Simplified Chinese - Classroom Help

Lesson 123 of 156

Photo of a lively classroom scene with students speaking to the teacher in Simplified Chinese about borrowing supplies and entering class.

Goal: Phrases for asking, explaining, and borrowing in class

Free Simplified Chinese lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Welcome! This short lesson helps you handle common classroom moments — asking to enter, borrowing supplies, explaining absences, and more. Have fun practicing: listen, repeat, and then speak aloud.

Level A2: In this lesson you'll practice seven practical classroom phrases (老师，我可以进来吗？; 我可以借一下___吗？; 我昨天没来上课。 etc.) used for asking permission, explaining situations, and solving small problems in class. This CEFR-aligned pack focuses on real, everyday student talk so you can handle quick classroom interactions with confidence.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Understand and say seven common classroom phrases aloud (A2).
  • Ask to borrow items, ask permission to enter, and explain absences in natural Chinese (Simplified Chinese: 简体中文, jiǎntǐ zhōngwén).
  • Use short explanations in class: say you don’t have a partner, can’t see the board, or aren’t finished yet.
A student at the classroom door asking permission to enter in Simplified Chinese while another student checks notes.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

我还没做完

Wǒ hái méi zuò wán.

I'm not finished yet.

Meaning: I'm not finished yet.

When to use: Say this when you need more time to finish an in-class task or homework.

老师，我还没做完，可以再多五分钟吗？

Lǎoshī, wǒ hái méi zuò wán, kěyǐ zài duō wǔ fēnzhōng ma?

Teacher, I'm not finished yet. Can I have five more minutes?
这道题我还没做完，能晚点交吗？

Zhè dào tí wǒ hái méi zuò wán, néng wǎndiǎn jiāo ma?

I haven't finished this problem yet. Can I hand it in later?

我昨天没来上课。

Wǒ zuótiān méi lái shàngkè.

I was absent yesterday.

Meaning: I was absent yesterday.

When to use: Use this to explain to the teacher or classmates that you missed yesterday's class.

对不起，我昨天没来上课，能告诉我上了什么吗？

Duìbuqǐ, wǒ zuótiān méi lái shàngkè, néng gàosu wǒ shàng le shénme ma?

Sorry, I missed class yesterday. Can you tell me what we covered?
因为生病，我昨天没来上课，所以有很多笔记没看到。

Yīnwèi shēngbìng, wǒ zuótiān méi lái shàngkè, suǒyǐ yǒu hěn duō bǐjì méi kàn dào.

Because I was sick, I missed yesterday's class, so I didn't see many notes.

我没有搭档

Wǒ méiyǒu dādàng.

I don't have a partner.

Meaning: I don't have a partner.

When to use: Say this during pair or group activities when you need someone to work with.

老师，我没有搭档，可以跟张明一起吗？

Lǎoshī, wǒ méiyǒu dādàng, kěyǐ gēn Zhāng Míng yìqǐ ma?

Teacher, I don't have a partner. Can I work with Zhang Ming?
小组活动时她说她没有搭档，所以我们合并一组。

Xiǎozǔ huódòng shí tā shuō tā méiyǒu dādàng, suǒyǐ wǒmen hébìng yì zǔ.

During the group activity she said she didn't have a partner, so we joined groups.

我可以借一下___吗？

Wǒ kěyǐ jiè yíxià ___ ma?

Can I borrow ___?

Meaning: Can I borrow ___?

When to use: Use this polite frame to borrow classroom items like pens, erasers, or a ruler.

Tip: 别说“我可以借一个笔吗？” — 用“借一下”更自然，笔不说“一个”。

我可以借一下橡皮吗？

Wǒ kěyǐ jiè yíxià xiàngpí ma?

Can I borrow an eraser?
上课没带笔，我可以借一下你的笔吗？

Shàngkè méi dài bǐ, wǒ kěyǐ jiè yíxià nǐ de bǐ ma?

I didn't bring a pen to class. Can I borrow yours?

我看不清黑板

Wǒ kàn bu qīng hēibǎn.

I can't see the board.

Meaning: I can't see the board.

When to use: Tell the teacher when the board is hard to read from your seat.

Tip: 不要把“看不清黑板”随意替换成“看不到黑板” — 两者有细微差别（看不到表示完全看不见）。

对不起，前面的同学挡住了，我看不清黑板。

Duìbuqǐ, qiánmiàn de tóngxué dǎngzhù le, wǒ kàn bu qīng hēibǎn.

