Chinese · Beginner你想买什么礼物？Buying a Gift

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00:00Intro
Ryan, why do you look so tired today?
I walked around the shopping mall for three hours today, my legs are sore!
Haha, did you run off to buy delicious desserts again?
No, my good friend is celebrating a birthday next week!
I see, so you went to the mall specially to buy a gift!
Yes, buying gifts is really not easy at all!
Picking a suitable gift really takes a lot of thought!
Today let's talk about the topic of buying gifts!
We will learn six super useful Chinese phrases together!
The first key phrase is, buy a gift!
The second key phrase is, pick a gift!
The third key phrase is, wrap it up!
The fourth key phrase is, write a card!
The fifth key phrase is, give to you!
The sixth key phrase is, love it so much!
Mia, do you often buy gifts for friends?
I really like buying gifts; giving gifts makes friends happy!
However, giving gifts in China seems to have special traditions?
Exactly, there are many interesting customs in Chinese gift culture!
Haha, first listen to my embarrassing gift-buying story!
Great, I am ready to hear your story!
Last year when I first came to China, my good friend had a birthday!
That was your first time celebrating a friend's birthday in China, right?
Yes, I wanted to buy a gift for my friend to show my care!
Then what special gift did you buy in the shopping mall at that time?
I saw a very beautiful big desk clock in a shop!
Oh dear, did you buy a clock and give it to him?
Yes, that clock was very pretty, and its sound was very nice!
Haha, what was your friend's expression after opening the wrapping?
After he opened the box, the expression on his face was very strange!
Did he freeze for a moment, not knowing what to say?
Right! He looked at the clock, then looked at me, and smiled awkwardly!
Haha, Ryan, because in Chinese culture, you cannot give clocks!
Why can't you give clocks? What is the custom behind this?
Because song zhong sounds exactly like bidding farewell at a deathbed!
What does song zhong mean? It sounds very special!
Song zhong refers to staying beside elderly family members when they pass away.
Oh goodness, so giving a clock carries such an unpleasant implication!
Yes, so when people buy gifts, they never choose to give clocks!
Then are there other things you cannot give? Quickly tell me!
For example you cannot give umbrellas either, because san sounds like separation!
San means splitting up, giving an umbrella represents drifting apart?
Exactly! Giving a friend an umbrella implies the two will part ways later!
So amazing, are there also fruits that shouldn't be given?
You shouldn't give pears, because li sounds like parting ways!
Wow, Chinese people really pay attention to pronunciation when buying gifts!
Yes, people prefer giving gifts with wonderful meanings!
Then what is the most suitable gift to give friends in China?
For example you can give high-quality tea, healthy and respectable!
Tea is indeed very good, many people like drinking tea every day!
You can also give a basket of fresh red apples, representing peace and safety!
Apples represent peace and safety, this meaning is wonderful!
For major happy occasions, you can also prepare red envelopes!
Haha, next time I buy a gift, I will definitely remember these customs!
As long as you prepare with care, your friend will be touched upon receiving the gift!
Ryan, now let's learn these phrases in detail!
Great! First is picking gifts, what does tiāo lǐwù mean?
Picking gifts means choosing the most suitable item from among many things.
For example looking around slowly in a bookstore or mall, picking what you like!
After choosing the gift, we tell the store clerk: please help me wrap it up!
Wrapping it up means packing it nicely with pretty wrapping paper or a box.
Wrapping the gift makes it look much prettier!
Besides wrapping the gift, people also write a card on the gift!
Writing a card means writing warm wishes to your friend on a small card!
For example writing a line of happy birthday, or thank you for your help!
When meeting your friend, handing the gift over and saying: for you!
Song gei ni means presenting the carefully prepared gift to the other party!
After receiving it, the friend opens the gift and shouts happily: I love it so much!
Tai xihuan le means liking it very much, expressing inner happiness!
Putting these phrases together forms a complete gift-giving process!
By the way Mia, when you usually buy gifts, how far in advance do you prepare?
I like starting to pick gifts two weeks in advance, slowly looking for surprises!
Haha, I am the Ryan Team who plans a month ahead!
Then I am the Mia Team who loves looking for surprises!
Haha, I wonder which team everyone would like to join?
By the way, regarding buying gifts, I heard about an interesting survey!
What survey is it? Quickly test me!
