二月五日

二月五号

er2yue2 wu3ri4

er2yue2 wu3hao4

Both of these mean February 5th, but when writing Chinese you use “日” and when speaking Chinese you use “号”。

yi1 qi1 ba1 liu4 nian2

1786

Note: Years in Chinese are pronounced one digit at a time, and end with “年”。

shi2yi1 dian3

11:00

shi2'er4 dian3 si4shi2 (fen1)

1:40

The term ling2 (zero) is usually added before a single diget number of 分 （fen1, minutes). Fen1 can be omitted if the minutes are two digets.

shi2yi1 dian3 san1 ke4

11:45

Ke4 means quarter hour. Thus, san1 (3) ke4 means three quarter hours, or 45 minutes.

wu3 dian3 ban4

5:30

ban4 is half.

wo3 qing3 ni3 chi1 Zhong1guo2 cai4.

I am inviting you to have Chinese food tomorrow.

你 (ni3, you) is the object of the verb 请 (qing3, to treat) as well as the subject of the second verb, 吃 (chi1, to eat).

ni3 shi4 Zhong1guo2 ren2 hai2shi Mei3guo2 ren2?

Are you Chinese or American?

The structure (是) ...还是... ([shi]...hai2shi..., ...or...) is used to form an alternative question. If there is another verb in the predicate, 是 can often be omitted.

ni3 qing3 wo3 chi1 fan4, hai2shi ta1 qing3 wo3 chi1 fan4?

Who is taking me to dinner, you or he?

A: 他喜欢吃中国菜，还是喜欢吃美国菜？

B：中国菜，美国菜他都喜欢。

A: ta1 xi3huan chi1 zhong1guo2 cai3, hai2shi xi3huan chi1 mei3guo2 cai3?

B: zhong1guo2 cai3, mei3guo2 cai3 ta1 dou1 xi3huan.

A: Does he like to eat Chinese or American food?

B: He likes both Chinese and American food.

A：李友的生日是几月几号？

B：李友的生日是九月十二号.

A: What day is Li You's birthday?

B: Li You's birthday is September 12th.

wo3 qing1qi1si4 qing3 ni3 chi1 fan4, zen3meyang4?

I'll treat you to a meal Thursday, how's that?

Li You, xian4zai4 ji3 dian3?

Li You, what time is it now?

wo3 jin1tian1 hen3 mang2, ke3shi4 ming2tian1 bu4 mang2. you3 shir4 ma?

I'm busy today, but I won't be tomorrow. Why (lit. what is it?)?