Chinese 101: Happy Chinese New Year!
Language tips: Chinese New Year greetings for the Year of the Rabbit.

Happy Year of the Rabbit 兔年快乐

Chinese 101: A conversation about talking about family members.
Language tips: How to address family members in Chinese?

Family Members 家庭成员

A：
Shíjiān guò de kě zhēn kuài, míngtiān wǒ jiù gāi zǒu le, zhēn yǒudiǎnr shěbude líkāi zhèlǐ.
时间过得可真快，明天我就该走了，真有点儿舍不得离开这里。
How time flies! I’m leaving tomorrow. I really don't want to go.
B：
Shì a, hěn gāoxìng zhè duàn shíjiān néng hé nǐ yīqǐ guàng jǐngdiǎn, chī měishí.
是啊，很高兴这段时间能和你一起逛景点，吃美食。
I know! It was so nice visiting all the scenic spots and eating delicious food with you during this time. 
Xīwàng wǒmen yǐhòu hái néng zài jiànmiàn.
希望我们以后还能再见面。
I hope we can meet again in the future.
A：
Xièxie nǐ duì wǒ de zhàogù.
谢谢你对我的照顾。
Thank you for taking good care of me.
Yǒu jīhuì yīdìng yào lái zhǎo wǒ wán.
有机会一定要来找我玩。
Do come visit me when you have the chance.
B：
Huì de, zhù nǐ yīlù shùnfēng.
会的，祝你一路顺风。
Deal, have a safe trip.

Farewell 告别

A:
Nǐ jīntiān kàn qǐ lái shén qīng qì shuǎng.
你今天看起来神清气爽！
You look refreshed today!
B:
Xièxie! Jīntiān shì yuándàn, xīn nián xīn qì xiàng ma.
谢谢！今天是元旦，新年新气象嘛。
Thank you! Today is New Year's Day. A new image for a new year!
A:
Nǐ jīn nián yǒu shénme xīn jìhuà ma?
你今年有什么新计划吗？
Have you made any new year’s resolutions?
B：
Dōu shuō dú wàn juàn shū, xíng wàn lǐ lù, wǒ jìhuà jīn nián dú wán èr shí běn shū.
都说读万卷书，行万里路，我计划今年读完20本书。
Well, as they say reading ten thousand books is like traveling ten thousand miles. I plan to read 20 books this year.
A:
Qiǎo le, wǒ yě jìhuà duō dú jǐ běn shū! Yǒu hǎo jǐ běn qù nián jiù xiǎng kàn de shū hái méi lái de jí kàn ne.
巧了，我也计划多读几本书！有好几本去年就想看的书还没来得及看呢。
What a coincidence. I plan to read more too! There are several books that I wanted to read last year but haven't had time to do so.
B:
Zhù wǒ men liǎ dōu néng shíxiàn xīn nián mùbiāo.
祝我们俩都能实现新年目标。
Hope we can both can achieve our goals in the new year.

New Year’s Resolution 新年计划

A：
Jìrán wǒmen láidào le Hángzhōu, nà jiù qù pǐnyīpǐn zhèngzōng de Xīhú Lóngjǐng chá ba!
既然我们来到了杭州，那就去品一品正宗的西湖龙井茶吧！
Since we have traveled to Hangzhou, why not taste some authentic West Lake Longjing tea?
B:
Tīngshuō wèidao hǎo jí le! Bùguò, zhèyàng de chá shì zěnme zuò chūlái de ne?
听说味道好极了！不过，这样的茶是怎么做出来的呢？
I heard its taste is perfect! But how is that tea made?
A:
Zhìchá gōngyì shì hěn fùzá de.
制茶工艺是很复杂的。
The process of tea making is very complicated.
Cóng cǎichá, dào cuōchá, chǎochá, pàochá, měigè bùzhòu dōu dà yǒu xuéwèn.
从采茶，到搓茶，炒茶，泡茶，每个步骤都大有学问。
From picking the tea leaves to rubbing and stir frying them and then brewing up the tea, each step takes a lot of learning.
B：
Nánguài Xīhú Lóngjǐng chá zhème yǒumíng.
难怪西湖龙井茶这么有名。
No wonder West Lake Longjing Tea is so famous.
Duì le, wǒ hái xiǎng chángyīcháng Lóngjǐng xiārén, guāng shì xiǎngxiǎng wǒ dōu yào liú kǒushuǐ le.
对了，我还想尝一尝龙井虾仁，光是想想我都要流口水了。
By the way, I also want to taste Longjing prawns. Just the thought of having this dish makes my mouth water.

