ChinaPulse.com

Note: The spoken Chinese Mandarin language has 4 spoken tones. We have attempted to re-create those below where after each syllable we tell you (1), (2), (3), or (4) as they correspond to each of the 4 tones. We encourage you to complement your Xianzai.com Emergency Chinese newsletter with a good offline study program.

NEW WORDS:

Toilet Paper-wei(2) sheng(1) zhi(3)
Tissue-zhi(3) jin(1)
Toothbrush-ya(2) shua(1)
Toothpaste-ya(2) gao(1)
Razor-gua(1) hu(2) dao(1)
Shampoo-xi(3) fa(4) shui(3)

LESSON:

• May I please have some toilet paper?
  neng(2) gei(3) wo(3) yi(1 )xie(1) wei(2) sheng(1) zhi(3) ma?
  
• How much is a box of tissues?
  yi(4) he(2) zhi(3) jin(1) duo(1) shao(3) qian(2)?
  
• What types of toothpaste do you have?
  ni(3 )men dou(1 )you(3) shen(2) mo pai(2) zi de(1) ya(2) gao(1)?
  
• Have you seen my razor?
  ni(3) kan(4) jian(4) wo(3 de gua(1) hu(2) dao(1) le(1) ma?
  
• Where is the shampoo?
  xi(3) fa(4) xiang(1) bo(1) zai(4) na(3) li?

* Tip: Just a few years ago, buying toiletries in most of China was, at best, a challenge, with high prices for imported shampoos and toothpastes. Today, almost all of the well-known global brands are available and at reasonable prices as they are often manufactured in China.

The days of having to stock up on toilet paper, shampoo and toothpaste before coming to China are over! Leave some room in your luggage for all of the clothes, traditional arts and crafts and Mao memorabilia that you will take home instead.