Note: The spoken Chinese Mandarin language has 4 spoken tones. We have attempted to re-create those below where after each syllable we tell you (1), (2), (3), or (4) as they correspond to each of the 4 tones. We encourage you to complement your Xianzai.com Emergency Chinese newsletter with a good offline study program.

NEW WORDS

(1) Surname name: xing(4)

(2) Given name: ming(2)

(3) Age: nian(2) ling(2)

(4) Birthplace: chu(1) sheng(1) di(4)

(5) Student: xue(2) sheng(1)

(6) Please: qing(3)

LESSON

• What is your name please?
  ni(3) jiao(4) shen(2) me ming(2) zi(4)?
  
• Can you tell me your surname and given name please?
  ni(3) neng(2) gao(4) su(4) wo(3) ni(3) de xing(4) ming(2) ma?
  
• Which year were you born?
  ni(3) na(3) yi(1) nian(2) chu(1) sheng(1)?
  
• Where were you born?
  ni(3) zai(4) na(3) er chu(1) sheng(1)?
  
• Were you born in Beijing?
  ni(2) zai(4) bei(3) jing(1) chu(1) sheng(1) ma?
  
• Are you a university student?
  ni(2) shi(4) da(4) xue(2) sheng(1) ma?

* Tip: Some people travel in China with the mistaken idea that all Chinese are intensely private about their personal details. Like most people, most Chinese people are more than happy to talk about where and when they were born, especially if you make an effort to communicate with them in basic Chinese.

Learn a little Chinese and you will be amazed how much richer your travel experiences will be!