Language Guider
If you really want to know a country and its people, you need to understand something of the language. But you can hardly learn the language in a short time before traveling to china. So here are 20 phrases and sentences which may be useful during your stay in china. 

These phrases and sentences are in putonghua mandarin Chinese or standard Chinese, through there are many dialects in china which sound totally different from putonghua. Nowadays, putonghua is understood everywhere and used by the media. 

Chinese is based on monosyllables. These makes it easy to substitute words in sample sentences and generate many sentences from the original example. Most characters are combined to make words while some characters can stand alone as a words. 

You may soon find this a special, new and smooth way to learn the true Mandarin. 
If you like to learn, let's go on. Just try to read and memorize the sentences below. it is pretty easy and simple. You may start at any moment!
 

　

Learn   Chinese   20  sentences
　
Chinese
putonghua
PinYin ni      hao Xie      Xie Zai      Jian
Meaning Hello! How are you? Thank you! Good bye!
Chinese
putonghua
PinYin wo hen gao xing ren shi ni dui bu qi           hen bao qian
Meaning I am very glad to know you. Excuse me , I am very sorry.
　
　
Chinese
putonghua
PinYin lao jia  ,      ni neng bang zhu wo ma? qing wen xian zai shi shen mo shi jian le ?
Meaning Can you help me? Can you tell me what time is it now ?
Chinese
putonghua
PinYin qing zai shuo yi bian hao ma? ni neng bang wo pai zhang zhao pian ma?
Meaning Please repeat again. Can you help me take a picture? 

　

　

　

Chinese
putonghua
PinYin zhe ge yao duo shao qian? tai gui le , neng pian yi yi xie ma?
Meaning How much is it? Too expensive, Can you make it cheaper?
Chinese
putonghua
PinYin wo xiang huan yi ge qi ta yan se. na er mai huang quan shui?
Meaning I want to change it, and select other color. Where can I buy bottled mineral water ?
Chinese
putonghua
PinYin xia jie , wo xiang jia yi xie bing kuai.
Meaning I want to add some ice .

　

　

Chinese
putonghua
PinYin ni neng gao su wo qu wu zhou da jiu dian zen me zou? qing wen guo ji hui yi zhong xin zai na li?
Meaning Can you tell me the way to Beijing Continental Grand Hotel. Where is the Beijing International Convention Center BICC?
Chinese
putonghua
PinYin hai you duo yuan ? you mei you geng jin de lu ?
Meaning How far is it from here? Have there any nearest way ?
Chinese
putonghua
PinYin wo ming bai le. wo hai bu dong.
Meaning I see I don't understand.

　

Nin instead of Ni?

Ni means "you" , but in Beijing in particular there is a more respectful and polite way of saying "Ni", which is "Nin". When you talk to strangers or people older than you, it is better to use "Nin" instead of "Ni".
Please send your suggestions and comment to: icmadm@beijing.icm2002.org.cn
Last modified: Aug.12, 2002

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