Series ID: EDKS-BASIC-ZH-0010 · Lesson No.010 · 零基础英语第十课 · Pre-A1 → A1

Can You Help Me? | 请求帮助

Can you help me? I don’t understand. Please say it again.
你能帮我吗？我不明白。请再说一次。

A beginner does not need to understand everything. A beginner needs language for what to do when understanding fails.

零基础学习者不需要“什么都听懂”。更重要的是：听不懂时，知道下一步怎么做。

This lesson builds a repair system. It gives you English for getting attention, asking for help, asking somebody to repeat, asking them to speak slowly, asking for spelling, asking for meaning, checking a number, finding a place and explaining a simple problem.

这一课建立“交流修复系统”。你会学到：怎样礼貌开口、怎样求助、怎样要求重复、怎样请别人说慢一点、怎样问拼写、怎样确认数字、怎样问路、怎样说明一个简单问题。

Chinese Edition Hub · 中文版入口 · ← Lesson No.009 · Food and Drink

The lesson map | 本课路线

Excuse me.
Can you help me?
Could you help me? — recognition and polite alternative
I need help.
I don’t understand.
Please say it again.
Please say it slowly.
Can you repeat that?
How do you spell it?
Can you write it down?
Can you show me?
What does ___ mean?
How do you say ___ in English?
Did you say ___?
Is that correct?
finding places, transport and information
asking for help at school, work and shops
simple urgent-help language
repair ladders, dialogues, listening and retrieval

1. Excuse me | 礼貌地引起注意

Excuse me. is one of the most useful opening phrases in English.

Excuse me. Can you help me?
Excuse me. Where is the station?
Excuse me. Is this seat free?
Excuse me. I have a question.

Do not translate every word literally. In these situations, Excuse me functions as a polite attention signal.

不要逐字翻译。把它当作“礼貌开口”的完整社交工具。

2. Can you help me? | 你能帮我吗？

Can you help me?

这是这一课最重要的核心句之一。

Can you help me, please?
Can you help me with this?
Can you help me find the station?
Can you help me understand this?

Can you…? can ask about ability, but in real interaction it often works as a request.

3. Could you help me? | 更柔和的请求

Could you help me? is often a little more indirect or polite than Can you help me?.

Could you help me, please?
Could you say that again?
Could you show me where it is?

Absolute beginners do not need to master the full grammar of could. Learn it as a common polite request pattern.

4. Please | please 放在哪里？

please can appear in several common positions:

Please help me.
Can you help me, please?
Please say it again.
Water, please.

English politeness is not created by one word alone. Tone, wording and context also matter. But please is a safe high-frequency beginner tool.

5. Thank you | 谢谢

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

Thanks is more informal. Thank you is a safe general choice.

6. You’re welcome | 不客气

You’re welcome.
No problem.
That’s okay.

Different English-speaking regions and speakers use different responses. A beginner should recognise several and produce one reliable option.

7. Sorry | 对不起 / 不好意思

Sorry can do several jobs:

Sorry, I don’t understand.
Sorry, can you say that again?
Sorry, I’m late.
Sorry, that’s my mistake.

Mandarin uses different expressions such as 对不起, 不好意思 and 抱歉 depending on context. English sorry can cover several of these functions.

8. I don’t understand | 我不明白

I don’t understand.

This sentence is powerful because it tells the other person exactly what the problem is: meaning has not arrived.

Sorry, I don’t understand.
I don’t understand this word.
I don’t understand the question.
I don’t understand the last part.

Do not pretend to understand when the information matters.

9. I understand | 我明白

I understand.
Yes, I understand now.
Okay, I understand.

This closes the repair loop. The other person knows communication is working again.

10. Please say it again | 请再说一次

Please say it again.

Sorry, please say it again.
Can you say that again?
Could you repeat that?

These are not signs of failure. Repetition is a normal communication strategy.

11. Repeat vs say again | repeat 和 say again

Both can work:

Can you repeat that?
Can you say that again?

Say it again may feel more transparent to a beginner. Learn one productive form first; recognise the other.

12. Please say it slowly | 请说慢一点

Please say it slowly.

Could you speak more slowly, please?
Please say the number slowly.
Please say the name slowly.

Notice slowly, the adverb. In casual speech, people may also say Speak slower. For a beginner, more slowly is a clear standard model.

