Who doesn’t love to play games in their spare time? Even though there are so many computer games available these days, many people still like to play traditional board games such as Monopoly or even play cards. Be sure you can join in the fun and discuss playing with your friends and colleagues.
In this Podcast, you will learn:
(i) How to talk about playing games when you have spare time
(ii) To suggest alternative games to those suggested by your friends
Dialogue:
Three friends are looking to play a game:
（在家开派对）
(zài jiā kāi pài duì)
(having a party at home)
A:你们想玩儿什么？扑克，大富翁还是……？
Nǐ mén xiǎng wán er shén me? Pū kè, dà fù wēng hái shì?
What do you two want to play? Cards, Monopoly, or something else?
B:三国杀！玩三国杀！
Sān guó shā! Wán sān guó shā!
Legends of the Three Kingdoms! Let’s play Legends of the Three Kingdoms!
C:啊，我不会啊。还是大富翁吧。
À, wǒ bù huì ā. Hái shì dà fù wēng ba.
I don’t know how to play. Better to play Monopoly.
B:嗨呀，我教你啊。特别好玩，真的。
Hài ya, wǒ jiāo nǐ ā. Tè bié hǎo wán, zhēn de.
I’ll teach you. It’s really fun….
C:好吧，你们可得让着我点儿！
Hǎo bā, nǐ mén kě dě ràng zhe wǒ diǎn er!
Okay. But you need to give me a chance at the beginning!
Chinese words and phrases mentioned in this Podcast:
唱卡拉OK：sing karaoke
派对：party
围棋：Go chess
象棋：Chinese chess
玩：play
扑克：poker/playing cards
大富翁：Monopoly
三国杀：Legends of the Three Kingdoms
杀：kill
教：teach
特别：very
好玩：fun
真的：really
让着……：to humor someone/treat someone nicely
Cultural/Grammar note:
If a group of young people have a party together, they would probably not play ‘围棋’ or ‘象棋’, because they are too serious and too hard to play.
‘三国’ is a time period of ancient China. ‘三国杀’ is a strategy type of game
‘玩儿’ is how northern Chinese say ‘玩’ casually
‘让着……点儿’ is very common when an elder brother or sister is playing with their younger brother or sister. E.g. ‘你是哥哥，得让着妹妹点儿’ (you are the big brother and you need to be nice to your little sister)
If two friends are playing chess, the one who did not win might say ‘我让着你呢’ (I let you).