Traditional Chinese - Asking For Help

Lesson 9 of 152

A traveler in a Taiwan train station asks a staff member for help, with Traditional Chinese phrase bubbles for asking for assistance in Taiwan Mandarin.

Goal: Simple, polite phrases for getting unstuck in Taiwan

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

Sometimes travel goes smoothly… and sometimes the ticket machine gives you a tiny side quest. No worries—today you’ll learn how to ask for help clearly and politely.

Level A1: In this lesson, you’ll practice helpful phrases like 請幫幫我！ (Qǐng bāngbang wǒ!), 你可以幫我嗎？ (Nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ ma?), and 你可以再說一次嗎？ (Nǐ kěyǐ zài shuō yí cì ma?). You’ll also learn how to say something doesn’t work, ask who can help, and ask someone to show you what to do. Tiny yak panic? Big polite rescue plan.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Ask for help with 你可以幫我嗎？ (Nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ ma?) and 我需要幫忙。 (Wǒ xūyào bāngmáng.) in A1 situations.
  • Politely find a helper with 請問你在這裡工作嗎？ (Qǐngwèn nǐ zài zhèlǐ gōngzuò ma?) and 請問誰可以幫我？ (Qǐngwèn shéi kěyǐ bāng wǒ?).
  • Ask someone to repeat, point, or demonstrate using 你可以再說一次嗎？ (Nǐ kěyǐ zài shuō yí cì ma?), 你可以指給我看嗎？ (Nǐ kěyǐ zhǐ gěi wǒ kàn ma?), and 你可以示範給我看嗎？ (Nǐ kěyǐ shìfàn gěi wǒ kàn ma?).
  • Explain the problem with 我找不到 ___。 (Wǒ zhǎo bú dào ___.) and 這個不能用。 (Zhège bù néng yòng.).
A friendly Taiwan Mandarin learning scene showing a phone, ticket machine, and map, all connected to the lesson topic of asking for help in Traditional Chinese.

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.

請幫幫我

Qǐng bāngbang wǒ!

Help, please.

Meaning: 請幫幫我！ (Qǐng bāngbang wǒ!) means “Help, please!” It sounds urgent but still polite.

When to use: Use 請幫幫我！ (Qǐng bāngbang wǒ!) when you need immediate help, like if something is wrong or you feel stuck.

Tip: Don’t use 請幫幫我！ (Qǐng bāngbang wǒ!) for tiny casual favors if nothing is urgent; 你可以幫我嗎？ (Nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ ma?) is calmer.

請幫幫我！我找不到手機。

Qǐng bāngbang wǒ! Wǒ zhǎo bú dào shǒujī.

Help, please! I can’t find my phone.
請幫幫我！這個不能用。

Qǐng bāngbang wǒ! Zhège bù néng yòng.

Help, please! This doesn’t work.

你可以幫我嗎

Nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ ma?

Can you help me?

Meaning: 你可以幫我嗎？ (Nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ ma?) means “Can you help me?”

When to use: Use 你可以幫我嗎？ (Nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ ma?) as a neutral, common way to ask someone for help in Taiwan.

不好意思，你可以幫我嗎？

Bù hǎoyìsi, nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ ma?

Excuse me, can you help me?
你可以幫我嗎？我做不來。

Nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ ma? Wǒ zuò bù lái.

Can you help me? I can’t do this.

我需要幫忙

Wǒ xūyào bāngmáng.

I need help.

Meaning: 我需要幫忙。 (Wǒ xūyào bāngmáng.) means “I need help.”

When to use: Use 我需要幫忙。 (Wǒ xūyào bāngmáng.) to state clearly that you need assistance.

不好意思，我需要幫忙。

Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ xūyào bāngmáng.

Excuse me, I need help.
我需要幫忙。這個不能用。

Wǒ xūyào bāngmáng. Zhège bù néng yòng.

I need help. This doesn’t work.

你可以幫我弄 ___ 嗎？

Nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ nòng ___ ma?

Can you help me with ___?

Meaning: 你可以幫我弄 ___ 嗎？ (Nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ nòng ___ ma?) means “Can you help me with ___?”

When to use: Use 你可以幫我弄 ___ 嗎？ (Nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ nòng ___ ma?) for everyday tasks, especially when you want help fixing, setting up, or handling something.

你可以幫我弄這個嗎？

Nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ nòng zhège ma?

Can you help me with this?
你可以幫我弄手機嗎？

Nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ nòng shǒujī ma?

Can you help me with my phone?

你可以指給我看嗎？

Nǐ kěyǐ zhǐ gěi wǒ kàn ma?

Can you show me?

Meaning: 你可以指給我看嗎？ (Nǐ kěyǐ zhǐ gěi wǒ kàn ma?) means “Can you show me?” or “Can you point it out for me?”

When to use: Use 你可以指給我看嗎？ (Nǐ kěyǐ zhǐ gěi wǒ kàn ma?) when you want someone to point to a place, button, item, or direction.

Tip: Use 你可以指給我看嗎？ (Nǐ kěyǐ zhǐ gěi wǒ kàn ma?) for pointing or showing a location; use 你可以示範給我看嗎？ (Nǐ kěyǐ shìfàn gěi wǒ kàn ma?) for showing how to do a process.

