Intermediate - Asking to Be Paid Back (C2045)

A: 有个朋友借了我一万块,好几个月了还没还。
yǒu ge péngyou jiè le wǒ yī wàn kuài, hǎo jǐ ge yuè le hái méi huán.
I have a friend who borrowed 10,000 kuai from me. It’s been quite a few months and he still hasn‘t paid me back.
B: 铁哥们儿还是普通朋友?
tiěgēmenr háishi pǔtōng péngyou?
A close friend or just a friend?
A: 普通朋友。
pǔtōng péngyou.
Just a friend.
B: 一万块不是小钱,他应该不会忘记。
yī wàn kuài bùshì xiǎoqián, tā yīnggāi bù huì wàngjì.
10,000 kuai isn’t small change. He shouldn‘t forget.
A: 嗯,可他为什么不主动还我。
ng4, kě tā wèishénme bù zhǔdòng huán wǒ.
Yeah, but why doesn’t he pay me back on his own?
B: 找他要啊!你又不是大款。
zhǎo tā yào a! nǐ yòu bù shì dà kuǎn.
Just tell him! You're no rich guy.
A: 我不好意思。
wǒ bùhǎoyìsi.
I‘m embarrassed.
B: 那你跟他说最近很穷,很缺钱,他肯定就想起来了。
nà nǐ gēn tā shuō zuìjìn hěn qióng, hěn quē qián, tā kěndìng jiù xiǎng qǐlái le.
Then tell him that recently you’re broke and need money. He will definitely remember.
A: 我们好久没见了,我怎么说?
wǒmen hǎo jiǔ méi jiàn le, wǒ zěnme shuō?
We haven‘t seen each other in a while. What should I say?
B: 在网上说比较容易。
zài wǎngshàng shuō bǐjiào róngyì.
Talking online is easier.
A: 那他要是还不主动还呢?
nà tā yàoshì hái bù zhǔdòng huán ne?
And what if he still doesn’t pay me back on his own?
B: 那就说你有事,急需用钱,能不能借我一万块?
nà jiù shuō nǐ yǒushì, jíxū yòngqián, néng bu néng jiè wǒ yī wàn kuài?
Then just say you have a problem, you really need the money and could you lend me 10,000 kuai?
A: 我还是不好意思。
wǒ háishì bùhǎoyìsi.
I‘m still too embarrassed.
B: 不好意思啊,那就别要了!
bùhǎoyìsi a, nà jiù bié yào le!
Too embarrassed, huh? Then just forget it!

Key Vocabulary

jiè to lend; to borrow
huán to pay back
铁哥们儿 tiěgēmenr best friends
普通 pǔtōng common
小钱 xiǎoqián change
忘记 wàngjì to forget
主动 zhǔdòng to take the initiative
大款 dà kuǎn rich person
quē to lack
肯定 kěndìng certainly
急需 jíxū to urgently need to

Supplementary Vocabulary

借钱 jièqián to lend money
有钱人 yǒuqiánrén rich person
不耐烦 bùnàifán impatient
委婉 wěiwǎn tactful
直接 zhíjiē directly

Online Review and Discussion .   ©2012 Praxis Language Ltd.