In this workshop you will practice a short customer and staff conversation about delivery time. You will ask how long a courier delivery takes, understand a reply that gives a standard time and an express option, ask about the extra cost, and respond to the staff member's question. The recordings give you the exact lines to use, so you can focus on speaking clearly and keeping the conversation in the right order.
Asking How Long Delivery Takes
Start with a simple question about time. «快递多久能到？» means "How long will the courier delivery take to arrive?" and «多长时间能送到？» means "How long will it take to be delivered?" Both ask for a time estimate. If you want to know whether a faster service exists, use «有加急的吗？», which means "Do you have an express/rush option?" In a shop or online chat, the customer usually asks first, then the staff member answers. Keep your tone calm and friendly. You can point to the item or the order on your phone while you speak, so the other person knows what you are asking about.
Understanding the Reply
A staff member may answer with a standard time. «大概三天左右。» means "About three days or so." This tells you the usual delivery time. In a fuller reply, the staff member may compare standard and express service. «普通快递大概三天左右，加急的话明天就能到。» means "Standard delivery takes about three days; if you use express, it can arrive tomorrow." Listen for the two options: standard and express. If you want the faster one, you still need to ask about the extra cost. «加急要加多少钱？» means "How much extra does express cost?" The staff member can then give the price and ask if you want it. «加二十块。你要加急吗？» means "Twenty yuan extra. Do you want express?" At this point, you can answer yes or no, or ask another question if you need more information.
Keeping the Conversation in Order
A clear delivery conversation follows a simple order: greeting and first question, reply with time and options, question about extra cost, then answer to the staff member's question. In the recorded exchange, the customer begins with «你好，这个快递多久能到？», which means "Hello, how long will this courier delivery take to arrive?" The staff member replies with «普通快递大概三天左右，加急的话明天就能到。». The customer then asks «加急要加多少钱？», and the staff member answers with «加二十块。你要加急吗？». If you practice both roles, keep this order. Swapping roles changes who speaks each line, but the question still comes before its reply. This helps you remember the flow and respond naturally when you hear the other person's line.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
快递多久能到？
How long will the courier delivery take to arrive?
kuàidì duō jiǔ néng dào
多长时间能送到？
How long will it take to be delivered?
duō cháng shíjiān néng sòng dào
有加急的吗？
Do you have an express/rush option?
yǒu jiājí de ma
大概三天左右。
About three days or so.
dàgài sān tiān zuǒyòu
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
你好，这个快递多久能到？
Hello, how long will this courier delivery take to arrive?普通快递大概三天左右，加急的话明天就能到。
Standard delivery takes about three days; if you use express, it can arrive tomorrow.加急要加多少钱？
How much extra does express cost?加二十块。你要加急吗？
Twenty yuan extra. Do you want express?Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided Delivery Time Exchange
You are the customer in a shop. The staff member is ready to help. Use the recorded lines to ask about delivery time and express service.
Your task: Read the customer lines in order. Start with «你好，这个快递多久能到？». After the staff member's reply, ask «加急要加多少钱？». Then wait for the staff member's answer. If you are practicing alone, play the staff lines from the recordings after each of your lines.
Choose the Right Reply
You hear a staff member say «普通快递大概三天左右，加急的话明天就能到。», which means "Standard delivery takes about three days; if you use express, it can arrive tomorrow." You want to know the extra cost of express.
Your task: Choose the best customer line for this moment: «快递多久能到？», «有加急的吗？», or «加急要加多少钱？». Say it aloud, then check the answer key below.
Recall the Exchange with Roles
Work with a partner or use the recordings. One person is the customer and the other is the staff member. The customer wants to know delivery time and express cost.
Your task: Customer: say «你好，这个快递多久能到？». Staff: say «普通快递大概三天左右，加急的话明天就能到。». Customer: say «加急要加多少钱？». Staff: say «加二十块。你要加急吗？». Then swap roles and repeat the same order. Do not change the order of the lines.
Common questions
What does «大概三天左右。» mean, and when can I use it?
«大概三天左右。» means "About three days or so." You can use it as a staff member when you give a standard delivery time. As a customer, you may hear it as the answer to your time question. It gives an approximate time, not an exact promise.
If I hear «普通快递大概三天左右，加急的话明天就能到。», what should I ask next if I want express?
«普通快递大概三天左右，加急的话明天就能到。» means "Standard delivery takes about three days; if you use express, it can arrive tomorrow." If you want express, ask about the extra cost with «加急要加多少钱？», which means "How much extra does express cost?" Then listen for the price and the staff member's question in «加二十块。你要加急吗？».
Sources and further reading
- chinese: ask about delivery timeChecked September 2026
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