Whether it is for long lost relatives or new boyfriends or girlfriends, sooner or later you’ll have to do some introductions. First impressions count for a lot, so it’s vital to know how to introduce people and get them comfortable with each other.
In this Podcast, you will learn:
(i) To introduce a newcomer to family members
(ii) How to start to talk when you just meet new people
Dialogue:
At a family get to together, introductions are being made:
(在饭馆）
(zài fàn guǎn)
(at the restaurant)
- Female
- Male
CD: Parents
A:大伟，这是我爸爸妈妈。爸妈，这是我男朋友大伟。
Dà wěi, zhè shì wǒ bà ba mā ma. Bà mā, zhè shì wǒ nán péng yǒu dà wěi.
Da Wei, this is my mother and father. Mum and dad, this is my boyfriend Da Wei.
B:叔叔阿姨，您们好！
Shū shu ā yí, nín men hǎo!
Uncle, auntie, hello!
C (mother)：啊你好，大伟。
À nǐ hǎo, dà wěi.
Ah, hello, Da Wei.
B:第一次见面，不知道给您二老带点儿什么。就买了些营养品和水果。这些是给您的。
Dì yī cì jiàn miàn, bù zhī dào gěi nín èr lǎo dài diǎn er shén me. Jiù mǎi le xiē yíng yǎng pǐn hé shuǐ guǒ. Zhè xiē shì gěi nín de.
As it’s the first time to meet you, I didn’t know what to bring for you. So I just brought these health products and some fruits. These are for you.
D(father):咳，这孩子这么客气干嘛。真够懂事儿的。来坐吧。
Hāi, zhè hái zi zhè me kè qi gàn má. Zhēn gòu dǒng shì er de. Lái zuò ba.
Oh, you shouldn’t have. Really thoughtful. Come and sit here.
B:谢谢叔叔阿姨。
Xiè xie shū shu ā yí.
Thank you, uncle and auntie.
Chinese words and phrases mentioned in this Podcast:
这是：this is
男朋友：boyfriend
叔叔：uncle
阿姨：auntie
第一次：first time
见面：meet
不知道：don’t know
带：bring
二老：you two
营养：nutrition
营养品：health products
水果：fruits
懂事：thoughtful and sensible
Cultural/Grammar note:
When you first meet your boyfriend/girlfriend’s parents, you could call them ‘叔叔／伯父(bó fù)’ and ‘阿姨／伯母(bó mǔ)’, which is ‘uncle’ and ‘auntie’.
‘二老’ (which literally means ‘two old’) is a polite way to call someone’s parents or grandparents.
‘这么客气干嘛’ is a very common way to respond if someone brings you gifts. It basically means ‘why are you being so polite? You didn’t need to’.
‘这孩子’ is how the older generation call young people; he/she doesn’t have to be the older person’s child.
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