Traditional Chinese course

Lesson 85 of 240

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Excuse me, may I? in Traditional Chinese

At Banyan Breakfast, the line stretches past the counter. A-Li is so wide that he takes up two places without noticing, while Maya waits to order.

Learn to interrupt gently, offer someone the first turn, check whether it is yours, and say where you will queue.

Then ask if a request would be too much trouble. These phrases keep a crowded morning friendly.

By the end of this lesson

Interrupt politely, let someone go first, ask if it is your turn, and say where you will queue.

  • 不好意思打擾一下Sorry to interrupt.
  • 我插個話Let me jump in.
  • 你先說You first.
  • 輪到我了嗎？Is it my turn?
  • 我先排你後面I'll queue behind you.
  • 會不會太麻煩？Would that be too much trouble?

Scene — a long breakfast line

The breakfast line at Banyan Breakfast is unusually long. Maya waits behind A-Li, who is taking up two places without realizing it.

Auntie Lin is busy at the counter, so Maya needs a polite way to ask a question and take her turn.

Maya waits behind A-Li in a long breakfast-shop queue while Auntie Lin tends the busy counter.

Learn — interrupt and take turns

These six lines help you get someone's attention, let another person go first, and find your place in a queue.

Listen for the polite wording, then try each line aloud.

  1. Maya politely raises a hand to get busy Auntie Lin’s attention from the queue.

    不好意思打擾一下

    Sorry to interrupt.

    When to use it: Use this to politely get someone's attention before interrupting.

    不好意思 softens the interruption, while 打擾一下 makes it sound brief and polite.

    Say it: In 不好意思, 不 stays in its fourth tone before 好.

  2. A-Li turns toward Maya and raises a hand to politely join the conversation.

    我插個話

    Let me jump in.

    When to use it: Use this to briefly join a conversation that is already happening.

    個 is a casual measure word here, making 話 sound like one comment.

    Say it: 個 often has a light, neutral tone in this casual phrase.

  3. Auntie Lin gestures courteously for Maya to speak first.

    你先說

    You first.

    When to use it: Use this to offer someone else the chance to speak first.

    先 marks who goes first; this short line hands the other person the turn.

  4. A-Li looks toward the counter and gestures to himself as he checks whether his turn has come.

    輪到我了嗎？

    Is it my turn?

    When to use it: Ask this when you are waiting and want to check whether you can go next.

    了 marks the turn as having arrived, and 嗎 makes this a yes-or-no question.

    Say it: 了 is neutral here, so say it lightly.

  5. Maya steps back and gestures for A-Li to go ahead while she waits behind him.

    我先排你後面

    I'll queue behind you.

    When to use it: Use this to say you will wait in line behind the person you are speaking to.

    後面 tells the person where you will stand in relation to them.

  6. Maya politely asks A-Li to move the extra stool aside so the queue can pass.

    會不會太麻煩？

    Would that be too much trouble?

    When to use it: Ask this when you want to check whether a favor would inconvenience someone.

    會不會 asks whether something might happen; 太麻煩 softens the concern.

    Say it: 不 changes to a rising tone before the fourth-tone 會.

Story — making room in line

Listen to Maya handle the long line at Banyan Breakfast. Auntie Lin is busy, and A-Li does not notice that he is taking up two places.

Maya stays polite while everyone works out whose turn is next.

  1. Auntie Lin今天早餐店人好多，大家慢慢排喔。The breakfast shop is packed today; everyone, take your time in line.
  2. Maya不好意思打擾一下，阿姨。Sorry to interrupt, Auntie.
  3. Auntie Lin好喔，美女，你先問。Sure, beautiful, go ahead and ask.
  4. Maya我插個話，請問現在輪到我了嗎？Let me jump in: excuse me, is it my turn now?
  5. Auntie Lin前面還有一位，快好了喔。There is one person ahead of you; it will be soon.
  6. A-Li我有件事想跟阿姨說。I have something I want to tell Auntie.
  7. Maya你先說。You first.
  8. Maya我先排你後面。I'll queue behind you.
  9. A-Li欸，我站太開了，抱歉喔。Oh, I was standing too wide. Sorry.
  10. Auntie Lin要不要我幫你們看一下位置？Would you like me to keep an eye on your places?
  11. Maya會不會太麻煩？Would that be too much trouble?
  12. Auntie Lin不會啦，慢慢排就好。Not at all; just take your time in line.
  13. Maya借過一下，謝謝。Excuse me, let me pass. Thanks.
  14. A-Li好喔，豆漿還沒喝完。Sure; I still haven't finished my soy milk.

Practice — take your turn politely

Try eleven short exercises about interrupting, lining up, and giving someone else the first turn.

Choose the line that fits the moment, and notice how a polite question can keep things friendly.

0 of 11 done

  1. What does it mean?

    不好意思打擾一下

  2. What do you say?

    Two people are talking, and you need to join in briefly. What do you say?

  3. Build the line

    You first.

    Tap the words in order.

  4. Fill the gap

    Is it my turn?

    輪到____了嗎？

  5. Pick the reply

    Auntie Lin says:

    要不要我幫你們看一下位置？

    Would you like me to keep an eye on your places?

    And you reply with:

  6. Match the pairs

    Traditional Chinese

    我先排你後面Drop the English here
    會不會太麻煩？Drop the English here
    不好意思Drop the English here
    謝謝Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its Traditional Chinese, or tap one and then the other.

  7. What did you hear?

  8. What do you say?

    You need Auntie Lin's attention before asking her a question. Get her attention politely.

  9. What does it mean?

    借過一下

  10. What do you say?

    Auntie Lin helps you keep your place in line. Thank her.

  11. What do you say?

    A-Li is standing ahead of you, and you want to tell him where you will wait. What do you say?

Say it — your place in line

You are Maya at Banyan Breakfast. Listen to each cue, then say your line as you wait in the crowded queue.

Take your time and speak politely. You can replay the other person's line before your turn.

  1. Maya joins the long breakfast line.
  2. Auntie Lin今天人很多喔。There are a lot of people today.
  3. Maya (you)Get Auntie Lin's attention politely.

    不好意思打擾一下

    Sorry to interrupt.

0 of 4 said

Recap — what you can say now

Traditional ChineseEnglish
不好意思打擾一下Sorry to interrupt.
我插個話Let me jump in.
你先說You first.
輪到我了嗎？Is it my turn?
我先排你後面I'll queue behind you.
會不會太麻煩？Would that be too much trouble?
Next: lesson 86Everyday etiquette

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