In Taiwan, being considerate often sounds short and gentle: “no hurry,” “is this okay,” and “you go first.” These little phrases are social superpowers at food stalls, counters, meetings, and anywhere people are lining up.
Level A1: Today you’ll practice Taiwan-friendly phrases for reducing pressure, checking convenience, interrupting politely, and taking turns. You’ll use expressions like 不急 (Bù jí), 方便嗎？ (Fāngbiàn ma?), and 排隊在這裡嗎？ (Páiduì zài zhèlǐ ma?) in real-feeling moments. By the end, you’ll sound a little more relaxed—and a lot less like you’re accidentally cutting in line.
After this lesson you'll be able to:
Reassure someone with 不趕 (Bù gǎn), 不急 (Bù jí), and 慢慢來沒關係 (Mànmàn lái méi guānxì).
Ask if an arrangement works using 方便嗎？ (Fāngbiàn ma?) and 這樣方便嗎？ (Zhèyàng fāngbiàn ma?).
Be polite before asking or accepting help with 不好意思打擾一下 (Bù hǎoyìsi dǎrǎo yíxià) and 會不會太麻煩？ (Huì bú huì tài máfan?).
Handle turns and lines with 你先說 (Nǐ xiān shuō), 換你 (Huàn nǐ), 輪到我了嗎？ (Lún dào wǒ le ma?), 排隊在這裡嗎？ (Páiduì zài zhèlǐ ma?), and 後面有人嗎？ (Hòumiàn yǒu rén ma?).
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.
不趕
Bù gǎn.
There’s no rush.
Meaning: 不趕 (Bù gǎn) means “There’s no rush.”
When to use: Use it when timing is flexible and you want the other person to relax. Examples: 不趕。今天都可以。 (Bù gǎn. Jīntiān dōu kěyǐ.) — No rush. Anytime today is okay. / 你慢慢找，不趕。 (Nǐ mànmàn zhǎo, bù gǎn.) — Take your time looking; there’s no rush.
慢慢來沒關係
Mànmàn lái méi guānxì.
Take your time, it’s okay.
Meaning: 慢慢來沒關係 (Mànmàn lái méi guānxì) means “Take your time, it’s okay.”
When to use: Use it to reassure someone who is rushing, searching, serving, or helping you. Examples: 慢慢來沒關係，我不急。 (Mànmàn lái méi guānxì, wǒ bù jí.) — Take your time, it’s okay. I’m not in a hurry. / 你先忙，慢慢來沒關係。 (Nǐ xiān máng, mànmàn lái méi guānxì.) — Take care of your things first; take your time, it’s okay.
不急
Bù jí.
No hurry.
Meaning: 不急 (Bù jí) means “No hurry.”
When to use: Use this short phrase when you want to reduce pressure. Examples: 不急，你先說。 (Bù jí, nǐ xiān shuō.) — No hurry, you go first. / 沒關係，不急。 (Méi guānxì, bù jí.) — It’s okay, no hurry.
方便嗎
Fāngbiàn ma?
Is it convenient?
Meaning: 方便嗎？ (Fāngbiàn ma?) means “Is it convenient?”
When to use: Use it to ask if a time, place, or small favor works for someone. Examples: 明天方便嗎？ (Míngtiān fāngbiàn ma?) — Is tomorrow convenient? / 現在問一下方便嗎？ (Xiànzài wèn yíxià fāngbiàn ma?) — Is it convenient to ask now?
Tip: 方便嗎？ (Fāngbiàn ma?) is often about whether something works for the person, not only whether it is physically “convenient.”
這樣方便嗎
Zhèyàng fāngbiàn ma?
Would this work for you?
Meaning: 這樣方便嗎？ (Zhèyàng fāngbiàn ma?) means “Would this work for you?”
When to use: Use it after suggesting a time, method, plan, or pickup spot. Examples: 我們在捷運站見，這樣方便嗎？ (Wǒmen zài jiéyùn zhàn jiàn, zhèyàng fāngbiàn ma?) — Let’s meet at the MRT station; would this work for you? / 我先幫你拿，這樣方便嗎？ (Wǒ xiān bāng nǐ ná, zhèyàng fāngbiàn ma?) — I’ll pick it up for you first; would this work for you?
會不會太麻煩
Huì bú huì tài máfan?
Would that be too much trouble?
Meaning: 會不會太麻煩？ (Huì bú huì tài máfan?) means “Would that be too much trouble?”
When to use: Use it before accepting help or when making a polite request. Examples: 你可以幫我看一下嗎？會不會太麻煩？ (Nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ kàn yíxià ma? Huì bú huì tài máfan?) — Could you help me take a look? Would that be too much trouble? / 如果你順路，會不會太麻煩？ (Rúguǒ nǐ shùnlù, huì bú huì tài máfan?) — If it’s on your way, would that be too much trouble?
不好意思打擾一下。
Bù hǎoyìsi dǎrǎo yíxià.
Sorry to bother you for a moment.
Meaning: 不好意思打擾一下 (Bù hǎoyìsi dǎrǎo yíxià) means “Sorry to bother you for a moment.”
When to use: Use it as a polite opener before asking a stranger, clerk, coworker, or neighbor something. Examples: 不好意思打擾一下，排隊在這裡嗎？ (Bù hǎoyìsi dǎrǎo yíxià, páiduì zài zhèlǐ ma?) — Sorry to bother you for a moment, is this where the line starts? / 不好意思打擾一下，現在方便嗎？ (Bù hǎoyìsi dǎrǎo yíxià, xiànzài fāngbiàn ma?) — Sorry to bother you for a moment, is now convenient?
