Written Summary of Oct 27th Google Hangout Q&A with Yangyang and Recommended Resources

Some of my Google Hangout viewers emailed me requesting a written version of my recent Google Hangout On Air.

I thought it would be helpful for all of you to be able to read it as well, because many students learn better when they see written pīnyīn and words. Hopefully this will help all the visual learners out there!

Also, since some of you might want to do some further investigation, I've listed some resources both internally at Yoyochinese.com or externally from other sites. Please explore as much as you can!

Feel free to give us feedback on how we can further improve your Chinese study experience!
 

1. The difference between “zhōngwén” (中文) and “hànyǔ (汉语)

2. How to say “only" in Chinese

3. The rule for saying multiple third tones in a row

4. The importance of learning radicals

5. The difference between néng, kěyǐ, huì

6. The difference between le (了) and guò (过)

7. Filler sounds such as “a” - 啊 or “la” - 啦

8. Chinese slang words

9. How to say “supposed to” in Chinese

10. Why stroke order is important

11. How to say “Hey! Please Listen” in Chinese

12. Probability words in Chinese

13. How to say “I need” in Chinese

14. The difference between yào 要 and xiǎng 想

15. Chinese songs
 

1. Question: What is the difference between “zhōngwén” (中文) and “hànyǔ (汉语)? Does “hànyǔ” describe more strictly the speaking aspect of Mandarin and “zhōngwén”describes both written and spoken Chinese?”

Yes! The “wén” in “zhōngwén” literally means the written language, but usually when people say “zhōngwén” they can be talking about written or spoken Chinese. The “yǔ” in “hànyǔ” describes the spoken language, which is a more specific aspect of the language.

Zhōngwén is the word under which all Chinese language and dialects are described. For example,Cantonese is “zhōngwén”, Shanghainese is “zhōngwén”. But “hànyǔ” describes strictly Mandarin Chinese.

Related lesson on Yoyochinese.com: Listen to how real Chinese people use different words for "Mandarin" or "Chinese".

 

2. Question: How do you say "only" as in "This is my only choice"? Can I say “zhè shì wǒ zhǐ de jīhuì” (这是我只的机会)?

No, when you use “zhǐ” - “only” (只) it acts as an adverb, which needs to be followed by a verb or adjective. When you say “this is my only choice” you’re talking about one and only one of something. The best word for this sentence is “wéiyī de” (唯一的) as in “Zhè shì wǒ wéiyī de jīhuì”

 

3. Question: What is the rule when saying multiple third tones in a row?

When you have two third tones in a row, for example “nǐ hǎo” - “hello” (你好), you usually change the first third-tone into a second tone “ní hǎo” so it’s easier to say.

If a sentence has several third tones in a row, you pick which adjacent words share the most meaning, or form a “set”, and change the accents in each “set” accordingly. In this case, since there is no hard and fast rule, you just try your best to preserve the meaning of what you are trying to say.

For example “wǒ zhǐ xiǎng mǎi” - “I only want to buy” (我只想买). There are four third-tones here. You figure out which ones can be connected as a set. You can say, “[wó zhǐ] [xiáng mǎi]” or you can try, “wǒ [zhí xiǎng] mǎi”.

Related lesson on Yoyochinese.com:

Tone Change Rules for Yī and Bù

 

4. Question: Why should I learn radicals? What makes them useful to learn?

If you are learning characters, you absolutely must learn radicals. After all, radicals are the building blocks of characters! Start with strokes, then learn radicals, then learn how to position them in relation to each other in order to form increasingly complex characters!

Recommended Resources for learning radicals:

"The most common Chinese radicals" by Zhang Pengpeng

(note: we're not affiliated with the book at all. We just love the book.)

 

5. Question: What is the difference between néng, kěyǐ, huì?

The words “néng” (能) and “kěyǐ” (可以) are very similar. They describe a physical ability, that you can do something. “Huì” (会) describes a learned skill, such as speaking a language, cooking, or playing the piano.

Related lesson on Yoyochinese.com:

Listen to how “néng (能)” is used in real-life situations (authentic Chinese dialogue)

 

6. Question: What is the difference between le (了) and guò (过) when negating past actions?

“Le” describes an immediate past action such as “I went to the supermarket” - “wǒ qùle chāoshì” (我去了超市).  “Guò” is called an “experiential suffix”, which is used after a verb to express “been there, done that”, similar to boasting about your experiences. “I’ve been to the great wall” - “wǒ qùguò chángchéng” (我去过长城).

Related lesson on Yoyochinese.com:

How to use guo4(过) when using the past tense

 

7. Question: Native Chinese speakers frequently add extra sounds to the end of their sentence, such as “a” - 啊 or “la” - 啦. Do these extra sounds change the meaning or are they meant to make the sentence sound more “fluid”?

