Welcome to my home
Basic expressions
Living standard in China has improved since the early 80s, but the living space is still comparatively crowded. A westerner will find difficult to stay with a Chinese family, although it is not too difficult for him to have find a chance to visit a Chinese friend at home. Today’s dialogue is carried out between Mr. Zhang Yuming and his visitor from West, Mr. Light. Let’s learn the new words in the dialogue first.
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1. |
miànji |
面 积 |
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acreage |
surface cumulate |
.
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2. |
…lĭ |
…里 |
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…in |
…inside |
We have learned the word zhèli 这里 here , nàli那里 there.
lĭ 里inside and is often placed after a noun or pronoun to indicate inside a place (normally change to a neutral tone), such as:
a. zhèli 这里 here
b. jiāli 家里 in a family, home
c. lóuli 楼里 in a building
d. fàngguǎnrli 饭馆里 in a restaurant
lĭ 里 CANNOT be used after a name of place, and it is wrong to say :
zhōngguó lǐ (中国里)
bĕijīng lǐ (北京里)
lúndūn lǐ（伦敦里）
You have learned the structure ‘yìbiān (一边)… yìbiān ( 一边)…’ which indicates two actions taking place at the same time. Here biān (边) has a noun meaning.
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3. |
…biān |
边 |
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side, edge, rim, border |
side |
a. dōngbiān 东边 east side
b. xībiān 西边 west side
c. lĭbiān 里边 inside
d. lóuliăngbiān 楼两边 both sides of a building
biān 边 is often used after some position words, such as:
e. qián 前 front + biān 边= qiánbiān前边
f. hòu 后 back + biān 边 = hòubiān后边
g. zuŏ 左 left + biān 边 = zuŏbiān 左边
h. yòu 右 right + biān 边 = yòubiān 右边
i. shàng 上 up, above + biān 边 = shàngbiān 上边
j. xià 下 below, down + biān 边 = xiàbiān 下边
k. páng 旁 side + biān 边 = pángbiān 旁边
l. wài 外 out + biān 边 = wàibiān 外边
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4. |
zuò |
作 |
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serve as |
do |
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5. |
kè |
客 |
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guest |
guest |
zuòkè 作客 to be guest
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6. |
tīng |
厅 |
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hall |
hall |
kètīng客厅 living room, sitting room
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7. |
mĭ |
米 |
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metre |
metre |
píngmĭ平米 square metre
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8. |
yángtái |
阳 台 |
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balcony |
sun platform |
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9. |
wòshì |
卧 室 |
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bedroom |
lie down room |
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10. |
…zhījiān |
…之间 |
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between… |
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a. zhè ge yóujú hé nà ge yínháng zhījiān
这 个 邮局 和 那 个 银行 之间
this GE post office and that GE bank between
Between this post office and that bank.
b. zhè ge yóujú hé nà ge yínháng zhījiān yŏu hĕn duō rén
这 个 邮局 和 那 个 银行 之间 有 很 多 人 。
this GE post office and that GE bank between has very many people
There are many people between this post office and that bank.
c. xīngqī yī dào xīngqī wŭ zhījiān
星期 一 到 星期 五 之间
Monday to Friday between
From Monday to Friday
d. xīngqī yī dào xīngqī wŭ zhījiān wŏ yŏu kòngr.
星期 一 到 星 期 五 之间 我 有 空儿。
Monday to Friday between I have free time
I will be free from Monday to Friday.
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11. |
yígòng |
一 共 |
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total |
one together |
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nĭmen yígòng xuéxi le duōshao kè
你们 一共 学习 了 多 少 课 ？
you total study LE how many lessons
How many lessons have you studied totally?
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12. |
…zuŏyòu |
…左右 |
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more or less… |
left, right |
The combination of zuŏ 左 and yòu 右 can be placed after a number word and measures word, implies about. For instance, sān diăn zuŏyòu 三点左右 three o’clock about: about three o’clock.
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13. |
shāngdiàn |
商 店 |
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shop |
trade shop |
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14. |
fànguănr |
饭 馆 |
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restaurant |
meal house |
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15. |
fāngbiàn |
方 便 |
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convenient |
square convenient |
wŏ jiā lí shāngdiàn hĕn yuăn wŏmen măi dōngxi hĕn bù fāngbiàn.
我 家 离 商店 很 远 。 我们 买 东西 很 不 方便。
my home from shop very far. We buy things very not convenient
My home is far from the shop. It is inconvenient for us to go shopping.
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16. |
dĕng |
等 |
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wait |
wait |
a. wŏ yŏu shì, qĭng nĭ dĕng yíxià
我 有 事, 请 你 等 一下。
I have matter Please you wait a while
I am busy. Wait for a moment.
b. nĭ bú yào dĕng tā. tā qù zhōngguó le
你 不 要 等 他 。他 去 中国 了。
you no need wait him. He go China LE
Don’t wait for him. He has left to China.