Simplified Chinese course

Lesson 156 of 240

New here? This is lesson 156 of a free 240-lesson Simplified Chinese course.

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A polite message at work in Simplified Chinese

Maya needs to write Zhi-Ming a short work message on LINE. Yi-Jun reads it over her shoulder and trims an extra phrase.

Learn how to open politely, ask about a project's progress, mention an attachment, and close with a Taiwan work thank-you.

You will hear 辛苦了 after effort, not only after hardship. Keep the fortune slip out of this; today is only the message.

By the end of this lesson

Write a short polite work message: open, ask about progress, mention a file, and thank someone for effort.

  • 您好，我是玛雅Hello, this is Maya.
  • 想请问这个案子的进度I'd like to ask about the progress of this project.
  • 麻烦您回复，谢谢Please reply, thank you.
  • 附件是最新的版本The attachment is the latest version.
  • 如果有问题，再请告诉我Please let me know if there are any problems.
  • 辛苦了Thanks for your hard work.

Scene — a LINE draft at work

Maya sits at the co-working space two MRT stops from Banyan Lane. A LINE draft to Zhi-Ming is open on her laptop.

Yi-Jun leans in, reads the first sentence, and cuts an extra phrase. Zhi-Ming wants schedules in plain words; the message should stay short and polite.

Maya sits at a coworking desk with a laptop open while Yi-Jun leans in to cut an extra courtesy and A-Li the yak occupies a pair of stools.

Learn — a polite work message

These six lines build a short polite work message. Listen, then say each one aloud.

辛苦了 thanks someone for effort at work. 您 is for this formal note, not for friends.

  1. Maya sits at the laptop with a hand on the chest in a polite self-introduction.

    您好，我是玛雅

    Hello, this is Maya.

    When to use it: Open a polite work message or call by giving your name.

    您 is for this formal work moment; friends would hear 你.

  2. Maya leans forward and points at a project folder beside the laptop while checking the work's progress.

    想请问这个案子的进度

    I'd like to ask about the progress of this project.

    When to use it: Ask a coworker or client how this project is going.

    想请问 softens the question so it does not sound like a demand.

    Say it: The 子 in 案子 is a light neutral tone.

  3. Maya sits back from the laptop with hands together, waiting politely for a reply.

    麻烦您回复，谢谢

    Please reply, thank you.

    When to use it: End a message when you still need a written reply.

    麻烦您 is a polite request; it does not mean the task is a huge bother.

  4. Maya holds a closed document folder toward the laptop as if attaching the newest file.

    附件是最新的版本

    The attachment is the latest version.

    When to use it: Tell them the file you sent is the newest version.

    的 links 最新 to the noun 版本 that follows.

  5. Maya faces the laptop with an open palm, inviting any problems to be named.

    如果有问题，再请告诉我

    Please let me know if there are any problems.

    When to use it: Invite them to speak up if something is wrong.

    再 here means then, after a problem appears, not again.

  6. Maya offers a small grateful bow to Yi-Jun after the short polite note is finished.

    辛苦了

    Thanks for your hard work.

    When to use it: Thank someone at work after they have put in effort.

    This Taiwan work thank-you marks effort, not only hardship or pain.

    Say it: The 了 is a light neutral tone after 辛苦.

Story — Yi-Jun cuts an extra phrase

Listen as Maya drafts a LINE message to Zhi-Ming. Yi-Jun reads over her shoulder and cuts an extra phrase.

Later, Zhi-Ming replies after he opens the file.

  1. Yi-Jun你在写给志明喔？You're writing to Zhi-Ming, huh?
  2. Maya对啊，工作消息。Yeah, a work message.
  3. Yi-Jun我看一下，有一段多余。Let me look; there's an extra phrase.
  4. Maya哪一段？Which part?
  5. Yi-Jun“打扰了”拿掉就好。Just drop the extra phrase “sorry to bother you.”
  6. Maya您好，我是玛雅。Hello, this is Maya.
  7. Yi-Jun这样比较干净。That's cleaner.
  8. Maya想请问这个案子的进度。I'd like to ask about the progress of this project.
  9. Yi-Jun附件要写进去吗？Should we mention the attachment?
  10. Maya附件是最新的版本。The attachment is the latest version.
  11. Maya如果有问题，再请告诉我。Please let me know if there are any problems.
  12. Yi-Jun结尾请他回复吧。Ask him to reply at the end.
  13. Maya麻烦您回复，谢谢。Please reply, thank you.
  14. Yi-Jun好，可以传了。Okay, you can send it.
  15. Maya sends the LINE. A while later, Zhi-Ming replies.
  16. Zhi-Ming文件有收到，谢谢。I got the file, thanks.
  17. Zhi-Ming辛苦了。Thanks for your hard work.

Practice — send it cleanly

Work through quick exercises on openings, progress questions, attachments, and closings.

After each answer, read why the other options fail, then say the right line again.

0 of 11 done

  1. What does it mean?

    您好，我是玛雅

  2. What do you say?

    You need to ask Zhi-Ming how this project is coming along.

  3. Fill the gap

    Please reply, thank you.

    麻烦您____，谢谢

  4. Build the line

    The attachment is the latest version.

    Tap the words in order.

  5. What did you hear?

  6. Swap the word

    You sent the file and want them to tell you if anything is wrong.

    如果有问题，再请____我

  7. Pick the reply

    Zhi-Ming says:

    设计稿我昨天看完了。

    I finished looking at the design draft yesterday.

    And you reply with:

  8. Match the pairs

    Simplified Chinese

    您好，我是玛雅Drop the English here
    想请问这个案子的进度Drop the English here
    附件是最新的版本Drop the English here
    辛苦了Drop the English here

    English

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

  9. What do you say?

    You only need the short polite opener before a question, not a full work sentence.

  10. What does it mean?

    谢谢

  11. What do you say?

    You already gave your name. Greet the client again with only the polite two-character hello.

Say it — your message to Zhi-Ming

You play Maya and write the work message with Yi-Jun beside you. Listen to each cue, then say the line.

Tap the microphone to speak. You can replay Yi-Jun or Zhi-Ming before your turn.

  1. At the co-working space, Maya drafts a LINE message to Zhi-Ming.
  2. Yi-Jun先写你是谁。Write who you are first.
  3. Maya (you)Introduce yourself politely by name.

    您好，我是玛雅

    Hello, this is Maya.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

Simplified ChineseEnglish
您好，我是玛雅Hello, this is Maya.
想请问这个案子的进度I'd like to ask about the progress of this project.
麻烦您回复，谢谢Please reply, thank you.
附件是最新的版本The attachment is the latest version.
如果有问题，再请告诉我Please let me know if there are any problems.
辛苦了Thanks for your hard work.
Next: lesson 157The LINE misunderstanding

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Today's work-message lines are in Yak Cards with more polite lines for LINE and email.

Review a few work-message cards before you write to a client.

Open Yak Cards