Category: Teaching &amp; Examination

M: Da jia hao! 现在学汉语。Now learn Hanyu, with Learn Chinese Now! Woshi ML.
S: Woshi Stuart.
M: And Stuart is using my shǒujī to talk with Mary. He has just told her we’ll get to the hotel at sān diǎn zhōng. Three o’clock. San dian zhong. Listen, and see if you can hear what time Mary will come to look for Stuart at the 友谊宾馆.
S: Mary told me:
MY: 我六点钟来找你。好不好? Hǎo, wǒ liù diǎn lái zhǎo nǐ. Hǎo bù hǎo?
S: hǎo. liù diǎn zhōng jiàn. hǎo. liù diǎn zhōng jiàn.
M: What time will Mary look for Stuart at the hotel?
MY: 我六点钟来找你。wǒ liù diǎn lái zhǎo nǐ.
M: Dui le! Yī èr sān sì wǔ5 liù6: liù diǎn, liù diǎn zhōng, 6 o’clock.
MY: Wǒ lái zhǎo nǐ. Hǎo bù hǎo.
M: I’ll come to look for you. Wǒ lái zhǎo nǐ. Hǎo bù hǎo, ‘good not good’, meaning, Ok? Is that alright? Hǎo bù hǎo.
S: hěn hǎo. liù diǎn zhōng jiàn.
M: liù diǎn zhōng jiàn, to ‘see’, like in ‘zài jiàn’. So, ‘see you at six’, liù diǎn zhōng jiàn. Liu dian zhong jian.
M: And now we’ve finally arrived at the Youyi Bin’guan.
S: 好，我们到了。Hǎo, wǒmen dào le.
M: 我们到了友谊宾馆. Women dao le Youyi Bin’guan.
S: And we’ll have to pay the taxi fare. Guess we’ll have to learn a few more numbers. We’ll learn some now, and more in the bar later, when we work out the prices of drinks.
M: I’ll ask the driver how much money it is. 司机，多少钱? Duōshǎo qián.
TD: 七十块。 Qī shí kuai.
S: Duōshǎo. Duōshǎo is ‘how many’, or ‘how much’. Qián QIAN qián, is ‘money’. How much? How much money? Duōshǎo qian? Here they are again
M: 司机，多少钱? Duōshǎo qián.
TD: 七十块。 Qī shí kuài.
S: Now, listen carefully, repeat everything, and guess what 七十 qīshí and qi shi kuai mean. A clue – qī shí kuai is less than 100 元, and a yuán is a Chinese dollar. ML’s counting out the money.
M: shí, èr shi, sān shi, sì shí, wǔ5 shí, liù shí, qī shí. Qī shí kuài. Gěi nǐ qī shí kuài.
TD: Xièxiè. 正好. Zhèng hǎo.
S: So what does qī shí mean? Right, seventy. Literally, ‘seven’ ‘ten’. Manli counted in tens from ten to seventy.
M: shí, èr shi, sān shi, sì shí, wǔ shí, liù shí, qī shí. Qī shí kuài. Gěi nǐ qī shí kuài.
TD: Xièxiè. 正好. Zhèng hǎo.
S: Now for the last few words.
M: Qī shí kuài. Qī shí kuài.
S: Kuài KUAI kuai, here means Chinese dollar, or yuán. ‘Give you seventy yuan’
M: Gěi nǐ qī shí kuài.
TD: Xièxiè. 正好. Zhèng hǎo.
S: zheng ZHENG zhèng, means ‘exact, right, just’. When you pay someone the exact amount of money, they’ll say, Zhèng hǎo, zheng hao.
M: So, after the lesson, why don’t you people at home practice “duo shao qian?’
S: Answer with ten, twenty, etc. kuai, and then say.
M: Zhèng hǎo.
S: Hǎo zhúyi. Good idea. Hao zhuyi.
Zaijian.

Lesson 012 Revision of Going to the Hotel

S: Dàjiā hǎo! Wo shi Stuart. Welcome to Learn Chinese now.
M: 我是ML. 大家好!
S: Pencil and paper ready? Hao! 请，qǐng，please say the Chinese out loud with us. We’ll repeat most things.
M: Now for a quick revision of what we’ve learned this week, plus a little bit more. Agree?
S: Wǒ tóngyì. I agree. Wǒ tóngyì. So where are we going? Wǒmen qù nǎ’ér?
M: 我们去宾馆. 我们去你的宾馆.
S: nahao, women qu wo de binguan. Good! We’ re going to my hotel. Wǒmen qù wǒ de bīnguǎn.
M：去，qù, qù，to go. qù，forth tone. 去，try it. 去，qù.
S: And bīnguǎn，bīnguǎn shì shénme yìsi? What does bīnguǎn mean? Bīnguǎn
shì shénme yìsi?
M：是什么意思？It’s what meaning? Shì shénme yìsi？
S：So bīnguǎn shì shénme yìsi?
M: 宾馆是hotel. Bīnguǎn means hotel.
S: Fàndiàn shì shénme yisi? Fàndiàn.
M：饭店也是hotel, 或restaurant. Fàndiàn also is hotel or restaurant. 饭店也是hotel 或restaurant.
S：Fandian，好，嘿! Time for break.
M: I agree. 我同意.
S：Eh that was a quick break. Let’s continue with the quiz on the contents of the previous couple of lessons.
M: 好主意.Good idea. Hǎo zhǔyi. 现在我们开始.Now we begin. Xiànzài wǒmen kāishǐ. Stuart, 你的行李太多了. Nǐde xíngli tài duō le. 太多了，是什么意思？
S: Tài duō le，shì too much huò too many. Tài duō le.
M: 对了，right! Remember the little le, l,e, le, on the end doesn’t have any real meaning. It’s just colloquial habit. Stuart, 你的行李太重了. Nǐde xíngli tài zhòng le. 太重，是什么意思？
S: Tài zhòng, is too heavy. Tài zhòng.
M: Very good. 非常好. OK, Stuart. 你的行李太沉了. 太沉，是什么意思？
S: Shenme yisi? Shenme yisi? Ah！Tài chén yě shì too heavy. Tài chén is also tài zhòng.
M：对了. 太沉和太重一样。Tài chén hé tài zhòng yíyàng. Are the same. Yíyàng.
S: After revising that, we got ready to leave the jīchǎng. Airport. And we said let’s go out and get a taxi.
M: 我们走吧.我打车.
S: Hǎo，nǐ dǎchē. Wǒ dǎ gè diànhuà. I’ll make a phone call. Wǒ dǎ gè diànhuà.
M：Stuart finished phoning. The xíngli is ready, and chē lái le.The taxi is here. 车来了.
S: Na henhao. Chē lái le. Here’s the driver.
D:你们去哪儿？Nǐmen qù nǎ’er？
M：我们去友谊宾馆.We are going to the Friendship hotel. Wǒmen qù yǒuyì bīngguǎn.
D: 没问题.No problem.
S: Oh maybe we’re finally leaving the jichang.
M：Oh, 我很高兴.I’m very happy. wǒ hěn gāoxìng. 我很高兴.
S: Wǒ yě shì. So am I. Wo ye shi. Wǒ yě hěn gāoxìng.
M：Now we are going to yǒuyì bīngguǎn. .The Friendship Hotel. So see you next lesson. 再见.
S: Zàijiàn!

Lesson 013 Can You Help Me?

大家好！我是S. 欢迎到LCN.
M: dajia hao! Wo shi ML.
S: Pencil and paper ready? Hao! 请，Please, qǐng, please say the Chinese out loud with us.
M: And we’ll be really happy – feichang gaoxing.
S: feichang gaoxing.
M: And finally,车来了, the car (actually it’s a taxi) has come, chē láile. 现在，我们离开机场，now we leave the jichang. Xianzai, women likai jichang.
S: So I’ll get my luggage. 哎呀，我的行李很沉。Whew, my luggage is very heavy! Wo de xingli hen chen. 司机,你能帮我吗? Sīji, nǐ néng bāng wǒ ma?
TD: Mei wenti.
S: Xiexie.
M: Guess what Stuart asked the siji, the driver? Listen.
S: 司机,你能帮我吗? Siji, ni neng bang wo ma?
TD: Mei wenti.
S: Xiexie.
M: Can you guess? Right he asked the driver to help him. Ni neng bang wo ma? Néng NENG NENG néng, means ‘able’ or ‘can’. Bāng BANG bāng, means ‘help’. Ni neng bang wo ma? Can you help me? Ni neng bang wo ma? Ni neng bang wo ma? Stuart could also have asked…
S: 你能帮忙吗？
M: nǐ néng bāngmáng ma? nǐ néng bāngmáng ma? Bangmang BANG MANG bangmang, also means ‘help’. Please help, 请帮忙，qing bangmang.
S: Mei wenti. 让我来. Let me do it. Ràng wǒ lái.
M: Wonderful, let’s put the luggage in and get going. Stuart 和我坐前面。Stuart and I will sit in the front. 我们坐前面. Women zuò qiánmian.
S: Wo tongyi.
(break)
S: Now let’s look at the new words.
S: ML和我坐前面。ML and I will sit in the front. Women zuò qiánmian.
M: zuò qiánmiàn. zuò ZUO ZUO zuò, to ‘sit’, zuò.
S: qiánmian QIAN MIAN qián mian, the ‘front’, qiánmian.
M: Women zuò qiánmian. We’ll sit in the front. Women zuò qiánmian. We can also say, women zuo zai qianmian. The same, yíyàng, yiyang. women zuo zai qianmian.
S: Women zai qianmian. Na henhao!
(break)
M: Wow, we’ve just learnt a lot of Chinese.
S: Try and practice it before the next lesson, when we’ll start with the whole dialogue, our longest yet.
M: It includes, zuo zai qianmian – sit in the front – zuo zai qianmian.
S: And bāngmáng, to help, bangmang.
M: So, 好好学习 – study hard.
S: hǎo hǎo xuéxí.
M: And we’ll see you tomorrow.
S: Zaijian!
M: Zaijian!

Lesson 014 In the Airport, Goodbye.

S: 大家好！我是S.
M: dajia hao! Wo shi ML.
S: Remember, 请，please, qǐng, please say the Chinese out loud with us.
M: And we’ll be feichang gaoxing. Hao, now for last lesson’s dialogue. Try to mimic us. We’ll say most things twice. Ready? The taxi’s here. Now we’ll leave the airport. 车来了, chē láile. 现在，我们离开机场，xianzai, women likai jichang.
S: My luggage is very heavy. 我的行李很沉。Wo de xingli hen chen. Driver, can you help me? 司机,你能帮我吗? Sīji, nǐ néng bāng wǒ ma?
TD: Mei wenti.
S: Xiexie.
M: Stuart and I will sit in the front. Stuart 和我坐前面。我们坐在前面. Women zuò zòi qiánmian.
S: Did you get most of it?
M: Including how to say ‘leave’, as in ‘leave the airport’? Right, it’s líkāi LI KAI likai.
S: Lí Kāi. Good. So it’s break time.
(break)
S: Break over! Now repeat the following with us.
M: Stuart, please open the door. 请开门。Qǐng kāimén.
S: Hao, wo lai kai men. Wo lai kai men.
M: Xiexie. Now we get in the cab. 现在，我们上车, women shàng chē.
S: We’re in. 我们上车了。Women shang che le.
M: Stuart, please close the door. 请关门。Qǐng guān mén.
S: 好，我来关门。Wo lai guan men. The door’s closed, Mén guān le, men guan le, and …..
M: We’ve left the jichang. 我们离开了机场, women líkāi le jīchǎng.
S: At last! I’m so happy. 我非常高兴. wo feichang gaoxing.
M: So am I, wo ye shi, wo ye shi. So am I. So happy, that now we’ll explain the new stuff.
(break)
M: 请开门. qǐng kāi mén. qǐng QING qing, ‘please’. Kāi KAI kāi, to ‘open’.
S: and mén MEN mén, is ‘door’ mén.
M: So, you people at home, try to say ‘please open the door’. … No no, not in Chinese, but in English… dui le, qing kai men, qing kai men.
S: Women shàng chē. chē CHE CHE chē, literally, means ‘vehicle’. Here, shàng chē, means ‘get in the car’.
M: Now say, ‘please get in the car’ in Chinese …… Dui le, qǐng shàng chē, qing shang che.
S: And guān GUAN guān, means ‘shut’, guan. Now say, ‘please shut the door’. …… Right, qing guan men, qing guan men.
M: And remember the little ‘le’ after the verb – it indicates completion. Listen.
S: .wo lai guan men. Let me close the door. Men guan le, the door’s closed. So can you say ‘I’ve closed the door’? Try …… Hen hao! Wo guan le men. Wo guan le men.
S: And I’m so happy! Wo feichang gaoxing. ML, ni ye gaoxing ma?
M: shi de, wo ye hen gaoxing. And all you people listening, nimen gaoxing ma?
S: I can hear them shouting, Shi de, women ye feichang gaoxing.
M: So now we can have a rest. Until the next lesson, zaijian.
S: Zaijian!

Lesson 015 May I Borrow Your Mobile Phone?

S: 大家好，欢迎 to Learn Chinese Now, 现在学汉语. 我是Stuart.
M: And wo shi ML.
S: And we’re in the taxi going to my bin’guan.
M: Which is a good place to learn things like, ‘use your mobile phone’. And to ‘have’, ‘use’ and ‘give’.
S: Hao, xianzai women kaishi!
M: Don’t forget. Repeat everything we say. And always try to guess the meaning of new words, before we explain them.
S: But here’s a little help. 手shou SHOU shǒu, we know is ‘hand’.
M: And ji JI JI jī can mean ‘machine’. Can you guess what a shǒujī is?
S: let’s find out.
M: S wants to make a phone call. 他要打个电话. Ta yao da ge dianhua.
S: ML, 你有手机吗？nǐ yǒu shǒuji ma?
M: 有，我有手机. Yǒu, wǒ yǒu shǒujī. 你要用吗？ni yao yong ma?
S: 是的,我要用你的手机。可以吗？ Wo yao yong ni de xhou ji. Kěyǐ ma.
M: 可以。Keyi. 给你。Gei ni.
S: Xiexie.

Lesson 016 Revision of Leaving the Airport

M: Ni hao! 来学汉语。Come and learn hanyu, with Learn Chinese Now!. Woshi ML.
S: Woshi Stuart. It’s 复习 revision fùxí time. Lots to listen to and repeat. We’re going to move fast. kaishi!
M: The car’s come, 车来了，chē láile.
S：I’ll get my luggage. My luggage is very heavy. 我的行李很沉。Wo de xingli hen chen. Driver, can you help me? 司机,你能帮我吗? Siji, nǐ néng bāng wǒ ma?
TD: Mei wenti.
S: Xiexie.
M: Ni neng bang wo ma? Can you help me? Stuart could also have asked…
S: 你能帮忙吗？
M: Bāngmáng, add the máng MANG. bangmang, also means ‘help’. Please help, 请帮忙，qing bangmang.
M: We will sit in the front. 我们坐前面. Women zuò qiánmian.
S: The front, qiánmiàn. So far, so good!
S: Break over! A quick reminder. ‘Open’ – 开 KAI kai. ‘Shut – 关GUAN guan. Door – 门 MEN mén.
M: Get in the car – 上车 SHANG CHE shàng chē. Now the dialogue.
Please open the door. 请开门。Qǐng kāimén.
S: Ok, I’ll open the door. Hao, wo lai kai men. Wo lai kai men.
M: We get in the car. 我们上车, women shàng chē.
M: Please close the car door. 请关车门。Qǐng guān chē mén.
S: Ok, I’ll close it. 好，我来关。Wo lai guan.
M: The door’s closed,门关了. Remember the little ‘le’ after the verb – it indicates completion. Men guan le.
S: Now we leave the jichang. 现在我们离开机场, xianzai women likai jichang.
S: And we’re in the taxi going to my bin’guan.
M: Now we’ll fùxí revise things like, ‘use your mobile phone – shǒujī. And ‘to have’ – yǒu, yǒu; ‘to use’- yòng, yòng; and ‘give’ – gěi, gěi.
S: Not forgetting, kěyǐ – can do, or Ok. Hao, women kaishi.
M: Stuart wants to make a phone call. 他要打个电话. Ta yao da ge dianhua.
S: ML, do you have a mobile phone? 你有手机吗？nǐ yǒu shǒuji ma?
M: 有，我有手机. Yǒu, wǒ yǒu shǒujī. Want to use it? 你要用吗？ni yao yong ma?
S: 是的,我要用你的手机。可以吗？ Wo yao yong ni de xhou ji. Kěyǐ ma.
M: 可以。Of course. Keyi. 给你。Gei ni.
S: Xiexie.
M: 非常好. Stuart is making a phone call. Stuart 在打电话。Ta zài dǎ diànhuà.
S: Dui, wo zai da dianhua. I’m using ML’s mobile phone. Wo zai yong ML de shouji.
M: So maybe I should keep quiet.
S: Hao zhǔyì. Hao zhuyi!
M: So we’ll see you next time. Zaijian.
S: Zaijian.

Lesson 017 The Line’s Busy.

S: Da jia hao! Come and learn hanyu, with Learn Chinese Now!. Woshi S.
M: Woshi ML. 今天 today jīntiān, we have lots to learn.
S: Yes, we’re going to learn a bit about phoning, and some numbers. Try to mimic everything.
M：Stuart is using my mobile phone. 他在用我的手机。Ta zai yong wo de shouji.
S: 我在打电话。Wo zai da dianhua.
S: Busy! 占线，zhàn xiàn. I’ll try again. 我再打一遍。Wǒ zài dǎ yī biàn.电话号码是，dianhua hàomǎ shi 0 123 , líng yī èr sān.
S: 还是占线。Hái shì zhàn xiàn. 我再打一遍。Wo zai da yi bian. Ling yi er san. Ling yi er san.
VOICE – 喂? wéi.
S: 你好。玛丽在吗? Mǎlì zài ma?
VOICE: 打错了。 Dǎ cuò le.
M: Poor Stuart. 占线，然后，打错了。First it’s busy, then, wrong number. Zhànxiàn, ránhòu, dǎ cuò le!
S: Oh dear. Let’s go over the new words, then I’ll try again.
M: First, we had, 占线，ZHAN XIAN, zhan xian. Literally meaning, ‘occupy line’. So, zhànxiàn, line’s busy. Hái shì zhàn xiàn. It’s still busy. Hái shì zhàn xiàn.
S: Then we heard a few numbers. Try zero to three, everybody.
M: Zero líng, one, yī, two, èr, three, sān. Again, ling, yi er san, ling, yi er san. 好!
S: And I’ll dial again. Wo zai da yi bian.
M: 再 ZAI zài, here means ‘again’. Zài. It’s the same zài as in, can you guess? Dui le! Same as in 再见，zàijian, again see, or, ‘see you’. Dǎ yī biàn. yi bian, YI BIAN, means ‘one time’. So, zài dǎ yī biàn. dial again. Zai da yi bian. Wo zai da yi bian.
S: Then I said, ‘dianhua haoma shi’
M: 电话号码。Hàomǎ HAO MA hàomǎ, is ‘number’. So what does ‘dianhua haoma shi yi er san’ mean? Right. The telephone number is 1 2 3.
S: And how do people answer in China. Right, it’s usually with, 喂, wéi. Say it everybody, wéi.
M: Wéi, that’s not too difficult! Then Stuart asked, ‘is Mary there?’
S: Mali zai ma?
M: Is Mary there?
S: And then, the dreaded answer…
VOICE: 打错了，dǎ cuò le!
M: Cuò CUO cuò, 4th tone, means ‘wrong’. Da cuo le, dialed wrong, meaning, ‘wrong number’. Say it, da cuo le, da cuo le. Fei chang hao.
S: Wǒ zài dǎ yī biàn. Dianhua hàomǎ shi, líng yāo èr sān. Ling yao er san.
S: Hái shì zhàn xiàn! Wo zai da yi bian. Ling yao er san. Ling yao er san.
VOICE – 喂, wéi.
S: 你好. Mǎlì zài ma?
VOICE: Dǎ cuò le!
M: Da cuo le! What a way to end our lesson. Let’s hope Stuart does better next time.
S: Me too. But did you hear the other word for ‘one’? Yes, it’s yāo. We usually say yāo YAO yāo instead of yī for telephone numbers and such. Ok, that’s all for today, and don’t forget to practice! Zai jian.
M: Zaijian!

Lesson 018 Call Mary.

M: Ni hao! Come and learn hanyu, with Learn Chinese Now! Woshi ML.
S: Woshi S. 今天 today jīntiān, we have lots to learn. More about making a phone call.
M: And do you remember the two words for the number ‘one’? Yes, yī yī and yāo yāo. We usually use yao for telephone numbers and such. So one two three is yao er san, not yi er san.
S: Now, qǐng, please, qǐng listen and repeat. Try to pick out the words for ‘in’, ‘do’, and ‘whose’. ML, 现在我们在哪儿?
M: We’re still in the taxi. 我们还在车里。Women hái zài chē lǐ.
S: And what am I doing? wǒ zài gàn shénme?
M: You’re making a phone call. 你在打电话。Nǐ zài dǎ diànhuà.
S: Whose phone am I using? wǒ zài yòng shéi de diànhuà?
M: 你在用我的手机。Ni zai yong wo de shouji.
S: Who am I phoning? 我打电话给谁？wo da dianhua gei shei?
M: 你打电话给玛丽。Nǐ dǎ diànhuà gěi Mǎlì.
S: 对了，我要打电话给玛丽。Dui le, wo yao da dianhua gei Mali.
M: Wow, that’s a lot of Chinese, 很多汉语. hěn duō hànyǔ. Let’s take a break and get ready to learn the new words.
S: Ready? Hao! ML, where are we now? xianzai women zai na’er? xianzai women zai na’er?
M: We’re still in the taxi. 我们还在车里。Women hái zài chē lǐ. zai che li, in the car. Zài ZAI zài here means ‘at’. The lǐ LI lǐ, means ‘in’ or ‘inside’. Zai che li, in the car.
S: And what am I doing? wǒ zài gàn shénme?
M: You’re making a phone call. 你在打电话。Nǐ zài dǎ diànhuà.
S: Whose phone am I using? 我在用谁的电话？wǒ zài yòng shéi de diànhuà?
M: Yòng shéi de dianhua? Shéi SHEI shéi, is ‘who’. Guess what 谁的,shéi de, means. Dui le, shéi de, ‘whose’. Literally, ‘I using whose phone?’ wǒ zài yòng shéi de diànhuà?
M: 你在用我的手机。Ni zai yong wo de shouji.
S: Who am I phoning? 我打电话给谁？wo da dianhua gei shei?
M: 你打电话给玛丽。Nǐ dǎ diànhuà gěi Mǎlì.
S: 是的，我要打电话给玛丽。Shi de, wo yao da dianhua gei Mali.
M: 他要打电话给玛丽。He wants to give Mary a phone call. Ta yao da dianhua gei Mali. Ta yao he wants ta yao. Yào YAO yào, to want. Ta yao da dianhua gei Mali.
S: Let’s practice this, very useful. Try to say, ‘I want to phone my Mama’.
M: Dui le. Wo yao da dianhua gei wode mama.
S: Now, I want to phone my papa.
M: Dui le, Wo yao da dianhua gei wode baba.
S: Of course, there are other words for mama and baba, but mama and baba are nice and easy!
M: Just right for finishing our lesson. Until next time, zai jian.
S: Zaijian!

Lesson 019 My God. I’ve Dial the Wrong Number.

M: Ni hao! 现在学汉语。Woshi ML.
S: Woshi S. 今天 today, more on phoning.
M: And a few more numbers. Well, now we’re still in the taxi. 我们还在车里。Stuart wants to phone Mary. Stuart 要打个电话给玛丽.
S: 我的天！占线, zhàn xiàn! 我再拨. I’ll dial again. Wǒ zài bo.
VOICE: Wéi.
S: Ni hao, mali zai ma? Is Mary there? Mali zai ma?
V: Dǎ cuò le!
M: 你打错了? Cuò le, wrong, cuò le! 你拨了多少? What number did you dial? Nǐ bō le duōshǎo?
S: wo bo le ling yao er san. Zero 1 2 3, ling yao er san.
M: 错了! 玛丽的电话号码是四五六七, four, five, six, seven. sì wǔ liù qī.
S: Sì wǔ liù qī. Hao, 我再拨一次. I’ll dial once again. sì wǔ liù qī.
V2: 喂，你好.
S: Ní hǎo. Mali zài ma?
V2: 对不起，她不在, sorry, she’s not here. Duìbùqǐ, tā bù zài.
S: No luck today. Let’s go over the new words before we continue. But first, a break.
M: 我们还在车里。Stuart 要打个电话给玛丽.
S: 我的天啊！还占线, hái zhàn xiàn!
M: Wǒ de tiān na! Literally, ‘my heaven’. It’s an exclamation, just like ‘tian a’.
S: 我再拨一次. I’ll dial once again. Wǒ zài bo yí cì.
M: We “dǎ diànhuà’, but we ‘bo’ the number. Bō BO BO bō, to dial. But if it’s a wrong number, the person who answers usually says:
V: Dǎ cuò le! Da cuo le.
M: Stuart, 你拨了多少? Nǐ bō le duōshǎo? Duō DUO duō, is ‘much’ or ‘many’, like in ‘tài duō’, ‘too much’ or ‘too many’. Shǎo SHAO SHAO shǎo, means ‘few’. Duōshǎo means ‘how many?’, or ‘how much?’, and here it means ‘what number?’ “What number did you dial?’ Nǐ bō le duōshǎo?
S: wo bo le ling yao er san. Zero 1 2 3, ling yao er san.
M: Cuò le! 玛丽的电话号码是四五六七, 4 5 6 7. sì wǔ liù6 qī.
S: Oh! 4 5 6 7. Sì wǔ liù6 qī.
M: Dui le. You people at home, why not write out the pinyin for the numbers zero to 7 as we practice them? Ready? Try to get the tones right. 我们开始。LING líng, YAO yāo, or, also meaning ‘one’, yī YI yi.
S: ER èr, SAN sān, SI sì.
M: WU wǔ, LIU liù, QI qi. Let’s quickly count from one to seven.
S: yī, èr, sān, sì, wǔ, liù, qī.
M: Feichang hao!
S: Wǒ tóng yì. I agree. Wo tong yi. But before we go, 我再拨一次. sì wǔ liù qī.
V: 喂，你好.
S: Ní hǎo. Mali zài ma?
V: dǎ cuò le!
S: Wǒ de tiān na!
M: Poor Stuart. We’ll see how he does next lesson. Zai jian.

Lesson 020 Revision of Telephone Expressions (1)

M: Ni hao! 现在学汉语。Now learn hanyu, with Learn Chinese Now!. Woshi ML.
S: Woshi Stuart. It’s 复习 revision fùxí time. Lots to listen to. Mimic everything. We’re going to move very fast, 很快, hěn kuài. 1 2 3, 一二三，kaishi!
M：Stuart is using my mobile phone. 他在用我的手机。Ta zai yong wo de shouji.
S: 占线，zhàn xiàn. Try again. 我再打一遍。Wǒ zài dǎ yī biàn.The number is, 电话号码是 0 1 2 , líng yāo èr sān.
S: Still busy. 还是占线。Wo zai da yi bian. ling yao er san.
VOICE – 喂, wéi.
S: 你好。Is Mary there? 玛丽在吗?
VOICE: Dǎ cuò le.
M: Poor Stuart.
M: Now a quick review of, ‘in the car’ zài chē lǐ, zai che li. What are you doing? nǐ zài gàn shénme?
S: Who? Shéi, shéi.
M: And ‘whose?’ Shéi de, shéi de?
S: Where are we? Women zai nǎr?
M: In the car. Women zài chē lǐ.
S: What am I doing? 我在干什么？wǒ zài gàn shénme?
M: 你在打电话.
S: Whose phone am I using? 我在用谁的电话？wǒ zài yòng shéi de diànhuà?
M: 你在用我的手机。
S: Who am I phoning? 我打电话给谁？wo da dianhua gei shei?
M: Nǐ dǎ diànhuà gěi Mǎlì.
S: 对, Mary, Mali.
M: Right. He wants to give Mary a phone call. Ta yao da dianhua gei Mali. Ta yào, he wants, ta yao. Yào YAO yào, to want.
S: Hao! Now, you guys at home, try to say, ‘And I want to phone my Mama and Papa’.
M: Dui le. Wo ye yao da dianhua gei wode mama he baba. Wo ye yao da dianhua gei wode mama he baba.
M: Now for a few more numbers. Stuart still wants to phone Mary. Did he succeed?
S: 我的天啊！Still busy. 还是占线, hái shì zhàn xiàn! I’ll dial again. 我再拨一遍. Wǒ zài bo yí biàn.
VOICE: Wéi.
S: Ni hao, Is Mary there? mali zai ma?
V: Dǎ cuò le!
S: 打错了！Wǒ dǎ cuò le.
M: What number did you dial? 你拨了多少? Nǐ bō le duōshǎo?
S: Wo bo le Zero 1 2 3 , líng yāo èr sān, ling yao er san.
M: 错了! Mary’s number is 4 5 6 7, sì wǔ liù qī. 玛丽的电话号码是四五六七, sì wǔ liù qī.
S: Sì wǔ liù qī. Hao, 我再拨一遍. Wǒ zài bō yí biàn: sì wǔ liù qī.
V2: 喂，你好.
S: Nǐ hǎo. Mali zài ma?
V2: Sorry, she’s not here. 对不起，她不在. Duìbùqǐ, tā bù zài.
S: tiānna! I give up. By the way, how do we say ‘what’s the telephone number?’
M: 电话号码是多少？diànhuà hàomǎ shì duōshǎo?
S: xiexie. I do hope Mary’s there next time. Must go now. Zaijian.
M: Don’t worry, Stuart will be happy again next lesson. Zaijian.