About This Lesson
Use Asking someone to save your place in line to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
你能帮我一个小忙吗？
nǐ néng bāng wǒ yí ge xiǎo máng ma? Could you do me a quick favor?
B
你需要什么？
nǐ xūyào shénme? What do you need?
A
我去洗手间的时候，你能帮我占着位置吗？
wǒ qù xǐshǒujiān de shíhou, nǐ néng bāng wǒ zhànzhe wèizi ma? Can you keep my place while I use the restroom?
B
可以，但如果队伍开始往前走，请快点回来。
kěyǐ, dàn rúguǒ duìwu kāishǐ wǎng qián zǒu, qǐng kuài diǎn huílái. I can, but please come back quickly if the line starts moving.
A
我马上回来。
wǒ mǎshàng huílái. I'll be right back.
B
如果队伍往前走，我会往前走，帮你占着位置。
rúguǒ duìwu wǎng qián zǒu, wǒ huì wǎng qián zǒu, bāng nǐ zhànzhe wèizi. If the line moves, I'll move forward and keep your place.
A
谢谢。我会赶快直接回来。
xièxie. wǒ huì gǎnkuài zhíjiē huílái. Thanks. I'll hurry and come straight back.Word by Word
你
“你” refers to the person being addressed, here the person who may help hold the speaker’s place. It is used directly before a verb, as in “你能帮我一个小忙吗？”. Use it when speaking to one person in a direct request or question.
能
In “你能帮我一个小忙吗？”, “能” asks whether the other person is able or willing to do something. It comes before the action “帮我一个小忙”. Use “能” when asking someone if they can help with a specific action.
帮
“帮” means help in the requests “帮我一个小忙” and “帮你占着位置”. It is followed by the person receiving help or the task being helped with. Use it when asking someone to assist a person or do something for them.
我
“我” refers to the speaker, meaning “I” in “我去洗手间的时候” and “我马上回来”, and “me” in “帮我一个小忙”. Its role depends on where it appears in the sentence. Use it for the person speaking or the person receiving help.
一
“一” means one in “一个小忙”, identifying one favor or small task. It appears before the measure word “个”. Use it when counting one item or one instance of something.
个
“个” is the general measure word in “一个小忙”, placed between “一” and the noun phrase “小忙”. It helps form the pattern “一 + 个 + noun”. Use it with many ordinary people, things, or tasks when a more specific measure word is not needed.
小
In “一个小忙”, “小” describes the favor as small or minor. It comes before “忙” to modify it. Use it before a noun when describing something as small or limited in scale.
忙
In “一个小忙”, “忙” means a favor or small task that someone asks another person to do, not the state of being busy. The phrase “帮我一个小忙” asks for limited assistance. Use it in this kind of request when asking someone to do a small favor.
吗
“吗” marks “你能帮我一个小忙吗？” as a yes-no question. It is placed at the end of the question. Use it after a statement when turning it into a simple question that can be answered yes or no.
需要
“需要” means need in “你需要什么？”, asking what the other person needs. It comes before the question word “什么”. Use it to ask about a person’s need, often followed by the thing needed.
什么
“什么” means what in “你需要什么？”, referring to the thing the other person needs. It occupies the position of the unknown object after “需要”. Use it when asking which thing or information someone wants or needs.
去
In “我去洗手间的时候”, “去” means go and introduces the speaker’s movement to the restroom. It comes before the destination “洗手间”. Use it before a place when describing going there.
洗手间
“洗手间” means restroom in “我去洗手间的时候”. It is the destination after “去”. Use it when referring to a restroom, especially in a polite everyday request about briefly leaving a line.
的
In “我去洗手间的时候”, “的” links the action phrase “我去洗手间” with “时候” to form a time expression meaning when I go to the restroom. It is part of this time construction rather than an independent meaning here. Use the pattern “action phrase + 的时候” to describe when something happens.
时候
“时候” means time or when in “我去洗手间的时候”. Together with the phrase before it, it identifies the time during which the other action applies. Use “……的时候” after an action or situation to say when something happens.
占
In “帮我占着位置”, “占” means occupy or hold a place for someone who has temporarily left. The person being helped is marked by “我”, and the held spot is “位置”. Use it when someone keeps a seat or place available for another person.
着
In “占着位置”, “着” shows that the state of holding or occupying the place continues. It presents “占” as an ongoing state while the speaker is away. Use it after an action when you need to describe the resulting state continuing.
