Traditional Chinese course

Lesson 153 of 240

New here? This is lesson 153 of a free 240-lesson Traditional Chinese course.

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Set up a meeting in Traditional Chinese

Zhi-Ming wants schedules in plain words. He sends the first LINE message in the co-working group: five words, and nothing extra.

Learn how to ask for a meeting, check if a time works, say how long it will last, send the agenda, choose online or in person, and promise to be on time.

Then practice the same lines and say them to Zhi-Ming as if you were Maya.

By the end of this lesson

Ask for a meeting time, agree how long it will last, send an agenda, and choose online or in person.

  • 我們約個時間開會吧Let's set a time for a meeting.
  • 下午三點方便嗎？Is three in the afternoon convenient?
  • 會議大概一個小時The meeting is about an hour.
  • 我先把議程傳給你I'll send you the agenda first.
  • 我們線上開還是當面開？Online or in person?
  • 我會準時到I'll be on time.

Scene — a five-word message

Maya sits at the co-working space two MRT stops from Banyan Lane. Yi-Jun is at the next desk.

Zhi-Ming sends the first LINE message because he wants a clear time, not a long note. His opening line is only five words.

They still need an exact time, an agenda, and a choice between online and in person. A-Li is not here, and the fortune slip stays unread in the till.

In a sunlit Taipei coworking loft, Maya and Yi-Jun sit at neighboring desks with different tasks while Zhi-Ming stands apart composing a short phone message.

Learn — times and agendas

Here are six lines for setting a meeting with a colleague. Listen, then say each one out loud.

Notice 把 when you send the agenda, and 還是 when you offer two places to meet.

  1. Zhi-Ming stands alone at a high coworking table and thumbs a very short message on a phone.

    我們約個時間開會吧

    Let's set a time for a meeting.

    When to use it: Use this to suggest setting a meeting time.

    約 here means to arrange a time with someone.

  2. Maya turns from a desk toward the bright afternoon window with a phone while Yi-Jun types at the next desk in a different pose.

    下午三點方便嗎？

    Is three in the afternoon convenient?

    When to use it: Ask if three in the afternoon works.

    嗎 makes this a yes-or-no question about the time.

    Say it: In 方便, the second syllable is a falling tone.

  3. Maya holds both hands a short width apart to show a brief span of time while Yi-Jun watches from the next desk.

    會議大概一個小時

    The meeting is about an hour.

    When to use it: Tell someone the meeting will last about an hour.

    一個小時 is the usual way to count one hour.

    Say it: 一 changes tone before this measure word.

  4. Maya leans into a laptop as if checking something that just arrived, phone beside bubble tea, while Yi-Jun sips a drink.

    我先把議程傳給你

    I'll send you the agenda first.

    When to use it: Say you will send the agenda before you meet.

    把 marks the agenda as the thing you will send.

    Say it: 把 is a third tone here.

  5. Maya gestures toward an empty chair while seated Yi-Jun looks up from the next desk with a half-closed laptop.

    我們線上開還是當面開？

    Online or in person?

    When to use it: Ask whether to meet online or in person.

    還是 gives two options in one question.

  6. Maya stands and steps away carrying a bag, a watch raised, ready to be on time, while seated Yi-Jun zips a pouch.

    我會準時到

    I'll be on time.

    When to use it: Promise you will arrive at the agreed time.

    會 here means you will, not that you know how.

Story — a LINE meeting with Zhi-Ming

Listen as Zhi-Ming opens the co-working LINE group with a five-word message. Maya answers and they lock in a time.

Yi-Jun hears the plan from the next desk.

  1. Zhi-Ming sends the first message in the co-working LINE group.
  2. Zhi-Ming我們今天要開會喔。We need to meet today.
  3. Maya我們約個時間開會吧。Let's set a time for a meeting.
  4. Zhi-Ming下午三點方便嗎？Is three in the afternoon convenient?
  5. Maya方便，會議大概一個小時。Sure, the meeting is about an hour.
  6. Zhi-Ming我們線上開還是當面開？Online or in person?
  7. Maya當面開吧。In person.
  8. Zhi-Ming我先把議程傳給你。I'll send you the agenda first.
  9. Zhi-Ming有收到嗎？Did you get it?
  10. Maya有，我會準時到。Got it, I'll be on time.
  11. Zhi-Ming那就這麼說定了。Then it's settled.
  12. Yi-Jun looks up from the next desk.
  13. Yi-Jun你三點有會喔？You have a meeting at three?
  14. Maya對啊，跟志明當面開。Yes, in person with Zhi-Ming.
  15. Yi-Jun祝你順利。I hope it goes smoothly for you.
  16. Maya謝謝。Thanks.

Practice — lock in the meeting

Try these exercises to pick a time, send an agenda, and promise to be on time. Choose the line that fits each moment.

After each answer, read why the other options do not work, then say the line again.

0 of 10 done

  1. What does it mean?

    我們約個時間開會吧

  2. What do you say?

    Zhi-Ming wants to meet today. Ask if three in the afternoon is convenient.

  3. Fill the gap

    The meeting is about an hour.

    會議____一個小時

  4. What did you hear?

  5. Fill the gap

    I'll send you the agenda first.

    我先把____傳給你

  6. Pick the reply

    Zhi-Ming says:

    三點開始喔。

    We start at three.

    And you reply with:

  7. Swap the word

    You want a work meeting, not a meal. Swap in the meeting word.

    我們約個時間____吧

  8. What do you say?

    You just sent Zhi-Ming the agenda in LINE. Check that it arrived.

  9. Pick the reply

    Zhi-Ming says:

    三點當面開。

    We'll meet in person at three.

    And you reply with:

  10. What do you say?

    Yi-Jun has a presentation this afternoon. Wish her a smooth time.

Say it — your meeting lines

You play Maya and write to Zhi-Ming in the LINE group. Listen to each cue, then say the line out loud.

Tap the microphone to speak. You can replay his line before your turn.

  1. You message Zhi-Ming in the co-working LINE group.
  2. Maya (you)Suggest setting a time to meet.

    我們約個時間開會吧

    Let's set a time for a meeting.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

Traditional ChineseEnglish
我們約個時間開會吧Let's set a time for a meeting.
下午三點方便嗎？Is three in the afternoon convenient?
會議大概一個小時The meeting is about an hour.
我先把議程傳給你I'll send you the agenda first.
我們線上開還是當面開？Online or in person?
我會準時到I'll be on time.
Next: lesson 154The meeting runs long

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Today's meeting lines are in Yak Cards with more phrases for work chats.

Review a few cards before your next call so the time and agenda come easily.

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