Episode 09: Aren't you going to drive?
Learning from context
We learn best when we learn from context. Letting your brain try to infer the meaning and usage of a word or phrase is much more effective than having someone just tell you. Facts are forgettable, but experience lasts.
However, in order to learn the patterns of a language, it's not enough to just see a word or phrase used once. We need to hear it multiple times, in various situations. This is why, starting from ep. 9, we are going to start seeing dialogues that do more reinforcing of what you already know, and less introducing of new words.
We are also going to spend less time dwelling on specific vocabulary, instead giving you the full translation of each sentence, so that you have a chance to figure out the words and usages from context. It may be confusing in the beginning, but it will be worth it.
A note about learning Chinese characters
Teaching Chinese characters is outside the scope of this podcast, but if you are learning Chinese characters through another course or method, you can use the transcript below to follow along.
Learning characters can be a fulfilling project, and can help you to remember and differentiate similar-sounding words. And, of course, it opens up more avenues for practicing your Mandarin, such as reading (books, children's books, comic books) and corresponding with Chinese speakers via email and other messaging apps. I highly encourage you to give it a try!
However, if the thought of memorizing all those characters now gives you a headache, rest assured: you can start speaking Mandarin without being able to read or write. Millions of preliterate children speak Mandarin fluently, and so can you. If and when you are ready to start learning the characters, speaking some Mandarin already will make it that much easier.
The bottom line is this: Don't let anything stop you or discourage you. The best method is the method you actually use, and any method you choose is better than no method at all. Find a way to move forward. You can always make adjustments later. And most important of all, enjoy!
Daily Practice Session
Dialogue text (Chinese characters)
M：小李，你吃飯了嗎？
L：還沒，你呢？
M: 我也還沒。你餓了嗎？
L：好餓！
M： 我也是，我也很餓
L：你想吃什麼？
M：我想吃飯！你呢？
L：好啊，我也想吃飯
M：那我們去吃飯吧！
L：好，去餐廳吃怎麼樣？
M：好！你要開車嗎？
L：我開車？不是你要開的嗎？
M：我沒有車啊，我把車子賣掉了
L：你把車子賣掉了幹嘛？
M：我沒錢啊
L：可是我不會開車啊
M：你不會開車？我以為你會
L：我不會啊！你是不是忘記了！
M：那怎麼辦？
L: 沒辦法!
Dialogue text (w/ pinyin and translation)
M：小李，你吃飯了嗎？
M: Xiǎo lǐ, nǐ chīfànle ma?
M: Xiaoli, have you eaten?
L：還沒，你呢？
L: Hái méi, nǐ ne?
L: Not yet, and you?
M: 我也還沒。你餓了嗎？
M: Wǒ yě hái méi. Nǐ èle ma?
M: I also haven't yet. Are you hungry?
L：好餓！
L: Hǎo è!
L: So hungry!
M： 我也是，我也很餓
M: Wǒ yěshì, wǒ yě hěn è
M: Me too, I'm also really hungry.
L：你想吃什麼？
L: Nǐ xiǎng chī shénme?
L: You want to eat what?
M：我想吃飯！你呢？
M: Wǒ xiǎng chīfàn! Nǐ ne?
M: I want to eat rice (a full meal)! And you?
L：好啊，我也想吃飯
L: Hǎo a, wǒ yě xiǎng chīfàn
L: Ok, I also want to eat rice.
M：那我們去吃飯吧！
M: Nà wǒmen qù chīfàn ba!
M: Then let's go eat!
L：好，去餐廳吃怎麼樣？
L: Hǎo, qù cāntīng chī zěnme yàng?
L: Ok, go to a restaurant to eat, how about it?
M：好！你要開車嗎？
M: Hǎo! Nǐ yào kāichē ma?
M: Ok! Are you going to drive?
L：我開車？不是你要開的嗎？
L: Wǒ kāichē? Bùshì nǐ yào kāi de ma?
L: Me, drive? Aren't you going to drive?
M：我沒有車啊，我把車子賣掉了
M: Wǒ méiyǒu chē a, wǒ bǎ chēzi mài diàole
M: I don't have a car! I sold my car.
L：你把車子賣掉了幹嘛？
L: Nǐ bǎ chēzi mài diàole gàn ma?
L: You sold the car, WTF?
M：我沒錢啊
M: Wǒ méi qián a
M: I don't have money.
L：可是我不會開車啊
L: Kěshì wǒ bù huì kāichē a
L: But I can't drive!
M：你不會開車？我以為你會
M: Nǐ bù huì kāichē? Wǒ yǐwéi nǐ huì
M: You can't drive? I thought you could.
L：我不會啊！你是不是忘記了！
L: Wǒ bù huì a! Nǐ shì bùshì wàngjìle!
L: I can't! You forgot, didn't you?
M：那怎麼辦？
M: Nà zěnme bàn?
M: Then what are we gonna do?
L: 沒辦法!
L: Méi bànfǎ!
L: Nothing to do!
Thank you for listening!
