Waiting in line politely | Learn Chinese in English

Chinese lesson set in a contemporary Shanghai everyday setting: In a crowded public line, one adult politely explains where the end of the line is and the other moves back..

EN → ZH / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Waiting in line politely to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

不好意思，我觉得队伍的最后面在我们后面。

bù hǎo yì si, wǒ jué de duì wu de zuì hòu miàn zài wǒ men hòu miàn. Excuse me, I think the end of the line is behind us.
B

对不起，我没有注意到队伍在哪里结束。

duì bu qǐ, wǒ méi yǒu zhù yì dào duì wu zài nǎ lǐ jié shù. Sorry, I did not notice where it ended.
A

从这里很难看清标志。

cóng zhè lǐ hěn nán kàn qīng biāo zhì. The signs are hard to see from here.
B

我应该站到那个穿灰色外套的人后面吗？

wǒ yīng gāi zhàn dào nà ge chuān huī sè wài tào de rén hòu miàn ma? Should I move behind the person in the gray coat?
A

请这样做，大家已经等了一会儿了。

qǐng zhè yàng zuò, dà jiā yǐ jīng děng le yí huìr le. Please do; everyone has been waiting a while.
B

我不是故意插队的。

wǒ bù shì gù yì chā duì de. I did not mean to cut in.
A

这里这么拥挤时，这种事会发生。

zhè lǐ zhè me yōng jǐ shí, zhè zhǒng shì huì fā shēng. It happens when the area gets this crowded.
B

我现在就去队伍后面。

wǒ xiàn zài jiù qù duì wu hòu miàn. I'll head to the back now.

