About This Lesson
Use Responding assertively when someone cuts in line to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
不好意思，我觉得队伍是从那位女士后面开始的。
bù hǎo yì si, wǒ jué de duì wu shì cóng nà wèi nǚ shì hòu miàn kāi shǐ de. Excuse me, I think the line starts behind that woman.
B
我没意识到大家都在排队。
wǒ méi yì shí dào dà jiā dōu zài pái duì. I did not realize everyone was waiting in line.
A
因为大家站得比较分散，所以有点不清楚。
yīn wèi dà jiā zhàn de bǐ jiào fēn sàn, suǒ yǐ yǒu diǎn bù qīng chu. It is a bit unclear because people are standing apart.
B
那我应该去队伍后面吗？
nà wǒ yīng gāi qù duì wu hòu miàn ma? Should I go to the back, then?
A
请这样做。大家都在等着轮到自己。
qǐng zhè yàng zuò. dà jiā dōu zài děng zhe lún dào zì jǐ. Please do. Everyone has been waiting for their turn.
B
我会往后走。我只是没注意到队伍从哪里开始。
wǒ huì wǎng hòu zǒu. wǒ zhǐ shì méi zhù yì dào duì wu cóng nǎ lǐ kāi shǐ. I will move back. I just missed where the line began.
A
队伍的末尾就在那些人后面一点。
duì wu de mò wěi jiù zài nà xiē rén hòu miàn yì diǎn. The end of the line is just past those people.
B
我现在看到了。我会在那里等。
wǒ xiàn zài kàn dào le. wǒ huì zài nà lǐ děng. I see it now. I will wait there.
A
这样应该就能让排队顺序清楚了。
zhè yàng yīng gāi jiù néng ràng pái duì shùn xù qīng chu le. That should keep the order clear.
B
我误解了情况，但我可以改正过来。
wǒ wù jiě le qíng kuàng, dàn wǒ kě yǐ gǎi zhèng guò lái. I misunderstood the situation, but I can fix it.Word by Word
不好意思
不好意思 is a polite way to get someone's attention before making a correction or request, meaning “excuse me” here. In the exact expression 不好意思, 不好 and 意思 together form a conventional polite apology; use it before speaking to an unfamiliar person in a public situation.
我
我 means “I” or “me” and identifies the speaker in 我觉得队伍是从那位女士后面开始的. It commonly appears before a verb or opinion, as in 我觉得, when the speaker gives a personal view.
觉得
觉得 means “think” or “feel” in 我觉得队伍是从那位女士后面开始的, introducing the speaker’s assessment. It commonly takes a clause after it, such as 觉得 + statement, when giving an opinion politely.
队伍
队伍 means “the line” or “queue” in 队伍是从那位女士后面开始的. It refers to the group of people waiting together, so it can be used as the subject when explaining the location or order of a line.
是
是 is part of the identifying frame 队伍是从那位女士后面开始的, which specifies where the line starts. In this use, 是 appears before the location and 开始的 completes the explanation; this pattern is useful when clarifying a fact about something.
从
从 marks the starting point in 从那位女士后面, meaning “from behind that woman.” It commonly comes before a place or reference point when stating where an action, route, or arrangement begins.
那
那 points to a specific person or thing already visible or identifiable in the situation, as in 那位女士. It appears before a measure word or noun when referring to “that” person or thing.
位
位 is the polite measure word used for the person in 那位女士. The pattern 那位 + person’s description politely identifies one person, especially in respectful public conversation.
女士
女士 means “woman” or “lady” in 那位女士 and is a respectful way to refer to the person at the front of the line. It can follow a demonstrative and measure word, as in 那位女士, when identifying someone nearby.
后面
后面 means “behind” or “at the back” in 那位女士后面, locating the beginning of the line behind that woman. It commonly follows a person or object to express a position relative to it.
开始
开始 means “begin” or “start” in 队伍是从那位女士后面开始的, describing where the line begins. It can follow a place phrase introduced by 从 when explaining a starting point.
的
The 的 at the end of 队伍是从那位女士后面开始的 completes the identifying explanation of where the line starts. In this exact sentence, it helps frame the information as a clarification; this ending is useful when answering or correcting a question about a specific detail.
没
没 makes the realization negative in 我没意识到大家都在排队, meaning the speaker did not realize it. It commonly comes before a verb to say that an action or awareness did not occur.
意识到
意识到 means “realize” or “become aware of” in 我没意识到大家都在排队. It is followed by the fact that was not noticed, so the pattern is 意识到 + a situation or statement.
