Series ID: EDKS-BASIC-ZH-0024 · Lesson No.024 · 零基础英语第二十四课 · Pre-A1 → A1

Invitations and Social English | 邀请与社交英语

Nice to meet you. Are you free on Saturday? Would you like to have lunch? Sorry, I can’t, but thank you for asking.
很高兴认识你。星期六有空吗？要不要一起吃午饭？对不起，我不能去，不过谢谢你的邀请。

Social English is not about performing one perfect culture. Different people, countries, families and workplaces have different expectations. The beginner goal is to communicate clearly, politely and respectfully.

社交英语不是背一套“唯一正确礼仪”。不同国家、家庭、年龄和工作环境都可能不同。基础目标是：清楚、礼貌、尊重，同时保留自己的边界。

Chinese Edition Hub · 中文版入口 · ← Lesson No.023 · Phones and Messages

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The social map | 社交路线

• hello / hi / good morning
• introducing yourself and others
• Nice to meet you
• small talk topics
• Are you free…?
• Would you like to…?
• Do you want to…?
• accepting invitations
• refusing politely
• maybe / let me check
• confirming time and place
• host and guest language
• thank you / you’re welcome
• sorry / excuse me
• congratulations / good luck as recognition
• leaving a conversation politely
• boundaries and privacy
• Mandarin 客气/不好意思/有空/改天 vs English social chunks

1. Hello / Hi | 你好

• Hello.
• Hi.
• Hi, Anna.

Hi is more informal. Hello is a safe general choice.

2. Good morning / afternoon / evening | 早上好 / 下午好 / 晚上好

• Good morning.
• Good afternoon.
• Good evening.

Exact time boundaries vary. Use them naturally, not mechanically.

3. How are you? | 你好吗？

• How are you?
• I’m good, thanks. How are you?
• I’m fine, thank you.

In casual greetings, this question may be social rather than a request for a full health report.

4. Introducing yourself | 自我介绍

• I’m Mei.
• My name is Mei.
• Hi, I’m David.

5. Introducing another person | 介绍别人

• This is my friend Anna.
• This is my colleague David.
• I’d like you to meet Mei. — recognition phrase

6. Nice to meet you | 很高兴认识你

• Nice to meet you.
• Nice to meet you too.

A high-value first-meeting phrase.

7. Good to see you | 很高兴见到你

• Good to see you.
• It’s good to see you again.

Often used with someone you already know.

8. Small talk | 简单闲聊

Small talk is short, low-pressure conversation. Common safe topics may include:

• weather
• journey/transport
• the event/place
• weekend plans
• food
• general work/study context

What feels appropriate varies by relationship and culture.

9. Weather small talk | 天气闲聊

• It’s hot today.
• The weather is nice today.
• Did you get caught in the rain? — recognition phrase

10. Journey small talk | 路程闲聊

• Was the journey okay?
• Did you find the place easily?
• Was the train busy?

11. Weekend small talk | 周末闲聊

• How was your weekend?
• Did you do anything interesting?
• What are you doing this weekend?

Past and future lessons now join social conversation.

12. Work/study small talk | 工作学习闲聊

• How is work?
• How is your English class?
• Are you busy this week?

Do not pressure people for private details.

13. Are you free…? | 你有空吗？

• Are you free on Saturday?
• Are you free tomorrow evening?
• Are you free for lunch?

This is a simple invitation opener.

14. Would you like to…? | 你愿意……吗？

• Would you like to have lunch?
• Would you like to come with us?
• Would you like to join us?

A polite invitation frame.

15. Do you want to…? | 你想……吗？

• Do you want to get coffee?
• Do you want to go for lunch?

More direct and informal.

16. How about…? | ……怎么样？

• How about lunch on Friday?
• How about three o’clock?
• How about this café?

Useful for proposing an option.

17. Let’s… | 我们……吧

• Let’s have lunch.
• Let’s meet at the station.
• Let’s go tomorrow.

Let’s proposes a shared action.

18. Accepting: Yes, I’d love to | 接受

• Yes, I’d love to.
• That sounds good.
• Sure.
• I’d be happy to. — recognition phrase

19. Accepting with details | 接受并确认

• Yes, I’m free at six.
• Friday works for me.
• That time is good.

