Giving a Task Update | Learn Chinese in English

Chinese lesson set in a contemporary Shanghai everyday setting: In a workplace, two adults review task progress, remaining checks, and when to update the team..

EN → ZH / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Giving a Task Update to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

任务进展得怎么样？

rènwu jìnzhǎn de zěnmeyàng How is the task going?
B

大部分已经完成了。

dà bùfen yǐjīng wánchéng le Most of it is done.
A

哪些内容需要检查？

nǎxiē nèiróng xūyào jiǎnchá What needs checking?
B

我需要检查数字。

wǒ xūyào jiǎnchá shùzì I need to check the numbers.
A

我们按计划进行吗？

wǒmen àn jìhuà jìnxíng ma Are we on schedule?
B

我们今天下午可以完成。

wǒmen jīntiān xiàwǔ kěyǐ wánchéng We can finish this afternoon.
A

我们要不要告诉团队最新进展？

wǒmen yào bu yào gàosu tuánduì zuìxīn jìnzhǎn Should we update the team?
B

我们完成这部分后再告诉他们最新进展。

wǒmen wánchéng zhè bùfen hòu zài gàosu tāmen zuìxīn jìnzhǎn Let's update them after we finish this part.

Word by Word

任务 “任务” means the task being discussed in “任务进展得怎么样？”. It commonly appears before a verb or description to identify what needs to be done, as in “任务进展”. You can use it when asking about or reporting work that someone must complete.
进展 “进展” refers to the progress of the task in “任务进展得怎么样？”. Here it describes how the work is moving forward, rather than naming the task itself. A common pattern is “进展得怎么样” when asking how work is going.
得 In “进展得怎么样？”, “得” links the action or process with an expression describing its degree or state. The full pattern “进展得怎么样” asks how the task is progressing. This pattern can be reused after an action when asking how it is carried out or how it turns out.
怎么样 “怎么样” asks how something is or how it is going in “任务进展得怎么样？”. Together with “进展得”, it asks for an assessment of the task’s progress. You can use “怎么样” at the end of a question to ask for someone’s view or description.
大部分 “大部分” means most of something in “大部分已经完成了”. It identifies the greater part of the task as completed, while not necessarily including every part. It commonly comes before a verb, as in “大部分已经完成了”.
已经 “已经” means already in “大部分已经完成了”. It shows that the completion happened before the current moment. It commonly appears before the verb or description of the completed action.
完成 “完成” means finish or complete in “大部分已经完成了”. Here it describes the task reaching completion. It can be used with a task, part, or other work item as its object.
了 The “了” at the end of “大部分已经完成了” presents the situation as completed. It helps mark that the greater part is now finished. It is placed after the completed expression in this dialogue.
哪些 “哪些” asks which items in “哪些内容需要检查？”. Because it refers to more than one possible item, the question asks the listener to identify the content that needs checking. It commonly appears before a noun, as in “哪些内容”.
内容 “内容” means the content or items under discussion in “哪些内容需要检查？”. Here it refers to the parts of the task that still need checking. It commonly follows a word such as “哪些” to identify specific material or items.
需要 “需要” means need to or require in “哪些内容需要检查？”. Here it says that checking is necessary for the identified content. It commonly comes before an action, as in “需要检查”.
检查 “检查” means check or inspect in “需要检查” and “检查数字”. In the dialogue, the action is checking the numbers for the task. It commonly comes before the thing being checked, as in “检查数字”.
我 “我” means I or me in “我需要检查数字”. It identifies the speaker as the person who needs to check the numbers. It commonly appears before the action or need being described.
数字 “数字” means the numbers in “我需要检查数字”. These are the specific items that the speaker says still need checking. It commonly follows “检查” when numbers are the object of the check.
我们 “我们” means we or us in “我们按计划进行吗？”, “我们今天下午可以完成”, and “我们完成这部分后再告诉他们最新进展”. It identifies the speaker together with the other people working on the task. It commonly appears at the beginning of a sentence as the subject.
