Traditional Chinese course

Lesson 205 of 240

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At the post office and bank in Traditional Chinese

On Banyan Lane, Maya has a postcard for her mother. The picture shows a yak, and she wants to mail it abroad from the post office.

Learn to send something overseas, ask how long it takes, exchange money, transfer money, fill in a form, and check if you need an ID card.

A-Li's soy milk is still unfinished. Today's job is the counter, not the slip in the till.

By the end of this lesson

Send something abroad, ask how long it takes, exchange or transfer money, fill in a form, and ask about an ID card.

  • 我想寄這個到國外I want to send this abroad.
  • 寄到美國要多久？How long to the US?
  • 我想換錢I'd like to exchange money.
  • 我要匯款I want to transfer money.
  • 請填這張單子Please fill in this form.
  • 要帶身分證嗎？Do I need my ID?

Scene — a postcard and a counter

Maya stands at the post office near Da'an with a postcard. The clerk waits behind a blank counter.

After she posts the card, she will walk to the bank next door to change money and send a transfer.

A-Li is not here, and the fortune slip stays in the breakfast-shop till. Nobody solves it today.

Maya stands inside a Da'an post office holding a postcard while a clerk waits behind a blank counter.

Learn — mail, money, and forms

Here are six lines for the post office and the bank. Listen to each one, then say it out loud.

Notice 張 with forms, and the difference between exchanging cash and sending a transfer.

  1. Maya leans over the post-office counter and holds the postcard out toward the clerk.

    我想寄這個到國外

    I want to send this abroad.

    When to use it: Use this when you want to mail something to another country.

    想 plus a verb says what you would like to do.

  2. Maya stands upright at the counter with a questioning open palm, still holding the postcard.

    寄到美國要多久？

    How long to the US?

    When to use it: Ask this to learn how long mail takes to the United States.

    要多久 asks how much time something will take.

  3. Maya at a bank teller window slides cash from a wallet across the counter.

    我想換錢

    I'd like to exchange money.

    When to use it: Use this at a bank when you want foreign currency.

    換錢 means exchanging cash, not sending money.

  4. Maya leans both hands on the bank counter and taps the ledge to request a transfer.

    我要匯款

    I want to transfer money.

    When to use it: Use this when you need to send money to an account.

    要 plus a verb makes a clear request at the counter.

    Say it: The first syllable of 匯款 is a falling tone.

  5. The bank clerk holds a blank form out with both hands while Maya reaches to take it.

    請填這張單子

    Please fill in this form.

    When to use it: Staff say this when you must complete a paper form.

    張 is the measure word for forms and other flat paper.

  6. Maya holds the blank form and rummages in a tote as if looking for an ID card.

    要帶身分證嗎？

    Do I need my ID?

    When to use it: Ask this to check whether you should bring your ID card.

    嗎 at the end makes this a yes-or-no question.

    Say it: The last syllable of 身分證 is a falling tone.

Story — a yak postcard, then the bank

Listen to Maya at the post office as she mails a yak postcard to her mother, then follow her to the bank next door.

Staff will ask her to fill in a form, and she will check about her ID.

  1. Staff美女，請問要寄什麼？What would you like to send?
  2. Maya我想寄這個到國外。I want to send this abroad.
  3. Staff好喔，寄到哪裡？Okay, where to?
  4. Maya寄到美國。To the United States.
  5. Maya寄到美國要多久？How long to the US?
  6. Staff大概七到十天。請填這張單子。About seven to ten days. Please fill in this form.
  7. Maya要帶身分證嗎？Do I need my ID?
  8. Staff寄明信片不用帶。You don't need it for a postcard.
  9. Maya這張上面有一隻犛牛。There's a yak on this one.
  10. Staff很可愛，會到的。It's cute. It'll get there.
  11. After the postcard is posted, Maya walks to the bank next door.
  12. Clerk小姐，你好。Hello, miss.
  13. Maya不好意思，我想換錢。Excuse me, I'd like to exchange money.
  14. Clerk好，請填這張單子。Okay, please fill in this form.
  15. Maya我要匯款。I want to transfer money.
  16. Clerk匯款也要填單子。A transfer needs a form too.
  17. Maya要帶身分證嗎？Do I need my ID?
  18. Clerk要，麻煩你帶著。Yes, please bring it.

Practice — at the counter

Try these exercises to send mail, change money, and fill in a form. Choose the line that fits each moment.

After each answer, read why it fits, then say the line again.

0 of 11 done

  1. What does it mean?

    我想寄這個到國外

  2. What do you say?

    You are mailing a postcard to the United States. Ask how long delivery takes.

  3. Build the line

    Please fill in this form.

    Tap the words in order.

  4. What did you hear?

  5. What did you hear?

  6. Swap the word

    You need to send money to an account, not exchange cash.

    我要____

  7. Pick the reply

    Staff says:

    請問要寄什麼？

    What would you like to send?

    And you reply with:

  8. Match the pairs

    Traditional Chinese

    我想寄這個到國外Drop the English here
    我想換錢Drop the English here
    我要匯款Drop the English here
    請填這張單子Drop the English here

    English

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

  9. What do you say?

    The clerk handed you a form. Ask if you need to bring your ID.

  10. Build the line

    I want to send a parcel.

    Tap the words in order.

  11. What do you say?

    You need to get the clerk's attention before you speak.

Say it — your errands

You play Maya at the post office and then at the bank. Listen to each cue, then say the line out loud.

Tap the microphone to speak. You can replay the other person's line before your turn.

  1. Maya is at the post office counter with her yak postcard.
  2. Maya (you)Tell the clerk you want to send this abroad.

    我想寄這個到國外

    I want to send this abroad.

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

Traditional ChineseEnglish
我想寄這個到國外I want to send this abroad.
寄到美國要多久？How long to the US?
我想換錢I'd like to exchange money.
我要匯款I want to transfer money.
請填這張單子Please fill in this form.
要帶身分證嗎？Do I need my ID?
Next: lesson 206Taking a day off

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Today's post office and bank lines are in Yak Cards with more useful errand phrases.

Review a few cards before your next trip to the counter.

Open Yak Cards