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:

Being Late

1) Sorry: dui(4) bu(4) qi(3)

2) Late: wan(3)

3) It won't happen again: bu(2) hui(4) zai(4) fa(1) sheng(1) le

4) I feel awful: wo(3) jue(2) de(1) hen(3) nan(2) guo(4)

5) I'll be there soon: wo(3) hen(3) kuai(4) jiu(4) dao(4)

LESSON:

• Please help me.
  qing(3) bang(1) bang(1) wo(3).

• Call the fire department.
  da(3) dian(4) hua(4) gei(3) huo(2) jing(3) ban(4).

• Call a doctor, my friend is sick.
  da(3) dian(4) hua(4) gei(3) yi(1) sheng(2). wo(3) de(1) peng(2) you(3) bing(4) le.

• Help me call an ambulance.
  bang(1) wo(3) da(3) dian(3) hua(4) gei(3) jiu(4) hu(3) che(1).

Being Late. With China's city traffic as it is, we should all brush up on our "Being Late" Language Skills.

• Sorry I'm late.
  dui(4) bu(4) qi(3), wo(3) wan(3) le.

• Sorry, it won't happen again.
  dui(4) bu(4) qi(3). zhe(1) bu(2) hui(4) zai(4) fa(1) sheng(1) le.

• I feel awful about being late.
  wo(3) chi(2) dao(4) le, hen(3) bao(4) qian(4).

• I'll be there soon.
  wo(3) hen(3) kuai(4) jiu(4) dao(4).

Example Dialogue:

• You: Mr. Zhang, sorry I am late.
  ni(3): zhang(1) xian(1) sheng(1), dui(4) bu(4) qi(3), wo(3) wan(3) le.

• Zhang: No problem.
  zhang(1): mei(2) shi(4).

• You: I feel awful about being late.
  ni(3): chi(2) dao(4) le, hen(3) bao(4) qian(4).

• Zhang: I understand.
  zhang(1): wo(3) li(2) jie(3).

• You: The traffic was heavy.
  ni(3): jiao(1) tong(1) du(3) se(4).

• Zhang: It always is.
  zhang(1): zong(3) shi(4) zhe(4) yang(4).

Hint: Try to call ahead and inform your friends that you will be late. Everyone should have mobile phones, right?