Learn how to make a phone call
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| INTRODUCTION |
| John: Hi everyone, and welcome back to CantoneseClass101.com. This is Business Cantonese for Beginners Season 1 Lesson 14 - Making a Business Call in Cantonese. John here. |
| Siuling: 大家好！(daai6 gaa1 hou2!) I'm Siuling. |
| John: In this lesson, you’ll learn how to make a phone call. The conversation takes place at an office. |
| Siuling: It's between a secretary and John. |
| John: The speakers are employee and customer, therefore, they will speak formal Cantonese. Okay, let's listen to the conversation. |
| DIALOGUE |
| 秘書: 喂，呢度係藍與綠公司，有乜嘢可以幫到你？ |
| (bei3 syu1: wai2, ni1 dou6 hai6 laam4 jyu5 luk6 gung1 si1, jau5 mat1 je5 ho2 ji5 bong1 dou3 nei5?) |
| 李家明: 早晨，我係日新公司嘅李家明，我想搵黃小芬小姐。 |
| (lei5 gaa1 ming4: zou2 san4, ngo5 hai6 jat6 san1 gung1 si1 ge3 lei5 gaa1 ming4, ngo5 soeng2 wan2 wong4 siu2 fan1 siu2 ze2.) |
| 秘書: 好呀，請等等。[ 數秒之後 ] |
| (bei3 syu1: hou2 aa3, cing2 dang2 dang2. [sou3 miu5 zi1 hau6]) |
| 秘書: 喂，李生，對唔住，而家黃小姐開緊會，係咪好緊急㗎？ |
| (bei3 syu1: wai2, lei5 saang1, deoi3 m4 zyu6, ji4 gaa1 wong4 siu2 ze2 hoi1 gan2 wui2, hai6 mai6 hou2 gan2 gap1 gaa3?) |
| 李家明: 唔係，唔緊急嘅，唔該你話畀佢聽我搵過佢。 |
| (lei5 gaa1 ming4: m4 hai6, m4 gan2 gap1 ge3, m4 goi1 nei5 waa6 bei2 keoi5 teng1 ngo5 wan2 gwo3 keoi5.) |
| 秘書: 一定。仲有冇其他嘢？ |
| (bei3 syu1: jat1 ding6. zung6 jau5 mou5 kei4 taa1 je5?) |
| 李家明: 唔該叫黃小姐有時間打返電話畀我，我要同佢傾下計劃嘅細節。 |
| (lei5 gaa1 ming4: m4 goi1 giu3 wong4 siu2 ze2 jau5 si4 gaan3 daa2 faan1 din6 waa2 bei2 ngo5, ngo5 jiu3 tung4 keoi5 king1 haa5 gai3 waak6 ge3 sai3 zit3.) |
| 秘書: 好，我會講畀佢聽。 |
| (bei3 syu1: hou2, ngo5 wui2 gong2 bei2 keoi5 teng1.) |
| John: Listen to the conversation one time slowly. |
| 秘書: 喂，呢度係藍與綠公司，有乜嘢可以幫到你？ |
| (bei3 syu1: wai2, ni1 dou6 hai6 laam4 jyu5 luk6 gung1 si1, jau5 mat1 je5 ho2 ji5 bong1 dou3 nei5?) |
| 李家明: 早晨，我係日新公司嘅李家明，我想搵黃小芬小姐。 |
| (lei5 gaa1 ming4: zou2 san4, ngo5 hai6 jat6 san1 gung1 si1 ge3 lei5 gaa1 ming4, ngo5 soeng2 wan2 wong4 siu2 fan1 siu2 ze2.) |
| 秘書: 好呀，請等等。[ 數秒之後 ] |
| (bei3 syu1: hou2 aa3, cing2 dang2 dang2. [sou3 miu5 zi1 hau6]) |
| 秘書: 喂，李生，對唔住，而家黃小姐開緊會，係咪好緊急㗎？ |
| (bei3 syu1: wai2, lei5 saang1, deoi3 m4 zyu6, ji4 gaa1 wong4 siu2 ze2 hoi1 gan2 wui2, hai6 mai6 hou2 gan2 gap1 gaa3?) |
| 李家明: 唔係，唔緊急嘅，唔該你話畀佢聽我搵過佢。 |
| (lei5 gaa1 ming4: m4 hai6, m4 gan2 gap1 ge3, m4 goi1 nei5 waa6 bei2 keoi5 teng1 ngo5 wan2 gwo3 keoi5.) |
| 秘書: 一定。仲有冇其他嘢？ |
| (bei3 syu1: jat1 ding6. zung6 jau5 mou5 kei4 taa1 je5?) |
| 李家明: 唔該叫黃小姐有時間打返電話畀我，我要同佢傾下計劃嘅細節。 |
| (lei5 gaa1 ming4: m4 goi1 giu3 wong4 siu2 ze2 jau5 si4 gaan3 daa2 faan1 din6 waa2 bei2 ngo5, ngo5 jiu3 tung4 keoi5 king1 haa5 gai3 waak6 ge3 sai3 zit3.) |
| 秘書: 好，我會講畀佢聽。 |
| (bei3 syu1: hou2, ngo5 wui2 gong2 bei2 keoi5 teng1.) |
| John: Listen to the conversation with the English translation |
| 秘書: 喂，呢度係藍與綠公司，有乜嘢可以幫到你？ |
| (bei3 syu1: wai2, ni1 dou6 hai6 laam4 jyu5 luk6 gung1 si1, jau5 mat1 je5 ho2 ji5 bong1 dou3 nei5?) |
| Secretary: Hello this is Green and Blue. May I help you? |
| 李家明: 早晨，我係日新公司嘅李家明，我想搵黃小芬小姐。 |
| (lei5 gaa1 ming4: zou2 san4, ngo5 hai6 jat6 san1 gung1 si1 ge3 lei5 gaa1 ming4, ngo5 soeng2 wan2 wong4 siu2 fan1 siu2 ze2.) |
