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) Accept: shou(1)

2) American Dollars: mei(3) yuan(2)

3) Bargain: tao(3) jia(4) huai(2) jia(4)

4) Cash: xian(4) jin(1)

5) Please give me a receipt: gei(2) wo(3) fa(1) piao(4)

6) Not enough: bu(2) gou(4)

6) You've giving me the wrong amount: ni(3) gei(3) wo(1) de(1) zhang(4) hao(4) cuo(4) le.

Examples you can expect:

Q: Can we bargain here?
wo(3) men(2) ke(3) yi(3) tao(3) jia(4) huai(2) jia(4) ma?
A: Yes we like to bargain.
ke(3) yi(3). wo(3) men(1) xi(3) huan(1) tao(3) jia(4) huan(2) jia(1).

Q: Can I pay in American Dollars?
wo(3) ke(3) yi(3) fu(4) mei(3) yuan(2) ma?
A: We only accept RMB.
wo(3) men(1) zhi(1) shou(1) ren(2) min(3) bi(4).

Q: My company gives me cash, how about yours?
wo(3) de(1) gong(1) si(1) gei(3) wo(3) xian(4) jin(1). ni(3) ne?
A: Mine too.
wo(3) ye(3) shi(4).

Q: You've giving me the wrong amount.
ni(3) gei(3) wo(3) de(1) zhang(4) hao(4) cuo(4) le.
A: That's not enough? hai(2) bu(2) gou(4) ma?

Q: Sir, please give me a receipt.
xian(1) sheng(1), qing(3) gei(3) wo(1) kai(1) fa(1) piao(4).

A: Sure, as soon as you give me the right amount.
hao(3) de. ni(3) gei(3) wo(3) zheng(4) que(4) de(1) zhang(4) hao(4), wo(3) jiu(4) gei(3) ni(3) kai(1).

*Hint, speaking Chinese when you bargain will get you a lower price.