Lesson 11 vocabulary (English-Mandarin)

Question 1

Good morning

Answer 1

早安 （早，你早）

zǎo-ān (zǎo, nǐ zǎo)

Question 2

Good evening

Answer 2

晚上好

wǎn-shàng hǎo

Question 3

Good night

Answer 3

晚安

wǎn-ān

Question 4

young lady/Miss

Answer 4

小姐

xiǎo-jiě

Question 5

Mr

Answer 5

先生
xiān-shēng

*生 sounds like the neutral tone, even though it’s written as the first

Question 6

teacher

Answer 6

老师

lǎo-shī

Question 7

fortunately

Answer 7

好在

hǎo zài

Question 8

How are you?

Answer 8

好吗？

Hǎo ma？

Question 9

Are you busy?

Answer 9

忙吗？

Máng ma?

Question 10

1. I’m well

2. I’m all right

Answer 10

还好

hái hǎo

Question 11

1. never mind
2. no problems
3. no worries

Answer 11

没关系

méi-guān-xì

Question 12

It doesn’t matter

Answer 12

不要紧

Bù-yào-jǐn

Question 13

1. You are welcome

2. not at all

Answer 13

1. 不用谢
   bù-yòng xiè
2. 别客气
   bié kè-qì

Question 14

1. Ok
2. all right
3. it’ll do
4. may be

Answer 14

可以

kě-yǐ

Question 15

1. but
   * 可是 (kěshì) can be considered the weaker version of 但是 (dànshì). It works pretty much the same, it just sounds more casual. Therefore, 可是 (kěshì) is primarily used in spoken Chinese, rather than in writing.

Most of the time, you can use 可是 (kěshì) interchangeably with 但是 (dànshì).

可是 (kěshì) is often shortened to a simple 可 (kě) in spoken conversation, which sounds even more casual.

Also, it’s usually associated with negative sentiments (e.g. disappointment, frustration, regret, pity, etc). In English, this might be expressed with “but unfortunately”, or “but regretfully”.*

Example:
我喜欢她，可她不喜欢我 (Wǒ xǐ-huan tā, kě tā bù xǐhuan wǒ)。I like her, but (unfortunately) she doesn’t like me.

2. emphasize the speaker’s opinion on something. It’s like saying “Tell you what” at the beginning of the sentence.

Example:
这可是马来西亚最有趣的旅游景点 (Zhè kě-shì Mǎ-Lái-Xī-Yà zuì yǒu-qù de lǚ-yóu jǐng-diǎn)。This is the most interesting tourist attraction in Malaysia

Answer 15

可是

kě-shì

Question 16

1. no, there isn’t; no, there aren’t
2. doesn’t have
3. hasn’t (done it)

Answer 16

没有

méi-yǒu

Question 17

1. work

2. do work

Answer 17

做工

zuò-gōng

Question 18

do only

Answer 18

只做

zhǐ zuò

Question 19

1. lately

2. recently

Answer 19

近来

jìn-lái

Question 20

come in

Answer 20

进来

jìn-lái

Question 21

get up

Answer 21

起来

qǐ-lái

Question 22

have a meal

Answer 22

吃饭

chī-fàn

Question 23

spend money

Answer 23

用钱

yòng qián

Question 24

1. guest

2. visitor

Answer 24

客人

kè-rén

Question 25

throw a party

Answer 25

请客

qǐng-kè

Question 26

breakfast

Answer 26

早点

zǎo-diǎn

Question 27

a little earlier

Answer 27

早(一)点儿

zǎo (yī) diǎn-r

Question 28

1. sorry

2. I am sorry

Answer 28

对不起

duì-bù-qǐ

Question 29

1. still
2. yet
3. rather more/ still more
4. furthermore

Answer 29

还

hái

Question 30

a little

Answer 30

一点儿

yī diǎn-r

Question 31

1. very
2. adverbial particle

*usually pronounced in the neutral tone

Answer 31

很

hěn

Question 32

or…or?

An interrogative phrase that gives a choice. The first 是 may often be omitted.

Answer 32

是…还是

shì…hái-shì

Question 33

some

Answer 33

有的

yǒu de

Question 34

world

Answer 34

世界

shì-jiè

Question 35

late

Answer 35

晚了

wǎn-le