Traditional Chinese - Appointments

Lesson 119 of 152

A friendly front desk in Taiwan with a calendar, phone, and Traditional Chinese appointment notes, introducing Taiwan Mandarin phrases for appointments.

Goal: Smooth little questions for booking, checking, and changing plans.

Free traditional Chinese lessons with Taiwan Mandarin audio and speaking practice.

Appointment calls can feel like a tiny obstacle course—but you only need a few steady phrases to get through them. Today, we’ll make the front desk feel a lot less scary.

Level A2: In this lesson, you’ll practice practical phrases for appointment situations in Taiwan Mandarin. You’ll ask if a time works, how long an appointment will take, who it’s with, what to bring, whether to arrive early, and how to ask about reminders, waitlists, cancellations, or being a little late. Tiny Yak Yacker win: you’ll sound organized even if your calendar is chaos.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Ask whether a proposed time works using ___你方便嗎？ (___ nǐ fāngbiàn ma?)
  • Check appointment details like length, person, items to bring, and arrival time.
  • Handle common changes politely: 取消會收費嗎？ (Qǔxiāo huì shōufèi ma?), 可以幫我排候補嗎？ (Kěyǐ bāng wǒ pái hòubǔ ma?), and 我晚一點到可以嗎？ (Wǒ wǎn yìdiǎn dào kěyǐ ma?)
  • Practice A2 phone-call openings such as 我打來是想問一下我的預約。 (Wǒ dǎ lái shì xiǎng wèn yíxià wǒ de yùyuē.)
A learner checks a phone calendar and prepares to call a clinic in Taiwan, with Traditional Chinese reminders showing the appointment topic in Taiwan Mandarin.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

___你方便嗎？

___ nǐ fāngbiàn ma?

Does ___ work for you?

Meaning: Does ___ work for you?

When to use: Use this after saying a time or day to ask if that appointment time is convenient.

Tip: Put the time before 你方便嗎 (nǐ fāngbiàn ma), not after it.

星期三早上十點你方便嗎？

Xīngqísān zǎoshàng shí diǎn nǐ fāngbiàn ma?

Does Wednesday at 10 a.m. work for you?
明天下午你方便嗎？

Míngtiān xiàwǔ nǐ fāngbiàn ma?

Does tomorrow afternoon work for you?

這個預約大概要多久？

Zhège yùyuē dàgài yào duōjiǔ?

How long will the appointment take?

Meaning: How long will the appointment take?

When to use: Use this when you need to plan your schedule around the appointment.

這個預約大概要多久？我下午還有事。

Zhège yùyuē dàgài yào duōjiǔ? Wǒ xiàwǔ hái yǒu shì.

How long will this appointment take? I still have something in the afternoon.
請問，這個預約大概要多久？

Qǐngwèn, zhège yùyuē dàgài yào duōjiǔ?

Excuse me, about how long will this appointment take?

這個預約是跟哪一位約的？

Zhège yùyuē shì gēn nǎ yí wèi yuē de?

Who is the appointment with?

Meaning: Who is the appointment with?

When to use: Use this to ask which doctor, staff member, teacher, consultant, or other person the appointment is with.

Tip: 哪一位 (nǎ yí wèi) is polite for “which person”; in a front-desk call, it sounds nicer than 哪個人 (nǎ ge rén).

不好意思，這個預約是跟哪一位約的？

Bùhǎoyìsi, zhège yùyuē shì gēn nǎ yí wèi yuē de?

Excuse me, who is this appointment with?
請問這個預約是跟哪一位約的？

Qǐngwèn zhège yùyuē shì gēn nǎ yí wèi yuē de?

May I ask who this appointment is with?

我需要帶什麼

Wǒ xūyào dài shénme?

What should I bring?

Meaning: What should I bring?

When to use: Use this to ask about documents, ID, insurance cards, forms, or anything needed for the appointment.

我需要帶什麼？健保卡要帶嗎？

Wǒ xūyào dài shénme? Jiànbǎokǎ yào dài ma?

What should I bring? Should I bring my health insurance card?
第一次去，我需要帶什麼？

Dì yī cì qù, wǒ xūyào dài shénme?

