This lesson will be about numbers, so that we can start using number in the next lessons. This is a long lesson, and you can always refer back to this in the future.
450 ສີ່ຮ້ອຍຫ້າສິບ 四百五十 (si4 bai3 wu3 shi2) [4 x 100 + 5 x 10]
1,000 – 9,999
1,000 ພັນຫນຶ່ງ 一千 (yi1 qian1)
2,000 ສອງພັນ 两千 (liang3 qian1) [2 x 1000]
3,000 ສາມພັນ 三千 (san1 qian1) [3 x 1000]
4,500 ສີ່ພັນຫ້າຮ້ອຍ 四千五百 (si4 qian1 wu3 bai3) [4 x 1000 + 5 x 100]
6,870 ຫົກພັນແປດຮ້ອຍເຈັດສິບ 六千八百七十 (liu4 qian1 ba1 bai3 qi1 shi2) [6 x 1000 + 8 x 100 + 7 x 10]
10,000 – 99,999
10,000 ສິບພັນ 一万 (yi1 wan4)
20,000 ຊາວພັນ 两万 (liang3 wan4) [2 x 10,000]
30,000 ສາມສິບພັນ 三万 (san1 wan4) [3 x 10,000]
45,000 ສີ່ສິບຫ້າພັນ 四万五千 (si4 wan4 wu3 qian1) [4 x 10,000 + 5 x 1000]
76,900 ເຈັດສິບຫົກພັນເກົ້າຮ້ອຍ 七万六千九百 (qi1 wan4 liu4 qian1 jiu3 bai3) [7 x 10,000 + 6 x 1000 + 9 x 100]
100,000 – 999,999
100,000 ແສນໜຶ່ງ 十万 (shi2 wan4) [10 x 10,000]
200,000 ສອງແສນ 二十万 (er2 shi2 wan4) [20 x 10,000]
450,000 ສີ່ຮ້ອຍຫ້າສິບພັນ 四十五万 (si4 shi2 wu3 wan4) [45 x 10,000]
580,000 ຫ້າຮ້ອຍແປດສິບພັນ 五十八万 (wu3 shi2 ba1 wan4) [58 x 10,000]
842,000 ແປດຮ້ອຍສີ່ສິບສອງພັນ 八十四万两千 (ba1 shi2 si4 wan4 liang3 qian1) [84 x 10,000 + 2 x 1000]
1,000,000 …
1,000,000 ຫນຶ່ງລ້ານ 一百万 (yi1 bai3 wan4) [100 x 10,000]
Because Chinese is a pictorial language, it’s easy to remember the Chinese words for one, two and three, by the number of horizontal lines:
1: 一
2: 二
3: 三
In general, counting in Chinese is quite logical. However, there are two things to note:
In Chinese, there is a word for 10,000, which is ‘万’ (wan4).
When the number ‘2’ is used to count a quantity of hundred, thousand, ten-thousand etc., we don’t say ‘二’ (er4), which means the number ‘2’. We use the counter word for ‘2’, which is ‘两’ (liang3).
Try to answer this question in Chinese: What is your salary?
Today’s will be a short lesson, inspired by what I’ve seen recently on the Internet.
Lesson 8 ບົດຮຽນທີ8
Recently, I saw this website of an organisation in Laos that does nature conservation (https://www.conservationlaos.com/), and I learnt from a friend how to say ‘nature conservation’ in Lao language.
ອະນຸລັກ ທຳມະຊາດ
保护大自然Listen here:
Chinese
Hanyu pinyin
保护
Bao3 hu4
大自然
Da4 zi4 ran2
English
Protect
Nature
ອະນຸລັກ
ທຳມະຊາດ
ການອະນຸລັກ ທຳມະຊາດ
自然保护Listen here:
Chinese
Hanyu pinyin
自然
Zi4 ran2
保护
Bao3 hu4
English
Nature / natural
Protection / conservation
ທຳມະຊາດ
ການອະນຸລັກ
‘大自然’ (da4 zi4 ran2) and ‘自然’(zi4 ran2) mean the same thing: nature. ‘大’ (da4) means big, giving the sense of the vastness of nature.
