Key sentences 5
Learning Chinese: key sentences 5
To build reflexes and be able to express yourself in Chinese without having to search for words, it is helpful to learn sentences by heart. Rather than learning the entire dialogue/text of the unit, we have selected these key sentences to optimize your learning. So you should know them well.
Do not hesitate to repeat them aloud: it helps to memorize them while working on pronunciation and helping you internalize the structures of the Chinese language.
Then you must be able to translate them orally and in writing, first from Chinese into English, then from English into Chinese.
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你是哪国人？ : Which country are you from?
→ Emblematic phrase of the unit: structure 哪 + country name + 人 to ask about nationality.
我是法国人。 : I am French.
→ Standard answer about nationality, adaptable: 中国人, 英国人, 美国人.
我会说汉语。 : I can speak Chinese.
→ The auxiliary verb 会 "to know how to" is placed before the main verb (说, 写, 学…).
你会不会写汉字？ : Can you write Chinese characters?
→ Affirmative-negative question that bears on the auxiliary verb: it is 会 that is doubled (会不会), not the action verb that follows.
我们都是法国人。 : We are all French.
→ Combines the plural in 们 with the adverb 都 "all", which is always placed before the verb.
他们不都会说汉语。 : They cannot all speak Chinese.
→ 不都 = "not all" (partial negation). To be distinguished from 都不 = "none, all… not".
我们都不会写汉字。 : None of us can write Chinese characters.
→ 都不 = "none" (total negation). Memorize the pair 不都 ≠ 都不.
他们都是我的同学。 : They are all my classmates.
→ Plural identification statement: 们 + 都 + 是. Typical phrasing to introduce a group.
你们是不是都学中文？ : Do you all study Chinese?
→ 是不是 of emphasis, placed before 都 + action verb. Allows combining the affirmative-negative form with an adverb.
她是哪国人呢？ : And her, which country is she from?
→ Use of 呢 with a nuance of interest/curiosity ("and…?"), beyond the simple echo seen in Unit 2.