Dialogue to get you through those daily frustrations, like communicating with your cleaner:

Nǐ hǎo. Jīntiān kěyǐ xiān dǎsǎo dìbǎn, ránhòu yùn yīfu ma?
你好。今天可以先打扫地板，然后熨衣服吗？
Hello. Can you please clean the floor first today and then iron the clothes?

Hǎo de. Tuōbǎ zài nǎr?
好的。拖把在哪儿？
OK. Where is the mop?

Sàobǎ zài guìzi lǐ. Yào xiān sǎo dì, ránhòu cái kěyǐ tuō dì.

扫把在柜子里。要先扫地，然后才可以拖地。
The broom is in the closet. Sweep the floor first and then mop it.

Yòng xǐ wǎn ma?
用洗碗吗？
Do you need me to wash the dishes?

Bú yòng. Wǒ yǐjīng xǐ hǎo le.
不用。我已经洗好了。
No. I’ve already washed up.

Chàbuduō yào liǎng gè xiǎoshí.
差不多要两个小时。
It’ll take more or less two hours.

Hǎo. Yí gè xiǎoshí shíwǔ kuài qián, shì ba?
好。一个小时十五块钱，是吧？
OK. It’s 15 yuan per hour, right?

Dialogue provided by TailorMade Chinese Center at Shangdu SO­HO. Contact them on 5900-5420 or visit tailormadechinese.com.

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