Lesson 20: Airport and Customs
Airport customs would be the first (and last) stop on your trip to China. Knowing how to properly communicate at an Airport, or to the Customs officers would make sure your tour in China doesn't start on the wrong foot. Although most of the international airport staff in China speak English, but the smaller airport staff may or may not be trained to communicate in foreign language. Also, the dialogs between the customs officer and the tourist can also be used when other officials, (e.g. Chinese Police).
Vocabulary A:
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Pronunciation | English Translation | |
| 海关 | hǎi guān | dcustoms | ||
| 出示 | chū shì | dpresent, show | ||
| 出 | chū | go out, send out; stand; produce | ||
| 示 | shì | show, manifest; demonstrate | ||
| 这次 | zhè cì | dthis time | ||
| 次 | cì | order, sequence; next | ||
| 旅游 | lǚ yóu | dtrip, journey; travel | ||
| 旅 | lǚ | trip, journey; travel; traveler | ||
| 游 | yóu | to swim; float, drift; wander, roam | ||
| 探亲 | tàn qīn | dvisiting family | ||
| 探 | tàn | find, locate; search, grope for | ||
| 亲 | qīn | relatives, parents; intimate the hazel nut or filbert tree a thorny tree | ||
| 访友 | fǎng yǒu | dvisiting friends | ||
| 访 | fǎng | visit; ask, inquire | ||
| 准备 | zhǔn bèi | dprepare | ||
| 准 | zhǔn | approve, allow, permit; in accord | ||
| 备 | bèi | prepare, ready, perfect | ||
| 呆 | dāi | dstay; dull; dull-minded, simple, stupid | ||
| 多久 | duō jiǔ | dhow long | ||
| 肉 | ròu | dmeat | ||
| 制品 | zhì pǐn | dproduct | ||
| 制 | zhì | system; establish; overpower | ||
| 品 | pǐn | article, product, commodity | ||
| 或者 | huò zhě | dor, else; perhaps | ||
| 或 | huò | or, either, else; perhaps, maybe | ||
| 者 | zhě | that which; he who; those who | ||
| 水果 | shuǐ guǒ | fruit | ||
| 水 | shuǐ | water, liquid, juice | ||
| 果 | guǒ | fruit; result | ||
| 蔬菜 | shū cài | dvegetables | ||
| 蔬 | shū | vegetables, greens | ||
| 菜 | cài | vegetables; dish, order; food | ||
Tips A:
- In Chinese, the words "he" "she" and "it" have the same pronounciation (ta). However, their writings are different.
Dialog A:
Click to hear the above dialog.
English Translation A:
A: Please show me your passport. Is your trip for pleasure, busines or visiting family and friends?
B: I am touring here.
A: How long are you planning to stay?
B: Around 3 Months.
A: Have you brought any meat product or fruits and vegetables?
B: No.
A: Ok, Thank you! Good bye.
B: Bye.
Vocabulary B:
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Pronunciation | English Translation | |
| 小姐 | xiǎo jiě | miss; lady | ||
| 机票 | jī piào | air plane ticket | ||
| 票 | piào | slip of paper or bamboo; ticket | ||
| 护照 | hù zhào | passport | ||
| 护 | hù | protect, guard, defend, shelter | ||
| 照 | zhào | shine, illumine, reflect | ||
| 要 | yào | necessary, essential; necessity | ||
| 托运 | tuō yùn | baggage shipping | ||
| 托 | tuō | to hold up with palm; to rely on | ||
| 运 | yùn | run; fortune; ship, transport | ||
| 行李 | xíng lǐ | baggage | ||
| 件 | jiàn | numerary adjunct for article; matter | ||
| 它们 | tā men | them | ||
| 它 | tā | it; other | ||
| 放到 | fàng dào | place | ||
| 放 | fàng | put, release, free, liberate | ||
| 传送带 | chuán sòng dài | (baggage) belt | ||
| 传 | chuán | summon; propagate, transmit | ||
| 带 | dài | belt, girdle, band, strap, zone | ||
| 称 | chēng | call; name, brand; address; say | ||
| 超重 | chāo zhòng | over weight | ||
| 超 | chāo | jump over, leap over; surpass | ||
| 重 | zhòng | heavy, weighty; double | ||
| 登机 | dēng jī | bording the plane | ||
| 登 | dēng | rise, mount, board, climb | ||
| 登机牌 | dēng jīi pái | bording pass | ||
| 牌 | pái | signboard, placard | ||
| 登机口 | dēng jī kǒu | boarding gate | ||
Tips B:
- In Chinese, the word "传送带 = chuan song dai“ means a "moving belt". When it is used at airport or train stations, it means "baggage belt". When it is used in factories, it means the moving belt for products.
Dialog B:
Click to hear the above dialog.
English Translation B:
A: Miss, this is my plane ticket and passport.
B: Do you have any baggage?
A: Yes, I have two.
B: Please put them on the belt, I need to weight them.
A: Is it over-weight?
B: No. Here is your passport, ticket. Here is your boarding pass. Please goto gate 3 for boarding.
Chinese Calligraphy:
Questions and Comments
