Waiting for Your Turn | Learn Chinese in English

Chinese lesson set in a contemporary Shanghai everyday setting: In a public waiting area, two adults talk about staying nearby, watching the screen, and keeping a ticket ready for their turn..

EN → ZH / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Waiting for Your Turn to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

我还在等轮到我。

Wǒ hái zài děng lún dào wǒ. I am still waiting for my turn.
B

他们今天要花很长时间才能叫到每个人。

Tāmen jīntiān yào huā hěn cháng shíjiān cái néng jiào dào měi gè rén. They are taking a long time to call each person today.
A

所以我应该待在附近。

Suǒyǐ wǒ yīnggāi dāi zài fùjìn. So I should stay nearby.
B

他们可能很快就会叫到你。

Tāmen kěnéng hěn kuài jiù huì jiào dào nǐ. They may call you soon.
A

我应该看哪个柜台？

Wǒ yīnggāi kàn nǎge guìtái? Which counter should I watch?
B

屏幕会显示正确的柜台。

Píngmù huì xiǎnshì zhèngquè de guìtái. The screen will show the right counter.
A

那我就把票拿在手里。

Nà wǒ jiù bǎ piào ná zài shǒu lǐ. Then I'll keep the ticket in my hand.
B

轮到你时，这样会更方便。

Lún dào nǐ shí, zhèyàng huì gèng fāngbiàn. That makes it easier when your turn comes.

Word by Word

我 “我” refers to the speaker or to the person whose turn is being discussed. In “我还在等轮到我”, the first “我” is the subject and the second identifies whose turn is awaited; a reusable pattern is “我 + verb” for talking about yourself.
还 “还” means “still” in “我还在等”, showing that the waiting continues. It commonly appears before a verb when an action or situation has not ended, as in “还 + verb”.
在 “在” marks the waiting action as ongoing in “我还在等”. Before a verb, the pattern “在 + verb” describes what is happening at that time.
等 “等” means “to wait”; here it means waiting until the speaker’s turn comes. The reusable pattern is “等 + person or event”, which is useful when waiting at a counter or in a line.
轮到 “轮到” means that a turn has reached someone, as in “轮到我” and “轮到你”. In this construction, “轮” relates to the turn or order, while “到” shows that the turn reaches the person; use “轮到 + person” to say whose turn it is.
他们 “他们” means “they” and refers to the people who call each person in the waiting area. It is the subject in “他们今天要花...” and “他们可能...”; a reusable pattern is “他们 + verb” when describing what those people do.
今天 “今天” means “today” and sets the time frame for the long waiting process in “他们今天要花...”. It can be placed before the main action to say when something happens, as in “今天 + verb”.
要 “要” in “他们今天要花很长时间...” indicates that spending a long time is expected or required. The reusable pattern is “要 + verb” when describing what someone is going to do or what will be needed.
花 “花” means “spend” in the expression “花很长时间”, specifically spending time on an action. The reusable pattern is “花 + amount of time + action”, useful for describing how long something takes.
很 “很” adds degree to “长” in “很长时间”, making the duration notably long. It commonly comes before a describing word in the pattern “很 + description”.
长 “长” means “long” here and describes the duration in “很长时间”. It comes before “时间” to form a phrase about a long period, which is useful when describing a delay.
时间 “时间” means “time” or a period of time in “花很长时间”. It is used after an amount or description in patterns such as “花 + time” when explaining how long an action takes.
才能 “才能” means “only then can” or “only after that will be possible” in “花很长时间才能叫到每个人”. It shows that calling each person is possible only after the required time has passed; a reusable pattern is “condition + 才能 + result”.
叫到 “叫到” means to call someone and reach that person’s turn, as in “叫到每个人” and “叫到你”. The reusable pattern is “叫到 + person”, useful when staff call people in a waiting area.
每个人 “每个人” means “each person” or “everyone” in “叫到每个人”. It identifies the people being called one by one and can be used before or after an action depending on the sentence.
所以 “所以” means “so” or “therefore” and connects the long waiting time with the decision to stay nearby in “所以我应该待在附近”. The reusable pattern is “reason, 所以 + result” when drawing a conclusion.
应该 “应该” means “should” and presents staying nearby as the appropriate action in “我应该待在附近”. It commonly comes before a verb in the pattern “应该 + verb” when giving advice or stating what is sensible to do.
待在 “待在” means “stay at” or “remain in” a place, as in “待在附近”. The reusable pattern is “待在 + place”, useful when telling someone where to remain while waiting.
附近 “附近” means “nearby” or the area close to a place. In “待在附近”, it is the place where the speaker should remain; the pattern “待在 + 附近” describes staying close by.
可能 “可能” means “may” or “might” and shows that the calling is possible but not certain in “他们可能很快就会叫到你”. It commonly comes before the predicted action in the pattern “可能 + verb”.
很快 “很快” means “soon” in “很快就会叫到你”, referring to a short time before the person is called. It can come before an action in the pattern “很快 + verb” when describing an event expected shortly.
就 “就” in “很快就会叫到你” presents the calling as following soon after the situation described. The common pattern “很快就 + action” is useful for saying that something will happen shortly.
会 “会” marks the expected future event in “很快就会叫到你”. Because it follows “可能”, the whole expression gives a qualified prediction rather than a certainty; a reusable pattern is “会 + verb” for an expected action.
你 “你” means “you” and refers to the person being addressed. In “叫到你” and “轮到你”, it identifies the listener as the person who may be called and whose turn will come.
看 “看” means “look at” or “watch” in “我应该看哪个柜台？”, referring to monitoring the counter. The reusable pattern is “看 + object”, useful when deciding what information or place to watch.
哪个 “哪个” means “which” and asks the listener to choose one counter from the available options in “哪个柜台”. It commonly comes before a noun in the pattern “哪个 + noun” when asking for a specific choice.
柜台 “柜台” means “counter” or service desk in “哪个柜台” and “正确的柜台”. It names the place associated with the person’s turn; a reusable pattern is “description + 柜台” when identifying a particular counter.
屏幕 “屏幕” means “screen” and is the subject of “屏幕会显示正确的柜台”. It refers to the display that provides the needed counter information; a common pattern is “屏幕 + 显示” when saying what a screen shows.
显示 “显示” means “show” or “display” in “屏幕会显示正确的柜台”. It takes the information being shown after it, as in “显示 + information”, and is useful when reading instructions or numbers on a screen.
正确 “正确” means “correct” or “right” in “正确的柜台”, identifying the counter that matches the person’s turn. It commonly comes before “的 + noun” to describe which item is the appropriate one.
的 “的” links the description “正确” to the noun “柜台” in “正确的柜台”. The reusable pattern is “description + 的 + noun”, which turns a description into a modifier for the following noun.
那 “那” means “then” or “in that case” in “那我就把票拿在手里”. It introduces the speaker’s conclusion after hearing the information; the pattern “那 + sentence” is useful when responding with a decision.
把 “把” marks “票” as the object being handled in “把票拿在手里”. It places the object before the action that describes what is done with it; the reusable pattern is “把 + object + verb phrase”, usually with a clear result or location.
票 “票” means “ticket” and is the object that the speaker plans to hold in “把票拿在手里”. It appears after “把” because the sentence focuses on what is done with the ticket; a reusable pattern is “把 + 票 + action”.
拿在 “拿在” means to hold something in a particular position or place in “拿在手里”. The reusable pattern is “拿在 + location”, useful when explaining where an item is being held.
手里 “手里” means “in the hand” and gives the location in “拿在手里”. It completes the pattern “拿在 + location”, describing an item that someone is holding.
时 “时” means “when” or “at the time” in “轮到你时”. It follows the event that provides the time reference; the reusable pattern is “event + 时” for a time clause.
这样 “这样” means “this way” or “like this” and refers to keeping the ticket in the hand in “这样会更方便”. It commonly points back to an action or arrangement and can be used in the pattern “这样会 + evaluation”.
更 “更” means “more” in “更方便”, showing an increased degree of convenience. It commonly comes before a describing word in the pattern “更 + description” when comparing an arrangement with another situation.
方便 “方便” means “convenient” or “easier” in “这样会更方便”. Here it describes the benefit of having the ticket ready when the turn comes; the reusable pattern is “会更方便” when explaining that an arrangement makes a later action easier.