In Lao, it roughly means (sorry if it’s not the most correct!):
ກັກກັນ: ສິດທິມະນຸດ ໝົດແລ້ວ
ບໍ່ກັກກັນ: ທຸກຄົນ ໝົດແລ້ວ
ເຈົ້າເລືອກ
隔离,人权没了Listen here:
Chinese
Hanyu pinyin
隔离
Ge2 li2
人权
Ren2 quan2
没了
Mei2 le4
English
Quarantine / isolation
Human rights
Gone / finished
ກັກກັນ
ສິດທິມະນຸດ
ໝົດແລ້ວ
不隔离,人全没了Listen here:
Chinese
Hanyu pinyin
不
Bu4
隔离
Ge2 li2
人
Ren2
全
Quan2
没了
Mei2 le4
English
No
Quarantine / isolation
People
All / completely
Gone / Finished
ບໍ່ກັກກັນ
ກັກກັນ
ຄົນ
ທຸກ
ໝົດແລ້ວ
你选。Listen here:
Chinese
Hanyu pinyin
你
ni3
选
Xuan3
English
You
choose
ເຈົ້າ
ເລືອກ
In the Chinese language, it is often the case that words sound exactly the same but mean very different things. To know the meaning of the word, it will help to know the context.
Try: How would you say ‘ບໍ່ອະນຸລັກທຳມະຊາດ: ທຸກຄົນໝົດແລ້ວ’ in Chinese?
Do you want check what languages another person speaks? Then this lesson will be helpful!
Lesson 7 ບົດຮຽນທີ7
ເຈົ້າເວົ້າພາສຳຈີນບໍ່?
你会说中文吗?Listen here:
Chinese
Hanyu pinyin
你
Ni3
会
Hui4
说
Shuo1
中文
Zhong1 wen2
吗
Ma1
English
You
Are able to / can
Speak / say
Chinese language
(normally used at the end of a yes-or-no question)
ເຈົ້າ
ເວົ້າ
ພາສາຈີນ
ບໍ່
Or: 你会说汉语吗?Listen here:
Chinese
Hanyu pinyin
你
Ni3
会
Hui4
说
Shuo1
汉语
Han4 yu3
吗
Ma1
English
You
Are able to / can
Speak / say
Chinese language
(normally used at the end of a yes-or-no question)
ເຈົ້າ
ເວົ້າ
ພາສາຈີນ
ບໍ່
Or: 你会说华语吗?Listen here:
Chinese
Hanyu pinyin
你
Ni3
会
Hui4
说
Shuo1
华语
Hua2 yu3
吗
Ma1
English
You
Are able to / can
Speak / say
Chinese language
(normally used at the end of a yes-or-no question)
ເຈົ້າ
ເວົ້າ
ພາສາຈີນ
ບໍ່
You will notice that ‘中文’ (zhong1 wen2), ‘汉语’ (han4 yu3) and ‘华语’(hua2 yu3) all mean “Chinese language”. However, there are minor differences.
‘中文’ (Zhong1 wen2) basically refers to the language of China (‘中国’(zhong1 guo2)).
‘汉语’ (han4 yu3) refers to the language of the Han people (汉人 (han4 ren2)), who are the main ethnic group in China.
‘华语’ (hua2 yu3) refers to the language of the Chinese culture. I think this could include minority ethnic groups who together make up Chinese culture, as well as the Taiwanese people and overseas Chinese people (whose forefathers left China before the People’s Republic of China was formed – my grandparents said that there was not enough food in China at that time, so their parents came to Southeast Asia to look for new opportunities: see this video for an example of the drama shows telling those migration stories.). So, for as a Singapore Chinese, I learnt ‘华语’ (hua2 yu3) or ‘华文’ (hua2 wen2) in school, not ‘中文’ (zhong1 wen2).
Primary school Chinese language textbook in Singapore (Source: http://moechinese.iflashbook.com.sg/category/100164)
Map of emigration to Southeast Asia around the 1900s. (Source: Husa, Karl & Wohlschlägl, Helmut. (2014). Global Markets – Local Consequences: The Migration of Labour in Southeast Asia Since the Mid-Nineteenth Century.)
Also, there is a difference between ‘语’ (yu3) and ‘文’(wen2). ‘语’(yu3) tends to refer the spoken language, whereas ‘文’(wen2) tends to refer to the written language. Put together, ‘’ (yu3 wen2) refers to both the spoken and written language. And maybe the reason why there is no such thing as ‘中语’(zhong1 yu3) is because the unification of languages by Emporer Qin in ancient China was only done for the written language – still quite a remarkable feat!
