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.

Taxi English: chu(1) zu(1) che(1) ying(1) yu(3)

NEW WORDS
(1) Left: zuo(3)
(2) Right: you(4)
(3) Straight ahead: yi(4)zhi(2)xiang(4)qian(2)zou(3)
(4) Hotel: bin(1)guan(3)
(5) Airport: fei(1)ji(1)chang(3)
(6) How much: duo(1)shao(3)qian(2)

LESSON

• Please turn left here.
  qing(3) zuo(3) zhuan(3)
  
• Take the next right please.
  qing(3) zai(4) xia(4) ge(4) lu(4) kou(3) you(4) zhuan(3).
  
• How much does it cost to go to the airport?
  qu(4) ji(1) chang(3) duo(1) shao(3) qian(2)?
  
• Take me to my hotel please.
  qing(3) song(4) wo(3) dao(4) bin(1) guan(3).

* Tip: Taking a trip in a China taxi is, in my view, one of the most fun things that you can do in China. Taxis are slightly different from city to city but drivers are pretty similar no matter where you go.

Some taxi drivers really believe that they were born for the racetrack and can give you a hair-raising experience to tell your grandchildren about. Others are keen to prod you for your views about China and whatever city you happen to be in at the time (I have learned more about China politics from speaking to cab drivers than I have in three years of Master degree study!).

Learn some taxi Chinese and hang-on for the ride!!!