As for that SIM card, we need to find one of China’s main mobile networks, China Mobile, China Unicom or China Telecom which can be found all over the city. Now in the States, we’re used to contracts with a certain amount minutes per month, but in China, most people just buy a SIM card and recharge as needed. Check out the China Mobile (CM) store.

(At China Mobile store)

Andrea: 您好,我想买一个手机卡。(Nínhǎo, wǒxiǎnɡ mǎiyíɡè shǒujīkǎ.)
Customer Service Representative: 好的,请跟我来。(Hǎode, qǐnɡ ɡēnwǒlái.)
Representative: 请坐。(Qǐnɡzuò.)
Andrea: 谢谢。(Xièxiè.)

Andrea: Now there are many different kinds of SIM cards depending on whether you want to be able to make and receive international calls and SMS texts or just within China. Let’s ask what the price difference for a SIM card we can make and receive international calls, or one we can use just in China.

Andrea: 你好。(Nǐhǎo.)
Representative: 你好。(Nǐhǎo.)
Andrea: 有可以拨打并接听国内、国际长途的手机卡吗?(Yǒu kéyǐ bōdǎ bìnɡ jiētīnɡ ɡuónèi、ɡuójì chánɡtú de shǒujīkǎ mɑ?)
Representative: 有,这种Hello Card,您选这种卡就可以了。
Andrea: 打国际长途多少钱?(Dǎ ɡuójì chánɡtú duōshǎoqián?)
Representative: 请问您要打哪个国家的电话?(Qǐnɡwèn nínyào dǎnǎɡè ɡuójiā de diànhuà?)
Andrea: 美国。(Měiɡuó.)
Representative: 一分钟是三毛五。在北京接电话免费。(Yìfēnzhōnɡ shì sānmáowǔ. Zàiběijīnɡ jiēdiànhuà miǎnfèi.)

Andrea: OK, so with this SIM card, that makes about 3.5 Jiao for me to call America and within Beijing it’s free to receive calls.

Andrea: 这个是多少钱?(Zhèɡe shì duōshǎoqián?)
Representative: 这张卡七十块。(Zhèzhānɡkǎ qīshíkuài.)

Andrea: OK, so 70 kuai, that is seventy kuai, that means ten kuai for the card itself and then sixty towards my prepaid balance.

Andrea: 我想要这个手机卡。(Wǒ xiǎnɡyào zhèɡe shǒujīkǎ.)
Representative: 好的。(Hǎode.)

Language:

Dǎ ɡuójì chánɡtú duōshǎoqián?
打国际长途多少钱?
How much does it cost to make an international phone call?

Wǒ xiǎnɡyào zhèɡe shǒujīkǎ.
我想要这个手机卡。
I want to get this SIM card.