Note: The spoken Chinese Mandarin language has 4 spoken tones. We have attempted to re-create those below where after each syllable we tell you (1), (2), (3), or (4) as they correspond to each of the 4 tones. We encourage you to complement your Xianzai.com Emergency Chinese newsletter with a good offline study program.

Buying a Printer: mai(3) da(3) yin(4) ji(1)

NEW WORDS
Printer: da(3) yin(4) ji(1)
Computer: dian(4) nao(3)
Toner: tiao(2) se(4) ji(4)
Laser-jet: ji(1) guang(1) pen(1) mo(4)
Paper: da(3) yin(4) zhi(3)

LESSON

• Do you sell printers here?
  ni(3) men zhe(4) li(3) mai(4) dan(3) yin(4) ji(1) ma?
  
• Will this printer work with my computer?
  zhe(4) tai(2) da(3) yin(4) ji(1) neng(2) he(2) wo(3) de dian(4) nao(3) yi(4) qi(3) gong(1) zuo(4) ma?
  
• How much is toner for this printer?
  zhe(4) tai(2) da(3) yin(4) ji(1) de tiao(2) se(4) ji(4) duo(1) shao(3) qian(2)?
  
• Is it a laser-jet printer?
  zhe(4) shi(4) ji(1) guang(1) pen(1) mo(4) da(3) yin(4) ji(1) ma?
  
• Do I have to use special paper?
  wo(3) bi(4) xu(1) yong(4) te(4) shu(1) de da(3) yin(4) zhi(3) ma?

* Tip: Computers are great. They allow us to communicate and move documents around the world with just a push of a button (or two). But occasionally, you will still need an actual paper, or hard, copy - usually when you need something signed.

Buying a printer in China is simple. Take a note of the type of PC or laptop you have and make your way bravely to one of the hundreds (it seems like millions these days) of shops that sell computer peripherals.

All of the leading brands are easily available in China as well as some of the home-grown products which are sometimes just as good as their imported cousins.