Simplified Chinese - Lesson 144 of 156: Checking Understanding

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

我没听清

Wǒ méi tīng qīng.

I didn’t hear clearly.

Meaning: I didn’t hear clearly.

When to use: Say this when someone spoke but you missed parts because of noise or distance.

Tip: Don't use this when you truly don't understand vocabulary — it's about not hearing.

抱歉，你刚才说什么？我没听清。

Bàoqiàn, nǐ gāngcái shuō shénme? Wǒ méi tīng qīng.

Sorry, what did you just say? I didn't hear clearly.

电话有点杂音，我没听清，可以再说一次吗？

Diànhuà yǒu diǎn záyīn, wǒ méi tīng qīng, kěyǐ zài shuō yí cì ma?

The phone has noise, I didn't hear clearly — can you say it again?

我听不懂

Wǒ tīng bu dǒng.

I don’t understand what I’m hearing.

Meaning: I don’t understand what I’m hearing.

When to use: Use when the words were clear but the meaning (or speed) was confusing.

Tip: Learners sometimes confuse this with 我没听清 (not hearing vs not understanding).

他说得太快了，我听不懂。

Tā shuō de tài kuài le, wǒ tīng bù dǒng.

He spoke too fast; I don't understand what I'm hearing.

这是方言，我听不懂，可以换普通话吗？

Zhè shì fāngyán, wǒ tīng bù dǒng, kěyǐ huàn Pǔtōnghuà ma?

This is dialect; I don't understand — can you switch to Mandarin?

我中文不太好

Wǒ Zhōngwén bú tài hǎo.

My Chinese isn’t very good.

Meaning: My Chinese isn’t very good.

When to use: Say this early in a conversation to set expectations about your level.

对不起，我中文不太好，可能需要慢一点。

Duìbuqǐ, wǒ Zhōngwén bú tài hǎo, kěnéng xūyào màn yìdiǎn.

Sorry, my Chinese isn't very good; you may need to speak slower.

我中文不太好，但我会努力说清楚。

Wǒ Zhōngwén bú tài hǎo, dàn wǒ huì nǔlì shuō qīngchu.

My Chinese isn't very good, but I'll try to speak clearly.

我只会说一点中文。

Wǒ zhǐ huì shuō yìdiǎn Zhōngwén.

I can only speak a little Chinese.

Meaning: I can only speak a little Chinese.

When to use: Use this to politely limit expectations about speaking ability.

不好意思，我只会说一点中文，能不能用英文？

Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ zhǐ huì shuō yìdiǎn Zhōngwén, néng bù néng yòng Yīngwén?

Sorry, I can only speak a little Chinese — could we use English?

我只会说一点中文，麻烦你慢一点说。

Wǒ zhǐ huì shuō yìdiǎn Zhōngwén, máfan nǐ màn yìdiǎn shuō.

I can only speak a little Chinese; please speak a bit slower.

这个字怎么读

Zhè ge zì zěnme dú?

How do you read this character?

Meaning: How do you read this character?

When to use: Ask when you see a written character and want its pronunciation.

这个地名我不认识，这个字怎么读？

Zhè ge dìmíng wǒ bù rènshi, zhè ge zì zěnme dú?

I don't know this place name — how do you read this character?

请问，这个字怎么读？我想记下来。

Qǐngwèn, zhè ge zì zěnme dú? Wǒ xiǎng jì xiàlái.

Excuse me, how do you read this character? I want to write it down.

这样说对吗

Zhèyàng shuō duì ma?

Is it correct to say it this way?

Meaning: Is it correct to say it this way?

When to use: Use when you want confirmation of your phrasing or grammar.

我想这样说：明天几点出发？这样说对吗？

Wǒ xiǎng zhèyàng shuō: Míngtiān jǐ diǎn chūfā? Zhèyàng shuō duì ma?

I want to say: What time do we leave tomorrow? Is it correct to say it this way?

我准备写邮件，这样说对吗？请帮我看看。

Wǒ zhǔnbèi xiě yóujiàn, zhèyàng shuō duì ma? Qǐng bāng wǒ kàn kàn.

I'm preparing an email — is this correct? Please take a look.

我说得对吗

Wǒ shuō de duì ma?

Did I say it right?

Meaning: Did I say it right?

When to use: Ask after you speak to check pronunciation or grammar.

我刚才念的是'东北'，我说得对吗？

Wǒ gāngcái niàn de shì 'Dōngběi', wǒ shuō de duì ma?

