How to increase the number of Chinese words
I am sure everyone likes to watch cartoons no matter you are a kid or an adult. I grew up watching cartoons like Tom and Jerry, Mickey Mouse, The Flintstones etc. I learned many English phrases and sentences from watching these cartoons. Cartoons are educational and enjoyable to watch. By watching the cartoons or TV shows often, you will subconsciously remember the sentences or Chinese words used in the show. And, if you were to practice what you have remembered with your friend or repeat the sentences to yourself, you will remember them even faster.
Language is about communication. You can learn a language faster if you communicate more. You can practice what you have learned with friends who are learning the same language as you. Or, you can do a language exchange with like minded people. If you google language exchange, I am sure you will have no problem finding people who are willing to do a language exchange with you. This is a win-win situation. You can practice your Mandarin Chinese and the other party can learn English or French or Japanese.
Watch Chinese cartoon to learn Chinese words
In this hilarious cartoon in Mandarin Chinese, the little girl misunderstood what her mother was asking her to do. The embarrassing situation is caused by misunderstanding. The listener did not wait for the speaker to finish a sentence in Mandarin Chinese and jumped to her own conclusion. And, the speaker did not state clearly to the listener what she/he actually wants to convey. Misunderstand or misinterpretation usually happens. Therefore, it is very important to wait for the speaker to complete his/her sentence before we reaching any conclusion. Have you experienced a similar kind of situation like the one in the cartoon? I sure did! At that very moment, I wished there was a hole for me to hide in it. I was too embarrassed to face the people around me.
The title of the Mandarin Chinese cartoon today is “call dad / call father”. Jiao 叫 is to call / to shout / to order / to ask in Mandarin Chinese. Baba 爸爸 is father in Mandarin Chinese. This is also the same Mandarin Chinese word when you want to say My name is …. 我叫 …..
Dialogue in Simple Chinese/Traditional Chinese/pinyin/English
娃娃好可爱 (娃娃好可愛) Wá wá hǎo kě ài
This doll is very cute
爸爸妈妈永远爱你哦 (爸爸媽媽永遠愛你哦) Bà ba mā mā yǒng yuǎn ài nǐ ó
Oh, daddy and mommy love you forever
妹妹，叫爸爸 Mèi mei, jiào bàba
Daughter ,call dad
叫爸爸 jiào bàba
Call dad
他是谁啊 (他是誰啊) tā shì shéi a
Who is he?
为什么要我叫爸爸 (為什麼要我叫爸爸) wèi shé me yào wǒ jiào bàba
Why do you want me to call him dad?
我不要 wǒ bù yào
I don’t want
为什么不要? wèi shé me bù yào?
Why don’t you want to?
妹妹乖 Mèi mei guāi
Be obedient, daughter
快叫爸爸 kuài jiào bàba
Quickly call dad
难到我不是爸妈亲生的 (難到我不是爸媽親生的) nán dào wǒ bù shì bà mā qīn shēng de
Could it be that I am not dad and mom’s own flesh and blood?
这个人的脸形，眼睛 (這個人的臉形，眼睛) zhè ge rén de liǎn xíng, yǎn jīng
This person’s facial shape, eyes
他。。。他才是我的亲生爸爸 (他才是我的親生爸爸) tā… Tā cái shì wǒ de qīn shēng bàba
He….He actually is my biological father
要来带我走了 (要來帶我走了) yào lái dài wǒ zǒu le
Coming to take me away
天啊 tiān a
Oh, God
命运为什么要作弄我 (命運為什麼要作弄我) Mìng yùn wèi shé me yào zuò nòng wǒ
Why is fate playing tricks on me?
妹妹。。叫你叫爸爸 Mèi mei.. Jiào nǐ jiào bàba
Daughter, told you to call dad
不要这么别扭啊 (不要這麼彆扭啊) Bù yào zhè me biè niu a
Don’t feel so awkward
丁丁啊。。。dīng dīng a
Ding Ding!
乖乖听话 (乖乖聽話) Guāi guāi tīng huà
Be obedient and listen
听妈妈的话叫爸爸呀 (聽媽媽的話叫爸爸呀) tīng māmā de huà jiào bàba ya
Listen to mommy and call dad
谢谢爷爷奶奶的照顾 (謝謝爺爺奶奶的照顧) xiè xiè yéyé nǎinai de zhào gù
Thank you for taking care of me, grandpa and grandma
谢谢妈妈多年的养育之恩 (謝謝媽媽多年的養育之恩) Xiè xiè māmā duō nián de yǎng yù zhī ēn
Thank you mommy for the upbringing all these years
爸爸。。bàba
Daddy
啊你这小孩疯了吗 nǐ zhè xiǎo hái fēngle ma
Are you out of your mind, little girl?
我是要你叫爸爸出来 wǒ shì yào nǐ jiào bàba chū lái
I want you to call daddy to come out
修马桶的工人来了 (修馬桶的工人來了) xiū mǎ tǒng de gōng rén lái le
The person fixing the toilet bowl has arrived
New Mandarin Chinese words 生词
可爱 （可愛） Kě ài adorable / cute / lovely
永远 （永遠） yǒng yuǎn forever / eternal
难道 （難道） nán dào could it be that…?
亲生 （親生） qīn shēng one’s own flesh and blood
命运 （命運） mìng yùn fate / destiny
作弄 zuò nòng to tease / to play tricks on
别扭 （彆扭） biè niu awkward / uncomfortable
听话 （聽話） tīng huà obedient / to do what one is told
照顧 zhào gù to take care of / to look after
養育之恩 yǎng yù zhī ēn gratitude for the love and care given one from childhood
瘋 fēng crazy / insane / mad
修 xiū to build / to repair / to study
Mandarin Chinese Notes 注释
乖乖 guāi guāi obediently / be good / (to a child) little dear
1.虽然老师不在，学生们还是乖乖的做功课。
Suī rán lǎo shī bù zài, xué shēng men hái shì guāi guāi de zuò gōng kè
Athough the teacher is absent, the students obediently do their homework.
2. 你乖乖的呆着，不要乱跑。
Nǐ guāi guāi de dāi zhe, bù yào luàn pǎo
You stay put and don’t run around.
哦 ó Oh
1. oh (interjection indicating doubt or surprise)
哦，是这样吗？Ó, shì zhè yàng ma? Oh, is it?!
2. oh (interjection indicating that one has just learned something)
哦,我明白了! Ó, wǒ míng bái le! Oh I see!
快 + 动词 Kuài + Dòng cí quickly ~ now
1.快睡觉 Kuài shuì jiào quickly go to bed now
2.快洗澡 Kuài xǐ zǎo quickly go take a bath
才是cái shì this is not, this is
1. 这只笔是你的吗？不是，这才是我的。
Zhè zhī bǐ shì nǐ de ma? Bù shì, zhè cái shì wǒ de
Is this pen yours? No, this one is.
2. 你才是我的菜。
Nǐ cái shì wǒ de cài
You are my cup of tea / you are the type I like
Enjoy the cartoon! If you have any questions, feel free to leave us comments.