Unit 3: 你多大？(Nǐ duō dà?)

UNIT 3 VOCABULARY

In Chinese, different hand symbols are used to represent the numbers. Here is an image indicating what symbol is used for each one. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx8T39ZQRSs



Above is a link to a helpful video less than 4 minutes long! It includes the spelling of the numbers in pinyin, the characters for the numbers, and the hand symbols. This YouTube channel has many great and instructional videos. 

UNIT 3 GRAMMAR / SENTENCES & MINI CONVERSATIONS

Mini Conversation 1:

How old are you? à Nǐ duō dà? à 你多大？

I am sixteen. And you? à Wŏ shí liù suì. Nǐ ne? à 我十六岁。你呢?

I am also sixteen. à Wǒ yě shí liù suì. à 我也十六岁。

Mini Conversation 2:

How old is she? à Tā duō dà? à 她多大?

She is 15. à Tā shí wǔ suì. à 她十五岁。

How old old is he? à Tā duō dà? à他多大?

He is also fifteen. à Tā yě shí wǔ suì. à 他也十五岁。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFfKT89lLoY

Above is a link to a very short video (one minute long) about asking someone their age in Chinese. This is helpful because it briefly introduces a way of saying this other than 他多大? (Tā duō dà?), that is commonly used in China.

UNIT 3 CULTURE

This week is a special one because we are celebrating a Chinese holiday! There are only two major holidays in China: National Day and Spring Festival. This week we celebrate National Day on October 1st, remembering the day of October 1, 1949 when Communism took over China and freed the people from the influence of the British, French, and Japanese after “100 years of shame.” There are military parades with soldiers marching in synchronization, along with tanks driving through the streets. Also on National Day, many people in China travel to different tourist attractions throughout the country. Conversely, on during Spring Festival, people are not supposed to travel. Instead, everyone is supposed to visit and stay with their families. 

A link to the Chinese National Anthem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UctriMuXYS0&

During the communist celebrations this week, it is interesting to note that protests are occurring in Hong Kong this very moment. When Hong Kong was once again deemed Chinese territory (after being owned by the British for nearly a century), it was supposed to be declared a democratic area. However, many citizens feel that they have been tricked into a false democracy, as the leaders still appoint whomever they want. Therefore, pro-democracy activists are causing quite an uproar with the hope of making a change. 

http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/01/world/asia/china-hong-kong-protests/index.html

Above is a link to a CNN video about the current protests in Hong Kong. The news anchor describes a group of student leaders that are protesting for democracy by sitting outside the office gates of C.Y. Leung's office. They have been very peaceful so far, but the government has still released tear gas on them. Hong Kong's government and the Chinese government in general are calling this movement illegal. This could be the very beginning of a major Chinese revolution. 

An image of the peaceful protesters: