URLLesson Introduction
Of course, the old slam the receiver down always works. But for some, the ring of a telemarketer signals another captive-language-learning partner opportunity. In this podcast, learn how to cut to the chase and use your newfound Chinese skills to hang up on that salesperson in a more delicate manner.
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john says
August 4, 2008
I've used a similar strategy before... If someone has your number but doesn't even know you're name, there's no reason to talk to them, no matter what they say.
(Of course, just because they know your name, doesn't mean they're worth talking to either...)
houban says
August 4, 2008
If they are too polite and use Mr. then I know that either someone is trying to sell me something or I'm in some kind of trouble. It can't be a friend or anyone else worth talking to.
jennyzhu says
August 4, 2008
It seems that the property management in my building sold the residents' phone numbers to nearby real estate agents. People in the building always get calls from them asking if we want to lease or sell our apartments.
xiaohu says
August 4, 2008
Being that I myself AM of those annoying people who call you, I feel for the poor sales person, just trying to do their job and getting treated like that!
Hey at least I'm only calling back people who inquire about our products FIRST!
The worst are the people who forget they inquired in the first place and just because you had the "audacity" to call their number they get all bent out of shape and hang up on you!
Learn some manners people!
You never know who you might be hanging up on people, it might be your friendly Chinesepod language partner.
But I digress...
Since we've raised the topic, I have some questions related to sales vocabulary.
In Chinese, how would one say:
Warm leads
Cold leads
Cold calling
Follow up calls
Sales call
Telephone sales (telemarketing)
Marketing
Inside sales
Outside sales
Product demonstration
Market Analysis
(So much sales-ey language today...well I guess this is the forum for it huh?)
After today everyone will know how to ask, "is this a sales call?"
BTW: Jenny, I swear when you said "Xian Sheng" it sounded alot like "Xian Shen".
garry says
August 4, 2008
A very short lesson. I am thinking along the lines of xiaohu, a bit of politeness would have given us a bit more vocabulary. Or you could ask them for their number and say you will call them back later. hmm.
john says
August 4, 2008
xiaohu,
We'll have to do some research before answering all those questions, but I think telemarketing could definitely be a good topic for Intermediate or Upper Intermediate lesson...
xiaohu says
August 4, 2008
Yeah definately, an Intermediate or Upper Intermediate podcast would be great!
I know you guys already did a lesson about a salesman but the Telemarketing lesson could be completely different, maybe it could be a group of Telemarketers in a marketing meeting strategizing how to introduce their line of products, how to counter peoples objections, how to SELL!
It's one new telemarketers training day and he starts making calls, only to find rude people hanging up on him right and left, until he finally makes his first sale.
This could be a whole series!
Heh, heh, I wonder what the trailer would sound like?
Fade into Praxis logo
Fade in title:
"A Praxis/Carroll Production"
"A Paston/Zhu Podcast
(Cue music, enter booming voice)
Podcasting from somewhere in Shanghai China, not anywhere close to you. In a world of endless rejections and no's...one telemarketer pushed to the edge will finally vent...his...rage!
Creepy Phone Voice: That's the last NO I'm gonna take from you, now.......IT'S PERSONAL!
(Trailer guy voice) Armed ...only with a headset and a smart mouth! HE...will push the boundries of human patience...TO THE LIMIT!!!
(Cue creepy music)
Creepy Voice: Hello...is this Mr Feng?
Mr. Feng: Yes...but I already told you, I'm not interersted!
Creepy Voice: Mr. Feng...you only have SEVEN... DAYS...LEFT!
Mr. Feng desperately slams the phone back on the receiver.
(loud CRASH!)
(Music stops abruptly, sound of dial tone, turns to busy signal, beep beep beep beep)
Fade in to Mr. Feng curled up in the fetal position, sweating profusely, on the edge of tears, frantically hyperventolating...
(Sound of creepy laughter, cue booming bass heavy music)
Mr. Feng: I...I...I don't want any....I'm not interested! 我没有兴趣，真的没有兴趣！
Creepy Voice: Mr. Feng, you only have 7 days left, or YOUR...limited time offer...will...EXPIRE!!!
(Music stops abruptly...cue sound of heartbeat, thump thump, thump thump, thump thump)
Fade In, close up shot of Mr. Feng lying on his back surrounded by thousands of ringing phones...RING, RING, RING, RING...
Mr. Feng: Why? Why do you keep calling me...为什么？(Screaming) 为什么???!!!
Creeply Voice: Because, you don't want any...
(Booming trailer guy voice)
This summer...don't...answer...your PHONE!
(Creepy squealing music getting higher and higher pitched, stops abruptly with a BANG!)
(Fade in title)
Limited time offer!
(Booming trailer guy voice)
Rated NNUL2, no Newbies under level two admitted without translator.
So what to you think?
