How to write sentences in Chinese. Word order in a Chinese sentence (extended version). How to say it all more casually
Hello dear readers! Starting to learn Chinese, we were very happy to learn that there are no prefixes, genders, cases and endings as such, because this greatly facilitates learning!
But if you think about it, then after all, all this is an integral part of the language, without which we would not be able to clearly express our thoughts in the right direction. There is no such thing in Chinese. How is this possible?
It turns out that it is the correct word order, as well as auxiliary particles, that are the elements that replace everything that is absent in Chinese, but is present in our native language.
Word order in Chinese is governed by certain rules, and if you don't follow them, you risk being misunderstood or misunderstood at all.
Therefore, every novice sinologist should definitely learn the basic construction of a Chinese sentence, starting from which in the future you can build something more complex and beautiful.
Basic formula for constructing words in a Chinese sentence
First you need to know that in Chinese sentences the word order is not the same as, for example, in Russian. If in Russian we can say first the predicate, then the subject, and then the object, or vice versa, then in Chinese you simply will not be understood.
To learn how to correctly build words in sentences, you need to remember that each member of the sentence has its own specific order, namely:
(Time) + subject + time + place + predicate + object.
The above is the word order in a simple sentence, as for particles, prepositions and other words, we will deal with you in future lessons. Note that the tense before the subject is enclosed in parentheses. This suggests that it can be both at the beginning of a sentence and after the subject.
There will be no error in this. Now let's look at an example. Let's start with a simple sentence with an addition, which we talked about in detail:
Let's add time to this sentence:
How to add actors?
Now let's imagine that, for example, a younger sister was with you. What would the proposal look like then? Where should the word "younger sister" be substituted?
Note that in this sentence, in addition to you, the younger sister is also the protagonist, so she joins the pronoun "我" - "I" by adding the union "和" - and. In addition to "和", you can also use unions 与 and 跟, which are similar in meaning to 和.
How to add time?
Let's complicate the sentence a little more. Let's say we want to insert a specific one in addition to the temporary noun "today". For example, two o'clock in the afternoon. We can say this:
Pay attention to where we put 两点 - after 今天, but before the place - 在商店.
How to add a description of an add-on?
And the last thing I want to offer you is to clarify which teacher we met today with my sister. Let's imagine that we met a certain teacher Lee. Then the proposal will be built like this:
That's basically all for today. The only thing I want to tell you about is one trick that will help you work through this grammar faster - just start building words according to Chinese rules already in a Russian sentence.
It looks something like this:
My friends and I visited a famous museum in China last year.
我跟朋友去年在中国参观了有名的博物馆。
Another good way to improve your grammar is to read Chinese texts more often. For beginner sinologists, we advise you to visit the section "", where you can find interesting short stories with simple content and translation.
Practice more often, read more, and you will definitely succeed!
China is one of the most visited countries in the world by tourists. It attracts for the most part with its diversity of landscape, virgin villages with their own traditions and fascinating legends, and huge metropolitan areas in which nightlife is seething. In China, everyone will find something new and unusual for themselves. China is one of the oldest civilizations, in this republic, architectural monuments that are more than tens of thousands of years old have been preserved to this day. Each sight of China carries a mystery and a centuries-old legend.
