Standard Chinese, A Modular Approach, Directions Module, Unit 5, Comprehension Tape 1, This unit is set in the ROC. On this tape, you'll learn to understand questions and answers used in locating a street address when you're lost. For this tape, you'll need to consult the map sheet opposite the reference list in your workbook.
Clara Matthews is having some trouble finding a friend's house. Listen as she stops someone on the street to ask for help. Excuse me.
對不起,對不起. What can I do for you?
你有什麼事啊?你有什麼事啊?
But now, sure, has a very broad meaning and is difficult to translate into smooth English. Some of its more common translations are matter, business, affair, and thing. In the context of someone asking for help, the reply, 你有什麼事啊? could be translated somewhat literally as, what's your problem?
Our non-literal translation reflects the mood of the Chinese sentence rather than its words. What can I do for you? Here's the word translated matter, business, affair, or thing.是,是. Listen to the exchange live.對不起,你有什麼事啊?
Again,對不起,你有什麼事啊?
Check your comprehension.對不起, Excuse me.你有什麼事啊?
What can I do for you? The conversation continues. May I ask, what road is this?請問,這條路是什麼路?
This is Nanjing West Road.這是南京西路.這是南京西路.
Here's how you say, this road,這條路,這條路. And here's how you say, Nanjing West Road,南京西路,南京西路.
Notice that the word for West is not in its usual English position in this street name. Direction words in Taipei street names always come at the end of the name with the word 路 attached.
Peaking street names follow the usual English pattern. For instance,東長安街, East長安 street.
It's also that in the answer,這是南京西路. The word for this is given with its non-peaking pronunciation 者, instead of 者. From now on, the forms 者, this,那, that, and 那, which will be used for all non-peaking speakers.
You'll be expected to use these forms yourself only when a speaker uses them to you. Here's the exchange live.
請問這條路是什麼路?這是南京西路. Again,請問這條路是什麼路?這是南京西路. Check your comprehension.
請問這條路是什麼路? May I ask, what road is this?這是南京西路.
This is Nanjing West Road. The conversation continues. What place are you looking for?你找什麼地方?你找什麼地方?
I'm looking for lane 54 of Nanjing East Road, section 1.我找南京東路一段,五十四項.
Here's the verb to look for.找,找. Here's the word for section.斷,斷.
And here's the word for lane.向,向. Notice the Chinese mentions the road, which is larger, before the lane, which is smaller, while English uses the opposite order.
Listen to the exchange live.你找什麼地方?我找南京東路一段,五十四項. Again.你找什麼地方?
我找南京東路一段,五十四項. Check your comprehension.你找什麼地方?
What place are you looking for?我找南京東路一段,五十四項.
I'm looking for lane 54 of Nanjing East Road, section 1. For the next exchange, you'll need a new street name. Here's how you say 中山 North Road.
中山北路.中山北路.中山 North Road is a major tourist shopping street in Taipei. Now listen to another person who's lost his way, live.
对不起,请问.你有什么事啊?这条路是中山北路吗?我找中山北路二段.不是,这是中山南路.Again.对不起,请问.你有什么事啊?
Excuse me, may I ask you something?你有什么事啊?What can I do for you?
What can I do for you?这条路是中山北路吗?Is this road中山 North Road?我找中山北路二段.I'm looking for中山 North Road, section 2.
不是,这是中山南路.No, this is中山 South Road.Let's go back to Miss Matthews.You'll remember that she had just said she was looking for lane 54 of Nanjing East Road, section 1.The conversation continues.
You've gone the wrong way.This is Nanjing West Road.你走错了,这是南京西路.You go that way.一往那边走.Cross three streets and that's Nanjing East Road, section 1.过三条街.
过三条街就是南京东路一段.过三条街就是南京东路一段.Here's how you say I'm wrong or I've made a mistake.我错了,我错了.Notice that the verb 错 is followed by the marker 路.Here's how you say I went the wrong way.我走错了,我走错了.
And here's the verb to cross or to pass.过,过.Listen to the directions live.你走错了,这是南京西路.你往那边走.过三条街就是南京东路一段.Again.
你走错了,这是南京西路.你往那边走.过三条街就是南京东路一段.Check your comprehension.你走错了,这是南京西路.You've gone the wrong way. This is Nanjing West Road.你往那边走.
You go that way.过三条街就是南京东路一段.Cross three streets and that's Nanjing East Road, section 1.Now listen to a similar exchange, live.请问,这是不是大理街三十六项?
不是三十六项,是二十三项.哦,我走错了.到三十六项,往哪边走?你往那边走.过两条街,左边就是.Again.请问,这是不是大理街三十六项?不是三十六项,是二十三项.哦,我走错了.
