Traditional Chinese - Flexible Plans

Lesson 142 of 152

A lively Taiwan street scene with friends texting each other about being late, featuring Traditional Chinese and Taiwan Mandarin phrases for flexible plans and delays.

Goal: Short Taiwan-style phrases for delays, meetups, and quick decisions

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

Welcome back! Lesson 142 is all about tiny phrases that do big social work in Taiwan—especially when plans are changing, traffic is happening, or someone is waiting.

These are perfect for quick texts, phone calls, and casual meetups. Short, useful, and very real-life.

Level A1: Today you’ll practice Taiwan-friendly little phrases for flexible plans, soft yes/no answers, delays, arrivals, and MRT transfers. You’ll hear and say chunks like 看你 (Kàn nǐ), 不一定 (Bù yídìng), 我在路上 (Wǒ zài lùshàng), 塞車了 (Sāichē le), and 捷運要轉哪一線？ (Jiéyùn yào zhuǎn nǎ yì xiàn?). These are the kind of tiny messages that can save a meetup from becoming a yak-cident.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Use 看你 (Kàn nǐ) to casually let someone else decide.
  • Give soft, flexible answers with 看情況 (Kàn qíngkuàng), 不一定 (Bù yídìng), 應該可以 (Yīnggāi kěyǐ), and 應該不行 (Yīnggāi bù xíng).
  • Talk about waiting, being late, and arriving with 可能要等一下 (Kěnéng yào děng yíxià), 來不及了 (Lái bù jí le), 我快到了 (Wǒ kuài dào le), and 我到了 (Wǒ dào le).
  • Ask a simple transit question in Taiwan using 捷運要轉哪一線？ (Jiéyùn yào zhuǎn nǎ yì xiàn?).
A learner checking a phone near an MRT entrance in Taiwan, practicing Traditional Chinese Taiwan Mandarin expressions for arrivals, traffic, and timing.

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.

看你

Kàn nǐ.

Your call.

Meaning: 看你 (Kàn nǐ) means “Your call” or “Up to you.”

When to use: Use 看你 (Kàn nǐ) casually with friends when you are happy to let the other person decide.

Tip: 看你 (Kàn nǐ) is casual. With strangers or staff, a fuller sentence can sound softer.

晚餐吃什麼？看你。

Wǎncān chī shénme? Kàn nǐ.

What should we eat for dinner? Your call.
要坐捷運還是公車？看你。

Yào zuò jiéyùn háishì gōngchē? Kàn nǐ.

Should we take the MRT or the bus? Your call.

看情況

Kàn qíngkuàng.

Depends on the situation.

Meaning: 看情況 (Kàn qíngkuàng) means “Depends on the situation.”

When to use: Use 看情況 (Kàn qíngkuàng) when the answer depends on time, weather, traffic, or other details.

今天會下雨嗎？看情況。

Jīntiān huì xià yǔ ma? Kàn qíngkuàng.

Will it rain today? Depends on the situation.
我們要不要改時間？看情況。

Wǒmen yào bú yào gǎi shíjiān? Kàn qíngkuàng.

Should we change the time? Depends.

不一定

Bù yídìng.

Not necessarily / It depends.

Meaning: 不一定 (Bù yídìng) means “Not necessarily” or “It depends.”

When to use: Use 不一定 (Bù yídìng) when something is not fixed or you do not want to give a definite yes or no.

Tip: 不一定 (Bù yídìng) is not a strong no. It keeps the answer open.

你每天喝咖啡嗎？不一定。

Nǐ měitiān hē kāfēi ma? Bù yídìng.

Do you drink coffee every day? Not necessarily.
週末會去嗎？不一定。

Zhōumò huì qù ma? Bù yídìng.

Will you go this weekend? It depends.

應該可以

Yīnggāi kěyǐ.

It should be okay.

Meaning: 應該可以 (Yīnggāi kěyǐ) means “It should be okay.”

When to use: Use 應該可以 (Yīnggāi kěyǐ) for a soft yes when you are fairly sure, but not promising 100 percent.

這樣可以嗎？應該可以。

Zhèyàng kěyǐ ma? Yīnggāi kěyǐ.

