Daily Chinese for Factory: Air freight vs sea freight decision

Topic: Daily Chinese for Factory (Workplace Mandarin)

1. Original Dialogue

A: 这批货要走空运还是海运？

B: 要看交货时间，客户要什么时候收到？

A: 他们要下周五收到，时间很紧。

B: 那只能走空运，海运来不及了。

A: 空运费用比海运贵很多吧？

B: 是的，大概贵五到十倍，但是没办法。

A: 我先跟客户确认，看他们能接受费用吗。

B: 好，快点问，不然预订不到机位了。

 

2. Dialogue Details & Translation

A: 这批货要走空运还是海运？
Zhè pī huò yào zǒu kōngyùn háishì hǎiyùn?
Should this batch go by air freight or sea freight?

B: 要看交货时间，客户要什么时候收到？
Yào kàn jiāohuò shíjiān, kèhù yào shénme shíhòu shōudào?
It depends on the delivery deadline. When does the customer need to receive it?

A: 他们要下周五收到，时间很紧。
Tāmen yào xià zhōu wǔ shōudào, shíjiān hěn jǐn.
They need to receive it by next Friday. Time is very tight.

B: 那只能走空运，海运来不及了。
Nà zhǐ néng zǒu kōngyùn, hǎiyùn lái bù jí le.
Then we can only use air freight. Sea freight won't make it in time.

A: 空运费用比海运贵很多吧？
Kōngyùn fèiyòng bǐ hǎiyùn guì hěn duō ba?
Air freight is much more expensive than sea freight, right?

B: 是的，大概贵五到十倍，但是没办法。
Shì de, dàgài guì wǔ dào shí bèi, dànshì méi bànfǎ.
Yes, about five to ten times more expensive, but there's no choice.

A: 我先跟客户确认，看他们能接受费用吗。
Wǒ xiān gēn kèhù quèrèn, kàn tāmen néng jiēshòu fèiyòng ma.
Let me first confirm with the customer to see if they can accept the cost.

B: 好，快点问，不然预订不到机位了。
Hǎo, kuài diǎn wèn, bùrán yùdìng bú dào jī wèi le.
Okay, ask quickly, otherwise we won't be able to book a flight slot.

 

3. Key Vocabulary

空运 kōngyùn: Air freight

海运 hǎiyùn: Sea freight

交货时间 jiāohuò shíjiān: Delivery deadline

客户 kèhù: Customer

收到 shōudào: Receive

来不及 lái bù jí: Not enough time / too late

费用 fèiyòng: Cost / fee

贵 guì: Expensive

倍 bèi: Times (multiplication)

没办法 méi bànfǎ: No choice / nothing to be done

接受 jiēshòu: Accept

预订 yùdìng: Book / reserve

机位 jī wèi: Flight slot / cargo space

快点 kuài diǎn: Quickly

时间紧 shíjiān jǐn: Time is tight

 

4. Grammar & Sentence Structures

比 + noun + adjective + 很多 (much more ... than)

Used to make comparisons with a large degree of difference.

Example: 空运费用比海运贵很多。
Kōngyùn fèiyòng bǐ hǎiyùn guì hěn duō.
Air freight is much more expensive than sea freight.

不然 + negative consequence

Used to warn about a negative outcome if action is not taken.

Example: 快点问，不然预订不到机位了。
Kuài diǎn wèn, bùrán yùdìng bú dào jī wèi le.
Ask quickly, otherwise we won't be able to book a flight slot.

 

5. Practice Exercises

Question 1: When does the customer need to receive the goods?

A. This Friday

B. Next Monday

C. Next Friday

D. Next Wednesday

Answer: C. Next Friday

Explanation: A said they need to receive it by next Friday (下周五).

Question 2: Why can't sea freight be used?

A. It is too expensive

B. It won't arrive in time

C. The port is closed

D. The goods are too heavy

Answer: B. It won't arrive in time

Explanation: B said 海运来不及了, meaning sea freight won't make it in time.

Question 3: How much more expensive is air freight?

A. 2–3 times

B. 3–5 times

C. 5–10 times

D. 10–20 times

Answer: C. 5–10 times

Explanation: B said 大概贵五到十倍, meaning approximately 5 to 10 times more expensive.

Question 4: What does 来不及 mean?

A. Not sure

B. Not enough time / too late

C. Not affordable

D. Not available

Answer: B. Not enough time / too late

Explanation: 来不及 means there is not enough time to do something, or it is too late.

Question 5: What does A plan to do next?

A. Book the flight immediately

B. Confirm with the customer about the cost

C. Cancel the shipment

D. Contact the warehouse

Answer: B. Confirm with the customer about the cost

Explanation: A said he will confirm with the customer to see if they can accept the cost.