A Cultural Tour 文化之旅

A:
Chèn zhège jiàqī, wǒmen yīqǐ qù xīnshǎng yīxià dàzìrán de měijǐng ba!
趁这个假期，我们一起去欣赏一下大自然的美景吧！
Let’s enjoy the beauty of nature together on this vacation!
B:
Hǎo a! qù Jiǔzhàigōu zěnmeyàng? Wǒ hái cónglái méiyǒu jiàn guò pùbù ne.
好啊！去九寨沟怎么样？我还从来没有见过瀑布呢。
Great! How about going to Jiuzhaigou? I have never seen a waterfall before.
A:
Zhènghǎo wǒ yě xiǎng kànkan nàlǐ de Wǔcǎichí, tīngshuō húshuǐ shì wǔcǎi bānlán de, hěn hǎokàn.
正好我也想看看那里的五彩池，听说湖水是五彩斑斓的，很好看。
I also want to see the Wucaichi Lake there. I heard the lake shows a riot of colors. It’s very beautiful.
B:
Shuōbudìng hái néng kàn dào hěnduō zhēnxī dòngwù ne, xīwàng wǒmen yǒu zhège yǎnfú!
说不定还能看到很多珍稀动物呢，希望我们有这个眼福！
Maybe we will even see rare animals there. I hope we will have the luck!

Visit Scenic Spots 逛景点

A:
Xīngqīliù wǒmen yīqǐ qù gùgōng ba!
星期六我们一起去故宫吧！
Let’s go to the Forbidden City together on Saturday!

B:
Hǎo a, bié wàng le tíqián dìngpiào.
好啊，别忘了提前订票。
Cool. Don’t forget to book the tickets in advance.

Bùguò, wǒmen gāi zěnme qù ne?
不过，我们该怎么去呢？
How will we get there?

A:
Wǒmen kěyǐ xiān zuò dìtiě jiǔ hào xiàn, zài huànchéng yī hào xiàn, zài tiān’ānmén xī zhàn xiàchē.
我们可以先坐地铁9号线，再换乘1号线，在天安门西站下车。
We can take Subway Line 9 first, then transfer to Line 1 and get off at Tian’anmen Xi (West) Station. 

Dìtiě zhàn lǐ yǒu zìzhù gòupiào jī, mǎipiào yě hěn fāngbiàn.
地铁站里有自助购票机，买票也很方便。
There are self-service ticket machines in the subway station, so buying tickets is easy.

B:
Méiwèntí.
没问题。
No problem.

Wǒmen jǐnliàng zǎo diǎn chūfā, kěyǐ duō guàng yīhuìr.
我们尽量早点出发，可以多逛一会儿。
Let’s try to set out earlier so we could hang out there for a bit longer.

Get Around the City 城市出行

A:
Qǐngwèn yǒu shénme xūyào ma?
请问有什么需要吗？
Hi, can I help you find anything?
B:
Xièxie, wǒ jiùshì suíbiàn kànkan.
谢谢，我就是随便看看。
Thank you, I’m just browsing.
A: 
Yàobù kànkan zhèbiān de yīfu? Chènshān a, máoyī a, jiākè a, quán bù mǎi yī zèng yī.
要不看看这边的衣服？衬衫啊，毛衣啊，夹克啊，全部买一赠一。
Why not have a look at the clothes here? Shirts, sweaters and jackets are all “Buy one, get one free.” 
B: 
Zhèjiàn chènshān shì shénme miànliào de?
这件衬衫是什么面料的？
What material is this shirt made of?
A:
Shì chúnmián de. Yào shìchuān yīxià ma?
是纯棉的。要试穿一下吗？
It’s pure cotton. Would you like to give it a try?
B: 
Kànqǐlái xiǎo le yīdiǎnr, gěi wǒ ná yījiàn dàhào de ba.
看起来小了一点儿，给我拿一件大号的吧。
This one looks a bit too small. Could you bring me a bigger one?

