Simplified Chinese course

Lesson 211 of 240

New here? This is lesson 211 of a free 240-lesson Simplified Chinese course.

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Run the meeting in Simplified Chinese

Maya now chairs the weekly check-in at the co-working space. Zhi-Ming wants the schedule in plain words, and Yi-Jun has a progress update that always runs long if left alone.

Learn six lines to open, steer, and close a short meeting. You will name the agenda, ask for brief reports, invite extras, then sum up and promise the minutes.

The meeting ends on time. That is the point of chairing it.

By the end of this lesson

Open a meeting, name the agenda, ask for short reports, invite extras, sum up, and send the minutes.

  • 我们开始吧Let's begin.
  • 今天要讨论三件事Today we need to discuss three things.
  • 请大家简单报告一下Everyone please give a short report.
  • 有没有人有补充？Does anyone have anything to add?
  • 我整理一下今天的结论Let me sum up today's conclusions.
  • 会议纪录我会传给大家I'll send the minutes to everyone.

Scene — a weekly check-in

The small meeting room at the co-working space has a round table and a whiteboard with a blank agenda.

Maya sits facing Zhi-Ming and Yi-Jun. She used to follow their meetings; today she chairs.

Zhi-Ming has his notebook open. Yi-Jun is already talking with her hands. Maya wants three items done before the hour is up.

Maya sits as chair at a round coworking table facing Zhi-Ming with an open notebook and Yi-Jun already gesturing, a blank whiteboard behind them.

Learn — lines for the chair

These six lines take you from opening the meeting to sending the minutes. Listen, then say each one out loud.

Notice how 吧 and 一下 keep the chair's requests light. 有没有 builds a yes-no question without 吗.

  1. Maya plants both palms on the round table to start the meeting while Zhi-Ming looks up from a cup and Yi-Jun drops both hands.

    我们开始吧

    Let's begin.

    When to use it: Use this to open a meeting once everyone is in place.

    吧 makes the start a suggestion, so it does not sound like an order.

    Say it: 吧 is a light neutral tone after 开始.

  2. Maya holds up three fingers above the table while Zhi-Ming writes in a notebook and Yi-Jun leans in with a chin on one fist.

    今天要讨论三件事

    Today we need to discuss three things.

    When to use it: Use this right after you open, to name how many topics you will cover.

    件 is the measure word for matters, so 三件事 means three items.

  3. Maya extends an open palm to invite short reports while Zhi-Ming points at a notebook page and Yi-Jun waits with one hand on the table.

    请大家简单报告一下

    Everyone please give a short report.

    When to use it: Use this when you want each person to give a short update.

    一下 after the verb keeps the request light and short, not heavy.

  4. Yi-Jun lifts one finger to add a point while Maya holds both palms up and Zhi-Ming pauses with a pen in the air.

    有没有人有补充？

    Does anyone have anything to add?

    When to use it: Ask this after the reports and before you close that topic.

    有没有 is a yes-no question that stays in place, so you do not add 吗.

    Say it: 没 in 有没有 is a second tone, not a light tone.

  5. Maya stacks loose papers for the wrap-up while Zhi-Ming and Yi-Jun sit soft in the background beside a closed notebook.

    我整理一下今天的结论

    Let me sum up today's conclusions.

    When to use it: Use this when you wrap up what the group just decided.

    一下 here means you will sum up briefly, not give a long speech.

  6. Maya taps a laptop to send the minutes while Zhi-Ming closes a notebook and Yi-Jun reaches for a tote to leave.

    会议纪录我会传给大家

    I'll send the minutes to everyone.

    When to use it: Say this at the end so people know they will get the notes.

    Name the topic first: 会议纪录 is what you will send, then who will do it.

Story — the meeting ends on time

Maya chairs this week's check-in with Zhi-Ming and Yi-Jun. She keeps the three items moving and ends on time.

Listen for how she opens, asks for reports, then sums up.

  1. The three of them sit down. The clock is already close to the hour.
  2. Zhi-Ming人到齐了。Everyone's here.
  3. Maya我们开始吧。Let's begin.
  4. Yi-Jun好喔。Okay.
  5. Maya今天要讨论三件事。Today we need to discuss three things.
  6. Maya请大家简单报告一下。Everyone please give a short report.
  7. Zhi-Ming设计稿已经完成了，预计礼拜五交。The design draft is done, and it's due Friday.
  8. Yi-Jun我还在修改中，客户那边比较慢。I'm still revising; the client side is a bit slow.
  9. Maya有没有人有补充？Does anyone have anything to add?
  10. Yi-Jun我可以补充一下吗？May I add something?
  11. Maya可以啊。Sure, go ahead.
  12. Yi-Jun客户回复会晚一点，所以我还在等。The client will reply a bit late, so I'm still waiting.
  13. Zhi-Ming了解。Got it.
  14. Maya我整理一下今天的结论。Let me sum up today's conclusions.
  15. Maya设计稿礼拜五交，怡君继续改，志明去追客户。The design is due Friday, Yi-Jun keeps revising, and Zhi-Ming will chase the client.
  16. Zhi-Ming时间差不多了。We're about out of time.
  17. Maya会议纪录我会传给大家。I'll send the minutes to everyone.
  18. Yi-Jun辛苦了。Thanks for your hard work.
  19. Maya那就这样吧。Then let's settle on that.

Practice — run the meeting

Work through ten short exercises that open, steer, and close the meeting. Pick the line that fits each moment.

After you answer, read why the other choice fails, then say the right line once more.

0 of 10 done

  1. What does it mean?

    我们开始吧

  2. What do you say?

    You have just opened. Tell the group how many items you will cover.

  3. Build the line

    Everyone please give a short report.

    Tap the words in order.

  4. Fill the gap

    Does anyone have anything to add?

    有没有人有____？

  5. What did you hear?

  6. Swap the word

    You are closing. Promise to send the minutes to everyone later.

    会议纪录我会____大家

  7. Pick the reply

    Zhi-Ming says:

    有没有人有补充？

    Does anyone have anything to add?

    And you reply with:

  8. Match the pairs

    Simplified Chinese

    我们开始吧Drop the English here
    请大家简单报告一下Drop the English here
    我整理一下今天的结论Drop the English here
    会议纪录我会传给大家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?

    A short meeting has just wrapped up. Thank the person who ran it.

  10. Pick the reply

    Yi-Jun says:

    我再讲细一点喔。

    I'll go into a bit more detail.

    And you reply with:

Say it — your turn to chair

You play Maya and chair the weekly meeting. Listen to each cue, then say the line out loud.

Tap the microphone to speak. You can replay the other person's line before your turn.

  1. Everyone is seated. Maya is in the chair, and the hour has already started.
  2. Maya (you)Open the meeting now that people are here.

    我们开始吧

    Let's begin.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

Simplified ChineseEnglish
我们开始吧Let's begin.
今天要讨论三件事Today we need to discuss three things.
请大家简单报告一下Everyone please give a short report.
有没有人有补充？Does anyone have anything to add?
我整理一下今天的结论Let me sum up today's conclusions.
会议纪录我会传给大家I'll send the minutes to everyone.
Next: lesson 212Say no kindly

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Today's meeting lines are in Yak Cards with more phrases for work calls and check-ins.

Review a few meeting cards each day so chairing feels ordinary.

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