Eric: Top 25 Chinese Questions You Need to Know - Lesson 16- “How are you?” in Chinese. In each lesson of this 25 part series, you'll master a common question for Chinese learners, and then learn how to answer it like a native. You'll learn how these key phrases work by breaking them down into each component. Then through repetition and new vocabulary, you'll expand your understanding of the question, its answers, and any variations. |
In this lesson, you'll learn how to respond to the common question “How are you?” In Chinese this is |
Cho: 你好吗? |
The first word in the question is |
Cho: 你 |
Eric: meaning “you” in English. |
Cho: (Slow, by syllable) 你 |
Eric: Listen again and repeat. |
Cho: 你 |
{Pause} |
Eric: This pattern of first introducing a word at natural speed, providing the translation, breaking it down, and then giving it again at natural speed will be repeated throughout the series. Try to speak aloud as often as possible. The next word in the question is |
Cho: 好 |
Eric: meaning “good, well.” |
Cho: (Slow, by syllable) 好 |
Eric: Now repeat. |
Cho: 好 |
{Pause} |
Listen to the the first 2 words of the question and repeat. |
Cho: 你好 |
{pause} |
Next is |
Cho: 吗 |
Eric: question marking particle. |
Cho: (Slow, by syllable) 吗 |
Eric: Now repeat. |
Cho: 吗 |
{Pause} |
Listen to the entire question and repeat. |
Cho: 你好吗 |
{pause} |
Eric: You will hear this common question again and again throughout your studies. Master the following pattern and responses to the question How are you? |
Cho: 我很好。 |
Eric: "I'm fine.” Again, slowly. Repeat the phrase. |
Cho: (Slow) 我很好。 |
{pause} |
Eric: Let's break it down from the beginning. The first word: |
Cho: 我 |
Eric: meaning “I.” |
Cho: (Slow, by syllable) 我 |
Eric: Now repeat |
Cho: 我 |
{Pause} |
Eric: And next |
Cho: 很 |
Eric: meaning “very” |
Cho: (Slow, by syllable) 很 |
Eric: Now repeat. |
Cho: 很 |
{Pause} |
Eric: And next |
Cho: 好 |
Eric: meaning “good; well.” |
Cho: (Slow, by syllable) 好 |
Eric:Now repeat. |
Cho: 好 |
{Pause} |
Eric: Listen to the speaker say, I'm fine,” and then repeat. |
Cho: 我很好。 |
{pause} |
Eric: To use a different phrase, replace “fine” with “pretty good.” |
Cho: 挺好的 |
Eric: pretty good |
Cho: (slow) 挺好的 (regular) 挺好的 |
Eric: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “pretty good.” |
Cho: 我挺好的。 |
Eric: It mostly stays the same. Simply replace “fine” with “pretty good.” Say, “I'm pretty good.” |
{pause} |
Cho: 我挺好的。 |
Eric: To expand on the pattern, replace “pretty good” with “not bad” |
Cho: 我还不错。 |
Eric: not bad |
Cho: (slow) 还不错 (regular) 还不错 |
Eric: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “not bad” |
Cho: 我还不错。 |
Eric: It mostly stays the same. Simply replace “pretty good” with “not bad.” Say, “I'm not bad.” |
{pause} |
Cho: 我还不错。 |
Eric: To expand on the pattern, replace “not bad” with “not so well.” |
Cho: 不太好 |
Eric: not so well |
Cho: (slow) 不太好 (regular) 不太好 |
Eric: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “not so well” |
Cho: 我不太好。 |
Eric: It mostly stays the same. Simply replace “not bad” with “not so well.” Say, “I'm not so well.” |
{pause} |
Cho: 我不太好。 |
Eric: Now it's time for a quiz. Imagine you are visiting China and someone asks you how you are. You are fine. Respond to the question. |
Cho: 你好吗? (five seconds) 我很好。 |
Eric: Now imagine you are pretty good. Respond to the question. |
Cho: 你好吗? (five seconds) 我挺好的。 |
Eric: Now imagine you are not bad. Answer the speaker's question. |
Cho: 你好吗? (five seconds) 我还不错。 |
Eric: Imagine you're not so well. Respond to the question. |
Cho: 你好吗? (five seconds) 我不太好。 |
Eric: You want to ask someone how they are doing. Ask the question. |
(5 seconds) |
Cho: 你好吗? |
{pause} |
Eric: Now it's time to answer the question with actual information about yourself. |
Cho: 你好吗? |
{pause} |
Eric: This is the end of Lesson 16 |
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