Mike Packevicz

Article / Updated 01-29-2021

Thanks to the global nature of many Russian businesses today, speaking Russian at work is quickly becoming a primary reason for people to learn Russian. Whether you’re looking for a job in a Russian-speaking country or just need to talk with coworkers there, you'll need to know some key words and phrases to help ease your way. Office equipment and supplies Use the following words to describe typical office equipment and supplies. karandash (pencil) pis’myennyj stol (desk) stul (chair) komp’yutyerom (computer) tyelyefon (telephone) ryezyumye (ree-zyu-meh) (résumé) sajt po poisku raboty (sahjt pah poh-ees-koo ruh-boh-tih) (job finder Web site) razryeshyeniye na rabotu (ruhz-ree-sheh-nee-eh nuh ruh-boh-too) (work authorization) Meetings and mail You’ll need to know the following words when scheduling meetings. prikryeplyonnij fajl/document (attachment) faks (fahks) (fax) imyeil (e‑mail) adryes elektronnoj pochty (e-mail address) ntyerv’yu (interview) naznachit’ vstryechu (nuh-znah-cheet’ fstrye-choo) (make an appointment) Job titles There are many ways to refer to other people you work with. One of the most common is by job title. The following words will come in handy in most business settings. yenyedzhyer (manager) nachal’nik (boss) kliyent (client) kollyega (colleague) Useful phrases Try putting some of these terms together into some phrases that might come in handy at the office. Davajtye vstryetimsya v dyevyat’ chasov utra. (duh-vahy-tee fstrye-teem-sye v dye-veet’ chuh-sohf oo-trah) (Let’s meet at 9 a.m.) Ya budu vas zhdat’ v tri chasa dnya. (ya boo-doo vahs zhdaht’ f tree chuh-sah dnya) (I’ll be waiting for you at 3 p.m.) Ya budu zhdat’ vashyego zvonka v dyesyat’ chasov utra. (ya boo-doo zhdaht’ vah-shih-vuh zvahn-kah v dye-seet’ chuh-sohf oo-trah) (I’ll be waiting for your phone call at 10 a.m.) Ya vam pozvonyu v dva chasa dnya. (ya vahm puh-zvah-nyu v dvah chuh-sah dnya) (I’ll call you at 2 p.m.) Kakoj u vas imyeil? (kuh-kohy oo vahs ee-meh-eel?) (What is your e-mail address? [literally: What is your e-mail?]) U vas yest’ imyeil? (oo vas yest’ ee-meh-eel?) (Do you have e-mail?) Ya mogu vam chyem-nibud’ pomoch’? (ya mah-goo vahm chehm-nee-boot’ pah-mohch?) (Can I help you with anything?) Zdravstvujtye. Eto + your name. Pozvonitye mnye pozhalujsta. Moj nomyer tyelyefona + your phone number. (zdrah-stvooy-tee. eh-tuh . . . puhz-vah-nee-tee mnye pah-zhah-luh-stuh. moy noh-meer tee-lee-foh-nuh . . .) (Hello! This is . . . Call me please. My phone number is...) Ya poshlyu tyebye imejl. (ya pahsh-lyoo tee-bye ee-meh-eel) (I’ll e-mail you.)

