Traditional Chinese course

Lesson 22 of 240

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No thanks, that's enough in Traditional Chinese

At Banyan Breakfast, Auntie Lin offers Maya another cup of soy milk. A-Li sits nearby with his own familiar unfinished drink.

Learn how to politely turn something down, say you already have something, and ask for just a little. Maya's small request gets a very generous pour.

Then practise answering Auntie Lin warmly and clearly. The fortune slip stays folded in the till, out of the conversation.

By the end of this lesson

Politely turn down an offer, say you already have something, and ask for just a little.

  • 不用，謝謝No need, thanks.
  • 我不要___I don't want ___.
  • 這樣就夠了That's enough.
  • 我已經有了I already have one.
  • 不需要I don't need it.
  • 一點點就好Just a little.

Scene — a little more

Morning is busy at Banyan Breakfast. Auntie Lin offers Maya an egg pancake and more soy milk while A-Li sits at the back with his own drink.

Maya asks for just a little, but Auntie Lin pours a full cup. A-Li's drink is still unfinished, and the folded fortune slip stays in the till.

Auntie Lin offers Maya another cup of soy milk while Ali sits at the back with his unfinished drink.

Learn — polite refusals

These short replies help you decline an offer, say you already have something, or ask for a small amount.

Listen to each line, then say it aloud. One line has a blank for the item you do not want.

  1. Maya politely declines the extra cup Auntie Lin is offering.

    不用，謝謝

    No need, thanks.

    When to use it: Use this polite reply to turn down an offer.

    Learn it as one piece.

    Say it: 不 rises before 用, which has a falling tone.

  2. Maya gestures that she does not want the extra soy milk.

    我不要___

    I don't want ___.

    When to use it: Use this to say you do not want a specific thing.

    Replace the blank with an item and learn the rest as one piece.

    Say it: 不 rises before 要, which has a falling tone.

  3. Maya signals that the soy milk she has is enough.

    這樣就夠了

    That's enough.

    When to use it: Say this when you have enough and want no more.

    Learn it as one piece.

    Say it: The final 了 is light and quick.

  4. Ali indicates that he already has a drink, which remains unfinished.

    我已經有了

    I already have one.

    When to use it: Use this when someone offers something you already have.

    Learn it as one piece.

    Say it: The final 了 is light and quick.

  5. Maya moves the offered cup aside to show she does not need it.

    不需要

    I don't need it.

    When to use it: Use this short reply when an offer is unnecessary.

    Learn it as one piece.

    Say it: 不 keeps its falling tone before a non-falling tone.

  6. Maya pinches her fingers close together to ask for just a little soy milk as Auntie Lin pours a full cup.

    一點點就好

    Just a little.

    When to use it: Say this when you want only a small amount.

    Learn it as one piece.

    Say it: 一 has a falling tone before 點.

Story — a very full cup

At Banyan Breakfast, Auntie Lin offers Maya an egg pancake and more soy milk. Maya turns down the food, then asks for just a little soy milk.

Auntie Lin fills the cup generously. A-Li sits nearby with his own unfinished drink.

  1. Auntie Lin要蛋餅嗎？Would you like an egg pancake?
  2. Maya我不要蛋餅，不需要。I don't want an egg pancake. I don't need it.
  3. Auntie Lin還要豆漿嗎？Would you like more soy milk?
  4. Maya我已經有了，不用，謝謝。I already have one. No need, thanks.
  5. Auntie Lin那只加一點點，好嗎？Would you like a little more soy milk?
  6. Maya asks for a little. Auntie Lin pours a full cup anyway, while A-Li still has not finished his own soy milk.
  7. Maya一點點就好。這樣就夠了。Just a little. That's enough.

Practice — turn it down

Try eight quick exercises about turning down food and drinks politely. Listen, choose, and build useful replies.

Some answers may sound polite, but only one fits each situation. Check the explanation, then try the line again.

0 of 8 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What do you say?

    Auntie Lin offers an egg pancake. Say that you do not want one.

  3. Build the line

    That's enough.

    Tap the words in order.

  4. Fill the gap

    I already have one.

    我____有了

  5. What do you say?

    Auntie Lin offers you another umbrella, but you do not need one. Give a short reply.

  6. Pick the reply

    Auntie Lin says:

    那只加一點點，好嗎？

    Would you like a little more soy milk?

    And you reply with:

  7. What does it mean?

    不用了，謝謝

  8. What do you say?

    Auntie Lin hands you a cup. Thank her.

Say it — your polite replies

You play Maya at Banyan Breakfast. Listen to Auntie Lin's offers, then answer politely and clearly.

Say each reply aloud before moving on. Auntie Lin may pour more than you asked for, but you can still tell her when enough is enough.

  1. Auntie Lin還要豆漿嗎？Would you like more soy milk?
  2. Maya (you)Politely decline the extra drink, and thank her.

    不用，謝謝

    No need, thanks.

0 of 4 said

Recap — what you can say now

Traditional ChineseEnglish
不用，謝謝No need, thanks.
我不要___I don't want ___.
這樣就夠了That's enough.
我已經有了I already have one.
不需要I don't need it.
一點點就好Just a little.
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