Chinese For Dummies (109 page)

After you check in, you may encounter all sorts of unpleasant surprises. Perhaps the plane can't
zhèngdiǎn qǐfēi
正点起飞
(
正點起飛
) (juhng-dyan chee-fay) (
depart on time
) after all and the airline must
tuīchí
推迟
(
推遲
) (tway-chir) (
postpone
) your departure or
qǔxiāo
取消
(chyew-shyaow) (
cancel
) it altogether. Maybe the
tiānqì
天气
(
天氣
) (tyan-chee) (
weather
) is causing the problems.

Talkin' the Talk

Shí Píng is checking in at the airport in New York for a business trip to Beijing. She shows her ticket and passport to the
zhíyuán
(jir-ywan) (
agent
) and checks her luggage. (Track 22)

Zhíyuán:

Nín hǎo. Qǐng chūshì nínde jīpiào.

neen how. cheeng choo-shir neen-duh jee-pyaow.

Hello. Your ticket, please.

Shí Píng:

Jiù zài zhèr.

jyo dzye jar.

Here it is
.

Zhíyuán:

Nín shì bú shì qù Běijīng? Néng kànkàn nínde hùzhào ma?

neen shir boo shir chyew bay-jeeng? nuhng kahn-kahn neen-duh hoo-jaow mah?

Are you going to Beijing? May I see your passport?

Shí Píng:

Kěyǐ.

kuh-yee.

Here you are.

Zhíyuán:

Yǒu jǐ jiàn xíngli?

yo jee jyan sheeng-lee?

How many suitcases do you have?

Shí Píng:

Wǒ yǒu sānge xiāngzi.

waw yo sahn-guh shyahng-dzuh.

I have three suitcases.

Zhíyuán:

Yǒu méiyǒu shǒutí xíngli?

yo mayo show-tee sheeng-lee?

Do you have any carry-on luggage?

Shí Píng:

Wǒ zhǐ yǒu yíge gōngwénbāo.

waw jir yo ee-guh goong-one-baow.

I have only one briefcase.

Zhíyuán:

Hǎo. Nín yào kào guòdào de wèizi háishì yào kào chuāng de wèizi?

how. neen yow cow gwaw-daow duh way-dzuh hi-shir yaow cow chwahng duh way-dzuh?

All right. Would you like an aisle or a window seat?

Shí Píng:

Wǒ xiǎng yào kào guòdào de wèizi.

waw shyahng yaow cow gwaw-daow duh way-dzuh.

I'd like an aisle seat.

Zhíyuán:

Hǎo. Zhèi shì nínde dēngjīpái. Qù Běijīng de 108 cì bānjī, 19 pái, B zuò.

how. jay shir neen-duh duhng-jee-pye. chyew bay-jeeng duh ee-bye-leeng-bah tsuh bahn-jee, shir-jyo pye, B dzwaw.

Fine. Here's your boarding pass. Flight 108 to Beijing, Row 19, Seat B.

Shí Píng:

Xièxiè.

shyeh-shyeh.

Thanks.

Zhíyuán:

Zhè shì nínde xínglǐ lǐngqǔdān. Dàole Běijīng yǐhòu kěyǐ lǐngqǔ nínde xínglǐ.

jay shir neen-duh sheeng-lee leeng-chyew-dahn. dow-luh bay-jeeng ee-ho kuh-yee leeng-chyew neen-duh sheeng-lee.

Here are your luggage claim tags. After you arrive in Beijing, you can claim your luggage.

Shí Píng:

Xièxiè.

shyeh-shyeh.

Thanks.

Zhíyuán:

Zhù nín yí lù píng ān.

joo neen ee loo peeng ahn.

Have a nice trip.

Boarding your flight

Okay! You're all set to board the
fēijī
飞机
(
飛機
) (fay-jee) (
airplane
). Are you lucky enough to sit in the
tóuděngcāng
头等舱
(
頭等艙
) (toe-duhng-tsahng) (
first class
) section, or do you have to sit in
jīngjìcāng
经济舱
(
經濟艙
) (jeeng-jee-tsahng) (
economy class
) the whole time? Either way, here are some people you see get on the plane (at least I hope you do):

chéngwùyuán
乘务员
(
乘務員
) (chung-woo-ywan) (
flight attendants
)

jiàshǐyuán
驾驶员
(
駕駛員
) (jyah-shih-ywan) (
pilot
)

jīzǔ
机组
(
機組
)
(jee-dzoo) (
crew
)

And if you're like me, you get worried about some things as the plane begins to taxi down the runway:

qǐfēi
起飞
(
起飛
) (chee-fay) (
takeoff
)

qìliú
气流
(
氣流
) (chee-lyo) (
turbulence
)

zhuólù
着陆
(
著陸
) (jwaw-loo) (
landing
)

Aaah! I get nervous just thinking about them. It's okay, though. The
chéngwùyuán
are on to people like you and me. That's why they make sure to tell you before takeoff where the
jiùshēngyī
救生衣
(jyo-shung ee) (
life vests
) and
jǐnjí chūkǒu
紧急出口
(
緊急出口
) (jin-jee-choo-ko) (
emergency exits
) are located. You may also hear them bark out the following instructions, if you haven't already managed to tune everything out:

Bǎ tuōpán cānzhuō shōu qǐlái.
把托盘餐桌收起来
. (
把托盤餐桌收起來
.) (bah twaw-pahn tsahn-jwaw show chee-lye.) (
Put your tray table back.
)