Word by Word

不好意思 不好意思 is a polite way to get someone’s attention or apologize before speaking. 不 supplies the negative element and 好意思 contributes the idea of feeling at ease or appropriate; together they form this fixed polite expression. Use it when addressing a stranger, such as when explaining a problem in a line.
我 我 means “I” or “me,” referring to the speaker in 我觉得. It commonly comes before the verb or opinion being expressed. Use it when stating your own observation or intention.
觉得 觉得 means “think” or “feel” in 我觉得, introducing the speaker’s view about where the line ends. It is commonly followed by a statement or description. Use it when giving a personal judgment politely rather than presenting it as certain fact.
队伍 队伍 means the line or queue in 队伍的最后面 and 队伍在哪里结束. It names the organized group of people waiting, not just one person. Use it with a location or with information about where the line begins or ends.
的 的 links 队伍 to 最后面 in 队伍的最后面, showing that the back belongs to or is associated with the line. A common reuse pattern is a noun or describing phrase followed by 的 before another noun. Here it helps identify which “back” is meant.
最后面 最后面 means the very back or end, referring here to the end of the queue in 队伍的最后面. It is a location expression and is commonly placed after 的 to identify the back of something. Use it when directing someone to the end of a line or group.
在 在 shows location in 队伍的最后面在我们后面: the end of the line is located behind us. A common pattern is a place or thing followed by 在 and a location. Use it when explaining where a person or object is.
我们 我们 means “we” or “us,” referring to the people speaking or standing together in 我们后面. It is 我 followed by 们, used for a group that includes the speaker. Use it when describing a location or action involving yourself and at least one other person.
后面 后面 means behind or at the back; in 我们后面, it means the area behind us. A common reuse pattern is a person, object, or place followed by 后面 to give a relative location. Use it when directing someone to a position behind another person or object.
对不起 对不起 is the complete apology “sorry” in this exchange. 对 is the first component and 不起 is the fixed second component; together they form the conventional apology, so the full meaning should not be assigned to either part alone. Use it when acknowledging a mistake or inconvenience.
没有 没有 marks the non-occurrence of noticing in 没有注意到, meaning “did not notice.” In this context it comes before the verb phrase to deny that the action happened. Use 没有 + a verb when explaining that something was not done or did not occur.
注意到 注意到 means “notice” or become aware of something, here referring to where the line ended. It is followed by the content noticed in 注意到队伍在哪里结束. Use it before a person, thing, or clause that describes what came to your attention.
哪里 哪里 means “where” in 队伍在哪里结束, asking about the location at which the line ends. It appears inside the larger statement introduced by 注意到, rather than as a separate question here. Use it when identifying an unknown place or position.
结束 结束 means “end” or “finish”; in 队伍在哪里结束, it describes where the line comes to an end. It can follow a subject such as 队伍 and can be used in a question about the endpoint. Use it when talking about where an activity, event, or line stops.
从 从 marks the viewpoint or starting place in 从这里, meaning “from here.” It is followed by a location and frames the statement about what can be seen from that position. Use 从 + a place when describing where an action or observation begins.
这里 这里 means “here,” referring to the speakers’ current position in 从这里. It commonly follows 从 when giving a viewpoint or starting location. Use it when referring to the place where you are now.
很 很 is a degree word before 难 in 很难看清, making the difficulty of seeing the signs clear. It commonly comes before an adjective or descriptive word. Use it when describing the degree of a condition or difficulty in a situation such as trying to read a distant sign.
难 难 means “difficult” in 很难看清标志, describing the difficulty of seeing the signs clearly. It is followed here by the action that is difficult, 看清. A common reuse pattern is 难 + a verb phrase when explaining that an action is not easy.
看清 看清 means “see clearly” in 看清标志; 清 shows that the seeing reaches a clear result. It takes 标志 as the thing being seen and appears after 难 in 很难看清. Use it when visibility is insufficient and you need to describe whether something can be seen clearly.
标志 标志 means “signs” or “markers” in 看清标志, referring to the signs that indicate the line or area. It is the object of 看清. Use it when discussing posted visual information that helps people find a place or direction.
应该 应该 means “should” or “be supposed to” in 我应该站到..., asking what the proper action is. It comes before the action phrase it governs. Use it when asking about the appropriate behavior in a public situation.
站 站 means “stand”; in 站到那个穿灰色外套的人后面, it describes taking a standing position at a specified place. It is followed by 到 and the destination. Use it when telling someone where to stand or asking about a standing position.
到 到 marks the destination or resulting position in 站到..., meaning to stand at or move into the position behind the person. It follows the action and comes before the destination phrase. A common reuse pattern is a movement or positioning verb + 到 + a place.
那个 那个 means “that,” referring here to the person identified by the following description in 那个穿灰色外套的人. It points to a particular person rather than people in general. Use it before a noun or person description when indicating someone specific.
穿 穿 means “wear” in 穿灰色外套, describing the clothing worn by the person. The phrase 穿灰色外套 comes before 人 to identify which person is meant. Use 穿 + clothing when identifying someone by what they are wearing.
灰色 灰色 means “gray” and describes 外套 in 灰色外套. It is placed before the clothing noun to specify its color. Use a color word before a clothing item when identifying what someone is wearing.
外套 外套 means “coat” or “jacket” in 灰色外套, the clothing used to identify the person. It follows the color word 灰色. Use it when describing a person’s outer clothing, especially when distinguishing someone in a crowd.
人 人 means “person” in 那个穿灰色外套的人. Here it is the noun being identified by 穿灰色外套. Use it after a description when referring to the person who matches that description.
吗 吗 is a question particle at the end of 我应该站到那个穿灰色外套的人后面吗？ It turns the statement into a yes-or-no question without changing the preceding word order. Use it when checking whether a proposed action is appropriate.
请 请 means “please” in 请这样做, making the response a polite request. It comes before the action the listener is being asked to carry out. Use it when giving a courteous instruction to someone in a public situation.
这样 这样 means “like this” or “this way” in 请这样做, referring to the action just discussed, namely standing behind the person. It points back to a known manner or action and is followed by 做 here. Use it when asking someone to repeat or follow a demonstrated way of doing something.
做 做 means “do” in 请这样做, referring to carrying out the action indicated by 这样. It completes the polite request rather than naming a separate object. Use it after a manner expression when asking someone to act in that way.
大家 大家 means “everyone” or all the people present, referring here to the people waiting in line. It is the subject of 大家已经等了一会儿了. Use it when talking about a whole group in a shared situation, such as people waiting together.
已经 已经 means “already,” showing that the waiting had taken place by the time of the statement in 已经等了一会儿了. It commonly comes before the verb phrase whose earlier progress is being emphasized. Use it when pointing out that an action or situation has begun or reached a point by now.
等 等 means “wait” in 大家已经等了一会儿了. Here it describes the action that has continued for the stated period 一会儿. Use it with a person, place, or duration when describing waiting in a queue or for someone.
了 The final 了 in 大家已经等了一会儿了 marks the current situation after the waiting has reached that duration, with emphasis that people have now been waiting for a while. It works together with 已经 and 一会儿 to present the waiting as relevant at this moment. Use it when reporting a situation that has changed or has reached a noticeable point.
一会儿 一会儿 means “a while,” giving the duration in 等了一会儿. It commonly follows a verb when describing a short, non-exact period of time. Use it when saying that someone has waited, rested, or done something for a short while.
不是 不是 begins the denial in 我不是故意插队的, meaning that the speaker’s cutting in was not intentional. It denies the description 故意 rather than simply naming an action. Use it before a reason or description that you want to reject, especially when explaining your intention.
故意 故意 means “intentionally” or “on purpose” in 不是故意插队的, describing the intention behind 插队. It comes before the action whose intention is being discussed. Use it when clarifying whether an action was deliberate, particularly when apologizing for a mistake.
插队 插队 means “cut in line,” referring to entering the queue ahead of people who were already waiting. In 不是故意插队的, it is the action whose intention the speaker denies. Use it when discussing someone joining a public line out of order.
这么 这么 means “so” or “to this degree” in 这么拥挤, referring to the current degree of crowding. It comes before the descriptive word 拥挤. Use 这么 + a description when pointing out that something has reached the degree visible in the current situation.
拥挤 拥挤 means “crowded” in 这里这么拥挤时, describing the area’s condition. It appears in the time expression that explains when this kind of problem can happen. Use it to describe a place with many people or too little space.
时 时 means “when” or “at the time,” linking 这里这么拥挤 to the situation that follows in 这里这么拥挤时. It marks the condition or time under which something happens. Use it after a situation when explaining what occurs under that condition.
这种 这种 means “this kind of” in 这种事, pointing to the type of situation just discussed, such as accidentally cutting in line. It comes before the noun 事. Use 这种 + a noun when referring to a particular kind of event or situation.
事 事 means “matter,” “thing,” or “incident” in 这种事, referring to the line-related problem as an occurrence. It is modified by 这种, so it does not refer to a physical object here. Use it when talking generally about an event or situation.
会 会 means “will” or “can tend to” in 这种事会发生, expressing that this kind of incident can occur under the crowded condition. It comes before the verb 发生. Use it when describing what may or tends to happen in a situation.
发生 发生 means “happen” or “occur” in 这种事会发生. The subject is the incident 这种事, and the verb describes its occurrence. Use it with an event, problem, or situation when saying that it takes place.
现在 现在 means “now” in 我现在就去队伍后面, locating the action in the present moment. It comes before the action phrase and combines with 就 to emphasize immediacy. Use it when announcing what you are doing at this moment.
就 就 adds the meaning “right away” or “then” in 现在就去, emphasizing that the speaker will act immediately. It comes before the verb phrase 去队伍后面. Use it when promising prompt action after receiving an instruction or deciding what to do.
去 去 means “go” in 去队伍后面, describing movement toward the back of the line. It is followed by the destination 队伍后面. Use 去 + a place when saying where someone will go.

