About This Lesson
Use Estimated Waiting Time to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
请问，预计要等多久？
qǐng wèn, yù jì yào děng duō jiǔ? Excuse me, what is the estimated waiting time?
B
大约十分钟，也许会更久一点。
dà yuē shí fēn zhōng, yě xǔ huì gèng jiǔ yì diǎn. About ten minutes, maybe a little longer.
A
我之后还有另一个预约。
wǒ zhī hòu hái yǒu lìng yí ge yù yuē. I have another appointment after this.
B
如果等到那时候太晚了，你可以午饭后再回来。
rú guǒ děng dào nà shí hou tài wǎn le, nǐ kě yǐ wǔ fàn hòu zài huí lái. If that is too late, you can come back after lunch.
A
如果我晚一点回来，还能保留我的位置吗？
rú guǒ wǒ wǎn yì diǎn huí lái, hái néng bǎo liú wǒ de wèi zhì ma? Would I keep my place if I came back later?
B
午饭后你需要重新取号。
wǔ fàn hòu nǐ xū yào chóngxīn qǔ hào. You would need to take a new ticket after lunch.
A
那我现在先等吧，因为我已经在这里了。
nà wǒ xiàn zài xiān děng ba, yīn wèi wǒ yǐ jīng zài zhè lǐ le. Then I'll wait for now since I'm already here.
B
请留意屏幕。
qǐng liú yì píng mù. Please keep an eye on the screen.Word by Word
请问
请问 is a polite way to begin a question, as in 请问，预计要等多久？. It combines 请, “please,” with 问, “ask,” to make the question courteous. Use 请问 before asking a stranger or staff member for information.
预计
预计 means “estimated” or “expected” in 预计要等多久？. It asks for a prediction rather than a confirmed amount. It can be reused before an expected time, amount, or result.
要
要 in 预计要等多久？ indicates the expected amount of time until the waiting ends. Here it helps form a question about how long the action will take. A reusable pattern is 要 + verb + 多久, such as asking how long something will take.
等
等 means “wait” in 预计要等多久？. It names the action whose expected duration is being asked about. Use 等 with a person, place, or time when describing what you are waiting for.
多久
多久 asks “how long” in 预计要等多久？. It asks about duration, here the length of the wait. It commonly follows an action when asking how long that action will continue.
大约
大约 means “about” or “approximately” in 大约十分钟. It shows that the stated time is not exact. Use it before a number or amount when giving an estimate.
分钟
分钟 means “minutes” in 大约十分钟. It is the unit used to measure the estimated waiting time. It can follow a number when stating a duration.
也许
也许 means “maybe” or “perhaps” in 也许会更久一点. It introduces an uncertain possibility that the wait may be longer. Use it before a possible situation or result.
会
会 in 也许会更久一点 indicates that the wait may become longer. Together with 也许, it presents a possible future result rather than a certainty. It can be used before a verb or description when discussing a possible outcome.
更
更 means “more” or “even” in 更久一点, showing that the duration may be longer than the stated ten minutes. It modifies 久 to increase the degree. Use 更 before an adjective or description when comparing a higher degree.
久
久 means “long in duration” in 更久一点. It describes the possible length of the wait, not a physical distance. It can be used with 更 when saying that something lasts longer.
一点
一点 means “a little” in 更久一点, so the possible extra wait is described as a small amount longer. It makes the increase sound limited. It can follow a description to express a small degree.
我
我 means “I” or “me” in 我之后还有另一个预约. It identifies the speaker as the person who has another appointment. It is used before the rest of the sentence when the speaker is the subject.
之后
之后 means “after this” in 我之后还有另一个预约. It places the other appointment after the current situation. It can follow a time or event to form a pattern meaning “after that time or event.”
还
还 in 还能保留我的位置吗？ means “still,” asking whether keeping the place will remain possible after returning later. It adds the idea that the possibility continues despite leaving. It can appear before 可以 or 能 in questions about whether something is still possible.
有
有 means “have” in 还有另一个预约. It states that the speaker has another appointment after this. Use 有 before the thing someone has, such as a scheduled appointment.
另一个
另一个 means “another” in 另一个预约. It identifies the appointment as an additional one, separate from the current situation. It is placed before the noun it describes.
预约
预约 means “appointment” in 另一个预约. It refers here to a scheduled meeting or service that the speaker has later. It can be used after a number or modifier when referring to an appointment.
如果
如果 means “if” in 如果等到那时候太晚了. It introduces a condition that could affect the decision about waiting. Use 如果 before a condition, followed by the result or response.
等到
等到 means “wait until” in 如果等到那时候太晚了. It marks 那时候 as the point reached after waiting. It can be followed by a time or event that serves as the endpoint.
那时候
那时候 means “at that time” in 等到那时候. It refers to the time mentioned as the point reached after waiting. Use it to refer back to a particular time or situation already understood in the conversation.
太
太 in 太晚了 means “too” and shows that the lateness would exceed what is acceptable. It modifies 晚 to express an excessive degree. Use 太 before a description when saying something is too much or too extreme.
晚
晚 means “late” in 太晚了. It describes the time as unsuitable because of the other appointment. It can follow 太 when describing an excessively late time.
了
了 in 太晚了 presents the situation as having become or being recognized as too late. It completes the description of the current result. It commonly follows a description when a changed or newly recognized situation is being stated.
你
你 means “you” in 你可以午饭后再回来. It identifies the person being told what option is available. It is placed before the verb or ability expression when addressing someone directly.