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

When making plans, appointments, and travel arrangements in Chinese-speaking countries, you need to be able to state dates and other calendar terms in Chinese. Knowing how to say and understand dates, the days of the week, and the months of the year can help you to avoid confusion. Days of the week Days in Chinese are very simple: Monday through Saturday are days (xīngqi) 1 through 6, while Sunday is either "day of sky" (xīngqitiān) or "day of the sun" (xīngqirì). xīngqīyī (sheeng chee ee) (Monday) xīngqīèr (sheeng chee are) (Tuesday) xīngqīsān (sheeng chee sahn) (Wednesday) xīngqīsì (sheeng chee suh) (Thursday) xīngqīwŭ (sheeng chee woo) (Friday) xīngqīliù (sheeng chee lyoe) (Saturday) xīngqītiān (sheeng chee tyan) (Sunday) Other phrases used to indicate the days of the week include: jīntiān (jin tyan) (today) zuótiān (dzwaw tyan) (yesterday) míngtiān (meeng tyan) (tomorrow) hào (hao) (dates) Months of the year Months in Chinese are simply the number of the month plus the word "month" (yuè). yīyuè (ee yweh) (January) èryuè (are yweh) (February) sānyuè (sahn yweh) (March) sìyuè (suh yweh) (April) wŭyuè (woo yweh) (May) liùyuè (lyo yweh) (June) qīyuè (chee yweh) (July) bāyuè (bah yweh) (August) jiŭyuè (jyo yweh) (September) shíyuè (shir yweh) (October) shíyīyuè (shir ee yweh) (November) shíèryuè (shir are yweh) (December) Telling time The time of day can be described in general terms or specific times. The following words can be used to describe the general time of day. zăochén (dzaow chen) (morning) báitiān (bai tyan) (day) zhōngwŭ (juong woo) (noon) xiàwŭ (sya woo) (afternoon) wănshàng (wan shang) (evening) yè wăn (yeh wan) (night) bànyè (ban yeh) (midnight) When you want to know a specific time of day, you can ask jĭdiăn le? (What time is it?) or xiànzài jĭ diănzhōng? (What time is it now?) Chinese commonly uses the 24-hour clock for all official listings, including plane and train schedules, store hours, and the program guide for TV stations. For every hour after 12 noon, just add an hour. So 1 p.m. becomes 13, and 8 p.m. becomes 20. bā diăn (8:00) bànyè yī diăn (1 a.m.) zăoshàng qī diăn (7 a.m.) shàngwŭ shíyī diăn (11 a.m.) zhōngwŭ shíèr diăn (12 p.m.) xiàwŭ liăng diăn (2 p.m.) wănshàng liù diăn (6 p.m.) When expressing time between the hours, use the following terms to break things down. diănzhōng (o’clock) xiăoshí (hour) yíkèzhōng (quarter hour) fēnzhōng (minute) miăo (second) bànxiăoshí (half an hour) Generally, you can use bàn for "half past," such as jiŭ diăn bàn (9:30). The following are some examples of specific times. bādiăn shífēn (8:10) jiŭdiăn yíkè (9:15) jiŭdiăn bàn (9:30) shídiăn sān kè (10:45) chà yí kè shíyī diăn (quarter to eleven) chà wŭ fēn shíyī diăn (literally: five minutes to eleven) (10:55) You can use the following phrases as a guide when talking about time in Chinese. jīntiān shì xīngqījĭ? (What day is today?) jīntiān shì xīngqīyī. (Today is Monday.) nĭ shénme shíhou zŏu? (What day are you leaving?) wŏ xīngqīliù zŏu. (I am leaving on Saturday.) jīntiān shì jĭ hào? (What’s the date today?) jīntiān shì shíèr hào. (Today is the 12th.) nĭde shēngrì shì jĭyuè jĭhào? (What month and day is your birthday?) wŏde shēngrì shì qīyuè shísān hào. (My birthday is July 13.)

