Lesson 7 Notes: Making Acquaintances and Discussing Studies

Lesson 7: Making Acquaintances and Discussing Studies

Overview

  • This lesson focuses on expanding Chinese language skills for everyday situations, including making acquaintances and discussing studies.
  • It aims to introduce a greater variety of Chinese expressions and delve deeper into Chinese culture.

Text: Meeting Someone for the First Time

Dialogue
  • Setting: Lin Na and Ding Libo are at school.
  • Ding Libo: "Libo, 明天开学, 我很 高兴。 你看,他是 不是我们学院的老师?" (Libo, míngtiān kāixué, wǒ hěn gāoxing. Nǐ kàn, tā shì bù shì wǒmen xuéyuàn de lǎoshi?) - "Libo, tomorrow school starts, I'm very happy. Look, is he a teacher at our institute?"
  • Ding Libo: "我问一下。 请问,您是我们学院 的 老师吗?" (Wǒ wèn yīxià. Qǐngwèn, nín shì wǒmen xuéyuàn de lǎoshi ma?) - "Let me ask. Excuse me, are you a teacher at our institute?"
  • Professor Zhang: "是, 我是语言学院的老师。" (Shì, wǒ shì Yǔyán Xuéyuàn de lǎoshi.) - "Yes, I am a teacher at the Language Institute."
  • Ding Libo: "您贵姓?" (Nín guìxìng?) - "What is your honorable surname?"
  • Professor Zhang: "我姓张,我们认识一下,这是我的名片。" (Wǒ xìng Zhāng, wǒmen rènshi yīxià, zhè shì wǒ de míngpiàn.) - "My surname is Zhang, let's get to know each other, this is my name card."
  • Ding Libo: "谢谢。 (看名片) 啊, 您是张教授。我叫丁力波,她叫林娜。我们都是语言学院 的学生。" (Xièxie. (Kàn míngpiàn) À, nín shì Zhāng jiàoshòu. Wǒ jiào Dīng Lìbō, tā jiào Lín Nà. Wǒmen dōu shì Yǔyán Xuéyuàn de xuésheng.) - "Thank you. (Looking at the name card) Ah, you are Professor Zhang. I am called Ding Libo, she is called Lin Na. We are all students of the Language Institute."
  • Lin Na: "您 是 语言 学院的教授, 认识您, 我们很高兴。" (Nín shì Yǔyán Xuéyuàn de jiàoshòu, rènshi nín, wǒmen hěn gāoxing.) - "You are a professor at the Language Institute, we are very happy to meet you."
  • Professor Zhang: "认识你们,我也很高兴。 你们都好吗?" (Rènshi nǐmen, wǒ yě hěn gāoxing. Nǐmen dōu hǎo ma?) - "I am also very happy to meet you. Are you all well?"
  • Lin Na: "谢谢, 我们都很好。张 教授, 您忙不忙?" (Xièxie, wǒmen dōu hěn hǎo. Zhāng jiàoshòu, nín máng bù máng?) - "Thank you, we are all very well. Professor Zhang, are you busy?"
  • Professor Zhang: "我很忙。好,你们请坐,再见!" (Wǒ hěn máng. Hǎo, nǐmen qǐng zuò, zàijiàn!) - "I am very busy. Good, please sit down, goodbye!"
  • Ding Libo & Lin Na: "再见!" (Zàijiàn!) - "Goodbye!"
  • Professor Zhang's Name Card Information:
    • Zhang Jieyuan (张介元)
    • Professor (教授)
    • Language Institute Economics Department (语言学院经济系)
    • Language Institute Building 26, Room 301 (语言学院 26 楼 301号)
    • Phone: 12345678

New Words (生词)

  • 开学 (kāixué): to start school
    • 开 (kāi): to open, to start
  • 很 (hěn): very (e.g., 很好 - hěn hǎo: very good, 很忙 - hěn máng: very busy, 很有意思 - hěn yǒu yìsi: very interesting)
  • 高兴 (gāoxing): happy, pleased (e.g., 很高兴 - hěn gāoxing: very happy)
    • 高 (gāo): high, tall
  • 看 (kàn): to watch, to look at (e.g., 看老师 - kàn lǎoshi: look at the teacher, 看这儿 - kàn zhèr: look here)
  • 问 (wèn): to ask (e.g., 问老师 - wèn lǎoshi: ask the teacher, 向朋友 - xiàng péngyou: ask a friend)
  • 一下 (yíxià): (used after a verb to indicate a short, quick, random, informal action) (e.g., 介绍一下 - jièshào yīxià: introduce briefly, 认识一下 - rènshi yīxià: get to know briefly, 问一下 - wèn yīxià: ask briefly, 看一下 - kàn yīxià: take a look)
  • 学院 (xuéyuàn): institute (e.g., 语言学院 - Yǔyán Xuéyuàn: Language Institute, 汉语学院 - Hànyǔ Xuéyuàn: Chinese Language Institute)
  • 名片 (míngpiàn): calling card (e.g., 我的名片 - wǒ de míngpiàn: my calling card, 老师的名片 - lǎoshi de míngpiàn: teacher's calling card)
  • 啊 (à): ah, oh
  • 教授 (jiàoshòu): professor
    • 教 (jiāo): to teach
  • 丁力波 (Dīng Lìbō): Ding Libo (name of a Canadian student)
  • 张 (Zhāng): Zhang (a surname)

Dialogue: Talking about One's Major

Dialogue
  • Setting: Lin Na, Ding Libo, and Ma Dawei are talking.
  • Ding Libo: "林娜,那是谁?" (Lín Nà, nà shì shéi?) - "Lin Na, who is that?"
  • Lin Na: "那是马大为。你认识不认识他?" (Nà shì Mǎ Dàwéi. Nǐ rènshi bù rènshi tā?) - "That is Ma Dawei. Do you know him?"
  • Ding Libo: "我不认识他。" (Wǒ bù rènshi tā.) - "I don't know him."
  • Lin Na: "我来介绍一下。你好,大为,这是我朋友——" (Wǒ lái jièshào yīxià. Nǐ hǎo, Dàwéi, zhè shì wǒ péngyou--) - "Let me introduce you. Hello, Dawei, this is my friend--"
  • Ding Libo: "你好!我姓丁,叫丁力波。请问,你叫什么名字?" (Nǐ hǎo! Wǒ xìng Dīng, jiào Dīng Lìbō. Qǐngwèn, nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?) - "Hello! My surname is Ding, I'm called Ding Libo. May I ask, what is your name?"
  • Ma Dawei: "我的 中文 名字叫马 大为。你是不是 中国 人?" (Wǒ de Zhōngwén míngzi jiào Mǎ Dàwéi. Nǐ shì bù shì Zhōngguó rén?) - "My Chinese name is Ma Dawei. Are you Chinese?"
  • Ding Libo: "我是加拿大人。我妈妈是 中国人,我爸爸 是加拿大人。你也是加拿大人吗?" (Wǒ shì Jiānádà rén. Wǒ māma shì Zhōngguó rén, wǒ bàba shì Jiānádà rén. Nǐ yě shì Jiānádà rén ma?) - "I am Canadian. My mother is Chinese, my father is Canadian. Are you also Canadian?"
  • Ma Dawei: "不是,我不是加拿大人,我是美国人。你学习什么 专业?" (Bù shì, wǒ bù shì Jiānádà rén, wǒ shì Měiguó rén. Nǐ xuéxí shénme zhuānyè?) - "No, I am not Canadian, I am American. What major do you study?"
  • Ding Libo: "我学习 美术 专业。你呢?" (Wǒ xuéxí měishù zhuānyè. Nǐ ne?) - "I study fine arts. And you?"
  • Ma Dawei: "我学习 文学 专业。现在我学习汉语。" (Wǒ xuéxí wénxué zhuānyè. Xiànzài wǒ xuéxí Hànyǔ.) - "I study literature. Now I study Chinese."
  • Lin Na: "现在 我们都学习汉语,也都是汉语系的学生。" (Xiànzài wǒmen dōu xuéxí Hànyǔ, yě dōu shì Hànyǔ xì de xuésheng.) - "Now we all study Chinese, and are all students of the Chinese department."

New Words (生词)

  • 谁 (shéi): who
  • 来 (lái): to come
  • 介绍 (jièshào): to introduce (e.g., 介绍林娜 - jièshào Lín Nà: introduce Lin Na, 介绍语言学院 - jièshào Yǔyán Xuéyuàn: introduce the Language Institute)
  • 名字 (míngzi): name (e.g., 你的名字 - nǐ de míngzi: your name, 叫什么名字 - jiào shénme míngzi: called what name? (what's your name?))
  • 中文 (Zhōngwén): Chinese (language) (e.g., 中文名字 - Zhōngwén míngzi: Chinese name, 中文名片 - Zhōngwén míngpiàn: Chinese calling card)
  • 爸爸 (bàba): dad
  • 学习 (xuéxí): to learn, to study (e.g., 学习中文 - xuéxí Zhōngwén: study Chinese, 学习汉语 - xuéxí Hànyǔ: study the Chinese language)
    • 学 (xué): to learn, to study (e.g., 学中文 - xué Zhōngwén: learn Chinese, 学汉语 - xué Hànyǔ: learn the Chinese language, 学语言 - xué yǔyán: learn language)
  • 专业 (zhuānyè): major; specialty (e.g., 中文专业 - Zhōngwén zhuānyè: Chinese major, 汉语专业 - Hànyǔ zhuānyè: Chinese language major, 语言专业 - yǔyán zhuānyè: language major)
  • 美术 (měishù): fine arts (e.g., 学习美术 - xuéxí měishù: study fine arts, 美术专业 - měishù zhuānyè: fine arts major)
    • 美 (měi): beautiful
  • 文学 (wénxué): literature (e.g., 中国文学 - Zhōngguó wénxué: Chinese literature, 文学专业 - wénxué zhuānyè: literature major)
  • 系 (xì): faculty; department (e.g., 汉语系 - Hànyǔ xì: Chinese department, 语言系 - yǔyán xì: language department, 中文系 - Zhōngwén xì: Chinese language department)
  • 马大为 (Mǎ Dàwéi): Ma Dawei (name of an American student)
  • 加拿大 (Jiānádà): Canada
  • 美国 (Měiguó): the United States

