Simplified Chinese - Lesson 96 of 156: Checking Understanding

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

你明白吗

Nǐ míngbai ma?

Do you understand?

Meaning: Do you understand?

When to use: A direct, common way to ask if the listener understands after an explanation or instruction.

Tip: Sounds blunt if used without softening words; for politeness add 了吗 or 您.

我把步骤说完了，你明白吗？

Wǒ bǎ bùzhòu shuō wán le, nǐ míngbái ma?

I finished the steps; do you understand?

如果不明白，请举手告诉我：你明白吗？

Rúguǒ bù míngbái, qǐng jǔ shǒu gàosù wǒ: nǐ míngbái ma?

If you don't understand, raise your hand and tell me: do you understand?

这样清楚吗

Zhèyàng qīngchu ma?

Is that clear?

Meaning: Is that clear?

When to use: Use this after you explain an idea to confirm the listener thinks the explanation is clear.

我已经画了流程图，这样清楚吗？

Wǒ yǐjīng huà le liúchéng tú, zhèyàng qīngchǔ ma?

I drew the flowchart — is that clear?

这样比刚才简单多了，大家觉得这样清楚吗？

Zhèyàng bǐ gāngcái jiǎndān duō le, dàjiā juéde zhèyàng qīngchǔ ma?

This is much simpler than before—do you all find this clear?

你跟得上吗

Nǐ gēn de shàng ma?

Are you with me?

Meaning: Are you with me?

When to use: Ask this while explaining a process to check whether someone is following along step-by-step.

Tip: Learners sometimes confuse 跟得上 with 跟上; remember 跟得上 asks ability to follow.

我先说第一步，然后第二步，你跟得上吗？

Wǒ xiān shuō dì yī bù, ránhòu dì èr bù, nǐ gēn de shàng ma?

I'll say step one, then step two — are you keeping up?

讲太快了吗？你跟得上吗？

Jiǎng tài kuài le ma? Nǐ gēn de shàng ma?

Am I speaking too fast? Can you follow?

你懂我的意思吗？

Nǐ dǒng wǒ de yìsi ma?

Do you know what I mean?

Meaning: Do you know what I mean?

When to use: Use this to check whether the listener catches your intended point or implication.

我的意思是我们应该晚一点开始，你懂我的意思吗？

Wǒ de yìsi shì wǒmen yīnggāi wǎn yìdiǎn kāishǐ, nǐ dǒng wǒ de yìsi ma?

I mean we should start a bit later — do you know what I mean?

这样做可能更安全，你懂我的意思吗？

Zhèyàng zuò kěnéng gèng ānquán, nǐ dǒng wǒ de yìsi ma?

Doing it this way might be safer — do you get what I mean?

有问题吗

Yǒu wèntí ma?

Any questions?

Meaning: Any questions?

When to use: Say this at the end of an explanation to invite questions or concerns.

我介绍完了，有问题吗？

Wǒ jièshào wán le, yǒu wèntí ma?

I'm done explaining — any questions?

会议到这里，有问题吗？请说。

Huìyì dào zhèlǐ, yǒu wèntí ma? Qǐng shuō.

That’s it for the meeting so far — any questions? Please speak up.

听明白了吗

Tīng míngbai le ma?

Did you get that?

Meaning: Did you get that?

When to use: Use this right after giving a specific instruction or fact to confirm it was heard and understood.

把文件发到我的邮箱，听明白了吗？

Bǎ wénjiàn fā dào wǒ de yóuxiāng, tīng míngbái le ma?

Send the document to my email — did you get that?

他说下周一开会，听明白了吗？

Tā shuō xià zhōu yī kāihuì, tīng míngbái le ma?

He said the meeting is next Monday — did you hear that?

能跟上吗

Néng gēn shàng ma?

Can you follow me?

Meaning: Can you follow me?

When to use: Similar to 你跟得上吗？ — use while teaching or giving instructions to check ongoing comprehension.

我一边示范一边说，能跟上吗？

Wǒ yìbiān shìfàn yìbiān shuō, néng gēn shàng ma?

I'll demonstrate while I explain — can you follow?

如果跟不上，请告诉我：能跟上吗？

Rúguǒ gēn bù shàng, qǐng gàosù wǒ: néng gēn shàng ma?

If you can't keep up, tell me: can you follow?

这部分清楚吗

Zhè bùfen qīngchu ma?

Is this part clear?

Meaning: Is this part clear?

When to use: Use to check understanding of a specific section or paragraph of your explanation.

