Chinese government has been raising or cutting stamp duty on stock transaction to maintain a healthy stock market. If you are interested in investing in stocks or just want to have a good conversation with your Chinese friends about stocks, this dialogue may help you gather some idea.

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So you wanted to take a trip by train to Beijing and visit the great wall. You wanted to go to Xian to see the terracotta warriors. So what was it that stopped you? You didn't know how to ask for train tickets. Well here at A to Z Chinese we can fix that problem and have you onboard the train in no time. Into days lesson you will learn how to ask for and buy train tickets in mandarin Chinese.

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At this stage if your viewing the beginner lessons we don't expect that you're fluent with the 4000 plus characters that you need to be able to read the Chinese newspaper. What were looking at is the choice, if you were not aware, you can get a newspaper the China Daily which is printed in English. Some times you just want to know what's happening in the world with out suffering a brain aneurism trying to follow the Chinese paper. Its all about knowing what to ask, so in today's lesson we show you how to ask for a newspaper and choose the English version.

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Korean TV shows have been popular in China since seven or eight years ago. Some people might think that the structure and the plot of Korean TV dramas is a bit old-fashioned ... always Cinderella becoming a princess. However, it has lots Chinese fans especially younger generation. Watch the dialogue, you may understand why Korean TV dramas are so popular in China.

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Its happened to everyone at one point, that annoying phone call in the middle of the night asking for someone you've never heard of. What do you do when that happens to you in China? Simple with the help of today's lesson you'll be able to tell this person that they have the wrong number and hopefully you wont get another call. Or you may be the caller with the wrong number and in that case you'll be able to understand when your told you have the wrong number.

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In China, May Day holiday usually lasts a week, which is also called Golden Week. The weather is always good, not so hot, not so cold, and you can escape from busy work or study for a week because it is a national holiday . Lets watch the dialogue to find out more?

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By chance you've met a girl and things seem to be going great. You want to see her again. You want to get her phone number so you can arrange to meet up at a later date. How do you ask for her phone number? And how do you make sure you get her mobile and not her home phone number? Your in luck because today's lesson will show you how to ask for a phone number and specifically ask for the mobile number.

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Arriving late to work or arriving late to meet friends is bound to happen. Common causes are sleeping through alarms or problems with public transport. In China when you are late you need to apologise same as everywhere else. If a girl is late for a date its acceptable but if the boy is late for the date he had better have a good reason (a bit of a double standard). So after today's lesson you will know how to apologise for your lateness.

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Knowing your Chinese zodiac is important, if you go out with friends they will always talk about blood types and zodiacs. In China different blood types are used to indicate different personalities. The zodiacs can be used to check peoples compatibility. For example a chicken and a dog make a poor combination for a couple. These views are not as common as they were but you will still hear people talking about them.

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In China you may not want other people to know when your birthday is. Its customary for the person having the birthday to take all of their friends out for dinner and pay for everything. So the more popular that you are the more you have to spend. Its always better to ask someone else when their birthday is so that you get an invite to dinner where they have to pay rather than you paying.

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If you visit Xian, Huimin Street is always a good place to go. Huimin Street, also known as Moslem Street, is aoubt 550 yards long from south to north. , and accommodates about 20 thousand hui minority. You can get fruit pies made with persimmon, special BBQ, and etc. To find more, please watch the lesson.

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In China if two friends or family members or even colleagues meet each other on the street its very natural for them to ask where each other is going. Privacy has never been a big issue in China you may think that they are nosy but for them it is just their way of showing that they care. So if you meet someone you know ask them where they are going, but don't expect their answer to always be the truth.

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Xian is famous for Dayan Tower and Terra Cotta Warriors. It seems that lots people are attracted to Xian because of Terra Cotta Warriors. However, Dayan Tower is also worth visiting. Dayan Tower was built over 1300 years ago in Tang Dynasty and was used for the safe keeping of the scriptures. Have you heard of Xi You JI (Journey to the west)? The story is related to the Dayan Tower. To find more, please watch the video...

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Since 1977 china introduced a single child policy so people born during 1977 to 2005 are normally an only child. They have cousins but not brothers and sisters. The system has changed recently due to the increased number of old people meaning children would have to support up to 4 people (there own parents and there partners parents) and the lack of a welfare system. So if a person is around 15 to 30 don't be surprised if they don't have any brothers or sisters.

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Chinese women don't like to wear watches especially now that they have mobile phones. Older generation Chinese people like grandparents will tend to ask what time it is . If you've forgotten your mobile you may need to know the time so that you can catch a bus or train. Many things depend on the time and in a busy country such as china you may well be asked or find yourself needing to ask the time. In Today's lesson you will learn how to ask for the time.

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About thirty years ago, Zhongshan suit, also known as Mao suit was popular in China. With the rapid economic growth and the influence of western culture, many Chinese people have developed an obsession with brand names, such as Nike, Adidas, etc. However, people in the dialogue seem to have different views, to find out, please watch the lesson.