Go shopping 购物

A: 

Qǐngwèn Rénmín Gōngyuán zěnme zǒu?

请问人民公园怎么走？

Excuse me, do you know how to get to the People’s Park?

B:

Shùnzhe zhètiáo mǎlù yīzhí zǒu, zǒudào xiàgè lùkǒu zài wǎngdōng zǒu yībǎi mǐ, yòushǒu biān jiùshì rénmín gōngyuán.

顺着这条马路一直走，走到下个路口再往东走一百米，右手边就是人民公园。

Yes, go straight down this street until you get to the intersection. Then walk 100 meters east. The People’s Park will be on the right side of the road. 

Gōngyuán duìmiàn háiyǒu yījiā yínháng.

公园对面还有一家银行。

You will see a bank opposite the park.

A:

Xièxie. Shùnbiàn wèn yīxià, jìn gōngyuán xūyào mǎi ménpiào ma?

谢谢。顺便问一下，进公园需要买门票吗？

Thank you. By the way, do I need to buy a ticket to enter the park?

B:

Bùyòng. Dàn rúguǒ nǐ xiǎng huáchuán dehuà, hái xūyào éwài fùqián.

不用。但如果你想划船的话，还需要额外付钱。

No. But if you want to go rowing, you need to pay for that.

Ask for Directions 问路

Chinese 101: A conversation about dealing with the emergency.
Language Tips: China's "119" emergency hotline.

Deal with an Emergency 处理紧急事件

A: 

Wǒ jiǎnzhí bùgǎn xiāngxìn, wǒmen yuánběn yùdìng de shuāngrén jiān jūrán bèi miǎnfèi shēngjí chéng le yījiān háohuá fáng!

我简直不敢相信，我们原本预定的双人间居然被免费升级成了一间豪华房！

I can’t believe it. The double room we originally booked was upgraded to a deluxe room at no extra charge.

B:

Tài bàng le! Jiǔdiàn wèizhì hái kěyǐ ma?

太棒了！酒店位置还可以吗？

Great! Is the hotel’s location good?

A:

Fǎnzhèng wǒ fēicháng mǎnyì. Bùjǐn lí shāngyè jiē hěn jìn, jiāotōng yě hěn biànlì.

反正我非常满意。不仅离商业街很近，交通也很便利。

I’m satisfied anyway. It is not only close to the commercial street, but there’s also convenient transportation.

B:

Xìngjiàbǐ zěnmeyàng?

性价比怎么样？

Is it worth the price?

A:

Yīwǎn bùdào sìbǎi kuài, hái bāohán liǎngfèn zǎocān.

一晚不到四百块，还包含两份早餐。

Each night costs no more than 400 yuan with breakfast for two included.

B:

Nà hái tǐng huásuàn de.

那还挺划算的。

That’s a good deal.

Checking in at a Hotel 入住酒店

A:

Nǐ xiànzài zài nǎr?

你现在在哪儿？

Where are you right now?

Wǒ yǐjīng guò wán ānjiǎn le.

我已经过完安检了。

I’ve already passed the security check.

B:

Wǒ hái zài zhíjī guìtái ne, wǒ de chōngdiàn bǎo bùxiǎoxīn bèi sāi jìn le tuōyùn xíngli.

我还在值机柜台呢，我的充电宝不小心被塞进了托运行李。

I’m still at the check-in counter. I packed my power bank in my check-in luggage by accident.

