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How to Say ‘I'll go get busy first.’ in Simplified Chinese

我先去忙了。

wǒ xiān qù máng le

[waw shyen qù máng le]

🇨🇳 In China: This is the polite way to end a chat with a coworker and get back to your desk. It isn't abrupt, and the other person won't take offense.

Phrase Breakdown

我先去

wǒ xiān qù

I'll go first

先 (xiān) means 'first / for now'. Together with 去 (qù) it shows you are about to leave. Tones: wǒ (dipping), xiān (high), qù (falling).

Example

我先去吃饭。

I'll go eat first.

Words in this phrase

我

wǒ

[waw]

I; me

The first-person pronoun, used to refer to yourself.

Example

我也想了解这个公司的文化。

I also want to understand this company’s culture.

先

xiān

[shyen]

first

Marks the first recommended step.

Example

在“你可以先找…”里，先说明顺序。

In “You can first approach…”, 先 explains the order.

去

qù

[qù]

to go

Move toward a place.

Example

我去医院。

I'm going to the hospital.

忙了。

máng le

to get busy (with work)

忙 (máng) means 'busy', and 了 (le) marks a change, so the whole phrase means 'I'll get back to work.' It is a polite way to end a conversation. 了 is light and neutral in tone.

Example

你先忙吧。

Go ahead with your work.

Words in this phrase

忙

máng

[máng]

to be busy; to get on with work

Here a verb meaning to attend to one's work; often used to politely end a chat.

Example

你去忙吧。

Go get on with your work.

了

[le]

change-of-state particle

Used with 快…了 to show something is about to happen.

Example

火车快来了。

The train is about to arrive.

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