Asking a coworker for help is easier when you can open politely, check whether the timing works, and understand the answer you get. In this workshop you will practice a short workplace exchange using recorded lines. You will first follow a guided exchange, then choose the reply that fits, and finally recall the exchange with the roles switched. Each recorded line is explained in English before you use it, so you always know what you are saying and hearing.
Opening a Request Politely
A polite request often starts by checking whether the other person has a moment. The line «你现在方便吗？我想请你帮个忙。» means the speaker is asking if now is a good time and saying they would like to ask a favor. This is a soft opening: it gives the coworker a chance to say yes or suggest another time before the actual request is made. When the coworker is ready, the speaker can name the task. The line «能不能帮我看看这份报告？» means the speaker is asking for help looking at a report. Notice that the request is specific: it names the item and the kind of help. If the speaker wants to soften it further, the line «麻烦你帮我改一下，好吗？» means the speaker is apologizing for the trouble and asking for help revising it. In a real exchange, you would usually open with a timing check, wait for a reply, and then state the task.
Making the Request Concrete
Once the coworker agrees to listen, the request can include a time or a way to deliver the work. The line «如果方便的话，能不能今天下午发给我？» means the speaker is asking, if it is convenient, for the item to be sent this afternoon. This adds a clear condition and a clear time without sounding demanding. In the recorded exchange, speaker A combines the timing check and the request: «小李，你现在方便吗？我想请你帮个忙。» means the speaker is addressing Xiao Li, asking if now is a good time, and saying they would like to ask a favor. Speaker B answers with «方便，你说吧。什么事？», which means it is fine, the speaker can go ahead, and asks what the matter is. Speaker A then makes the task concrete with «能不能帮我看看这份报告？如果方便的话，今天下班前给我就行。», which means asking for help looking at the report and, if convenient, getting it to the speaker before the end of the day. Speaker B closes the loop with «没问题，我下午看，有问题我再问你。», which means there is no problem, the report will be looked at this afternoon, and if there are questions the speaker will ask. This sequence shows a complete polite request: check timing, state the task, and accept the reply.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
能不能帮我看看这份报告？
Could you help me take a look at this report?
néng bu néng bāng wǒ kàn kan zhè fèn bàogào?
麻烦你帮我改一下，好吗？
Sorry to trouble you, could you help me revise it?
máfan nǐ bāng wǒ gǎi yíxià, hǎo ma?
你现在方便吗？我想请你帮个忙。
Is now a good time? I'd like to ask you a favor.
nǐ xiànzài fāngbiàn ma? wǒ xiǎng qǐng nǐ bāng ge máng.
如果方便的话，能不能今天下午发给我？
If it's convenient, could you send it to me this afternoon?
rúguǒ fāngbiàn de huà, néng bu néng jīntiān xiàwǔ fā gěi wǒ?
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
小李，你现在方便吗？我想请你帮个忙。
Xiao Li, is now a good time? I'd like to ask you a favor.方便，你说吧。什么事？
It's fine, go ahead. What is it?能不能帮我看看这份报告？如果方便的话，今天下班前给我就行。
Could you help me look at this report? If it's convenient, just get it to me before the end of the day.没问题，我下午看，有问题我再问你。
No problem, I'll look at it this afternoon, and if I have questions I'll ask you.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided Exchange: Ask and Respond
You are at work and want to ask a coworker for help with a report. Read the exchange aloud with a partner, or play both roles yourself with the recordings.
Your task: Role A: begin with «小李，你现在方便吗？我想请你帮个忙。». Role B: reply with «方便，你说吧。什么事？». Role A: continue with «能不能帮我看看这份报告？如果方便的话，今天下班前给我就行。». Role B: finish with «没问题，我下午看，有问题我再问你。». After reading, say in English what each line means.
Choose the Reply That Fits
A coworker has just said «小李，你现在方便吗？我想请你帮个忙。» to you. You want to show you are ready to listen and ask what the favor is.
Your task: Choose the best reply: (a) «方便，你说吧。什么事？», (b) «能不能帮我看看这份报告？», or (c) «如果方便的话，能不能今天下午发给我？». Then say why the other two do not fit as a direct reply to a timing check.
Recall the Exchange with Roles Switched
Cover the lines. You will rebuild the exchange from memory, then check yourself.
Your task: Role A: open with a timing check and a favor request. Role B: accept and ask what it is. Role A: ask for help with the report and give a convenient time. Role B: accept, say when you will look at it, and say you will ask questions if needed. Use the recorded lines «小李，你现在方便吗？我想请你帮个忙。», «方便，你说吧。什么事？», «能不能帮我看看这份报告？如果方便的话，今天下班前给我就行。», and «没问题，我下午看，有问题我再问你。» in that order.
Common questions
Do I need to memorize every line before speaking?
No. Start by reading the recorded lines aloud while you look at them. Then cover one line at a time and try to say it from memory. The goal is to become comfortable with the polite opening, the request, and the reply, not to perform perfectly on the first try.
What if I am not sure whether the other person is ready to help?
Use a timing check first, like the opening in «你现在方便吗？我想请你帮个忙。» or «小李，你现在方便吗？我想请你帮个忙。». This gives the other person a chance to say yes or to suggest another time. Only after you hear a reply like «方便，你说吧。什么事？» should you state the task, as in «能不能帮我看看这份报告？如果方便的话，今天下班前给我就行。».
Sources and further reading
- chinese: asking for a favor at workChecked September 2026
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