Yajie:  Welcome to a brand new week on Chinese Studio.  Wo shi Yajie.
Cam:  Dajia hao, wo shi Cam.  Yajie, the bill paying system is so different in China.  A few weeks ago, my phone was disconnected because I hadn’t paid the bill.  But I never received a bill!
Yajie:  Well, in China, we have to pay the bills by a certain time at the bank without receiving any bill.
Cam:  I wish somebody would’ve told me!  But what do I say when I go to the bank?
Yajie:  Listen up!

Key Words of the Day

How long is the wait? 需要等多长时间？(xu1yao4 deng3 duo1chang2 shi2jian1). How can I help you? 要帮忙吗？(yao4 bang1mang2 ma?) I would like to pay my phone bill.  我交电话费。(wo3 jiao1 dian4hua4fei4) I would like to pay my electricity bill. 我交电费。(wo3 jiao1 dian4fei4) All in today’s Chinese Studio.

Cam: Okay Yajie…. So I walk into the bank and I usually see crowds of people.
Yajie:  Right, banks can be very busy. 
Cam: So it might be helpful to ask somebody how long the wait will be. How can I say it in Chinese?
Yajie: Well you can say 请问，需要等多长时间？(qing3 wen4, xu1yao4 deng3 duo1chang2 shi2jian1)
Cam: 请问，需要等多长时间？(qing3 wen4, xu1yao4 deng3 duo1chang2 shi2jian1)
Yajie: 请问 (qing3 wen4) excuse me.
Cam: 请问 (qing3 wen4).
Yajie: 需要 (xu1yao4) means need.
Cam: 需要 (xu1yao4)
Yajie: 等(deng3), d-e-n-g, the third tone. wait.
Cam: 等(deng3)
Yajie: 多长时间(duo1chang2 shi2jian1), how long, we learned it before, it means how long.
Cam: 多长时间(duo1chang2 shi2jian1).
Yajie: 请问，需要等多长时间？(qing3 wen4, xu1yao4 deng3 duo1chang2 shi2jian1)
Cam: 请问，需要等多长时间？(qing3 wen4, xu1yao4 deng3 duo1chang2 shi2jian1), How long is the wait?  But do people often say this at Chinese banks?
Yajie:  No, not really.  Anyhow, it’s still a useful expression when you are waiting in other cases.

Conversation1:

Yajie: There may be someone in the bank coming up to offer help. 要帮忙吗？(yao4 bang1mang2 ma?) How can I help you?
Cam: 要帮忙吗？(yao4 bang1mang2 ma?)
Yajie: 帮忙 （bang1mang2）means help.
Cam: 帮忙 （bang1mang2）.
Yajie: 要帮忙吗？(yao4 bang1mang2 ma?) How can I help you?
Cam: 要帮忙吗？(yao4 bang1mang2 ma?)

Conversation2:

Cam: How do you say “I would like to pay my phone bill.”
Yajie: 我交电话费。(wo3 jiao1 dian4hua4fei4)
Cam: 我交电话费。(wo3 jiao1 dian4hua4fei4)
Yajie: 我(wo3), I. and 交(jiao1) means to pay.
Cam: 交(jiao1)
Yajie: 电话费 (dian4hua4fei4), phone bill.
Cam: 电话费 (dian4hua4fei4).
Yajie: 我交电话费。(wo3 jiao1 dian4hua4fei4) I would like to pay my phone bill.
Cam: 我交电话费。(wo3 jiao1 dian4hua4fei4). Yajie, and I would also like to pay my electricity bill. What is the Chinese for that.
Yajie: Listen carefully, it’s 我交电费。(wo3 jiao1 dian4fei4). 电费, (dian4fei4), electricity bill.　
Cam: 电费, (dian4fei4).
Yajie: So “I would like to pay my electricity bill.” is 我交电费。(wo3 jiao1 dian4fei4)
Cam: 我交电费。(wo3 jiao1 dian4fei4)

Conversation3:

Key Words Reminder
How long is the wait? 需要等多长时间？(xu1yao4 deng3 duo1chang2 shi2jian1). How can I help you? 要帮忙吗？(yao4 bang1mang2 ma?) I would like to pay my phone bill.  我交电话费。(wo3 jiao1 dian4hua4fei4) I would like to pay my electricity bill. 我交电费。(wo3 jiao1 dian4fei4)

Yajie: We have run out of time.
Cam:  Yes, but before we go we have to ask our question of the day.  How do you say, “I would like to pay my electricity bill” in Chinese? Send your answer to Chinese@.
Yajie: Zai jian.
Cam:  Zai jian!

(Written by Zhao Pingping)