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

In most Chinese-speaking countries, people are more formal than in the United States. They prefer to set appointments for most everything. So, know how to make appointments in Chinese so that you don't waste any time. Whether you want to get together with friends or make an appointment at the embassy, the following words will come in handy. yuēdìng (appointment) xìnxi (sheen she) (a message) diànhuà hàomă (dyan hwah how mah) (telephone number) shŏujī hàomă (show jee how mah) (cell phone number) dìzhĭ (dee jir) (address) diànzĭ yóujiàn dìzhĭ (dyan dzuh yo shyahng dee jir) (e‑mail address) If you need to make a more formal appointment with business or doctor’s office, plan to give them plenty of notice — usually a week or more. Also, you should expect to make all appointments over the phone. Chinese businesses, typically, do not appreciate it if you just drop by for information. Don’t be afraid to ask the other person to slow down if you start to get lost. Just say qĭng nĭ shuō màn yìdiăn, hăoma? (Could you speak slower, please?) The following phrases will come in handy when planning an appointment or meeting. wŏmen shénme shíhou kĕyĭ jiànmiàn? (When can we meet?) shénme shíjiān duì nĭ zuì hăo? (What’s a good time for you?) wŏ jīntiān xiàwŭ yŏu shíjiān/kòng. (I am available this afternoon.) nĭ míngtiān shàngwŭ jiŭdiăn yŏu shíjiān/kòng ma? (Are you available tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.?) These two terms — yŏu shíjiān (to have time) and yŏu kòng (to have free time) — are interchangeable. wŏmen sāndiăn jiàn. (Let’s meet at 3.) duìbuqĭ, wŏ hĕnmáng. (I’m sorry, I’m busy.) duìbuqĭ. wŏ yŏu biéde shì yào zuò. (I’m sorry. I have something else to do.) duìbuqĭ, wŏ jīntiān bútài shūfu. (I’m sorry. I’m not feeling that well today.) wŏ yào yùyuē kàn yīshēng. (I would like to make an appointment to see the doctor.) wŏ hé Zhāng yīsheng yuēdìng zài sāndiăn jiàn. (I have a 3:00 appointment with Dr. Zhang.) wŏmen liăngdiăn yào kāi yí gè diànhuà huìyì. (We’re going to have a conference call at2 o’clock.) Don’t be afraid to ask the other person to slow down if you start to get lost. Just say qĭng nĭ shuō màn yìdiăn, hăoma? (Could you speak slower, please?) When it comes to an official appointment of any kind, punctuality is crucial. Arriving five minutes late is considered downright rude; being fifteen minutes could spell the end of any business relations. Call ahead if absolutely must be late, but be prepared to provide a reasonable explanation. Don't be surprised if you are not able to schedule anything from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. when almost everyone takes a break. During the break time, most offices close in China, even the phones and elevators tend to be turned off. The following phrases will come in handy when planning for an informal get together with friends and family. wŏmen wănfàn hòu jiàn. (Let’s meet after dinner.) wŏmen míngtiān shàngwŭ yìqĭ hē kāfēi. (Let’s meet for coffee tomorrow morning.) nĭmen xīngqīwŭ xiăng qǜ kàn diànyĭng ma? (Do you want to go to the movies on Friday?) wŏ xīngqīwŭ méi kòng, xīngqītiān zĕnmeyàng? (I am not free on Friday, so how about Sunday?) wŏmen bă zìxíngchē dàidào xiūlĭdiàn. (Let’s take the bike to the repair shop.) wŏmen míngtiān dōu yīnggāiqǜ gōngyuán. (We should all go to the park tomorrow.) wŏmen xīngqīliù yìqĭ chī wănfàn ba. (Let’s have dinner on Saturday night.) You can use this neutral tone ba at the end of a sentence to soften a command and make it a suggestion.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Thanks to the global nature of many Chinese businesses today, speaking Chinese at work is quickly becoming a primary reason for people to learn Chinese. Whether you’re looking for a job in a Chinese-language location or just need to talk with coworkers there, you'll need to know some key words and phrases to help ease your way. Equipment and supplies Use the following words to describe typical office equipment and supplies. bĭ (pen) qiānbĭ (pencil) zhuōzi (desk) yĭzi (chair) diànnăo (computer) bàngōngshĭ (office) bĭjìbĕn (notebook) wăngzhàn (Web site) wăngzhĭ (Web address) diànzĭxinxiāng (e‑mail address) Setting up meetings You’ll need to know the following words when scheduling meetings. yuēdìng (appointment) fùjiàn (attachment) huìyì (conference; meeting) qīxiàn (deadline) diànzĭyóujiàn (e‑mail) tăolùn (to discuss) jiĕjué (to solve) xiūlĭ (to fix) People at work There are many ways to refer to other people you work with. One of the most common is by job title. The following words will come in handy in most business settings. jīnglĭ (manager) lăobăn (boss) tóngshì (colleague) mìshū (secretary) Useful phrases Try putting some of these terms together into some phrases that might come in handy at the office. wŏ hé Zhāng yīsheng yuēdìng zài sāndiăn jiàn. (I have a 3:00 appointment with Dr. Zhang.) qĭng shāo dĕng. (Wait here, please. [Formal]) qĭng zài zhèr dĕng. (Wait here, please. [Informal]) wŏmen liăngdiăn yào kāi yí gè diànhuà huìyì. (We’re going to have a conference call at 2 o’clock.) huìyìshĭ zài nălĭ? (Where is the conference room?) wŏ kĕyĭ jiè nĭde bĭ hé bĭjìbĕn ma? (May I borrow a pen and notebook?) wŏmen kĕyĭ qĭng shìchăngbù zuò yí gè guănggào ma? (Can we have marketing create the ad?) zhè tái dăyìnjī huàile. (The printer isn’t working.) gĕi wŏ fā yì fēng diànzĭyóujiàn. (Send me an e-mail.)

