James: And hello everybody, wo shi James. Yajie, it seems that our topic once again today is very useful…
YJ: You are right, today we are going to learn some phrases you can use in a bar.
Key Words of the Day
Would you like to dance? 能跳支舞吗？(neng2 tiao4 zhi1 wu3 ma?) Let me buy you a drink, ok? 我请你喝一杯，好吗?(wo3 qing3 ni3 he1 yi4 bei1,hao3 ma1?) What would you like to drink? 想喝点什么？(xiang3 he1 dian3 shen2me) All in today’s Chinese Studio.
James: Yajie, I’d like to invite that pretty girl to dance. But how do you say that in Chinese?
YJ: Well, you can say “能跳支舞吗？(neng2 tiao4 zhi1 wu3 ma?)”
James: 能跳支舞吗？(neng2 tiao4 zhi1 wu3 ma?)
YJ: 能 (neng2) means can or could.
James: 能 (neng2)
YJ: 跳舞 (tiao4 wu3), to dance, the fourth tone and the third tone.
James: 跳舞 (tiao4 wu3). But you said just now 跳支舞(tiao4 zhi1 wu3). What does that mean?
YJ: Good question, James. 支 (zhi1), z-h-i, the third tone. It’s a measure word. You can use it to modify a song. For example, you can say “一支歌(yi4 zhi1 ge1)”, which means a song.
James: 一支歌(yi4 zhi1 ge1). I see. So支(zhi1) can also modify 舞 (wu3), dance. Right?
YJ: Yes. So you can say 跳支舞(tiao4 zhi1 wu3), to have a dance with me.
James: 跳支舞(tiao4 zhi1 wu3), to dance.
YJ: It’s also ok to say 跳个舞(tiao4 ge4 wu3), with the measure word “个(ge4)”, the four tone.
James: 跳个舞(tiao4 ge41 wu3)
YJ: Right. Now let’s repeat the whole sentence.. 能跳支舞吗？(neng2 tiao4 zhi1 wu3 ma?) Would you like to have a dance with me?
James: 能跳支舞吗？(neng2 tiao4 zhi1 wu3 ma?)
Conversation1:
James：So,Yajie, besides dancing, I would also like to buy her a drink, so could you please tell me how to say that in Chinese as well?
YJ： Sure. You can say “我请你喝一杯，好吗？”Let me buy you a drink, ok?
James：我请你喝一杯，好吗?(wo3 qing3 ni3 he1 yi4 bei1,hao3 ma1?)
YJ：我wo3 means I
James：我wo3
YJ：请qing3, originally means to invite, here it means to buy.
James：请qing3.
YJ：你ni3 is you.
James：你ni3.
YJ：喝一杯he1 yi4 bei1, to have a drink.
James：喝一杯he1 yi4 bei1
YJ：好吗hao3 ma? Is it ok?
James：好吗 hao3 ma?
YJ：Let’s repeat the whole sentence together. 我请你喝一杯，好吗?(wo3 qing3 ni3 he1 yi4 bei1,hao3 ma1?)
James：我请你喝一杯，好吗?(wo3 qing3 ni3 he1 yi4 bei1,hao3 ma1?)
Conversation2:
James: Yajie, I’m lucky to buy that girl a drink, but how do I ask her what drink she would like?
YJ: You can say想喝点什么？(xiang3 he1 dian3 shen2me?)
James: 想喝点什么？(xiang3 he1 dian3 shen2me?) What would you like to drink?
YJ: 想 (xiang3), want to.
James: 想 (xiang3)
YJ: 喝 (he1), to drink, the first tone.
James: 喝 (he1)
YJ: 点 (dian3), a little.
James: 点 (dian3)
YJ: 什么 (shen2me), what.
James: 什么 (shen2me)
YJ: 想喝点什么？(xiang3 he1 dian3 shen2me?)
James: 想喝点什么？(xiang3 he1 dian3 shen2me?) What would you like to drink?
Conversation3:
Key Words Reminder
Would you like to dance? 能跳支舞吗？(neng2 tiao4 zhi1 wu3 ma?) Let me buy you a drink, ok? 我请你喝一杯，好吗?(wo3 qing3 ni3 he1 yi4 bei1,hao3 ma1?)What would you like to drink? 想喝点什么？(xiang3 he1 dian3 shen2me?)
