Dialogue to get you through those daily frustrations, like talking to a taxi driver about the quickest route to your destination:

Nǐ hǎo, qù Guómào. Máfan ni jǐnliàng kāi kuài yìdiánr, wǒ chídào le.
你好，去国贸。麻烦你尽量开快一点儿，我迟到了。
Hello, I want to go to Guomao. Please try your best to go fast, I’m late.

Hǎo de. Nǐ yào zěnme zǒu？
好的。你要怎么走？
OK. Which way do you prefer to go?

Wǒ bù zhīdào. Nǎr hǎo zǒu, jiù zǒu nǎr ba.
我不知道。哪儿好走，就走哪儿吧。
I don’t know. Please drive the route you think there will be less traffic.

Nà wǒmen zǒu èrhuán.
那我们走二环。
Let’s try the Second Ring Road.

Wǒ pà èrhuán huì dǔchē. Kěndìng bú kuài。
我怕二环会堵车，肯定不快。
I’m afraid there may be a traffic jam. It will probably be very slow.

Nà wǒmen zǒu sānhuán.
那我们走三环。
Let’s try the Third Ring Road then.

Zǒu sānhuán de huà, nǐ gūjì yào duō jiǔ?
走三环的话，你估计 要多久？
If we take the Third Ring Road, how long do you think it will take?

Qǐmǎ yào bàn gè xiǎoshí. Méi bànfǎ.
起码要半个小时，没办法。
At least half an hour. There’s no easier option.

Dialogue provided by TailorMade Chinese Center at Shangdu SO­HO. Contact them on 5900-5420 or visit tailormadechinese.com.

Got a scenario you want to talk your way out of? Send suggestions to metrobeijing@chinadaily.com.cn