Chinese Language Convo Club - Casual Chinese Speaking Practice

Restaurant Review:

今天来打卡的这家金春禧，专做经典传统鲁菜，走进大厅就可以看到明亮的落地窗，窗外可以看到大海，海景的座位都是需要提前预定的，水饺是这里的特色，口味种类也很多，各种海鲜馅料，都是当天调制，现包现煮，糖醋鱼是特色，酸甜的汤汁，肉质细腻，蟹黄干捞粉丝煲也特别入味，喜欢吃鲁菜的朋友可以去试一下.

Jīntiān lái dǎkǎ de zhè jiā JīnChūnXǐ, zhuān zuò jīngdiǎn chuántǒng lǔ cài. Zǒu jìn dàtīng jiù kěyǐ kàn dào míngliàng de luòdìchuāng, chuāngwài kěyǐ kàn dào dàhǎi. Hǎijǐng de zuòwèi dōu shì xūyào tíqián yùdìng de. Shuǐjiǎo shì zhèlǐ de tèsè, kǒuwèi zhǒnglèi yě hěnduō, gè zhǒng hǎixiān xiàn liào, dōu shì dāngtiān tiáozhì, xiàn bāo xiàn zhǔ. Táng Cù Yú shì tèsè, suān tián de tāng zhī, ròuzhì xìnì. Xièhuáng Gàn Lāo Fěnsī Bǎo yě tèbié rùwèi. Xǐhuān chī lǔ cài de péngyǒu kěyǐ qù shì yīxià.

Translation:

The restaurant, Jin Chun Xi I visited today, specializes in classic traditional Shandong cuisine. As you enter the lobby, you can see bright floor-to-ceiling windows, from which you can view the ocean. Seats with ocean views need to be reserved in advance. Dumplings are the specialty here, and there are many flavors and a variety of seafood fillings. They are all prepared on the same day, wrapped and cooked fresh. Sweet and sour fish is a specialty, with sweet and sour soup and delicate meat. The crab roe and vermicelli casserole is also very flavorful. Those who like Shandong cuisine can go and give it a try.

What a Rip-Off!

一点不正宗，特意来吃枣庄辣子鸡，结果做成了新疆大盘鸡，竟然内脏一块都没有，还敢自称一只整鸡，竟然收费118，真是坑！！！

Yīdiǎn bù zhèngzōng, tèyì lái chī zǎozhuāng làzǐ jī, jiéguǒ zuò chéngle xīnjiāng dàpán jī, jìngrán nèizàng yīkuài dōu méiyǒu, hái gǎn zìchēng yī zhǐ zhěng jī, jìngrán shōufèi 118, zhēnshi kēng!!

Not authentic at all. I came here specifically to eat Zaozhuang spicy chicken, but it turned out to be Xinjiang big plate chicken, without even a piece of internal organs. They still dared to call it a whole chicken, but charged 118, what a rip-off!!!

1. 女性：一点不正宗，特意来吃枣庄辣子鸡，结果做成了新疆大盘鸡。。。特意。。特意来。。。特意来吃。。。。 枣庄。。。枣庄辣子鸡。。。。。特意来吃枣庄辣子鸡 。。。。。。。。新疆。。大盘鸡。。。

新疆大盘 鸡。。。。做成了。。。结果。。 结果做成了 。。。。。。结果做成了新疆大盘鸡。。。。。。

特意来吃枣庄辣子鸡，结果做成了新疆大盘鸡。。。。。。。。。。正宗。。不正宗。。。 一点不正宗

。。。。。。 一点不正宗，特意来吃枣庄辣子鸡，结果做成了新疆大盘鸡。。。。。。。。。。

男性 – 金春禧的枣庄辣子鸡味道怎么样？。。。。。。。。。。

女性： 一点不正宗，特意来吃枣庄辣子鸡，结果做成了新疆大盘鸡。

2. 男性：竟然内脏一块都没有，还敢自称一只整鸡。。自称。。敢自称。。。还敢自称。。。一只鸡。。整。。一只整鸡。。。。 还敢自称一只整鸡。。。。。内脏。。一块。。都。。没有。。一块都没有。。。。内脏一块都没有。。。。。。竟然。。 竟然内脏一块都没有。。。。。 竟然内脏一块都没有，还敢自称一只整鸡。。。。。。。。。。

