中文 - Week 17 (New Practical Chinese Reader 1)

The book I am using is New Practical Chinese Reader 1 by the Beijing Language and Culture University Press. Volume 1 of the book has 14 lessons. Target end date is June 9, 2012.

MONDAY: Lesson Nine – 他今年二十岁

This lesson introduces another greeting that you could use aside from the already popular one that we always use. We could say 你怎么样 which literally translates to You how? According to the book, it has roughly the same meaning.

TUESDAY: Lesson Nine – 他今年二十岁

There is this phrase that one uses to express mild surprise or doubt or modesty. It is phrased as a question but is more of an expression one uses to denote such reactions already mentioned. 是吗 is just the copula for the linking verb along with the question particle. In English: Really?

WEDNESDAY: Lesson Nine – 他今年二十岁

To ask for someone’s age, you could ask 你今年多大? The book says though that this used only with people that are of the same age as you are. For kids, people usually ask 你今年几岁? For older people there is yet another expression which is not tackled in this chapter.

THURSDAY: Lesson Nine – 他今年二十岁

Now that we are talking about age, we better learn how to say Happy Birthday too! The typical greeting is 祝你生日快乐. Apparently, 祝 is often used as some sort of term to express good greetings for certain occasions.

FRIDAY: Lesson Nine – 他今年二十岁

As you might already know, the Chinese calendar is sort of related to animals, with each year corresponding to one of the twelve. Because of this it is normal for people to ask in which animal year one is born. They even have a separate verb for it which is 属. Just add the character of the animal of the year you were born in and that’s about it. I was born in the year of the dog would be 属狗.

For next week I will still be covering lesson nine. We are making progress! The goal is to pass the lowest level of the HSK in September 2012! =)