Is this okay? It should be okay.
我晚一點到，可以嗎？應該可以。

Wǒ wǎn yìdiǎn dào, kěyǐ ma? Yīnggāi kěyǐ.

Can I arrive a bit later? It should be okay.

應該不行

Yīnggāi bù xíng.

It probably won’t work / Probably not.

Meaning: 應該不行 (Yīnggāi bù xíng) means “It probably won’t work” or “Probably not.”

When to use: Use 應該不行 (Yīnggāi bù xíng) as a soft no when something is likely not possible.

現在訂位可以嗎？應該不行。

Xiànzài dìngwèi kěyǐ ma? Yīnggāi bù xíng.

Can we make a reservation now? Probably not.
今天去夜市嗎？應該不行。

Jīntiān qù yèshì ma? Yīnggāi bù xíng.

Are we going to the night market today? Probably not.

可能要等一下

Kěnéng yào děng yíxià.

It may take a little wait.

Meaning: 可能要等一下 (Kěnéng yào děng yíxià) means “It may take a little wait.”

When to use: Use 可能要等一下 (Kěnéng yào děng yíxià) when warning someone there may be a delay.

不好意思，可能要等一下。

Bù hǎoyìsi, kěnéng yào děng yíxià.

Sorry, it may take a little wait.
計程車可能要等一下。

Jìchéngchē kěnéng yào děng yíxià.

The taxi may take a little wait.

來不及了

Lái bù jí le.

There isn’t enough time / It’s too late.

Meaning: 來不及了 (Lái bù jí le) means “There isn’t enough time” or “It’s too late.”

When to use: Use 來不及了 (Lái bù jí le) when you cannot make a deadline, train, bus, or appointment.

快一點，來不及了！

Kuài yìdiǎn, lái bù jí le!

Hurry, there isn’t enough time!
現在出門來不及了。

Xiànzài chūmén lái bù jí le.

Leaving now is too late.

還來得及嗎

Hái lái de jí ma?

Is there still time?

Meaning: 還來得及嗎？ (Hái lái de jí ma?) means “Is there still time?”

When to use: Use 還來得及嗎？ (Hái lái de jí ma?) for deadlines, transportation, last orders, or appointments.

電影還來得及嗎？

Diànyǐng hái lái de jí ma?

Is there still time for the movie?
最後一班車還來得及嗎？

Zuìhòu yì bān chē hái lái de jí ma?

Is there still time for the last train?

我快到了

Wǒ kuài dào le.

I’m almost there.

Meaning: 我快到了 (Wǒ kuài dào le) means “I’m almost there.”

When to use: Use 我快到了 (Wǒ kuài dào le) when you are close to the meeting place but have not arrived yet.

Tip: 我快到了 (Wǒ kuài dào le) means you are almost there. Use 我到了 (Wǒ dào le) only after you have arrived.

我快到了，等我一下。

Wǒ kuài dào le, děng wǒ yíxià.

I’m almost there. Wait a moment for me.
不要急，我快到了。

Bú yào jí, wǒ kuài dào le.

Don’t worry, I’m almost there.

我到了

Wǒ dào le.

I’m here.

Meaning: 我到了 (Wǒ dào le) means “I’m here.”

When to use: Use 我到了 (Wǒ dào le) by text or phone when you have arrived at the meeting place.

我到了，你在哪裡？

Wǒ dào le, nǐ zài nǎlǐ?

I’m here. Where are you?
我到了，在門口。

Wǒ dào le, zài ménkǒu.

I’m here, at the entrance.

我在路上

Wǒ zài lùshàng.

I’m on my way.

Meaning: 我在路上 (Wǒ zài lùshàng) means “I’m on my way.”

When to use: Use 我在路上 (Wǒ zài lùshàng) when someone is waiting and you want to say you are already traveling there.

我在路上，五分鐘到。

Wǒ zài lùshàng, wǔ fēnzhōng dào.

I’m on my way. I’ll arrive in five minutes.
別擔心，我在路上。

Bié dānxīn, wǒ zài lùshàng.

Don’t worry, I’m on my way.

塞車了

Sāichē le.

There’s traffic.

Meaning: 塞車了 (Sāichē le) means “There’s traffic.”

When to use: Use 塞車了 (Sāichē le) when a car, taxi, or bus is delayed because of traffic.

