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.
Booking a Train Ticket:
ding(4) huo(3) che(1) piao(4)
NEW
WORDS
Train: huo(3) che(1)
Ticket: piao(4)
Hard sleeper: ying(4) wo(4)
Soft sleeper: ruan(3) wo(4)
Platform: zhan(4) tai(2)
LESSON
- Can I buy train tickets here?
wo(3) ke(3) yi(3) zai(4) zhe(4) er mai(3)
huo(3) che(1) piao(4) ma?
- How much is a ticket from Beijing to Shanghai?
bei(3) jing(1) dao(4) shang(4) hai(3) de
che(1) piao(4) duo(1) shao(3) qian(2)?
- What is the difference between soft and
hard sleeper?
ruan(3) wo(4) he(2) ying(4) wo(4) you(3)
shen(3) mo bu(4) tong(2)?
- Where is platform number 10?
shi(2) hao(4) zhan(4) tai(2) zai(4) na(3)
er?
* Tip: Trains and China are a point of
fascination for many. Tourists come from all
over the world each year just to spend time
riding trains here. China has more railways
that any other country on earth and is the major
form of long distance transport.
Even a brief description of China's rail
system is impossible here because of space
limitations. Good information can be found
at most Chinese travel agents that cater for
foreigners as well as the better-known guide
books like Lonely Plant.
Traveling by train in China is fascinating
- not only for the view outside of the carriage,
but for watching ordinary Chinese interact
over a long journey. Grab a ticket, some bottles
of water and your earplugs. You are in for
the ride of your life.