我插個話
Wǒ chā ge huà.
Let me jump in for a second.
Meaning: 我插個話 (Wǒ chā ge huà) means “Let me jump in for a second.”
When to use: Use it to enter a conversation or meeting discussion. Examples: 我插個話，這樣方便嗎？ (Wǒ chā ge huà, zhèyàng fāngbiàn ma?) — Let me jump in for a second; would this work for you? / 我插個話，我覺得不急。 (Wǒ chā ge huà, wǒ juéde bù jí.) — Let me jump in for a second; I think there’s no hurry.
Tip: 我插個話 (Wǒ chā ge huà) is best for a conversation you are already part of. For a stranger, start with 不好意思打擾一下 (Bù hǎoyìsi dǎrǎo yíxià).
你先說
Nǐ xiān shuō.
You go first.
Meaning: 你先說 (Nǐ xiān shuō) means “You go first.”
When to use: Use it when two people start speaking at the same time or when inviting someone to speak. Examples: 啊，抱歉，你先說。 (A, bàoqiàn, nǐ xiān shuō.) — Ah, sorry, you go first. / 沒關係，你先說。 (Méi guānxì, nǐ xiān shuō.) — It’s okay, you go first.
換你
Huàn nǐ.
Your turn.
Meaning: 換你 (Huàn nǐ) means “Your turn.”
When to use: Use it casually for games, ordering, discussions, or taking turns. Examples: 我說完了，換你。 (Wǒ shuō wán le, huàn nǐ.) — I’m done speaking; your turn. / 我點好了，換你。 (Wǒ diǎn hǎo le, huàn nǐ.) — I’ve ordered; your turn.
輪到我了嗎
Lún dào wǒ le ma?
Is it my turn?
Meaning: 輪到我了嗎？ (Lún dào wǒ le ma?) means “Is it my turn?”
When to use: Use it in lines, clinics, banks, games, or service counters. Examples: 不好意思，輪到我了嗎？ (Bù hǎoyìsi, lún dào wǒ le ma?) — Excuse me, is it my turn? / 現在輪到我了嗎？ (Xiànzài lún dào wǒ le ma?) — Is it my turn now?
排隊在這裡嗎
Páiduì zài zhèlǐ ma?
Is this where the line starts?
Meaning: 排隊在這裡嗎？ (Páiduì zài zhèlǐ ma?) means “Is this where the line starts?”
When to use: Use it at food stalls, clinics, events, transit counters, and busy shops. Examples: 不好意思，排隊在這裡嗎？ (Bù hǎoyìsi, páiduì zài zhèlǐ ma?) — Excuse me, is this where the line starts? / 買票排隊在這裡嗎？ (Mǎi piào páiduì zài zhèlǐ ma?) — Is this the line for buying tickets?
後面有人嗎
Hòumiàn yǒu rén ma?
Is someone behind you in line?
Meaning: 後面有人嗎？ (Hòumiàn yǒu rén ma?) means “Is someone behind you in line?”
When to use: Use it to check the end of a queue without cutting in. Examples: 不好意思，後面有人嗎？ (Bù hǎoyìsi, hòumiàn yǒu rén ma?) — Excuse me, is someone behind you in line? / 這裡可以排嗎？後面有人嗎？ (Zhèlǐ kěyǐ pái ma? Hòumiàn yǒu rén ma?) — Can I line up here? Is someone behind you in line?
Tip: 後面有人嗎？ (Hòumiàn yǒu rén ma?) is a queue-checking phrase. Say it politely so it doesn’t sound like you are accusing anyone.
2. Conversational Listening Practice
Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.
Anna and David are at a busy drink stand in Taipei, trying to find the end of the line and order politely.
What are Anna and David trying to do politely: find the line, rush the clerk, or leave the shop?
David
不好意思打擾一下。排隊在這裡嗎？
Bù hǎoyìsi dǎrǎo yíxià. Páiduì zài zhèlǐ ma?
Sorry to bother you for a moment. Is this where the line starts?
Anna
對，在這裡。後面有人嗎？
Duì, zài zhèlǐ. Hòumiàn yǒu rén ma?
Yes, here. Is someone behind you in line?
David
應該沒有。你先說。
Yīnggāi méiyǒu. Nǐ xiān shuō.
I don’t think so. You go first.
Anna
謝謝，不急
Xièxie, bù jí.
Thanks, no hurry.
David
等一下我幫你拿飲料，這樣方便嗎？
Děng yíxià wǒ bāng nǐ ná yǐnliào, zhèyàng fāngbiàn ma?
In a bit I’ll help you pick up the drinks; would this work for you?
Anna
方便。會不會太麻煩？
Fāngbiàn. Huì bú huì tài máfan?
That works. Would that be too much trouble?
David
不會，慢慢來沒關係。
Bú huì, mànmàn lái méi guānxì.
Not at all. Take your time, it’s okay.
3. Guided Practice
Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.
A clerk looks rushed while helping you. What phrase reassures them best?
Before asking a stranger where the line is, which opener is most polite?
You suggest meeting at the MRT station and want to ask if that plan works. What do you say?
You and a friend start talking at the same time. What can you say to let them speak first?
