There are apparently 7 dialects of Chinese - which is not much for an area so vast. Just think of all the different languages spoken in Europe. (Here I am recalling Jared Diamond’s analysis in Guns, Germs, and Steel, which I read about 10 years ago- so it may not be entirely accurate).

In Hong Kong the local dialect is Cantonese. Cantonese has 7 tones. So 7 words that sound the same phonetically, but have different tones, mean different things. Mandarin, the national dialect, and dialect of crouching tiger hidden dragon, has only 4 tones.

As some of you know, I have been taking Mandarin Chinese classes at the ABC Language Exchange in NYC. I highly recommend the school if you are located in NY.

As a result I can now count to 10 however I cannot curse! which is a shame.

Let me share with you some basics:

Wo - means I or me. So “Wo Jiao Meredith” Means my name is Meredith.

If you want to respond to a question or statement with the Chinese equivalent of “yeah yeah” say “dui dui dui, dui la.” Lian says this to his mom on the phone all the time.

Ni Hao means - “How are you?” It is the Chinese Version of “Hello, Ola, Man-eeshma.” But be careful, if you say Niyao - it means “pee pee.”

Hen Hao means - “Very good.” So when someone asks you “How you are doing?” or “Ni Hao?” You can say “Hen Hao”

If you are just “ok” then say “mama huhu.” This also means “horse horse tiger tiger”.

Now you are ready to converse with your local Chinese food establishment, or pick people up at the local chinese mafia run watering hole.