New here? This is lesson 69 of a free 240-lesson Traditional Chinese course.
Asking your teacher in Traditional Chinese
On Saturday, you join a Mandarin class at a community center in Taipei. The teacher explains a new word, but you miss part of it.
Learn polite ways to ask for repetition, slower speech, and a chance to ask something. Then ask how to use a word.
Maya tries all four questions in one class. The teacher smiles, and the lesson keeps moving without turning into a speech.
By the end of this lesson
Ask your teacher to repeat something, speak more slowly, let you ask a question, or explain how to use a word.
- 老師，可以再說一次嗎？Teacher, can you say it again?
- 老師，可以說慢一點嗎？Teacher, could you speak more slowly?
- 老師，我可以問一個問題嗎？Teacher, may I ask a question?
- 這個詞怎麼用？How do you use this word?
Scene — a Saturday class
It is Saturday at a community center in Taipei. Maya is taking a Mandarin class, and the teacher is introducing a new word.
Maya misses some details, but she keeps asking for help. Her teacher is patient and smiles as the questions keep coming.
Learn — questions for your teacher
These four questions help you take part when a lesson moves too fast or a new word is confusing.
Listen for 一點 and 一個. Both include a tone change for 一.
老師，可以再說一次嗎？
Teacher, can you say it again?
When to use it: Use this polite question when you want your teacher to repeat something.
可以……嗎？ turns a request into a polite question.
Say it: 嗎 has a neutral tone at the end of this question.
老師，可以說慢一點嗎？
Teacher, could you speak more slowly?
When to use it: Use this when the teacher is speaking too quickly for you to follow.
一點 softens a request for a small change.
Say it: 一 is fourth tone before the third-tone word 點.
老師，我可以問一個問題嗎？
Teacher, may I ask a question?
When to use it: Use this before asking your teacher something during class.
一個 is a common way to say one question.
Say it: 一 changes to second tone before the fourth-tone 個.
這個詞怎麼用？
How do you use this word?
When to use it: Ask this when you want an example of how a word is used.
怎麼 asks about the way something is done.
Say it: 怎麼 ends with a neutral tone on 麼.
Story — Maya asks away
Maya is in her Saturday Mandarin class at the community center. A new word comes up, and she wants to make sure she understands it.
Listen as she asks the teacher four questions in a row. The teacher stays patient and smiles.
- Class teacher早安，今天我們練習新詞。Good morning. Today we'll practise new words.
Maya老師，可以再說一次嗎？Teacher, can you say it again?- Class teacher好，我再說一次。Sure, I'll say it again.
- Maya老師，可以說慢一點嗎？Teacher, could you speak more slowly?
- Class teacher好，我說慢一點。Sure, I'll speak more slowly.
- Maya老師，我可以問一個問題嗎？Teacher, may I ask a question?
- Class teacher可以啊，請問。Of course. Go ahead.
- Maya這個詞怎麼用？How do you use this word?
- The teacher smiles and opens the book to an example.
- Class teacher好問題，我們一起看例句。Good question. Let's look at an example together.
Practice — ask for help in class
Try nine short exercises to ask for repetition, request slower speech, and ask about a word.
Choose the question that fits the moment, then listen closely to the older classroom phrases.
0 of 9 done
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
老師，可以再說一次嗎？
What do you say?
What do you say?
You understand the teacher's explanation, but need a slower pace for the next part. Ask them to slow down.
Build the line
Build the line
Teacher, may I ask a question?
，？
Tap the words in order.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
How do you use this word?
這個____怎麼用？
Match the pairs
Traditional Chinese
老師，可以再說一次嗎？Drop the English here老師，可以說慢一點嗎？Drop the English here老師，我可以問一個問題嗎？Drop the English here這個詞怎麼用？Drop the English hereEnglish
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Pick the reply
Class teacher says:
Pick the reply
要不要我把這三個詞再說一次？
Want me to say these three words again?
And you reply with:
What do you say?
What do you say?
Your teacher writes a character on the board. Ask how to read it.
Pick the reply
Class teacher says:
Pick the reply
我剛才講得太快了，你跟得上嗎？
I spoke too quickly just now. Can you keep up?
And you reply with:
Say it — your classroom questions
You play Maya in her Saturday class. Listen to the teacher's cue, then ask for what you need in a polite, clear way.
Say each question out loud. The teacher will respond, and your final turn revisits a useful phrase from an earlier lesson.
- The teacher introduces a new word, and Maya wants to hear the explanation again.
- Maya (you)Ask your teacher to repeat it.
Ask your teacher to repeat it.
老師，可以再說一次嗎？
Teacher, can you say it again?
0 of 5 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Traditional Chinese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 老師，可以再說一次嗎？ | Teacher, can you say it again? | |
| 老師，可以說慢一點嗎？ | Teacher, could you speak more slowly? | |
| 老師，我可以問一個問題嗎？ | Teacher, may I ask a question? | |
| 這個詞怎麼用？ | How do you use this word? |
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