可以
可以 in 你可以午饭后再回来 means “can” or “may,” giving permission or stating that returning is an available option. It is followed here by the action 午饭后再回来. Use 可以 before an action when granting or describing permission.
午饭
午饭 means “lunch” in 午饭后. It provides the time reference for when the person may return. It can be followed by 后 to mean “after lunch.”
后
后 in 午饭后 means “after” and follows 午饭 to form the time phrase “after lunch.” It is used after a time or event when placing an action later than it. The pattern is time or event + 后.
再
再 in 午饭后再回来 means “then” or “later again,” indicating that the return happens after lunch rather than now. It helps place the action at a later point. Use 再 before an action that will happen later or anew.
回来
回来 means “come back” in 午饭后再回来. It describes returning to the waiting area after going away. It can follow a time phrase such as 午饭后 when stating when someone will return.
能
能 in 还能保留我的位置吗？ asks whether keeping the place will be possible. It focuses on ability or possibility in the question. Use 能 before an action when asking whether someone is able or permitted to do it.
保留
保留 means “keep” or “retain” in 保留我的位置. It refers to keeping the speaker’s place while away. It can be followed by the thing being kept, such as 我的位置.
的
的 in 我的位置 links 我 with 位置 and marks the place as belonging to or being associated with the speaker. The exact phrase is 我的位置. A reusable pattern is A的B, meaning B related to or belonging to A.
位置
位置 means “place” or “position” in 我的位置. It refers to the speaker’s place in the waiting order or area. It can follow 保留 when talking about keeping a place.
吗
吗 at the end of 还能保留我的位置吗？ marks the sentence as a yes-or-no question. It lets the speaker ask whether keeping the place is possible. Place 吗 at the end of a statement when turning it into this type of question.
需要
需要 in 你需要重新取号 means “need to,” stating that taking a new number is necessary. It is followed by the action 重新取号. Use the pattern subject + 需要 + action when explaining what someone must do.
重新
重新 in 重新取号 means “again” or “anew,” because the person must obtain a new number after lunch. It shows that the action has to be done afresh. It is placed before the action being repeated or redone.
取号
取号 means “take a ticket” or “get a number” in 重新取号. It refers to obtaining a new waiting number at the service location. It can follow 需要 or 重新 when explaining that a new number must be obtained.
那
那 at the beginning of 那我现在先等吧 means “then” or “in that case.” It connects the previous information with the speaker’s decision to wait now. 那我... is a reusable pattern for responding with a decision based on what was just said.
现在
现在 means “now” in 我现在先等吧. It places the decision to wait in the present moment. It commonly appears before the action that is happening or being decided on now.
先
先 in 现在先等吧 means “for now” or “first,” showing that the speaker will wait at this point rather than leave and return later. It appears before 等 to modify the timing of the action. Use 先 + action when one action is chosen before a later action.
吧
吧 at the end of 现在先等吧 softens the speaker’s decision and makes it sound less forceful. Here it presents waiting for now as a willing choice. It can be placed at the end of a suggestion or decision.
因为
因为 means “because” in 因为我已经在这里了. It introduces the reason for deciding to wait. Use the pattern statement，因为 + reason to give an explanation.
已经
已经 means “already” in 我已经在这里了. It shows that being here is an existing fact by this point. It commonly appears before the verb or location phrase describing the completed or established situation.
在
在 in 我已经在这里了 means “be at” or “be in,” locating the speaker at the waiting place. It is followed by 这里, the location. Use 在 before a place when stating where someone or something is.
这里
这里 means “here” in 在这里. It refers to the place where the conversation is taking place, the waiting area. It can follow 在 to state someone’s current location.
请
请 in 请留意屏幕 means “please” and makes the instruction courteous. It is placed before 留意, the requested action. Use 请 before an action when politely asking someone to do it.
留意
留意 means “pay attention to” or “keep an eye on” in 请留意屏幕. It asks the listener to watch the screen for relevant information. It can be followed by the object being watched or noticed.
屏幕
屏幕 means “screen” in 请留意屏幕. It is the object the listener is asked to watch for updates. It can follow 留意 when directing someone’s attention to a screen.
Grammar Points
如果……，……
如果那时候太晚，午饭后回来。
rú guǒ nà shí hou tài wǎn, wǔ fàn hòu huí lái.If it is too late then, come back after lunch.
如果 introduces a condition. The following clause states what happens or what to do in that situation.
先……，之后……
先取号，之后回来。
xiān qǔ hào, zhī hòu huí lái.Take a number first, then come back later.
先 marks the first action, while 之后 introduces a later action or time.
Chinese Vocabulary
大约
adv
dà yuē
about; approximately
等
verb
děng
to wait
多久
phrase
duō jiǔ
how long
更久
adj
gèng jiǔ
longer
还有
verb
hái yǒu
still have; additionally have
另一个
det
lìng yí ge
another; one more
请问
phrase
qǐng wèn
excuse me; may I ask
A polite way to begin a question.
十分钟
num
shí fēn zhōng
ten minutes
也许
adv
yě xǔ
maybe; perhaps
预计
verb
yù jì
to estimate; expected
预约
noun
yù yuē
appointment; reservation
之后
adv
zhī hòu
after; afterward
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
how long
Show Answer
多久excuse me; may I ask
Show Answer
请问ten minutes
Show Answer
十分钟about; approximately