220: Describing Technology in the Future in Mandarin Chinese

By Learnmandarinnow

The way technology is moving so rapidly, soon many appliances and machines will be able to do tasks previously undertaken by humans. This is a hot topic and many people in China like to debate the pros and cons; many are for progress but some are concerned about the robotisation of society. Be sure you can join in the discussion in Mandarin Chinese to put forward your point of view…

In this Podcast, you will learn:

(i) How to talk about artificial intelligence

(ii) To speak about the pros and cons of robots

Dialogue:

Two friends are talking about technology:

(在咖啡厅)

(Zài kā fēi tīng)

(at the café)

A:我买了一个吸尘器机器人。以后它帮我吸地毯,我可算解放了!

A: Wǒ mǎi le yī gè xī chén qì jī qì rén. Yǐ hòu tā bāng wǒ xī dì tǎn, wǒ kě suàn jiě fàng le!

I just bought a robot vacuum cleaner. It will help me vacuum the carpet. Finally, I am liberated!

B:你真是向人工智能化的生活迈向了第一步。

B: Nǐ zhēn shi xiàng rén gōng zhì néng huà de shēng huó mài xiàng le dì yī bù.

You took your first step towards a life of artificial intelligence (AI).

A:哈哈是啊。现在科技越来越发达了,你看到谷歌公司研发的机器狗了么?多牛啊!

A: Hā hā shì a. Xiàn zài kē jì yuè lái yuè fā dá le, nǐ kàn dào gǔ gē gōng sī yán fā de jī qì gǒu le me? Duō niú a!

Haha, that’s right. Nowadays, science technology is more and more developed. Did you see the robot dog which was developed by Google? How cool is that!

B:是很棒。我觉得,一方面,人类确实需要人工智能的帮助,但从另一方面来说,人类还是需要找到掌控人工智能的方法。要不然,在未来,我们人类很有可能会被人工智能毁灭。

B: Shì hěn bàng. Wǒ jué dé, yī fāng miàn, rén lèi què shí xū yào rén gōng zhì néng de bāng zhù, dàn cóng lìng yī fāng miàn lái shuō, rén lèi hái shì xū yào zhǎo dào zhǎng kòng rén gōng zhì néng de fāng fǎ. Yào bù rán, zài wèi lái, wǒ men rén lèi hěn yǒu kě néng huì bèi rén gōng zhì néng huǐ miè.

Yes, it is great. I think, on one hand, human beings do need the help of AI. But, on the other hand, we still need to find the ways to control AI. Otherwise, in the future, humans may be controlled by AI.

Chinese words and phrases mentioned in this Podcast:

吸尘器:vacuum

吸:suck

尘:dust

器:machine

机器人:robot

吸: vacuum

地毯:carpet

解放:liberate, relieve

总算:finally, eventually

人工智能:artificial intelligence (AI)

生活:life

向……迈出第一步:take the first step

科:科学, science

技:技术, technology

越来越:more and more

发达:developed

发达国家:developed country

谷歌:Google

公司:company

研:研究, research

发:开发, developed

机器狗:robot dog

多牛:great, brilliant

很棒:awesome

一方面:on one hand

人类:human being

确实需要:do need

帮助:help

从另一方面说:on the other hand

找到:find

掌控:control

方法:way

要不然:otherwise

在未来:in the future

被毁灭:be destroyed

很可能:probably

Mandarin Chinese learning resources we recommend:

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, 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.