Colloquial Chinese

Colloquial Chinese combines a clear, practical and accessible style with a methodical and thorough treatment of the language, it equips learners with the essential knowledge and skills needed to communicate confidently and effectively in Chinese in a broad range of situations. No prior knowledge of the language is required.

Kan Qian is Senior Lecturer in Chinese at The Open University, Senior Fellow of the British Higher Education Academy, and Bye-Fellow of Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge.

Contents Acknowledgements ix Introduction 1 H-n g-oxìng jiàndào n- ------ Very pleased to meet you 2 Xìngmíng, guójí hé niánlíng -------- Name, nationality and age 3 Zài g-ngs- de jùhuì shang Ji- hé péngy-ü--- Family and friends 4 Wèn shíji-n --- Asking the time 5 Ji-rén hé péngyou Zài pàiduì shàng ---- Family and friends At a party 6 Rìq- hé ti-nqì ----- The date and the weather 7 Wèn lù -- Asking for directions 8 M-i d-ngxi --- Shopping 9 W-ngshàng gòuwù---- Shopping online 10 Di-n cài -- Order food 190 11 D- d- hé m-i hüch- piào ------- Taking the taxi and buying train tickets 12 Zài ji-diàn --- At the hotel 13 D- diànhuà --- Making telephone calls 14 Tànq-n hé l-yóu ----- Vising family and travel 15 Míngxìnpiàn hé w-xìn ------ Postcard and WeChat Grammar summary Answers to Exercises and Reading/listening practices Transcripts in pinyin for Listening/reading practices Chinese-English glossary English-Chinese pinyin glossary Appendix A: Dialogues in characters for Lessons 1 and 2 Appendix B: English translations of dialogues/texts from Lessons 3 to 15 Appendix C: Table of combinations of the initials and finals in Putonghua Appendix D: Useful signs Index to language and cultural notes