女性：？。。。。。。。。。。

男性： 竟然内脏一块都没有，还敢自称一只整鸡。

3. 女性：竟然收费118，真是坑！。。。坑。。真是坑。。。收费。。收费118。。 竟然收费118。。。。 竟然收费118，真是坑。。。。。。。。

男性：？。。。。。。。。。。

女性：竟然收费118，真是坑！

Join me and my good friend and guest host Kapa Zhao, as we talk about what a restaurant review might say if the dishes don’t quite live up to one’s expectations.

Vocabulary:

1. ​ 正宗 ( zhèngzōng)– Authentic
2. ​ 特意(tèyì) - For a special purpose, specially
3. ​ 枣庄辣子鸡(zǎozhuāng làzǐ jī)– Zao Zhuang Spicy Chicken
4. ​ 新疆大盘鸡(xīnjiāng dàpán jī) – XinJiang Big Plate Chicken
5. ​ 竟然(jìngrán) – To go so far as to, to have the impudence or nerve to do something
6. ​ 内脏 (nèizàng)– internal organs
7. ​ 自称 ( zìchēng)- to call oneself, to claim to be, self-proclaimed
8. ​ 收费(shōufèi ) – to collect fees, to charge
9. ​ 坑 – (kēng)(in this context) a rip-off

金春禧的一个差评：

一点不正宗，特意来吃枣庄辣子鸡，结果做成了新疆大盘鸡，竟然内脏一块都没有，还敢自称一只整鸡，竟然收费118，真是坑！！！

Yīdiǎn bù zhèngzōng. Tèyì lái chī zǎozhuāng làzǐ jī, jiéguǒ zuò chéngle xīnjiāng dàpán jī, jìngrán nèizàng yīkuài dōu méiyǒu, hái gǎn zìchēng yī zhi zhěng jī, jìngrán shōufèi 118, zhēnshi kēng!!

Not authentic at all. I came here specifically to eat Zao Zhuang Spicy Chicken, but it turned out to be Xinjiang Big Plate Chicken, without any internal organs. They still dared to call it a whole chicken, but charged 118. What a rip-off!!!

For the YouTube Video of Vicky's visit to JinChunXi, follow this link:

https://youtu.be/DKDNrLaL3Sg?si=N8lyKt_y2CNMZ583

To watch this video on Youtube, follow the link below:

https://youtu.be/DKDNrLaL3Sg

几周前，我和我的朋友Max看了一篇关于金春禧的好评。下周，我的好朋友Kapa Zhao和我将讨论一篇负面评论，这篇评论是由一位没有得到他所期望的客户写的。与此同时，Vicky也去了一趟青岛，亲自去参观了这家历史悠久的餐厅，决定自己做出判断。你怎么看呢？根据我们的第一次评论和你看到的内容，如果你有机会到青岛，中国，你会考虑去这家餐厅吗？

Jǐ zhōu qián, wǒ hé wǒ de péngyǒu Max kànle yī piān guānyú Jīnchūn Xǐ de hǎo pínglùn. Xià zhōu, wǒ de hǎo péngyǒu Kapa Zhao hé wǒ jiāng tǎolùn yī piān fùmiàn pínglùn。 Zhè piān pínglùn shì yóu yī wèi méiyǒu dédào tā suǒ qīwàng de kèhù xiě de. Tóngshí, Vicky yě qùle yī tàng Qīng Dǎo, qīnzì qù cānguānle zhè jiā lìshǐ yōujiǔ de cāntīng, juédìng zìjǐ zuòchū pànduàn. Nǐ zěnme kàn ne? Gēnjù wǒmen de dì yī cì pínglùn hé nǐ kàn dào de nèiróng, rúguǒ nǐ yǒu jīhuì dào QīngDǎo, ZhōngGuó, nǐ huì kǎolǜ qù zhè jiā cāntīng ma?

A couple weeks ago, my friend Max and I looked at a positive review written for Jin Chun Xi. Next week, my good friend Kapa Zhao and I will discuss a negative review written by a customer who didn't quite get what he was hoping for. In the meantime, Vicky took a trip of her own to go check out this well established restaurant in Qing Dao and decide for herself. What do you think? Based on our first review and what you see here, is this a place you would likely visit if you ever find yourself in Qing Dao, China?