大家
大家 means “everyone” or “everybody” in 大家都在排队, referring collectively to the people present. It commonly serves as the subject before 都 when the whole group is included.
都
都 means “all” in 大家都在排队 and shows that the statement applies to everyone in the group. It commonly follows a plural or collective subject such as 大家 and comes before the verb phrase.
在
在 marks the ongoing action in 大家都在排队, showing that everyone is currently lining up or waiting in line. It is placed before the verb phrase when describing an action in progress.
排队
排队 means “line up” or “wait in line” in 大家都在排队. It is used for the practical action of joining an ordered line, especially in public places where people wait for their turn.
因为
因为 introduces the reason in 因为大家站得比较分散, meaning “because everyone is standing spread out.” It commonly comes before a reason, often followed later by 所以 for the result.
站
站 means “stand” in 大家站得比较分散, describing how the people are positioned. It can be followed by 得 and a description of the manner or result, as in 站得比较分散.
得
得 links the verb 站 to the description 比较分散 in 站得比较分散, explaining how the people are standing. The pattern verb + 得 + description is useful for describing the manner or degree of an action.
比较
比较 means “relatively” or “rather” in 站得比较分散, softening the description of how spread out the people are. It commonly comes before an adjective or descriptive phrase when making a moderate assessment.
分散
分散 means “be spread apart” in 站得比较分散, explaining why the line is difficult to recognize. It describes people or things positioned separately rather than close together, and can follow 站得 to describe their arrangement.
所以
所以 introduces the result in 所以有点不清楚, meaning “so it is a bit unclear.” It commonly follows a reason introduced by 因为 and comes before the resulting statement.
有点
有点 means “a bit” or “somewhat” in 有点不清楚, making the negative description less strong. It commonly appears before an adjective or state when describing a limited degree.
不
不 makes 清楚 negative in 不清楚, meaning that something is not clear. It commonly comes directly before a descriptive word to negate a present state or general assessment.
清楚
清楚 means “clear” in 有点不清楚, referring to whether the line arrangement can be understood easily. It commonly follows 不 to describe something as unclear, as in 不清楚.
应该
应该 means “should” in 那我应该去队伍后面吗？, asking what the appropriate action is. It commonly comes before a verb when asking about a duty, recommendation, or proper next step.
去
去 means “go” in 去队伍后面, describing movement to the back of the line. It commonly comes before a place or destination, including a position such as 队伍后面.
吗
吗 turns 那我应该去队伍后面 into a yes-no question. It is placed at the end of the sentence when the speaker asks for confirmation about the proposed action.
请
请 politely requests the action in 请这样做, meaning “please do this.” It commonly comes before a verb or action phrase when giving a respectful instruction.
这样
这样 means “like this” or “this way” in 请这样做, referring to the action just discussed. It commonly appears before 做 when telling someone to carry out an action in the stated manner.
做
做 means “do” in 请这样做 and refers back to moving to the back of the line. It can follow 这样 when the exact action has already been established from the conversation.
等
等 means “wait” in 大家都在等着轮到自己, describing the people waiting for their turns. It commonly takes a person, event, or turn as the thing being awaited, as in 等着轮到自己.
着
着 shows the ongoing state in 等着轮到自己, indicating that the waiting continues until each person’s turn arrives. It follows the verb 等 when describing an action or state that remains in progress.
轮到
轮到 means “it is someone’s turn” in 轮到自己, describing the point when a person is next to act. It commonly takes the person after it, as in 轮到自己, to say whose turn it is.
自己
自己 means “oneself” or “one’s own” in 轮到自己, referring back to each person who is waiting. It is useful when the person is understood from the context and does not need to be named again.
会
会 means “will” in 我会往后走, expressing the speaker’s intention to move back. It commonly comes before a verb to state a planned or expected action.
往
往 marks the direction in 往后走, meaning movement toward the back. It commonly comes before a direction or destination, followed by a movement verb such as 走.
后
后 means “back” in 往后走, identifying the direction in which the speaker will move. Together with 往 and 走, it forms the directional pattern 往后走 for moving backward or toward the rear.
走
走 means “go” or “move” in 我会往后走, describing the speaker’s movement to the back of the line. It commonly follows a directional phrase such as 往后 when stating where someone will move.
只是
只是 means “just” or “only” in 我只是没注意到队伍从哪里开始, limiting the explanation to a lack of attention rather than deliberate behavior. It commonly introduces a brief clarification or qualification after a statement.
注意到
注意到 means “notice” in 没注意到队伍从哪里开始, referring to becoming aware of a specific detail. It commonly takes the noticed fact after it, as in 注意到 + a situation or location.