Hmmm, right, maybe we should write a romantic comedy instead!
Okay...cue light hearted FUN ANNOUNCER GUY VOICE...
(Cue upbeat orchestral score)
Coming this summer to an I-phone near you...one Telemarketer will finally find the woman of his dreams, the one woman in a million who says, "I'm interested"
Chinese Woman: (on the phone) Huh, "Oh really? It does all that? Listen do you think you can give me your speal in person over coffee at 星巴克?
Phone Voice: Really? You are you sure you wouldn't rather hang up on me hastilly and angrilly, maybe nastilly or even forcefully?
Chinese Woman: Nope, I want you to show me ALL you have to offer...BIG GUY!
Leonard Maltin raves: "This film had me at HELLO... Is this the Feng residence?"
Gene Shallot raves: "We're ALL interested".
This summer, get ready to push 下载 and let the laughter and love begin.
Jenny Zhu and Bazza star in:
Fade in title
We're Eating Dinner Right Now, Call Back Later.
Sorry, phone sales humor ;)
steeveepee33 says
August 5, 2008
I got a cell phone set up here in Shanghai for myself, and was immediately receiving text messages from advertisers. Seems the company I bought the phone from had my phone number sold to advertisers the minute I walked off with my new phone. How annoying!!!
changye says
August 5, 2008
小姐，请问，你的手机号码是多少？
xiao3 jie3, qing3 wen4
ni3 de shou3 ji1 hao4 ma3 shi4 duo1 shao3
Young lady, may I have your cell phone number, please?
redandy says
August 5, 2008
I don't have to deal with Chinese marketing calls, thank goodness. On visits to Taiwan, there are always people trying to hand out fliers or get you to sign up for something. I usually go with "ting bu dong," even if I actually understand them. I'm obviously a wai guo ren so it's easy to get away with.
tvan says
August 5, 2008
Some years ago, I was in between jobs in San Francisco and did a brief telemarketing stint to pay the bills. Occasionally, I would get an answer in Mandarin (though Cantonese was more common), at which point I switched to my scripted Chinese sales pitch. The reaction was either a) Interest in the fact that I spoke Mandarin or b) a stream of suspiciously fluent English cursing.
miami_meiguoren says
August 5, 2008
can you say phone spam
amber says
August 5, 2008
hi billbag,
There isn't an exact equivalent for that in Chinese, but you can call it:
电话推销 (Diànhuà tuīxiāo)
aliyah says
August 6, 2008
I have a question regarding the lesson. Another member, xiaohu had stated to Jenny about Xiao Sheng sounding like Xiao Shen.
Now since I have just started learning officially since yesterday, I thought I would go ahead and ask about that because last night that was the one I kept playing back because I just could not tell how to say it. :o( Do you pronounce the 'g' or no?
I have no Chinese skills whatsoever. I will have a phone call with a tutor tomorrow. I appreciate any extra help.
I think this is a wonderful site and I hope that they have a great program like this one for Arabic soon.
And one more thing. For "you" there is ni and nin do they mean the same? or is it a grammar issue?
Thank you. :o)
urbandweller says
August 6, 2008
你好(Ni hao) Aliyah,
First, I believe that the “g” is usually combined with the “n” before it. The "ng" when pronounced together makes more of a muffled nasal sound. The "g" does not come from your throat here. So you really won't here the "g" pronounced strongly when used in this context.(put your tongue to the roof of your mouth and try making a sound, then you will know what i mean) This along with pronouncing other things in Chinese will take some time to figure out how to do properly. Try and practice often and focus on the sound to get it right. Talk to a native chinese person whenever possible and they can help you master the sound.
Secondly, yes there is a big difference between Ni (3rdtone) and Nin (2nd tone)
"Ni3" will be used in casual conversation between friends and people within your own age group.
"Nin2" is more of a polite (formal) way to address someone usually for older people or someone of a higher status, or for customer service. Example: you may here a waitress or cab driver call you this becasue they are serving you and wanting to be polite to a customer. You typically wont use this to address your everyday friends. It would sound strange.
Check out some of the older newbie lessons because Ken and Jenny will mention often about how to use these "you" words correctly.
hope that helps :)
-Adam
cagster says
August 6, 2008
"xian sheng"
My observations ... if a phrase is common, and the context is rich, then speakers tend to get quick with what they are saying and shorten the pronunciations of words. I do it all the time with English :-)
I like this lesson, ... the "have no time" phrase could be used with street vendors too ... but I'd happily take a call from the lovely lady in the photo.
In the US, a few years back, we put into effect a "National Do Not Call Registry," which in my opinion has worked well. My friends and I receive less calls.
I wish something like this would work for email. I think the policy is still at the state level, and places like Florida are a haven for these marketers. However, since the cost of sending email from out of the states is easy ... doh, rambling.