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Learning numbers and counting in Chinese is simplified because the Chinese number system is extremely regular. The entire number system is based on counting the number of tens and then adding the ones. For example, 11 is shíyî, which is 10 (shí) plus 1 (yî); 21 is èrshíyī, which is 2 (èr) times 10 (shí) plus 1 (yî). Chinese Numbers yî 1 èr 2 sân 3 sì 4 wŭ 5 liù 6 qî 7 bâ 8 jiŭ 9 shí 10 shíyî 11 shíèr 12 shísân 13 shísì 14 shíwŭ 15 shíliù 16 shíqî 17 shíbâ 18 shíjiŭ 19 èrshí 20 èrshíyî 21 èrshíèr 22 èrshísân 23 sânshí 30 sânshíyî 31 sânshíèr 32 sìshí 40 sìshíyî 41 sìshíèr 42 wŭshí 50 liùshí 60 qîshí 70 bâshí 80 jiŭshí 90 jiŭshíjiŭ 99 yìbãi 100 yìqiân 1,000 In Chinese, numbers are read the same way they are in English. You would say how many hundreds, how many tens, and then how many ones. For example, you would say 135 by saying, yìbãi (one hundred) sânshí (three tens, or thirty) wŭ (five). So, 6,427 would be read as liùqiân sìbãi èrshí qî. The following phrases can show how numbers can be used in conversation. Chen: nĭ duó dà? (for people older than 10); nĭ jĭsuì? (for children) (How old are you?) Michael: wŏ èrshíwŭ suì. (I am 25 years old.) Chen: shuāngrénfáng shì duōshăo qián? (How much does a double room cost?) Michael: shuāngrénfáng shì yìbăiérshí kuài. (It costs $120.)

