Learn how to complain at work
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| INTRODUCTION |
| John: Hi everyone, and welcome back to CantoneseClass101.com. This is Business Cantonese for Beginners Season 1 Lesson 6 - Making Cantonese Work Complaints. John here. |
| Siuling: 大家好！(daai6 gaa1 hou2!) I'm Siuling. |
| John: In this lesson, you’ll learn how to complain at work. The conversation takes place at an office. |
| Siuling: It's between Monica and Linda. |
| John: The speakers are boss and employee, therefore, they will speak informal Cantonese. Okay, let's listen to the conversation. |
| DIALOGUE |
| 黃小芬: 我哋嘅印刷商又例牌要延遲。 |
| (wong4 siu2 fan1: ngo5 dei6 ge3 jan3 caat3 soeng1 jau6 lai6 paai2 jiu3 jin4 ci4.) |
| 張麗珊: 咁唔掂喎！我哋定咗日子要畀啲辦個客睇。 |
| (zoeng1 lai6 saan1: gam2 m4 dim6 wo3! ngo5 dei6 ding6 zo2 jat6 zi2 jiu3 bei2 di1 baan2 go3 haak3 tai2.) |
| 黃小芬: 我都唔知點算好。 |
| (wong4 siu2 fan1: ngo5 dou1 m4 zi1 dim2 syun3 hou2.) |
| 張麗珊: 同佢投訴咗先，如果再延遲，就要求佢畀折扣。 |
| (zoeng1 lai6 saan1: tung4 keoi5 tau4 sou3 zo2 sin1, jyu4 gwo2 zoi3 jin4 ci4, zau6 jiu1 kau4 keoi5 bei2 zit3 kau3.) |
| 黃小芬: 好，我會咁做。多謝你嘅建議。 |
| (wong4 siu2 fan1: hou2, ngo5 wui2 gam2 zou6. do1 ze6 nei5 ge3 gin3 ji5.) |
| 張麗珊: 以防萬一，要開始搵定新嘅印刷商。 |
| (zoeng1 lai6 saan1: ji5 fong4 maan6 jat1, jiu3 hoi1 ci2 wan2 ding6 san1 ge3 jan3 caat3 soeng1.) |
| John: Listen to the conversation one time slowly. |
| 黃小芬: 我哋嘅印刷商又例牌要延遲。 |
| (wong4 siu2 fan1: ngo5 dei6 ge3 jan3 caat3 soeng1 jau6 lai6 paai2 jiu3 jin4 ci4.) |
| 張麗珊: 咁唔掂喎！我哋定咗日子要畀啲辦個客睇。 |
| (zoeng1 lai6 saan1: gam2 m4 dim6 wo3! ngo5 dei6 ding6 zo2 jat6 zi2 jiu3 bei2 di1 baan2 go3 haak3 tai2.) |
| 黃小芬: 我都唔知點算好。 |
| (wong4 siu2 fan1: ngo5 dou1 m4 zi1 dim2 syun3 hou2.) |
| 張麗珊: 同佢投訴咗先，如果再延遲，就要求佢畀折扣。 |
| (zoeng1 lai6 saan1: tung4 keoi5 tau4 sou3 zo2 sin1, jyu4 gwo2 zoi3 jin4 ci4, zau6 jiu1 kau4 keoi5 bei2 zit3 kau3.) |
| 黃小芬: 好，我會咁做。多謝你嘅建議。 |
| (wong4 siu2 fan1: hou2, ngo5 wui2 gam2 zou6. do1 ze6 nei5 ge3 gin3 ji5.) |
| 張麗珊: 以防萬一，要開始搵定新嘅印刷商。 |
| (zoeng1 lai6 saan1: ji5 fong4 maan6 jat1, jiu3 hoi1 ci2 wan2 ding6 san1 ge3 jan3 caat3 soeng1.) |
| John: Listen to the conversation with the English translation. |
| 黃小芬: 我哋嘅印刷商又例牌要延遲。 |
| (wong4 siu2 fan1: ngo5 dei6 ge3 jan3 caat3 soeng1 jau6 lai6 paai2 jiu3 jin4 ci4.) |
| Monica: Our printery is routinely delayed. |
| 張麗珊: 咁唔掂喎！我哋定咗日子要畀啲辦個客睇。 |
| (zoeng1 lai6 saan1: gam2 m4 dim6 wo3! ngo5 dei6 ding6 zo2 jat6 zi2 jiu3 bei2 di1 baan2 go3 haak3 tai2.) |
| Linda: That is not good. We are bound to show the sample to the customer. |
| 黃小芬: 我都唔知點算好。 |
| (wong4 siu2 fan1: ngo5 dou1 m4 zi1 dim2 syun3 hou2.) |
| Monica: I'm not sure what to do about it. |
| 張麗珊: 同佢投訴咗先，如果再延遲，就要求佢畀折扣。 |
| (zoeng1 lai6 saan1: tung4 keoi5 tau4 sou3 zo2 sin1, jyu4 gwo2 zoi3 jin4 ci4, zau6 jiu1 kau4 keoi5 bei2 zit3 kau3.) |
| Linda: Make a complaint and, in case of further delay, negotiate a discount. |
| 黃小芬: 好，我會咁做。多謝你嘅建議。 |
| (wong4 siu2 fan1: hou2, ngo5 wui2 gam2 zou6. do1 ze6 nei5 ge3 gin3 ji5.) |
| Monica: Okay, I will. Thank you for advising. |
| 張麗珊: 以防萬一，要開始搵定新嘅印刷商。 |
| (zoeng1 lai6 saan1: ji5 fong4 maan6 jat1, jiu3 hoi1 ci2 wan2 ding6 san1 ge3 jan3 caat3 soeng1.) |
| Linda: And just in case, start looking for a new printery. |
| POST CONVERSATION BANTER |
| Enter Post conversation Banter section here. |
