Easy Peasy Chinese: Mandarin Chinese for Beginners

Description

Do you want to learn the world's most spoken language? This easy-to-use beginner's e-guide and audio app will get you speaking basic Mandarin in no time. With useful tips, practice exercises, and fascinating insights into Chinese culture, Easy Peasy Chinese teaches you how to read, write, and speak Mandarin Chinese step by step. The accompanying audio app covers all the vocabulary in the book, helping you perfect your pronunciation and quickly get to grips with the Mandarin tones. Aimed at children aged 8+, but of appeal to beginners of all ages, it will teach you all the words and phrases you'll need to get by in China, so you can introduce yourself, read and write numbers, and chat about the weather, food, and interests. What's more, you can give yourself a Chinese name, haggle over shop prices, and learn all about the national culture. The ebook covers Pinyin, the system used to spell out Chinese characters using Roman letters, and introduces the Chinese writing system, identifying more than 200 of the most frequently used Chinese characters. Bold illustrations and photographs, and a compact, super-stylish design help make the process of learning fun and accessible. There is no Great Wall stopping you from learning now. Contents Foreword Section 1: Introduction Pinyin The tones Characters Four types Different strokes Stroke order How characters are made Memory tips It’s radical Easy peasy grammar Section 2: Let’s Get Started First words Welcome! How do you do? Chinese names Conversation practice 1 Section 3: All About Me Where are you from? My body Face facts Family and friends Respect! Conversation practice 2 Section 4: Numbers Numbers 1–10 It’s simple maths Number rules What’s the date? Birthday party Signs of the Zodiac Conversation practice 3 Section 5: Weather Seasons Weather words Section 6: Transport Vroom! Buying a ticket Asking the way Questions Getting around Conversation practice 4 Section 7: Food Place settings Don’t flip the fish! Live to eat! At a restaurant Conversation practice 5 Section 8: Hobbies Fun and games I like it Ping pong and Mahjong Slang Conversation practice 6 Section 9: A Trip to China Beijing A day in the country At the market How to haggle Lunar New Year Festival! Conversation practice 7 Useful words Index and picture credits Acknowledgments