133: Talking About What Do on a Birthday in Mandarin Chinese

By Learnmandarinnow

It goes without saying that everyone in the world has a birthday and different people have different ways to mark this milestone. Some love to keep the event low-key. whilst others love to celebrate in a big way! Whichever way you choose, it’s helpful to know how to talk about the event…

In this Podcast, you will learn:

(i) How to discuss planning a birthday celebration

(ii) To make some suggestions about what to do for a special event

Dialogue: Two colleagues are planning a celebration for another colleague:

在商店里

(zài shāng diàn lǐ) (at the shop)

A:哎你说,咱们今年怎么给小丽过生日啊?

Āi nǐ shuō, zán men jīn nián zěn me gěi xiǎo lì guò shēng rì a?

Hey, how are we going to celebrate Xiaoli’s birthday this year?

B:去KTV吧,唱个通宵!

Qù KTV ba, chàng ge tōng xiāo!

Go to KTV, sing all night long!

A:唉呀,每次都是KTV,你不腻啊?

Āi ya, měi cì dōu shì KTV, nǐ bù nì a? KTV every time… aren’t you tired of it?

B:那你说呢? Nà nǐ shuō ne? What do you think?

A:现在天气这么好,咱们别在室内了。去郊外办个烧烤生日派对怎么样?

Xiàn zài tiān qì zhè me hǎo, zán men bié zài shì nèi le. Qù jiāo wài bàn ge shāo kǎo shēng rì pài duì zěn me yàng?

The weather is so nice recently, we should not stay indoors. How about holding a barbecue birthday party in the countryside?

B:嗯,这主意不错!就这样定了!

Ēn, zhè zhǔ yì bù cuò! Jiù zhè yàng dìng le!

A great idea! Let’s do it!

Chinese words and phrases mentioned in this Podcast:

你说:what’s your opinion

过生日:celebrate the birthday for someone

今年:this year

KTV:karaoke bar

通宵:all night long

每次:every time

腻:be tired of

看腻了:have seen (or done) so many times and get tired of it

天气:weather

现在:recently

咱们:we

室内:indoor

办:hold/organise

郊外:suburb

烧烤:barbecue

生日派对:birthday party

主意:idea

订了:finalised/a deal

Facebook Planning a birthday surprise and working out what’s the best thing to do are talked about in Learn Mandarin Now Podcast 133. You can learn about new topics every day, if you listen to our Podcasts five days a week, making studying Mandarin Chinese so much enjoyable as you are talking about things you are really interested in!

Mandarin Chinese learning resources we recommend:

Using Italki, a unique system of learning Mandarin Chinese where you interact with real teachers, is widely recognised as an effective way to learn a new language! You’ll make more progress and learn how native Chinese speakers really speak. Plus, Italki is more affordable than offline tutors, offline schools and software, and is convenient to use at your own pace and place!

Keats Chinese School, which was founded in 2004, is one of the top Mandarin Chinese language schools in China, offering both one-on-one immersion Mandarin courses and small group Chinese classes. Located in Kunming, Keats develops personalised exercises and materials for students to meet their learning goals and requirements and can arrange a student visa for its 16 week course.