20. Refusing: Sorry, I can’t | 礼貌拒绝

• Sorry, I can’t.
• I’m sorry, I’m busy then.
• I can’t make it. — recognition phrase

You do not need to give a detailed reason.

21. Thank you for asking | 谢谢邀请

• Sorry, I can’t, but thank you for asking.
• Thanks for the invitation.

22. Maybe another time | 改天吧

• Maybe another time.
• How about next week instead?

Use this only if you genuinely want to leave the possibility open.

23. Let me check | 我看一下

• Let me check my calendar.
• I’m not sure yet. Let me check.

This avoids saying yes before you know.

24. I’ll let you know | 我会告诉你

• I’ll let you know tonight.
• Can I let you know tomorrow?

Give a time if the other person needs an answer.

25. What time? | 几点？

• What time should we meet? — recognition
• What time is good for you?
• How about six?

26. Where shall we meet? | 在哪里见？

• Where should we meet? — common international form
• Where shall we meet? — common in some varieties
• Let’s meet at the station.

27. Confirming | 确认

• Saturday at six, correct?
• See you at the café at six.
• I’ll message you the address.

28. Host | 主人 / 邀请方

• Thanks for coming.
• Come in.
• Please have a seat.
• Would you like some tea?

Hosting language varies greatly by culture and setting.

29. Guest | 客人

• Thank you for having me.
• This is lovely.
• Can I help with anything?

Thank you for having me is a useful guest phrase.

30. Would you like something to drink? | 要喝点什么吗？

• Would you like some water?
• Would you like tea or coffee?

31. Yes, please / No, thank you | 接受与拒绝

• Yes, please.
• No, thank you.

Simple, clear and polite.

32. Thank you | 谢谢

• Thank you.
• Thank you very much.
• Thanks for your help.
• Thanks for coming.

33. You’re welcome | 不客气

• You’re welcome.
• No problem.
• My pleasure. — more formal recognition

34. Sorry | 对不起 / 不好意思

• Sorry I’m late.
• Sorry, I can’t come.
• Sorry, I didn’t hear you.

English sorry covers several social repair functions.

35. Excuse me | 不好意思 / 劳驾

• Excuse me. Can I ask a question?
• Excuse me. Is this seat free?
• Excuse me. I need to leave.

36. Congratulations | 恭喜

• Congratulations!
• Congratulations on your new job. — recognition phrase

37. Good luck | 祝你好运

• Good luck with your exam.
• Good luck tomorrow.

38. Happy birthday | 生日快乐

• Happy birthday!
• Have a great day.

39. Take care | 保重

• Take care.
• Take care on your way home.

40. Goodbye / Bye | 再见

• Goodbye.
• Bye.
• See you.
• See you later.

41. I should go | 我该走了

• I should go now.
• I need to get going. — recognition phrase
• I’d better go. — recognition phrase

These help leave a conversation politely.

42. It was nice talking to you | 很高兴和你聊天

• It was nice talking to you.
• Nice talking to you.
• It was good to see you.

43. Keep in touch | 保持联系

• Let’s keep in touch.
• I’ll message you.

Only say this when you genuinely want continued contact.

44. Boundaries | 社交边界

Polite English does not require saying yes. You can refuse without revealing private information.

• Sorry, I can’t.
• I’m not available then.
• I’d rather not. — recognition phrase
• No, thank you.

45. Personal questions | 私人问题

Topics such as income, age, relationship status, health, religion or family plans can be sensitive depending on person and culture.

• I’d rather not say.
• That’s a little personal.
• Can we talk about something else?

These are useful boundary phrases.

46. Cultural variation | 文化差异

Eye contact, physical distance, forms of address, punctuality, gift-giving and small-talk topics vary. Do not treat one English-speaking culture as universal.

The language goal is adaptable politeness: observe, ask, and respect the other person’s response.

47. Titles and names | 称呼

• Mr
• Ms
• Dr
• first name
• family name / surname

If unsure, ask: What should I call you?

48. Mandarin transfer: 有空吗？ | Are you free?

• 你星期六有空吗？ → Are you free on Saturday?

Do not translate 有 literally with have here.

