Answer: Before & After

Here is the answer to the previous post on describing sequence of event by using the word before & after 

1. Before I study in China, My Chinese is not too good.

在中国留学之前， 我的汉语不太好

Zaì Zhōngguó liūxué zhīqián, wǒ de Hànyǔ bù tài hǎo

NOTE:

-          Adverb of place, “in china”, has to come before the activity .

-          In this case, w do not use xiān because the subjects are 2 different things (First is “I”, Second is “My Chinese”)

2. After I move to London, I learn dancing.

我班去伦敦之后， 我就学跳舞。

Wǒ bān qù Lúndūn zhīhòu, wǒ jiù xué tiàowǔ.

NOTE:

-          London is not really an adverb of place, it is a destination, thus, it comes After the word “move”. Other example is I go to Beijing. Beijing is a “destination”, thus the sentence will be “wǒ qù Běijīng”. Unless we would like to say, I have a meeting in Beijing. Then, Beijing is the place where the activity (having a meeting) happens. Thus the sentence will say: “wǒ zài Běijīng kāihuì”

3. My mother picks up my brother first before picking me up.

我妈妈接我之前，她先接我弟弟

Wǒ māma jiē wǒ zhīqián, tā xiān jiē wǒ dìdi

NOTE:

             - Pay attention to this, I use 2 words/phrase that refer to the same subject (my mom and she). By doing this, the sentence is clearer and more complete. But it is okay if we change it to: jiē wǒ zhīqián, wǒ māma xiān jiē wǒ dìdi

             

4. Before eating, she drinks a cup of water first.

吃饭之前，她先喝一杯水

Chīfàn zhīqián, tā xiān hē shuǐ.

5. After pick up the guests, I send them to the hotel.

接客人之后，我就送他们去酒店了。

Jiē kèrén zhīhòu, wǒ jiù sòng tāmen qù jiǔdiàn le.

6. I borrow her notes, after she finish writing.

他写完之后，我就借他的笔记。

Tā xiě wán zhī hòu, wǒ jiù jiè tā de bǐjì.

NOTE:

-          In Chinese, we can describe the phrase “finish doing something” by using the word “… wán” or “… hǎo” before the activity.

Example:

(write = xiě 写)                        finish writing                写完

                                         (Xiěwán)

(eat (rice) = chī( fàn) 吃饭)     finish eating (rice)        吃完饭

                                                                                    (Chīwánfàn)

(read = kàn/dú 看/读)             finish reading               看完，读完，读好

                                                                              (kànwán, dúwan, dúhǎo)

Try digesting the above before translating the following sentences to Mandarin:

My Name is Linda. I am a teacher. I have an elder sister. My sister is a housewife. She has 3 children, 2 beautiful girls and a cute boy. I love my nieces and nephew.

Today is my mom’s birthday. After finishing my breakfast, I called my mom. I wished her happy birthday. She told me that she is going to spa with her friends this afternoon.

Happy Translating!

Regards,

Linda Tan

Before and After in Chinese

In describing 2 activities/events that happen one after another, we usually use the words "before" and "after".

In English, we can say:
BEFORE something happen, we do something else first OR
We do something else first BEFORE some other things happen.

AFTER finish with an activity, we will do something else OR
We will do something else AFTER  we completed one activity.

Remember not to get confuse with the placement of "before" and "after" in the sentence.

BEFORE zhīqián  之前

Example:

Before sleep, I “first” brush my teeth

Sleep               shùijiào            睡觉

Brush teeth      shuā yá            刷牙

睡觉之前， 我先刷牙

Shuìjiào zhīqián, wǒ xiān shua yá

Before something happen (2^nd activity), we normally will do Something first (1^st Activity). When using the word “before”, it is often for us to use the word “xiān” that indicates that the subject has completed the activity that follows after the word. Xiān 先 literally means “at first”.

e.g.      she left first                 tā xiān zǒu            她先走

            I eat first                     tā xiān chī             我先吃

Let’s see another example:

My brother puts on his shoes before he goes to school.

