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M. Chu, 1

Dshk Guw

Lesson Ten: Shopping

In this lesson, we learn about shopping and gift giving. We familiarize ourselves with the type of stores and merchandizes and with the matter of price mark down and bargin. We will discuss different types of shopping, buying things for daily use or for special occasions, for our own use or as presents.

Zhnbi: Getting Ready 1. What are the things you most often buy and where do you go to buy them?

2. What are the most common gifts you give and/or receive?

3. What do you think are the most interesting and most challenging things about shopping?

Xd mbio: Learning objectives After participation in the activities of this lesson, the learner should be able to

Accurately identify the common types of commodity goods and the types of stores to find them

Discuss events concerning buying, selling, and gift giving

Inquire about local shopping malls and stores, and respond to such inquiries

Properly, fluently, and accurately understand, speak, and write through recall the following characters and

grammatical structures:

Hnz: Characters ! +

! +

! +

! +

! +

! +

Wnf: Grammar " The functions of

" The functions of

# (The + items are simplified characters and variants)

Jxng: Sentence Patterns

[30a] A B something ([for B] to do this). (to give B)

[30b] A does x B (to do this [to x]). (for B)

[30c] A B to do this. (for [the benefit of] B)

[31a] A [] B this gift. (to give B)

[31b] A this gift B.

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M. Chu, 2

. Kchng zhngdin: Main Text

I. Shngpn: Merchandise

Tng-Shu: Listening & Speaking

1. Midngxi: Buying things; shopping

If you are on your way to go shopping, someone who does not know your plan may ask you: Q1:

N q nr (Where are you going?)

Q2:

N q zu shnme? (What are you going there for?)

Your answer to either of these questions may be: A:

W q mi dngxi. (Ill go buy something.)

(Im going shopping.)

Note: We learned that we should answer questions specifically according to what was asked. However, we are gradually learning that grasping the essense of a question could help us provide a more specific answer. In this case, the general purpose of going shopping is more specific than the places one goes, thus the answer. And, this is quite similar to the situation in English.

If you are on your way to go shopping, and someone has guessed that is probably what you are doing, s/he still can ask you a question to confirm his/her guess as a way of greeting by showing their interest in knowing about your activities.

Q:

Q mi dngx ma Going shopping, right?

A1:

Shde, q mi dngxi.

Yes, going shopping.

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A2:

Shde, q mi dinr dngxi. Yes, going to buy a little something.

[*As we know, diminishing the significance of the things you do is one way to show politeness.]

A3: Sh a! Q mi jbn sh h ydinr shugu. Exactly! Going to buy a few books and some fruit.

[*To provide the inquirer with some details of your activity is a way to show your sincerety.]

din Dot; point; a little

ydinr A little; a bit

To go shopping is to go look for something one plans to buy. Most of the things we use, such as school supplies, food and clothes, we probably acquire them by buying. Grammatically, a Chinese verb-of-action is generally specified by an object. We have learned that the Chinese equivalent for the English expression to write may be , or something rather than just . Similarly, the Chinese equivalent for to drink may be , or something rather than just . Therefore, to buy or to shopping may be referring to:

mi sh buy books

mi shuj buy a cellphone

Yes, if you have something specific in mind, you may name that. When the shopping list is too teditious or inconvenient to name, people would say: mi dngxi buy things; shopping

Therefore, this is like what we say, go shopping in English. There is also a general term to use for grocery shopping: mi ci buy vegetables; shop for groceries

It is interesting to note that is not a Chinese expression. Grocery shopping may include buying riceuncooked rice mi m buy (uncooked) rice

To buy ready-to-eat food, there are three general ways to do (and say): q fngun chfn go to a restaurant to eat

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M. Chu, 4

jio wimi call for delivery; order take-out; order to-go; get carry-out

mi shsh buy prepared food; buy cooked food The words for food include these: shw food; edibles

shpn food; foodstuff

ch de dngxi food; things to eat

It is also interesting to note that while mi kfi (to buy coffee) is a common enough, most native speakers of Chinese are not used to the expression mi ch (to buy tea). People may either mi chy (buy tea leaves) to brew their own tea, q chgun hch (go to a tea house to drink tea) or q kfigun hch (go to a coffee shop to drink tea). And, the expression q kfigun mi ybi ch (to purchase a cup of tea at a coffee shop) is generally acceptable. When it comes to food and drink, the Chinese conventions hold a strong position in judging linguistic appropriateness.

2. shngpn: merchandise We may shop for school supplies and stationaries such as , etc. The generic term for them is: wnj stationary

There are many other things we also buy from time to time, such as: wnj toy

fzhung clothing; clothes

yf clothes

ryngpn articles for daily use; common household goods; daily supplies

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M. Chu, 5

tnggu sweets; candy

hur flower

N q mi shnme dngxi? What are you going to buy?

