MIT Open Courseware

Readings

Special software is required to use some of the files in this section: .mp3.

This course utilizes Julian Wheatley's Learning Chinese: A Foundation Course in Mandarin. Part 1. (The Character Text). The following table lists the readings with a PDF for that specific session as well as audio recordings for select readings. A PDF version of the Character Text by lesson is also listed below.

Readings by Lesson

Learning Chinese: A Foundation Course in Mandarin. Part 1.

Preface (PDF)

Table of Contents (PDF)

Unit 1 (PDF)

Unit 2 (PDF)

Unit 3 (PDF)

Unit 4 (PDF)

Chars 1 (PDF)

Chars 2 (PDF)

Chars 3 (PDF)

zhīdào

Saying "I Know"

When learning a new language and practicing it with native speakers, you often need to indicate your knowledge of the topic. In Mandarin you use zhīdao (know) and bù zhīdào (don’t know).

Zhīdao is made up of two characters: 知道. The first character 知 (zhī) means "to know,” or “to be aware” and the second character 道 (dào) means “truth,” or “principle.” Dào also means “direction” or “path” and in this context it forms the first character of “Daoism” (Taoism).

Examples of Zhidao

Qǐngwèn, sheí zhīdao nǎli yǒu yóujú?
請問, 誰知道哪裡有郵局?
Excuse me, does anyone know where the post office is?

Wǒ bù zhīdào.
我不知道｡
I don’t know.

A word a day from about.com

Shenme - Daily Mandarin Lesson
Asking "What"
By Qiu Gui Su, About.com

The Mandarin Chinese word for “what” is shénme. It is most commonly used as a question word, but can also be used in certain expressions like méi shén me - 沒甚麼 (it doesn’t matter).

Shénme has two characters: 甚麼. The first character shén 甚 means “what” and the second character is a non-independent particle which is always used in conjunction with other characters.

Shénme occurs after the verb it references, or when used with a noun, can appear at the beginning of the phrase.