In this beginner lesson, you will learn how to introduce yourself in Chinese (Traditional). You will greet someone, give your name, ask another person's name, and respond politely when you meet someone new. The lesson uses five short phrases and a simple dialogue between two speakers, A and B.
Objectives
- Greet someone and give your name in one sentence using 你好，我是安娜。
- Say your name with 我叫安娜。 and ask someone's name with 你叫什麼名字？
- Respond politely when you meet someone new using 很高興認識你。 and 我也很高興認識你。
Phrases
Hello, I am Anna.
Use this to greet someone and give your name in one sentence. 我是 means 'I am'.My name is Anna.
叫 means 'to be called'. Do not add 是 before 叫: say 我叫安娜, not 我是叫安娜.What is your name?
A direct, common question. 你 means 'you', 叫 means 'are called', 什麼 means 'what', and 名字 means 'name'.Nice to meet you.
Say this when you meet someone. It is a polite and common expression.Nice to meet you too.
Adds 我也, meaning 'I also', to return the feeling.Explanations
Greeting and giving your name
Use 你好，我是安娜。 to greet someone and give your name in one sentence. 你好 is a common greeting, 我是 means 'I am', and 安娜 is the name. This is a complete, polite self-introduction. Listen to the recording and repeat the whole sentence smoothly.
Saying your name with 我叫
Use 我叫安娜。 to say 'My name is Anna.' 叫 means 'to be called'. Do not add 是 before 叫: say 我叫安娜, not 我是叫安娜. 我叫安娜 is the most natural way to give your name in conversation. To ask someone's name, say 你叫什麼名字？ Here 你 means 'you', 叫 means 'are called', 什麼 means 'what', and 名字 means 'name'.
Meeting someone and replying
When you meet someone, say 很高興認識你。 It means 'Nice to meet you.' The reply 我也很高興認識你。 adds 我也, meaning 'I also', to return the feeling. Listen to each recording, repeat aloud, and copy the speaker's rhythm and tones. Pay attention to the tones on 你 (nǐ), 我 (wǒ), 叫 (jiào), and 名字 (míngzi).
Dialogue
A: Hello, I am Anna. What is your name?
B: My name is Xiaoming. Nice to meet you.
A: Nice to meet you too.
B: Goodbye.
Pronunciation
Listen to each recording, repeat aloud, and copy the speaker's rhythm and tones. Pay attention to the tones on 你 (nǐ), 我 (wǒ), 叫 (jiào), and 名字 (míngzi).
Common mistake
Adding 是 before 叫 when giving your name, as in 我是叫安娜。
Say 我叫安娜。 叫 already means 'to be called', so 是 is not needed before it.
Practice
You are speaker A. Greet someone and say you are Anna.
Start with 你好, then use 我是 before the name.
Show answer
你好，我是安娜。The sample answer is 你好，我是安娜。 It greets the person and gives your name in one sentence.
You are speaker A. Say your name is Anna.
Use 我叫 before the name. Do not add 是 before 叫.
Show answer
我叫安娜。The sample answer is 我叫安娜。 It means 'My name is Anna.' 叫 means 'to be called'.
You are speaker A. Ask someone what their name is.
Start with 你叫, then add 什麼名字.
Show answer
你叫什麼名字？The sample answer is 你叫什麼名字？ It is a direct, common way to ask someone's name.
You can now greet someone, give your name with 我叫安娜。, ask 你叫什麼名字？, and respond with 很高興認識你。 or 我也很高興認識你。
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