Simplified Chinese course

Lesson 153 of 240

New here? This is lesson 153 of a free 240-lesson Simplified Chinese course.

Start hereHow this works

Set up a meeting in Simplified Chinese

Zhi-Ming wants schedules in plain words. He sends the first LINE message in the co-working group: five words, and nothing extra.

Learn how to ask for a meeting, check if a time works, say how long it will last, send the agenda, choose online or in person, and promise to be on time.

Then practice the same lines and say them to Zhi-Ming as if you were Maya.

By the end of this lesson

Ask for a meeting time, agree how long it will last, send an agenda, and choose online or in person.

  • 我们约个时间开会吧Let's set a time for a meeting.
  • 下午三点方便吗？Is three in the afternoon convenient?
  • 会议大概一个小时The meeting is about an hour.
  • 我先把议程传给你I'll send you the agenda first.
  • 我们线上开还是当面开？Online or in person?
  • 我会准时到I'll be on time.

Scene — a five-word message

Maya sits at the co-working space two MRT stops from Banyan Lane. Yi-Jun is at the next desk.

Zhi-Ming sends the first LINE message because he wants a clear time, not a long note. His opening line is only five words.

They still need an exact time, an agenda, and a choice between online and in person. A-Li is not here, and the fortune slip stays unread in the till.

In a sunlit Taipei coworking loft, Maya and Yi-Jun sit at neighboring desks with different tasks while Zhi-Ming stands apart composing a short phone message.

Learn — times and agendas

Here are six lines for setting a meeting with a colleague. Listen, then say each one out loud.

Notice 把 when you send the agenda, and 还是 when you offer two places to meet.

  1. Zhi-Ming stands alone at a high coworking table and thumbs a very short message on a phone.

    我们约个时间开会吧

    Let's set a time for a meeting.

    When to use it: Use this to suggest setting a meeting time.

    约 here means to arrange a time with someone.

  2. Maya turns from a desk toward the bright afternoon window with a phone while Yi-Jun types at the next desk in a different pose.

    下午三点方便吗？

    Is three in the afternoon convenient?

    When to use it: Ask if three in the afternoon works.

    吗 makes this a yes-or-no question about the time.

    Say it: In 方便, the second syllable is a falling tone.

  3. Maya holds both hands a short width apart to show a brief span of time while Yi-Jun watches from the next desk.

    会议大概一个小时

    The meeting is about an hour.

    When to use it: Tell someone the meeting will last about an hour.

    一个小时 is the usual way to count one hour.

    Say it: 一 changes tone before this measure word.

  4. Maya leans into a laptop as if checking something that just arrived, phone beside bubble tea, while Yi-Jun sips a drink.

    我先把议程传给你

    I'll send you the agenda first.

    When to use it: Say you will send the agenda before you meet.

    把 marks the agenda as the thing you will send.

    Say it: 把 is a third tone here.

  5. Maya gestures toward an empty chair while seated Yi-Jun looks up from the next desk with a half-closed laptop.

    我们线上开还是当面开？

    Online or in person?

    When to use it: Ask whether to meet online or in person.

    还是 gives two options in one question.

  6. Maya stands and steps away carrying a bag, a watch raised, ready to be on time, while seated Yi-Jun zips a pouch.

    我会准时到

    I'll be on time.

    When to use it: Promise you will arrive at the agreed time.

    会 here means you will, not that you know how.

Story — a LINE meeting with Zhi-Ming

Listen as Zhi-Ming opens the co-working LINE group with a five-word message. Maya answers and they lock in a time.

Yi-Jun hears the plan from the next desk.

  1. Zhi-Ming sends the first message in the co-working LINE group.
  2. Zhi-Ming我们今天要开会喔。We need to meet today.
  3. Maya我们约个时间开会吧。Let's set a time for a meeting.
  4. Zhi-Ming下午三点方便吗？Is three in the afternoon convenient?
  5. Maya方便，会议大概一个小时。Sure, the meeting is about an hour.
  6. Zhi-Ming我们线上开还是当面开？Online or in person?
  7. Maya当面开吧。In person.
  8. Zhi-Ming我先把议程传给你。I'll send you the agenda first.
  9. Zhi-Ming有收到吗？Did you get it?
  10. Maya有，我会准时到。Got it, I'll be on time.
  11. Zhi-Ming那就这么说定了。Then it's settled.
  12. Yi-Jun looks up from the next desk.
  13. Yi-Jun你三点有会喔？You have a meeting at three?
  14. Maya对啊，跟志明当面开。Yes, in person with Zhi-Ming.
  15. Yi-Jun祝你顺利。I hope it goes smoothly for you.
  16. Maya谢谢。Thanks.

Practice — lock in the meeting

Try these exercises to pick a time, send an agenda, and promise to be on time. Choose the line that fits each moment.

After each answer, read why the other options do not work, then say the line again.

0 of 10 done

  1. What does it mean?

    我们约个时间开会吧

  2. What do you say?

    Zhi-Ming wants to meet today. Ask if three in the afternoon is convenient.

  3. Fill the gap

    The meeting is about an hour.

    会议____一个小时

  4. What did you hear?

  5. Fill the gap

    I'll send you the agenda first.

    我先把____传给你

  6. Pick the reply

    Zhi-Ming says:

    三点开始喔。

    We start at three.

    And you reply with:

  7. Swap the word

    You want a work meeting, not a meal. Swap in the meeting word.

    我们约个时间____吧

  8. What do you say?

    You just sent Zhi-Ming the agenda in LINE. Check that it arrived.

  9. Pick the reply

    Zhi-Ming says:

    三点当面开。

    We'll meet in person at three.

    And you reply with:

  10. What do you say?

    Yi-Jun has a presentation this afternoon. Wish her a smooth time.

Say it — your meeting lines

You play Maya and write to Zhi-Ming in the LINE group. Listen to each cue, then say the line out loud.

Tap the microphone to speak. You can replay his line before your turn.

  1. You message Zhi-Ming in the co-working LINE group.
  2. Maya (you)Suggest setting a time to meet.

    我们约个时间开会吧

    Let's set a time for a meeting.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

Simplified ChineseEnglish
我们约个时间开会吧Let's set a time for a meeting.
下午三点方便吗？Is three in the afternoon convenient?
会议大概一个小时The meeting is about an hour.
我先把议程传给你I'll send you the agenda first.
我们线上开还是当面开？Online or in person?
我会准时到I'll be on time.
Next: lesson 154The meeting runs long

Save your progress — it’s free

Keep your place in the course and see which lines you’ve learned.

Want the next lesson in your inbox?

Get the next lesson by email, one a day.

Where should we start?
Join the newsletter

Daily lesson emails are coming soon. Newsletter subscribers get them first.

Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Today's meeting lines are in Yak Cards with more phrases for work chats.

Review a few cards before your next call so the time and agenda come easily.

Open Yak Cards