Chinese phrases
How to say busy in Chinese
Busy in Chinese is 忙 (máng). “I’m busy” is 我很忙, and “I’m a bit busy” is 我有点忙.
忙
busy
Ways to say busy
忙
Everydaybusy
The basic word. Usually 我很忙, “I’m busy,” or 最近很忙, “I’ve been busy lately.”
有点忙
Everydaya bit busy
A soft answer, and a polite way to say no to a plan without a long excuse.
忙死了
With friendsswamped
Literally “busy to death.” A complaint to friends about a crazy week.
没空
Everydayno free time
Not available at a set time: 今天没空，明天吧, “I can’t today, how about tomorrow?” The question is 你有空吗.
走不开
Everydaycan’t get away
You cannot leave where you are: you mind the shop, watch the kids, or wait for a delivery.
忙不过来
Everydaymore than you can handle
Too much work for the people there: a kitchen at lunch, a parent with three children.
Busy in a chat
最近忙吗
busy lately?
Small talk with a friend or a colleague you have not seen for a while. 还行 is a fine answer.
在忙吗
are you busy?
The first message before you call or ask a favour. Answer with 不忙，怎么了?
你忙吧
I’ll let you go
A polite way to end a call or a chat: “go on with what you were doing.” Also 那你先忙.
Common mistakes
Saying 我是忙
忙 is an adjective, so it takes no 是. Say 我很忙. Here 很 is not a strong “very.”
A busy phone line
When you call and the line is busy, Chinese says 占线 (zhàn xiàn): 电话占线, “the line is busy.” Do not use 忙 for the phone.
A busy street
A street full of people is 热闹 (rè nao), lively, or 人很多, crowded. 这条街很忙 does not work.
Hearing 你忙吧 as “go away”
Word for word, 你忙吧 is “go and be busy.” It is a kind way to end a chat: it shows that you respect the other person’s time.
A quick favour
在忙吗？
Qiqi: Are you busy?
有点忙，怎么了？
Leon: A bit busy. What’s up?
想请你帮我看个东西。不急，你先忙。
Qiqi: I wanted you to look at something for me. No rush, finish what you’re doing.
好，我忙完了找你。
Leon: OK, I’ll get back to you when I’m done.
