Simplified Chinese - Conversation Repair

Lesson 46 of 156

A friendly scene showing two people talking over coffee with Simplified Chinese repair phrases floating as speech bubbles about asking someone to repeat or spell a word.

Goal: Get unstuck: polite ways to ask for repetition, clarification, and fixes

Free Simplified Chinese lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Ready to unstick conversations? In Lesson 46 we'll practice quick, polite fixes when communication gets fuzzy. Keep it warm and simple — that's the goal.

Level A2: This short, CEFR-aligned lesson focuses on everyday repair phrases like asking someone to repeat, asking for a simpler explanation, asking for spelling or writing, and checking your understanding. You’ll hear these lines, practice them in a short dialogue, and then say them out loud yourself — perfect for real conversations that need a little tidy-up.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Learn polite phrases to ask someone to repeat themselves and to ask for clarification.
  • Practice checking your understanding and making small corrections.
  • Use 13 practical repair phrases in short dialogues and speaking drills at A2 level.
Two colleagues in an office glance at a phone and one asks for clarification in Simplified Chinese about a complicated address.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

不好意思，你能再说一遍吗？

Bù hǎoyìsi, nǐ néng zài shuō yí biàn ma?

Sorry, can you repeat that?

Meaning: Sorry, can you repeat that?

When to use: Use this polite request when you didn't hear or want the speaker to say something again.

不好意思，你能再说一遍吗？我没听清最后的地址。

Bù hǎoyìsi, nǐ néng zài shuō yí biàn ma? Wǒ méi tīng qīng zuìhòu de dìzhǐ.

Sorry, can you say that again? I didn’t catch the final address.
会议里太吵了，不好意思，你能再说一遍吗？

Huìyì lǐ tài chǎo le, bù hǎoyìsi, nǐ néng zài shuō yí biàn ma?

The meeting is noisy — sorry, can you repeat that?

我没听清

Wǒ méi tīng qīng.

I didn't catch that.

Meaning: I didn't catch that.

When to use: Say this when you didn’t hear part of what was said; for not understanding meaning use 我没听懂.

Tip: Beginners sometimes say 我没听懂 when they only missed hearing; use 我没听清 for sound issues.

对不起，我没听清，你刚才说几点出发？

Duìbuqǐ, wǒ méi tīng qīng, nǐ gāngcái shuō jǐ diǎn chūfā?

Sorry, I didn't catch that — what time did you say we leave?
电话有点断，我没听清那句话。

Diànhuà yǒu diǎn duàn, wǒ méi tīng qīng nà jù huà.

The call cut out a bit — I didn’t catch that sentence.

你能写下来吗

Nǐ néng xiě xiàlái ma?

Can you write it down, please?

Meaning: Can you write it down, please?

When to use: Ask this when a long address, name, or number is easier to read than hear.

这个微信号太长了，你能写下来吗？

Zhège Wēixìn hào tài cháng le, nǐ néng xiě xiàlái ma?

This WeChat ID is too long — can you write it down?
请把会议室号码写下来，可以吗？

Qǐng bǎ huìyìshì hàomǎ xiě xiàlái, kěyǐ ma?

Please write down the meeting room number — is that OK?

我不太确定我明白了。

Wǒ bú tài quèdìng wǒ míngbai le.

I'm not sure I understand.

Meaning: I'm not sure I understand.

When to use: Use this to politely signal that your understanding is uncertain and you need clarification.

我不太确定我明白了，你是说下星期搬家吗？

Wǒ bú tài quèdìng wǒ míngbai le, nǐ shì shuō xià xīngqī bānjiā ma?

I'm not sure I understood — do you mean moving next week?
听完说明后我不太确定我明白了，可以再解释吗？

Tīng wán shuōmíng hòu wǒ bú tài quèdìng wǒ míngbai le, kěyǐ zài jiěshì ma?

After the explanation I'm not sure I understood — can you explain again?

你能说得简单一点吗？

Nǐ néng shuō de jiǎndān yìdiǎn ma?

Can you explain it more simply?

Meaning: Can you explain it more simply?

When to use: Ask for an easier explanation when the speaker’s language is too advanced or fast.

这个合同太复杂了，你能说得简单一点吗？

Zhège hétóng tài fùzá le, nǐ néng shuō de jiǎndān yìdiǎn ma?

This contract is too complicated — can you say it more simply?
老师，您能说得简单一点吗？我还在学习中文。

Lǎoshī, nín néng shuō de jiǎndān yìdiǎn ma? Wǒ hái zài xuéxí Zhōngwén.

