Lesson 1 — 九月去北京旅游最好

September is the best time to visit Beijing.

Vocabulary

Grammar points

Pinyin

旅游lǚyóu

To travel (verb)

Example

我要去北京旅游。

Wǒ yào qù Běijīng lǚyóu.

I want to travel to Beijing.

Character breakdown — 旅游

旅

Char 旅 · 10 strokes · Radical: 方 (phương)

方direction𠂉traveler

IDS: ⿰方⿱？氏 · 方 (direction) + 𠂉 (traveler)

Etymology (ideographic): A man 方 traveling with a pack 氏 on his back

10 strokes

游

Char 游 · 12 strokes · Radical: 氵(thủy)

氵water斿flowing banner

IDS: ⿰氵斿 · 氵 (water) + 斿 (flowing banner)

Etymology (ideographic): To swim freely 斿 through the seas 氵

12 strokes

Whole-word mnemonic

Remember 旅游 as "To travel": 旅 suggests A man 方 traveling with a pack 氏 on his back (parts: 方 (direction) + 𠂉 (traveler)); 游 suggests To swim freely 斿 through the seas 氵 (parts: 氵 (water) + 斿 (flowing banner)).

Decomposition data: Make Me a Hanzi

Stroke order — 旅游 (lǚyóu)

1Top before bottom

2Left before right

3Horizontal before vertical

4Outside before inside

觉得juéde

To think, feel (verb)

Example

你觉得什么时候去最好？

Nǐ juéde shénme shíhou qù zuì hǎo?

When do you think is the best time to go?

Character breakdown — 觉得

觉

Char 觉 · 9 strokes · Radical: 见 (kiến)

⺍small dots冖cover见see

IDS: ⿳⺍冖见 · ⺍ (small dots) + 冖 (cover) + 见 (see)

Etymology (pictophonetic): see

9 strokes

得

Char 得 · 11 strokes · Radical: 彳(xích)

彳step旦dawn寸inch

IDS: ⿰彳⿱旦寸 · 彳 (step) + 旦 (dawn) + 寸 (inch)

Etymology (ideographic): A hand 寸 grabbing a shell 旦

11 strokes

Whole-word mnemonic

Remember 觉得 as "To think, feel": 觉 suggests see (parts: ⺍ (small dots) + 冖 (cover) + 见 (see)); 得 suggests A hand 寸 grabbing a shell 旦 (parts: 彳 (step) + 旦 (dawn) + 寸 (inch)).

Decomposition data: Make Me a Hanzi

Stroke order — 觉得 (juéde)

1Top before bottom

2Left before right

3Horizontal before vertical

4Outside before inside

最zuì

Most, -est (superlative adverb)

Example

九月去北京旅游最好。

Jiǔ yuè qù Běijīng lǚyóu zuì hǎo.

September is the best time to travel to Beijing.

Character breakdown — 最

最

Char 最 · 12 strokes · Radical: 曰 (viết)

曰say取take

IDS: ⿱日取 · 曰 (say) + 取 (take)

Etymology (ideographic): To take place 取 under the sun 日 (that is, everywhere)

12 strokes

Whole-word mnemonic

Remember 最 as "Most, -est": 最 suggests To take place 取 under the sun 日 (that is, everywhere) (parts: 曰 (say) + 取 (take)).

Decomposition data: Make Me a Hanzi

Stroke order — 最 (zuì)

1Top before bottom

2Left before right

3Horizontal before vertical

4Outside before inside

为什么wèi shénme

Why

Example

为什么？

Wèi shénme?

Why?

Character breakdown — 为什么

为

Char 为 · 4 strokes · Radical: 丶 (chủ)

为helping hand

为 like a hand doing work for someone → for, because of, to do

IDS: ⿻丶⿴力丶 · 为 (helping hand)

4 strokes

什

Char 什 · 4 strokes · Radical: 亻(nhân)

亻person十ten

IDS: ⿰亻十 · 亻 (person) + 十 (ten)

Etymology (ideographic): A file of ten 十 people 亻

4 strokes

么

Char 么 · 3 strokes · Radical: 丿 (phẩy)

么tail suffix

么 is a small curved stroke like a question tail → interrogative suffix

IDS: ⿱丿厶 · 么 (tail suffix)

3 strokes

Whole-word mnemonic

Remember 为什么 as "Why": 为 suggests 为 like a hand doing work for someone → for, because of, to do (parts: 为 (helping hand)); 什 suggests A file of ten 十 people 亻 (parts: 亻 (person) + 十 (ten)); 么 suggests 么 is a small curved stroke like a question tail → interrogative suffix (parts: 么 (tail suffix)).

Decomposition data: Make Me a Hanzi

Stroke order — 为什么 (wèi shénme)

1Top before bottom

2Left before right

3Horizontal before vertical

4Outside before inside

也yě

Also (adverb)

Example

九月的北京天气不冷也不热。

Jiǔ yuè de Běijīng tiānqì bù lěng yě bú rè.

Beijing in September is neither cold nor hot.

