Supplemental Lessons

Professor Hitoshi Kuribayashi of Tohoku University in Japan and Professor U. Hurelbator of Inner Mongolia University in China have graciously given permission to provide their textbook, Elementary Mongolian (モンゴル語入門,フレルバ-トル 栗林均 編,東京外国語大学,アヅアアフリカ 言語文化研究所,1997), on this website. Even though I don’t speak Japanese, I still think this is one of the best Mongolian textbooks I have seen. I’m currently going through the dialogs in the back of the book with my tutor. I’ll try to provide an approximate English translation when I finish a lesson. The textbook and audio are provided for educational purposes only. All copyrights belong to the authors. If you want to use them for any other purposes, you should contact Professors Kuribayashi and Hurelbator directly.

Download textbook (.pdf) Download textbook audio (.zip)

 

Lesson Index:

It has been helpful for me to do listening dictation on these audio recordings. You might find a similar exercise helpful as well. You can download the audio or listen to it online. If you find any mistakes in the translation let me know.

 

Pronunciation

Textbook page xx

–no translation yet–

 

Lesson 1

Textbook pp. 141-143

Lesson 1One
What is this?
It’s a book.
What is this?
This is also a book.
Is that also a book?
Yes. That’s also a book.
Is this a book?
No, this is not a book. It’s a notebook.
What is this?
That’s a pencil.
Is this also a pencil?
No. That’s not a pencil. It’s a pen.
Is this your notebook?
Yes. This is my notebook.
Is this also your notebook?
No. That is not my notebook.

Two
What is this?
This is a picture.
Who is this?
This is Genghis Khan.
Is this also a picture?
No. This is not a picture. It is a photo.
Who is this?
This is Baatar, my friend.
Is this also your friend?
No. This is my younger brother.
Who is this?
This is my father.
Is this your mother?
Yes. This is my mother.

Three
How are you?
Fine. How are you?
How are you?
Fine. How are you?
How is your heath?
Good.
How is everyone?
Fine. How are you, teacher?
Thank you.
You’re welcome.
Well, goodbye.
Bye.

 

Lesson 2

Lesson 2One
Is there a Mongolian book here?
Yes. There is a Mongolian book.
Is there an English book?
No. There isn’t an English book.
What all else is there here?
There are also a notebook and a dictionary.
What is over there?
There are a chair and a table over there.
Are there any Mongolians here?
Yes. There are Mongolians (here).
Are there also British people?
No. There are not.
What other kinds of people are there?
There are also Japanese and Koreans.

Two
Is this dictionary yours?
No, it isn’t mine.
My dictionary is here.
Do you have a pencil?
No. I don’t have a pencil. I have a pen.
Do you have a Mongolian book?
Yes. I have one.
Do you have a bike?
Yes. I have a bike.
Is your bike here?
No. My bike is not here.
Where is your bike?
It’s at home.
Do you also have a car?
No.

Three
Did you have a good trip here?
Yes, I did. How are you?
I’m well.
What’s new?
Not much. I’m a little busy. Are you busy?
I’m also a little busy.
Have a good trip. (go well on the road)
Ok. (Stay well.)
Sleep well.
Ok.
Did you sleep well?
I slept well.
What is your name?
My name is Hurel. What is your name?
I’m Oyon.

 

Lesson 3

Lesson 3One
Baatar.
Yes? What is it?
Is your father here?
Yes.
What is he doing?
He’s drinking alcohol.
What is your mother doing?
She’s making food.
What kind of food is she making?
She is making buus.
What is your older brother doing?
He’s watching TV.
What is he watching?
He’s watching a game.
What is your younger brother doing?
He’s doing homework.

Two
What are you doing now?
I’m reading a book.
What kind of book are you reading?
I’m reading a Mongolian book.
Are you studying Mongolian?
Yes, I’m studying Mongolian.
What other languages are you studying?
I’m also studying English and Chinese.
You aren’t studying Russian?
No. I’m not studying Russian.
Who is studying Russian?
My older brother is studying.

Three
Are you well?
I’m well. Are you well?
Where are you going?
I’m going to work.
Where do you work now?
At the Teachers’ University.
Which department?
Math department.
Are you teaching?
Yes.
Wait. In that case, is Sambuu also there?
No. He is in the Physics Department.
Is he also teaching?
No. He is taking a break. (retired?)

 

Lesson 4

Lesson 4One
What are you doing today?
I’m going to go shopping today.
Are you going alone?
Yes.
What are you going to do?
I’m going to get a few things.
What are you going to get?
I’ll get alcohol and cigarettes.
What else are you going to get?
I’ll also get some milk.
Will you get tea, too?
No. I’m not going to get tea.
Then, when are you going to come back?
I’m come back at 6:00.

