Mandarin Chinese (#2.4E)

New for me is the adverb, "sometimes."



Sometimes I drink beer, but I don't like to drink a lot of beer.

Mandarin Chinese (#2.4D)

New for me is this specific use of, "to live," and also "short" and "long" (with regard to time).



I have lived in San Francisco for 12 years.

That is a long time.

No, it is a short time. My friend has lived in San Francisco for 20 years.

Cool.

Mandarin Chinese (#2.4C)

I intended to say "because," but instead I said "but" by mistake. This is certainly not the first time I have made a mistake trying to speak Chinese. It is the second time.



I never drink beer, (but/because) I don't like beer; however, I like tea. I always drink tea.

Mandarin Chinese (#2.4B)

New for me is the Chinese word for, "colleague."



Who is your friend?

My friend is a colleague. Later, she will come over with her husband. My colleague always comes over with her husband.

Mandarin Chinese (#2.4)

One of my Chinese friends abroad asked me why we had not chatted recently, even though it had been only one day since we had last been in touch. I emailed her this video as a response. She responded, "Ur chinese is OK i think."



Because I have a lot of work to do; besides, one day is a short time.

Mandarin Chinese (#2.3C)

I find it incredibly difficult to say the Mandarin word for "person," which is necessary if you want to say that someone is Chinese (literally: China person) or American (literally: America person, or even more literally: Beautiful country, person) or any other nationality.



Hello.

Are you acquainted with my friend Jeff?

No, I am not acquainted with your friend, but I am acquainted with his wife.

His wife is Chinese, yeah?

No, his wife is American.

Mandarin Chinese (#2.3B)

I made a mistake in this video, but I'm happy with myself for having caught the mistake.



Hello. Do you have a lot of work to do?

Yes, I have a lot of work to do, but right now [I have]* time to drink tea. I always drink tea.

As for me, I always drink wine, but I don't like tea.

*I forgot to say this verb

Mandarin Chinese (#2.3)

New for me is the Chinese verb for, "to come over," and also the formal way to ask somebody their family name (which is probably more important in China than in the United States). Despite the importance of family names, I've also learned how to say, "Don't be so formal."



Who is going to come over?

There are three friends coming to see me.

What are their last names (literally, Honorable family name)?

Don't be so formal (literally, Don't stand on ceremony). Their last names are Li, but they call themselves Dragon, Little Dragon, and Big Dragon.

Mandarin Chinese (#2.2C)

New for me in this video is the Chinese phrase for being acquainted with someone.



Are you acquainted with Zhou Guangyi?

Yes, I am acquainted with Zhou Guangyi. He is my friend. He is my good friend.

Mandarin Chinese (#2.2B)

New for me is the Chinese verb for "have to," as in responsibility, and also the phrase for "excuse myself" (not as in, Excuse me, but as in physically removing yourself from a situation.)



I have to excuse myself.

I have to go to work.