Asking for Help with a Task | Learn Chinese in English

Chinese lesson set in a contemporary Shanghai everyday setting: In a workplace, one adult asks for help with an unclear task and gets guidance on where to start..

EN → ZH / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Asking for Help with a Task to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

我需要帮助完成这个任务。

Wǒ xūyào bāngzhù wánchéng zhège rènwu. I need help with this task.
B

哪一部分比较难?

Nǎ yí bùfen bǐjiào nán? Which part feels difficult?
A

第一部分不清楚。

Dì-yī bùfen bù qīngchu. The first part is unclear.
B

我可以带你一步一步做。

Wǒ kěyǐ dài nǐ yí bù yí bù zuò. I can walk you through it.
A

我应该从这个文件开始吗?

Wǒ yīnggāi cóng zhège wénjiàn kāishǐ ma? Should I start with this file?
B

先从那里开始,然后把你做的给我看看。

Xiān cóng nàli kāishǐ, ránhòu bǎ nǐ zuò de gěi wǒ kànkan. Start there, then show me what you have.
A

我现在就试试。

Wǒ xiànzài jiù shìshi. I'll try that now.
B

那之后我可以检查你的工作。

Nà zhīhòu wǒ kěyǐ jiǎnchá nǐ de gōngzuò. I can check your work after that.

Word by Word

“我” means “I” or “me” in this dialogue, referring to the person asking for and receiving help. It is used as the subject in “我需要帮助完成这个任务” and “我现在就试试”. A new example is: “我明白了。”
需要 “需要” means “need” here: the speaker needs help with the task. It is followed by the needed thing in “需要帮助”. A reusable pattern is “我需要……”, used when asking for something necessary.
帮助 “帮助” means “help” in “我需要帮助完成这个任务”, referring to assistance with completing the task. Here it is the thing that is needed, followed by the action it supports. A new example is: “我需要帮助。”
完成 “完成” means “complete” or “finish” in “帮助完成这个任务”. It describes finishing the task, and “帮助” shows that the assistance supports this action. A reusable pattern is “完成+task or work”, such as the new example “完成工作”.
这个 “这个” means “this” in “这个任务”, pointing to the task being discussed. It comes directly before the noun “任务”. A reusable pattern is “这个+thing” when referring to a specific thing nearby or already understood.
任务 “任务” means “task” in “这个任务”, the piece of work the speaker needs help completing. It is used as the object after “完成”. A common reuse pattern is “完成任务”, meaning to complete a task.
“哪” asks “which” in “哪一部分”, asking the listener to identify one part from the task. It appears before the classifier phrase “一部分”. A reusable pattern is “哪+thing” when asking which specific item is meant.
部分 “部分” means “part” in “哪一部分”, referring to one section of the task. It is used after “一” in this phrase. A reusable pattern is “一部分”, meaning one part or one section.
比较 “比较” means “rather” or “relatively” in “比较难”, making the description “difficult” less absolute. It comes before the adjective “难”. A reusable pattern is “比较+description” when describing something as relatively so.
“难” means “difficult” in “哪一部分比较难”, describing the part that feels difficult. It follows “比较” to express a relative degree of difficulty. A new example is: “这个任务很难。”
第一 “第一” means “first” in “第一部分”, identifying the first part of the task. It comes before “部分” to specify its order. A reusable pattern is “第一+section or item” when referring to the first one.
“不” makes “清楚” negative in “不清楚”, meaning that the first part is not clear. It comes immediately before the word it negates here. A reusable pattern is “不+description” for saying that something is not a certain way.
清楚 “清楚” means “clear” in “第一部分不清楚”, saying that the first part is not clear to the speaker. With “不”, it expresses a lack of clarity or understanding. A new example is: “我看清楚了。”
可以 “可以” means “can” or “be able to” in “我可以带你一步一步做”, offering the ability to guide the other person. It comes before the action “带”. A reusable pattern is “可以+action” when offering or stating that an action is possible.
“带” means “guide” in “带你一步一步做”, describing leading someone through an activity. The person being guided follows it in “带你”. A reusable pattern is “带某人做某事”, meaning to guide someone in doing something.
“你” means “you” in “带你一步一步做”, referring to the person who needs guidance. It is the person receiving the guidance after “带”. A new example is: “你可以先看这里。”
一步一步 “一步一步” means “step by step” in “带你一步一步做”, explaining that the task will be done gradually. The repeated “一” and “步” present the action as a sequence of individual steps. A reusable pattern is “一步一步+action”, such as the new example “一步一步学习”.
“做” means “do” or “work on” in “一步一步做”, referring to carrying out the task step by step. It follows the person being guided and completes the action phrase. A reusable pattern is “做+task or work”, such as the new example “做任务”.
应该 “应该” means “should” in “我应该从这个文件开始吗?”, asking whether starting with the file is the right action. It comes before the action phrase “从这个文件开始”. A reusable pattern is “应该+action” when asking for or discussing the appropriate action.
“从” means “from” in “从这个文件开始”, marking the starting point. It is followed by “这个文件”, the thing used as the starting point. A reusable pattern is “从+starting point+开始”.
文件 “文件” means “file” in “这个文件”, referring to the file the speaker asks whether to begin with. It follows “这个” as the noun being identified. A common reuse pattern is “打开文件”, meaning to open a file.
开始 “开始” means “start” or “begin” in “从这个文件开始”, describing where the work should begin. It follows the starting point marked by “从”. A reusable pattern is “从……开始”, used when stating a starting point.
“吗” marks “我应该从这个文件开始吗?” as a yes-or-no question. It is placed at the end of the sentence. A reusable pattern is a statement followed by “吗” when asking whether that statement is correct or appropriate.
“先” means “first” or “to begin with” in “先从那里开始”, telling the listener to do this action before the next one. It comes before the action phrase. A reusable pattern is “先+action,然后+action” for giving actions in order.
那里 “那里” means “there” in “从那里开始”, referring to the place or point just indicated in the conversation. It follows “从” as the starting point. A reusable pattern is “从那里开始”, used when telling someone to begin there.
然后 “然后” means “then” in “然后把你做的给我看看”, introducing the next action after starting there. It connects the two instructions in sequence. A reusable pattern is “先……,然后……”, used to give ordered steps.
“把” marks “你做的” as the object handled in “把你做的给我看看”. Here, the speaker asks the listener to present what they have done. A reusable pattern is “把+thing+给某人看看” when asking someone to show a thing to a person.
“的” in “你做的” turns the preceding description into “what you did” or “the thing you made”. It links “你做” to the thing being shown. A reusable pattern is “person+action+的” when referring to something that person did or made.
“给” means “to” in “给我看看”, marking “我” as the person who is shown the work. It comes before the recipient and the action “看看”. A reusable pattern is “给某人看看”, meaning to show something to someone.
看看 “看看” means “take a look” in “给我看看”, asking for a brief look at what the other person has done. The repeated form presents the action as a short, light request. A reusable pattern is “给我看看”, used when asking someone to show you something.
现在 “现在” means “now” in “我现在就试试”, locating the attempt at the present time. It comes before “就试试” to set when the action will happen. A reusable pattern is “现在+action” when saying what is happening now.
“就” in “我现在就试试” adds the meaning “right away”, showing that the speaker will try immediately. It follows “现在” and comes before the action. A reusable pattern is “现在就+action” for promising to do something immediately.
试试 “试试” means “try it” in “我现在就试试”, referring to making an attempt at the suggested task. The repeated form presents the attempt in a light, casual way. A reusable pattern is “试试+thing or action”, such as the new example “试试这个方法”.
“那” means “that” in “那之后”, referring to the action or result just mentioned. Together with “之后”, it helps locate the next action after that point. A reusable pattern is “那之后+action” when describing what happens afterward.
之后 “之后” means “after that” or “afterward” in “那之后”, placing the checking action after the learner’s attempt. It follows “那” to form a time expression. A reusable pattern is “action+之后”, used to say what happens after an action.
检查 “检查” means “check” in “检查你的工作”, referring to reviewing the other person’s work. It comes before the object “你的工作”. A reusable pattern is “检查+work, file, or result” when reviewing something.
工作 “工作” means “work” in “你的工作”, referring here to the work the listener has done. It is the object of “检查”. A common reuse pattern is “检查工作”, meaning to check work.