我们先看这部分图表，这部分清楚吗？

Wǒmen xiān kàn zhè bùfen túbiǎo, zhè bùfen qīngchǔ ma?

Let's look at this chart first — is this part clear?

这部分有点复杂，我再解释一次：这部分清楚吗？

Zhè bùfen yǒu diǎn fùzá, wǒ zài jiěshì yí cì: zhè bùfen qīngchǔ ma?

This part is a bit complex; I'll explain once more — is this part clear?

要我再说一遍吗？

Yào wǒ zài shuō yí biàn ma?

Do you want me to repeat that?

Meaning: Do you want me to repeat that?

When to use: Offer this when someone looks confused or when you suspect they didn't hear or understand.

Tip: Beginners sometimes overuse this; try first asking a specific check like 听明白了吗？

我可以慢一点再说，要我再说一遍吗？

Wǒ kěyǐ màn yìdiǎn zài shuō, yào wǒ zài shuō yí biàn ma?

I can speak more slowly — do you want me to say it again?

如果没听清楚，要我再说一遍吗？

Rúguǒ méi tīng qīngchu, yào wǒ zài shuō yí biàn ma?

If you didn't hear clearly, do you want me to repeat it?

我说清楚了吗

Wǒ shuō qīngchu le ma?

Am I explaining it clearly?

Meaning: Am I explaining it clearly?

When to use: Use this to check whether your overall explanation made sense to the listener.

我换了例子，我说清楚了吗？

Wǒ huàn le lìzi, wǒ shuō qīngchǔ le ma?

I used a different example — am I explaining it clearly?

如果还有不清楚的地方，请告诉我：我说清楚了吗？

Rúguǒ hái yǒu bù qīngchu de dìfang, qǐng gàosù wǒ: wǒ shuō qīngchǔ le ma?

If anything's still unclear, tell me: am I being clear?

到现在都还好吗？

Dào xiànzài dōu hái hǎo ma?

Is everything okay so far?

Meaning: Is everything okay so far?

When to use: Pause mid-explanation to check whether listeners are comfortable continuing.

我们已经讲了很多信息，到现在都还好吗？

Wǒmen yǐjīng jiǎng le hěn duō xìnxī, dào xiànzài dōu hái hǎo ma?

We've covered a lot — is everything okay so far?

我先不着急，大家到现在都还好吗？

Wǒ xiān bù zháojí, dàjiā dào xiànzài dōu hái hǎo ma?

I'm not in a rush — is everyone okay so far?

要我再讲一遍吗？

Yào wǒ zài jiǎng yí biàn ma?

Should I explain it again?

Meaning: Should I explain it again?

When to use: Offer to repeat the whole explanation in a different way if the listener seems lost.

如果需要，我可以再讲一遍，要我再讲一遍吗？

Rúguǒ xūyào, wǒ kěyǐ zài jiǎng yí biàn, yào wǒ zài jiǎng yí biàn ma?

If needed, I can explain again — should I explain it again?

没关系，我们慢慢来：要我再讲一遍吗？

Méi guānxi, wǒmen màn man lái: yào wǒ zài jiǎng yí biàn ma?

No worries, we'll go slowly — should I explain again?

我换个说法讲，可以吗？

Wǒ huàn ge shuōfǎ jiǎng, kěyǐ ma?

Can I explain it another way?

Meaning: Can I explain it another way?

When to use: Offer a different phrasing or example when someone doesn't understand the current explanation.

如果这个例子不合适，我换个说法讲，可以吗？

Rúguǒ zhège lìzi bù héshì, wǒ huàn ge shuōfǎ jiǎng, kěyǐ ma?

If this example doesn't fit, can I explain it another way?

我换个比喻说，你们会更明白：我换个说法讲，可以吗？

Wǒ huàn ge bǐyù shuō, nǐmen huì gèng míngbái: wǒ huàn ge shuōfǎ jiǎng, kěyǐ ma?

I'll use a different metaphor — can I explain it another way?

Simplified Chinese - Checking Understanding

1. Reading + Listening Practice

2. Conversational Listening Practice

3. Guided Practice

Which Chinese phrase means 'Any questions?'

Which phrase is a polite offer to repeat information?

Choose the phrase that asks 'Can you follow me?'

Which phrase asks 'Do you know what I mean?'

After the teacher finished explaining, he looked at the students and asked: Do you understand?

During the meeting the host stopped and asked everyone: Is everything okay so far?

The other person looked unresponsive, so the speaker politely asked: Do you want me to repeat that?

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice