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.

The All Too Typical Questions:

• What country are you from?
  ni(3) lai(2) zi(4) na(3) ge(4) guo(2) jia(1)?

• Why did you come to China?
  ni(3) wei(4) shen(2) me(1) lai(2) zhong(1) guo(2)?

• Can you use chopsticks? (this is usually asked after they see you use chopsticks)
  ni(3) hui(4) yong(4) kuai(4) zi(3) ma?

• How much money do you make?
  ni(3) zheng(4) duo(1) shao(3) qian(2)?

• Do you have a Chinese spouse?
  ni(3) you(3) yi(1) ge(4) zhong(1) guo(2) pei(4) ou(3) ma?

• Will you teach me English?
  ni(3) jiao(1) wo(3) ying(1) yu(3) ma?

Answers you can expect:

• Q.What country are you from?
  ni(3) lai(2) zi(4) na(3) ge(4) guo(2) jia(1)?
• A: Foreigners-land, it's near Holland. (Lao-wai Guo)
  wai(4) guo(2) ren(2) de(1) di(4) fang(1). kao(4) jin(4) he(2) lan(2).
• Q: Why did you come to China?
  ni(3) wei(4) shen(2) me lai(2) zhong(1) guo(2)?
• A: I'm running from the law.
  jing(3) cha(2) zai(4) wo(3) pi(4) gu(3) hou(4) bian(1) ne(1).
• Q: Can you use chopsticks?
  ni(3) hui(4) yong(4) kuai(4) zi(3) ma?
• A: Yes, I can use them to play drums.
  hui(4), wo(3) hai(2) hui(4) yong(4) kuai(4) zi(3) lai(2) qiao(1) gu(3).
• Q: How much money do you make?
  ni(3) zheng(4) duo(1) shao(3) qian(2)?
• A: I lot less than I deserve.
  wo(3) zheng(4) de(1) bi(3) wo(3) ying(1) gai(1) de(2) de(1) shao(3) duo(1) le.
• Q: Do you have a Chinese spouse?
  ni(3) you(3) yi(1) ge(4) zhong(1) guo(2) pei(4) ou(3) ma?
• A: I have two. Are you available, because 3 is a better number?
  wo(3) you(3) liang(3) ge(4). ni(3) ke(2) yi(3) ma? yin(1) wei(4) san(1) shi(4) ge(4) geng(4) hao(3) de(1) shu(4) zi(4).
• Q: Will you teach me English?
  ni(3) jiao(1) wo(3) ying(1) yu(3) ma?
• A: Will you teach me bungee jumping without a rope?
  ru(2) guo(3) mei(2) you(3) sheng(2) zi(3), ni(3) hui(4) jiao(1) wo(3) beng(4) ji(1) tiao(4) ma?

* Hint: getting to a level where you can joke in a language is a major accomplishment. Keep studying and keep smiling!