshíèr kuài bā máo sì
三十二块八毛四 （fēn 分)
￥32.84

liùshísì yuán sì jiǎo
六十四元四角

liùshísì kuài sì
六十四块四（máo 毛)
￥64.40

When stating the amount of money, one may omit the name of the last unit. If there are more than two zeros in the middle only the last one is said.

For example:

• yībǎi kuài líng bā máo
• 一百块零八毛
• ￥100.80

If the amount consists of only one unit, the word 钱 is often added at the end.

For example:

• wǔ máo qián
• 五毛钱
• ￥0.5

Sentence Patterns

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

Cultural Notes

Chinese Traditional Dress

The Manchus founded the Qing Dynasty in 1644 and upon their arrival the rulers established a series of laws. One such law forced the Han Chinese under penalty of death to dress in the Manchurian qipao- loose fitting and hung straight down the body to de-emphasize the female shape and figure - to replace the traditional Han dress. For the next 300 years, the qipao became the official clothing and even today, though somewhat modernized by accentuating the body through its tighter fit, has become the classic dress for China’s high society.