Traditional Chinese - Cancelling Plans

不好意思，我沒辦法去了。

Bù hǎo yìsi, wǒ méi bànfǎ qù le.

I'm sorry, I can't make it.

Meaning: 不好意思，我沒辦法去了。 (Bù hǎo yìsi, wǒ méi bànfǎ qù le.) means “I’m sorry, I can’t make it.”

When to use: Use it to politely tell someone you cannot attend a plan you already agreed to.

Tip: Don’t drop 不好意思 (bù hǎo yìsi) if you are canceling close to the time; it softens the message.

我得取消我們原本的約。

Wǒ děi qǔxiāo wǒmen yuánběn de yuē.

I have to cancel our plans.

Meaning: 我得取消我們原本的約。 (Wǒ děi qǔxiāo wǒmen yuánběn de yuē.) means “I have to cancel our plans.”

When to use: Use it when you need to directly but politely cancel an existing plan.

Tip: 約 (yuē) here means an appointment or plan, not only a romantic date.

臨時有事

Línshí yǒu shì.

Something came up.

Meaning: 臨時有事。 (Línshí yǒu shì.) means “Something came up.”

When to use: Use it as a short, natural reason for canceling or changing plans.

我身體不太舒服。

Wǒ shēntǐ bú tài shūfú.

I'm not feeling well.

Meaning: 我身體不太舒服。 (Wǒ shēntǐ bú tài shūfú.) means “I’m not feeling well.”

When to use: Use it when you need to cancel because you feel sick or unwell.

Tip: 不太舒服 (bú tài shūfú) sounds softer and more natural than saying you are very sick unless it is serious.

可以改時間嗎

Kěyǐ gǎi shíjiān ma?

Can we reschedule?

Meaning: 可以改時間嗎？ (Kěyǐ gǎi shíjiān ma?) means “Can we reschedule?”

When to use: Use it when you want to change the plan to another time.

可以改到___嗎？

Kěyǐ gǎi dào ___ ma?

Can we move it to ___?

Meaning: 可以改到___嗎？ (Kěyǐ gǎi dào ___ ma?) means “Can we move it to ___?”

When to use: Use it to suggest a new day or time.

Tip: Use 改到 (gǎi dào) before the new time, like 改到明天 (gǎi dào míngtiān).

___你還方便嗎？

___ nǐ hái fāngbiàn ma?

Does ___ still work for you?

Meaning: ___你還方便嗎？ (___ nǐ hái fāngbiàn ma?) means “Does ___ still work for you?”

When to use: Use it to check if a proposed time still works for the other person.

我們改天再約吧。

Wǒmen gǎi tiān zài yuē ba.

Let's do it another time.

Meaning: 我們改天再約吧。 (Wǒmen gǎi tiān zài yuē ba.) means “Let’s do it another time.”

When to use: Use it when you want to leave the new time open for now.

不好意思，這麼臨時通知你。

Bù hǎoyìsi, zhème línshí tōngzhī nǐ.

Sorry for the short notice.

Meaning: 不好意思，這麼臨時通知你。 (Bù hǎoyìsi, zhème línshí tōngzhī nǐ.) means “Sorry for the short notice.”

When to use: Use it when you cancel or change plans at the last minute.

謝謝你體諒

Xièxie nǐ tǐliàng.

Thanks for understanding.

Meaning: 謝謝你體諒。 (Xièxie nǐ tǐliàng.) means “Thanks for understanding.”

When to use: Use it after someone accepts your cancellation or change kindly.

我需要改一下___。

Wǒ xūyào gǎi yíxià ___.

I need to change the ___.

Meaning: 我需要改一下___。 (Wǒ xūyào gǎi yíxià ___.) means “I need to change the ___.”

When to use: Use it when one part of the arrangement needs to change, such as the time, place, or plan.

我們可以晚一點見嗎？

Wǒmen kěyǐ wǎn yìdiǎn jiàn ma?

Is it okay if we meet later?

Meaning: 我們可以晚一點見嗎？ (Wǒmen kěyǐ wǎn yìdiǎn jiàn ma?) means “Is it okay if we meet later?”

When to use: Use it to politely ask to meet later than planned.

那個時間我沒辦法。

Nàge shíjiān wǒ méi bànfǎ.

I'm not available then.

Meaning: 那個時間我沒辦法。 (Nàge shíjiān wǒ méi bànfǎ.) means “I’m not available then.”

When to use: Use it when the suggested time does not work for you.