Mandarin cool... so are Japanese and Korean! #5

Lesson 5 - At the convenient store

Hanyu Pinyin is used as the basic form of pronounciation here, unless otherwise stated. For those not familiar in Hanyu Pinyin (were you sleeping in your Primary school chinese lessons?), these are some illustrations:

a = a as in art
i = i as in ink
u = oo as in cool
e = a as in air
o = aw as in paw
ao = ou as in ouch
an = un as in until



John: Is there telephone card here?
Xiao Ming: 这里有电话卡吗？ (zhe li you dian hua ka ma)
Nakamura: ここに テレフォン カヅ ありますか? (ko ko ni te-re-fon ka-du a ri ma-su ka)
Yong Su: 여기 전화카드 있어요? (yo gi chon hu-a ka-du i so yo)

John: Is there XYZ here?
Xiao Ming: 这里有 ... 吗？ (zhe li you ... ma)
Nakamura: ここに ... ありますか? (ko ko ni ... a ri ma-su ka)
Yong Su: 여기 ... 있어요? (yo gi ... i so yo)

John: Sorry. There isn't any here.
Xiao Ming: 对不起。 这里没有 (dui bu qi. zhe li mei you)
Nakamura: すみません. ここに ありますせん (su mi ma sen. ko ko ni a ri ma sen)
Yong Su: 미안합니다. 여기 없어요 (mi an ham ni da. yo gi op so yo)

John: Yes. Yes. There is.
Xiao Ming: 是的。 有的 (shi de. you de)
Nakamura: はい. あります (hai. a ri ma-su)
Yong Su: 네. 잇어요 (ne. i so yo)

John: How much?
Xiao Ming: 多少钱? (duo shao qian)
Nakamura: いくらですか? (i ku ra de-su ka)
Yong Su: 얼마예요? (o-r ma ye yo)


Disclaimer: I'm not a Chinese/Japanese/Korean teacher and I'm only sharing what I know. These lessons are not part of any formal text books and you don't get any certifications from learning them. You will not become an expert from these lessons because I'm not any expert myself. The only thing I can guarantee is that your Chinese/Japanese/Korean friends can finally understand what you're trying to say.

Mandarin cool... so are Japanese and Korean! #4

Lesson 4 - At the hotel

Hanyu Pinyin is used as the basic form of pronounciation here, unless otherwise stated. For those not familiar in Hanyu Pinyin (were you sleeping in your Primary school chinese lessons?), these are some illustrations:

a = a as in art
i = i as in ink
u = oo as in cool
e = a as in air
o = aw as in paw
ao = ou as in ouch
an = un as in until



John: Please help me to check in.
Xiao Ming: 请帮我办理入住手续。 (qing bang wo ban li ru zhu shou xu)
Nakamura: チエクイン ください (chi-e-ku-in ku da sai)
Yong Su: 체크인 해 주세요 (che-ku-in he chu se yo)

John: My name is John
Xiao Ming: 我叫做小明 (wo jiao zuo xiao ming)
Nakamura: 私は中村です (wa ta shi wa nakamura de-su)
Yong Su: 저는 영수 예요 (cho nun yong su ye yo)

Hotel staff: Please hold on a while
Hotel staff: 请稍等一下 (qing shao deng yi xia)
Hotel staff: しょしょお待ちください (sh-yo sh-yo o ma chi ku da sai)
Hotel staff: 잠깐만 기다리세요 (cham gan man ki da ri se yo)

Hotel staff: This is the room key
Hotel staff: 这是房间的钥匙 (zhe shi fang jian de yao shi)
Hotel staff: これは部屋のかぎです (ko re wa he ya no ka gi de-su)
Hotel staff: 이거 방외열쇠 예요 (i go pang ui yor sui ye yo)


Disclaimer: I'm not a Chinese/Japanese/Korean teacher and I'm only sharing what I know. These lessons are not part of any formal text books and you don't get any certifications from learning them. You will not become an expert from these lessons because I'm not any expert myself. The only thing I can guarantee is that your Chinese/Japanese/Korean friend can finally understand what you're trying to say.

Mandarin cool... so are Japanese and Korean! #3

Lesson 3 - At the airport

Hanyu Pinyin is used as the basic form of pronounciation here, unless otherwise stated. For those not familiar in Hanyu Pinyin (were you sleeping in your Primary school chinese lessons?), these are some illustrations:

a = a as in art
i = i as in ink
u = oo as in cool
e = a as in air
o = aw as in paw
ao = ou as in ouch
an = un as in until



John: Where are the luggages?
Xiao Ming: 请问行李在哪里？ (qing wen xing li zai na li)
Nakamura: にもつはどちらですか？ (ni mo tsu wa do chi ra de-su ka)
Yong Su: 짐 어디 에 있어요? (jim o-di e i so yo)

