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.

Eating Breakfast
chi(1) zao(3) can(1)

NEW WORDS
(1) Coffee: ka(1) fei(1)
(2) Table: zhuo(1) zi(3)
(3) Buffet: zi(4) zhu(4) can(1)
(4) Chinese breakfast: zhong(1) shi(4) zao(3) can(1)
(5) Western Breakfast: xi(1) shi(4) zao(3) can(1)

LESSON

• Do you serve Chinese or western breakfast?
  ni(3) men gong(1) ying(4) zhong(1) shi(4) hai(2) shi(4) xi(1) shi(4) zao(3) can(1)?
  
• How much is breakfast?
  zao(3) can(1) duo(2) shao(3) qian(2)?
  
• What time is breakfast served?
  zao(3) can(1) shen(2) me shi(2) hou(4) kai(1) shi(3)?
  
• Do you have fresh coffee?
  ni(3) men you(3) xin(1) xian(1) de ka(1) fei(1) ma?

* Tip: Eating breakfast in China differs greatly depending on whether you are in the north or south of China. Breakfast in the south comprises little steamed tit-bits (dim sum or yum cha) and a rice soup called zhou. In the north people are more likely to eat a cornmeal-based soup and thick doughy bread called mantou.

It's easy to get western buffet breakfasts in most of the major hotels in China these days but live a little and try breakfast Chinese style.