How common it is
占线 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
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Pronunciation focus
Say zhàn xiàn slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
占线表示电话正在使用中，无法接通。
Zhàn xiàn biǎoshì diànhuà zhèngzài shǐyòng zhōng, wúfǎ jiē tōng.
Line busy means the phone is in use and cannot be connected.
Context note
当你打电话时，如果对方正在通话，你会听到占线的声音。
Dāng nǐ dǎ diànhuà shí, rúguǒ duìfāng zhèngzài tōnghuà, nǐ huì tīng dào zhàn xiàn de shēngyīn.
When you call someone, if they are on another call, you will hear a busy signal.
5 examples
我打电话给妈妈，但是占线。
wǒ dǎ diàn huà gěi mā ma， dàn shì zhàn xiàn。
I called my mom, but the line was busy.
他的电话总是占线。
tā de diàn huà zǒng shì zhàn xiàn。
His phone is always busy.
因为占线，我过一会儿再打。
yīn wèi zhàn xiàn， wǒ guò yí huì er zài dǎ。
Because the line is busy, I will call again later.
你听到占线的声音了吗？
nǐ tīng dào zhàn xiàn de shēng yīn le ma？
Did you hear the busy signal?
占线的时候，请耐心等待。
zhàn xiàn de shí hòu， qǐng nài xīn děng dài。
When the line is busy, please wait patiently.
5 mini stories
小明想给朋友打电话，但是电话占线。他等了一会儿再打，终于通了。
xiǎo míng xiǎng gěi péng yǒu dǎ diàn huà， dàn shì diàn huà zhàn xiàn。 tā děng le yí huì er zài dǎ， zhōng yú tōng le。
Xiao Ming wanted to call his friend, but the line was busy. He waited a while and called again, and finally it went through.
小红打电话给老师，可是占线。她留了一个语音信息。
xiǎo hóng dǎ diàn huà gěi lǎo shī， kě shì zhàn xiàn。 tā liú le yí gè yǔ yīn xìn xī。
Xiao Hong called the teacher, but the line was busy. She left a voicemail.
爸爸的电话占线，我只好发短信给他。
bà ba de diàn huà zhàn xiàn， wǒ zhǐ hǎo fā duǎn xìn gěi tā。
Dad's phone was busy, so I had to send him a text message.
占线的时候，不要一直打，可以过一会儿再试。
zhàn xiàn de shí hòu， bú yào yì zhí dǎ， kě yǐ guò yí huì er zài shì。
When the line is busy, don't keep calling; you can try again later.
小华打电话给奶奶，占线了，原来奶奶在和邻居聊天。
xiǎo huá dǎ diàn huà gěi nǎi nai， zhàn xiàn le， yuán lái nǎi nai zài hé lín jū liáo tiān。
Xiao Hua called his grandma, but the line was busy; it turned out grandma was chatting with a neighbor.