Traditional Chinese course

Lesson 18 of 240

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Tickets, books, people, pets in Traditional Chinese

Maya and A-Li arrive at Banyan Breakfast looking for a table for two. Maya has brought a book and a computer, and a neighbor’s cat has claimed a spot beside the till.

Today you will count people, tickets, books, cats, and computers. Each uses a different short word between the number and the thing.

Listen to the whole phrase, then try it yourself as Auntie Lin sorts out their table and some tickets.

By the end of this lesson

Count people, tickets, books, cats, and computers, and ask how many tickets someone needs.

  • 兩位Two people, politely.
  • 一張票One ticket.
  • 一本書One book.
  • 一隻貓One cat.
  • 一台電腦One computer.
  • 這個要幾張？How many of these do you need?

Scene — A table for two

Maya and A-Li come into Banyan Breakfast together. Auntie Lin is finding them a table, while Maya carries a book and a computer.

Beside the till, the neighbor’s cat settles near a few tickets for a community event. A-Li still has not finished his soy milk.

Maya and A-Li come into Banyan Breakfast together while Auntie Lin walks over to find them a table, and the neighbor's cat sits by event tickets near the till.

Learn — Count people and things

Listen to six short lines for counting guests and everyday things. Say each complete line aloud rather than learning the counting word on its own.

The final line asks how many tickets someone needs.

  1. Seen over A-Li's shoulder, Auntie Lin welcomes Maya with a courteous hand indicating the pair of guests.

    兩位

    Two people, politely.

    When to use it: Say this when a host asks how many people need a table.

    Learn this as one piece for two guests.

  2. Maya holds up a single event ticket toward Auntie Lin.

    一張票

    One ticket.

    When to use it: Say this when you need a single ticket.

    Learn this as one piece for a ticket.

    Say it: The word for one takes a falling tone here.

  3. Maya presents a book with both hands as Auntie Lin turns toward it at a window table.

    一本書

    One book.

    When to use it: Say this when counting a single book.

    Learn this as one piece for a book.

  4. A-Li points out the neighbor’s cat curled beside the event tickets near the till.

    一隻貓

    One cat.

    When to use it: Say this when you spot or count a single cat.

    Learn this as one piece for a cat.

  5. From above, Maya opens a computer on the table while Auntie Lin looks on and A-Li sits with soy milk.

    一台電腦

    One computer.

    When to use it: Say this when counting a single computer.

    Learn this as one piece for a computer.

  6. From low beside the till, Auntie Lin gestures toward a pile of event tickets and asks Maya how many are needed.

    這個要幾張？

    How many of these do you need?

    When to use it: Ask this while showing someone a ticket.

    Learn the whole question for checking a ticket count.

Story — At the breakfast shop

Listen as Auntie Lin finds Maya and A-Li a table. Maya puts down what she brought, and A-Li notices the cat beside the till.

Auntie Lin also has tickets for a neighborhood event.

  1. Auntie Lin兩位？Table for two?
  2. Maya兩位。Two of us.
  3. Auntie Lin這邊請。This way, please.
  4. A-Li帶了什麼？What did you bring?
  5. Maya一本書、一台電腦。A book and a computer.
  6. The neighbor’s cat settles beside the till.
  7. A-Li一隻貓！A cat!
  8. Auntie Lin這個要幾張？How many of these tickets do you need?
  9. Maya一張票。One ticket.
  10. A-Li一杯豆漿。One cup of soy milk.

Practice — Choose the right words

Use the scene to choose the right line for each person or thing. You will hear, arrange, and complete short phrases.

Check what is being counted before you answer.

0 of 9 done

  1. What does it mean?

    兩位

  2. Build the line

    One ticket.

    Tap the words in order.

  3. Fill the gap

    One book.

    一____書

  4. Swap the word

    You spot one cat beside the till.

    一____貓

  5. What did you hear?

  6. What do you say?

    You are holding up a ticket and need to ask a customer how many they want.

  7. What do you say?

    You lead two guests toward their table. Show them which way to go.

  8. What does it mean?

    一杯豆漿

  9. Match the pairs

    Traditional Chinese

    兩位Drop the English here
    一張票Drop the English here
    一本書Drop the English here
    一隻貓Drop the English here
    一台電腦Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its Traditional Chinese, or tap one and then the other.

Say it — Your turn at the shop

Play Maya at Banyan Breakfast. Answer Auntie Lin’s table question, show A-Li what you brought, and notice the cat.

Then ask about the tickets and confirm how many you need. Listen to each person before you speak.

  1. Auntie Lin幾位？How many people?
  2. Maya (you)Tell Auntie Lin there are two of you.

    兩位

    Two people, politely.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

Traditional ChineseEnglish
兩位Two people, politely.
一張票One ticket.
一本書One book.
一隻貓One cat.
一台電腦One computer.
這個要幾張？How many of these do you need?
Next: lesson 19Order breakfast

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Review today’s counting lines in Yak Cards.

Practice a whole line each time you see a ticket, book, pet, or computer.

Open Yak Cards