Traveling through the expanses of this extraordinary state, nothing will prevent you from enjoying its beauties, except perhaps not knowing the Chinese language, but you can cope with this problem thanks to our Russian-Chinese phrase book, which you can download or print directly from the site. It contains topics that you may need while traveling.
Appeals
Common phrases
| Phrase in Russian | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 是 | shea |
| Not | 没有 | bu shi |
| Thank you! | 谢谢！ | Sese! |
| Please! | 不客气！ | Bukhatsy! |
| Sorry! | 对不起！ | Duibutsi! |
| It's OK. | 没关系。 | Meiguanxi |
| I do not understand | 我不明白。 | Wo bu minbai |
| Please repeat what you said | 请您再说一遍 | Tsin ning zai shuo and beep |
| Do you speak Russian? | 你会说俄语吗? | No fuck sho hey ma? |
| Does anyone here speak Russian? | 这里有人会说俄语吗？ | Zheli yuzhen huisho eyyu ma? |
| You speak English? | 你会说英语吗？ | No fuck sho inyu ma? |
| Does anyone here speak English? | 这里有人会说英语吗？ | Zheli yuzhen huisho yinyu ma? |
| What is your name? | 你叫什么名字 | ni yiao shen mi ming zi |
| How are you? | 你怎么 | no earth |
| Good | 玉 | yu |
| So-so | 马马虎虎 | may may hyu hyu |
| Bon Voyage! | 一路平安! | And luphing an! |
At customs
| Phrase in Russian | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| baggage | sinli | |
| currency | waihui | |
| import | daiju | |
| export | Daichu | |
| declaration | baoguandan | |
| receipt | fapiao | |
| control (passport, customs) | chayanchu (bian jian, haiguan) | |
| medicine | yao | |
| drugs | matzuiping | |
| weapon | uqi | |
| the passport | huzhao | |
| duty | guanshui | |
| cigarettes | yang | |
| souvenirs | jinyanping | |
| bag | bao | |
| suitcase | pisyan | |
| Please tell me where is the passport (customs) control? | Qing wen, huzhao (haiguan) chayanchu zai nali? | |
| I need a customs declaration form | Wo xuyao and zhang baoguandan | |
| Please explain how to complete the customs declaration | Qing zeshi ixia, zenme tian baoguandan | |
| Help me complete this form | qing bangzhu wo tian ixia zhege biaoge | |
| Where is your declaration? | Nide baoguandan? | |
| Here is my declaration | Zhe ju shi wode baoguandan | |
| I don't have items that need to be declared in the declaration | In meiyu xuyao baoguande upin | |
| Your passport? | Nide huzhao? | |
| Here's my passport | Zhe shi wode huzhao | |
| These are my personal items. | Zhe shi vode siren xingli | |
| I have foreign currency in the amount of... | Wo yu waihui, noise shi... | |
| Where should I (should) sign? | zai naer qian zi? | |
| I want to call the Embassy (Consulate) | Wo xiang da dianhua gay dashiguan (lingshiguan) |
At the station
| Phrase in Russian | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| How much does the ticket cost? | Phiao doshao tien? | |
| When does the train arrive (depart)? | Hoche shemme shihou daoda? | |
| Porter! | Banyungong! | |
| Where is the taxi stand? | Chuzu chezhan zai naer? | |
| I need one/two/three/four/five/six/seven/eight tickets. | 我要一张/两张/三张/四张/五张/六张/七张/八张票。 | Wo yao and zhang/liang zhang/san zhang/si zhang/wu zhang/liu zhang/tsi zhang/ba zhang phiao. |
| On which track does our train arrive? | Womende che ting zai di ji dao? | |
| Where is the exit…? | …chukou zai naer? | |
| -in town | qu chengshi | |
| -to the platform | shang | |
| Where is the storage room? | Zongcunchu zai naer? | |
| Where is the ticket window? | Shopiao chu zai naer? | |
| Where is platform no..? | …hao yuetai zai naer? | |
| Where is wagon no..? | hao chexiang zai naer? | |
| One ticket to... please | Qing Mai and Zhang Qu... De Piao | |
| Railway carriage… | …chexiang | |
| …soft | ruan wo | |
| …sleeping | Ying Wo | |
| …hard | ying zuo | |
| One way | Qu Wang Yige Fangxiang | |
| Roundtrip | wangfan | |
| Is it possible...? | …kei ma? | |
| …return this ticket | Tui ixia zhe zhang piao | |
| … change | huan |
In transport
| Phrase in Russian | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Bus | 巴士 | kkaji |
| Car | 汽车 | gojang |
| Taxi | 的士 | taxi |
| Parking | 停车 | posu tominol |
| Stop | 停止 | jeonnyujang |
| Take me here (indicate the place written on the business card). | 请把我送到这里。 | Tsin ba in sundao zheli. |
| Open trunk. | 请打开行李舱吧。 | Tsin dakhai sinli chan ba. |
| Turn left here | 这里往左拐。 | Zheli wang zuo guai. |
| Turn right here. | 这里往右拐。 | Zheli wang you guai. |
| How much is the bus/metro fare? | 公车/地铁票多少钱？ | Gongche/dithe phiao duoshao tsien? |
