Mandarin Chinese for Beginners. Yi Ren

friends coming from faraway places. —Kǒng Zǐ (Confucius)

      一见如故 Yī jiàn rú gù (an idiom): To feel like old friends upon meeting for the first time.

      久仰大名 Jiǔ yǎng dà míng (an idiom): I’ve heard your name for a long time. (Chinese often say this phrase when they meet a famous person.)

      Today many people like Jack come to China for travel, work, study or doing business. And of course sometimes they feel homesick. Here is a famous Chinese poem in which the poet, Li Bai, described his feeling of missing his hometown.

      Li Bai, also called Li Po, lived from 701–762 and is a very well-known poet of the Tang Dynasty (618–907). He wrote over 900 poems in his life. Most of these poems are about life, scenery, his wishes and feelings. Li Bai and two other poets, Wang Wei and Du Fu, are considered the most famous poets of the “golden age” of Chinese poetry, that is, the Tang Dynasty. You’ll see more of their poems later.

      THOUGHTS FOR A QUIET NIGHT

       by Li Bai

      The bright beams shine across my coverlet,

      Reminding me of frost covering the ground.

      I gaze up at the bright moon, then bow my head,

      And suddenly think of home.

Jìng yè sī 靜夜思
				Lǐ Bái 李白
Chuáng	qián	míng	yuè	guāng,
床	前	明	月	光，
yí	shì	dì	shàng	shuāng.
疑	是	地	上	霜。
Jǔ	tóu	wàng	míng	yuè,
舉	頭	望	明	月，
dī	tóu	sī	gù	xiāng.
低	頭	思	故	鄉。

       Suggestions

      There are many differences in cultures, habits, and lifestyles between China and Western countries. Sometimes, a small thing can trigger a lot of misunderstanding or embarrassment on either side or both sides. Here are a few suggestions that may help you keep misunderstandings to a minimum.

      When you are invited to your Chinese friend’s home for a dinner, or a party or other event, according to Chinese custom, it is better not to come with empty hands. What should you bring? It really depends on the situation. For example, if you are invited for dinner, you can bring a bottle of wine, a box of chocolate, or flowers; if your friends have a newborn baby, a great present is baby formulas or baby foods made in the U.S. or other developed countries, since these are especially welcomed by many Chinese. On this subject, by the way: Unlike western women, Chinese women do not organize baby showers for future new moms. They celebrate a newborn baby after his or her arrival to the world. That is a good time to take the opportunity to buy baby formula or colorful clothes made in your country as a gift for your Chinese friend. He or she will deeply appreciate your thoughtful gift.

      Some Chinese are confused by the statements like “I’ll call you” or “We will get together…” that are said frequently by Americans. To Americans, these statements are courtesies and may simply equal a “See you later.” However, to many Chinese, these statements sound like a serious intention. Therefore, the Chinese person likely expects a call soon from his/her American friend…but to his/her surprise, the phone call never comes. Keeping this in mind, it may be a good idea to use less-confusing statements with your Chinese friends and acquaintances, like “Take care and goodbye” or “Hope to see you again.”

       Do You Know?

      Many learners are eager to build up their knowledge about China fast. These items will help you do exactly that! They are just for fun. All the answers are provided in the Answer Key in the back of the book.

      ➊ Why is China called “中国 zhōng guó” and America called “美国 měi guó” in Chinese?

      ➋ What are the names of the eight ancient capitals of China?

       See you later!

      You have made great progress. In this chapter, you’ve learned 41 new words and the basic Chinese greeting style, along with some useful sentences, idioms, and a bit on Chinese customs and culture.

      After all that, you may feel like going out to get some fresh air. I need some too. When you come back, you will learn how to introduce your friends and family members to other people. I’ll see you later!

       CHAPTER 2

      第二章

       Dì èr zhāng

      Introducing… 介绍 Jiè shào

      Lily’s parents arrived back home while Jack and Lily were talking. Lily’s husband picked up their daughter on his way home from work, and they have just arrived too. Jack has never met Lily’s family, so Lily introduces everyone to Jack.

      In this chapter, you will learn how to introduce yourself when you meet someone for the first time and how to introduce your family members. Also, you will learn some Chinese family traditions. Plus, you’ll discover Chinese idioms, a proverb, a famous