13. One word at a time | 一个词一个词说

One word at a time, please.
Can you say the address one word at a time?
Can you say the number one digit at a time?

This is useful when a whole phrase is too fast.

14. How do you spell it? | 怎么拼？

How do you spell it?

How do you spell your name?
How do you spell “station”?
Can you spell it, please?

Spelling is a bridge from sound to written form. It is especially useful for names, addresses and unfamiliar vocabulary.

15. The alphabet becomes a repair tool | 字母表不只是背 ABC

If you can spell, you can recover words you cannot recognise from sound.

A-N-N-A
S-T-A-T-I-O-N
B-E-I-J-I-N-G

The alphabet is not only school knowledge. It is real-world communication equipment.

16. Can you write it down? | 可以写下来吗？

Can you write it down, please?
Can you write the address?
Can you write the number here?

If listening is difficult, move the information into another channel: writing.

这是一条很重要的学习原则：一个渠道失败时，换一个渠道。

17. Can you show me? | 可以给我看吗？

Can you show me?
Can you show me on the map?
Can you show me which one?
Can you show me how to do it?

Visual information can repair spoken information.

18. Pointing and choosing | 指一下、选一下

This one?
That one?
The blue one?
Which one?

Lesson 002’s this/that system becomes a repair tool in shops and classrooms.

19. What does ___ mean? | ……是什么意思？

What does “receipt” mean?

What does this word mean?
What does “platform” mean?
What does this sentence mean?

Do not say “What mean this?” in standard English. Learn the whole question frame: What does ___ mean?

20. How do you say ___ in English? | ……用英语怎么说？

How do you say “筷子” in English?
How do you say this in English?
What is this called in English?

This sentence lets you use another language strategically to grow your English.

21. What is this in English? | 这个用英语怎么说？

What is this in English?

Point at a real object. Ask. Hear the answer. Repeat it. Use it in a sentence.

What is this in English?
It’s a stapler.
A stapler?
Yes.
How do you spell it?

This is a complete self-learning loop.

22. Did you say…? | 你刚才说的是……吗？

Did you say thirteen?
Did you say Platform 4?
Did you say Tuesday?
Did you say nine one two three?

You do not need full past-tense theory to use this checking phrase. Learn it as a tool for confirming what you heard.

23. Is that correct? | 对吗？

Tuesday at three thirty. Is that correct?
Room 305. Is that correct?
Your name is Mei. Is that correct?

Repeating the information plus Is that correct? is a strong confirmation strategy.

24. Do you mean…? | 你的意思是……吗？

Do you mean this one?
Do you mean Tuesday?
Do you mean the station near the bank?

This is slightly above the absolute beginner core, but very useful for clarification.

25. Which one? | 哪一个？

Which one?
Which bus?
Which platform?
Which door?

which asks you to choose from a limited set of known options.

26. Where is…? | 求助常常从问路开始

Where is the station?
Where is the toilet?
Where is the exit?
Where is the information desk?

This reuses Lesson 004 location language.

27. I’m lost | 我迷路了

I’m lost.
I can’t find the station.
I can’t find my hotel.
Can you show me on the map?

I’m lost is a concise problem statement. Then ask for the next useful action.

28. I can’t find… | 我找不到……

I can’t find the entrance.
I can’t find my bag.
I can’t find Platform 3.

can’t = cannot. You will study negative systems more deeply in Lesson 012.

29. Can you tell me where…? | 可以告诉我……在哪里吗？

Can you tell me where the station is?
Can you tell me where the toilet is?
Can you tell me where Room 12 is?

This is a more advanced polite structure. Notice the word order inside the embedded question: where the station is, not “where is the station”. If this feels heavy, recognise it now and keep producing the simpler Where is the station?

30. Help with transport | 交通求助

Which bus goes to the city centre?
Where is Platform 2?
Does this train go to the airport?
What time does the train leave?
Is this the right bus?

Transport combines location, questions, numbers and checking. It is a good real-world test of the first ten lessons.

31. Is this the right…? | 这是对的吗？

Is this the right bus?
Is this the right train?
Is this the right platform?
Is this the right form?

right here means correct, not direction-right.

32. Help in a shop | 商店求助

Excuse me. Can you help me?
Do you have this in a smaller size?
Where can I find water?
How much is this?
Can you show me another one?

Keep the request short and specific.

