Simplified Chinese - Explaining a Problem

___有点问题。

___ yǒudiǎn wèntí.

There's a problem with ___.

Meaning: There's a problem with ___.

When to use: Use this to gently say something has a problem (___有点问题。___ yǒudiǎn wèntí.). Good when you want attention without sounding urgent.

Tip: Beginners sometimes say just “有问题” which sounds stronger; “有点问题” is softer.

___用起来不太正常。

___ yòng qǐlái bú tài zhèngcháng.

___ isn't working properly.

Meaning: ___ isn't working properly.

When to use: Use this for devices, apps, or tools that function but with errors (___用起来不太正常。___ yòng qǐlái bú tài zhèngcháng.). Good for user-experience issues.

___出问题了。

___ chū wèntí le.

Something went wrong with ___.

Meaning: Something went wrong with ___.

When to use: A casual, common way to report an unexpected failure (___出问题了。___ chū wèntí le.). Use when you need to summarize that something failed.

我没法让___正常工作。

Wǒ méi fǎ ràng ___ zhèngcháng gōngzuò.

I can't get ___ to work.

Meaning: I can't get ___ to work.

When to use: Say this when you cannot make a machine, function, or software work (我没法让___正常工作。Wǒ méi fǎ ràng ___ zhèngcháng gōngzuò.).

Tip: Learners sometimes place 我没法 before the object incorrectly; keep the structure 我没法让 + object + 正常工作。

我没有收到___。

Wǒ méiyǒu shōudào ___.

I didn't receive ___.

Meaning: I didn't receive ___.

When to use: Use this to report missing items or messages (我没有收到___。Wǒ méiyǒu shōudào ___.). Works for emails, packages, notifications, etc.

Tip: Don't confuse 收到 (receive) with 接到—接到 often implies a phone call; use 收到 for messages or documents.

这事以前也发生过。

Zhè shì yǐqián yě fāshēng guo.

This has happened before.

Meaning: This has happened before.

When to use: Use this to tell someone the problem is recurring (这事以前也发生过。Zhè shì yǐqián yě fāshēng guo.).

之前还好好的，但现在___。

Zhīqián hái hǎohāo de, dàn xiànzài ___.

It was fine before, but now ___.

Meaning: It was fine before, but now ___.

When to use: Use this to explain a recent change in status (之前还好好的，但现在___. Zhīqián hái hǎohāo de, dàn xiànzài ___.).

它显示___

Tā xiǎnshì ___.

It says ___.

Meaning: It says ___.

When to use: Use this when reporting an on-screen message or warning (它显示___。Tā xiǎnshì ___.). You can quote the actual message after this frame.

你能帮我看一下吗？

Nǐ néng bāng wǒ kàn yíxià ma?

Could you check it for me?

Meaning: Could you check it for me?

When to use: Use this polite request when you need someone to look at a problem (你能帮我看一下吗？Nǐ néng bāng wǒ kàn yíxià ma?). For more formality, use 您能帮我看一下吗？

我现在该怎么办？

Wǒ xiànzài gāi zěnme bàn?

What should I do now?

Meaning: What should I do now?

When to use: Ask this when you need guidance about the next steps (我现在该怎么办？Wǒ xiànzài gāi zěnme bàn?). Natural and commonly used in Mainland China.

问题是___的时候开始的。

Wèntí shì ___ de shíhou kāishǐ de.

The issue started when ___.

Meaning: The issue started when ___.

When to use: Use this to explain when the problem began (问题是___的时候开始的。Wèntí shì ___ de shíhou kāishǐ de.). Helpful for troubleshooting.

我试着___，但没用。

Wǒ shìzhe ___, dàn méi yòng.

I tried to ___, but it didn't help.

Meaning: I tried to ___, but it didn't help.

When to use: Use this to report a fix you already tried (我试着___，但没用。Wǒ shìzhe ___, dàn méi yòng.). This helps avoid repeated suggestions.

它一直___

Tā yìzhí ___.

It keeps ___.

Meaning: It keeps ___.

When to use: Use this to describe a repeated behavior or recurring failure (它一直___. Tā yìzhí ___.). Good for intermittent problems.