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Making small talk in Chinese is just the same as in English. Touch on familiar topics like jobs, sports, children — just say it in Chinese! Small talk describes the brief conversations that you have with people you don't know well. Small talk is where friendships are made. If you know how to make small talk in Chinese you'll be able to "break the ice" and get to know some of the people you meet during your trip. Small talk generally consists of greetings and introductions and descriptions of personal information and interests. If you are able to hold your own in each of these areas, you'll be able to handle most small talk situations. Greetings and introductions Although the Chinese are often more formal than we are in America, you don't need to wait around to be introduced to someone. Take the initiative to walk up to someone and say hello. The most common ways to greet someone is to simply say hello (nĭ hăo!). Introductions don't have to be complicated or stuffy. The following phrases are all you need to get a conversation started. wŏ jiào . . . (My name is . . .) nĭ jiào shénme míngzi? (What’s your name? [Formal]) nín guì xìng? (What is your surname? [Formal]) nĭ xìng shénme? (What is your surname? [Informal]) wŏ xìng Liú. (My surname is Liu.) ní dè míngzi zĕnme fāyīn? (How do you pronounce your name?) Greetings and introductions are usually accompanied by a nĭ hăoma? (How are you?) There are many possible responses, but the most common would be to say wŏ hĕnhăo, xièxie (I’m doing great, thank you.) or tĭnghăode (I’m fine.). Personal information After the necessary introductions, small talk is really just a question of sharing information about yourself and asking the other person questions about themselves. The following phrases will come in handy when you're chitchatting with someone new. nĭ cóng năr lái? (Where are you from?) nĭ cóng năge guójiā lái? (What country are you from?) wŏ cóng mĕiguó lái. (I am from the United States.) nĭ cóng năge chéngshì lái? (What city are you from?) wŏ cóng niŭyuē lái. (I am from New York.) nĭ shì zuò shénme de? (What do you do?) wŏ shì yīshēng. (I’m a doctor.) wŏ shì xuéshēng. (I am a student.) wŏ zài zhèr xué zhōngwén. (I am here to study Chinese.) wŏ zài zhèr liúxué. (I am here on a study- abroad program.) nĭ yŏu nǚpéngyou ma? (Do you have a girlfriend?) nĭ yŏu nánpéngyou ma? (Do you have a boyfriend?) nĭ jiēhūnle ma? (Are you married?) nĭ yŏu háizi ma? (Do you have any children?) wŏ méiyŏu háizi. (No, I don’t have any children.) Although very few topics are considered personal in China (including your salary), two topics you should avoid are Taiwan and Tibet. They are very sensitive subjects and have a very long and complex history. You can easily offend people. Personal interests Many friendships are forged on the bond of common interests. You can use the following phrases to compare interests when making small talk. nĭ xĭhuān wán shénme? (What do you like to do for fun?) wŏ xĭhuān kàn diànyĭng. (I like going to the movies.) wŏ xĭhuān qù tiàowŭ. (I like to go dancing.) wŏ bú kàn diànshì. (I don’t watch television.) nĭ xĭhuān shénme yùndòng ma? (Do you play any sports?) wŏ dă gāoĕrfū qiú. (I play golf.) wŏ tī zúqiú. (I play soccer.) wŏ shì yí gè yùndòng mí. (I am a big sports fan.) nĭ xĭhuān chī shénmeyàng de fàn? (What kind of food do you like?) zhè shì wŏ zuì xĭhuān de fànguăn. (This restaurant is my favorite.) That's it. By mastering these simple sentence structures, you'll soon be able to make small talk with everyone you meet.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Traveling in a Chinese-speaking country can be confusing if you can't read the signs or understand the instructions you're given. Learning a few useful travel-related words and phrases in Chinese before you begin traveling can save you time and reduce your frustration level. General travel vocabulary Here are a few general travel-related terms that everyone should know before making the big trip. hùzhào (hoo jaow) (passport) xiāngzi (shyahng dzuh) (suitcase) hăiguān (hi gwahn) (customs) lǖyóu (lyew yoe) (tour) lǖyóu shŏucè (lyew yoe show tsuh) (guidebook) qiānzhèng (chyan juhng) (visa) shŏutíxíngli (show tee sheeng lee) (carry-on luggage) tuōyùn (twaw yewn) (to check in luggage) xiāngzi (shyahng dzuh) (suitcase) xíngli (sheeng lee) (luggage) lǖxíng dàilĭrén (lyew sheeng dye lee run) (travel agent) lǖxíngshè (lyew sheeng shuh) (travel agency) guānguāng tuán (gwahn gwahng twahn) (tour group) piào (pyaow) (ticket) Remember that the Chinese commonly uses the 24-hour clock to list the times of planes, trains, buses, and tours. For every hour after 12 noon, just add an hour. So 1 p.m. becomes 13, and 8 p.m. becomes 20. Traveling by plane While traveling in a foreign country, you often need to make or change your travel arrangements. The following words can be helpful when making or changing flight arrangements. fēijī (airplane) fēijīchăng (airport) dēngjīpái (boarding pass) dānchéng piào (one-way ticket) wáng făn piào (round-trip ticket) tóudĕngcāng (first class) shāngwù cāng (business class) jīngjìcāng (economy class) Essential phrases: wŏ yào dìng yìzhāng fēijīpiào. (I would like to reserve a ticket.) wŏ yào dìng yìzhāng cōng Bĕijīng dào Shànghăi de wăngfăn jīpiào. (I would like to buy a round-trip ticket from Beijing to Shanghai.) wŏ yào măi liăngzhāng qf Niŭyuē de fēijīpiào. (I would like to purchase two tickets to New York.) wŏ xiăngyào wănshang qīdiăn de hángbān. (I’d like the 7 p.m. flight.) yào (want) and xiăngyào (want) are nearly the same, but xiăngyào has a softer sense to it. You can use them interchangeably. wŏmen yŏu sāngè píxiāng hé liăngge shŏutíxiāng. (We have three suitcases and two handbags.) wŏ méiyŏu tài duō de xíngli. (I do not have any excess baggage.) zhè jiàn kĕyĭ suíshēn dài ma? (Can this be a carry-on?) wŏ yīnggāi duōzăo dào? (How early should I arrive?) Traveling by train Train travel is the most common form of long distance transportation in China. If you're going to travel by train, you'll want to understand the different types of ticketing available: Stand-up ticket (zhàn piào): This is the cheapest ticket, but as the name suggests, you don’t get a seat! Hard seat (yìngzuò): This ticket allows you to use bench seats (kind of like school bus seats) facing each other with a small table. Soft seat (ruănzuò): With this ticket, you get a lightly upholstered, individual seat. Hard sleeper (yìngwò): A ticket in this class gives you access to a section that has open berths with two sets of hard bunks facing each other, three bunks high. Soft sleeper (ruănwò): The berths in this private section have two softer bunks on each side, two bunks high, and a small table attached to the wall. There is also a flat overhead storage area. The following phrases can help you when making arrangements to travel by train in a Chinese-speaking country. wŏ yào măi yìzhāng qf Shànghăi de huŏchēpiào. (I would like to purchase a ticket to Shanghai.) duì xuéshēng yŏu yōuhuì ma? (Do you have discounts for students?) zhĭ yào dānchéng de. (Just one-way.) duōshăoqián yìzhāngpiào? (How much does the ticket cost?) Staying at a Hotel Although many of the larger hotels in a Chinese-speaking country have English-speaking staff, you rarely find that in the smaller hotels and in the smaller towns. The following words can help you make or change your hotel reservations. tuìfáng (tway fahng) (to check out of a room) shuāngrén fángjiān (shwahng run fahng jyan) (double room) tănzi (tahn dzuh) (blanket) kōngtiáo (koong tyaow) (air conditioning) kòngwèi (koong way) (vacant) jīedàiyuán (jyeh deye yuan) (concierge) lǖguăn (lyew gwahn) (hotel) fàndiàn qiántái (fahn dyan chyan tye) (reception desk) fángjiān (fahng jyan) (room) dàtīng (dah teeng) (lobby) Essential phrases to know: nĭ yŏu shénme yàng de kòngfáng? (What rooms do you have available?) duìbuqĭ, wŏmen méiyŏu kòngfáng le. (I’m sorry, we don’t have any available rooms.) wŏmen xiăng qhxiāo wŏmen de yùdìng. (We want to cancel our room reservation.) shénme shíjiān tuìfáng? (At what time is checkout?) nĭ yào zài zhōngwŭ shíèr diăn tuìfáng. (You need to check out of your room by 12 o’clock.) zhè shì nĭde fángjiān yàoshi. (Here’s the key to your room.) wŏ yào kèfáng fúwù. (Room service, please.)

