Saving a place in a queue
Informal Depends on context
What it really means
Briefly stepping out of a queue and coming back to the same spot is usually accepted if you ask the person behind you first: "Could you keep my place for a second?" Holding a spot for several friends who arrive later, though, is seen as unfair — close to queue-jumping.
Chinese explanation
短暂离开队伍再回到原位一般没问题，前提是先跟身后的人打招呼："能帮我占一下位置吗？"但替好几个晚来的朋友占位，会被认为不公平，跟插队差不多。
Example conversation
A: Sorry, could you keep my place for a moment? I just need to grab a basket.
B: Sure, no problem.
A：不好意思，能帮我占一下位置吗？我去拿个购物篮。
B：当然，没问题。
Go deeper
All Customs & Etiquette
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· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake