1.1 Self Introduction

Unit  1.1 Sentence Structures

Here’s an updated explanation with added notes on when to use each word in Chinese:

1. 姓 (xìng) – to be surnamed

• Meaning: Used to talk about someone’s surname. It is common when introducing yourself or asking about someone’s last name.
• When to use:
  • Use 姓 when you specifically want to focus on the surname, not the full name.
• Example:
  • 我姓王。(Wǒ xìng Wáng.) → My surname is Wang.
  • 您贵姓？(Nín guì xìng?) → What is your honorable surname?
    (Polite way to ask for someone’s surname)

2. 叫 (jiào) – to be called or to call

• Meaning: Used to introduce your full name or given name.
• When to use:
  • Use 叫 when giving your full name or first name during introductions.
  • It can also be used when calling someone or something by a name.
• Examples:
  • 我叫李华。(Wǒ jiào Lǐ Huá.) → I am called Li Hua.
  • 这只狗叫小黑。(Zhè zhī gǒu jiào Xiǎohēi.) → This dog is called Little Black.

3. 是 (shì) – to be

• Meaning: The verb “to be” is used to link the subject to a noun or identity.
• When to use:
  • Use 是 to describe what someone is or to state facts, such as professions, nationalities, or relationships.
  • Do not use it with adjectives (e.g., “I am good” in Chinese is我很好 – Wǒ hěn hǎo , not “我是好”).
• Examples:
  • 他是老师。(Tā shì lǎoshī.) → He is a teacher.
  • 我是中国人。(Wǒ shì Zhōngguó rén.) → I am Chinese.

4. 不 (bù) – not / no

• Meaning: Used to negate verbs or statements, including “是”.
• When to use:
  • Use 不 before a verb to form a negative statement.
  • Do not use it for past actions (use 没 méi instead).
• Examples:
  • 我不是学生。(Wǒ bù shì xuéshēng.) → I am not a student.
  • 他不喜欢打球。(Tā bù xǐ huān dǎ qiú.) → He does not like playing ball.

5. 也 (yě) – also / too

• Meaning: Used to show that someone shares the same situation or action.
• When to use:
  • Use 也 before the verb to indicate similarity.
  • Make sure it comes after the subject but before the verb.
• Examples:
  • 他是老师，我也是老师。(Tā shì lǎoshī, wǒ yě shì lǎoshī.) → He is a teacher; I am also a teacher.
  • 她喜欢看书，我也喜欢看书。(Tā xǐhuān kàn shū, wǒ yě xǐhuān kàn shū.) → She likes reading; I also like reading.

6. 和 (hé) – and

• Meaning: Used to connect nouns. It cannot connect verbs or sentences.
• When to use:
  • Use 和 to link two or more nouns in a list.
  • Do not use it to connect verbs or phrases.
• Examples:
  • 我和你是朋友。(Wǒ hé nǐ shì péngyǒu.) → You and I are friends.
  • 我喜欢做饭和游泳。(Wǒ xǐ huān zuò fàn hé yóu yǒng .) → I like cooking and swimming. （In this sentence, 做饭 and 游泳 functions as nouns）

Quick Summary:

Word	Meaning	When to Use	Example
姓 (xìng)	Surname	When introducing or asking for a surname	我姓李 (Wǒ xìng Lǐ.)
叫 (jiào)	To be called	When introducing a name	我叫小明 (Wǒ jiào Xiǎomíng.)
是 (shì)	To be	To state identity or fact	他是老师 (Tā shì lǎoshī.)
不 (bù)	Not / no	To negate a verb or statement	我不是学生 (Wǒ bù shì xuéshēng.)
也 (yě)	Also / too	To show similarity in actions/situations	我也喜欢 (Wǒ yě xǐhuān.)
和 (hé)	And	To connect two nouns	我和你 (Wǒ hé nǐ.)

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Choose the correct word to fill in the blanks: 姓, 叫, 是, 不, 也, 和.

1. 我 ___ 李华。(Wǒ ___ Lǐ Huá.) → My name is Li Hua.
2. 他 ___ 是老师。(Tā ___ shì lǎoshī.) → He is not a teacher.
3. 我 ___ 王，他 ___ 李。(Wǒ ___ Wáng, tā ___ Lǐ.) → My surname is Wang, and his is Li.
4. 你是学生吗？我 ___ 是学生。(Nǐ shì xuéshēng ma? Wǒ ___ shì xuéshēng.) → Are you a student? I am also a student.
5. 你 ___ 我是朋友。(Nǐ ___ wǒ shì péngyǒu.) → You and I are friends.

Exercise 2: Match the Sentences

Match the Chinese sentences on the left with their English translations on the right.

Chinese	English
1. 我叫李明。	A. I am also a student.
2. 他不是医生。	B. My surname is Wang.
3. 我也喜欢苹果。	C. My name is Li Ming.
4. 我和你是同学。	D. I also like apples.
5. 我姓王。	E. He is not a doctor.

Exercise 3: Translate into Chinese

Translate the following sentences into Chinese:

1. My surname is Zhang.
2. Her name is Xiaohua.
3. I am not a teacher.
4. He is also a student.
5. You and I are friends.

Exercise 4: Correct the Mistakes

Find and correct the mistakes in the following sentences:

1. 我和喜欢苹果和香蕉。
2. 你叫老师吗？
3. 我也不是学生。
4. 他姓叫李。
5. 我不也是中国人。

Exercise 5: Conversation Practice

Imagine a short dialogue between two people introducing themselves. Fill in the blanks using 姓, 叫, 是, 不, 也, 和.

Person A: 你好！我___王。你呢？
Person B: 你好！我___李华。
Person A: 你___学生吗？
Person B: 我___是学生。我___老师。
Person A: 哦，我___不是学生。我___你是老师。

Answers

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

1. 叫
2. 不
3. 姓, 姓
4. 也
5. 和

Exercise 2: Match the Sentences

1 → C
2 → E
3 → D
4 → A
5 → B

Exercise 3: Translate into Chinese

1. 我姓张。(Wǒ xìng Zhāng.)
2. 她叫小华。(Tā jiào Xiǎohuá.)
3. 我不是老师。(Wǒ bù shì lǎoshī.)
4. 他也是学生。(Tā yě shì xuéshēng.)
5. 我和你是朋友。(Wǒ hé nǐ shì péngyǒu.)

Exercise 4: Correct the Mistakes

1. 我喜欢苹果和香蕉。
2. 你是老师吗？
3. 我也不是学生。
4. 他姓李。
5. 我也是中国人。

 

Exercise 5: Conversation Practice

Imagine a short dialogue between two people introducing themselves. Fill in the blanks using 姓, 叫, 是, 不, 也, 和.

Person A: 你好！我姓王。你呢？
Person B: 你好！我叫李华。
Person A: 你是学生吗？
Person B: 我不是学生。我是老师。
Person A: 哦，我也不是学生。我和你是老师。