1. Morphology Morphology strictly bound to a set number of syllables
A word may consist of one morpheme, most words consist of two morphemes
Mandarin is a multisyllabic language

2. Each single-syllable morpheme is represented by a single character, called zì (字)
Multisyllabic words consist of more than one zì and are known as cì (词/詞)
For traditional reasons, many Chinese speakers think of all words as being zì

3. “Jī 激 and guāng 光, these two zì 字, what do they mean?”
Example:
Laser (English) = jīguāng 激光 (Mandarin)
Two morphemes: jī and guāng
(literally meaning: „stimulated light“)
“Laser, this word, what does it mean?” (English) translates:
Jīguāng, zhè liǎng ge zì shì shénme yìsi? (Mandarin)
the sentence literally translates:
“Jī 激 and guāng 光, these two zì 字, what do they mean?”

4. Due to the loss of sound distinctions, Modern Chinese varieties showed an increasing number of homonyms
Many morphemes have associated meaning, they are bound morphemes
Example: jì cannot stand alone, since a number of morphemes pronounce the same way in Mandarin

5. Traditional Characters Simplified Characters Meaning jīguāng laser
Pinyin
Traditional Characters
Simplified Characters
Meaning
jīguāng 激光
laser
(“stimulated light”)
jīqǐ 激起
to arouse (“stimulated rise”)
jīdàn 雞蛋 鸡蛋
chicken egg
gōngjī 公雞 公鸡
rooster
(“male chicken”)
fēijī 飛機 飞机
aeroplane
(“flying machine”)
jīqiāng 機槍 机枪
machine gun

6. - Mandarin speakers put characters in a specific context as part of their natural conversation
Example:
名字叫嘉英，嘉陵江的嘉，英國的英
Míngzi jiào Jiāyīng, Jiālíngjiāng de jiā, Yīngguó de yīng
this introductory sentence translates:
“My name is Jiāyīng, the ‘Jia’ of ‘Jialing River’ and the ‘Ying’ in ‘Yingguo’”
(Yingguo = “England” in Mandarin)

7. Syntax Verbs aren´t conjugated
Nouns and adverbs are not changed for time or person
Simple Sentences: S-V-O pattern
Wŏ jiào Àiměi. Wŏ shì Zhōngguórén.
I'm called Amy. I am Chinese. (lit. “a Chinese person”)
Use of particles

8. Negation Particle „bù“ negates „shì” (to be)
Wŏ bú shì Měiguórén.
I am not American.
Particle „méi“ negates „yŏu“ (to have)
Wŏ méi yŏu sān jié kè.
I don´t have three classes.

9. Questions
Question words change statements into questions, word order remains
Shéi shì Měiguórén?
Who is American?
The modal particle „ma“ is used at the end of a sentence to turn a statement into a question
Tā shì Jīnní. Tā shì Jīnní ma?
She is Ginny. Is she Ginny?
The particle „ne“ is used when the context is already known
Wŏ jiào Dōngní, nĭ ne?
I'm called Tony. How about you?

10. Time Time is also indicated by using particles
„le“ is used to indicate a completed action (perfect aspect)
Tā zŏu le.
He has gone.
„zhe“ added to a character indicates a continuous action
Tā shuìzhe jiào shí yŏurén qiāomén
While he was sleeping, someone knocked on the door.
„liăo“ (homograph of „le“) is used to indicate the capability to do s.th.
„zháo“ (homograph of „zhe“) is used to indicate accomplishment

11. Possession The particle „de“ is used to indicate possession
Tā de míngzi shì Jīnní.
Her name is Ginny.
(lit. „She her name is Ginny“)

12. Measure Words
most specified or numbered nouns must be preceded by measure words which are specific to the type of object
„ge“ - genarel measure word
„tóu“ - for big animals exept horses
„zhī“ - for smaller animals exept snakes and fish
„liàng“ - for vehicles
„jiàn“ - for clothing and furniture
„zhāng“ - for flat things (paper, tables) …
[number] [measure word] [noun]
yí liàng chē = one car
èr zhī gŏu = two dogs

13. If you want to know more