********** Key words of the day
Today we’ ll focus on the usages of the Chinese character “的”.
我的，mine. Tom 的, Tom’s. 我的书, my book. 谁的, whose. 请问，这是谁的书？ May I ask whose book is this? All in today’s Chinese Studio.
**********

Yajie: Well, up till now, we have learned a lot of Chinese characters and words. To extend your Chinese vocabulary, let me introduce the mysterious Chinese character “的”.
Cam: Why is the Chinese character “的” mysterious?
Yajie: Because if you add the noun or a pronoun to “的” , then a new phrase would be formed.
Cam: Okay.  Let’s hear some examples then.
Yajie: For instance, 我的, mine.
Cam: Oh, I see. 我, means I. And when there is a “的” after it, the meaning is changed into mine. So “的” signalizes that it belongs to something, right? 
Yajie: Yes. 我的书, my book.
Cam: 我的书(wo de shu).
Yajie: 我的, mine.
Cam: 我的(wo de).
Yajie: 书, s-h-u, the first tone, book.
Cam: 书 (shu).
Yajie: 我的书, my book.
Cam: 我的书(wǒ de shū).
Yajie: Right. Do you still remember the Chinese word for teacher?
Cam: Yes. It’s 老师(lǎoshī).
Yajie: 老师(lǎoshī). So how would you say a teacher’s?
Cam: 老师的。 (lǎoshī de).
Yajie: Great! 老师的。Teacher’s. Then how about “this is my teacher’s”?
Cam: I think it’s 这是我老师的。 (zhe shi wo laoshi de) 这 means this, and 是means is, 老师的, teacher’s.

Conversations (1)

Cam: Yajie, how do I say “whose is this” in Chinese?
Yajie: “这是谁的”?
Cam: 这是谁的 (zhè shì shuí de)? Whose is this?
Yajie: 谁, s-h-u-i, the second tone.
Cam: 谁 (shuí). But I also heard some Chinese people say “谁(shéi)”.
Yajie: In oral Chinese, people prefer to say谁(shéi), which seems to be easier to pronounce than “谁 (shuí)”.
Cam: Ok. I see.  And 谁的(shei de) means whose.
Yajie: “这是谁的” (zhe shi shei de)? Whose is this?
Cam: “这是谁的” (zhe shi shei de)?

Conversations (2)

Yajie: Well,  let’s say you are looking at a book, you may ask in this way 请问，这是谁的书？May I ask whose book is this?
Cam: 请问，这是谁的书？(qǐngwèn zhè shì shéi de shū).
Yajie: 请问, may I ask.
Cam: 请问 (qǐngwèn).
Yajie: 这, this. 是, is.
Cam: 这是(zhè shì).
Yajie: 谁的 (shéi de), whose.
Cam: 谁的 (shéi de).
Yajie: 书 (shu), book.
Cam: 书 (shū).
Yajie: 请问，这是谁的书？ May I ask whose book is this?
Cam: 请问，这是谁的书？(qǐngwèn zhè shì shéi de shū).

Conversations (3)
 
**********Key Words Reminder
Today we focused on the usages of the Chinese character “的”.
我的，mine. Tom 的, Tom’s. 我的书, my book. 谁的, whose. 请问，这是谁的书？ May I ask whose book is this?
***********

Yajie: Well, that wraps up this edition of Chinese Studio. Here is the question of the day: How do you say “Whose book is this” in Chinese?
Cam: Send us your answers, along with any questions or comments to Chinese@crifm.com.  That’s Chinese@crifm.com.  Or you can visit us on our website at en.chinabroadcast.cn. Click learn Chinese. You can enjoy other free Chinese-learning programs.
Yajie: Well class is over. 再见!
Cam: 明天见(mingtian jian)!

(Written by Zhao Pingping)