YuYan.Biz

Key vocabulary:

securities

stocks

bonds

debt

portfolio

Example conversation:

A: Hi John. How’s your portfolio doing?

B: Hi Fred. My portfolio of securities is doing well. My stocks are up 30%. Although my bonds aren’t doing too well…

B: I see.

A: Fred, how about you?

B: Well, I have some debt. Personal debt. So I don’t have a lot of money in securities.

A: Well, try your best to rectify that my friend!

B: Oh! I will!

Audio:

Key phrases:

drive-through restaurant

drive-through lane

fast food

Example conversation:

A: Hello?

B: How can I help you?

A: Hi. Good morning. I’d like to get a number one (#1) meal with orange juice, please.

B: Anything else today?

A: No ma’am!

B: US$4.13. (Please drive to the) First window.

A: Thank you!

Audio:

Key phrases:

Customer service

To register a complaint

Example conversation:

A. Hello? “Widgets Are Us”, how may I help you?

B. Hi. This is Mrs. Jones. I have a complaint. I need to register a complaint.

A. You need to register a complaint. OK, how can we help you? What seems to be the problem?

B. I have purchased a fan. When I got home, the fan did not work. I am angry.

A. Oh, don’t be angry. We’re here to help you. Customer service is our top priority. So, what is the specific problem with the fan?

B. I plugged the fan in and it did not work. I need a new fan … or I want my money back.

A. Understood. Can you bring the fan down to one of our stores?

B. Yes. What day? And where do I bring the fan?

A. You can bring it to any one of our outlet stores. Monday – Friday 9am – 7pm. When you come into the store ask for the Customer Service desk which is usually in the back.

B. So at the back of the store there is a Customer Service desk and they can help with my problem?

A. That’s correct. And please do remember to bring your receipt.

B. Yes. I will bring my receipt and the broken fan. And I will come to the store and go to the customer service desk which is usually in the back of the store.

A. That’s correct. We’re sorry to cause you this extra trouble and we hope you’ll continue to be a loyal customer of “Widgets Are Us”.

B. Yes, I am very disappointed but I will bring the fan and hopefully you will fix the fan or give me my money back.

A. Yes, we will solve your problem.

B. Thank you.

A. Talk soon. Bye.

B. Bye.

Audio:

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Key phrases:

To check into a hotel

Surname = family name

Given name

Here you are

imprint

Example conversation:

A. Hello, may I help you?

B. Yes, I’m checking in.

A. Alright. And…what’s your name?

B. My name is Hu Jintao.

A: Uh, I’m sorry?

B. Oh, it’s a Chinese name. Hu Jintao.

A. OK, let me see… in the computer … I’m sorry; I don’t see any “Jintao.”

B. Oh, no, no, no. You’re … The family name, the surname is Hu. H-U.

A. Oh?

B. Yes, Hu Jintao. You see, in Chinese, we put the family name or surname in front and the individual’s given name at the.. at the end. So, it’s Hu Jintao. Or, in English, you could say “Jintao Hu.”

A. Oh, OK Mr. Hu. Yes, we have your reservation right here. You’ll be staying with us for … two nights and three days. Is that correct?

B. Yes, that’s correct.

A. May I see your passport please?

B. Here you are.

A. Thank you. OK Mr. Hu. I am going to put you in a room with two twin beds and uh, it’s a smoking room.

B. A smoking room?

A. Yes, a smoking room.

B. No no no! I don’t smoke!

A. You don’t smoke?

B. No.

A. Oh, OK. Non-smoking room….. We have a non-smoking room with a king-sized bed. Would that be acceptable?

B. Very much so. Thank you!

A. Certainly. And last but not least, I need your credit card. I need to take an imprint of it for any bills … ah … any expenses that are not already prepaid.

B. Alright. Here you are.

A. Thank you Mr. Hu. Here’s your room key. Please enjoy your stay.

B. I will! Thank you!

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And audio:

Key Phrases:

rain check = 雨票

to let your hair down = “把头发放下去” ; 放松 ; 玩一下

Example Conversation:

Joan: John, congratulations on closing the Smith account.

John: Thank you very much. But now the hard work really begins.

Joan: That’s true John. But, why don’t you let down your hair and come enjoy some beer with us tonight? Let’s celebrate.

John: Hmmm, Joan. That’s a great idea. But I really have to get busy. Tonight, I need to speak with the office in Shanghai; they’ll start work while we are sleeping here in the United States. As such, can I have a rain check?

Joan: A rain check?

John: Yes, a rain check. I’d like to go out for beers with you guys next time if that’s OK.

Joan: That’s fine.

Audio:

Key Phrases:

to put all your eggs in one basket = 孤注一掷 /把所有的鸡蛋放在一个篮子里 / 把所有的宝押在柜台上

It is all or nothing! = 全赢或者全输

Example conversation:

A. Hi. How are you?

B. Very good. And you?

A. Great.

B. Say, did you hear about Mr. Chen?

A. Mr. Chen? The successful Internet entrepreneur?

B. Yes.

A. Didn’t he sell his first company?

B. Yes he did. It was very successful.

A. Wow! That’s great.

B. But now, he is putting all his money and all his resources into his new company.

A. What’s wrong with that?

B. Well, nothing. But he is literally putting all his eggs in one basket.

A. All his eggs in one basket?

B. Yes. Only one product. Focusing on one customer. And one contract. It’s all or nothing!

A. Wow! He really shouldn’t put all his eggs into one basket!

Audio:

Key phrases:

to call it even = 扯平了, 两不相欠, 互不相欠, 两清

To chew on it = 想一想, “慢慢地嚼食物“, 仔细地考虑

Example conversation:

A. Thank you for completing the Web design.

B. My pleasure. Do you like it?

A I certainly do!

B. Well, that’ll be US$500.

A. US$500? But you still owe us US$480 for the Web hosting for your other sites.

B. Oh. I forgot about that.

A. And you’re overdue 60 days.

B. I see.

A. Look, why don’t we just call it even?

B. Call it even?

A. Yeah, you don’t owe me, and we don’t owe you.

B. Hmmm… OK. That sounds fair.

A. Are you sure?

B. Not really.

A. Well, take your time and chew on it.

Audio:

to break the ice

Example conversation:

A: John, when we go into this meeting, I want you to tell some of your good jokes to break the ice.

John: OK… Are you sure that wouldn’t be … ah … inappropriate?

A. No… We really need to break the ice to make this sale.

to take a taxi = 搭计程车 ; 搭的士

taxi = 计程车 ; 的士

taxi driver = 的士师傅; 计程车司机

Step on it! = 快点到达! 加油!

Example conversation:

Taxi driver: Where to?

You: 100 Third Avenue, please! And step on it! And if you get there in 20 minutes, I’ll give you a US$20 tip!

budget = 预算

Example conversation:

Boss: Cindy, Boyd, I am going to need those numbers for the budget by Wednesday!

Cindy, Boyd: OK boss.

Boyd: Budget numbers? I thought you were working on those figures?

Cindy: What? No. I did them last year. It is your turn to work on the budgetary numbers.

Boyd: Oh. Yeah. I forgot.