Traditional Chinese course

Lesson 225 of 240

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The repair argument in Traditional Chinese

Mr. Wang is in the doorway on Banyan Lane, still on his phone. The tap has leaked for weeks, and Maya already wrote to him.

Today she argues politely about who pays and how soon the repair should happen. Learn to name the delay, quote the lease, and refuse the blame.

You can offer to split the cost, then ask him to deal with it this week. Keep the tone firm but civil. A-Li's soy milk is still unfinished.

By the end of this lesson

Argue a delayed repair politely, quote the lease, refuse the blame, and set a deadline.

  • 這個問題已經拖了兩個禮拜This problem has dragged on for two weeks.
  • 按照租約，維修是房東負責According to the lease, repairs are the landlord's job.
  • 我已經傳過訊息給你了I've already sent you a message.
  • 這不是我弄壞的I didn't break this.
  • 我們各付一半好嗎？Shall we each pay half?
  • 麻煩你這個禮拜之內處理Please deal with it within this week.

Scene — a doorway on Banyan Lane

Maya's apartment sits above the scooter shop on Banyan Lane. Mr. Wang stops in the doorway after a call, keys in his hand, and waits for her to speak.

The tap in Maya's apartment has leaked for two weeks already. He is brief and formal. A-Li is still at breakfast with a cup he has not finished.

In Maya's walk-up above the scooter shop, Mr. Wang waits in the open doorway with keys while Maya faces the door and A-Li the yak sits at an unfinished breakfast.

Learn — arguing a repair

These six lines let you argue a repair without raising your voice. Listen to each line, then say it out loud.

Notice how 是…的 names who did something, and how 過 shows you already sent the message.

  1. Maya points at the kitchen drip and stained wall while Mr. Wang waits in the doorway and A-Li the yak stays turned toward the window.

    這個問題已經拖了兩個禮拜

    This problem has dragged on for two weeks.

    When to use it: Use this when a repair has already gone on too long.

    了 after the verb marks a situation that has already lasted this long.

  2. Over Maya's shoulder, Maya holds a folded paper toward Mr. Wang in the doorway while A-Li the yak nibbles breakfast and ignores them.

    按照租約，維修是房東負責

    According to the lease, repairs are the landlord's job.

    When to use it: Use this to quote the lease when he tries to pass the cost.

    按照 plus a document means you are following that written rule.

  3. Maya holds a phone toward Mr. Wang, who glances toward a pocket with keys still in hand.

    我已經傳過訊息給你了

    I've already sent you a message.

    When to use it: Use this when you already wrote and they still have not acted.

    過 after a verb means you have done that action before, unlike 了 for a finished event.

    Say it: After a verb, this experience marker is often a light tone.

  4. Maya stands with open empty palms, denying blame for the leak, while Mr. Wang holds the doorframe and A-Li the yak stays turned toward the breakfast tray.

    這不是我弄壞的

    I didn't break this.

    When to use it: Use this when someone implies you caused the damage.

    是…的 points to who did it; negate 是 to deny you were the one.

  5. Mr. Wang in the doorway makes an even split with both hands, keys looped on one finger, while Maya stands by the bucket with folded arms and A-Li the yak stirs a cup.

    我們各付一半好嗎？

    Shall we each pay half?

    When to use it: Offer this compromise when you want the repair without a fight.

    好嗎 turns the offer into a soft question, which sounds more polite.

  6. Maya steps forward in profile, pointing at the leak and tapping a wristwatch, while Mr. Wang looks down at the keys and A-Li the yak lifts an unfinished cup.

    麻煩你這個禮拜之內處理

    Please deal with it within this week.

    When to use it: Use this to set a clear deadline after they agree to act.

    之內 after a time means the work should finish before that period ends.

Story — Mr. Wang sends a plumber

Listen as Maya stops Mr. Wang in the doorway and argues the leaking tap. He listens, answers in three short lines, and sends a plumber.

Auntie Lin has already asked who pays. A-Li's drink is still unfinished.

  1. That morning at Banyan Breakfast, Maya mentions the leak.
  2. Auntie Lin怎麼了？What's wrong?
  3. Maya水龍頭一直在漏水。The tap keeps leaking.
  4. Auntie Lin維修是誰負責？Who's responsible for repairs?
  5. Maya按照租約，維修是房東負責的。According to the lease, repairs are the landlord's job.
  6. A-Li豆漿還沒喝完。The soy milk still isn't finished.
  7. Later, Maya catches Mr. Wang in the doorway.
  8. Maya王先生，不好意思，我想反應一件事。Mr. Wang, excuse me, I'd like to raise something.
  9. Mr. Wang我再看一下。I'll look at it again.
  10. Maya這個問題已經拖了兩個禮拜。This problem has dragged on for two weeks.
  11. Maya我已經傳過訊息給你了。I've already sent you a message.
  12. Mr. Wang那費用可能要你出。Then you may have to pay for it.
  13. Maya這不是我弄壞的。I didn't break this.
  14. Maya我們各付一半好嗎？Shall we each pay half?
  15. Mr. Wang好，我叫水電來。All right, I'll send a plumber.
  16. Maya麻煩你這個禮拜之內處理。Please deal with it within this week.

Practice — who pays

Try eleven short exercises on delay, the lease, blame, and who pays. Pick the line that fits each small moment.

After each answer, read why the other options fail, then say the line again.

0 of 11 done

  1. What does it mean?

    這個問題已經拖了兩個禮拜

  2. What do you say?

    Mr. Wang hints that you should pay. Quote the lease.

  3. Fill the gap

    I've already sent you a message.

    我已經傳過____給你了

  4. What did you hear?

  5. Build the line

    Shall we each pay half?

    ？

    Tap the words in order.

  6. Swap the word

    He agrees to act. Ask him to finish the repair within this week.

    麻煩你這個____之內處理

  7. Pick the reply

    Mr. Wang says:

    那費用你出。

    Then you pay for it.

    And you reply with:

  8. Match the pairs

    Traditional Chinese

    這個問題已經拖了兩個禮拜Drop the English here
    按照租約，維修是房東負責Drop the English here
    我已經傳過訊息給你了Drop the English here
    這不是我弄壞的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 tap at your apartment will not stop dripping. Tell Mr. Wang.

  10. Fill the gap

    Who's responsible for repairs?

    維修是____負責？

  11. What do you say?

    You stop Mr. Wang at the door. Start politely before explaining the problem.

Say it — your argument

You play Maya and speak to Mr. Wang at the door. Listen to each cue, then say the line out loud.

Tap the microphone to speak. You can replay his line before your turn.

  1. Maya catches Mr. Wang in the doorway after his call.
  2. Maya (you)Tell him the problem has gone on for two weeks.

    這個問題已經拖了兩個禮拜

    This problem has dragged on for two weeks.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

Traditional ChineseEnglish
這個問題已經拖了兩個禮拜This problem has dragged on for two weeks.
按照租約，維修是房東負責According to the lease, repairs are the landlord's job.
我已經傳過訊息給你了I've already sent you a message.
這不是我弄壞的I didn't break this.
我們各付一半好嗎？Shall we each pay half?
麻煩你這個禮拜之內處理Please deal with it within this week.
Next: lesson 226The noise next door

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Today's repair lines are in Yak Cards with more phrases for leases and landlords.

Review a few cards on repairs each day so the argument stays calm.

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