| Where is the nearest bus stop? | 附近的公交车站在哪儿？ | Fujin de gongjiaochhezhan zai nar? |
| Where is the nearest subway station? | 附近的地铁站在哪儿？ | Fujin de dithezhan zai nar? |
| What is the next stop (station)? | 下一站是什么站？ | Xia and zhan shi shenme zhan? |
| How many stops is it to (…)? | 到 (…) 有多少站？ | Dao (…) duoshao zhan? |
| Which bus goes to (…)? | 去 (…) 乘哪趟公交车？ | Tsui (…) cheng na thang gunjiaochhe? |
| Which metro line goes to (…)? | 去 (…) 乘几号线地铁？ | Xu (…) cheng jihao xien dithe? |
| Can you please tell me how to get to (…)? | 请问，到 (…) 怎么走? | Tsingwen, tao (...) zenme zu? |
| Please take me to (…) | 请带我去 (…) | Tsin dao woh tsui (…)… airport.飞机场。 fei ji chang. |
| ... railway station. | 火车站。 | huo che zhan. |
| …the nearest hotel | 最近的酒店。 | zui jin de jiudien. |
| … the nearest restaurant. | 最近的饭馆。 | zui jin de fanguan. |
| … the nearest beach. | 最近的海滨。 | zui jin de haibin. |
| … the nearest shopping center. | 最近的购物中心。 | zui jin de gou wu zhong xin. |
| … the nearest supermarket | 最近的超级市场。 | zui jin de chao ji shi chang. |
| … the nearest park. | 最近的公园。 | zui jin de gong yuan. |
| … the nearest pharmacy. | 最近的药店。 | zui jin de yaodien. |
In hotel
| Phrase in Russian | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I need to book a room | 我需要储备 | woh yao chu bei |
| I want to book a room | 我想储备 | in hyang chu bei |
| What is the price? | 要多少钱 | duo shao chian? |
| Room with bath | 带浴室的房间 | give yu shi di fang jian |
| We booked a room for two, here are our passports. | 我们预定了双人房间。 这是我们的护照。 | Women yuidingle shuangzhen fanjien. Zhe shi women de huzhao. |
| Do you have rooms available? | 有没有空的房间？ | You meiyou khun de fanjien? |
| Is there a cheaper room? | 有没有便宜点儿的房间？ | You meiyou pienidiar de fanjien? |
| I need a single room. | 我需要单间。 | In xuyao danjien. |
| I need a double room. | 我需要双人间。 | In xuyao shuangzhenjien. |
| I need a double room with sea view. | 我需要一个海景的双人房间。 | Wo Xuyao Yige Haijing De Shuangren Fangjien. |
| Is there a telephone/TV/refrigerator/air conditioner in the room? | 房间里有电话/电视/冰箱/空调吗？ | Fangjien you dienhua/dienshi/bingxiang/khunthao ma? |
| What floor is the room on? | 我的房间在几楼？ | Wo de fanjien zai chi low? |
| Is breakfast included? | 价格包括早餐吗？ | Jiage baokhuo zaochan ma? |
| What time breakfast? | 早餐几点开始? | Zaotshan ji dien khaishi? |
| My room is not cleaned. | 我的房间没有打扫。 | Wo de fanjien meiyou dasao. |
| I want to change my number. | 我想换个房间。 | Wo xiang huang jien. |
| We ran out of toilet paper in our room. | 我们房间没有手纸了。 | Women fanjien meiyou shouzhi le. |
| Tips | 秘诀 | mi jue |
| Room | 室 | cabbage soup |
| We're leaving today. | 我们今天走。 | Women Jinthien Zou. |
| We are leaving on August 5th. | 我们八月五号走。 | Women ba yue wu hao zu. |
| We want to rent a number. | 我们想退房。 | Women xiang thui fan. |
| The minibar was already empty before I checked into this room. | 我进房间的时候迷你吧就是空的。 | Wo jiu fanjien de shihou miniba jiu shi khun de. |
Emergencies
| Phrase in Russian | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Department | 消防队 | chiao fang dui |
| Police | 警察 | ying cha |
| Fire | 火灾 | huo zai |
| Fight | 扭打 | nui yes |
| Ambulance | 救护车 | yu hu che |
| Hospital | 医院 | yui yuan |
| I have… | 我已经… | wo yui ying |
| stretching | 实力 | shi li |
| Pharmacy | 药房 | yao fang |
| Doctor | 医生 | yi sheng |
| I got sick) | in bingle | |
| I feel bad | Wo ganjue zitchi buhao | |
| Please call... | Qing jiao ixia… | |
| …doctor | ishen | |
| …ambulance | jijiu | |
| I have… | In… | |
| …cough | …casou | |
| …runny nose | ... shanfeng | |
| …stomach upset | ... fuse |
Dates and times
| Phrase in Russian | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | xinqi and | |
| Tuesday | xinqi er | |
| Wednesday | xinqi sai | |
| Thursday | xinqi si | |
| Friday | xinqi wu | |
| Saturday | xinqi liu | |
| Sunday | xingqi tian | |
| Today | jintian | |
| Yesterday | Zuotian | |
| Tomorrow | mingtian | |
| The day before yesterday | Qiantian | |
| Day after tomorrow | Houtian | |
| in the morning | zai zaoshan | |
| afternoon | zai paitian | |
| in the evening | zai wanshan | |
| everyday | meitian | |
| winter | dongtian | |
| Spring | chuntian | |
| summer | xiatian | |
| autumn | qiutian | |
| winter | zai dongtian | |
| spring | zai chuntian | |
| summer | zai xiatian | |
| autumn | zai qiutian | |
| January | and yue | |
| February | er yue | |
| March | san yue | |
