3DialogueTravel1 min

To the Airport

A taxi ride against the clock, a shortcut and a compliment.

A conversation in a taxi. Listen for 可能(kěnéng)会(huì) (“may well”) when the driver talks about traffic, and for 的话(dehuà), which marks a condition: “if there is no jam …”.

Mǎlì

师傅(shīfu)，去(qù)机场(jīchǎng)。麻烦(máfan)您(nín)快(kuài)一点儿(yìdiǎnr)，我(wǒ)的(de)飞机(fēijī)是(shì)十一(shíyī)点(diǎn)的(de)。

Wáng Shīfu

现在(xiànzài)九(jiǔ)点(diǎn)，时间(shíjiān)应该(yīnggāi)够(gòu)。不过(búguò)这(zhè)个(ge)时间(shíjiān)路(lù)上(shàng)车(chē)很(hěn)多(duō)，可能(kěnéng)会(huì)堵车(dǔchē)。

Mǎlì

从(cóng)这儿(zhèr)到(dào)机场(jīchǎng)要(yào)多(duō)长(cháng)时间(shíjiān)？

Wáng Shīfu

不(bù)堵车(dǔchē)的话(dehuà)四十(sìshí)分钟(fēnzhōng)，堵车(dǔchē)就(jiù)不(bù)好(hǎo)说(shuō)了(le)。

Mǎlì

那(nà)怎么办(zěnmebàn)？

Wáng Shīfu

别(bié)担心(dānxīn)，我(wǒ)知道(zhīdao)一(yì)条(tiáo)小(xiǎo)路(lù)。远(yuǎn)一点儿(yìdiǎnr)，可是(kěshì)车(chē)少(shǎo)。

Mǎlì

太好了(tàihǎole)，那(nà)我们(wǒmen)走(zǒu)小(xiǎo)路(lù)吧(ba)。

Wáng Shīfu

您(nín)是(shì)去(qù)旅游(lǚyóu)还是(háishi)出差(chūchāi)？

Mǎlì

出差(chūchāi)。我(wǒ)要(yào)去(qù)上海(Shànghǎi)开会(kāihuì)，下午(xiàwǔ)就(jiù)开始(kāishǐ)。

Wáng Shīfu

您(nín)的(de)汉语(Hànyǔ)说(shuō)得(de)真(zhēn)好(hǎo)！在(zài)中国(Zhōngguó)住(zhù)了(le)多久(duōjiǔ)了(le)？

Mǎlì

三(sān)年(nián)了(le)。刚(gāng)来(lái)的(de)时候(shíhou)，我(wǒ)只(zhǐ)会(huì)说(shuō)“你好(nǐhǎo)”和(hé)“谢谢(xièxie)”。

Wáng Shīfu

好(hǎo)，到(dào)了(le)！才(cái)九(jiǔ)点(diǎn)半(bàn)。

Mǎlì

谢谢(xièxie)师傅(shīfu)！我(wǒ)用(yòng)手机(shǒujī)付钱(fùqián)，可以(kěyǐ)吗(ma)？

Wáng Shīfu

可以(kěyǐ)。一路平安(yílùpíng'ān)！

More sentences on this in “Language in use”: Chinese for travelling

Words: 135
Sentences: 23
Words per sentence: 5.9
in the vocabulary: 100 %
measured level: 3
Reading time: 1 min

Grammar in this text

These forms appear in the text in real use. Switch on “Show grammar” above the text to highlight them.

可能(kěnéng)会(huì)堵车(dǔchē)
可能(kěnéng)会(huì) + verb: something may well happen — 可能(kěnéng)会(huì)堵车(dǔchē). Maybe and probably: kěnéng →
说(shuō)得(de)真(zhēn)好(hǎo)
Verb + 得(de) + description: 说(shuō)得(de)真(zhēn)好(hǎo), “speaks really well”. Degree complement with de →
才(cái)九(jiǔ)点(diǎn)半(bàn)
才(cái) before a time can mean “only, as early as”: 才(cái)九(jiǔ)点(diǎn)半(bàn), “it is only half past nine”. Jiù and cái: earlier or later →

The words from 3 up in this text

Not the hard words in general, but those at your level: all 7 of the 89 words in this text are at 3 or above. You will know everything else by the time you get here.

一路平安
have a safe journey
4
不过
but; however; only
3
出差
to go on a business trip
3
可能
maybe; probably; possible; possibility
3
堵车
to be jammed; traffic jam
3
应该
should; ought to
3
开会
to have a meeting; to be in a meeting
3

The word lists for this text

The words in this text appear in 23 lists on this site; the number after each says how many come from that list. Having read the text, you have just needed these very words — and can practise exactly them.

Comprehension questions

4 questions on the text. With each answer the sentence it comes from appears — a question whose answer you cannot find in the text tests nothing.

1. When is Mali’s flight?

2. Why does the driver suggest the small road?

3. Why is Mali going to Shanghai?

4. What time do they arrive at the airport?