PinYin55 Posted September 12, 2013 at 02:12 AM Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 at 02:12 AM My Chinese is okay, and I just moved to Taiwan. I can get around okay, but I am struggling with this. I need 10 nt coins for the laundromat, so I often go to a convenience store to change a 100 nt bill to coins. How do I ask for this? To clarify, I want to hand the cashier a 100 nt bill and get ten 10 nt coins in return. Is this phrase different in taiwan than in China? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylee Posted September 12, 2013 at 04:34 AM Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 at 04:34 AM what does "nt" mean? Consider - 可以把這換成十個10塊/元的零錢 / 硬幣嗎？ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kobo-Daishi Posted September 12, 2013 at 05:17 AM Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 at 05:17 AM what does "nt" mean? I think he's referring to the new Taiwan dollar. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_taiwan_dollar Kobo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
li3wei1 Posted September 12, 2013 at 05:47 AM Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 at 05:47 AM 有没有零钱？需要十块的。 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
淨土極樂 Posted September 12, 2013 at 06:04 AM Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 at 06:04 AM The most straightforward way to ask this: 我要把100塊換成硬幣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PinYin55 Posted September 12, 2013 at 09:37 AM Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 at 09:37 AM I think he's referring to the new Taiwan dollar. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_taiwan_dollar Kobo. Ah yes, sorry. I've been in Taiwan long enough that I forgot it probably sounds like nonsense to those not living in Taiwan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny同志 Posted September 12, 2013 at 10:36 AM Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 at 10:36 AM To do this politely, consider: 您好，麻煩您能不能給我換十個十塊的硬幣？ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
淨土極樂 Posted September 12, 2013 at 10:45 AM Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 at 10:45 AM Addressing a cashier with 您 would be pretty bizarre... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roddy Posted September 12, 2013 at 11:07 AM Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 at 11:07 AM That would depend where you live and who you are. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny同志 Posted September 12, 2013 at 11:50 AM Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 at 11:50 AM Addressing a cashier with 您 would be pretty bizarre... That's what I would normally say when I am going to ask for help from a stranger. And I almost always get positive reactions. Sometimes the stranger may not be able to help; in such a case, s/he would usually say 不好意思 or 對不起 to me, with a smile. The most straightforward way to ask this:我要把100塊換成硬幣 You will come across condescending and rude saying this. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
淨土極樂 Posted September 12, 2013 at 12:14 PM Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 at 12:14 PM I'm not sure if you're living in China or abroad, but here in northern China the dialog between the 老板 and customers usually goes like this: - 吃什么？！ - 大腕儿，少辣！ There's way too many people everywhere and nobody has the time and patience for formalities. The waiter/cashier will probably think you're crazy if you start your sentence with 您好... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Kenny同志 Posted September 12, 2013 at 12:15 PM Popular Post Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 at 12:15 PM Please don't teach me how I should use my language. Plus, it's not a formality in this case; it's called respect. Don't forget, you are asking a stranger for help. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
淨土極樂 Posted September 12, 2013 at 12:31 PM Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 at 12:31 PM Whatever, old guy. After so many years in China it's the first time I hear that you're supposed to address a cashier with 您好. I guess I'll try my best to 磕头 the next time I buy a beer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny同志 Posted September 12, 2013 at 12:40 PM Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 at 12:40 PM You can use any salutation you like. Anyway, no need to get worked up or use sarcasm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lu Posted September 12, 2013 at 05:31 PM Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 at 05:31 PM I'm not sure if you're living in China or abroad, but here in northern China the dialog between the 老板 and customers usually goes like this:- 吃什么？！ - 大腕儿，少辣！ Yeah, in northern China. OP was talking about Taiwan. In Taiwan, people are polite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest realmayo Posted September 12, 2013 at 06:52 PM Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 at 06:52 PM In Taiwan, people are polite. 淨土極樂 believes that they use language the same as they do on the Mainland, hence the confusion I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roddy Posted September 12, 2013 at 07:23 PM Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 at 07:23 PM Actually even on the mainland I think it's quite plausible - you're not giving instructions to service staff here, you're asking a stranger for a favour. Relative ages would also be a factor. Personally I think I'd be more likely to go with some long apologetic explanation, so they'll be glad to get rid of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kobo-Daishi Posted September 12, 2013 at 10:28 PM Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 at 10:28 PM Does anyone use 找錢 to ask for change? And how would you word it? I tried searching for 找錢(找钱), but, all I got was 找錢華(找钱华). Some guy who was an expert in Wing Chun kung fu. http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/赞先生与找钱华 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warriors_Two Hua was a moneychanger, thus, 找錢華(找钱华). And is it 永春, 詠春, 咏春, or all three? Coincidentally, I had recently downloaded a crappy movie titled "The Prodigal Son". This is what Wikipedia has to say about these two movies Along with The Prodigal Son, Warriors Two is considered one of the best martial arts film displaying the authentic version of the Wing Chun style. Also, I've been watching all these fictional accounts of Yip Man as superhero. :rolling eyes smilie: Come on. Good teacher maybe, but, all these fictional heroic exploits attributed to him. If it weren't for Bruce Lee's noteriety, nobody would even have heard o Yip Man. He would be as anonymous as any other kung fu instructor. I mean try to name another martial arts instructor known around the world? And why Ip Man? Rather than Yip Man or Ye Wen? Oh, back to money changing. I found this web page, but, it doesn't give how to ask for change. http://www.ichacha.net/找钱.html Okay, I didn't click on the other 4 pages of examples. Kobo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tooironic Posted September 12, 2013 at 11:32 PM Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 at 11:32 PM "Please don't teach me how I should use my language." Brilliant. That has to be quote of the week. I actually understand where both of you are coming from. But like roddy said, you are asking for a favour, so I don't see the harm of being polite about it. There's no need to generalise that all Mandarin-speaking people are impolite either - it really depends on the region in question (and the place, and the person, etc.). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny同志 Posted September 13, 2013 at 12:44 AM Report Share Posted September 13, 2013 at 12:44 AM I'm not sure if you're living in China or abroad, but here in northern China the dialog between the 老板 and customers usually goes like this:- 吃什么？！ - 大腕儿，少辣！ Yeah, in northern China. OP was talking about Taiwan. In Taiwan, people are polite. In Taiwan, people are polite. 淨土極樂 believes that they use language the same as they do on the Mainland, hence the confusion I think. There are two misconceptions here. First, addressing a familiar customer at a restaurant and asking for help from a stranger are completely different things; second, China's northerners appreciates good manners and politeness from strangers, too, just like people from anywhere else. On a side note, 大腕兒 is a famous, influential person; should be 大碗兒. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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