Read more
Find the right words fast!
Practical and easy-to-use, Frommer s PhraseFinders let you experience a place the way the locals do - by speaking the same language.
More than 5,000 words and phrases organized by topic and dictionary entry for easy use on the go
A two-way dictionary cross-referenced to verb conjugations and the most common phrases
Detailed pronunciation guide and slang terms to help you sound more like a local
A two-way menu translator, basic grammar information, and much more
List of contents
Introduction: How to Use This Book vii
1 Survival Chinese 1
Basic Greetings 1, The Key Questions 2, Help / Emergencies 6, Numbers & Counting 7, Measurements 10, Time 12, Chinese Grammar & Pronunciation Basics 15
2 Getting There & Getting Around 31
By Plane 31, By Car 43, By Taxi 49, By Train 51, By Bus 52, By Boat or Ship 53, By Subway 54, Considerations for Travelers with Special Needs 56
3 Lodging 57
Finding a Hotel 57, Room Preferences 58, Money Matters 61, In-Room Amenities 63, Hotel Room Trouble 65, Checking Out 67, Happy Camping 68
4 Dining 69
Finding a Restaurant 69, Getting Seated 71, Ordering 71, During the Meal 75, Settling Up 76, Menu Reader 77, Buying Groceries 83
5 Socializing 89
Greetings 89, Overcoming the Language Barrier 90, Getting Personal 92, Parting Ways 102, Topics of Conversation 103
6 Money & Communications 111
Money 111, Phone Service 113, Internet Access 115, Mail 117
7 Culture 119
Cinema 119, Performances 120, Museums, Galleries & Attractions 121
8 Shopping 123
General Shopping Terms 123, Clothes Shopping 124, Artisan Market Shopping 127, Bookstore / Newsstand Shopping 128, Shopping for Electronics 129, At the Barber / Hairdresser 130
9 Sports & Fitness 133
Getting Fit 133, Catching a Game 135, Hiking 136, Boating & Fishing 139, Diving 140, Surfing 141, Golfing 141
10 Nightlife 143
Club Hopping 143, Across a Crowded Room 146, Getting Closer 147, Getting Intimate 148, In the Casino 151
11 Health & Safety 153
At the Pharmacy 153, At the Doctor's Office 154, At the Police Station 158
English–Chinese Dictionary 161
Chinese–English Dictionary 207
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.
