Stuck for an idea or two? Maybe someone else can come up with an alternative. Well, just how do you ask them for their suggestion and, when they tell you, how do you respond?
In this Podcast, you will learn:
(1) How to seek suggestions from someone else when you need help
(2) To ask for someone else’s opinion or advice
Dialogue: One colleague is asking another for help for some Valentines’ ideas:
A: 小刘，我想请你帮我一个忙。Xiǎo liú, wǒ xiǎng qǐng nǐ bāng wǒ yīgè máng.
Liu，can I ask you for a favour?
B：唉，别这么客气，说吧。Āi, bié zhème kèqì, shuō ba.
Sure, go ahead.
A: 明天是情人节，我想给娜娜一个惊喜，你能帮我出出主意么？Míngtiān shì qíngrén jié, wǒ xiǎng gěi nà nà yīgè jīngxǐ, nǐ néng bāng wǒ chū chū zhǔyì me?
Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. I want give Nana a surprise. Can you please help suggest some ideas?
B: 噢～嘿嘿，你还挺浪漫的嘛。嗯……附近新开了一家意大利餐馆儿。听说特别好吃。你可以带她去试试。
Ō ~hēihēi, nǐ hái tǐng làngmàn de ma. Ń……fùjìn xīn kāile yījiā yìdàlì cānguǎn er. Tīng shuō tèbié hào chī. Nǐ kěyǐ dài tā qù shì shì.
Oh, he… he, you are romantic! There’s a new Italian restaurant just opened nearby, and I heard it’s quite delicious. You could take her there.
A: 哦……还有更特别一点儿的地方么？Ó……hái yǒu gèng tèbié yīdiǎn er dì dìfāng me?
Hmm, okay….. but can you suggest something else a bit more special?
B: 更特别一点儿的……要不，你带她去看歌剧魅影？现在特别火，我可以帮你们订票。Gèng tèbié yīdiǎn er de……yào bù, nǐ dài tā qù kàn gējù mèiyǐng? Xiànzài tèbié huǒ, wǒ kěyǐ bāng nǐmen dìng piào.
More special… hmm how about you take her to watch the 《Phantom of the Opera》. It’s very popular right now. I can help you to book tickets.
A：那真是太棒了！太感谢你啦！Nà zhēnshi tài bàngle! Tài gǎnxiè nǐ la!
That’s great. Thank you very much!
Chinese words and phrases mentioned in this Podcast:
请：please
请你帮我一个忙：Can you please help me?
客气： polite; courteous
说吧：do say, do speak
明天：tomorrow
情人节：Valentine’s Day
我想：I want
一个：one
惊喜：surprise
你能帮我：Can you help me?
出出主意：come up with some ideas
挺：quite
浪漫：romantic
附近：nearby
意大利：Italy
餐馆：restaurant
特别：really, special
特别好吃：really delicious
试试：have a try
特别一点：a bit special
要不：how about
看：see, watch
歌剧魅影: Phantom of the Opera
特别火：really popular
我可以帮你：I can help you
订票：book tickets
太棒了：that’s great
太感谢你了：thank you very much