Module 4 of 12 · 门诊中文 Front Desk & Medical Assistant
预约电话 Scheduling, Reminders and the Phone
Book, change and confirm appointments in Mandarin, in person and by phone: days and times, reminders, what to bring, and when a call is urgent.
By the end of this module you can…
- Book an appointment: offer times, and confirm the day, time and doctor.
- Reschedule and cancel kindly, and explain the policy.
- Explain reminders, and what to bring.
- Handle the phone: hold, transfer, messages and call-backs.
- Say the lines that send an urgent call to the nurse or 911.
Key vocabulary
Fourteen words from this module. Tap the speaker to hear each one.
Scheduling
- 改时间gǎi shí jiānTo reschedule
- 取消qǔ xiāoTo cancel
- 确认què rènTo confirm
- 提醒tí xǐngTo remind; reminder
- 复诊fù zhěnFollow-up visit
- 空kòngFree time, an opening
- 爽约shuǎng yuēTo miss an appointment (no-show)
- 迟到chí dàoTo be late
The phone
- 转接zhuǎn jiēTo transfer (a call)
- 留言liú yánTo leave a message
- 回电话huí diàn huàTo call back
- 占线zhàn xiànThe line is busy
- 护士热线hù shi rè xiànNurse line
- 下班xià bānClosed for the day; off work
Ten core phrases
The lines from this module’s take-home phrase sheet. In the course you can print them on one page for your pocket.
- 我们有星期二下午和星期四上午，哪个方便？Wǒ men yǒu xīng qī èr xià wǔ hé xīng qī sì shàng wǔ, nǎ ge fāng biàn?Tuesday afternoon or Thursday morning: which is easier?
- 下个星期三上午十点半，看王医生，对吗？Xià ge xīng qī sān shàng wǔ shí diǎn bàn, kàn Wáng yī shēng, duì ma?Next Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., Dr. Wang, right?
- 请提前十五分钟到，带上保险卡、证件和您吃的药。Qǐng tí qián shí wǔ fēn zhōng dào, dài shang bǎo xiǎn kǎ, zhèng jiàn hé nín chī de yào.Arrive 15 minutes early with your card, ID and medicines.
- 看病前一天，我们会发短信提醒您。Kàn bìng qián yì tiān, wǒ men huì fā duǎn xìn tí xǐng nín.We’ll text a reminder the day before.
- 您想改到哪天？Nín xiǎng gǎi dào nǎ tiān?Which day would you like to change it to?
- 取消的话，请至少提前二十四小时告诉我们。Qǔ xiāo de huà, qǐng zhì shǎo tí qián èr shí sì xiǎo shí gào su wǒ men.Please cancel at least 24 hours ahead.
- 请稍等，我帮您转接。Qǐng shāo děng, wǒ bāng nín zhuǎn jiē.Just a moment, I’ll transfer you.
- 护士现在不在，您可以留言，她会给您回电话。Hù shi xiàn zài bú zài, nín kě yǐ liú yán, tā huì gěi nín huí diàn huà.Leave a message for the nurse; she’ll call you back.
- 您现在有胸口痛或者呼吸困难吗？有的话，请马上打911。Nín xiàn zài yǒu xiōng kǒu tòng huò zhě hū xī kùn nan ma? Yǒu de huà, qǐng mǎ shàng dǎ jiǔ yāo yāo.Chest pain or trouble breathing now? If so, call 911 right away.
- 下班以后有急事，请打我们的护士热线。如果是紧急情况，请马上打911。Xià bān yǐ hòu yǒu jí shì, qǐng dǎ wǒ men de hù shi rè xiàn. Rú guǒ shì jǐn jí qíng kuàng, qǐng mǎ shàng dǎ jiǔ yāo yāo.After hours: our nurse line. Emergencies: 911.
What’s in Module 4
- Part 1 · Warm-UpWarm-Up: When Works for You?
- Part 2 · The Words for SchedulingReading the PinyinSaying 星期三 vs. Writing 周三Vocabulary · Flash CardsBuild the Appointment
- Part 3 · Booking and ChangingThe Booking ScriptOffer ChoicesKey PatternsRescheduling and CancelingReminders and What to BringPhone Skills
- Part 4 · Urgent and After HoursUrgent CallsBook It, or Get Help Now?After Hours and Voicemail
- Part 5 · Concerns & CalendarsWhat Callers SayDays, Weeks and MonthsThree More Words
- Part 6 · Role-PlayRound 1 · Guided ConversationRound 2 · Controlled PracticeRounds 3, 4 & 5 · Independent
- Part 7 · Knowledge CheckModule 4 Knowledge Check
- Part 8 · Wrap-UpModule 4 HomeworkTake-Home Phrase SheetModule 4 Wrap-Up · 下次见
Practice it properly
The full module adds dialogues, role-plays, pronunciation drills and a Knowledge Check. Pass the check to earn a certificate of completion you can add to LinkedIn.