Character breakdown — 也

也

Char 也 · 3 strokes · Radical: 乙 (ất)

也long snake shape

也 is like a stroke extending sideways → also, too

IDS: ⿻？乚 · 也 (long snake shape)

3 strokes

Whole-word mnemonic

Remember 也 as "Also": 也 suggests 也 is like a stroke extending sideways → also, too (parts: 也 (long snake shape)).

Decomposition data: Make Me a Hanzi

Stroke order — 也 (yě)

1Top before bottom

2Left before right

3Horizontal before vertical

4Outside before inside

运动yùndòng

Sports, to exercise (noun/verb)

Example

你喜欢什么运动？

Nǐ xǐhuan shénme yùndòng?

What sport do you like?

Character breakdown — 运动

运

Char 运 · 7 strokes · Radical: 辶 (sước — đi)

辶walk云cloud

IDS: ⿺辶云 · 辶 (walk) + 云 (cloud)

Etymology (pictophonetic): walk

7 strokes

动

Char 动 · 6 strokes · Radical: 力 (lực)

云cloud力strength

IDS: ⿰云力 · 云 (cloud) + 力 (strength)

Etymology (pictophonetic): strength

6 strokes

Whole-word mnemonic

Remember 运动 as "Sports, to exercise": 运 suggests walk (parts: 辶 (walk) + 云 (cloud)); 动 suggests strength (parts: 云 (cloud) + 力 (strength)).

Decomposition data: Make Me a Hanzi

Stroke order — 运动 (yùndòng)

1Top before bottom

2Left before right

3Horizontal before vertical

4Outside before inside

踢足球tī zúqiú

To play soccer

Example

我最喜欢踢足球。

Wǒ zuì xǐhuan tī zúqiú.

My favorite is playing soccer.

Character breakdown — 踢足球

踢

Char 踢 · 15 strokes · Radical: 足 (túc — chân)

足foot易yì (phonetic)

IDS: ⿰足易 · 足 (foot) + 易 (yì (phonetic))

Etymology (pictophonetic): foot

15 strokes

足

Char 足 · 7 strokes · Radical: 足 (túc)

足foot

IDS: ⿱口？ · 足 (foot)

Etymology (pictographic): The leg 口 above the foot

7 strokes

球

Char 球 · 11 strokes · Radical: 王/玉 (ngọc)

王jade求request (phonetic)

IDS: ⿰王求 · 王 (jade) + 求 (request (phonetic))

Etymology (pictophonetic): jade

11 strokes

Whole-word mnemonic

Remember 踢足球 as "To play soccer": 踢 suggests foot (parts: 足 (foot) + 易 (yì (phonetic))); 足 suggests The leg 口 above the foot (parts: 足 (foot)); 球 suggests jade (parts: 王 (jade) + 求 (request (phonetic))).

Decomposition data: Make Me a Hanzi

Stroke order — 踢足球 (tī zúqiú)

1Top before bottom

2Left before right

3Horizontal before vertical

4Outside before inside

一起yìqǐ

Together (adverb)

Example

下午我们一起去踢足球吧。

Xiàwǔ wǒmen yìqǐ qù tī zúqiú ba.

Let's go play soccer together this afternoon.

Character breakdown — 一起

一

Char 一 · 1 strokes · Radical: 一 (nhất)

一one horizontal stroke

IDS: ？ · 一 (one horizontal stroke)

Etymology (ideographic): Represents heaven (天), earth (旦), or the number 1

1 strokes

起

Char 起 · 10 strokes · Radical: 走 (tẩu)

走walk己self

IDS: ⿺走己 · 走 (walk) + 己 (self)

Etymology (pictophonetic): walk

10 strokes

Whole-word mnemonic

Remember 一起 as "Together": 一 suggests Represents heaven (天), earth (旦), or the number 1 (parts: 一 (one horizontal stroke)); 起 suggests walk (parts: 走 (walk) + 己 (self)).

Decomposition data: Make Me a Hanzi

Stroke order — 一起 (yìqǐ)

1Top before bottom

2Left before right

3Horizontal before vertical

4Outside before inside

要yào

To want, need (modal verb)

Example

我们要不要买几个新的椅子？

Wǒmen yào bu yào mǎi jǐ ge xīn de yǐzi?

Should we buy some new chairs?

Character breakdown — 要

要

Char 要 · 9 strokes · Radical: 西 (tây)

覀cover女woman

IDS: ⿱覀女 · 覀 (cover) + 女 (woman)

Etymology (ideographic): A woman 女 with hands on her waist 覀

9 strokes

Whole-word mnemonic

Remember 要 as "To want, need": 要 suggests A woman 女 with hands on her waist 覀 (parts: 覀 (cover) + 女 (woman)).

Decomposition data: Make Me a Hanzi

Stroke order — 要 (yào)

1Top before bottom

2Left before right

3Horizontal before vertical

4Outside before inside

新xīn

New (adjective)

Example

我们要不要买几个新的椅子？

Wǒmen yào bu yào mǎi jǐ ge xīn de yǐzi?

Should we buy some new chairs?