It’s my first time going. What should I bring?

我需要提早到嗎？

Wǒ xūyào tízǎo dào ma?

Do I need to arrive early?

Meaning: Do I need to arrive early?

When to use: Use this to check whether you should come before the exact appointment time for check-in or paperwork.

我需要提早到嗎？還是準時到就好？

Wǒ xūyào tízǎo dào ma? Háishì zhǔnshí dào jiù hǎo?

Do I need to arrive early? Or is arriving on time okay?
明天的預約，我需要提早到嗎？

Míngtiān de yùyuē, wǒ xūyào tízǎo dào ma?

For tomorrow’s appointment, do I need to arrive early?

取消會收費嗎

Qǔxiāo huì shōufèi ma?

Is there a cancellation fee?

Meaning: Is there a cancellation fee?

When to use: Use this to ask if you’ll be charged money for canceling an appointment.

如果我臨時有事，取消會收費嗎？

Rúguǒ wǒ línshí yǒu shì, qǔxiāo huì shōufèi ma?

If something comes up suddenly, is there a cancellation fee?
不好意思，取消會收費嗎？

Bùhǎoyìsi, qǔxiāo huì shōufèi ma?

Excuse me, is there a cancellation fee?

可以幫我排候補嗎？

Kěyǐ bāng wǒ pái hòubǔ ma?

Can you put me on the waiting list?

Meaning: Can you put me on the waiting list?

When to use: Use this when the appointment slot you want is full, and you want to be contacted if an earlier spot opens.

Tip: 排候補 (pái hòubǔ) means joining a waitlist; it is not the same as 取消 (qǔxiāo), canceling.

如果有更早的時間，可以幫我排候補嗎？

Rúguǒ yǒu gèng zǎo de shíjiān, kěyǐ bāng wǒ pái hòubǔ ma?

If there’s an earlier time, can you put me on the waiting list?
這週都滿了嗎？可以幫我排候補嗎？

Zhè zhōu dōu mǎn le ma? Kěyǐ bāng wǒ pái hòubǔ ma?

Is this week all full? Can you put me on the waiting list?

我打來是想問一下我的預約。

Wǒ dǎ lái shì xiǎng wèn yíxià wǒ de yùyuē.

I'm calling about my appointment.

Meaning: I’m calling about my appointment.

When to use: Use this as a polite opening when you call or message about an existing appointment.

你好，我打來是想問一下我的預約。

Nǐ hǎo, wǒ dǎ lái shì xiǎng wèn yíxià wǒ de yùyuē.

Hello, I’m calling about my appointment.
不好意思，我打來是想問一下我的預約。

Bùhǎoyìsi, wǒ dǎ lái shì xiǎng wèn yíxià wǒ de yùyuē.

Excuse me, I’m calling about my appointment.

可以傳提醒給我嗎？

Kěyǐ chuán tíxǐng gěi wǒ ma?

Could you send me a reminder?

Meaning: Could you send me a reminder?

When to use: Use this to ask for an SMS, app message, or other reminder before the appointment.

可以傳提醒給我嗎？我怕忘記。

Kěyǐ chuán tíxǐng gěi wǒ ma? Wǒ pà wàngjì.

Could you send me a reminder? I’m afraid I’ll forget.
預約前一天，可以傳提醒給我嗎？

Yùyuē qián yì tiān, kěyǐ chuán tíxǐng gěi wǒ ma?

Could you send me a reminder the day before the appointment?

我晚一點到可以嗎？

Wǒ wǎn yìdiǎn dào kěyǐ ma?

Is it okay if I'm a little late?

Meaning: Is it okay if I’m a little late?

When to use: Use this when you expect to arrive after the planned time and want to ask if it is still okay.

路上有點塞，我晚一點到可以嗎？

Lùshàng yǒudiǎn sāi, wǒ wǎn yìdiǎn dào kěyǐ ma?

Traffic is a little backed up. Is it okay if I’m a little late?
不好意思，我晚一點到可以嗎？

Bùhǎoyìsi, wǒ wǎn yìdiǎn dào kěyǐ ma?

Sorry, is it okay if I’m a little late?

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

David calls a clinic reception desk to check his appointment details.

