LYCEUM-NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

Dagupan City, Pangasinan

COLLEGE OF HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT
COLLEGE OF TOURISM MANAGEMENT

HM 15 – FOREIGN LANGUAGE 1 (MANDARIN 1)

Study Guide

Study Guide 1
INTRODUCTION TO MANDARIN LANGUAGE

I. Overview

The topics in this study guide focus on the introduction to Mandarin language.
Specifically, it presents the rules in reading and writing Chinese words using Pin Yin.

II. Module Learning Outcomes

After completing this study guide, you will be able to:

1. Appreciate the Mandarin language.
2. Apply rules in reading and writing Chinese words using Pin Yin.
3. Learn to read and pronounce using the Mandarin tones.
4. Translate family members in Chinese.
5. Identify the different Mandarin pronouns.
6. Acquire Mandarin basic expressions that you can use in simple conversation.

III. Key Concepts

1. The Mandarin Language
2. Pin Yin
3. Chinese Characters
4. Rules in Reading Chinese Words
5. Mandarin Tones
6. Basic Greetings in Mandarin
7. Basic Mandarin Conversation
8. Family Members in Chinese
9. Mandarin Pronouns

IV. Content/ Lectures/ Readings/ Learning Resources

1. Read and follow the instructions stated in the learning activities part of this
module on how to participate in the discussion.
2. Read and study topics in the module.
3. Lectures about Chapter 1 will be the coverage of Prelim Exam.
 4. Google Translate can help improve your pronunciation and acquire Chinese
words.
5. Always check the google classroom for announcements or updates.

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION TO MANDARIN LANGUAGE

Mandarin is second in the most spoken language in the world, but first in position
when it comes to number of native speakers (1.120 billion native speakers). English is
still the most spoken language in the world (https://top2world.com/most-spoken-
languages-in-the-world/).

Mandarin language is also called Northern Chinese because it originated in

North China. While, Guānhuà (Kuan-hua) is the term used to refer to the Standard
Chinese Language or the official spoken language of the People’s Republic of China and
Taiwan.

Varieties of Modern Standard Chinese Language:

a) Pǔtōnghuà is the common language in Mainland China

b) Guóyǔ refers to the national language of Taiwan
c) Huáyǔ pertains to the Chinese language used in Singapore & Malaysia

Translation:

• Zhōngguó means country of China

• Zhōngguó rén means a Chinese or people of China
• Zhōngwén also means Chinese language

PIN YIN

Pin Yin is a romanization system used to learn Mandarin. It transcribes the sounds
of Mandarin using the western (Roman) alphabet. Pin Yin is most commonly used in
Mainland China for teaching children to read and it is widely used in teaching materials
designed for Westerners who wish to learn Mandarin.

CHINESE CHARACTERS
• A Chinese character has only one syllable, which consists of two parts:
* Initial sound (consonant)
* Final sound (vowel)
RULES IN READING CHINESE WORDS

A. INITIAL SOUNDS
B N Q Z
P L X C
M G ZH S
F K CH Y
D H SH W
T J R

• B as in bag; due to Chinese accent the initial B also sounds like P

Example: baba sounds like papa
• P as in pan
• M as in map
• F as in far
• D as in dog; due to Chinese accent the initial D also sounds like T
Example: dian sounds like tian
• T as in tax
• N as in nod
• G as in goat; due to Chinese accent the initial G also sounds like K
Example: gege sounds like keke
• K as in keep
• H as in hello
• J as in jar; due to Chinese accent the initial J also sounds like ch
Example: jiejie sounds like che che
• Q as in chair; e.g., Qing sounds like ching
• X as in she; e.g., xie xie sounds like shye shye
• ZH as in jar; e.g., zhen sounds like jen
• CH as in chair
• SH as in shell
• R is fairly similar to letter z as in measure; but R as in red if followed by a
vowel.
• Z is similar to ds as in woods
• C is similar to ts as in bits
• S is similar to snake’s hiss sound as in see
But, Z, C, and S all sounds the same in Chinese accent, just remember “ts” sound.
Example: zai sounds like tsai
 • Y as in Yen
• W as in wet