Character breakdown — 新

新

Char 新 · 13 strokes · Radical: 斤 (cân — rìu)

立stand木tree斤axe

IDS: ⿰亲斤 · 立 (stand) + 木 (tree) + 斤 (axe)

Etymology (ideographic): A freshly chopped 斤 tree 亲

13 strokes

Whole-word mnemonic

Remember 新 as "New": 新 suggests A freshly chopped 斤 tree 亲 (parts: 立 (stand) + 木 (tree) + 斤 (axe)).

Decomposition data: Make Me a Hanzi

Stroke order — 新 (xīn)

1Top before bottom

2Left before right

3Horizontal before vertical

4Outside before inside

它tā

It (pronoun for objects/animals)

Example

那是我的猫，它叫花花。

Nà shì wǒ de māo, tā jiào Huāhua.

That's my cat — its name is Huahua.

Character breakdown — 它

它

Char 它 · 5 strokes · Radical: 宀 (miên — mái nhà)

宀roof匕curved shape

an object / animal under a roof (宀) → it

IDS: ⿱宀匕 · 宀 (roof) + 匕 (curved shape)

5 strokes

Whole-word mnemonic

Remember 它 as "It": 它 suggests an object / animal under a roof (宀) → it (parts: 宀 (roof) + 匕 (curved shape)).

Decomposition data: Make Me a Hanzi

Stroke order — 它 (tā)

1Top before bottom

2Left before right

3Horizontal before vertical

4Outside before inside

眼睛yǎnjing

Eye (noun)

Example

我觉得它的眼睛最漂亮。

Wǒ juéde tā de yǎnjing zuì piàoliang.

I think its eyes are the prettiest part.

Character breakdown — 眼睛

眼

Char 眼 · 11 strokes · Radical: 目 (mục — mắt)

目eye艮gen (phonetic)

IDS: ⿰目艮 · 目 (eye) + 艮 (gen (phonetic))

Etymology (pictophonetic): eye

11 strokes

睛

Char 睛 · 13 strokes · Radical: 目 (mục)

目eye青blue-green

IDS: ⿰目青 · 目 (eye) + 青 (blue-green)

Etymology (pictophonetic): eye

13 strokes

Whole-word mnemonic

Remember 眼睛 as "Eye": 眼 suggests eye (parts: 目 (eye) + 艮 (gen (phonetic))); 睛 suggests eye (parts: 目 (eye) + 青 (blue-green)).

Decomposition data: Make Me a Hanzi

Stroke order — 眼睛 (yǎnjing)

1Top before bottom

2Left before right

3Horizontal before vertical

4Outside before inside

1Modal verb 要 (yào)

S + 要 + V + O (phủ định: S + 不想 + V)

要yào before a verb expresses a wish or intention to do something. The negative form typically uses 不想bù xiǎng. The A-not-A question form is 要不要yào bu yào.

Real examples

王方要学习英语。

Wáng Fāng yào xuéxí Yīngyǔ.

Wang Fang wants to study English.

我要吃米饭。

Wǒ yào chī mǐfàn.

I want to eat rice.

我们要不要买几个新的椅子？

Wǒmen yào bu yào mǎi jǐ ge xīn de yǐzi?

Should we buy some new chairs?

小王要去，我不想去。

Xiǎo Wáng yào qù, wǒ bù xiǎng qù.

Xiao Wang wants to go; I don't want to.

2Superlative adverb 最 (zuì)

S + 最 + (tính từ / động từ tâm lý)

最zuì marks the top rank among items of the same kind along some dimension. It typically precedes an adjective or a psychological/preference verb.

Real examples

大卫的汉语最好。

Dàwèi de Hànyǔ zuì hǎo.

David's Chinese is the best.

我最喜欢吃米饭。

Wǒ zuì xǐhuan chī mǐfàn.

My favorite food is rice.

它的眼睛最漂亮。

Tā de yǎnjing zuì piàoliang.

Its eyes are the prettiest part.

3Expressing approximate numbers: 几 / 多

几 + lượng từ + danh từ · số<10: số + lượng từ + 多 · số≥10: số + 多 + lượng từ

几jǐ expresses an unspecified count less than 10, always followed by a measure word (e.g. 几个人jǐ ge rén). It can also follow 十 to mean 10–20 (十几个人shí jǐ ge rén) or precede 十 to mean "several tens" (几十个人jǐ shí ge rén).
多duō expresses an approximate amount: with numbers < 10, 多 goes after the measure word (六个多月liù ge duō yuè, "over six months"); with round numbers ≥ 10, 多 goes before the measure word, and in this case 多 and 几 are interchangeable (二十多块钱èr shí duō kuài qián, "twenty-something yuan").

Real examples

车上有几个人。

Chē shàng yǒu jǐ ge rén.

There are a few people in the car.

我想买几本书。

Wǒ xiǎng mǎi jǐ běn shū.

I want to buy a few books.

我们要不要买几个新的椅子？

Wǒmen yào bu yào mǎi jǐ ge xīn de yǐzi?

Should we buy a few new chairs?

六个多月。

Liù ge duō yuè.

More than six months.

二十多块钱。

Èr shí duō kuài qián.

Twenty-something yuan.