Chinese Phrases For Dummies [Paperback]

Wendy Abraham (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764584774 | ISBN-13: 978-0764584770 | Publication Date: September 16, 2005 | Edition: 1

Hundreds of useful phrases at your fingertips

Speak Chinese - instantly!

Traveling to China but don't know Chinese? Taking Chinese at school but need to kick up your conversation skills? Don't worry! This handy little phrasebook will have you speaking Chinese in no time.

Discover how to

• Get directions, shop, and eat out
• Talk numbers, dates, time, and money
• Chat about family and work
• Discuss sports and the weather
• Deal with problems and emergencies

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Hundreds of useful phrases at your fingertips

Speak Chinese — instantly!

Traveling to China but don't know Chinese? Taking Chinese at school but need to kick up your conversation skills? Don't worry! This handy little phrasebook will have you speaking Chinese in no time.

Discover how to

• Get directions, shop, and eat out
• Talk numbers, dates, time, and money
• Chat about family and work
• Discuss sports and the weather
• Deal with problems and emergencies

About the Author

Wendy Abraham is the Associate Director of the Stanford Center for Buddhist Studies and the Asian Religions & Cultures Initiative. She has taught courses on Chinese language, Chinese literature, and Asian cultures at Hunter College, Georgetown University, New York University, and Stanford University, where she’s currently pursuing her second doctorate in modern Chinese literature. She spent a year researching Shang Dynasty oracle bones in Taiwan, which sparked her deep interest in the development of China’s written language. Wendy has directed Chinese language programs for American students in Beijing and Shanghai and has interpreted for high-level arts delegations from China. Her first doctoral dissertation from Teachers College (Columbia University) was on the Chinese Jews of Kaifeng, a subject about which she has written widely and continues to lecture frequently throughout the United States. She also created Jewish Historical Tours of China, bringing people to visit Shanghai and Kaifeng on educational trips. Her interest in all things Chinese continues unabated.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (September 16, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764584774
• ISBN-13: 978-0764584770
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 4.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #252,659 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #6 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > Foreign Language > Chinese
  • #11 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Reference > Foreign Languages > Instruction > Chinese
  • #39 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Reference > Words & Language > Grammar

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Chinese Phrases by Dummies, December 7, 2007

By 

Mr. World - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chinese Phrases For Dummies (Paperback)

There are some things that I like about this book and some things that are very flawed with it. The book has a lot of local phrases and insight into Chinese culture. But it lacks a glossary listing in the back and it is filled with typos. Some of the time the pinying is just wrong. Tonal expressions are inverted from what they are supposed to be. You'd have to have another reference to understand what they mean. This book would be very confusing for a first timer although they try to sound it out with english words next to the pinying (which is helpful to beginners and not included in many other chinese phrase books with exception to Chinese in 10 minutes a Day). But honestly I could only recommend this book if you have a few other books that you are learning from and a native speaker to practice with.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not for Dummies, July 27, 2007

By 

J. Ellis (Idaho) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chinese Phrases For Dummies (Paperback)

The book is not bad. It is not for dummies but does make learning/reviewing a little more interesting. I wish it had more of a vocabulary listing int the back.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good foundation, August 1, 2007

By 

Edward Hancock II "Edward Hancock II, Author ... (GILMER, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chinese Phrases For Dummies (Paperback)

Unlike the big book "Chinese for Dummies" this book provides a decent foundation for the beginning user. It introduces the reader to the four tones right from the start. You are introduced to important things like counting and addressing people respectfully (Sir, Mr. Mrs. etc)After that, you're basically taken on a tour of conversational Mandarin, given helpful phrases for the would-be tourist looking for food, gift shops or trying to find Uncle Wu, their long lost relative.

You won't be a Mandarin expert at the end of this book, but you will have a good foundation on which to build future lessons. It's also a good reference to carry with you, as its size makes it fit quite nicely in a small carry-on bag or even a back pocket.

You don't have to carry around a novel AND you can find a bathroom in most small towns of China... what more do you need from a reference book? (Just kidding, but it IS a great tool)