Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign.
[00:00:11] Speaker B: Hello everyone and welcome back to HSK2 podcast.
Today we are having our lovely co host Emily, Emily Homa.
Hey.
[00:00:26] Speaker A: Hi everyone.
Vicky. Wahanha.
[00:00:29] Speaker B: Nina.
So Emily.
[00:01:32] Speaker A: So today we have another exciting episode lined up. So we will be diving into the word the most.
[00:01:42] Speaker B: Exactly. So today's grammar. We are focusing in the word.
If you ever want to say the best, the most, the tallest, this episode is for you.
We are going to learn something about Chinese culture. What is about.
[00:02:04] Speaker A: We have very, very exciting and interesting topic is talking about which means fighting for the bills.
[00:02:15] Speaker B: Wow, that's very interesting.
[00:02:19] Speaker A: So you won't want to miss this episode. So please stay, stay with us until the end.
Okay, so before we start, you are listening to Honey Chinese podcast. If you are learning Chinese and and you want to take your skill to the next level, you are going to love this episode and love this podcast. And if you like to learn with us, you can try a free one on one class through our platform. So we have courses Starting from just €39 with live classes, recorded lesson and full access to our online campus. So you can learn on your own pace. So visit our website here. Right here hanyechineschool.com and yeah, just get started with this.
[00:03:08] Speaker B: Okay, well, let's start with our dialogue. So the setting is after a very delicious meal at a Chinese restaurant, me and Emily we are discussing our. Our dinner plans. So I'm gonna start. Emmeline.
[00:04:16] Speaker A: Let'S go.
[00:04:23] Speaker B: Okay, so as we previously said, we are focusing on the world which is used to to express superlative in Chinese. This is how we say the best, the most or the most plus adjective in Chinese. It's very similar to how we use the most or the east in English. Right?
[00:04:47] Speaker A: Yes. So let's break it down to step by step. So the basic structure we can see right up here is then then adjective or adverb. The structure help us to express the highest degree of something.
So like Vicky said, the best or the most.
[00:05:10] Speaker B: Yes. So first let's look at how works with adjectives to show that something is the best or the most. For example, this restaurant is the best I have, I've been to here too is used to.
Is used with the adjective how. Which is good to show that this restaurant is the best among all the ones I visit before.
So let's jump to the second example.
Their dumplings are the most famous here in this case is used with the adjective yomin which means famous indicating that their dumplings are the most famous among all the others in the area.
[00:06:11] Speaker A: That'S right.
So help us show the highest.
Then let's see see about the other examples. Here we have so we have also. We can also say so she is the smartest person I have ever met.
So we have smart so the smartest.
The Laoshi Zhuongming. The so the smartest girl, the smartest teacher. Whatever you want, you can put it the noun in the end.
So then we have for example, the other one we have is this is my favorite movie. Say my favorite and then you put the noun in the end the movie.
[00:07:19] Speaker B: Exactly.
Well, you can also use street with verb to describe an action that is done the most or the most extreme way. For example, I love watching movies the most. Here tsui is used with the verb like expressing that the speaker love watching movies more than anything else. And then let's see another example.
I like eating pasta the most. In this example, Tsui emphasizes that eating pasta is the speaker's favorite activity compared to others.
[00:08:03] Speaker A: Very good. So. Oh, Vicki, did you see something interesting? The example, the exact the first example and the example that we see before.
Right before. Let's take a look again, shall we?
So. Yes, sure, let's take a look. So like let's remember here, this one, right? Okay, then let's look at the other one.
Can you read it for us, Becky?
[00:08:33] Speaker B: Yeah, of course. Here on the screen it says this is my favorite movie.
[00:08:43] Speaker A: So it's a little bit different when you say when you put the verb right after, like my favorite hobby, I like to do something.
And then in this case is the favorite movie I like.
It's a little bit slightly different word, but it means totally different things. So this is just talking about I like to watch movie. The other one is this is my favorite movie.
[00:09:21] Speaker B: Yeah, that's true.