Talking about spam, even Chinespod may or may not have some employees earning a little money on the "side." Last year or so, I emailed Chinespod regarding subscription info, etc ... I mistakenly used my work email address that had been mostly "pristine" and unknown outside business circles ... anyway, within a day or hours of emailing Chinesepod, I received an email about 手表 (shou3 biao3) and within a week, my spam filter had become red hot from overheating.
sfrrr says
August 6, 2008
Aliyah--how comfortabe are you with English? John Pasden not only works for ChinesePod but also maintains his own Website, www.sinosplice.com. He has very good sections on Chinese pronunciation. Check them out.
Also, ng is neither an n sound nor a g sound. It's a different nasalized sound of its own. N, too, is nasalized. If you pronounce an N but put your tongue touching the back of your upper front teeth (as if you're making an American L) and let the sound come through your nose, you have Chinese N. (Conversely, although you didn't ask), to say an L, put your tongue on the ridge of your palate, way behind your teeth and keep the inside of your mouth hollow/open. This sound is also slightly nasal.)
My former son-in-law is from Nanjing and to our ears, he reverses his Ns and Ls. He was forever saying things to our daughter like "You're lice."
He also says, in English, "I'm going over to Li Yu there," probably because in Chinese, you either have to specify Li Yu's house (or office or...) or you have to add nar after the name.
I have learned a lot of Chinese from listening to him speak English.
checkingoutchina says
August 7, 2008
Hi Chinesepod,
I just read Xiaohu's comment. Is teaching coldcalling really a good idea? I mean do you really want to add to the extra coldcalls you get each day already?
No offense Xiahu.
connerkechriotis says
August 7, 2008
Heah i know it's not really related, but does anyone here know where i can find some good chinese cooked dog. I will travel in where in the U.S. to get it.
mandarinboy says
August 9, 2008
I am using a study software i developed some years ago when studying the words from Chinesepod ( It is freeware if you like to give it a try: http://www.euroasiasoftware.com/ht/index.html)
I am now importing the vocabulary from the lessons that I am studying in to this software. My questions is, does anyone know if it is ok or not to share those lists with others? Transcripts is part of the bought material of Chinesepod. I do know that you can find the transcripts on many places on the net but that does not realy make it legal to share it. Any ideas? Anyway, it works great for me. I listen to Cpod when I ride the bike to work and when i come home i type in the lesson in homework trainer and then use the test capabilities to study the characters,stroke order pinyin and words. I have bought a better text to voice package so from time to time i also create my own mp3 files with just the words and i like to listen some extra on. The stroke order animations that is used by mandarintools, zdt, yellowbridge an more comes from this program. I will try to find some time to set up my servers again and correct some bad stroke order data. Unfortunately the code is written in old school visual basic and hence not 100% compatible with e.g windows vista.
xiaohu says
August 9, 2008
michaelhoyincheung:
I just thought it would be good practice to know how to say some sales oriented vocabulary, and it can be applied my many people to many facets of life. If nothing else we will all know how to ask in Chinese , "Is this a sales call"? And thereafter know how to politely decline a salespersons offer. Jenny said her number was sold to nearby real estate agents and she's constantly getting sales calls, so this type of vocabulary can teach people who live in China how to deal with these types of calls.
Consider you just arrived home to your apartment in Beijing, the phone rings, you pick it up and it's a telephone salesman's call.
You: Hello?
Telemarketer: Hello is this the Feng residence?
You: Yes it is, who may I ask is speaking?
Telemarketer: This is Jia Yi Liang from the Zhong Hua Telecommunications Company how are you this evening sir?
You: Fine, is this a sales call?
Telemarketer: Yes sir, we are letting all the local residents know about our new product offerings.
You: Okay.
Telemarketer: Zhong Hua Telecom is currently installing a Fiber Optic network in your area allowing us to deliver ultra high speed internet and long distance and local calling at a very low rate. Are you happy with your current phone and internet service sir?
You: Yes I am happy with them but if you could offer me a lower rate and better service I might be open to switching.
Telemarketer: Great, would you be available in the next week for a representative to come by with some brochures and information about our new products and services?
You: I would prefer that you not come by in person because I am rarely home, but you're welcome to email me any information you like about your new services. My e-mail address is fengdewei@163.com. Also I would prefer doing everything through e-mail, so there is no need for you to make a follow up call. After I look over the information, if I'm interested I will contact you back, okay?
Telemarketer: That's fine sir.
You: Okay thanks for calling.
Telemarketer: Have a good night sir.
You: You too!
So we see, perhaps learning this kind of vocabulary may be useful after all!
checkingoutchina says
August 10, 2008
...........................................................
I genuinely think Ken and Jenny's example was much shorter and effective.
I'm not going to debate with you Xiaohu. You have your own perspective on your job and I have mine. Let's leave it at that.