Y: We've come of age this week in the Chinese Studio, the digital age that is. Welcome in everyone. Wo shi Y.
B: Da jia hao, wo shi B. And today I'm buying that laptop. Can't wait.
Y: Before you do that B, there's a few more keywords which will come in handy.

Key words of the day
Computer case 电脑包how much is the computer case?电脑包多少钱？How heavy is it? 重量是多少？ What's your best price? 最低价是多少？ All in today's Chinese Studio

B: These laptops are all very attractive models. Once I've bought one, I'll need to put it into a case.
Y: Yeah, and we call that a dian4 nao3 bao1. bao1 means case or bag,
B: dian4 nao3 bao1. And to ask, how much is the computer case?
Y: You want to say dian4 nao3 bao1duo1 shao3 qian2,
B: dian4 nao3 bao1 duo1 shao3 qian2,
Y: as duo1 shao3 qian2 means how much,
B: duo1 shao3 qian2,
Y: dian4 nao3 bao1 duo1 shao3 qian2
B: let me say it again… dian4 nao3 bao1 duo1 shao3 qian2 …How much is the computer case?

Conversation 1
A: 电脑包多少钱？
B: 500 块。
A: 太贵了。能不能便宜点？
B: 好吧。给你打个八折。
 
B: It's not every day I buy a computer, so, I'm trying to thing of everything I need to know. What have I forgotten Y?
Y: Well you're not the strongest specimen around B, you should think of 重量, the weight.
B: zhong4 liang4.the weight, good thinking. So I better ask, how much does it weigh?
Y: well you can say: zhong4 liang4 shi4 duo1 shao3? 
B: zhong4 liang4 shi4 duo1 shao3?
Y: shi4 duo1 shao3 means is what? 
B: shi4 duo1 shao3
Y: zhong4 liang4 shi4 duo1 shao3?
B: zhong4 liang4 shi4 duo1 shao3? What’s the weight? Or how much does it weigh? 
 

Conversation2
A: 这台电脑重量是多少？
B: 大约2公斤。

B: I've decided, this one here is the model for me. I'm not so good at bargaining Y, I just want to ask, what's your best price?
Y: There's never a model answer to that, but here's the question anyway 最低价是多少？
B: zui4 di1 jia4 shi4 duo1 shao3?
Y: zui4 di1 means the lowest,
B: zui4 di1,
Y: shi4 means is,
B: shi4,
Y: duo1 shao3 means how much,
B: duo1 shao3,
Y: zui4 di1 jia4 shi4 duo1 shao3?
B: zui4 di1 jia4 shi4 duo1 shao3?  What's your best price?
 
Conversation 4
A: 最低价是多少？
B: 1 万2 。
A: 便宜点儿，我给你一万块。
B: 好吧。

Key words reminder
Computer case 电脑包how much is the computer case?电脑包多少钱？How heavy is it? 重量是多少？ What's your best price? 最低价是多少？ All in today's Chinese Studio

B: I feel like an excitable child with a new toy. I'm heading off to play with my new laptop.
Y: Boys will be boys, and Y will be question master.
B: Sorry, Y, forgot all about our question. What are we going to ask?
Y: How do you say, "What's your best price?" in Chinese.
B: Send us your correct answer to Chinese@crifm.com. Remember, you could win yourself a prize. Mingtian jian.
Y: Mingtian jian.