About This Lesson
Use Asking someone to hold your place in line to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
我们排队的时候，我可以请你帮个小忙吗？
Wǒmen páiduì de shíhou, wǒ kěyǐ qǐng nǐ bāng ge xiǎománg ma? Could I ask a small favor while we are in line?
B
告诉我你需要什么，也许我能帮上忙。
Gàosu wǒ nǐ xūyào shénme, yěxǔ wǒ néng bāng shàng máng. Tell me what you need, and I may be able to help.
A
我去拿点水的时候，你能帮我留着位置吗？
Wǒ qù ná diǎn shuǐ de shíhou, nǐ néng bāng wǒ liúzhe wèizi ma? Could you hold my place while I get some water?
B
如果你待在队伍附近，我可以帮你占着位置。
Rúguǒ nǐ dāi zài duìwu fùjìn, wǒ kěyǐ bāng nǐ zhànzhe wèizi. I can do that if you stay close to the line.
A
我可以待在你看得见我的地方，也会看着队伍。
Wǒ kěyǐ dāi zài nǐ kàn de jiàn wǒ de dìfang, yě huì kànzhe duìwu. I can stay where you can see me and keep an eye on the line.
B
这样就好，因为如果有人不见了，别人可能会担心。
Zhèyàng jiù hǎo, yīnwèi rúguǒ yǒu rén bú jiàn le, biérén kěnéng huì dānxīn. That helps, because people may worry if someone disappears.
A
我不想让任何人觉得我在插队。
Wǒ bù xiǎng ràng rènhé rén juéde wǒ zài chāduì. I do not want anyone to feel I am cutting in.
B
如果有人问，我可以解释说你一直在附近。
Rúguǒ yǒu rén wèn, wǒ kěyǐ jiěshì shuō nǐ yìzhí zài fùjìn. If anyone asks, I can explain that you stayed nearby.
A
谢谢你的帮助。我不会花太久时间。
Xièxie nǐ de bāngzhù. Wǒ bú huì huā tài jiǔ shíjiān. I appreciate the help. I will be quick.
B
你只要在队伍往前移动太多之前回来就好。
Nǐ zhǐyào zài duìwu wǎng qián yídòng tài duō zhīqián huílái jiù hǎo. Just come back before the line moves much.Word by Word
我们
我们 means “we” or “us” here, referring to the speaker and the listener together in 我们排队的时候. It commonly appears as the subject before an action and is useful when describing something two or more people do together.
排队
排队 means waiting in line or lining up in this dialogue. In 排队的时候, it names the activity that is happening at that time. Use it when talking about waiting for service or entering an orderly queue.
的
的 links 排队 with 时候 in 排队的时候, creating the meaning “when we are waiting in line.” A verb or phrase can come before 的时候 to identify the time of another action. Use this pattern to describe when something happens.
时候
时候 means “time” or “when” in 排队的时候. Together with the preceding activity, it refers to the period when that activity is taking place. It is useful for setting the timing of a request or action.
我
我 means “I” or “me” here and is the speaker in 我可以请你帮个小忙吗？. It commonly appears before a verb or modal expression when the speaker describes their own action, ability, or request.
可以
可以 makes 我可以请你帮个小忙吗？ a polite request for permission or possibility, roughly “may I” or “can I.” It appears before the requested action. Use it when politely asking whether an action is acceptable or possible.
请
请 introduces a polite request in 请你帮个小忙. It marks 你 as the person being asked to do something. Use 请 before a person and the requested action when making a courteous request.
你
你 means “you” here and identifies the listener as the person being asked for help in 请你帮个小忙. It commonly appears before an action directed at or performed by the listener. Use it when addressing one person directly.
帮
帮 means “help” in 帮个小忙 and describes providing assistance. Here it is part of the request for a favor, with 小忙 naming what is being requested. It can be reused before the person or task that receives help.
个
个 is the general measure word in 个小忙, helping present 小忙 as one small favor. It appears between a quantity or determiner and a noun phrase. Use it with many ordinary people, objects, and favors when no more specific measure word is needed.
