Simplified Chinese course

Lesson 110 of 240

New here? This is lesson 110 of a free 240-lesson Simplified Chinese course.

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Filling in the form in Simplified Chinese

At a neighborhood clinic, a form asks Maya for a phone number she does not have. The nurse offers her a pen and helps her work through the paperwork.

Learn how to ask what belongs in a field, whether a stamp or signature is needed, and what to say when a scanner fails.

These questions are useful at clinics and other service counters.

By the end of this lesson

Ask what to write on a form, check whether a stamp or signature is needed, report a scanning problem, and request a receipt.

  • 这栏要填什么？What goes in this box?
  • 可以盖章吗？May I use a stamp?
  • 这个要签名吗？Do I need to sign this?
  • 我不确定怎么填I'm not sure how to fill this in.
  • 扫不到It won't scan.
  • 可以开收据吗？Can you issue a receipt?

Scene — a clinic form

Maya is checking in at the neighborhood clinic across from Banyan Breakfast. The form asks for a phone number she does not have, and the nurse offers her a pen.

A scanner at the desk is also having trouble. Maya asks questions as she fills in the form and finishes registering.

Maya checks in at the neighborhood clinic counter as Dr. Chen offers a pen beside a blank form and a desk scanner.

Learn — questions for paperwork

These six lines help you ask about fields, stamps, signatures, scanning, and receipts. Listen to each one, then say it aloud.

Notice how 要吗 asks whether something is required.

  1. Maya points to an empty square on the form while Dr. Chen looks at the same sheet from across the counter.

    这栏要填什么？

    What goes in this box?

    When to use it: Ask what information belongs in a particular field on a form.

    栏 means a form field or box.

    Say it: The second syllable of 什么 is neutral.

  2. Maya holds a stamp above an ink pad at the clinic counter while Dr. Chen's hand rests nearby.

    可以盖章吗？

    May I use a stamp?

    When to use it: Ask whether stamping is allowed or accepted.

    可以吗 asks whether an action is allowed.

  3. Maya pauses with a pen above the form and points to the blank space at the bottom of the sheet.

    这个要签名吗？

    Do I need to sign this?

    When to use it: Ask whether a particular item or form needs your signature.

    要吗 asks whether something is required.

  4. Maya looks uncertain over the form while Dr. Chen leans in to look at the sheet.

    我不确定怎么填

    I'm not sure how to fill this in.

    When to use it: Say this when you are unsure how to complete a form.

    怎么 asks how and stays before the action.

  5. Dr. Chen tries the desk scanner while Maya watches the paper fail to go through.

    扫不到

    It won't scan.

    When to use it: Report that a code or item cannot be scanned.

    不到 describes being unable to get a result.

  6. Maya asks for a receipt as Dr. Chen holds out an unmarked slip at the clinic counter.

    可以开收据吗？

    Can you issue a receipt?

    When to use it: Ask a service counter to provide a receipt.

    开收据 is a common way to ask for a receipt.

Story — a missing number

Maya checks in at the neighborhood clinic and works through a form with help from the nurse.

One field asks for a number Maya does not have. At the desk, a scanner gives them another small problem.

  1. Maya我要挂号。I'd like to register.
  2. Nurse您好，请先填这张表。Hello. Please fill in this form first.
  3. Maya这栏要填什么？What goes in this box?
  4. Nurse这里要写你的电话号码。Write your phone number here.
  5. Maya我没有台湾的电话号码。I don't have a phone number in Taiwan.
  6. Nurse没关系，可以先空着。That is fine, you can leave it blank for now.
  7. Maya这个要签名吗？Do I need to sign this?
  8. Nurse要，请在下面签名。Yes. Please sign below.
  9. Maya可以盖章吗？May I use a stamp?
  10. Nurse可以，签名也要喔。Yes, but you still need to sign.
  11. Maya我不确定怎么填。I'm not sure how to fill this in.
  12. Nurse我来帮你看一下。Let me take a look for you.
  13. Maya扫不到。It won't scan.
  14. Nurse我重新开一下扫描器。I'll restart the scanner.
  15. Maya可以开收据吗？Can you issue a receipt?
  16. Nurse可以，等一下喔。Sure. Just a moment.

Practice — complete the form

Try ten short exercises using the clinic form situation. Choose, build, and complete the lines that fit each moment.

Check the explanations, then say the useful questions again.

0 of 10 done

  1. What does it mean?

    这栏要填什么？

  2. What do you say?

    You want to know whether you may use a stamp on the form.

  3. Build the line

    Do I need to sign this?

    ？

    Tap the words in order.

  4. Fill the gap

    I'm not sure how to fill this in.

    我不确定____填

  5. What did you hear?

  6. Match the pairs

    Simplified Chinese

    这栏要填什么？Drop the English here
    这个要签名吗？Drop the English here
    可以开收据吗？Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its Simplified Chinese, or tap one and then the other.

  7. What do you say?

    You have finished paying and want the clinic to provide a receipt.

  8. What do you say?

    You arrive at a clinic and want to register.

  9. Build the line

    I'm not sure how to fill this in.

    Tap the words in order.

  10. What do you say?

    Greet the nurse politely when you reach the clinic desk.

Say it — at the clinic desk

Play Maya while she checks in and completes the clinic form. Listen to the nurse's cue, then say the line that helps you continue.

Speak clearly, and try the questions again if you want more practice.

  1. Nurse请先填这张表。Please fill in this form first.
  2. Maya (you)Ask what goes in this box.

    这栏要填什么？

    What goes in this box?

0 of 4 said

Recap — what you can say now

Simplified ChineseEnglish
这栏要填什么？What goes in this box?
可以盖章吗？May I use a stamp?
这个要签名吗？Do I need to sign this?
我不确定怎么填I'm not sure how to fill this in.
扫不到It won't scan.
可以开收据吗？Can you issue a receipt?
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Today's clinic questions are in Yak Cards with more useful lines for everyday errands.

Review the cards a little each day so the questions come to mind at the counter.

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