Traditional Chinese - Explaining a Problem

___好像有問題。

___ hǎoxiàng yǒu wèntí.

There's a problem with ___.

Meaning: There's a problem with ___.

When to use: Use this to point out an issue and get someone’s attention in a neutral way.

Tip: Don’t use 有問題 (yǒu wèntí) to blame a person casually; it can sound like “something is wrong with them.” For devices, orders, and situations, it’s fine.

___運作不太正常。

___ yùnzuò bú tài zhèngcháng.

___ isn't working properly.

Meaning: ___ isn't working properly.

When to use: Use this for machines, systems, websites, apps, or devices that are functioning strangely.

___好像出狀況了。

___ hǎoxiàng chū zhuàngkuàng le.

Something went wrong with ___.

Meaning: Something went wrong with ___.

When to use: Use this when an unexpected problem happens with a device, system, plan, or process.

我沒辦法讓___正常運作。

Wǒ méi bànfǎ ràng ___ zhèngcháng yùnzuò.

I can't get ___ to work.

Meaning: I can't get ___ to work.

When to use: Use this when you’ve tried to make something function, but you can’t get it working.

Tip: Use 讓 (ràng) before the thing you want to make work. The pattern is 我沒辦法讓 + thing + 正常運作 (Wǒ méi bànfǎ ràng + thing + zhèngcháng yùnzuò).

我沒有收到___。

Wǒ méiyǒu shōudào ___.

I didn't receive ___.

Meaning: I didn't receive ___.

When to use: Use this for messages, emails, packages, documents, codes, or information you expected but didn’t get.

這之前也發生過。

Zhè zhīqián yě fāshēng guò.

This has happened before.

Meaning: This has happened before.

When to use: Use this to explain that the same issue is not new.

之前都好好的，但現在___。

Zhīqián dōu hǎohǎo de, dàn xiànzài ___.

It was fine before, but now ___.

Meaning: It was fine before, but now ___.

When to use: Use this to explain a recent change or a problem that just started showing up.

上面顯示___。

Shàngmiàn xiǎnshì ___.

It says ___.

Meaning: It says ___.

When to use: Use this to report what a screen, error message, sign, or notice shows.

Tip: 上面 (shàngmiàn) here means “on it” or “on the screen,” not necessarily physically “up there.”

可以幫我看一下嗎？

Kěyǐ bāng wǒ kàn yíxià ma?

Could you check it for me?

Meaning: Could you check it for me?

When to use: Use this polite phrase when asking someone to look at a problem for you.

現在我該怎麼辦？

Xiànzài wǒ gāi zěnme bàn?

What should I do now?

Meaning: What should I do now?

When to use: Use this when you need the next step or advice after explaining a problem.

問題是從 ___ 開始的。

Wèntí shì cóng ___ kāishǐ de.

The issue started when ___.

Meaning: The issue started when ___.

When to use: Use this to explain when, or from what point, a problem began.

我試著 ___，但沒用。

Wǒ shìzhe ___, dàn méi yòng.

I tried to ___, but it didn't help.

Meaning: I tried to ___, but it didn't help.

When to use: Use this to report a failed attempt to fix something.

它一直 ___

Tā yìzhí ___.

It keeps ___.

Meaning: It keeps ___.

When to use: Use this for a repeated or ongoing problem.