你方便吗？

Place it at the start of a conversation. You can use it in person or over text. If you have a request, say this first. If they say 方便 (fāngbiàn), you can continue. If they say 不方便 (bù fāngbiàn), you should wait. It is a simple yes-or-no question format. You can also add a specific time like 现在 (xiànzài) for 'now'.

Use it when calling a friend out of the blue. Use it when approaching a colleague's desk. It is perfect for checking if a shop is still open. Even use it before asking a stranger for directions. It softens your request and makes you sound cultured. It is the ultimate social lubricant in China.

Do not use it in an emergency. If your hair is on fire, don't ask if it's convenient. Avoid using it with very close family like parents. It might sound a bit too distant or cold. Don't use it if you are the boss giving an order. In that case, it might sound like a fake choice. Also, be careful in bathrooms—it has a double meaning there!

Chinese culture values 'saving face' and not being a burden. Asking 你方便吗？ gives the other person an easy out. They can say 'no' without feeling like they are being rude. It reflects the communal nature of Chinese society. Interestingly, 方便 also means 'to use the restroom' in old slang. If you ask this near a bathroom, people might chuckle. It is a classic example of context being everything.

If you want to be extra polite, use 您方便吗？ (Nín fāngbiàn ma?). This uses the formal 'you' for elders or bosses. You can also ask 现在说话方便吗？ (Is it convenient to talk now?). For texting, people often just write 在吗？ (Are you there?). But 你方便吗？ remains the most versatile and respectful version. It works in almost any setting you'll encounter.