Y: Hey this is one scary ride! Daijia Hao, wo shi Yajie.
R: Dajia hao, wo shi Raymond. Omg, we’re driving on the wrong side of the road!
Y: You better tell the driver what to do, I don’t want to die.
R: That’s right and you can learn how to do all this, All in Chinese studio!
Y: Here are some key words of the day.
Key Words of the Day
The freeway, 高速。Do you know how to get there? 您知道怎么走吗?Can you take the freeway? 您能走高速吗?Please drive slowly. 请您开慢点儿。All in today’s Chinese studio
R: Ok, we have to ask this guy the universal question. I mean I think that’s important.
Y: Well we’ve been driving for more than 2 hours, so it must be pretty far.
R: That’s it, I can’t take it anymore, how do you say “Do you know how to get there?”
Y: yeah, we need to ask him: nin2 zhi1 dao4 zen3me zou3 ma?
R: nin2 zhi1 dao4 zen3me zou3 ma?
Y: nin2 is the polite form of saying ni3, which means you,
R: nin2,
Y: zhi1 dao4, to know or to be aware of,
R: zhi1 dao4,
Y: zen3me means how to do sth,
R: zen3me,
Y: zou3 means to go,
R: zou3,
Y: the syllable ma is used to form a question,
R: ma,
Y: nin2 zhi1 dao4 zen3me zou3 ma?
R: nin2 zhi1 dao4 zen3me zou3 ma? Do you know how to get there?
Conversation 1
A: 您知道怎么走吗?
B: 当然了,我都开了二十多年车了。
Y: All I see is traffic jams here. We need to get out of this. It will be the New Year before we get there.
R: I agree. Plus I’m still hungry. We need food. Ok how can I tell him to take the freeway?
Y: nin2 neng2 zou3 gao1 su4 ma?
R: nin2 neng2 zou3 gao1 su4 ma?
Y: nin2, we just mentioned it, it’s a polite form of saying ni3.
R: nin2,
Y: neng2, means be able to do sth,
R: neng2,
Y: zou3, in this case it means to take,
R: zou3,
Y: gao1 su4, the freeway,
R: gao1 su4,
Y: nin2 neng2 zou3 gao1 su4 ma?
R: nin2 neng2 zou3 gao1 su4 ma? Can you take the freeway?
Conversation 2
A: 您能走高速吗?
B: 高速现在封路了,走不了。
R: Oh my gosh, I think I’m going to be sick.
Y: Ya me too, I’m about to throw up. This guy is driving too fast.
R: Please do it out the window. But before that, please tell me how to say “Please drive slowly.”
Y: qing3 nin2 kai1 man4 dian3er.
R: qing3 nin2 kai1 man4 dian3er.
Y: qing3 means please,
R: qing3, nin2 is you,
Y: nin2. And kai1, to drive a car,
R: kai1,
Y: man4 is slow,
R: man4,
Y: dian3er literally means a little bit,
R: dian3er,
Y: qing3 nin2 kai1 man4 dian3er.
R: qing3 nin2 kai1 man4 dian3er. Please drive slowly.
Conversation 3
A: 师傅,请您开慢点儿。
B: 太快了是吧,好的。
Key Words Reminder
The freeway, 高速。 Do you know how to get there? 您知道怎么走吗?Can you take the freeway? 您能走高速吗?Please drive slowly. 请您开慢点儿。All in today’s Chinese studio