About This Lesson
Use Checking in at a clinic to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
请问，候诊室在哪里？
qǐng wèn, hòu zhěn shì zài nǎ lǐ? Excuse me, where is the waiting room?
B
经过前台往前走。
jīng guò qián tái wǎng qián zǒu. Go past the front desk.
B
它就在您的左手边。
tā jiù zài nín de zuǒ shǒu biān. It will be on your left.
A
我坐下前需要登记吗？
wǒ zuò xià qián xū yào dēng jì ma? Do I need to check in before I sit down?
B
请先填好这张表。
qǐng xiān tián hǎo zhè zhāng biǎo. Fill out this form first.
B
然后把它交给前台。
rán hòu bǎ tā jiāo gěi qián tái. Then hand it to the desk.
A
轮到我时，会有人叫我吗？
lún dào wǒ shí, huì yǒu rén jiào wǒ ma? Will someone call me when it's my turn?
B
护士应该很快会叫您的名字。
hù shi yīng gāi hěn kuài huì jiào nín de míng zi. A nurse should call your name shortly.
A
我应该把保险卡准备好吗？
wǒ yīng gāi bǎ bǎo xiǎn kǎ zhǔn bèi hǎo ma? Should I keep my insurance card ready?
B
请把它放在手边，以防前台还需要。
qǐng bǎ tā fàng zài shǒu biān, yǐ fáng qián tái hái xū yào. Keep it handy in case the desk needs it again.Word by Word
请问
“请问” politely opens a question, meaning “excuse me, may I ask” in “请问，候诊室在哪里？”. It combines “请” (“please”) and “问” (“ask”) into a courteous question opener. Use it before a question when speaking to a receptionist, stranger, or other person you do not know well.
候诊室
“候诊室” means the waiting room at a clinic, the room where patients wait to see a medical professional. In “请问，候诊室在哪里？”, it is the place whose location the speaker asks about. It is useful when asking clinic staff where to wait.
在
“在” marks location in “候诊室在哪里？”, asking where the waiting room is located. It connects the thing being located with a place or location question. A common reuse pattern places it between a subject and information about where that subject is.
哪里
“哪里” asks “where” in “候诊室在哪里？”. Here it asks for the location of the waiting room rather than for a person or object. Use it when asking where a place, person, or thing is.
经过
“经过” means “pass” or “go past” in the direction “经过前台往前走”. It identifies the front desk as a landmark that the visitor passes. Use it before a place or landmark when giving route instructions.
前台
“前台” means the front desk or reception area in “经过前台” and “交给前台”. At the clinic, it is the place where the visitor checks in and hands over the form. Use it for the reception desk in a clinic, office, hotel, or similar place.
往
“往” shows the direction of movement in “往前走”, meaning to go toward or in the direction of the front. It comes before the direction in this route instruction. Use it before a direction or destination when telling someone how to move.
前
“前” means “forward” in “往前走”, not “before” in this line. Together with “往”, it tells the visitor to move ahead. Use it after a direction marker when giving a simple instruction to continue forward.
走
“走” means “go” or “walk” in the instruction “往前走”. It describes the movement the visitor should make after passing the front desk. Use it after a direction phrase when telling someone to go or walk somewhere.
它
“它” means “it” and refers here to the waiting room already mentioned. In “它就在您的左手边”, it makes the waiting room the subject of the location statement. Use it for an already-mentioned non-person thing when its location or condition is being described.
就
“就” adds emphasis in “它就在您的左手边”, making the location sound immediate or exact: it is right on your left. It strengthens the following location phrase rather than naming a separate object. Use it before a location or time expression when you want to emphasize that something is right there or happens directly.
您
“您” is the polite or formal form of “you” in “您的左手边” and “您的名字”. Here it refers respectfully to the visitor. Use it before “的” when referring politely to something belonging or relating to another person.
的
“的” links “您” to the following noun in “您的左手边” and “您的名字”, giving the meaning “your”. It marks the relationship between the person and the thing associated with that person. Use it after a person or pronoun and before the related noun.
