Hanyu 汉语 Hànyǔ

Learn Cantonese Dialogues Lesson 1

Brian King — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 05:12:54 +0000
Dialogue 1 [display_podcast] Dialogue 2 [display_podcast] Dialogue 3 [display_podcast] Dialogue 4 [display_podcast] Dialogue 5 [display_podcast] Dialogue 6 [display_podcast] Dialogue 7 [display_podcast]
Learn Cantonese Book 1

Brian King — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 23:50:55 +0000
Learn Cantonese Book 1, published by Hanyu Press, is now available as a .pdf. Instant download.
Learn Cantonese Book 1 contains transcripts in traditional Chinese characters, Yale Romanization and English translation for all the approximately 60 dialogues in lessons 1-15 (originally from the FSI’s Cantonese: Basic Course, Volume 1). It also contains vocabulary lists and a Cantonese - English Glossary. Finish the 15 lessons in Learn Cantonese Book 1 and you should know around 600 of the most basic and daily words and expressions in Cantonese.
Free mp3 audio files for all dialogues can be downloaded from http://cantonesecourse.com
To purchase the .pdf (USD10.00), click the following button


Learn Cantonese 4: What Time is it?
Brian King — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 07:02:33 +0000
This is Lesson 4 in our Learn Cantonese Video Course with simple everyday dialogues. Mr Wong goes to visit a young lady friend (Chan Siuje) in Mong Kok and practices his Cantonese.

Here is the dialogue in traditional Chinese characters, Yale Cantonese romanization, and the English translation:


Woman: 早晨, 黃生. 你知唔知而家幾點鐘呀?

Man: A, 早晨, 陳小姐. 我個錶而家係九點搭一.

Woman: 你個 錶 係唔係快些少呀?

Man: 或者係. 我唔知.

Woman: 你知唔知李太幾點鐘學廣東話呀?

Man: 我知道. 係十點半.
Woman: Jóusàhn, Wòhng Sàang. Néih jì m̀hjì yìhgā géidímjūng a?

Man: A, jóusàhn, Chàhn Síujé. Ngóh go bīu yìhgā haih gáu dím daahp yāt.

Woman: Néih go bīu haih m̀hhaih faai sèsíu a?

Man: Waahkjé haih. Ngóh m̀hjì.

Woman: Néih jì m̀hjì Léih Táai géidímjūng hohk Gwóngdùngwá a?

Man: Ngóh jìdou. Haih sahp dím bun.
Woman: Good Morning Mr Wong. Do you know what time it is now?

Man: Oh, Good Morning, Miss Chan. I’ve got 9.05.

Woman: Is your watch a little fast?

Man: Maybe it is. I don’t know.

Woman: Do you know what time Mrs Lee go to Cantonese class?

Man: Yes. At 10.30.



How to say “Joe the Plumber” in Chinese (叫阿祖食屎)
Brian King — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 04:43:08 +0000
I’m not interested in American politics. Quite frankly, I’m with Stanley Bing at Fortune China. Stanley wrote a piece in Chinese entitled 乔已经够多了 (I’ve had enough of Joe). 
Me, too.
On a bad day, I’d be less polite and 叫阿祖食屎!
But, like it not, the US is having an election and the rest of the world has little choice but to watch - if not react.
So, how to turn all this into a positive learning experience?


