Speak Chinese to Your Adoptive Child 家庭汉语

Do you want to learn to speak Chinese to your adoptive child? Tell them “I love you (我爱你 wo ai ni)”, or ask “Do you want to go potty (想尿尿吗 xiang niao niao ma?)”. Here are the basic Chinese expressions speaking at home, ten minutes makes you learn to speak Chinese well at ChineseHour right now.

If you can understand some basic Chinese words or common conversations, you will find your communication to your adoptive child is rewarding, enjoyable and fun. You may print what we list here on the word cards in Chinese Pinyin and English, and post them on the chair or table, on the door, or on the wall by the sofa, or even in the bathroom. If you need more help for Chinese learning at home, just let us know, we are happy to help whenever you want.

ChineseHour Learning Service (http://www.chinesehour.com)/ is a right place to learn Chinese online any time or anywher. The One TO ONE Chinese Class  is strongly recommended. Speak Chinese at Home, Quick Chinese, Chinese Conversation and many other courses are available. You can practise your surviving language skills with the native Chinese teachers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
English     Chinese Pronunciation and Characters     Sound
You are beautiful.     Ni3 zhen1 piao4 liang.
你真漂亮。
   
You are safe with us.     He2 wo3 men zai4 yi4 qi3, hen3 an1 quan2.
和我们在一起很安全。
   
We are your forever family now.     Jin1 hou4, wo3 men jiu4 shi4 ni3 yong3 yuan3 de jia1.
今后我们就是你永远的家。    
Please wait! (Or you have to wait.)     Bie2 ji2 别急
or Deng3 yi4 hui3r. （等一会儿）    
Do you want water?     Ni3 he1 shui3 ma?
你喝水吗？    
Are you thirsty?     Ni3 ke3 ma?
你渴吗？    
You must be tired?     Ni3 lei4 le ba?
你累了吧？    
Are you tired?     Ni3 lei4 ma?
你累吗？    
Do you want to eat?     Ni3 xiang3 chi1 dong1 xi ma?
你想吃东西吗？    
Do you want to eat formula?     Ni3 xiang3 chi1 formula ma?
你想吃formula吗？    
Does it hurt?     Teng2 ma?
疼吗？    
No, you may not date until you are thirty-five!     Bu4 xing2. Dao4 san1 shi2 wu3 sui4 zai4 zhao3 dui4 xiang4 ba.
不行，到三十五岁再找对象吧。    
Are you hungry?     Ni3 e4 ma?
你饿吗？    
Be good!     Guai1 yi4 dianr3!
乖一点儿。    
Cheer up.     Gao1 xing4 yi4 dianr3.
高兴一点儿。    
Come over.     Lai2!
来！    
Come to Mom.     Dao4 Ma1 Ma zhe4 lai2.
到妈妈这来。    
Come, let’s play a game!     Lai2, zan2 men zuo4 you2 xi4!
来，咱们做游戏。    
Do you drink milk?     He1 niu2 nai3 ma?
喝牛奶吗？    
Don’t behave like this.     Bie2 zhe4 yang4!
别这样。    
Drink milk or else?     He1 niu2 nai3 ne, hai2 shi4 he1 dianr3 bie2 de?
喝牛奶呢，还是喝点儿别的？    
Father (Dad)     Ba4 ba
爸爸    
Give me the toy.     Ba3 wan2 ju4 gei3 wo3.
把玩具给我。    
Go potty? (pee, to a small child)     Yao4 niao4 ma?
要尿吗？    
Go potty? (poo, to a small child)     Yao4 la1 ma?
要拉吗？    
Go to Dad.     Zhao3 Ba4 Ba qu4!
找爸爸去。    
Good boy (girl)!     Ni3 zhen1 guai1!
你真乖。    
Grandma / Grandmother (dad’s mother)     Nai3 Nai3
奶奶    
Grandma / Grandmother (mom’s mother, northern Chinese vernacular)     Lao3 Lao
姥姥    
Grandma / Grandmother (mom’s mother, southern Chinese vernacular)     Wai4 Po2
外婆 (ref. a children’s book entitled Lang Po Po)    
Grandpa / Grandfather (dad’s dad)     Ye2 Ye
爷爷    
Grandpa / Grandfather (mom’s dad, southern Chinese vernacular)     Wai4 Gong1
外公    
Hi, Amanda (the sound of name needs no translation unless in writing)!     Wei, Amanda!
喂 (”Wei” is the word to get someone’s attention.)    
Honey.     Bao3 bao.
宝宝.    
How was school today?     Jin1 tian1 de xue2 shang4 de zen3 me yang4?
今天的学上得怎么样？    
I love you.     Wo3 ai4 ni3
我爱你。    
I will come back for you (or I will be back later.)     Wo3 yi4 huir3 jiu4 hui2 lai2.
我一会儿就来接你。    
It’s dinner time.     Gai1 chi1 fan4 le.
该吃饭了。    
It’s OK.     Bu2 yao4 jin3. 不要紧。
Or Mei2 guan1xi. 没什么。    
It’s time for bed.     Gai1 shui4 jiao4 le.
该睡觉了。    
Let’s go.     Zan2 men zou3 ba. 咱们走吧。
Or simply Zou3 ba. 走吧。    
Let me pick you up. Or Pick up.     Rang4 wo3 bao4 bao ni3. 让我抱抱你。
Or Bao4 bao. 抱抱。    
Let’s read a book.     Zan2 men nian4 shu1 ba.
咱们念书吧。    
(Kendy) Middle School     (Kendy) zhong xue
中学    
Mother (Mom)     Ma1 ma
妈妈    
No more crying.     Ni3 bie2 ku1 le.
你别哭了。    
No. (not to permit)     Bu4 xing2.
不行。    
No. (to negate)     Bu2 shi4.
不是。    
Pick up the toy.     Ba3 wan2 ju4 jian3 qi3 lai2.
把玩具捡起来。    
Put away the toy(s). It’s time to eat.     Ba3 wan2 ju4 fang4 xia4. Gai1 chi1 fan4 le.
把玩具放下。该吃饭了。    
Put the toy(s) there.     Ba3 wan2 ju4 fang4 zai4 nar4.
把玩具放在那儿。    
Share it/them among yourselves. (or Play together.)     Da4 jia1 yi4 qi3 wanr2.
大家一起玩儿。    
school     xue2 xiao4
学校    
This is your dad.     Zhe4 shi4 ni3 de ba4 ba.
这是你的爸爸。    
Want to go to the bathroom (to an older child)     Xiang2 qu4 ce4 suo3 ma?
想去厕所吗？    
What do you want to eat?     Xiang3 chi1 shen2 me?
想吃什么？    
Teddy Bear.     Xiao3 xiong2
小熊    
Yes! (to permit)     Xing2.
行。    
Yes. (to affirm)     Shi4 (de).
是（的）