English–Chinese
“be on the phone” in Chinese
Chinese
Pronunciation
Pinyinzhàn xiàn
Example
现在老板占线，你等一下吧。xiàn zài láo bǎn zhàn xiàn nǐ děng yí xià ba
The boss is on the phone now, so wait a moment.
How to say “be on the phone” in Chinese
“Be on the phone” in Chinese is 占线 (zhàn xiàn).
A telephone connection is already occupied by a call, leaving no path for another caller.
Example sentences with 占线
开会时同事的手机一直占线，联系不上。kāi huì shí tóng shì de shǒu jī yì zhí zhàn xiàn lián xì bú shàng
During the meeting, my coworker's cellphone was always busy, so I couldn't reach them.
Tips for using 占线
- English speakers often use "on the phone" for a person who is speaking, while this word is especially useful when a caller finds the line unavailable.