American financier Jim Rogers is making headlines in China, but(但是) not for(因為) his business prowess. Rogers' daughters are blowing up the internet with their ability(能力) to speak Mandarin.The younger of Rogers' daughters is able to get through Chinese tongue twisters(繞口令). His eldest daughter can sing(演唱) in Mandarin, and also fluent(流利的).Rogers has joked(開玩笑) that people are likely to assume(認為) his daughters are Chinese - unless(除非) you saw(看到) them.

詞匯 Words:

[néng lì] 能力 ability
[dàn shì] 但是 but
[yīn wéi] 因為 for
[chú fēi] 除非 unless
[yǎn chàng] 演唱 sing
[kāi wán xiào] 開玩笑 joke
[rèn wéi] 認為 assume
[kàn dào] 看到 see

重點詞匯 Key word:

能

    <名詞 n.> ability; skill; capability
    E.g. Méiyǒu rén huáiyí nǐ de nénglì。
    沒有人懷疑你的能力。
    No one doubts your competence.

    <名詞 n.> energy
    E.g. Háiyǒu xǔduō néngyuán shàngwèi kāifā。
    還有許多能源尚未開發。
    There are still many energy resources in store.

    <動詞 v.> can; have the ability/skill (to do sth)
    E.g. Qíshí,wǒ yě tǐng nénggēshànwǔ de。
    其實,我也挺能歌善舞的。
    In fact, I'm also good at singing and dancing.

    <動詞 v.> [expressing possibility] can
    E.g. Wǒ xiāngxìn néng zhǎodào yī zhǒng jiějué bànfǎ。
    我相信能找到一種解決辦法。
    I am confident that a solution can be found.

    <動詞 v.> [expressing permission] can
    E.g. Zhèlǐ néng chōuyān ma?
    這里能抽煙嗎?
    Can I smoke here?

    <動詞 v.> [used in question as a polite way of asking someone to do sth] can/could please
    E.g. Nǐ néng bāng wǒ ge máng ma?
    你能幫我個忙嗎?
    Could you do me a favour?