| April | si yue | |
| May | wu yue | |
| June | liu yue | |
| July | qi yue | |
| August | ba yue | |
| September | ju yue | |
| October | shi yue | |
| november | shi yue | |
| December | shier yue | |
| What time is it now? | Ji dian zhong? | |
| Now… | Xianzai shi… | |
| …noon | shier dian | |
| …midnight | ling dian | |
| Now… | Xianzai shi… | |
| 1 hour 5 min. (morning) | and dian wu fen (zaoshan) | |
| 5 hours 43 minutes (evenings) | wu dian syshi san fen (wanshan) |
Numerals
| Phrase in Russian | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 一 | and |
| 2 | 二 | [er] er |
| 3 | 三 | sleigh |
| 4 | 四 | sy |
| 5 | 五 | at |
| 6 | 六 | liu |
| 7 | 七 | tsi |
| 8 | 八 | ba |
| 9 | 九 | jiwu |
| 10 | 十 | shea |
| 11 | 一十一 | yī shí yī] and shi and |
| 12 | 一十二 | and shi er |
| 20 | 二十 | [èr shi] er shi |
| 30 | 三十 | san shi |
| 40 | 四十 | sy shi |
| 50 | 五十 | ears |
| 51 | 五十一 | wu shi and |
| 52 | 五十二 | wu shi er |
| 53 | 五十三 | wu shi san |
| 100 | 一百 | and buy |
| 101 | 一百零一 | and bai ling and |
| 110 | 一百一十 | and bai and shi |
| 115 | 一百一十五 | and bai and shi u |
| 200 | 二百 | [èr bǎi] er bai |
| 1 000 | 一千 | and tsien |
| 10 000 | 一万 | and wan |
| 1 000 000 | 一百万 | and bai wan |
In the shop
| Phrase in Russian | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| What is the price | 要多少钱 | yao duo shao qian |
| Cash | 现金 | hbyang jia |
| Cashless | 对于非现金 | due cock fairies hyang ji |
| check | 检查 | hyang ji |
| What payment method | 什么付款方式 | shen mi fu kyan fang shi |
| Cigarettes | 香烟 | hyang yang |
| Bread | 面包 | myan bao |
| Products | 产品 | chan ping |
| To wrap up | 包 | bao |
| No change | 无日期 | woo ri kwi |
| Tips | 秘诀 | mu jie |
| Water | 水 | shui |
| Fresh squeezed juice | 新鲜果汁挤压 | hin hyan guo shi yi ya |
| Sugar / salt | 糖/盐 | tang / yang |
| Milk | 牛奶 | newey nai |
| Fish | 鱼 | yuy |
| Meat | 肉类 | roy lei |
| Chicken | 鸡 | yy |
| Mutton | 羊肉 | young roy |
| Beef | 牛肉 | new swarm |
| Pepper / spices | 辣椒 / 香料 | ia iao / hyang liao |
| Potato | 土豆 | tou doi |
| Rice | 大米 | yes myi |
| Lentils | 扁豆 | bian doi |
| Onion | 洋葱 | young kong |
| Garlic | 大蒜 | yes xuan |
| Sweets | 甜点 | tian dian |
| Fruit | 水果 | shui guo |
| Apples | 苹果 | ping guo |
| Grape | 葡萄 | pu tao |
| Strawberry | 草莓 | kao mei |
| oranges | 桔子 | ju zi |
| Mandarin | 柠檬 | pu tonghua |
| Lemon | 石榴石 | ning meng |
| Pomegranate | 香蕉 | shchi pour shchi |
| Bananas | 桃 | xiang zhdiao |
| Peaches | 杏 | tao |
| Apricot | 芒果 | sking |
| Mango | 开放 | mang guo |
| Open | 关闭 | kai |
| Closed | 折扣 | kuan |
| Discount | 关闭 | zhe koy |
| Very expensive | 非常昂贵 | tai gui le |
| Cheap | 便宜 | drunk yi |
| Where can you buy baby products? | 哪里能买到儿童产品？ | Nali neng maidao erthong chang ping? |
| Where can you buy shoes? | 哪里能买到鞋子？ | Nali nen maidao szezi? |
| Where can you buy women's clothing? | 哪里能买到女的衣服？ | Nali neng maidao nu de yifu? |
| Where can you buy men's clothing? | 哪里能买到男的衣服？ | Nali nen maidao nan de yifu? |
| Where can you buy cosmetics? | 哪里能买到美容？ | Nali nen maidao meijun? |
| Where can you buy household goods? | 哪里能买到日用品？ | Nali neng maidao jiyongphing? |
| What floor is the grocery store on? | 超级市场在哪一层？ | Chaoji shichang zai na i zheng? |
| Where's the exit here? | 出口在哪儿？ | Chukhou zainar? |
| Can I try it? | 我把这个试一下，好吗? | Wo ba jege shi isya, hao ma? |
| Where's the fitting room? | 试衣间在哪里？ | Shi and jien zai cash? |
| I need a bigger size. | 我需要大一点儿. | Wo suyao ta idiar. |
| I need a smaller size. | 我需要小一点儿. | Wu Xuyao Xiao Idiar. |
| I need 1 size up. | 我要大一号. | Wo yao ta ihao. |
| I need 1 size down. | 我要小一号. | Wo Yao Xiao Yihao. |
| Can I pay by card? | 可以刷卡吗？ | Khei shua kha ma? |
| What is the price? | 多少钱？ | Tuo shao tsieng? |
| Very expensive! Let's go a little cheaper. | 太贵了！ 来便宜点儿。 | Thai gui le! Lai phieni diar. |
| We are poor students, we can't afford it. | 我们是穷学生， 这个我们买不起。 | Women shi qiong xueshen, zhege women mai butsi. |
| Is this the price for 1 jin? (1 jin \u003d 0.5 kg, in China the price is usually indicated for 1 jin) | 这是一斤的价格吗？ | Zhe shi and jin de jiage ma? |
| Where can you buy fruit? | 哪里能买到水果？ | Nali nen maidao shuiguo? |
| Where can you buy vegetables? | 哪里能买到蔬菜？ | Nali neng maidao shuzhai? |
| Where can you buy meat? | 哪里能买到肉类？ | Nali nen maidao joulei? |
| Where can you buy alcoholic beverages? | 哪里能买到酒类？ | Nali nen maidao jiulei? |
