How do I use the interactive features in Chinese articles?

Click on any Chinese character or word to see its pinyin pronunciation, definition, and HSK level. Use the pinyin and translation toggles at the top to show or hide these features. This helps you practice reading Chinese characters while having support when needed.

Can I save vocabulary from articles for later study?

Yes! Click on words in the article to add them to your personal vocabulary list. All saved vocabulary includes example sentences, audio pronunciation, and is available for spaced repetition study in your profile.

What is the HSK level of this article?

Each article includes HSK word analysis showing the distribution of vocabulary across HSK levels 1-6. Check the HSK Words section to see which words appear in the article and their difficulty levels.

Are there audio pronunciations for articles?

Many articles include audio pronunciations for key vocabulary and phrases. Click on individual words to hear their pronunciation, or use the audio player if the article has a full audio version.

Lesson 87 Bank (2) 第八十七课银行（2）

汉字姐姐

Pinyin

Français

Lesson 87 Bank (2) 第八十七课银行（2）

YJ: Welcome to Chinese Studio. Wo shi Yajie.
Cam: Dajia hao, Wo shi Cam. I’m enjoying these banking lessons Yajie… and I really appreciate knowing how to make transactions when I’m speaking to a bank teller.
Yajie: Well, we aren’t finished yet!

********************
Key Words of the Day
Can I transfer this into American funds? 我能换美元吗? (wo3 neng2 huan4 mei3 yuan3 ma?) Can I apply for a credit card? 我能申请信用卡吗?(wo3 neng2 shen1qing3 xin4yong4ka3 ma?) Can I open an account? 我能开户吗?(wo3 neng2 kai1 hu4 ma?)/Can I close an account. 我能销户吗?(wo3 neng2 xiao1 hu4 ma?) All in today’s Chinese Studio.
********************

Cam: How do you say “Can I transfer this into American funds?”
YJ: It’s 我能换美元吗? (wo3 neng2 huan4 mei3 yuan3 ma?)
Cam: 我能换美元吗? (wo3 neng2 huan4 mei3 yuan3 ma?)
YJ: 我(wo3) means I.
Cam: Ritght, 我(wo3)
YJ: 能 (neng2), can or could.
Cam: 能 (neng2)
YJ: 换(huan4),means change into or transfer into.
Cam: 换(huan4).
Cam: Ok. And 美元 (mei3yuan3) is American dollar, right?
YJ: Exactly! 我能换美元吗? (wo3 neng2 huan4 mei3 yuan3 ma?) can I transfer it into American dollars?
Cam: 我能换美元吗? (wo3 neng2 huan4 mei3 yuan3 ma?)

Conversation 1:

Cam: Yajie, I also need a credit card. I know it's awful, but I should get one. So how do I apply for one?
YJ: You can say it like this “我能申请信用卡吗?(wo3 neng2 shen1qing3 xin4yong4ka3 ma?)”
Cam: 我能申请信用卡吗?(wo3 neng2 shen1qing3 xin4yong4ka3 ma?)
YJ: 申请 (shen1qing3) means “apply for”
Cam: 申请 (shen1qing3)
YJ: 信用卡 (xin4yong4ka3), credit card.
Cam: 信用卡 (xin4yong4ka3)
YJ: xin yong means credit.
Cam: xin yong.
YJ: ka means card, Cam, it's similar pronunciation, right?
Cam: yes, ka.
YJ: xin yong ka, credit card.
Cam: xin yong ka.
YJ: 我能申请信用卡吗?(wo3 neng2 shen1qing3 xin4yong4ka3 ma?) Can I apply for a credit card?
Cam: 我能申请信用卡吗?(wo3 neng2 shen1qing3 xin4yong4ka3 ma?) Can I apply for a credit card? Yajie, from these two sentences you taught me just now, may we draw a conclusion that “Can I …? ” is equal to “我能….吗?” (wo3 neng2…ma?) in Chinese, right?
YJ: Yes. Right.

Conversation 2:

YJ: Now one more example about this “Can I …? ”“我能….吗?”. For example, 我能开户吗?(wo3 neng2 kai1 hu4 ma?) Can I open an account?
Cam: 我能开户吗?(wo3 neng2 kai1 hu4 ma?)
YJ: 开(kai1), k-a-i, the first tone, to open.
Cam: 开(kai1)
YJ: 户(hu4),is the short Chinese name for bank account.
Cam: hu4.
YJ: 吗 (ma), question mark.
Cam: 吗(ma)
YJ: 我能开户吗?(wo3 neng2 kai1 hu4 ma?)
Cam: 我能开户吗?(wo3 neng2 kai1 hu4 ma?) Can I open an account?
YJ: And if you want to close a bank account, you can say “我能销户吗?” (wo3 neng2 xiao1 hu4 ma?)
Cam: “我能销户吗?” (wo3 neng2 xiao1 hu4 ma?)
YJ: xiao is short for 注销(zhu4xiao1), which means to cancel or close.
Cam: 销(xiao1). So I just need to change kai which means open, into xiao, which means close, and the other parts remain the same.
YJ: Right.

Conversation 3:

********************
Key Words Reminder
Can I transfer this into American funds? 我能换美元吗? (wo3 neng2 huan4 mei3 yuan3 ma?) Can I apply for a credit card? 我能申请信用卡吗?(wo3 neng2 shen1qing3 xin4yong4ka3 ma?) Can I open an account? 我能开户吗?(wo3 neng2 kai1 hu4 ma?)/Can I close an account. 我能销户吗?(wo3 neng2 xiao1 hu4 ma?)
********************

Cam: Okay Yajie, so once I start making money, I’ll know what to say to the bank teller!
YJ: You've already earned a lot of money. Very good. Now it’s time for our question of the day. How do you say, “Can I open a bank account” in Chinese?
Cam: See ya tomorrow!
YJ: Zai jian.