Teacher, could you explain more simply? I'm still learning Chinese.

___这个词我不知道怎么说。

___ zhège cí wǒ bù zhīdào zěnme shuō.

I don't know the word for ___.

Meaning: I don't know the word for ___.

When to use: Use this to ask for help when a particular word is missing from your vocabulary.

Tip: Beginners sometimes forget to put the missing word before 这个词; keep the order clear.

‘股市’这个词我不知道怎么说，你能帮我吗？

'Gǔshì' zhège cí wǒ bù zhīdào zěnme shuō, nǐ néng bāng wǒ ma?

I don't know how to say 'stock market' — can you help me?
对不起，‘排队’这个词我不知道怎么说，你可以解释吗？

Duìbuqǐ, 'páiduì' zhège cí wǒ bù zhīdào zěnme shuō, nǐ kěyǐ jiěshì ma?

Sorry, I don't know the word for 'to queue' — can you explain?

能麻烦你拼一下吗？

Néng máfan nǐ pīn yíxià ma？

Can you spell that, please?

Meaning: Can you spell that, please?

When to use: Ask for spelling when a name or foreign word is unclear over audio.

你的英文名字有点难，能麻烦你拼一下吗？

Nǐ de Yīngwén míngzi yǒu diǎn nán, néng máfan nǐ pīn yíxià ma?

Your English name is a bit hard — could you please spell it?
电话号码里有字母吗？能麻烦你拼一下吗？

Diànhuà hàomǎ lǐ yǒu zìmǔ ma? Néng máfan nǐ pīn yíxià ma?

Are there letters in the phone number? Could you spell them please?

你能举个例子吗？

Nǐ néng jǔ ge lìzi ma？

Can you give me an example?

Meaning: Can you give me an example?

When to use: Use this to request an example that clarifies meaning or use.

这个用法我不懂，你能举个例子吗？

Zhège yòngfǎ wǒ bù dǒng, nǐ néng jǔ ge lìzi ma?

I don't understand this usage — can you give an example?
说得太抽象了，能举个例子吗？

Shuō de tài chōuxiàng le, néng jǔ ge lìzi ma?

That's too abstract — can you give an example?

我理解得对吗

Wǒ lǐjiě de duì ma？

Did I understand correctly?

Meaning: Did I understand correctly?

When to use: Use this to confirm whether your summary or interpretation is right.

我理解得对吗？你是说会议改到星期四吗？

Wǒ lǐjiě de duì ma? Nǐ shì shuō huìyì gǎi dào xīngqī sì ma?

Did I understand correctly? You mean the meeting moved to Thursday?
我理解得对吗？我们只需准备一份报告吗？

Wǒ lǐjiě de duì ma? Wǒmen zhǐ xū zhǔnbèi yí fèn bàogào ma?

Did I understand correctly? We only need one report?

我只听懂了一部分。

Wǒ zhǐ tīngdǒng le yí bùfen。

I only understood part of that.

Meaning: I only understood part of that.

When to use: Say this when you caught some but not all of the information, inviting clarification.

对不起，我只听懂了一部分，可以再说一遍重点吗？

Duìbuqǐ, wǒ zhǐ tīngdǒng le yí bùfen, kěyǐ zài shuō yí biàn zhòngdiǎn ma?

Sorry, I only understood part — can you repeat the main points?
我只听懂了一部分，能写下来吗？

Wǒ zhǐ tīngdǒng le yí bùfen, néng xiě xiàlái ma?

I only understood part — can you write it down?

我可以换个说法吗？

Wǒ kěyǐ huàn ge shuōfǎ ma？

Can I say it another way?

Meaning: Can I say it another way?

When to use: Use this when you want to try rephrasing your message to be clearer.

这个句子太复杂，我可以换个说法吗？

Zhège jùzi tài fùzá, wǒ kěyǐ huàn ge shuōfǎ ma?

This sentence is complex — can I say it another way?
如果你不明白，我可以换个说法吗？

Rúguǒ nǐ bù míngbai, wǒ kěyǐ huàn ge shuōfǎ ma?

If you don't understand, can I rephrase it?

我再试一次

Wǒ zài shì yí cì。

Let me try again.

Meaning: Let me try again.

When to use: Say this when you want to restart your sentence after a mistake or miscommunication.

抱歉，那个数字不对，我再试一次。

Bàoqiàn, nàge shùzì bù duì, wǒ zài shì yí cì.

