A minute of silence

Preview version — Chinese review in progress.

HSK 7–9 · Level 7 About 12 minutes

一分钟的沉默

Yì fēnzhōng de chénmò

A minute of silence

Story

，。
zhōuyī shàngwǔ, cǎigòu jīnglǐ Táo Rán yào hé yì jiā lǎo gōngyìngshāng tán míngnián de hétong.
On Monday morning, purchasing manager Tao Ran was due to negotiate next year's contract with a long-standing supplier.
Words in this sentence
周一 zhōuyī
Monday Dictionary
上午 shàngwǔ
morning (before noon) Dictionary
采购 cǎigòu
purchasing Dictionary
经理 jīnglǐ
manager Dictionary
陶然 Táo Rán
Tao Ran (name) Dictionary
要 yào
to need to, to be going to; to want Dictionary
和 hé
and Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
家 jiā
home, family Dictionary
老 lǎo
old Dictionary
供应商 gōngyìngshāng
supplier Dictionary
谈 tán
to talk, to discuss Dictionary
明年 míngnián
next year Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
合同 hétong
contract Dictionary
，：，。
duìfāng de xiāoshòu zǒngjiān lǎo Hǎo yí zuòxia, jiù dì guòlai yì zhāng xīn bàojià: yuáncáiliào zhǎngjià, suǒyǒu chǎnpǐn tǒngyī shàngtiáo bǎi fēn zhī shíwǔ.
As soon as the supplier's sales director, Old Hao, sat down, he handed over a new quote: raw materials had gone up, so every product would rise by fifteen percent across the board.
Words in this sentence
对方 duìfāng
the other side Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
销售 xiāoshòu
sales Dictionary
总监 zǒngjiān
director Dictionary
老 lǎo
old Dictionary
郝 Hǎo
Hao (surname) Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
坐下 zuòxia
to sit down Dictionary
就 jiù
then, right away Dictionary
递 dì
to hand over Dictionary
过来 guòlai
to come over Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
张 zhāng
(measure word for flat things like photos) Dictionary
新 xīn
new Dictionary
报价 bàojià
quote, quotation Dictionary
原材料 yuáncáiliào
raw materials Dictionary
涨价 zhǎngjià
to raise prices Dictionary
所有 suǒyǒu
all Dictionary
产品 chǎnpǐn
product Dictionary
统一 tǒngyī
across the board Dictionary
上调 shàngtiáo
to raise Dictionary
百分之 bǎi fēn zhī
percent Dictionary
十五 shíwǔ
fifteen Dictionary
，，。
Táo Rán méiyǒu mǎshàng biǎotài, érshì mànmàn de fān zhe bàojiàdān, huìyìshì lǐ yìshí ānjìng de zhǐ shèng xià kōngtiáo de shēngyīn.
Tao Ran didn't respond straight away. She slowly leafed through the quote, and for a while the meeting room was so quiet that only the air conditioning could be heard.
Words in this sentence
陶然 Táo Rán
Tao Ran (name) Dictionary
没有 méiyǒu
there is not; does not have Dictionary
马上 mǎshàng
right away Dictionary
表态 biǎotài
to state one's position Dictionary
而是 érshì
but (不是……而是……) Dictionary
慢慢 mànmàn
slowly Dictionary
地 de
(turns a description into how something is done) Dictionary
翻 fān
to multiply (翻一倍: to double) Dictionary
着 zhe
(-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
报价单 bàojiàdān
quotation sheet Dictionary
会议室 huìyìshì
meeting room Dictionary
里 lǐ
in, inside Dictionary
一时 yìshí
a moment's Dictionary
安静 ānjìng
quiet Dictionary
得 de
(links a verb to how it is done) Dictionary
只 zhǐ
only Dictionary
剩 shèng
to be left over Dictionary
下 xià
next; down Dictionary
空调 kōngtiáo
air conditioning Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
声音 shēngyīn
sound, noise Dictionary
：，。
tā shìxiān zuò guò gōngkè: yuáncáiliào zhè bàn nián quèshí zhǎng le, dàn zhǎngfú zhǐ yǒu bǎi fēn zhī liù zuǒyòu.
She had done her homework: raw materials had indeed risen over the past six months, but only by about six percent.
Words in this sentence
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
事先 shìxiān
in advance Dictionary
做 zuò
to make, to do Dictionary
过 guò
to celebrate, to spend (a holiday) Dictionary
功课 gōngkè
homework Dictionary
原材料 yuáncáiliào
raw materials Dictionary
这 zhè
this Dictionary
半 bàn
half Dictionary
年 nián
year Dictionary
确实 quèshí
indeed Dictionary
涨 zhǎng
to rise Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
但 dàn
but Dictionary
涨幅 zhǎngfú
size of a rise Dictionary
只 zhǐ
only Dictionary
有 yǒu
to have; there is Dictionary
百分之 bǎi fēn zhī
percent Dictionary
六 liù
six Dictionary
左右 zuǒyòu
about, around Dictionary
，，，。
gèng zhòngyào de shì, tā shǒu lǐ yǐjīng yǒu le lìngwài liǎng jiā gōngyìngshāng de bàojià, suīrán dōu bù rú lǎo Hǎo de chǎnpǐn wěndìng, dàn jiàgé dī le bù shǎo.
