Speaking of speaking Chinese, two of the most useful phrases for a person visiting China are \u201c\u6211\u4e0d\u4f1a\u8bf4\u6c49\u8bed\u201d(w\u01d2 b\u00f9 hu\u00ec shu\u014d h\u00e0n y\u01d4 \u2013 I can\u2019t speak Chinese) and \u201c\u4f60\u4f1a\u8bf4\u82f1\u8bed\u5417?\u201d(n\u01d0 hu\u00ec shu\u014d y\u012bng y\u01d4 ma? \u2013 Can you speak English?) In my early experiences, being equipped with these two phrases saved me in many situations.\u00a0 For one, I found that by simply practicing my \u4f60\u597d, people would take that as evidence of my stellar Chinese abilities (re-read my first post to see my actual Chinese level at this point in time).\u00a0 This would encourage them to speak at their normal speed, which left me looking wide-eyed and confused.\u00a0 Also, I noticed that if the person I was talking to didn\u2019t speak English, there was a good chance they knew someone who did.\u00a0 If you have a bit of confidence and want to practice the Chinese you do know, you can also say \u201c\u6211\u53ea\u4f1a\u8bf4\u4e00\u70b9\u6c49\u8bed\u201d(w\u01d2 zh\u01d0 hu\u00ec shu\u014d y\u012b di\u01cen h\u00e0n y\u01d4 \u2013 I can only speak a little Chinese).\u00a0 Most people will be considerate and will slow down quite a bit and will repeatedly ask \u201c\u660e\u767d\u5417?\u201d(m\u00edng bai ma \u2013 Is it clear?\/Do you get it?\u201d)\u00a0 In my experience, Chinese people are quite accommodating and understanding when it comes to a \u8001\u5916s lackluster Chinese abilities<\/p>\n
Not only will mastery of the \u62fc\u97f3 system set you on your way to being able to converse in Chinese, but it will also help you begin to recognize characters.\u00a0 In order to type in Chinese on a \u624b\u673a (sh\u01d2u j\u012b \u2013 cell phone) or \u7535\u8111 (di\u00e0n n\u01ceo \u2013 computer), you need to first type in the \u62fc\u97f3 and then choose the correct character.\u00a0 I\u2019ve found that it really helps my reading abilities when I sit down to \u5b66\u4e60 (xu\u00e9 x\u00ed \u2013 study) and type out my notes as I go.\u00a0 This really comes in handy when traveling in and around \u5317\u4eac (B\u011bi j\u012bng \u2013 Beijing), as the bus\/subway maps all have both the \u6c49\u5b57 and the \u62fc\u97f3.\u00a0 Also, you can have fun with friends and practice your skills when you \u53d1\u77ed\u4fe1 (f\u0101 du\u01cen x\u00ecn \u2013 send a text message) to each other in Chinese.\u00a0 Who says studying a complicated foreign language can\u2019t be fun?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2010\/07\/Speaking-English-Pinyin-Style1-350x234.jpg\")
For anyone raised on the ABCs and 1-2-3s, learning Chinese can seem to be a daunting task.\u00a0 During my first few weeks in Beijing, I would often stare in disbelief at newspapers, menus, and street signs while thinking to myself, \u201cHow am I ever going to understand this language?\u201d\u00a0 Luckily for me, and other equally…<\/p>\n