Simplified Chinese - Lesson 142 of 156: Decisions & Pauses

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

等一下

Děng yíxià.

Wait a moment.

Meaning: Wait a moment.

When to use: Casual way to ask someone to wait for a short time.

等一下，我把钥匙找一下。

Děng yíxià, wǒ bǎ yàoshi zhǎo yíxià.

Wait a moment, I'll look for my keys.

等一下，我还没准备好。

Děng yíxià, wǒ hái méi zhǔnbèi hǎo.

Wait a moment, I'm not ready yet.

稍等一下

Shāo děng yíxià.

Please wait a moment.

Meaning: Please wait a moment.

When to use: Polite form used by staff or when you want to be more courteous.

请稍等一下，服务员马上来。

Qǐng shāo děng yíxià, fúwùyuán mǎshàng lái.

Please wait a moment, the server will be right over.

稍等一下，我查一下你的订单。

Shāo děng yíxià, wǒ chá yíxià nǐ de dìngdān.

Please wait a moment, I'll check your order.

差不多

Chàbuduō.

More or less.

Meaning: More or less.

When to use: To indicate approximation — time, quantity, or agreement.

现在差不多五点了，我们该走了。

Xiànzài chàbuduō wǔ diǎn le, wǒmen gāi zǒu le.

It's more or less five now; we should leave.

这两个菜味道差不多，都很好吃。

Zhè liǎng gè cài wèidào chàbuduō, dōu hěn hǎochī.

These two dishes taste more or less the same; both are tasty.

先这样吧

Xiān zhèyàng ba.

Let’s leave it like this for now.

Meaning: Let’s leave it like this for now.

When to use: To end a discussion or make a temporary decision.

今天先这样吧，明天再继续讨论。

Jīntiān xiān zhèyàng ba, míngtiān zài jìxù tǎolùn.

Let's leave it like this today and continue tomorrow.

材料够了，先这样吧，不用再买了。

Cáiliào gòu le, xiān zhèyàng ba, bùyòng zài mǎi le.

We have enough materials — let's leave it like this for now; no need to buy more.

看情况吧

Kàn qíngkuàng ba.

Let’s see how it goes.

Meaning: Let’s see how it goes.

When to use: When you don’t want to decide now and prefer to wait for more information.

天气预报不太准，我们就看情况吧。

Tiānqì yùbào bù tài zhǔn, wǒmen jiù kàn qíngkuàng ba.

The weather forecast isn't reliable; let's see how it goes.

项目能不能成功？先试试，慢慢看情况吧。

Xiàngmù néng bùnéng chénggōng? Xiān shìshi, mànman kàn qíngkuàng ba.

Will the project succeed? Let's try first and see how it goes.

都可以

Dōu kěyǐ.

Anything is fine.

Meaning: Anything is fine.

When to use: When several options are acceptable and you have no strong preference.

去哪里吃？都可以，你决定吧。

Qù nǎlǐ chī? Dōu kěyǐ, nǐ juédìng ba.

Where to eat? Anything is fine — you decide.

电影时间都可以，我晚上有空。

Diànyǐng shíjiān dōu kěyǐ, wǒ wǎnshang yǒu kòng.

Any movie time is fine; I'm free tonight.

听你的

Tīng nǐ de.

I’ll go with what you say.

Meaning: I’ll go with what you say.

When to use: Casual way to let the other person decide; friendly and relaxed.

这个菜单我不太懂，听你的，你想点什么就点什么。

Zhège càidān wǒ bù tài dǒng, tīng nǐ de, nǐ xiǎng diǎn shénme jiù diǎn shénme.

I don't know this menu well — I'll go with you. Order whatever you want.

去哪儿玩？听你的，我没意见。

Qù nǎr wán? Tīng nǐ de, wǒ méi yìjiàn.

Where to go? Your call — I have no opinion.

你决定吧

Nǐ juédìng ba.

You decide.

Meaning: You decide.

When to use: Neutral phrase to give someone else the choice.