Guess what percentage of young people care most about practicality when picking gifts?
I guess around fifty percent?
Data I read shows that seventy percent of people prefer practical gifts!
It seems everyone thinks gifts that can be used in daily life are best!
Guess again, among people receiving handwritten cards, how many are particularly moved?
Handwritten cards carry great warmth, I guess eighty percent!
I heard a survey shows over eighty-five percent of people love cards very much!
It seems whether Ryan Team or Mia Team, sincere care is the most precious thing!
Exactly, sincere heart is much more important than the price of a gift!
Gifts prepared with heart, each one is full of warmth!
Ryan, now it's time for the practice challenge!
No problem, I am ready to take on your challenge!
I will give everyday situations, please answer using today's phrases!
Come on, Mia, please give question one!
Question one: friend's birthday is tomorrow, you plan to go to the mall to buy something, what would you say?
I would tell my roommate happily: I am going to the mall to buy a gift today!
Well answered, buying gifts means preparing something for others! Question two comes!
Okay, what is the situation for question two?
Question two: you are looking at many notebooks in a bookstore, selecting carefully, what are you doing?
Looking at so many nice notebooks, I am carefully picking a gift for my friend!
Completely correct, picking a gift means choosing carefully! Please listen to question three!
Awesome, please tell question three!
Question three: you picked a box of tea, and want the clerk to pack it in colorful paper, how do you tell the clerk?
I would politely say to the clerk: please help me wrap this box of tea!
Great answer, wrapping it up means doing pretty packaging! Please listen to question four!
It feels smoother and smoother, please give question four!
Question four: before giving gifts, you take out a pretty small card to write wishes, what is this?
Haha, I am taking a pen to write a card for my friend earnestly!
Very accurately answered, writing a card conveys warmth! Please listen to question five!
Okay, please give question five!
Question five: you arrive at your friend's home, handing the wrapped gift over with both hands, what would you say?
I would smile at my friend and say: Happy birthday, this gift is for you!
Very natural, song gei ni expresses the intent of gifting! Question six comes!
No problem, please give question six!
Question six: friend unwraps the gift, finds his favorite book, what will he shout happily?
He will definitely shout happily: Thank you, I love this book so much!
Awesome! Please listen to question seven!
No problem, please tell question seven!
Colleague helped you a lot, you want to send coffee to thank him, what would you say?
I would put hot coffee on his desk and say: Thanks for your help, this cup of coffee is for you!
Well answered! Please listen to question eight!
Okay, please give the last question!
Mom's birthday is coming and you want to buy a sweater, what would you say to Dad?
I say to Dad: Let's go to the mall together this weekend to pick a gift for Mom!
Wow, Ryan, you answered all eight questions correctly! So awesome!
Haha, because these gift-buying sentences are really practical in daily life!
Having mastered these expressions, you won't worry about giving gifts in China!
Ryan, having chatted about so many gift-buying topics today, how do you feel?
I gained so much! In the future I will never send friends clocks or umbrellas again!
Haha, remember giving tea and red apples is the best choice!
Right, and definitely remember to write a sincere small card!
Then let's give our listeners a speaking task for tomorrow!
Great! Tomorrow morning before going out, please stand in front of the mirror!
Look at yourself in the mirror, and say loudly three times: I want to buy you a gift!
Right, definitely say it out loud three times to the mirror, pronounce clearly!
Practicing speaking out loud, your spoken Chinese will become more and more fluent!
Haha, if everyone enjoys today's episode, welcome to practice a lot in life!
Wish everyone can buy their favorite gifts and send out full happiness!
See you next episode!
Bye-bye!

Key phrases

6 to keep
买礼物buy a gift
周末我想去商场买礼物。This weekend I want to go to the mall to buy a gift.
挑礼物pick a gift
pick out a gift
这家店东西多，慢慢挑礼物。This store has a lot of stuff; take your time picking out a gift.
包起来wrap it up
麻烦把这个包起来，谢谢。Could you wrap this up, please? Thanks.
写卡片write a card
我要写卡片，你有笔吗？I need to write a card. Do you have a pen?
送给你this is for you
这个送给你，希望你喜欢。This is for you. I hope you like it.
太喜欢了I love it so much
这件衣服太喜欢了，我买了。I love this piece of clothing so much; I bought it.

轮到你了

Your turn
大声说出来
Today's small task

Then let's give our listeners a speaking task for tomorrow!Then let's give our listeners a speaking task for tomorrow!

cocoa你想买什么礼物？
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