Dialogue

Vocabulary

Learn New Words FAST with this Lesson’s Vocab Review List

Get this lesson’s key vocab, their translations and pronunciations. Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account Now and get 7 Days of Premium Access including this feature.

Or sign up using Facebook
Already a Member?

Lesson Notes

Unlock In-Depth Explanations & Exclusive Takeaways with Printable Lesson Notes

Unlock Lesson Notes and Transcripts for every single lesson. Sign Up for a Free Lifetime Account and Get 7 Days of Premium Access.

Or sign up using Facebook
Already a Member?

Lesson Transcript

INTRODUCTION
John: Hi everyone, and welcome back to CantoneseClass101.com. This is Business Cantonese for Beginners Season 1 Lesson 8 - Organizing a Customer Meeting in Hong Kong. John here.
Siuling: 大家好!(daai6 gaa1 hou2!) I'm Siuling.
John: In this lesson, you’ll learn how to set up a meeting. The conversation takes place at a restaurant.
Siuling: It's between Linda and John.
John: The speakers are employee and customer(s), therefore, they will speak formal Cantonese. Okay, let's listen to the conversation.
DIALOGUE
張麗珊: 李生,我想畀你睇下初稿,請問下個星期你方唔方便開會研究一下?
(zoeng1 lai6 saan1: lei5 saang1, ngo5 soeng2 bei2 nei5 tai2 haa5 co1 gou2, cing2 man6 haa6 go3 sing1 kei4 nei5 fong1 m4 fong1 bin6 hoi1 wui2 jin4 gau3 jat1 haa5?)
李家明: 當然可以。邊日方便你?
(lei5 gaa1 ming4: dong1 jin4 ho2 ji5. bin1 jat6 fong1 bin6 nei5?)
張麗珊: 最好係星期三或者星期五。
(zoeng1 lai6 saan1: zeoi3 hou2 hai6 sing1 kei4 saam1 waak6 ze2 sing1 kei4 ng5.)
李家明: 星期五會好啲,你可唔可以上晝十點左右嚟我公司?
(lei5 gaa1 ming4: sing1 kei4 ng5 wui2 hou2 di1, nei5 ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 soeng6 zau3 sap6 dim2 zo2 jau2 lei4 ngo5 gung1 si1?)
張麗珊: 就咁決定。
(zoeng1 lai6 saan1: zau6 gam2 kyut3 ding6.)
John: Listen to the conversation one time slowly.
張麗珊: 李生,我想畀你睇下初稿,請問下個星期你方唔方便開會研究一下?
(zoeng1 lai6 saan1: lei5 saang1, ngo5 soeng2 bei2 nei5 tai2 haa5 co1 gou2, cing2 man6 haa6 go3 sing1 kei4 nei5 fong1 m4 fong1 bin6 hoi1 wui2 jin4 gau3 jat1 haa5?)
李家明: 當然可以。邊日方便你?
(lei5 gaa1 ming4: dong1 jin4 ho2 ji5. bin1 jat6 fong1 bin6 nei5?)
張麗珊: 最好係星期三或者星期五。
(zoeng1 lai6 saan1: zeoi3 hou2 hai6 sing1 kei4 saam1 waak6 ze2 sing1 kei4 ng5.)
李家明: 星期五會好啲,你可唔可以上晝十點左右嚟我公司?
(lei5 gaa1 ming4: sing1 kei4 ng5 wui2 hou2 di1, nei5 ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 soeng6 zau3 sap6 dim2 zo2 jau2 lei4 ngo5 gung1 si1?)
張麗珊: 就咁決定。
(zoeng1 lai6 saan1: zau6 gam2 kyut3 ding6.)
John: Listen to the conversation with the English translation.
張麗珊: 李生,我想畀你睇下初稿,請問下個星期你方唔方便開會研究一下?
(zoeng1 lai6 saan1: lei5 saang1, ngo5 soeng2 bei2 nei5 tai2 haa5 co1 gou2, cing2 man6 haa6 go3 sing1 kei4 nei5 fong1 m4 fong1 bin6 hoi1 wui2 jin4 gau3 jat1 haa5?)
Linda: Mr. Lee, I would like to present to you the preliminary draft. Can we set up a meeting for next week?
李家明: 當然可以。邊日方便你?
(lei5 gaa1 ming4: dong1 jin4 ho2 ji5. bin1 jat6 fong1 bin6 nei5?)
John: Of course. What days would be convenient for you?
張麗珊: 最好係星期三或者星期五。
(zoeng1 lai6 saan1: zeoi3 hou2 hai6 sing1 kei4 saam1 waak6 ze2 sing1 kei4 ng5.)
Linda: Wednesday and Friday.
李家明: 星期五會好啲,你可唔可以上晝十點左右嚟我公司?
(lei5 gaa1 ming4: sing1 kei4 ng5 wui2 hou2 di1, nei5 ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 soeng6 zau3 sap6 dim2 zo2 jau2 lei4 ngo5 gung1 si1?)
John: Friday would be better. Could you please come to my office around 10 AM?
張麗珊: 就咁決定。
(zoeng1 lai6 saan1: zau6 gam2 kyut3 ding6.)
Linda: Let's decide it like this.
POST CONVERSATION BANTER
John: In the conversation, we heard a discussion about setting up a business meeting. What should we do when arranging a meeting?
Siuling: It’s polite to schedule a meeting a week or two in advance.
John: It’s good to avoid scheduling a meeting before Christmas or the Chinese New Year too.
Siuling: That’s right, a lot of people are out of town during those times.
John: Is there anything else we should be aware of?
Siuling: You should email or call your business contact the day before the appointment.
John: I’m sure that being on time is a must for any appointment.
Siuling: Of course! If you’re in the room first, always stand up and greet anyone that comes in.
John: We spoke in a previous lesson of using both hands to accept business cards, and you should do the same with contracts and gifts too.
Siuling: If negotiations take longer than you expect, stay calm.
John: Why would things take longer?
Siuling: People like to discuss things in great detail, so just stay patient.
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: 初稿(co1 gou2) [natural native speed]
John: "preliminary draft"
Siuling: 初稿(co1 gou2)[slowly - broken down by syllable]
Siuling: 初稿(co1 gou2) [natural native speed]
John: Next we have...
Siuling: 研究(jin4 gau3) [natural native speed]
John: "study"
Siuling: 研究(jin4 gau3)[slowly - broken down by syllable]
Siuling: 研究(jin4 gau3) [natural native speed]
John: Next we have...
Siuling: 方便(fong1 bin6) [natural native speed]
John: "convenient"
Siuling: 方便(fong1 bin6)[slowly - broken down by syllable]
Siuling: 方便(fong1 bin6) [natural native speed]
John: Next we have...
Siuling: 最好(zeoi3 hou2) [natural native speed]
John: "the best"
Siuling: 最好(zeoi3 hou2)[slowly - broken down by syllable]
Siuling: 最好(zeoi3 hou2) [natural native speed]
John: Next we have...
Siuling: 或者(waak6 ze2) [natural native speed]
John: "or"
Siuling: 或者(waak6 ze2)[slowly - broken down by syllable]
Siuling: 或者(waak6 ze2) [natural native speed]
John: Next we have...
Siuling: 上晝(soeng6 zau3) [natural native speed]
John: "in the morning; a.m."
Siuling: 上晝(soeng6 zau3)[slowly - broken down by syllable]
Siuling: 上晝(soeng6 zau3) [natural native speed]
John: Next we have...
Siuling: 左右(zo2 jau2) [natural native speed]
John: "around; approximately"
Siuling: 左右(zo2 jau2)[slowly - broken down by syllable]
Siuling: 左右(zo2 jau2) [natural native speed]
John: And last...
Siuling: 決定(kyut3 ding6) [natural native speed]
John: "to decide; decision"
Siuling: 決定(kyut3 ding6)[slowly - broken down by syllable]
Siuling: 決定(kyut3 ding6) [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: 我公司(ngo5 gung1 si1)
John: meaning "my office"
John: Let’s break down this phrase.
Siuling: First is 我 (ngo5), meaning "I, me," and this is followed by 公司 (gung1 si1).
John: This is "office." You can use this to talk about your office.
Siuling: Technically, we should add either the possessive pronoun 嘅(ge3) or classifier 間(gaan1) between the subject and noun.
John: But in daily conversations, these are often left out.
Siuling: Yes, when talking about your own family or company.
John: Can you give us an example using this phrase?
Siuling: Sure. For example, you can say... 唔該你上嚟我公司。(m4 goi1 nei5 soeng5 lei4 ngo5 gung1 si1.)
John: ...which means "Please come to my office."
John: Okay, what's the next word?
Siuling: 就咁決定。(zau6 gam2 kyut3 ding6)
John: meaning "Let's decide it like this."
John: What can you tell us about this, Siuling?
Siuling: First is 就咁(zau6 gam2), meaning "just like this way." It is followed by 決定(kyut3 ding6).
John: That means "decide." When can you use this phrase?
Siuling: You can use it when you have to choose between many options.
John: Can you give us an example using this phrase?
Siuling: Sure. For example, you can say... 就咁決定啦!(zau6 gam2 kyut3 ding6 laa1!)
John: ... which means "It's decided!"
John: Okay, now onto the lesson focus.