到三十六项,往哪边走?你往那边走.过两条街,左边就是.Check your comprehension.请问,这是不是大理街三十六项?
May I ask, is this lane 36 of Dali Street?不是三十六项,是二十三项.It's not lane 36, it's lane 23.哦,我走错了.Oh, I went the wrong way.到三十六项,往哪边走?
What way do I go to get to lane 36?你往那边走.You go that way.过两条街,左边就是.
过两条街,左边就是.Let's go back to Miss Matthews, who's looking for lane 54 of Nanjing East Road, Section 1.
She's just been told how to get to Section 1.Listen as the conversation continues.After you've gotten to Section 1, please ask someone else.到了一段以后,请再问别人吧。
All right, thanks.好,谢谢。好,谢谢。Here's the verb to ask.问,问.And here's the word for someone else.别人,别人。You'll notice that the adverb在 isn't translated in this exchange.
Here's the exchange live.到了一段以后,请再问别人吧。好,谢谢。Again,到了一段以后,请再问别人吧。好,谢谢。Check your comprehension.到了一段以后,请再问别人吧。
After you've gotten to Section 1, please ask someone else.好,谢谢。All right, thanks. When Miss Matthews gets to Section 1, she finds lane 54 and then asks someone else for more help.
May I ask, where is alley 5?请问五弄在哪里?请问五弄在哪里?You walk ahead a little more.你再往前走一点。你再往前走一点。The first intersection on the right is alley 5.
右边第一个路口就是五弄。右边第一个路口就是五弄。Here's the noun alley.弄,弄。Here's the word for front.前,前。In the sentence,你再往前走一点,the adverb在 is translated more and refers to the continuation of an action rather than its repetition.
Listen to the exchange live.请问五弄在哪里?你再往前走一点。右边第一个路口就是五弄。Again,请问五弄在哪里?你再往前走一点。右边第一个路口就是五弄。Check your comprehension.请问五弄在哪里?
May I ask, where is alley 5?你再往前走一点。You walk ahead a little more.右边第一个路口就是五弄。The first intersection on the right is alley 5.
Here's another conversation, reviewing everything introduced on this tape.对不起。
你有什么事啊?请问这条路是什么路?这是中山南路。你找什么地方?哦,我走错了。我找中山北路一段十八项。好,你往那边走。
过三条街就是中山北路一段。到了那里以后,请再问别人吧。好,谢谢。A little later.请问,这是不是十八项?是。九弄在哪里?你再往前走一点。右边第二个路口就是九弄。Again,对不起。
有什么事啊?请问这条路是什么路?这是中山南路。你找什么地方?哦,我走错了。我找中山北路一段十八项。好,你往那边走。过三条街就是中山北路一段。到了那里以后,请再问别人吧。好,谢谢。A little later.
请问这是不是十八项?是。九弄在哪里?你再往前走一点。右边第二个路口就是九弄。Again,对不起。 Excuse me。你有什么事啊?
What can I do for you?请问这条路是什么路?
May I ask, what road is this?这是中山南路。This is Zhongshan south road.你找什么地方?
What place are you looking for?哦,我走错了。
Oh, I went the wrong way.我找中山北路一段十八项。I'm looking for lane 18 of Zhongshan north road section one.好,你往那边走。
All right, you go that way。过三条街就是中山北路一段。
Cross three streets and that's Zhongshan north road section one.到了那里以后,请再问别人吧。
After you've gotten there, please ask someone else。好,谢谢。All right, thank you.
A little later,请问这是不是十八项?May I ask, is this lane 18?是。Yes,九弄在哪里?
Where is alley nine?你再往前走一点,右边第二个路口就是九弄。
Walk ahead a little more, and the second alley on your right is alley nine.
As a final review, see if you can translate the following exchanges from the target list.
Number one,你找什么地方?What place are you looking for?我找南京东路一段五十四项。
I'm looking for lane 54 of Nanjing east road section one.你往那边走。
You go that way。过三条街就是南京东路一段。
Cross three streets, and that's Nanjing east road section one.到了一段以后,请再问别人吧。
After you've gotten to section one, please ask someone else.
Number two,对不起。Excuse me,你有什么事啊?What can I do for you?
Number three,请问五弄在哪里?May I ask, where is alley five?你再往前走一点。
You walk ahead a little more.右边,第二个路口就是五弄。
The second intersection on the right is alley five.
Number four,请问这条路是什么路?
May I ask, what street is this?这是中山北路。This is Zhongshan north road.哦,我走错了。Oh, I went the wrong way.
If you think you're ready, go on to the P1 tape. This is the end of the tape.
End of direction five, C1.