| John: Good morning, this is John Lee from Daily Innovative Company. Can I speak to Ms. Wong? |
| 秘書: 好呀，請等等。[ 數秒之後 ] |
| (bei3 syu1: hou2 aa3, cing2 dang2 dang2. [sou3 miu5 zi1 hau6]) |
| Secretary: Yes, please hold on. |
| [few seconds later] |
| 秘書: 喂，李生，對唔住，而家黃小姐開緊會，係咪好緊急㗎？ |
| (bei3 syu1: wai2, lei5 saang1, deoi3 m4 zyu6, ji4 gaa1 wong4 siu2 ze2 hoi1 gan2 wui2, hai6 mai6 hou2 gan2 gap1 gaa3?) |
| Secretary: Hello, Mr. Lee, unfortunately Ms. Wong is in a meeting now. Is it urgent? |
| 李家明: 唔係，唔緊急嘅，唔該你話畀佢聽我搵過佢。 |
| (lei5 gaa1 ming4: m4 hai6, m4 gan2 gap1 ge3, m4 goi1 nei5 waa6 bei2 keoi5 teng1 ngo5 wan2 gwo3 keoi5.) |
| John: No, nothing urgent. Could you just let her know that I called? |
| 秘書: 一定。仲有冇其他嘢？ |
| (bei3 syu1: jat1 ding6. zung6 jau5 mou5 kei4 taa1 je5?) |
| Secretary: Absolutely. Something else? |
| 李家明: 唔該叫黃小姐有時間打返電話畀我，我要同佢傾下計劃嘅細節。 |
| (lei5 gaa1 ming4: m4 goi1 giu3 wong4 siu2 ze2 jau5 si4 gaan3 daa2 faan1 din6 waa2 bei2 ngo5, ngo5 jiu3 tung4 keoi5 king1 haa5 gai3 waak6 ge3 sai3 zit3.) |
| John: Please, ask her to call me back when she has time. I need to talk to her about the details of the project. |
| 秘書: 好，我會講畀佢聽。 |
| (bei3 syu1: hou2, ngo5 wui2 gong2 bei2 keoi5 teng1.) |
| Secretary: Of course. I will tell her that. |
| POST CONVERSATION BANTER |
| John: In the conversation, we heard a business phone call. |
| Siuling: Making business phone calls is very important. |
| John: How should we start one of these calls? |
| Siuling: You should say 喂(wai2). This is "hello" in English. |
| John: Next, you should say who you want to speak to. |
| Siuling: A polite way of doing this is 唔該請 ....先生聽電話。(m4 goi1 cing2 ... sin1 saang1 teng1 din6 waa2.) |
| John: "I would like to talk to… Mr… please." You might want to give your full name and company, if the business you’re calling doesn’t know you. |
| Siuling: If you’re answering the phone, then remember to be polite. |
| John: Before you transfer a call to a colleague, make sure that they’re available and that they want to take the call. |
| Siuling: When you place a caller on hold, you can say 請等等。(cing2 dang2 dang2) |
| John: This is similar to "In a moment, please." One last thing to remember is not to call outside of office hours. |
| Siuling: Only do that if it is an emergency, and make sure that you apologize. |
| 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: 想(soeng2) [natural native speed] |
| John: to want |
| Siuling: 想(soeng2) [slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Siuling: 想(soeng2) [natural native speed] |
| John: Next we have... |
| Siuling: 搵(wan2) [natural native speed] |
| John: to look for |
| Siuling: 搵(wan2) [slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Siuling: 搵(wan2) [natural native speed] |
| John: Next we have... |
| Siuling: 聽(teng1) [natural native speed] |
| John: to listen |
| Siuling: 聽(teng1) [slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Siuling: 聽(teng1) [natural native speed] |
| John: Next we have... |
| Siuling: 電話(din6 waa2) [natural native speed] |
| John: telephone |
| Siuling: 電話(din6 waa2) [slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Siuling: 電話(din6 waa2) [natural native speed] |
