Intermediate - Help with the Baby (C1642)

A: 文洁,回来上班啦,孩子谁带啊?
Wénjié, huílai shàngbān la, háizi shéi dài a?
Wenjie, you're back at work. Who's taking care of the baby?
B: 有个保姆,我妈妈有时也来帮忙。
yǒu ge bǎomǔ, wǒ māma yǒushí yě lái bāngmáng.
We have a nanny. My mom helps out from time to time too.
A: 是月嫂吗?
shì yuèsǎo ma?
Is she a maternity matron?
B: 不是。月嫂一个月就走了,这个保姆是专门带孩子的。
bùshì. yuèsǎo yī ge yuè jiù zǒu le, zhè ge bǎomǔ shì zhuānmén dài háizi de.
No. Maternity matrons leave after a month. This nanny just takes care of the baby.
A: 她住你家吗?
tā zhù nǐ jiā ma?
Does she live with you?
B: 对。宝宝跟她睡一个房间。
duì. bǎobao gēn tā shuì yī ge fángjiān.
Yeah. The baby sleeps in the same room with her.
A: 有个人帮忙。你轻松多了吧?
yǒu ge rén bāngmáng. nǐ qīngsōng duō le ba?
Having someone help out makes it a lot easier for you, huh?
B: 是啊。我基本上只要给宝宝喂奶,其它事都是保姆做。
shì a. wǒ jīběn shàng zhǐ yào gěi bǎobao wèinǎi, qítā shì dōu shì bǎomǔ zuò.
That's right. I pretty much only have to breastfeed the baby. The maid does everything else.
A: 这样宝宝会不会跟你不亲?
zhèyàng bǎobao huì bu huì gēn nǐ bù qīn?
Won't the baby not be close to you then?
B: 要上班,没办法。不过只要有时间,我就会抱他、跟他玩儿。
yào shàngbān, méi bànfǎ. bùguò zhǐyào yǒu shíjiān, wǒ jiù huì bào tā、 gēn tā wánr.
I have to work. There's nothing I can do about it. Whenever I have the time I hold him and play with him.
A: 有机会,我去看你宝宝吧。
yǒu jīhuì, wǒ qù kàn nǐ bǎobao ba.
When I get the chance I'll come see the baby.
B: 好!
hǎo!
OK!

Key Vocabulary

dài to take care of
保姆 bǎomǔ nanny
有时 yǒushí sometimes
帮忙 bāngmáng to help out
月嫂 yuèsǎo maternity matron
专门 zhuānmén specifically, specially
轻松 qīngsōng relaxed, at ease
多了 duō le much more
基本上 jīběn shàng for the most part, basically
喂奶 wèinǎi to breast-feed
qīn close, intimate
只要 zhǐyào as long as
bào to hold
有机会 yǒu jīhuì to have an opportunity

Supplementary Vocabulary

月子 yuèzi month of confinement after giving birth
坐月子 zuò yuèzi to partake in the month of confinement after giving birth
照顾 zhàogu to take care of
母乳 mǔrǔ breast milk
奶瓶 nǎipíng nursing bottle
奶粉 nǎifěn powdered milk
亲密 qīnmì close, intimate
托儿所 tuō'érsuǒ nursery, child care center
幼儿园 yòu'éryuán kindergarten

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