Chinese for English speakers Bakery · Lesson 2

The character 家 indicating people

Chinese 家 for 'house/our' — 你们家的馒头 (your store's buns) — 家 can mean home, family, or possessive 'our/your'.

Conversation

  1. Honey Honey

    你们家的馒头，

    nǐ men jiā de mán tou,

    The buns of your store,

    Tip: 家 <jiā> = house, home (but here it means "of your shop") 馒头 <mántou> = rice flour bun

  2. Honey Honey

    怎么这么柔软？

    zěn me zhè me róu ruán?

    how can they be so soft?

    Tip: 柔软 <róuruǎ> = soft, spongy

  3. Yaya Yaya

    哈哈哈，这是个秘密。

    hā hā hā, zhè shì gè mì mì.

    Ha ha ha, this is a secret.

    Tip: 个 <gè> = general counter ( it can be used for many things, but not all) 一个<yígè> = one (thing) 秘密 <mìmì> = secret

  4. Yaya Yaya

    不能告诉您。

    bù néng gào su nín.

    I can't tell you.

    Tip: 告诉 <gàosu> = to tell

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

What are the meanings of 家?

Primary: 家 = home/family. Used as 'our/your/their': 你们家 = 'your (place/family)'. Also a suffix for shops: 馆 → 餐厅 = restaurant.

What is 馒头?

Mantou — Chinese steamed buns. Plain, slightly sweet, eaten as a staple in northern China.

How do you say 'soft' in Chinese?

柔软 (róuruǎn) = soft/tender. Used for food, fabric, things. 怎么这么柔软? = 'how can they be so soft?'.

Test yourself

Pick the English translation for each line from this lesson. Wrong answers are pulled from other Chinese lessons.

4 quick questions on what you just heard.