| Where can you buy dairy products? | 哪里能买到奶制品？ | Nali neng maidao naijiphin? |
| Where can you buy confectionery? | 哪里能买到糖果点心？ | Nali neng maidao thangguo dienxin? |
| Where can you buy tea? | 哪里能买到茶叶？ | Nali nen maidao chae? |
| Need 1 big bag. | 我要大的袋子。 | Wo yao tade daizi. |
| One small package is needed. | 我要小的袋子。 | Wo yao xiaode daizi. |
| I'll pay by card. | 我刷卡。 | Wo shua kha. |
Restaurant and cafe
| Phrase in Russian | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Waiter | 服务员 | foo wu one |
| Do you have free tables | 你有自由表 | ni wow zi wow biao |
| I want to book a table | 我想预订一张桌子 | Wo hyang ding yi zang zuo zi |
| Check please (bill) | 请检查（帐户） | qing yian cha |
| accept my order | 请接受我的命令 | queen yie show wo de ming ling |
| What year is the wine | 今年葡萄酒 | yin nian puo tao yi |
| Your signature dish | 您的特色菜 | nin di te se kai |
| Tea coffee | 茶/咖啡 | cha / cafe fairies |
| Instant coffee | 速溶咖啡 | su rong ka fairies |
| Soup | 汤 | tang |
| Olives | 橄榄树 | gan lan shu |
| Salad | 沙拉 | sha la |
| Grilled | 烤 | cao |
| Fried | 烤 | cao |
| Boiled | 煮 | zhu |
| I do not eat meat! | 我不吃肉！ | wo boo yi roi |
| Vermicelli | 挂面 | gia mian |
| Pasta | 面食 | mian si |
| Stuffed pepper | 酿三宝 | niang san bao |
| Sandwich | 三明治 | san ming zhi |
| Cheese / sour cream (sour) | 奶酪/酸奶（酸奶） | nai lao / xuan nai |
| Beer | 啤酒 | phi jiu |
| Wine | 葡萄酒 | pu tao yi |
| Please bring the menu. | 请给我菜谱。 | Tsin gei wo tshaiphu. |
| I want to order this... this... and this. (showing in the menu) | 我要这个… 这个…和这个…。 | Wo yao jege… jege… he jege. |
| Is it sharp? | 这个辣不辣？ | Jage la boo la? |
| Please bring spoons/forks/napkins/chopsticks/plates | 请，给我匙子/叉子/餐巾/筷子/盘子。 | Tsin, Gei Wo Chshi Zi/Cha Zi/Chan Jin/Khuai Zi/Phan Zi. |
| Give me check. | 买单。 | May tribute. |
| Very tasty! | 很好吃！ | Hen hao chi! |
| Squid | 鱿鱼 | yu yu |
| Shrimp | 虾 | Xia |
| Fish | 鱼 | yu |
| Pork | 猪肉 | Zhu Zhou |
| Beef | 牛肉 | niu zhou |
| Mutton | 羊肉 | yang rou |
| Chicken | 鸡 | chi |
| Duck | 鸭 | I |
| Tofu | 豆腐 | dofu |
| Eggplant | 茄子 | tse tzu |
| Potato | 土豆 | thu dow |
| Noodles | 面 | mien |
| Egg | 鸡蛋 | chi tribute |
| Orange juice | 橙汁 | cheng zhi |
| Apple juice | 苹果汁 | phing guo chih |
| Tomato juice | 蕃茄汁 | fan tse zhi |
| Grape juice | 葡萄汁 | phu thao zhi |
| Peach juice | 桃汁 | thao zhi |
| Coffee | 咖啡 | kha fei |
| Black tea | 红茶 | hung cha |
| Green tea | 绿茶 | lu cha |
| Eggplant with peppers and potatoes | 地三鲜 | Disanxian. |
| Meat in sweet and sour sauce | 锅包肉 | Guobaozhou. |
| Fried squid with cumin | 孜然鱿鱼 | Zizhan youyu. |
| Dumplings | 饺子 | Jiaozi. |
| Dumplings with meat filling | 肉馅的饺子 | Zhou Xian De Jiaozi. |
| Steamed pies with stuffing | 包子 | Baozi. |
| Peking Duck | 北京烤鸭 | Bei ching kao ya. |
| Fried striped pork in spicy sauce | 鱼香肉丝 | Yu xiang rou si. |
| Chicken with crispy peanuts | 碎米鸡丁 | Sui mi chi ding. |
| spicy tofu | 麻辣豆腐 | Ma la doufu. |
Common phrases are words on which you can start a conversation and keep it going. Here are collected phrases that are most often used in the lexicon.
Airport - in order not to get lost at the Chinese airport, to find ticket offices, exit to the terminals, to the parking lot, to the bus stop, etc., this topic is perfect for you.
Transport - by opening this topic you will find the translation of words and phrases that can be used to explain to the taxi driver where you need to go, or to find out which bus route is right for you, clarify the fare, find out how to get to the station. subway, bus stop, etc.
A restaurant is a place that every tourist visits. However, the Chinese language is very different from Russian, as is the cuisine. Therefore, without knowing the translation of certain dishes, as well as their components, you will not be able to order what you want. To solve this problem, just open this topic and find the name of the dish that you like.
Hotel - when checking into a hotel, you need to fill out some paperwork, choose a room that you like, etc. In order to explain what you want from the hotel and to clarify the nuances of accommodation, just open this section and find the appropriate phrases.
Mall - A list of common phrases that you will definitely need while shopping in the mall.
Grocery supermarket - a list of words and phrases that will help you buy the products you are interested in.
