Simplified Chinese - Lesson 90 of 156: Hesitation

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

嗯，让我想想

Ǹg, ràng wǒ xiǎngxiang.

Um, let me think.

Meaning: Um, let me think.

When to use: Use this neutral hesitation to buy a short moment before answering a question.

嗯，让我想想，我明天有空吗？

Ńg, ràng wǒ xiǎngxiang, wǒ míngtiān yǒu kòng ma?

Um, let me think — am I free tomorrow?

你喜欢哪家餐厅？嗯，让我想想……

Nǐ xǐhuan nǎ jiā cāntīng? Ńg, ràng wǒ xiǎngxiang…

Which restaurant do you like? Um, let me think...

嗯，我不太确定。

Ǹg, wǒ bú tài quèdìng.

Well, I'm not sure.

Meaning: Well, I’m not sure.

When to use: Say this to soften an answer when you lack confidence in the facts or your opinion.

Tip: Beginners sometimes say 我不确定, which is fine, but adding 不太 makes it softer and more natural.

嗯，我不太确定，那道题目的答案是什么？

Ńg, wǒ bú tài quèdìng, nà dào tímù de dá'àn shì shénme?

Well, I'm not sure — what is the answer to that question?

这家店还有晚餐吗？嗯，我不太确定。

Zhè jiā diàn hái yǒu wǎncān ma? Ńg, wǒ bú tài quèdìng.

Does this place still serve dinner? Well, I'm not sure.

等一下

Děng yíxià.

Just a second.

Meaning: Just a second.

When to use: Use when you need a very short pause — eg. to check your phone or think for a moment.

等一下，我把文件发给你。

Děng yíxià, wǒ bǎ wénjiàn fā gěi nǐ.

Just a second, I'll send you the document.

等一下，我还没准备好。

Děng yíxià, wǒ hái méi zhǔnbèi hǎo.

Wait a second, I'm not ready yet.

给我一点时间想想。

Gěi wǒ yìdiǎn shíjiān xiǎngxiang.

Give me a moment.

Meaning: Give me a moment.

When to use: Polite everyday request for a little time to think or check something; good for conversations and meetings.

请给我一点时间想想，然后再回复你。

Qǐng gěi wǒ yìdiǎn shíjiān xiǎngxiang, ránhòu zài huífù nǐ.

Please give me a moment to think, then I'll reply to you.

这个提议不错，给我一点时间想想可以吗？

Zhège tíyì búcuò, gěi wǒ yìdiǎn shíjiān xiǎngxiang kěyǐ ma?

This suggestion is good — can you give me a moment to think?

那个词怎么说来着？

Nàge cí zěnme shuō láizhe?

What's the word?

Meaning: What’s the word?

When to use: Say this when you're trying to recall a specific word and want help or time to find it.

那个词怎么说来着？我想说‘预约’这个意思。

Nàge cí zěnme shuō láizhe? Wǒ xiǎng shuō 'yùyuē' zhège yìsi.

What's the word again? I mean something like 'appointment.'

她的职业，那个词怎么说来着？

Tā de zhíyè, nàge cí zěnme shuō láizhe?

Her job — what's the word for it again?

有点儿___

Yǒudiǎnr ___.

It's kind of ___.

Meaning: It’s kind of ___.

When to use: Use before adjectives to give a vague description (e.g. 有点儿难). For nouns, say 有点儿像___。

Tip: Don’t use 有点儿 directly before nouns without adjusting (use 有点儿像 for nouns).

这道题有点儿难，我需要想想。

Zhè dào tí yǒudiǎnr nán, wǒ xūyào xiǎngxiang.

This problem is kind of difficult — I need to think.

那家店的味道有点儿甜，不完全合我的口味。

Nà jiā diàn de wèidào yǒudiǎnr tián, bú wánquán hé wǒ de kǒuwèi.

That shop's flavor is kind of sweet — not totally my taste.

我觉得可能___。

Wǒ juéde kěnéng ___.

I think maybe ___.

Meaning: I think maybe ___.

When to use: Start a tentative opinion or idea when you want to sound less direct and more polite.

我觉得可能我们应该早点出发。

Wǒ juéde kěnéng wǒmen yīnggāi zǎodiǎn chūfā.

I think maybe we should leave earlier.

我觉得可能这个颜色更好看。

Wǒ juéde kěnéng zhège yánsè gèng hǎokàn.

I think maybe this color looks better.

可能___，但是___。

Kěnéng ___, dànshì ___.

Maybe ___, but ___.

Meaning: Maybe ___, but ___.

