[General] specify what you will do

[Silverobama]

Hi.

I went another city last week. The city has had no confirmed cases so the custom officer will ask many questions of people going there. The first thing the officer said in Chinese was "Please specify what you will do". I wonder if my translation is natural. (Please tell me in details what you will do here.)

 

[Rover_KE]

Immigration officials like to ask 'What is the purpose of your visit?'

 

[teechar]

I went to another city last week.

Note also that it's "customs". However, I don't think that "customs officer" is right. Try "quarantine/health official" instead.

 

[Silverobama]

Note also that it's "customs". However, I don't think that "customs officer" is right. Try "quarantine/health official" instead.

Yes, it's health official. Hmm, I wonder if "Please specify what you will do" is wrong in any context.

 

[tedmc]

"Specify" is used for writing rather than in speech.

How about: What do you plan to do(purpose) for your visit?

 

[teechar]

No. Stick with Rover's suggestion above.

 

[Silverobama]

No. Stick with Rover's suggestion above.

Hi teechar. Would you please take a look at my question in #4?

 

[teechar]

Hi teechar. Would you please take a look at my question in #4?

If that person was interrogating you, then it's possible.

 

[Tdol]

It's grammatically correct, but not natural for the context.

 

[emsr2d2]

If you arrived in the UK before 2013, you would have had your passport inspected and been asked such questions by an immigration officer. Your luggage would have been inspected (if necessary) by a customs officer. After 2013, the two roles were amalgamated and the staff are now Border Force officers.

It was a bit more complicated than that, of course. If you want to, you can read more about it HERE.

 

[GoesStation]

Customs officials inspect goods and, sometimes, people entering a country from abroad. Any internal controls are managed by some other kind of officer. For example, motorists crossing into California may be stopped for inspection by agents of the California Department of Agriculture.

 

[probus]

And motorists entering the USA from Mexico are frequently inspected by ICE agents (Imigration and Customs Enforcenent.) They set up roadblocks on the northbound freeways (if you can believe it) as much as 100 miles from the border!

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Yes, it's a health official. Hmm, I wonder if "Please specify what you will do" is wrong in any context.

It's not natural. I'd avoid specify. It's not used very often in conversation.

Rover's suggestion is excellent. It's what an official is most likely to say in that situation.