49. Mandarin transfer: 请 | politeness is a whole system

Chinese 请 may map to please, a modal question, an invitation, or no direct single word.

• 请坐。 → Please have a seat.
• 请问…… → Excuse me, can I ask…?

50. Mandarin transfer: 不好意思 | several English choices

• 不好意思，打扰一下。 → Excuse me.
• 不好意思，我迟到了。 → Sorry I’m late.
• 不好意思，我不能去。 → Sorry, I can’t come.

Choose the social function, not one fixed translation.

51. Mandarin transfer: 改天吧 | Maybe another time

• 改天吧。 → Maybe another time.

This can sound like a soft refusal unless a real alternative is proposed.

52. Reading practice A: invitation | 阅读 A

Mei asks Anna, “Are you free on Saturday? Would you like to have lunch?” Anna says, “I’d love to. What time?” They agree on twelve thirty at a café near the station. Mei sends the address later and Anna replies, “Got it. See you Saturday.”

1. What day does Mei suggest?
2. What activity?
3. Does Anna accept?
4. What time do they agree on?
5. How does Mei send the location?

53. Reading practice B: polite refusal | 阅读 B

David invites Leo to dinner on Friday. Leo already has a family event. He says, “Sorry, I can’t on Friday, but thank you for asking. Are you free next week?” They choose Tuesday instead.

1. What is the first invitation?
2. Why can’t Leo come?
3. Does he give a long explanation?
4. What alternative does he suggest?

54. Reading practice C: leaving politely | 阅读 C

Anna meets a new colleague at an event. They talk about work, the weather and the food. After ten minutes, Anna needs to meet another person. She says, “It was nice talking to you. I should go and find my team. See you at work on Monday.”

1. What do they talk about?
2. Why does Anna need to leave?
3. What polite closing does she use?
4. When will they meet again?

55. Writing practice: invitation message | 写邀请

Write five parts:

1. greeting
2. Are you free…?
3. activity
4. time/place suggestion
5. request for reply

56. Writing practice: refusal | 写礼貌拒绝

Use:

• Thank you for asking.
• Sorry, I can’t…
• optional alternative

No private explanation is required.

57. Speaking practice: first meeting | 第一次见面

A: Hi, I’m Mei.
B: Hi, I’m Anna. Nice to meet you.
A: Nice to meet you too. How is your day going?
B: Good, thanks.

58. Speaking practice: invitation | 邀请口语

A: Are you free on Sunday?
B: I think so. Why?
A: Would you like to have coffee?
B: Sure. What time?

59. Speaking practice: leave politely | 离开口语

A: It was nice talking to you.
B: You too.
A: I should go now. See you tomorrow.
B: See you.

60. Error clinic | 常见错误诊所

Error	Better English	What broke?
You Saturday free? ✗	Are you free on Saturday? ✓	be question + preposition
You want eat lunch? △	Do you want to have lunch? ✓	question + to
I very happy meet you. ✗	Nice to meet you. ✓	fixed social phrase
Sorry, I no can. ✗	Sorry, I can’t. ✓	can negative
Thank you invite me. ✗	Thank you for inviting me. ✓	phrase pattern
I go first. △	I should go now. ✓	natural leaving phrase

61. First weak link diagnosis | 第一个卡点诊断

• I can greet but cannot continue → small-talk question bank.
• I can invite but no details → time/place confirmation.
• I fear refusing → boundary phrases.
• I accept but forget to confirm → repeat date/time/place.
• I talk but cannot leave naturally → closing phrases.
• I translate Chinese politeness word by word → social-function mapping.

62. Retrieval lab | 提取练习

• 很高兴认识你。 → ______
• 星期六有空吗？ → ______
• 要不要一起吃午饭？ → ______
• 听起来不错。 → ______
• 对不起，我不能去。 → ______
• 谢谢你的邀请。 → ______
• 我看一下日历。 → ______
• 我们改成四点好吗？ → ______
• 很高兴和你聊天。 → ______
• 我该走了。 → ______

Suggested answers: Nice to meet you. / Are you free on Saturday? / Would you like to have lunch? / That sounds good. / Sorry, I can’t come. / Thanks for the invitation. / Let me check my calendar. / Can we meet at four instead? / It was nice talking to you. / I should go now.