Supplementary Words (补充生词)

  • 文化 (wénhuà): culture
  • 历史 (lìshǐ): history
  • 哲学 (zhéxué): philosophy
  • 音乐 (yīnyuè): music
  • 经济 (jīngjì): economy
  • 数学 (shùxué): mathematics
  • 物理 (wùlǐ): physics
  • 化学 (huàxué): chemistry
  • 教育 (jiàoyù): education
  • 选修 (xuǎnxiū): to take an elective course

Notes (注释)

  1. 我问一下 (Wǒ wèn yīxià): "一下" (yīxià) is used after a verb to indicate that an action is of short duration or to express the idea of "giving something a try." It can soften the tone of an expression, making it less formal. Common examples include: "认识一下" (rènshi yīxià - get to know briefly), "介绍一下" (jièshào yīxià - introduce briefly), "去一下" (qù yīxià - go for a bit), "进来一下" (jìnlai yīxià - come in briefly), "说一下" (shuō yīxià - say a bit), "坐一下" (zuò yīxià - sit for a bit).

    • "我来介绍一下" (Wǒ lái jièshào yīxià - Let me introduce) and "我们认识一下" (Wǒmen rènshi yīxià - Let's get to know each other) are common expressions used when people meet for the first time.

  2. 您是我们学院的老师吗? (Nín shì wǒmen xuéyuàn de lǎoshi ma?): Plural pronouns are often used as modifiers to indicate the place or organization where one works. For example "我们学院" (wǒmen xuéyuàn - our institute), "我们国家" (wǒmen guójiā - our country) are more common than the alternative.

  3. 啊,您是张教授 (À, nín shì Zhāng jiàoshòu): "啊" (à) is read in the fourth tone, indicating a sudden understanding or expressing admiration.

  4. 你叫什么名字? (Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?): This is a casual way of asking someone's name, often used by adults when talking to children or among youngsters. The answer is usually one's full name. For example, "我叫丁力波" (Wǒ jiào Dīng Lìbō - I am called Ding Libo). You can also answer by giving your surname first, then your full name; for example, "我姓丁,叫丁力波" (Wǒ xìng Dīng, jiào Dīng Lìbō - My surname is Ding, I am called Ding Libo).

  5. 我的中文名字叫马大为 (Wǒ de Zhōngwén míngzi jiào Mǎ Dàwéi): A noun can be placed directly before a noun as its attributive modifier. For example: "中文名字" (Zhōngwén míngzi - Chinese name), "汉语老师" (Hànyǔ lǎoshi - Chinese language teacher), "中国人" (Zhōngguó rén - Chinese person).

    • When rendering a non-Chinese name into Chinese, two or three characters can be chosen based on the pronunciation or meaning of the original name. For example, David March can be rendered as "马大为" (Mǎ Dàwéi), and Natalie Lynn as "林娜" (Lín Nà). The surname "White" can be translated as "白" (Bái), and Amy can be called "爱美" (Àiměi).
    • Both "中文" (Zhōngwén) and "汉语" (Hànyǔ) refer to the Chinese language. "中文" has a broader meaning, referring to both its written and spoken forms. Originally, "汉语" referred only to the spoken language of the Han people, but it is now often used to refer to both written and spoken forms and is interchangeable with "中文" by most people.

Drills and Practice (练习与运用)

Key Sentences
  1. 他是 不是我们学院的老师? (Tā shì bù shì wǒmen xuéyuàn de lǎoshi?) - Is he a teacher at our institute?
  2. 你认识不认识他? (Nǐ rènshi bù rènshi tā?) - Do you know him?
  3. 我们认识一下,我的中文名字叫马大为。(Wǒmen rènshi yīxià, wǒ de Zhōngwén míngzi jiào Mǎ Dàwéi.) - Let's get to know each other, my Chinese name is Ma Dawei.
  4. 你学习什么专业? (Nǐ xuéxí shénme zhuānyè?) - What major do you study?
  5. 我学习美术专业。你呢?(Wǒ xuéxí měishù zhuānyè. Nǐ ne?) - I study fine arts. And you?
  6. 现在我们都学习汉语,也都是汉语系的学生. (Xiànzài wǒmen dōu xuéxí Hànyǔ, yě dōu shì Hànyǔ xì de xuésheng.) - Now we all study Chinese, and are all students of the Chinese department.