Lesson 165--Hotel 1

Cam:  It’s a brand new week on Chinese Studio.  Welcome to the show everyone.  I’m Cam with my wonderful laoshi, Yajie.
YJ: Thank you Cam, last week we talked about vacations, and usually you need to book a hotel first. 
Cam: Yes, I remember we learned the Chinese for hotel is-- fan dian.  
YJ:  Right, this week we are going to learn how to book a hotel room in Chinese, and what to say when doing so.
Cam:  Sounds useful.  Let’s begin!

Key Words of the Day 
“Can I help you?” 我能帮您吗? “I’d like to book a room.” 我想定一个房间
 “For how many days? 请问您住几天? ” I’ll stay for four days. 住四天 All in today’s Chinese Studio.

Yajie:  So Cam, let’s say you call a hotel in Sanya on Hainan island and want to book a room.  Do you know what the hotel clerk will say?
Cam:  I know in English it’s Can I help you.
YJ:  In Chinese it’s ok for you to say wo3 neng2 bang1 nin2 ma? 我能帮您吗?
Cam: wo3 neng2 bang1 nin2 ma?
YJ: wo3 means I,
Cam: wo3,
YJ: neng2 means could,
Cam: neng2,
YJ: bang1 means to help,
Cam: bang1,
YJ: nin2, is the polite form of ni3, which means you,
Cam: nin2,
YJ: ma, usually put at the end of a question,
Cam: ma, 
YJ: wo3 neng2 bang1 nin2 ma?
Cam: wo3 neng2 bang1 nin2 ma? Can I help you? 
YJ: but usually the hotel clerk will say “ni2 hao3” for short. 
Cam: which simply means hello, I see.

Conversation1:
A：你好，
B： 你好，我想定一个单人间。
A：请稍等，让我帮您查一下。
B：谢谢

Cam:  Okay, so then I will tell them I’d like to book a room 
YJ: Right… you would say…. Wo3 xiang3 ding4 yi2 ge4 fang2 jian1. 我想定一个房间
Cam: Wo3 xiang3 ding4 yi2 ge4 fang2 jian1.
YJ: wo3 xiang3, I’d like to do something, 
Cam: wo3 xiang3,
YJ: ding4 means to book,
Cam: ding4, 
YJ: yi2 ge4 fang2 jian1 means one room,
Cam: yi2 ge4 fang2 jian1
YJ: yi2 ge4 means one, 
Cam: yi2 ge4,
YJ: fang2 jian1 means room,
Cam: fang2 jian1,
YJ: Wo3 xiang3 ding4 yi2 ge4 fang2 jian1.
Cam: Wo3 xiang3 ding4 yi2 ge4 fang2 jian1. I’d like to book a room.

Conversation2:
A: 你好，
B: 你好， 我想定一个房间
A：您需要什么样的房间？
B： 我要一个单人间。

YJ:  Then they may ask how many days you want to stay. In Chinese it’s 请问您住几天? 
Cam: qing3 wen4 nin2 zhu4 ji3 tian1?
YJ:qing3 wen4 means may I ask,
Cam: qing3 wen4,
YJ: nin2 means you,
Cam: nin2, the polite form of ni3,
YJ: zhu4 means to stay in hotel,
Cam: zhu4,
YJ: ji3 tian1. how many days,
Cam: ji3 tian1,
YJ: tian1 means days,
Cam: tian1 How do I say I need to stay for four days?
YJ: You will say….住四天.
Cam: zhu4 si4 tian1. I know zhu4 means to stay in a hotel,
YJ: right, si4 tian1 means four days,
Cam: si4 tian1, as four in Chinese is si4, 
YJ: then what if you’ll stay for three days,
Cam: I’ll say “zhu4 san1 tian1” as san1 means three in English,
YJ: very good. Zhu4 san1 tian1, I’ll stay for three days. 

Conversation3: 
A: 请问您住几天?
B: 住四天

Key Words Reminder 
“Can I help you?” 我能帮您吗? “I’d like to book a room.” 我想定一个房间
 “For how many days? 请问您住几天? ” I’ll stay for four days. 住四天 All in today’s Chinese Studio.