#4 of 5 Common Spoken Chinese Mistakes to Avoid
Hi All,
I just came back to my school office yesterday after a 7-day relaxing CNY holiday in Shanghai, one day slow trip to China Pavilion on Expo 2010 Site, one day shopping scroll with my wife in a huge shopping mall called Global Harbor in Shanghai(with my parents helping with my 12-month baby, we finally had a me-and-wife alone romantic day:-), half day on peaceful Sunday morning with our family church, and days with my cute 12-month son, my parents and wife happily together, cooking, reading, watching TV, grabbing digital Hongbao Red Envelope with money... (links to wiki)
Now it's time to come back, although it's always reagarded as one of “he most miserable” days after a holiday, i love what i do! Let's see #4 of the 5 Common Spoken Chinese Mistakes to Avoid and i hope this post dose help you.
Following the last posts with #1 Chinese never say 你(nǐ) 好(hǎo) 吗(ma)？!!! of 5 Common Spoken Chinese Mistakes to Avoid, and #2 我(wǒ) 是(shì)叫(jiào)Annie VS 我(wǒ)是(shì)Annie / 我(wǒ)叫(jiào)Annie （I‘m Annie） , #3 I will go to the US next Sept. or I next Sept. will go to the US? let's continue to # 4 that is similar to #3, might show the difference in thinking ways between Chinese and English speaking people.
#4 我(wǒ) 喜(xǐ)欢(huan) 学(xué)习(xí) 汉(hàn)语(yǔ) 在(zài)SN Mandarin
VS
我(wǒ) 喜(xǐ)欢(huan)在(zài)SN Mandarin 学(xué)习(xí) 汉(hàn)语(yǔ)
It’s always happy to hear that our students say that they love learning Chinese with SN Mandarin our School, but I would still point out the mistake they often make in the beginning when they say this.
It’s actually a grammar mistake similar to # 3, putting what before where which is the English way. According to the structure we learned in # 3,
English : Who+What+Where/When/How.
Chinese: Who+When/How/Where/What
We should say 我(wǒ) 喜(xǐ)欢(huan)在(zài)SN Mandarin 学(xué)习(xí) 汉(hàn)语(yǔ). Instead of 我(wǒ) 喜(xǐ)欢(huan) 学(xué)习(xí) 汉(hàn)语(yǔ) 在(zài)SN Mandarin, which is wrong in grammar.
So to avoid this mistake, remember to put what in the end and explain when/where/how before saying whatJ.
For e.g.
我(wǒ) 在(zài)中(zhōng)国(guó) 学(xué)习(xí) 汉(hàn)语(yǔ) （I learn Chinese in China）√
我(wǒ) 学(xué)习(xí) 汉(hàn)语(yǔ) 在(zài)中(zhōng)国(guó) ×
我(wǒ) 早(zǎo)上(shang)8点(diǎn) 和(hé)我(wǒ)的(de)老(lǎo)师(shī) 在(zài)我(wǒ)的(de)办(bàn)公(gōng)室(shì) 学(xué)习(xí)汉(hàn) 语(yǔ)(I learn Chinese with my teacher 8AM at my office)。√
我(wǒ) 学(xué)习(xí)汉(hàn)语(yǔ) 早(zǎo)上(shang)8点(diǎn) 和(hé)我(wǒ)的(de)老(lǎo)师(shī) 在(zài)我(wǒ)的(de)办(bàn)公(gōng)室(shì) ×
Let's stop here today. If you have any questions, feel free to comment or email me[email protected]
I know there are also mistakes in my English writing.Any help from you in telling me is much more than appreciated.
Cheers to your Chinese learning.
By Frank Wu from SNMandarin Chinese Academy, and to be continued with #5.