Grammar Points

还 + 动词

我还等。

Wǒ hái děng.

I am still waiting.

还 comes before the verb to show that an action or state continues.

花 + 时间 + 动词

等叫到要花很长时间。

Děng jiào dào yào huā hěn cháng shíjiān.

Waiting to be called takes a long time.

花很长时间 describes an action that requires a long time; the action follows the time phrase.

Chinese Vocabulary

待 verb
dāi to stay

所以我应该待在附近。

等 verb
děng to wait

我还在等轮到我。

附近 noun
fùjìn nearby

所以我应该待在附近。

柜台 noun
guìtái counter

我应该看哪个柜台?

还 adv
hái still

我还在等轮到我。

很快 adv
hěn kuài soon; very quickly

他们可能很快就会叫到你。

花很长时间 phrase
huā hěn cháng shíjiān to take a long time

他们今天要花很长时间才能叫到每个人。

叫到 verb
jiào dào to call someone

他们今天要花很长时间才能叫到每个人。

看 verb
kàn to watch; to look at

我应该看哪个柜台?

轮到 verb
lún dào to be one's turn

我还在等轮到我。

每个人 pron
měi gè rén each person; everyone

他们今天要花很长时间才能叫到每个人。

哪个 det
nǎge which

我应该看哪个柜台?

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to take a long time

Show Answer花很长时间

to be one's turn

Show Answer轮到

to call someone

Show Answer叫到

counter

Show Answer柜台