小
小 means “small” or “little” in 小忙. It makes the favor sound limited and modest rather than describing a physical size. Use 小 before a noun when presenting a request as minor or not burdensome.
忙
忙 means “favor” or “help” in 小忙, so the expression refers to a small favor. This is not the meaning “busy” in this dialogue. It is useful when referring to assistance that someone is being asked to provide.
吗
吗 is placed at the end of 我可以请你帮个小忙吗？ to turn the request into a yes-or-no question. It follows the statement or request being checked. Use it at the end when asking whether something is possible or acceptable.
告诉
告诉 means “tell” in 告诉我你需要什么, asking the listener to state what they need. It is followed here by the person receiving the information and then the information itself. Use it when asking someone to provide specific information.
需要
需要 means “need” in 你需要什么, asking what the listener requires. 什么 follows it as the unknown thing that is needed. Use 需要 before an object, service, or information that someone requires.
什么
什么 means “what” in 你需要什么 and stands for the unknown thing the listener needs. It stays in the position where that thing would normally appear, after 需要. Use it to ask for clarification about an unspecified object or matter.
也许
也许 means “perhaps” or “maybe” in 也许我能帮上忙. It signals that the offer is possible but not certain. It usually comes before the clause describing the possibility, and it is useful for making a tentative offer.
能
能 means “be able to” or “can” in 我能帮上忙, describing the speaker’s ability to provide useful help. It comes before the action. Use 能 when offering or discussing whether someone has the ability or opportunity to do something.
上
上 is part of the expression 帮上忙, which means to manage to be of help. In this expression, 上 adds the sense that the help successfully takes effect. 能帮上忙 is useful when offering help that may actually solve or support a problem.
去
去 means “go” in 我去拿点水 and indicates movement for the purpose of getting water. It comes before 拿点水 to introduce the errand. Use 去 before an action when describing going somewhere to do it.
拿
拿 means “get” or “take” in 拿点水, referring to obtaining some water. It follows 去 in 我去拿点水 and takes 水 as what is obtained. Use it before the object you are getting or taking.
点
点 means “some” or “a little” in 拿点水 and indicates an unspecified small amount of water. It comes before 水 to keep the amount general. Use it when asking for or taking a small amount of something.
水
水 means “water” and is the object of 拿 in 拿点水. The phrase refers to getting some water while temporarily leaving the line. It can be used after verbs such as 拿 when water is the thing being obtained.
留
留 means “keep” or “hold” in 留着位置, referring to keeping the speaker’s place available. It describes preserving the position while the speaker gets water. Use it before the place or thing that should remain available.
着
着 in 留着位置 marks the continuing state of the position being held. The focus is on keeping the position in that state while the speaker is away briefly. It can follow a verb when describing a condition that remains in place.
位置
位置 means “place” or “spot” here, specifically the speaker’s place in the line in 留着位置. It is the object being kept or held. Use it when referring to a physical position that someone occupies or reserves.
如果
如果 means “if” and begins the condition 如果你待在队伍附近. It introduces the condition under which the other person agrees to help. Use 如果 before a condition when explaining what must be true for something to happen.
待
待 means “stay” or “remain” in 待在队伍附近. It describes remaining near the line rather than going far away. The pattern 待在 + place is useful when telling someone where to stay.
在
在 links 待 with the location in 待在队伍附近, showing where the person remains. It appears before the place phrase. Use a verb followed by 在 and a location when describing where an action or state takes place.
队伍
队伍 means “line” or “queue” in 队伍附近 and 占着位置. Here it refers to the group of people waiting together. Use it when discussing the queue itself or a location near the queue.
附近
附近 means “nearby” or “the nearby area” in 队伍附近. It follows 队伍 to specify that the person remains close to the line. Use place + 附近 to describe an area close to a particular place.
占
占 means “occupy” or “hold” in 占着位置, describing keeping a place occupied for someone. It is followed by the position being held. Use it when someone occupies or reserves a physical spot.
看得见
看得见 means “can see” in 你看得见我. 看 means seeing, 得 connects the action with the ability or result, and 见 indicates successful perception; together they express that the speaker remains visible. A useful reuse pattern is 看得见 followed by the person or thing that can be seen.