In English, the speaker can add all sorts of tonal inflection to show their emotional implications. However, in Mandarin, every tone has a meaning so it’s nearly impossible to change a tone without changing the meaning of what you’re saying. That’s why native speakers use these articles, they want to show more emotion in what they are saying.

Take a look at these examples to see if you can tell the difference between the sentences:

• nǐ huì shuō zhōnɡ wén mɑ

• 你  会    说      中       文    吗 ?

• nǐ huì shuō zhōnɡ wén bɑ

• 你  会    说       中      文    吧 ？

• nǐ huì shuō zhōnɡ wén a

• 你  会     说      中      文   啊 ？

Further information on this lesson can be found here: Chinese Sounds and Their Meanings

 

8. Question: What are some slang words that native Chinese people use when speaking to each other? In English we have shortened words like “gonna” “what’s up” and “sorta”, is there any Mandarin equivalent?

Most of the time, Chinese people only add the sounds “a” - 啊 or “la” - 啦 to the end of their questions to sound less formal. One good slang phrase to keep your ears open for is based on the phrase “I don’t know” - wǒ bù zhīdào (我不知道). Native speakers will frequently slur these words together; the slang version will sound more like “burdao”, practice saying it out loud so you won’t be caught off-guard!

Check out the following lessons for some more slang terms:

How do you say "you kick ass" or "You're awesome" in Chinese?

What word would you use to praise a woman's femininity?

 

9. Question: In a business setting, how would I say “supposed to” as in “You were supposed to be at this morning’s meeting”?

You would use the word “should” - “yīnggāi” (应该). “Jīntiān zǎoshang, nǐ yīnggāi cānjiā zhège huì, kěshì nǐ měi yǒu,” (今天早上，你应该参加这个会可是你没有).

Here is a more in-depth lesson on Yoyochinese.com:

How to use the word "yīnggāi (应该)

Listen to Chinese people on the street answer the question "what should you do if you're sick"?

Listen to Chinese people on the street answer the question "what should one do to learn English well"?

 

10. Question: Why is stroke order important?

Stroke order is important in the sense that having a system is the quickest way to turn something into a habit. Writing characters the same way every time will help you remember them and write them more efficiently; you don’t have to think much when something has become a habit.

However, we should remember that learning how to write Chinese characters is only a means to an end, which is to recognize and type Chinese characters. If you get the stroke orders wrong, it’s not a big deal.

 

11. Question: I am a beginning Mandarin student, and Chinese locals frequently “switch off” and assume I will not be able to speak well, thus not listening to me. Is there a polite phrase to say "Hey! Please listen!"

You can simply say “please listen to what I say,” - “qǐng tīng wǒ shuō,” (请听我说). Alternatively, you can say sincerely, “I don’t speak well, but I really like Chinese,” - “Wǒ shuō de bù hǎo, kěshì wǒ hěn xǐhuān zhōngwén,” (我说得不好，可是我很喜欢中文).

 

12. Question: How do you say probability words such as unlikely, likely, or impossible? For example, if I want to say, "It will likely rain tomorrow"?

Words like “possible” or “impossible” are translated as “have probability” or “not have probability” - “yǒu kěnéng” or “méi yǒu kěnéng” (有可能, 没有可能) like in the sentence “It might rain tomorrow,” - “Míngtiān yǒu kěnéng xià yǔ,” (明天有可能下雨). Another word that describes the future probability or predictability of something happening is “huì” (会).

Here is a more in-depth explanation on Yoyochinese.com:

How to use the future indicating word "huì(会)"?

 

13. Question: How would I express “need” as in “I need to be careful”?

The best and easiest way is to say “Wǒ xūyào xiǎoxīn” (我需要小心).

Watch this lesson for more information on Yoyochinese.com

How to use the word “need” - “xūyào”（需要) in Chinese?

 

14. Question: What is the difference between yào 要 and xiǎng 想 when wanting to say "want"?

“Yào” (要) is usually used when asking for something. It must be followed by a direct object, just like in the phrase “to want SOMETHING”. Whereas “xiǎng” (想) must be followed by a verb, like in “to want to DO something”.

Pertinent lessons on Yoyochinese.com:

What's the difference between "yào" (要) and "xiǎng" (想)

How to use the future-indicating-word "yào"（要)

 

15. Question: Do you think listening to Chinese songs is a good way to learn tones and practice listening?

Chinese songs don’t have any tones since the melody of the song overrides the tone of the word. For this reason, Chinese songs are not a precise way to learn the true tones. Songs are, however, a great way to create catchy rhythms in your head in order to memorize complex sentence structures.

Here is a great pop song that I like to use to teach tones and sentence structure!

“Mice Love Rice - lǎo shǔ ài dà mǐ (老鼠爱大米)"

 

I hope you found this question and answer session helpful! Please let me know in the comments section if you have any more questions about learning Chinese.