Don't let me be misunderstood

Nearly all foreigners who intend to learn Chinese would like to communicate with local people using their new-found skills.

They seem too anxious to talk to people they meet after they learn a few characters. This habit has been formed ever since they learnt their mother languages and they learnt them by speaking.

Surely it should be the best way to pick up a foreign language by speaking too. But in regards to learning Chinese, it is not easy to talk at the beginning. There are some foreigners who fail because they cannot talk to local people even after many lessons.

These foreigners should have been aware that Chinese is not mastered by just talking, but also by reading and writing too. In some ways, they are more important. Some foreigners find talking the most familiar way to learn a language and they find it hard to change this habit.

Here are some suggestions for beginners learning Chinese.

Body language

Body language is the most important international language. No matter wher you come from, people understand most aspects of body language:

Numbers: you can show figures with your fingers or any tool you can employ to explain how many or how much. You also can write down the numbers you want to mention on a piece of paper from zero to millions.

Directions: everybody will understand if you point to show east, west, north, south, upper, down, left, right, or back.

Size: hand gestures to show how big, what a shape, how heavy, how tall, how long, how fast will easily make others know what do you mean.

Facial expression: Your face can quickly show how you feel. The feelings of happiness, pain and anger can be expressed through the eyes.

Frequently used phrases and words

Apart from good (hao) and thanks (xie xie), foreigners need to ask many questions about wher, how to, how many, how far, when, who, who's etc.

Sometimes they might need help from Chinese speakers. It is wise to remember some frequently used phrases and words, especially verbs. The following are some useful phrases:

Zen me (how to). For instance, zen me shuo (how to say), zen me zuo (how to do), zen me zou (how to go), zen me mai (how much), zen me ban (how to deal with), and zen me chi (how to eat).

Duo shao (how many or how much). For example, duo shao ren (how many people), duo shao tian (how many days), duo da (how big); duo chang ( how long), and duo yuan (how far).

Xiang (towards). Xiang qian (go forward), xiang zuo (turn left), xiang you (turn right), xiang nan (turn to south), xiang bei (turn to north), and xiang dong (turn to east).

Zai na er (wher). For instance, you ju zai na er (wher is the post office), shang dian zai na er (wher is shop), huo che zan zai na er (wher is the train station).

Some important places such as banks, post offices, department stores, airports, bus stations, hospitals, super markets, travel agencies, tax departments, commercial administration and city hall, can be simply written down.

Daily used characters and words

Many everyday characters and words are difficult to remember for beginners. Many foreigners think they should start from studying these characters. But in the reality most of them are hard to recall.

For example, these characters related with kitchen stuffs, cooking, fruits, vegetables, fishes, medicines, wild animals and also these brandies, trademarks in supermarket can be seen but hard to write and remember during the first step of learning.

Learners had better learn them in the second step rather than in very beginning.

Understanding local customs

Most Chinese, especially seniors, would like to talk to people about personal things, such as age, marriage, income, children, parents, lifestyle and hobby, rather than talking about weather, holiday or travelling.

These personal questions are not designed to offend, but are just a different custom. There is a big difference between Chinese and people from Western countries.

So it is helpful to understand Chinese customs when communicating with the locals.