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

The Chinese language has some distinct sounds that are can be tricky to pronounce. To be understood in Chinese, you need to know how to pronounce these sounds, which tend to give English speakers some trouble. Once you get the hang of it, the Chinese sound system isn’t as difficult as you may have thought. Tricky vowel sounds Vowel sounds can be especially troublesome. The table gives you some pronunciation cues so you have something to compare them to in English. Vowel English Equivalent Example in Chinese a The "a" in father. māma (mother) e The "e" in bed or yes. yĕ (also) e The sound you make if someone punches you in the stomach. hé (river); è (hungry) i The "ee" sound in me or tea. tí (kick) i Like the "schwa" sound, but made in the back of your throat. Only follows s, c, and z. sì (four) o Like the "aw" sound in bald or bawdy. wŏ (me, I) u Like the "oo" sound in moon or group. lù (street) bù (no; not) ü Someone once said it is like saying an "ee" through an "oo" hole. Only j, x, q, and y. yú (fish) yŭ (rain) qù (go) Tricky consonants Some consonant sounds can be really tricky either because there is a subtle difference with the English sounds or because English doesn’t have the same sound. The following table highlights some. Consonant Sound in English Example in Chinese How to zh A "j" sound, but with your tongue curled up toward the roof of your mouth. zhĭ (paper) Keep the lips relaxed for the Chinese sound. ch A "ch" sound, but with your tongue curled up to the roof of your mouth. chī (eat) Same as zh. sh An "sh" sound, but with your tongue curled up to the roof of your mouth. shì (be); shí (ten) Same as zh. j A "j" sound. jĭ (several) Your tongue is down behind your bottom teeth, and your lips are unshaped. q A "ch" sound. qí (ride) Same as the j. x A "sh" sound. xiăo (small) Same as j and q. z "dz," as in suds. zăo (early) c "ts," as in cats. căo (grass)

