Whenever I learn something new in Chinese, but espeically when I can write in hànzi, I feel like the smartest person in the world. And then realize I’m this guy (obviously completely unmerited).
Thankfully, I’m actually trying to learn, even if just yí bù yí bù lái (step-by-step).
Currently, I do a Mandarin/English language exchange with a friend of mine three-four times a week, partnered with lessons with a Chinese tutor twice a week, a plan to tide me over until my official classes begin. Since my language exchange focuses on speaking, my tutor Chen and I have decided to focus on grammar, writing (especially stroke order), and typing.
Translating the chapter’s dialogue, then transcribing in hanzi, pinyin, and English has really helped my progression. Below is the latest (Feel free to pick out my mistakes!):
Lesson 13 第十三棵 , Wines, Drinks 酒,料
你喜欢喝白酒吗?
Nǐxǐhuan hē báijiǔ ma? Do you like to drink wine?
不太喜欢喝白酒， 喜欢喝茶。
Bú tài xǐhuan hē báijiǔ, xǐhuan hē chá. Don’t really like to drink wine, I like to drink tea.
你喜欢喝花茶还是绿茶？
Nǐ xǐhuan hē huāchá háishì lüchá? You like to drink scented tea or green tea?
花茶。我经常喝花茶。
Huāchá. Wǒ jīngcháng hē huāchá. Scented tea. I often drink scented tea.
你喝过绿茶吗？
Nǐ hē guo lüchá ma? Have you drunk (had) green tea before?
没有。绿茶贵不贵？好喝吗？
Méi yǒu. Lüchá guì bu guì? Hǎohē ma? I haven’t. (Is) green tea is expensive?
不便宜，很贵。我觉得
Bù piányi, hěn guì. Wǒ juéde hěn hǎohē. Not cheap, expensive. I think it’s very nice to drink.
你一定是南方人。
Nǐ yídìng shì nánfāngrén. You certainly are southern!
是呵 (‘a?’)。你怎么知道？
Shí a. Nǐ zěnme zhīdao? I am! How did you know?
因为北方人喝花茶，南方人喜欢喝绿茶。你喝过龙井吗？
Yīnwei běifāngrén hē huācha, nánfāngrén xǐhuan hē lüchá. Nǐ hē guo lóngjǐng ma? Because, northerners drink scented tea, southerners like to drink green tea. You’ve had longjing tea before?
当然啦。西湖龙井很有名。
Dāngrán la. Xīhú lóngjǐng hěn yǒumíng. Of course! The West Lake longjing tea is very famous.
看来，你对茶很了解。
Kànlái, nǐ duì chá hěn liǎojǐe. It seems you understand (know) your tea!