Chinese Class - 谢瑶

谢

xiè (Thank / Surname)

瑶

yáo (Jade)

我

wǒ (I / Me)

你

nǐ (You)

叫

jiào (To be called)

一

yī (1)

二

èr (2)

三

sān (3)

四

sì (4)

五

wǔ (5)

六

liù (6)

七

qī (7)

八

bā (8)

九

jiǔ (9)

十

shí (10)

〇

líng (0)

年

nián (Year)

月

yuè (Month / Moon)

日

rì (Day / Sun)

今天

jīntiān (Today)

是

shì (To be - is/am/are)

星期

xīngqī (Week)

现在

xiànzài (Right now)

点

diǎn (O'clock)

下午

xiàwǔ (Afternoon / PM)

在

zài (At / In)

学习

xuéxí (To study)

中文

Zhōngwén (Chinese Language)

上

shàng (Up / Morning)

下

xià (Down / Afternoon)

午

wǔ (Noon)

晚

wǎn (Late / Evening)

吃

chī (To eat)

饭

fàn (Food / Rice)

好

hǎo (Good)

Translate: I am called Xie Yao.

我叫谢瑶。(Wǒ jiào Xiè Yáo.)

Translate: I am Xie Yao.

我是谢瑶。 (Wǒ shì Xiè Yáo.)

Translate: Today is March 8, 2026.

今天是二〇二六年三月八日。

Translate: Today is Tuesday, March 10, 2026.

今天是二〇二六年三月十日，星期二。

Translate: Now it's 8 o'clock.

现在八点。(Xiànzài bā diǎn.)

Translate: Now it is 7 PM (Evening).

现在晚上七点。(Xiànzài wǎnshang qī diǎn.)

Translate: I study Chinese. I eat.

我学习中文。我吃饭。

Fill in the blank: 我____谢瑶。 (I am Xie Yao)

是 (shì)

Fill in the blank: 我学习____。 (I study Chinese)

中文 (Zhōngwén)

Fill in the blank: 现在晚上七____。 (Now it's 7 o'clock)

点 (diǎn)

Fill in the blank: 我吃____。 (I eat food)

饭 (fàn)

Tone Check: 谢瑶 (Xie Yao)

4th, 2nd (Falling, Rising)

Tone Check: 今天 (Today)

1st, 1st (High-flat, High-flat - Robot Voice)

Tone Check: 现在 (Right now)

4th, 4th (Sharp fall, Sharp fall)

Tone Check: 学习 (To study)

2nd, 2nd (Rising, Rising)

Tone Check: 吃饭 (To eat food)

1st, 4th (High-flat, Sharp fall)

Grammar: What is the Date Order in Chinese?

Year (年) + Month (月) + Day (日)

Grammar: The "Naked Verb" Rule

Verbs hate being alone, they need an object. (e.g. You don't just "eat", you "eat food/rice" - 吃饭)

Translate: Today is March 17, 2026, Tuesday.

今天是二〇二六年三月十七日，星期二。 (Jīntiān shì èr líng èr liù nián sān yuè shí qī rì, xīngqī èr.)

Translate: Now it is 7 PM (Evening).

现在晚上七点。 (Xiànzài wǎnshang qī diǎn.)

Translate: I am Xie Yao.

我是谢瑶。 (Wǒ shì Xiè Yáo.)

Translate: I study Chinese.

我学习中文。 (Wǒ xuéxí Zhōngwén.)

Translate: I eat.

我吃饭。 (Wǒ chī fàn.)

喜

xǐ (Happy / Like)

欢

huan (Joyful)

喜欢

xǐhuan (To like)

不

bù (No / Not)

要

yào (Want / Need)

不要

bú yào (Don't want)

Translate: I like studying Chinese.

我喜欢学习中文。 (Wǒ xǐhuan xuéxí Zhōngwén.)

Translate: I don't eat.

我不吃饭。 (Wǒ bù chī fàn.)

Translate: Today is March 18, 2026, Wednesday.

今天是二〇二六年三月十八日，星期三。 (Jīntiān shì èr líng èr liù nián sān yuè shí bā rì, xīngqī sān.)

Fill in the blank: 我____学习中文。(I like studying Chinese)

喜欢 (xǐhuan)

Fill in the blank: 我____吃饭。(I don't eat)

不 (bù)

Tone Check: 喜欢 (To like)

3rd, 1st (Dip-rise, High flat)

Tone Check: 不要 (Don't want)

2nd, 4th (Rising, Sharp fall - Tone Sandhi Rule!)

Tone Check: 不喜欢 (Don't like)

4th, 3rd, 1st (Sharp fall, Dip-rise, High flat)

Grammar: Where does 不 (bù) go?

Right before the verb! (e.g., 我不吃饭)

Grammar: The "Bù" Tone Trap

If followed by a 4th tone, 不 changes to a 2nd tone (bú). Example: 不要 (bú yào).

很

hěn (Very / Really)

面

miàn (Noodles / Flour)

条

tiáo (Strip / Measure word)

面条

miàntiáo (Noodles)

米

mǐ (Uncooked rice)

米饭

mǐfàn (Cooked rice)

水

shuǐ (Water)

喝

hē (To drink)

茶

chá (Tea)

Translate: I really like studying Chinese.

我很喜欢学习中文。 (Wǒ hěn xǐhuan xuéxí Zhōngwén.)

Translate: I don't like eating rice, I like eating noodles.

我不喜欢吃米饭，我喜欢吃面条。 (Wǒ bù xǐhuan chī mǐfàn, wǒ xǐhuan chī miàntiáo.)

Translate: I drink water, I don't drink tea.

我喝水，我不喝茶。 (Wǒ hē shuǐ, wǒ bù hē chá.)

Translate: Today is March 19, 2026, Thursday.

今天是二〇二六年三月十九日，星期四。 (Jīntiān shì èr líng èr liù nián sān yuè shí jiǔ rì, xīngqī sì.)

Fill in the blank: 我____喜欢中文。(I really like Chinese)

很 (hěn)

Fill in the blank: 我不喝____。(I don't drink tea)

茶 (chá)

Tone Check: 很喜欢 (Really like)

3rd, 3rd, 1st (Dip-rise, Dip-rise, High flat)

Tone Check: 喝水 (Drink water)

1st, 3rd (High flat, Dip-rise)

Tone Check: 面条 (Noodles)

4th, 2nd (Falling, Rising)

Grammar: Where does 很 (hěn) go?

Before the verb phrase (e.g., 我很喜欢).

什

shén (What - pt 1)

么

me (Question particle - neutral tone)

什么

shénme (What)

为

wèi (For / Because)

为什么

wèishénme (Why)

Translate: What do you eat?

你吃什么？ (Nǐ chī shénme?)

Translate: What do you like?

你喜欢什么？ (Nǐ xǐhuan shénme?)