In this workshop you practice a short ticket-buying exchange. You will say what you want, ask the price, and understand a follow-up question about a one-way ticket. The recordings give you the exact lines to use, so you can rehearse the exchange aloud before trying it in a real situation.
Say what you want and ask the price
Start with the simplest request. «我要一张票。» means "I want one ticket." When you add the destination, «一张到市中心的票，谢谢。» means "One ticket to the city center, please." If you prefer to state your destination first, «我要去市中心。» means "I want to go to the city center." After the request, ask the price with «多少钱？», which means "How much is it?" Practice each line slowly, then link the request and the price question in one breath.
Follow the ticket-window exchange
In the recorded exchange, the customer opens with «你好，我要一张到市中心的票，谢谢。», which means "Hello, I want one ticket to the city center, please." The staff member replies with «好的。单程票吗？», which means "Okay. A one-way ticket?" The customer confirms and asks the price with «对，单程票。多少钱？», which means "Yes, a one-way ticket. How much is it?" The staff member answers with «五块。», which means "Five yuan." Notice the order: request, follow-up question, confirmation with price question, then the price.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
我要一张票。
I want one ticket.
wǒ yào yì zhāng piào
一张到市中心的票，谢谢。
One ticket to the city center, please.
yì zhāng dào shì zhōng xīn de piào, xiè xie
我要去市中心。
I want to go to the city center.
wǒ yào qù shì zhōng xīn
多少钱？
How much is it?
duō shao qián
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
你好，我要一张到市中心的票，谢谢。
Hello, I want one ticket to the city center, please.好的。单程票吗？
Okay. A one-way ticket?对，单程票。多少钱？
Yes, a one-way ticket. How much is it?五块。
Five yuan.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided ticket-window exchange
You are the customer at a ticket window. Your partner reads the staff lines from the recordings. Read your customer lines aloud in order.
Your task: Say your opening request using «你好，我要一张到市中心的票，谢谢。». Wait for your partner to read «好的。单程票吗？». Then confirm and ask the price using «对，单程票。多少钱？». Your partner will finish with «五块。». Repeat the exchange once more, keeping the same order.
Understand the one-way ticket question
Your partner reads the staff follow-up question from the recording. You choose the customer reply that fits and say it aloud.
Your task: Listen to «好的。单程票吗？», which means "Okay. A one-way ticket?" Choose the best customer reply: A) «对，单程票。多少钱？», which confirms a one-way ticket and asks the price, or B) «多少钱？», which only asks the price. Say your chosen line aloud, then ask your partner to read the staff price line «五块。».
Recall the exchange with swapped roles
Swap roles with your partner. Your partner is now the customer and reads the customer lines. You are the staff member and read the staff lines from memory as far as you can.
Your task: Your partner opens with «你好，我要一张到市中心的票，谢谢。». You reply with «好的。单程票吗？». Your partner continues with «对，单程票。多少钱？». You finish with «五块。». Then swap back and repeat, using the recordings to check any line you are unsure about.
Common questions
Can I practice alone without a partner?
Yes. Play the recordings and read the customer lines aloud, then replay them and read the staff lines aloud. You can also read both roles yourself, pausing after each line to keep the exchange in order.
What should I focus on first, the request or the price question?
Focus first on the request, because it starts the exchange. Once you can say the request clearly, add the price question and the one-way ticket confirmation. Then practice the full order from request to price.
Sources and further reading
- chinese: buy a single ticketChecked September 2026
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