Dialogue and Translation for Exercise 3

In Běijīng a mother (B) talks with her daughter (A).

B: Xiǎo Yun na, zuotiān kǎoshì

kǎowán le, jǐntiǎn hái zài wūli máng shénme na?

-   A: Xiě jīfēng xìn, zhèixiě xìn

zǎo jiù gāi xiě le, Jǐntiǎn you yidiǎnr shíjiān, wǒ xiǎng hǎ ta-men
xiěwán.

-   B: Gěi yéyede xìn xiěle méiyou?

Yéye name téng nǐ, kuài gěi tā xiě fēng xìn ha!

-   A: Shāngcì yéye lái xìn shuō,

tāmen gōngsī qǐng tā qù hāng máng ne. Zhèijiàn shir, nín zěnme xiǎng?

-   B: Tāmen gōngsī xiǎng gēn wàiguo

rén zuò shēngyì, qǐng yéye qù hāng máng, zhèijiàn shir, wǒ shénme yě hú
yuànyi shuō.

-   A: Wèishénme ne?

-   B: Qiánxiē nián, tāmen gōngsíde

rén shuō nǐ yéye, shuōde nàme nántīng. Xiànzài tāmen you wèntí le, you
xiǎngdào nǐ yéye le.

Suàn le ha, ràng tāmen kànzhe hàn ha. Wǒ hù xiǎng quàn nǐ yéye qù hāng
zhèige máng. Niánji dàle, hǎohǎorde zài jiāli xiūxixiūxi hi shénme dōu
hǎo.

Xiǎo Yun, your exams were over yesterday. What are you still working on
here today?

Writing a few letters. I should have written them a long time ago. I
have a little time today, so I wanted to get them written.

Have you written grandfather? He's so fond of you, you really should
write him a letter!

The last time grandfather wrote, he said that their company had asked
him to go help out. What do you think of that?

Their company wants to do business with foreigners, so they asked your
grandfather to help out. I don’t want to say anything about this.

Why?

A few years back, the people in the company were saying such awful
things about your grandfather. But now, they go to him with their
problems. The hell with it! Let them do what they like.

I don’t want to advise your grandfather to help them. When a person gets
old, it’s best for him to stay at home and get a lot of relaxation.

“This means No comment. If I said anything about this, it wouldn’t be
complimentary.

-   A: Mā, wǒ xiǎng yéye yídìng bù

tongyì nínde shuōfǎr. Guòqùde shir yǐjíng guòqu le. Xiànzài you rén qǐng
ta hang mang, zài shuō zhèixiē shir duì guojiā you hǎochù, tā yídìng huì
qù zuòde.

-   B: Wǒ yě zhīdao, nǐ yéye nèige

rén zhǐ yào yǒu gōngzuò, hù guǎn duō nan, tā yě huì pīnmìng qù zuòde. Nǐ
xiě xìnde shíhou, hié wàngle xiěshang, ràng tā hié tài lèi le, měitiān
shuì ge xiǎo wǔjiào.

-   A: Hǎo. Xiěshang le. Nǎinai huì

hǎohāor zhàogu yéyede. Nín fàng-xīn hǎo le.

-   B: Ài! Hǎo le, wǒ yào chūqu mǎi

dōngxi, nǐde xìn xiěwán le méiyou? Wǒ lai gěi nǐ jì.

-   A: Zhèi sānfēng xìn xiěwán le,

děng yíxiàr, wǒ tieshang youpiào. Hǎo, xiànzài hǎo le. Nín názǒu ha.

-   B: Wǒ zǒu le.

A: Mā, nín zǎo diǎnr huílai!

Ma, I’m sure that grandfather wouldn’t agree with that. What’s over is
over (Past things are already past). Now someone asks him to help out,
and besides, these things are good for the country. I’m sure he’ll do
it.

I know that too. Your grandfather is the kind of person who, as long
there’s a joh, will knock himself out to do it, no matter how hard it
is. When you write the letter, don’t forget to write that he mustn’t
tire himself out too much, and to take a little noontime nap every day.

Okay. It’s written. Grandma will take good care of grandfather. Don't
you worry.

(Sigh) Okay, I’ve got to go out to huy some things. Have you finished
writing your letters? I’ll mail them for you.

These three are finished. Wait a second while I put stamps on them.
Okay, they’re ready. Here they are.

I’m leaving.

Ma, don’t he gone long!