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.
Cigarettes:
xiang(1) yan(1)
NEW
WORDS
Cigarettes:
xiang(1) yan(1)
Lighter: da(3) huo(3) ji(1)
Cigars: xue(3) jia(1)
Ashtray: yan(1) hui(1) gang(1)
LESSON
- Do
you sell cigarettes?
ni(3) mai(4) xiang(1) yan(1) ma?
- How
much are cigars?
xue(3) jia(1) duo(1) shao(3) qian(2)?
-
Does this lighter work well?
zhe(4) ge(4) da(3) huo(3) ji(1) hao(3)
shi(3) ma?
-
Please bring me an ashtray?
qing(3) gei(3) wo(3) na(2) yi(1) ge(4)
yan(1) hui(1) gang(1).
*
Tip: China is the world's largest producer
and consumer of cigarettes. Each year Chinese
residents smoke more cigarettes than all of
the USA and Europe put together! A nation
of smokers indeed!
As
well as being able to buy most foreign brands
easily, China has numerous domestic brands
including a brand named after the compound
that is home to China's leaders (Zhongnanhai)
and a wonderful brand - Double Happiness -
that are common at weddings.
