Vocabulary
This interjection is the standard way to say "Hello" when answering the phone.
What is 喂 (wèi/wéi)?
This adverb is used before a verb to indicate that an action is currently "in progress."
What is 正在 (zhèngzài)?
Translate: "Who is this?" (asking who is on the phone).
What is 請問你是哪位? (Qǐngwèn nǐ shì nǎ wèi?)
(Fill-in): When answering the phone and confirming it is you, you say "我就是," where "就是" means "____."
What is exactly / precisely? (meaning "This is he/she").
This verb-object phrase means "to make a phone call."
What is 打電話 (dǎ diànhuà)?
This particle is often added to the end of a sentence containing "正在" to further emphasize the ongoing nature of the action.
What is 呢 (ne)?
Translate: "He is doing homework right now."
What is 他正在做功課呢 (Tā zhèngzài zuò gōngkè ne)?
True or False: In China, it is considered polite to state who you are looking for immediately after saying "Wèi."
What is True?
This word means "sorry" or "excuse me" and is used to apologize for an interruption.
What is 對不起 (duìbuqǐ)?
When asking for someone on the phone, you use this "V-not-V" structure of the verb "to be" (shì)
What is 是不是 (shì bú shì)?
Translate: "Please wait a moment."
請等一下兒 (Qǐng děng yíxiàr)?
(Fill-in): To say someone is "not in," you use the phrase "他____."
What is 不在 (bú zài)?
This noun refers to a "wrong number."
What is 打錯了 (dǎ cuò le)?
To negate an action in progress (to say you are not doing something right now), you must use this word instead of "bù."
What is 沒 (méi) or 沒有 (méiyǒu)?
Translate: "You called the wrong number."
What is 你打錯了 (Nǐ dǎ cuò le)?
True or False: You can use the word "正在" with stative verbs like "to be" (shì) or "to have" (yǒu).
What is False? (正在 is only for active, ongoing behaviors).
This verb means "to look for" or "to seek" someone on the phone.
找 (zhǎo)
This phrase is used as a "duration complement" to tell someone to "wait a moment."
What is 一下兒 (yíxiàr)?
Translate: "I will call again later."
What is 我一會兒再打 (Wǒ yìhuǐr zài dǎ)?
(Fill-in): To say "He is currently making a phone call," using the grammar for an action in progress, you would say "他____打電話呢."
What is 正在 (zhèngzài)?