Chinese for English speakers House · Lesson 6

Yes, but ...

Chinese 但是 for 'but' — 没有, 你们的呢? (No, what about yours?) — and casual 呢 for return questions.

Conversation

  1. Cassian Cassian

    你们学校有餐厅吗？

    nǐ men xué xiào yǒu cān tīng ma?

    Is there a canteen in your school?

    Tip: 餐厅<cāntīng> = canteen, food court

  2. Pishi Pishi

    没有。你们的呢？

    méi yǒu. nǐ men de ne?

    No, there isn't. What about in yours?

  3. Cassian Cassian

    有。但是不在学校里面。

    yǒu. dàn shì bú zài xué xiào lǐ miàn.

    There is one, but it is not inside the school.

    Tip: 但是<dànshì> = but, still, yet 里面 <lǐmiàn> = in, inside

  4. Pishi Pishi

    在学校外面。

    zài xuéxiào wài miàn.

    It is outside the school.

    Tip: 外面<wàimiàn> = out, outside

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

What does 呢 mean?

Sentence particle. Several uses: 1) Return question (你呢? = 'and you?'). 2) Continuous action (我在工作呢 = 'I'm working').

What is 食堂?

'Cafeteria / canteen'. 餐厅 (cān tīng) is 'restaurant', 食堂 (shí táng) is more for school/work cafeterias.

Common Chinese school vocabulary?

学校 (school), 教室 (classroom), 老师 (teacher), 学生 (student), 同学 (classmate), 食堂 (cafeteria), 图书馆 (library).

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.

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