Lesson #1 - September 10, 2011 - Pinyin: Pinyin is the name for the system used to transliterate Chinese words into the Roman alphabet. Pinyin is used to make learning Chinese easier. The 4 tones: ā á ǎ à / ē é ě è / ī í ǐ ì / ō ó ǒ ò / ū ú ǔ ù - Simple phrases: -- Hello, Ní hǎo, -- My name is John. Wǒ de míngzì shì John. I am called John Wǒ jiào John. I amJohn. Wǒ shì John. -- I am _Chinese. Wǒ shì zhōngguó rén. Wǒ shì měiguó rén(American). Wǒ shì ruìdiǎn rén(Swedish). Wǒ shì gēlúnbǐyǎ rén(Colombian). -- I am an engineer. Wǒ shì gōngchéngshī. Wǒ shì Kuài jì shī (accountant). Wǒ shì Shè jì shī (designer). Wǒ shì Lǎo shī (teacher). -- Sorry / No problem Duì bù qǐ / Méi guān xi -- Thank you Xiè xie -- See you later/Bye Zài jiàn