幸灾乐祸 (Xìng zāi lè huò)

Lindi: 你听说了吗？小李失业了。(Nǐ tīng shuōle ma? Xiǎo lǐ shīyèle.) Have you heard? Xiao Li lost his job.

Vicky: 是啊，我知道。其实我觉得他有点活该。(Shì a, wǒ zhīdào. Qíshí wǒ juédé tā yǒudiǎn huógāi.) Yes I know. Actually I think he deserves it.

Lindi: 你怎么会这么说？(Nǐ zěnme huì zhème shuō?) How can you say that?

Vicky: 他总是看别人不顺眼，现在轮到他了，幸灾乐祸嘛。(Tā zǒng shì kàn biérén bù shùnyǎn, xiànzài lún dào tāle, xìngzāilèhuò ma.) He’s always giving people the side-eye, now he’s gotten his. Too bad for him.

Lindi: 这样不好吧，应该同情他。(Zhèyàng bù hǎo ba, yīnggāi tóngqíng tā.) That’s not right – we should sympathize with him.

In this episode, we take a real review we found on a Chinese website and break it down word by word—so you can learn how to describe food, setting and atmosphere, like a native speaker.

Join my friend and Chinese teacher Max, as she walks us through a this review written about a restaurant in QingDao called Jin Chun Xi.

Vocab:

1. 鲁菜 – Shandong Cuisine

2. 落地窗 – Floor to ceiling windows

3. 馅料 – Filling (literally, Filling Materials for food only)

4. 当天调制 – made fresh daily (调制 – means “to concoct by mixing ingredients, to prepare according to a recipe”)

5. 现包现煮 – freshly wrapped/freshly boiled

6. 汤汁 - broth

7. 细腻 – Smooth, Melts in the mouth

8. 蟹黄干捞粉丝煲 – Crab Roe and vermicelli casserole

9. 入味 – tasty, flavorful

今天来打卡的这家金春禧，专做经典传统鲁菜，走进大厅就可以看到明亮的落地窗，窗外可以看到大海，海景的座位都是需要提前预定的，水饺是这里的特色，口味种类也很多，各种海鲜馅料，都是当天调制，现包现煮，糖醋鱼是特色，酸甜的汤汁，肉质细腻，蟹黄干捞粉丝煲也特别入味，喜欢吃鲁菜的朋友可以去试一下.

Jīntiān lái dǎkǎ de zhè jiā JīnChūnXǐ, zhuān zuò jīngdiǎn chuántǒng Lǔ cài. Zǒu jìn dàtīng jiù kěyǐ kàn dào míngliàng de luòdìchuāng, chuāngwài kěyǐ kàn dào dàhǎi. Hǎijǐng de zuòwèi dōu shì xūyào tíqián yùdìng de. Shuǐjiǎo shì zhèlǐ de tèsè, kǒuwèi zhǒnglèi yě hěnduō, gè zhǒng hǎixiān xiàn liào, dōu shì dāngtiān tiáozhì, xiàn bāo xiàn zhǔ. Táng Cù Yú shì tèsè, suān tián de tāng zhī, ròuzhì xìnì. Xièhuáng Gàn Lāo Fěnsī Bǎo yě tèbié rùwèi. Xǐhuān chī lǔ cài de péngyǒu kěyǐ qù shì yīxià.

Translation:

The restaurant I visited today, Jin Chun Xi, specializes in classic traditional Shandong cuisine. As you enter the lobby, you can see bright floor-to-ceiling windows, from which you can view the ocean. Seats with ocean views need to be reserved in advance. Dumplings are the specialty here, and there are many flavors and a variety of seafood fillings. They are all prepared on the same day, wrapped and cooked fresh. Sweet and sour fish is a specialty, with sweet and sour soup and delicate meat. The crab roe and vermicelli casserole is also very flavorful. Those who like Shandong cuisine can go and give it a try.

What does it mean when someone says a place or person is “小资”? In this episode, we break down this nuanced phrase and explore how it’s used to describe a certain type of urban, cultured lifestyle—sometimes elegant, sometimes a little pretentious. Perfect for learners looking to understand modern Mandarin culture and tone.