[00:09:25] Speaker A: So Emily.
[00:09:28] Speaker B: Related to. Do you want to add something else?
[00:09:32] Speaker A: Yes.
So, so to sum up, if we are whether we're talking about adjective or verb, helps you to express, like we said, the most the best in Chinese, you can use it to talk about what you like the most. Like like we said, look, we saw here the best things or the most extreme action.
Yes.
[00:09:58] Speaker B: So that is for today's grammar lesson.
Now that you know how to use to express superlatives or to talk about extreme actions, you can put it in practice in your daily Chinese. Right?
[00:10:14] Speaker A: Very good. So that's what we're going to look at right now.
So let's talk about today's question for audience.
How would you say this?
This is the most interesting movie I have ever watched in Chinese.
[00:10:32] Speaker B: Yeah, Think about the sentence structure and leave your answer in the comments below. We'll look and see if you make any mistakes or not. And we just want to see your sentence right there in the comments.
[00:10:48] Speaker A: Very well.
[00:10:50] Speaker B: Okay, so let's review the dialogue we previously talked about.
So, Emily, how was the dinner today?
[00:11:12] Speaker A: It was great. The food at this restaurant was really delicious.
[00:11:25] Speaker B: Really?
I also think this is the best restaurant I've been to.
[00:11:36] Speaker A: My favorite is their dumplings.
[00:11:45] Speaker B: Really? Their dumplings are the most famous here.
[00:11:57] Speaker A: It really lives up to its reputation.
So what should we do next?
[00:12:06] Speaker B: Yeah, we are.
I'm too full. How about going for a walk in the park?
[00:12:21] Speaker A: Sure. The nearest park here is the Central Park. Shall we go there?
[00:12:27] Speaker B: How?
All right, let's go.
Very good, very good.
[00:12:33] Speaker A: So if you guys have listen carefully, you would heard a lot of.
Now we use it in the dialogue.
[00:12:42] Speaker B: Yes, true.
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[00:14:08] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:14:08] Speaker B: So well now let's move on to a very, very interesting topic. Today we're gonna talk about a very fun fact which is the Chinese culture related to dining. The what we say, which means fighting for the bill.
[00:14:26] Speaker A: Yes. So if you have ever been to a restaurant in China with your friends, you might have noticed that after finishing the meal there are. There's often a little competition over who pays the bill.
But this isn't like a really a real fight.
So it's a cultural traditional that represent like hospitality and generosity.
[00:14:52] Speaker B: Yeah, that's right.
It's actually a sign of respect and generosity. When someone pays for the bill, it shows that they are caring for others, but everyone will try to pay.
So it's a bit of a friendly battle. That is quite Common in social setting in China.
[00:15:13] Speaker A: Yes.
So let's set up.
Typical situation in a Chinese restaurant. So where everyone is trying to grab the bill. So it's a.
We have. We have prepared like a fun minute mini skit that shows.
Shows what we normally do in the restaurant. Okay, okay, okay. I'll be the. I'll be the first waitress.
Okay? Okay, okay. So in the next restaurant after. After having the meal and then the waitress brings to the t.
I made some.
[00:16:15] Speaker B: No.
And that's how we continue. No, no.
[00:16:24] Speaker A: Yeah. Like it repeats and repeat and repeat and going on and on.
Yeah.
[00:16:31] Speaker B: Shall we review the mini sketch we have done before?
[00:16:35] Speaker A: Yeah, sure. Let's do it. We'll show you. It's gonna be fun.
So at first the waitress says the total is 250 yen.
[00:16:49] Speaker B: Okay, I'll pay.
[00:16:56] Speaker A: I'll pay.
[00:17:01] Speaker B: You paid last time. This time it's my turn.
[00:17:13] Speaker A: All right. Sorry, forgot about that.
It's fine. It's not a big deal. Let me pay this time.
[00:17:23] Speaker B: No, no, no. I'm paying.
[00:17:27] Speaker A: I'll pay. I'll pay. So you can see here, when I say doesn't mean like I come.