B. FINAL SOUNDS

a o e i u ü
ai ei ui
ao ou iu
ie ue er
an en in un ün
ang eng ing ong

• A as in ah!
• O as in Oppa or law
• E as in Stir (hard E)
• I as in bit
• U sounds like wu; or ooh as in food
• Ü (two dots is called an umlaut) sounds like yu; e.g., nü is pronounced as new
• Ai as in bike
• Ei as in lake
• Ui is combination of ‘u’ and ‘i’ as in We
ü Uí sounds like wuy; e.g., shuí is pronounced as shwuy
ü Uì sounds like wei; e.g., shuì is pronounced as shwey
ü Uǐ also sounds like wei
• Ao as in loud
• Ou as in flow
• Iu – combination of ‘i’ and ‘u’, the same as word Yew
• Ie as in Sierra
• Ue as in Buena
• Er as in early (hard E + ‘r’)
• An as in Ant
• En as the word “earn” without the “r” sound (hard E + ‘n’)
• In as in Inn
• Un sound like ‘won’
• Ün sounds like ‘yun’
• Ang as in long
• Eng as in lung (hard E + ‘ng’)
• Ing as in England
• Ong- combination of ‘u’ and ‘ng’
FIVE TONGUES or MANDARIN TONES
• The following symbols are found on top of vowels in each syllable. These are
used to differentiate the meaning of Chinese words of the same spelling.

First ¯ (Line symbol) the flat tone- the first tone is made when your voice
tone becomes higher and flatter. The pitch is raised and the syllable is
pronounced with a drawn-out tone that doesn’t drop or rise in between.
Second ՛ (Rising dash symbol) the rising tone- The pitch starts out low and then
tone becomes higher as if the voice is rising.
Third ˇ caron symbol (v shape)- the dip tone. The pitch falls lower before rising
tone higher again.
Fourth ՝ (falling slant)- the falling tone. To pronounce it correctly, say the word
Tone with force, making your pitch fall. Also known as the mad tone
Fifth . (Dot or no symbol)- the neutral tone. The word is pronounced with no
Tone tone. The symbol is usually not visible on top of vowels.
(https://www.fluentu.com/blog/chinese/chinese-tones/)

Read the following words using the 5 Tones

Chinese words Meaning/Definition
1 Mā mother
2 Má linen
3 Mă horse
4 Mà Swear
5 Ma A particle in Mandarin that denotes question.
e.g., Ni hao ma? - How are you?

Let us apply the rules in reading Chinese words using basic

greetings and expressions found on the succeeding topics.

BASIC GREETINGS IN MANDARIN

• Zăo ān/ zăoshàng hăo Good morning
• Wŭ ān/xiàwŭ hăo Good afternoon
• Wăn ān/ wănshàng hăo Good evening
• Zài jiàn Goodbye
• Hai Hi!
• Nĭ hăo Hello!
Persons:
Teacher/s Lăo shī/ Jiàoshī (pl.)
Professor/s Jiàoshòu (sing./pl.)
Student/s Xuéshēng/ xueshengmen (pl.)
Classmate/s Tóng xué/ tongxuemen (pl.)
Friend/s Pengyou/ pengyoumen (pl.)

• Good morning teacher Lăo shī, zăoshàng hăo

• Good afternoon classmate Tóng xué, xiàwŭ hăo
• Goodbye student Xué shēng, Zài jiàn
• Hello teacher Lăo shī, hăo

BASIC MANDARIN CONVERSATION

Nĭ hăo ma? How are you?

Wŏ hĕn hăo I’m fine
Nĭ ne? How about you? /and you?
Wŏ yĕ hĕn hăo I’m also fine

Xièxie / xièxie nίn/ni -Thank you *nin=you (formal)

Bié kèqi/ Bù kèqi / Bù yòng kèqi -You’re welcome/ Don’t mention it

Huānying -Welcome!
Qĭng zàicì guānglίn -Please come again!
Qĭng băozhὸng -Please take care!

Wŏ hen bàoqiàn -I’m very sorry.

Méiguānxi -That’s all right.
Duìbùqĭ -Excuse me (apologizing) *interchangeable with I am sorry
Lao jia -Excuse me (make way/get attention)
Mafan ni -Excuse me (May I disturb you)
Zhù nĭ yŏu měihao de yītiān -Have a great day!
Shì -Yes
Bù/Bùshì -No/Not
TRANSLATION OF FAMILY MEMBERS IN CHINESE (Jiātíng chéngyuán)

Father bàba/ fùqīn

Mother māma/ mùqīn
Older brother gēge
Younger brother dìdi
Older sister jiéjie
Younger sister mèimei
Siblings xīongdì jiémèi
Grandfather zŭfù/ yéye (father’s side)
Grandmother zŭmŭ/ năinai (father’s side)
Grandfather wàizŭfù/ lăoyé/ wài gōng (mother side)
Grandmother wàizŭmŭ/ lăolao/ waì pó (mother side)