33. Help at school | 学校求助

I don’t understand the question.
Can you explain it again?
Can you show me an example?
How do you spell this word?
What does this word mean?
Can I ask a question?

A learner who can ask for clarification learns faster because confusion does not have to stay hidden.

34. Help at work | 工作场景求助

Can you show me how to do this?
Can you send it again?
I don’t understand this part.
Which file do you mean?
What time is the meeting?
Is this correct?

Simple English can support real professional tasks long before advanced fluency arrives.

35. Help with technology | 设备和系统求助

It’s not working.
I can’t open it.
I can’t log in.
Can you help me?
What should I click?
Can you show me?

Do not overcomplicate the problem statement. Name the failure first.

36. It’s not working | 它不能正常工作

It’s not working. is useful for machines, websites, cards, keys and systems when the function fails.

My card is not working.
The machine is not working.
This link is not working.

Then add one detail if you know it.

37. I need help | 我需要帮助

I need help.
I need help with this form.
I need help finding the station.
I need help with my bag.

I need help is more direct than Can you help me?. Both are useful.

38. Simple urgent-help language | 简单紧急求助表达

I need help now.
I need a doctor.
Please call for help.
I am hurt.
My friend is hurt.
Please stay with me.

These are basic language tools, not medical or emergency instructions. In a real emergency, use the local emergency system and follow instructions from qualified responders.

39. I don’t know | 我不知道

I don’t know.
I don’t know the answer.
I don’t know this word.
I don’t know where it is.

I don’t know is different from I don’t understand. One means you lack the information; the other means information was presented but meaning did not become clear.

40. I don’t remember | 我不记得

I don’t remember the number.
I don’t remember the name.
Sorry, I don’t remember.

Again, precise problem language helps the other person respond correctly.

41. I forgot | 我忘了

I forgot the key.
I forgot my password.
I forgot the name.

forgot is a past form. Learn the high-frequency phrase now; detailed past-tense study can come later.

42. The repair ladder | 交流修复阶梯

Signal the problem: Sorry, I don’t understand.
Ask for repetition: Please say it again.
Reduce speed: Please say it slowly.
Reduce the unit: One word at a time, please.
Change channel: Can you write it down?
Add visual support: Can you show me?
Check your guess: Did you say Tuesday?
Close the loop: Okay, I understand now. Thank you.

This ladder is more valuable than pretending to understand until the conversation collapses.

43. One question is not enough | 一句“再说一次”不一定解决问题

If you ask only Again, please, the other person may repeat the same fast sentence in exactly the same way. A stronger learner changes the condition:

Please say it slowly.
Can you write it?
Can you show me?
Did you say thirteen?

Good repair becomes more specific after each failed attempt.

44. Mandarin transfer: 请 and please | “请”与 please 不是机械一对一

Mandarin politeness can use 请, 麻烦你, 不好意思 and other strategies. English uses please, modal questions, softening phrases and tone.

请再说一次。 → Please say it again.
麻烦你帮我一下。 → Could you help me, please?
不好意思，请问车站在哪里？ → Excuse me. Where is the station?

Do not search for one English word that permanently equals every Chinese politeness marker. Learn the whole social move.

45. Mandarin transfer: 听不懂 | I can’t hear vs I don’t understand

Chinese learners may use one broad phrase for “I didn’t get it.” English can distinguish:

I can’t hear you. — 声音太小 / 听不到
I can hear you, but I don’t understand. — 听得到声音，但意思不懂

This distinction tells the speaker whether to become louder or clearer.

46. I can’t hear you | 我听不见

Sorry, I can’t hear you.
Can you speak a little louder?
The connection is bad. I can’t hear you clearly.

Do not ask someone to “say slowly” if the real problem is volume or connection quality.

47. Louder vs slower | 大声一点 vs 慢一点

Please speak louder. — 请大声一点。
Please speak more slowly. — 请慢一点。

These solve different problems. Accurate diagnosis creates accurate repair.

48. Reading practice A: asking directions | 阅读 A

Mei is at a large train station. She cannot find Platform 6. She goes to the information desk and says, “Excuse me. Can you help me? Where is Platform 6?” The staff member gives a long answer. Mei understands the first part but not the last part. She says, “Sorry, please say the last part again. Slowly, please.” The staff member repeats it. Mei says, “Turn left after the café, correct?” The staff member says yes. Mei thanks her and finds the platform.

