Newbie - A Family of Teachers (A1205)
A  李老师，我爸爸也是老师。
  Lǐ lǎoshī, wǒ bàba yě shì lǎoshī. 
  Mr. Li, my dad is a teacher, too!
B  是吗？你妈妈呢？
  shì ma? nǐ māma ne? 
  Really? What about your mom?
A  我妈妈也是老师。
  wǒ māma yě shì lǎoshī. 
  My mom is also a teacher.
B  哇，你家都是老师！
  wā, nǐ jiā dōu shì lǎoshī! 
  Whoa, everyone in your family is a teacher!
Key Vocabulary
爸爸  bàba  dad
妈妈  māma  mom
老师  lǎoshī  teacher
也  yě  also
是  shì  to be
哇  wā  whoa
家  jiā  home, family
都  dōu  all

Supplementary Vocabulary
哥哥  gēge  older brother
姐姐  jiějie  older sister
弟弟  dìdi  younger brother
妹妹  mèimei  younger sister
学生  xuésheng  student
学校  xuéxiào  school

Newbie - What Would You Say You Do Here? (A1210)
A  你是医生吗？
  nǐ shì yīshēng ma? 
  Are you a doctor?
B  不是。
  bù shì. 
  No.
A  你是老师吗？
  nǐ shì lǎoshī ma? 
  Are you a teacher?
B  不是。
  bù shì. 
  No.
A  你是律师吗？
  nǐ shì lǜshī ma? 
  Are you a lawyer?
B  也不是。
  yě bùshì. 
  No, again!
Key Vocabulary
你  nǐ  you
是  shì  to be
医生  yīshēng  doctor
不  bù  not
老师  lǎoshī  teacher
律师  lǜshī  lawyer
也  yě  also

Supplementary Vocabulary
医院  yīyuàn  hospital
学校  xuéxiào  school
法律  fǎlǜ  law
学生  xuéshēng  student
大学生  dàxuéshēng  university student
中学生  zhōngxuéshēng  middle school student
小学生  xiǎoxuéshēng  elementary school student

Newbie - A Lot of Sisters (A1212)
A  她们是谁？
  tāmen shì shéi? 
  Who are they?
B  她们是我大姐，二姐，三姐。
  tāmen shì wǒ dàjiě, èrjiě, sānjiě. 
  That's my eldest sister, my second-eldest sister, and my third-eldest sister.
A  哇，这么多！
  wā, zhème duō! 
  Wow, so many!
Key Vocabulary
她们  tāmen  they
是  shì  to be
谁  shéi  who
我  wǒ  my, I
大姐  dàjiě  eldest sister
二姐  èrjiě  second-eldest sister
三姐  sānjiě  third-eldest sister
这么  zhème  this
多  duō  many
大  dà  big
二  èr  two
三  sān  three

Supplementary Vocabulary
姐姐  jiějie  older sister
妹妹  mèimei  younger sister
哥哥  gēge  older brother
弟弟  dìdi  younger brother
大哥  dàgē  eldest brother, "buddy"
小  xiǎo  small
少  shǎo  few

{Newbie - How Many Family Members Do You Have?} (A1221)
A:    你家有几口人？
   nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ kǒu rén?
  How many people are there in your family?
B:    八口人。
   bā kǒu rén.
  Eight people.
A:    八口人？
   bā kǒu rén?
  Eight people?
B:    是啊，爸爸、妈妈、哥哥、姐姐.....
   shì a, bàba、 māma、 gēge、 jiějie.....
  Yeah! My dad, mom, my older brother, older sister...

Key Vocabulary
你  nǐ  you, your
家  jiā  family
有  yǒu  to have
几  jǐ  how many
口  kǒu  mouth; measure word for people
人  rén  person
八  bā  eight
是  shì  to be; yes
爸爸  bàba  dad
妈妈  māma  mom
哥哥  gēge  older brother
姐姐  jiějie  older sister

Supplementary Vocabulary
奶奶  nǎinai  paternal grandma
阿姨  āyí  aunt; polite form of address for strangers your parents' age
爷爷  yéye  paternal grandpa
妹妹  mèimei  younger sister
弟弟  dìdi  younger brother
叔叔  shūshu  uncle; polite form of address for strangers your parents' age
{Online Review and Discussion}.   ©2009 Praxis Language Ltd.

{Newbie - What’s Your Job?} (A1226)
A:    你做什么工作？
   nǐ zuò shénme gōngzuò?
  What's your job?
B:    我不工作。
   wǒ bù gōngzuò.
  I don't work.
A:    那你是......？
   nà nǐ shì......?
  Then you're a...?
B:    我是大学生。
   wǒ shì dàxuéshēng.
  I'm a university student.