Here’s what I do. I try and figure out how the English media jargon will get translated into Chinese.
Take “Joe the Plumber”, for example. Any bets on how to translate this? I wasn’t sure. The last time I lived in China you could just use 师傅 for any worker/tradesperson. It sure made communication simpler. But what’s the usual word for “plumber” these days? Back in Taiwan in the late 70s I learned 木匠 for “carpenter”. That seemed to have a Southern flavour, though. By analogy, would 水匠 work for “plumber”? I wasn’t certain but I tried “水匠 Joe” into Google, anyway.
Here’s what I found:
水喉匠阿Joe Wikimedia

水喉佬阿祖 Ming Pao

水管工喬 Fortune China
I doubt if you’ll find 水喉匠 in your Chinese dictionary. The 喉 here is originally an English loanword in Hong Kong Cantonese and serves for “hose”. I first noticed this on a fire hose box in the MTR in HK. A slight semantic extension to “pipe”, as in Standard Chinese 管, gives us a perfectly normal word for “plumber”. Where Standard Northern Chinese uses 工, 匠 is fairly widespread in the South. 
The Ming Pao’s translation 水喉佬阿祖 will get frowns from your Mandarin teacher - but is surely the most suitable for colloquial Hong Kong Cantonese. The 佬 is equivalent to “guy”. It’s the same 佬 we find in 鬼佬 as in “foreign devil”, or maybe “whitey” (the most common way of talking about white guys or “Caucasians” in HK when they think we can’t understand Cantonese ^^). I never felt it was especially racist. A good friend of mine in HK always addressed me as 阿鬼佬. I reciprocated by referring to him as 阿老人家 - the “old guy”. 
(Thankfully the politically correct language police have not yet made it to HK. If they did, the language would surely lose its character - if not most of its vocabulary!)
The 阿 is frequently tacked onto the beginning of names in Southern Chinese. 祖 is used here because the Cantonese pronunciation is close to “Joe”. Standard Chinese prefers 喬.
I, too, am sick of Joe the Plumber. I don’t know why, but somehow 水喉佬阿祖 has a warm and fuzzy feeling that “Joe the Plumber” just doesn’t have.



Learn Cantonese 3: Multilingual Hong Kong
Brian King — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 20:33:06 +0000
This is is the third in a series of Cantonese learning videos with simple everyday dialogues. Sound files were extracted and recycled from the US Foreign Service Institute’s (FSI) Basic Cantonese 1. Avatars were made with CrazyTalk. Photos of Hong Kong are distributed under a Creative Commons licence and/or GNU. Songs are copyright of various copyright holders. Everything else is public domain.




In Lesson 3, you learn how to say the names of several languages in Cantonese and ask who speaks which language. Mr Hak, an American visitor, meets a local lady in Mong Kok and practices his Cantonese.
(BTW, the Deng Lijun song is in Hokkien - not Cantonese.)
Here is the dialogue in traditional Chinese characters, Yale Cantonese romanization, and the English translation:
A: 李生識係識講日本話呀?



B: 識些少.

A: 咁, 佢識係識講英文呢?

B: 都識些少.

A: 邊嗰教佢講英文呢?

B. 係黃生教佢嘅.
A: Léih Sàang sīk m̀hsīk góng Yahtbúnwá a?

B: Sīk sèsíu.

A: Gám, kéuih sīk m̀hsīk góng Yìngmán nē?

B: Dōu sīk sèsíu.

A: Bīngo gaau kéuih góng Yìngmán ge nē?

B: Haih Wòhng Sàang gaau kéuih ge.
A: Does Mr Lee speak Japanese?

B: A little.

A: Does he speak English, then?

B: He speaks a little English, too.

A: Who taught him English?

B: Mr Wong.



Learn Cantonese 2: Getting to know you
Brian King — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 21:16:32 +0000
This is the second in a series of Cantonese learning videos with simple everyday dialogues. Sound files were extracted and recycled from the US Foreign Service Institute’s (FSI) Basic Cantonese 1. Avatars were made with CrazyTalk. Photos of Hong Kong are distributed under a Creative Commons licence and/or GNU. Everything else is public domain. 
In Lesson 2, Mr Ho takes a leisurely evening stroll through the streets of Mong Kok, meets a pretty young lady and asks her her name.




Here is the transcript in Yale Romanization, traditional Chinese and English translation.
Síujé gwaising a?

Ngóh sing Chàhn. Sīnsàang gwaising a?