对话：

Vicky – 我昨天晚上去了一家新的酒吧，很有小资情调。(Wǒ zuótiān wǎnshàng qùle yījiā xīn de jiǔbā, hěn yǒu xiǎozī qíngdiào.) I went to a new bar last night, it was very bougie.

Lindi – 哦是吗？这家酒吧有什么特别的？(ó shì ma? Zhè jiā jiǔbā yǒu shé me tèbié de?) Oh really? What was unique about this bar?

Vicky – 它每个周某都有现场的音乐。特别是它的爵士乐，非常好听。有机会我带你去看一看。(Tā měi gè zhōu mǒu dōu yǒu xiànchǎng de yīnyuè. Tèbié shì tā de juéshìyuè, fēicháng hǎotīng. Yǒu jīhuì wǒ dài nǐ qù kàn yī kàn.) They have live music every week. Their jazz music is especially good. If we get chance sometime soon I’ll take you to go check it out.

Lindi – 太好了！(tài hǎole!) Great!

Supplementary words/phrases:

小资情调：

它本来的意思就是说：中产阶级 – 他追求精致和有品位生活的这种生活方式叫“小资情调”。

“资” 就是“资产阶级”。

(XiǎoZī QíngDiào: Tā běnlái de yìsi jiùshì shuō: Zhōngchǎn jiējí – tā zhuīqiú jīngzhì hé yǒu pǐnwèi shēnghuó de zhè zhǒng shēnghuó fāngshì jiào “xiǎozī qíngdiào”. “Zī” jiùshì “zīchǎn jiējí.”)

It originally comes from: The Middle Class - the pursuit of a refined and tasteful lifestyle (of some people in the middle class) which came to be known as “petty bourgeoisie”

"Zi" refers to “assets” – “Zī chǎn” - “ Jiē jí” refers to “social class”.

“Zīchǎn jiējí” – is known as the “petty bourgeois class”

资本主义 (Zīběn zhǔyì) - Capitalism

资本主义者 (Zīběn zhǔyì zhě) Capitalist

"情调" – 很有情调。(Qíngdiào – hěn yǒu qíngdiào) – Sentiment – Very Sentimental)

Example Sentences:

这个人，她很有小资情调。(Zhège rén, tā hěn yǒu xiǎozī qíngdiào.) This person is very bougie.

她很喜欢小资情调。(Tā hěn xǐhuān xiǎozī qíngdiào.) She likes bougie things.

这个地方很有小资情调。(Zhège dìfāng hěn yǒu xiǎozī qíngdiào.) This place is very bougie.

他很小资。(Tā hěn xiǎozī. ) He’s very bougie.

他的品味很小资。(Tā de pǐnwèi hěn xiǎozī. ) He has very bougie tastes (not used very often)

这点比较有小资情调。(Zhè diǎn bǐjiào yǒu xiǎozī qíngdiào) This is rather bougie.

你喝咖啡很小资。(Nǐ hē kāfēi hěn xiǎozī.) You’re pretty bougie about coffee.

Frozen Video Call:

小明: 你今天干什么了？。。。(Xiǎomíng: Nǐ jīntiān gān shén me le?) What did you do today?

小丽。。。。。

小明：嘿。。你能听得见我吗？(Hēi.. Nǐ néng tīng dé jiàn wǒ ma?) Hey..Can you hear me?

小丽: 。。嗯。我现在能听见了，但是你的画面卡住了。(Xiǎo lì:Ǹg. Wǒ xiànzài néng tīngjiànle, dànshì nǐ de huàmiàn kǎ zhùle.) Uhh..I can hear you now, but your picture is frozen.

小明: 哦，不好意思。可能是网络问题吧。恐怕我这边也有点卡。(Ó, bù hǎoyìsi. Kěnéng shì wǎngluò wèntí ba. Kǒngpà wǒ zhè biān yěyǒu diǎn kǎ.) Oh sorry. It might be a network problem. I’m afraid it’s a bit stuck on my end too.

小丽: 那我们要不要重连一下？(Nà wǒmen yào bù yào chónglián yīxià?) Should we reconnect?