Key Vocabulary
你  nǐ  you
做  zuò  to do
什么  shénme  what
工作  gōngzuò  work, job
我  wǒ  I
那  nà  then; that
是  shì  to be
大学生  dàxuéshēng  university student
不  bù  not

Supplementary Vocabulary
老师  lāoshī  teacher
医生  yīshēng  doctor
警察  jǐngchá  police officer
律师  lǜshī  lawyer
工程师  gōngchéngshī  engineer
职员  zhíyuán  office worker， staff person
商人  shāngrén  business person
军人  jūnrén  (military) service person
经理  jīnglǐ  manager
{Online Review and Discussion}.   ©2009 Praxis Language Ltd.

{Newbie - It's My Birthday!} (A1230)
A:    今天几号？
   jīntiān jǐ hào?
  What is today's date?
B:    八月二十号。
   bāyuè èrshí hào.
  August twentieth.
A:    哦！
   o!
  Oh!
B:    怎么了？
   zěnmele?
  What is it?
A:    今天是我的生日！
   jīntiān shì wǒ de shēngrì!
  It's my birthday!

Key Vocabulary
今天  jīntiān  today
几  jǐ  how many
号  hào  number
八月  bāyuè  August
二十  èrshí  twenty
怎么了  zěnmele  what's the matter?
是  shì  to be
我的  wǒ de  my; mine
生日  shēngrì  birthday

Supplementary Vocabulary
明天  míngtiān  tomorrow
昨天  zuótiān  yesterday
一月  yīyuè  January
二月  èryuè  February
三月  sānyuè  March
四月  sìyuè  April
五月  wǔyuè  May
六月  liùyuè  June
七月  qīyuè  July
九月  jiǔyuè  September
十月  shíyuè  October
十一月  shíyīyuè  November
十二月  shíèryuè  December
礼物  lǐwù  present; gift
{Online Review and Discussion}.   ©2009 Praxis Language Ltd.

{Newbie - Where Did You Go?} (A1236)
A:    你昨天晚上九点在哪儿？
   nǐ zuótiān wǎnshang jiǔ diǎn zài nǎr?
  Where were you at nine o'clock last night?
B:    在朋友家。
   zài péngyou jiā.
  At a friend's house.
A:    九点半呢？
   jiǔ diǎn bàn ne?
  At nine-thirty?
B:    在同学家。
   zài tóngxué jiā.
  At a classmate's house.

Key Vocabulary
你  nǐ  you
昨天  zuótiān  yesterday
晚上  wǎnshang  evening
九点  jiǔ diǎn  9 oclock
在  zài  at
哪儿  nǎr  where
朋友  péngyou  friend
家  jiā  family; house
半  bàn  half
同学  tóngxué  classmate

Supplementary Vocabulary
早上  zǎoshang  morning
下午  xiàwǔ  afternoon
今天  jīntiān  today
警察  jǐngchá  police
警察局  jǐngchájú  police station
{Online Review and Discussion}.   ©2009 Praxis Language Ltd.

{Newbie - A Mouse Upstairs} (A1237)
A:    啊，有老鼠！
   à, yǒu lǎoshǔ!
  Ah, a mouse!
B:    在哪儿？
   zài nǎr?
  Where?
A:    在楼上。
   zài lóushàng.
  Upstairs.
B:    别怕，楼下有猫。
   bié pà, lóuxià yǒu māo.
  Don't worry. There's a cat downstairs.

Key Vocabulary
猫  māo  cat
楼下  lóuxià  downstairs
别  bié  don't
怕  pà  to be afraid
楼上  lóushàng  upstairs
哪儿  nǎr  where
在  zài  at; currently
老鼠  lǎoshǔ  mouse
有  yǒu  to have; there is

Supplementary Vocabulary
抓老鼠  zhuā lǎoshǔ  to catch a mouse
二楼  èr lóu  second floor
楼梯  lóutī  staircase
电梯  diàntī  elevator
一楼  yī lóu  first floor
{Online Review and Discussion}.   ©2009 Praxis Language Ltd.

{Newbie - Looking for Someone Else} (A1245)
A:    你好，好久不见！
   nǐhǎo, hǎojiǔbùjiàn!
  Hi, how are you doing? It's been a long time.
B:    你好，你好！
   nǐhǎo, nǐhǎo!
  Hi!
A:    你找我吗？
   nǐ zhǎo wǒ ma?
  Were you looking for me?
B:    不是，我找别人。
   bù shì, wǒ zhǎo biérén.
  Nothing, I'm looking for someone else.
{Online Review and Discussion}.   ©2009 Praxis Language Ltd.