ຂ້ອຍເວົ້າພາສາລາວນ້ອຍໜຶ່ງ
我会说一点老挝语。Listen here:
Chinese
Hanyu pinyin
我
Wo3
会
Hui4
说
Shuo1
一点
Yi4 dian3
老挝语
Lao3 wo1 yu3
English
I
Able to / can
Speak / say
Little bit / a bit / a little
Lao language
ຂ້ອຍ
ເວົ້າ
ນ້ອຍໜື່ງ
ພາສາລາວ
ເຈົ້າຮູ້ພາສາອັງກິດບໍ່?
你懂英文吗?Listen here:
Chinese
Hanyu pinyin
你
Ni3
懂
Dong3
英文
Ying1 wen2
吗
Ma1
English
You
Know
English language
(normally used at the end of a yes-or-no question)
ເຈົ້າ
ຮູ້
ພາສາອັງກິດ
ບໍ່
ເຈົ້າເຂົ້າໃຈຂ້ອຍເວົ້າຫຍັງບໍ່?
你明白我说什么吗?Listen here:
Chinese
Hanyu pinyin
你
Ni3
明白
Ming2 bai2
我
Wo3
说
Shuo1
什么
She1 me4
吗
Ma1
English
You
Understand
I
Say / speak
What
(normally used at the end of a yes-or-no question)
ເຈົ້າ
ເຂົ້າໃຈ
ຂ້ອຍ
ເວົ້າ
ຫຍັງ
ບໍ່
ເຊີນເວົ້າຊ້າແດ່, ໄວໂພດຂ້ອຍຝັງບໍ່ເຂົ້າໃຈ.
请慢慢说,太快我听不明白。Listen here:
Chinese
Hanyu pinyin
请
Qing3
慢慢
man4 man4
说
Shuo1
太
Tai4
快
Kuai4
我
Wo3
听
Ting1
不
Bu4
明白
Ming2 bai2
English
Please
Slowly
Say / speak
Too
Fast
I
Hear
No
Understand
ເຊີນ
ຊ້າ
ເວົ້າ
ໂພດ
ໄວ
ຂ້ອຍ
ຝັງ
ບໍ່
ເຂົ້າໃຈ
ເຊີນເວົ້າອີກຄັ້ງໜຶ່ງ.
请再说一次。Listen here:
Chinese
Hanyu pinyin
请
Qing3
再
man4 man4
说
Shuo1
一次
Tai4
English
Please
again
Say / speak
Once
ເຊີນ
ອີກ
ເວົ້າ
ຄັ້ງໜຶ່ງ
Try to answer this question in Chinese: What languages do you know? ເຈົ້າຮູ້ພາສາຫຍັງ?
In this lesson, we will learn how to introduce ourselves. Have fun trying this with your family and friends!
Lesson 6 ບົດຮຽນທີ6
ສະບາຍດີ. ຂໍຖາມ, ເຈົ້າຊື່ຫຍັງ?
你好。请问,你叫什么名字?Listen here:
Chinese
Hanyu pinyin
你好
Ni3 hao3
请
Qing3
问
Wen4
你
Ni3
叫
Jiao4
什么
She3 me4
名字
Ming2 zi4
English
Hello
Please / May
Ask
You
Call
What
Name
ສະບາຍດີ
ຂໍ
ຖາມ
ເຈົ້າ
ຫຍັງ
ຊື່
Remember to replace ‘你’(ni3) with ‘您’(nin2), the more respectful form of “you”, when you are speaking to someone older.
ຂ້ອຍຊື່ຢີງຊານ
我的名字叫莹姗。 Listen here:
Chinese
Hanyu pinyin
我的
Wo3 de4
名字
Ming2 zi4
叫
Jiao4
莹姗
Ying2 shan1
English
My
Name
Is called
Yingshan
ຂ້ອຍຊື່
ຢີງຊານ
ຂໍໂທດ, ເຈົ້າແມ່ນນາງບໍພາບໍ່?
对不起,你是波姂女士吗?Listen here:
Chinese
Hanyu pinyin
对不起
Dui4 bu4 qi3
你
Ni3
是
Shi4
波姂
Bo1 fa2
女士
Nu3 shi4
吗
Ma1
English
Sorry / excuse me
You
Are / is / am / to be
Bopha
Miss
(normally used at the end of a yes-or-no question)
ຂໍໂທດ
ທ່ານ
ແມ່ນ
ບໍພາ
ນາງ
ບໍ່
ແມ່ນແລ້ວ, ແລະວ່າລາວແມ່ນທ້າວອູນ
是的。还有,这是邬讷先生。Listen here:
Chinese
Hanyu pinyin
是的
Shi4 de4
还有
Hai2 you3
这是
Zhe4 shi4
邬讷
wu1 ne4
先生
Xian1 sheng1
English
Yes
And also
This is
Oun
Mister
ແມ່ນແລ້ວ
ແລະວ່າ
ລາວແມ່ນ
ອູນ
ທ້າວ
ດີໃຈຫຼາຍທີ່ໄດ້ຮູ້ຈັກພວກເຈົ້າ
很高兴认识你们。Listen here:
Chinese
Hanyu pinyin
很
Hen3
高兴
Gao1 xing4
认识
Ren4 shi4
你们
Ni3 men2
English
Very
Happy
Recognise
You (plural)
ດຫຼາຍ
ດີໃຈ
ຮູ້ຈັກ
ພວກເຈົ້າ
Try at home: introduce yourself to your family member or friend!