Lesson focus

John: In this lesson, you'll learn about setting up a meeting with a customer.
John: As we heard in the conversation earlier, to set up a meeting, you need to set up a time and date.
Siuling: There are a few phrases you can use for this.
John: Siuling, can you tell us some?
Siuling: Of course! 邊日方便你? (bin1 jat6 fong1 bin6 nei5?)
John: "Which day is good for you?"
Siuling: 星期五方唔方便? (sing1 kei4 saam1 fong1 m4 fong1 bin6?)
John: "Does Friday work for you?"
Siuling: 你方唔方便星期三開會?(nei5 fong1 m4 fong1 bin6 sing1 kei4 saam1 hoi1 wui5?)
John: "Is Wednesday convenient for you for a meeting?"
Siuling: 我哋可唔可以約下星期開會?(Ngo5 dei6 ho2 m4 ho2 ji3 joek3 haa6 sing1 kei4 hoi1 wui5?)
John: "Can we set up a meeting for next week?"
Siuling: 你幾時得閒? (nei5 gei2 si4 dak1 haan4?)
John: "When will you be free?" Now in a couple of those sentences, we needed to use the days of the week.
Siuling: So, it might be a good idea to go through those.
John: I think so!
Siuling: 星期一 (sing1 kei4 jat1)
John: "Monday"
Siuling: 星期二 (sing1 kei4 ji6)
John: "Tuesday"
Siuling: 星期三 (sing1 kei4 saam1)
John: "Wednesday"
Siuling: 星期四 (sing1 kei4 sei3)
John: "Thursday"
Siuling: 星期五 (sing1 kei4 ng5)
John: "Friday"
Siuling: 星期六 (sing1 kei4 luk6)
John: "Saturday"
Siuling: 星期日 (sing1 kei4 jat6)
John: "Sunday"

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!)

Comments

Hide