{Newbie - Getting Off the Metro} (A1251)
A:    下车吗？
   xiàchē ma?
  Getting off (the train/bus/metro/vehicle)?
B:    不下。
   bù xià.
  Nope.
A:    你要下车吗？
   nǐ yào xiàchē ma?
  Are you getting off?
C:    我不下车。
   wǒ bù xiàchē.
  No, I'm not getting off (the train/bus/metro/vehicle).
A:    对不起，我要下车。
   duìbuqǐ, wǒ yào xiàchē.
  Excuse me, I want to get off the metro (train/bus/vehicle).

Key Vocabulary
下车  xiàchē  to get off or out of a car / vehicle / metro car
吗  ma  interrogative particle
不  bù  not
你  nǐ  you
要  yào  to want
我  wǒ  I
对不起  duìbuqǐ  Sorry!

Supplementary Vocabulary
上车  shàngchē  to board or get into a car or vehicle
停车  tíngchē  to park (a car)
让一下  ràng yīxià  make way, get out of the way
坐地铁  zuò dìtiě  to take the metro (subway)
坐公交车  zuò gōngjiāochē  to take the bus
{Online Review and Discussion}.   ©2009 Praxis Language Ltd.

{Newbie - Away on Business} (A1256)
A:    你在哪里？
   nǐ zài nǎli?
  Where are you?
B:    我在广州出差。
   wǒ zài Guǎngzhōu chūchāi.
  I'm on a business trip in Guangzhou.
A:    你不在北京？
   nǐ bù zài Běijīng?
  You're not in Beijing?
B:    对，我明天回北京。
   duì, wǒ míngtiān huí Běijīng.
  Right. I'll go back to Beijing tomorrow.

Key Vocabulary
你  nǐ  you
在  zài  at
哪里  nǎli  where
我  wǒ  I
广州  Guǎngzhōu  Guangzhou
不  bù  not
北京  Běijīng  Beijing
对  duì  correct; to
明天  míngtiān  tomorrow
回  huí  to return, go back
出差  chūchāi  to go out on business; business trip

Supplementary Vocabulary
同事  tóngshì  colleague
工作  gōngzuò  work, job
公司  gōngsī  company
客户  kèhù  client; customer
旅行  lǚxíng  to travel
{Online Review and Discussion}.   ©2009 Praxis Language Ltd.

{Newbie - It's Stopped Raining} (A1259)
A:    下雨了！
   xiàyǔ le!
  It's raining.
B:    你有伞吗？
   nǐ yǒu sǎn ma?
  Do you have an umbrella?
A:    没有。
   méiyǒu.
  No.
B:    雨停了！太好了！
   yǔ tíng le! tài hǎo le!
  The rain has stopped! Great!

Key Vocabulary
下雨  xiàyǔ  to rain
你  nǐ  you
有  yǒu  to have
伞  sǎn  umbrella
吗  ma  question particle
没有  méiyǒu  not to have
雨  yǔ  rain
停  tíng  to stop
太  tài  too; extremely
好  hǎo  good

Supplementary Vocabulary
天气  tiānqì  weather
怎么样  zěnmeyàng  how about
热  rè  hot
冷  lěng  cold
下雪  xiàxuě  to snow
雨衣  yǔyī  rain coat
{Online Review and Discussion}.   ©2009 Praxis Language Ltd.

{Newbie - Where is the supermarket?} (A1263)
A:    超市在哪里？
   chāoshì zài nǎli?
  Where is the supermarket?
B:    在前面。
   zài qiánmiàn.
  It's up ahead.
A:    远不远？
   yuǎn bu yuǎn?
  Is it far?
不远。走十五分钟。
   bù yuǎn. zǒu shíwǔ fēnzhōng.
  No. A 15 minute walk.

Key Vocabulary
超市  chāoshì  supermarket
在  zài  to be at
哪里  nǎli  where
前面  qiánmiàn  up ahead
远  yuǎn  far
不  bù  not
走  zǒu  to walk
十五  shí wǔ  15
分钟  fēnzhōng  minute

Supplementary Vocabulary
公园  gōngyuán  park
你  nǐ  you
我  wǒ  I
后面  hòumiàn  behind
小时  xiǎoshí  hour
近  jìn  near
{Online Review and Discussion}.   ©2009 Praxis Language Ltd.

{Newbie - Turn Right, Turn Left} (A1271)
A:    小姐，怎么走？
   xiǎojie, zěnme zǒu?
  Miss, how do I get there?
B:    前面右拐。
   qiánmian yòuguǎi.
  Turn right up ahead.
A:    好的。
   hǎo de.
  Okay.
B:    师傅，不对，左拐。
   shīfu, bù duì, zuǒguǎi.
  Sir, that's not right. Turn left.

