Introductions

[Kiwijes]

Hi, my chinese is terrible and I am really trying to cram in the lessons before I get there.

So here's an easy one...

Can you please tell me how to say " I am from...." - preferably in Pinyin.

I want to at least have memorised a few sentences to describe who I am and where I come from!!

Any other great introduction phrases are always appreciated too.

Thanks again!

[skylee]

Consider -

1) I am XX -> Wo3 jiao4 XX [ 我叫 XX ]

2) I am from YYY -> Wo3 shi cong2 YYY lai2 de [ 我是從 YYY 來的 ]

OR -> Wo3 lai2 zi4 YYY [ 我來自 YYY ]

The romanisation is based on hanyu pinyin (meaning if you pronounce it as if it were English you might not be understood.)

[kdavid]

Two very important lines for beginners:

Ni3 hui2 shuo1 ying1yu3 / ying1wen2 ma? (Can you speak English?)

Wo3 ting1 bu2 dong3! (I don't understand!)

And, if you're coming here to study:

Qing3, shuo1 man4 dianr3. (Please speak slowly.)

[babygodzilla]

just curious, are you taking lessons, and when are you coming to China?

good luck!

[Ardison]

wǒ cónɡ （place) lái = I am from (place)

我 从 （place) 来

hěn ɡāo xìnɡ rèn shí nǐ = I am glad to meet you

很 高 兴 认 识 你

xīn xī lán = New Zealand:D

新 西 兰

[imron]

Ni3 hui2 shuo1 ying1yu3 / ying1wen2 ma?

This should be hui4.

[Koneko]

Something extra...

Local people might not go by your name, so it's not uncommon to hear people calling you:-

1. Laowai

2. Dabizi

3. Yangren

4. Yangguizi

Just a few I can think of...

K.

[kdavid]

Quote:

Ni3 hui2 shuo1 ying1yu3 / ying1wen2 ma?

This should be hui4.

Right! My mistake.

Also, Kiwi, I read yesterday they that speak the Wu dialect in Jiangsu, and while they "should" know Mandarin, you still might want to keep that in mind.

[HashiriKata]

Right! My mistake.

Not done yet!

Check also your other sentence: Wo3 ting1 bu2 dong3! (I don't understand!)

[kdavid]

Quote:

Right! My mistake.

Not done yet!

Check also your other sentence: Wo3 ting1 bu2 dong3! (I don't understand!)

Apparently my 2's and 4's were off the other day. Sorry this has deterred the entire thread!

[889]

If you hear people say yangguizi or dabizi, they're not complimenting you.

They're saying they think you don't understand Chinese very well . . . .

[kdavid]

Granted I've only been here for 4 months, and the novelty has probably yet to wear off, but I still get a kick out of when people look me straight in the eyes and say out loud, "kan kan, waiguo ren!"

[beijingchenwei]

我来自。。。。I am from ....

我叫。。。My name is...

我喜欢。。。。I like....

[Kiwijes]

Thanks for all your responses.

Yes babygodzilla, I am taking lessons. Sadly, in my town we have limited classes - the best being 8 x 2hr "beginner" lessons and they just finished last week.

I know how to say hi, my name is etc. And I know how to say the things I like, I dont understand etc, and I also know how to pronounce pinyin. For some reason however I missed the "I am from xin xi lan" lesson.

I know I will pick it up when I get there but i'm just having a panic because the lessons didnt get through nearly as much as I hoped they would!!

Thanks again for all your help!!

[Lu]

No need to panic, you can't learn Chinese in 8 weeks, but everything you have learned will be greatly appreciated in China. Enjoy your stay there!