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🇨🇳 Mandarin Chinese · Intermediate Level 3

PART 2 · LESSON 11 OF 30 · 30 MINUTES

The Go-Between

Ask Teacher Song a favour the old way: say you want to ask for Lan's hand at her family's home, hear that this needs a go-between, ask him to be yours, and thank him for the trouble.

Audio instruction: English

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THE STORY

Teacher Song's front room in Longjing village, a pot of tea between them, and Owen on the edge of his chair with a question he has rehearsed all the way up the hill.

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Words and phrases

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帮 一 个 忙。bāng yí ge mángdo a favour, word for word help one busy
宋 老师， 我 想 请 您 帮 一 个 忙。sòng lǎoshī, wǒ xiǎng qǐng nín bāng yí ge mángTeacher Song, I'd like to ask you a favour. Politely.
什么 事？ 你 说。shénme shì? nǐ shuōWhat is it? Go ahead.
提亲。tíqīnask for a bride's hand, word for word raise kinship
我们 想 去 陈兰 家 提亲。wǒmen xiǎng qù chénlán jiā tíqīnWe want to go to Lan's family and ask for her hand.
媒人。méiréna go-between, a matchmaker: both syllables rise
好 事！ 提亲 要 有 媒人。hǎo shì! tíqīn yào yǒu méirénA fine thing! Asking for her hand needs a go-between.
所以 想 请 您 做 我们 的 媒人。suǒyǐ xiǎng qǐng nín zuò wǒmen de méirénSo we'd like to ask you to be our go-between. Politely.
好！ 这 是 我 的 荣幸。hǎo! zhè shì wǒ de róngxìngGood! It's my honour.
麻烦 您 了。máfan nín lesorry to trouble you, word for word trouble you, changed

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