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Chinese in Plain English
Next time someone asks if you know how to speak Chinese, you can say Wo zhidao (Waw jr-dow).* With Chinese in Plain English , you can speak Chinese in no time! Its easy-to-use pronunciation system and straightforward presentation of the basics of the language--with plenty of useful sentences--help you break the language barrier quickly and confidently. How? All the words and phrases in this book are written in Roman script--in plain English--in a form you can use immediately and in the right context. Instantly you'll know the basics of Chinese, from polite pleasantries to the latest technological jargon. Start on the right foot and speak Chinese with ease: Good morning! Zaoshang hao! (Zow-shahng how) Thank you! Xiexie! (She-eh-she-eh) Please call the doctor. Qing jiao yiwei yisheng. (Cheeng jee-ow ee-way ee-shuung) Another round, please. Qing zai lai yi-ge. (Cheeng zigh lie ee-guh) Is Beijing hot during the summertime? Beijing-de xiatian re ma? (Bay-jeeng-duh shee-ah-tee-in run mah) I will be here for about two weeks. Wo meiyou yao baoguan-de dongxi. (Waw may-yoe yow bow-gwahn-duh doong-she) *I know!
- GenresChina
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 11, 1995
About the author
Boyé Lafayette De Mente
202 books27 followersBoyé Lafayette De Mente was an author, journalist, and adventurer. He wrote more than 100 books, most of them about the culture and language of Japan, East Asia, and Mexico.
De Mente joined the U.S. Navy and began his career as a cryptographer based in Washington, D.C. In 1948, he joined the U.S. Army Security Agency and was a decoding technician stationed in Tokyo. While there, he he founded and edited the agency's newspaper, The ASA Star.
De Mente wrote the first English guides to the Japanese way of doing business ("Japanese Etiquette and Ethics in Business" in 1959 and "How to Do Business in Japan" in 1962). His other books run the gamut from language learning to the night-time "pink" trades in Japan, the sensual nature of Oriental cultures, male-female relations, and understanding and coping with the Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Mexican mindset in business and social situations. He has also written extensively about Mexico and his home state of Arizona.
De Mente joined the U.S. Navy and began his career as a cryptographer based in Washington, D.C. In 1948, he joined the U.S. Army Security Agency and was a decoding technician stationed in Tokyo. While there, he he founded and edited the agency's newspaper, The ASA Star.
De Mente wrote the first English guides to the Japanese way of doing business ("Japanese Etiquette and Ethics in Business" in 1959 and "How to Do Business in Japan" in 1962). His other books run the gamut from language learning to the night-time "pink" trades in Japan, the sensual nature of Oriental cultures, male-female relations, and understanding and coping with the Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Mexican mindset in business and social situations. He has also written extensively about Mexico and his home state of Arizona.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 12, 2020
Published in 1995, this book was useful to read before travelling in China in 1999. However, given that it doesn't explain the aspects of Chinese as a tonal language, it seems outdated in 2020. I would also now use technology for learning Chinese.
January 22, 2008
I really wish this book had tone marks on the Pinyin to make it easier to perfect things.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews