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.
Karaoke:
ka(3) la(1) OK
NEW
WORDS
Karaoke:
ka(3) la(1)OK
Beer: Pi(2) jiu(3)
Snacks: xiao(3) chi(1)
Song list: ge(1) qu(3) dan(1)
Bill: zhang(4) dan(1)
LESSON
- Do
you have karaoke here?
ni(3) men zhe(4) li(3) you(3) ka(3) la(1)
OK ma?
- Please
bring some beer?
qing(3) na(2) yi(4) xie(1) pi(2) jiu(3)
lai(2).
- What
type of snacks do you have?
ni(1) men dou(1) you(3) shen(2) mo yang(4)
de xiao(3) chi(1)?
- Can
I see the song list please?
wo(3) neng(2) kan(4) kan(4) ge(1) qu(3)
mu(4) lu(4) ma?
- We
would like the bill.
wo(3) men yao(4) jie(2) zhang(4).
* Tip: Karaoke! The insanely fun
Japanese invention has taken China by storm.
Long popular in Taiwan, it seems that a
new karaoke place is going up on every corner
in the major cities of mainland China (and
even in the countryside).
Karaoke is great fun for all. Leave your
inhibitions behind, bring some beer money
and have a great time belting out songs
in English or Chinese.
The
most popular karaoke tunes are songs by Coco
Lee, Sandy Lam and Faye Wong. It takes a while
to learn a Chinese song but you will astound
your Chinese friends if you can deliver a
heart-felt version of Sandy Lam's 'Zhi Shao
Hai You Ni'!
