New here? This is lesson 156 of a free 240-lesson Traditional Chinese course.
A polite message at work in Traditional Chinese
Maya needs to write Zhi-Ming a short work message on LINE. Yi-Jun reads it over her shoulder and trims an extra phrase.
Learn how to open politely, ask about a project's progress, mention an attachment, and close with a Taiwan work thank-you.
You will hear 辛苦了 after effort, not only after hardship. Keep the fortune slip out of this; today is only the message.
By the end of this lesson
Write a short polite work message: open, ask about progress, mention a file, and thank someone for effort.
- 您好，我是瑪雅Hello, this is Maya.
- 想請問這個案子的進度I'd like to ask about the progress of this project.
- 麻煩您回覆，謝謝Please reply, thank you.
- 附件是最新的版本The attachment is the latest version.
- 如果有問題，再請告訴我Please let me know if there are any problems.
- 辛苦了Thanks for your hard work.
Scene — a LINE draft at work
Maya sits at the co-working space two MRT stops from Banyan Lane. A LINE draft to Zhi-Ming is open on her laptop.
Yi-Jun leans in, reads the first sentence, and cuts an extra phrase. Zhi-Ming wants schedules in plain words; the message should stay short and polite.
Learn — a polite work message
These six lines build a short polite work message. Listen, then say each one aloud.
辛苦了 thanks someone for effort at work. 您 is for this formal note, not for friends.
您好，我是瑪雅
Hello, this is Maya.
When to use it: Open a polite work message or call by giving your name.
您 is for this formal work moment; friends would hear 你.
想請問這個案子的進度
I'd like to ask about the progress of this project.
When to use it: Ask a coworker or client how this project is going.
想請問 softens the question so it does not sound like a demand.
Say it: The 子 in 案子 is a light neutral tone.
麻煩您回覆，謝謝
Please reply, thank you.
When to use it: End a message when you still need a written reply.
麻煩您 is a polite request; it does not mean the task is a huge bother.
附件是最新的版本
The attachment is the latest version.
When to use it: Tell them the file you sent is the newest version.
的 links 最新 to the noun 版本 that follows.
如果有問題，再請告訴我
Please let me know if there are any problems.
When to use it: Invite them to speak up if something is wrong.
再 here means then, after a problem appears, not again.
辛苦了
Thanks for your hard work.
When to use it: Thank someone at work after they have put in effort.
This Taiwan work thank-you marks effort, not only hardship or pain.
Say it: The 了 is a light neutral tone after 辛苦.
Story — Yi-Jun cuts an extra phrase
Listen as Maya drafts a LINE message to Zhi-Ming. Yi-Jun reads over her shoulder and cuts an extra phrase.
Later, Zhi-Ming replies after he opens the file.
Yi-Jun你在寫給志明喔？You're writing to Zhi-Ming, huh?
Maya對啊，工作訊息。Yeah, a work message.- Yi-Jun我看一下，有一段多餘。Let me look; there's an extra phrase.
- Maya哪一段？Which part?
- Yi-Jun「打擾了」拿掉就好。Just drop the extra phrase “sorry to bother you.”
- Maya您好，我是瑪雅。Hello, this is Maya.
- Yi-Jun這樣比較乾淨。That's cleaner.
- Maya想請問這個案子的進度。I'd like to ask about the progress of this project.
- Yi-Jun附件要寫進去嗎？Should we mention the attachment?
- Maya附件是最新的版本。The attachment is the latest version.
- Maya如果有問題，再請告訴我。Please let me know if there are any problems.
- Yi-Jun結尾請他回覆吧。Ask him to reply at the end.
- Maya麻煩您回覆，謝謝。Please reply, thank you.
- Yi-Jun好，可以傳了。Okay, you can send it.
- Maya sends the LINE. A while later, Zhi-Ming replies.
Zhi-Ming檔案有收到，謝謝。I got the file, thanks.- Zhi-Ming辛苦了。Thanks for your hard work.
Practice — send it cleanly
Work through quick exercises on openings, progress questions, attachments, and closings.
After each answer, read why the other options fail, then say the right line again.
0 of 11 done
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
您好，我是瑪雅
What do you say?
What do you say?
You need to ask Zhi-Ming how this project is coming along.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
Please reply, thank you.
麻煩您____，謝謝
Build the line
Build the line
The attachment is the latest version.
Tap the words in order.
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Swap the word
Swap the word
You sent the file and want them to tell you if anything is wrong.
如果有問題，再請____我
Pick the reply
Zhi-Ming says:
Pick the reply
設計稿我昨天看完了。
I finished looking at the design draft yesterday.
And you reply with:
Match the pairs
Traditional Chinese
您好，我是瑪雅Drop the English here想請問這個案子的進度Drop the English here附件是最新的版本Drop the English here辛苦了Drop the English hereEnglish
What do you say?
What do you say?
You only need the short polite opener before a question, not a full work sentence.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
謝謝
What do you say?
What do you say?
You already gave your name. Greet the client again with only the polite two-character hello.
Say it — your message to Zhi-Ming
You play Maya and write the work message with Yi-Jun beside you. Listen to each cue, then say the line.
Tap the microphone to speak. You can replay Yi-Jun or Zhi-Ming before your turn.
- At the co-working space, Maya drafts a LINE message to Zhi-Ming.
- Yi-Jun先寫你是誰。Write who you are first.
- Maya (you)Introduce yourself politely by name.
Introduce yourself politely by name.
您好，我是瑪雅
Hello, this is Maya.
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Traditional Chinese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 您好，我是瑪雅 | Hello, this is Maya. | |
| 想請問這個案子的進度 | I'd like to ask about the progress of this project. | |
| 麻煩您回覆，謝謝 | Please reply, thank you. | |
| 附件是最新的版本 | The attachment is the latest version. | |
| 如果有問題，再請告訴我 | Please let me know if there are any problems. | |
| 辛苦了 | Thanks for your hard work. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Today's work-message lines are in Yak Cards with more polite lines for LINE and email.
Review a few work-message cards before you write to a client.
Open Yak Cards