S: Wǒ shì Stuart. ML, 今天我们学什么? jīntiān wǒmen xué shénme?

M. Well, we're cycling to the Summer Palace, so we'll point out a few things, like traffic lights, and ring roads.

S. Hǎo zhúyi.

M. Now we're on the 3rd ring road. 现在我们在三环路上。xiànzài wǒmen zài sānhuánlùshàng.

S. Ahead is the Suzhou Bridge. 前面就是苏州桥 qiánmiàn jiù shì Sūzhōu Qiáo.

M. There's traffic lights at Suzhou Qiao. 在苏州桥有红绿灯 zài Sūzhōu Qiáo yǒu hónglǜdēng.

S. We'll turn right at the lights. 我们在红绿灯那儿右拐 wǒmen zài hónglǜdēng nàr yòu guǎi.

M. We've arrived at the lights. Right turn! 我们已经到红绿灯了,右拐！ wǒmen yǐjīng dào hónglǜdēng le, yòuguǎi.

S. Quickly, quickly, turn right. 快右拐 kuài yòu guǎi!

M. Stuart, you're cycling too fast. Stuart, 你骑得太快了 nǐ qíde tài kuài le.

S. Wrong! You're cycling too slowly. 不对, 你骑得太慢了 búduì, nǐ qíde tài màn.

M. 不对, 你骑得太快 nǐ qíde tài kuài.

S. 不对, 是你骑得太慢 bú duì, shì nǐ qíde tài màn.

M: Anyway!

S. Hǎo! Now let's look at the new stuff.

M. 现在我们在三环路上。sān huán lù SAN HUAN LU。sān is three. Huán, 2nd tone, means ‘ring,' and lu4, 4th tone, means ‘road.' So what does sānhuánlù means? Duìle, 3rd ring road.

S. So how do you say 2nd ring road? Méi cuò. èrhuánlù, èrhuánlù.

M. And 4th ring road? Dá duì le. sìhuánlù, sìhuánlù.

S. And ML said:

M. Now we're on the 3rd ring road. xiànzài wǒmen zài sānhuánlù shàng.

S. Ahead is the Suzhou Bridge. 前面就是苏州桥.

M. qiánmiàn jiù shì Sūzhōu Qiáo. 前面 QIAN MIAN qiánmiàn, in front, ahead, qián miàn4. 苏州桥 qiáo QIAO qiáo means ‘bridge,' qiáo. Sūzhōu Qiáo, the Suzhou Bridge. Qiánmiàn jiù shiì Sūzhōu qiáo. Ahead is the Suzhou bridge. qiánmian jiù shì Sūzhōu qiáo. Say it with me, qiánmian jiù shì Sūzhōu qiáo. Hěnhǎo.

S. 在苏州桥有红绿灯。

M. zài Sūzhōu Qiáo yǒu hónglǜdēng. 红绿灯 HONG LV DENG, literally, red green light. So what does hónglǜdēng mean? Duìle! Traffic lights, hónglǜdēng.

S. And there's nothing new in the rest of our chat.

M. Except for ‘too fast' tài kuài, tài kuài.

S. And tài màn, too slow, tài màn.

S. Let's finish with the dialogue again. 我们在红绿灯那儿右拐。wǒmen zài hónglǜdēng nàr yòu guǎi.

M. 我们已经到红绿灯了,右拐! wǒmen dàole hónglǜdēng, yòuguǎi.

S. 快右拐 kuài yòu guǎi.

M. Stuart, 你骑得太快了。nǐ qíde tài kuài le.

S. 不对,你骑得太慢了 búduì, nǐ qíde tài màn le.

M. 不对, 你骑得太快 nǐ qíde tài kuài.

S. 不对，是你骑得太慢. búduì, shì nǐ qíde tài màn.

M. Nǐ tài kuài!

S. Nǐ tài màn.

M. Oh dear! He NEVER listens. Zai jian