我找不到出口。你可以指給我看嗎？

Wǒ zhǎo bú dào chūkǒu. Nǐ kěyǐ zhǐ gěi wǒ kàn ma?

I can’t find the exit. Can you show me?
洗手間在哪裡？你可以指給我看嗎？

Xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ? Nǐ kěyǐ zhǐ gěi wǒ kàn ma?

Where is the restroom? Can you point it out for me?

你可以示範給我看嗎？

Nǐ kěyǐ shìfàn gěi wǒ kàn ma?

Can you show me how?

Meaning: 你可以示範給我看嗎？ (Nǐ kěyǐ shìfàn gěi wǒ kàn ma?) means “Can you show me how?”

When to use: Use 你可以示範給我看嗎？ (Nǐ kěyǐ shìfàn gěi wǒ kàn ma?) when you want someone to demonstrate steps or a method.

我做不來。你可以示範給我看嗎？

Wǒ zuò bù lái. Nǐ kěyǐ shìfàn gěi wǒ kàn ma?

I can’t do this. Can you show me how?
這個怎麼用？你可以示範給我看嗎？

Zhège zěnme yòng? Nǐ kěyǐ shìfàn gěi wǒ kàn ma?

How do I use this? Can you show me how?

你可以再說一次嗎？

Nǐ kěyǐ zài shuō yí cì ma?

Can you say that again?

Meaning: 你可以再說一次嗎？ (Nǐ kěyǐ zài shuō yí cì ma?) means “Can you say that again?”

When to use: Use 你可以再說一次嗎？ (Nǐ kěyǐ zài shuō yí cì ma?) when you didn’t hear or didn’t understand something the first time.

Tip: Remember 再 (zài) here means “again.” It is not 在 (zài), which often means “at” or “in.”

不好意思，你可以再說一次嗎？

Bù hǎoyìsi, nǐ kěyǐ zài shuō yí cì ma?

Excuse me, can you say that again?
我聽不懂。你可以再說一次嗎？

Wǒ tīng bù dǒng. Nǐ kěyǐ zài shuō yí cì ma?

I don’t understand. Can you say that again?

我找不到 ___。

Wǒ zhǎo bú dào ___.

I can't find ___.

Meaning: 我找不到 ___。 (Wǒ zhǎo bú dào ___.) means “I can’t find ___.”

When to use: Use 我找不到 ___。 (Wǒ zhǎo bú dào ___.) when something is missing or you cannot find a place.

我找不到護照

Wǒ zhǎo bú dào hùzhào.

I can’t find my passport.
我找不到捷運站。

Wǒ zhǎo bú dào jiéyùn zhàn.

I can’t find the MRT station.

請問你在這裡工作嗎？

Qǐngwèn nǐ zài zhèlǐ gōngzuò ma?

Do you work here?

Meaning: 請問你在這裡工作嗎？ (Qǐngwèn nǐ zài zhèlǐ gōngzuò ma?) means “Do you work here?”

When to use: Use 請問你在這裡工作嗎？ (Qǐngwèn nǐ zài zhèlǐ gōngzuò ma?) to politely check if someone is staff before asking for help.

不好意思，請問你在這裡工作嗎？

Bù hǎoyìsi, qǐngwèn nǐ zài zhèlǐ gōngzuò ma?

Excuse me, do you work here?
請問你在這裡工作嗎？我需要幫忙。

Qǐngwèn nǐ zài zhèlǐ gōngzuò ma? Wǒ xūyào bāngmáng.

Do you work here? I need help.

請問誰可以幫我？

Qǐngwèn shéi kěyǐ bāng wǒ?

Who can help me?

Meaning: 請問誰可以幫我？ (Qǐngwèn shéi kěyǐ bāng wǒ?) means “Who can help me?”

When to use: Use 請問誰可以幫我？ (Qǐngwèn shéi kěyǐ bāng wǒ?) when you are not sure which person or counter can help.

請問誰可以幫我？我找不到票。

Qǐngwèn shéi kěyǐ bāng wǒ? Wǒ zhǎo bú dào piào.

Who can help me? I can’t find my ticket.
不好意思，請問誰可以幫我？

Bù hǎoyìsi, qǐngwèn shéi kěyǐ bāng wǒ?

Excuse me, who can help me?

我可以問你一個問題嗎？

Wǒ kěyǐ wèn nǐ yí ge wèntí ma?

Can I ask you a question?

Meaning: 我可以問你一個問題嗎？ (Wǒ kěyǐ wèn nǐ yí ge wèntí ma?) means “Can I ask you a question?”

When to use: Use 我可以問你一個問題嗎？ (Wǒ kěyǐ wèn nǐ yí ge wèntí ma?) as a polite opener before asking for help.

不好意思，我可以問你一個問題嗎？

Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ kěyǐ wèn nǐ yí ge wèntí ma?

Excuse me, can I ask you a question?
我可以問你一個問題嗎？這個不能用。

Wǒ kěyǐ wèn nǐ yí ge wèntí ma? Zhège bù néng yòng.

