Please translate these phrases into basic/easy to memorise form

[NewUser]

1. "how is the economy in your town at the moment?"

2. "best wishes on your wedding"

3. "best wishes for the future"

Also, is "bao3 zhong4" (take care) a phrase suitable to say to an acquaintance, or would it be considered too personal?

[leigao]

1. 你们那里经济还好吧？

(The economy at your place is still good right? Note it's just a polite way to ask a question, not really rhetorical in Chinese)

If you want more direct and less friendly then:

你所住的城市的经济如何？

(How's the economy at your hometown?)

2. 祝你婚姻幸福美满!

(Wish your marriage to be happy and fulfilling. Note it's hard to use for wedding though) or

祝你新婚快乐！

(wish you're happy on your new marriage)

3. 祝你一切顺利!

(Wish everything will go smoothly for you)

保重 is a bit archaic and too personal... hmm maybe you should just say 再见，or cut it off at best wishes.

[NewUser]

Thanks, will try them out by phone as soon as I memorise them.

[jbradfor]

For #2, while that is a translation of what you asked, Chinese has many many set phrases that one uses for weddings, which are probably more idiomatic in Chinese. You can probably search for some here. The other advantage is that they're often four characters e.g. 白頭偕老

[leigao]

^ well I actually looked this up, here are some collected at this website:

http://www.qicaispace.com/count/blessings/marry.asp

My favorite one is:

"他是词，你是谱，你俩就是一首和谐的歌。天作之合，鸾凤和鸣。"

It's hilarious. You can't make this stuff up...

Oh of course that's more mainland style, don't know how they do it in Hong Kong or Taiwan.

[Lu]

保重 is archaic? I think it's still in use, in Taiwan at least. But for acquaintances, just 再见 is fine.

[leigao]

Haha yes... I think most young people would use "88" these days.... (sh)

Cause you know, eight eight in Chinese sounds like "bye bye". Oh the corrupt nature of internet on today's youth.