Síusing Hòh. Chàhn síujé haih m̀hhaih Gwóngdùngyàhn a?

M̀hhaih a. Ngóh haih Seuhnghóiyàhn. Néih nē?

Néih haih m̀hhaih Méihgwokyàhn a?

Haih a. Ngóh haih Méihgwokyàhn.
小姐貴姓呀?



我姓陳. 先生貴姓呀?

小姓何. 陳小姐係唔係廣東人呀?

唔係呀.我係上海人. 你呢? 你係唔係美國人呀?

係呀.我係美國人.
Miss, what’s your name?

My surname is Chan. What’s your name, sir?

My name’s Ho. Are you from Guangdong?

No, I’m from Shanghai. Are you American?

Yes, I’m American.

Attribution and Licencing for photos:

Photo: Sai Yeung Choi Street South Mong Kok taken by Tsui Sing Yan Eric Licenced Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 License
Photo of Portland St neon signs is licenced under GNU Free Documentation and Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license versions 2.5, 2.0, and 1.0.
Photo MK Portland St cheap motel is licenced under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5 License
Photo of Brothel price sign for various nationalities on Soy St., HK is © BrokenSphere / Wikimedia Commons licenced under the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version



Learn Cantonese 1: Mistaken identity
Brian King — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:35:56 +0000
This is the first in a series of Cantonese learning videos with simple everyday dialogues. Sound files were extracted and recycled from the US Foreign Service Institute’s (FSI) Basic Cantonese 1. Photos of Sham Shui Po are distributed under a Creative Commons licence and/or GNU. Everything else is public domain.
Two acquaintances on their way to buy pirated software in Sham Shui Po bump into each other outside the Golden Computer Centre.




Here is the transcript in Yale Romanization, traditional Chinese and English translation.
A: Hòh Sàang, jóusàhn.

B: Léih Táai, jóusàhn.



A: Deuim̀hjyuh, ngóh m̀hhaih Léih Táai. Ngóh sing Chàhn.

B: A, deuim̀hjyuh, Chàhn Síujé.

A: M̀hgányiu.

B: Joigin.

A: Joigin.
A: 何生, 早晨.

B: 李太, 早晨.

A: 對唔住, 我唔係李太. 我姓陳.

B: 呀, 對唔住 , 陳小姐.

A: 唔緊要.

B: 再見.

A: 再見.
A: Good morning, Mr Ho.

B: Good morning, Mrs Lee.

A: Excuse me, I’m not Mrs. Lee. My name is Chan.

B: Oh, excuse me, Miss Chan.

A: That’s all right.

B: Goodbye.

A: Goodbye.



Recycled Hanyu: Unit 6
Brian King — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 04:39:02 +0000
This is Unit 6 of the Money Module in our Mandarin Chinese Video Lessons Series.

DIALOGUE 1
1.	A:	请问，你们这里可以换美金吗？

		Qĭngwèn, nĭmen zhèli kéyi huàn Měijīn ma?

		Excuse me, can I change U.S.  dollars here?


	B:	对不起，不可以。

		Duìbuqĭ,  bù kéyi.

		I’m sorry, that’s not possible.
2.	A:	旅行支票呢？

		Lǚxíng  zhīpiào ne?

		How about traveler’s checks?
	B:	也不可以。您得在台湾银行换。

		Yĕ bù kéyi.    Nín dĕi zài Táiwān Yínháng huàn.

		That’s not possible either.     You have  to change them at  the  Bank of Taiwan.
3.	A:	银行什么时候开门？

		Yínháng shénme  shíhou kāimén?

		When does the bank open?
	B:	九点钟开门。

		Jiǔdiăn zhōng kāimén.

		It opens at nine o’clock.
4.	A:	几点钟关门。

		Jĭdiăn zhōng guānmén?

		What time does It close?
	B:	三点钟关门。

		Sāndiăn zhōng guānmén.