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So you've eating your meal and now comes the time to pay up. In today's video lesson we'll show you how to request the bill in a Chinese restaurant. Well even throw in a few tips. Chinese people don't tip unfortunately this may not be the case for foreigners so be prepared to leave a little extra especially at your hotel. Most restaurants will not have the facility to accept credit cards so its always best to carry cash with you. Using your credit card carries a risk of fraud so use at your own risk.

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Every one likes Chinese food. Chinese Cuisine has been popular in many countries for years. Since China is such a large country, its different regions have developed distinctive cooking styles. Of the many different Chinese cooking styles the 4 most influential are considered the Four Great Traditions (Si Da Cai Xi): Cantonese, Sichuan, Shandong, and Huaiyang cuisine. In this lesson, we will learn how to cook a single Sichuan dish.

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So you've had a couple of beers and its time for a call of nature. Where are the toilets? You know that they must be around somewhere but where do you start looking? There are no signs pointing out the direction, at least none you can read at the moment so what do you do? Today's lesson were going to show you how to ask where the toilets are.

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Qingdao, located in the southeast part of Shandong Province, is a major seaport, naval base, and industrial centre. Bordering on the Yellow Sea and the Jiaozhou Bay, Qingdao has a unique blend of sea and mountains, which makes it a very good summer resort. The main attractions are Laoshan known as the ?Home of immortals? and Ba Da Guan.

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So you have managed to get the table what's next? Getting some drinks is always a good start, having a couple of drinks is a good way to loosen up the atmosphere especially if you are just getting to know each other. You will notice in china that people only seem to drink whilst eating there meals. Although it is not as common due to increased number of Westerners living and working in china there are more western style pubs and clubs being opened. Only the younger Chinese generation tend to go these establishments. In today's lesson we will show you how to order beer and wine. Although many Chinese drink a spirit made from rice you can at least order yourself a drink

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Beijing, as the capital of China, is one of the most famous historical and cultural cities in the world. It has more than 3000 years of history and hundreds of historical, cultural and ancient sites of great value. Therefore, Beijing is also referred as ?the greatest individual project of mankind?. The Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace are highly attractive while displaying the charm of oriental cultures.

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So you may be at the bar having a few drinks and suddenly get the urge to eat. You know this place serves food but you don't see a menu lying around. What are you going to do? Simple your going to ask for the menu. Right now your probably asking yourself I don't know how to ask for a menu. That's where we at A to Z Chinese come to the rescue. In today's lesson we will show you how to politely ask for a menu and then how to thank the waiter when the menu is given.

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?I speak English, so I don't have to learn a foreign language....? Have you ever had the same thought? According to the CIA World Fact Book, only 20 % of the world's total population speaks English as a primary or second language. This means that 80% of the worlds population does not speak English at all. Learning another language often opens up new opportunities and increases global understanding. Lots of Chinese people are very keen to learn English as it can bring more job opportunities.

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So you want to go out for dinner. You may want to impress new work colleagues or just simply take some friends out for a meal. You have arrived at a restaurant but how do you get a table? What do you say? That's where were we come in to help. In today's lesson you will learn when you are being asked how many people and how to reply. When you enter a restaurant in china you will always be asked how many people that there will be with you, so learning when this question is being asked and how to respond is very important.

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China stocks are usually classified into three categories: A shares, B shares, and H shares. To make profit from buying stocks, it seems to be essential to gain general understanding of the current Chinese leaders who are in control of China?s economic and social policies. Let?s here how Chinese people are thinking about the current China?s stock market.

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Due to the population growth the need for more housing is increasing but with limited land for building new properties the only way is up. High rise apartments are a common site in large cities such as Beijing and Shanghai. Inevitably you will find yourself in a situation where you will be in an elevator with another person. In today's lesson we will show you how to ask and understand which floor someone wants to go to.

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Yunnan is located in the far southern corner of China, sharing the same border with Thailand, Loa and Vietnam. Yunnan has 25 different ethnic minorities who have lived here for a long time. Only recently, some Han Chinese have migrated here. As a result of the ethnic minorities who reside here it is the most culturally diverse province in China. The Major Tourist Regions are Kunming, Stone Forest, Jiuxiang Scenic Region, Ruili and etc. In this lesson, we?ll see two Chinese people talk about the trip to Yunnan.

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What's the first thing you do when you see someone hurt themselves? Laugh? If you chose this option you're a little bit twisted aren't you? Being serious the first thing any normal person would do is check to see if the person is ok. You want to ask the question are you alright? but again you just don't know the words. Here at A to Z Chinese were always here to help. After today's lesson you'll be able to do more than stand and laugh you'll be able to find out if the person is alright.

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The Lottery is a relatively new in China, and started in June 1987. The Welfare lottery, also called Fuli Caipiao, is the only national lottery approved by the Chinese central government. The profit from the sale of these lottery tickets is mainly used for social welfare, such as the development of public sports facilities, education and health care for the handicapped. We will what Chinese people think about China?s Welfare lottery in this lesson.