Useful to prevent the spread of covid-19:
Check out this Instagram post by NatGeoAsia to see ways of greeting without shaking hands. It’s not mentioned, but the Lao way of greeting is of coursevery helpful too!
We will learn some simple phrases about why it’s important to reduce the use of plastic, especially single-use plastics – because it’s my birthday today!
(Because I did not refer to a textbook for this, please forgive me if there are any mistakes!)
Today’s lesson will cover some useful phrases that you can use if you meet a friend after many days of not seeing him/her, because of self-imposed social distancing or because of a lockdown.
Lesson 4 ບົດຮຽນທີ4
ສະບາຍດີ
你好!Listen here:
Chinese
Hanyu pinyin
你
Ni3
好
Hao3
English
You
Good
ສະບາຍດີ
Recall from previous lessons: how do you say ສະບາຍດີ in Chinese to an older person?
ບໍ່ໄດ້ພົບດົນນານແລ້ວ ຄິດຮອດເຈົ້າຫຼາຍ
好久没见面了,很想念你。Listen here:
Chinese
Hanyu pinyin
好久
Hao3 jiu3
没
Mei2
见面
Jian4 mian4
了
Le4
很
Hen2
想念
Xiang3 nian4
你
Ni3
English
Very long
Did not
Meet
Already
Very
Miss
You
ດົນນານ
ບໍ່ໄດ້
ພົບ
ແລ້ວ
ຫຼາຍ
ຄິດຮອດ
ເຈົ້າ
For “好久” (hao3 jiu3), it can be broken up into its two words to understand its meaning better. “好” (hao3) means ‘good’, whereas “久” (jiu3) means ‘a long time’. So, literally the meaning of “好久” (hao3 jiu3) is ‘a good length of time’. You can also achieve the same meaning by saying “很久” (hen2 jiu3) which also means ‘very long time’ Listen here:
ຫວ່າງມໍ່ນີ້, ເຈົ້າສະບາຍດີບໍ່?
近来,你的身体好吗?Listen here:
Chinese
Hanyu pinyin
近来
Jin4 lai2
你的
Ni3 de4
身体
Shen1 ti3
好
Hao3
吗
Ma1
English
Of late / recently
Your
Body
Good
(normally used at the end of a yes-or-no question)
ຫວ່າງມໍ່ນີ້
ເຈົ້າ
ສະບາຍດີ
ບໍ່
ດີຫຼາຍ, ຂອບໃຈ. ເຈົ້າເດ?
很好,谢谢。你呢?Listen here:
Chinese
Hanyu pinyin
很
Hen2
好
Hao3
谢谢
Xie4 xie4
你
Ni3
呢
Ne1
English
Very
Good
Thanks
You
(used to express the meaning of ‘what about?’)
ຫຼາຍ
ດີ
ຂອບໃຈ
ເຈົ້າ
ເດ
ດີຄືກັດ, ຂອບໃຈ.
同样好,谢谢。Listen here:
Chinese
Hanyu pinyin
同
Tong2
样
Yang4
好
Hao3
谢谢
Xie4 xie4
English
Of the same
Type / form / category
Good
Thanks
ຄືກັດ
ດີ
ຂອບໃຈ
ຮັບສາສູຂະພາບດີດີເນີ.
多多保重Listen here:
Chinese
Hanyu pinyin
多
Duo1
多
Duo1
保重
Bao3 zhong4
English
Many
Many
Take care
ພົບກັນໃໝ່
再见Listen here:
Chinese
Hanyu pinyin
再
Zai4
见
Jian4
English
Again
See / meet
ພົບກັນໃ
Question: In your opinion, which of the above Chinese phrases is the most useful during this period?
Feedback needed: what do you want to learn next? How can these lessons be improved?
Recent Comments