Cam: Dajia hao, wo shi Cam. Yajie, the bill paying system is so different in China. A few weeks ago, my phone was disconnected because I hadn’t paid the bill. But I never received a bill!
Yajie: Well, in China, we have to pay the bills by a certain time at the bank without receiving any bill.
Cam: I wish somebody would’ve told me! But what do I say when I go to the bank?
Yajie: Listen up!
Key Words of the Day
How long is the wait? 需要等多长时间？(xu1yao4 deng3 duo1chang2 shi2jian1). How can I help you? 要帮忙吗？(yao4 bang1mang2 ma?) I would like to pay my phone bill. 我交电话费。(wo3 jiao1 dian4hua4fei4) I would like to pay my electricity bill. 我交电费。(wo3 jiao1 dian4fei4) All in today’s Chinese Studio.
Cam: Okay Yajie…. So I walk into the bank and I usually see crowds of people.
Yajie: Right, banks can be very busy.
Cam: So it might be helpful to ask somebody how long the wait will be. How can I say it in Chinese?
Yajie: Well you can say 请问，需要等多长时间？(qing3 wen4, xu1yao4 deng3 duo1chang2 shi2jian1)
Cam: 请问，需要等多长时间？(qing3 wen4, xu1yao4 deng3 duo1chang2 shi2jian1)
Yajie: 请问 (qing3 wen4) excuse me.
Cam: 请问 (qing3 wen4).
Yajie: 需要 (xu1yao4) means need.
Cam: 需要 (xu1yao4)
Yajie: 等(deng3), d-e-n-g, the third tone. wait.
Cam: 等(deng3)
Yajie: 多长时间(duo1chang2 shi2jian1), how long, we learned it before, it means how long.
Cam: 多长时间(duo1chang2 shi2jian1).
Yajie: 请问，需要等多长时间？(qing3 wen4, xu1yao4 deng3 duo1chang2 shi2jian1)
Cam: 请问，需要等多长时间？(qing3 wen4, xu1yao4 deng3 duo1chang2 shi2jian1), How long is the wait? But do people often say this at Chinese banks?
Yajie: No, not really. Anyhow, it’s still a useful expression when you are waiting in other cases.
Conversation1:
Yajie: There may be someone in the bank coming up to offer help. 要帮忙吗？(yao4 bang1mang2 ma?) How can I help you?
Cam: 要帮忙吗？(yao4 bang1mang2 ma?)
Yajie: 帮忙 （bang1mang2）means help.
Cam: 帮忙 （bang1mang2）.
Yajie: 要帮忙吗？(yao4 bang1mang2 ma?) How can I help you?
Cam: 要帮忙吗？(yao4 bang1mang2 ma?)
Conversation2:
Cam: How do you say “I would like to pay my phone bill.”
Yajie: 我交电话费。(wo3 jiao1 dian4hua4fei4)
Cam: 我交电话费。(wo3 jiao1 dian4hua4fei4)
Yajie: 我(wo3), I. and 交(jiao1) means to pay.
Cam: 交(jiao1)
Yajie: 电话费 (dian4hua4fei4), phone bill.
Cam: 电话费 (dian4hua4fei4).
Yajie: 我交电话费。(wo3 jiao1 dian4hua4fei4) I would like to pay my phone bill.
Cam: 我交电话费。(wo3 jiao1 dian4hua4fei4). Yajie, and I would also like to pay my electricity bill. What is the Chinese for that.
Yajie: Listen carefully, it’s 我交电费。(wo3 jiao1 dian4fei4). 电费, (dian4fei4), electricity bill.
Cam: 电费, (dian4fei4).
Yajie: So “I would like to pay my electricity bill.” is 我交电费。(wo3 jiao1 dian4fei4)
Cam: 我交电费。(wo3 jiao1 dian4fei4)
Conversation3:
Key Words Reminder
How long is the wait? 需要等多长时间？(xu1yao4 deng3 duo1chang2 shi2jian1). How can I help you? 要帮忙吗？(yao4 bang1mang2 ma?) I would like to pay my phone bill. 我交电话费。(wo3 jiao1 dian4hua4fei4) I would like to pay my electricity bill. 我交电费。(wo3 jiao1 dian4fei4)
