你想要哪个?
nǐ xiǎng yào nǎ ge ?
Which one do you want?
On entering the Chinese bazaar, Jake had been intent on purchasing a t-shirt, or perhaps a long-sleeved
shirt. He had wanted something adorned with Chinese characters to commemorate his trip. Which raised
the question of how exactly he had ended up in this state: arms stretched full of imitation Prada bags,
Timberland jackets and pashmina shawls and his wallet considerably lighter than when he left the hotel.
Suffice it to say that learning how to say no is an important skill in China. There are a few ways of
accomplishing this though, and in today's Chinese lesson we cover one of the less obvious. Instead of
just coming right out with a refusal, we teach you to emphasize only the item you want. "It's this one,"
you'll say, "exactly this one." This is a polite way to control the conversation while making sure you're
understood. And it can come in especially useful when you're shopping. Good luck!
nǐ xiǎng yào nǎ ge ?
Which one do you want?
zhège 。
This one.
nà ge zěnmeyàng ?
How about that one?
bù , jiù zhège 。
No, exactly this one.
wǒ
I
pronounnǐ
you
pronountā
she
pronountā
he
pronounxiǎng yào
to want
verbnǎ ge
which one
phrasezhège
this one
phrasenàge
that one
phrasezěnmeyàng
how about it
phrasejiù
exactly
adverb