It's more like a word that we use when we are volunteering something like, well, if I want to do something, I'll say, okay, we'll lie. So my turn. Or let. Let me do it.
[00:17:48] Speaker B: True, true. Thanks for clarifying that.
[00:17:53] Speaker A: Our student will be like. What does that mean? Like, I come. I come. Yeah.
[00:17:57] Speaker B: No, literally come.
[00:17:59] Speaker A: Yeah, exactly.
[00:18:00] Speaker B: How so? So as you can see, Chantan is a friendly competition whether where everyone tries to show their, you know, politeness and generosity. It's about showing respect and caring for others. Right?
[00:18:17] Speaker A: Yeah. So especially in the business setting, it's even more common for the host to insist on paying access.
It seems like a symbol of respect, but still like it's a friendly battle over the bills.
Like even in a formal setting.
[00:18:39] Speaker B: True, true.
You know, actually it's this Chandang thing is a very usual for champagne for like elders to do. Right. Like if you are in a family dinner and you're in the restaurant, you know, like a lot of shushu ie will be like, no, no, no, I'm paying. Or they will, you know, secretly go to the counter and ask for the bill.
[00:19:09] Speaker A: Oh yeah, people do. Yeah, people do that.
We would like if we. If we really, really want to show hostility.
So there is a thing that is called a fake fight and then a real fighting. So if someone is really, really wants to show the hostility, they would actually.
They probably would just go secretly to pay the bill. But some of the people just fight for the bill because it's a cultural thing.
[00:19:43] Speaker B: Yeah, that's right. It's actually very fun. Like in the end, it's kind of like, you know, you're trying to bond with others.
[00:19:53] Speaker A: As long as you don't really make it into a huge fight, like an actual fight. It's actually a fun thing.
[00:20:00] Speaker B: Yeah, true.
Well, let's see the the answer that we previously previously asked about the question. So earlier we asked how would you say this is the most interesting movie I've ever watched in Chinese?
[00:20:20] Speaker A: So the correct answer is.
[00:20:29] Speaker B: Right. So great job if you got it that right. If not, don't worry.
Just need to practice more. Keep working on using to make superlative comparison in Chinese.
So now it's your turn. Let's practice using in your own sentence here we got a question for you.
Can you make a sentence using to talk about something that is the best or the most interesting in your life?
[00:21:03] Speaker A: They could be talking about your favorite food, the best book or the most exciting trip that you have ever been to.
So whatever you like to talk about.
So please make a sentence down in the comment section and yeah, we will check it for you.
[00:21:22] Speaker B: Yeah, we'll check them and then keep practicing on your Chinese.
[00:21:28] Speaker A: Exactly. Very well.
So thank you for staying with us until the end.
If you truly want to learn Chinese, we with real teachers like Vicki and I with with on your own pace, on your own needs. So you can visit our website here hanyuchineschool.com or scan the QR code right here so you can book a free class, a free one on one class to see for yourself if you like it or not.
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[00:22:38] Speaker B: Okay, so today we'll learn all about the word to use how to express a superlative in Chinese. So whether you're talking the best food or the most exciting movie or the most famous person, you know how to use this tray to make it like a comparison in Mandarin.
[00:23:01] Speaker A: Yes. So we also dive into the culture concept of Chang nan. So how in Chinese culture, it's often a playful competition to who gets over the bill.
So what will we learn next?
[00:23:15] Speaker B: Vicky well, we are learning about the structure. Shimado, a very useful phrase for expressing the idea of anything or everything in Chinese.
[00:23:27] Speaker A: Yeah. So make sure to subscribe and hit the like button. Leave us your comments so we can keep learning together. And as always, if you want to take your Chinese to the next level, please visit our Hanyu Chinese School website. And then, yeah, book your first class with us.
[00:23:47] Speaker B: Okay, well, that's all for today. Lesson. Thank you so much for staying here. And well, we'll see you in the next episode. So then.
[00:23:55] Speaker A: Yes, thank you. Thank you.
