Use the examples with their context and limits. Recall a sentence before reading the model. Original teaching additions accompany examples adapted from Chinese Grammar Wiki (AllSet Learning, CC BY-NC-SA); see the course reference provenance.
مخاطبة شخص وتقديم طلب
Use a suitable title and ask permission politely.
Build the meaning
A surname normally comes before a role title: 王老师, Teacher Wang. Use a title suited to the person and situation.
can / may可以……(yes/no ?)吗? asks permission; to ask请 introduces a polite request. don't别…… gives a negative instruction.
Useful words in context
- teacher老师 lǎoshī — teacher. 王老师。
- can / may可以 kěyǐ — may / can with permission. I / me我can / may可以to come in进来(yes/no ?)吗?
- to come in进来 jìnlái — come in. 请进来。
- don't别 bié — do not, instruction. don't别to speak说话。
- evening晚 wǎn — late. 我来evening晚(completed / change)了。
Read for meaning
林安来evening晚(completed / change)了。she / her她variant of 说说:“王老师,I'm sorry对不起。I / me我can / may可以to come in进来(yes/no ?)吗?”王老师variant of 说说:“can / may可以,请进来。don't别to speak说话。”
Lin An arrives late. She apologises to Teacher Wang and asks to come in. The teacher permits her and asks her not to talk.
Listen to a different passage
Ask a partner to read this with the script closed. Use the online practice for browser playback.
李老师,I / me我can / may可以to sit坐هنا这里(yes/no ?)吗?
Teacher Li, may I sit here?
Speak and write
Address Teacher Li, ask to come in, and respond when permission is given.
Write a polite request to sit here, using a surname and title.
One speaking model: A: 李老师,I / me我can / may可以to come in进来(yes/no ?)吗? B: can / may可以,请进来。 A: to thank谢谢。
One writing model: 王老师,I / me我can / may可以to sit坐هنا这里(yes/no ?)吗?
- Put the surname before teacher老师.
- Use can / may可以 و (yes/no ?)吗.
- State the action requested.
Check the distinction: Do not translate English first-name classroom address automatically into every Chinese setting. Use the person’s preferred form of address.