Dialogue to get you through those daily frustrations, like going to the tailor shop for a suit:

Mike says:
Nǐ hǎo, wǒ xiǎng dìng zuò yítào xīzhuāng.
你好，我想定做一套西装。
Hello, I’d like to have a suit made.

Tian Chi says:
Hǎo de, zhè xiē shì wǒmen de yàngpǐn. Nín kànkan.
好的, 这些是我们的样品。您看看。
OK, here are some samples. Take a look.

Mike says:
Yítào xīzhuāng duōshǎo qián?
一套西装多少钱？
How much is a suit?

Tian Chi says:
Miànliào, kuǎnshì bù yíyàng, jiàgé yě bù yíyàng. Nín xiǎng huā duōshǎo qián?
面料，款式不一样，价格也不一样。你想花多少钱？
That depends on the different materials and styles. How much do you want to spend?

Mike says:
Liǎng sān qiān zuǒyòu de.
两三千左右的。
About two or three thousand.

Tian Chi says:
Zhè xiē dōu shì liǎng sān qiān zuǒyòu de miànliào hé kuǎnshì, nín xǐhuan nǎ yí gè?
这些都是两三千左右的面料和款式，您喜欢哪一个 ？
These materials and styles are all about two or three thousand. Which do you like?

Mike says:
Wǒ xiǎng yào zhè gè miànliào hé zhè gè liǎnglìkòu de xiūxián kuǎnshì.
我想要这个面料和这个两粒扣的休闲款式。
I want this kind of material, and a two-button casual style.

Tian Chi says:
Hǎode. Wǒ gěi nǐ liáng yíxià chǐcùn, qǐng gēn wǒ lái.
好的。我给你量一下尺寸， 请跟我来。
OK. Let me take your measurements, this way please.

wǔfēnzhōng yǐhòu…
五分钟以后…
Five minutes later…

Tian Chi says:
Nín de chǐ cùn wǒ yǐjīng liáng hǎo le, rúguǒ méiyǒu biéde wèntí, wǒmen kěyǐ gěi nín zuò le.
您的尺寸我已经量好了，如果没有别的问题，我们可以给您做了。
I have measured your size, so I can start to make your suit if you don’t have any questions.

Mike says:
Hǎo de. Shénme shíhou lái qǔ?
好的。什么时候来取？
OK. When can I pick it up?

Tian Chi says:
Yì zhōu yǐhòu. 一周以后。
After one week.

Yì zhōu yǐhòu…
一周以后…
One week later…

Mike says:
Nǐhǎo, wǒ shì lái qǔ xīzhuāng de.
你好，我是来取西装的。
Hello, I’ve come to pick up my suit.

Tian Chi says:
Nín hǎo, nín de xīzhuāng yǐjīng zuò hǎo le. Nín juéde zěnmeyàng?
您好，您的西装已经做好了。您觉得怎么样？
Hello, your suit is ready. What do you think?

Tian Chi says:
Wǒ juéde xiùzi yǒudiǎnr cháng, qǐng gěi wǒ gǎi duǎn yìdiǎnr. Kùzi méi yǒu wèntí, hěn héshì.
我觉得袖子有点儿长，请给我改短一点儿。裤子没有问题，很合适。
The sleeves are a little long, so please make them shorter. No problem with the trousers, they suit me very well.

Tian Chi says:
Hǎode, wǒmen huì bāng nǐ gǎi hǎo de. 好的 ，我们会帮你改好的。
OK, we will change that.

Dialogue provided by TailorMade Chinese Center at Shangdu SO¬HO. Contact them on (+8610) 5900-5420 or visit tailormadechinese.com.

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