Simplified Chinese - Lesson 86 of 156: Topic Changes

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

对了，___

Duì le, ___.

By the way, ___.

Meaning: By the way, ___.

When to use: Use this to add a related point casually — a quick, natural way to introduce something you just remembered.

Tip: Don't overuse it as a formal opener — it's casual and best in speech, not formal writing.

对了，我明天要去买票。

Duì le, wǒ míngtiān yào qù mǎi piào.

By the way, I'm going to buy tickets tomorrow.

对了，你的同事还在那家公司工作吗？

Duì le, nǐ de tóngshì hái zài nà jiā gōngsī gōngzuò ma?

By the way, is your colleague still working at that company?

说到___，___。

Shuō dào ___, ___.

Speaking of ___, ___.

Meaning: Speaking of ___, ___.

When to use: Use this when something just mentioned reminds you of a closely related topic — it links ideas smoothly.

说到周末，你打算去哪儿玩？

Shuō dào zhōumò, nǐ dǎsuàn qù nǎr wán?

Speaking of the weekend, where do you plan to go?

说到预算，我们得再看一下这个项目的费用。

Shuō dào yùsuàn, wǒmen děi zài kàn yíxià zhège xiàngmù de fèiyòng.

Speaking of the budget, we need to look at this project's costs again.

这倒提醒我了，___。

Zhè dào tíxǐng wǒ le, ___.

That reminds me, ___.

Meaning: That reminds me, ___.

When to use: Use this when something the other person said triggers a memory or task you need to bring up.

这倒提醒我了，我忘了给张明回短信。

Zhè dào tíxǐng wǒ le, wǒ wàng le gěi Zhāng Míng huí duǎnxìn.

That reminds me, I forgot to text Zhang Ming back.

这倒提醒我了，我还没买明天的咖啡豆。

Zhè dào tíxǐng wǒ le, wǒ hái méi mǎi míngtiān de kāfēi dòu.

That reminds me, I still haven't bought coffee beans for tomorrow.

另外，___

Lìngwài, ___.

On another note, ___.

Meaning: On another note, ___.

When to use: Use this to move to a different topic politely — good for slightly more formal or mixed-company conversations.

另外，公司下个月会有一次培训。

Lìngwài, gōngsī xià gè yuè huì yǒu yícì péixùn.

On another note, the company will have a training next month.

另外，我想提醒大家注意下周的截止日期。

Lìngwài, wǒ xiǎng tíxǐng dàjiā zhùyì xià zhōu de jiézhǐ rìqī.

On another note, I want to remind everyone about next week's deadline.

趁我还没忘，___。

Chèn wǒ hái méi wàng, ___.

Before I forget, ___.

Meaning: Before I forget, ___.

When to use: Use this when you suddenly remember something important and want to say it right away so you don't forget.

趁我还没忘，别忘了把报告发给我。

Chèn wǒ hái méi wàng, bié wàng le bǎ bàogào fā gěi wǒ.

Before I forget, don't forget to send me the report.

趁我还没忘，我要给你推荐一本好书。

Chèn wǒ hái méi wàng, wǒ yào gěi nǐ tuījiàn yì běn hǎo shū.

Before I forget, I want to recommend a good book to you.

我们可以聊一下___吗？

Wǒmen kěyǐ liáo yíxià ___ ma?

Can we talk about ___ for a minute?

Meaning: Can we talk about ___ for a minute?

When to use: Use this to politely ask permission to change the conversation to a specific topic; good for meetings or respectful turns in group chat.

我们可以聊一下下个月的预算吗？

Wǒmen kěyǐ liáo yíxià xià gè yuè de yùsuàn ma?

Can we talk about next month's budget for a minute?

我们可以聊一下明天的行程吗？

Wǒmen kěyǐ liáo yíxià míngtiān de xíngchéng ma?

Can we talk about tomorrow's schedule for a minute?

我想问你一下___的事。

Wǒ xiǎng wèn nǐ yíxià ___ de shì.

I wanted to ask you about ___.

Meaning: I wanted to ask you about ___.

When to use: Use this to introduce a question you have on a new subject — natural and neutral in spoken Chinese.

我想问你一下签证的事。

Wǒ xiǎng wèn nǐ yíxià qiānzhèng de shì.

I wanted to ask you about the visa.

我想问你一下—你上次说的那个应用怎么用？

Wǒ xiǎng wèn nǐ yíxià—nǐ shàng cì shuō de nàge yìngyòng zěnme yòng?

I wanted to ask you — how do you use that app you mentioned?

咱们换个话题吧。

Zánmen huàn ge huàtí ba.

Let's change the subject.

Meaning: Let's change the subject.

When to use: Use this when you want to move away from the current topic clearly; it's direct and common in casual settings.

Tip: Avoid using this in formal meetings; '咱们' is casual and better with friends or colleagues you know well.

