Previous Lesson: Lesson 14: How Much Do You Have/Want?
Give me some Renminbi.
What did you say?
Or, literally, “You speak what?”
Do you have any American dollars?
Do you have any tea?
I don’t have any tea.
But I have beer.
In that case, let’s say 1 beer.
Here you are. 1 beer.
Give me 5 American dollars.
I’m giving you 5 American dollars.
Do you have any Renminbi?
Yes, I have Renminbi.
I have a lot of Renminbi.
Give me 17 Renminbi.
How many? Is it 18 units?
No (It’s not).
It’s 16 units.
Here you are. 15 Renminbi.
It’s 14 units.
In that case, give me 1 Renminbi.
How much does it cost?
It’s not very much.
For you.
You’re saying like, “Give to you.”
The “da” has no literal meaning in English. But you need it to say “for”.
But the beer is for me.
18 units or 19 units.
How much is 1 beer?
1 Renminbi, 1 cup.
The tea, 2 units.
Give me 3 Renminbi.
I can’t.
I can.
What other Mandarin word means “can”? “Hwuey” is used to say “Can speak.” (e.g. “I can speak a little Mandarin.”) Literally, that “can” means “know how to.” While “Kuhyie” (the audio above) means “able to.”
You can.
You can’t.
Can you?
Can you eat now?
Yes (I can).
Yes, I can eat now.
I can’t eat now.
I don’t want to eat.
Yes, I have some.
The tea is for you.
Do you have any beer?
I don’t have any beer.
I have some.
Yes, I have a lot.
No, I don’t have any.
I have some. It isn’t very much.
Can you give me some money?
I want some.
You want some.
I’m giving you 14 Renminbi.
Is it American dollars?
Do you want American dollars?
I can’t give any to you.
I don’t have any American dollars.
I don’t have any.
In that case, give me Renminbi.
In that case, I don’t want any.
Scene # 1: Arithmetic
Now, get ready for some arithmetic.
6 plus 6 is how much?
12
1 plus 2 is how much?
3
2 plus 3 is how much?
5
4 plus 4 is how much?
8
4 plus 2 is how much?
6
3 plus 4 is how much?
7
6 plus 2 is how much?
9
9 plus 1 is how much?
10
6 plus 7 is how much?
13
13 plus 2 is how much?
15
8 plus 4 is how much?
12
13 plus 3 is how much?
16
15 plus 2 is how much?
17
Thank you.
Don’t mention it.
Scene #2
Now, a conversation with a young woman. You’re in an agreeable mood so you’ll confirm everything she’ll ask you.