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) Phone: dian(4) hua(4)
(2) Mobile phone: shou(3) ji(1)
(3) Call: da(3) dian(4) hua(4)
(4) How much: duo(1) shao(3) qian(2)
(5) Phone number: dian(2) hua(4) hao(4) ma(3)

LESSON

• Can I make a telephone call please?
  wo(3) neng(2) da(3) yi(1) ge(4) dian(4) hua(4) ma?
  
• What is your telephone number?
  ni(3) de dian(4) hua(4) hao(4) ma(3) shi(4) duo(1) shao(3)?
  
• May I borrow your mobile phone?
  wo(3) neng(2) jie(4) ni(3) de shou(3) ji(1) yong(4) yi(1) xia(4) ma?
  
• How much does it cost to make a call?
  da(3) yi(1) ge(4) dian(4) hua(4) duo(1) shao(3) qian(2)?

* Tip: Making a call in China is just as easy as most other countries in the world these days. China is now has the second largest number of mobile phone users in the world and a chorus of 'wei' (the way that Chinese answer a phone) can be heard everywhere from trains to restaurants and even the movies.

The easiest way to make a call without a mobile is at one of the many street phones. They will charge you a small amount per minute payable after the call is finished.