Tips for Understanding Chinese Conjugation

When embarking on the journey to learn Chinese, one usually refers to the Mandarin language.

While we will use "Mandarin" and "Chinese" interchangeably in this article, it's important to note that China is home to 299 Chinese languages. This is why Mandarin is specifically referred to as Mandarin and not simply Chinese. Mandarin Chinese holds the distinction of being the most widely spoken language in China, sources suggest that over 1.3 billion people in China speak it as their first language.

However, not everyone in China speaks Mandarin as their first language. Indeed, the majority of Chinese individuals, although not complete beginners like you, have likely had better exposure to the language due to living in China. So a Chinese person who may appear to be a "native speaker" may also have had to learn Mandarin like you are doing.

The process of learning Mandarin Chinese can be daunting. It involves mastering grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary and of course, pronunciation. These aspects, particularly the five tones, words, and phrases used fluently by Chinese speakers, can prove challenging for absolute beginners who are accustomed to the Latin alphabet and language structure of English or other European languages. Nonetheless, to learn Chinese, it is crucial to understand that our comprehension of the language will remain limited unless we dedicate ourselves to studying.

In this article, you will find out more about both Chinese conjugation and Mandarin conjugation, how native speakers express time, use Chinese verbs and construct sentences.

Throughout the article, we will use Chinese pinyin (the Romanised system for foreigners) to help with pronunciation. While it does not replace formal lessons on how to speak Chinese for beginners, it will certainly inspire you to get going.

Get ready, let's begin!

How to Speak Chinese and Express Time

When learning Chinese for beginners, expressing time and memorising verb drills may be challenging.

In English and European languages, each verb is learned in three main tenses: past, present, and future.

When communicating, you must plan which tense to use based on the intended timeframe. For example, the past tense is used to describe something that occurred yesterday. In addition, English speakers need to consider additional time categories such as simple, perfect, perfect continuous, continuous, and conditional conjugations. This means that for every English verb, you need to know at least 12 different combinations of its usage, and considering the vast number of verbs, the possibilities are extensive.

You’ll be pleased to know that time words are not part of Chinese conjugation. In addition, there are no other structures that need to be added to it.

When learning Chinese you’ll notice temporal markers play a crucial role in indicating whether the past, present, future, or conditional tense is being discussed. To achieve proficiency in Chinese conjugation, it is important to memorise these vocabulary terms.

The Three Most Frequently Used Markers for the Past:

1. Use the 'guò' suffix to express the experience in an unspecified period, e.g., "W? y?j?ng ch?guò z?oc?nle" - I've eaten breakfast.
2. Use the 'le' particle to denote completed actions in the past, present, or immediate future, e.g., "W? zh?odàole y? zh? g?u" - I found a dog.
3. Use 'méi' or 'méiy?u' to indicate incomplete or nonexistent completed actions, e.g., "W? méiy?u c?nji? huìyì" - I didn't attend the meeting.

There are other markers too, but these are common suffixes and particles to help you learn how to speak Chinese as a beginner.

Two of the Most Common Markers to Speak Fluently Regarding the Present

1. Use Zhe for expressing a present action. E.g. W? xiàozhe k? meaning I laugh and cry.
2. Use zhèngzài if something is in process. E.g. - zhè gè guóji? zhèngzài f?zh?n zh?ng – meaning, this country is developing.

Three Most Common Markers Regarding the Future

1. Use 'Yào' to express a desire, e.g., "W? yào qù bìl?" - I want to go to Peru.
2. Use 'Ji?ng' for events in the distant future, e.g., "Q?ng sh?ohòu, w? ji?ng wèi nín zhu?nji?" - Please wait, we will transfer you.
3. 'Y?hòu' denotes various meanings like 'after,' 'in the future,' 'soon,' and 'later,' e.g., "Liù xi?oshí y?hòu" - 6 hours later.

The passive form, expressing negativity, will be explained next with specific rules in Chinese.

