CLO_086: Please call back in an hour
Dialogue: Numbers
A: Wei2?
B: Qing3wen4, wang2 Xian1sheng1 zai4 ma?
A: Dui4buqi3. Ta1 xian4zai4 bu2 zai4. Qing3 yi1 xiao3shi2 hou4 zai4 da3 dian4hua4, hao3 ma?
B: Na4me ma2fan2 ni3 gao4su4 ta1 Zhang1 Lao3shi1 zhao3 ta1.
Dialogue: Tones
A: Wéi?
B: Qǐngwèn, wáng Xiānshēng zài ma?
A: Duìbuqǐ. Tā xiànzài bú zài. Qǐng yī xiǎoshí hòu zài dǎ diànhuà, hǎo ma?
B: Nàme máfán nǐ gàosù tā Zhāng Lǎoshī zhǎo tā.
Premium Online Content: Please log in or subscribe to view the content below.
PDF Notes: 
November 3rd, 2007 at 4:57 pm
In China, when answering the telephone do both sides say “wei2″ like both sides would say hello in english? You call me. I say “wei2″; you say “wei2″ back and then the coversation starts, or do I answer your call, say “wei2″ and then you start the conversation? Thanks.
November 3rd, 2007 at 11:19 pm
Good question. The usage is the same as “Hello” in English. The person calling may repeat the “wei2″ if he chooses to, or could get right to his point like in this dialogue. Or he may use a different form of greeting “Ni3 hao3″ just to be different.