More importantly, she already had quotes from two other suppliers. Their products were less reliable than Old Hao's, but considerably cheaper.
Words in this sentence
更 gèng
even more Dictionary
重要 zhòngyào
important Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
是 shì
to be Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
手 shǒu
hand Dictionary
里 lǐ
in, inside Dictionary
已经 yǐjīng
already Dictionary
有 yǒu
to have; there is Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
另外 lìngwài
other Dictionary
两 liǎng
two Dictionary
家 jiā
home, family Dictionary
供应商 gōngyìngshāng
supplier Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
报价 bàojià
quote, quotation Dictionary
虽然 suīrán
although Dictionary
都 dōu
all, both Dictionary
不 bù
not Dictionary
如 rú
as good as (不如: not as … as) Dictionary
老 lǎo
old Dictionary
郝 Hǎo
Hao (surname) Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
产品 chǎnpǐn
product Dictionary
稳定 wěndìng
stable Dictionary
但 dàn
but Dictionary
价格 jiàgé
price Dictionary
低 dī
to lower (the head) Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
不少 bù shǎo
quite a lot Dictionary
，：“，……”
guò le dàyuē yì fēnzhōng, lǎo Hǎo xiān chénbuzhù qì le:“ dāngrán, zhè gè shùzì yě bú shì bù néng shāngliang……”
After about a minute, Old Hao lost his nerve first: "Of course, this figure isn't set in stone…"
Words in this sentence
过 guò
to celebrate, to spend (a holiday) Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
大约 dàyuē
about Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
分钟 fēnzhōng
minute(s) Dictionary
老 lǎo
old Dictionary
郝 Hǎo
Hao (surname) Dictionary
先 xiān
first Dictionary
沉不住气 chénbuzhù qì
to lose one's composure Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
当然 dāngrán
of course Dictionary
这 zhè
this Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
数字 shùzì
figure, number Dictionary
也 yě
also, too Dictionary
不是 bú shì
is not (不是……就是……: either … or …) Dictionary
不 bù
not Dictionary
能 néng
can, be able to Dictionary
商量 shāngliang
to discuss Dictionary
。，：“，？”
Táo Rán zhè cái kāikǒu. tā méiyǒu kǎnjià, érshì wèn:“ rúguǒ wǒmen bǎ hétong cóng yì nián yáncháng dào sān nián, duì nǐmen yìwèizhe shénme?”
Only then did Tao Ran speak. She didn't haggle; instead she asked, "If we extended the contract from one year to three, what would that mean for you?"
Words in this sentence
陶然 Táo Rán
Tao Ran (name) Dictionary
这才 zhè cái
only then
开口 kāikǒu
to open one's mouth, to speak Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
没有 méiyǒu
there is not; does not have Dictionary
砍价 kǎnjià
to haggle Dictionary
而是 érshì
but (不是……而是……) Dictionary
问 wèn
to ask Dictionary
如果 rúguǒ
if Dictionary
我们 wǒmen
we, us Dictionary
把 bǎ
(moves the object before the verb) Dictionary
合同 hétong
contract Dictionary
从 cóng
from Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
年 nián
year Dictionary
延长 yáncháng
to extend Dictionary
到 dào
to arrive Dictionary
三 sān
three Dictionary
年 nián
year Dictionary
对 duì
correct, right Dictionary
你们 nǐmen
you (plural) Dictionary
意味着 yìwèizhe
to mean Dictionary
什么 shénme
what Dictionary
。，。
lǎo Hǎo lèng le yíxià. sān nián de dìngdān yìwèizhe gōngchǎng kěyǐ tíqián ānpái shēngchǎn, kěyǐ yòng gèng dī de jiàgé pīliàng cǎigòu yuáncáiliào.
Old Hao paused. A three-year order meant the factory could plan production in advance and buy raw materials in bulk at lower prices.
Words in this sentence
老 lǎo
old Dictionary
郝 Hǎo
Hao (surname) Dictionary
愣 lèng
to be stunned Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
一下 yíxià
a moment, a bit Dictionary
三 sān
three Dictionary
年 nián
year Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
订单 dìngdān
order Dictionary
意味着 yìwèizhe
to mean Dictionary
工厂 gōngchǎng
factory Dictionary
可以 kěyǐ
can, may; all right Dictionary
提前 tíqián
early, in advance Dictionary
安排 ānpái
to arrange Dictionary
生产 shēngchǎn
production Dictionary
可以 kěyǐ
can, may; all right Dictionary
用 yòng
to use Dictionary
更 gèng
even more Dictionary
低 dī
to lower (the head) Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
价格 jiàgé
price Dictionary
批量 pīliàng
in bulk Dictionary
采购 cǎigòu
purchasing Dictionary
原材料 yuáncáiliào
raw materials Dictionary
，，。
liǎng rén yí suàn, jiùsuàn zhǐ zhǎng bǎi fēn zhī wǔ, gōngyìngshāng zhèbiān de lìrùn yě bǐ yuánlái yì nián yì qiān yào gāo.
They ran the numbers: even with only a five-percent rise, the supplier's profit would be higher than with the old year-by-year contracts.
Words in this sentence
两 liǎng
two Dictionary
人 rén
person, people Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
算 suàn
to calculate Dictionary
就算 jiùsuàn
even if Dictionary
只 zhǐ
only Dictionary
涨 zhǎng
to rise Dictionary
百分之 bǎi fēn zhī
percent Dictionary
五 wǔ
five Dictionary
供应商 gōngyìngshāng
supplier Dictionary
这边 zhèbiān
this side Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
利润 lìrùn
profit Dictionary
也 yě
also, too Dictionary
比 bǐ
than Dictionary
原来 yuánlái
so it turns out Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
年 nián
year Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
签 qiān
to sign Dictionary
要 yào
to need to, to be going to; to want Dictionary
高 gāo
tall, high Dictionary
，，，。
yí gè xiǎoshí hòu, shuāngfāng qiān xià le sān nián de kuàngjià xiéyì, jiàgé shàngtiáo bǎi fēn zhī wǔ, jiāohuò shíjiān suōduǎn yì zhōu.
An hour later both sides signed a three-year framework agreement: prices up five percent, delivery times a week shorter.
Words in this sentence
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
小时 xiǎoshí
hour Dictionary
后 hòu
after, later Dictionary
双方 shuāngfāng
both sides Dictionary
签 qiān
to sign Dictionary
下 xià
next; down Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
三 sān
three Dictionary
年 nián
year Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
框架 kuàngjià
framework Dictionary
协议 xiéyì
agreement Dictionary
价格 jiàgé
price Dictionary
上调 shàngtiáo
to raise Dictionary
百分之 bǎi fēn zhī
percent Dictionary
五 wǔ
five Dictionary
交货 jiāohuò
delivery Dictionary
时间 shíjiān
time Dictionary
缩短 suōduǎn
to shorten Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
周 zhōu
week Dictionary
，：“，，。”
sòng lǎo Hǎo chūmén de shíhou, tā bàn kāi wánxiào de shuō:“ Táo jīnglǐ, nǐ nà yì fēnzhōng bù shuōhuà, bǐ shuō yì xiǎoshí hái lìhai.”
As she saw Old Hao out, he said half-jokingly, "Ms Tao, that minute of silence was more powerful than an hour of talking."
Words in this sentence
送 sòng
to take (someone somewhere); to give Dictionary
老 lǎo
old Dictionary
郝 Hǎo
Hao (surname) Dictionary
出门 chūmén
to go out Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
时候 shíhou
time, moment (……的时候: when …) Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
半 bàn
half Dictionary
开 kāi
to drive; to open Dictionary
玩笑 wánxiào
joke (开玩笑: to joke) Dictionary
地 de
(turns a description into how something is done) Dictionary
说 shuō
to say, to speak Dictionary
陶 Táo
Tao (surname) Dictionary
经理 jīnglǐ
manager Dictionary
你 nǐ
you Dictionary
那 nà
that Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
分钟 fēnzhōng
minute(s) Dictionary
不 bù
not Dictionary
说话 shuōhuà
to speak, to talk Dictionary
比 bǐ
than Dictionary
说 shuō
to say, to speak Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
小时 xiǎoshí
hour Dictionary
还 hái
also, in addition Dictionary
厉害 lìhai
fierce Dictionary
。，，。
Táo Rán xiào le xiào. tā xīnli qīngchu, hǎo de tánpàn bú shì ràng duìfāng shū, érshì zhǎodào yí gè shuāngfāng dōu yuànyì qiānzì de shùzì.
Tao Ran smiled. She knew that a good negotiation isn't about making the other side lose, but about finding a number both sides are willing to sign.
Words in this sentence
陶然 Táo Rán
Tao Ran (name) Dictionary
笑 xiào
to laugh, to smile Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
笑 xiào
to laugh, to smile Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
心里 xīnli
in one's heart Dictionary
清楚 qīngchu
clear Dictionary
好 hǎo
good; OK Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
谈判 tánpàn
negotiation Dictionary
不是 bú shì
is not (不是……就是……: either … or …) Dictionary
让 ràng
to let, to make (someone do) Dictionary
对方 duìfāng
the other side Dictionary
输 shū
to lose Dictionary
而是 érshì
but (不是……而是……) Dictionary
找到 zhǎodào
to find Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
双方 shuāngfāng
both sides Dictionary
都 dōu
all, both Dictionary
愿意 yuànyì
to be willing Dictionary
签字 qiānzì
to sign Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
数字 shùzì
figure, number Dictionary

Grammar focus

意味着 "to mean, to imply"
不是……而是…… "not … but …"

Vocabulary

供应商gōngyìngshāngsupplier Dictionary
合同hétongcontract Dictionary
报价bàojiàquote, quotation Dictionary
统一tǒngyīacross the board Dictionary
事先shìxiānin advance Dictionary
商量shāngliangto discuss Dictionary
利润lìrùnprofit Dictionary
协议xiéyìagreement Dictionary
谈判tánpànnegotiation Dictionary

Questions

Speaking task

你要和房东谈房租。说说你会用什么方法。

Nǐ yào hé fángdōng tán fángzū. Shuō shuō nǐ huì yòng shénme fāngfǎ.

You need to negotiate the rent with your landlord. Describe your approach.

Tips

先……然后…… lays out your plan in order.

Try it yourself first, then show the model answer

我会先了解附近同样的房子租金是多少，然后告诉房东，如果他能降一点儿，我愿意签两年的合同。

Wǒ huì xiān liǎojiě fùjìn tóngyàng de fángzi zūjīn shì duōshao, ránhòu gàosu fángdōng, rúguǒ tā néng jiàng yìdiǎnr, wǒ yuànyì qiān liǎng nián de hétong.

First I'd find out what similar flats nearby cost, then tell the landlord I'd sign a two-year contract if he could lower the rent a little.

About the HSK 7–9 band