Two
Where are you going to go tomorrow?
I’m going to go to school.
I’m also going.
Really? In that case, shall we go together?
When does school get out for the vacation?
It gets out the fifth of next month.
Where are you going during summer break?
I’m going to go to Mongolia.
What are you going to do in Mongolia?
I’m going to study Mongolian.
You’re not going to go to Inner Mongolia?
I want to go.
When are you going?
I’ll go on August 1.
How long will you stay?
One month is good.

Three
Where are you going?
I’m going to the library.
What are you going to do?
I’m going to borrow a book.
What kind of book are you going to borrow?
I’m going to borrow a Mongolian book.
Are you going to go to Mongolia?
Yes.
When are you going to go?
I’ll go next year.
You’re not going to go this year?
I’m not going to go this year.
Why?
No time. Are you going to Mongolia, too?
I’m also going.
When are you going to go?
I’m going tomorrow.
Are you going by yourself?
Yes. I’m going by myself.
What are you going to do?
I’m going to stay in a yurt and also ride a horse.
Mongolia is beautiful!
Yes. Very beautiful.

 

Lesson 5

Lesson 5One
Where did you go yesterday?
I went to the library.
Then what did you do?
I borrowed a book from there.
What kind of book did you borrow?
A book called the story of Genghis Khan.
What is the name of its author?
He is called Baatar.
When was it written?
It was written last year.
Was it written well?
It was written very well.
Did Batu go to the museum yesterday, too?
No. He didn’t go.

Two
Did you go to school yesterday?
I went.
Did you go by bike?
No. I walked.
Why didn’t you go by bike?
My bike disappeared.
What did you do at school?
I played ball.
Did Siqin play, too?
No. She didn’t play.
Did she go to class.
Yes. She went to class.
And so, what time did you return?
I returned at six o’clock in the evening.

Three
Did you drink tea?
No. I haven’t drunk any tea yet.
Did you eat?
No. I haven’t eaten yet either.
Is your father here?
No, he isn’t.
Where did he go?
He went to Hohhot.
When did he go?
He went yesterday.
Will he come back today?
He won’t come today. He will come tomorrow.
Did your mother go?
No. Mother didn’t go. She is at home.

 

Lesson 6

Lesson 6One
Give me that book.
Which book?
That blue book.
This one?
Yes.
OK. Here you go.
Read the first lesson from it.
OK. Got it.
Then read the second lesson, too.
OK.
Now write the first lesson.
How many times should I write it.
Write it two times.
Should I write it in pen?
Don’t write it in pen. Write it with a pencil.
Ok. I’ve got it.

Two
Did you have a good trip here?
Yes, I did. How are you?
Please come inside.
OK.
Please sit down.
OK.
Please drink some tea.
Thank you.
Please eat some cheese and fried bread.
OK.
Don’t be polite! (Help yourself.)
What are you calling polite?!
Please have some alcohol.
OK. OK.

Three
Batu, I have a matter (to discuss) with you.
What is it? Go ahead and say it.
Please wake me up tomorrow.
What are you going to do?
I’m going to go to school.
Did school start?
Yes. It started.
When did it start?
It started last Monday. Call me tomorrow, OK?
OK. Is six o’clock OK?
Please don’t call so early. Please call me at 7:00.
OK. Got it.

 

Lesson 7

Lesson 7One
What time do you get up in the morning?
I get up at 6:00.
Do you exercise every day?
Yes. I must do exercises every morning.
In the morning do you eat, or do you drink tea?
I don’t eat. I drink tea.
What time do you go to your school?
I go at 7:00.
Do you go alone?
No. I go with Dolma.
Now where are you going?
I’m going shopping.
In that case, shall the two of us go together?
OK. Sure.

Two
How are you?
Fine. How are you?
What is your name?
My name is Dorj. What is your name?
My name is Siqin.
Where do you work?
I work at the newspaper office.
Where is your home?
It is on the western edge of the city.
How do you go to work?
I go by bicycle.
How long does it take to get there?
It takes more than half an hour.

Three
Me
Father calls me son.
Older brother calls me younger brother.
It is said, know things from simple (the letter A) to deep.
It is said, learn more knowledge.
Mother calls me son.
Older sister calls me younger brother.
It is said, do good deeds.
It is said, wear a good name.

 

Lesson 8

Lesson 8One
What do you like to eat?
There are a lot of things that I like to eat.
Do you like meat?
I like it.
What kind of meat do you like?
I like lamb.
Don’t you like pork?
I don’t really like pork that much.
Do you like fish?
I like to eat fish.
Do you like alcohol?
I like it. I like it a lot!
Well, in that case, shall the two of us drink a little?
Ok. Sounds good.