63. Ten-minute daily practice | 每天十分钟

2 min	greetings/introduction	问候介绍
2 min	small talk	闲聊
2 min	invite/accept	邀请接受
2 min	refuse/change/confirm	拒绝改期确认
2 min	one social role-play	综合口语

64. Seven-day training cycle | 七天训练

Day 1	greet/introduce	问候介绍
Day 2	small talk	闲聊
Day 3	invite	邀请
Day 4	accept/refuse	接受拒绝
Day 5	host/guest	主人客人
Day 6	thanks/sorry/leaving	感谢道歉离开
Day 7	one-minute social interaction	综合输出

65. Self-test: 30 questions | 30 题自测

1. Say hello formally enough for general use.
2. Introduce yourself.
3. Introduce a friend.
4. Say Nice to meet you.
5. Ask how someone is.
6. Ask if someone is free Saturday.
7. Invite someone to lunch.
8. Give an informal invitation.
9. Accept warmly.
10. Refuse politely.
11. Thank someone for inviting you.
12. Say you need to check your calendar.
13. Say you’ll answer tomorrow.
14. Suggest four o’clock instead.
15. Confirm Friday at six.
16. Offer a guest tea.
17. Decline tea politely.
18. Thank a host.
19. Apologise for being late.
20. Get someone’s attention politely.
21. Say congratulations.
22. Say good luck.
23. Say you should go.
24. Say it was nice talking.
25. Correct: You Saturday free?
26. Correct: Sorry, I no can.
27. Correct: Thank you invite me.
28. Give one boundary phrase.
29. Write one invitation message.
30. Complete one-minute social conversation.

Answer key | 答案

1 Hello / Good morning; 2 I’m… / My name is…; 3 This is my friend…; 4 Nice to meet you; 5 How are you?; 6 Are you free on Saturday?; 7 Would you like to have lunch?; 8 Do you want to have lunch?; 9 Yes, I’d love to / That sounds good; 10 Sorry, I can’t; 11 Thanks for the invitation; 12 Let me check my calendar; 13 I’ll let you know tomorrow; 14 Can we meet at four instead?; 15 Friday at six, correct?; 16 Would you like some tea?; 17 No, thank you; 18 Thank you for having me; 19 Sorry I’m late; 20 Excuse me; 21 Congratulations; 22 Good luck; 23 I should go now; 24 It was nice talking to you; 25 Are you free on Saturday?; 26 Sorry, I can’t; 27 Thank you for inviting me; 28–30 answers vary.

66. For parents and teachers | 给家长和老师

Teach social English as choices, not rigid scripts. The learner should know several ways to greet, invite, accept, refuse and leave.

For Mandarin speakers, map the social function of 请、不好意思、有空 and 改天 rather than insisting on one-word translations.

Respect learner boundaries. Role-play can use fictional people and situations; nobody needs to reveal private relationships or social plans.

Discuss cultural variation without ranking cultures. The question is not “Which culture is more polite?” but “What language works respectfully in this context?”

67. What Lessons 021–024 add | 第二十一至二十四课增加了什么？

Lesson	New control
021	talk about completed past events
022	understand school/work tasks and deadlines
023	manage calls and messages
024	manage invitations and basic social interaction

68. Final real-world challenge | 最终真实任务

1. Introduce yourself and another person.
2. Hold thirty seconds of small talk.
3. Invite someone.
4. Accept one invitation.
5. Refuse one invitation politely.
6. Confirm date, time and place.
7. Thank a host.
8. Apologise for a small social problem.
9. Leave a conversation politely.
10. Complete a two-minute fictional social interaction.

Next natural nodes | 下一批自然节点

• Lesson No.025 · Reading Signs and Notices · 标志与通知
• Lesson No.026 · Forms and Personal Information · 表格与个人信息
• Lesson No.027 · Problems and Solutions · 问题与解决
• Lesson No.028 · Review and Real-Life English · 复习与真实英语

Back to Chinese Edition Hub · 返回中文版入口

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Reference floor: British Council A1 Elementary · British Council A1–A2 Vocabulary · Cambridge Essential Grammar in Use A1–B1.