Career Magazine

144: How to Talk About Colours in Mandarin Chinese

By Learnmandarinnow

Certain colours are so much more appealing to our eyes. Quite why we like one color more than other is very personal, but we still need to know how to talk about the variety of colours which we can see in the right context.

In this Podcast, you will learn:

(i) To talk about the availability of different colours

(ii) How to explain which are your color preferences

Dialogue:

A shopper is trying to select the right color for a new item of clothing:

(在商场)

(zài shāng chǎng)

(in the shopping mall)

  1. Female
  2. Female

A:小姐我想给我老公买件风衣。你们有浅色的风衣么?

Xiǎo jiě wǒ xiǎng gěi wǒ lǎo gōng mǎi jiàn fēng yī. Nǐ mén yǒu qiǎn sè de fēng yī me?

Miss, I want to buy a trench coat for my husband. Do you have any light coloured trench coats?

B:浅色的风衣选择不多。我们只有驼色和白色。

qiǎn sè de fēng yī xuǎn zé bù duō. Wǒ mén zhǐ yǒu tuó sè hé bái sè.

Sorry, but there are not many choices for light coloured trench coats. We only have light tan and white.

A:哦,那深色的呢?

Ò, nà shēn sè de ne?

Oh, what about dark colours?

B:有黑色,灰色,藏蓝色,还有暗红色,和墨绿色。

Yǒu hēi sè, huī sè, zàng lán sè, hái yǒu àn hóng sè, hé mò lǜ sè.

There is black, grey, purplish blue, dark red, as well as dark green.

A:哦,我可以看看这件墨绿色的么?

Ò, wǒ kě yǐ kàn kan zhè jiàn mò lǜ sè de me?

Can I take a look at this dark green one?

B:好,没问题。

Hǎo, méi wèn tí.

Sure, no problem.

Chinese words and phrases mentioned in this Podcast:

浅色:light colour

深色:dark colour

驼色:light tan

藏蓝色:purplish blue/dark blue

暗红色:dark red

墨绿色:dark green (has some black tone in it)

黑色:black

灰色:grey

风衣:trench coat

老公:husband

选择:choice

看看:take a look at

没问题:no problem

Mandarin Chinese learning resources we recommend: 

italki
Using Italki, a unique system of learning Mandarin Chinese where you interact with real teachers, is widely recognised as an effective way to learn a new language! You’ll make more progress and learn how native Chinese speakers really speak. Plus, Italki is more affordable than offline tutors, offline schools and software, and is convenient to use at your own pace and place!

Keats Chinese School
Keats Chinese School, which was founded in 2004, is one of the top Mandarin Chinese language schools in China, offering both one-on-one immersion Mandarin courses and small group Chinese classes. Located in Kunming, Keats develops personalised exercises and materials for students to meet their learning goals and requirements and can arrange a student visa for its 16 week course.


Back to Featured Articles on Logo Paperblog