Key Vocabulary
小姐  xiǎojie  miss
怎么  zěnme  how
走  zǒu  to go
前面  qiánmiàn  ahead
右拐  yòuguǎi  turn right
师傅  shīfu  sir
不  bù  not
对  duì  correct
左拐  zuǒguǎi  turn left

Supplementary Vocabulary
左  zuǒ  left
右  yòu  right
后面  hòumiàn  behind
路口  lùkǒu  intersection
大拐  dàguǎi  turn left
小拐  xiǎoguǎi  turn right
停车  tíngchē  to stop the car
{Online Review and Discussion}.   ©2009 Praxis Language Ltd.

{Newbie - U-Turn} (A1275)
A:    师傅，过了！
   shīfu, guò le!
  Sir, you passed it!
B:    什么？
   shénme?
  What?
A:    过了！快掉头！
   guò le! kuài diàotóu!
  You passed it! Quick, do a U-turn!
B:    哦，不好意思。
   ò, bùhǎoyìsi.
  Oh, sorry.

Key Vocabulary
师傅  shīfu  sir
过  guò  to pass
什么  shénme  what
快  kuài  quick
掉头  diàotóu  to do a U-turn
不好意思  bùhǎoyìsi  sorry

Supplementary Vocabulary
打的  dǎdī  to get a taxi
开车  kāichē  to drive a car
左拐  zuǒguǎi  turn left
右拐  yòuguǎi  turn right
停车  tíngchē  to stop a car
{Online Review and Discussion}.   ©2009 Praxis Language Ltd.

{Newbie - Anybody home?} (A1277)
A:    有人吗?
   yǒu rén ma?
  Is anybody there?
B:    有人吗?
   yǒu rén ma?
  Is anyone there?
C:    我不是人。
   wǒ bù shì rén.
  I'm not human.
A:    啊，我怕！
   à, wǒ pà!
  Ah, I'm scared!
B:    我们快跑吧！
   wǒmen kuài pǎo ba!
  Quick, let's run!
A:    啊！
   à!
  Ah!

Key Vocabulary
有  yǒu  to have
人  rén  person
我  wǒ  I
不  bù  not
是  shì  to be
怕  pà  afraid
我们  wǒmen  we
快  kuài  quick
跑  pǎo  to run

Supplementary Vocabulary
没有  méiyǒu  to not have
谁  shéi  who
鬼  guǐ  ghost
万圣节  Wànshèngjié  Halloween
恶作剧  èzuòjù  practical joke
{Online Review and Discussion}.   ©2009 Praxis Language Ltd.

{Newbie - Which Time Zone?} (A1284)
A:    明天几点上课？
   míngtiān jǐ diǎn shàngkè?
  What time is class tomorrow?
B:    早上八点。
   zǎoshang bādiǎn.
  8 o'clock in the morning
A:    是北京时间吗？
   shì Běijīng shíjiān ma?
  Beijing time?
B:    不是，是纽约时间。
   bù shì, shì Niǔyuē shíjiān.
  No, it's New York time.

Key Vocabulary
明天  míngtiān  tomorrow
几点  jǐ diǎn  what time
上课  shàngkè  to attend class
早上  zǎoshang  morning
八点  bā diǎn  8 o'clock
是  shì  to be
北京  Běijīng  Beijing
时间  shíjiān  time
不  bù  not
纽约  Niǔyuē  New York

Supplementary Vocabulary
时区  shíqū  time zone
下午  xiàwǔ  afternoon
晚上  wǎnshang  night
伦敦  Lúndūn  London
上海  Shànghǎi  Shanghai
东京  Dōngjīng  Tokyo
洛杉矶  Luòshānjī  Los Angeles
{Online Review and Discussion}.   ©2009 Praxis Language Ltd.

{Newbie - Taxi to the Airport} (A1287)
A:    师傅，去机场。
   shīfu, qù jīchǎng.
  Sir, to the airport.
B:    好的。几点的飞机？
   hǎo de. jǐ diǎn de fēijī?
  Okay. What time is your flight?
A:    十点。
   shí diǎn.
  10 o'clock.
B:    哦。还早。
   ò. hái zǎo.
  Oh. It's still early.

Key Vocabulary
师傅  shīfu  sir
去  qù  to go
机场  jīchǎng  airport
好的  hǎo de  okay
几点  jǐ diǎn  what time
飞机  fēijī  airplane
十点  shí diǎn  10 o'clock
还  hái  still
早  zǎo  early

Supplementary Vocabulary
赶飞机  gǎn fēijī  to catch a flight
晚  wǎn  late
来不及  láibují  not enough time
快点儿  kuài diǎnr  hurry up
{Online Review and Discussion}.   ©2009 Praxis Language Ltd.