Note: The spoken Chinese Mandarin language has 4 spoken tones. We have attempted to re-create those below where after each syllable we tell you (1), (2), (3), or (4) as they correspond to each of the 4 tones. We encourage you to complement your Xianzai.com Emergency Chinese newsletter with a good offline study program.

NEW WORDS:

(1) Bank of China: zhong(1) guo(2) yin(2) hang(2)

(2) Change reminbi / yuan: huan(4) ren(2) min(2) bi(4)/ yuan(2)

(3) Change US dollars: huan(4) mei(3) yuan(2)

(4) Travelers checks: lu(3) xing(2) zhe(3) zhi(1) piao(4)

(5) Credit card: xin(4) yong(4) ka(3)

(6) Commission: shou(3) xu(4) fei(4)

LESSON:

• Taxi! Please take me to the nearest Bank of China.
  chu(1) zu(1) che(1)! qing(3) ba(3) wo(3) dai(4) dao(4) zui(4) jin(4) de(1) zhong(1) guo(2) yin(2) hang(2).
  
• Hello, I would like to change US$1000 to Reminbi please.
  ni(2) hao(3), wo(3) yao(4) ba(3) yi(4) qian(1) mei(2) yuan(2) huan(4) cheng(2) ren(2) min(2) bi(4).
• Do you accept travelers cheques?
  ni(3) men(2) shou(1) lu(3) xing(2) zhe(3) zhi(1) piao(4) ma?
  
• Can I use my credit card to get 5,000 Reminbi?
  wo(3) ke(3) yi(3) yong(4) wo(3) de xin(4) yong(4) ka(3) qu(3) wu(3) qian(1) ren(2) min(2) bi(4) ma?
  
• How much is the commission for changing US dollars to Reminbi?
  mei(3) yuan(2) huan(4) cheng(2) ren(2) min(2) bi(4) de shou(3) xu(4) fei(4) shi(4) duo(1) shao(3)?

* Tip: You can change all international currencies into Reminbi at most branches of the Bank of China in China. They will also change travelers checks in major currencies as well as accept credit cards for conversions.

You will need to take your passport when converting money or travelers checks to Reminbi.

When you are leaving China you can change any left-over Reminbi to US dollars, sterling etc but you will have to show the receipts you were issued when you got the Reminbi.