小明: 好的，我重新拨一下视频。稍等。(Hǎo de, wǒ chóngxīn bō yīxià shìpín. Shāo děng..) Ok, I’ll try calling you again. One moment...)

小丽: 没问题。我等你。(Méi wèntí. Wǒ děng nǐ.) No problem. I’ll wait.

（小明挂断视频，几秒钟后重新拨打）(Xiǎomíng guà duàn shìpín, jǐ miǎo zhōng hòu chóngxīn bōdǎ) (Xiao Ming hangs up the call and redials a few minutes later.)

小明: 现在怎么样？画面清楚吗？(Xiànzài zěnme yàng? Huàmiàn qīngchǔ ma?)How is it now? Is the picture clear?

小丽: 还是不清楚，声音也断断续续的。( Háishì bù qīngchǔ, shēngyīn yě duànduànxùxù de.) It’s still not clear, and the sound is intermittent.

小明: 哦。。是吗？那我可以试试重启路由器，也许会好一点。(Ó.. Shì ma? Nà wǒ kěyǐ shì shì chóngqǐ lùyóuqì, yěxǔ huì hǎo yīdiǎn.) Oh really? Then I can try restarting the router. Maybe that will help.

小丽: 没问题。。等你好了，我们再试一次。(Méi wèntí.. Děng nǐ hǎole, wǒmen zài shì yīcì.) No problem. When it’s finished (restarting) we’ll try again.

（在打视频时） (Zài dǎ shìpín shí) (While starting the video call)

小明：现在怎么样？(Xiànzài zěnme yàng? ) How is it now?

小丽：还是不行。。算了！我们还是打电话吧！(Háishì bùxíng.. Suànle! Wǒmen háishì dǎ diànhuà ba!) Still not working...Forget it! Let’s just use the phone!

Pronunciation Training:

1. 女性: 我。。。现在。。。能。。。听见了。。。我现在能听见了。。。但是。。。你的。。。画面。。。停住了。。。但是你的画面停住了。。。我现在能听见了，但是你的画面停住了。

男性: 你能听到我说话吗？

女性: 我现在能听见了，但是你的画面停住了。

2. 男性: 可能。。。是。。。网络。。。问题。。。吧。。。可能是网络问题吧。。。我这边。。。也。。。有点。。。卡。。。我这边也有点卡。。。可能是网络问题吧。我这边也有点卡。

女性: 你觉得是什么问题？

男性: 可能是网络问题吧。我这边也有点卡。

3. 女性: 好的。。。我。。。重新。。。拨一下。。。视频。。。重新拨一下视频。。。好的，我重新拨一下视频。

男性: 你可以重新拨一下吗？

女性: 好的，我重新拨一下视频。

4. 男性: 还是。。。不。。。清楚。。。还是不清楚。。。声音。。。也。。。断断续续。。。的。。。声音也断断续续的。。。还是不清楚，声音也断断续续的。

女性: 现在听得清吗？

男性: 还是不清楚，声音也断断续续的。

5. 女性: 那。。。我。。。可以。。。试试。。。重启。。。路由器。。。重启路由器。。。可以试试重启路由器。。。也许。。。会。。。好一点。。。也许会好一点。。。那我可以试试重启路由器，也许会好一点。

男性: 还有什么别的办法吗？

女性: 那我可以试试重启路由器，也许会好一点。

Tips for Online Meetings:

大家好，为了避免上次会议中的翻车现场，我决定通过电子邮件向大家分享一下会议的内容。 下面是开视频会议时的几点建议：

1. 不要把问题留到最后。

2. 提前征求反馈建议。

3.使用电子问卷调查。

4. 预先考虑到一些会被提到的问题。

5.了解你的讨论内容

6. 保持持续的对话 --承诺在会后回答任何未被回答的问题。

7. 任何一次好的会议都不是以一个问题来结束的----而是以你希望大家记住的三个重点来结束的。

如果你有任何问题或者建议， 随时和我沟通.