左手边
“左手边” means the left-hand side, the place on the visitor’s left in “您的左手边”. In this expression, “左” contributes “left”, “手” contributes “hand”, and “边” contributes “side”; together they name a side or position. Use it after a possessive expression when giving directions relative to someone’s left side.
我
“我” means “I” or “me” in “我坐下前需要登记吗？” and “轮到我时”. Its exact role depends on the sentence: it is the person who sits down and the person whose turn is being discussed. Use it before an action or need when speaking about yourself.
坐下
“坐下” means “sit down” in “我坐下前需要登记吗？”. The speaker asks whether registration is needed before this action. Use it with “前” when referring to something that must happen before sitting down.
需要
“需要” means “need” in “我坐下前需要登记吗？”, asking whether registration is required. It is followed here by “登记”, the action that may be necessary. Use it before an item or action that is required.
登记
“登记” means to register or check in at the clinic in “需要登记吗？”. It names the formal check-in action the visitor asks about. Use it when recording your arrival or details at a clinic, office, or other service desk.
吗
“吗” is placed at the end of “我坐下前需要登记吗？” to turn the statement into a yes-or-no question. It signals that the speaker is asking for confirmation about needing to register. Use it at the end of a question when the expected answer is yes or no.
请
“请” makes the instructions polite in “请先填好这张表” and “请把它放在手边”. It tells the visitor what to do without sounding like a bare command. Use it at the beginning of a polite request or instruction to a visitor, customer, or colleague.
先
“先” means “first” in “请先填好这张表”, showing that completing the form comes before the next step. Its sequencing becomes clear when followed by “然后” in the next instruction. Use it to mark the earlier action in a series of instructions.
填
“填” means “fill in” in “填好这张表”, referring to entering the required information on the form. The form is its object here. Use it before a form, document, or other item that needs information written into it.
好
“好” shows a completed or ready result in “填好这张表”: the form should be filled out completely and properly. It changes the action from simply filling to filling until the needed result is reached. Use it after an action verb when the action must be completed or made ready.
这
“这” means “this” in “这张表”, pointing to the particular form available to the visitor. It appears before the classifier and noun. Use it to identify a nearby or currently relevant item.
张
“张” is the classifier used in “这张表” for the flat form. It comes between “这” and “表” because a form is treated as a flat object. Use it between a number or demonstrative and a flat item such as a form or sheet.
表
“表” means “form” in “这张表”, the document the visitor must complete. It is preceded by the classifier “张”. Use it for a form or document that someone needs to fill in.
然后
“然后” means “then” in “然后把它交给前台”, introducing the action that follows filling out the form. It makes the order of the instructions clear. Use it to connect a later action in a sequence of steps.
把
“把” marks the object-handling construction in “把它交给前台”, bringing “它” before the action that will be done to it. The construction focuses on what happens to the form after it is filled out. A common reuse pattern is “把 + object + action”, especially when the action produces a clear result or destination.
交
“交” means “hand over” or “submit” in “把它交给前台”. It describes giving the completed form to the reception desk. Use it with a document or item that is being handed in, often with the recipient introduced by “给”.
给
“给” means “to” or “give to” in “交给前台”, introducing the recipient of the handover. Here the completed form is given to the front desk. Use it after a transfer verb and before the person or place receiving something.
轮到
“轮到” means that someone’s turn has arrived in “轮到我时”. In this expression, “轮” contributes the idea of a turn or round, and “到” contributes the idea of reaching someone; together they mean that the turn reaches that person. Use it before a person and a time expression when describing when that person is next.
时
“时” means “when” or “at the time” in “轮到我时”. It turns the preceding event into the time for the main question about someone calling. Use it after an event or condition to set the timing of another action.
会
“会” expresses an expected or possible future action in “会有人叫我吗？”. The speaker asks whether someone will call when it is their turn. Use it before a verb when asking or saying that an action is expected to happen.
有人
“有人” means “someone” in “会有人叫我吗？”, referring to an unspecified person who may call the visitor. It functions as the person carrying out the action. Use it before a verb when the identity of the person is unknown or unimportant.