1^st Activity: Puts on shoes                  chuān xiézi                  穿鞋子

2^nd Activity: Go to school                   shàng xué                    上学

上学之前， 我弟弟先穿鞋子

Shàng xué zhīqián, wǒ dìdi xiān chuān xiézi.

(Because, the subject that “perform” the 2 activities are the same person, we can also move the subject to the front, see the sentence below. However, the above is more commonly used. Avoid repeating it, because it will be redundant)

我弟弟上学之前， 先穿鞋子

Wǒ dìdi shàng xué zhīqián, xiān chuān xiézi.

AFTER  zhīhòu   之后

Example:

After I brush my teeth, I go to sleep.

刷牙之后， 我就睡觉了

Shuā yá zhīhòu, Wǒ jiù  shuìjiaò le

After putting his shoes on, my brother goes to school

穿鞋子之后，我弟弟就上学去了

Chuān xiézi zhīhòu, wo dìdi jiù shàng xué qù le.

Note: In this case, we add the word jiù… le to emphasize that the 2^nd activities (i.e sleep and go to school) happen RIGHT AFTER the first activities (i.e. brush teeth and putting shoes on).

Try translating the following:
1. Before I study in China, My Chinese is not too good.
(Hint: be careful of the placement of adverb of place)


2. After I move to London, I learn dancing.
(move = bān 搬，dance = tiàowǔ 跳舞)


3. My mother picks up my brother first before picking me up.
(pick up = jiē 接)


4. Before eating, she drinks a cup of water first.

5. After pick up the guests, I send them to the hotel.

(guest = kèrén 客人, send (someone) = sòng 送)

6. I borrow her notes, after she finish writing.
(borrow = jiè 借, notes = bǐjì 笔记)

Happy Learning!  

I am signing off first

我先告退
Wǒ xiān gàotuì,
Linda Tan

Greeting During Festive Seasons

It’s been almost a month since my last post. Things have been crazily busy and satisfying as after a year, I got to make a trip back to my hometown, and spent 2 weeks there.

So between the last lesson and this one, there have been a few “important days” that we had celebrated, or at least me and people around me. That includes Chinese New Year, The last day of Chinese New Year known as “Cap Go Meh” for Chinese Indonesian , and yesterday is a very loving day, known as “Valentine Day”.

Even though it has passed, let me show you how we greet people during those few “festive” days.

1. Chinese New Year

“新年快乐”            xīnnián kuàile  Happy New Year

“春节快乐”                        chūnjié kuàile  Happy Spring Festival

“鸡年机箱”                        jīnián jíxiǎng   Prosperous “Rooster” Year

(Based on Lunar Calendar, 2017 is rooster year. Rooster is one of the Sign in Chinese Zodiac. So every baby born from 28 Jan 2017 (first day of Chinese New Year) will be the “rooster” baby. )

“年年有余”                        niánnián yǒuyú            Abundance year by year

(The last word 余 yú means surplus, it has the same pronunciation as the Chinese word for fish (鱼), this is one of the reason why, some Chinese still like to prepare fish on the dining table, to represent that abundance and  the idea of wealth that will “never-finish”!)

2. The Last Day of Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year lasts for 15 days. The 15^th day is normally known as “cap-go-meh” for the Chinese Indonesian. That is hokkien language for the 15^th night.

            “元宵节快乐”             yúanxiāojié kuàile                   Happy Cap Go Meh

3. Valentine’s Day

“情人节快乐”        qíngrénjié kuàile                                  Happy Valentine’s Day

Hope you will find the above useful next year.

In conveying our greetings to others, we just have to know what is the festive name in Chinese and add “” kuàile = happy after it.

