Chinese for Work: Asking 'Are You Available Tuesday?' and Confirming an Agenda
Learn to schedule a work meeting in Mandarin: ask about availability on a specific day, propose a time, and confirm the agenda politely using 方便, 安排, and 议程.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
Scheduling a work meeting in Chinese is not the same as making casual plans with friends. You need to be polite, specific, and clear about the purpose. This lesson teaches you how to ask if someone is available on a particular day, suggest a time, and confirm what you will discuss. The key phrase is 你星期二方便吗? (Nǐ xīngqī'èr fāngbiàn ma?), which means 'Are you available Tuesday?' You will also learn how to say 'Shall we set the agenda?' and respond appropriately. By the end, you can arrange a simple work meeting in Mandarin without sounding too direct or too vague.
By the end, you can…
- ask a colleague if they are available on a specific day using 方便.
- propose a meeting time and confirm the agenda in Mandarin.
- respond to a meeting request by accepting, declining, or suggesting another time.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
你星期二方便吗？
Are you available on Tuesday?
Nǐ xīngqī'èr fāngbiàn ma?
Use 方便 (fāngbiàn) to ask about availability politely. It is common in work contexts. 星期二 (xīngqī'èr) means Tuesday.
我们开个会吧。
Let's have a meeting.
Wǒmen kāi ge huì ba.
开个会 (kāi ge huì) means 'have a meeting'. 吧 (ba) softens the suggestion, like 'shall we'.
上午十点可以吗？
Is 10 a.m. okay?
Shàngwǔ shí diǎn kěyǐ ma?
Use 可以吗 (kěyǐ ma) to check if a proposed time works. 上午 (shàngwǔ) means morning, 十点 (shí diǎn) means 10 o'clock.
我们确认一下议程。
Let's confirm the agenda.
Wǒmen quèrèn yíxià yìchéng.
确认 (quèrèn) means 'confirm'. 一下 (yíxià) makes the action brief and polite. 议程 (yìchéng) means 'agenda'.
没问题，到时候见。
No problem, see you then.
Méi wèntí, dào shíhou jiàn.
A friendly way to accept and close. 到时候见 (dào shíhou jiàn) means 'see you at that time'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask about availability, use: [Person] + [Day] + 方便吗？ For example, 你星期三方便吗？ (Nǐ xīngqīsān fāngbiàn ma? — Are you available Wednesday?). To propose a time, use: [Time] + 可以吗？ For example, 下午两点可以吗？ (Xiàwǔ liǎng diǎn kěyǐ ma? — Is 2 p.m. okay?). To confirm the agenda, say: 我们 + [verb] + 一下 + [object]. For example, 我们看一下议程。 (Wǒmen kàn yíxià yìchéng. — Let's take a look at the agenda.)
When to use it
Use 方便 when you are asking if someone has time without being pushy. It is more polite than 你有空吗？ (Nǐ yǒu kòng ma? — Do you have free time?), which is fine with friends but can sound casual at work. Use 可以吗 to check a proposed time. If you need to decline, say 不好意思，我那天不方便。 (Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ nà tiān bù fāngbiàn. — Sorry, I'm not available that day.) Then suggest another time: 星期四可以吗？ (Xīngqīsì kěyǐ ma? — Is Thursday okay?). Always confirm the agenda with 议程 to keep the meeting focused.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
小李，你星期二方便吗？我们开个会吧。
Xiao Li, are you available on Tuesday? Let's have a meeting.Xiǎo Lǐ, nǐ xīngqī'èr fāngbiàn ma? Wǒmen kāi ge huì ba.星期二上午我有空。下午两点可以吗？
I'm free Tuesday morning. Is 2 p.m. okay?Xīngqī'èr shàngwǔ wǒ yǒu kòng. Xiàwǔ liǎng diǎn kěyǐ ma?可以。我们确认一下议程：讨论项目进度和下周计划。
Okay. Let's confirm the agenda: discuss project progress and next week's plan.Kěyǐ. Wǒmen quèrèn yíxià yìchéng: tǎolùn xiàngmù jìndù hé xià zhōu jìhuà.没问题，到时候见。
No problem, see you then.Méi wèntí, dào shíhou jiàn.A little context goes a long way
In Chinese workplaces, it is common to use 方便 to ask about availability, as it shows respect for the other person's schedule. Directly saying 'You must come' is rare. Also, using 我们 (we) instead of 你 (you) when proposing actions softens the tone and implies teamwork. When confirming an agenda, being specific with 议程 helps avoid misunderstandings. If you are the more junior person, you might add 请问 (qǐngwèn — may I ask) at the start: 请问，您星期二方便吗？ (Qǐngwèn, nín xīngqī'èr fāngbiàn ma?).
One thing to watch for
Using 你有空吗？ (Nǐ yǒu kòng ma?) in a formal work setting to ask about availability.
Try this instead: Use 你方便吗？ (Nǐ fāngbiàn ma?) instead. 你有空吗？ is fine among friends but can sound too casual at work. For example, say 你星期三方便吗？ (Nǐ xīngqīsān fāngbiàn ma?) rather than 你星期三有空吗？ (Nǐ xīngqīsān yǒu kòng ma?).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask a colleague if they are available on Friday?
Show a sample answer
你星期五方便吗？
This uses the pattern [Day] + 方便吗. 星期五 (xīngqīwǔ) means Friday. You could also say 您星期五方便吗？ to be more polite.
2Propose a meeting at 3 p.m. using 可以吗.
Show a sample answer
下午三点可以吗？
下午三点 (xiàwǔ sān diǎn) means 3 p.m. 可以吗 checks if the time works. You could also say 下午三点行吗？ (Xíng ma?) in casual speech.
3How do you confirm the agenda for a meeting?
Show a sample answer
我们确认一下议程。
This means 'Let's confirm the agenda.' You can add specific topics: 我们确认一下议程：讨论预算。 (Tǎolùn yùsuàn — discuss the budget.)
Use 方便 to ask about availability politely at work, 可以吗 to check a time, and 议程 to confirm what you will discuss. Keep it specific and polite.
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