祝好,

王雪梅

Dàjiā hǎo, Wèile bìmiǎn shàng cì huìyì zhōng de fānchē xiànchǎng, wǒ juédìng tōngguò diànzǐ yóujiàn xiàng dàjiā fēnxiǎng yīxià huìyì de nèiróng. Xiàmiàn shì kāi shìpín huìyì shí de jǐ diǎn jiànyì:

1. Bùyào bǎ wèntí liú dào zuìhòu.

2. Tíqián zhēngqiú fǎnkuì jiànyì.

3. Shǐyòng diànzǐ wènjuàn diàochá.

4. Yùxiān kǎolǜ dào yīxiē huì bèi tí dào de wèntí.

5. Liǎojiě nǐ de tǎolùn nèiróng

6. Bǎochí chíxù de duìhuà --chéngnuò zài huì hòu huídá rènhé wèi bèi huídá de wèntí.

7. Rènhé yīcì hǎo de huìyì dōu bùshì yǐ yīgè wèntí lái jiéshù de----ér shì yǐ nǐ xīwàng dàjiā jì zhù de sān gè zhòngdiǎn lái jiéshù de.

Rúguǒ nǐ yǒu rènhé wèntí huòzhě jiànyì, suíshí hé wǒ gōutōng.

Zhù hǎo,

WángXuěMéi

Pronunciation Training:

1. 男性：承诺。。承诺在会后。。。。未被。。未被回答的。。。。未被回答的问题。。。。回答任何。。。回答任何未被回答的问题。。。。。承诺在会后回答任何未被回答的问题。

女性: 为了保持持续的对话，要做什么？。。。。。。。。。。

男性：承诺在会后回答任何未被回答的问题。

2. 女性：以一个问题来结束的。。。。不是以一个问题来结束的。。。。都不是以一个问题来结束的。。。。。任何一次好的会议。。。。 任何一次好的会议都不是以一个问题来结束的。。。。。。。。。而是。。而是以三个重点来结束的。。。。。你希望大家记住的。。。。。而是以你希望大家记住的三个重点来结束的。。。。。。。 任何一次好的会议都不是以一个问题来结束的----而是以你希望大家记住的三个重点来结束的。。。。。。。。。。。。。

男性：好的会议是怎么结束的？

女性：任何一次好的会议都不是以一个问题来结束的----而是以你希望大家记住的三个重点来结束的

我们今天讨论一下关于怎么样更好的开视频会议，能吸引人们来参加视频会议的时候，多一些讨论并且提出问题.

Today we will be talking about how to have more interactive online meetings - a rebroadcast of a favorite episode Vicky and I recorded early on.

If you like this one, pls check out The Zoom Meeting Disaster, which delves a bit deeper into what can go wrong when online meetings get hacked.

Email us at: [email protected]

Website: https://apextutoring.org/

Vocabulary:

预先 - In Advance

保持 - Maintain

承诺 - To Promise

未被 - Un..

未被回答的 - Unanswered Questions

。。。以。。。。以。。。- By or Through

重点 - Key Points, Unimportant Points

煮好 - Best, Best Wishes

Dialogue:

邮件: 大家好，为了避免上次会议中的翻车现场，我决定通过电子邮件向大家分享一下会议的内容。 下面是开视频会议时的几点建议：

1. 不要把问题留到最后。

2. 提前征求反馈建议。

3.使用电子问卷调查。

4. 预先考虑到一些会被提到的问题。

5.了解你的讨论内容

6. 保持持续的对话 --承诺在会后回答任何未被回答的问题。

7. 任何一次好的会议都不是以一个问题来结束的----而是以你希望大家记住的三个重点来结束的。

如果你有任何问题或者建议， 随时和我沟通.

祝好,

王雪梅

措手不及

小李：你听说了吗？公司要裁员！(Xiǎo Lǐ: Nǐ tīng shuōle ma? Gōngsī yào cáiyuán!)

Have you heard? The company’s about to go through lay-offs.

小张：真的？我完全措手不及！(Xiǎo Zhāng: Zhēn de? Wǒ wánquán cuòshǒubùjí! )

Really? I was totally unaware!

小李：是啊，昨天还正常开会，今天就来了这个消息。(Shì a, zuótiān hái zhèngcháng kāihuì, jīntiān jiù láile zhège xiāoxī.) Yes, just yesterday we had our meeting as usual, but today got the news.

