VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Yao Ming took it easy on his translator for a few moments Thursday, answering several questions in English on his first full day in North America with the Chinese National Team.

"I need more training,'' the 7-foot-5 center said in a soft voice, one of several short answers he gave in English while sitting through a brief interview with several reporters.

"In China, the media, the bodies are a little size,'' Yao said, struggling to choose the correct words. "They can't face me.''

Yao, chosen first overall in last June's NBA draft, arrived Wednesday in advance of an exhibition game against Canada on Friday night. He will represent China in the upcoming World Championships to be held in Indianapolis Aug. 29-Sept. 8.

For the next 3½ weeks, Yao will get his first taste of being squarely in the spotlight in a foreign land.

"I need a little time,'' he said, in English, of making the adjustment to the United States and the NBA. "If happy or not happy for few months, I have long phone call to my family and it make me feel good.''

Yao spoke English in answering the first five questions posed to him, only twice asking his translator to repeat the query. He eventually grew frustrated, spending the final five minutes speaking in his native tongue.

"I cannot handle it right now,'' he said of the language barrier.

Asked which of the Rockets he most wants to meet, the name "Steve Francis'' came through.

Asked about the significance of a televised exhibition game against the United States next Thursday, he responded through his translator: "In China, we say no matter who you are, just make people recognize your face first.''

The game against Canada will be Yao's first in North America.

On hand will be Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich, who said he planned to keep a low profile and stay out of the way of Yao, his teammates and his coach.

"The No. 1 thing is to let him know he has support here,'' Tomjanovich said. "I'm not expecting much. I don't want to do a lot. I don't want to be a distraction in any way.''

Tomjanovich has had only one face-to-face meeting and one lengthy phone call with Yao since the Rockets began the arduous task of securing his release from the Chinese Basketball Federation and his former team, the Shanghai Sharks.

Yao has still not signed a contract with the Rockets.

Tomjanovich hasn't seen Yao play in person since coaching the United States against China during the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. Yao and both of his 7-foot teammates, Wang ZhiZhi and Menk Batere, were plagued by foul trouble in that game.

"The head coach of that team gave me trouble at the Sydney Olympics, kicked me out of the game after just 15 minutes,'' a smiling Yao said through his translator. "He'd better think about this.''

Not much is known in the United States about Yao, the son of parents who played for Chinese men's and women's national teams. He measured 7-foot-5 barefoot and 7-6¼ in sneakers and weighed in at 296 pounds at the Chicago pre-draft camp.

Yao has said he is looking forward to buying his first car, as the only vehicle he owned in Shanghai was a bicycle. He has never been to the city, Houston, that will be his home for at least the next four NBA seasons.

A bit of insight to Yao's athletic talents was gleaned Tuesday night at a reception hosted by Team Canada at a tavern near G.M. Place, the former home of the Vancouver Grizzlies.

The Chinese players seated themselves at a corner table immediately after entering, keeping to themselves until a few of the Canadian players invited them to play pool.

Yao, who had been staring transfixed at a television set showing Rodney Rogers highlights, accepted. The former Shanghai Shark was no pool shark, however, displaying only minimal billiards skills.

Folks on the Eastern side of the Pacific Ocean are about to get a chance to see if Yao has legitimate NBA basketball talent, and no observer will be more interested than Tomjanovich.

"When we first had Hakeem Olajuwon, we had no idea what we had. There was no way in the world that we ever could have imagined he would be the offensive force he was, because you just didn't see him,'' Tomjanovich said. "To project something, it just doesn't work that way for me.''