John:This character is pronounced 『niú.』 (約翰:這個字唸作『ㄋ一ㄡˊ』。)
Terry:And it means...? (泰瑞:意思是......?)
John:『牛』 is the character for 『cow.』 (約翰:『牛』這個字是指『牛』。)
Terry:How do you get cow out of that? (泰瑞:你們怎麼從這個字得出牛(的意思)?)
John:Well, think about it as a picture. See how this part of the character looks like a cow's head? (約翰:ㄜ,把它想成一幅畫。看字的這個部分像不像一隻牛的頭?)
Terry:Yeah, I see what you mean. Are all characters like that? (泰瑞:喔,我懂你的意思了。所有的字都像這樣嗎?)
John:No. (Smiling.) Unfortunately, it's not that easy. (約翰:不是。(微笑)可惜,沒有這麼簡單。)
Terry:So they're not all pictures? (泰瑞:所以不全都是圖畫囉?)
John:Some characters started as pictures, while others represent a sound or are metaphors. There are six different types in all. (約翰:有一些字是從圖畫開始的,然而其他的代表聲音或是象徵。 總共有六種不同的類型。)
Terry:So how do you tell the difference? (泰瑞:那你們怎麼區分的?)
John:Lots of study! (約翰:一堆學問!)
必通句型
.This character has (number) strokes. 這個字唸作......。 .This character means.... 這個字是......的意思。 .See how this part of (the character) looks like...? 看(字)的這部分像不像......?