When to use: Offer a hesitant contrast — good for soft disagreement or adding uncertainty plus a counterpoint.

可能便宜一点，但是质量不太好。

Kěnéng piányi yìdiǎn, dànshì zhìliàng bú tài hǎo.

Maybe it's cheaper, but the quality isn't so good.

可能我们可以坐地铁，但是要换两次车。

Kěnéng wǒmen kěyǐ zuò dìtiě, dànshì yào huàn liǎng cì chē.

Maybe we can take the subway, but we'd have to transfer twice.

让我想想

Ràng wǒ xiǎngxiang.“,”dialect_or_region”:“Mainland Mandarin”,“localization_status”:“candidate

Let me see.

Meaning: Let me see.

When to use: A neutral pause to think before answering; similar to 嗯，让我想想 but shorter.

让我想想，这个问题我以前见过。

Ràng wǒ xiǎngxiang, zhège wèntí wǒ yǐqián jiànguò.

Let me see — I've seen this question before.

让我想想，我好像忘了她的名字。

Ràng wǒ xiǎngxiang, wǒ hǎoxiàng wàng le tā de míngzì.

Let me see — I think I forgot her name.

怎么说呢

Zěnme shuō ne?“,”dialect_or_region”:“Mainland Mandarin”,“localization_status”:“candidate

How can I say it?

Meaning: How can I say it?

When to use: Use as a spoken filler when you're trying to shape a sentence or find the right phrasing.

怎么说呢？我想表达的是我们需要更多时间。

Zěnme shuō ne? Wǒ xiǎng biǎodá de shì wǒmen xūyào gèng duō shíjiān.

How can I say it? What I mean is we need more time.

这个很特殊，怎么说呢，可能需要解释一下。

Zhège hěn tèshū, zěnme shuō ne, kěnéng xūyào jiěshì yíxià.

This is unusual — how can I say it — it might need an explanation.

我想想看

Wǒ xiǎngxiang kàn.“,”dialect_or_region”:“Mainland Mandarin”,“localization_status”:“candidate

I'm trying to remember.

Meaning: I'm trying to remember.

When to use: Casual way to show you are attempting to recall something; softer than saying 我忘了.

我想想看，昨天我们在哪里见的？

Wǒ xiǎngxiang kàn, zuótiān wǒmen zài nǎlǐ jiàn de?

I'm trying to remember — where did we meet yesterday?

等一会儿，我想想看那本书的名字。

Děng yìhuǐr, wǒ xiǎngxiang kàn nà běn shū de míngzì.

Wait a moment, I'm trying to remember the name of that book.

这个不好解释

Zhège bù hǎo jiěshì.“,”dialect_or_region”:“Mainland Mandarin”,“localization_status”:“candidate

It's hard to explain.

Meaning: It's hard to explain.

When to use: Say this when an idea or feeling is tricky to put into words; opens space for a simpler description.

这个不好解释，但总之我们需要改变计划。

Zhège bù hǎo jiěshì, dàn zǒngzhī wǒmen xūyào gǎibiàn jìhuà.

It's hard to explain, but basically we need to change the plan.

为什么喜欢这首歌？这个不好解释，只是有感觉。

Wèi shénme xǐhuan zhè shǒu gē? Zhège bù hǎo jiěshì, zhǐshì yǒu gǎnjué.

Why like this song? It's hard to explain — it just feels right.

我记不太清楚了。

Wǒ jì bú tài qīngchu le.“,”dialect_or_region”:“Mainland Mandarin”,“localization_status”:“candidate

I can't remember exactly.

Meaning: I can't remember exactly.

When to use: Use to hedge when you’re unsure of details — a polite way to show imperfect memory.

我记不太清楚了，但应该是在上个月。

Wǒ jì bú tài qīngchu le, dàn yīnggāi shì zài shàng ge yuè.

I can't remember exactly, but it was probably last month.

那本书的作者我记不太清楚了，要不我查一下？

Nà běn shū de zuòzhě wǒ jì bú tài qīngchu le, yàobù wǒ chá yíxià?

I can't remember the author clearly — shall I check?

Simplified Chinese - Hesitation

1. Reading + Listening Practice

2. Conversational Listening Practice

3. Guided Practice

Which phrase means “Just a second”?

Choose the best translation for “Give me a moment.”

Which phrase softens an answer by showing uncertainty?

Which phrase would you use when you can’t remember details?

B: Just a second, I'll check the schedule.

I'm ordering — um, it's kind of ___; should we order the spicy one?

You could say: I think maybe ___, but I need more details.

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice