Simplified Chinese course

Lesson 213 of 240

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Negotiate a deadline in Simplified Chinese

At the design studio, the deadline for Maya’s project is slipping. Zhi-Ming needs something soon, but a polished final version will take longer.

Learn to describe a tight timeline, propose staged delivery, name your earliest finish, and request two extra days without sounding abrupt.

Then hear how Zhi-Ming accepts the plan—and turns the negotiation into a coffee break.

By the end of this lesson

Raise a deadline concern, propose staged delivery, request more time, and confirm an agreed schedule.

  • 这个时程可能有点赶This timeline may be a bit tight.
  • 能不能分两个阶段交？Can we deliver in two stages?
  • 第一版先给你，第二版下周The first version comes first, and the second next week.
  • 我最快周三能完成The earliest I can finish is Wednesday.
  • 如果可以的话，再给我两天If possible, give me two more days.
  • 我们就这样说定了Then it's agreed.

Scene — a deadline under pressure

At the small design studio near Da’an, Maya and Zhi-Ming review a project that is behind schedule.

The client wants an update now, while Maya needs room to finish the work carefully.

They negotiate concrete stages and dates. The fortune slip stays folded elsewhere, and A-Li’s soy milk remains unfinished at breakfast.

Maya and Zhi-Ming sit small at a sunlit Da'an design-studio desk, bent together over blurred mockups.

Learn — stages and extra time

These lines help you raise a schedule concern, suggest two delivery stages, and be specific about what you can finish and when.

Notice how conditional wording can soften a request while keeping the proposed dates clear.

  1. Maya sits recoiling from a row of blank colored schedule strips, one hand at her temple.

    这个时程可能有点赶

    This timeline may be a bit tight.

    When to use it: Use this tactful comment when a proposed schedule may be difficult to meet.

    可能 softens the assessment, making the concern less blunt than saying the timeline is simply too tight.

  2. Maya stands at the desk dividing blurred printouts into two equal piles while Zhi-Ming watches from his chair.

    能不能分两个阶段交？

    Can we deliver in two stages?

    When to use it: Suggest splitting one delivery into two agreed milestones.

    能不能 is a common A-not-A question form; 分两个阶段 frames a proposal to split delivery into two stages.

    Say it: The 不 between repeated 能 verbs is usually neutral in this A-not-A question.

  3. Maya slides one neat folder across the table while keeping a second messy stack at her side.

    第一版先给你，第二版下周

    The first version comes first, and the second next week.

    When to use it: Use this to state a clear first delivery and a later follow-up.

    先 marks the first delivery; 第二版下周 makes the later milestone explicit.

  4. Maya stands at a wall of blank colored sticky squares, tapping a later square and looking back over her shoulder.

    我最快周三能完成

    The earliest I can finish is Wednesday.

    When to use it: Give the earliest realistic day you can complete the work.

    最快 means earliest possible; the time expression 周三 comes before 能完成.

  5. Maya leans across the desk toward Zhi-Ming with one palm open and two fingers raised.

    如果可以的话，再给我两天

    If possible, give me two more days.

    When to use it: Use this softened request when you need two additional days.

    如果可以的话 softens a request; 再给我两天 asks for two additional days.

  6. Zhi-Ming sits back at the studio desk closing an unmarked notebook with a confirming nod while Maya sits opposite.

    我们就这样说定了

    Then it's agreed.

    When to use it: Use this to confirm that both sides have settled the plan.

    说定了 describes an agreement that has now been settled; 了 marks the resulting state.

Story — a project agreement

Maya and Zhi-Ming need to settle a project deadline at the design studio. The client wants progress now, but the complete version needs more time.

Listen for how they separate the first delivery from the later version, then agree on a coffee break.

  1. Zhi-Ming客户原本希望我们星期一交完整版本。The client originally hoped we could deliver the complete version on Monday.
  2. Maya我们进度有点落后。We're a bit behind schedule.
  3. Zhi-Ming我知道，客户今天想先看到成果，不一定要全部完成。I know. The client wants to see some progress today; it doesn't all have to be finished.
  4. Maya这个时程可能有点赶。This timeline may be a bit tight.
  5. Maya能不能分两个阶段交？Can we deliver in two stages?
  6. Zhi-Ming可以，先让我看到方向，细节下周再补。Sure. Let me see the direction first, and we can add the details next week.
  7. Maya第一版先给你，第二版下周。The first version comes first, and the second next week.
  8. Zhi-Ming那第一版最快什么时候可以交？Then when is the earliest you can deliver the first version?
  9. Maya我最快周三能完成。The earliest I can finish is Wednesday.
  10. Zhi-Ming那你还需要多几天？Then how many extra days do you still need?
  11. Maya如果可以的话，再给我两天。If possible, give me two more days.
  12. Zhi-Ming好，我接受两个阶段。第一版周三交，第二版下周再给我。All right. I accept two stages. First version on Wednesday, and the second next week.
  13. Maya我们就这样说定了。Then it's agreed.
  14. Zhi-Ming第一版周三交，第二版下周补齐，这样可以吗？The first version is due Wednesday, and the second will be completed next week. Does that work?
  15. Maya可以，我今天先整理第一版的范围。That works. I'll outline the scope of the first version today.
  16. Zhi-Ming好，我把范围记下来。Great, I'll write down the scope.
  17. Zhi-Ming谈完一起去买咖啡，我请客。After we finish, let's get coffee. My treat.
  18. Maya好啊，刚好可以休息一下。Sure, that works out perfectly for a short break.

Practice — find a workable schedule

Work through eight exercises to propose stages, ask for extra time, and confirm an agreement. You will also revisit two useful project updates.

Read the situation carefully: the best answer should fit both the meaning and the negotiation.

0 of 8 done

  1. Build the line

    This timeline may be a bit tight.

    Tap the words in order.

  2. Fill the gap

    Can we deliver in two stages?

    能不能分____阶段交？

  3. What do you say?

    Offer a staged delivery: the first version first, and the second next week.

  4. What did you hear?

  5. Pick the reply

    Zhi-Ming says:

    那你还需要多几天？

    Then how many extra days do you still need?

    And you reply with:

  6. What does it mean?

    我们就这样说定了

  7. What do you say?

    Tell Zhi-Ming that the project is behind schedule.

  8. What does it mean?

    预计礼拜五交

Say it — negotiate your deadline

You play Maya in a project check-in with Zhi-Ming. Listen to each prompt, then say the line that moves the negotiation forward.

Make the request politely, keep the milestones clear, and finish by confirming the agreement.

  1. Maya and Zhi-Ming begin reviewing the project schedule.
  2. Maya (you)Say that the proposed timeline may be too tight.

    这个时程可能有点赶

    This timeline may be a bit tight.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

Simplified ChineseEnglish
这个时程可能有点赶This timeline may be a bit tight.
能不能分两个阶段交？Can we deliver in two stages?
第一版先给你，第二版下周The first version comes first, and the second next week.
我最快周三能完成The earliest I can finish is Wednesday.
如果可以的话，再给我两天If possible, give me two more days.
我们就这样说定了Then it's agreed.
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