The other day, I wanted to take the pile of 硬币 (coins) from my room and 换纸币 (exchange them for bills).  The people at the nearby bank told me that they didn’t want my bills, well that was my first time to 听到 (hear) a bank didn’t want any money- maybe I should have asked them if they would take the coins at less than their 面额 (face value).  It wasn’t long before I was counting out my coins at the 打包台 (wrapping table) of a nearby supermarket.  A man in a suit came over and 碰 (poked/bumped) one of my coin stacks.  Naturally, it began to 掉 (fall down).  He looked surprised, at which point I remarked 你碰了它才掉了 (it only fell because you touched it).  He took this as his lead to 咨询 (inquire) about my job.  My only thought was- next time please find a better icebreaker than knocking over my coins.

硬币 ying4bi4 – coins
换 huan4 – change, exchange
纸币 zhi3bi4 – bills
听到 ting1dao4 – to hear something
面额 mian4e2 – face value
打包台dabaotai da3bao1tai2 – table where items are wrapped, wrapping table
碰 peng4 – bump, touch
掉 diao4 – fall down
咨询 zi1xun2 – inquire