		It closes at three o’clock.
5-	A:	现在几点钟？还可以换吧？

		Xiànzài jĭdiăn zhōng?    Hái kéyi huàn ba?

		What time is it now?    I may  still change money,  I  suppose?
	B;	现在两点半。还可以换。

		Xiànzài liángdiăn bàn.    Hái kéyi huàn.

		It’s half past two now.     You may still change money.
DIALOGUE 2
6.	A:	我要换一点台币。这是一百块的美金旅行支票。

		Wo yào huàn yĭdiăn Táibì.  Zhè shi yíbăikuài Měijīnde lǚxíngzhīpiào.

		I want to change some money into Taiwan currency.    Here are one hundred U.S. dollars in traveller’s cheques.
	C:	好。一块美金换三十八块台币。

		Hăo.    Yīkuài Měijīn huàn sānshíbākuài Táibì.

		Certainly.     One U.S. dollar is thirty-eight dollars  in Taiwan currency.
7.	A;	这是五张二十块的旅行支票。

		Zhè shi wǔzhāng èrshikuàide lǚxíngzhīpiào.

		Here are five 20-dollar traveller’s cheques.
	C:	请您等一等。我就来。

		Qĭng nín dĕngyidĕng.     Wŏ  jiù lái.

                                    Please wait a moment    I’ll be right back.
8.	A:	我要一点小票子。这张一百块的，请你给我换换，行不行？

		Wŏ yào diăn xiăo piàozi. Zhèzhāng yībǎikuàide,   qĭng nǐ gĕi wŏ huànhuan, xíng bu xíng?

		I would like some small bills. Please change this 100 dollar bill for me.    Would that be all right?
	C:	行。给您九张十块的，两张五块的。

		Xíng.     Gĕi nín jiǔzhāng shíkuàide, liǎngzhāng wǔkuàide.

                                    All right.  I’ll give you nine tens and two  fives.
	A:	麻烦你了。

		Máfán nǐ le.

		Sorry to have bothered you.
	C:	没什么。

		Méi shénme

		It’s nothing.



Recycled Hanyu Unit 5
Brian King — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 06:19:29 +0000
This is Unit 5 of the Money Module in our Learn Mandarin Chinese Video Series.  Sound files were extracted from the Foreign Service Institute’s (FSI) Standard Mandarin Chinese.

Transcript of video in Hanyu Pinyin, Simplified Chinese characters, and English translation
DIALOGUE 1
A:	麻烦你，我这儿有一张十块的。

         máfán	nǐ, wǒ	zhèr yǒu yīzhāng shíkuài de.

         Sorry to bother you,   I have a ten here.		         
         请你给我换换

         qǐng nǐ gěi wǒ	huànhuan.

         Please change it for me.	
B:	您要怎么换？

         Nín yào zĕnme huàn?

         How do you want to change it?	
A:     请你给我两张五块的吧

         qǐng nǐ gěi wǒ liǎngzhāng wǔkuàide ba

         How about giving me two fives, please.	
A:	谢谢

         xièxie

         Thank you.	
B:	不客气

         bù kèqì

         You’re welcome.	
DIALOGUE 2
A:	你们收美金吗？

        Nĭmen shōu Mĕijīn ma?

         Do you accept U.S. currency?	
B:	对不起，我们不收。

        Duìbùqǐ, wǒmen	bù shōu.

        I’m sorry, we don’t.	
A:	在哪儿换呢？这儿有没有银行？

         Zài năr huàn ne?   Zhèr yǒu méiyou yínháng?

         Well where do I change it?  Is there a bank here?	
B:	有。银行就在那儿。

         Yǒu.   Yínháng jiù zài nàr.

         There is.   The bank is right over there.	
DIALOGUE 3
A:.	请问，是不是在这儿换钱？

         Qĭngwèn, shì bú shì zài zhèr huàn qián?

