New here? This is lesson 116 of a free 240-lesson Simplified Chinese course.
Reschedule in Simplified Chinese
A night-market plan has to change when Saturday does not work. Maya and Yi-Jun look for a day that suits them both.
Learn to ask which day works, suggest Sunday, and explain that you may be late.
Listen for the uncertainty in “might,” then practise handling a time mix-up without making a big deal of it.
By the end of this lesson
Ask which day works better, suggest Sunday, explain a scheduling conflict, and say you might be late.
- 哪一天对你比较方便？Which day is better for you?
- 周日会不会比较好？Would Sunday be better?
- 那时候我有别的约I have another plan then.
- 我可能会晚一点到I might be a little late.
- 我把时间搞错了I got the time wrong.
- 不用等我没关系No need to wait for me; it's okay.
Scene — a night market plan
Maya and Yi-Jun are planning a visit to the night market after work. Saturday no longer works for Yi-Jun, so they look for another day.
On Sunday, Maya messages that she may be late. Yi-Jun asks whether she should wait, then realizes she got the time wrong and cannot make it.
Learn — changing the plan
These lines help you move a plan to a better day, explain a scheduling conflict, and let someone know you may arrive late.
Notice how a short question can suggest a new day.
哪一天对你比较方便？
Which day is better for you?
When to use it: Ask this when choosing a day that suits another person.
比较 compares options, while 方便 describes what works for someone.
Say it: 一 is fourth tone before first-tone 天.
周日会不会比较好？
Would Sunday be better?
When to use it: Suggest Sunday as a possible alternative day.
会不会 asks whether something would work or not.
Say it: 不 changes to second tone before fourth-tone 会.
那时候我有别的约
I have another plan then.
When to use it: Explain that you already have another plan at that time.
那时候 points back to a time already mentioned.
Say it: 时 is second tone, and 候 is usually neutral tone.
我可能会晚一点到
I might be a little late.
When to use it: Tell someone you may arrive later than planned.
可能 signals uncertainty, not a definite arrival time.
Say it: 一 changes to fourth tone before third-tone 点.
我把时间搞错了
I got the time wrong.
When to use it: Admit that you mixed up the scheduled time.
搞错了 means you got something wrong; here, the time was mixed up.
Say it: 搞 is third tone before fourth-tone 错.
不用等我没关系
No need to wait for me; it's okay.
When to use it: Tell someone they can go ahead without waiting for you.
没关系 reassures the other person that the change is okay.
Say it: 不 changes to second tone before fourth-tone 用.
Story — a Sunday night market
Maya and Yi-Jun plan a night-market visit, but Saturday does not work. They find a new day that suits them both.
Later, Maya messages from the way there. Yi-Jun asks if she should wait, then realizes she got the time wrong and cannot make it.
Maya你周末有空吗？Are you free this weekend?
Yi-Jun有啊。Yes, I am.- Maya那就约礼拜六吧。Then let's say Saturday.
- Yi-Jun那时候我有别的约。I have another plan then.
- Maya哪一天对你比较方便？Which day is better for you?
- Yi-Jun周日会不会比较好？Would Sunday be better?
- Maya好啊，周日见。Sure, see you Sunday.
- Yi-Jun我也一起去。I'll come too.
- On Sunday evening, Maya is on her way to the night market.
- Maya我可能会晚一点到。I might be a little late.
- Yi-Jun我要在入口等你吗？Should I wait for you at the entrance?
- Maya不用等我没关系。No need to wait for me; it's okay.
- Yi-Jun我把时间搞错了，今天去不了了。I got the time wrong; I can't make it today.
Practice — find a better time
Use the exercises to suggest Sunday, explain a mix-up, and respond when plans change.
Choose a natural reply, build a line, and practise recalling the full phrase.
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What does it mean?
What does it mean?
哪一天对你比较方便？
What do you say?
What do you say?
Saturday is inconvenient for your friend; suggest Sunday as another possible day.
What do you say?
What do you say?
Start with “at that time,” then say you have another plan.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
I might be a little late.
我____会晚一点到
Match the pairs
Simplified Chinese
那时候我有别的约Drop the English here我把时间搞错了Drop the English here不用等我没关系Drop the English hereEnglish
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Pick the reply
Yi-Jun says:
Pick the reply
我要在入口等你吗？
Should I wait for you at the entrance?
And you reply with:
What do you say?
What do you say?
Ask your friend whether she is free this weekend.
What do you say?
What do you say?
Suggest Saturday before learning that your friend already has another plan.
Say it — reschedule politely
You are Maya, arranging a night-market visit with Yi-Jun. Listen to the other person, then say your line aloud.
Practise asking which day works, suggesting Sunday, and letting Yi-Jun know she need not wait if you are running late.
- Maya and Yi-Jun are choosing a day for the night market.
- Maya (you)Suggest Saturday for the night-market plan.
Suggest Saturday for the night-market plan.
那就约礼拜六吧
Then let's say Saturday.
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Recap — what you can say now
| Simplified Chinese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 哪一天对你比较方便？ | Which day is better for you? | |
| 周日会不会比较好？ | Would Sunday be better? | |
| 那时候我有别的约 | I have another plan then. | |
| 我可能会晚一点到 | I might be a little late. | |
| 我把时间搞错了 | I got the time wrong. | |
| 不用等我没关系 | No need to wait for me; it's okay. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Review these rescheduling lines with Yak Cards and practise them in short messages.
Try suggesting a new day in a message, then read your reply aloud.
Open Yak Cards