Chinese · Beginner你是做什么的？Make Small Talk

Follow along

168 lines
00:00Intro
Ryan, do you get a bit scared the first time you meet someone new?
Haha, yes! I often don't know what to say first.
It's that feeling of standing nearby, a bit uncomfortable.
Right! My mind goes blank, and I can't open my mouth.
Actually, a few simple lines for chatting are enough.
Exactly, today we'll learn how to chat with people we don't know.
Awesome! Today we have six super useful sentences.
Our most important sentence is, what do you do.
What do you do means asking about someone's job.
Right! Besides what do you do, there's also hello.
And nice to meet you, and nice weather today.
Also where do you live, and what do you do on weekends.
These lines work when hanging out with friends and at the company.
In a moment I'll also talk about what Chinese people often chat about when they meet!
Wow, I really want to hear this! It must be fun!
After today's show, everyone can start chatting simply.
Exactly, let's learn Chinese happily together!
Learning slow Chinese, just follow us and listen!
Yes, listening a little every day leads to big progress!
Ready? Let's start right away!
Okay, let's begin with a little life story first!
Last week a new colleague joined the company, named Xiao Li.
Really? Did you go say hello first?
I did! But at first I was really scared.
Haha, so how did you finally start talking?
I first said to him, hello, my name is Ryan.
Nice! Saying hello first is the safest move.
Then I said, nice to meet you.
Wow, that line is nice and makes people happy!
Xiao Li also smiled and said back, nice to meet you.
Sounds pretty good so far!
Later I wanted to ask about his job, and I froze again.
Freeze means you can't get the words out, right?
Right! I practiced that line in my head several times.
What was the line? Tell me quick!
It was, what do you do?
What do you do is super easy to say for asking about work!
I finally said it out loud, what do you do?
How did Xiao Li answer you?
He said he draws pictures, and asked me what I do.
Haha, you both asked each other what do you do!
Yeah, I talked about my job too, and we could chat right away.
Did you talk about other things after that?
We did! I said, nice weather today.
Nice weather today also works great to keep chatting!
Then he asked me, where do you live?
Where do you live is also something people often ask.
I also asked him, what do you do on weekends?
What do you do on weekends makes people feel closer right away.
He said he likes walking in the park on weekends.
Wow, that sounds really nice!
I also said I like drinking coffee and reading on weekends.
Chatting like that feels like old friends.
We talked for a long time that day, not scared at all.
So once you know these lines, chatting isn't scary!
Exactly! This also reminded me of something interesting.
Tell me! About how Chinese people chat when they meet?
I heard Chinese people love chatting about food when they meet.
Really? Not only about the weather?
A lot of people will ask, have you eaten?
Have you eaten means wanting to know if the other person has had a meal.
Right! Sometimes it's not really about eating.
Haha, it's more like words friends say when they meet.
I read that many people start with food when they meet.
Wow, that feels warmer than only talking about the weather!
Some people also chat about tasty food they ate recently.
Once food comes up, everyone gets happy right away!
So when chatting, you can start with food and weather.
You can also ask what do you do — very useful.
Right! One line of what do you do can lead to a long chat.
Learn these, and meeting new people feels less scary.
Next, let's carefully study these sentences!
Ryan, let's carefully go through today's useful sentences.
Great! The first one is still what do you do.
What do you do means asking what kind of work someone does.
When you meet a new colleague, you can say what do you do.
When hanging out with friends and meeting someone new, you can ask this too.
The second sentence is hello.
Hello is the first thing you say when you meet.
Say hello first when you meet, and it instantly feels much better.
Whether inside the building or outside the door, hello always works.
The third sentence is nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you means saying you're happy to meet the other person.
The first time you meet, this line works especially well.
After you say it, the other person often smiles and says it back.
The fourth sentence is nice weather today.
Nice weather today means saying the weather is good.
When you don't know what to say, start with nice weather today.
This line is short and easy to keep going from.
The fifth sentence is where do you live.
Where do you live means asking where the other person lives.
After you're a bit more familiar, you can ask this nicely.
But on a first meeting, you can also ask it lightly.
The sixth sentence is what do you do on weekends.
What do you do on weekends means asking what they want to do on the weekend.
This line easily opens a new chat.
Once they answer, you can keep chatting about things they like.
Once you learn these six lines, chatting gets much simpler.
Ryan, when you meet someone new, do you prefer work or weather first?
I'm Team Ryan! I like asking about work first.
I'm Team Mia! I like starting with nice weather today.
Haha, Team Mia, starting from weather feels simpler!
Right! Saying nice weather today first is simpler.
Team Ryan thinks what do you do is clearer.
Team Mia thinks chatting simply first, then work, feels better.
Both are fine! Guess which one people like more?
I guess a lot of people start chatting from the weather.
I heard seventy percent of people start with simple things.
Looking at that, a lot of people like Team Mia's way!
But in the end, people still ask what do you do.
Right! Work stuff is something almost everyone will ask.
No matter what you start with, daring to speak matters most.
Practice these lines more, and next time you won't freeze with new people.
Yes, everyone should memorize these sentences well!
Listen and practice more, and you can start chatting simply too.
Exactly, speaking Chinese really isn't that hard!
As long as you dare to speak, your Chinese will get better and better.
Agreed! Talking with others more is the best way to learn Chinese well.
The more sentences you know, the better chatting becomes.
Right, a little progress every day feels very happy!
Ryan, now I'm going to quiz you!
No problem! I'm ready to answer!
Question one: you just met a new colleague — what do you say first?
I'll smile first and say, hello!
Good answer! Question two: you want to say you're happy to meet them — how?
I'll say carefully, nice to meet you!
Awesome! Question three: you want to ask about their job — how?
I'll smile and ask, what do you do?
That's right! Question four: when you don't know what to say, what can you say first?
Haha, I'll say, nice weather today!
Question five: you want to know where they live — how do you ask?
I'll ask nicely, where do you live?
Question six: you want to talk about the weekend — how can you ask?
I'll simply ask, what do you do on weekends?
Question seven: a new colleague asks about your job — how do you ask them back?
I'll answer first, then ask, what do you do?
Question eight: when hanging out with friends you want to start chatting fast — which line first?
I'll walk over and say, hello, nice to meet you!
Ryan, you got them all right today! Awesome!
Haha, learning with Mia, it's easy to learn!
Your Chinese is getting better and better!
Thanks — it's all from careful practice!
Your answers are nice and clear — everyone can learn!
Haha, chatting like this makes people feel comfortable.
Listeners can definitely chat like Ryan too!
Exactly, practice with us and you'll do great!
Keep practicing every day, and you'll make big progress.
Yes, believe in yourself — you can do it well!
These sentences are all very useful — everyone should practice more.
Right, using these sentences is the most useful!
The more you practice, the better your Chinese gets.
Exactly, say more and practice more, and speaking gets better!
Did everyone learn it today? How to chat with people you don't know?
After today's show, I believe everyone can start speaking!
Now here's a little speak-out task for everyone!
Dear listeners, please listen carefully!
Think of yourself at the company meeting a new colleague right now.
Look in the mirror and say out loud three times, what do you do?
Say it out loud three times in a row to the mirror — it works especially well!
Say it out loud, and you'll dare to speak more and more!
Think again about the have-you-eaten line we talked about today.
From food and weather to what do you do — you can chat about all of them!
Once you know these simple sentences, chat isn't hard.
Exactly, wishing you all a fun chat next time you meet someone new!
Thanks for listening — see you next episode!
See you next time — happy chatting, everyone!
Bye-bye, see you next time!
Bye-bye!

Key phrases

6 to keep
你是做什么的你是做什么的
what do you do
不好意思问一下，你是做什么的？Sorry to ask, but what do you do?
你好你好
hello
你好，我是小王。Hello, I'm 小王.
很高兴认识你很高兴认识你
nice to meet you
很高兴认识你，以后多联系。Nice to meet you. Let's keep in touch.
今天天气不错今天天气不错
nice weather today
今天天气不错，适合出门走走。The weather's nice today; it's a good day to go out for a walk.
你住在哪里你住在哪里
where do you live
你住在哪里？离公司远吗？Where do you live? Is it far from the office?
周末做什么周末做什么
what do you do on weekends
周末做什么？有空一起吃饭吗？What are you doing this weekend? Free to grab a meal together?

轮到你了

Your turn
大声说出来
Today's small task

Say “你是做什么的” out loud once today — in a real situation if you can.Say “你是做什么的” out loud once today — in a real situation if you can.

cocoa你是做什么的？
0:0013:32