(1)

W q mi lingjin yf.

Im going to buy a couple of clothes. [Note: is a measure word for clothes in general and for upper-body clothes particularly.]

(2)

W q mi tnggu h hur.

Im going to buy some sweets and flower.

(3) W q mi yxi ryngpn.

I went/will go to buy some household daily supplies.

yxi some; a few; a little

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M. Chu, 6

D-Xi: Reading and Writing Note: jigwn: Oracal-bone Script, 17th to 11th Centuries BCE

jnwn: Bronze-carving Script, 11th to 3rd Century BCE dzhun: Majuscule Seal script, 8th-3rd Century BCE xiozhun: Refined Seal Script, 3rd Century BCE to 1st Century CE

1.

1) bi: cowry; shell; (family name) () () () () http://www.scandfish.com/gfx/clpost_seashells_large.jpg

The ancient forms are clearly pictures of cowries. Cowries were used in ancient China as currency at least during the Shang Dynasty (16th-11th Century BCE), which coincides with the period when was used. This may have been used all the way until the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BCE), especially if including imitation cowry-shaped coins with man-made materials. Therefore, the character also contributes the meaning of value, precious, or treasure either in a word-combination such as (treasure, darling) or as a component of a character such as (*Remember this one?), (wealth) and many other ones we are learning in this lesson. The above is an image of cowry that has some resemblance to the picture. Have you heard the name of the MIT educated Chinese-American architect, I. M. Pei (1917-)? He designed, among other architectural landmarks, the Kennedy Library, National Gallery East Building, Le Grand Louvre Pyramid, and the Bank of China buildings. His name in Chinese is and it is pronounced, starting with the family name, as Bi Ymng. bigu bagel [*This is a sound transcription of

the English word]

2) bo: treasure

What was your first impression of the characterthe traditional and simplified forms?

Do you recall the meaning of the characters top component

The character consists of four components. We are familiar with the characters top component , as seen in , , , etc., right? We have just learned the character , which is the bottom component of , and this additional component below:

fu: jar; container

() () () () These forms picture a jar with a lid. The image on the right, found on www.findart.com.cn, is a bronze , claimed to be from Pre-Qin period (before 3rd Century BCE).

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Now, lets get back to the character .

() () () () In the form, we see (cowry/money) and (jade) under a roof. In the form, we see not only and but also two additional items, one of which is , and the other is a more illustrative drawing of a jar or some other type of container. Here we have it, a collection of treasures under the roof (or, in the house). By the time of the after the Qin (221-207 BCE) unification of written script, the structure of the strokes in the character became very similar to its current appearance where the components of the character are still clearly identifiable.

bobao baby

bobi treasured object; baby; darling

boy precious jade

bbo fn eight treasures steamed rice pudding

bo m the Chinese word for BMW car [literally: treasure horse]

wnfng sbo the Four Treasures of a Scholars Studio; stationary

The Four Treasures of a Scholars Studio, which is also commonly used now to refer to the supplies for calligraphy writing, are (b m zh yn: writing brush, ink stick, paper, and ink-stone)

3) mi: buy

()

()

()

()

The character is generally understood as a (huy) character, or associative compounds. The ancient graphs combine two components, (shellcurrency) and (net; basket). It is understandable that the meaning of the charcter is likely related to a commercial activity involving currency. However, the logic behind the creation of the new meaning buy by combining the two components is not quite clear. We may consider the possiblity that the two components are those one need to carry when going to buy something: the money to be used to pay for the purchase and the container to be used to carry what has been purchased. That takes us to meet a very efficient conventional Chinese carrier, the wngdi, which is still used by many in China. Another thing to keep in mind is when you go to a supermarket or a store in China, you may be asked to pay for the container. So carrying an easily crushable wngdi in your handbag or pocket may not be a bad idea. It saves you a few pennies and, more importantly, it contributes to save our environment.

4) mi: sell

()

()

()

The ancient graphs do not include those from the earliest stage, the . In the script, the graphs include the component plus what seems to be a big-eyed person with a hat. It does not seem to be directly related to the graphs for prior to the script. The script of include a component

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(out), which is written as in the current traditional, standard form. Again, we can understand that the meaning of the character is related to money and trade but not clear about the logic of how the meaning was derived through the joining together of the components.

Buying and selling using money tokens might mark an advanced commercial behavior developed from earlier trading practices of (ywyw: barter system; exchange of goods; exchange with what you have extra for what you need or want to have). is to acquire goods with money token, represented here by ancient currency of cowry or shells. is to receive money and let go of goods.

mi dngxi shopping; buy things

mi-mi buying and selling; business transaction

zu mimi do business

mifng buyer

mifng seller

W xing mi wnfng sbo, qngwn nr yu? I would like to buy some wenfang sibao, could you tell me if you have them?