For example:

Happy Galungan (for Balinese)                      加隆安节快乐            jiālóngānjié kuàile

Galungan                                加隆安            jiālóngān

Festive Season                        节                    jié

Here are a few others:

1. Happy Teacher’s Day             教师节快乐                 jiāoshījie kuàile
2. Happy Mother’s Day              母亲节快乐                 mǔqīnjié kuàile
3. Happy Father’s Day                父亲节快乐                fùqīnjié kuàile 
4. Happy Halloween                   万圣节快乐                wànshèngjié kuàile
5. Happy Mid Autumn Festival  中秋节快乐                 zhōngqiūjié kuàile
6. Happy Children’s Day            儿童节快乐                 értóngjié kuàile
7. Happy Single Day                   光棍节快乐                guānggùnjié kuāile                                               (celebrated in China on November 11, for those who are single)

8. Happy National Day               国庆节快乐               guóqìngjiékuàile
9. Happy Birthday                      生日快乐                    shēngrì kuàile
10. Happy Wedding Anniversary   结婚周年快乐         jiéhūn zhōunián kuàile

The Answers for 1st Revision in 2017

Here is the answers for the previous post:

1. 今年是2017年。
Jīnnnián shì 2017 nián
This year is 2017

2. 我今年年底要去日本。
Wǒ jīnnián  niándǐ yào qù Rìběn
End of this year I will go to Japan.

3. 他们都没去过日本。
Tāmen dōu méiqùguò Rìběn
All of them have never been to Japan

Note: 都dōu is used to describe that all of the subject (in this case: tāmen they). It is always written after the subject.

过guò is used to describe an activity that has/hasn’t been done before. It comes after the verb (in this case: qù  go)

4. 这几天过的怎样啊？
Zhè jǐtiān guòde zěnyàng a?
How are (the condition) these few days?

Note: This question can be interpreted in 2 ways, that the person is asking about the condition/situation in general or the condition of another person. To be specific, we can say Zhè jǐtiān nǐ guòde zěnyàng a?, by adding nǐ after or before the adverb of time, our question becomes clearer, that we want to know how is the person doing, more to the feeling he/she feels, not the house, not the problem, not work, and so on.

5. 这个周末你打算做什么？
Zhè zhōumò nǐ dǎsuàn zuò shénme?
What are you planning/do you plan to do this weekend?

Note: Remember that in Chinese, we have to place the adverb of time in front of or behind the subject (in this case: nǐ you) and question seldom come in front of the sentence. For question word “what” refer to the previous post

6. 我在北机场等我的朋友。
Wǒ zàijīchǎng děng wǒdepéngyǒu
I wait for my friend at the airport

Note: If we would like to give more details on our statement about where an activity takes place, we put it right after the subject, before the activity.

7. 你告不告诉他我的秘密？
Nǐ gàobùgàosù tā wǒdemìmi?
Do you tell him/her my secret?

Note: This question doesn’t end with the word 吗 ma? that is usually used to form a closed ended question. Instead  it uses 告不告诉 gàobùgàosù format, which has the same function as 吗 ma? The above sentence can be changed to: 你告诉他我的秘密吗？

Look at the following sentence structures:
Verb + negative bù + Verb = Verb ma?
Example: chī bù chī = Chī ma?          = Does Someone eat?

Adjective + negative bù + Adjective = Verb ma?
Example: hǎo bù hǎo = hǎo ma? =  Is it good?

Shì + negative bù + Shì + Noun = Shì Noun ma?
Example: Shì bù shì māma = Shì māma ma? = Is it mother?

8. 这次新年你要去哪儿玩儿?
Zhèci xīnnián nǐ yàoqù nǎr wǎnr?
This new year where are you going (to play/explore)?

Please translate the following to Chinese.

1. I will see you tomorrow morning at the airport
我明天在飞机场见你
Wǒ míngtiān zài fēijīchǎng jiàn nǐ.

2. Whose friends are you picking up?
你接谁的朋友？
Nǐ jiē shuídepéngyǒu?

3. Chen Family is travelling to Europe next month.
陈家下个月要去澳洲
Chénjiā xiàgèyuè yào qù Àozhōu.

4. Japan often snows on January.
日本一月份常常下雪
Rìběn yīyuèfèn chángchang xiàxuě

5. How is the weather today?
今天的天气怎样/怎么样？
Jīntiān de tiānqi zěnyàng / zěnmeyàng?

6. She told me that her mom is coming to pick her up.
她告诉我她的妈妈来接她
Tā gàosù wǒ tādemāma láijiē tā.

7. Last weekend, she brought the kids to the zoo.
上个周末他带他的孩子们去动物园
Shànggezhōumò tādài tādehaízimen qù dòngwùyuán.

8. Are you nervous?
你紧张吗？or 你紧不紧张？
Nǐ jǐnzhāng ma? Nǐ jǐnbùjǐnzhāng?

Please digest the above and learn to pronounce the words and read the sentence OUT LOUD. This will help your pronunciation. To confirm if you have gotten the right pronunciation, please check it out on Pleco (download the app, if you haven’t had one), word by word!