塞車了，我會晚一點。

Sāichē le, wǒ huì wǎn yìdiǎn.

There’s traffic. I’ll be a bit late.
今天塞車了，抱歉。

Jīntiān sāichē le, bàoqiàn.

There’s traffic today. Sorry.

捷運要轉哪一線？

Jiéyùn yào zhuǎn nǎ yì xiàn?

Which MRT line should I transfer to?

Meaning: 捷運要轉哪一線？ (Jiéyùn yào zhuǎn nǎ yì xiàn?) means “Which MRT line should I transfer to?”

When to use: Use 捷運要轉哪一線？ (Jiéyùn yào zhuǎn nǎ yì xiàn?) when navigating MRT systems in places like Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, or Kaohsiung.

請問，捷運要轉哪一線？

Qǐngwèn, jiéyùn yào zhuǎn nǎ yì xiàn?

Excuse me, which MRT line should I transfer to?
去台北車站，捷運要轉哪一線？

Qù Táiběi Chēzhàn, jiéyùn yào zhuǎn nǎ yì xiàn?

To go to Taipei Main Station, which MRT line should I transfer to?

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna is waiting near an MRT station in Taipei. David is coming to meet her, but traffic is slowing him down.

Anna waits near a Taiwan MRT station while David messages that he is on the way, showing a natural Taiwan Mandarin meetup conversation in Traditional Chinese.

Is David already with Anna, or is he still on his way?

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

我在路上。塞車了。

Wǒ zài lùshàng. Sāichē le.

I’m on my way. There’s traffic.

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

沒關係，可能要等一下。你快到了嗎？

Méi guānxi, kěnéng yào děng yíxià. Nǐ kuài dào le ma?

It’s okay, it may take a little wait. Are you almost here?

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

我快到了。還來得及嗎？

Wǒ kuài dào le. Hái lái de jí ma?

I’m almost there. Is there still time?

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

應該可以。我們看情況。

Yīnggāi kěyǐ. Wǒmen kàn qíngkuàng.

It should be okay. We’ll see depending on the situation.

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

捷運要轉哪一線？

Jiéyùn yào zhuǎn nǎ yì xiàn?

Which MRT line should I transfer to?

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

紅線。到了跟我說。飲料要不要買，看你。

Hóng xiàn. Dào le gēn wǒ shuō. Yǐnliào yào bú yào mǎi, kàn nǐ.

The red line. Tell me when you arrive. Whether to buy drinks is your call.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

How do you say “I’m on my way”?

Your friend asks where to eat, and you want them to decide. What can you say?

Which phrase means “Is there still time?”

Which phrase is a soft way to say “Probably not”?

Two more minutes. I’m almost there.

朋友：電影還有兩分鐘就開始了，你到哪裡了？我：___

Leaving now, there isn’t enough time.

電影五分鐘後開始，從家到戲院要半小時。現在出門，___

Staff member: Sorry, it may take a little wait.

店員：不好意思，今天客人很多，___

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:

看你

Kàn nǐ.

Your call.

Say this phrase out loud:

看情況

Kàn qíngkuàng.

Depends on the situation.

Say this phrase out loud:

不一定

Bù yídìng.

Not necessarily / It depends.

Say this phrase out loud:

應該可以

Yīnggāi kěyǐ.

It should be okay.

Say this phrase out loud:

應該不行

Yīnggāi bù xíng.

It probably won’t work / Probably not.

Say this phrase out loud:

可能要等一下

Kěnéng yào děng yíxià.

It may take a little wait.

Say this phrase out loud:

來不及了

Lái bù jí le.

There isn’t enough time / It’s too late.

Say this phrase out loud:

還來得及嗎

Hái lái de jí ma?

Is there still time?

Say this phrase out loud:

我快到了

Wǒ kuài dào le.

I’m almost there.

Say this phrase out loud:

我到了

Wǒ dào le.

I’m here.

Say this phrase out loud:

我在路上

Wǒ zài lùshàng.

I’m on my way.

Say this phrase out loud:

塞車了

Sāichē le.

There’s traffic.

Say this phrase out loud:

捷運要轉哪一線？

Jiéyùn yào zhuǎn nǎ yì xiàn?

Which MRT line should I transfer to?