Chinese word

插队

Pronunciation

Pinyinchā duì

Meaning

  • verbcut in line

Example

插队很不礼貌，请你排队。chā duì hěn bù lǐ mào qǐng nǐ pái duì

Cutting in line is very rude. Please wait in line.

Illustration for 插队 (cut in line)

More examples

他因为在学校食堂插队被老师批评。tā yīn wèi zài xué xiào shí táng chā duì bèi lǎo shī pī píng

He was criticized by his teacher for cutting in line in the school cafeteria.

Core concept

A person moves into the front part of an existing queue and takes a place that belongs to someone waiting.

Common phrases

  • 插队了chā duì le

    cut in line

  • 不要插队bú yào chā duì

    don't cut in line

  • 在队伍里插队zài duì wǔ lǐ chā duì

    cut into the line

Similar words

加塞jiā sāi: Squeezing into a queue to take a place before the proper turn.
抢先qiǎng xiān: Acting before others to gain an earlier turn or seize an opportunity.

Definition in Chinese

在队伍或人群中插入到前面，抢占别人本应轮到的位置。zài duì wǔ huò rén qún zhōng chā rù dào qián miàn qiǎng zhàn bié rén běn yīng lún dào de wèi zhì

Word origin

插 (chā, "insert") + 队 (duì, "queue") forms a verb that pictures someone inserting into a queue instead of joining its end.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Chinese, this word often appears in public complaints and warnings at places such as shops, bus stops, and ticket counters, so its tone is usually direct and critical.

Opposites

  • 排队pái duìline upverb
  • 遵守秩序zūn shǒu zhì xùobserve public orderverb

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