Simplified Chinese course

Lesson 200 of 240

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Deadlines in Simplified Chinese

Zhi-Ming wants a clear date for the design draft. You need to ask when the work is due, say if you can make it, and ask for one extra day if the schedule is tight.

He is kind when the plan has to move. Learn six lines for deadlines at work, then use them with Zhi-Ming.

The extra day is ordinary office talk. A-Li's unfinished drink and the slip in the till can wait.

By the end of this lesson

Ask when work is due, say if you can make it, and request one extra day.

  • 这个什么时候要交？When is this due?
  • 我赶得上I can make it.
  • 恐怕赶不上I'm afraid I can't make it in time.
  • 可以延后一天吗？Can it be delayed by a day?
  • 我会尽量在周五前完成I'll try to finish before Friday.
  • 时间有点紧Time is a bit tight.

Scene — a tight deadline

Maya sits with Zhi-Ming at the design studio two stops from Banyan Lane. A draft is almost ready, but Thursday looks too soon.

Zhi-Ming likes dates in plain words. He will move the deadline by one day if she asks clearly. Nothing here solves the fortune slip.

Maya and Zhi-Ming sit at a sunlit Taipei design-studio table with a nearly finished draft between them, both studying the work as if the due day is too soon.

Learn — due dates at work

These six lines help you ask about a due date and say whether you can finish on time.

Notice 赶得上 and 赶不上, then the polite request for one extra day.

  1. Maya lifts a draft sheet toward Zhi-Ming, head tilted, clearly checking when the work must be handed over.

    这个什么时候要交？

    When is this due?

    When to use it: Ask when a task or file must be handed in.

    交 here means hand the work in, not pay a bill.

  2. Maya sits tall at the laptop, steady and ready to finish the work on time.

    我赶得上

    I can make it.

    When to use it: Say you can finish before the deadline.

    得 after the verb shows you can reach the result in time.

    Say it: The 得 after 赶 is a light tone.

  3. Maya slumps over a messy pile of drafts with one hand on her forehead, worried she cannot finish in time.

    恐怕赶不上

    I'm afraid I can't make it in time.

    When to use it: Soften the news that you cannot finish in time.

    赶不上 is how you say you cannot make it; 恐怕 softens that news.

  4. Maya half-stands and leans across the table toward seated Zhi-Ming with both palms open, politely asking to push the deadline by one day.

    可以延后一天吗？

    Can it be delayed by a day?

    When to use it: Ask politely to push a deadline one day later.

    延后一天 means the due date moves one day later.

    Say it: 一 is fourth tone before first-tone 天.

  5. Maya sits again, nodding, one hand flat on the draft stack and the other pointing toward a later empty box on a blank planner, earnest about finishing soon.

    我会尽量在周五前完成

    I'll try to finish before Friday.

    When to use it: Promise to try to finish before Friday.

    周五前 means you finish before Friday, not after that day.

  6. Zhi-Ming pinches a small gap between thumb and finger and turns a blank watch face toward the light, showing that the schedule is tight.

    时间有点紧

    Time is a bit tight.

    When to use it: Warn that the schedule leaves little room.

    紧 here means the time is short, not physically tight.

Story — one extra day

Maya checks the due date with Zhi-Ming at the studio. Thursday is too soon, so she asks for one extra day.

He agrees kindly. Listen for how she says she can make Friday.

  1. Zhi-Ming玛雅，我们对一下时间。Maya, let's align on the time.
  2. Maya这个什么时候要交？When is this due?
  3. Zhi-Ming周四要交。It's due Thursday.
  4. Maya时间有点紧。Time is a bit tight.
  5. Zhi-Ming你还赶得上吗？Can you still make it?
  6. Maya恐怕赶不上。I'm afraid I can't make it in time.
  7. Zhi-Ming那怎么办？So what should we do?
  8. Maya可以延后一天吗？Can it be delayed by a day?
  9. Zhi-Ming好喔，延后一天没问题。Sure, a one-day delay is no problem.
  10. Maya我会尽量在周五前完成。I'll try to finish before Friday.
  11. Zhi-Ming预计礼拜五交。Expected to deliver Friday.
  12. Maya我明白了。I understand.
  13. Zhi-Ming有需要的话随时跟我说。Tell me anytime if you need anything.
  14. Maya我赶得上。I can make it.

Practice — make the deadline

Work through ten short tasks on due dates and tight time. Pick the line that fits each work moment.

After each answer, read why the others fail, then say the right line out loud.

0 of 10 done

  1. What does it mean?

    这个什么时候要交？

  2. What do you say?

    Zhi-Ming asked if you can finish by Thursday. You cannot make that time.

  3. Build the line

    I can make it.

    Tap the words in order.

  4. Fill the gap

    Can it be delayed by a day?

    可以____一天吗？

  5. What did you hear?

  6. Pick the reply

    Zhi-Ming says:

    这周时间还够吗？

    Is there still enough time this week?

    And you reply with:

  7. What did you hear?

  8. Match the pairs

    Simplified Chinese

    这个什么时候要交？Drop the English here
    我赶得上Drop the English here
    恐怕赶不上Drop the English here
    时间有点紧Drop the English here

    English

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

  9. What does it mean?

    我明白了

  10. What do you say?

    State the expected hand-in day: Friday.

Say it — your deadline

You are Maya. Zhi-Ming is waiting for a clear date. Listen to each cue, then say the line about the deadline.

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

  1. Maya sits down with Zhi-Ming to fix a due date.
  2. Maya (you)Ask when this is due.

    这个什么时候要交？

    When is this due?

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

Simplified ChineseEnglish
这个什么时候要交？When is this due?
我赶得上I can make it.
恐怕赶不上I'm afraid I can't make it in time.
可以延后一天吗？Can it be delayed by a day?
我会尽量在周五前完成I'll try to finish before Friday.
时间有点紧Time is a bit tight.
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