Two
Where are you going today?
I’m going to school.
Do you have class?
No. I don’t have class.
Then what are you doing?
I have a matter to see Teacher Ba about.
Do you have to go today?
Yes. I should go today.
What time are you going to go?
I’m going to go at 10:00.
Then what time are you going to come back?
I probably come back about 7:00 in the evening.

Three
Where are you going?
I’m going to a restaurant?
Which restaurant?
That Mongolian restaurant.
Is it far from here?
It isn’t very far. It’s close.
Well, in that case, shall we go together?
Ok. Fine.
Do you like Mongolian food?
I like it.
What do you like to eat?
I like to eat meat the most.
Don’t you like to eat buus?
I don’t like buus that much.

 

Lesson 9

Lesson 9One
So, what would you like to buy?
I’ll get some lamb.
How much do you want?
I’ll get two jin (1 kg).
What else would you like?
I’ll get two fish.
Is there anything else that you want to get?
I’ll get some vegetables.
What kind of vegetables do you want?
I’ll get some potatoes. How much are they per jin?
Five mao. How many jin do you want?
I’ll get 3 jin.  How much money is it in total?
It is 30.5 yuan in total.
Ok, here you go.

Two
Mr. Baatar.
Yes, what is it?
Do you know the newspaper office?
Yes. What about it?
Can you tell me about it?
Sure.
Which building is it in?
It is in building 3 on the 5th floor.
What is the room number?
Room 110.
Where is building 3?
It is over there. Follow me.
Ok. Thank you.

Three
How old are you this year?
I’m 25.
What is your animal year?
I was born in the year of the rat.
Which year were you born?
I was born in ’72.
In which month?
In August.
On August what?
On August 30th.
In that case, we are the same age.
You were also born in ’72?
Yes.

 

Lesson 10

Lesson 10

One
Whose black horse is this?
Mine.
Is that brown horse also yours?
Yes. That’s also mine.
You have two horses?
Yes. I have one black and one brown horse.
Which is the better of your two horses?
The black horse is better than the brown horse.
What is better?
The black horse runs faster than the brown horse.
Do you love the black horse more or do you love the brown horse more?
Of course (it goes without saying that) I love the black horse more.

Two
What do you need?
I want to have a little something to drink.
What do you want to drink?
Do you have tea?
Yes.
OK, then I’ll drink tea.
Do you want to drink milk tea or black tea?
I’ll have milk tea.
Do you want to get it hot or cold?
I’ll have it hot.
OK, here you go. It’s hot. Be careful.
Ahh! This is scalding hot!
Didn’t I say it was hot?
I didn’t think it was this hot.

Three
How are you?
Fine. How are you?
You’re Baatar, aren’t you?
Yes, do you need anything?
Is this your bicycle?
No, this isn’t my bicycle.
Whose bicycle is this? Do you know?
Yes. It’s Odon’s.
So then that’s your bicycle over there, right?
Yes. That’s my bicycle.
Is it OK if I take it for a ride?
That’s fine. Where are you going?
I’m going to go ride it around on the street, OK? (???)
Fine, fine.

 

Lesson 11

–no translation yet–

 

Lesson 12

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Lesson 13

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Lesson 14

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Lesson 15

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Lesson 16

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Lesson 17

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Lesson 18

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Lesson 19

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Lesson 20

–no translation yet–

5 Comments on “Supplemental Lessons

  1. Sirs,

    Thanks for this great, I really enjoy learning it.

    In the other hand, could you pleased attach Mongolian alphabet and syntax of each for more clear understanding, please.
    In fact, I understand the sound and the whole word you posted the meaning in English but I could not separate the shape of the alphabet and the word-order in Mongolian one by one. (Of the whole lessons)

    Accordingly, this will help us the learn to speak, to read and to write with no doubts.

    I keep my eyes to this web to learn by heart, also, hope you continue to update the lessons for us to be fluent of this beautiful language!

    Best Regards,
    Bookwarm

    • Since these are supplemental lessons I haven’t added many supporting materials. Interestingly enough, though, I recently met the authors of this textbook and they graciously gave permission to put the whole textbook online along with recordings. So eventually I hope to do that.

      • Great! That would really help us to speak, read and write all along. Though, Will you continue to post more lessons to practice?

        Very nice website. It’s very useful. Thank you again.

        • I do hope to post more lessons in the future, though currently my time is being taken up with developing the Chimee Mongolian writing app.

  2. I just came across your site today, but it seems to be very useful. I am studying Khalkha Mongolian, but several things here seem very useful even to me. Thanks a lot for putting it all up here!

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