Simplified Chinese course

Lesson 214 of 240

New here? This is lesson 214 of a free 240-lesson Simplified Chinese course.

Give feedback in Simplified Chinese

Yi-Jun has already scrolled through a colleague's design draft. Now Maya sits with Zhi-Ming to say what works, what feels off, and what to change.

Start with an overall compliment, then name one part to adjust. Soften a color comment, float a swap as a question, and pick the version you like best.

Listen for 得 after 做, and for 会不会 when a suggestion should stay open. Zhi-Ming still wants schedules in plain words.

By the end of this lesson

Say what works, flag what does not, and suggest a change.

  • 整体来说做得不错Overall it's quite good.
  • 这个部分可以再调整一下This part could be adjusted a bit.
  • 我觉得颜色太亮了I think the color is too bright.
  • 如果换成这样,会不会更好?Would it be better if we changed it to this?
  • 我最喜欢的是第二个版本I like the second version best.
  • 谢谢你的回馈Thanks for your feedback.

Scene — a design review

The co-working space is two MRT stops from Banyan Lane. Yi-Jun has already read the draft on LINE so Maya will not walk in cold.

Zhi-Ming wants the comments in plain words: what works, what does not, and what to change. The fortune slip stays in the till; this is only a design review.

Maya and Yi-Jun sit small at a sunlit coworking table while Zhi-Ming works farther back by the windows.

Learn — say what to change

Here are six lines for giving feedback on a design. Listen, then say each one out loud.

Start kind, name one part, then ask before you push a change.

  1. Yi-Jun opens a hand toward a finished design printout while Maya listens across the table.

    整体来说做得不错

    Overall it's quite good.

    When to use it: Use this to open feedback with a positive overall comment.

    得 after a verb marks how well the action was done, as in 做得不错.

    Say it: 得 is a light neutral tone after 做.

  2. From behind Maya, Yi-Jun points at a bright patch on the top of a printout.

    这个部分可以再调整一下

    This part could be adjusted a bit.

    When to use it: Use this to flag one part that still needs a small change.

    一下 after a verb softens the request so it sounds like a small ask.

  3. Maya walks over to sit with Zhi-Ming at a studio table covered in printouts.

    我觉得颜色太亮了

    I think the color is too bright.

    When to use it: Use this when a color on the draft feels too strong.

    太 plus an adjective plus 了 marks something as more than you want.

  4. From above, Maya turns a tablet with a quieter layout toward Zhi-Ming at the studio table.

    如果换成这样,会不会更好?

    Would it be better if we changed it to this?

    When to use it: Offer a concrete change as a question so the other person can still disagree.

    会不会 asks a yes-no question and keeps the suggestion easy to refuse.

    Say it: The middle syllable of 会不会 is a light neutral tone.

  5. Zhi-Ming’s hand rests on the calmer of two blurred mockups while Maya’s hand stays near the tablet.

    我最喜欢的是第二个版本

    I like the second version best.

    When to use it: Use this to name the version you like best.

    的 turns 我最喜欢 into a noun, the thing you like best.

  6. In profile, Zhi-Ming nods thanks over the chosen mockup as Maya answers with a small shoulder-bow.

    谢谢你的回馈

    Thanks for your feedback.

    When to use it: Thank someone right after they have given you comments.

    的 links 你 to 回馈, naming whose comments you mean.

Story — notes before the meeting

Listen as Yi-Jun shares her notes, then as Maya reviews the draft with Zhi-Ming.

Notice how she starts with praise, then names one part and a gentler color change.

  1. Yi-Jun我昨天先看过了,设计稿已经完成了。I looked through it yesterday; the design draft is finished.
  2. Maya好喔,那我等下跟志明对一下。Okay, then I'll go over it with Zhi-Ming later.
  3. Yi-Jun上面那块有点亮,你跟他说一下。The top block is a bit bright; mention it to him.
  4. Maya好,我待会提。Okay, I'll bring it up in a bit.
  5. Later, Maya sits with Zhi-Ming at the studio.
  6. Zhi-Ming你觉得这个怎么样?What do you think of this?
  7. Maya整体来说做得不错。Overall it's quite good.
  8. Zhi-Ming哪里还可以改?What still needs changing?
  9. Maya这个部分可以再调整一下。This part could be adjusted a bit.
  10. Zhi-Ming颜色你觉得呢?What do you think of the color?
  11. Maya我觉得颜色太亮了。I think the color is too bright.
  12. Zhi-Ming那你有没有别的想法?Do you have another idea, then?
  13. Maya如果换成这样,会不会更好?Would it be better if we changed it to this?
  14. Zhi-Ming这样好像比较好。我们有两个版本,你比较想选哪一个?This seems better. We have two versions; which would you rather pick?
  15. Maya我最喜欢的是第二个版本。I like the second version best.
  16. Zhi-Ming我个人觉得这比较好。Personally I think this is better.
  17. Maya那我们就用第二个吧。Then let's go with the second one.
  18. Zhi-Ming谢谢你的回馈。Thanks for your feedback.

Practice — give the notes

Try these exercises to praise a draft, flag a problem, and suggest a change. Pick the line that fits each moment.

After each answer, read why the others miss, then say the line again.

0 of 10 done

  1. What does it mean?

    What does it mean?

    整体来说做得不错

  2. What do you say?

    What do you say?

    A heading on the draft feels cramped. Suggest a small change to this part.

  3. Fill the gap

    Fill the gap

    I think the color is too bright.

    我觉得颜色____亮了

  4. Swap the word

    Swap the word

    You point at this layout, not that one, and ask if the swap would work better.

    如果换成____,会不会更好?

  5. Fill the gap

    Fill the gap

    I like the second version best.

    我最喜欢的是____个版本

  6. What did you hear?

    What did you hear?

  7. What do you say?

    What do you say?

    You want Zhi-Ming's view on this layout. Ask what he thinks of it.

  8. Fill the gap

    Fill the gap

    The design draft is finished.

    设计稿已经____了

  9. What does it mean?

    What does it mean?

    我个人觉得这比较好

  10. Match the pairs

    Simplified Chinese

    整体来说做得不错Drop the English here
    这个部分可以再调整一下Drop the English here
    我觉得颜色太亮了Drop the English here
    谢谢你的回馈Drop the English here

    English

Say it — your feedback

You play Maya. Thank Yi-Jun for her notes, then tell Zhi-Ming what works and what to change.

Tap the microphone to speak. You can replay the other person's line before your turn.

  1. Yi-Jun has already read the draft and messages Maya her notes.
  2. Yi-Jun我先看过了,上面有点亮。I looked first; the top feels a bit bright.
  3. Maya (you)Thank her for the notes she already sent.

    Thank her for the notes she already sent.

    谢谢你的回馈

    Thanks for your feedback.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

Every line from this lesson
Simplified ChineseEnglishPlay
整体来说做得不错Overall it's quite good.
这个部分可以再调整一下This part could be adjusted a bit.
我觉得颜色太亮了I think the color is too bright.
如果换成这样,会不会更好?Would it be better if we changed it to this?
我最喜欢的是第二个版本I like the second version best.
谢谢你的回馈Thanks for your feedback.
Next: lesson 215A short presentation

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Today's feedback lines are in Yak Cards with more phrases for reviews at work.

Review a few cards after each design meeting so the comments come out smoothly.

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