Grammar Points

从 + 名词 + 开始

从文件开始。

Cóng wénjiàn kāishǐ.

Start from the file.

从 indicates the starting point, followed by the noun and then 开始. Chinese places this information before the verb.

先……然后……

先看看文件,然后开始做任务。

Xiān kànkan wénjiàn, ránhòu kāishǐ zuò rènwu.

First look at the file, then start doing the task.

先 marks the first action and 然后 introduces the next action, showing their sequence.

Chinese Vocabulary

帮助 noun
bāngzhù help

我需要帮助完成这个任务。

比较 adv
bǐjiào relatively; rather

哪一部分比较难?

不清楚 adj
bù qīngchu unclear

第一部分不清楚。

部分 noun
bùfen part

哪一部分比较难?

verb
dài guide; lead

我可以带你一步一步做。

第一 num
dì-yī first

第一部分不清楚。

det
which

哪一部分比较难?

adj
nán difficult

哪一部分比较难?

任务 noun
rènwu task

我需要帮助完成这个任务。

完成 verb
wánchéng complete; finish

我需要帮助完成这个任务。

需要 verb
xūyào need

我需要帮助完成这个任务。

一步一步 adv
yí bù yí bù step by step

我可以带你一步一步做。

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

step by step

Show Answer一步一步

complete; finish

Show Answer完成

first

Show Answer第一

help

Show Answer帮助