If you are looking for a partner to date, maybe even marry, just how do you get started? Friends often like to match-make other friends as they think they know what type of man or woman is best for them. It’s something many people talk about, so ensure you can join in the conversation…
In this Podcast, you will learn:
(i) To talk about the type of partner who might suit you
(ii) How to discuss dating generally with a friend or colleague
Dialogue:
A woman wants to set up a date for her friend:
- Male
- Female
（在咖啡厅）
(zài kā fēi tīng)
(at the cáfe)
A:梅梅，我想帮你介绍个对象儿。你喜欢什么样的男生？
Méi mei, wǒ xiǎng bāng nǐ jiè shào ge duì xiàng er. Nǐ xǐ huān shén me yàng de nán shēng?
Mei Mei, I want to set you up with someone. What kind of men do you like?
B:唉呦（有些不好意思）。我喜欢诚实稳重的，有上进心的。最好有稳定收入的。
Āi yòu (yǒu xiē bù hǎo yì sī). Wǒ xǐ huān chéng shí wěn zhòng de, yǒu shàng jìn xīn de. Zuì hǎo yǒu wěn dìng shōu rù de.
Ah (shyly). I like men who are honest, prudent and self-motivated. It’s best to have someone with a stable income.
A:外貌方面呢？
Wài mào fāng miàn ne?
What about the looks?
B:嗯，我不太在乎外貌。个头比我高就行。长得不要歪瓜劣枣就行！
Ēn, wǒ bù tài zài hū wài mào. Gè tóu bǐ wǒ gāo jiù xíng. Zhǎng de bù yào wāi guā liè zǎo jìu xíng!
Eh, I don’t really care about it. As long as he is taller than me and doesn’t look too ugly!
Chinese words and phrases mentioned in this Podcast:
对象：someone’s boyfriend/girlfriend
诚实：honest
稳重：stable and prudent
上进心：self-motivated/desire to improve
帮你介绍个对象：introduce you to a boyfriend
男生：boy/man
稳定：stable
收入：income
外貌：look
方面：aspect/in terms of
在乎：care
个头／个子：height
就行：as long as
歪瓜劣枣：ugly
Cultural/Grammar note:
‘歪瓜劣枣’ literally means ‘cracked watermelon and broken jujube’ (or Chinese date). It is common in Chinese conversation expressing ‘ugly’ and ‘very bad looking’.
Mandarin Chinese learning resources we recommend:
