预约、服务和手续
Chapter Overview and Learning Objectives
Independent daily life often means dealing with appointments, forms, and front-desk staff — at a clinic, a bank, a government office, or a service counter. This chapter builds the language you need to make, confirm, postpone, and cancel an appointment, to talk about being on time or late, and to fill out a simple form. You will also continue developing two systems introduced earlier in this unit: A-not-A questions, which now move from formulaic use into more flexible production, and topic chains, which let you connect several sentences about the same situation without repeating the subject every time.
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Make, confirm, postpone, and cancel an appointment over the phone or in person.
- Ask and answer A-not-A questions about appointments and availability with greater flexibility.
- Use 给 to mark who an action is done for or given to in a service context.
- Fill out a simple form using key vocabulary for personal information and identification.
- Connect several sentences about the same appointment using topic chains, without unnecessary repetition of the subject.
- Complete an integrated listening, speaking, reading, and writing task about scheduling and managing an appointment.
Result complements such as 填好 and 预约好 continue to appear at the recognition level only in this chapter, exactly as in Chapter 6. Full result-complement production still begins in Chapter 9.
Communication Scenario
You need to see a doctor about a minor health issue. This chapter follows three connected tasks: calling a clinic to make an appointment, filling out a short form when you arrive, and dealing with a scheduling change when something comes up.
- You will listen to a phone call in which someone makes an appointment at a clinic.
- You will read a short form and a confirmation message from the clinic.
- You will write a message postponing or confirming an appointment.
- You will speak with a partner, practicing a phone call to make or change an appointment.
Core Vocabulary
The words below are productive for this chapter. Entries follow the standard format: character | Pinyin | function | meaning | example.
| Chinese | Pinyin | Function | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 预约 | yùyuē | verb/noun | to make an appointment; appointment | 我想预约明天上午。 |
| 诊所 | zhěnsuǒ | noun | clinic | 这家诊所离我家不远。 |
| 身份证 | shēnfènzhèng | noun | ID card | 请带上你的身份证。 |
| 表格 | biǎogé | noun | form (document) | 请先填一下这张表格。 |
| 填 | tián | verb | to fill in | 你可以在这里填你的名字。 |
| 签名 | qiānmíng | verb/noun | to sign; signature | 请在这里签名。 |
| 前台 | qiántái | noun | front desk, reception | 请把表格给前台的人。 |
| 确认 | quèrèn | verb | to confirm | 我想确认一下我的预约。 |
| 推迟 | tuīchí | verb | to postpone | 可以把预约推迟到下午吗？ |
| 取消 | qǔxiāo | verb | to cancel | 我想取消我的预约。 |
| 提前 | tíqián | adverb/verb | ahead of time, in advance | 请提前打电话通知我们。 |
| 准时 | zhǔnshí | adverb/adj | on time | 请准时到诊所。 |
| 迟到 | chídào | verb | to be late | 对不起，我可能会迟到十分钟。 |
| 给 | gěi | coverb/verb | for; to give | 请给我们打电话确认一下。 |
| 号码 | hàomǎ | noun | number | 你的电话号码是多少？ |
| 安排 | ānpái | verb/noun | to arrange; arrangement | 我们已经安排了下午的预约。 |
| 资料 | zīliào | noun | information, documents | 请带上你的个人资料。 |
| 空 | kòng | adj/noun | free (time); free time | 你这个星期几有空？ |
Receptive vocabulary: 挂号 (guàhào, to register at a clinic) and 病历 (bìnglì, medical record, formal) may appear in the reading passage for context but are not required for independent production this chapter.
Pronunciation and Literacy Focus
This chapter continues to consolidate tones and connected-speech patterns already active from Volume II, with special attention to two patterns in this chapter's vocabulary:
- Third-tone sandhi in 取消 (qǔxiāo): the first syllable is third tone in isolation; in connected speech before the first-tone xiāo, it is pronounced as a low, non-dipping third tone rather than a full dip.
- Neutral tone in 名字-type patterns: in 签名, the second syllable keeps its full tone here (unlike some neutral-tone family words you already know) — do not automatically reduce every second syllable to neutral tone.
Typing focus: this chapter continues typing through Pinyin input as a controlled productive skill, now including search-style typing — for example, typing a clinic name or a time expression to search for an appointment slot online. Continue selecting the correct character carefully when several characters share the same Pinyin, such as several characters pronounced tí; make sure you select 提 for "提前."
Handwriting is not a required skill for this chapter's vocabulary. Continue handwriting only the characters already scheduled from earlier chapters.
Grammar and Sentence Patterns
1. 给 in Service Language
You already use 给 as a coverb meaning "to/for" a person, recycled from earlier chapters. This chapter expands its use in service and appointment contexts, where it marks who receives an action, a call, or an object.
请给我们打电话确认一下。
Qǐng gěi wǒmen dǎ diànhuà quèrèn yíxià.
Please give us a call to confirm.
请把表格给前台的人。
Qǐng bǎ biǎogé gěi qiántái de rén.
Please give the form to the front-desk person.
Form: 给 + person + verb phrase (action done for/to that person), or 给 + person after a verb like a direct hand-off. Do not treat 给 as a direct equivalent of English "give" in every sentence — its coverb use marks a recipient or beneficiary, not always a physical handing-over.
2. A-not-A Questions: Developing Flexibility
You have already used a few fixed A-not-A patterns. This chapter develops the pattern more flexibly, including with two-syllable verbs and modal verbs.
你要不要预约明天的时间？
Nǐ yào bu yào yùyuē míngtiān de shíjiān?
Do you want to make an appointment for tomorrow's time slot?
可以不可以把预约推迟到下午？
Kěyǐ bu kěyǐ bǎ yùyuē tuīchí dào xiàwǔ?
Is it possible to postpone the appointment to the afternoon?
你这个星期有没有空？
Nǐ zhège xīngqī yǒu méiyǒu kòng?
Do you have free time this week?
Form: repeat only the first syllable of a two-syllable verb or modal before 不 + the full verb (要不要, 可以不可以), or use the full verb before and after 有没有 for existence/possession questions.
3. Topic Chains: Connecting an Appointment Story
A topic chain lets you keep talking about the same person, appointment, or situation across several sentences without repeating the subject in every clause.
我今天上午打电话预约，前台说下午三点有空，我就把时间定了下来。
Wǒ jīntiān shàngwǔ dǎ diànhuà yùyuē, qiántái shuō xiàwǔ sān diǎn yǒu kòng, wǒ jiù bǎ shíjiān dìng le xiàlái.
This morning I called to make an appointment; the front desk said 3 p.m. was free, so I locked in that time.
Notice how the topic (the appointment call) continues across clauses without restating "the appointment" or "I" in every sentence. Recycle the reference and cohesion patterns from Chapter 2 as you build these chains.
4. Recognition Review: Result Complements in Service Contexts
As in Chapter 6, treat result complements as recognizable two-character units for now, not as a system you build freely.
表格填好了，你可以给前台了。
Biǎogé tián hǎo le, nǐ kěyǐ gěi qiántái le.
The form is filled out (completed), you can give it to the front desk now.
预约已经安排好了。
Yùyuē yǐjīng ānpái hǎo le.
The appointment has already been arranged (successfully).
Full result-complement production begins in Chapter 9. For now, continue recognizing 好 as a marker of successful completion after a verb.
Model Dialogue
Context: patient to clinic front desk, phone call, service register
前台：你好，这里是阳光诊所，请问需要什么帮助？
顾客：你好，我想预约看医生，这个星期你们有没有空？
前台：有，星期四下午三点可以吗？
顾客：可以，谢谢。请问需要带什么资料？
前台：请带上你的身份证，来了以后先填一张表格。
顾客：好的，我会准时到。如果有事，我会提前给你们打电话。
前台：没问题，星期四见。
Front desk: Hello, this is Sunshine Clinic, how can I help you? Customer: Hi, I'd like to make an appointment to see a doctor — do you have any openings this week? Front desk: Yes, is Thursday at 3 p.m. okay? Customer: That works, thanks. What documents do I need to bring? Front desk: Please bring your ID card, and fill out a form when you arrive. Customer: Okay, I'll be on time. If something comes up, I'll call you in advance. Front desk: No problem, see you Thursday.
Guided Practice
1. Turn each statement into an A-not-A question:
- 你要预约明天的时间。
- 你这个星期有空。
- 可以把预约推迟到下午。
2. Complete each sentence with 给:
- 请＿我们打电话确认一下。
- 请把身份证＿前台的人。
Listening Practice
Listening script for independent use. Read aloud slowly, then at a natural pace, or have a fluent speaker record it.
预约电话 — Appointment phone call:
你好，这里是阳光诊所。我们想确认一下你的预约：星期四下午三点，来的时候请带上身份证，先在前台填一张表格。如果你不能准时到，请提前给我们打电话，谢谢。
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 预约是星期几，几点？ | ______ |
| 来的时候需要带什么？ | ______ |
| 如果不能准时到，应该怎么办？ | ______ |
Speaking Practice
控制性练习 — Controlled practice
With a partner, take turns asking and answering A-not-A questions about availability this week, using 有没有空 and 可以不可以.
交际任务 — Communicative task: 打电话预约
Role-play a phone call making an appointment. One partner plays the customer; the other plays the front-desk staff. Include a request for an appointment, an A-not-A question about availability, a mention of what to bring, and a polite closing.