The primary marker is 'bèi,' which has associated rules for correct usage. When using 'bèi,' Chinese learners should remember:

1. The primary object becomes the subject of the sentence.
2. The sentence structure includes a particle or object with the main verb. Example: 'Zhè jiàn y?fú bèi fàngxiàle' - The dress was put down.

Common Verbs to Learn Chinese Conjugation

When learning how to speak Chinese for beginners, remember that Chinese verbs stay in the infinitive form. Temporal markers are expressed using post-verbal particles in sentences. To avoid anxiety focus on these tips:

1. Order of Things
2. Aspects of things
3. Weather terminology
4. Specific processes

For example, these particles indicate time and appearance.

• E.g. N? jiào shénme? – meaning what is your first name?

In addition to particles, you will notice that auxiliary verbs support communication too:

1. yáofán  - To beg
2. wèn - To ask
3. Yào - To want
4. G?i - to give
5. Xi?ng – To desire
6. K?y? - To ask for
7. K?néng - To be possible
8. Juédé - To feel
9. Xuéxí - To learn
10. Yuànyì - to be willing
11. Huì - To know
12. Bìx? - Must
13. Y?ngg?i - Should

Using The Verb ‘To Be’ in Chinese Conjugation 

In Chinese, 'to be' has various translations. To learn how to speak Chinese fluently, understand word order and usage. Here are examples of Mandarin conjugation for the verb to be:

1. Y?umíng - To be famous
2. y?u yìsi - to be Interesting
3. Y?uy?ng - To be Useful
4. Y?uxiào - To be Valid
5. y?uqián - To be rich

Planning a trip to China or learning how to speak Chinese for beginners? Then using these common verbs will help.

Build Sentences with Mandarin Conjugation 

The idea of Mandarin conjugation may sound intimidating, but forming sentences when you learn Chinese is relatively easy.

According to the BBC, the average scholar knows 8 000 words, but 3 000 words are enough for reading a newspaper. If you had to learn only three words per day and master your sentence structure and Chinese conjugation you could be fluent in a few years.

Simple Sentences

In Chinese, verb placement is crucial in simple sentences.

Two situations arise:

1. subject + predicate (e.g., Chinese drink tea) and
2. subject + verb + complement (e.g., I want to eat Chinese dumplings). Here, the verb always comes after the subject.

Complex Sentences

Complex interrogative sentences in Chinese follow this construction:

Complete sentence (subject/verb/complement) + (ma).

• For example -  Do you want to eat Chinese dumplings? = N? xi?ng ch? zh?ngguó ji?ozi ma?

Using the Five Tones in Mandarin

In language, using the correct pitch is crucial, but especially in Mandarin Chinese where words that look the same can have different meanings depending on the tone.   

1. First tone: neutral and highest.
2. Second tone: rises from middle to high.
3. Third tone: falls low, then rises high.
4. Fourth tone: falls from high to low.
5. Neutral tone ("fifth tone"): short mid-exclamation.

PinYin simplifies reading and pronouncing tones in Chinese, this Romanised form, which is an excellent way for learners to associate and understand Chinese tones with words.

Examples of similar words where the meaning is changed based on the accent:

1. m? (the mother).
2. má (hemp).
3. m? (horse).
4. mà (curse).

5. ma (highlights a question and other things)

Mandarin tones may sound foreign, but bear in mind that English already has similar tones.

By using familiar English intonations, you can remember and use Chinese tones fluently.

How to use the five different tones:

First tone: "Errrrrr" (thoughtful answer)

1. Second tone: "Hello?" (questioning)
2. Third tone: "Really?!!" (suspicion and surprise)
3. Fourth tone: "Aow!!" (an exclamation of pain)
4. Fifth tone: Quick and sharp, like tapping a desk with a finger.

Finally, if this article helps you with Mandarin conjugation, do not miss the others in this series which will also be helpful if you are learning to speak Chinese for beginners.

Zhù h?o yùn! (good luck!)