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) Hardback: jing(1) zhuang(1)

2) Paperback: jian(3) zhuang(1)

3) Dictionary: zi(4) dian(3)

4) Study aides: xue(2) xi(2) bang(1) zhu(4)

5) Tapes: ci(2) dai(4)

LESSON:

• Do you have the hardback version?
  ni(3) men(2) you3() jing(1) zhuang(1) ban(3) ma?

• Do this come in paperback?
  zhe(4) zhong(3) you(3) jian(3) zhuang(1) ban(3) ma?

• I need to buy some study aides.
  wo(3) de(3) mai(3) dian(3) dong(1) xi(1) bang(1) zhu(4) xue(2) xi(2).

• What tapes can I buy to help me learn Chinese?
  wo(3) ke(3) yi(3) mai(3) shen(2) me yang(4) de ci(2) dai(4) lai(2) bang(1) zhu(4) xue(2) xi(2) ne?

Dialogue

• You: Does this Chinese language textbook come in paperback?
  zhe(4) zhong(3) zhong(1) wen(2) jiao(4) cai(2) you(3) jian(3) zhuang(1) ban(3) ma?

• Clerk: No. But the hardcover comes with a free tape.
  mei(2) you(3). bu(2) guo4() zhe(4) zhong(3) jing(1) zhuang(1) ban(3) you(3) yi(1) he(2) mian(3) fei(4) de ci(2) dai(4).

• You: Are tapes good language study aides?
  zhe(4) xie(1) ci(2) dai(4) dui(4) xue(2) xi(2) you(4) bang(1) zhu(4) ma?

• Clerk: Of course. You should also buy a Chinese/English dictionary.
  dang(1) ran(2) le, ni(2) ye(3) ying(1) gai(1) mai(3) yi(1) ben(3) zhong(1)/ying(1) zi(4) dian(3).

• You: Thank you.
  xie(4) xie(4).

• Clerk: You are welcome. Come again.
  bie(2) ke(4) qi(4). huan(1) ying(2) zai(4) lai(2).

The Taxi Connection: (As we use most of our minimal Chinese with Taxi drivers, each lesson will show how to use some of the new words in the Taxi environment.)

Example:

• You: Please take me to Haidian's book city. (Haidian Tu-shu-cheng)
  qing(2) ba(3) wo(3) dai(4) dao(4) hai(3) dian(4) tu(2) shu(1) cheng(2).

• Driver: It's my pleasure. What will you buy there?
  wo(3) de(1) rong(2) xing(4). ni(3) xiang(3) mai(3) xie(2) shen(2) me?

• You: A new dictionary and a language tape.
  yi(1) ben(3) xin(3) zi(4) dian(3) he(2) yi(1) he(2) yu(3) yin(1) dai(4).

• Driver: Is it hard to study Chinese?
  xue(2) xi(3) zhong(2) wen(2) hen(3) nan(2) ma?

• You: Yes, of course.
  dang(1) ran(2) le.

Hint: To find good quality and very inexpensive books, go to Haidian's book city near Zhong Guan cun. Make sure to buy some audio language tapes as they will help you improve your Chinese.