哪里
哪里 means “where” in 队伍从哪里开始, asking about the location at which the line begins. It can appear inside a statement as an embedded question after a verb such as 注意到.
末尾
末尾 means “the end” or “tail” in 队伍的末尾, referring to the last part of the line. It commonly follows 的 to identify the end belonging to a group or sequence.
就
就 emphasizes the precise nearby location in 就在那些人后面一点, meaning the end is right there, slightly behind those people. It commonly appears before 在 plus a location when pointing out an exact position.
那些
那些 means “those” in 那些人, referring to a group of people visible or identifiable in the situation. It comes before a noun to specify people or things at some distance from the speaker.
人
人 means “person” or “people” in 那些人, naming the people used as the reference point for the end of the line. It follows 那些 to form the phrase 那些人, “those people.”
一点
一点 means “a little” or “slightly” in 那些人后面一点, indicating a small additional distance behind those people. It commonly follows a location phrase to soften or limit the amount of distance or degree.
现在
现在 means “now” in 我现在看到了, locating the speaker’s new understanding at the present moment. It commonly appears before the verb when specifying when an action or change is happening.
看到
看到 means “see” in 我现在看到了, meaning the speaker can now see or recognize the line’s location. It commonly takes the thing seen, and here the object is understood from the preceding explanation.
了
了 in 我现在看到了 marks a change of state: the speaker has now come to see the line. It commonly appears at the end of a statement when reporting a newly completed or newly established situation.
那里
那里 means “there” in 我会在那里等, referring to the location just identified as the back of the line. It commonly follows 在 when stating where someone will wait, stay, or act.
能
能 means “can” or “be able to” in 能让排队顺序清楚, expressing that an action has the ability to produce the stated result. It commonly comes before a verb phrase to describe practical possibility or capability.
让
让 means “make” or “cause” in 让排队顺序清楚, describing an action that causes the order of the line to become clear. The reusable pattern is 让 + object + description, with 排队顺序 as the object here.
顺序
顺序 means “order” or “sequence” in 排队顺序, referring to the order in which people are waiting. It commonly follows a noun such as 排队 to specify the kind of order being discussed.
误解
误解 means “misunderstand” in 我误解了情况, meaning the speaker understood the situation incorrectly. It commonly takes the misunderstood matter after it, as in 误解 + 情况.
情况
情况 means “situation” in 我误解了情况, referring to the circumstances about the line and the people waiting. It commonly serves as the object of verbs such as 误解 when describing someone’s understanding of events.
但
但 means “but” in 但我可以改正过来, connecting the admission of a misunderstanding with the speaker’s ability to correct it. It commonly introduces a contrasting statement after the first situation.
可以
可以 means “can” or “be able to” in 我可以改正过来, expressing that the speaker is able and permitted to correct the mistake. It commonly comes before a verb when stating that an action is possible or acceptable.
改正
改正 means “correct” or “fix” in 改正过来, referring to correcting the mistake in the speaker’s behavior. It commonly takes the mistake or problem as its object, or combines with 过来 when emphasizing that the situation is put right again.
过来
过来 in 改正过来 adds the sense of bringing the situation back into the correct state. It follows 改正 in this dialogue, forming 改正过来; this kind of directional complement can express a change toward the appropriate result.
Grammar Points
轮到 + 人 + 了
轮到那位女士了。
lún dào nà wèi nǚ shì le.It is that woman's turn.
轮到表示“轮到某人的时候”，常用“轮到 + 人 + 了”说明现在轮到谁。
没 + 动词 + 到
大家没注意到那位女士。
dà jiā méi zhù yì dào nà wèi nǚ shì.Everyone did not notice that woman.
“没……到”表示没有成功完成感知或发现；到强调结果已经达到。
Chinese Vocabulary
不好意思
intj
bù hǎo yì si
excuse me; sorry
不清楚
adj
bù qīng chu
unclear
大家
pron
dà jiā
everyone; everybody
队伍
noun
duì wu
line; queue
队伍后面
phrase
duì wu hòu miàn
the back of the line
分散
adj
fēn sàn
spread out; scattered
后面
noun
hòu miàn
behind; at the back
觉得
verb
jué de
to think; to feel
那位
det
nà wèi
that person; that particular
女士
noun
nǚ shì
woman; lady
排队
verb
pái duì
to line up; to queue
意识到
verb
yì shí dào
to realize; to become aware of
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
excuse me; sorry
Show Answer
不好意思the back of the line
Show Answer
队伍后面to line up; to queue
Show Answer
排队behind; at the back