Traditional Chinese course

Lesson 89 of 240

New here? This is lesson 89 of a free 240-lesson Traditional Chinese course.

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Maybe and Almost There in Traditional Chinese

At 8:50, your group chat is full of confident updates: everyone is nearly there, yet nobody has arrived.

Use short replies to say plans are uncertain, things should work, or you're already travelling.

Then the movie starts before the group meets. Practice choosing the right update and responding naturally.

By the end of this lesson

Say that plans depend on the situation, something will probably work, you are on your way, or it is too late.

  • 看情況It depends.
  • 不一定Not necessarily.
  • 應該可以It should be fine.
  • 我快到了I'm almost there.
  • 我在路上I'm on my way.
  • 來不及了It's too late.

Scene — the 8:50 group chat

At 8:50, Maya checks the group chat while heading toward a Taipei movie theater. Yi-Jun asks for updates; Zhi-Ming and A-Li are still on their way.

A-Li is not predicting anything—he is simply unsure where he is in the trip. The group keeps messaging as the start time gets closer.

Maya checks the group chat while heading toward a nearby movie theater, as Yi-Jun seeks an update and Zhi-Ming and A-Li are still in transit.

Learn — updates when plans are uncertain

These six useful replies help you talk about uncertain plans, progress on the way, and a missed deadline.

Notice how a small change in wording can show whether you are hopeful, unsure, or already too late.

  1. Maya gives a tentative shrug while checking her phone on the walk to the theater.

    看情況

    It depends.

    When to use it: Use this short reply when the answer depends on what happens.

    This works as a complete reply when you cannot give a definite answer yet.

  2. Yi-Jun studies his phone with an unsure expression while asking the group for an update.

    不一定

    Not necessarily.

    When to use it: Use this to say something is possible but not certain.

    一定 means certain; 不一定 says that something is not guaranteed.

    Say it: In 一定, 一 changes to a rising tone before the fourth-tone 定.

  3. Zhi-Ming offers a calm thumbs-up while checking his phone near the station exit.

    應該可以

    It should be fine.

    When to use it: Use this when you think something will probably work.

    應該 makes this a likely answer, not a promise.

  4. Zhi-Ming strides toward the station exit with his phone in hand, looking close to arrival.

    我快到了

    I'm almost there.

    When to use it: Tell someone this when you are close to arriving.

    快 before 到了 means you are close to arriving, not already there.

  5. A-Li checks his phone uncertainly while traveling toward the movie theater.

    我在路上

    I'm on my way.

    When to use it: Send this update after you have started travelling.

    This says you are travelling, without saying how close you are.

  6. Maya hurries toward the nearby theater entrance with a worried glance at the time.

    來不及了

    It's too late.

    When to use it: Use this when there is no longer enough time to do something.

    了 marks the situation as having changed: now there is not enough time.

Story — a chat before the movie

The group is trying to meet for a movie, but the messages keep arriving from different places.

Listen for how each person describes the timing, and notice that nobody has arrived yet.

  1. Yi-Jun八點五十了，電影九點開始。It's 8:50; the movie starts at nine.
  2. Maya我在路上。I'm on my way.
  3. Yi-Jun瑪雅，你快到了嗎？Maya, are you almost there?
  4. Maya我快到了。I'm almost there.
  5. Yi-Jun志明，你到哪裡了？Zhi-Ming, where are you now?
  6. Zhi-Ming我在路上。I'm on my way.
  7. Yi-Jun志明，你趕得上嗎？Zhi-Ming, will you make it?
  8. Zhi-Ming應該可以。It should be fine.
  9. Maya阿犛，你呢？A-Li, how about you?
  10. A-Li看情況。It depends.
  11. Yi-Jun阿犛，你現在在哪裡？A-Li, where are you now?
  12. A-Li我在捷運站。I'm at the MRT station.
  13. Maya那你趕得上嗎？Then will you make it?
  14. A-Li不一定。Not necessarily.
  15. Maya來不及了，電影開始了。It's too late; the movie has started.
  16. Yi-Jun好喔，晚點見。Okay, see you later.

Practice — check the timing

Try eight short exercises about arriving, deciding, and keeping someone updated.

Use the context to tell a hopeful answer from a definite one, then practise the lines aloud.

0 of 8 done

  1. What does it mean?

    看情況

  2. What do you say?

    Someone asks if A-Li will definitely make it, but you cannot be sure.

  3. Build the line

    It should be fine.

    Tap the words in order.

  4. Fill the gap

    I'm almost there.

    我快____

  5. What did you hear?

  6. Pick the reply

    Yi-Jun says:

    電影已經結束了，現在才出發，還趕得上嗎？

    The movie has already ended. If we leave now, can we still make it?

    And you reply with:

  7. What do you say?

    You arrive after your friends and want to tell them you are late.

  8. What do you say?

    You are ending a chat and want to tell your friends you will see them later.

Say it — send your update

You are Maya, sending updates while your friends try to meet before a movie.

Listen to each cue, then say a short, natural reply. The messages get more urgent as the start time approaches.

  1. The group chat starts at 8:50.
  2. Maya (you)Tell Yi-Jun you have started travelling.

    我在路上

    I'm on my way.

0 of 4 said

Recap — what you can say now

Traditional ChineseEnglish
看情況It depends.
不一定Not necessarily.
應該可以It should be fine.
我快到了I'm almost there.
我在路上I'm on my way.
來不及了It's too late.
Next: lesson 90Good news, bad news

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Today's useful updates are in Yak Cards with more phrases for everyday plans.

Review the cards when you have a moment, then try sending a short update in your next chat.

Open Yak Cards