Sorry, that number is wrong — let me try again.
我讲得太快了，我再试一次。

Wǒ jiǎng de tài kuài le, wǒ zài shì yí cì.

I spoke too fast — I'll try again.

不是___，是___。

Bú shì ___，shì ___。

Not ___, but ___.

Meaning: Not ___, but ___.

When to use: Use this short pattern to correct a wrong word or detail in conversation.

Tip: Keep both parts in order: say the incorrect item first, then the correction.

不是下个月，是这个月。

Bú shì xià ge yuè, shì zhège yuè.

Not next month, (but) this month.
不是三号，是十三号。

Bú shì sān hào, shì shísān hào.

Not the 3rd, (but) the 13th.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna and David confirm the meeting details after a noisy call.

Anna and David stand by a whiteboard; Anna asks David to repeat and spell a name while David writes it down in Chinese.

What does Anna ask David to do first?

Portrait of Anna in a Simplified Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

不好意思，你能再说一遍吗？电话有点杂音。

Bù hǎoyìsi, nǐ néng zài shuō yí biàn ma? Diànhuà yǒu diǎn záyīn.

Sorry, can you say that again? The call has some noise.

Portrait of David in a Simplified Chinese lesson dialogue

David

当然，可以。我说的是会议在三点。你想写下来吗？

Dāngrán, kěyǐ. Wǒ shuō de shì huìyì zài sān diǎn. Nǐ xiǎng xiě xiàlái ma?

Of course. I said the meeting is at 3. Do you want me to write it down?

Portrait of Anna in a Simplified Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

你能拼一下会议室名字吗？我不太确定我明白了。

Nǐ néng pīn yíxià huìyìshì míngzi ma? Wǒ bú tài quèdìng wǒ míngbai le.

Can you spell the meeting room name? I'm not sure I understood.

Portrait of David in a Simplified Chinese lesson dialogue

David

好的，名字是‘天鹅’——不是‘天和’，是‘天鹅’。我再试一次：天-鹅。

Hǎo de, míngzi shì 'tiān'é' — bú shì 'tiánhé', shì 'tiān'é'. Wǒ zài shì yí cì: tiān-é.

Okay, the name is 'Swan' — not 'Tianhe', it's 'Tian'e'. Let me try again: tian-e.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which phrase asks someone to spell a word?

Which phrase would you use when you only heard part of the message?

Which phrase asks for a simpler explanation?

Which phrase is a short correction pattern (Not X, but Y)?

Sorry, it was noisy — I didn't catch that, can you say it again?

对不起，刚才太吵了，___，你能再说一遍吗？

This address is complicated — can you write it down for me?

这个地址太复杂了，能不能给我写下来或者说慢一点——___？

I heard your suggestion but I'm not sure — did I understand correctly?

我听了你的建议，但我不太确定，___？

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

不好意思，你能再说一遍吗？

Bù hǎoyìsi, nǐ néng zài shuō yí biàn ma?

Sorry, can you repeat that?

Say this phrase out loud:

我没听清

Wǒ méi tīng qīng.

I didn't catch that.

Say this phrase out loud:

你能写下来吗

Nǐ néng xiě xiàlái ma?

Can you write it down, please?

Say this phrase out loud:

我不太确定我明白了。

Wǒ bú tài quèdìng wǒ míngbai le.

I'm not sure I understand.

Say this phrase out loud:

你能说得简单一点吗？

Nǐ néng shuō de jiǎndān yìdiǎn ma?

Can you explain it more simply?

Say this phrase out loud:

___这个词我不知道怎么说。

___ zhège cí wǒ bù zhīdào zěnme shuō.

I don't know the word for ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

能麻烦你拼一下吗？

Néng máfan nǐ pīn yíxià ma?

Can you spell that, please?

Say this phrase out loud:

你能举个例子吗？

Nǐ néng jǔ ge lìzi ma?

Can you give me an example?

Say this phrase out loud:

我理解得对吗

Wǒ lǐjiě de duì ma?

Did I understand correctly?

Say this phrase out loud:

我只听懂了一部分。

Wǒ zhǐ tīngdǒng le yí bùfen.

I only understood part of that.

Say this phrase out loud:

我可以换个说法吗？

Wǒ kěyǐ huàn ge shuōfǎ ma?

Can I say it another way?

Say this phrase out loud:

我再试一次

Wǒ zài shì yí cì.

Let me try again.

Say this phrase out loud:

不是___，是___。

Bú shì ___，shì ___。

Not ___, but ___.