Uncle shūshu “uncle” (father’s younger brothers)

bó bo / bófù “uncle” (father’s older brothers）
jìu jiu “uncle” (mother’s brothers）

Auntie Āyí “aunt” (mother’s sister)

gū gu “aunt” (father’s sister)
Cousins
biǎo mèi “cousin” (younger female cousin on mother’s side)
biǎo jiě “cousin” (older female cousin on mother’s side)
biǎogē (older male cousin on mom’s side)
biǎodì (younger male cousin on mom’s side)

táng gē “cousin” (older male cousin on father’s side)

tāng dì “cousin” (younger male cousin on father’s side）
tángjiě (older female cousin on dad’s side)
tángmèi (younger female cousin on dad’s side)

Niece/s Zhínǚ
Nephew/s wàishēng/ wai ne/ Zhízi (pl.)
Parents fùmŭ
Family jiātίng
Son/s ér zi
Daughter/s nǚ ér/ nǚ érmen
Child Háizi
Children háizimen
Wife Qīzi/ lǎopó (casual)
Husband Zhàngfū/ lǎogōng (casual)

Others:
Male nánde/nán
Female nǚde/ nǚ
Boyfriend nánpéngyou
Girlfriend nǚpéngyou
Miss Xiăojie
Madam/Mrs. Nǚshì/ tàitài
Mr./ Sir Xiānshēng

PRONOUNS (Dàicí)- is a word that takes the place (substitute) of a noun.

A. Personal pronouns- a short word we use as a simple substitute for the proper
name of a person.

I, Me Wǒ
You, Thou, Thee Nǐ or Nín
He/him Tā
She/Her Tā
It Tā
We/Us Wǒmen
Us (includes the person talking with Zánmen
you which is politer if used)
You (plural) Nǐmen
They/them Tāmen

B. Possessive pronouns- pronouns that help us show possession

*De- is a noun modifier that indicates possession.

My, Mine Wǒ de
Your, yours, thy, thine Nǐ de
His, hers, its Tā de
Our, ours Wǒmen de
Your /Yours (plural) Nǐmen de
Their/ Theirs Tāmen de
C. Reflexive Pronouns- are words ending in -self or -selves that are used when the
subject and the object of a sentence are the same and they refer back to a person or
thing
* zìjǐ- meaning self, one's own side, oneself, closely related, one's own

I…..Myself wǒ zìjǐ
You….Yourself nǐ zìjǐ
He/She/It…..Himself, Herself, Itself tā zìjǐ
We…… Ourselves wǒmen zìjǐ
You…. Yourselves (plural) nǐmen zìjǐ
They…Themselves Tāmen zìjǐ

D. Demonstrative Pronouns- are used to point to something specific within a sentence.

These pronouns can indicate items in space or time, and they can be either singular or
plural.
*Ge- is a classifier that measures a noun. It is used often but not always.
* Xie- is a plural classifier

This Zhè, Zhège (ge is used before a countable noun)

Ex. This boy- Zhège nánhái/ This water- Zhè shuǐ
• Boy is a countable noun while water is not.
That Nà/ Nàge (ge is used before a countable noun)
These (pl.) Zhèxiē
Those (pl.) Nàxiē
 V. Learning Activity

Directions:

1. Create your Family Tree using the Chinese Family Members.

2. Make a journal about your learning experience in Chapter 1.

Note: Submit your answer in the submission bin in Google Classroom entitled
“Submission Bin for Assignment No.1 and Journal No.1” If it is not possible to participate
in an online due to internet problems, just save your answers in a digitized format in a
USB flash drive then send it thru courier at Lyceum-Northwestern University College of
Hospitality Management, Tapuac District, Dagupan City, Pangasinan or drop it thru the
designated drop-boxes at the university.

Self-Reflection Questions
Kindly reflect on the following questions:

1. Was I able to know the importance of Mandarin Language?

2. Was I able to learn and apply the rules in reading Chinese words?

References
Books:
Peralta-Ang Gobinseng, V. (2004), Mandarin Chinese Handbook. Dumaguete,
Philippines: Dumaguete AV Publishing House.

Lai, S. (2013), Prime Chinese. San Juan City, Metro Manila: Park Publishing Service.

Web:
ü https://www.echineselearning.com/blog/learn-chinese-pin-yin-vowels
ü https://www.hillslearning.com/articles/mandarin-consonants
ü https://top2world.com/most-spoken-languages-in-the-world/