地方
地方 means “place” in 你看得见我的地方. It follows 的 and identifies the location where the listener can see the speaker. The pattern ...的地方 is useful for describing a place with a particular property or action.
也
也 means “also” in 也会看着队伍 and adds another action to the speaker’s promise to remain nearby. It comes before the additional verb phrase. Use it when saying that someone or something does one more thing as well.
会
会 means “will” in 也会看着队伍, expressing the speaker’s intended or expected action of watching the line. It appears before the action. Use it when stating a future action, intention, or likely behavior.
看
看 means “look at” or “watch” in 看着队伍. With 着, it describes continuing attention to the line. Use it before an object when saying that someone is watching or monitoring something.
这样
这样 means “this way” or “in this arrangement” in 这样就好, referring to staying nearby and visible while watching the line. It points back to the arrangement just described. Use it when evaluating or accepting a proposed way of doing something.
就
就 in 这样就好 helps express that the described arrangement is sufficient or acceptable. It connects the arrangement with the conclusion that it is okay. The exact pattern 这样就好 is useful for reassuring someone that the current plan is enough.
好
好 means “okay” or “good” in 这样就好, meaning that the arrangement is acceptable. It completes the reassurance about staying nearby and visible. Use it when accepting a plan or saying that a situation is satisfactory.
因为
因为 means “because” and introduces the reason in 因为如果有人不见了，别人可能会担心. It explains why staying nearby helps. Use 因为 before a reason when justifying a statement or request.
有人
有人 means “someone” or “there is someone” in 如果有人不见了. It refers to an unspecified person in the conditional situation. Use 如果有人 before an action when discussing what happens if any person does something.
不见
不见 means “disappear” or “go missing” in 有人不见了, describing someone no longer being present or visible. Together with 了, it presents the disappearance as a changed situation. Use it when reporting that a person or thing has gone missing.
了
了 in 不见了 marks the change to the situation: the person is now missing or no longer visible. It follows the expression describing the change. Use it when highlighting that a new situation has come about.
别人
别人 means “other people” in 别人可能会担心, referring to people besides the person who temporarily leaves the line. It is the subject of the possible worry. Use it when contrasting or referring generally to other people.
可能
可能 means “may” or “might” in 别人可能会担心, presenting worry as a possibility rather than a certainty. It comes before the action or feeling being considered. Use it for cautious predictions about what someone may do or feel.
担心
担心 means “worry” in 可能会担心, describing the concern other people may feel if someone disappears. It follows the possibility expression here. Use it when talking about concern for a person or situation.
不
不 negates 想 in 不想让任何人觉得我在插队, expressing that the speaker does not want something to happen. It comes before the verb it negates. Use 不 before a verb when rejecting an action, desire, or state.
想
想 means “want” in 不想让任何人觉得我在插队. With 不, it expresses the speaker’s wish to avoid causing a particular impression. Use 想 before an action or situation that someone desires.
让
让 means “let,” “make,” or “cause” in 让任何人觉得我在插队, describing causing another person to have an impression. It is followed by the person affected and what they feel or think. Use 让 + person + action or feeling to describe an effect on someone.
任何人
任何人 means “anyone” in 让任何人觉得我在插队 and covers every possible person in the line. It is the person affected by the speaker’s action. Use it when referring broadly to any individual without naming one.
觉得
觉得 means “feel” or “think” in 觉得我在插队, referring to someone’s impression of the speaker’s behavior. It is followed by the situation that forms the impression. Use subject + 觉得 + a statement when describing an opinion or perception.
插队
插队 means “cut in line” in 我在插队, describing entering or taking a place improperly in a queue. The speaker wants to avoid让任何人觉得 this is happening. Use it when discussing behavior that breaks the expected order of a line.
问
问 means “ask” in 如果有人问, referring to someone requesting information about the situation. It appears after 有人 in the conditional clause. Use it when someone asks a question or seeks an explanation.
解释
解释 means “explain” in 我可以解释说你一直在附近, describing the act of clarifying the speaker’s situation to others. It is followed by 说 and the content of the explanation. Use it when giving a reason or making a situation clear.
