Dialogue

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Lesson Transcript

Eric: Top 25 Chinese Questions You Need to Know - Lesson 22- What's this? in Chinese. In each lesson of this 25 part series, you'll master a common question for Chinese learners, and then learn how to answer it like a native. You'll learn how these key phrases work by breaking them down into each component. Then through repetition and new vocabulary, you'll expand your understanding of the question, its answers, and any variations.
In this lesson, you'll learn how to respond to the common question “What's this?” In Chinese this is
Cho:这是什么?
The first word in the question is
Cho: 这
Eric: meaning “this” in English.
Cho: (Slow, by syllable) 这
Eric: Listen again and repeat.
Cho: 这
{Pause}
Eric: This pattern of first introducing a word at natural speed, providing the translation, breaking it down, and then giving it again at natural speed will be repeated throughout the series. Try to speak aloud as often as possible. The next word in the question is
Cho: 是
Eric: meaning “to be.”
Cho: (Slow, by syllable) 是
Eric: Now repeat.
Cho: 是
{Pause}
Listen to the the first 2 words of the question and repeat.
Cho: 这是
{pause}
And next
Cho: 什么
Eric: meaning “what.”
Cho: (Slow, by syllable) 什么
Eric: Now repeat.
Cho: 什么
{Pause}
Listen to the entire question and repeat.
Cho: 这是什么
{pause}
Eric: It literally means “this is what?”
Eric: You will hear this common question again and again throughout your studies. Master the following pattern and responses to the question, “What's this?”
Cho:这是相机。
Eric: "It's a camera.” Again, slowly. Repeat the phrase.
Cho: (Slow) 这是相机。
{pause}
Eric: Let's break it down from the beginning. The first word:
Cho: 这
Eric: means “this.”
Cho: (Slow, by syllable) 这
Eric: Now repeat
Cho: 这
{Pause}
Eric: And after that
Cho: 是
meaning “to be”
Cho: (Slow, by syllable) 是
Eric: Now repeat.
Cho: 是
{Pause}
Eric: And after that
Cho: 相机
Eric: meaning “camera.”
Cho: (Slow, by syllable) 相机
Eric: Now repeat.
Cho: 相机
{Pause}
Eric: Listen to the speaker say, “it's a camera,” and then repeat.
Cho:这是相机。
{pause}
Eric: To use a different phrase, replace “camera” with “typewriter.”
Cho: 打字机
Eric: typewriter
Cho: (slow) 打字机(regular) 打字机
Eric: Listen to the phrase again, this time with ”typewriter.”
Cho:这是打字机。
Eric: It mostly stays the same. Simply replace “camera” with “typewriter.” Say, “It's a typewriter.”
{pause}
Cho: 这是打字机。
Eric: To expand on the pattern, replace “typewriter” with “television.”
Cho: 电视机
Eric: television
Cho: (slow) 电视机 (regular) 电视机
Eric: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “television.”
Cho: 这是电视机。
Eric: It mostly stays the same. Simply replace “typewriter” with “television.” Say “It's a television.”
{pause}
Cho: 这是电视机。
Eric: To use a different phrase, replace “television” with “telephone.”
Cho: 电话
Eric: telephone
Cho: (slow) 电话 (regular) 电話
Eric: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “telephone”
Cho: 这是电话。
Eric: It mostly stays the same. Simply replace “television” with “telephone.” Say, “it's a telephone.”
{pause}
Cho:这是电话。
Eric: Now it's time for a quiz. Imagine you are visiting China and someone asks you what something is. It is a camera. Respond to the question.
Cho: 这是什么? (five seconds) 这是相机。
Eric: Now imagine it's a typewriter. Respond to the question.
Cho: 这是什么? (five seconds) 这是打字机。
Eric: Imagine that it's a television. Answer the speaker's question.
Cho: 这是什么? (five seconds) 这是电视机。
Eric: Imagine that it's a telephone. Respond to the question.
Cho: 这是什么? (five seconds) 这是电话。
Eric: You want to ask someone what something is. Ask the question
(5 seconds)
Cho: 这是什么?
{pause}
Eric: This is the end of Lesson 22

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