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(3)?
-
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.