A:

Chōngdiàn bǎo děi suíshēn xiédài.

充电宝得随身携带。

You must keep your power bank with you.

B:

Èng… Wǒ zhèng yào bǎ tā ná chūlái. Zhēn dǎoméi, wǒ de xíngli hái chāozhòng le!

嗯……我正要把它拿出来。真倒霉，我的行李还超重了！

Yeah… I’m taking it out. And my luggage was over the weight limit!

A:

Zhuājǐn shíjiān, gǎiqiān huì hěn máfan de.

抓紧时间，改签会很麻烦的。

You got to hurry. Rescheduling a flight can be a pain.

Wǒ zài dēngjī kǒu děng nǐ.

我在登机口等你。

I’ll wait for you at the boarding gate.

Check-in at an Airport 在机场办理值机

A:
Nǐ zài gàn shénme?
你在干什么？
What are you up to?

B:
Wǒ zài zuò lǚyóu gōnglüè.
我在做旅游攻略。
I’m doing some research for my trip.
Yī, shí, zhù, xíng dōu yào tíqián zhǔnbèi.
衣、食、住、行都要提前准备。
Food, clothing, accommodation and transportation all need to be prepared in advance.

A:
Yào zuò dào miànmiàn jùdào hěn nán.
要做到面面俱到很难。
It’s hard to cover every aspect.
Nǐ kěyǐ zài wǎng shang sōu yīxià biérén de lǚyóu gōnglüè, kěnéng huì ràngnǐ shìbàn gōngbèi.
你可以在网上搜一下别人的旅游攻略，可能会让你事半功倍。
You can search for other people’s itineraries online, which might be a lot easier for you.

B:
Méicuò.
没错。
That’s true. 
Wǒ díquè zhǎodào le hěnduō guānyú dìng jīpiào, jiǔdiàn de shíyòng zhǐnán.
我的确找到了很多关于订机票、酒店的实用指南。
I did find many useful tips on booking flights and hotels.

Plan a Travel Itinerary 制定旅行计划

A：
Nǐ zhè zhōumò yǒu shénme jìhuà ma?
你这周末有什么计划吗？
Hey! What plans do you have this weekend?
B：
Wǒjiā fùjìn xīn kāile yījiā hànbǎo diàn, wǒ zhǔnbèi qù tǐyàn yīxià.
我家附近新开了一家汉堡店，我准备去体验一下。
A new hamburger place opened in my neighborhood recently. I plan to try it out.
Kàn píngjià shuō hěn bùcuò!
看评价说很不错！
The reviews say it’s amazing!

A : 
Bié qù, nà jiā cāntīng hěn bù hǎo. Wǒ shàng zhōumò qùguòle.
别去，那家餐厅很不好。我上周末去过了。
Don’t go. That restaurant is awful! I went there last weekend.
B : 
Zhēn de ma? Nǐ jīnglìle shénme?
真的吗？你经历了什么？
Really? How was your experience?

A : 
Jiàgé tài guìle, rén hái tèbié duō, érqiě wèishēngjiān yě bù gānjìng.
价格太贵了，人还特别多，而且卫生间也不干净。
The price was too expensive, it was crowded, and the bathroom was filthy!
B : 
Zhēn de ma? Wǒ kàn píngjià bùshì zhèyàng shuō de.
真的吗？我看评价不是这样说的。
Are you sure? The comments say otherwise. 

A : 
Xiāngxìn wǒ, zhè jiā cāntīng bù zhídé qù.
相信我，这家餐厅不值得去。
Believe me, it’s not worth it.
B : 
Tài ràng rén shīwàngle! Dàn yěyǒu kěnéng shì nǐ tài tiāotìle.
太让人失望了！但也有可能是你太挑剔了。
That’s so disappointing! But maybe you’re just too picky.
Wǒ háishì xiǎng qù shì yī shì.
我还是想去试一试。
I still want to give it a try.