Can I ask you a question? This doesn’t work.

這個不能用

Zhège bù néng yòng.

This doesn't work.

Meaning: 這個不能用。 (Zhège bù néng yòng.) means “This doesn’t work.”

When to use: Use 這個不能用。 (Zhège bù néng yòng.) for a machine, device, card, ticket, or object that is not working.

這個不能用。你可以幫我嗎？

Zhège bù néng yòng. Nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ ma?

This doesn’t work. Can you help me?
不好意思，這個不能用。

Bù hǎoyìsi, zhège bù néng yòng.

Excuse me, this doesn’t work.

我做不來

Wǒ zuò bù lái.

I can't do this.

Meaning: 我做不來。 (Wǒ zuò bù lái.) means “I can’t do this” or “I can’t manage this task.”

When to use: Use 我做不來。 (Wǒ zuò bù lái.) when a task is too difficult or you don’t know how to do it.

我做不來。你可以示範給我看嗎？

Wǒ zuò bù lái. Nǐ kěyǐ shìfàn gěi wǒ kàn ma?

I can’t do this. Can you show me how?
這個我做不來。你可以幫我嗎？

Zhège wǒ zuò bù lái. Nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ ma?

I can’t do this. Can you help me?

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna is at a Taiwan MRT station and asks David, a staff member, for help.

Anna asks David for help near an elevator sign in Taiwan, practicing Traditional Chinese phrases for finding help and asking someone to show the way.

What does Anna need help with overall?

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

不好意思，請問你在這裡工作嗎？

Bù hǎoyìsi, qǐngwèn nǐ zài zhèlǐ gōngzuò ma?

Excuse me, do you work here?

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

對，我在這裡工作。你需要幫忙嗎？

Duì, wǒ zài zhèlǐ gōngzuò. Nǐ xūyào bāngmáng ma?

Yes, I work here. Do you need help?

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

我找不到電梯。你可以指給我看嗎？

Wǒ zhǎo bú dào diàntī. Nǐ kěyǐ zhǐ gěi wǒ kàn ma?

I can’t find the elevator. Can you show me?

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

可以，在那邊，往前走再右轉。

Kěyǐ, zài nàbiān, wǎng qián zǒu zài yòu zhuǎn.

Sure, it’s over there. Go straight, then turn right.

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

不好意思，你可以再說一次嗎？

Bù hǎoyìsi, nǐ kěyǐ zài shuō yí cì ma?

Sorry, can you say that again?

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

當然。往前走，再右轉。

Dāngrán. Wǎng qián zǒu, zài yòu zhuǎn.

Of course. Go straight, then turn right.

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

謝謝。還有，這個不能用。你可以示範給我看嗎？

Xièxie. Hái yǒu, zhège bù néng yòng. Nǐ kěyǐ shìfàn gěi wǒ kàn ma?

Thanks. Also, this doesn’t work. Can you show me how?

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

可以，我幫你

Kěyǐ, wǒ bāng nǐ.

Sure, I’ll help you.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which phrase is best when you urgently need help but still want to be polite?

You want to check if someone is staff. What should you say?

You didn’t hear what someone said. Which phrase asks them to repeat?

You want someone to demonstrate how to use a machine. Which phrase fits best?

Excuse me, I need help. I can’t find the exit.

不好意思，___ 我找不到出口，可以幫我嗎？

I can’t do this. Can you help me?

這個表格太難了，___ 你可以幫我嗎？

Can I ask you a question? This doesn’t work.

不好意思，___ 我想問一下，這個不能用，是不是壞了？

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:

請幫幫我

Qǐng bāngbang wǒ!

Help, please!

Say this phrase out loud:

你可以幫我嗎

Nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ ma?

Can you help me?

Say this phrase out loud:

我需要幫忙

Wǒ xūyào bāngmáng.

I need help.

Say this phrase out loud:

你可以幫我弄 ___ 嗎？

Nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ nòng ___ ma?

Can you help me with ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

你可以指給我看嗎？

Nǐ kěyǐ zhǐ gěi wǒ kàn ma?

Can you show me?

Say this phrase out loud:

你可以示範給我看嗎？

Nǐ kěyǐ shìfàn gěi wǒ kàn ma?

Can you show me how?

Say this phrase out loud:

你可以再說一次嗎？

Nǐ kěyǐ zài shuō yí cì ma?

Can you say that again?

Say this phrase out loud:

我找不到 ___。

Wǒ zhǎo bú dào ___.

I can't find ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

請問你在這裡工作嗎？

Qǐngwèn nǐ zài zhèlǐ gōngzuò ma?

Do you work here?

Say this phrase out loud:

請問誰可以幫我？

Qǐngwèn shéi kěyǐ bāng wǒ?

Who can help me?

Say this phrase out loud:

我可以問你一個問題嗎？

Wǒ kěyǐ wèn nǐ yí ge wèntí ma?

Can I ask you a question?

Say this phrase out loud:

這個不能用

Zhège bù néng yòng.

This doesn't work.

Say this phrase out loud:

我做不來

Wǒ zuò bù lái.

I can’t do this.