         Excuse me, is this where I change money?	
B.	是.是在这儿换

         Shì, 	shì zài	zhèr huàn.

         Yes, you change it here.	
        你要换多少？

	Nĭ yào huàn duōshao?

        How much do you want to change?	
A:    我这儿有一百块美金的旅行支票。

       wǒ zhèr yǒu yībǎikuài měijīnde lǚxíngzhīpiào.

       I have one hundred U.S. dollars in traveller’s checks here.	
	Jīntiánde páijià shi duōshao?

        What is today’s exchange rate?	
B:     Yīkuài Mĕijīn huàn yīkuài jiumáo liù Renminbi.

        One U.S. dollar to one dollar and ninety-six cents RMB.



Recycled Hanyu Unit 4
Brian King — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 03:25:55 +0000
This video is Unit 4 of the Money Module in our Learn Mandarin Chinese Video Series. Sound files were extracted from the Foreign Service Institute’s (FSI) Standard Mandarin Chinese. This video is placed in the public domain.

Transcript of video in Hanyu Pinyin, Simplified Chinese characters, and English translation
DIALOGUE 1
A: 	Nĭ jiālide dōngxi dōu dào le ma?

	你家里的东西都到了吗？

	Have all your household things arrived?
B: 	Yŏude dào le, yŏude hái méi dào.

	有的到了，有的还没到。

	Some have arrived, and some haven’t arrived yet.
DIALOGUE 2
A: 	Zhèxie zázhì nĭ kàn le ma?

	这些杂志，你看了吗？

	Have you read these magazines?



B: 	Zhèxie zázhì, yŏude wŏ kàn le, yŏude wŏ hái méi kàn.

	这些杂志，有的我看了，有的我还没看。

	Some of these magazines I’ve read, and some I haven’t read yet.
DIALOGUE 3
A:     Zuótiān wŏ măile yīdiǎn pánziwǎn

	昨天我买了一些盘子碗。

	Yesterday I bought some dishes.
B:     Nĭ măile duoshao?

	你买了多少。

	How many did you buy?
A:     Wŏ măile shíge fànwǎn , shíge dà pánzl.

	我买了十个饭碗，十个大盘子。

	I bought ten rice bowls and ten large plates.
B: 	Nàxie pánziwăn shi shénme yánsède?

	那些盘子碗是什么颜色的？

	What colour are those dishes?
A: 	Shi lánde.

	是蓝的。

	They’re blue ones.
B:      A, wŏ yĕ xĭhuan lánde.

	啊，我也喜欢蓝的。

	Oh, I like blue ones too.
 	Shì zài shénme dìfang măide?

	是在什么地方买的？

	Where were they bought?
A: 	Shì zài Dìyī Gōngsī măide.

	是在第一公司买的。

	They were bought at the First Company.
A:     Tāmen màide dōngxi zhēn hăo.

	他们卖的东西真好。

	The things they sell are really nice.
 B:    Tāmen màide pánziwăn, yŏude zhēn hăokàn. Kĕshi guì yīdiǎn.

	他们卖的盘子碗,有的真好看。可是贵一点。

	Some of the dishes they sell are really beautiful. But they are a little expensive.
A: 	Wŏ măide nàxie pánziwǎn dōu bú tai guì. Guìde wŏ méi mài.

	我卖的那些盘子碗都不太贵。贵的我没买。

	All those dishes I bought were not too expensive, I didn’t buy the expensive ones.
VOCABULARY
Dìyī Gōngsī	              the First  Company  (department store in Taipei)

dōngxi			       thing

fànwǎn 			      rice bowl

gōngsī			       company

kĕshi				but

nèixie   (nàxie)	      those

pánzi				plate

pánziwǎn 		      dishes

wǎn 			        bowl

-xie (-xiē)

xĭhuan				to like

(counter for an indefinite plural number of things)

yánsè 				 color

youde				some

zhèixie (zhèxie) 		these