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.

Getting a Room for the Night:
ding(4) fang(2)

NEW WORDS
(1) Hotel: bin(1) guan(3)
(2) Tourist Hotel: lu(3) you(2) bin(1) guan(3)
(3) Dormitory: su(4) she(4)
(4) Single Room: dan(1) ren(2) jian(1)
(5) Double Room: shuang(1) ren(2) jian(1)
(6) Reception Desk: jie(1)dai(4)chu(4)

LESSON

• Driver, where is a good hotel?
  si(1) ji(1),na(3) li(3) you(3) hao(3) de bin(1) guan(3)?
  
• Can you recommend a cheap hotel for me?
  nin(2) neng(2) gei(3) wo(3) tui(1) jian(4) yi(1) jia(1) pian(2) yi(4)de bin(1) guan(3 )ma?
  
• Is that price for a single room or a double room.
  zhe(2) shi(4) dan(1) ren(2) jian(1) jia(4) qian(2) hai(2) shi(4) shuang(1) ren(2) jian(1)de?
  
• Do you have anything cheaper?
  ni(3) men you(3) pian(2) yi(4 ) dian(3) de ma?

* Tip: Unless you live under a rock, you would know that Beijing has won the rights to host the 2008 Olympic Games. One of the main factors in Beijing's favor was the abundance of accommodation available to those wanting to come and see the world's best strive to be Swifter, Higher, Stronger.

Beijing, and indeed most of the other large cities in China, have plenty of hotels, dormitories and hostels to choose from. Hotels range from comfortable three-star to luxurious six-star while dormitories and hostels remain the favorite for back-packers.

As long as you are not traveling during the peak seasons, most hotels will offer substantial discounts (for those who ask) and will go out of their way to make your stay enjoyable.

Have you booked your room for 2008 yet?