Chinese for English speakers Street · Lesson 1

English words in Chinese

English words in Chinese — 派对 (party) — loanwords sometimes transliterated phonetically.

Conversation

  1. Honey Honey

    凯尔，生日快乐！

    Kǎiěr, shēng rì kuài lè!

    Kyle, happy birthday!

    Tip: 快乐 <kuàilè> = happy, merry

  2. Kyle Kyle

    谢谢你！

    xiè xie nǐ!

    Thank you!

    Tip: 谢谢 <xièxie= thanks

  3. Honey Honey

    今天晚上的趴体谁做饭？

    jīn tiān wǎn shang de pā tǐ shéi zuò fàn?

    Who is going to cook at today's party?

    Tip: 晚上 <wǎnshàng> = evening 谁 <shéi> = who 趴体 <pātǐ> = party (English word pronounced in a Chinese way) 做饭 <zuòfàn> = to cook, to prepare a meal

  4. Kyle Kyle

    我做饭。

    wǒ zuò fàn.

    I'm going to cook.

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

How does Chinese borrow English words?

Two methods: phonetic (派对 = 'pai-dui' = party), or meaning (电脑 = 'electric brain' = computer).

What is 生日快乐?

'Happy birthday!'. 生日 (birthday) + 快乐 (happy). Universal Chinese birthday greeting.

How do you say 'thank you' in Chinese?

谢谢 (xiè xie) — universal. 多谢 (many thanks). 谢谢你 = 'thank you'.

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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