Dubuq, wmen bmi wnfng sbo. My apologies, we do not sell wenfang sibao.

2.

5) y: clothes

The picture on the left depicts a pre-modern casual top. This drawing cooresponds to the ancient graphs of the character for clothes.

() () () () The character is also used as a component in many clothes-related characters. It takes different forms in these characters. For example, it may appear as (1) on the left side (e.g. ), in its independent character form; as (2) at the bottom of the character (e.g. ); or as split top and bottom (3) & (e.g.: zhng, gu). In some rare cases, it may appear in somewhat distorted form or appear at the top of a character.

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M. Chu, 9

dy Overcoat

moy Sweater

yji Clothes hanger; clothes rack

6) f: clothes; serve; obey

() () () () The graph indicates a hand over a kneeing person. This illustrates the basic meaning of the character, subdue. In later graphs, a boat or an eye (third above) component was added, may be indicating some kind of forced laborin a boat under surveillance. (fy) still means enlist in the army or undergo forced labor in modern Mandarin. was used to refer to the uniform worn by those who were enlisted to serve in the army or levy labor, before being used for the meaning of uniform or clothes in general. The boat (or eye) component appears as in current standard form.

yf clothing, clothes

Tde yf hndu. T yu dy, yu moy, y yu hndu qtde yf. Her clothes are many. She has overcoats, sweaters, and she has many other clothes.

T tintin chun btngde yf li shngk. Everyday, she wears different clothes to class.

T i mi hngude yf. He loves to buy expensive clothes. [Where did we see the character before? More details on it later in this lesson.]

Note: We have learned the character jin and that it is used in words such as , , and . Now, let us learn another important use of it.

jin Item; (measure word for articles and for

clothes, especially upper-body clothes)

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Zh lingjin dngxi fng zi zhr, ky ma? Is it okay to put these couple of things here?

T zutin mi de nijin dy tidle. The coat that he bought yesterday was too big.

7) zhung: outfit; pack; install; pretend

() is a meaning-phonetic combination, with as its meaning component and (pronounced zhung in modern Mandarin) as the phonetic component.

fzhung dress; clothing

nnzhung mens clothes

nzhung womens clothes

Nnzhung h nzhung btng. Drn fzhung h rtng fzhung y btng. Mens clothes and womens clothes are differnt. Adult clothes and children clothes are also different.

8) hu: flower; colorful; (family name)

The ancient graphs illustrate a flowering plant. These images are most likely the ancestors of both and (flower; splendar; maganificent) in current standard form. Based on the shape of the ancient graphs, it is reasonable to assume that was the direct decendent and a later development. The process could be one of character simplification not dissimilar to the modern era (xnzo xngshngz) method: forming a new semantic-phonetic character, having one component representing the semantic category (which was , the earlier form of grass/plant, here) and another component representing the sound value (which was in this case) of the new character. The newer form seemed to have been granted for the more common uses while the older form continue to be used for more formal ones. hum flowers and trees

hushng peanut

huqin spend money

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T xng Hu, jio Hu Mln. (Her family name is Hua and her name is Hua Mulan.

3.

9) wn: play; have fun; do something for amusement

()

Apparently the character is a later development as no ancient graph before Shu Wn Ji Z (Explaining and Analyzing Characters, of 100 or 121 CE) was found. The character consists of two components: (which is written as as a left-side component) and . As we have learned, the ancient graphs of picture a person, with a special focus on the headtop. The component (pronounced yun in modern Mandarin) is most likely used to approximate the characters pronunciation, but may contribute to its meaning as well. The meaning play may have been expressed through the image of a person toying/appreciating a piece of jade. iwn love to play

chh-wnl idle away one's time in pleasure-seeking

hown fun; interesting

dinwn video game

Shngge Xngqli yu hndu tngxu li wji wn. Last Saturday, many classmates came to my home to play.

Zhr miyu hndu hown de dfng. There are not many fun places here.

Wmen q xushng zhngxn de yuxsh d dinwn ba. Lets go to the gameroom at the Student Center to play some video games.

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M. Chu, 12

10) j: tool; device; instrument

()

()

()

All ancient graphs picture two hands holding something, which is understood by some as a food container or a utensil and by others as shell or money. In either case, this could help explain the fact that the character still carries the meaning of prepare or provide. wnj stationary

gngj tool; instrument

chj tea set; tea service

wnj toy

N sh yto hnhode chj. W hn xing mi, ksh di hu hndu qin. That was a very nice set of tea service. I would very much like to buy it, but it cost lots of money.) N n'r de wnj tidule. Bi zi mi le. Your daughter has too many toys. Dont buy any more.

