Asking about a delayed bus | Learn Chinese in English

About This Lesson

Use Asking about a delayed bus to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

请问，这辆公交车晚点了吗？

qǐng wèn, zhè liàng gōng jiāo chē wǎn diǎn le ma? Excuse me, is the bus delayed?

附近交通很拥堵。

fù jìn jiāo tōng hěn yōng dǔ. There's heavy traffic nearby.

你知道它什么时候到吗？

nǐ zhī dào tā shén me shí hou dào ma? Do you know when it will arrive?

它还在路上。

tā hái zài lù shàng. It's still on the way.

所以可能还要等更久。

suǒ yǐ kě néng hái yào děng gèng jiǔ. So the wait may be longer.

同一路线还有别的公交车吗？

tóng yí lù xiàn hái yǒu bié de gōng jiāo chē ma? Is there another bus for the same route?

有，但是那辆车需要更长时间。

yǒu, dàn shì nà liàng chē xū yào gèng cháng shí jiān. There is, but that option takes longer.

我会在这里等这班车。

wǒ huì zài zhè lǐ děng zhè bān chē. I'll stay here for this bus.

如果你能等，可能这样最好。

rú guǒ nǐ néng děng, kě néng zhè yàng zuì hǎo. That's probably best if you can wait.

Word by Word

请问 “请问” politely means “excuse me, may I ask” when addressing someone before a question. It combines 请 and 问, and is commonly used to begin a respectful question, such as asking about transport information. Use it with a following question when speaking to a stranger or staff member.

这 “这” means “this” and points to the bus being discussed nearby. In “这辆公交车”, it comes before the classifier and noun. Use “这” before a nearby person, thing, or place when identifying it.

辆 “辆” is the classifier used here for a bus or other vehicle. It appears between “这” and “公交车” in “这辆公交车”. Use the pattern “number or demonstrative + 辆 + vehicle” when counting or identifying vehicles.

公交车 “公交车” means “bus” in this dialogue. It is the noun identified by “这辆” in “这辆公交车”. Use it when referring to a public bus, especially when asking about a bus’s arrival or delay.

晚点 “晚点” means “be delayed” here, describing the bus’s arrival as later than expected. In “公交车晚点了吗”, it is followed by “了吗” to ask whether the bus is delayed. Use “晚点” when asking or stating that a train, flight, or bus is running late.

了 In “晚点了吗”, “了” helps ask whether the situation has changed so that the bus is now delayed. It works with the question particle “吗” in this yes-or-no question. Use the exact pattern “……了吗” when checking whether a situation or event has occurred.

吗 “吗” turns “这辆公交车晚点了” into a yes-or-no question in “这辆公交车晚点了吗”. It is placed at the end of the question. Use “吗” after a statement when asking whether it is true.

附近 “附近” means “nearby” or “the surrounding area” in “附近交通很拥堵”. It identifies where the traffic is congested and comes before the noun phrase “交通”. Use it before a place or situation to describe something in the nearby area.

交通 “交通” means “traffic” in “附近交通很拥堵”. Here it is the subject affected by the congestion. Use “交通” when talking about road traffic or transport conditions in a particular area.

很 “很” adds a high degree to “拥堵” in “交通很拥堵”, giving the meaning “very congested”. It comes before the descriptive word. Use the pattern “subject + 很 + description” to describe the degree of a condition.

拥堵 “拥堵” means “congested” here, describing the traffic near the bus stop. In “交通很拥堵”, it follows “很” to describe the traffic condition. Use it for roads or traffic when movement is blocked or slow because there are too many vehicles.

你 “你” means “you” and refers to the person being asked in “你知道它什么时候到吗”. It comes before the verb “知道”. Use “你” when directly addressing one person in an ordinary conversation.

知道 “知道” means “know” in “你知道它什么时候到吗”. It introduces the information the speaker is asking the other person to know. Use “知道 + information” or “知道 + question” when asking whether someone knows a fact or answer.

它 “它” means “it” and refers back to the bus in “它什么时候到”. It is the subject of the question about arrival. Use “它” to refer to a non-human thing already mentioned, such as a bus.

什么时候 “什么时候” means “when” in “它什么时候到吗”, asking for the bus’s arrival time. It appears before the verb “到”. Use it in the pattern “subject + 什么时候 + verb” when asking when an event will happen.

到 “到” means “arrive” in “它什么时候到”. It describes the bus reaching the stop, with “什么时候” asking when that arrival will happen. Use “到 + place” when stating that someone or something arrives at a destination.

还 “还” means “still” in “它还在路上”, showing that the bus remains on its way and has not arrived yet. It comes before “在路上”. Use “还 + state or action” when a situation continues up to the present.

在 In “还在路上”, “在” indicates that the bus is currently located or situated on the way. It connects “它” with the location phrase “路上”. Use “在 + place” to say where someone or something is.

路上 “路上” means “on the way” in “它还在路上”. Together with “在”, it describes the bus as still traveling toward the stop. Use “在路上” when someone or something has started traveling but has not reached the destination.

所以 “所以” means “so” or “therefore” and introduces the result of the bus still being on the way. In “所以可能还要等更久”, it links the traffic and delay information to the need for a longer wait. Use it before a conclusion or consequence.

可能 “可能” means “may” or “possibly” in “可能还要等更久”. It makes the prediction about waiting less certain. Use “可能 + verb phrase” when saying that an event or result is possible.

要 In “还要等更久”, “要” means that more waiting will be needed. It comes before “等” and combines with “还” to show that the waiting continues. Use “要 + verb” when describing an action that will be necessary or is still ahead.

