German course

Lesson 213 of 240

New here? This is lesson 213 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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Say no kindly in German

A client wants a flashy extra on the recycling app. Priya has to say no without souring the tie, and Jonas is listening from the next desk.

These lines let you refuse and still keep the relationship. You wonder out loud, offer another view, and look for a way that works for both.

By the end you'll disagree with a client or a friend and leave the door open.

By the end of this lesson

Disagree with a client or a friend without losing the relationship.

  • Könnte man das auch anders sehen?Could there be another way to look at it?
  • Ich frage mich, ob das immer stimmt.I wonder if that's always true.
  • Meinst du nicht, es könnte ___ sein?Don't you think it might be ___?
  • Du hast vielleicht recht, aber ___.You may be right, but ___.
  • Ich möchte die Zusammenarbeit nicht belasten.I don't want to strain the working relationship.
  • Lass uns einen Weg finden, der für beide geht.Let's find a way that works for both of us.

Scene — the loft

Afternoon in the co-working loft by the canal. Jonas has a coffee mug and a client brief on his laptop.

Priya walks over. The client wants flashy extra badges on the recycling app, and Jonas looks tense.

Jonas sits tensely at his laptop as Priya walks over through the canal-side loft.

Learn — a kind no

Six lines help you refuse without a fight. You open another view, doubt a claim, and look for a shared way through.

The blanks take your own word, such as too much or too soon.

  1. Priya offers Jonas a different way to consider the client’s request.

    Könnte man das auch anders sehen?

    Could there be another way to look at it?

    When to use it: Use this when a flat no would land too hard.

    Man here means people in general, not one man.

    Say it: Könnte starts with a rounded ö, not a plain e.

  2. Jonas studies the animated badge mock-up, looking doubtful as Priya waits nearby.

    Ich frage mich, ob das immer stimmt.

    I wonder if that's always true.

    When to use it: Use this when a claim sounds too sure and you want a gentle doubt.

    After ob the verb comes last in that clause.

    Say it: At the start of stimmt, st sounds like sht.

  3. Priya gently questions whether the extra badges will feel over the top.

    Meinst du nicht, es könnte ___ sein?

    Don't you think it might be ___?

    When to use it: Use this to float another reading without a hard no.

    This asks for agreement without calling the other person wrong.

  4. Jonas turns toward Priya with a careful yes-but gesture as she listens.

    Du hast vielleicht recht, aber ___.

    You may be right, but ___.

    When to use it: Use this when you partly agree but still need to refuse.

    You grant the point first, then limit it after aber.

    Say it: The ch in recht is the ich sound, made toward the front of the mouth.

  5. Jonas and Priya keep their gestures open as they discuss protecting their working relationship.

    Ich möchte die Zusammenarbeit nicht belasten.

    I don't want to strain the working relationship.

    When to use it: Use this when a no might strain work with a client.

    Say this when the working tie matters as much as the task.

    Say it: Zusammenarbeit has its main stress on sam.

  6. Priya and Jonas consider a solution that could work for both of them.

    Lass uns einen Weg finden, der für beide geht.

    Let's find a way that works for both of us.

    When to use it: Use this to close a disagreement with a shared next step.

    After der in the extra clause, the verb goes last.

Story — the flashy extra

Watch Priya refuse a flashy extra without souring the work with the client. Jonas is listening, and he wants a kind no.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. Jonas waves her over. The canal is grey behind the glass.
  2. JonasSetz dich.Have a seat.
  3. PriyaDanke.Thanks.
  4. JonasWie geht's?How are you?
  5. PriyaGut, danke.I'm good, thanks.
  6. A mock-up of bouncing badges fills his screen.
  7. JonasDer Kunde will diese Animationen unbedingt.The client wants these animations no matter what.
  8. PriyaKönnte man das auch anders sehen?Could there be another way to look at it?
  9. JonasAnders? Er findet das modern und freundlich.Another way? He thinks that looks modern and friendly.
  10. PriyaIch frage mich, ob das immer stimmt.I wonder if that's always true.
  11. JonasNa ja, er hat es so bestellt.Well, he ordered it that way.
  12. PriyaMeinst du nicht, es könnte übertrieben sein?Don't you think it might be over the top?
  13. JonasEin bisschen schon, aber er bleibt der Kunde.A bit, yes, but he is still the client.
  14. PriyaDu hast vielleicht recht, aber das lenkt vom Kern ab.You may be right, but that distracts from the core.
  15. JonasStimmt. Wir sortieren Müll, kein Spiel.True. We sort rubbish, not a game.
  16. PriyaIch möchte die Zusammenarbeit nicht belasten.I don't want to strain the working relationship.
  17. JonasMit dem Kunden meinst du, oder mit uns?Do you mean with the client, or with us?
  18. PriyaMit beiden. Lass uns einen Weg finden, der für beide geht.With both. Let's find a way that works for both of us.
  19. JonasAlso eine ruhige Variante, ohne die Animationen?So a calm version, without the animations?
  20. PriyaGenau. Wir zeigen den Nutzen und lassen den Rest weg.Exactly. We show the use and leave the rest out.
  21. Jonas's shoulders drop. He almost smiles into his mug.
  22. JonasGut. Ich bin ehrlich erleichtert.Good. I'm honestly relieved.

Practice — keep the tie

Ten short tasks wait here. You'll listen, fill a gap, swap a word, and build a line.

They stay on this kind of no, so you keep the tie while you refuse.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What do you say?

    A colleague you already say du to is still standing by your desk. Offer a seat.

  3. What does it mean?

    Ich frage mich, ob das immer stimmt.

  4. Fill the gap

    I don't want to strain the working relationship.

    Ich möchte die ____ nicht belasten.

  5. Swap the word

    Your colleague has a point, but you still need to refuse. Soften the yes, then add the catch.

    Du hast ____ recht, aber ___.

  6. Build the line

    Let's find a way that works for both of us.

    , .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. True or false?

    Use this with a friend or a colleague you already say du to.

  8. What do you say?

    A colleague is sure the extra is fine. You want them to consider it might be over the top.

  9. Pick the reply

    Jonas says:

    Wie geht's?

    How are you?

    And you reply with:

  10. Find the mistake

  11. Match the pairs

    German

    Könnte man das auch anders sehen?Drop the English here
    Ich frage mich, ob das immer stimmt.Drop the English here
    Meinst du nicht, es könnte ___ sein?Drop the English here
    Ich möchte die Zusammenarbeit nicht belasten.Drop the English here
    Lass uns einen Weg finden, der für beide geht.Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its German, or tap one and then the other.

Say it — refuse and stay kind

Now you're Priya at the loft. Jonas has the client brief. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. JonasDer Kunde will die Animationen unbedingt.The client wants the animations no matter what.
  2. Priya (you)Offer another way to look at the extra.

    Könnte man das auch anders sehen?

    Could there be another way to look at it?

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Könnte man das auch anders sehen?Could there be another way to look at it?
Ich frage mich, ob das immer stimmt.I wonder if that's always true.
Meinst du nicht, es könnte ___ sein?Don't you think it might be ___?
Du hast vielleicht recht, aber ___.You may be right, but ___.
Ich möchte die Zusammenarbeit nicht belasten.I don't want to strain the working relationship.
Lass uns einen Weg finden, der für beide geht.Let's find a way that works for both of us.
Next: lesson 214Negotiate a deadline

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