Grammar Points

没有 + 动词

没有注意到标志

méi yǒu zhù yì dào biāo zhì

didn't notice the sign

没有 comes before a verb to negate a completed or expected action: “did not notice.”

现在就 + 动词

现在就去

xiàn zài jiù qù

go right away now

就 before a verb can show that an action happens immediately or without delay.

Chinese Vocabulary

不好意思 intj
bù hǎo yì si excuse me; sorry

Excuse me, I think the end of the line is behind us.

从这里 phrase
cóng zhè lǐ from here

The signs are hard to see from here.

队伍 noun
duì wu line; queue

The end of the line is behind us.

对不起 intj
duì bu qǐ sorry

Sorry, I did not notice where it ended.

很难 phrase
hěn nán very difficult; hard to

The signs are hard to see from here.

后面 noun
hòu miàn behind; at the back

The end of the line is behind us.

结束 verb
jié shù to end; to finish

I did not notice where it ended.

觉得 verb
jué de to think; to feel

I think the end of the line is behind us.

看清 verb
kàn qīng to see clearly

The signs are hard to see from here.

没有 adv
méi yǒu not; did not

I did not notice where it ended.

注意到 verb
zhù yì dào to notice

I did not notice where it ended.

最后面 noun
zuì hòu miàn the very back; the end

The end of the line is behind us.

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

excuse me; sorry

Show Answer不好意思

not; did not

Show Answer没有

line; queue

Show Answer队伍

very difficult; hard to

Show Answer很难