等 “等” means “wait” in “还要等更久”. It is followed by “更久”, which describes the duration of the waiting. Use “等 + person or thing” when saying whom or what you are waiting for, or “等一会儿” for a short wait.

更 “更” means “even more” or “more” in “更久”, comparing the expected wait with the waiting time already understood. It comes before the duration word “久”. Use “更 + description” when describing a greater degree than a previous or expected level.

久 “久” means “long in duration” in “等更久”, describing how long the waiting will last. With “更”, it means “for even longer”. Use “久” after a verb or in a duration expression when talking about the length of time.

同一 “同一” means “the same” in “同一路线”, identifying a route shared with the bus already being discussed. It comes directly before the noun “路线”. Use “同一 + noun” when emphasizing that two things belong to the same route, place, or category.

路线 “路线” means “route” in “同一路线”. It specifies the path served by the bus. Use it with transport or travel information when referring to a particular route, for example when asking about another bus on the same route.

有 “有” means “there is” in the question “同一路线还有别的公交车吗”. It asks whether another bus exists for that route. Use “有 + noun” to say that something exists or is available, and use it at the start of a question when asking whether something is available.

别的 “别的” means “another” or “other” in “别的公交车”. It identifies a bus different from the one already being considered. Use “别的 + noun” when asking for or referring to an alternative item.

但是 “但是” means “but” and introduces a contrast in “有，但是那辆车需要更长时间”. The alternative bus exists, but it has a disadvantage. Use “但是” between two statements when the second statement limits or contrasts with the first.

那 “那” means “that” in “那辆车”, referring to the alternative bus just mentioned. It comes before the classifier “辆”. Use “那 + classifier + noun” to identify something farther away or already distinguished from another option.

车 “车” means “vehicle” and refers to the alternative bus in “那辆车”. The surrounding words “那辆” make clear that this vehicle is being counted as a bus. Use “车” when referring generally to a vehicle, or when the type of vehicle is clear from the context.

需要 “需要” means “need” or “require” in “那辆车需要更长时间”. It says that taking that bus requires a longer amount of time. Use “需要 + noun” for something needed, or “需要 + verb” for an action that is necessary.

长 “长” means “long” in “更长时间”, describing the duration required by the alternative bus. With “更”, it means that the time is longer than the other option. Use “长” before a noun such as “时间” when describing duration.

时间 “时间” means “time” in “需要更长时间”. It is the amount of time required for the alternative bus. Use “时间” after words describing duration, as in “很长时间” or “更多时间” when the context supports that expression.

我 “我” means “I” or “me” and is the person making the decision in “我会在这里等这班车”. It comes before “会” and the action phrase. Use “我” when referring to yourself as the subject or object of a sentence.

会 “会” means “will” in “我会在这里等这班车”, expressing the speaker’s future decision or intention. It comes before the action “等”. Use “subject + 会 + verb” to say what someone will do or is likely to do.

这里 “这里” means “here” in “我会在这里等这班车”. It identifies the current bus stop as the place where the speaker will wait. Use it after “在” to say that an action happens at this place.

班 “班” is the classifier for a scheduled bus service in “这班车”. It identifies this particular scheduled bus rather than buses in general. Use “这班车” or “那班车” when distinguishing one scheduled bus or trip from another.

如果 “如果” means “if” and introduces the condition in “如果你能等”. The recommendation in the main clause depends on whether the person is able to wait. Use “如果 + condition，result” to state a condition and its possible result.

能 “能” means “can” or “be able to” in “你能等”, referring to the person’s ability or practical possibility of waiting. It comes before the verb “等”. Use “subject + 能 + verb” when asking or saying whether someone can do something.

这样 “这样” means “this way” or “like this” in “可能这样最好”. It refers to the choice of staying and waiting for this bus rather than taking the alternative. Use “这样” when referring to an action or arrangement that has just been described.

最好 “最好” means “best” in “可能这样最好”, evaluating the choice of waiting as the most suitable option in this situation. The word “可能” makes the recommendation tentative rather than completely certain. Use “这样最好” to say that doing something this way is the best choice.

Grammar Points

如果……，最好……

如果交通拥堵，最好等。

rú guǒ jiāo tōng yōng dǔ, zuì hǎo děng.

If traffic is congested, it is best to wait.

“如果” introduces a condition, and “最好” gives the recommended action or choice.

Chinese Vocabulary

到 verb

dào to arrive; to reach

你知道它什么时候到吗?

附近 adv

fù jìn nearby; vicinity

附近交通很拥堵。

公交车 noun

gōng jiāo chē bus

请问,这辆公交车晚点了吗?

还 adv

hái still; yet

它还在路上。

交通 noun

jiāo tōng traffic; transportation

附近交通很拥堵。

可能 adv

kě néng possibly; may

所以可能还要等更久。

路上 phrase

lù shàng on the way; on the road

它还在路上。

请问 phrase

qǐng wèn excuse me; may I ask

请问,这辆公交车晚点了吗?

什么时候 adv

shén me shí hou when

你知道它什么时候到吗?

晚点 adj

wǎn diǎn to be delayed; late

请问,这辆公交车晚点了吗?

拥堵 adj

yōng dǔ congested; heavily congested

附近交通很拥堵。

知道 verb

zhī dào to know

你知道它什么时候到吗?

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

when

Show Answer

什么时候

nearby; vicinity

Show Answer

附近

on the way; on the road

Show Answer

路上

excuse me; may I ask

Show Answer

请问