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(2) gong(4) 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(2) 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 small steamed food (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.
