B: Da jia hao, wo shi B, and this experimental diet still has a few days to run. Come and join us for the final countdown.
Y: Oh, that does sound dramatic. And here’s a few keywords to keep us company on the way.
Key words of the day
I’ll buy half a watermelon 我要半个西瓜。Strawberries 草莓They’re not in season. 还不到季节. durian 榴莲 papaya木瓜All in today’s Chinese Studio.
B: I’ve enjoyed the ping2 guo3, the apples, and the pu2 tao the grapes. Let’s try some xi1 gua1, watermelon today. Gee they are very mouth watering, but so big, how can I say, I just want half of one?
Y: Try this: wo3 yao4 ban4 ge4 xi1 gua1.
B: wo3 yao4 ban4 ge4 xi1 gua1.
Y: wo3 yao4 means I’d like to buy something,
B: wo3 yao4,
Y: ban4 ge4 means half a watermelon,
B: ban4 ge4,
Y: ban4 means half,
B: ban4,
Y: ge4 is the measure word for watermelon,
B: ge4,
Y: ban4 ge4, half a watermelon,
B: ban4 ge4,
Y: xi1 gua1, watermelon,
B: xi1 gua1,
Y: wo3 yao4 ban4 ge4 xi1 gua1.
B: wo3 yao4 ban4 ge4 xi1 gua1. I’ll have half a watermelon.
Conversation 1
A: 我要半个西瓜。
B: 好的。
B: And I’d love some strawberries.
Y: They’re cao3 mei2.
B: Cao3 mei2,
Y: cao3 means straw and mei2 means berry,
B: got it, cao3 mei2, strawberries. Can you see any Y?
Y: No... I don’t think they’re in season now.
B: Oh too bad, perhaps you can teach me how to say that as consolation.
Y: You can say: 还不到季节
B: hai2 bu2 dao4 ji4 jie2.
Y: bu4 means not,
B: bu4,
Y: dao4 means to be in season,
B: dao4,
Y: hai2 bu2 dao4 means not yet in season
B: hai2 bu2 dao4
Y: ji4 jie2, season,
B: ji4 jie2.
Y: hai2 bu2 dao4 ji4 jie2
B: hai2 bu2 dao4 ji4 jie2 They are not in season.
Conversation2
A: 怎么没有卖草莓的？
B: 还不到季节呢。
B: Now before we leave the fruit stand, tell me Y, I’d love to buy something a little exotic, something I’m not used to.
Y: There is the perfect fruit over there. It’s large and spiky, and your nose will tell you exactly wher it is.
B: Ah, that must be the infamous durian. It is large, and does have a certain odor to it, but not too unpleasant. Do you call it durian in Chinese as well?
Y: No, we call it liu2 lian2.
B: liu2 lian2.
Y: I can’t stand the smell of it. I would like to buy some mu4 gua1, papaya,
B: mu4 gua1.
Y: mu4 literally means wood,
B: mu4,
Y: and gua1 means melon,
B: gua1,
Y: mu4 gua1
B: mu4 gua1, papaya,
Conversation 3
A: 你想吃榴莲吗？
B: 算了吧，我还是吃木瓜吧。
