Simplified Chinese course

Lesson 192 of 240

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Being unsure in Simplified Chinese

At the co-working space, Zhi-Ming asks whether the project schedule is still realistic. You know part of the answer, but the client's reply is missing.

Learn natural ways to pause, express uncertainty, ask for a moment, and ask how to say a word. Practise giving a cautious estimate without pretending to know more than you do.

The deadline is close, so your words need to be honest and useful. A-Li's fortune slip stays unexplained, and his soy milk is still unfinished.

By the end of this lesson

Pause before answering, express uncertainty politely, ask for time, and give a tentative estimate.

  • 嗯，让我想一下Hmm, let me think.
  • 我不太确定I'm not too sure.
  • 请给我一点时间Give me a moment.
  • 我想想看Let me think it over.
  • 可能___，可是___Maybe ___, but ___.
  • 那个词怎么讲？How do you say that word?

Scene — a question about the schedule

At the co-working space, Zhi-Ming is checking the schedule for Maya's design project. The deadline is Friday, but the client has not replied yet.

Maya needs a moment to think before she answers. She can share a possibility, but she should not present it as certain.

In a sunlit Taipei coworking loft, Zhi-Ming leans over a laptop while Maya sits beside him, paused and not yet ready to answer.

Learn — buying time to think

These phrases help you pause before answering, say you are unsure, or ask for a little more time.

One frame lets you offer a possibility and then add a concern. Listen to how the second part changes the meaning.

  1. Maya sits with a finger at her chin, taking a moment to think, while Zhi-Ming waits nearby.

    嗯，让我想一下

    Hmm, let me think.

    When to use it: Use this to pause briefly before answering.

  2. Maya lifts one shoulder and opens both palms, unsure, while Zhi-Ming listens with his forearms on the table.

    我不太确定

    I'm not too sure.

    When to use it: Use this when you are not fully certain.

    不太 softens a direct statement, making your uncertainty sound less absolute.

    Say it: 不 changes to a rising tone before the falling tone in 太.

  3. Maya raises an open palm toward Zhi-Ming in a gentle wait gesture while he eases his chair back to give her space.

    请给我一点时间

    Give me a moment.

    When to use it: Use this to politely ask for more time before deciding or answering.

    一点时间 is a natural chunk for asking someone to give you a little time.

    Say it: 一 has a falling tone before the third-tone 点.

  4. Maya’s pencil hovers above an open sketchbook as she thinks the design over, and Zhi-Ming looks at the same page.

    我想想看

    Let me think it over.

    When to use it: Use this when you want to consider something before deciding.

    Repeating 想 makes the thought sound exploratory; 看 adds a tentative sense of seeing.

    Say it: The second 想 is light and neutral in this repeated verb.

  5. Maya weighs two printed design sheets, offering one and holding the other back, while Zhi-Ming follows the gesture.

    可能___，可是___

    Maybe ___, but ___.

    When to use it: Use this frame to suggest a possibility and then add a concern.

    可能 introduces a possibility; 可是 signals a contrasting concern.

  6. Maya points at a texture on a design board and turns toward Zhi-Ming with a small searching hand motion, hunting for the right word.

    那个词怎么讲？

    How do you say that word?

    When to use it: Use this to ask how to say a word already mentioned.

    怎么讲 asks how to say something; 那个 points to a word already in context.

    Say it: 么 is neutral and short in 怎么.

Story — a deadline without a clear answer

Zhi-Ming checks whether Maya can meet the Friday deadline. The client has not replied, so Maya needs to be clear about what she knows.

Her answer stays tentative. When she asks about an English work term, Zhi-Ming explains it without settling the schedule.

  1. Zhi-Ming目前进度怎么样？礼拜五交得出来吗？How is the project going? Can you deliver by Friday?
  2. Maya嗯，让我想一下。Hmm, let me think.
  3. Maya我们进度有点落后。We're a bit behind schedule.
  4. Zhi-Ming客户还没回复，你觉得来得及吗？The client hasn't replied yet. Do you think we have enough time?
  5. Maya我不太确定。I'm not too sure.
  6. Zhi-Ming好，你先看一下目前的进度。Okay, take a look at the current progress first.
  7. Maya请给我一点时间。Give me a moment.
  8. Zhi-Ming好，我下午再确认客户那边。Okay, I'll check with the client again this afternoon.
  9. Maya我想想看。Let me think it over.
  10. Maya可能礼拜五交，可是客户还没回复。Maybe I can deliver Friday, but the client hasn't replied yet.
  11. Zhi-Ming了解，那就等客户回复再决定。Got it. Then let's decide after the client replies.
  12. Maya预计礼拜五交。Expected to deliver Friday.
  13. Zhi-Ming我刚才提到 buffer。I mentioned “buffer” just now.
  14. Maya那个词怎么讲？How do you say that word?
  15. Zhi-Ming可以说“缓冲时间”。You can say “buffer time.”

Practice — respond with care

Try ten short exercises about uncertain answers and schedule updates. Choose words that fit the information Maya actually has.

Some questions ask you to build a phrase or fill a word. Others help you respond naturally to Zhi-Ming.

0 of 10 done

  1. What does it mean?

    嗯，让我想一下

  2. What do you say?

    Zhi-Ming asks whether you can meet the deadline, but you do not have enough information to be certain.

  3. Build the line

    Let me think it over.

    Tap the words in order.

  4. Fill the gap

    Give me a moment.

    请给我一点____

  5. Swap the word

    Change the sentence to say that you are not too sure.

    我____

  6. What did you hear?

  7. Pick the reply

    Zhi-Ming says:

    进度落后了吗？

    Are you behind schedule?

    And you reply with:

  8. What do you say?

    Offer Friday as a possibility, but add that the client has not replied yet.

  9. What do you say?

    Give a tentative delivery date without claiming it is guaranteed.

  10. True or false?

    This line fits the moment you are in.

Say it — take a moment

You play Maya while Zhi-Ming asks about the project schedule. Use a pause or an honest uncertain answer when you need more information.

Then ask how to say a work term. Speak your lines aloud, and keep your estimate tentative until the client responds.

  1. Zhi-Ming checks the Friday deadline with Maya.
  2. Zhi-Ming礼拜五交得出来吗？Can you deliver by Friday?
  3. Maya (you)Pause briefly and say that you need to think.

    嗯，让我想一下

    Hmm, let me think.

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

Simplified ChineseEnglish
嗯，让我想一下Hmm, let me think.
我不太确定I'm not too sure.
请给我一点时间Give me a moment.
我想想看Let me think it over.
可能___，可是___Maybe ___, but ___.
那个词怎么讲？How do you say that word?
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