NCEA L1 Chinese flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Third-tone sandhi

When two third tones occur together, the first is pronounced as a second tone. Example: nǐ hǎo is spoken ní hǎo. Three third tones are grouped by meaning.

不 tone change

The negative 不 is normally fourth tone (bù), but becomes second tone (bú) before another fourth tone, as in bú shì (is not) and bú kèqi (you're welcome).

一 tone change

The numeral 一 is first tone (yī) alone, becomes yì before first, second or third tones, and yí before a fourth tone, e.g. yì bēi, yí cì.

A不A question

A yes/no question formed by repeating the verb or adjective with 不 between: Nǐ qù bu qù? (Are you going?) and Hǎo bu hǎo? (Is it good?).

吗 question particle

Placed at the end of a statement to turn it into a yes/no question. Nǐ hǎo ma? (Are you well?) - the word order otherwise stays unchanged.

Measure word 个

The general classifier 个 (gè) is used with most nouns and with people: 一个人 (one person), 三个苹果 (three apples). Other nouns need specific classifiers.

Opinion frame 我觉得

我觉得 (wǒ juéde) means 'I think/feel' and introduces a personal opinion. Follow it with a statement, optionally plus 因为 (because) to give a reason.

Repair phrase 请再说一遍

Qǐng zài shuō yí biàn means 'please say that again'. It is a repair strategy for when you miss spoken input and need repetition.

你好吗 response

Reply to 你好吗 with 我很好，谢谢 (I'm fine, thanks) or 还可以 (not bad). Follow with 你呢? (and you?) to return the question.

Polite pronoun 您

您 (nín) is the polite second-person singular used for elders, teachers, and strangers. 你 (nǐ) is used with peers, friends, and children.

Invitation with 好吗

A statement plus 好吗? turns an invitation into a friendly request: 星期六我们去公园，好吗? (Let's go to the park Saturday, okay?).

Request with 可以吗

可以…吗? (kěyǐ…ma) asks permission or makes a request: 我可以进来吗? (May I come in?). Refuse politely with 对不起，不可以.

Narrative sequencers

Use 先 (first), 然后 (then), 接着 (next), and 最后 (finally) to order events in a spoken recount or story.

Time before verb

In Chinese, time expressions come before the verb, not after: 我七点起床 (I get up at seven). Adverbs like 常常 and 每天 also precede the verb.

Comparison with 比

A 比 B + adjective compares two things: 我比他高 (I am taller than him). Add 最 (zuì) for superlatives: 最好 (best).

了 versus 过

了 marks a completed action (我吃了饭 - I ate). 过 marks past experience (我去过中国 - I have been to China). Both are negated with 没.

Shopping phrases

多少钱 (how much), 太贵了 (too expensive), 便宜一点 (a bit cheaper), 我要这个 (I want this one). 块 is the colloquial word for yuan.

Refusing an invitation

Decline politely with 对不起，我不能…因为… (Sorry, I can't… because…). Giving a reason softens the refusal in spoken Chinese.

Radical 氵water

The three-dot water radical appears in characters linked to water or liquid: 河 (river), 洗 (wash), 汤 (soup), 茶 (tea). It hints at meaning, not sound.

Sign 出口/入口

出口 (chūkǒu) means exit and 入口 (rùkǒu) means entrance. Both use 口 (mouth/opening) and are common public signs.

Sign 禁止

禁止 (jìnzhǐ) means 'prohibited/forbidden' and appears on official notices, often before a verb such as 吸烟 (smoking) or 拍照 (photographing).

Radical 讠speech

The speech radical appears in verbs about talking: 说 (speak), 请 (invite/please), 语 (language), 谢 (thank). It indicates the character relates to speech.

没有 versus 不

没有 (méiyǒu) negates possession or past actions (I don't have / I didn't). 不 (bù) negates present states and habits.

Connector 因为…所以

因为 (because) introduces a cause and 所以 (therefore) introduces the result: 因为下雨，所以我没去 (Because it rained, I didn't go).

Connector 虽然…但是

虽然 (although) sets up a contrast closed by 但是 (but): 虽然很冷，但是我去了 (Although it was cold, I went).

Menu words

饭 (rice/meal), 面 (noodles), 汤 (soup), 茶 (tea), 水 (water). Menus list dishes with prices in 元 or colloquial 块.

Reading strategy

Scan a short text for familiar characters first, then infer unknown words from their radical and surrounding context, and use numerals to anchor times.

买 versus 卖

买 (mǎi, third tone) means buy; 卖 (mài, fourth tone) means sell. Only the tone distinguishes them, so listen to the contour.

Clock and date listening

两点 (2 o'clock), 三点半 (3:30), 十五号 (the 15th), 第几 (which one). Numbers plus 点, 半, and 号 appear constantly in announcements.

Direction words

前面 (ahead), 后面 (behind), 左边 (left), 右边 (right), 对面 (opposite), 附近 (nearby). These follow the noun they describe.

Travel cues

车站 (station), 飞机场 (airport), 上车 (board), 下车 (get off), 票 (ticket). These words signal transport announcements and directions.

Weather words

天气 (weather), 下雨 (rain), 冷 (cold), 热 (hot), with 今天, 明天, 昨天 for today, tomorrow, yesterday. Weather talk opens many everyday conversations.