Cam:  It’s time to perfect Chinese your way in only five minutes a day.  Welcome to huan le han yu on CRI.  Wo shi Cam.
YJ:  And wo shi Yajie… it’s time for a review of everything we’ve learned this week.
Cam:  Right, it’s been all about how to ask for help.  So let’s get started.

Sentences in the week
Would you do me a favor? 能帮我个忙吗? Sure当然可以 Can you fix the computer for me?能帮我修一下电脑吗?Thanks a million, 非常感谢。You’ve been a great help.你真是帮了大忙了。 All in today’s Chinese Studio.

Cam: Yajie, in many cases, whether at the chao shi, bank, restaurant, or whatever, we need to ask for help.
Yajie:   Right.  You can say能帮我个忙吗?
Cam:  neng2 bang1 wo3 ge4 mang2 ma?
YJ: neng2 means would you?
Cam: neng2.
YJ: bang1 wo3 means to help me,
Cam: bang1 wo3,
YJ: ge4 is short for yi2ge4, which means one,
Cam: ge4.
YJ: bang1 mang2, help.
Cam: bang1 mang2. 
YJ: neng2 bang1 wo3 ge4 mang2 ma?
Cam: neng2 bang1 wo3 ge4 mang2 ma? Would you do me a favor?

Conversation1:
A:能帮我个忙吗?
B:当然可以。 怎么了?
A:你能替我寄封信吗?
B: 好的,没问题。
A: 谢谢。
B: 不客气。 

Cam: And if I ask somebody to do me a favor, what will their response be?
Yajie: Most friendly people will say 当然可以, which means Sure.
Cam: dang1 ran2 ke2 yi3.
YJ:  dang1 ran2 means of course,
Cam: dang1 ran2.
YJ: ke2 yi3 imply that I can help,
Cam: ke2 yi3
YJ:  dang1 ran2 ke2 yi3.
Cam:  dang1 ran2 ke2 yi3. of course I can.

Conversation3:
A:能帮我个忙吗?
B:当然可以了,怎么了?
A:能帮我去楼下取个快件吗?
B: 没问题。

Cam: Yajie, my computer isn’t working, so I need someone to help me with that. How do I say that in Chinese?
YJ: you can say “能帮我修一下电脑吗?”
Cam: neng2 bang1 wo3 xiu1 yi2xia4 dian4 nao3 ma?
YJ: neng2 bang1 wo3, would you help me,
Cam: neng2 bang1 wo3,
YJ:  xiu1 yi2xia4, to fix,
Cam:  xiu1 yi2xia4
YJ: dian4 nao3, computer,
Cam: dian4 nao3
YJ: xiu1 dian4 nao3, to fix the computer,
Cam: xiu1 dian4 nao3
YJ: neng2 bang1 wo3 xiu1 yi2xia4 dian4 nao3 ma?
Cam: neng2 bang1 wo3 xiu1 yi2xia4 dian4 nao3 ma? Can you fix the computer for me?

Conversation3:
A:能帮我修一下电脑吗?
B:没问题。 
A:非常感谢,
B:不客气。

YJ:  And if somebody helps you, you will want to thank them. 
Cam: I can say fei1 chang2 gan3 xie4, which means thanks a million.
YJ:  fei1 chang2 means very much,
Cam:  fei1 chang2
YJ:  gan3 xie4. thanks
Cam:  gan3 xie4.
YJ:  fei1 chang2 gan3 xie4.
Cam:  fei1 chang2 gan3 xie4. Thanks a million.
YJ:  But you may want to say more than that, such as “You’ve been a great help.”
Cam: What’s the Chinese for that?
YJ: it’s 你真是帮了大忙了。
Cam: ni3 zhen1shi4 bang1 le da4 mang2 le.
YJ: ni3 means you,
Cam: ni3,
YJ: zhen1 shi4, really,
Cam: zhen1 shi4,
YJ: bang 1 da4 mang2, means a great help.
Cam: bang1 da4 mang2.
YJ: ni3 zhen1shi4 bang1 le da4 mang2 le.
Cam: ni3 zhen1shi4 bang1 le da4 mang2 le. You’ve been a great help

Conversation 4
A:非常感谢!你真是帮了大忙了。
B:别客气,要帮忙就给我打电话。
A:好的。 

Sentences in the week
Would you do me a favor? 能帮我个忙吗? Sure当然可以 Can you fix the computer for me?能帮我修一下电脑吗?Thanks a million, 非常感谢。You’ve been a great help.你真是帮了大忙了。All in today’s sentences in the week.

Cam:  Yajie, this has been very helpful… no pun intended.  Would you like to give our question of the day?
YJ:  Sure… how do you say “thanks a million” in Chinese?
Cam:  I’d like to say thanks a million for this week’s lessons, Yajie!
YJ:  No problem.  We’ll see everyone next week!
Cam:  Zhou mo kuai le!

(Written by Cam & Yajie)