Hostage Negotiations: Hostage: The TV Remote
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Key Phrases
遥控器
yáo kòng qì
Remote control
没听到
méi tīng dào
Didn't hear
肥皂剧
féi zào jù
Soap opera
Skills You'll Learn
Using conditional phrases
使用条件短语
shǐ yòng tiáo jiàn duǎn yǔ
Expressing suggestions
表达建议
biǎo dá jiàn yì
Understanding conjunctions
理解连词
lǐ jiě lián cí
Lesson Roleplay
Imagine two friends having a light-hearted debate about what to watch on TV. One is interested in watching a soap opera, while the other wants to indulge in a documentary about moss. They negotiate a compromise to split their viewing time between the two programs.
把遥控器放下，我们可以假装没听到肥皂剧的剧透。
bǎ yáo kòng qì fàng xià wǒ men kě yǐ jiǎ zhuāng méi tīng dào féi zào jù de jù tòu
Put the remote down, and we can pretend we didn't hear the soap opera spoilers.
不行，除非你们都看我的苔藓纪录片。
bù xíng chú fēi nǐ men dōu kàn wǒ de tái xiǎn jì lù piàn
No way, unless you all watch my moss documentary.
苔藓纪录片？真的吗？
tái xiǎn jì lù piàn zhēn de ma
A moss documentary? Really?
是的，非常有趣的。你们会喜欢的。
shì de fēi cháng yǒu qù de nǐ men huì xǐ huān de
Yes, it's very interesting. You'll like it.
我们可以看一半纪录片，一半看肥皂剧吗？
wǒ men kě yǐ kàn yí bàn jì lù piàn yí bàn kàn féi zào jù ma
Can we watch half the documentary and half the soap opera?
Lesson Vocabulary & Phrases
遥控
yáo kòng
Remote
💬 The word [遥控] (yáo kòng) relates to controlling something from a distance.
🇨🇳 In Chinese homes, finding the remote can often lead to playful family 'negotiations'.
See breakdown →器
qì
Device
💬 The [器] (qì) part often refers to instruments or tools.
🇨🇳 Devices like remote controls are essential in modern Chinese living rooms.
See breakdown →遥控器
yáo kòng qì
Remote control
💬 Combining [遥控] and [器] makes [遥控器] (yáo kòng qì) - a remote device.
🇨🇳 Remote controls can be a source of power play in Chinese families, especially during TV time.
See breakdown →放下
fàng xià
Put down
💬 [放下] (fàng xià) is often used in the context of letting go of something.
🇨🇳 In a negotiation, saying [放下] might work to encourage a family member to share the remote.
See breakdown →假装
jiǎ zhuāng
Pretend
💬 [假装] (jiǎ zhuāng) is used when one is acting like something is true.
🇨🇳 Pretending not to hear someone is a classic negotiation tactic, including in Chinese culture.
See breakdown →没听到
méi tīng dào
Didn't hear
💬 [没听到] (méi tīng dào) literally means 'didn't hear'.
🇨🇳 A common excuse in familial disputes over who gets the remote control.
See breakdown →肥皂剧
féi zào jù
Soap opera
💬 The term [肥皂剧] (féi zào jù) directly translates to 'soap drama'.
🇨🇳 Chinese soap operas are popular and often a reason for wanting control of the TV remote.
See breakdown →剧透
jù tòu
Spoilers
💬 Literally means 'drama reveal' [剧透] (jù tòu).
🇨🇳 Sharing spoilers is a faux pas worldwide, including in Chinese culture.
See breakdown →不行
bù xíng
No way
💬 [不行] (bù xíng) expresses strong disagreement.
🇨🇳 A firm 'no' used in negotiations over TV preferences.
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