I just read 'Dōngběi' — did I say it right?

请听一下我的发音，我说得对吗？

Qǐng tīng yíxià wǒ de fāyīn, wǒ shuō de duì ma?

Please listen to my pronunciation — did I say it correctly?

可以拼一下吗

Kěyǐ pīn yíxià ma?

Can you spell it?

Meaning: Can you spell it?

When to use: Ask when you want someone to spell a name, pinyin, or an English word.

你的邮箱怎么拼？可以拼一下吗？

Nǐ de yóuxiāng zěnme pīn? Kěyǐ pīn yíxià ma?

How do you spell your email? Can you spell it?

这个人名听起来复杂，可以拼一下吗？

Zhè ge rénmíng tīng qǐlái fùzá, kěyǐ pīn yíxià ma?

This name sounds complicated — can you spell it?

我再确认一下

Wǒ zài quèrèn yíxià.

Let me confirm again.

Meaning: Let me confirm again.

When to use: Use before you repeat important details to make sure they're right.

行程是周五出发，我再确认一下。

Xíngchéng shì Zhōuwǔ chūfā, wǒ zài quèrèn yíxià.

The trip leaves Friday — let me confirm again.

电话号码是这个：1-2-3-4，我再确认一下好吗？

Diànhuà hàomǎ shì zhè ge: 1-2-3-4, wǒ zài quèrèn yíxià hǎo ma?

The phone number is this: 1-2-3-4 — let me confirm again, okay?

你说的是这个吗？

Nǐ shuō de shì zhè ge ma?

Is this what you mean?

Meaning: Is this what you mean?

When to use: Use while pointing or showing an item to check you're referring to the same thing.

你说的是这个吗？（指着手机）

Nǐ shuō de shì zhè ge ma? (zhǐzhe shǒujī)

Is this what you mean? (pointing at a phone)

你说的是这个商店吗？你说的是这个吗？

Nǐ shuō de shì zhè ge shāngdiàn ma? Nǐ shuō de shì zhè ge ma?

Are you talking about this shop? Is this what you mean?

不是这个意思

Bú shì zhè ge yìsi.

That’s not what I mean.

Meaning: That’s not what I mean.

When to use: Say this briefly to correct a misunderstanding.

不是这个意思，我是想说下星期一，不是今天。

Bú shì zhè ge yìsi, wǒ shì xiǎng shuō xià xīngqī yī, bú shì jīntiān.

That's not what I mean — I meant next Monday, not today.

不是这个意思，请听我再解释一次。

Bú shì zhè ge yìsi, qǐng tīng wǒ zài jiěshì yí cì.

That's not what I mean — please listen while I explain again.

原来是这样

Yuánlái shì zhèyàng.

Oh, so that’s how it is.

Meaning: Oh, so that’s how it is.

When to use: Use to show you understand after an explanation.

原来是这样，我以为要走另外一条路。

Yuánlái shì zhèyàng, wǒ yǐwéi yào zǒu lìngwài yì tiáo lù.

Oh, so that's how it is — I thought we had to take another route.

你这么解释我明白了，原来是这样。

Nǐ zhème jiěshì wǒ míngbái le, yuánlái shì zhèyàng.

With your explanation I understand — oh, so that's it.

我懂了

Wǒ dǒng le.

I get it now.

Meaning: I get it now.

When to use: Short, natural reply when you understand something.

喔，明白了。谢谢，你说得很清楚，我懂了。

Ō, míngbái le. Xièxie, nǐ shuō de hěn qīngchu, wǒ dǒng le.

Oh, got it. Thanks — you explained clearly, I get it now.

我懂了，那我们按这个时间走吧。

Wǒ dǒng le, nà wǒmen àn zhège shíjiān zǒu ba.

I get it now — let's go at that time.

Simplified Chinese - Checking Understanding

1. Reading + Listening Practice

2. Conversational Listening Practice

3. Guided Practice

Which phrase is best when you heard noise and missed the words?

You see a Chinese character on a sign and want pronunciation. Which phrase do you use?

If someone guesses the wrong thing you meant, which phrase corrects them?

You want someone to check if your sentence is correct. Which phrase fits?

The station was noisy — I didn’t hear clearly, can you say it again?

On the menu I don't recognize this character — Excuse me, how do you read this character?

I give you the phone number: 12345 — let me confirm again; please check it.

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice