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At the butcher's in English (advanced)
Advanced English for at the butcher's. Key line: “Hi, could I get about half a kilo of pork shoulder, preferably a bit lean?”
Full script
Lin
Hi, could I get about half a kilo of pork shoulder, preferably a bit lean?
Them
Sure — sliced or minced? And do you want the skin left on?
Lin
Minced, please, and if it's not a hassle, could you run it through twice?
Them
No problem. Making dumplings, or are you just very serious about texture?
Lin
Dumplings, actually. They vanish so fast I'm trying to give them a fighting chance.
Them
Then I'd go with a little fat; lean pork can dry out.
Lin
Good call — let's do that, and could you make it around six hundred grams?
Them
You got it. If those dumplings still disappear, don't blame the butcher.
Key phrases
The lines worth keeping. Read them once before you go out.
about
✓ about half a kiloabout half a kilo
about makes numbers sound natural
leaner
✓ preferably a bit leanpreferably a bit lean
preferably sounds softer
polite lead-in
✓ if it's not a hassleif it's not a hassle
say this before a request
twice
✓ run it through twicerun it through twice
put it through the machine again
Quick answers
about: what to say in English
Say “about half a kilo” — about half a kilo. about makes numbers sound natural.
leaner: what to say in English
Say “preferably a bit lean” — preferably a bit lean. preferably sounds softer.
polite lead-in: what to say in English
Say “if it's not a hassle” — if it's not a hassle. say this before a request.
twice: what to say in English
Say “run it through twice” — run it through twice. put it through the machine again.