In this workshop you practise a short salon conversation in Chinese. You will ask for a haircut, ask whether an appointment is needed, and understand the reply that tells you to sit down. Each native line is given with its English meaning first, then you use it in a guided exchange, a listening choice, and a final recall with the roles switched.
Asking for a haircut and checking appointments
Start with the main request. «我想剪头发。» means "I'd like a haircut." Use it when you are ready to tell the staff what you want. If you are not sure whether you can walk in, ask «请问，需要预约吗？», which means "Excuse me, do I need an appointment?" If the answer is yes, you can say «我要预约。», meaning "I'd like to make an appointment." These three lines cover the first moments at the salon: state your service, check the appointment rule, and book if needed. Keep your tone calm and polite; a short request is normal here.
A short walk-in exchange
Now put the lines together in a simple scene. The customer greets the staff and asks for a haircut: «你好，我想剪头发。», meaning "Hello, I'd like a haircut." The staff replies «好的，请问您预约了吗？», meaning "Okay, may I ask if you have an appointment?" The customer answers «没有。现在可以吗？», meaning "No. Is now okay?" The staff then says «可以，请坐。», meaning "Yes, please have a seat." Notice the order: greeting and request, question about an appointment, answer and check about now, then the instruction to sit. In this scene the customer is the one who wants the haircut, and the staff member asks about the appointment and gives the seat instruction.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
我想剪头发。
I'd like a haircut.
wǒ xiǎng jiǎn tóufa
请问，需要预约吗？
Excuse me, do I need an appointment?
qǐngwèn, xūyào yùyuē ma?
我要预约。
I'd like to make an appointment.
wǒ yào yùyuē
现在可以吗？
Is now okay? / Can I do it now?
xiànzài kěyǐ ma?
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
你好，我想剪头发。
Hello, I'd like a haircut.好的，请问您预约了吗？
Okay, may I ask if you have an appointment?没有。现在可以吗？
No. Is now okay?可以，请坐。
Yes, please have a seat.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided salon exchange
You are the customer at a salon. Your partner reads the staff lines. Read your lines aloud in order, using the recording references as your script.
Your task: Read «你好，我想剪头发。» as the customer. Your partner reads «好的，请问您预约了吗？» as the staff. Then read «没有。现在可以吗？» as the customer. Your partner finishes with «可以，请坐。» as the staff. After one round, swap roles and read the same four lines again in the same order.
Understand the staff reply
You hear a staff member answer a customer at the salon. Choose the best response for the customer from the options below.
Your task: The staff member says «好的，请问您预约了吗？», meaning "Okay, may I ask if you have an appointment?" Which customer reply fits? A: «没有。现在可以吗？», meaning "No. Is now okay?" B: «我想剪头发。», meaning "I'd like a haircut." C: «我要预约。», meaning "I'd like to make an appointment."
Recall the walk-in scene with roles switched
Cover the lines. You and your partner will rebuild the short salon scene from memory, then swap roles.
Your task: First, one person is the customer and the other is the staff. Say the four lines of the scene from memory in order. Then swap roles and say the same four lines again in the same order. Use the recordings to check yourselves after both rounds.
Common questions
Do I need to book before going to the salon?
The recordings let you ask. «请问，需要预约吗？» means "Excuse me, do I need an appointment?" If the staff says yes, you can use «我要预约。», meaning "I'd like to make an appointment." If you already have no appointment and want to check now, «没有。现在可以吗？» means "No. Is now okay?"
What does the staff member say when you can stay?
«可以，请坐。» means "Yes, please have a seat." It is the staff reply after the customer says there is no appointment and asks whether now is okay. Listen for this line as the signal to sit down and wait.
Sources and further reading
- chinese: ask for a haircutChecked September 2026
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