小张：我们得赶紧准备，找新的工作吧。(Wǒmen déi gǎnjǐn zhǔnbèi, zhǎo xīn de gōngzuò ba.) We better get ready and find a new job!

小李：对，不能坐等。我会更新我的简历!(Duì, bùnéng zuòděng. Wǒ huì gēngxīn wǒ de jiǎnlì!) Yes, we can’t sit around and wait. I’m going to update my resume!

Example Sentences:

1. 老师突然说要考试。同学们都觉得措手不及。 The teacher suddenly announced a pop quiz. All the students were caught off guard。

2. 他的问题让我（有一点儿）措手不及。His question caught me （a little) off guard.

3. 听说飓风就要来了，我得准备一些应急用品，免得措手不及。I heard a hurricane is coming through. I need to get a few emergency supplies ready so I’m not caught off guard.

*There was a small mistake which I didn't catch until after posting this episode. We had changed the script from 你的画面停住了 to 你的画面卡住了， the difference being along the lines of .."your video (or picture) has stopped" v/s "your picture is frozen". Both can be used in Chinese, but we liked 卡住了 a bit better. We reached out to our voice actors and had them re-record this small part in the dialogue and pronunciation training. Thanks for your patience!

We will be back to posting regularly in a few weeks! Until then, please enjoy a very practical lesson on what to say when having technical difficulties during video calls.

视频卡住了:

1. 听得见 (tīng de jiàn) - Can hear

2. 画面 (huà miàn) - Screen, picture

3. 卡住 (kǎ zhù) - Frozen

4. 网络 (wǎng luò) - Network, internet

5. 重连 (chóng lián) - Reconnect

6. 重新 (chóng xīn) - Again, once more

7. 拨打 (bō dǎ) - Dial, call

8. 视频 (shì pín) - Video

9. 清楚 (qīng chu) - Clear

10. 声音 (shēng yīn) - Sound, voice

11. 断断续续 (duàn duàn xù xù) - Intermittent, off&on

12. 重启 (chóng qǐ) - Restart

13. 路由器 (lù yóu qì) - Router

14. 再试一次 (shì yī cì) – Try one more time

小明: 你今天干什么了？。。。

小丽。。。。。

小明：嘿。。你能听得见我吗？

小丽: （忧郁地说话。。）。。嗯。我现在能听见了，但是你的画面卡住了。

小明: 哦，不好意思。可能是网络问题吧。恐怕我这边也有点卡。

小丽: 那我们要不要重连一下？

小明: 好的，我重新拨一下视频。稍等。

小丽: 没问题。我等你。

（小明挂断视频，几秒钟后重新拨打）

小明: 现在怎么样？画面清楚吗？

小丽: 还是不清楚，声音也断断续续的。

小明: 哦。。是吗？那我可以试试重启路由器，也许会 好一点。

小丽: 没问题。。等你好了，我们再试一次。

（在打视频时）

小明：现在怎么样？

小丽：还是不行。。算了！我们还是打电话吧！

Useful Phrases for Video Calls:

1. 你能听见吗？你能看见我吗？Can you hear me? Can you see me?

2. 我有一点 听不清楚 – 你的声音很小。I can’t hear you very clearly – your sound is very low.

3. 我换个耳机。 - I’ll change over to headphones

4. 你卡住了 – you’re frozen

5. 你能再说一遍吗？刚才你卡住了。Can you say that again? You were frozen just a moment ago.

6. 信号不好 – The signal is bad.

7. 网络很差。- The internet connection isn’t very good.

8. 你没开麦克风 – Your microphone isn’t on.

9. 你静音了。- You’re on mute.

10. 你那边断断续续的 – You’re breaking up.

11. 我先挂了，等一下再打给你。- Let me hang up, I’ll call you right back.

12. 不好意思，我刚才不小心按错了。- Sorry, I just accidentally hit the wrong thing

13. 他还没上线 – He’s not online yet

14. 大家都到齐了吗？ - Are we waiting on anyone? Or Is everyone here?

15. 我的手机快没电了，我找一下充电器 – My cell phone is about to go dead. Let me go find a charger.

16. 我的电脑快没电了，我换手机登录 – My computer is about to go dead. I’ll switch over to my phone and log in.