Lesson Twelve: Where Are you From? (Part Two)

On the last lesson we left in the middle of Jenny and Bob's enthralling conversation.
But do not fear because today we are heading back to see how it plays out further. Well it probably won't be that exciting but I am sure you will get a good learning experience out of it.

Jenny: 我從英國的倫敦來，你呢? Wo3 Cong2 Ying1 Guo2 De5 Lun2 Dun1 Lai2, Ni3 Ne5?
Bob: 我從美國的芝加哥來。Wo3 Mei3 Guo2 De5 Zhi1 Jia1 Ge1 Lai2.


So we left after finding out that 我從英國 means I'm from England.
Picking up where left off we are at the character 的 ( De5 ) ( which is a descriptive particle ) 的 meaning is close or to similar to adding " 's " or adding the word " of " between the words. However, the actual Chinese usage will differ from what you think it should be in English, you must start thinking about sentences in Chinese.


Now 倫敦 ( Lun2 Dun1 ) ( which means London ) you can now understand why 的 separates 英國 and 倫敦, as it is describing that London is in England.
It is the same principle that English applies when saying the sentence " I am from London, England.
Don't worry you will get the hang of how to use 的 with practice.


Well that is it for this lesson stay tuned for further events and happenings in the next exciting lesson Zhongwen Study 中文學習。