叫
“叫” means “call” or “call out” in “有人叫我” and “叫您的名字”. It describes calling the visitor or calling the visitor’s name at the clinic. Use it before the person being called or before “名字” when someone’s name is called.
护士
“护士” means “nurse” in “护士应该很快会叫您的名字”. It identifies the clinic worker expected to call the visitor’s name. Use it as the subject when talking about a nurse’s action in a medical setting.
应该
“应该” means “should” or “is expected to” in “护士应该很快会叫您的名字”. It presents the nurse’s call as an expectation rather than an absolute guarantee. Use it before an expected action when giving a likely answer or gentle prediction.
很
“很” intensifies “快” in “很快”, making the expected call soon or quickly. Its meaning here is part of the expression “很快”, rather than a separate comment about degree in general. Use it before an adjective or similar description when adding intensity.
快
“快” means “quickly” or “soon” in “很快会叫您的名字”. It tells the visitor that the nurse is expected to call after only a short time. Use it with a time or action expression when describing something happening soon.
名字
“名字” means “name” in “叫您的名字”, the name the nurse will call. It follows “您的” to specify whose name it is. Use it after a person-related possessive expression when referring to someone’s name.
保险卡
“保险卡” means “insurance card” in “我应该把保险卡准备好吗？”. It is the document the visitor may need to show at the clinic desk. Use it as the name of an insurance document when discussing preparing, showing, or keeping the card available.
准备
“准备” means “prepare” or “get ready” in “把保险卡准备好”. It describes making the insurance card ready for possible use at the desk. Use it with an item when arranging that item in advance for a later need.
放
“放” means “put” or “place” in “把它放在手边”. It describes placing the insurance card in a location where it can be reached. Use it in a construction with an object and a place when telling someone where to put something.
手边
“手边” means “at hand” or “within reach” in “放在手边”. It tells the visitor to keep the card close enough to retrieve easily. Use it after a location marker when an item should remain conveniently available.
以防
“以防” means “in case” in “以防前台还需要”, introducing a possible later need that the visitor should prepare for. In the expression, “以” links the action to a precaution, while “防” contributes the idea of guarding against a possible situation. Use it before a possible problem, request, or need when explaining why something should be kept ready.
还
“还” means “still” in “前台还需要”, leaving open that the front desk may need the card again. It modifies “需要” and refers to a continuing or additional need. Use it before a verb when an action or need continues or happens again.
Grammar Points
动词 + 好
填好这张表。
tián hǎo zhè zhāng biǎo.Fill out this form completely.
好 after a verb shows that an action has been completed successfully or that the result is ready.
经过 + 地点
经过前台，往前走。
jīng guò qián tái, wǎng qián zǒu.Go past the front desk and walk ahead.
经过 introduces a place that someone passes while moving from one place to another.
Chinese Vocabulary
登记
verb
dēng jì
to check in; to register
Register at the clinic before sitting down.
候诊室
noun
hòu zhěn shì
waiting room
The room where patients wait to see a medical professional.
经过
prep
jīng guò
to go past; to pass
Go past the front desk.
哪里
pron
nǎ lǐ
where
Used to ask about a location.
前台
noun
qián tái
front desk; reception desk
The reception desk at the clinic.
请问
phrase
qǐng wèn
excuse me; may I ask
A polite way to begin a question.
填好
verb
tián hǎo
to fill out completely
Complete the form first.
往前走
phrase
wǎng qián zǒu
go forward; walk ahead
Continue walking forward after passing the front desk.
需要
verb
xū yào
to need
Ask whether checking in is necessary.
这张表
phrase
zhè zhāng biǎo
this form
The form that the visitor must complete.
左手边
noun
zuǒ shǒu biān
left side
The location on your left.
坐下
verb
zuò xià
to sit down
Sit down in the waiting area.
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
to sit down
Show Answer
坐下to need
Show Answer
需要to check in; to register
Show Answer
登记left side