How to Say ‘Normally a taxi only costs me about thirty yuan.’ in Simplified Chinese
我平时打车也就三十来块。
wǒ píng shí dǎ chē yě jiù sān shí lái kuài
[waw ping shir dah-chur yě jyoh sānshí lái kwy]
💬 Usage Tip: 也就 before an amount means "only about" and makes the number sound small.
🇨🇳 In China: Quoting your usual fare is a common, face-saving way to hint that a route seems too long, without directly accusing the driver.
Phrase Breakdown
我平时打车
wǒ píng shí dǎ chē
when I usually take a taxi
平时 (píng shí) means 'usually', and 打车 (dǎ chē) means 'take a taxi'.
我平时打车上班。
I usually take a taxi to work.
Words in this phrase
我
wǒ
[waw]
I; me
The first-person pronoun, used to refer to yourself.
我也想了解这个公司的文化。
I also want to understand this company’s culture.
平时
píng shí
[ping shir]
usually; normally
Refers to ordinary times or someone's usual habits in daily life.
你们平时几点吃晚饭？
What time do you usually eat dinner?
打车
dǎ chē
[dah-chur]
to take a taxi; hail a cab
A practical travel phrase for getting a taxi.
晚上这里容易打车。
It is easy to get a taxi here at night.
也就三十来块。
yě jiù sān shí lái kuài
it's only about thirty yuan
也就 (yě jiù) means 'only / just', and 来 after a number means 'about'. 块 (kuài) is the spoken word for yuan.
这件衣服也就五十来块。
This piece of clothing is only about fifty yuan.
Words in this phrase
也
yě
[yě]
only; just (with 就)
In 也就, it softens and means 'only about'.
走过去也就十分钟。
Walking there takes only about ten minutes.
就
jiù
[jyoh]
just; simply
Used to limit the request to only that amount or choice.
一份沙拉就好。
Just one salad is fine.
三十来
sān shí lái
[sānshí lái]
about thirty; thirty-odd
来 after a number means 'approximately' or 'a little over'.
他三十来岁。
He is about thirty years old.
块
kuài
[kwy]
kuai; yuan (informal measure of money)
A common spoken word for Chinese currency units.
这杯咖啡二十块，不贵。
This coffee is 20 kuai, not expensive.
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