You have read about 不好意思, 借过, and 请问, and you understand the difference between them. But when you are actually in a crowded subway car or standing in a busy café, the words need to come out without hesitation. This workshop gives you three spoken role-plays that force you to choose the right phrase and say it aloud. You will start with a simple seat request, move to a physical passing situation, and finish with a follow-up question that requires you to combine phrases naturally. Each exercise includes a next-turn complication so you practise responding, not just reciting. The native phrases and dialogue lines are supplied separately with audio; use those exact lines when a task asks you to speak Chinese.
Choose the phrase before you speak
The biggest mistake beginners make is using 对不起 for everything. Before each role-play, pause and decide: are you physically moving past someone, interrupting to ask a question, or apologising for a real mistake? If you need to pass through a crowd, 借过 is your phrase. If you need to get someone's attention to ask something, 不好意思 or 请问 fits better. 请问 is especially useful before a direct question to a stranger or staff member. 劳驾 works when you need a small favour, like asking someone to move a bag. Say the phrase aloud once before starting the role-play so your mouth knows the tones. Pay attention to the tone of 借 (jiè) and 过 (guò) — both are fourth tone, so your voice should drop. For 不好意思, the source pronunciation is bù hǎo yì si: bù is fourth tone, hǎo is third tone, yì is fourth tone, and si is neutral. Practise the rhythm until it feels like one word, not four separate syllables.
When the other person responds unexpectedly
In real life, people do not always answer the way you expect. You might ask 请问，这个座位有人吗？ and the person says something you did not anticipate. You need to react politely without freezing. A simple 好的，谢谢 or 不好意思，我再找找 works in many situations. The key is to keep your tone calm and friendly. If someone replies with a longer sentence you do not fully understand, you can say 不好意思，请再说一遍 (Bù hǎo yì si, qǐng zài shuō yí biàn) — Excuse me, please say that again. This uses 不好意思 to soften the request, which is exactly what the phrase is for. Do not switch to 对不起 here; you have not done anything wrong. You are simply asking for repetition, and 不好意思 keeps it light.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
借过
Excuse me (let me pass)
jiè guò
不好意思
Excuse me / Sorry
bù hǎo yì si
请问
Excuse me, may I ask...
qǐng wèn
劳驾
Excuse me (may I trouble you)
láo jià
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
不好意思，请问这个座位有人吗？
Excuse me, is this seat taken?没有人，请坐。
No one, please sit.谢谢。不好意思，再请问一下，洗手间在哪里？
Thanks. Excuse me, one more question, where is the restroom?在前面左转。
Turn left ahead.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Asking about a seat in a café
You are in a small café with many occupied tables. You see one table with a single empty chair and a bag on it. A person is sitting nearby, looking at their phone. You want to ask if the seat is taken.
Your task: Say aloud the source dialogue line: 不好意思，请问这个座位有人吗？ (Bù hǎo yì si, qǐng wèn zhè ge zuò wèi yǒu rén ma?) — Excuse me, is this seat taken? Make sure you say 不好意思 first to get attention, then 请问 before the question. Speak clearly and pause slightly between the two phrases.
Passing through a crowded subway car
You are on a packed subway train. Your stop is next, and you need to get to the door. Several people are standing between you and the exit, facing away from you. The train is slowing down.
Your task: Say aloud the source phrase: 借过一下，谢谢。 (Jiè guò yí xià, xiè xie.) — Excuse me, let me pass, thanks. Say it clearly and with a friendly tone. You may need to repeat it as you move. Do not use 请问 here because you are not asking a question; you are asking people to make space.
Asking a staff member for directions after passing through a crowd
You have just passed through a crowd using 借过 and reached the front of a large store. You need to find the restroom. A staff member is standing near the entrance, arranging items on a shelf. You approach them.
Your task: First, get their attention with 不好意思. Then ask the source dialogue question: 不好意思，再请问一下，洗手间在哪里？ (Bù hǎo yì si, zài qǐng wèn yí xià, xǐ shǒu jiān zài nǎ lǐ?) — Excuse me, one more question, where is the restroom? Say both phrases aloud in sequence. Make sure your tone is polite and your question is clear.
Common questions
Can I use 不好意思 and 请问 together in one sentence?
Yes. 不好意思 gets attention, and 请问 introduces the question. The source dialogue gives this example: 不好意思，请问这个座位有人吗？ This is very common and polite. You can also use 请问 alone, but adding 不好意思 softens the approach.
What if I accidentally bump into someone while saying 借过?
If you actually make contact, switch to 对不起. 借过 is for asking to pass, but 对不起 is for apologising for a mistake. You can say 对不起，借过一下 to apologise and continue moving.
Sources and further reading
- chinese: using excuse meChecked September 2026
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