Vocabulary (Review)

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Let's take a closer look at the conversation.
Do you remember how Lu asks,
"Is this your family?"
这是你的家人吗？(Zhè shì nǐ de jiārén ma?)
First is 这 (zhè), "this." 这. 这。
Next is 是 (shì), in this case, it's like the "is," in "This is…." 是. 是。
After this is 你的 (nǐ de), meaning, "your." 你的。
There are two parts:
First is 你, "you." 你. 你。
Second is 的 (de), a possessive-marking particle. 的. 的。
Think of 的 as a way to indicate possession. The word it follows possesses the thing that comes after it. In this sentence, it marks 你, "you," as the possessor.
Together, 你的 (nǐ de), "your." 你的。
Next is 家人 (jiārén), "family." 家人 家人。
There are two parts:
First is 家 (jiā), "home" or "family." 家 家。
Next is 人(rén), "person" or "people." 人 人。
Together, it's 家人 (jiārén), literally "home people," but translates as "family." 家人。
Last is 吗 (ma). This is a question-marking particle. It turns a sentence into a question. 吗. 吗。
All together, it's 这是你的家人吗？(Zhè shì nǐ de jiārén ma?) Literally, "This is your family," but it translates as "Is this your family?" 这是你的家人吗？
Remember this question. You'll hear it again later.
Let's take a closer look at the response.
Do you remember how Ben says,
"Yes, it is. This is my father, mother, younger sister and me."
是的。这是我的爸爸、妈妈、妹妹和我。(Shì de. Zhè shì wǒ de bàba, māma, mèimei hé wǒ.)
There are two parts to the response.
First is 是的 (shì de), which translates as "Yes, [it is]," in this context. 是的.
This starts with 是 (shì), meaning "yes," when responding to a yes-no question. 是. 是.
Note: 是 is used to affirmatively answer questions that contain 是, like
这是你的家人吗？(Zhè shì nǐ de jiārén ma?) "Is this your family?"
By replying with 是 (shì), you are affirming the information in the question.
It's followed by 的 (de), which, in this case, is a sentence-final particle that indicates the speaker is certain about what he or she is saying. 的 (de).
In this case, Ben, the speaker, is certain this is his family.
Together, 是的 is a set phrase meaning "Yes, [it is], in this case." 是的。
Note: "it is" is understood from context, as this is a response to the question.
After this, Ben points to the picture, and says,
这是我的爸爸、妈妈、妹妹和我。 (Zhè shì wǒ de bàba, māma, mèimei hé wǒ.)
"This is my father, mother, younger sister and me."
First is 这 (zhè), "this." 这。
Next is 是 (shì), in this case, it's like the "is," in "This is…." 是。
Together, 这是, "this is." 这是。
After this, 我的, meaning "my." 我的。
There are two parts:
First is 我 (Wǒ), "I." 我. 我。
Next is 的 (de), the possessive-marking particle. 的。
Together, 我的, "my." 我的。
Next is 爸爸 (bàba), "father." 爸爸. 爸爸。
Together, 我的爸爸 , "my father." 我的爸爸 。
Next is 妈妈 (māma), "mother." 妈妈. 妈妈。
After this is 妹妹 (mèimei), "younger sister." 妹妹. 妹妹。
Next is 和 (hé), "and." 和. 和。
Finally, he points at himself in the picture and says "我," translating as "me" in this context. 我。
All together, 这是我的爸爸、妈妈、妹妹和我。(Zhè shì wǒ de bàba, māma, mèimei hé wǒ.)
"This is my father, mother, younger sister and me."
这是我的爸爸、妈妈、妹妹和我。
The pattern is:
这是 + 我的 {family member} 、{family member} + 和 + 我。
"This is + my {family member}, {family member} + and + me."
To use this pattern, simply replace the {family member} placeholders with your family members.
Imagine your family members are your father, mother, older brother and you.
Older brother is 哥哥 (gēge). 哥哥. 哥哥.
Say
"This is my father, mother, older brother, and me."
Ready?
这是我的爸爸、妈妈、哥哥和我。 (Zhè shì wǒ de bàba, māma, gēge hé wǒ.)
"This is my father, mother, older brother and me."
这是我的爸爸、妈妈、哥哥和我。
In more casual situations, 我的爸爸 (wǒ de bàba), "my father," can be shortened to 我爸 (wǒ bà).
The possessive-marking particle 的, as in 我的爸爸 (wǒ de bàba), can be omitted, and 爸爸 (bàba) can be shortened to 爸 (bà). 我爸 (wǒ bà).
In the case of "my mother," 我的妈妈 (māma), it becomes 我妈 (mā).
This shortened pattern can also be used with other family members.
You should be aware of this, but you won't need it for this lesson.

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