Chinese for Hobbies and Community — Join In and Stay Connected

Being new is easy to say in Chinese, and it gives people a clear invitation to explain the activity.

Participant: 你好，我是第一次来。
(Nǐ hǎo, wǒ shì dì yí cì lái.)
Organizer: 欢迎。这个活动是一起画画的。
(Huānyíng. Zhège huódòng shì yìqǐ huà huà de.)

Participant: 下次是什么时候？
(Xià cì shì shénme shíhou?)
Organizer: 下周六下午。
(Xià zhōuliù xiàwǔ.)

Takeaway

• Ask before joining and respect a no to exchanging contact details.
• 第一次来 (dì yī cì lái) means “here for the first time”.

Join with curiosity, not pressure

Say you are new, ask how the group usually works, and offer one small piece of information about yourself. Do not assume an invitation means that everyone wants to exchange private contact details; asking 方便吗？ (Fāngbiàn ma?) leaves a comfortable choice.

Returning once or twice matters more than having a perfect first conversation. Learn one name, one shared activity, and the time of the next meeting. Those details give you a natural reason to start talking when you come back.

Related: open with small talk, then fix a time using making plans.

By the end of this chapter, you can say

我是第一次来。下次是什么时候？ (Wǒ shì dì yí cì lái. Xià cì shì shénme shíhou?)

Practical note for this chapter

Optional chapters for relationships, self-care, family life and community. In this chapter, practice giving a short response and then checking what matters.

Use it in context

A: 您是第一次来吗？ (Nín shì dì yī cì lái ma?)

B: 我是第一次来。下次是什么时候？ (Wǒ shì dì yí cì lái. Xià cì shì shénme shíhou?)

▶ Listen to the dialogue▶ Listen slowlyStop● Record my voiceStop

Phrase map for this chapter

Question or situation

您是第一次来吗？ (Nín shì dì yī cì lái ma?)

Central response

我是第一次来。下次是什么时候？ (Wǒ shì dì yí cì lái. Xià cì shì shénme shíhou?)

Another natural way to say it

我是第一次来，下次活动是什么时候？ (Wǒ shì dì yī cì lái, xià cì huódòng shì shénme shíhou?)

Use this variation in a situation you genuinely expect to handle.

How to use it

Listen to the model once, then say it again with one detail from your own situation.

Turn the model into three conversation turns

1. 1. Open the situation您是第一次来吗？ (Nín shì dì yī cì lái ma?)
2. 2. Say the central response我是第一次来。下次是什么时候？ (Wǒ shì dì yí cì lái. Xià cì shì shénme shíhou?)
3. 3. Add an alternative我是第一次来，下次活动是什么时候？ (Wǒ shì dì yī cì lái, xià cì huódòng shì shénme shíhou?)

Before acting, check the point most likely to cause a misunderstanding. This dialogue is for practice. For important decisions, confirm official guidance as well.

A useful variation

Keep the same purpose, then change the person, time or place to make it your own.

我是第一次来，下次活动是什么时候？ (Wǒ shì dì yī cì lái, xià cì huódòng shì shénme shíhou?)

Use this variation in a situation you genuinely expect to handle.

Listen to the model once, then say it again with one detail from your own situation.

A common trap

For important details, do not decide from what you think you heard; check written information when needed.

先说明自己是新来的，再问参加方式。 (Xiān shuōmíng zìjǐ shì xīn lái de, zài wèn cānjiā fāngshì.)

This dialogue is for practice. For important decisions, confirm official guidance as well.

Three-step practice

1. Open the situation in one short phrase
2. Say the central response
3. Add one detail of your own