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So you've spotted the girl of your dreams sitting across the room. You want to find out if she's single, what's the harm in asking? The worst that could happen is she tells you she has a boyfriend. What do you do when you don't know how to ask the question? Easy follow today's lesson. And the girl of your dreams maybe a reality.

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In the last decade, China?s rapid economic growth has changed Chinese people?s lifestyles and eating habits. As a result, the fast-food industry is kicking off a high-speed expansion in the world?s largest market ? 1.6billion potential consumers. Among the vast number of fast food chains, KFC and McDonald?s are the most popular. In this lesson, we will hear what Chinese people think about the two fast food giants.

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If your traveling alone or even as part of a group, getting lost is not an uncommon event especially when your exploring a new city for the first time. The need ask for directions back to your hotel or to a restaurant may not be so uncommon understanding the instructions may be a different matter. As part of the current Chinese education system most Chinese will have a basic understanding of the English language all you have to do is ask. In today's lesson we are going to show you how to ask if someone speaks English and to understand there response.

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Are you a romantic person? Or at least trying to be one? Buying a gift for your other half can sometimes be really hard work. You have to prove that you know him or her better than anyone else by selecting the right gift. Sometimes, a simple card with your message of love will be fine, sometimes expensive jewellery will be better. In this lesson, we?ll see a Chinese wife who?s very happy with the gifts her husband bought.

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China is one of the world's largest countries in total area, almost the exact same size as the United States with a growing population of approximately 1.3 billion. Whether you are wandering around a busy city or site seeing some of the many cultural attractions your going to get tired. You may see what you think is an empty seat next to someone, so what do you do? sit down and run the risk that the seats not taken?. In today's lesson we will show you how to politely establish if a seats free saving you some hassle.

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What do you do when you meet people for the first time? No after you've said hello that's right you introduce yourself. Actually knowing someone's name and using it to address people in conversations goes down a lot better than just pointing at a person or referring to them as this guy. So to be polite its better to introduce yourself

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If you have a Chinese girlfriend or a boyfriend when the time comes to meet there parents they will ask your occupation. Even if they have been told in advance they will still ask. Don't be surprised if they ask how much you earn, this is not rude in China, they just want to know your capabilities and whether you can give their child a good life. In today's lesson you will learn how to tell someone your occupation.

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You've not seen someone for a long time. What's the first thing you ask or they will ask? How have you been is commonly used. For Chinese people families and friends are very important so a lot of emphasis is put on their health. It's common that if Chinese people have not spoken for a long time they will worry. So out of courtesy when you speak to someone you haven't seen for a long time you should ask how have you been?

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You see it films all the time, the typical stereotype the American tapping himself on the chest whilst speaking his name loudly then gesturing to the other person making some grunting noises to try and get the other persons name. Wouldn't it be great if you could actually ask the other person directly what there name was? If like most people you would like to be able to communicate in Mandarin Chinese then after today's lesson you should be able to comfortably ask someone's name and introduce yourself.

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After you have greeted your conversational partner with Hello in Chinese, and you have exchanged names the next logical progression of the conversation is to establish where you are from. If you are blond haired or have light coloured hair it will typically be assumed that you are American. So in today's lesson you'll learn how to pronounce several common nationalities and how to say yes or no of which there are several ways to say.

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In today's busy world meeting new people and making new friends is all about first impressions. So In today's video we are going to show you how to greet someone in Mandarin Chinese, ask them how they slept, and reply when you are asked. Making an effort is going to go a long way if your in china for business so keep up with the lessons an you'll be making new friends or new colleagues in no time.

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Learning Chinese is all about the tones. Mastering the 4 tones will be challenging but very rewarding for your Mandarin Chinese. It will help you to avoid embarrassing situations and. Simple misunderstandings as you wont be confusing others by accidentally saying the wrong word such as calling a horse your mother. Keeping up with our lessons will see your vocabulary increase placing a stronger emphasis on the need to master the tones.

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Today's lesson focuses on Finals these aren't the finals you would find in competitions where you've reached the end of a knockout completion. The Finals that we are talking about are the characters which produce the sound at the end of each Chinese word. At the end of today's lesson you'll have a better understanding of the finals and how they are used.

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The initial consonant also called sheng1 mu3 are placed at the beginning of all Chinese words to make the initial sound of the word. Some of the initial consonants are very difficult to pronounce such as sh as the sound doesn't exist in the English language. All of these will take practice to master, but don't worry too much as many Chinese people struggle to pronounce them all correctly.

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When you study Chinese you always think of square characters. But the Chinese also adopted the English alphabet for learning pronunciation. The sounds of the alphabet are completely different. In the beginning the sounds will seem strange but once you learn all of the sounds your Chinese pronunciation will be far better.

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