这不重要，咱们换个话题吧。

Zhè bù zhòngyào, zánmen huàn ge huàtí ba.

That's not important — let's change the subject.

天气太无聊了，咱们换个话题吧，聊点有意思的。

Tiānqì tài wúliáo le, zánmen huàn ge huàtí ba, liáo diǎn yǒuyìsi de.

The weather is boring — let's change the subject and talk about something interesting.

好，回到___。

Hǎo, huí dào ___.

Anyway, back to ___.

Meaning: Anyway, back to ___.

When to use: Use this to return the conversation to the main topic after a tangent or interruption.

好，回到项目，我们还需要两个志愿者。

Hǎo, huí dào xiàngmù, wǒmen hái xūyào liǎng gè zhìyuànzhě.

Okay, back to the project — we still need two volunteers.

好，回到上次讨论的部分，我们同意那个时间吗？

Hǎo, huí dào shàng cì tǎolùn de bùfen, wǒmen tóngyì nàge shíjiān ma?

Alright, back to the part we discussed last time — do we agree on that time?

说回___，___。

Shuō huí ___, ___.

Going back to ___, ___.

Meaning: Going back to ___, ___.

When to use: Use this to reconnect the conversation to an earlier point; good for steering back after a detour.

说回预算，我们可以削减一些不必要的费用。

Shuō huí yùsuàn, wǒmen kěyǐ xuējiǎn yìxiē bù bìyào de fèiyòng.

Going back to the budget, we can cut some unnecessary costs.

说回上次你提到的活动，你已经报名了吗？

Shuō huí shàng cì nǐ tídào de huódòng, nǐ yǐjīng bàomíng le ma?

Going back to the event you mentioned, have you already signed up?

这个有点跑题，不过___。

Zhège yǒudiǎn pǎotí, búguò ___.

This is a bit off topic, but ___

Meaning: This is a bit off topic, but ___.

When to use: Use this to signal that you're temporarily leaving the main subject, often to add a related aside or personal note.

Tip: Beginners sometimes overuse it to introduce long tangents — keep the aside short if you want to return to the main point.

这个有点跑题，不过我想补充一句：那位讲师很专业。

Zhège yǒudiǎn pǎotí, búguò wǒ xiǎng bǔchōng yí jù: nà wèi jiǎngshī hěn zhuānyè.

This is a bit off topic, but I want to add: that speaker is very professional.

这个有点跑题，不过那家餐厅的甜点真不错。

Zhège yǒudiǎn pǎotí, búguò nà jiā cāntīng de tiándiǎn zhēn bùcuò.

This is a bit off topic, but that restaurant's desserts are really good.

我可以说点别的吗？

Wǒ kěyǐ shuō diǎn bié de ma?

Can I bring up something else?

Meaning: Can I bring up something else?

When to use: Use this polite question to ask if it's OK to introduce a different topic — useful in meetings and group conversations.

我可以说点别的吗？我有个建议关于下礼拜的安排。

Wǒ kěyǐ shuō diǎn bié de ma? Wǒ yǒu ge jiànyì guānyú xià lǐbài de ānpái.

Can I bring up something else? I have a suggestion about next week's schedule.

我可以说点别的吗？这个问题可能更重要。

Wǒ kěyǐ shuō diǎn bié de ma? Zhège wèntí kěnéng gèng zhòngyào.

Can I bring up something else? This issue might be more important.

还有件事我想提一下。

Hái yǒu jiàn shì wǒ xiǎng tí yíxià.

There's something else I wanted to mention.

Meaning: There's something else I wanted to mention.

When to use: Use this to add an additional point — it's a natural way to bring up one more item before finishing a turn.

还有件事我想提一下，下周我们需要准备演示文档。

Hái yǒu jiàn shì wǒ xiǎng tí yíxià, xià zhōu wǒmen xūyào zhǔnbèi yǎnshì wéndàng.

There's something else I wanted to mention: next week we need to prepare the presentation documents.

还有件事我想提一下，别忘了签合同。

Hái yǒu jiàn shì wǒ xiǎng tí yíxià, bié wàng le qiān hétong.

There's something else I wanted to mention: don't forget to sign the contract.

Simplified Chinese - Topic Changes

1. Reading + Listening Practice

2. Conversational Listening Practice

3. Guided Practice

Which phrase best means 'Before I forget, ...'?

Which phrase politely asks permission to bring up a different topic?

Which phrase signals returning to an earlier topic?

Which phrase would you use to ask to briefly discuss the schedule?

The meeting is almost over — 'By the way, do we have anything else to add?'

Halfway through the meeting someone asked 'Can I bring up something else?' and then everyone agreed to discuss a new issue.

Speaking of the budget, Anna said, 'Speaking of ..., we could first cut some unnecessary expenses.'

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice