Note: The spoken Chinese Mandarin
language has 4 spoken tones. We have attempted
to re-create those below where after each
syllable we tell you (1), (2), (3), or (4)
as they correspond to each of the 4 tones.
We encourage you to complement your Xianzai.com
Emergency Chinese newsletter with a good offline
study program.
NEW
WORDS
(1) Phone: dian(4) hua(4)
(2) Mobile phone: shou(3) ji(1)
(3) Call: da(3)dian(4) hua(4)
(4) How much: duo(1) shao(3) qian(2)
(5) Phone number: dian(2) hua(4) hao(4) ma(3)
LESSON
- Can I make a telephone call please?
wo(3) neng(2) da(3) yi(1) ge(4) dian(4)
hua(4) ma?
- What is your telephone number?
ni(3) de dian(4) hua(4) hao(4) ma(3) shi(4)
duo(1) shao?
- May I borrow your mobile phone?
wo(3) neng(2) jie(4) ni(3) de shou(3) ji(1)
yong(4) yi(1) xia(4) ma?
- How much does it cost to make a call?
da(3) yi(1) ge(4) dian(4) hua(4) duo(1)
shao(3) qian(2)?
* Tip: Making a call in China is just
as easy as most other countries in the world
these days. China is now has the second largest
number of mobile phone users in the world and
a chorus of 'wei' (the way that Chinese answer
a phone) can be heard everywhere from trains
to restaurants and even the movies.
The easiest way to make a call without a
mobile is at one of the many street phones.
They will charge you a small amount per minute
payable after the call is finished.