按 “按” means according to or following in “按计划进行”. It shows that the progress is being compared with a plan. A common pattern is “按 + plan or rule + action”, as in “按计划进行”.
计划 “计划” means the plan or schedule in “按计划进行”. It is the planned arrangement against which the task’s progress is checked. It commonly follows “按” when describing action according to a plan.
进行 “进行” means proceed or be carried out in “我们按计划进行吗？”. Here it describes the task moving forward according to the plan. It commonly follows the thing or condition that guides the activity, as in “按计划进行”.
吗 The “吗” at the end of “我们按计划进行吗？” marks a yes-or-no question. It turns the statement about proceeding according to the plan into a question. It is placed at the end of this question.
今天 “今天” means today in “我们今天下午可以完成”. It places the possible completion on the current day. It commonly comes before a more specific time expression, as in “今天下午”.
下午 “下午” means afternoon in “今天下午”. Together, “今天下午” identifies the time when the task can be completed. It commonly follows a day expression when giving a specific time.
可以 “可以” means can or be able to in “我们今天下午可以完成”. Here it expresses that finishing the task that afternoon is possible. It commonly comes before the action that is possible, as in “可以完成”.
要不要 “要不要” asks whether to do something in “要不要告诉团队最新进展？”. It is formed with “要” for the proposed action, “不” to negate it, and the second “要” to repeat the alternative, creating a choice between doing and not doing it. This pattern is useful when suggesting an action and asking for agreement.
告诉 “告诉” means tell or inform in “告诉团队最新进展” and “告诉他们最新进展”. It introduces information that is given to another person or group. A reusable pattern is “告诉 + person or group + information”.
团队 “团队” means the team in “告诉团队最新进展”. It is the group that should receive the latest progress information. It commonly follows “告诉” when naming the people being informed.
最新 “最新” means latest or most recent in “最新进展”. It specifies that the information is the most current progress available. It comes before the noun it describes, as in “最新进展”.
这 “这” means this in “这部分”. It points to a specific part of the task that is understood in the current situation. It commonly comes before a noun, as in “这部分”.
部分 “部分” means part or section in “这部分”. It identifies one section of the task that still has to be finished before the update. It commonly follows a demonstrative such as “这”.
后 “后” means after in “完成这部分后”. It places the later action after the completion of this part. It follows an action or event to form a time expression, as in “完成这部分后”.
再 “再” means then or afterward in “完成这部分后再告诉他们最新进展”. It shows that telling them will happen later, after the stated part is finished. It commonly appears before the later action in a sequence.
他们 “他们” means them in “再告诉他们最新进展”. In this dialogue, it refers to the team who will receive the update. It commonly appears after “告诉” as the people being informed.

Grammar Points

已经 + 完成

大部分任务已经完成。

dà bùfen rènwu yǐjīng wánchéng

Most of the tasks are already complete.

已经放在动词前，表示动作在现在之前完成。

按计划进行

我们按计划进行。

wǒmen àn jìhuà jìnxíng

We proceed according to schedule.

按计划进行表示按照安排开展或继续做事情。

Chinese Vocabulary

按计划进行 phrase
àn jìhuà jìnxíng to proceed according to schedule
大部分 det
dà bùfen most; the majority
检查 verb
jiǎnchá to check; to inspect
进展 noun
jìnzhǎn progress
哪些 det
nǎxiē which; what ones
内容 noun
nèiróng content
任务 noun
rènwu task
数字 noun
shùzì numbers; figures
完成 verb
wánchéng to complete; to finish
我们 pron
wǒmen we; us
已经 adv
yǐjīng already
怎么样 phrase
zěnmeyàng how; how is it

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to proceed according to schedule

Show Answer按计划进行

numbers; figures

Show Answer数字

most; the majority

Show Answer大部分

how; how is it

Show Answer怎么样