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.

Television and Radio: dian(4) shi(4) ji(1) he(2) shou(1) yin(1) ji(1)

NEW WORDS
Television: dian(4) shi(4) ji(1)
Radio: shou(1) yin(1) ji(1)
Loud: da(4) sheng(1)
Channel: pin(2) dao(4)
On: kai(1)
Off: guan(1)

LESSON

• Where is the television?
  dian(4) shi(4) ji(1) zai(4) na(3) li(3)?
  
• Do you have a radio?
  ni(3) you(3) shou(1) yin(1) ji(1) ma?
  
• How do I change the channel?
  wo(3) zen(3) me huan(4) pin(2) dao(4)?
  
• Is this the on or off button?
  zhe(4) shi(4) kai(1) guan(1) an(4) niu(3) ma?
  
• The sound is too loud.
  sheng(1) yin(1) tai(4) da(4) le.

* Tip: China and the US have at least one thing in common - the way that both societies have embraced the television. China has 60 (+) cable TV channels all run by the state with a huge variety of programming.

Television in China is much like anywhere else on earth with its game shows, cartoons, soap operas and MTV.

Watching TV can be a great way to improve your language skills with the added bonus of maybe having a good laugh at the same time.