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🇨🇳 Mandarin Chinese · Fluency Level 2

PART 1 · LESSON 8 OF 30 · 30 MINUTES

The Willing Fish

Sit out a rainy afternoon at the stall: say there is not a single customer, hear that business is slow on a rainy day, admit you are a bit anxious, hear the first half of a two-part saying, ask what it means, hear the second half, work out that the customers will come by themselves, and learn what such a saying is called.

Audio instruction: English

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THE STORY

Rain on the tea market's tin roof on a grey afternoon, the hall empty, Owen on his stool and the neighbour pouring jasmine tea for two.

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The words and phrases of this lesson, one card each. Best after you’ve listened.

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Words and phrases

The lesson is for your ears. Open this afterwards, to see what you learned.
一 个 客人 都 没有。yí ge kèrén dōu méiyǒunot a single customer, word for word one customer all not have
下 雨 了， 一 个 客人 都 没有。xià yǔ le, yí ge kèrén dōu méiyǒuIt's raining, and not a single customer.
下 雨 天， 生意 淡。xià yǔ tiān, shēngyi dànRainy day, business is slow.
我 有点 着急。wǒ yǒudiǎn zháojíI'm a bit anxious.
喝 茶， 等 着。hē chá, děng zheDrink your tea and wait.
姜 太公 钓鱼。jiāng tàigōng diàoyúJiang Taigong goes fishing, the first half
急 什么？ 姜 太公 钓鱼。jí shénme? jiāng tàigōng diàoyúWhat's the hurry? Jiang Taigong goes fishing.
姜 太公 钓鱼？ 什么 意思？jiāng tàigōng diàoyú? shénme yìsiJiang Taigong goes fishing? What does it mean?
愿者 上钩。yuànzhě shànggōuthe willing take the hook, the second half
后 半 句 是： 愿者 上钩。hòu bàn jù shì: yuànzhě shànggōuThe second half is: the willing take the hook.

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