| John: I hope they can get the sample finished in time to show to the client. |
| Siuling: I hope so, too. If they have a business meeting arranged, they’ll need it for then. |
| John: Speaking of business meetings, can you tell us a little bit about business meetings in Hong Kong? |
| Siuling: Firstly, punctuality is very important. |
| John: That’s expected. After all, time is money! |
| Siuling: Especially in Hong Kong. |
| John: How are meetings usually begun? |
| Siuling: With some small talk, and then the serious talk begins. |
| John: Is it common for business meetings to overrun? |
| Siuling: Yes, it is. Often there is a lot of discussion! |
| John: Can the discussion get heated, or do people keep their cool? |
| Siuling: It can get heated, but try not to lose your temper. |
| John: Okay, now onto the vocab. |
| VOCAB LIST |
| John: Let’s take a look at the vocabulary from this lesson. The first word is... |
| Siuling: 印刷商(jan3 caat3 soeng1) [natural native speed] |
| John: "printery" |
| Siuling: 印刷商(jan3 caat3 soeng1)[slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Siuling: 印刷商(jan3 caat3 soeng1) [natural native speed] |
| John: Next we have... |
| Siuling: 例牌(lai6 paai2) [natural native speed] |
| John: "routinely; as usual" |
| Siuling: 例牌(lai6 paai2)[slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Siuling: 例牌(lai6 paai2) [natural native speed] |
| John: Next we have... |
| Siuling: 延遲(jin4 ci4) [natural native speed] |
| John: "delay; to delay" |
| Siuling: 延遲(jin4 ci4)[slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Siuling: 延遲(jin4 ci4) [natural native speed] |
| John: Next we have... |
| Siuling: 定咗(ding6 zo2) [natural native speed] |
| John: "to have scheduled; to have set a date" |
| Siuling: 定咗(ding6 zo2)[slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Siuling: 定咗(ding6 zo2) [natural native speed] |
| John: Next we have... |
| Siuling: 辦(baan2) [natural native speed] |
| John: "sample" |
| Siuling: 辦(baan2)[slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Siuling: 辦(baan2) [natural native speed] |
| John: Next we have... |
| Siuling: 投訴(tau4 sou3) [natural native speed] |
| John: "to complain; complaint" |
| Siuling: 投訴(tau4 sou3)[slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Siuling: 投訴(tau4 sou3) [natural native speed] |
| John: Next we have... |
| Siuling: 折扣(zit3 kau3) [natural native speed] |
| John: "discount" |
| Siuling: 折扣(zit3 kau3)[slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Siuling: 折扣(zit3 kau3) [natural native speed] |
| John: Next we have... |
| Siuling: 建議(gin3 ji5) [natural native speed] |
| John: "suggestion, advice; to suggest, to advise" |
| Siuling: 建議(gin3 ji5)[slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Siuling: 建議(gin3 ji5) [natural native speed] |
| John: Next we have... |
| Siuling: 開始(hoi1 ci2) [natural native speed] |
| John: "to start" |
| Siuling: 開始(hoi1 ci2)[slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Siuling: 開始(hoi1 ci2) [natural native speed] |
| John: And last... |
| Siuling: 搵定 [natural native speed] |
| John: "to look for (something) in advance" |
| Siuling: 搵定[slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Siuling: 搵定 [natural native speed] |
| KEY VOCAB AND PHRASES |
| John: Let's have a closer look at the usage of some of the words and phrases from this lesson. The first word is... |
