Bonus Lesson: Colors and Family

CY

How to make more complex sentences with a conjunction: Because, there & how to say colors

How to make more complex sentences with a conjunction: Because, there & how to say colors





CY :)

Lesson 7: How to turn sentences into questions.

Just add ma1 吗 to the end of sentences, albeit affirmative or negative, and the sentences will be turned into questions.

Lesson 6: My, your, his/her/its, and light tone with basic sentences

1) What is a light tone in Mandarin? 2) How to say MY, YOUR, HIS/HER/ITS in Mandarin? 3) Let's practice!!!

学生 xue2sheng1 Definitely Means "Student" :)

Question:

DesiGirlInCanada: just to be clear..doesn't xueshang mean senior or upperclassman?

My Answer:

学生 xue2sheng1 definitely means "student" in Chinese. xue2 学 means "to learn", and sheng1 生 means "raw, novice, birth", depending on the context. So in the case of 学生 xue2sheng, it essentially means "learning novice" and hence "student".

I hope it helps!

C.-Y.

想要 Used as a Compound Word vs. 想 or 要 Used as an Individual Character in Chinese Sentences

Question:

I have a question. I always used 想 & 要 individually in a sentence. I did not know until now that 想要 could be used as a compound word. So whats the difference when saying 我要電腦，我想電腦，compared to saying 我想要電腦? Does it matter which you use when expressing your desire of wanting something? Thanks

My Answer:

It is a good question; thanks! 想 or 要 can be used individually indeed in Chinese. By pairing up the two characters as a compound word, one SPECIFCALLY expresses “the desire of obtaining something or conducting an act”. For example, wo3 xiang3yao4 dian4nao3我想要電腦 = I want [to obtain] a computer. Wo3 xiang3yao4 mai3 dian4nao3我想要買電腦 = I want to buy a computer.

When想 is used individually, it means “to think, to think of, to miss, to hope to conduct an act”, depending on the context. So for example, wo3 xiang3 dian4nao3我想電腦 (PS.: This sentence is grammatically correct but not idiomatic; by idiomatic, I mean it sounds slightly odd and therefore people generally do not use the sentence.) = I think of a computer. 我想買電腦 wo3 xiang3 mai3 dian4nao3 = I hope to buy a computer (In the sentence, the person entertains the THOUGHT of buy a computer; whether or not s/he is going to really go and buy a computer is not expressed by the sentence.). 我想你 wo3 xiang3 ni3 = I miss you.

When要is used individually, it means “to want, to be going to conduct an act”, depending on the context. So for example, wo3 yao4 dian4nao3我要電腦 (PS.: This sentence is grammatically correct and idiomatic) = I want a computer. Therefore, one can safely say that 要 yao4, when used individually, followed by a NOUN (e.g. an object, a thing or a person etc.), the usage of 要 is the same as that of 想要. Other examples regarding how to use要 individually are: 我要買電腦 wo3 yao4 mai3 dian4nao3 = I am going to buy a computer. 我要你 wo3 yao4 ni3 = I want you (This sentence is useful if one wants to in a VERY DIRECT way woo someone else s/he has affectionate feelings for.).

I hope it helps! :)

C.-Y.

Answers to Test 1: Four Tones in Mandarin

Hi Guys, I do not want to torture you by asking you to add me on your Facebook. so the answers to the test are as follows:

"Test One: Four Tones in Mandarin":

1) 4

2) 2

3) 1

4) 3

5) 2

6) 4

7) 3

8) 1

9) 3

10) 2

11) 4

12) 1

Keep up the good work, guys!

C.-Y. or See Why

Correction: Real Test 1: Four Tones in Mandarin

(1) Yi (2) Pa (3) Fu (4) Ge (5) Na
(6) Su (7) Ta (8) Di (9) Pu (10) Ke (11) Ru (12) Tu





For answers, please add my Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=profile&id=100000691405918

If somehow you experience difficulties locating my Facebook profile, key in my email address and you will be able to find me:

seewhychang@gmail.com

C.-Y.

Test 1: Four Tones in Mandarin

(1) Yi (2) Pa (3) Fu (4) Ge (5) Na
(6) Su (7) Ta (8) Di (9) Pu (10) Ke (11) Ru (12) Tu



For answers, please add my Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=profile&id=100000691405918

If somehow you experience difficulties locating my Facebook profile, key in my email address and you will be able to find me:

seewhychang@gmail.com

C.-Y.