A : 
Nǐ zìjǐ juédìng, dàn wǒ kě tíxǐngguò nǐle a.
你自己决定，但我可提醒过你了啊。
It’s up to you, but I’ve warned you.

Restaurant Reviews 餐厅点评

A: 
Huānyíng guānglín, nín jǐwèi?
欢迎光临，您几位？
Welcome! How many people?

B:
Liǎngwèi. Wǒ háiyǒu yīgè péngyou, yīhuìr huì lái.
两位。我还有一个朋友，一会儿会来。
Two. I still have a friend who will come later.

A:
Nín xiǎng diǎn diǎnr shénme?
您想点点儿什么？
What would you like to order?

B:
Yǒu tuījiàn de sùcài ma?
有推荐的素菜吗？
Do you have vegetarian recommendations?

A:
Wǒmen de yìmiàn hé shālā bùcuò, kěyǐ chángchang. Yǒu shénme jìkǒu ma?
我们的意面和沙拉不错，可以尝尝。有什么忌口吗？
Our pastas and salads are pretty good. You can try those. Is there anything you don’t eat?

B:
Méiyǒu. Lái yīfèn shíjǐn shūcài hé fānqié yìmiàn.
没有。来一份什锦蔬菜和番茄意面。
No. I’ll have the mixed vegetables and tomato pasta.

A:
Hē diǎnr shénme?
喝点儿什么？
What would you like to drink? 

B:
Wǒ yào yībēi xīguā zhī.
我要一杯西瓜汁。
I’ll have a glass of watermelon juice.

A:
Hái xūyào biéde ma?
还需要别的吗？
Do you need anything else?

B:
Zànshí méiyǒu le, xièxie.
暂时没有了，谢谢。
That will be all for now, thanks.

A:
Nín zěnme zhīfù? Xiànjīn, sǎomǎ dōu kěyǐ.
您怎么支付？现金、扫码都可以。
How will you pay? You can pay in cash or scan here.

Order at Restaurants 点餐

A：
Wǒ kànjiàn nǐ fā de péngyou quān le, nǐ qù nǎr la?
我看见你发的朋友圈了，你去哪儿啦？
I saw your Wechat moment just now. Where did you go?
B：
Wǒ hé péngyou kāichē qù jīng jiāo de yī gè sēnlín gōngyuán lùyíng le.
我和朋友开车去京郊的一个森林公园露营了。
I went camping with my friends. We drove to a camping site in a forest park in the suburbs of Beijing.
A：
Zhēn bù cuò, wǒ yě xiǎng qù lùyíng.
真不错，我也想去露营。
That's so nice. I want to go too.
B：
Juéduì tuījiàn! Bùguò qù lùyíng xūyào dài de dōngxi zhēn bù shǎo, xiàng zhàngpeng, shuìdài zhèxiē jīběn de dōngxi dōu yào bèi qí le.
绝对推荐！不过去露营需要带的东西真不少，像帐篷、睡袋这些基本的东西都要备齐了。
I really recommend it. But you do need to prepare a lot of things for camping. Gears like tents, sleeping bags are the essentials.
A: 
Gǎnxiè! Wǒ yě qù wǎng shàng kàn kàn gōnglüè.
感谢！我也去网上看看攻略。
Thank you! I will look up camping tips online as well.

Camping 露营

A：
Kuài kàn!
快看！
Look!
Nàzhī huóbèng luàntiào de xiǎogǒu yě tài kěài le!
那只活蹦乱跳的小狗也太可爱了！
That running puppy is so adorable! 
Wǒ yě xiǎng yǎng yīzhī chǒngwù.
我也想养一只宠物。
I want a pet too.

B：
Chǒngwù shì hěn kěài.
宠物是很可爱。
Pets are indeed adorable.
Dàn nǐ kě yào xiǎng qīngchu, nǐ néng wúwēi bùzhì de zhàogù tā ma?
但你可要想清楚，你能无微不至地照顾它吗？
But you have to think it through: Will you be able to take good care of it?

