Chinese for English speakers Hospital · Lesson 2

How long have you...?

Chinese 什么时候开始 — Ask 'when did it start' for duration of symptoms — opening mouth: 张开嘴巴, 说啊.

Conversation

  1. Bolin Bolin

    张开嘴巴，说~啊！

    zhāng kāi zǔi bā, shuō ā

    Open your mouth and say A

    Tip: 张开 <zhāngkāi> = spread open 嘴巴<zuǐbā> = mouth 说 <shuō> = to say

  2. Muri Muri

    啊

    ā

    A

  3. Bolin Bolin

    这些症状什么时候开始的？

    zhè xiē zhèng zhuàng shén me shí hòu kāi shí de?

    How long have you been having these symptoms?

    Tip: 症状<zhèngzhuàng> = symptom 什么时候<shénmeshíhou> = when 开始 <kāishí> = to start, to begin

  4. Muri Muri

    上个星期开始的。

    shàng gè xīng qī kāi shí de.

    Since last week.

    Tip: 上个星期 <shànggèxīngqī> = last week

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

How do you ask 'when?' in Chinese?

什么时候 (shénme shíhou) = 'when'. Or for specific time: 几点 (what time).

What is 张开?

'Open (widely)'. 张开嘴巴 = 'open your mouth'. 张 is the verb for opening mouths, eyes.

Chinese for asking duration?

什么时候开始的 = 'when did it start?'. 多久了? = 'how long has it been?'.

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.

Next lesson in Hospital Symptoms advanced verbs →