Opening a bank account
Lilly wants to open a bank account. She walks into the ICBC bank near her office with her passport, her work visa and employment details. She is greeted by an assistant and then led to a PFC (Personal Financial Consultant) who helps her with her new account.
Click on either pinyin or characters to listen to individual words. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the dialogue.
Hover the mouse over the Chinese characters for a second to see the pinyin version of that line. You can also click on the right-hand button for all pinyin to be displayed.
Assistant:
您好。请问您需要什么服务？
Lilly:
我想开一个账户。
Assistant:
好的，请跟我来。
(Lilly is led to a PFC.)
PFC:
您好。请问您要办什么业务？
Lilly:
我想开一个账户。
PFC:
您想开哪一种类型的账户？
Lilly:
嗯…… 我是新华公司的新员工，新华公司是你们的客户，所以我想在这里开个账户，这样我的公司就可以把工资直接打进我的账户。
PFC:
哦，好的，您需要个人储蓄账户。您带护照和工作签证了吗？
Lilly:
带了。我还带了工作证明。
PFC:
好的，请您填一下这份表格。
(Lilly fills in a form with her personal information.)
Lilly:
您能不能帮我办一张信用卡？
PFC:
很抱歉，我不能帮您办信用卡。不过我可以给您办一张借记卡。有了借记卡，您在中国各个地方的ATM机上都可以取钱，您也可以用它在商店、饭店、宾馆等刷卡消费，不过您不可以透支。
Lilly:
好吧，那我就办一张借记卡。办卡需要多长时间？
PFC:
借记卡很快，一会儿就行。
Lilly:
借记卡收取年费吗？
PFC:
收的，每年十元。
Lilly:
我可以使用网上银行和电话银行服务吗？
PFC:
可以。等您拿到账号后，自己上网登记一下，就可以使用网银了。至于电话银行服务，您需要把您的电话号码填写在表格里，并选择电话银行。
Lilly:
好的 。
(In about 15 minutes)
PFC:
White女士，您的账户办好了。这是您的账号、存折，和借记卡。这里还有您网上银行的密码。为了安全起见，请您先在卡的背面签名。
Lilly:
好的，非常感谢。
PFC:
不客气。这是我的名片，如果有任何疑问，您都可以打电话给我。
Lilly:
谢谢！再见！
PFC:
再见！…… 哦，White女士，别忘了您的护照！
Assistant:
Hello. What service do you need?
Lilly:
I want to open an account.
Assistant:
Sure, please follow me.
(Lilly is led to a PFC.)
PFC:
Hello. May I ask what service you would like?
Lilly:
I want to open an account.
PFC:
What sort of account do you need?
Lilly:
Umm…I am starting work with Xinhua Company, which is your client. I want to open an account here so that the company can directly transfer my salary.
PFC:
OK, sure. You need an individual savings account. Have you brought your passport and work visa with you?
Lilly:
Yes, I have also brought my certificate of employment.
PFC:
Good, please fill in this form.
(Lilly fills in a form with her personal information.)
Lilly:
Could you provide me with a credit card please?
PFC:
I am afraid I cannot give you a credit card, but I can give you a debit card. With a debit card, you can withdraw cash from ATM machines all over China, you can also use it (lit. swipe card to spend money) in shops, restaurants, hotels, etc., but you cannot be overdrawn.
Lilly:
OK then, I will have the debit card. How long will it take to process?
PFC:
It's very quick to process a debit card, it will be ready in a short while.
Lilly:
Is there an annual charge for a debit card?
PFC:
Yes, ten yuan a year.
Lilly:
And can I use the online banking and telephone banking service?
PFC:
Yes. Wait until you get your account, simply register yourself online, and then you can use online banking. As for the telephone banking service, you need to enter your telephone number on the form, and select telephone banking.
Lilly:
OK.
(In about 15 minutes)
PFC:
Ms White, your account is ready. Here is your account number, savings book and debit card. In addition, here is your password for your online banking. For security you need to sign the back of your card first.
Lilly:
That's great, thank you very much.
PFC:
You're welcome. Here is my business card, don't hesitate to ring me if you have any queries.
Lilly:
Thank you very much! Goodbye!
PFC:
Goodbye!...Oh, Ms White, don't forget your passport!
These are notes about potentially difficult key expressions. They are listed in the order in which they appear in the dialogue.
1. 想
我想开一个账户。I want to open an account.
想to want to, would like to is similar to 要to want, but 想 is less direct and more suggestive. Note that when followed by a noun, 想 means 'to miss'. 我想你. I miss you.
2. 这样我的公司就可以把工资直接打进我的账户。
So that the company can directly transfer my salary.
这样 means 'in this way', 'so that'.
The 把 structure is used when the location or the status of the object 工资 salary is changed by the subject.
打进 means 'to put money into'.
3. 给
我可以给您办一张借记卡。I can give you a debit card.
The sentence is literally 'I can | for you | process a debit card. ' 给 is used here as the preposition 'for'.
4. ATM机
The acronym ATM has been borrowed in its Roman alphabet form to make a new Chinese word: ATM机. 机 means 'machine'.
5. 取钱
取钱 means 'to withdraw money'. To save money is '存钱'. You can also use 储蓄 for 'saving money'.
6. 等……后
等您拿到账号后 wait until you get your account
等……后 means 'wait until after'. e.g. 等他回家后 is 'wait until he comes back'.
7. 网银
就可以使用网银了。Then you can use online banking.
网银 is a shortened form for 网上银行 lit. online banking. There are many Chinese words which are used in a shortened form. e.g. 电邮 for 电子邮件 email, 高校 for 高等学校 higher education.
8. 办好
您的账户办好了。Your account is ready.
好 is used here as a resultative complement, meaning 'to finish and to achieve a successful conclusion'. It is put after verbs. e.g. 我看好了。I've finished reading. 我吃好了。I've finished eating.
9. 为了……起见
为了安全起见…… For security…
为了……起见 means 'for the sake of'. Another example is 为了方便起见: for (the sake of) convenience.
Opening an account
Lilly has to bring some documents with her to the bank. According to the dialogue, decide which documents they are and also what she is given once her account is ready. You can drag each option into the 帮助 box to access the pinyin. Drag your selection into the correct category. Note that there are three extra options. Check your answers.
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The account package
Decide what Lilly's account entails according to the dialogue. You can drag each option into the 帮助 box to access the pinyin. Drag your selection into the correct category. Check your answers.
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