Illustration: Xia Qing

Chat attack

聊工作

(liáo ɡōnɡzuò)

A chat about work

A: Han Mei, you work in the admissions office, right?

韩梅,你在招生办工作,是吗？

(hánméi, nǐ zài zhāoshēnɡbàn ɡōnɡzuò, shìma?)

B: Yes, I've been here 10 years as assistant director.

是的,我已经当了十年的副主任了。

(shìde, wǒ yǐjīnɡ dānɡ le shínián de fù zhǔrèn le.)

A: Really? What does that involve?

是吗？你都做什么？

(shìma? nǐ dōu zuò shénme?)

B: Well, I'm in charge of all the admissions of postgraduate students at the university.

嗯……我负责大学里所有的研究生录取工作。

(en…wǒ fùzé dàxuélǐ suǒyǒu de yánjiūshēnɡ lùqǔ ɡōnɡzuò.)