If you confuse why certain sentence is translated that way, check the relevant topic form last year posts! If you can’t find one, do not hesitate to drop a comment or email me at linda_yunitan@yahoo.com.

 

Love Learning,

Linda Tan

2017 - Getting the engine started. Review, Review and Review!

It has been a while since my last post in November. Half a month has passed in 2017. Let’s get the engine starting, by doing a few translations that covers whatever we have learnt in 2016.

1. 今年是2017年。Jīnnián shì 2017 nián
2. 我今年年底要去日本。Wǒ jīnnián  niándǐ yào qù Rìběn
3. 他们都没去过日本。Tāmen dōu méiqùguò Rìběn
4. 这几天过的怎样啊？Zhè jǐtiān guòde zěnyàng a?
5. 这个周末你打算做什么？Zhè zhōumò nǐ dǎsuàn zuò shénme?
6. 我在北机场等我的朋友。Wǒ zàijīchǎng děng wǒdepéngyǒu
7. 你告不告诉他我的秘密？Nǐ gàobùgàosù tā wǒdemìmi?
8. 这次新年你要去哪儿玩儿? Zhèci xīnnián nǐ yàoqù nǎr wǎnr?

Please translate the following to Chinese.

1. I will see you tomorrow morning at the airport
2.  Whose friends are you picking up?
3. Chen Family is travelling to Europe next month.
4. Japan often snows on January.
5. How is the weather today?
6. She told me that her mom is coming to pick her up.
7. Last weekend, she brought the kids to the zoo.
8. Are you nervous?

To make your life easier, here are some of the vocabularies needed. Remember NOT to translate words by words. Review the simple sentence structure post, as well as the last few posts on question words (what and why, who, etc)

年底                niándǐ                          End of the year

周末                zhōumò                        Weekend

打算                dǎsuàn                         Plan

等                    děng                            Wait

接                    Jiē                                Pick up

告诉                Gàosù                          Tell

朋友                Péngyǒu                      Friends

飞机场            Fēijīchǎng                   Airport

秘密                Mìmì                            Secret

这次                Zhècì                           This time

下雪                Xiàzuě                         Snowing

紧张                jǐnzhāng                       Nervous

带                    dài                               Bring (someone)

澳洲                Àozhōu                        Europe

天气                tiānqì                           weather

怎样                zěnyàng                       how

We will discuss the translation in DETAILS next post! 

Happy New Year 新年快乐, 

Linda Tan

Greetings

The past 2 months have been a bit rough, physically and mentally, thus unable to keep up with the schedule to posts on anything.

The moral of the story of the 2 rough months is that "take care of your health" and "always have a second opinion from other specialists when it comes to diagnosing some "serious" illness".

Anyway, we are at the end of the year, and here is a few greeting that you might find it useful:

Merry Christmas: 圣诞节快乐 Shèngdànjié kuàilè
Happy New Year: 新年快乐 xīnnián kuàilè
Wish You..: 祝你  zhùnǐ ... + a few common wishes below    

1. Healthy Body (Good Health): 身体健康  shēntǐjiànkāng
2. Wishes come true: 心想事成/万事如意 wànshì rúyì / xīnxiǎng shìchéng
3. Making good progress in Work / Study: 事业进步 /学业 进步 shìyè jìnbù / xuéyè jìnbù

 

Ignore the background TV noise :)

I will be back with more lesson, next year. The year of 2017, the year of the Rooster.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2017!

Regards,
Linda Tan