Learn Mandarin Chinese Learn Mandarin Chinese 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the Mandarin phrase '随便' (suíbiàn) mean in casual conversation?
- Be careful
- Whatever / As you like (Correct answer)
- Hurry up
- Good luck
Correct answer: Whatever / As you like
随便 (suíbiàn) means 'whatever' or 'as you like,' used when the speaker has no preference.
Question 2: Which of these words is an antonym of '买' (mǎi, to buy) in Mandarin?
- 吃 (chī)
- 卖 (mài) (Correct answer)
- 看 (kàn)
- 走 (zǒu)
Correct answer: 卖 (mài)
卖 (mài) means 'to sell,' which is the opposite of 买 (mǎi, to buy).
Question 3: What is the Mandarin term for 'subway' or 'metro'?
- Gōngchē
- Fēijī
- Dìtiě (Correct answer)
- Chūzūchē
Correct answer: Dìtiě
地铁 (dìtiě) means 'subway' or 'metro'; 地 means 'underground/earth' and 铁 means 'iron/rail'.
Question 4: In Mandarin, which question word means 'why'?
- Shéi
- Shénme
- Wèishénme (Correct answer)
- Nǎlǐ
Correct answer: Wèishénme
为什么 (wèishénme) means 'why' in Mandarin Chinese.
Question 5: What does '对不起' (duìbuqǐ) mean in Mandarin?
- Thank you
- Excuse me / I'm sorry (Correct answer)
- You're welcome
- Goodbye
Correct answer: Excuse me / I'm sorry
对不起 (duìbuqǐ) means 'I'm sorry' or 'excuse me' and is the standard apology in Mandarin.
Question 6: Which of the following correctly describes the second tone (阳平) in Mandarin?
- High and flat
- Rising like a question (Correct answer)
- Falling then rising
- Sharp falling
Correct answer: Rising like a question
The second tone rises like the end of an English question, going from mid pitch to high.
Question 7: What is the Mandarin word for 'to speak' or 'to say'?
- Tīng
- Kàn
- Shuō (Correct answer)
- Xiě
Correct answer: Shuō
说 (shuō) means 'to speak' or 'to say' in Mandarin Chinese.
Learn Mandarin Chinese Learn Mandarin Chinese 5
What does the Mandarin phrase '随便' (suíbiàn) mean in casual conversation?