位置
“位置” means place or spot in “帮我占着位置” and “帮你占着位置”. Here it is the person’s place in the line. Use it with “占” when referring to keeping someone’s seat or position available.
可以
“可以” means can or okay in the reply “可以”, accepting the request to help. It can stand alone as an affirmative response here. Use it to agree that something is possible or acceptable.
但
“但” means but in “可以，但如果队伍开始往前走……”, introducing a condition or limitation after agreeing to help. It connects the agreement with the request to return quickly. Use it to contrast what has just been said with an additional point.
如果
“如果” means if and begins the condition “如果队伍开始往前走”. It introduces the situation that will trigger the request to come back quickly. Use it before a condition, often followed by the result or instruction that applies in that situation.
队伍
“队伍” means the line or queue in “如果队伍开始往前走” and “如果队伍往前走”. It is the group of people waiting together. Use it when talking about a line moving or changing position.
开始
“开始” means start or begin in “队伍开始往前走”, showing that the line begins moving forward. It comes before the action phrase “往前走”. Use it before an action to say that the action starts.
往
In “往前走”, “往” marks the direction toward which the movement goes. Here it points forward, together with “前”. Use it before a direction in a movement pattern such as “往 + direction + 走”.
前
In “往前走”, “前” means forward or ahead and completes the direction phrase after “往”. It specifies where the movement goes, while “走” describes the movement. Use it with “往” when telling someone to move forward.
走
In “往前走”, “走” means move or walk, with the direction supplied by “往前”. In this dialogue it describes the line moving forward, not necessarily a person walking independently. Use it after a direction phrase to describe movement in that direction.
请
“请” makes “请快点回来” a polite request to come back quickly. It appears before the requested action. Use it at the beginning of a polite request or instruction.
快点
“快点” means quickly or hurry up in “请快点回来”. The component “快” contributes the idea of being fast, and “点” makes this a request to do it a little faster or more quickly. Use “快点” before an action when asking someone to speed up.
回来
“回来” means come back or return in “请快点回来” and “我马上回来”. It describes movement back to the current place or speaker’s location. Use it when someone has left and is expected to return.
马上
“马上” means right away or immediately in “我马上回来”. It shows that the return will happen very soon. Use it before an action when promising or saying that it will happen without delay.
会
“会” marks a future action in “我会往前走” and “我会赶快直接回来”. It shows what the speaker will do under the stated situation or as a plan. Use it before a verb phrase to describe a future action or expected response.
谢谢
“谢谢” means thanks in “谢谢”, expressing gratitude for the other person’s help. It can stand alone as a short reply. Use it after someone agrees to help or does something helpful.
赶快
“赶快” means hurry or quickly in “我会赶快直接回来”. It tells how the speaker plans to return. Use it before an action when emphasizing that the action should happen quickly.
直接
“直接” means directly or straight in “我会赶快直接回来”. It indicates that the speaker will come straight back as part of the plan. Use it before an action when describing movement or an action without a detour or unnecessary intermediate step.
Grammar Points
如果……，请……
如果需要洗手间，请往前走。
rúguǒ xūyào xǐshǒujiān, qǐng wǎng qián zǒu.If you need the restroom, please move forward.
如果 introduces a condition, and 请 begins a polite request or instruction.
动词 + 着
占着位置
zhànzhe wèiziholding a place
着 marks an ongoing state or action, showing that the place is currently being held.
Chinese Vocabulary
帮
verb
bāng
to help
你能帮我一个小忙吗?
队伍
noun
duìwu
line; queue
如果队伍开始往前走
开始
verb
kāishǐ
to start; to begin
队伍开始往前走
快点
adv
kuài diǎn
quickly; hurry up
请快点回来
请
verb
qǐng
please
请快点回来
如果
conj
rúguǒ
if
如果队伍开始往前走
往前走
phrase
wǎng qián zǒu
to move forward
请快点回来
位置
noun
wèizi
place; position
帮我占着位置
洗手间
noun
xǐshǒujiān
restroom; bathroom
我去洗手间的时候
小忙
noun
xiǎo máng
a small favor
你能帮我一个小忙吗?
需要
verb
xūyào
to need
你需要什么?
占
verb
zhàn
to hold; to save a place
占着
帮我占着位置
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
line; queue
Show Answer
队伍to move forward
Show Answer
往前走restroom; bathroom
Show Answer
洗手间to start; to begin