Sorry, a classmate in front is blocking me. I can't see the board.
老师，字太小了，我看不清黑板，可以再写大一点吗？

Lǎoshī, zì tài xiǎo le, wǒ kàn bu qīng hēibǎn, kěyǐ zài xiě dà yìdiǎn ma?

Teacher, the writing is too small. I can't see the board. Could you write bigger?

老师，我可以进来吗？

Lǎoshī, wǒ kěyǐ jìnlái ma?

May I come in?

Meaning: May I come in?

When to use: Say this to the teacher when you enter the classroom, especially if you're late.

（敲门）老师，我可以进来吗？

（Qiāo mén）Lǎoshī, wǒ kěyǐ jìnlái ma?

(Knock) Teacher, may I come in?
上课迟到了，她在门口小声说：老师，我可以进来吗？

Shàngkè chídào le, tā zài ménkǒu xiǎoshēng shuō: Lǎoshī, wǒ kěyǐ jìnlái ma?

She was late for class and whispered at the door: Teacher, may I come in?

这个要记下来吗？

Zhège yào jì xiàlái ma?

Do we need to write this down?

Meaning: Do we need to write this down?

When to use: Ask this when the teacher mentions a detail and you want to know if it's important for notes.

老师刚说了一个例子，同学问：这个要记下来吗？

Lǎoshī gāng shuō le yí gè lìzi, tóngxué wèn: Zhège yào jì xiàlái ma?

The teacher just gave an example; a classmate asked: Do we need to write this down?
听到新规则后，学生们互相问：这个要记下来吗？

Tīng dào xīn guīzé hòu, xuéshēngmen hùxiāng wèn: Zhège yào jì xiàlái ma?

After hearing the new rule, students asked each other: Do we need to write this down?

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Two students arrive late and catch up in class

Two students whispering in class: one asks to borrow a pen and another says they can't see the board in Simplified Chinese.

Who asks to borrow a pen?

Portrait of Anna in a Simplified Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

老师，我可以进来吗？

Lǎoshī, wǒ kěyǐ jìnlái ma?

Teacher, may I come in?

Portrait of David in a Simplified Chinese lesson dialogue

David

进来吧，快坐下。

Jìnlái ba, kuài zuòxià.

Come in, quickly sit down.

Portrait of Anna in a Simplified Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

对不起，我昨天没来上课，所以现在有点不懂。

Duìbuqǐ, wǒ zuótiān méi lái shàngkè, suǒyǐ xiànzài yǒu diǎn bù dǒng.

Sorry, I missed class yesterday, so I don't really understand now.

Portrait of Anna in a Simplified Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

我可以借一下笔吗？

Wǒ kěyǐ jiè yíxià bǐ ma?

Can I borrow a pen?

Portrait of David in a Simplified Chinese lesson dialogue

David

当然可以。我没有搭档，要不要跟我一起做？

Dāngrán kěyǐ. Wǒ méiyǒu dādàng, yào bu yào gēn wǒ yìqǐ zuò?

Of course. I don't have a partner — do you want to work with me?

Portrait of Anna in a Simplified Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

谢谢。顺便说，我看不清黑板，可以换个位置吗？

Xièxiè. Shùnbian shuō, wǒ kàn bu qīng hēibǎn, kěyǐ huàn gè wèizhì ma?

Thanks. By the way, I can't see the board — can we change seats?

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

How do you say 'I'm not finished yet.'?

Which phrase means 'I was absent yesterday.'?

How would you politely ask to borrow someone's eraser?

Choose the sentence that means 'I can't see the board.'

At the door you whisper: 'Teacher, may I come in?'

门口有人敲门，你小声说：'___'。

Sitting too far back, you raise your hand and say: 'I can't see the board.'

上课坐得太后面，举手说：'___'。

When the teacher asks for pairs I raise my hand and say: 'I don't have a partner.'

老师要大家两人一组，我举手说：'___'。

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

我还没做完

Wǒ hái méi zuò wán.

I'm not finished yet.

Say this phrase out loud:

我昨天没来上课。

Wǒ zuótiān méi lái shàngkè.

I was absent yesterday.

Say this phrase out loud:

我没有搭档

Wǒ méiyǒu dādàng.

I don't have a partner.

Say this phrase out loud:

我可以借一下___吗？

Wǒ kěyǐ jiè yíxià ___ ma?

Can I borrow ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

我看不清黑板

Wǒ kàn bu qīng hēibǎn.

I can't see the board.

Say this phrase out loud:

老师，我可以进来吗？

Lǎoshī, wǒ kěyǐ jìnlái ma?

May I come in?

Say this phrase out loud:

这个要记下来吗？

Zhège yào jì xiàlái ma?

Do we need to write this down?