This week, we learn how to ask and answer where is someone or something. We also learn just how important the tones in Mandarin are, and how simply changing them can change the meaning of a word!

But don’t worry. We make it easy. If we can do it, so can you.

Don’t forget to pick up your handout! Until next week, zài jiàn!

{Post-publication clarification: A reader made the comment that “where” and “there” are hard to differentiate. Note that when two third-tone characters form a word (like nǐ hǎo or nǎ lǐ), the first character of the word changes to second tone. This makes the expression much easier to say. Watch the end of the video again with this clarification in mind and see if that helps differentiate the pronunciation. Note also that in our home in the north there is a change of sound made to the end of the word, so optionally people say nǎ ér (blended together into one sound). In that case, it’s actually easier to pronounce and differentiate. This is non-standard Mandarin, but IS the Mandarin you would hear spoken if you visited Beijing, for example.}