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Day 3

Common Phrases

Essential everyday phrases: greetings, asking for help, shopping, dining, and directions.

Asking for Help & Basic Questions

-thirds是什么意思？
Chinese (汉字)PinyinEnglish
请问…Qǐngwèn…Excuse me, may I ask…
这个怎么读？Zhège zěnme dú?How do you read this?
…shì shénme yìsi?What does … mean?
你能帮我吗？Nǐ néng bāng wǒ ma?Can you help me?
我不会说中文。Wǒ bù huì shuō Zhōngwén.I can’t speak Chinese.
你会说英语吗？Nǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma?Do you speak English?
请说慢一点。Qǐng shuō màn yīdiǎn.Please speak slower.
请再说一遍。Qǐng zài shuō yībiàn.Please say that again.

Shopping & Bargaining Phrases

ChinesePinyinEnglish
多少钱？Duōshǎo qián?How much is it?
太贵了！Tài guì le!Too expensive!
便宜一点吧。Piányi yīdiǎn ba.Cheaper please.
我买这个。Wǒ mǎi zhège.I’ll buy this.
可以刷卡吗？Kěyǐ shuākǎ ma?Can I pay by card?
有别的颜色吗？Yǒu bié de yánsè ma?Do you have other colors?
试穿一下可以吗？Shì chuān yīxià kěyǐ ma?Can I try it on?

Dining & Ordering Food

ChinesePinyinEnglish
我饿了。Wǒ è le.I’m hungry.
我想点餐。Wǒ xiǎng diǎn cān.I’d like to order.
菜单，谢谢。Càidān, xièxie.Menu, please.
这个菜辣吗？Zhège cài là ma?Is this dish spicy?
我不吃辣。Wǒ bù chī là.I don’t eat spicy food.
吃素。Chī sù.Vegetarian.
买单。Mǎidān.Check, please.
好吃！Hǎochī!Delicious!

Directions & Transportation

ChinesePinyinEnglish
在哪里？…zài nǎlǐ?Where is …?
地铁站dìtiě zhànSubway station
公交车站gōngjiāo chē zhànBus stop
厕所cèsuǒToilet
左边/右边zuǒbiān / yòubiānLeft / Right
往前走wǎng qián zǒuGo straight
在拐角处zài guǎijiǎo chùAt the corner
远吗？yuǎn ma?Is it far?

Emergency & Health Phrases

ChinesePinyinEnglish
救命！Jiùmìng!Help!
叫警察！Jiào jǐngchá!Call the police!
我生病了。Wǒ shēngbìng le.I’m sick.
我需要医生。Wǒ xūyào yīshēng.I need a doctor.
药店在哪里？Yàodiàn zài nǎlǐ?Where is the pharmacy?

Example Sentences & Mini Dialogue

  • 请问，地铁站在哪里？ (Qǐngwèn, dìtiě zhàn zài nǎlǐ?) – Excuse me, where is the subway station?
  • 这个苹果多少钱？太贵了！便宜一点吧。 (Zhège píngguǒ duōshǎo qián? Tài guì le! Piányi yīdiǎn ba.) – How much is this apple? Too expensive! Cheaper please.
  • 我不吃辣，请给我不辣的菜。 (Wǒ bù chī là, qǐng gěi wǒ bù là de cài.) – I don’t eat spicy, please give me non-spicy dish.
  • 你能帮我拍照吗？ (Nǐ néng bāng wǒ pāizhào ma?) – Can you take a picture for me?

Tourist: 你好！请问，这附近有厕所吗？ (Nǐ hǎo! Qǐngwèn, zhè fùjìn yǒu cèsuǒ ma?)

Local: 有，往前走，左边拐角处。 (Yǒu, wǎng qián zǒu, zuǒbiān guǎijiǎo chù.)

Tourist: 谢谢！远吗？ (Xièxie! Yuǎn ma?)

Local: 不远，大概两分钟。 (Bù yuǎn, dàgài liǎng fēnzhōng.)

Tourist: 非常感谢！再见！ (Fēicháng gǎnxiè! Zàijiàn!)

Exercise

Match the Chinese phrase to its correct English meaning:

  1. 多少钱？ → a) Too expensive    b) How much?    c) Cheaper please
  2. 救命！ → a) Help!    b) Call police    c) I’m sick
  3. 请说慢一点 → a) Speak louder    b) Please speak slower    c) Say again
  4. 买单 → a) Menu    b) Check please    c) Delicious
  5. 我不吃辣 → a) I like spicy    b) I don’t eat spicy    c) This is spicy
Show answers

1. b) How much?
2. a) Help!
3. b) Please speak slower
4. b) Check please
5. b) I don’t eat spicy

Cultural note: In China, bargaining is common in markets but not in supermarkets or chain stores. Saying “太贵了” (tài guì le – too expensive) often leads to a lower price. When dining, it’s polite to compliment the food (“好吃!” hǎochī). Always use “请问” (qǐngwèn) before asking strangers for help – it shows respect.
Learning tip: Practice “survival phrases” by imagining you are lost in a Chinese city. Say the phrases out loud. Use apps like HelloChinese or Duolingo to hear pronunciation. Create flashcards with pinyin on one side and English on the other. Record yourself then compare with native audio.
Continue to Day 4

آج کا سبق – خلاصہ

آج آپ نے چینی میں روزمرہ کے اہم جملے سیکھے: مدد مانگنا، خریداری، ریستوران میں کھانا منگوانا، راستہ پوچھنا، اور ہنگامی صورتحال۔ ان جملوں کو بول کر مشق کریں اور تلفظ پر توجہ دیں۔

کل ہم چینی میں اعداد (1-100) اور ان کا استعمال سیکھیں گے۔ مشق جاری رکھیں!

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