NEW PRACTICAL CHINESE READER 1 GRAMMAR POINTS
LESSON 1 -LESSON 5
Pin Yin
Here are all the Pinyin letters used in Mandarin Chinese:
1. Vowels:
a, e, i, o, u, ü
(with four different tones: ā, á, ǎ, à; ē, é, ě, è; ī, í, ǐ, ì; ō, ó, ǒ, ò; ū, ú, ǔ, ù; ǖ, ǘ, ǚ, ǜ)
2. Consonants:
b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, w, x, y, z
3. Consonant Finals:
an, ang, ai, ao, ei, en, eng, ian, iang, iao, ie, in, ing, iong, iu, iue, ua, uai, uan, uang,
ue, ui, un, uo, üan, üe, ün
Lesson 1:
1. 是 (shì) - "to be"
This verb is used to indicate identity, occupation, nationality, and more.
2. 你 (nǐ) and 我 (wǒ) - "you" and "I/me"
These pronouns are used to refer to the second person (you) and first person
(I/me).
3. 不 (bù) - negation marker
It is used to negate a verb or an adjective.
Lesson 2:
1. 有 (yǒu) - "to have"
This verb is used to indicate possession or existence.
2. 没有 (méiyǒu) - "to not have"
This is the negated form of the verb 有 (yǒu).
3. 这 (zhè) and 那 (nà) - "this" and "that"
These pronouns are used to indicate proximity or distance in relation to the
speaker.
Lesson 3:
1. 请问 (qǐngwèn) - "May I ask..."
This phrase is used as a polite way to ask a question or make a request.
2. 贵 (guì) - honorific for showing respect
It is used to show respect when addressing someone.
3. 怎么 (zěnme) - "how"
This interrogative pronoun is used to ask about the way or manner of doing
something.
4. 姓 (xìng) - "surname"
This noun is used to refer to a person's family name.
5. 叫 (jiào) - "to be called"
This verb is used when asking or stating someone's given name.
Here are some grammar points covered in Lessons 4-6 of the New Practical Chinese
Reader Book 1:
Exercises :
Exercise 1: Vocabulary Matching
Match the Chinese vocabulary words on the left with their corresponding English
meanings on the right.
1. 是 a. I
2. 你 b. not
3. 不 c. to be
4. 我 d. you
5. 不是 e. yes
6. 是的 f. no
Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of the verb "是" (shì) or "不是" (bùshì) to
complete the sentences.
1. 我 ___________ 学生。(I am a student.)
2. 你 ___________ 医生吗？(Are you a doctor?)
3. 这 ___________ 一本书。(This is a book.)
4. 那 ___________ 我的朋友。(That is my friend.)
5. 他 ___________ 中国人。(He is Chinese.)
Exercise 3: Asking Questions
Translate the following English questions into Chinese.
1. What is your name?
2. Are you a student?
3. Is she your sister?
4. Where are you from?
5. What is his nationality?
Exercise 4: Introductions
Complete the following dialogues with appropriate responses.
A:
请问，你贵姓？
(Excuse me, what is your surname?)
B:
我姓____________。
(My surname is ________.)
A:
请问，你叫什么名字？
(Excuse me, what is your name?)
B:
我叫____________。
(My name is ________.)
A:
你是哪国人？
(What is your nationality?)
B:
我是____________。
(I am ________.)
Lesson 4:
1. 是的 (shìde) - "yes" or "that's right"
This is a confirmation phrase used to agree or affirm a statement.
2. 不是 (bùshì) - "no" or "that's not right"
This is a negation phrase used to disagree or negate a statement.
3. 的 (de) - possessive particle
This particle is used to indicate possession or describe attributes.
4. 这个 (zhège) and 那个 (nàge) - "this" and "that" (as classifiers)
These classifiers are used to quantify and identify specific objects or items.
Lesson 5:
1. 在 (zài) - "to be located" or "to be present"
This verb is used to indicate the location or existence of someone or something.
2. 哪儿 (nǎr) - "where"
This question word is used to ask about a location or place.
3. 有没有 (yǒu méiyǒu) - "have" or "have not"
This phrase is used to ask whether someone has something or not.
Exercises :
Exercise 1: Vocabulary Matching
Match the Chinese vocabulary words on the left with their corresponding English
meanings on the right.