| Siuling: 例牌延遲(lai6 paai2 jin4 ci4) |
| John: meaning "to be delayed as usual." |
| John: Let’s look at this phrase. |
| Siuling: First is 例牌(lai6 paai2), meaning "as usual," and this is followed by 延遲(jin4 ci4). |
| John: This means "delay, postpone." |
| Siuling: This phrase shows the feelings of the speaker too. |
| John: Yes, there’s a hint of frustration here. |
| Siuling: It’s very colloquial, and a strong expression. |
| John: Can you give us an example using this phrase? |
| Siuling: Sure. For example, you can say... 呢間航空公司例牌延遲。(ni1 gaan1 hong4 hung1 gung1 si1 lai6 paai2 jin4 ci4.) |
| John: ...which means "Flights from this airline are usually delayed." |
| John: Okay, what's the next word? |
| Siuling: 我要投訴(ngo5 jiu3 tau4 sou3) |
| John: meaning "I want to make a complaint." |
| John: Let’s break this down. |
| Siuling: First is 我要投訴(ngo5 jiu3 tau4 sou3), which means "I want to complain." Next is 我(ngo5). |
| John: Which means "I." The next part of the phrase means "need, want." |
| Siuling: That’s 要(jiu3). Finally is 投訴(tau4 sou3). |
| John: "complain." So you can use this phrase to complain about something. |
| Siuling: If you want to report a crime though, say 舉報( geoi2 bou3). |
| John: This means "to report to the authorities." Can you give us an example using this phrase? |
| Siuling: Sure. For example, you can say... 我要同你經理投訴！(ngo5 jiu3 tung4 nei5 ging1 lei5 tau4 sou3!) |
| John: ... which means "I want to make a complaint to your manager!" |
| John: Okay, now onto the lesson focus. |
Lesson focus |
|---|
| John: In this lesson, you'll learn about handling problems at work. |
| John: We’ll begin by looking at some vocabulary and phrases that will help when talking about these problems. |
| Siuling: 延遲 (jin4 ci4) |
| John: "delay" |
| Siuling: 送錯貨 (sung3 co3 fo3) |
| John: "to have sent the wrong items" |
| Siuling: 送錯地址 (sung3 co3 dei6 zi2) |
| John: "to have sent the items to the wrong address" |
| Siuling: 寄失 (gei3 sat1) |
| John: "lost in transit" |
| Siuling: 塞車 (sat1 ce1) |
| John: "traffic jam" |
| Siuling: 收唔到錢 (sau1 m4 dou2 cin2) |
| John: "uncollectable payment" |
| Siuling: 貨物損壞 (fo3 mat6 syun2 waai6) |
| John: "damaged goods." If someone tells you about a problem, you want to show concern. Here are some natural sounding phrases that you can use. |
| Siuling: 咁唔掂喎！(gam2 m4 dim6 wo3!) |
| John: "Oh, that’s not good." |
| Siuling: 有冇搞錯？！(jau5 mou5 gaau2 co3?!) |
| John: This can mean things such as "Geez!" or "That’s ridiculous!" or "Seriously?!" |
| Siuling: 發生乜事？(faat3 sang1 mat1 si6?) |
| John: "What happened?" |
| Siuling: 大件事！ (daai6 gin3 si6!) |
| John: "Oh no!" or "Oh my god!" Let’s put an expression of concern, with some of the vocabulary we heard earlier. |
| Siuling: 咁唔掂喎！驗貨唔合格！(gam2 m4 dim6 wo3! jim6 fo3 m4 hap6 gaak3!) |
| John: "That’s not good. The stock failed the quality check." |
| Siuling: 有冇搞錯？！送完貨都收唔到錢。(jau5 mou5 gaau2 co3?! sung3 jyun4 fo3 dou1 sau1 m4 dou2 cin2.) |
| John: "That’s ridiculous! We’ve delivered the goods, but they haven’t paid us." |
Outro |
| John: Okay, that’s all for this lesson. Thank you for listening, everyone, and we’ll see you next time! Bye! |
| Siuling: 拜拜！(baai1 baai3!) |
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