说
说 means “say” in 解释说你一直在附近 and introduces the content of the explanation. It connects 解释 with the statement that follows. Use it before a clause when reporting what someone says or explains.
一直
一直 means “continuously” or “all along” in 一直在附近, emphasizing that the speaker remained nearby during the relevant period. It comes before the location or action phrase. Use it when stressing that a state or action continued without interruption.
谢谢
谢谢 means “thank you” or “thanks” in 谢谢你的帮助. It expresses gratitude for the assistance received. Use it before the thing or person being thanked when acknowledging a favor.
帮助
帮助 means “help” or “assistance” in 你的帮助, referring to what the listener has provided. It follows 你的 to form “your help.” Use ...的帮助 when thanking or referring to assistance from someone.
花
花 means “spend” in 花太久时间, referring to spending time on an activity. It is followed by the amount or length of time being spent. A useful reuse pattern is 花 + a duration or amount of time when discussing how long something takes.
太
太 means “too” or “overly” in 太久, showing that the duration would be excessive. It comes before 久 to modify the length of time. Use 太 before a degree or duration when saying that something exceeds a desired limit.
久
久 means “long” in duration in 太久时间. It describes how much time the action would take, not a physical length. Use it with time expressions when discussing whether an activity lasts for a long period.
时间
时间 means “time” in 花太久时间, the time being spent on the errand. It follows the expression describing the length of that time. Use it when discussing the amount or duration of time needed for an activity.
只要
只要 means “as long as” or “just need to” in 你只要在队伍往前移动太多之前回来就好. It introduces the one condition that is sufficient for the arrangement to be acceptable. Use 只要 + condition + 就... when setting a simple requirement.
往前
往前 means “forward” in 队伍往前移动, specifying the direction in which the line advances. It comes before 移动 to describe the movement. Use it when explaining that someone or something moves toward the front.
移动
移动 means “move” in 队伍往前移动, describing the line advancing. The line is the thing that moves, and 往前 gives its direction. Use it when describing a person, group, or object changing position.
多
多 means “much” or “a lot” in 移动太多, referring to the amount of movement. With 太, it expresses moving more than is acceptable before the person returns. Use it after an action to discuss the amount or degree of that action.
之前
之前 means “before” in 队伍往前移动太多之前, setting a time limit for returning. The event before it identifies the deadline. Use an action or event followed by 之前 when saying that something must happen earlier.
回来
回来 means “come back” in 回来, referring to returning to the speaker and the line. In 回来就好, returning is the action that is sufficient. Use it when asking or telling someone to return to the current place.
Grammar Points
一直 + 动词
我一直待在附近。
Wǒ yìzhí dāi zài fùjìn.I have been staying nearby.
一直放在动词前，表示动作从过去持续到现在，或连续进行。
动词 + 得见
我看得见队伍。
Wǒ kàn de jiàn duìwu.I can see the queue.
看得见是“看 + 得 + 见”的可能补语，表示能够看见某人或某物。
Chinese Vocabulary
帮个小忙
phrase
bāng ge xiǎománg
to do a small favor
我可以请你帮个小忙吗?
帮上忙
phrase
bāng shàng máng
to be of help
我能帮上忙
待在
verb
dāi zài
to stay in; to remain at
待在队伍附近
队伍
noun
duìwu
line; queue
待在队伍附近
附近
noun
fùjìn
nearby; vicinity
待在队伍附近
告诉
verb
gàosu
to tell
告诉我你需要什么
留着位置
phrase
liúzhe wèizi
to hold someone's place
你能帮我留着位置吗?
拿点水
phrase
ná diǎn shuǐ
to get some water
我去拿点水的时候
排队
verb
páiduì
to queue; to stand in line
我们排队的时候
需要
verb
xūyào
to need
你需要什么
也许
adv
yěxǔ
perhaps; maybe
也许我能帮上忙
占着位置
phrase
zhànzhe wèizi
to hold a place
我可以帮你占着位置
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
to hold someone's place
Show Answer
留着位置to do a small favor
Show Answer
帮个小忙to hold a place
Show Answer
占着位置to get some water