Chinese For Dummies

The fun way to learn to speak ChineseWith more than 1.2 billion speakers across the globe -- and with nearly 3 million in the U.S. alone -- Mandarin Chinese claims the top spot as the world's most common language. If you want to learn this language to get ahead at school or work, or to make your travel to China easier, this is the handy reference you'll want by your side.Chinese For Dummies teaches basic grammar, as well as the necessary vocabulary to make introductions and greetings, use proper etiquette, make small talk, make transportation arrangements, order food and beverages, ask directions, deal with money, shop, access recreation, and handle an emergency.* Concentrates on Mandarin Chinese and features new and revised content* Includes major updates to all the necessary foundational information needed to speak Chinese* Covers grammar, verb conjugations, and pronunciations* Offers a refreshed mini-dictionary complete with even more vocabulary* Find free conversational audio tracks onlineAs the Chinese economy continues to grow, the importance of Chinese as a trade language will also increase. If you're a student or business professional who has a basic understanding of the language, you'll be poised to surpass your peers when it comes to dealing with international markets. So get started today!

Introduction 1Part 1: Getting Started with Chinese 7Chapter 1: Chinese in a Nutshell: The Spoken Word 9Chapter 2: The Written Word: Checking Out Chinese Characters 21Chapter 3: Warming Up with the Basics: Chinese Grammar 31Chapter 4: Getting Started with Basic Expressions: N? HÎo! 51Chapter 5: Getting Your Numbers, Times, and Measurements Straight 65Chapter 6: Speaking Chinese at Home 85Part 2: Chinese in Action 97Chapter 7: Getting to Know You: Making Small Talk 99Chapter 8: Dining Out and Shopping for Food 111Chapter 9: Shopping Made Easy 137Chapter 10: Exploring the Town 157Chapter 11: Taking Care of Telecommunications 169Chapter 12: Chinese at School and Work 187Chapter 13: Recreation and Outdoor Activities 207Part 3: Chinese on the Go 219Chapter 14: Planning a Trip 221Chapter 15: Making Cents of Money 233Chapter 16: Getting Around 249Chapter 17: Asking for Directions 267Chapter 18: Finding a Place to Stay 281Chapter 19: Handling Emergencies 297Part 4: The Part of Tens 311Chapter 20: Ten Ways to Learn Chinese Quickly 313Chapter 21: Ten Things Never to Do in China 317Part 5: Appendixes 321Appendix A: Chinese-English Mini-Dictionary 323Appendix B: Chinese Verbs 355Appendix C: Fun & Games Answer Key 359Index 365