Pharmacy - if you have health problems, but everything is written in Chinese in the pharmacy, and the pharmacist himself does not understand what you need, use this topic and you will buy the medicine you need.
Cashier - words and phrases that will help you in a conversation with a cashier.
Chinese counting - translation and sound of numbers in Chinese, from zero to a million.
Pronouns - pronunciation and translation of pronouns in Chinese.
Question words - frequently asked and important questions for tourists, their pronunciation and spelling.
Name of flowers - here you will find the translation of many colors and shades, as well as their correct pronunciation.
Is the Chinese language really as difficult as it is commonly believed?
If you are just starting out, of course, Chinese can seem like something extremely confusing. You are faced with the task of understanding a large number of unusual things: pinyin (an alphabetic system for recording sounds), pronunciation, hieroglyphics, etc.
On the other hand, nothing is impossible. If you want to master this mountain of knowledge, then the most obvious solution is to decompose it into small "hills" and look at each of them separately. After that, everything will become much easier and more logical.
What secret will we reveal today?
And again, we are waiting for an important nuance of learning Chinese, thanks to which you will significantly accelerate your progress.
What is this secret? Study and memorize the so-called "language structures" in Chinese with particular diligence. They will help you understand spoken and written speech more easily, and make fewer mistakes.
"Unconventional" delights of Chinese grammar
Let's get started first. You can often hear that there is practically no grammar in Chinese - of course, this is not at all the case. In Chinese, there is quite a complete grammar with numerous rules. Moreover, these rules work quite hard (and not like in Russian - there are a dozen exceptions for each rule). For example, if you arrange the words in a sentence in an arbitrary order, then this will immediately put the Chinese - your interlocutors into a stupor. In Russian, word order is practically not important for the overall meaning.
In Russian it will be like this:
Mom washed the frame. Mom washed the frame. Mom washed the frame. Mom washed the frame. etc.
In Chinese, the one who stands at the beginning is the one who performs the action:
Mom washed the frame. Rama washed mom.
Why, then, is there such a dismissive opinion about Chinese grammar? The fact is that in Russian or European languages. She's just different.
So, in Russian, English, Italian, French and other European languages, by the word "grammar" we usually mean declensions, conjugations, categories, time and other similar things. It is on them that we spend most of our time and effort. In Chinese, these "traditional" elements are practically absent.
What is there then? There are just quite a few elements that are not in Russian, and therefore they seem alien to us: for example, lexical auxiliary particles, stable language structures, etc.
A good example is the particle 了. It is almost impossible to literally translate it into Russian, because. there is nothing like it in our language. It can be both an indicator of time, and a modal particle, and much more. How then to use it? This is the beauty of Chinese grammar: it is enough to figure out what structures and speech turns it occurs in, and then apply it by analogy.
The magic formula of a Chinese sentence.
The first and perhaps the most important language structure to learn is the general Chinese sentence structure. This is a fairly rigid construction, and if you build sentences based on its rules, then you will practically not make mistakes.
So:
Subject +
Time + Method + Place +
Negation + Modality + Action + Complement +
An object
It's very simple: follow this order, and you will always be understood.
Auxiliary language structures.
In addition to the basic structure of the Chinese sentence, there are a large number (about four hundred) of auxiliary language structures. Usually they are sorted out in textbooks after texts and new words - in the sections "Grammar" or "Comments". Remember those boring-looking sections that are usually skimmed over or skimmed through?
What are the structures.
Let's take some common structures as an example:
是… 的 used when emphasizing and highlighting any circumstance (time, place, mode of action, etc.).
这本书 是 在 外文书店 买 的 。Zhè běn shū shì zài wàiwén shūdiàn mǎi de. This book was bought in a foreign literature store. Emphasizes the place.
如果 … 就 forms a causal relationship "if ..., then."
我 如果 在 北京 找不到 工作， 就 会 回俄罗斯。 Wǒ rúguǒ zài Běijīng zhǎo bù dào gōngzuò, jiù huì huí Èluósī. If I don't find a job in Beijing, I will return to Russia.
要是 … 就 causality "if ... then" (unlike the formal 如果 ... 就, has a more colloquial connotation)
要是 他不来，我们 就 走吧。 Yàoshi tā bù lái, wǒmen jiù zǒu ba. If he doesn't come, we'll leave.
Verb + "到" a measure of the result at the completion of an action.
你 看 到 那个帅哥了吗? Nǐ kàn dào nà ge shuàigē le ma? Did you see that cute guy?
In fact, what is expressed in European languages with the help of conjugations and declensions, in Chinese - with the help of language structures. All you have to do is insert new words into the language structure and, voila, you have new phrases ready.
For example, want to know who performed an action? Just replace the subject with 谁 (Shéi) "who?" and no other changes to the proposal would be required.
我 想 喝 水。 Wǒ xiǎng hē shuǐ. I want to drink water.
谁 想喝水？Shéi xiǎng hē shuǐ? Who wants to drink water?
Of course, other languages also have similar structures, but there are not so many of them, and they are less stable. Most likely, in these models, parts of speech will be conjugated and declined, as well as word order will change. Therefore, knowledge of language structures in other languages is less valuable. And apparently this fact leads to the fact that students, by analogy, begin to ignore and underestimate their role in the Chinese language.
