About This Lesson
Use Holding a Place in Line to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
你能帮我占一下位置吗？
nǐ néng bāng wǒ zhàn yíxià wèizhì ma? Can you save my place for a minute?
B
你走开时，我可以帮你占着位置。
nǐ zǒu kāi shí, wǒ kěyǐ bāng nǐ zhàn zhe wèizhì. I can hold your spot while you are away.
A
我把钱包落下了。
wǒ bǎ qiánbāo làxià le. I left my wallet behind.
B
尽量快点回来。
jǐnliàng kuài diǎn huílái. Try to come back soon.
A
我现在就去拿钱包。
wǒ xiànzài jiù qù ná qiánbāo. I will grab it now.
B
我会留在这里排队。
wǒ huì liú zài zhèlǐ páiduì. I will stay here in line.
A
我找到钱包，马上就回来了。
wǒ zhǎodào qiánbāo, mǎshàng jiù huílái le. I found it and came right back.
B
你可以回到队伍里了。
nǐ kěyǐ huí dào duìwu lǐ le. You can step back in here.Word by Word
你
“你” refers to the person being asked in “你能帮我占一下位置吗？”. It commonly comes before the action or ability being discussed, as in “你可以……” in a request or suggestion.
能
“能” means “can” or “be able to” in “你能帮我占一下位置吗？”. It asks whether the other person is able or willing to do the action; a reusable pattern is “你能帮我……吗？”, followed by the action.
帮
“帮” means “help” in “帮我占一下位置”, showing that the action is done for another person. It commonly comes before the person helped and the action, as in “帮我拿……”.
我
“我” means “I” or “me”; here it is the person whose place should be held in “帮我占一下位置”. It commonly appears before an action when that action is done for the speaker, as in “帮我……”.
占
“占” means “hold or save” a place in “占一下位置”. Here it describes keeping the speaker’s place in the line while the speaker is away; “占+位置” is a useful pattern for holding a place.
一下
“一下” presents the action in “占一下位置” as brief or limited, so the request sounds lighter. It can follow an action to describe doing it briefly, as in the new example “看一下” for taking a quick look.
位置
“位置” means “place” or “position”; here it is the place the speaker has in the line. It commonly follows “占” when someone asks another person to hold a place.
吗
“吗” turns “你能帮我占一下位置” into the yes-or-no question “你能帮我占一下位置吗？”. It is placed at the end of a question and does not add a separate action.
走开
“走开” means “go away” or “step away” in “你走开时”. It describes the other person being away from the line; a reusable pattern is “……时” after an action or situation to mean “when or while……”.
时
“时” marks the time condition in “你走开时”, meaning “when you step away” or “while you are away”. It follows the action or situation that sets the time, as in the new example “下雨时” for “when it rains”.
可以
“可以” means “can” or “may” in “你可以回到队伍里了”, giving permission or indicating that returning is now allowed. It commonly comes before an action, as in “可以+动词” for permission or possibility.
占着
“占着” means “keep holding the place” in “我可以帮你占着位置”. The “着” shows that the state of holding the place continues while the other person is away; “占着+位置” keeps the place as the ongoing focus.
把
“把” marks “钱包” as the object affected in “我把钱包落下了”. The reusable pattern is “把+object+action”, used when describing what happened to a specific object.
钱包
“钱包” means “wallet” in “我把钱包落下了” and “我现在就去拿钱包”. It can be the object after an action such as “落下” or “拿”.
落下
“落下” means “leave behind” in “我把钱包落下了”, describing that the wallet was unintentionally left behind. In this use, it follows the object in the “把+object+落下” construction.
了
“了” shows that leaving the wallet behind is a completed event in “我把钱包落下了”. It appears at the end here to present the situation as already having happened.
尽量
“尽量” means “as much as possible” in “尽量快点回来”, asking the person to make the greatest practical effort to return quickly. It commonly comes before the action or description it modifies, as in “尽量+动词”.
快点
“快点” means “more quickly” or “hurry” in “尽量快点回来”. It modifies “回来” and makes the request about returning soon; it can also be used on its own to urge someone to hurry.
回来
“回来” means “come back” in “尽量快点回来” and describes returning to the speaker’s current place. It commonly follows a time or manner expression, such as “快点回来” for “come back quickly”.
现在
“现在” means “now” in “我现在就去拿钱包”, identifying the present time for the action. It commonly comes before the action, as in “现在+去……”.
就
“就” emphasizes the immediate timing in “我现在就去拿钱包”, meaning the speaker will go get the wallet right now. The pattern “现在就+action” is useful for saying that something will happen immediately.
去
“去” means “go” in “我现在就去拿钱包”, showing movement away from the current place to perform the next action. It commonly comes before another action to express going to do it, as in “去拿……”.
拿
“拿” means “get” or “take” in “去拿钱包”, where the speaker goes to get the wallet. It commonly comes before the object being taken or retrieved, as in “拿+object”.
会
“会” means “will” in “我会留在这里排队”, presenting staying in line as the speaker’s future action or commitment. It commonly comes before the action, as in “会+动词”.
留在
“留在” means “stay in” or “remain at” in “我会留在这里排队”. It shows that the speaker will continue to be at the stated place; the pattern is “留在+place”.
这里
“这里” means “here” in “我会留在这里排队”, referring to the place where the speakers are currently standing. It commonly follows a verb of staying or being, as in “留在这里”.
排队
“排队” means “stand in line” in “我会留在这里排队”. It describes waiting in an ordered line and can follow “在这里” or another location expression.
找到
“找到” means “find” with the result of successfully locating something in “我找到钱包”. It commonly comes before the thing found, as in “找到+object”.
马上
“马上” means “right away” in “马上就回来了”, emphasizing that the return happened immediately after the wallet was found. It commonly comes before an action, as in “马上+动词”.
回到
“回到” means “return to” or “go back to” in “回到队伍里”. It marks movement back to a specific place, followed by the destination such as “队伍里”.
队伍
“队伍” means “line” or “queue” in “回到队伍里”, identifying the line that the person returns to. It can be followed by “里” to describe being inside or back in the line.
里
“里” means “in” or “inside” in “队伍里”, locating the person within the line. It commonly follows a place noun to form a location expression, as in “房间里” in a new example.
Grammar Points
尽量 + 动词
尽量帮你占位置。
jǐnliàng bāng nǐ zhàn wèizhì.Try to help you save a place.
尽量放在动词前，表示尽可能做到某事。
马上 + 动词
马上回来。
mǎshàng huílái.Come back right away.
马上放在动词前，表示动作会立即发生。
Chinese Vocabulary
帮
verb
bāng
help
回来
verb
huílái
come back; return
尽量
adv
jǐnliàng
as much as possible; try to
快点
adv
kuài diǎn
quickly; hurry up
落下
verb
làxià
leave behind
你
pron
nǐ
you
钱包
noun
qiánbāo
wallet
去拿
phrase
qù ná
go get; go take
位置
noun
wèizhì
place; position
现在
adv
xiànzài
now
占
verb
zhàn
reserve; save a place
走开
verb
zǒukāi
go away; step away
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
come back; return
Show Answer
回来go away; step away
Show Answer
走开quickly; hurry up
Show Answer
快点now