Anna sits at a reception desk while David calls about his appointment, showing a realistic Taiwan Mandarin phone conversation with Traditional Chinese text.

What kind of information is David calling to ask about?

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

你好，我打來是想問一下我的預約。

Nǐ hǎo, wǒ dǎ lái shì xiǎng wèn yíxià wǒ de yùyuē.

Hello, I’m calling about my appointment.

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

好的，請問這個預約是跟哪一位約的？

Hǎo de, qǐngwèn zhège yùyuē shì gēn nǎ yí wèi yuē de?

Sure. May I ask who the appointment is with?

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

是跟陳醫師。這個預約大概要多久？

Shì gēn Chén yīshī. Zhège yùyuē dàgài yào duōjiǔ?

It’s with Dr. Chen. How long will the appointment take?

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

大概三十分鐘。星期五下午三點你方便嗎？

Dàgài sānshí fēnzhōng. Xīngqíwǔ xiàwǔ sān diǎn nǐ fāngbiàn ma?

About thirty minutes. Does Friday at 3 p.m. work for you?

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

方便。我需要帶什麼？我需要提早到嗎？

Fāngbiàn. Wǒ xūyào dài shénme? Wǒ xūyào tízǎo dào ma?

That works. What should I bring? Do I need to arrive early?

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

請帶健保卡，提早十分鐘到。

Qǐng dài jiànbǎokǎ, tízǎo shí fēnzhōng dào.

Please bring your health insurance card and arrive ten minutes early.

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

可以傳提醒給我嗎？另外，取消會收費嗎？

Kěyǐ chuán tíxǐng gěi wǒ ma? Lìngwài, qǔxiāo huì shōufèi ma?

Could you send me a reminder? Also, is there a cancellation fee?

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

可以。前一天取消不會收費，也可以幫你排候補。

Kěyǐ. Qián yì tiān qǔxiāo bú huì shōufèi, yě kěyǐ bāng nǐ pái hòubǔ.

Yes. If you cancel the day before, there’s no fee, and we can also put you on the waiting list.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which phrase asks if Friday afternoon works for the other person?

You want to ask how long the appointment will take. What do you say?

The time you want is full, but you want a standby spot. What should you ask?

Which phrase is a natural phone-call opening about an existing appointment?

You want to know whether you need to arrive early: Do I need to arrive early?

你第一次去這間診所，預約是上午十點；你打電話問櫃台：___

You want to ask whether canceling costs money: Is there a cancellation fee?

你臨時有事，想取消明天的預約，但不確定要不要付費；你問櫃台：___

You will arrive a little late and want to check if it is okay: Is it okay if I’m a little late?

路上塞車，你可能會比預約時間晚到一點；你先打電話問：___

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

___你方便嗎？

___ nǐ fāngbiàn ma?

Does ___ work for you?

Say this phrase out loud:

這個預約大概要多久？

Zhège yùyuē dàgài yào duōjiǔ?

How long will the appointment take?

Say this phrase out loud:

這個預約是跟哪一位約的？

Zhège yùyuē shì gēn nǎ yí wèi yuē de?

Who is the appointment with?

Say this phrase out loud:

我需要帶什麼

Wǒ xūyào dài shénme?

What should I bring?

Say this phrase out loud:

我需要提早到嗎？

Wǒ xūyào tízǎo dào ma?

Do I need to arrive early?

Say this phrase out loud:

取消會收費嗎

Qǔxiāo huì shōufèi ma?

Is there a cancellation fee?

Say this phrase out loud:

可以幫我排候補嗎？

Kěyǐ bāng wǒ pái hòubǔ ma?

Can you put me on the waiting list?

Say this phrase out loud:

我打來是想問一下我的預約。

Wǒ dǎ lái shì xiǎng wèn yíxià wǒ de yùyuē.

I’m calling about my appointment.

Say this phrase out loud:

可以傳提醒給我嗎？

Kěyǐ chuán tíxǐng gěi wǒ ma?

Could you send me a reminder?

Say this phrase out loud:

我晚一點到可以嗎？

Wǒ wǎn yìdiǎn dào kěyǐ ma?

Is it okay if I’m a little late?