New here? This is lesson 190 of a free 240-lesson Simplified Chinese course.
Change the subject in Simplified Chinese
After lunch near the co-working space, Maya and Yi-Jun's chat jumps from food to the lease, then to A-Li at Banyan Breakfast.
Learn six ways to bring up another topic: a sudden thought, a link to what was just said, a reminder, a polite switch, and a side comment.
Use them when a talk feels stuck, too heavy, or you suddenly remember something. A-Li's soy milk stays unfinished, and the fortune slip stays unread.
By the end of this lesson
Bring up another topic, link it to what was just said, or politely switch.
- 对了，___By the way, ___.
- 说到___Speaking of ___.
- 这让我想到___That reminds me of ___.
- 我们换个话题吧Let's change the subject.
- 趁我还没忘，___Before I forget, ___.
- 这有点离题，不过___This is a bit off topic, but ___.
Scene — lunch, then the lease
Maya and Yi-Jun sit with lunch boxes at a small table near the co-working space in Da'an. The rice is almost gone, and Yi-Jun is still talking about the food.
Maya needs to mention the lease with Mr. Wang, then the talk slides toward A-Li at Banyan Breakfast. Nothing about the fortune is solved today.
Learn — ways to change the topic
These six lines help you leave one topic and open another without sounding rude.
Listen for 对了 and 说到, then practise the longer openers that add a reason.
对了，___
By the way, ___.
When to use it: Use this to bring up something you just remembered.
对了 opens a new thought after a pause, then you add the topic.
Say it: The 了 here is a light neutral tone.
说到___
Speaking of ___.
When to use it: Use this when the last topic already names what you will add.
After 说到 you repeat a word just said, then ask or comment.
这让我想到___
That reminds me of ___.
When to use it: Use this when the last point sparks a related thought.
让 here means the last point makes you think of something else.
我们换个话题吧
Let's change the subject.
When to use it: Use this when the talk feels stuck or too heavy.
吧 makes the switch a suggestion, not a sharp order.
Say it: The 吧 at the end is a light neutral tone.
趁我还没忘，___
Before I forget, ___.
When to use it: Use this to say something now while you still remember it.
没 here marks that the forgetting has not happened yet.
这有点离题，不过___
This is a bit off topic, but ___.
When to use it: Use this when your next point is not the main talk.
不过 lets you add the side point after you admit it is extra.
Story — from lunch to A-Li
Maya and Yi-Jun finish lunch, then the talk moves to the lease and later to A-Li.
Listen for how each speaker brings up a new topic without dropping the last one cold.
Yi-Jun你吃饭了吗？Have you eaten?
Maya吃了，这盒饭不错。I have; this lunch box is pretty good.- Yi-Jun对啊，我还想再吃一点。Yeah, I still want a bit more.
- Maya对了，租约下个月到期。By the way, the lease is up next month.
- Yi-Jun说到租约，你要续吗？Speaking of the lease, do you want to renew?
- Maya想啊。I'd like to.
- Yi-Jun租约到期后可以续租吗？Can you renew when the lease ends?
- Maya应该可以，我再问王先生。It should be fine; I'll ask Mr. Wang.
- Yi-Jun租金会不会涨？Will the rent go up?
- Maya我还不知道。这让我想到管理费。I don't know yet. That reminds me of the management fee.
- Yi-Jun讲这些我头有点痛。Talking about all this is making my head hurt.
- Maya我们换个话题吧。Let's change the subject.
- Yi-Jun好喔，你想聊什么？Okay, what do you want to talk about?
- Maya趁我还没忘，阿犛今天早上有来。Before I forget, A-Li came this morning.
- Yi-Jun他又没喝完豆浆吗？He didn't finish his soy milk again?
- Maya对啊。这有点离题，不过他还是坐两个位子。Yeah. This is a bit off topic, but he still takes two seats.
Practice — pick the next topic
Work through short exercises that pick the right opener for each shift in the talk.
Check why a near miss does not fit, then say the line again.
0 of 10 done
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
对了，___
What do you say?
What do you say?
You sit down with Yi-Jun and check whether she has already eaten.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
That reminds me of ___.
这让我_______
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Build the line
Build the line
Let's change the subject.
Tap the words in order.
Swap the word
Swap the word
You are about to add a side comment and need the word for going off topic.
这有点____，不过___
Pick the reply
Yi-Jun says:
Pick the reply
我想继续住，可是不太确定规定。
I want to keep living there, but I'm not sure about the rules.
And you reply with:
Match the pairs
Simplified Chinese
对了，___Drop the English here说到___Drop the English here这让我想到___Drop the English here我们换个话题吧Drop the English hereEnglish
What do you say?
What do you say?
You need the opener that means 'Before I forget' to mention A-Li came this morning.
Pick the reply
Yi-Jun says:
Pick the reply
讲这些我头有点痛。
Talking about all this is making my head hurt.
And you reply with:
Say it — steer the talk
You play Maya at the lunch table. Yi-Jun keeps the chat moving, and you steer it to the lease, then to A-Li.
Tap the microphone and answer the English cue. You can replay her line first.
- Maya and Yi-Jun are finishing lunch near the co-working space.
- Yi-Jun这盒饭还不错。This lunch box is pretty good.
- Maya (you)Bring up the lease as something you just thought of.
Bring up the lease as something you just thought of.
对了，___
By the way, ___.
0 of 5 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Simplified Chinese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 对了，___ | By the way, ___. | |
| 说到___ | Speaking of ___. | |
| 这让我想到___ | That reminds me of ___. | |
| 我们换个话题吧 | Let's change the subject. | |
| 趁我还没忘，___ | Before I forget, ___. | |
| 这有点离题，不过___ | This is a bit off topic, but ___. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Today's topic-change lines are in Yak Cards with more ways to steer a talk.
Review a few cards before your next long chat so a new topic comes out smoothly.
Open Yak Cards