When learning a new language, one of the first things you need to learn how to do is introduce yourself. It’s also a good idea to learn how to ask questions to others so you can get to know them. Today I’ll provide a basic guide for how to do so.<\/p>\n
A: My name is… (\u6211\u53eb… – w\u01d2 ji\u00e0o…) OR (\u6211\u7684\u540d\u5b57\u662f… – w\u01d2 de m\u00edng z\u00ec sh\u00ec…)<\/p>\n
This is a very common and informal way to ask someone’s name. Both answers can be used, but it’s probably easier and more common to use the first one. Sometimes, less is more. This is the equivalent of asking someone’s first name in English.<\/p>\n
A: My surname is… (\u6211\u59d3… – \u00a0w\u01d2 x\u00ecng…)<\/p>\n
This is a more formal and polite way to ask someone’s name. Note the use of \u60a8 as opposed to\u00a0\u4f60 – it is a more formal way to say “you” in Chinese.\u00a0Think when you’re talking to an elder, a teacher, or someone you should show respect to.<\/p>\n
A: I’m from… (\u6211\u662f… \u4eba – w\u01d2 sh\u00ec… r\u00e9n)<\/p>\n
Since you’re a foreigner in China, this is the most common way someone will ask you where you’re from. To answer, simply insert the Chinese name for your country into the phrase “\u6211\u662f… \u4eba.” For example, I would answer “I’m American<\/strong>” (\u6211\u662f\u7f8e\u56fd\u4eba – w\u01d2 sh\u00ec m\u011bi gu\u00f3 r\u00e9n).<\/p>\n A: I’m from… (\u6211\u662f… \u7684 – w\u01d2 sh\u00ec… de)<\/p>\n This is the question you can ask a Chinese person to find out where they are from in this massive country. You may hear an answer like, “I’m a Beijinger<\/strong>” (\u6211\u662f\u5317\u4eac\u7684 – w\u01d2 sh\u00ec b\u011bi j\u012bng de).<\/p>\n A: I’m a\/an… (\u6211\u662f… – w\u01d2 sh\u00ec…)<\/p>\n Just learn the Chinese word for your job title and add it to the end of your answer. For example, “I’m an English teacher<\/strong>” (\u6211\u662f\u82f1\u8bed\u8001\u5e08 – w\u01d2 sh\u00ec y\u012bng y\u01d4 l\u01ceo sh\u012b). This post I wrote about my job<\/a> includes in Chinese should help you learn to talk about yours.<\/p>\n A: I’m… years old. (\u6211… \u5c81 – w\u01d2… su\u00ec)<\/p>\n To answer this one, just insert the number for your age. As for myself, I’d currently answer, “‘I’m 27 years old<\/strong>” (\u6211\u4e8c\u5341\u4e03\u5c81 – w\u01d2 \u00e8r sh\u00ed q\u012b su\u00ec). Of course, you might not want to ask a lady older than you for her age. It’s not such a stigma here in China as it is in Western cultures, but it is catching on a little and some women might not want to answer this one.<\/p>\n A: There are… people in my family. (\u6211\u5bb6\u6709… \u4e2a\u4eba – w\u01d2 ji\u0101 y\u01d2u… g\u00e8 r\u00e9n)<\/p>\n Just add the number of people into the middle of the sentence. To answer this question, I say, “There are 9 people in my family<\/strong>” (\u6211\u5bb6\u6709\u4e5d\u4e2a\u4eba – w\u01d2 ji\u0101 y\u01d2u ji\u01d4 g\u00e8 r\u00e9n). To learn more detailed vocabulary and grammar structures for talking about family, you can read this post I made in Chinese about my family<\/a>.<\/p>\n A: Yes, I’m married. (\u6211\u7ed3\u5a5a\u4e86 – w\u01d2 ji\u00e9 h\u016bn le); No, I’m not. (\u6ca1\u6709 – m\u00e9i y\u01d2u)<\/p>\n A: Yes, I do. (\u6709 –\u00a0y\u01d2u); No, I don’t. (\u6ca1\u6709 – m\u00e9i y\u01d2u)<\/p>\n If you do have kids, you might want to learn a few more words, such as “son<\/strong>” (\u513f\u5b50 – \u00c9r zi)\u00a0and “daughter<\/strong>” (\u5973\u513f – n\u01da’\u00e9r).<\/p>\n A: My hobbies are… (\u6211\u7684\u7231\u597d\u662f… – w\u01d2 de \u00e0i h\u00e0o sh\u00ec…)<\/p>\n Of course there are tons of words you could learn on the topic of hobbies. To help you out more with that one, here’s an article I wrote in Chinese about my hobbies<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n
Job<\/h2>\n
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Age<\/h2>\n
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Family<\/h2>\n
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Hobbies<\/h2>\n
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