American financier Jim Rogers is making headlines in China, but(但是) not for(因为) 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(绕口令). His eldest daughter can sing(演唱) in Mandarin, and also fluent(流利的).Rogers has joked(开玩笑) that people are likely to assume(认为) his daughters are Chinese - unless(除非) you saw(看到) them.

词汇 Words:

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

重点词汇 Key word:

能

    <名词 n.> ability; skill; capability
    E.g. Méiyǒu rén huáiyí nǐ de nénglì。
    没有人怀疑你的能力。
    No one doubts your competence.

    <名词 n.> energy
    E.g. Háiyǒu xǔduō néngyuán shàngwèi kāifā。
    还?#34892;?#22810;能源尚未开发。
    There are still many energy resources in store.

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

    <动词 v.> [expressing possibility] can
    E.g. Wǒ xiāngxìn néng zhǎodào yī zhǒng jiějué bànfǎ。
    我相信能找到一种解决办法。
    I am confident that a solution can be found.

    <动词 v.> [expressing permission] can
    E.g. Zhèlǐ néng chōuyān ma?
    这里能抽烟吗?
    Can I smoke here?

    <动词 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?
    你能帮我个忙吗?
    Could you do me a favour?