A：
Nǐ shuō de duì.
你说得对。
You’re right.
Yǎng chǒngwù xūyào fùchū hěnduō de shíjiān, jīnglì hé jīnqián.
养宠物需要付出很多的时间、精力和金钱。
Keeping a pet demands a lot of time, energy and money.
Wǒ shì děi hǎohāor xiǎngxiǎng.
我是得好好儿想想。
I should think about it.

Pet 宠物

A:
Jīnnián Zhōngqiūjié nǐ huì gēn jiārén háishì péngyou yīqǐ guò?

今年中秋节你会跟家人还是朋友一起过？

Will you spend this Mid-Autumn Festival with your family or friends?

B:
Wǒ hé guīmì yīzhí zhāoxī xiāngchǔ, dàn hé jiārén zǒngshì jùshǎo líduō, suǒyǐ wǒ zhǔnbèi chèn zhècì xiǎochángjià huíjiā kànwàng fùmǔ.

我和闺蜜一直朝夕相处，但和家人总是聚少离多，所以我准备趁这次小长假回家看望父母。

I’m always with my friends and I seldom spend time with my family, so I plan to visit my parents during this vacation. 

Nǐ ne?

你呢？

How about you?

A:
Wǒ zuìjìn gōngzuò bǐjiào máng, jiù bù dǎsuàn huíjiā le.

我最近工作比较忙，就不打算回家了。

I’ve been busy working these days, so I don't plan on going back to my hometown. 

Fǎnzhèng táitóu néng kàn dào tóngyīgè yuèliang, jiù dāng shì yīqǐ shǎngyuè, yīqǐ guòjié le!

反正抬头能看到同一个月亮，就当是一起赏月，一起过节了！ 

Since we’ll see the same moon when looking up at the sky anyway, I’ll take that as enjoying the bright full moon and celebrating the festival together!

Enjoying the bright full moon at Mid-Autumn Festival 中秋赏月

A:
Nǐ zài kàn shénme ne? Zhème jùjīnghuìshén.
你在看什么呢？这么聚精会神。
What are you watching? You seem so into it.
B:
Wǒ zài kàn biérén pānyán de shìpín ne, tāmen zhēnshì yì gāo rén dǎn dà!
我在看别人攀岩的视频呢，他们真是艺高人胆大！
I’m watching a video of people rock climbing. They are so skilled and courageous.
A:
Wǒ kě bùgǎn tiǎozhàn zhèxiē jíxiàn yùndòng. Kàn kàn shìpín, guò guò “yǎn yǐn” suàn le.
我可不敢挑战这些极限运动。看看视频，过过“眼瘾”算了。
I really don't dare to try these extreme sports. I just watch the videos for the thrill.
B：
Méicuò, méiyǒu zhuānyè de bǎohù hé zhǐdǎo, bùyào qīngyì chángshì.
没错, 没有专业的保护和指导，不要轻易尝试。
I know! We shouldn't try these without professional guidance and help.

Extreme Sport 极限运动

A:
Shíjiān guò de zhēn kuài! Mǎshàng yòu yào kāixué le.
时间过得真快！马上又要开学了。
Time flies! A new school year is about to start.
B:
Duì ya, xià gè lǐbài wǒ jiù yào qù dàxué bàodào le!
对呀，下个礼拜我就要去大学报到了。
I know! I will go and register with my university next week.
A:
Nà nǐ dōngxi dōu shōushi hǎo le ma?
那你东西都收拾好了吗？
Have you finished packing?
B：
Chàbuduō la, shēnghuó yòngpǐn wǒ zhǔnbèi zhíjiē cóng wǎng shàng gòumǎi.
差不多啦，生活用品我准备直接从网上购买。
Almost. I'm going to order daily necessities online.
A:
Nǐ zhàogù hǎo zìjǐ, yǒu shìqing suíshí liánxì wǒ.
你照顾好自己，有事情随时联系我。
Take care of yourself. Call me if you need help.

Takeaway Chinese

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