What can’t Mei find?
Where does she ask for help?
What does she say first?
Which part does she not understand?
How does she ask for repair?
How does she check the direction?

49. Reading practice B: classroom repair | 阅读 B

Wei is learning English. The teacher uses a new word: “schedule”. Wei does not know the word. He asks, “What does schedule mean?” The teacher explains it, but Wei is not sure about the spelling. He asks, “How do you spell it?” The teacher spells S-C-H-E-D-U-L-E and writes it on the board. Wei repeats the word and writes one sentence: “My work schedule starts at nine.”

Which word does Wei not know?
What question does he ask about meaning?
What question does he ask about spelling?
What does the teacher do?
What sentence does Wei write?

50. Reading practice C: wrong order | 阅读 C

Anna orders vegetable noodles and tea. The staff brings chicken noodles and coffee. Anna says, “Excuse me. I ordered vegetable noodles, not chicken noodles. I also ordered tea, not coffee.” The staff member apologises and changes the order. Anna checks the new food and says, “Yes, that’s correct. Thank you.”

What does Anna order?
What arrives first?
How does Anna explain the problem?
What does the staff member do?
How does Anna close the repair?

51. Writing practice: build a repair card | 做一张求助卡

Write these ten sentences on one small page:

Excuse me.
Can you help me?
I don’t understand.
Please say it again.
Please say it slowly.
How do you spell it?
Can you write it down?
Can you show me?
Did you say ___?
Thank you.

Then practise until you no longer need the card.

52. Writing practice: problem → request | 问题变成请求

Problem	Useful request
I don’t understand.	Please explain it again.
I can’t hear.	Please speak louder.
It is too fast.	Please speak more slowly.
I don’t know the spelling.	How do you spell it?
I cannot find the place.	Can you show me on the map?
I am not sure about the number.	Did you say thirteen?

This is a diagnostic skill: choose the request that matches the problem.

53. Speaking practice: five repair situations | 五个求助场景

You cannot hear the person.
You can hear but do not understand.
You do not know a word.
You do not know the spelling.
You are not sure about a number.

For each situation, say one problem sentence and one repair request.

54. Speaking practice: role-play | 角色扮演

Person A gives information. Person B must deliberately ask for one repair.

train station
shop
classroom
office
restaurant

Change roles. The goal is to make repair language automatic.

55. Pronunciation focus: help, spell, slow | 清楚说关键求助词

In repair situations, a few words carry high functional value:

help
again
slowly
spell
write
show
correct

Clarity matters more than accent imitation. Say the key word slowly and strongly if needed.

56. Intonation and politeness | 语调也会影响礼貌

A request can be grammatically correct but sound abrupt if delivered with a hard command tone. English politeness often uses softer intonation and complete phrases.

Help me. — direct command
Can you help me, please? — request
Could you help me, please? — more indirect request

A beginner does not need to perform a special accent. Just avoid shouting or clipping every request into an order when the situation is normal.

57. Error clinic | 常见错误诊所

Common error	Better English	What broke?
Can help me? ✗	Can you help me? ✓	subject missing
I no understand. ✗	I don’t understand. ✓	negative system
Say again slowly please. △	Please say it again slowly. ✓	word order
How spell it? ✗	How do you spell it? ✓	do-question structure
What this mean? ✗	What does this mean? ✓	does-question structure
Where is station? △	Where is the station? ✓	determiner
Please more slow. ✗	Please speak more slowly. ✓	verb + adverb

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

I stay silent when confused → repair language is missing.
I ask for repetition but still fail → change speed or channel.
I understand meaning but cannot spell → sound-to-writing link.
I know the word but cannot recognise it in speech → listening form problem.
I know questions but sound abrupt → politeness/intonation.
I can ask for help but cannot confirm the answer → checking language.
I understand simple answers but not long ones → reduce the unit and ask one discriminating question.

59. Retrieval lab | 提取练习

不好意思。 → ______
你能帮我吗？ → ______
我不明白。 → ______
请再说一次。 → ______
请说慢一点。 → ______
怎么拼？ → ______
可以写下来吗？ → ______
可以给我看吗？ → ______
你刚才说的是十三吗？ → ______
对吗？ → ______

Suggested answers: Excuse me. / Can you help me? / I don’t understand. / Please say it again. / Please say it slowly. / How do you spell it? / Can you write it down? / Can you show me? / Did you say thirteen? / Is that correct?

60. Ten-minute daily practice | 每天十分钟

2 min	core ten repair phrases	核心求助句
2 min	meaning + spelling questions	问词义与拼写
2 min	repeat/slow/write/show ladder	修复阶梯
2 min	one role-play	一个情景
2 min	no-notes retrieval	不看提示

61. Seven-day training cycle | 七天训练

Day 1	Excuse me / help / thank you	礼貌开口
Day 2	don’t understand / repeat	重复
Day 3	slow / louder / one word at a time	调整输入
Day 4	spell / write / show	换渠道
Day 5	meaning / English word questions	主动学习
Day 6	direction + number checking	确认
Day 7	five-scenario repair challenge	综合修复

62. Self-test: 30 questions | 30 题自测

Translate: 不好意思。
Translate: 你能帮我吗？
Give a more indirect alternative to Can you help me?
Translate: 我不明白。
Translate: 请再说一次。
Translate: 请说慢一点。
Translate: 请大声一点。
Ask: 怎么拼？
Ask: 可以写下来吗？
Ask: 可以给我看吗？
Ask: 这个词是什么意思？
Ask: 这个用英语怎么说？
Ask: 你刚才说十三吗？
Ask: 对吗？
Translate: 我迷路了。
Translate: 我找不到车站。
Ask: 这是对的公交吗？
Translate: 它不能用。
Translate: 我听不见你。
Explain louder vs slower.
Correct: I no understand.
Correct: How spell it?
Correct: What this mean?
Correct: Can help me?
What should you do if repetition does not help?
What should you say if you hear the sound but not the meaning?
What should you say if you cannot hear the sound?
Build a three-step repair sequence.
Give one transport-help dialogue.
Give one classroom-help dialogue.

Answer key | 答案

1 Excuse me; 2 Can you help me?; 3 Could you help me?; 4 I don’t understand; 5 Please say it again; 6 Please say it slowly / Please speak more slowly; 7 Please speak louder; 8 How do you spell it?; 9 Can you write it down?; 10 Can you show me?; 11 What does this word mean?; 12 What is this in English? / How do you say this in English?; 13 Did you say thirteen?; 14 Is that correct?; 15 I’m lost; 16 I can’t find the station; 17 Is this the right bus?; 18 It’s not working; 19 I can’t hear you; 20 louder changes volume, slower changes speed; 21 I don’t understand; 22 How do you spell it?; 23 What does this mean?; 24 Can you help me?; 25 change speed, reduce unit or change channel; 26 I don’t understand; 27 I can’t hear you; 28–30 answers vary.

63. For parents and teachers | 给家长和老师

Teach repair language early, not after the learner becomes “good enough”. A learner who can ask for repetition, meaning and spelling can learn from more situations independently.

不要把求助语言当成“以后高级再学”。它本身就是自主学习工具。

Create controlled communication breakdowns. Say one sentence too quickly, use one unknown word or hide one written label. Then require the learner to choose the correct repair strategy.

Do not reward guessing when accuracy matters. If the learner did not hear the number, teach them to confirm the number.

Distinguish hearing problems from understanding problems. “Speak louder” and “speak more slowly” solve different failures.

When the learner uses a rough but functional repair phrase, preserve the communication first. Then refine politeness and grammar after the meaning is safe.

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

Get a stranger’s attention politely in a role-play.
Ask for help.
Say you do not understand.
Ask for repetition.
Ask for slower speech.
Ask for spelling.
Ask for written information.
Ask for visual help.
Confirm one number or place.
Close the interaction politely.

If you can do this, you no longer need every conversation to be perfect. You have a way to repair it.

如果能完成，你已经不需要“每次都一次听懂”。你拥有让交流重新运转的方法。

Next: Lesson No.011 | 下一课

Repair language uses many questions. Next, organise the whole beginner question system.

What? Who? Where? When? Why? How? Do you…? Is it…?
什么？谁？哪里？什么时候？为什么？怎样？你……吗？它是……吗？

Lesson No.011 · Simple Questions · 简单问句

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

Small Group Tutorials

How to Learn Basic English (Chinese Edition) | Lesson No.010 | Can You Help Me? | 请求帮助