电影还是咖啡？你决定吧，我都可以。

Diànyǐng hái shì kāfēi? Nǐ juédìng ba, wǒ dōu kěyǐ.

Movie or coffee? You decide — either is fine for me.

套餐有三种，你决定吧，我听你的。

Tàocān yǒu sān zhǒng, nǐ juédìng ba, wǒ tīng nǐ de.

There are three set menus — you decide, I'll follow you.

我也一样

Wǒ yě yíyàng.

Same for me.

Meaning: Same for me.

When to use: When ordering or choosing and you want the same option as someone else.

Tip: Beginners sometimes mix up 我也是 and 我也一样; use 我也一样 when matching an action or choice exactly.

他点了牛肉面，我说：我也一样。

Tā diǎn le niúròu miàn, wǒ shuō: Wǒ yě yíyàng.

He ordered beef noodles; I said: same for me.

如果大家都去，我也一样，没问题。

Rúguǒ dàjiā dōu qù, wǒ yě yíyàng, méi wèntí.

If everyone goes, same for me — no problem.

我也是

Wǒ yě shì.

Me too.

Meaning: Me too.

When to use: Short agreement about yourself (I feel/think the same).

Tip: Don’t overuse 我也是 for 'same order' in restaurants — use 我也一样 for matching choices.

我很累。——我也是。

Wǒ hěn lèi. — Wǒ yě shì.

I'm tired. — Me too.

她说这本书很好看，我也是这样觉得的。

Tā shuō zhè běn shū hěn hǎokàn, wǒ yě shì zhèyàng juéde.

She said the book is good; I feel the same.

我也是这么想的。

Wǒ yě shì zhème xiǎng de.

That’s what I was thinking too.

Meaning: That’s what I was thinking too.

When to use: To show stronger agreement with someone’s idea or plan.

我们先等天气好再出发吧。——我也是这么想的。

Wǒmen xiān děng tiānqì hǎo zài chūfā ba. — Wǒ yě shì zhème xiǎng de.

Let's wait for better weather before leaving. — That's what I was thinking too.

大家都觉得预算太紧，我也是这么想的。

Dàjiā dōu juéde yùsuàn tài jǐn, wǒ yě shì zhème xiǎng de.

Everyone thinks the budget is tight — that's what I was thinking too.

说得对

Shuō de duì.

That’s right.

Meaning: That’s right.

When to use: Agreeing with what someone just said; short confirmation.

A: 这个路线更快。B: 说得对，我们走那条路。

A: Zhège lùxiàn gèng kuài. B: Shuō de duì, wǒmen zǒu nà tiáo lù.

A: This route is faster. B: That's right — let's take it.

你说要先看地图，说得对，我们先看地图。

Nǐ shuō yào xiān kàn dìtú, shuō de duì, wǒmen xiān kàn dìtú.

You said to check the map first — that's right; let's check it.

有道理

Yǒu dàolǐ.

That makes sense.

Meaning: That makes sense.

When to use: Use after a reasonable explanation or suggestion.

因为下雨，改天去旅游有道理。

Yīnwèi xiàyǔ, gǎitiān qù lǚyóu yǒu dàolǐ.

Because of the rain, going another day makes sense.

你解释得很清楚，有道理，我们照你的办法做。

Nǐ jiěshì de hěn qīngchǔ, yǒu dàolǐ, wǒmen zhào nǐ de bànfǎ zuò.

You explained clearly — that makes sense. We'll follow your method.

Simplified Chinese - Decisions & Pauses

1. Reading + Listening Practice

2. Conversational Listening Practice

3. Guided Practice

Which phrase is more polite when asking someone to wait?

You don't want to decide now and prefer to wait and see. Which fits best?

Which phrase shows strong agreement with someone's idea?

If you have no preference and any option is fine, say:

In a restaurant, the server politely says '稍等一下' and then goes to get the menu.

You answer '看情况吧' to say you'll wait and see before booking tickets.

When the manager suggests ending, you say '先这样吧' and everyone agrees to end for now.

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice