Introducing your family in Chinese - Lesson 08

Contents of this lesson

1. Vocabulary

2. Grammar

3. Dialogue

4. Exercises

1. Vocabulary

Please learn the vocabulary before you start learning the grammar and dialogues.

2. Grammar

A. Interrogative sentences with an interrogative pronounf

Here we will learn to use 什么 ‹ shénme › ("quoi ; quel") ("what") to ask questions about things and 几 ‹ jǐ › to ask questions about quantities.
In this kind of question the word order is the same as in a declarative sentence in Chinese. The question is formed by placing the interrogative pronoun where the answer will be placed.

• Q: 这是 什么？ ‹ Zhè shì shénme ›
  Q: What is it ?
  A: 这是 一张中国地图。 ‹ Zhè shì yī zhāng zhōngguó dìtú. ›
  A: It is a map of China.
• Q: 你妈妈 做 什么 工作？ ‹ Nǐ māmā zuò shénme gōngzuò? ›
  Q: What is your mom job ?
  A: 我妈妈 是 老师。 ‹ Wǒ māmā shì lǎoshī. ›
  A: My mom is a teacher.

• 这是 谁 的 地图？ ‹ Zhè shì shéi de dìtú? ›
  and not 这是谁地图？
• 这是 什么 地图？‹ Zhè shì shénme dìtú? ›
  and not 这是什么的地图？

• Q: 你家有 几 口 人？ ‹ Nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ kǒu rén? ›
  Q: In your family, how many people are there ?
  R: 我家有 六 口 人。 ‹ Wǒjiā yǒu liù kǒu rén. ›
  A: In my family, there are six people.

B. "Close possession" and 的 ‹ de ›

In the previous chapter, we saw that it is necessary to use the particle 的 ‹ de › between subject and object. However, in the case of close relationship to US (like the family), it becomes optional and is often omitted in spoken language.

The two following examples are therefore correct : 我的哥哥 ‹ wǒ de gēge › and 我哥哥 ‹ wǒ gēge ›.

3. Dialogue

As mentioned previously, listen and read the dialogue many times until it is understood (without initially looking at the English translation).

Dialogue

- 大卫，这是什么？ ‹ Dàwèi, zhè shì shénme? ›
- 这是我家的照片。 ‹ Zhè shì wǒ quánjiā de zhàopiàn. ›
- 你家有几口人？ ‹ Nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ kǒu rén? ›
- 我家有六口人 ：爸爸，妈妈，两个妹妹，一个弟弟和我。我没有哥哥。 ‹ Wǒ jiā yǒu liù kǒu rén: bàba, māma, liǎng gè mèimei, yīgè dìdi hé wǒ. Wǒ méi yǒu gēge. ›
- 他是谁？‹ Tā shì shéi? ›
- 他是我弟弟。 ‹ Tā shì wǒ dìdi. ›
- 你爸爸，妈妈做什么工作？ ‹ Nǐ bàba, māma zuò shénme gōngzuò? ›
- 我爸爸是老师，妈妈不工作。 ‹ Wǒ bàba shì lǎoshī, māma bù gōngzuò. ›
- 你呢？‹ Nǐ ne? ›
- 我是学生。 王丽，你家有几口人？ ‹ Wǒ shì xuéshēng. Wáng Lì, nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ kǒu rén? ›
- 我家有三口人。 ‹ Wǒ jiā yǒu sān kǒu rén. ›
- 你爸爸工作吗？ ‹ Nǐ bàba gōngzuò ma? ›
- 工作。他是医生。 ‹ Gōngzuò. Tā shì yīshēng. ›

Translation :

- David, what is it?
- This is a photo of my family.
- In your family, how many people are there?
- In my family there are six people: dad, mom, two younger sisters, a younger brother and me. I do not have an elder brother.
- Who is it?
- This is my little brother.
- What is the job of your dad and mom?
- My dad is a teacher, mom doesn't work.
- And you?
- I am a student. Wang Li, how many people are there in your family?
- There are three people in my family.
- Does your dad work?
- Yes. He is a doctor.

4. Exercises

You too can answer the following questions in Chinese. Feel free to use the dictionary to look for a word (like a profession for instance).

1. 你家有几口人？ ‹ Nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ kǒu rén? ›
2. 你爸爸，妈妈做什么工作？ ‹ Nǐ bàba, māma zuò shénme gōngzuò? ›