A concise Mandarin Chinese phrase book and guide to Chinese language, Essential Chinese contains basic vocabulary necessary for communicating in Mandarin Chinese. Have you ever considered learning Mandarin Chinese (putonghua), but been put off by the unusual look of the characters? Don't let yourself be scared away! Mandarin Chinese actually has simpler grammar than English and there are no conjugations--meaning anyone can learn a few important phrases in no time. China has 1.3 billion people and due to initiatives to phase out regional dialects in favor of Mandarin Chinese, nearly all of them can communicate in Mandarin. Part of Tuttle Publishing's Essential Phrasebooks Series, Essential Mandarin is a great first introduction and beginner guide to the language of China and Taiwan. Perfect for business people or tourist traveling to China or for students who want to supplement their learning (and get an A in Mandarin class!), this book's easy indexing feature allows it to act as an Chinese phrasebook or as a Mandarin to English Dictionary / English to Mandarin Dictionary. A clever "point to" feature allows you to simply point to a phrase translated in Chinese without the need to say a single word or read a single character. You will soon find yourself turning to Essential Chinese again and again when visiting and working or interacting with Chinese speakers In this book you will find: Over 1500 practical sentences for everyday use. A glossary of over 200 terms and expressions. Terms and phrases covering essential aspects of traveling and living in China. Titles in this bestselling series of phrasebooks include: Essential Japanese, Essential Chinese, Essential Korean, Essential Tagalog, and Essential Arabic.