How to learn language structures correctly
First, start paying attention to them. Any textbook you are currently studying will have many of these structures. If you memorize hieroglyphs using cards, then we recommend that you write out not only words, but also entire structures in cards. Flip through your old textbooks and write down all the structures covered with example sentences.
Practice changing words in structures: substitute new subjects, objects, actions, places, times, etc. switch between words and will soon begin to instantly substitute the right words in the right structures.
Summing up
So, it is essential for all Chinese learners to know, love and use these structures. They are not only the key to more authentic speech with fewer errors. With their help, it is easy to build correct and understandable sentences. And of course, they will help you understand spoken and written language faster and easier.
Successful practice!
Svetlana Khludneva
P.S. Take care of yourself!
In Chinese, unlike Russian, there are no declensions or conjugations, so the word order in a sentence plays a key role in the perception of meaning. This chapter shows you how to construct Chinese sentences grammatically, discusses the most common structures, and gives examples of various Chinese phrases.
Basic structure
Let's start by looking at the simplest and shortest sentences in Chinese. Their structure is elementary:
Subject + verb
Based on it, you can build a sentence with just two words, for example:
The subject being manipulated by the subject is added after the verb:
Subject + Verb + Object
Focusing only on this simple scheme, you can make many meaningful proposals:
| Subject | Verb | An object | |
| wǒ | 吃 chi | 肉。 ròu. | I eat meat. |
| 你 nǐ | 喝 hē | 汤。tāng. | You drink broth. |
| wǒ | 去 qu | 学校。 xuéxiào. | I go to school. |
| 他ta | 说 shuō | 中文。 zhōngwén. | He speaks Chinese. |
| wǒmen | 要买 yào mǎi | 电脑。 diànnǎo. | We want to buy a computer. |
| wǒ | 想吃 xiǎng chī | 中国菜。 zhōngguó cài. | I want to eat Chinese food. |
| wǒ | 喜欢 xǐhuan | 那个小孩子。 nà gè xiǎo háizi. | I like this child. |
| wǒ | 爱ai | 你和爸爸。 nǐ hé bàba. | I love you and dad. |
| 你 nǐ | 要做 yao zuo | 什么？ shenme? | What do you want to do? |
| 你 nǐ | 想吃 xiǎng chī | 什么菜？ shénme cài? | What do you want to eat? |
circumstance of time
Words denoting time that answer the question "when?" in a Chinese sentence are usually placed at the beginning, immediately after the subject, in rare cases before it, but never at the end:
Subject + tense + verb [+ object]
Circumstance of place
The word denoting the place of action in Chinese is always preceded by the verb 在zài. All this construction is usually placed after the circumstance of time (see above) and before the verb - in no case after it:
subject + time +在 place + verb [+ object]
There are exceptions to this rule - these are special verbs that require the circumstance of the place after, and not in front of. Like any exceptions, they just need to be learned by heart:
Duration
A construction denoting time, but answering the question " how long?" indicates the duration of the action and is placed at the end of the sentence:
subject + time +在place + verb [+ object] [+在location] + duration
Modus operandi
A word denoting how an action is performed (adverb) (for example: quickly, quietly, angrily, soberly) is usually placed after the tense before the place and the verb:
地 + 在place + verb [+ object] + duration
The particle 地 dì is an adverb suffix, always used after mode of action (adverb).
Fēngkuáng 疯狂 wild, crazy
Tool
Even for such a trifle as a tool with which an action is performed, attentive Chinese have taken a separate place in the sentence:
Subject + time + mode of action地 + 在place +用instrument + verb [+ object] + duration
Yǒuhǎo 友好 friend, friendly
In Chinese, unlike Russian, there are no declensions or conjugations, so the word order in a sentence plays a key role in the perception of meaning. This chapter shows you how to construct Chinese sentences grammatically, discusses the most common structures, and gives examples of various Chinese phrases.
Basic structure
Let's start by looking at the simplest and shortest sentences in Chinese. Their structure is elementary:
Subject + verb
Based on it, you can build a sentence with just two words, for example:
The subject being manipulated by the subject is added after the verb:
Subject + Verb + Object
Focusing only on this simple scheme, you can make many meaningful proposals:
| Subject | Verb | An object | |
| wǒ | 吃 chi | 肉。 ròu. | I eat meat. |
| 你 nǐ | 喝 hē | 汤。tāng. | You drink broth. |
| wǒ | 去 qu | 学校。 xuéxiào. | I go to school. |
| 他ta | 说 shuō | 中文。 zhōngwén. | He speaks Chinese. |
| wǒmen | 要买 yào mǎi | 电脑。 diànnǎo. | We want to buy a computer. |
| wǒ | 想吃 xiǎng chī | 中国菜。 zhōngguó cài. | I want to eat Chinese food. |
| wǒ | 喜欢 xǐhuan | 那个小孩子。 nà gè xiǎo háizi. | I like this child. |
| wǒ | 爱ai | 你和爸爸。 nǐ hé bàba. | I love you and dad. |
| 你 nǐ | 要做 yao zuo | 什么？ shenme? | What do you want to do? |
| 你 nǐ | 想吃 xiǎng chī | 什么菜？ shénme cài? | What do you want to eat? |
circumstance of time
Words denoting time that answer the question "when?" in a Chinese sentence are usually placed at the beginning, immediately after the subject, in rare cases before it, but never at the end:
Subject + tense + verb [+ object]
Circumstance of place
The word denoting the place of action in Chinese is always preceded by the verb 在zài. All this construction is usually placed after the circumstance of time (see above) and before the verb - in no case after it:
subject + time +在 place + verb [+ object]
There are exceptions to this rule - these are special verbs that require the circumstance of the place after, and not in front of. Like any exceptions, they just need to be learned by heart:
Duration
A construction denoting time, but answering the question " how long?" indicates the duration of the action and is placed at the end of the sentence:
subject + time +在place + verb [+ object] [+在location] + duration
Modus operandi
A word denoting how an action is performed (adverb) (for example: quickly, quietly, angrily, soberly) is usually placed after the tense before the place and the verb:
地 + 在place + verb [+ object] + duration
The particle 地 dì is an adverb suffix, always used after mode of action (adverb).
