YJ: That’s good, it seems everybody loves traveling. Welcome to Chinese Studio on CRI. Wo shi Yajie.
Cam: And wo shi Cam. We are going to continue with this topic, so let’s check key words of the day.
Key Words of the Day
How do you prefer to go? 你想怎么走?(ni3 xiang3 zen3me zou3?) Where is the bus station/train station/airport? 公交车站在哪儿?(gong1jiao1che1zhan4 zai4 na3er?) 火车站在哪儿?(huo3che1zhan4 zai4 na3er?) 机场在哪儿?(ji1chang3 zai4 na3er?) Can you tell me where to get off? 您能告诉我在哪儿下车吗?(nin2 neng2 gao4su wo3 zai4 na3er xia4 che1 ma?) All in today’s Chinese Studio.
Cam: Yajie, if I want to take somebody somewhere, I have to ask them, “How do you prefer to go?” Because I know some people like to take the subway, and others prefer the bus.
Yajie: I see, you say ni xiang zen me zou. First, 你(ni3) means you.
Cam: 你(ni3)
YJ: 想 (xiang3) means “want to”.
Cam: 想 (xiang3)
YJ: 怎么 (zen3me), how
Cam: 怎么 (zen3me)
YJ: 走 (zou3), z-o-u, the third tone, meaning “to go”.
Cam: 走 (zou3)
YJ: 你想怎么走?(ni3 xiang3 zen3me zou3?)
Cam: 你想怎么走?(ni3 xiang3 zen3me zou3?) How do you prefer to go?
Conversation1:
Cam: Okay, well, I prefer taking the bus because it’s not too far from here. But I’m not so familiar with the bus station. I need to ask some local residents. So how do you say “where is the bus station” in Chinese?
YJ: You can ask in this way “公交车站在哪儿?(gong1jiao1che1zhan4 zai4 na3er?)”
Cam: 公交车站在哪儿?(gong1jiao1che1zhan4 zai4 na3er?)
YJ: Yesterday we learned bus in Chinese is 公交车(gong1jiao1che1), remember it?
Cam: I sure do. 公交车(gong1jiao1che1), bus.
YJ: And 站 (zhan4) is stop or station.
Cam: 公交车站(gong1jiao1che1zhan4), bus station or bus stop.
YJ: 在哪儿 (zai4 na3 ), at where.
Cam: 在哪儿 (zai4 na3 ).
YJ: Together it’s公交车站在哪儿?(gong1jiao1che1zhan4 zai4 na3er?)
Cam: 公交车站在哪儿?(gong1jiao1che1zhan4 zai4 na3er?), Where is the bus station?
YJ: Also we've learned train station in Chinese is 火车站 (huo3che1zhan4)
Cam: Yes. So “Where is the train station?” would be火车站在哪儿? (huo3che1zhan4 zai4 na3er?).
YJ: Very good! Let’s try another one. First, airport in Chinese is 机场 (ji1chang3). So“Where is the airport?” should be…
Cam: Ah, let do it.机场在哪儿?(ji1chang3 zai4 na3er?) Where is the airport?
YJ: Now let’s listen to some dialogues.
Conversation2:
Cam: Sometimes I need to ask some Chinese friends to remind me where to get off the bus. How do you say that in Chinese?
YJ: You can say 您能告诉我在哪儿下车吗?(nin2 neng2 gao4su wo3 zai4 na3er xia4 che1 ma?)
Cam: That's a long one. 您能告诉我在哪儿下车吗?(nin2 neng2 gao4su wo3 zai4 na3er xia4 che1 ma?) Can you tell me where to get off?
YJ: 您 (nin2), you.
Cam: 您 (nin2)
YJ: 能 (neng2), could.
Cam: 能 (neng2
YJ: 告诉我 (gao4su wo3), to tell me.
Cam: 告诉我 (gao4su wo3)
YJ: 在哪儿 (zai4 na3er), at where.
Cam: 在哪儿 (zai4 na3er)
YJ: 下车 (xia4 che1), to get off
Cam: 下车 (xia4 che1)
YJ: 您能告诉我在哪儿下车吗?(nin2 neng2 gao4su wo3 zai4 na3er xia4 che1 ma?) Can you tell me where to get off?
Cam: 您能告诉我在哪儿下车吗?(nin2 neng2 gao4su wo3 zai4 na3er xia4 che1 ma?)
Conversation3:
Key Words Reminder
How do you prefer to go? 您想怎么走?(nin2 xiang3 zen3me zou3?) Where is the bus station/train station/airport? 公交车站在哪儿?(gong1jiao1che1zhan4 zai4 na3er?) 火车站在哪儿?(huo3che1zhan4 zai4 na3er?) 机场在哪儿?(ji1chang3 zai4 na3er?) Can you tell me where to get off? 您能告诉我在哪儿下车吗?(nin2 neng2 gao4su wo3 zai4 na3er xia4 che1 ma?)