Gambling is a very popular pastime in China. However, for most people, it’s necessary to go to Macau as, technically, gambling and betting is illegal in China. Macau is close to Hong Kong and has grown over the last 15 or so years to become both a mecca for gambling but also for entertainment. Might be worth a trip if you have time, but be sure to learn some new Mandarin Chinese words to help you on your way!
In this Podcast, you will learn:
(i) How to explain how to travel to Macau for entertainment
(ii) To talk about the necessary permits required to go there
Dialogue:
Two friends talk about a gambling trip:
（在咖啡厅）
(Zài kā fēi tīng)
(at the café)
A:我今天去办港澳通行证了。
A: Wǒ jīn tiān qù bàn Gǎng Ào tōng xíng zhèng le.
I went to apply for a Hong Kong and Macao entry permit.
B:你要去香港还是澳门？
B: Nǐ yào qù Xiāng Gǎng hái shì Ào Mén?
You are going to travel to Hong Kong or Macao?
A:澳门。我带老婆去赌场玩几把，让她看看我的厉害。
A: Ào Mén. Wǒ dài lǎo pó qù dǔ chǎng wán jǐ bǎ, ràng tā kàn kàn wǒ de lì hài.
Macao. I’ll take my wife to the casino to play. Show her how good I am.
B:呵呵，你真行，你是21点玩得好，是么？
B: Hē hē, nǐ zhēn xíng, nǐ shì 21 diǎn wán dé hǎo, shì me?
Great! You are good at blackjack, right?
A:对啊！
A: Duì a!
Yes!
B:你老婆也会玩么？
B: Nǐ lǎo pó yě huì wán me?
Does your wife play, too?
A:她不会，她只会玩老虎机。
A: Tā bù huì, tā zhǐ huì wán lǎo hǔ jī.
No, she doesn’t. She can only play the slot machines.
Chinese words and phrases mentioned in this Podcast:
办：apply for
港澳通行证：Hong Kong and Macao entry permit, in which ‘港’ is ‘香港’, ‘澳’ is ‘澳门’
香港：Hong Kong
澳门：Macao
老婆：wife
赌场：casino
玩几把：play a few rounds
看看我的厉害：it’s my time to shine
真行：great
21点：blackjack
玩的好：be good at
老虎机：slot machine
Cultural/Grammar note:
Many people like to go to Las Vegas because of the casinos there. There is also a city in China just like Vegas, which is Macao.
‘港澳通行证’ is the exit-entry permit for traveling to and from Hong Kong and Macao. All Chinese from Mainland China need to get this permit to travel to Hong Kong and Macao because of the one country-two systems policy (一国两制政策) (yī guó liǎng zhì zhèng cè). ‘港澳通行证’ only applies to all Chinese citizens from Mainland China.
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