Fēngkuáng 疯狂 wild, crazy
Tool
Even for such a trifle as a tool with which an action is performed, attentive Chinese have taken a separate place in the sentence:
Subject + time + mode of action地 + 在place +用instrument + verb [+ object] + duration
Yǒuhǎo 友好 friend, friendly
Destination
Often the action is addressed to someone, for example, " to you" or " to him”, for such constructions in the Chinese sentence there is a place immediately before the verb:
Subject + time + mode of action 地 + 在place +用instrument + addressee + verb [+ object] + duration
| Subject | Time | Modus operandi | Place | Tool | Destination | Verb | Duration |
| 我 | 有时候 | 对 父母 | 说谎。 | ||||
| Sometimes I lie to my parents. Shuōhuǎng 说谎 to lie, deceive, lie | |||||||
| 我 | 偷偷地 | 和女朋友 | 见面。 | ||||
| I'm secretly dating a friend. Tōutōu 偷偷 in secret | |||||||
| 司机 | 热情地 | 给 我 | 介绍 上海。 | ||||
| The driver enthusiastically showed me Shanghai. | |||||||
| 警察 | 那天 | 不停地 | 在警察局 | 对他 | 审问了 | 几个小时。 | |
| That day, a policeman interrogated him non-stop at the station for several hours. Shěnwèn 审问 to interrogate | |||||||
| 她 | 上个星期 | 在他家 | 用网上的菜谱 | 给我们 | 做了饭。 | ||
| Last week she cooked for us at home using a recipe book from the internet. Càipǔ 菜谱 cookbook, recipe book |
The position of 也 in a sentence
也 yě, like other adverbs, is placed before the verb, but if the sentence contains 很, 都, or 不, the word 也 comes before them:
· 他很喜欢吃包子。我也很喜欢吃。
tā hěn xǐhuān chī bāozi. wǒ yě hěn xǐhuān chī.
He loves to eat pies. I also love.
· 我们很高兴。他也很高兴。
wǒmen hěn gāoxìng. tā yě hěn gāoxìng.
We are happy. He is also happy.
· 你是我的朋友。他们也都是我的朋友。
nǐ shì wǒ de pengyǒu. tāmen yě dōu shì wǒ de péngyǒu.
You are my friend. They are all my friends too.
· 我吃素。我家人也都吃素。
wǒ chīsù. wǒjiā rén yě dōu chīsù.
I am a vegetarian. Everyone in my family is also a vegetarian.
Before 不 and 没:
· 我不是学生。他也不是。
wǒ bùshì xuéshēng. tā yě bùshì.
I am not a student. He too.
· 我没去过美国。他也没去过。
wǒ méi qùguò měiguó. tā yě méi qùguò.
I haven't been to America. He wasn't either.
Interrogative particles
All you have to do to make a Chinese declarative sentence into an interrogative one is to replace the word you want to ask about with the appropriate interrogative, or add 吗 ma to the end of the sentence. Thus, the place of interrogative particles depends on the place of the term they replace:
| Subject | Time | Modus operandi | Place | Tool | Destination | Verb | Duration |
| 谁 | 在路上 | 用中文 | 向陌生人 | 问路？ | |||
| Who on the street asked strangers for directions in Chinese? | |||||||
| 她 | 什么时候 | 在路上 | 用中文 | 向陌生人 | 问路？ | ||
| When she asked strangers for directions in Chinese on the street? | |||||||
| 她 | 怎么 | 用中文 | 向陌生人 | 问路？ | |||
| How did she ask strangers for directions in Chinese? | |||||||
| 她 | 在哪里 | 用中文 | 向陌生人 | 问路？ | |||
| Where did she ask strangers for directions in Chinese? | |||||||
| 她 | 在路上 | 用哪种语言 | 向陌生人 | 问路？ | |||
| In what language did she ask strangers for directions on the street? | |||||||
| 她 | 昨天 | 在路上 | 用中文 | 向谁 | 问路？ | ||
| Whom did she ask for directions yesterday in Chinese on the street? | |||||||
| 你 | 闲暇的时候 | 做什么？ | |||||
| What do you do in your spare time? | |||||||
| 他 | 今年 | 在上海 | 学了 | 多久了？ | |||
| This year, how many years will it be since he studies in Shanghai? |
Search
We may notify you of new articles,