Chinese For Dummies (113 page)

Qǐng zǒu fēngjǐng hǎo de lù.
请走风景好的路
. (
請走風景好的路
.) (cheeng dzoe fung-jeeng how duh loo.) (
Please take a scenic route.
)

Wǒ děi gǎn shíjiān.
我得赶时间
. (
我得趕時間
.) (waw day gahn shir-jyan.) (
I'm in a hurry.
)

Zài zhèr guǎi wār.
在这儿拐弯儿
. (
在這兒拐彎兒
.) (dzye jar gwye wahr.) (
Turn here.
)

Oh, and one more thing. As you set off with your taxi
sījī
司机
(
司機
) (suh-jee) (
driver
), make sure you put on your
ānquándài
安全带
(ahn-chwan-dye) (
seat belt
).

Finally, before you get out of the cab, these phrases may come in handy for price negotiations:

Bié qīpiàn wǒ.
别欺骗我
. (
別欺騙我
.) (byeh chee-pyan waw.) (
Don't cheat me.
)

Bú yòng zhǎo le.
不用找了
. (boo yoong jaow luh.) (
Keep the change.
)

Kāi wán xiào! Wǒ jùjué fù zhèmme duō qián.
开玩笑
!
我拒绝付这么多钱
. (
開玩笑
!
我拒絕付這麼多錢
.) (kye wahn shyaow! waw jyew-jweh foo juhmmuh dwaw chyan.) (
You've got to be kidding! I refuse to pay so much.
)

Qǐng gěi wǒ shōujù.
请给我收据
. (
請給我收據
.) (cheeng gay waw show-jyew.) (
Please give me a receipt.
)

Wǒ gāi gěi nǐ duōshǎo qián?
我该给你多少钱
? (
我該給你多少錢
?) (waw guy gay nee dwaw-shaow chyan?) (
How much do I owe you?
)

Wǒ huì àn biǎo fù kuǎn.
我会按表付款
. (
我會按表付款
.) (waw hway ahn byaow foo kwahn.) (
I'll pay what the meter says.
)

Because most people in China don't speak English, always remember to take a hotel card when you leave your hotel. Your card has the name and address in English and Chinese. You can always show the card to a taxi driver when you want to get back. If you're walking around town, you may want to take a map that shows local landmarks such as pagodas or train stations near your hotel.

Talkin' the Talk

Bill ventures out for a night on the town and needs a cab. He enlists the help of his hotel doorman.

Bill:

Wǒ yào jiào jìchéngchē.

waw yaow jyaow jee-chung-chuh.

I'd like a taxi.

Doorman:

Hǎo.

how.

Certainly.

Bill enters the cab and shows the driver a card with the name and address of a local nightclub.

Bill:

Qǐng dài wǒ dào zhèige yèzǒnghuì.

cheeng dye waw daow jay-guh yeh-dzoong-hway.

Please take me to this nightclub.

Driver:

Méiyǒu wèntí.

mayo one-tee.

No problem.

Bill:

Wǒ bùjí. Qǐng kāi màn yìdiǎr.

waw boo-jee. cheeng kye mahn ee-dyar.

I'm not in a hurry. Please drive a little slower.

Bill finally reaches the nightclub after his scenic cab drive.

Bill:

Wǒ gāi gěi nǐ duōshǎo qián?

waw guy gay nee dwaw-shaow chyan?

How much do I owe you?

Driver:

Shí kuài liǎng máo wǔ.

shir kwye lyahng maow woo.

That will be $10.25.

Bill hands the driver $15.

Bill:

Qǐng gěi wǒ shōujù. Bú yòng zhǎo le.

cheeng gay waw show-jyew. boo yoong jaow luh.

Please give me a receipt. Keep the change.

Driver:

Hǎo. Xièxiè.

how. shyeh-shyeh.