Lesson 002 Introductions

Y: Perfect Chinese your way, in only five minutes a day. Welcome to Chinese Studio, a brand new Chinese learning program on China Radio International. I’m Yajie. 
Cam: Hello, everyone, I’m Cam. It’s good to be back.  This daily show will teach Chinese at the elementary level, which is perfect for me, because I’m just learning Chinese myself! Now Yajie, last time we learnt greetings. What’s today’s topic?

Y: After you’ve greeted someone, you are supposed to introduce yourself, or introduce your friends. This is done in English too, right?

Y: It sure it!. Let’s check Key words of the day!

***************** Key words of the day
Today we’ll learn a few of popular introduction expressions. 你好，我叫Yuanbao，是加拿大人。你好,我是Yajie，中国人。这位是Lucy, 来自美国。All in today’s Chinese Studio.  
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Y: Introductions happen between two people who meet for the first time. It can also happen among three happen or more.  In this case, the person will introduce his or her friends as well. Let’s first learn how to introduce yourself. 你好,我是Yajie，中国人。

Cam: 你好(nǐ hǎo)，我叫(wǒ jiào)Yuanbao，是加拿大人(shì Jiānádà rén)。

Y: First you can say your name, and then your nationality. 我是Yajie. Wo shi Yajie. Wo, I. Shi, is. 加拿大人, Canadian. Wo is the same as “wo hen hao” – I’m very good, that we learned last week.  Wo is in the third tone. Wǒ.

Cam: Wǒ.

Y: 是(shì) is equal to the meaning of “be” in English, but there is no change of time. You can just use it. There is no need to consider the time change or the form of the subject, no matter the single or plural, or the first person or the second person. 

Cam: Does that mean I can say “你是中国人吗” (nǐ shì Zhōngguó rén ma)?

Y: Yes. Of course you can. Now let me explain how to express one’s nationality. You can put the name of the country in front of the Chinese character 人. For instance, you can say 美国人, American. 美国, Měiguó, America. 加拿大人, Jiānádà rén, Canadian. 加拿大, Canada. 中国人, Zhōngguó rén, Chinese.

Y: There are two ways of expressing the nationality of the person. You can say我是加拿大人(wǒ shì Jiānádà rén), Wǒ shì Jiānádà rén. Or you can say. 我来自加拿大, Wǒ láizì Jiānádà. I’m from Canada. 来自, from.

Cam: (repeat) 来自. (láizì). 我是加拿大人(Wǒ shì Jiānádà rén). 我来自加拿大(Wǒ láizì Jiānádà).

(conversation)

Cam: Yajie, do you know how to introduce one to another? For example, suppose you and Lucy are with me. How can I introduce Lucy to you? 

Y: Well, you can say “这位是Lucy, 来自美国”. 这位, this one. Zhè wèi, or you can say zhèi wèi.

Cam: It seems easy. How should Lucy continue with the conversation?

Y: Then Lucy can deliver the self-introduction. So does the other person.

Cam: OK. I see.

*********** Key words reminder: 
你好，我叫Yuanbao，是加拿大人。Hello, my Chinese name is Yuanbao. I’m from Canada. 你好, 我是Yajie，中国人。Hi, I’m Yajie. I’m Chinese. 这位是Lucy, 来自美国。This is Lucy, from America. 来自 is a preposition word, meaning from.
***********

Cam: Yajie, do you know how to introduce my parents to my friends?

Yajie: Well, when you introduce your parents to your friends you can say 这是我爸爸和妈妈。爸爸, papa, 妈妈, mum. 和means and. Can you repeat?

Cam: 这是我爸爸和妈妈。Zhè shì wǒ bàba hé māma.

Yajie: Great! Hopefully you’ll find this useful!  I hear your parents are visiting soon, so maybe you’ll be able to practice!