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

When you're traveling in Chinese-speaking locations, you'll find that the words and phrases you use most frequently will be the common Chinese greetings. These words and phrases will quickly become second nature to you because you'll use them day in and day out with everyone you come across. As you'd expect, you should use a polite greeting when you run into someone you know or want to know. However, in Chinese-speaking countries, greetings are given a much greater importance than they are in America. Saying hello The most common ways to greet someone in Chinese-speaking countries are: nĭ hăo! (Hello/Hi!) zăoshàng hăo; nĭ zăo; zăo (Good morning.) These three ways to say "good morning" aren't actually very different, but they go somewhat in order of formality, from more formal to less formal. xiàwŭ hăo (Good afternoon.) wănshàng hăo (Good evening.) In China, the standard greeting is usually accompanied by a hand shake. However, unlike the firm, quick American handshake, the Chinese tend to shake hands lightly and for hold the handshake longer: even as long as ten seconds. Although the handshake is more common, some people prefer a bow. If you are unsure what to do, wait for your Chinese counterpart to make the first move. Then, just duplicate their greeting. How are you? How's it going? How many times a day do we hear or say these brief greetings at the beginning of our conversations? So many times, in fact, that half the time, we don't even pay attention. These pleasantries are common in Chinese-speaking countries as well. The Chinese phrase equivalent to "How are you?" is nĭ hăoma? Other common ways to ask how someone is doing are: nĭ zĕnmeyàng? (How is it going?) zuìjìn zĕnmeyàng? (How's it going lately?) zuìjìn hăoma? (How are you lately?) Responding to "How are you?" As you'd expect, when someone asks you how you're doing, there are many possible responses. wŏ hĕnhăo, xièxie. (I'm doing great, thank you.) wŏ bútàihăo. (I'm not doing well.) In Chinese, as in English, you would only tell people you know reasonably well that you aren't well. mămăhūhū. (So-so.) This phrase actually translates as "Horse horse tiger tiger." If you use this with your Chinese friends, they'll be very impressed! háixíng. (I'm okay.) tĭnghăode. (I'm fine.) Saying good-bye There are also many ways to say goodbye. zàijiàn. (Goodbye.) míngtiān jiàn. (See you tomorrow.) huítóu jiàn. (See you soon.) zhù nĭ hăoyùn! (Good luck!) xiàge xīngqījiàn. (See you next week.) găitiān zàiliáo. (Talk to you soon.) mànzŏu. (Take care.) Although mànzŏu generally means "walk carefully" in Chinese, you also can say mànzŏu or băozhòng in Chinese for "take care" in English. Moreover, băozhòng is a little more formal and serious than mànzŏu. Have a look at how these greetings words work in an actual conversation. Bill: nĭ hăo! (Hello!) Jin: nĭ zăo. zuìjìn zĕnmeyàng? (Good Morning. How is it going lately?) Bill: háixíng. nĭ ne? (I'm okay. And you?) Jin: wŏ yĕ búcuò. (The same.) Bill: zàijiàn. (Goodbye.) Jin: mànzŏu. (Take care.)

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Develop a Chinese shopping vocabulary to gain a new cultural experience when traveling. Whether you're shopping for clothes, food, or souvenirs, you can use the following Chinese phrases to help you find just the right thing. The following phrases will be useful in a variety of shopping situations. bù, xièxie, wŏ zhĭ shì kàn kan. (No, thank you, I am just looking.) zhè gè duōsháo qián? (How much does it cost?) wŏ néng fù xiànjīn háishì xìnyòngkă? (Can I pay cash or credit?) chāojíshìchăng zài năr? (Where is the supermarket?) nĭ néng gĕi wŏ bāo yíxià ma? (Would you wrap it for me, please?) nĭ dăsuàn măi shénme? (What are you looking for?) bù, xièxie, wŏ zhĭ shì kàn kan. (No, thank you, I am just looking.) duō dà hào de? (What size?) zhè shuāng tài jĭn le. (This is too tight.) zhè jiàn yŏu xiăohào de ma? (Do you have this in size small?) zhèxiē kùzi jiănjià ma? (Are these pants on sale?) duì, mĕijiàn dōu dă wŭ zhé. (Yes, everything is 50 percent off.) wŏ kĕyĭ tuì zhè gè ma? (May I return this item?) In most Chinese-speaking countries, most people shop for groceries in open-air street markets, convenience, or supermarkets (chāojí shìchăng) (chaow jee shir chahng). The following words can be used in a variety of shopping situations. xìnyòng kă (sheen yoong kah) (credit card) guì (gway) (expensive) dà (dah) (big) shòuhuòyuán (show hwaw ywan) (salesclerk) xiăo (shyaow) (small) xiànjīn (shyan jeen) (cash) yīfu (ee foo) (clothing) yŭyī (yew ee) (raincoat) qúnzi (chwun dzuh) (skirt) zhūbăo (joo baow) (jewelry) xiézi (shyeh dzuh) (shoes) qiánbāo(chyan baow) (wallet) If you want to buy antiques in China, make sure that they aren't older than 1795 AD. Anything older is illegal. If the item you want dates from 1796 to 1949, it needs to bear a red seal from the Central Relics Bureau. Also, don't forget to keep the receipts handy; you'll need to show them when departing China.