独立练习 — Solo alternative
Record yourself narrating an appointment as a short topic chain: how you called, what the front desk said, and what time you agreed on.
Reading Practice
Read the clinic's confirmation message, then answer the comprehension questions.
- 预约是什么时候，在哪里？
- 来的时候需要带什么？
- 到了诊所以后，应该先做什么？
- 如果要取消预约，应该怎么办？
Writing Workshop
Write a message (six to nine sentences) to a clinic or office, either confirming an appointment or asking to postpone one.
写作任务 — Writing task: Type your message with Pinyin input. Your message must include:
- An opening greeting and a reference to your appointment (day and time).
- A clear statement of whether you are confirming, postponing, or canceling, using 确认, 推迟, or 取消.
- At least one A-not-A question asking about a new time or availability.
- A mention of 给, describing who should call or send information to whom.
- A closing sentence, such as a thank-you or a note about being available.
修改清单 — Editing checklist:
- 确认, 推迟, and 取消 are used accurately and not interchangeably.
- At least one A-not-A question is formed correctly.
- 给 correctly marks the recipient or beneficiary of an action.
- The message stays connected as a short topic chain rather than a list of disconnected sentences.
- Chinese punctuation (。，？) is used correctly throughout.
Culture and Communication
In many Mandarin-speaking service contexts, arriving 准时 and giving 提前 notice when a change is needed are both seen as basic courtesy, much as in many English-speaking contexts. Expectations around exactly how much advance notice is polite can vary by setting, relationship, and type of institution, but a brief, clear phone call or message — rather than simply not showing up — is generally viewed as the respectful way to handle a schedule change.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Confusing 推迟 and 取消: use 推迟 for postponing to a later time, and 取消 for canceling entirely — they are not interchangeable.
- Overusing full A-not-A repetition: for two-syllable verbs, repeat only the first syllable before 不 (要不要, not 要不要要).
- Treating 给 only as "to give": in service language, 给 often marks a recipient or beneficiary of an action, not a physical handing-over.
- Overanalyzing 填好/安排好 too early: continue treating these as recognizable units meaning "completed successfully" rather than freely building new result-complement combinations — that begins in Chapter 9.
Chapter Summary
This chapter introduced appointment and service vocabulary, developed A-not-A questions into more flexible productive use, expanded 给 into service contexts, and practiced connecting sentences about the same situation through topic chains. You also continued recognizing result complements such as 填好 and 安排好, which remain recognition-only until Chapter 9. Typing through Pinyin input continued as a controlled productive skill, now including simple search-style typing.
Chapter Review
部分 A — 语法复习 (Grammar Review)
1. Form an A-not-A question from the following statement:
- 你可以准时到。
2. Choose 推迟 or 取消 to complete the sentence:
- 我这个星期不能去了，我想＿我的预约。
部分 B — 阅读 (Reading)
1. Return to the clinic's confirmation message above and answer:
- 如果要推迟或者取消预约，应该提前多久打电话？
部分 C — 写作 (Writing)
1. Write your six-to-nine-sentence appointment message, following the Writing Workshop steps and editing checklist above.
部分 D — 口语 (Speaking)
1. Complete the 打电话预约 role-play with a partner or recording.
Recognition Check
Say each of the following aloud and confirm accurate tones and connected phrasing: 你这个星期有没有空, 请给我们打电话确认一下, 可以不可以把预约推迟到下午, 表格填好了. If any of these feel uncertain, review this chapter before continuing to Chapter 8.
Practical Performance Task
Chapter 7 Performance Task
预约 — Making and Managing an Appointment
Complete the following four connected tasks.
- Listen to the appointment phone call and complete the listening table above.
- Read the clinic's confirmation message and answer the comprehension questions.
- Write your own appointment message, following the Writing Workshop steps and editing checklist.
- Speak through the 打电话预约 role-play with a partner, recording, or instructor.
Answer Key
Guided Practice
- a. 你要不要预约明天的时间？ b. 你这个星期有没有空？ c. 可以不可以把预约推迟到下午？
- a. 给 b. 给
Listening Practice
- Thursday at 3 p.m.
- An ID card.
- Call the clinic in advance.
Reading Practice
- Thursday at 3 p.m., at Sunshine Clinic.
- An ID card and personal documents.
- Fill out a form at the front desk.
- Call the clinic one day in advance.
Chapter Review — 部分 A
- 你可不可以准时到？
- 取消
Chapter Review — 部分 B
应该提前一天打电话。 (You should call one day in advance.)
Looking Ahead
现在你会做什么 — What you can do now
You can make, confirm, postpone, and cancel an appointment, ask flexible A-not-A questions, use 给 in service contexts, fill out a simple form, and connect several sentences about the same situation using a topic chain.