In this workshop you will practice a short, practical exchange about opening hours. You will first learn how to ask the time a place opens and closes, then how to understand a simple reply, and finally how to recall the whole exchange with the roles swapped. The recordings give you the exact lines to use, so you can focus on speaking clearly and responding at the right moment.
Asking the opening and closing times
Start with the two most useful questions. «几点开门？» means "What time does it open?" and «几点关门？» means "What time does it close?" Use these when you want a simple time in the answer. If you want a general question about opening hours, use «营业时间是什么？», which means "What are the opening hours?" A polite full version is «你好，请问营业时间是什么？», which means "Hello, may I ask what the opening hours are?" Say the question with a clear rising tone at the end. Keep your voice calm and friendly, and pause briefly before the final question word so the listener can follow you.
Understanding the reply
When you ask about hours, you may hear a reply like «上午九点开门，下午五点关门。», which means "It opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m." Listen for the opening time first, then the closing time. If you need the final entry time, ask «最晚入场时间是什么？», which means "What is the last entry time?" In the recorded dialogue, the staff member answers with «最晚入场时间是下午四点半。», which means "The last entry time is 4:30 p.m." Notice that the reply gives a specific time, so you do not need to guess. Listen for the time expression and repeat it silently to yourself before you respond.
Keeping the exchange in order
A natural exchange follows a clear order: greeting and question, then answer, then a follow-up question, then a second answer. In the recorded dialogue, the customer begins with «你好，请问营业时间是什么？», the staff member replies with «上午九点开门，下午五点关门。», the customer asks «最晚入场时间是什么？», and the staff member answers with «最晚入场时间是下午四点半。». When you practice with a partner, keep this order even if you swap roles. The person asking still asks first, and the person answering still answers after the question. This helps you build a reliable speaking habit. If you practice alone, play the recording and speak the other role after each line, matching the same order.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
营业时间是什么？
What are the opening hours?
yíngyè shíjiān shì shénme?
几点开门？
What time does it open?
jǐ diǎn kāi mén?
几点关门？
What time does it close?
jǐ diǎn guān mén?
最晚入场时间是什么？
What is the last entry time?
zuì wǎn rùchǎng shíjiān shì shénme?
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
你好，请问营业时间是什么？
Hello, may I ask what the opening hours are?上午九点开门，下午五点关门。
It opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m.最晚入场时间是什么？
What is the last entry time?最晚入场时间是下午四点半。
The last entry time is 4:30 p.m.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided opening-hours exchange
You are a visitor at a museum information desk. A staff member is ready to help. You will ask about the opening hours, listen to the reply, then ask about the last entry time.
Your task: Read the customer role aloud. First say «你好，请问营业时间是什么？». Then, after the staff reply, say «最晚入场时间是什么？». Use the recording for the staff lines if you are practicing alone.
Choose the matching reply
You hear a customer ask about opening hours. You need to choose the reply that gives the opening and closing times.
Your task: The customer says «你好，请问营业时间是什么？». Which reply fits? Option A: «上午九点开门，下午五点关门。». Option B: «最晚入场时间是下午四点半。». Say the letter of your choice, then read the full reply aloud.
Recall the exchange with swapped roles
You have practiced the customer and staff lines. Now you will recall the whole exchange from memory, with the roles swapped.
Your task: With a partner, one person plays the customer and the other plays the staff member. The customer says «你好，请问营业时间是什么？», the staff member says «上午九点开门，下午五点关门。», the customer says «最晚入场时间是什么？», and the staff member says «最晚入场时间是下午四点半。». Then swap roles and repeat the same order.
Common questions
What is the difference between asking about opening hours and asking about the last entry time?
Opening hours tell you when the place opens and closes, as in «上午九点开门，下午五点关门。». The last entry time tells you the final time you may enter, as in «最晚入场时间是下午四点半。». They are different questions, so use «营业时间是什么？» or «几点开门？» for opening hours and «最晚入场时间是什么？» for the last entry time.
Can I practice alone if I do not have a partner?
Yes. Play the recording and speak the other role after each line. For example, after you hear the customer say «你好，请问营业时间是什么？», speak the staff reply «上午九点开门，下午五点关门。» yourself. Keep the same order: question first, then answer, then follow-up question, then answer.
Sources and further reading
- chinese: ask about opening hoursChecked September 2026
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