| John: Next we have... |
| Siuling: 對唔住(deoi3 m4 zyu6) [natural native speed] |
| John: sorry |
| Siuling: 對唔住(deoi3 m4 zyu6) [slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Siuling: 對唔住(deoi3 m4 zyu6) [natural native speed] |
| John: Next we have... |
| Siuling: 而家(ji4 gaa1) [natural native speed] |
| John: now |
| Siuling: 而家(ji4 gaa1) [slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Siuling: 而家(ji4 gaa1) [natural native speed] |
| John: Next we have... |
| Siuling: 緊急(gan2 gap1) [natural native speed] |
| John: urgent |
| Siuling: 緊急(gan2 gap1) [slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Siuling: 緊急(gan2 gap1) [natural native speed] |
| John: Next we have... |
| Siuling: 仲(zung6) [natural native speed] |
| John: still, again |
| Siuling: 仲(zung6) [slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Siuling: 仲(zung6) [natural native speed] |
| John: Next we have... |
| Siuling: 傾下(king1 haa6) [natural native speed] |
| John: to talk about |
| Siuling: 傾下(king1 haa6) [slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Siuling: 傾下(king1 haa6) [natural native speed] |
| John: And last... |
| Siuling: 細節 [natural native speed] |
| John: detail |
| Siuling: 細節 [slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Siuling: 細節 [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: 聽電話(teng1 din6 waa2) |
| John: meaning "to pick up the phone." |
| John: Let’s break this down. |
| Siuling: First is 聽(teng1), meaning "to listen, to hear." Then, 電話(din6 waa2) |
| John: This is "telephone." |
| Siuling: You can use 聽電話(teng1 din6 waa2) to describe your job if your job is mainly answering the phone. |
| John: What can we say if you make lots of phone calls? |
| Siuling: You can say 打電話(daa2 din6 waa2). |
| John: Can you give us an example using this phrase? |
| Siuling: Sure. For example, you can say... 一聽到電話響，立即接聽電話。(jat1 teng1 dou2 din6 waa2 hoeng5, laap6 zik1 zip3 teng1 din6 waa2.) |
| John: ...which means "Once you hear the telephone ring, please pick up the phone immediately." |
| John: Okay, what's the next word? |
| Siuling: 我想傾下啲細節。(ngo5 soeng2 king1 haa5 dik1 sai3 zit3) |
| John: meaning "I want to talk about the details." |
| John: Let’s break this down, too. |
| Siuling: First is 我想(ngo5 soeng2), meaning "I want." Next is 傾吓 (king1 haa5) |
| John: This is "to talk about." It’s followed by "those, a little bit." |
| Siuling: That’s 啲(dik1). The last part is 細節(sai3 zit3) |
| John: "details." You can use this phrase when you want to talk about details some more. |
| Siuling: The verb 傾吓 (king1 haa5) is quite colloquial. You can use 討論(tou2 leon6) or 商量(soeng1 loeng4) to make it more formal. |
| John: Can you give us an example using this phrase? |
| Siuling: Sure. For example, you can say... 簽合約之前，我想傾吓啲細節。(cim1 hap6 joek3 zi1 cin4, ngo5 soeng2 king1 haa5 dik1 sai3 zit3.) |
| John: ... which means "Before signing the contract, I would like to talk a bit more about the details." |
| John: Okay, what's the next word? |
| Siuling: 仲有冇其他?(zung6 jau5 mou5 kei4 taa1?) |
| John: meaning "Anything else?" |
