Cam: Welcome to Chinese Studio on China Radio International. I’m Cam.
YJ: And I’m Yajie – Cam, this week we are going to look at making appointments. It’s something that foreigners in Beijing need to do sometimes.
Cam: Let’s Check Key Words of the Day
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Key Words of the Day
I’d like to see Mr. Wang. 我想见王先生(wo3 xiang3 jian4 wang2 xian1sheng)。What time would you like to see him? 您想几点见他?nin2xiang3 ji3 dian3 jian4 ta1?)Would nine o’clock tomorrow morning be alright? 明天早上九点可以吗?(ming2tian1 zao3shang jiu3 dian3, ke3yi3 ma?) All in today’s Chinese Studio.
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Yajie: So Cam, do you normally have to make appointments?
Cam: Well, normally, I have to get a Chinese person to make them for me! So this lesson will be useful. How do I say “I’d like to see” somebody if I show up at an office?
YJ: In Chinese “I’d like to see” is “我想见(wo3 xiang3 jian4)…”
Cam: “我想见(wo3 xiang3 jian)…”
YJ: 我 (wo3), I.
Cam: 我(wo3)
YJ: 想 (xiang3), would like to.
Cam: 想 (xiang3)
YJ: 见(jian4), j-i-a-n, the fourth tone, to see.
Cam: 见(jian4)
YJ: 我想见(wo3 xiang3 jian4)
Cam: 我想见(wo3 xiang3 jian4), I’d like to see.
YJ: Then you can put the person’s name after it. For instance, if you want to see Mr. Wang, you can say “我想见王先生(wo3 xiang3 jian4 wang2 xian1sheng)”
Cam: Ok. Not difficult. 我想见王先生(wo3 xiang3 jian4 wang2 xian1sheng)I’d like to see Mr. Wang.
Conversation 1:
YJ: Then you may hear the secretary or personal assistant asking: What time would you like to see him? Which in Chinese is: 您想几点见他?(nin2 xiang3 ji3 dian3 jian4 ta1?)
Cam: 您想几点见他?(nin2xiang ji3 dian3 jian4 ta1?)
YJ: 您(nin2),you.
Cam: 您(nin2)
YJ: 想 (xiang3), want to
Cam: 想 (xiang3)
YJ: 几点 (ji3 dian3), what time.
Cam: 几点 (ji3 dian3)
YJ: 见(jian4), to meet or to see.
Cam: 见(jian4)
YJ: 他 (ta), he or him.
Cam: 他 (ta)
YJ: 您想几点见他?(nin2 xiang3 ji3 dian3 jian4 ta1?)
Cam: 您想几点见他?(nin2 xiang3 ji3 dian3 jian4 ta1?)What time would you like to see him?
Conversation 2:
Cam: Could you please tell me what’s Chinese for “Would nine o’clock tomorrow morning be alright?”
YJ: it’s明天早上九点可以吗? (ming2tian1 zao3shang jiu3 dian3, ke3yi3 ma?)
Cam: 明天早上九点可以吗? (ming2tian1 zao3shang jiu3 dian3, ke3yi3 ma?) I know 明天 (ming2tian1) is tomorrow.
YJ: Right. And 早上 (zao3shang) is morning.
Cam: 早上 (zao3shang)
YJ:ming tian zao shang, tomorrow morning
Cam: ming tian zao shang.
YJ: 九点 (jiu3 dian3), nine o’clock.
Cam: 九点 (jiu3 dian3)
YJ: 可以吗 (ke3yi3 ma), is it okay?
Cam: 可以吗 (ke3yi3 ma)
YJ: 明天早上九点可以吗? (ming2tian1 zao3shang jiu3 dian3, ke3yi3 ma?) Would nine o’clock tomorrow morning be alright?
Cam:明天早上九点可以吗? (ming2tian1 zao3shang jiu3 dian3, ke3yi3 ma?) now let’s say if i want to see him at ten o’clock am.. the day after tomorrow. How do I say that in Chinese?
YJ: ten o’clock is 十点(shi2 dian3).
Cam: 十点(shi2 dian3).
YJ: And the day after tomorrow is 后天(hou4tian1) in Chinese. Hou tian is very common.
Cam: 后天(hou4tian1). So together it’s后天早上十点可以吗?(hou4tian1 zao3shang shi2 dian3, ke3yi3 ma?)
YJ: Right. 后天早上十点可以吗?(hou4tian1 zao3shang shi2 dian3, ke3yi3 ma?) Would 10 am the day after tomorrow be alright?
Conversation 3:
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Key Words Reminder
I’d like to see Mr. Wang. 我想见王先生(wo3 xiang3 jian4 wang2 xian1sheng)。 What time would you like to see him? 您想几点见他?(nin2xiang3 ji3 dian3 jian4 ta1?) Would nine o’clock tomorrow morning be alright? 明天早上九点可以吗? (ming2tian1 zao3shang jiu3 dian3, ke3yi3 ma?)
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YJ: So now you know the basics about making an appointment. Good for you Cam.
Cam: Yeah, this will help for sure. Today’s question of the day is, how do you say “What time would you like to see him” in Chinese? See ya tomorrow!
YJ: Zai jian.
