Simplified Chinese - Lesson 10 of 156: Asking for Help

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

你能给___打电话吗？

Nǐ néng gěi ___ dǎ diànhuà ma?

Can you call ___?

Meaning: Can you call ___?

When to use: Ask someone to contact a person or service (like 120 or a family member) on your behalf.

Tip: Beginners sometimes forget to put the receiver after 给, e.g. say '给打电话' instead of '给___打电话'.

你能给120打电话吗？

Nǐ néng gěi yī èr líng dǎ diànhuà ma?

Can you call 120 (ambulance)?

你能给我妈妈打电话吗？

Nǐ néng gěi wǒ māma dǎ diànhuà ma?

Can you call my mom?

我能用一下你的手机吗？

Wǒ néng yòng yíxià nǐ de shǒujī ma?

Can I use your phone?

Meaning: Can I use your phone?

When to use: Politely ask to borrow someone's mobile when your phone is dead or missing.

Tip: Sometimes learners over-formalize with 您 in casual street situations; 你的手机 is fine among strangers for urgent help.

对不起，我的手机没电了，我能用一下你的手机吗？

Duìbùqǐ, wǒ de shǒujī méi diàn le, wǒ néng yòng yíxià nǐ de shǒujī ma?

Sorry, my phone is dead. Can I use your phone?

在车站我问：我能用一下你的手机吗？

Zài chēzhàn wǒ wèn: Wǒ néng yòng yíxià nǐ de shǒujī ma?

At the station I asked: Can I use your phone?

我该怎么办

Wǒ gāi zěnme bàn?

What should I do?

Meaning: What should I do?

When to use: Ask someone for immediate advice when you don’t know the next step.

手机掉了，我该怎么办？

Shǒujī diào le, wǒ gāi zěnme bàn?

My phone fell — what should I do?

钱包丢了，我真不知道我该怎么办。

Qiánbāo diū le, wǒ zhēn bù zhīdào wǒ gāi zěnme bàn.

My wallet is gone; I really don't know what to do.

这是紧急情况

Zhè shì jǐnjí qíngkuàng.

It's an emergency.

Meaning: It's an emergency.

When to use: Tell someone the situation needs immediate attention — to get faster help.

路上有人晕倒，这是紧急情况。

Lù shàng yǒu rén yūndǎo, zhè shì jǐnjí qíngkuàng.

Someone fainted on the road — it's an emergency.

火苗越来越大，我对邻居喊：这是紧急情况！

Huǒmiáo yuè lái yuè dà, wǒ duì línjū hǎn: Zhè shì jǐnjí qíngkuàng!

The flames are getting bigger; I shout to the neighbors: It's an emergency!

你能看一下这个吗？

Nǐ néng kàn yíxià zhège ma?

Can you look at this?

Meaning: Can you look at this?

When to use: Ask someone to check an object, a form, or a small problem for you.

这个灯不亮了，你能看一下这个吗？

Zhège dēng bù liàng le, nǐ néng kàn yíxià zhège ma?

This light isn't working, can you look at it?

菜谱上这个字我看不懂，你能看一下这个吗？

Càipǔ shàng zhège zì wǒ kàn bù dǒng, nǐ néng kàn yíxià zhège ma?

I don't understand this word on the menu — can you look at it?

你能跟我一起去吗？

Nǐ néng gēn wǒ yìqǐ qù ma?

Can you come with me?

Meaning: Can you come with me?

When to use: Ask someone to accompany you if you need support, translation, or help getting somewhere.

医院离这儿不远，你能跟我一起去吗？

Yīyuàn lí zhèr bù yuǎn, nǐ néng gēn wǒ yìqǐ qù ma?

The hospital isn't far — can you come with me?

我要去派出所报案，你能跟我一起去吗？

Wǒ yào qù pàichūsuǒ bào àn, nǐ néng gēn wǒ yìqǐ qù ma?

I need to go to the police station to report it — can you come with me?

你能帮我找个人来吗？

Nǐ néng bāng wǒ zhǎo ge rén lái ma?

Can you get someone, please?

Meaning: Can you get someone, please?

When to use: Ask the listener to find another person who can help (a staff member, a translator, a mechanic).

Tip: Don't forget 来 at the end — without 来 it can sound incomplete.

我不会说中文，你能帮我找个人来吗？

Wǒ bù huì shuō Zhōngwén, nǐ néng bāng wǒ zhǎo ge rén lái ma?

I can't speak Chinese — can you get someone to help me?

电梯出问题了，你能帮我找个人来吗？

Diàntī chū wèntí le, nǐ néng bāng wǒ zhǎo ge rén lái ma?

The elevator is broken — can you get someone to come?

Simplified Chinese - Asking for Help

1. Reading + Listening Practice

2. Conversational Listening Practice

3. Guided Practice

Which phrase would you use to ask someone to call an ambulance?

You want someone to check a broken light — which phrase fits?

Your phone battery died and you need to borrow a phone. Which phrase do you say?

If you don't know the next step, which question do you ask?

It's an emergency.

Can I use your phone?

Can you look at this?

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice