Chinese for dummies

Description

Chinese For Dummies Dedication Author’s Acknowledgments About the Author Contents at a Glance Table of Contents Introduction About This Book Conventions Used in This Book Foolish Assumptions How This Book Is Organized Icons Used in This Book Where to Go from Here Part I: Getting Started Chapter 1: Getting to Know a Little Chinese Grasping Chinese Dialects The Written Word: Yikes! No Alphabet! Pinyin Spelling: Beijing, Not Peking Sounding Off: Basic Chinese Sounds Adding Idioms and Popular Expressions to Your Repertoire Mastering Basic Phrases Chapter 2: The Nitty Gritty: Basic Chinese Grammar and Numbers The Basics of Chinese Parts of Speech Asking Questions Counting in Chinese Chapter 3: Introductions and Greetings: Ni Hao! Making Introductions Greeting and Chatting Part II: Chinese in Action Chapter 4: Getting to Know You: Making Small Talk Establishing a Connection Making Small Talk on the Job Talking About Where You Live Chapter 5: Eating and Drinking: Ganbei! All About Meals Getting to Know Chinese Cuisines Dining Out All the Tea in China Taking Your Chinese to Go Chapter 6: Shopping Made Easy Going to Stores Shopping for Clothes Shopping for Other Items Getting a Good Price and Paying Chapter 7: Exploring the Town Knowing the Time and Day Attending a Performance Exploring Museums and Galleries Visiting Historical Sites Going to the Movies Listening to a Concert Hopping Around Bars and Clubs Chapter 8: Enjoying Yourself: Recreation and Sports Naming Your Hobbies Exploring Nature Tapping into Your Artistic Side Striking Up the Band Playing on a Team Chapter 9: Talking on the Phone Using a Telephone Going Mobile with a Cell Phone Making a Phone Call Sorry, I’m Not Home Right Now . . . Chapter 10: At the Office and Around the House Your Office Digs Conducting a Meeting Discussing Business and Industry Using the Internet Checking Your E-Mail Hunting for an Apartment Furnishing Your New Digs Part III: Chinese on the Go Chapter 11: Money, Money, Money Staying Current with Chinese Currency Making and Exchanging Money Spending Money Doing Your Banking Tips on Tipping Chapter 12: Taking the Road Less Traveled: Asking for (and Giving) Directions Avoiding 20 Questions: Just Ask “Where” Giving Directions Expressing Distances (Time and Space) with Li Discovering Ordinal Numbers Specifying Cardinal Points with Directional Coverbs Chapter 13: Staying at a Hotel Making a Room Reservation Checking In Before You Hit the Pool Taking Advantage of Hotel Service Checking Out Before Heading Out Chapter 14: Transportation Flying Around the Airport Navigating Around Town Chapter 15: Traveling Abroad When Do You Want to Travel? Celebrating the Chinese Holidays Where Do You Want to Travel? Packing for Your Trip Enlisting the Help of a Travel Agency Chapter 16: Handling Emergencies Calling for Help in Times of Need Receiving Medical Care Calling the Police Acquiring Legal Help Part IV: The Part of Tens Chapter 17: Ten Ways to Pick Up Chinese Quickly Listen to Chinese-Language Tapes, CDs, and CD-ROMs Attend a Peking Opera Performance Cook with a Wok Shop for Food in Chinatown Surf the Net Watch Kung-Fu Flicks Exchange Language Lessons Make Chinese Friends Study Chinese Calligraphy Be Curious and Creative Chapter 18: Ten Things Never to Do in China Never Accept a Compliment Graciously Never Make Someone Lose Face Never Get Angry in Public Never Address People by Their First Names First Never Take Food with the Wrong End of Your Chopsticks Never Drink Alcohol Without First Offering a Toast Never Let Someone Else Pay the Bill Without Fighting for It Never Show Up Empty Handed Never Accept Food, Drinks, or Gifts Without First Refusing a Few Times Never Take the First “ No, Thank You” Literally Chapter 19: Ten Favorite Chinese Expressions Gongxi Gongxi Yi Lu Píng’an Yi Yan Nan Jin Mama Huhu Kai Wan Xiao Mafan Ni Zenme Yang? Qing Wen Ziji Lai Aiya! Ten Phrases That Make You Sound Chinese Huanying Huanying! Bici Bici Jiuyang Jiuyang Man Man Chi! Wo Qing Ke You Kong Lai Wan Laojia Laojia Zhu Ni Zao Ri Kang Fu Bukeqi Hao Jiu Mei Jian Part V: Appendixes Appendix A: Chinese Verbs Chinese-English Mini-Dictionary English-Chinese Mini-Dictionary Appendix C: Answer Key Appendix D: About the CD Index