11) pn: product; goods; grade (of product)

()

()

()

()

Ancient graphs picture three piled-up objects. Three, as it includes both an odd number, one, and an even number, two, is traditionally considered as the meaningful indication of multiplicity. Later the meaning was extended to that of comparing among a group of things or people and grading them. The current uses of the character also illustrate its sense of collectivity. zupn works (of literature or art)

shpn foodstuff; food

yngpn articles for use

ryngpn household supplies

nipn dairy products

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T sh bnd yumngde zuji, zupn hndu. She is a famous author in this area, with numerous works.

Zutin t mile hndu ryngpn. Jntin t yu q nl mile shpn. Yesterday he bought a good amount of household supplies. Today, he went again and bought some food.

W bch nipn, qtde shpn du miyu wnt. I do not eat dairy products but have no problems with any other food.

12) xng: go; ok hng: row; column; firm

() () () () The ancient scripts illustrate similar images, which are generally interpreted as footsteps or crossroad. xngrn pedestrian

xngxng planet

bxng wont do; wont work; not allowed

shnghng commercial firm; trading company; store

ynhng bank

W xin q ynhng, zi q mi dngxi. Ill first go to the bank, and ten to go buy something. Xuxio witou yu jji shnghng h ynhng. Outside of the school, there are a few stores and banks.

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Linx: Exercises

1. Bhu jigu: Character Strokes and Structures

(1) Traditional Characters: Trace and write to become familiar with the structure of characters

bi: cowry; shell bo: treasure mi: buy mi: sell

: bagel : treasure : buy books : buying & selling bu

y: clothes f: serve, clothes zhung: dress, dress up hu: flower

: overcoat : clothing, clothes : outfit : flowers & trees

wn: play j: tool; instrument pn: product; goods; grade

hng: firm : love to play : toy : foodstuff : bank

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1. Bhu jigu: Character Strokes and Structures

(2) Simplified Characters: Trace and write to become familiar with the structure of characters

bi: cowry; shell bo: treasure mi: buy mi: sell : bagel : treasure : buy books : buying & selling bu

y: clothes f: serve, clothes zhung: dress, dress up hu: flower

: overcoat : clothing, clothes : outfit : flowers & trees

wn: play j: tool; instrument pn: product; goods; grade

hng: firm : love to play : toy : foodstuff : bank

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Notes on Character Simplification:

1. Adopting the method of (cosh kihu): Using the short-hand cursive style ( cosh) of a traditional full-form character or character component but linearizes the connected or tangled strokes into independent standard style ( kish) stroke lines.

is simplified to is simplified to

2. Adopting the method of (jb shnch): Deleting certain component of the traditional character.

is simplified to

3. Adopting the method of (fho dit): Replacing complex components of a traditional character with a simpler existing characters or components, or with particularly created symbols.

is simplified to is simplified to

, the simplified character for , combines a particular form with (which is the simplified character for , meaning head). , the simplified character for , adds one additional component over . The simplified forms do not have any semantic relationship with the traditional ones and no meaningful association is found between the components of the simplified forms. The simplification process seems to be using reduced strokes to represent the general

4. (yng ytz) method was adopted in the simplification process of the following characters.

has a variant form in the simplified character system

This method is basically to use a variant way of writing a character in fewer strokes. Sometimes, the variant does not have reduced number of strokes but it is just in a slightly different style. The stroke reduction, when it happens, may have been resulted from connecting adjacent strokes or eliminating some. This change is slight and casual and sometimes not considered as part of the simplification scheme. At times, the changes may have happened in the traditional character system instead of the simplified character system. The component in the character has been written for hundreds of years like this and remains to be so in the simplified character system. The difference between the forms in the two systems was actually caused by a recent standardization in the traditional character systemby changing the third stroke of the component from left slanting ( pi) to horizontal ( hng). Additionally, the two horizontal lines of the top grass component in the traditional character are connected into one horizontal line.

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2. C y duyng: Matching words with meaning

(1) Write the Chinese equivalent of the following in characters

buying and selling: __________________ shopping _______________ shopping for grocery: __________________ order take out (food): _______________ treasure: ________________ baby: _____________ the Four Treasures ________________ BMW: _______________

overcoat: ________________ sweater: _________________

dress; clothing: ________________ womens clothes: _________________

mens clothes: ________________ flowers and trees: _________________

peanuts: ________________ to spend money: _________________

tool: ________________ toy: _________________

love to play: ________________ video game: _________________

tea set: ________________ household supplies: _________________

dairy product: ________________ foodstuff: _________________

pedestrian: ________________ planet: _________________

bank: ________________ commercial firm; store: _______________

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3. Hud wnt: Answer Questions Write your answers and translate them into English.

(1)

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(2)

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(3)

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(4)

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(5)

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(6)

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(7)

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(8)

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