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
Time-shi(2) jian(1)
Hours- xiao(3) shi(2)
Minutes- fen(1) zhong(1)
Clock-zhong(1) biao(3)
Watch-shou(3) biao(3)
Thank you- xie(4) xie(4) ni(3)
LESSON
- Can you tell me the time please?
ni(3) neng(2) gao(4) su(4) wo(3) shi(2)
jian(1) ma?
- Is the meeting at 9AM or 9PM?
hui(4) yi(4) shi(4) shang(4) wu(3) jiu(3)
dian(3) hai(2) shi(4) wan(3) shang(4) jiu(3)
dian(3)?
- Where can I buy a nice watch?
wo(3) zai(4) na(3) er ke(2) yi(3) mai(3)
dao(4) hao(3) shou(3) biao(3)?
- What time does the bar open?
jiu(3) bar(1) shen(2) mo shi(2) hou(4) kai(1)?
- Thank you for telling me the time.
xie(4) xie(4) nin(2) gao(4) su(4) wo(3)
shi(2) jian(1).
* Tip: Watches in China, as in most
other countries, serve a dual purpose. They
show the time as well as being a fashion statement
or an expression of individuality.
Famous Chinese watch brands such as Seagull
and Meihua still rank among the most common
in China and are well known for their reliability.
China, despite its enormity, has just one
time zone - Beijing time. Beijing time is
eight hours ahead of GMT.