John: Where is the airport bus?
Xiao Ming: 请问机场巴士在哪里？ (qing wen ji chang ba shi zai na li)
Nakamura: くうこうバスはどちらですか？ (ku-u ko-u ba su wa do chi ra de-su ka)
Yong Su: 공항 버스 어디 에 있어요? (kong hang po su o di e i so yo)

John: Where is XYZ?
Xiao Ming: 请问XYZ在哪里？ (qing wen ... zai na li)
Nakamura: XYZはどちらですか？ (... wa do chi ra de-su ka)
Yong Su: XYZ 어디 에 있어요? (... o-di e i so yo)

John: Here
Xiao Ming: 这边 (zhe bian)
Nakamura: こちら (ko chi ra)
Yong Su: 여기 (yo gi)

John: There
Xiao Ming: 那边 (na bian)
Nakamura: そちら (so chi ra)
Yong Su: 저기 (cho gi)

John: Further away there
Xiao Ming: 在远一点那边 (zai yuan yi dian na bian)
Nakamura: あちら (a chi ra)
Yong Su: 거기 (ko gi)


Disclaimer: I'm not a Chinese/Japanese/Korean teacher and I'm only sharing what I know. These lessons are not part of any formal text books and you don't get any certifications from learning them. You will not become an expert from these lessons because I'm not any expert myself. The only thing I can guarantee is that your Chinese/Japanese/Korean friend can finally understand what you're trying to say.

Mandarin cool... so are Japanese and Korean! #2

Lesson 2 - Greetings

Hanyu Pinyin is used as the basic form of pronounciation here, unless otherwise stated. For those not familiar in Hanyu Pinyin (were you sleeping in your Primary school chinese lessons?), these are some illustrations:

a = a as in art
i = i as in ink
u = oo as in cool
e = a as in air
o = aw as in paw
ao = ou as in ouch
an = un as in until



John: Excuse me... (when asking for attention)
Xiao Ming: 不好意思 (bu hao yi si) OR 打扰一下 (da rao yi xia)
Nakamura: すみません (su mi ma sen)
Yong Su: 안녕하세요 (an nyong ha se yo)

John: I'm sorry.
Xiao Ming: 对不起 (dui bu qi)
Nakamura: ごめなさい (go me na sa-i)
Yong Su: 미안해요 (mi an he yo)

John: Thank you!
Xiao Ming: 谢谢 (xie xie)
Nakamura: ありがとうございます (a li ga to-u go za i ma-su)
Yong Su: 감사합니다 (kam sa ham ni da)

John: Good bye!
Xiao Ming: 再见 (zai jian)
Nakamura: さようなら (sa yo-u na ra)
Yong Su: 안녕히 가세요 (an nyong hi ka se yo) OR 안녕히 계세요 (an nyong hi ke se yo)

Note that in Korean, 안녕히 계세요 is said by person who is leaving, while 안녕히 가세요 is said by person who is staying back. :)


Disclaimer: I'm not a Chinese/Japanese/Korean teacher and I'm only sharing what I know. These lessons are not part of any formal text books and you don't get any certifications from learning them. You will not become an expert from these lessons because I'm not any expert myself. The only thing I can guarantee is that your Chinese/Japanese/Korean friend can finally understand what you're trying to say.

Mandarin cool... so are Japanese and Korean! #1

Lesson 1 - Greetings

Hanyu Pinyin is used as the basic form of pronounciation here, unless otherwise stated. For those not familiar in Hanyu Pinyin (were you sleeping in your Primary school chinese lessons?), these are some illustrations:

a = a as in art
i = i as in ink
u = oo as in cool
e = a as in air
o = aw as in paw
ao = ou as in ouch
an = un as in until


John: Good morning!
Xiao Ming: 早上好 (zao shang hao) OR 早安 (zao an)
Nakamura: おはようございます (o ha yo-u go za i ma-su)
Yong Su: 안녕하세요 (an nyong ha se yo)

John: Good afternoon!
Xiao Ming: 下午好 (xia wu hao) OR 午安 (wu an)
Nakamura: こんにちは (kon ni chi wa)
Yong Su: 안녕하세요 (an nyong ha se yo)

John: Good evening!
Xiao Ming: 晚上好 (wan shang hao)
Nakamura: こんばんは (kon ban wa)
Yong Su: 안녕하세요 (an nyong ha se yo)

John: How are you?
Xiao Ming: 你好吗(ni hao ma)
Nakamura: おげんきですか(o gen ki de-su ka)
Yong Su: 안녕하세요 (an nyong ha se yo)


Noticed something? Korean's 안녕하세요 is really such an all-in-one! :)


Disclaimer: I'm not a Chinese/Japanese/Korean teacher and I'm only sharing what I know. These lessons are not part of any formal text books and you don't get any certifications from learning them. You will not become an expert from these lessons because I'm not any expert myself. The only thing I can guarantee is that your Chinese/Japanese/Korean friend can finally understand what you're trying to say.