| John: This is our final phrase, and let’s break this down like we did with the others. |
| Siuling: First is 仲(zung6), meaning "still." Next is 有冇(jau5 mou5) |
| John: This means "have, have not." Finally is "other, else." |
| Siuling: This is 其他(kei4 taa1). The written form of this phrase is 還有沒有其他?(waan4 jau5 mut6 jau5 kei4 taa1?). |
| John: You use this to check if someone has everything they need. |
| Siuling: That’s right. |
| John: Can you give us an example using this phrase? |
| Siuling: Sure. For example, you can say... 仲有冇其他嘢我可以幫到你?(zung6 jau5 mou5 kei4 taa1 je5 ngo5 ho2 ji5 bong1 dou2 nei5?) |
| John: ... which means "Is there anything else I can do to help?" |
| John: Okay, now onto the lesson focus. |
Lesson focus |
|---|
| John: In this lesson, you'll learn about making a phone call. When you make a phone call in a business setting, there are some words and phrases that you’re likely to hear. |
| Siuling: As we said earlier, it’s common to answer the phone by saying 喂 (wai2). |
| John: "Hello." Then follow this with the name of your company, and a welcoming phrase. Can you give us an example, Siuling? |
| Siuling: 喂，呢度係藍與綠公司，有乜嘢可以幫到你？ (wai2, ni1 dou6 hai6 laam4 jyu5 luk6 gung1 si1, jau5 mat1 je5 ho2 ji5 bong1 dou3 nei5?) |
| John: "Hello, this is the Green and Blue Company. How may I help you?" You can answer this by giving your name and your company name. For example... |
| Siuling: 我係日新公司嘅李家明。(ngo5 hai6 jat6 san1 gung1 si1 ge3 lei5 gaa1 ming4.) |
| John: "This is John Lee from Daily Innovative Company." Next, we’ll look at how to ask for someone over the phone. |
| Siuling: This is important. Usually, you don’t call the person you want to speak to directly. |
| John: No, it’s more likely that you’ll speak to a receptionist or an assistant. There are a few ways to ask for a specific person. |
| Siuling: The first is, 我想搵________。(ngo5 soeng2 wan2 _______.) |
| John: "I would like to talk to…" You can also say... |
| Siuling: ________喺度嗎？ (_______ hai2 dou6 maa3?) |
| John: "Is… there?" Our final example is... |
| Siuling: ________而家方便聽電話嗎？ (_______ ji4 gaa1 fong1 bin6 teng1 din6 waa2 maa3?) |
| John: "Is…. free to speak?" |
| Siuling: You can ask for someone by name, or by position. For example, 經理 (ging1 lei5) |
| John: "manager." Next, we’ll hear some examples of things you might be calling about. |
| Siuling: 你哋開到幾點？(nei5 dei6 hoi1 dou3 gei2 dim2?) |
| John: "Until what time are you open?" |
| Siuling: 請問可唔可以訂位？ (cing2 man6 ho2 m4 ho2 ji3 deng6 wai2?) |
| John: "Do you guys take reservations?" Here are some phrases you can use if you need to leave a message. |
| Siuling: 唔該你話畀佢聽我搵過佢。 (m4 goi1 nei5 waa6 bei2 keoi5 teng1 ngo5 wan2 gwo3 keoi5.) |
| John: "Please let him/her know that I called." |
| Siuling: 唔該你叫佢打返畀我。(m4 goi1 nei5 giu3 keoi5 daa2 faan1 bei2 ngo5.) |
| John: "Please tell him/her to call me back." And if you’re taking the message, you might say… |
| Siuling: 好，我會講畀佢聽。(hou2, ngo5 wui2 gon2 bei2 keoi5 teng1.) |
| John: "Of course, I will pass him/her the message." |
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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