1. 是的 a. possessive particle
2. 不是 b. "no" or "that's not right"
3. 的 c. "yes" or "that's right"
4. 这个 d. "this" (as a classifier)
5. 那个 e. "that" (as a classifier)
6. 是 f. "to be"
Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words or phrases from the lesson to complete
the sentences.
1. 他 ___________ 老师。
(He is a teacher.)
shūbāo
2. 这 ___________ 书 包 。
(This is a schoolbag.)
3. 那 ___________ 我爸爸。
(That is a Baba.)
shǒu jī
4. 我 ___________ 有 手 机。
(I don't have a mobile phone.)
5. 你 ___________ 在哪儿？
(Where are you?)
Exercise 3: Forming Questions
Rewrite the following statements as questions using the correct question words or
phrases.
1. 他是老师。
(Question: _________________________?)
2. 这是你的手机。
(Question: _________________________?)
3. 那个是我朋友。
(Question: _________________________?)
4. 我有三本书。
(Question: _________________________?)
5. 他在学校。
(Question: _________________________?)
Practice ：
A To introduce yourself in Chinese, you can use the following phrases:
1. 我是... (Wǒ shì...) - I am...
This phrase is used to indicate your name or other personal information.
我是小明。
(Wǒ shì Xiǎo Míng.)
I am Xiaoming.
2. 我叫... (Wǒ jiào...) - My name is...
This phrase specifically introduces your name.
你好！我叫李娜。
(Nǐ hǎo! Wǒ jiào Lǐ Nà.)
Hello! My name is Lina.
3. 我来自... (Wǒ láizì...) - I come from...
This phrase is used to indicate your place of origin or nationality.
大家好！我来自美国。
(Dàjiā hǎo! Wǒ láizì Měiguó.)
Hello everyone! I come from the United States.
4. 我是...人 (Wǒ shì... rén) - I am from...
This phrase is used to indicate your nationality.
你好！我是法国人。
(Nǐ hǎo! Wǒ shì Fǎguó rén.)
Hello! I am French.
B To say "May I..." in Chinese, you can use the phrase "我可以..." (Wǒ kěyǐ...).
1. May I ask a question?
我可以问个问题吗？
(Wǒ kěyǐ wèn gè wèntí ma?)
2. May I have a glass of water, please?
我可以请你给我一杯水吗？
(Wǒ kěyǐ qǐng nǐ gěi wǒ yī bēi shuǐ ma?)
3. May I have your name?
我可以知道你的名字吗？
(Wǒ kěyǐ zhīdào nǐ de míngzì ma?)
4. May I use the restroom?
我可以去洗手间吗？
(Wǒ kěyǐ qù xǐshǒujiān ma?)
C To ask someone's name in Chinese, you can use the question "你叫什么名字？" (Nǐ jiào
shénme míngzì?). Here's the breakdown of the question:
你 (Nǐ) - You
叫 (jiào) - To be called
什么 (shénme) - What
名字 (míngzì) - Name
"你叫什么名字？" (Nǐ jiào shénme míngzì?) "What is your name?"
Example 1:
Person A: 你好！你叫什么名字？
(Nǐ hǎo! Nǐ jiào shénme míngzì?)
Hello! What is your name?
Person B: 我叫李华。
(Wǒ jiào Lǐ Huá.)
My name is Li Hua.
D To ask where something or someone is in Chinese
Asking where something is:
Sbj+ 在哪里？ ( zài nǎlǐ?)
"Where is .....?"
1. Asking where an object is:
书在哪里？ (Shū zài nǎlǐ?)
"Where is the book?"
2. Asking where a person is:
你爸爸在哪里？ (Nǐ bàba zài nǎlǐ?)
"Where is your father?"
3. Asking where a specific place is:
厕所在哪里？ (Cèsuǒ zài nǎlǐ?)
"Where is the restroom?"
E "sorry" "对不起" (Duìbùqǐ). It can be used to apologize or express regret for
something.
"抱歉" (Bàoqiàn) means “ sorry” , is often considered slightly more
formal and polite in certain contexts.
To say "doesn't matter" or "it's okay" in Chinese, you can use the phrase "没关系" (Méi
guānxi). It is used to indicate that something is not a problem or to forgive someone.
F “ 谢谢 (Xièxiè)” means thank you .
“ 不用谢(Bù yòng xiè)” “ 不客气(Bù kèqì”you are welcome “
you can use the phrase "不客气" (Bù kèqì), which translates to "you're
welcome" or "don't mention it."
