Objectives of this lesson:
You will be able to talk about your family: how many people you have in your family; what they are and where they work; if you miss them or often write to them, call them...

Step 1. Listen and understand: Listen to the following passage, study the new words and notes. Do you understand the following passage more about Prof. Xie's family now?

Wo you yí ge dìdi.
Tä zài Shànghai göngzuò.
Tä shì göngchéngshï.
Tä ye you yí ge háizi.
Tä àirén ye zài Shànghai göngzuò.
Wo de bàba mäma ye zài Shànghai.
Tämen bù göngzuò, tuìxiü le.
Wo hen xiang tämen.
Wo bù cháng gei tämen xie xìn.
Wo cháng gei tämen da diànhua.
Wo gàosu tämen, wo zài Meiguó hen hao.
Tämen wèn nimen hao.

You will find some new words in the passage:
 

xiang  gei  háizi  àirén  xie xìn  da diànhuà  gàosu

to miss, to think  to, for, to give  a child  a spouse (used in the mainland of China only)  to write a letter  to call, to make a phone call  to tell

Note
a. 'xiang' is a verb. The original meaning is 'to think'. It means 'to miss' when it is followed by a noun. For example:
 

Wo hen xiang wo bàba mäma.  Dïng Yún hen xiang tä nán péngyou.

I miss my parents very much.  Ding Yun misses her boy friend very much.

b. 'gei' is  a preposition. It means 'to' or 'for'. The exact meaning depends on the context. In the above passage, it means 'to'
 

Wo bù cháng gei tämen xie xìn.  Wo cháng gei tämen da diànhua.

I don't write letters to them often.  I call them often.

c. 'gàosu' (to tell) Tell somebody something.
Example:
 

Wo gàosu wo bàba mäma wo xiànzài xuéxí Hànyu.  Tä gäosu wo tä xiànzài méiyou nyu péngyou.

I told my parents that I study Chinese now.  He told me that he does not have girl friend now.

 

d. 'wèn... hao' 'to say hello to...'
    Examples:
 

Wèn ni bàba mäma hao.  Wèn ni nán péngyou hao.  Xiè laoshï wèn nimen hao.

Say hello to your parents.  Say hello to your boy friend.  Prof. Xie says hello to you.

Step 2 Answer the following questions about Xie laoshi:
a. Xiè laoshï you méiyou dìdi?
b. Tä dìdi zài nar göngzuò?
c. Tä zuò shénme göngzuò?
d. Tä you méiyou háizi?
e. Tä àirén zài  nàr göngzuò?
f. Xie laoshï de bàba mäma zài nar?
g. Tä hen xiang tämen ma?
h. Tä cháng gei tämen xie xìn ma?
i. Xiè laoshi gàosu tä bàba mäma shénme?
j. Tämen wèn shéi hao?

Step 3 Say following sentences and questions in Chinese:

a. His wife works in a bookstore (shüdiàn).
b. My elder brother has a child.
c. I often write letters to them.
d. His boy friend often calls her.
e. Do you miss your parents?
f. I told my parents that I study Chinese now.
g. Please say hello to your parents.
h. My sister says hello to you.

Step 4 Now listen to the passage again and pay attention to the characters See page 16 of the Writing Workbook for the new characters.

 Can you read out the following words in characters now?

 
Step 5 Do your homework. Submit it electronically.

Voice part:Say the following sentences in Chinese:

I miss my sister very much.
She works in a bank.
Her husband (spouse) works in a bookstore.
They have a child.
They often write letters to me.
I tell her that you are my good friend.
Say hello to your parents.
They also say hello to you.