Yi Tian Yi Ge Zi (一天一个字)

Tuesday, 23 June 2015

Pinyin: zai4

Meaning: 1. at; 2. to be/exist at a place; 3. to be in the middle of doing something (precedes a verb to form the present participle of the verb)

Examples:

1. A: 你在家吗? (ni3 zai4 jia1 ma1?, Are you at home?) B: 我在家。(wo3 zai4 jia1, I am at home).

2. A: 他在吗 (ta1 zai4 ma1?, Is he [here/there]?) B: 他不在。(ta1 bu2 zai4, He is not [here/there]).
3. 我在吃饭。(wo3 zai4 chi1fan4, I am eating (a meal))

Number of strokes: 6

HSK level: 1

Radicals: N/A

Pinyin: bu4

[note: pronunciation changes to bu2 when immediately preceeding another tone 4 character]

Meaning: 1. no (in answer to a question, rarely used on its own); 2. not (used to negate a statement in the present or future tense)

Examples:

1. A: 你是医生吗? (ni3shi4 yi1sheng1 ma1?, Are you a doctor?) B: 不是。(bu2shi4, no/(I) am not).

2. A: 你饿吗 (ni3 e4 ma1?, Are you hungry?) B: 我不饿。(wo3 bu2 e4, I (am) not hungry).

Number of strokes: 4

HSK level: 1

Radicals: 一 (one) radical

Pinyin: ma1 (or ma)

Meaning: a particle added at the end of a statement to form a sentence

Examples: 你是医生吗? (ni3shi4 yi1sheng1 ma1?, Are you a doctor?, Lit: You are (a) doctor [question particle]?)

Number of strokes: 6

HSK level: 1

Radicals: 口 (mouth) radical

Pinyin: shi4

Meaning: 1. yes (in answer to a question); 2. is/are/am/to be (when stating a fact)

Examples:

1. A: 你是医生吗? (ni3shi4 yi1sheng1 ma1?, Are you a doctor?) B: 是的。(shi4de, Yes).

[Note: 的 is not necessary, however is often added to the end of a spoken statement for emphasis.]

2. 我是医生。 (wo3shi4 yi1sheng1, I am (a) doctor.)

Number of strokes: 9

HSK level: 1

Radicals: 日 (sun) radical

Pinyin: de

Meaning: of / ~'s (possessive particle)

Examples: 我的 (wo3de, mine), 你的 (ni3de, yours), 他的 (ta1de, his)

Number of strokes: 8

HSK level: 1

Radicals: 白 (white) radical

Pinyin: ta1

Meaning: it

Number of strokes: 5

HSK level: 2

Radicals: 宀 (roof) radical

Pinyin: ta1

Meaning: she, her

Number of strokes: 6

HSK level: 1

Radicals: 女 (woman) radical