Simplified Chinese - Lesson 145 of 156: Scheduling

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

现在方便吗

Xiànzài fāngbiàn ma?

Is now a good time?

Meaning: Is now a good time?

When to use: Useful before calling, asking, or visiting.

Tip: Choosing very direct phrases like '现在可以吗？' — '现在方便吗？' sounds more natural and polite.

打电话前可以说：现在方便吗？

Dǎ diànhuà qián kěyǐ shuō: Xiànzài fāngbiàn ma?

Before calling you can say: Is now a good time?

我现在在开会，你现在方便吗？

Wǒ xiànzài zài kāihuì, nǐ xiànzài fāngbiàn ma?

I'm in a meeting; is now a good time for you?

你方便说话吗

Nǐ fāngbiàn shuōhuà ma?

Is it convenient for you to talk?

Meaning: Is it convenient for you to talk?

When to use: Common phone or message opener.

发短信：你好，打扰一下，你方便说话吗？

Fā duǎnxìn: Nǐ hǎo, dǎrǎo yīxià, nǐ fāngbiàn shuōhuà ma?

Text: Hi, sorry to bother you — is it convenient for you to talk?

打电话先问：你方便说话吗？

Dǎ diànhuà xiān wèn: Nǐ fāngbiàn shuōhuà ma?

Ask on the phone first: Are you able to talk?

有空吗

Yǒu kòng ma?

Are you free?

Meaning: Are you free?

When to use: Short and common with friends or colleagues.

明天有空吗？我们去吃饭。

Míngtiān yǒu kòng ma? Wǒmen qù chīfàn.

Are you free tomorrow? Let's go eat.

你下午有空吗？我想问你一件事。

Nǐ xiàwǔ yǒu kòng ma? Wǒ xiǎng wèn nǐ yī jiàn shì.

Are you free this afternoon? I want to ask you something.

你什么时候有空？

Nǐ shénme shíhou yǒu kòng?

When are you free?

Meaning: When are you free?

When to use: Useful for arranging plans.

你什么时候有空？我们定个时间。

Nǐ shénme shíhou yǒu kòng? Wǒmen dìng ge shíjiān.

When are you free? Let's set a time.

下周你什么时候有空？

Xià zhōu nǐ shénme shíhou yǒu kòng?

When are you free next week?

我今天有事

Wǒ jīntiān yǒu shì.

I have something today.

Meaning: I have something today.

When to use: Natural way to say you’re busy without details.

抱歉，我今天有事，不能去。

Bàoqiàn, wǒ jīntiān yǒu shì, bù néng qù.

Sorry, I have something today and can't go.

你下午有空吗？——对不起，我今天有事。

Nǐ xiàwǔ yǒu kòng ma? — Duìbuqǐ, wǒ jīntiān yǒu shì.

Are you free this afternoon? — Sorry, I have something today.

我现在不方便

Wǒ xiànzài bù fāngbiàn.

It’s not convenient for me right now.

Meaning: It’s not convenient for me right now.

When to use: Polite way to decline talking or doing something now.

现在不太方便，我待会儿回你。——我现在不方便。

Xiànzài bù tài fāngbiàn, wǒ dàihuìr huí nǐ. — Wǒ xiànzài bù fāngbiàn.

Not convenient right now; I'll reply later. — It's not convenient for me now.

你可以来吗？——抱歉，我现在不方便。

Nǐ kěyǐ lái ma? — Bàoqiàn, wǒ xiànzài bù fāngbiàn.

Can you come? — Sorry, it's not convenient now.

改天吧

Gǎitiān ba.

Let’s do another day.

Meaning: Let’s do another day.

When to use: Common for postponing casually.

今天太忙了，改天吧。

Jīntiān tài máng le, gǎitiān ba.

I'm too busy today; let's do another day.

下雨了，我们改天吧。

Xià yǔ le, wǒmen gǎitiān ba.

It's raining; let's postpone till another day.

下次吧

Xià cì ba.

Maybe next time.

Meaning: Maybe next time.

When to use: Often used to decline or postpone lightly.

今晚不行，算了，下次吧。

Jīnwǎn bù xíng, suàn le, xià cì ba.

Tonight won't work — maybe next time.

我们这次忙不到，下次吧。

Wǒmen zhè cì máng bu dào, xià cì ba.

We can't make it this time; maybe next time.

约个时间吧

Yuē ge shíjiān ba.

Let’s set a time.

Meaning: Let’s set a time.

When to use: Useful for making plans or appointments.

行，约个时间吧，哪天你方便？

Xíng, yuē ge shíjiān ba, nǎ tiān nǐ fāngbiàn?

Okay, let's set a time — which day works for you?

我们先约个时间吧，再定地点。

Wǒmen xiān yuē ge shíjiān ba, zài dìng dìdiǎn.

Let's first set a time, then decide the place.

定了吗

Dìng le ma?

Is it decided?

Meaning: Is it decided?

When to use: Use for plans, times, places, or bookings.

机票订好了吗？——还没，定了吗？

Jīpiào dìng hǎo le ma? — Hái méi, dìng le ma?

Are the tickets booked? — Not yet, is it decided?

我们要几点见？——你们定了吗？

Wǒmen yào jǐ diǎn jiàn? — Nǐmen dìng le ma?

What time shall we meet? — Did you decide?

就这么定了

Jiù zhème dìng le.

Then it’s settled.

Meaning: Then it’s settled.

When to use: Confirms a plan or decision.

好，那就这么定了，我们周六见。

Hǎo, nà jiù zhème dìng le, wǒmen zhōu liù jiàn.

Good, then it's settled — see you Saturday.

有人能来。 — 就这么定了！

Yǒu rén néng lái. — Jiù zhème dìng le!

Someone can come. — Then it's settled!

来得及吗

Lái de jí ma?

Is there enough time?

Meaning: Is there enough time?

When to use: Common when worrying about being late.

我们还有十分钟，来得及吗？

Wǒmen hái yǒu shí fēnzhōng, lái de jí ma?

We have ten minutes left — is that enough time?

现在出发，来得及吗？

Xiànzài chūfā, lái de jí ma?

If we leave now, is it still on time?

来不及了

Lái bu jí le.

There isn’t enough time anymore.

Meaning: There isn’t enough time anymore.

When to use: Useful when you will miss something or be late.

Tip: Beginners sometimes mix up 来得及吗？ (Is there time?) and 来不及了 (It's too late). One asks a question; the other states there's no time.

别着急，已经来不及了，我们改天再约。

Bié zhájí, yǐjīng lái bu jí le, wǒmen gǎitiān zài yuē.

Don't worry — it's already too late, let's reschedule.

火车出发了，来不及了！

Huǒchē chūfā le, lái bu jí le!

The train has left — it's too late!

Simplified Chinese - Scheduling

1. Reading + Listening Practice

2. Conversational Listening Practice

3. Guided Practice

Which phrase means 'Are you free?'

You want to politely say you can't talk right now. Which do you use?

Which phrase asks 'Is there enough time?' when you're worried about being late?

Which response best confirms a plan?

Sorry, I have something today.

It's not convenient for me right now; can we talk later?

Then it's settled.

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice