YJ: Cam, we are discussing haircuts this week. How do you like your hair cut?
Cam: Well, usually I get it pretty short on the sides and in the back, but long enough on top that I can style it somehow.
YJ: Wow… you are high maintenance!
Cam: Haha… well, just tell me how to ask for that!
Key words of the day
Can I get it shorter on the sides, but a bit longer on top? 两边短一点，上面长一点。I want to change my hairstyle. 我想换个发型。 I want a crew cut 我想理个平头。 perm, 烫发All in today’s Chinese studio.
Cam: Okay, as I said, I have specific requests for a haircut. Shorter on the sides, just slightly longer on top. How do I say this?
YJ: first let’s say shorter on the sides, it’s “两边短一点”
Cam: liang3 bian1 duan3 yi4 dian3.
YJ: liang3 bian1 means both sides.
CM: liang3 bian1
YJ: duan3 means short,
Cam: duan3.
YJ: yi4 dian3 means a little bit,
CM: yi4 dian3.
YJ: liang3 bian1 duan3 yi4 dian3.
Cam: liang3 bian1 duan3 yi4 dian3. shorter on the sides. Then how do I say slightly longer on the top?
YJ: you can say “上面长一点”
CM: shang4 mian4 chang2 yi4 dian3.
YJ: shang4 mian4 means the top,
CM: shang4 mian4.
YJ: chang2 means long,
CM: chang2 and duan3 means short.,
YJ: yes. Chang2, long, and duan3, short.
CM: and yi4 dian3 means a little bit,
YJ: shang4 mian4 chang2 yi4 dian3.
CM: shang4 mian4 chang2 yi4 dian3. slightly longer on the top.
YJ: let’s put two sentences together. 两边短一点，上面长一点。
CM: liang3 bian1 duan3 yi4 dian3,shang4 mian4 chang2 yi4 dian3. Great. Now I know how to say to the stylist.
Conversation1:
A：你想怎么剪？
B：两边短一点，上面长一点。
Cam: Now, let’s say I want to change my hairstyle entirely.
YJ: You can say 我想换个发型。
C: wo3 xiang3 huan4 ge4 fa4 xing2.
Y: wo3 xiang3 means I want,
C: wo3 xiang3.
Y: huan4 means change,
C: huan4.
Y: ge4 means one,
C: ge4.
Y: fa4 xing2, hairstyle,
C: fa4 xing2.
Y: wo3 xiang3 huan4 ge4 fa4 xing2.
C: wo3 xiang3 huan4 ge4 fa4 xing2. I want to change my hairstyle.
Conversation2:
A：我想换个发型。
B: 好啊。你可以尝试把头发剪短。
CM: Yajie, I want to change my hairstyle… and I want a crew cut.
YJ: Okay you can say 我想理个平头。
CM: wo3 xiang3 li3 ge4 ping2 tou2.
YJ: wo3 xiang3 means I want,
CM: wo3 xiang3
YJ: li3 means to cut, which has the same meaning with jian3.
CM: li3.
YJ: ge4 means one,
CM: ge4.
YJ: ping2 tou2, crew cut, as ping2 means flat,
CM: ping2 tou2,
YJ: wo3 xiang3 li3 ge4 ping2 tou2.
CM: wo3 xiang3 li3 ge4 ping2 tou2. I want a crew cut.
Conversation3:
A：你想理个什么发型？
B：我想理个平头。
Cam: And some girls might want a perm. What’s the word for perm?
YJ: it’s tang4 fa4.
C: tang4 fa4.
Y: tang4 means to perm,
C: tang4.
Y: fa4 means hair,
C: fa4.
Y: tang4 fa4.
C: tang4 fa4. perm
Conversation4:
A：我想烫发。
B：烫发对头发不好。
Key words reminder
Can I get it shorter on the sides, but a bit longer on top? 两边短一点，上面长一点。I want to change my hairstyle. 我想换个发型。 I want a crew cut 我想理个平头。 perm, 烫发All in today’s Chinese studio.
